Man Convicted In 1971 NYPD Cops’ Slayings Granted Parole, Widow ‘Heartbroken’

A man who was convicted in the 1971 killings of two NYPD police officers has been granted parole after nearly 43 years behind bars, reported NBC New York. Anthony Bottom, 68, was approved for parole after a hearing earlier this month. His parole comes after his co-defendant, Herman Bell, was granted parole in 2018. The two were members of a violent offshoot of the Black Panther Party called the Black Liberation Army. The group sanctioned killings of police officers in New York and California, according to NBC New York. Bottom and Bell were each sentenced to 25 years to life in prison for ambushing Officers Waverly Jones and Joseph Piagentini. According to NBC 4, Piagentini’s widow blamed the decision on what she described as a shift towards a more lenient approach to parole in New York. “We are heartbroken to see another of Joe’s killers set free by politics,” said Diane Piagentini.

How An Officer's Suicide Served As A Wake-Up Call

We are all familiar with the truism that policing is a hard job. However, for the women and men who walk the thin blue line, that statement is more than just a simple adage. The physiological and emotional toll paid by officers in the United States is an inherent part of the job that only those who have worn the uniform can fully understand. In this episode of our What’s New in Blue video series, Sheriff Tim Whitcomb of Cattaraugus County, NY, tells the heartfelt story of a fellow officer’s suicide that became his wake-up call and spurred his crusade to help law enforcement officers minimize and dissipate the effects of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Portland Protesters Set Fire At Police Building, 14 Arrested

Protesters in Portland late Thursday set fire to plywood attached to the front door of a police union building in Oregon's largest city and clashed with officers, who made 14 arrests, police said in a statement. Images posted online showed flames erupting outside the doors of the Portland Police Association office. Some protesters managed later to get on the roof of the building, police said in a statement Friday. The protesters who were detained were arrested on charges ranging from disorderly conduct to interfering with officers and trespassing. The violence came a day after people hurled several firebombs at officers during a demonstration over a Kentucky grand jury’s decision to not indict officers in the fatal shooting of Breonna Taylor, police said.

Sheriff: Man Tried To Take Deputy's Gun Before Fatal Shooting That Sparked Protests

The fatal shooting of a Black man by two Orange County sheriff's deputies during an altercation in San Clemente, captured on video, spurred a protest and the arrest of several activists who blockaded a street on Thursday. At least five protesters were taken into custody when about 50 people demonstrated at the site of the killing. In a cellphone video of the shooting Wednesday, two sheriff's deputies can be seen confronting the man, later identified as Kurt Andras Reinhold, in the middle of El Camino Real. The deputies then wrestle him to the ground. After one of the deputies yells, "He's got my gun. he's got my gun," two shots can be heard in the video first posted by Local Story. The video begins by showing deputies from a specialized detail that handles homeless issues seeking to corral Reinhold, 42. The deputies tell Reinhold that he is walking in the middle of the street. Reinhold then tells the deputies repeatedly, "Stop touching me, stop touching me." Reinhold asks the deputies why they are trying to touch him. "Go sit down," one of the deputies says. Reinhold refuses to comply and tries to walk past the deputies.

Man Dies After Being Found In Vehicle Suffering From Gunshot Wound In South L.A.

A man was killed after a shooting in an unincorporated area of South Los Angeles on Wednesday, officials said. Deputies responded to the 1000 block of West 97th Street in the Westmont neighborhood around 11:23 a.m. regarding a gunshot victim, according to a Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department news release. They arrived and found the victim sitting inside a vehicle suffering from at least one gunshot wound to his upper torso, officials said. The man, identified only as a Black male around 20 years old, was pronounced dead at the scene. Another man and a woman were detained by deputies and are being questioned by homicide investigators as to any possible involvement. The investigation is ongoing and there is no additional information available. Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact the department’s Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500.

Video: Hollywood Protesters, Drivers Involved In Violent Confrontations

Drivers and protesters on the streets of Hollywood were involved in at least two separate violent confrontations Thursday night. In one incident, a car drove through a crowd of protesters and was chased down and attacked by people in another vehicle. The driver was able to escape but was detained by police. The incident, at least the second Thursday night involving a vehicle and protesters in Los Angeles, happened in Hollywood around 9:30 p.m. A crowd of several hundred people had gathered at Cahuenga and Hollywood boulevards to protest the Breonna Taylor case. Most cars stopped for the crowd, but a white Prius tried to weave through the protesters to get by the intersection. Several of the protesters appeared to surround the car and pound on it as it drove by. Several also chased after the vehicle on foot. There did not appear to be any protesters who were injured by the vehicle.

Homicide Detectives Investigating After Man’s Body Found In Wooded Area Of Agoura Hills

Los Angeles County Sheriff’s homicide detectives were investigating Agoura Hills Thursday after a man’s body was found near the side of a road. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department received a call about “an object on the side of” Agoura Road, west of Liberty Canyon Road, at 12:35 p.m., according to Deputy James Nagao. The body was found in a wooded area, and the victim was pronounced dead at the scene. The area was closed off to vehicles and people while investigators searched for evidence. No additional information was immediately available.

Man Sought In Glendale Road-Rage Shooting

Police in Glendale are looking for a man who allegedly shot at a vehicle during a road-rage incident. The incident occurred at about 1:20 a.m. on Sept. 10. The man and a victim were both driving east on the 210 Freeway and got off on La Crescenta Boulevard, police said in a crime bulletin. The two then “became involved” in a road-rage incident, police said without elaborating. The man then allegedly fired at least twice at the victim’s vehicle, which was struck once, according to police. The shooting occurred near the intersection of Foothill Boulevard and New York Avenue as well as Montrose and Pennsylvania avenues. The shooter then drove onto the eastbound 210 Freeway and out of sight.

Dozens Of Businesses, Churches Cited By LA County For Health Order Violations

More than 70 citations have been issued over the past month to various businesses and organizations -- most notably churches and gyms -- for violating health restrictions imposed to control spread of COVID-19, but Los Angeles County's health officer said Thursday no closures have been ordered. Dr. Muntu Davis said, however, that failures to adhere to the restrictions, particularly those barring many indoor business operations and worship services, can exacerbate virus spread. “Not just for us in terms of public health but others who are watching and monitoring the spread of this virus and trying to do everything we can to control it, it is concerning when we don't have compliance with the measures that are needed in order to slow the spread of this within our county,” Davis said in an online media briefing. “As we go through, we continue to look at all options that might be available to us,” he said. “Of course, I can't go into a lot of details on each case, but (we) continue to try to build what we need to in terms of getting compliance from everyone. This is really what's needed at this point.

Suspect In 2019 Stabbing Outside Rose Bowl In Custody In Nevada

A 20-year-old man suspected of fatally stabbing an 18-year-old man in the heart in a Rose Bowl parking lot last year is in custody in Nevada on an unrelated charge and expected to be brought back to the Southland to face a murder charge, Pasadena police reported Thursday. Kamryn Stone, a recent high school graduate who was taking real estate classes at West LA College, was stabbed outside the stadium, near Arroyo Boulevard and Seco Street, about 11:20 p.m. on Sept. 14, 2019. A second victim, who was 51 year old, was shot in the left arm but recovered, police said. Earlier this month, investigators identified the stabbing suspect as Kyonne Garner of Los Angeles, who is in custody in Nevada for an unspecified but unrelated charge, according to Pasadsena police. He was charged this week with murder by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office and is being held on $2.115 million bail, police said.

California Man Accused Of Driving Pickup Into Crowd Of Peaceful Protesters Arrested On Firearms Charges

A man who was arrested after allegedly driving a truck through a crowd of peaceful demonstrators during a May protest has been charged with federal gun crimes, authorities said. Benjamin Jong Ren Hung, 28, of San Marino, was arrested Wednesday. It wasn’t immediately clear whether he had an attorney who could speak on his behalf. On May 31, Hung “intentionally drove his Dodge Ram truck adorned with flags associated with right-wing extremist groups into a crowd of individuals peacefully protesting against racial injustice in police practices on a street in Pasadena,” according to an FBI agent’s affidavit filed with the federal criminal complaint. ”The victims were forced to run out of the way to avoid being struck,” according to the affidavit. Nobody was hurt. Hung hasn’t been charged with assaulting the protesters.

LEO Rescues 14-Year-Old From Illinois House Fire

A cop in a small Illinois community is being hailed a hero after he rescued a teenager from a house fire Tuesday. According to the Lisle Police Department, Officer Bill Wise was one of the first on the scene. Bystanders told the officer that a 14-year-old boy was trapped in the basement of one of the units. Wise forced entry into the home and was initially overcome by flames and smoke, the agency said. He rushed to the back of the unit and removed items that were blocking a window well. He was then able to pull the boy from the basement window. Lisle Police said both the officer and the teen were treated for smoke inhalation and exhaustion. Wise was taken to a local hospital for additional treatment and released Wednesday morning.

Public Safety News

Firefighters Get Bobcat Fire Containment Up To 50% As Flames Continue To Threaten Structures

Crews working day and night have gained better control over the destructive wildfire burning for a third week in the Angeles National Forest. By Thursday morning, firefighters had the blaze 50% contained at 113,986 acres, or 178 square miles, according to the federal InciWeb page. More than 1,600 firefighters have converged on the fire, but critically-needed firefighting resources are still limited, affecting how fast crews are able to contain the fire’s spread. Aided by strong winds and insufficient firefighting resources, the Bobcat Fire advanced on the Antelope Valley foothills last week, ripping a path of destruction along the way. The stubborn fire destroyed at least 52 structures, including many homes in the Juniper Hills area, according to a county estimate released Wednesday.

‘If You Think It’s Bad Now, Just Wait’: California Faces New Fire Threats, Further Straining Resources

California has already endured its worst fire year in recorded history, but with more heat and wind in the forecast, officials say conditions could get even worse as the state enters the peak of its traditional burning season. Another heat wave is bearing down on California — presenting an unwelcome double threat in a state where firefighting resources are already stretched thin. Conditions like those expected this weekend can make it harder to contain still-burning fires and easier for new ones to spark. The heat will arrive at what’s already a dangerous time from a fire perspective. In recent years, some of California’s worst blazes have ignited in October, November and even December, when hot Santa Ana, sundowner and diablo winds bear down, fanning the flames. “There are another two months of drama ahead,” climatologist Bill Patzert said. “If you think the season is bad now, just wait.”