30 Cops Injured, 1 Run Over, After Fatal OIS Sparks Violence In Philadelphia

Outrage sparked by the shooting death of a Black man by police on Monday ripped across Philadelphia overnight amid protests that saw looting, vandalism and violent clashes between demonstrators and law enforcement officers. At least 30 police officers were injured late Monday into early Tuesday, including a 56-year-old sergeant who was clipped by a black pickup truck, NBC Philadelphia reported. She was hospitalized with a broken leg and is expected to recover. The incident was broadcast on a social media livestream around 12:50 a.m. “Oh my god. He hit a cop,” one bystander can be heard saying in the video. Police told the Philadelphia Inquirer they stopped a vehicle nearby a short time later that they believe was involved in the incident. 

Man Taken To Hospital After Reporting He Was Shot In Foot In Echo Park Area

A man was taken to a hospital Friday evening after reporting to police he was shot in the foot in the Echo Park area. The victim, who was in the 1200 block of Bellevue Avenue, one block from Sunset Boulevard, called police about 7:35 p.m., according to the Los Angeles Police Department. Los Angeles Fire Department personnel responded and took the man to a hospital, the LAFD’s Margaret Stewart said. His condition was not available, and information about a suspect was released.

Protester Charged With Assaulting LAPD Officer Moments Before He Was Wounded By Projectile

A protester who is suing the city of Los Angeles and several LAPD officers after being shot and badly wounded by a police projectile during a major protest in the city this summer has been charged with assault in the same incident. Bradley Steyn, 49, was charged with assaulting an officer and resisting or obstructing an officer in a misdemeanor complaint filed in California Superior Court by City Atty. Mike Feuer’s office Monday, court records show. The complaint alleges Steyn “willfully and unlawfully [used] force and violence” against an LAPD officer — identified only as Officer K. Clark — during a protest in the Fairfax district on May 30. . Police and their supporters pointed to the incident as an example of the violence that police face during such events, and have suggested that Steyn’s allegedly kicking the officer gave the second officer cause to see him as a threat and to shoot him.

Woman Hit, Killed By Car In Van Nuys

A woman was struck and killed by a car early Monday morning in Van Nuys. The collision occurred at around 2 a.m. in the 8000 block of Sepulveda Boulevard, near Marson Street. Los Angeles police arrived to find the victim lying in the street. She died at the scene. Her name was not released. An LAPD spokesperson could not immediately confirm if the driver remained on scene or if the incident was being investigated as a hit-and-run.

Police Search For Motorcyclist Who Struck Boy, 6, Fled Scene In Sylmar

The Los Angeles Police Department Monday released surveillance video of a hit-and-run that sent a 6-year-old boy to the hospital. According to police, the boy was riding his scooter at about 6:30 p.m. Saturday near Cobalt Street and Encinitas Avenue when a motorcyclist, traveling westbound on Cobalt, struck him. After hitting the child, the motorcyclist picked up his motorcycle that was laying in the road, put his helmet back on and fled the scene — leaving the boy without rendering aid, police said. The boy was taken to a local hospital where he was listed in stable condition, police said. A $25,000 reward is being offered for anyone providing information that leads to the suspect’s identification and conviction. Those with information were asked to contact Officer Garcia at 818-644-8117.

Suspect Who Led Officers On Chase In Stolen Box Truck Arrested

A man was arrested after leading officers on a chase from downtown Los Angeles to Burbank on Monday morning. The suspect, traveling at high speeds, led offices with the LAPD on the freeway just before 5:20 a.m. before getting off onto main streets and into residential areas in downtown Los Angeles. Shortly after, the pursuit continued into the Los Feliz neighborhood. The white box truck was seen making sharp and dangerous turns. By 5:50 a.m., the driver began traveling northbound in the 5 Freeway as California Highway Patrol took control of the pursuit. By 5:55 a.m., the suspect began driving more erratically and with the truck's lights turned off. The suspect abruptly terminated the chase, got out of the truck and escaped into a flood control channel near the Los Angeles River in Burbank by 6 a.m. By 6:15 a.m., the suspect was taken into custody.

Police Search For Hit-and-Run Driver Who Struck 66-Year-Old Woman Crossing Glendale Street

A 66-year-old woman is in critical condition after she was struck by a pickup truck Wednesday while crossing a Glendale street. Security video captured Siranoosh Yousefi walk home from the post office around 4:30 p.m. just before the vehicle struck her on the 500 block of Dryden Street, the Glendale Police Department said. The driver did not stop after hitting her. Witnesses heard the crash and one called for help. Yousefi is now in the hospital undergoing treatment for her injuries, which include a skull fracture, pelvic fracture and brain bleeds, according to her son, Vehan Amirian. “The range of emotions that I felt is kind of sickening to my stomach where someone would hit an old woman,” Amirian said. Doctors say Yousefi will be in the hospital for at least a month, Amirian said, and although her family is relieved she’s in stable condition, they’re heartbroken someone would do this to her and leave her on the street.

LASD Searching For Missing Pearblossom Woman, 42, With Schizophrenia

Sheriff’s detectives asked for public help Sunday to find a 42-year-old woman suffering from schizophrenia, diabetes and high blood pressure who was living in her car in Pearblossom. Mendi Michelle Dutton was last seen about 2 p.m. Wednesday leaving her vehicle, which was parked in the 12600 block of East Avenue X, the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department reported. Dutton may have been headed to downtown Los Angeles, the LASD reported. The vehicle she’s been living in is a 2017 Nissan Altima, California license plate 7TYU838. Dutton is Black. She stands 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighs about 225 pounds, the LASD reported. She has short black hair, brown eyes, wears earrings and has a tattoo on her back. Anyone with information on Dutton’s whereabouts was asked to call the sheriff’s Missing Persons unit at 323-890-5500 or 911.

2 LA County Supervisors To Explore Possibility Of Removing Sheriff

Los Angeles County supervisors are set to consider on Tuesday, Oct. 27, how they might try to oust Sheriff Alex Villanueva from his post before voters go to the polls in 2022. Supervisors Mark Ridley-Thomas and Sheila Kuehl have recommended that the board round up its lawyers, inspector general, civilian oversight commissioners and acting CEO to look at options for removing or impeaching the sheriff. “Under the current sheriff, hard-fought vital progress is being undone, and community trust is rapidly eroding,” their motion states. “While the board has been able to navigate challenging times with previous sheriffs, this sheriff’s actions demonstrate the dire need to explore options for removing a sheriff who refuses oversight or, at a minimum, mitigating damages cause by unacceptable behavior,” it says. 

Prison For LA Man Who Ran Latina Grandmothers Lottery Ticket Scam

A Los Angeles man was sentenced Monday to 33 months in federal prison for running what prosecutors called a “depraved and cruel” fraud scheme that targeted Latina grandmothers throughout the Southland in a scam involving fake winning lottery tickets. Tito Lozada, a 50-year-old Colombian national and Los Angeles resident, was also found jointly responsible with his co-defendants for $190,422 in restitution to victims. Lozada pleaded guilty in February to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Prosecutors wrote that Lozada personally selected elderly women “with particular vulnerabilities” and exploited those weaknesses for his own personal gain. Three additional defendants pleaded guilty to the conspiracy charge and were previously sentenced to prison terms ranging from 33 months to time already served.

Feds, Local Officials Working Together To Ensure Election Security

As a record number of voters are casting their ballots early this year, local and federal officials say their top priorities are to ensure the safety of citizens and the security of the election. The announcement, which officials stress is being done only out of an abundance of caution, comes after top federal intelligence officials announced last week that Iran and Russia have taken actions to try to compromise the U.S. election and have obtained some voter registration data. Voters at the South Pasadena Community Center on Monday said they were motivated by fear above all else to vote early, following reports of unofficial ballots boxes and suspected arson to a ballot box. “I’ve just heard too many rumors about fraud and how things could go bad,” said voter Dan Hughley. It’s not just voters who are feeling the pressure of election time; officials say security concerns remain top of mind.

FEMA Warns Of Disaster-Aid Scams

The Federal Emergency Management Agency Monday warned victims of California’s wildfires and other natural disasters to beware of swindlers who pose as official aid workers or relatives trying to help them get government assistance. Stressing that it does not endorse commercial businesses, products or services, FEMA advised residents in Los Angeles, San Diego, Fresno, Madera, Mendocino, Napa, San Bernardino, Shasta, Siskiyou and Sonoma counties to be on the lookout for common tactics used by these criminals, such as phone calls from people claiming to work for the federal agency. The scammers might, for example, seek to obtain a victim’s Social Security number and income or banking information, which could allow them to make a false claim for assistance or commit identity theft.

When Americans Go Missing In Mexico, U.S. Officials Have To Tell Loved Ones, ‘Go To Mexico’

When Karla Izquierdo’s ex-husband, Francisco Aguilar, disappeared in Rosarito, she unwillingly joined a group no one wants to become a member of: the tens of thousands of families searching across Mexico for their missing loved ones. But, in one sense, the case is a relative rarity because Aguilar, a 20-year veteran of the Los Angeles Fire Department, is an American citizen. Each year, millions of Americans visit Mexico without incident. Still, 324 American citizens have vanished since 2006 and not been found, according to the Mexican federal government’s official tally of the missing. That compares with more than 70,000 missing Mexicans. The Aguilar case highlights some of the frustrations Americans face when forced to confront the weakness of the Mexican criminal justice system, one in which those accused of violent crimes are often acquitted, even when they confess. Law enforcement officials in the United States say it can be frustrating for family members when they realize U.S. police have no jurisdiction in Mexico and have to rely on their Mexican counterparts to investigate cases of missing Americans.

US Marshals Rescue 45 Missing Children In Anti-Human Trafficking Operation

A total of 45 missing children were rescued during a month-long anti-human trafficking operation coordinated by the U.S. Marshal's Service in southern Ohio, according to a news release from the state's attorney general. More than 50 law enforcement and non-government agencies partnered for "Operation Autumn Hope," which focused on recovering missing children and rescuing victims of human trafficking. During the month-long operation, 109 human trafficking victims were found and referred to social services. Additionally, the rescues of 45 children were among 76 missing and exploited children cases cleared across southern Ohio. As part of the operation, police found a 15-year-old girl missing from Cleveland whose recovery linked her and other possible victims to an individual in Columbus suspected of human trafficking. Additionally, officers discovered a 15-year-old male with two warrants who is a suspect in multiple shootings and a homicide. A 14-year-old girl who was reported missing by the Lancaster Police Department was recovered in Columbus within six hours of being reported missing.

Public Safety News

L.A. County Allowing Personal Care Services Like Massage And Tattoo Parlors To Reopen Indoors

Aligning with state orders, Los Angeles County on Friday allowed more personal care services like massage and tattoo parlors to reopen indoors — but with restrictions in place to curb the spread of the coronavirus. Hair removal, electrology, microblading, massage, piercing, tanning services and body art and tattoo parlors can all resume operations, following county coronavirus safety guidelines, officials said. The restrictions include, no piercing and tattooing services for the mouth or nose area, required reservations, customers keeping their masks on during the services and workers providing tattoos or piercings for only one customer at a time. “Since indoor activities carry higher risks associated with the transmission of COVID-19, especially in spaces with poor ventilation, it is critical that facilities ensure that appropriate physical distancing is maintained, that customers and staff wear face coverings at all times, hand hygiene is strictly observed, enhanced cleaning and disinfection of the facility is maintained and that ventilation is optimized,” the updated public health order reads.

SoCal’s Extreme Fire Danger Weather Expected To Ease Tuesday

Extremely dry, windy weather that fueled the outbreak of a large Orange County wildfire and put the region on edge watching for other potential blazes is expected to ease by Tuesday afternoon. Temperatures likely will rise through the week, and dry conditions will remain. But the strong gusts of Santa Ana winds that are a key component to what on Monday was considered the most dangerous fire conditions all year are expected to subside. As feared by forecasters, minor isolated showers over the weekend that brought a little precipitation to a rain-starved Southern California proved too little, too late, as bone dry vegetation ignited in portions of Orange County, and strong gusts of wind pushed the Silverado fire to more than 4,000 acres. Other, smaller fires also broke out around the region. “Basically, we are looking at a particularly dangerous situation,” said David Sweet, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service’s Los Angeles office.

Local Government News

LA County, City Rolls Out Pilot Program To Respond To Mental Health Crisis Calls

Los Angeles County and city will create a new pilot program to provide response vans staffed with specially trained teams to each of the county’s five districts to help those experiencing mental health crises, officials have announced. Officials from the county and city announced the yearlong program on Monday, Oct. 26, declaring it time for a more compassionate approach to helping people having mental health crises — rather than having law enforcement, firefighters or paramedics respond. The Therapeutic Transportation Pilot Program will be staffed with teams from the county’s Department of Mental Health for 24/7 responses to calls coming in at five Los Angeles city fire stations, including Station 36 in San Pedro. The vans will be in place by January.