Off-Duty LAPD Officer Dies On His Way Home From Work In 210 Freeway Crash

An off-duty Los Angeles police officer was killed on his way home from work early Saturday when the car he was driving collided with the back of a stalled semi truck on the 210 Freeway in Baldwin Park, police said. Officer Baldemar Sandoval was driving his 2018 Honda around 2:30 a.m. when the accident occurred, police said. The truck was stalled in an eastbound lane of the freeway near Barranca Avenue, according to a news release from California Highway Patrol. The driver of the truck, who had stopped while authorities investigated another collision ahead of him, had switched on the truck’s hazard lights, according to CHP. The truck driver was not injured. LAPD Police Chief Michel Moore identified Sandoval in a tweet Saturday morning, and said the department was grieving “our loss of a peacemaker.” Sandoval was 38 and worked in the police department’s Central Division. “With great sadness, I share that earlier this morning, a police officer on his way home from work was involved in a traffic collision on the 210 Freeway,” Moore said in a statement. “I send my deepest condolences to his family, loved ones and friends as we mourn this tragedy.”

Los Angeles Times

The LAPD Has Lost Nearly 1,000 Officers. Now, Mayor Karen Bass Wants To Rebuild The Force

Ten years ago, the Los Angeles Police Department celebrated a historic hiring milestone, announcing the city had reached a target sought by at least two mayors and multiple police chiefs: 10,000 officers. That achievement was the culmination of an expensive seven-year campaign waged by then-Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, much of it during a global recession that ravaged the city’s finances. Now, within a three-year span, those gains have been erased. The LAPD is hemorrhaging officers, with more leaving the force than are joining it. Police Chief Michel Moore reported last week that sworn staffing had fallen to 9,103, down nearly 1,000 from 2019, the year that preceded the outbreak of COVID-19. Mayor Karen Bass is looking to confront the issue head on by ramping up hiring and lifting barriers to recruitment. Her proposed budget, which will be released Tuesday, will call for the city to restore the department to 9,500 officers — an extremely tall order, given the ongoing staff exodus. “I know that that is ambitious, but I think it needs to happen.” she said. A spokesperson for the Los Angeles Police Protective League, which represents rank-and-file officers, said his group welcomes the mayor’s efforts to “rebuild the LAPD after years of neglect.” “This staffing decline didn’t start with Mayor Bass,” union spokesperson Tom Saggau said. “But we hope it ends with Mayor Bass.” 

Los Angeles Times

Convicted Felon Out On Probation Arrested In Deadly Northridge Shooting

An arrest has been made in connection with the murder of a man hired to paint over graffiti in Northridge last weekend. Police arrested 24-year-old Jamal Jackson, a known gang member and convicted felon who was out on probation, Sunday in the fatal shooting. It happened April 15 in the area of 19105 Parthenia St, near Vanalden Avenue outside of Northridge Ice Cream Inc., around 12:30 p.m. Surveillance images show the car Jackson owned and was reportedly in when he pulled up to the shooting scene. According to police, Jackson drove up and saw his gang graffiti being painted over. That's when he allegedly shot the painter with a Glock multiple times in the chest. The victim, a man in his 60s, was taken to a local hospital where he died from his injuries. Police said the man was hired to paint over the graffiti for some extra money. Three other men who were in the area were also reportedly shot by Jackson. One of them was able to run into a nearby market and call for help. Surveillance images show some of the victims running for cover. Two needed surgery, and the fourth victim was treated and released, according to police.

FOX 11

3 Men Shot, Hospitalized In Overnight Shooting In North Hollywood 

At least three men were shot and hospitalized, including one in critical condition, in North Hollywood early Saturday morning. The shooting occurred around 3 a.m. in the 11000 block of Huston Street off Lankershim Blvd. Preliminary reports indicate that the shooting took place in front of a hookah lounge, although it is not confirmed whether the lounge was open or not at the time of the shooting. Witnesses told KTLA that they saw “some type of argument” between a group of people in two cars. At least one person fired several shots before the vehicle fled. Authorities do not have any information on what led to the incident or a description of suspects. Anyone with any information is urged to contact LAPD. 

KTLA 5

2 Arrested In Connection With Attempted Murder In Van Nuys

Two suspects are charged with attempted murder after they were allegedly captured on surveillance footage shooting a man on Friday in Van Nuys, authorities announced. Officers with the Los Angeles Police Department responded to the shooting in the 15200 block of Vanowen Street around 8:20 a.m after an employee at a nearby business discovered a man on the sidewalk suffering from a gunshot wound to his abdomen. Surveillance footage obtained by police from the scene showed a part of the shooting and the suspects involved. While police were investigating an unrelated incident in the Hartland Street and Kester Avenue area on Saturday, they spotted two people who matched the description of the suspects captured in the video footage. The suspects, 39-year-old Javier Rosario of Van Nuys and 33-year-old Jennifer Yui of West Covina, were arrested and charged with attempted murder. “Both suspects were taken into custody, and (a) subsequent investigation resulted in the recovery of additional evidence connecting the two suspects to the shooting,” an LAPD news release stated.

KTLA 5

2 Charged In Assault Outside Dodger Stadium That Left 64-Year-Old Man With Broken Leg, Concussion

Two men have been charged in connection with a "vicious attack" outside Dodger Stadium that left a 64-year-old man with a broken leg and a concussion, prosecutors announced Friday. Reece Hopkin, 38, and Chad Reeves, 42, were each charged with one felony count of battery with serious bodily injury, the Los Angeles County district attorney's office said in a statement. Hopkin also faces one felony count of vandalism or destruction of property. The incident occurred on Nov. 17, 2022, after music legend Elton John performed a concert at the stadium. The melee began as a dispute between a woman and the 64-year-old man, investigators said. Hopkin and Reeves got involved in the verbal altercation and allegedly assaulted the man, who suffered serious injuries.

ABC 7

Compton Residents On Edge After Looters Ransack Gas Station And Street Takeovers Turn Dangerous

Sheriff's deputies in Compton are returning to their patrol duties Monday following a chaotic weekend that involved a series of street takeovers and a mob of looters leaving a trail of destruction at local stores. Video captured a wild scene at an Arco gas station near Alondra Boulevard and Central Avenue early Sunday morning where a large group was caught on video bum-rushing an Arco gas station and stealing thousands of dollars' worth of merchandise, all while the clerk on duty hid inside. The video shows one man breaking the glass door while dozens of looters crowd behind him. Moments later, the group was seen grabbing everything from drinks, snacks, alcohol and even condoms. The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department told Eyewitness News thousands of dollars' worth of merchandise was stolen and serious damage was done to the store.

ABC 7

Minnesota Deputy Who Was Shot, Killed During Domestic Call Died On His 44th Birthday

A western Minnesota sheriff's deputy was shot and killed and two other law enforcement officers were injured while responding to a domestic dispute call Saturday night, while the suspected shooter is dead. One officer from the Starbuck Police Department and two deputies from the Pope County Sheriff's Office were struck by gunfire about 7:30 p.m. Saturday while answering a domestic call at a Cyrus apartment building in the 421 N. Stromen Street, the Sheriff's Office reported. As the officers attempted to arrest a man involved, he shot at them, striking all three before they returned fire and killed him. Deputy Joshua Owen was taken to the hospital and later died, according to the Sheriff's Office. The other deputy was treated for injuries and released. The Starbuck officer was injured but not hospitalized. Records show Owen was killed on his 44th birthday. A military veteran, he leaves behind a wife and son. He had been with the sheriff's office for 12 years.

Star Tribune

Oregon Officer Fatally Shot; Suspect At Large

A police officer was shot and killed Saturday evening in the eastern Oregon city of Nyssa, and police are still searching Sunday for the suspect. Officer Joseph Johnson, 43, died after responding to reports of a violent person damaging property and threatening people, the Malheur County District Attorney’s office wrote in a statement Sunday. Johnson responded to the call around 8:20 p.m., and heard that the suspect had left in a car. Johnson pursued the man, and eventually both cars stopped at the corner of Locust Avenue and North 3rd Street. As soon as Johnson stopped, the man, identified as 36-year-old Nyssa resident Rene Castro, started shooting at him, the statement from the DA’s office said. The shooter then fled the scene. Emergency medical workers and the Malheur sheriff’s office responded, but Johnson was dead when they arrived, the DA’s office said. Oregon State Police troopers are leading the investigation.

PoliceOne

Firefighters Respond To Lithium-Ion Battery Fire In Hollywood

Firefighters are investigating a structure fire caused by a lithium-ion battery at a 5-story modern style apartment building Sunday in Hollywood, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department. Crews responded to the fire, located at the 1700 block of North Fuller Avenue around 4 a.m. When firefighters arrived on the scene there was “nothing showing,” according to authorities. While firefighters were investigating, a witness reported hearing an explosion. Crews later located an apartment with a lithium-ion battery that had been charged and had exploded. The apartment fire was extinguished by automatic fire sprinklers within the home. Firefighters assisted with water removal from multiple units. One patient is being evaluated for a possible non-life threatening burn injury.

KTLA 5

LA Mayor Karen Bass To Deliver Her 1st State Of The City Address On Monday

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass is set to deliver her first State of the City address Monday evening. Bass is expected to highlight the progress her administration has made during her first 100 days in office. She's expected to discuss the city's homelessness crisis, public safety and future plans for the city. Bass will also present the new proposed budget to the public. In January, the L.A. City Council approved a $50 million emergency fund for Bass to tackle the homelessness situation. Bass has pledged to get 17,000 people off the streets in her first year. So far, her Inside Safe program has housed about 4,000 people. She says she will continue to focus on that initiative and the economy in her next year. Bass will deliver the address from City Hall beginning at 5:30 p.m. Monday.

ABC 7

City Council Moves Forward With Plan To Create More Affordable Housing

The Los Angeles City Council unanimously approved a motion on Friday to eliminate additional obstacles in the process of converting unpermitted structures such as a garage into a legal accessory dwelling unit, which would ensure more access to affordable housing in the city. Under the current process, the city requires any unpermitted or illegal ADUs that were converted into a residential unit to first be issued a Certificate of Occupancy before the applicant undergoes the process of converting their units into a legal ADUs. To receive a Certificate of Occupancy, an applicant must return the residential unit to its original state. According to a motion, presented by Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez, that additional step deters property owners from pursuing legalization of their ADUs because it is time and cost prohibitive. The motion will temporarily waive that step, in exchange for dedicating the resulting units as affordable housing units.

NBC 4

About the LAPPL: Formed in 1923, the Los Angeles Police Protective League (LAPPL) represents more than 9,200 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.