Email from Los Angeles Police Protective League Daily News & Updates Law Enforcement News Suspected leader of ring accused of smuggling 20,000 people into United States arrested in LA Four people accused of smuggling about 20,000 undocumented immigrants from Guatemala to the United States, including seven who died in an Oklahoma car crash in 2023, have been charged by federal authorities in Los Angeles. Charges were announced Monday against Eduardo Domingo Renoj-Matul, Cristobal Mejia-Chaj, Helmer Obispo-Hernandez and Jose Paxtor-Oxlaj, accused operators of the Torko Organization, considered one of the largest human smuggling operations in the country, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. Dwayne Angebrandt, Homeland Security Investigations Los Angeles acting deputy special agent in charge, said the organization transported about 20,000 undocumented immigrants into the Los Angeles and Phoenix areas since 2019. Once smuggled into the United States, some were brought to "stash houses" in Los Angeles' Westlake District and other locations. They remained at those sites until the smugglers were paid, authorities said. Renoj-Matul, the ring's alleged leader, and Cristobal Mejia-Chaj were arrested Friday in the Westlake District. Each appeared in court, where they were ordered held without bond. NBC 4 Man Stabs Woman in Culver City; Arrested in Downtown LA A 57-year-old Los Angeles man was arrested after allegedly stabbing a woman in her left arm in Culver City, authorities said Saturday. The stabbing occurred about 1:30 a.m. Friday in the 6000 block of Slauson Avenue, according to a Culver City Police Department statement. The Westfield Culver City mall is located at 6000 Slauson Avenue. The suspect, who ran from the scene, is believed to have been in a relationship with the victim, police said. Culver City police officers arrived at the scene and ensured the victim was taken by ambulance to a hospital for treatment of injuries that were not believed life-threatening, police said. A description of the victim was not provided. Officers tracked down the suspect in downtown the Los Angeles area and was arrested him for suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon and possession of narcotics, police said. MyNewsLA Thieves hit ‘The Money Queen’ influencer’s Bel-Air home, wind up with fake cash An influencer known as “The Money Queen” declared that “karma won” after burglars broke into her Bel-Air home and made off with piles of fake cash used for a photo shoot. The Los Angeles Police Department responded to a call about a burglary in process at a home shortly after 1 a.m. Monday, according to a department spokesperson. By the time officers arrived, the suspects were gone. The home belongs to financial influencer Amanda Frances, an author and creator of online courses who says her aim is to help women acquire wealth. “The burglars ransacked my closet, damaging my home in the process, but they dropped nearly everything, prioritizing the prop money when confronted by a neighbor’s security guard,” Frances said in a statement shared with The Times. The thieves abandoned several designer bags in the streets, which the police were then able to recover, she said. In their rush to flee, they left some of the fake money scattered in the street. She believes they also made off with a handful of purses, a ring and a necklace but dropped most of the items of major value. Los Angeles Times Teenage boy shot to death in South Los Angeles neighborhood A teenage boy died after being shot in a South Los Angeles neighborhood late Friday night, according to the LA County Sheriff's Department. The shooting happened at about 11:58 p.m. in the 13100 block of Jarvis Avenue in South LA, the department said Saturday, in an unincorporated area of Los Angeles between the West Athens and Willowbrook neighborhoods. The victim was rushed to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced dead. Authorities said no information about a possible suspect was available Saturday and no other details were being released as the investigation continues. Anyone with information is asked to reach the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department's Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500. Those wishing to remain anonymous can call LA Regional Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477) or visit lacrimestoppers.org. CBS 2 Gardena man sentenced to over 3 years for assaulting an on-duty USPS employee A 40-year-old Gardena man was sentenced Monday to nearly 3 ½ years in federal prison for assaulting a United States Postal Service employee just over one year ago. John Leomen Ross pleaded guilty in November 2024 to one count of assault on a federal employee resulting in bodily injury. "The defendant here violently attacked a postal employee who was hard at work doing his job," said Acting United States Attorney Joseph McNally. On Feb. 21, 2024, the victim was delivering mail in Gardena when Ross approached and stopped the USPS employee, yelled at him, upset because he didn't get a package he felt he was supposed to have already received, according to the victim. Ross asked the employee to deliver his mail to a particular Gardena residence where he was allegedly squatting. CBS 2 California officer ambushed, shot in station parking lot Hillsborough police are asking for the public’s help in identifying a person of interest and suspect after a police officer was shot in a police department parking lot on Feb. 22. On Saturday police released a sketch of a man seen nearby shortly after the incident. “Witnesses reported this individual was running southbound on El Camino near Carol, Cypress, and Barroilhet in Burlingame at approximately 5:30 PM on February 22, 2025,” according to the department’s release. “The individual appeared anxious and was looking back frequently, suggesting an attempt to avoid detection,” police said in their statement. They described the person as 25 to 27 years old, around 5’6″, with short black hair. According to the press release issued that day, the man entered the rear parking and “ambushed” a police officer shortly before 4 p.m. The officer was struck and returned fire, and the shooter fled on foot. The officer was taken to San Francisco General Hospital but has since been released and is recovering at home, according to Hillsborough police Capt. Meme Colla. Bay Area News Group Pennsylvania officer’s last act after he was shot was to rescue a colleague, police chief says A police officer who was shot to death while responding to an armed man with hostages inside a Pennsylvania hospital intensive care unit was remembered Friday as a dedicated public servant who did not hesitate to run toward danger and died a hero. Hundreds of fellow officers and others filled the Living Word Community Church in Red Lion for the funeral of West York Police Officer Andrew W. Duarte. West York Police Chief Matthew Millsaps said Duarte, 30, realized he had just been shot Saturday and made it to the safety of cover when he saw that a fellow officer was down and in what Millsaps described as a compromised position. “Andrew’s last physical act on the face of this earth was to run back towards the threat area,” dragging the other officer to safety and holding his hand in comfort, Millsaps said, speaking in front of Duarte’s flag-draped coffin. “When they made it to cover, Andrew collapsed and died.” Millsaps said Duarte had “put the mission first and he gave a damn. I only pray that I’ll go the same way.” Associated Press Public Safety News 1 person hospitalized after suspect crashes during pursuit in Los Angeles Los Angeles County paramedics took a person to the hospital after a suspect crashed during a pursuit Friday night. The pursuit started at roughly 7:05 p.m. near the Los Angeles Police Department's 77th Division in South LA. The burglary suspect led police to the intersection of El Segundo Boulevard and Crenshaw Boulevard in Hawthorne before crashing into another vehicle about 30 minutes later. The Los Angeles County Fire Department took one person to the hospital in an unknown condition. An officer crashed earlier in the pursuit, but it didn't appear that anyone was seriously injured. CBS 2 Unconscious patient’s identity unknown to local hospital Health officials are asking for the public’s help in identifying a man who was found unresponsive and brought to a Los Angeles hospital last week. The unidentified man arrived at California Hospital Medical Center in downtown L.A. after he was discovered near West 67th Street and Broadway around 8:45 p.m. The patient has no identification or documents to confirm his identity, according to officials with Dignity Health. The hospital is now reaching out for assistance in identifying him. He is described as a Hispanic or possibly Middle Eastern man, approximately 35 to 40 years old, with brown eyes, black hair and a black beard. He is about 5 feet 9 inches tall and weighs around 150 pounds, officials said. The man has several tattoos, including the name “ANGEL” on his right forearm, “Rosmary” on his right upper inner arm, a dragon on his right upper arm and the number “527” on his left thumb. Anyone with information that could help identify him is urged to call 213-507-5495 or 213-742-5515. KTLA 5 Person in Critical Condition After Fire Engulfs Bungalow in Fairfax Area A man was hospitalized in critical condition Sunday after firefighters rescued him from a house on fire in the Fairfax area of Los Angeles, authorities said. Firefighters were dispatched at about 2 p.m. Sunday to the 800 block of North Martel Avenue, several blocks east of La Brea Avenue and a few blocks south of Santa Monica Boulevard, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department. Smoke was reported showing from one unit in a row of bungalow dwellings, the department said. Firefighters knocked down the flames in about 16 minutes and contained the fire from spreading to adjacent buildings. One patient located inside the house suffered from respiratory arrest and was taken to a trauma center, according to the LAFD. No other injuries were reported. The cause of the fire was under investigation. MyNewsLA Los Angeles County officials: ‘Please stay out’ of ocean water after the wildfires Officials are telling swimmers to think twice before jumping into the ocean water in Los Angeles County. The warnings, which serve as cautions rather than orders, come after debris from the devastating Palisades Fire was spotted in ocean water off the coast of Malibu. The warnings extend from Las Flores State Beach in Malibu down to Santa Monica State Beach. They’ll remain in effect until further notice. Swimming in that water is not explicitly banned, although officials warned the public to stay away from debris. “An ocean water advisory does not mean ‘do not go to the beach at all’ or ‘do not go in the water,'” said Nicole Mooradian of the L.A. County Department of Beaches and Harbors. “It’s very much a, ‘we really advise you to stay out of the water, but if you do decide to go in, it’s at your own risk.’ But please stay out.” KTLA 5 About the LAPPL: Formed in 1923, the Los Angeles Police Protective League (LAPPL) represents more than 8,900 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. Listen To Our Podcast Los Angeles Police Protective League | 1308 W 8th St | Los Angeles, CA 90017 US Unsubscribe | Update Profile | Our Privacy Policy | Constant Contact Data Notice