LACP.org
..
Daily Local & Regional NewsWatch
LA Police Protective League

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
.
 

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

  Daily Local & Regional NewsWatch

Daily News Digest
from LA Police Protective League

November 5, 2021
Law Enforcement News

LA County Prosecutor Who Described Police As ‘Barbarians' Picked As Interim Victims Bureau Chief
Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón has named a former public defender who once described police as “barbarians” as the interim director of the Bureau of Victim Services, drawing criticism from a law enforcement union and a former top prosecutor. Tiffiny Blacknell, hired in January as a special adviser to Gascón, began her new duties Tuesday and will serve while a nationwide search is conducted to select a permanent director. Craig Lally, president of the Los Angeles Police Protective League, maintains Blacknell's anti-law enforcement rhetoric makes her unfit to represent crime victims. “The appointment of a career criminal defense attorney, who supports abolishing prisons and defunding the police, as the top crime victim advocate is absurd,” Lally said in a statement. “Does George Gascón honestly think that crime victims will trust someone who has fought for less accountability for criminals and who publicly expresses hatred toward police officers? It's clear Gascón doesn't care about victims.” Los Angeles Daily News

Indiana Native Arrested For Shooting Woman On Metro Train In Hollywood: LAPD
An arrest has been made in the Oct. 10 shooting of a woman on a Red Line Metro train in Hollywood, the Los Angeles Police Department announced. Andre Dunlap, 23, was arrested in South Bend, Indiana, on Thursday in connection with the murder of Danielle Harlemon, police said. Dunlap reportedly shot Harlemon in the neck when the train stopped at the Hollywood and Vine station, police said. The LAPD worked with the FBI to capture Dunlap, who was homeless and on parole for a robbery attempt at the time of the killing, police said. Dunlap, an Indiana native, fled back to the state after the shooting, police added. He will be extradited back to Los Angeles, where he will face a murder charge. His bail will be set at almost $2.1 million. KTLA 5

Homeless Gunman In Venice Wanted On Attempted Homicide Charges 
The Los Angeles Police Department says it has a perimeter around a homeless man they say is wanted in an attempted homicide from last week. Police say the suspect fired 15 rounds at a victim, all of them missed, at Sawtelle Boulevard and and Venice Avenue on October 25, according to the LAPD. On Thursday, police identified the man as a suspect in the case and tried to obtain him. That's when they say a foot pursuit took place. The pursuit ended at Oxford Avenue and Washington Boulevard, according to Officer Drake Madison of the LAPD public information desk. Police say they have eyes on the suspect and are working to get him into custody. As of now, the streets around the area are blocked off. That includes Marr and Mildred at Washington Boulevard.  WestSide Current

Investigators Continuing Their Search For Heidi Planck Find More Video
Heidi Planck, 39-year old mother has now been missing for nearly three weeks. Investigators found more video on Thursday that could hold valuable information to her case. The video shows Planck's boss, Jason Sugarman, ringing her doorbell before leaving a box of muffins on her doorstep. Sugarman, though not indicated by law enforcement officials as a person of interest in the case, has raised the suspicions of many of Planck's friends. Sugarman and many within his company, Camden Capital Partners, are currently being investigated by the Securities and Exchange Commission. The investigation is looking into an alleged $43 million stolen from unwitting pension funds by the company. Planck's ex-husband has issued his opinion that her disappearance may be related to the investigation, as she is the company's Financial Controller. Friends and family continue their search for Heidi, posting fliers in new locations on a day-to-day basis. They hoped on Thursday that they would find her, more than most other days. With good reason – it was her son's 11th birthday. CBS 2

Man, 22, Reported Missing In Sawtelle District
Police Thursday were searching for a 22-year-old man last seen in the Sawtelle District. Dev Singh was last seen walking south in the 1900 block of Beloit Avenue, near Missouri Avenue, in the early hours Wednesday morning, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. Singh is 5 feet, 11 inches and weighs 190 pounds and has black hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a green shirt, red pants, black shoes and a blue jacket. Anyone with information on Singh's whereabouts was asked to contact the LAPD Missing Persons Unit at 213-996-1800. Calls made during non-business hours or on weekends can be directed to 877-527-3247. Anonymous tips can be called in to Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477 or submitted online at lacrimestoppers.org . MyNewsLA.com

Authorities Asks Public To Identify Three Commercial Burglary Suspects
The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department released three photos to the public Thursday in hope that someone can identify three suspects they believe committed burglaries at two retail stores in Westlake Village. A commercial burglary occurred Oct. 25 at approximately 3:37 a.m. at Pedego 101 Electric Bikes, 31332 Via Colinas, where a black “Ridge Rider” bicycle and a black-and-blue “Trail Tracker” bicycle were stolen, the sheriff's Lost Hills/Malibu station reported. Less than 10 minutes later, a break-in occurred at Computer Power Unlimited, at the same address but different unit of the retail complex. No items were reported stolen. The three suspects were seen on surveillance video at both locations allegedly using a large rock to smash the glass of the front door entrances. Shortly after, one of the suspects is seen leaving the parking lot driving a black pickup and another is seen as driving a silver SUV. The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department urged anyone with any information regarding the burglaries or suspects to call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477. MyNewsLA.com

Culver City Police Seek Suspects Who Shot, Assaulted Bicyclist
A man was shot early Thursday in Culver City and police were searching for at least two suspects. Culver City Police Department officers were called about 3:30 a.m. to a hospital that treated a man with a possible gunshot or pellet wound, according to a department statement. The man said he was riding his bicycle in the 8500 block of National Boulevard, near Fay Avenue, about 1:45 a.m. when he heard a loud pop and felt a pain in his chest that caused him to fall. He said he was then assaulted by at least two suspects who then fled the scene on foot. He was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening wounds and listed in stable condition. A possible motive was not disclosed. He described the suspects as men in their 30s in dark clothing, and said a third suspect may also have been involved. Anyone with information on the assault was asked to contact Culver City Police Department Public Information Officer Assistant Chief Jason Sims at 310-253-6391 or the watch commander at 310-253-6202. MyNewsLA.com

Seizure Of 20,000 Fentanyl Pills And 54 Pounds Of Meth Leads To Arrest Of Bellflower Couple
Sixteen people were indicted after a series of arrests disrupted a multi-state methamphetamine and fentanyl distribution ring, according to federal officials. The drugs were coming from California and being sold in at least six Washington state counties, said U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. “Members of the ring tried to trade drugs for firearms – ones they could transport to Mexico – contributing to terrible violence south of the border,” Brown said in a Tuesday news release. “These arrests are a significant step for community safety.” The investigation started in early 2020 when people working with law enforcement agencies provided information about the drug sales. Officials seized 10 pounds of meth in a May 2020 traffic stop and 44 pounds of meth in an April 2020 stop. In September 2021, officials seized 83 pounds of meth and 20,000 fentanyl pills. Prosecutors say the leaders of the drug distribution ring, Jose Maldonado-Ramirez, 33, and his fiancé, Iris Amador-Garcia, 30, of Bellflower, California, were arrested October 28, 2021. Los Angeles Daily News

How California State Workers Got Caught In A $2.7 Million Embezzlement Scheme
The email from Patricia Roberts arrived in Schenelle Flores' inbox at the California Office of AIDS at 10:30 a.m. on March 19, 2018. Roberts was sending an invoice along to Flores, then the chief of the HIV Prevention Implementation Section of the office, which operates under the California Department of Public Health and provides condoms, programs and services to local health entities working to fight the spread of AIDS. “Please see the attached invoice,” Roberts wrote. “Let me know if you should have any questions or concerns regarding our services. Thank you again for allowing us to be part of your team.” One day later, an Office of AIDS contractor in Coarsegold, a Madera County community of roughly 1,600 residents between Fresno and the Yosemite Valley, cut a $50,000 check to pay PR Management Consultants in Sacramento. The contractor, MLB Distributors Inc., had a $7.4 million contract with the state to provide services and materials to the Office of AIDS, and addressed the check to PR Management Consultants' address on Calvine Road, which is a UPS mailbox store. Sacramento Bee

California Dad Shot In Face While Holding Baby, Family Suspects Hate Crime: Report
An Oakland, California, father of four was shot in the face on Saturday evening in an attack the family believes may have been a hate crime, according to police and local reports. The Oakland Police Department is investigating the shooting that occurred in the 1000 block of Peralta Street, the department told Fox News. "I'm playing the 'why' game right now because we don't talk to anybody really aside from our immediate neighbors, so I'm trying to figure out if it's because we're gay. I just can't believe this is random," one of the children's two fathers, identified only as Jimmie, told KGO, a local ABC station. Jimmie's husband survived a gunshot wound to the head after he was shot while holding his five-week-old baby, who also survived and sustained only minor abrasions to the face, according to the outlet. The shooting suspect or suspects fired into their home about 10 times, Jimmie told KGO. "I just started screaming, 'Get down, get down, get down'! Our daughter, our 4-year-old, was crawling towards me and I moved her towards the kitchen, and he put the baby on the floor," Jimmie said, referencing his husband. FOX 11

New York Officer In Coma After Being Hit By Suspected Drunk Driver
A Long Island police officer is in a medically induced coma after being hit by a suspected drunk driver on Wednesday, according to CBS New York. The officer was directing traffic when the suspect driver slammed into another car and spun around, pinning the officer underneath. The officer, who was not named, had emergency brain surgery and is on a ventilator as of Thursday, according to the report. “We came close to losing a life of one of our members,” Acting Police Commissioner Stuart Cameron told CBS New York. “We are optimistic that he will fully recover and, again, that's due to the great care that he received.” The driver, 38-year-old William Petersohn, was charged with DWI. Petersohn also suffered serious injuries, police said.  PoliceOne

Violent Crime Down Slightly In NYC Compared To Last Year As Gun Arrests Surge
Gun arrests made by the NYPD continued to surge in October as the number of murders and shootings dropped citywide compared with the same month last year, officials said Wednesday. But with New York City Mayor-elect Eric Adams less than two months away from taking office, the year will end with violent crime still significantly more prevalent than in 2019. The city has seen 399 murders through October, 2% less than the 407 victims by the same point last year. But this year's homicide rate is still a 42% rise from the 282 victims through the same time frame in 2019. There have been 1,588 people shot so far this year citywide, 1% less than the 1,596 shot by this time last year. But that's still double the 795 victims during the same time frame two years ago. At a Wednesday press conference Mayor Bill de Blasio noted that even though the court system is not yet functioning at pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels the rate of violent crime has slowed since the summer, with many neighborhoods across the city showing decreases compared with last year and some approaching 2019 levels. New York Daily News

The Up-Beat: Top Police Heroes Of October
From small gestures of kindness to incredible acts of heroism, police officers help their communities every day. Our monthly news roundup, The Up-Beat, aims to bring greater attention to these inspiring stories. This month, we're highlighting a child's "emergency" call, an emotional traffic stop and more stories of cops lending a hand. Do you have an uplifting story to share? Email  editor@police1.com  or submit a story using the link below. 1. Hero Of The Month: Officer Alyssa Vogel: Officer Alyssa Vogel made headlines earlier this year after video showed her sprinting through Times Square with a 4-year-old gunshot victim in her arms. Now, Vogel has gone above and beyond by raising money for the little girl's medical expenses. Vogel invited the girl's family to her precinct to hand them the check and introduced young Sky Martinez to a police horse. 2. 'Too Cute': 4-Year-Old Calls Police To Share His Toys, Officer Responds: A precocious 4-year-old's "emergency" call prompted a heart-warming police response in New Zealand.  PoliceOne

Public Safety News

LAFD Extinguishes 2 Brush Fires Burning Near 118 Freeway In Porter Ranch
Firefighters Thursday were able to quickly extinguish two brush fires burning alongside the westbound 118 Freeway at Tampa Avenue in the Porter Ranch area. Around 2:40 p.m., the Los Angeles Fire Department reported that there were two separate fires burning, both less than a quarter-acre on opposite sides of the freeway. The LAFD requested additional resources due to its location on opposing sides of the freeway. By about 3 p.m., 42 firefighters were able to extinguish the fires in 46 minutes. No injuries were reported and no structures were damaged. It was not immediately clear what started the fires. CBS 2

Large Fire Breaks Out At Koreatown Shopping Plaza
Firefighters knocked down a fire that sparked at a shopping plaza in Koreatown Thursday night. The fire sparked around 8:15 p.m. on 207 S. Vermont Ave. The fire is believed to have started in a karaoke and billiards place. Firefighters with the Los Angeles Fire Department said a roof collapse made it difficult for them to reach pockets of the fire, which caused an extended operation. It took 100 firefighters an hour and 36 minutes to extinguish the flames. Witnesses say this particular space has been vacant for more than a year. Some also indicated there are squatters that stay there. It is unclear if anyone was in the building when the fire broke out. It is unknown what caused the fire.  FOX 11

LAFD Union Says Vaccine Mandate Could Lead To Public Safety Threat
The Los Angeles firefighters union warned Thursday of service delays if the city loses firefighters because of a mandate requiring its employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19. United Firefighters of Los Angeles City Local 112 President Freddy Escobar said the Los Angeles Fire Department could see a loss of resources and staff positions similar to the budget cuts in the department during the 2008 economic downturn. Escobar, speaking at a news conference outside the union's Westlake headquarters, predicted a “devastating impact on public safety for the city of Los Angeles” if the city loses firefighters. He said ambulances and trucks can't operate without appropriate staffing levels. Los Angeles passed an ordinance in August that required city employees to get vaccinated against COVID-19 unless they are approved for a medical or religious exemption. Last week, the council approved a plan that gave unvaccinated employees more time to get the shots. Los Angeles Times

Mask Mandates In LA County Are Likely To Continue Until Next Year, Ferrer Says
Mask mandates in Los Angeles County are likely to continue until next year, according to Los Angeles County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer, spoke at a Thursday, Nov. 4, hearing about the region's fight against a potential coronavirus surge this holiday season. The county received its first shipment of Pfizer vaccines for kids 5-11 this week, and officials gathered at a local park in East Los Angeles in the afternoon Wednesday to mark the beginning of the vaccination effort for young children. Clinics were once again operational Thursday throughout the region, which is witnessing a steady plateau of hospitalizations — however, cases could be rising, Ferrer said during the media conference. There were only 12 new COVID-related deaths in Los Angeles County Thursday, according to Ferrer, lower than peak levels during surges. Los Angeles Daily News
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~