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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

October 21, 2021
Law Enforcement News

Manhunt Underway In South Los Angeles Following Deadly Crash, Shooting
A manhunt is underway after police say someone fired shots, killing a woman who was involved in a multi-vehicle collision in South Los Angeles Wednesday. The Los Angeles Police Department responded to the area of East 21st Street and South Central Avenue around 11:30 a.m. after they received a call from someone who said they heard between seven to eight gunshots in the area and that they heard people running. A short time later, officers were notified about a car crash that occurred blocks away near the intersection of Jefferson Boulevard and San Pedro St. According to witnesses, one of the men involved in the crash, exited his car, walked over to a maroon colored car and opened fire, striking the driver and passenger. A woman died at the scene; a witness said he attempted to help the man before he was taken to the hospital. Family and friends identified the woman killed as Cynthia Hairston. Family and friends say Hairston had a restraining order against her ex-boyfriend, who is believed to be the shooter. LAPD officials have not yet confirmed if the shooting and car crash was a result of domestic violence. But authorities believe the suspect is connected to both incidents. The suspect was described as Black male, 5 feet 9 inches tall, 240 pounds and around 58 years old. He was driving a 2001 Toyota that has a missing front bumper and is believed to be armed with a handgun. FOX 11

After 4 Homeless Men Shot Near Ballona Wetlands, Suspect Is Charged With Attempted Murder
A man described as a known gang member by Los Angeles police has been charged with four counts of attempted murder in connection with a shooting at a homeless encampment in Playa del Rey near the Ballona Wetlands Ecological Reserve, authorities said. LAPD officials said Tuesday that they had arrested a man in connection with the Aug. 18 shooting, in which four men were shot shortly before 6 a.m. on a stretch of Jefferson Boulevard populated by recreation vehicles and tents. All of the victims were experiencing homelessness, but investigators have said it did not appear to be the motive for the shooting. Police officials did not identify the man who had been arrested, other than to say he had a lengthy criminal history and was on parole under post-release community supervision when the shooting occurred. But court and police booking records indicate he is Gerald Edward Rodriguez, 55, of Venice. Rodriguez was arrested Oct. 7 and charged five days later. During a court appearance on Oct. 12, he pleaded not guilty to four counts of attempted murder, four counts of assault with a firearm and one count of felony burglary, court records show. Los Angeles Times

Rider Ejected From Electric Scooter After Being Struck By Hit-and-Run Driver: LAPD
The Los Angeles Police Department is asking for the public's help in identifying a felony hit-and-run suspect. Just after 8 p.m. Sunday, a gray Toyota Camry traveling westbound on Rochester Avenue negotiated a left turn onto southbound Federal Avenue, the LAPD said in a news release. The vehicle then collided with an electric scooter traveling southbound on Federal. “The rider was ejected from the scooter and collided with the roadway,” police said. The driver of the Toyota Camry failed to stop, identify themselves or render aid as required by law. Paramedics transported the victim to a local area hospital, where the person is in serious but stable condition. “Drivers are reminded that if they become involved in a collision, they should pull over and stop as soon as it is safe to do so, notify emergency services, and remain at the scene to identify themselves,” the LAPD said in a statement. A reward of up to $25,000 is available to community members who provide information leading to the offender's identification, apprehension and conviction, or resolution through a civil compromise. KTLA 5

L.A. County Reports 76% Increase In Anti-Asian Hate Crimes
Anti-Asian hate crimes increased by 76% in Los Angeles County last year, mirroring a disturbing trend in many other jurisdictions as physical and verbal attacks on Asian Americans rose during the COVID-19 pandemic. Of the 44 anti-Asian hate crimes reported in L.A. County in 2020, more than three-quarters involved physical violence — a marked increase from 58% in 2018, the L.A. County Commission on Human Relations said in a report released Wednesday. In 2019, 25 anti-Asian hate crimes were reported. The data in the report were compiled from the L.A. County Sheriff's Department and more than 40 city police departments, including Los Angeles', as well as several school police agencies and community organizations. The number of reported hate crimes is generally seen as unreliable because victims can be reluctant to report them. However, sudden upticks are significant, and officials should work to understand the root causes, experts say. In 10 of the 44 L.A. County anti-Asian crimes, the suspect explicitly blamed the victims for COVID-19, the report said. Los Angeles Times

Bonin Votes Against Enforcement Of City's New Anti-Camping Law At 54 Locations
The Los Angeles City Council today voted to enforce its new anti-camping law at 54 locations, but two council members, including Mike Bonin, voted against it, noting that the city's newly adopted street engagement framework process was not conducted. The law, which went into effect Sept. 3, prohibits sleeping, sitting, camping and obstructing the public right of way within 500 feet of ``sensitive'' facilities, including schools, day care facilities, parks and libraries. It can be enforced once the council passes a resolution to designate a specific area for enforcement, posts signage and gives notice of the date that the ordinance will be enforced for the area. Once a resolution passes, enforcement can also be conducted  within: up to 500 feet of a designated overpass, underpass, freeway ramp, tunnel, bridge, pedestrian bridge, subway, wash or spreading ground, railroad track or where lodging unsheltered or in tents is unhealthy, unsafe and incompatible with safe passage; and up to 1,000 feet of a facility opened after Jan. 1, 2018, that provides shelter, safe sleeping, safe parking or navigation centers for persons experiencing homelessness. WestSide Current

Infiniti Sedan Sought In Connection With Shooting Outside Beverly Hills Restaurant
One person was injured in a shooting Tuesday night in Beverly Hills, and police were searching for a car in connection with the crime. The shooting was reported about 8:55 p.m. near a restaurant in the 300 block of North Canon Drive, near Rodeo Drive. One person was shot in the leg. Details about the hospitalized victim's condition were not immediately available. The shooter fled the scene before officers arrived, and police were searching for a silver Infiniti sedan. The car with tinted windows has damaged to the left rear quarter panel. Details about a motive for the shooting were not immediately available, but police said the shooting victim appeared to be the target of a robbery. A witness told NBCLA she heard and argument followed by a gunshot. "Everyone on the (restaurant) patio ran inside," the witness said. Witnesses said the victim was at the restaurant but went outside -- possibly to retrieve something from his Lamborghini SUV parked on the side of the street. That's when the shooting occurred. Anyone with information about this crime is urged to call the Beverly Hills Police Department at 310-285-2125. NBC 4

‘Survivor' Contestant Michelle Yi Stabbed, Beaten In Santa Monica; Woman In Custody
A former “Survivor” contestant was brutally attacked on the street in Santa Monica last Thursday. A woman was taken into custody for the attack and was also accused of other attacks that same morning. Michelle Yi, who appeared on season 16 of “Survivor” in Fiji, was stabbed and beaten on her way to teach a pilates class. Last Thursday, police say Yi was walking to her pilates studio on 2nd street when a woman hit Yi with a metal pole and stabbed her with a knife. Canadian journalist Murtz Jaffer, who's a friend of Yi and broke the story, said she's devastated by what happened. Yi was heading to teach a pilates class at 6 a.m. when police say a woman, who was reported missing from Fresno, assaulted her. Authorities say the alleged attacker was not on her prescribed medications at the time. Santa Monica police reported the suspect, 25-year-old Alexandria Diaz, is linked to two other attacks.  CBS 2

18-Year-Old Woman Fatally Wounded In Inglewood Car-to-Car Shooting
An 18-year-old woman was fatally shot in Inglewood on Monday, according to Mayor James Butts. In a tweet from the city's account, Butts said the Inglewood Police Department learned of the shooting that took place in the 100 block of North Inglewood Avenue just before midnight. The victim, an 18-year-old woman, had been sitting in a car with three other people, one of whom was her sister, when another car rolled up next to theirs, rolled down the window and opened fire, Butts said. The woman, whose name was not released, was taken by friends to Centinela Hospital, where she was pronounced dead, Butts said. The three other people in the car, two males and the sister, were uninjured. No further information was available. KTLA 5

LASD Looking To Identify Suspect Who Stole Items From Two Calabasas Cosmetic Stores
Authorities are asking for the public's help in identifying a man who allegedly stole several products from at least two cosmetic stores in Calabasas. The man entered a Sephora located at 4799 Commons Way on Sept. 29, Oct. 1 and Oct. 2 and allegedly filled his backpack with products on each occasion before leaving the store without paying, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. The man also entered an Ulta Beauty located at 23741 Calabasas Road on Oct. 13 and again allegedly filled a backpack with products before leaving the store and fleeing the area on a bicycle. Anyone with information on the alleged thefts was asked to contact LASD Detective Lopez at 818-878-1808. Anonymous tips can be called in to Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477 or submitted online at  lacrimestoppers.org . FOX 11

LASD Searching For 30-Year-Old Schizophrenic
The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department asked for the public's help in locating 30-year-old schizophrenic Michael Christopher Memolo who was last seen in Palmdale. According to authorities Memolo, also known as Spike, was last seen in the 1000 block of East Palmdale Boulevard near Melville J. Courson Park, at around 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday. LASD describes Memolo as a white male, standing 5-feet-10-inches with brown hair, brown eyes, a scar on the back of his head and another 3-4 inch scar on his forearm. He weighs 145 pounds and was last seen wearing a white shirt, black hooded sweatshirt, black pants and black shoes. LASD urged anyone with information to contact the LASD Missing Persons Unit at 323-890-5500. Those wishing to stay anonymous can submit their tips to Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477 or online at lacrimestoppers.org CBS 2

Calabasas Doctor Sentenced To 14 Months For Accepting Bribes
A Calabasas physician was sentenced to 14 months in federal prison Friday, Oct. 15 after prosecutors said he accepted nearly $800,000 in bribes and kickbacks as part of a conspiracy that unlawfully billed health insurers for compounded medication prescriptions. Compounded drugs can be prescribed if a patient is allergic to a specific ingredient in an FDA-approved medication. A compounded drug would be altered, combined, or mixed to meet the specific patient's needs. Dr. Amir Friedman, 56, along with 26 individuals in Southern California spanning from Pacific Palisades to Dana Point, were charged in September 2019 for their alleged involvement in a Medicare and Medicaid fraud scheme resulting in $257 million in billings. Prosecutors said that from August 2013 to May 2015, Friedman conspired with New Age Pharmaceuticals Inc., a Beverly Hills-based company, and an unnamed marketer to violate the law. Friedman used pre-printed prescription pads for compounded drugs provided to him by the marketer and received a kickback after the prescriptions were written, prosecutors said. New Age Pharmaceuticals dispensed the compounded drugs, billed insurance companies for reimbursement and shipped the medication to patients. Los Angeles Daily News

Cash To Curb Car Break-Ins: San Francisco Offers $100,000 Reward To Stop Thefts
San Francisco's latest response to auto burglaries will involve cold, hard cash. Mayor London Breed announced rewards of up to $100,000 leading to the arrest and conviction of car thieves in the city. Private donors from the hospitality and tourism industry in San Francisco have raised $250,000 in an effort to quash what they see as organized crime rings targeting vehicles across the state, and more donations are expected. City officials and tourism leaders worry that car burglaries are marring San Francisco's reputation as a travel destination. Additional police patrols and community ambassadors were dispatched this summer in an attempt the curb the break-ins. “The criminals are committing these acts in broad daylight in this city,” Breed said during a news conference Tuesday near Fisherman's Wharf. “It is really embarrassing for our city.” The announcement follows a summer of excessive auto burglaries, including 566 reported across San Francisco in the week leading up to July 4, police statistics show. The latest data, for the week ending Oct. 17, show car break-ins had dropped 37% from the July high point, down to 358, according to police data. Los Angeles Times

Gunman In Florida High School Massacre Pleads Guilty To Murder
A 23-year-old man pleaded guilty to 17 counts of first-degree murder Wednesday for the 2018 shooting massacre at a Florida high school as his attorneys turn their focus to saving him from a death sentence. A jury will later decide whether to sentence the gunman to death or life in prison. Nikolas Cruz appeared before Circuit Judge Elizabeth Scherer, who asked him a lengthy list of questions to gauge his mental competency. The defendant said he was feeling anxious. Scherer then asked him one by one how he pleaded to each killing at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. Cruz said "guilty" each time. The defendant's attorneys announced his intention to plead guilty during a hearing last week when he pleaded guilty to assaulting a jail guard. Ahead of Wednesday's hearing, Fred Guttenberg, whose 14-year-old daughter Jaime was killed in the shooting, told CBS News correspondent Mireya Villarreal the past three years have been "torture." During the hearing, as several parents shook their heads, the defendant apologized, saying, "I'm very sorry for what I did. ... I can't live with myself sometimes." He also added that he wished it was up to the survivors to determine whether he lived or died. CBS News

North Carolina Police Officer Killed, Another Seriously Injured In Crash
A police officer has died after a crash on Interstate 540 early Sunday morning. Knightdale police officers were investigating a single-car crash on I-540 just after 2:30 a.m. when a car hit their cruiser from behind, according to a town news release. Officer Ryan Hayworth, 23, was killed in the crash. "Ryan's loss (is) an indescribable tragedy for our department and our community," said Police Chief Lawrence Capps. "The pain of his death (is) felt the most by his family, friends, and those who knew him best. As we began the process of healing, we ask that you join us in a season of prayer for all of those who have been forever touched by this heartbreaking event." The crash occurred in the eastbound lanes by mile marker 22, the town said. Hayworth's training officer, Cody Hagler, was seriously injured, as was the driver who hit them and the person involved in the initial single-car crash. The News & Observer

Public Safety News


Garcetti: LA Employees Not Vaxed By Dec. 18 ‘Should Be Prepared' To Lose Jobs
Mayor Eric Garcetti said Wednesday that any city employee who refused to get vaccinated against COVID-19 by Dec. 18 "should be prepared to lose their job." The deadline was initially Wednesday for Los Angeles' mandate that all city employees be vaccinated. However, under a proposal submitted Tuesday by the city administrative officer, pending City Council approval, workers would have until Dec. 18 to show proof of vaccination. As of Wednesday morning, a date had not yet been set for the City Council to officially approve the plan, according to Council President Nury Martinez' office, but Garcetti released a statement Wednesday morning saying employees had until Dec. 18 to be vaccinated. "The city's employee vaccine mandate is critical to protecting the health and safety of our workforce and the Angelenos we serve," the mayor said. "Employees must be vaccinated by December 18, and we are putting a rigorous testing program into place in the meantime. Let me be clear: Any employee who refuses to be vaccinated by this date should be prepared to lose their job." The proposal to extend the deadline was submitted to the City Council as a resolution. FOX 11

US Details Plans To Roll Out COVID-19 Vaccine For Children Ages 5-11
Children ages 5 to 11 will soon be able to get a COVID-19 shot at their pediatrician's office, local pharmacy and potentially even their school, the White House said Wednesday as it detailed plans for the expected authorization of the Pfizer shot for elementary school youngsters in a matter of weeks. Federal regulators will meet over the next two weeks to weigh the safety and effectiveness of giving low-dose shots to the roughly 28 million children in that age group. Within hours of formal approval, which is expected after the Food and Drug Administration signs off and a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advisory panel meets on Nov. 2-3, millions of doses will begin going out to providers across the country, along with the smaller needles needed for injecting young children. Within days of that, the vaccine will be ready to go into arms on a wide scale. "We're completing the operational planning to ensure vaccinations for kids ages 5 to 11 are available, easy and convenient," White House COVID-19 coordinator Jeff Zients said. "We're going to be ready, pending the FDA and CDC decision." FOX 11

Local Government News

L.A. City Council Votes To Suspend Mark Ridley-Thomas Amid Federal Charges
The Los Angeles City Council doesn't have the power to fire any of the 15 members who represent L.A.'s 4 million residents. But the government body can bar members from doing their job. And for the second time in less than two years, the City Council on Wednesday suspended one of its own. The council voted 11 to 3 to immediately suspend Councilman Mark Ridley-Thomas, a veteran South Los Angeles politician who has been indicted on federal bribery, conspiracy and other charges. Hours later, city officials announced he would no longer receive his $223,800 salary. It was another dispiriting day at City Hall, which has been rocked by a series of scandals over alleged corruption. In June 2020, the council suspended then-Councilman Jose Huizar after he was charged with a racketeering count in an alleged pay-to-play scheme. Both Ridley-Thomas and Huizar are fighting the charges against them. Los Angeles Times

L.A. City Council Approves $56M For Affordable Housing In Venice, Hollywood
The Los Angeles City Council approved the release of $56 million dollars in funding for the construction of two affordable permanent supportive housing development projects in Venice and in Hollywood, according to Urbanize LA. The first project is for the Thatcher Yard project in the Venice Oxford Triangle. Construction on the project, by Brentwood based developer Thomas Safran & Associates, was supposed to begin last year with a completion date of 2022. The project is slated to bring 98 units of affordable and supportive housing for senior citizens and formerly homeless families. The over 100,000 square-foot project is located in between Lincoln Boulevard and Admiralty Way. Funding for the project includes $33.4 million in tax-exempt bonds and more than $6.5 in taxable multifamily housing revenue notes. The project calls for 68 senior units in one two-to three-story building and 30 units for families in several one- and two-story buildings. 82 parking spaces will be provided in a subterranean parking level. WestSide Current
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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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