Law Enforcement News

Attempted Theft Ends In Shooting In Hollywood
The search is on for some would-be thieves trying to steal a catalytic converter, officers said. But police say those suspects then shot up an apartment building. It happened around 3:10 a.m. Wednesday in the 700 block of North St. Andrews Place near Melrose Avenue in Hollywood. According to the Los Angeles Police Department, two people were trying to steal the catalytic converter from a Toyota Prius. The owner of the car came outside and yelled at the suspects. That's when the suspects jumped into a car and drove off. A few minutes later, they returned and fired multiple rounds into the home, police said. They then fled and are still on the loose. The two male suspects drove off in a 2013 or 2014 White Infinity, police said. No property was taken. Nobody was injured. Anyone with information is urged to call LAPD.
CBS 2

Police Arrest 2 Assault With Deadly Weapon Suspects Following Pursuit In South LA
Authorities were in pursuit of an alleged shooting suspect. The chase is believed to have began somewhere near the Vermont Square area of South Los Angeles. Los Angeles Police Department officers in pursuit detailed that the suspect was wanted for assault with a deadly weapon related to a shooting. The suspect traveled at slow speeds throughout South LA, mainly along Slauson Avenue and S. Vermont Avenue. At one point, police tossed a perfect spike strip, causing the vehicle to come to a stop moments later. The suspects, the driver and another man in the passenger seat, were both taken into custody without further incident at around 9:34 p.m.
CBS 2

SoCal Rapper Half Ounce Killed In Koreatown Shooting, Family Says
A man was shot and killed in Koreatown overnight between Monday and Tuesday, and police spent hours Tuesday morning searching for the person responsible. By 5 a.m., detectives had been combing the neighborhood for witnesses, evidence and surveillance camera footage for six hours. Around 11:30 p.m. on Monday, police received calls reporting multiple shots fired along the 700 block of South New Hampshire Avenue. Those callers said anywhere between seven and 30 rounds were fired. When officers from the Los Angeles Police Department's Olympic division arrived, they spotted a man in the planter near the front of an apartment building, suffering from several gunshot wounds. Paramedics pronounced that man dead at the scene. Family members told NBC4 that 33-year-old Latauriisha O’Brien was the man who died, leaving behind three children and a fourth baby due in March. The LA County Coroner's office confirmed that the man killed was O'Brien later Tuesday afternoon. O'Brien, a rapper, also goes by "Half Ounce," and was working for UPS while attending school. Police believe the shooter was a man in dark clothing, who took off southbound in a dark-colored SUV.
NBC 4

LAPD Looking For Additional Victims After Suspected Serial Burglar Arrested
The Los Angeles Police Department has arrested a man suspected in at least a dozen crimes along Pico Boulevard, and now they are looking for additional victims who have not been contacted yet. On Sept. 2, police arrested 56-year-old Douglas Irvin Kaufman, a homeless man in the Los Angeles area. Kaufman is suspected in several small crimes across the area, particularly in the Pico Boulevard corridor. On Aug. 22, Kaufman was allegedly captured on security camera footage walking up to a coffee shop on the 2400 block of Federal Avenue while holding a large rock in his hand. He is then seen throwing the rock through the business window, smashing the glass and trying to take a monitor that was on the counter. After he failed to get a hold of the monitor, he allegedly picked up the rock again and threw it through the window, hitting the monitor and causing more damage to the window. He then fled the scene, police said. During the investigation, police detectives began linking the vandalism incident to a string of similar incidents that began on the same night. By Aug. 30, a total of 12 crimes around the area were reported, including six vandalism incidents and six burglaries.
KTLA 5

Inmate In LA Who Walked Away From Reentry Facility On The Run
A man serving an eight-year sentence for burglary walked away from a Los Angeles reentry facility Tuesday and remains on the run, according to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Officials said 26-year-old Jawan Richard Harris left without authorization and was last seen around 2 p.m. at the facility. Harris arrived at the facility in Dec. 2021 and was scheduled to be released from custody in Oct. 2023. He is described as 5'10", weighing 135 pounds. Anyone who sees Harris is urged to call 911.
FOX 11

Former 'Scrubs' Writer Arrested Again After 18 Sex Abuse, Assault Charges Filed Against Him
A former television writer and producer for the hit show "Scrubs" was taken into custody again after prosecutors filed 18 sexual abuse and assault charges against him. Los Angeles police arrested Eric Weinberg Tuesday afternoon and was later released after he posted $5 million bail. Weinberg was initially arrested in July over "sexual assaults including rape'' that allegedly occurred between 2012 and 2019. LAPD investigators said Weinberg "appears to have targeted women in grocery stores, coffee shops and other public places'' and invited them to his home for photo shoots, where the alleged sexual assaults took place. Detectives previously said there may still be additional victims who may have been assaulted as far back as the early 1990s. Weinberg has credits as a producer and writer on shows like "Scrubs," "Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher," "Californication" and "American Dad."
ABC 7

Woman, 42, Reported Missing In East Los Angeles
Authorities Monday sought the public’s help to locate a 32-year-old woman with schizophrenia who was last seen in East Los Angeles. Candice Monique Artiga was last seen about 10:30 p.m. Tuesday in the 800 block South Gage Avenue, near Salazar Park, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Artiga is Hispanic, 5 feet, 6 inches tall and weighs 240 pounds, with brown eyes, brown shoulder-length hair and a gold nose ring. She was last seen wearing black and brown pants and a green tie-dye sweatshirt. The sheriff’s department also noted she may have been heading to the 9600 block of Bert Street in Pico Rivera. Anyone with information on Artiga’s whereabouts was asked to call the Sheriff’s Missing Persons Unit at 323-890-5500. Anonymous tips can be called in to Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477 or submitted online at lacrimestoppers.org.
MyNewsLA

California County’s War On Fentanyl Dealers Gaining Attention
A partnership between the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department and District Attorney’s Office to prosecute suspected drug dealers for murder in fentanyl-related deaths is gaining attention statewide. Sheriff Chad Bianco, whose investigators have arrested 22 people in connection with fentanyl-related deaths since the county launched its war against suspected dealers in early 2021, said several law enforcement agencies throughout California have been reaching out to his department and the District Attorney’s Office to find out what they are doing and how they are doing it. Since the District Attorney’s Office filed its first murder charge for a fentanyl-related death in February 2021, prosecutors have pursued murder cases against 19 defendants suspected in 20 deaths. That first case was filed against Joseph Michaal Costanza, 22, of Eastvale for selling fentanyl to a man who later died. District Attorney MIke Hestrin said the county still leads the state in fentanyl-related murder prosecutions, but as more people become alarmed by the fentanyl epidemic, other counties are paying attention and some are following Riverside County’s lead.
OC Register

Florida Deputy, 21, Shot And Killed Serving Warrant
A 21-year-old deputy was shot and killed while serving a warrant by other deputies that were shooting at the suspect, a Florida sheriff said. The deputy, identified as Blane Lane, was serving a warrant for a failure to appear on a felony meth charge at around 3 a.m. on Oct. 4 in Polk City, Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said during a news conference streamed on Facebook. Deputies on scene began shooting at the suspect, who was holding a BB gun that resembled a firearm, according to a news release from the agency. Lane was struck by a bullet from one of the other deputies’ guns. Lane was taken to a trauma center where he was pronounced dead, Judd said. Four members of the sheriff’s department arrived at a mobile home just after 3 a.m. to serve a warrant to Cheryl Williams, 46, Judd said during the news conference. Lane got into a “tactical position” outside the trailer while the other deputies entered, Judd said. While inside the mobile home, Williams appeared holding what looked like a gun and pointed it at the deputies, Judd said. Two of the deputies, Sgt. Michael Brooks and Deputy Johnny Holsonback III, fired at Williams, striking her twice.
Charlotte Observer

New York Authorities Seize 15K Fentanyl Pills Resembling Candy Concealed In LEGO Box
In the largest seizure of its kind to date in New York City, authorities confiscated about 15,000 fentanyl pills resembling candy and fake prescription medications just weeks before Halloween. The multi-colored fentanyl pills were concealed in a LEGO box and intended for distribution throughout the five boroughs as part of a troubling trend in which drug cartels appear to be targeting children, according to authorities. The enforcement action that resulted in the arrest of suspect Latesha Bush, 48, of Trenton, was announced at a news conference on Tuesday by Frank A. Tarentino III, special agent in charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration's New York Division; Bridget G. Brennan, New York City's special narcotics prosecutor; NYPD Commissioner Keechant L. Sewell, and New York State Police Superintendent Kevin P. Bruen. Seized as part of a continuing investigation into a fentanyl-trafficking organization, the huge stash signals that there is widespread distribution of these dangerous, colorful pills in New York City, according to authorities.
Staten Island Advance

Public Safety News

Massive Fire Breaks Out At Former Bank Building In Boyle Heights
A massive fire erupted at a former bank building in Boyle Heights and authorities say a person of interest is being interviewed. The blaze was reported at around 1:30 p.m. at a vacant, single-story structure located at 1308 S. Soto St, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department. AIR7 HD captured intense flames quickly burning through the roof of the building, sending a towering column of thick black smoke into the air. LAFD investigators said a fire in the attic quickly spread throughout the vacant building, which was mostly boarded up. Los Angeles firefighters worked for almost two hours to fully put out the blaze. One firefighter was reportedly being evaluated at the scene for minor injuries. Further details surrounding the person of interest weren't immediately released. No evacuation orders were issued, according to authorities.
ABC 7

LA Fire Department Hosts 8th Girls Empowerment Camp
Dozens of girls got a preview of what it takes to be a member of the LA Fire Department. From climbing aerial ladders to search and rescue training each girl got the chance to test their skills. It's the LA Fire Department's 8th Girls Camp. "It's been really fun. It's been a great opportunity," said Kaya Cisneros an LAFD Girls Camp participant. "I love helping people. I love helping the community." Participants between the ages of 14 and 18 got the chance to suit up and learn how to use professional fire equipment during a two day training course. Cutting with a chainsaw, climbing an aerial ladder, and a search and rescue simulation were all activities during the camp. "You just like feel empowered and you’re with a bunch of people who are just like you and you’re learning and pushing each other together," said Grace Boaziz a participant. "I would want to do something in like helping people and something in service, so this opens my doors to many more options."
NBC 4

New Coronavirus Subvariant BA.2.75.2 Tops Concerns As Officials Gear Up For Potential Winter Wave
As officials in California and beyond try to assess how severe a fall-and-winter coronavirus wave may be, one key factor is the growth of several new subvariants now emerging. It’s too soon to say whether any of the newer variants will rise to prominence in the ways Omicron and Delta did. None have been documented in significant numbers in California or the nation. Still, experts say another super-spreading subvariant — combined with more people being indoors when the weather gets cold — could bring new challenges. “As we get into this coming late fall and winter ... it is likely we will see another variant emerge,” Dr. Anthony Fauci, President Biden’s chief medical advisor for the pandemic, said at a recent virtual talk of the Center for Strategic and International Studies. There is wide expectation for an increase in COVID-19 cases this fall and winter. New York is already recording an uptick since hitting a seasonal low in early September. For now, California remains in a lull, with cases and hospitalizations declining since mid-summer. But in Los Angeles County, weekly deaths remain elevated and well above springtime lows, likely fueled by a case rate that, while improved, is still substantial.
LA Times

Local Government News

LA City Council Votes To End COVID-19 Eviction Moratorium
The Los Angeles City Council has voted to end long-standing renter eviction protections due to COVID-19 hardship on Jan. 31, 2023. Landlords will be able to resume increasing rent on rent-controlled apartments, which account for three-quarters of apartments in Los Angeles, beginning in February 2024. Tenants also cannot be subjected to a no-fault eviction for unauthorized pets until Jan. 31, 2024. Other renter protection plans were noted as "report backs," with several council members urging the city to enact those protections before the moratorium expires next year. These included creating a Tenants' Bill of Rights and data collection and tracking of all evictions, and amendments offered by Council members Kevin de León and Nithya Raman. "As a society, we recognized the devastation that evictions can cause for people, and that the city should be there to support tenants through temporary periods of hardship," Raman said. "The new protections that are being implemented in the coming months will help us to build a better LA for all residents."
CBS 2

Cleaning Up LA: City Council May Revive Illegal Dumping Reward Program
Seeking to revive the city's dormant Illegal Dumping Reward Program, the Los Angeles City Council voted Friday to establish a tiered reward system for information regarding illegal dumping violations. Illegal dumping of trash and hazardous items in the city's public areas increased 450% between 2016 and 2020, according to a report released last year by Controller Ron Galperin. The council requested the city attorney prepare an ordinance that would provide up to at least a $100 reward if information regarding illegal dumping leads to a misdemeanor or felony conviction. The exact reward -- capped at $1,000 -- would vary depending on how much money the city collects as a result of the enforcement action. The reward amount would drop to at least $50 -- with a cap of $500 -- for an infraction citation leading to a conviction, and $25 for an enforcement action resulting in an uncontested conviction. There would be no reward offered if there is insufficient evidence to proceed with an enforcement action or the enforcement action is unsuccessful.
NBC 4

LA Council Resolution Declares Saturday "Bad Bunny Day" In Honor Of Singer
City Councilman Kevin de León introduced a resolution declaring Saturday as "Bad Bunny Day" in Los Angeles in honor of the Grammy-winning singer who is performing at SoFi Stadium this weekend. De León's motion, which highlighted Bad Bunny's cultural impact to the Latino community across the city of Los Angeles, which is predominantly Latino, was seconded by all council members. Bad Bunny, who was born in Puerto Rico, is set to perform at SoFi on Friday and Saturday. "Bad Bunny's cultural impact will have a tremendous and positive influence on future generations and will redefine Latino culture in Los Angeles and beyond for years to come," de León said. Benito Antonio Martinez Ocasio, known professionally by his fans as Bad Bunny, was the most-streamed artist on Spotify in 2021 for the second year in a row. His album "El Ultimo Tour del Mundo" was the first Spanish-language album to debut atop the Billboard 200 chart in 64 years.
CBS 2