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Daily Local & Regional NewsWatch
LA Police Protective League

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Los Angeles
Police Protective League
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the union that represents the
rank and file LAPD officers

  Daily Local & Regional NewsWatch

Daily News Digest
from LA Police Protective League

December 14, 2020
Law Enforcement News

Two Shot In South Los Angeles Area; Suspect Arrested
Two people were wounded in a shooting in the south Los Angeles area Thursday, and a suspect was arrested. The shooting was reported about 9:45 a.m. in the 8000 block of South Denker Avenue, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. The pair suffered wounds described as non-life-threatening, police said. The suspect’s name was not immediately released. 

One Person Taken Into Hospital From Freeway Stabbing Investigation Scene
A person was taken to a hospital Thursday from the scene of a stabbing investigation on the Santa Monica 10 Freeway in Boyle Heights. The incident was reported about 12:30 p.m. on the freeway, near Soto Street, according to Officer William Cooper of the Los Angeles Police Department, who could not confirm that a person was stabbed. One person was taken to a hospital, Cooper said. LAPD confirmed that the CHP was conducting a stabbing investigation at the location, and that the person taken to a hospital was a woman. Officers were looking for a suspect, possibly in a white Dodge Challenger. The CHP took over the investigation from the LAPD, according to Cooper, but further details were not immediately available from either agency.

Over 1K LAPD Employees Have Tested Positive For COVID-19 Since Pandemic Began
A total of 1,120 Los Angeles Police Department employees have tested positive for COVID-19 since the pandemic began. According to Jessica Kellogg of the Emergency Operations Center, 363 employees are at home recovering or self-isolating due to exposure, and 726 have returned to work. The LAPD on Sunday reported the death of Sgt. Fred Cueto, a 22-year veteran of the department, who was the second sworn officer and third LAPD employee to die of the virus. In July, 45-year-old Valentin Martinez, a sworn-officer, and Erica McAdoo, a 39-year-old non-sworn senior detention officer, died from coronavirus complications. Meanwhile, 432 Los Angeles Fire Department employees have tested positive for the virus. Kellogg said 114 are recovering at home in isolation, 310 have returned to work, and seven are no longer quarantining but remain at home.

LAPD Seeking Two Witnesses They Hope Will Help Find Hit/Run Suspect
Police Thursday sought public help to identify two witnesses they hope will help them find a hit-and-run suspect in the death of a 76-year-old woman in the Westlake neighborhood of Los Angeles. The LAPD announced a week ago that Ronald Waldamar Jo-Jlux, 26, also known as Ronald Lux, is allegedly responsible for fatally injuring Jeun Chu Ham, who was hit by a car while crossing Miramar Street at Union Avenue shortly before 6 a.m. on Nov. 23. The woman was hit by a tan Toyota Corolla that was turning left onto Miramar Street, dragging her about 15 feet. The driver fled the scene without rendering aid, according to police, who said Ham died of her injuries in a hospital intensive care unit at about 8 that night. Detectives believe Jo-Jlux may be driving or living in the vehicle, which is described as a four-door tan or gold 2003 to 2008 Corolla, with its driver side wheels missing its hub caps or is equipped with aftermarket black rims. Police appealed Thursday for help in finding two people described as witnesses. “They were captured on video associating with the driver of the Toyota Corolla, Ronald Waldamar Jo-Jlux,” according to an LAPD statement.

Concerns Of Animal Abuse Grow After Video Shows Dog Getting Caught In Middle Of Fight Between Homeless Couple
Video showing a homeless couple fighting at an encampment in downtown Los Angeles is sparking concern amongst locals after the couple’s small dog was caught in the middle and tossed to the ground. The woman who recorded the video asked FOX 11 for anonymity, but tells us the couple has been fighting at an encampment near 6th and Main routinely since October. “This couple, from the day they moved over here have been nonstop fighting like every couple of days,” she said. “I started seeing that there was a dog and a cat and anytime they’re fighting it seems like the animals are the victims.” When she posted the video to social media, a concerned citizen sent it to the LAPD Animal Cruelty Task Force, which is being disbanded due to defunding, and the unit responded via an email. “Thank you for contacting the Los Angeles Police Department, recently defunded Animal Cruelty Task Force,” the email says. “ACTF will no longer be a resource available to the public regarding animal abuse/cruelty matters. We suggest that you contact the local animal shelter who investigates matters in your area.” LAPD Captain Scot Harrelson, commanding officer of LAPD Central Division, tells FOX 11 he does have an officer working on the issue, but that animal control hasn’t returned their calls.

South L.A. Man Fatally Beaten With Hammer By Transient He Allowed To Stay On Property: LASD
One person is in custody after a man was beaten to death with a hammer during an altercation on his property in South Los Angeles Wednesday night, sheriff’s officials said. About 6:30 p.m., deputies responded to a report of a fight at a residence in the 1000 block of West 98th Street, located in the Westmont neighborhood. There, they found the victim suffering from a traumatic head injury in the backyard, according to a Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department news release. Paramedics responded and pronounced him dead at the scene. His name was not immediately released. The victim died after being hit in the head with a hammer during a fight with a homeless man he had allowed to stay in his backyard, investigators said. It’s unclear what prompted the physical altercation. Authorities apprehended the suspected attacker a short distance away from the scene. They did not identify him. Anyone with information is asked to call the Sheriff’s Department Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500.

LA Man Found Dead On Street After Shooting In Oxnard
A 26-year-old Los Angeles man was shot and killed late Wednesday night in Oxnard and police are investigating. The shooting happened in the 600 block of Rubens Place at about 11:35 p.m. When officers arrived, they found a man lying down on the street with a gunshot wound to the head, according to the Oxnard Police Department. The victim died at the scene. Police are not releasing his name until his family has been notified. Information about the shooter was not immediately available. Wednesday's killing marks the 8th homicide this year for the city of Oxnard. Detectives urge anyone who may have video recorded or photographed all or part of the incident, to upload that media directly to investigators. Anyone wishing to remain anonymous may do so when uploading their media. Anyone with information about this case is asked to call Oxnard Police Detective John Sunia at 805-385-7760 or the police department at 805-385-7600. 

Owner Of L.A. Fashion District Company And Son Indicted In Money Laundering Scheme
Federal prosecutors have filed charges against the owner of a Los Angeles fashion district firm and his son for their role in schemes to avoid paying millions of dollars in duties and taxes to the United States, officials announced Thursday. The defendants include: C’est Toi Jeans, Inc. (CTJ) a clothing import and export company in L.A.’s fashion district; 67-year-old Si Oh Rhew of La Canada Flintridge, who is president of CTJ; and 33-year-old Lance Rhew, son of Si Oh Rhew and a CTJ corporate officer. Lance is also the owner of another company called GLLR Inc. that did business with CTJ. In a 35-count indictment filed Wednesday, prosecutors allege that CTJ and the Rhews were at the center of two schemes — one that avoided paying more than $10 million in customs duties on imported clothing, and a second scheme in which the company laundered narcotics money and failed to report tax returns of more than $17 million from cash transactions. The indictment announced Thursday includes counts of conspiracy, tax fraud and money laundering, among several other criminal charges.

Father, Son Accused Of 20 Robberies At Southland Trader Joe’s Locations
A man and his father have been accused of robbing 18 Trader Joe’s stores located in Los Angeles, Ventura, Orange, San Bernardino and Riverside Counties between August and December of this year. Gregory Johnson and his son, Gregory Eric Johnson, were arrested Dec. 4 after allegedly robbing a Chino Hills Trader Joe’s, according to a criminal complaint released Thursday. According to the complaint, a witness who had been hired by the store spotted the elder Johnson leaving the location following reports of a robbery wearing clothing consistent with the description given by workers. The elder Johnson allegedly got into a vehicle being driven by his son. When police stopped the vehicle, they found a loaded black semi-automatic handgun, a blue drawstring bag with more than $3,800 inside and a blue hooded sweatshirt that workers identified as belonging to the robbery suspect, according to the complaint. The two are also suspected of robbing 17 other Trader Joe’s locations, resulting in a loss of approximately $57,000. 

Sheriff’s Deputies To Be On The Lookout For DUIs Through Holidays
Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputies will be on the lookout for drivers suspected of driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol starting Monday and lasting through New Year’s Day, the department announced. The department reminded motorists that impaired driving does not only include influence from alcohol and illegal drugs but includes influence from prescription medications, over-the-counter drugs and marijuana. “This year has been challenging and difficult on all of us,” Sgt. Robert Hill said. “The last thing we need is more heartbreak and tragedy. Make the right choice by not driving impaired so everyone can have a safe holiday.” The public was also reminded to stay home and avoid large gatherings this holiday season to help curb the spread of COVID-19.

Public Safety News

L.A. County Shatters COVID-19 Record With 12,741 New Cases In One Day
Los Angeles County shattered its daily record for new coronavirus cases, with 12,741 reported Thursday as hospitals continued to fill with patients, according to an independent Times tally. The new total is more than 2,800 more coronavirus cases than L.A. County has seen in a single day — breaking the previous record set Sunday — and shows the coronavirus is still spreading rapidly through communities. The county also reported 74 new deaths, the fourth-highest single-day total of the COVID-19 pandemic. The surge in cases likely represents the consequence of an explosion of virus transmission over the Thanksgiving holiday, officials said. “I do think that we’re starting to see some of the increases from Thanksgiving week, and the thousands of people that were either traveling or mingling with people outside their household for the holiday,” L.A County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said earlier this week. With the new numbers, L.A. County is now averaging nearly 9,500 new coronavirus cases a day over the last week, and 52 COVID-19 deaths a day. Those are both records in this pandemic. Until Thursday, the highest average daily number of COVID-19 deaths in L.A. County over a weekly period was 50, a record set for the seven-day period that ended April 24.

LA County Unveils COVID Vaccine Distribution Plan, Expecting Nearly 83K Doses As Early As Next Week
As Los Angeles County reported 12,819 new COVID-19 cases on Thursday, breaking its daily record since the start of the pandemic, public health officials rolled out their plan for how vaccines will be distributed once available. County health officials are preparing the massive undertaking of administering vaccinations to millions of residents, vowing the process will be done equitably based on health priorities. "Equity is a fundamental principle here," the county's Chief Science Officer Dr. Paul Simon said during an online media briefing. "We want to make sure all people have access, and that those that are at greatest risk either because of higher risk of exposure, or greater risk of severe illness because of chronic health conditions or other factors have more immediate access to the vaccine." Simon stressed that initial doses of the vaccine will be strictly designated for health care workers and staff and residents of long-term care facilities.

California’s Stay-Home Order Is Falling On Many Deaf Ears
In the Southern California oceanside city of Manhattan Beach, one arm of government is urging residents to stay home except for essential needs while another is encouraging them to get out and shop and even providing places where they can sit down to relax, eat takeout and watch the sun set on the Pacific. It’s one example of confusing messages from governments as most of California is under a broad shutdown order that includes an overnight curfew to try to stem record-breaking coronavirus cases that threaten to overwhelm the hospital system. While state and county health officials are pleading with residents to stay home and only mingle with those in their household, the order allows all retailers to remain open with 20% capacity and encourages people to get outside to exercise. Manhattan Beach Mayor Suzanne Hadley said her community saw an opportunity to aid local businesses while meeting the stipulations of the order. The solution: repurposing city-owned patio areas set up to allow restaurants to serve diners outdoors — which no longer is allowed — into “public seating areas” where downtown shoppers can relax.
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About the LAPPL Formed in 1923, the Los Angeles Police Protective League (LAPPL) represents the more than 9,900 dedicated and professional sworn members of the Los Angeles Police Department. The LAPPL serves to advance the interests of LAPD officers through legislative and legal advocacy, political action and education. The LAPPL can be found on the Web at:

www.LAPD.com


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