McBride: Release of LAPD officer information could be ‘big problem for recruitment’ | NewsNation

The City of Los Angeles is suing a journalist and a watchdog group over the publication of LAPD officers‘ names, photos and other information. Los Angeles Police Protective League Director Jamie McBride says this is the “worst security breach” he has seen in more than three decades and it will likely impact recruitment efforts.

NewsNation Video

Woman Accused Of Pushing Burning Shopping Cart Into LAPD's Southwest Station And Causing Fire

A 30-year-old woman was arrested for arson Friday after allegedly pushing a flaming shopping cart into the lobby of the Los Angeles Police Department's Southwest station. Investigators said Mishauna Eaton walked into the lobby of the station near Exposition Park with the cart late Thursday night, starting a destructive fire. She was arrested Friday morning and is currently being held on $250,000 bond. Police believe she's homeless. "We were able to identify her at the front of the station, we were able to observe her actions, we were consistent with lighting something on fire and her fleeing the location," said LAPD Capt. Rodolfo Lopez. "I think it's more severe because it was inhabited with people. That takes it to the next level." Photos posted on the station's Twitter account showed the building with extensive damage, forcing officials to close the front lobby indefinitely. No injuries were reported. The incident remains under investigation.

ABC 7

L.A. sues journalist, activist group to claw back photos of undercover officers

In a move immediately denounced as legally meritless by 1st Amendment and media rights experts, the city of Los Angeles has sued a local journalist and an activist group over the online publication of undercover LAPD officers' pictures — images the city had itself provided.

Los Angeles Times

3 wounded, chaos breaks out after spring break party at Dockweiler Beach erupts in gunfire

Three teenagers were wounded in a shooting at Dockweiler Beach on Friday night that occurred during a spring break party promoted on TikTok that drew hundreds of revelers to the shore, authorities said. Officers responded to the 11400 block of Vista Del Mar in Playa del Rey after a report of a large crowd and gunshots around 8 p.m., said Officer J. Chavez of the Los Angeles Police Department. When authorities arrived, they determined two men had fired multiple shots with a handgun that wounded two teen girls and a teen boy, Chavez said. The teens were taken to a hospital and were stable, Chavez said. Police did not provide the ages of the teenagers nor did they confirm whether the teens were attending the beach party.

CBS 2

Man In Serious Condition After Easter Morning Shooting In Westside Los Angeles

A man was taken to the hospital in critical condition after he was shot twice in the Beverlywood neighborhood of Los Angeles on Easter morning. The shooting happened around 2:30 a.m. on the 2500 block of South Robertson Blvd., according to the Los Angeles Police Department. Police officials say several people were attending a party at an event space nearby. As the party came to an end and attendants spilled out onto the street, a fight broke out that became violent. The victim was shot twice, police said, and transported to the hospital with serious wounds. Four people were detained at the scene, but all four were released. A vehicle wanted in connection with the shooting was seen fleeing north on Robertson Blvd., police said, but no arrests have been made at this time. At this time, there is no information regarding a suspect description. The street was closed for several hours Sunday morning while investigators combed the scene. Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to contact the LAPD tip line at 1-877-275-5273.

KTLA 5

Arrest Made In Red Line Metro Stabbings

Detectives Saturday arrested a suspect in the stabbing of a male victim on a Metro B (Red) Line train in Hollywood. Twenty-seven-year-old Alex Garcia of Los Angeles was taken into custody at 5:40 p.m. in the area of Santa Monica Boulevard and Gower Street, according to a Los Angeles Police Department statement. He was booked for suspicion of attempted murder and held in lieu of $1 million bail and a felony probation hold. The attack occurred shortly before 5 p.m. Thursday at the Metro Hollywood/Western Station, police said. Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics were tending to the victim when officers arrived, police said. He had a severe injury to his lower body and was taken to a hospital for treatment. The victim remained hospitalized with stable vital signs, police said. The investigation revealed the victim walked into the MTA train and became engaged in a verbal argument with the suspect, who was already seated, police said. The argument became violent and the suspect slashed the victim.

Westside Current

Suspected Drunk Driver Kills 1, Injures 6 In Pacific Palisades Crash

A 21-year-old motorist was arrested Saturday on suspicion of felony drunk driving for allegedly triggering a crash in Pacific Palisades that killed a 32-year-old woman and injured at least six other people, authorities said. Firefighters were called to the 17400 block of West Sunset Boulevard and Palisades Drive at 12:45 a.m. Saturday. They learned that a vehicle traveling east on Pacific Coast Highway slammed into a group of pedestrians and vehicles parked on the shoulder overlooking the beach, Los Angeles Fire Department spokesman Nicholas Prange said. A vehicle going south on PCH crashed into three vehicles parked on the southbound shoulder, the Los Angeles Police Department's Media Relations Division reported. The impact sent two of the three vehicles into the rocks, where three pedestrians were seated, police said. 32-year-old Ashleigh Lawrence of Los Angeles died at the scene, according to the Los Angeles County coroner's office. One person was taken to a hospital in serious condition and five others were in fair to moderate condition, Prange said.

FOX 11

One Man Beaten, One Shot At Vermont Vista Building

One man was pistol-whipped and another was shot in the Vermont Vista area, authorities said Sunday. The attack occurred at 9:05 p.m.on Saturday in the 400 block of West Century Boulevard, according to a dispatcher at the Los Angeles Police Department’s Operations Center. One suspect pistol-whipped the 29-year-old victim while a second suspect fired a gun at the 25-year-old man, she said. They ran from the building and a passerby took them to a hospital, the dispatcher said.

MyNewsLA

Man Pleads Guilty In Killing Of Rapper Pop Smoke During Robbery At Rented Hollywood Hills Mansion

One of four men charged in the killing of rapper Pop Smoke during a robbery at a Hollywood Hills mansion pleaded guilty Thursday to voluntary manslaughter. The 20-year-old man, who was 17 when the killing occurred, also pleaded guilty in Inglewood juvenile court to home invasion robbery. He was sentenced to four years and two months in a juvenile facility. The judge has barred the public use of his name because he was a minor at the time of the shooting. The 20-year-old New York rapper, whose legal name is Bashar Barakah Jackson, was killed on Feb. 19, 2020, at a rented home where he was staying while on a four-day trip to Los Angeles. A 911 call from a friend of someone in the house reported armed intruders inside the home, police said. The robbers knew the address because a day earlier, Jackson had posted a photograph on social media of a gift bag he had received and the address was on a label, authorities said. Jackson was in the shower when masked robbers confronted him. During a struggle, one attacker, who was 15, pistol-whipped the rapper and shot him three times in the back, according to court testimony cited by the Los Angeles Times. The attackers stole Jackson's diamond-studded Rolex watch and sold it for $2,000, a detective testified.

NBC 4

Father Of Fentanyl Victim Launches Billboard Campaign Along Southern California Freeways

Jim Rauh has been fighting his own war against fentanyl since it claimed the life of his 37-year-old son, Thomas, in 2015. That’s when he formed Families Against Fentanyl, a nonpartisan nonprofit that has drawn the attention and support of former Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge and former CIA Director John Brennan, among others. Rauh believes the cheap synthetic opiate — which has killed more Americans than World War II and the Korean and Vietnam wars combined — is a threat to national security. As of Friday, 48,722 people have signed the organization’s petition to persuade the U.S. government to declare fentanyl a weapon of mass destruction. “I would sacrifice my life to get rid of this stuff,” Rauh said in a telephone interview. Now the Ohio man has taken his campaign to billboards along Southern California freeways in Los Angeles and Orange counties, with signs carrying the stark message: “Fentanyl is the number one cause of death for Americans age 18 to 45.”

OC Register

2 Wisconsin Officers Fatally Shot During Traffic Stop

Two Wisconsin police officers were killed in a shooting during a traffic stop on Saturday, authorities said. The Wisconsin Department of Justice said in a statement late Saturday that it was investigating the shooting in Cameron, Wisconsin. An officer from the Chetek Police Department conducted a traffic stop around 3:38 p.m. and at some point gunfire was exchanged with the motorist, the state justice department said. The Chetek officer and another officer from Cameron were pronounced dead at the scene. The suspect in the shooting was taken to a hospital and later died, the justice department said. The names of the officers and the suspect were not immediately released. “I am deeply saddened by the tragic loss today of two officers. I am thinking of their families and the Chetek and Cameron Police Departments at this incredibly difficult time,” Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul said in a tweet late Saturday. The Division of Criminal Investigation within the Wisconsin Department of Justice is leading the investigation and will submit a report to the Barron County district attorney when the investigation concludes, the statement said.

Associated Press

Distraction, Speeding, Alcohol Drive Up 2021 Traffic Deaths

Nearly 43,000 people died in U.S. traffic crashes in 2021, the highest number in 16 years with deaths due to speeding and impaired or distracted driving on the rise. The 2021 final numbers, released Monday by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, confirmed earlier estimates by the agency showing a 10.5% increase in deaths over 2020. That's the highest number since 2005 and the largest percentage increase since 1975. Data shows a 12% rise in fatal crashes involving at least one distracted driver, with 3,522 people killed. That prompted the agency to kick off a $5 million advertising campaign in an effort to keep drivers focused on the road. Agency officials said such cases likely are under-reported by police. The number of pedestrians killed rose 13%, and cyclist fatalities were up 2% for the year. The number of unbelted passengers killed rose 8.1%, while fatalities involving alcohol-impaired driving were up 14%. Speeding-related deaths increased 7.9%, while crash deaths involving large trucks weighing over 10,000 pounds were up 17%.

Associated Press

Man's Body Found In Fire At Westchester Duplex

Firefighters discovered a man's body Sunday while overhauling a fire inside a rear occupancy at a two-story duplex in Westchester. The 18 firefighters dispatched at 8:23 a.m. to 8042 S. Alverstone Ave., one block west of Sepulveda Boulevard, had the blaze out within 30 minutes of their arrival, the Los Angeles Fire Department reported. The fire was in a garage to the rear of the single-family dwelling with a small, attached occupancy, the LAFD said. "An adult male was believed to be in the unit and was unaccounted for upon fire extinguishment," the LAFD's Margaret Stewart said. "Due to the amount of storage, it took significant amount of overhaul to permit a search of the occupancy." The cause of the fire was under investigation, Stewart said. 

FOX 11

Firefighters Engage Blaze At Koreatown Apartment Building

Firefighters engaged a fire at an apartment building in the Koreatown area Saturday evening. The cause of the fire was not immediately known, though Los Angeles Fire Department crews were dispatched to the scene in the 4100 block of W. 4th Street just after 7:40 p.m. Crews were working to contain the flames that were "well involved with one apartment building," according to a statement from LAFD. It took over 40 firefighters about 30 minutes to extinguish the flames. They were able to prevent the flames from entering into the structure, containing them to the exterior of the building. Two additional task forces were requested to assist with the battle. 

CBS 2

LA County Launches ‘Heart Hero' Campaign To Teach CPR To Residents

Residents who attend entertainment events or visit public places in Los Angeles County, such as malls or places of worship, will now be able to participate in live CPR training. Barbara Ferrer, director of the Department of Public Health announced the launch of the “L.A. County Heart Heroes 2023 Campaign” earlier this week. It aims to train "half-a-million" county residents and workers in what is described as “hands-only CPR” by the end of the year. The plan is to hold various trainings throughout the county at sporting events, entertainment venues, places of worship, campuses, work sites, malls and other locations. “I couldn't be happier than to be joined by so many partners that are going to make an effort all across this county for the next year to make sure that every county resident, every county workers, every worker is able to offer life-saving support to a person that's experiencing a cardiac event,” Ferrer said during a press conference at the Hollywood/Wilshire Wellness Center. Ferrer said the campaign was launched in 2019, and they were able to train 100,000 people in hands-only CPR, but this year officials are determined to provide training to 500,000 people.

NBC 4

Another COVID-19 Booster Shot May Be Coming. But Interest Is Waning

As government officials close the book on the emergency phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, health authorities are turning their attention to the next chapter of the vaccination campaign. Though nothing is etched in stone, federal officials are considering the authorization of another booster shot this spring. The timing of that decision — and who would be eligible — remains unclear. But for older residents or those with underlying health conditions that make them more likely to develop a severe COVID-19 illness, another booster could provide peace of mind and an additional jolt of protection. “Lots of people at higher risk are asking whether or not they need another dose. And we’re waiting for guidance on that,” Los Angeles County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said. Authorities in Britain have already green-lighted a spring booster shot — but only for nursing home residents, seniors 75 or older or those who are immunosuppressed and at least 5 years old. “This year’s spring program will bridge the gap to the planned booster program in the autumn, enabling those who are most vulnerable to be well-protected throughout the summer,” Dr. Wei Shen Lim, chair of Britain’s Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunization, said in a statement.

Los Angeles Times

Imelda Padilla And Marisa Alcaraz Appear Headed To Runoff In City Council District 6 Race

Community advocate Imelda Padilla maintained a strong lead in the special election to represent the eastern and central San Fernando Valley on the Los Angeles City Council, according to updated results released Friday. Marisa Alcaraz, a top staffer to City Councilmember Curren Price, trailed Padilla, according to the results. If Alcaraz’s position holds, she will face Padilla in the June 27 general election. Marco Santana was in third place after Friday’s vote count, trailing Alcaraz by about 300 votes. Padilla led Tuesday night after the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder counted about 9,000 ballots in the City Council District 6 race. Friday’s update included an additional 4,400 ballots. “Today’s update, in which I remain the front-runner to be the next Councilmember of the 6th District, solidifies that the voters acknowledge my lifelong dedication to serving the needs of our working families in the San Fernando Valley,” Padilla said in a statement Friday. More votes are expected to be counted in the coming days, including about 100 vote-by-mail ballots that still need to be processed, according to the county. Ballots that are postmarked by election day will be also accepted until Tuesday.

Los Angeles Times

Assemblyman Miguel Santiago Announces Challenge To Councilman Kevin De León

Assemblyman Miguel Santiago announced on Friday he will challenge embattled City Councilman Kevin de León in next year's election, following de León's participation in a leaked, racist audio recording. Santiago called running against a longtime ally and friend “a difficult decision but Los Angeles needs to heal and our neighborhoods are desperate for effective representation.” “The time for change in Los Angeles' 14th District is now,” Santiago, D-Los Angeles, said in a statement. ``The current councilmember's refusal to respect the overwhelming calls to step down, from the people he is supposed to serve all the way to the president of the United States, is holding back the progress we need on homelessness, housing and the economic recovery we need in our neighborhoods.” There was no immediate response Friday night to calls and emails to de León's City Council office seeking a response to Santiago's announcement. 

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.