LA city leaders say crime fighting efforts in MacArthur Park are paying off

Los Angeles Police Department Chief Jim McDonnell said overall crime in the MacArthur Park area has reduced by 42% over the last few months, as the department has increased enforcement efforts and expanded outreach initiatives. "While our work is not done, clearly, a lot has been accomplished in a relatively short period of time," he said. McDonnell also noted that on March 6, the department busted a hub for stolen goods, a store receiving and selling stolen merchandise, which was tied to organized retail theft. After serving a search warrant at 2065 W. 6th Street, "officers recovered a U-Haul truck full of stolen goods including makeup, toiletries and other retail merchandise," McDonnell said. He said $367,000 worth of merchandise was linked to Target, T.J. Maxx and Marshalls. The store owner was arrested for receiving stolen property. These efforts are part of a larger crackdown on stolen goods being funneled through MacArthur Park and along the Alvarado corridor, involving a criminal network that has been the primary driver of violent crime in the park and surrounding areas, he said.

CBS 2

Man in Critical State After Vermont-Slauson Shooting

A 48-year-old man is in critical condition after he was shot in the Vermont-Slauson neighborhood, police said Tuesday. Los Angeles Police Department offices responded to the 400 block of West 58th Street, north of Slauson Avenue regarding reports of a shooting at 8 p.m. Monday. When they arrived, the officers found the victim on the ground with a gunshot wound to the temple, an LAPD officer told City News Service. The victim was taken to a hospital, where he was listed in critical condition. According to the LAPD, there is no suspect information.

MyNewsLA

Reward of up to $25K offered for info in Koreatown hit-and-run

Police in Koreatown are asking for the public’s help in identifying the driver who left a pedestrian fighting for his life following a hit-and-run crash earlier this month. The crash occurred the evening of March 1 when a gray sedan traveling southbound on Western Avenue hit a pedestrian at 1st Street. Video of the impact showed the pedestrian was crossing a marked crosswalk, but the traffic light was green for motorists. Rather than stop and offer help to the pedestrian, the driver took off and continued traveling south on Western Avenue. The pedestrian, who was identified only as a San Pedro resident, was taken to a nearby hospital. He is in critical condition, according to police. A reward of up to $25,000 is being offered to anyone who can provide information that’ll lead to an arrest in the case. Anyone with knowledge on the matter is asked to call Officer Hurd of the LAPD South Traffic Division at 213-321-9681. Anonymous tips can be made by contacting 800-222-TIPS.

NBC 4

West LA dispensary burglary suspect shot and killed by security guard

A burglary suspect who was shot by a security guard after he crashed his car into a West LA weed dispensary Monday morning has died from his injuries. A possible second suspect is on the run. The shooting was reported at 3:12 a.m. at ERBA Markets' West LA dispensary on Pico Boulevard and Centinela Avenue, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. According to Det. Samuel Marullo with LAPD's West Bureau Homicide division, the security guard, who was employed by the dispensary, was working inside the business when the suspect deliberately drove his vehicle through the entrance inside the store. A preliminary investigation revealed the security guard saw the driver, wearing a ski mask, and believed a robbery was about to occur. That's when he shot at the suspect, striking him at least one time before officers arrived and took the suspect into custody. He was taken to the hospital where he died from his injuries. A witness reported seeing a second male suspect running from the scene following the shooting. He possibly dropped evidence, authorities said.

FOX 11

Suspects lead L.A. police, CHP on dangerous high-speed chase in 2 vehicles

At least one suspect was in custody and two others were at-large after a police chase of two separate cars, both allegedly stolen Monday night. One of the drivers was behind the wheel of a Kia Soul, while the other was reportedly driving a Kia Optima before ditching the car and getting into the backseat of the black Soul. After weaving through surface streets in downtown L.A., the three, possibly four suspects in the car got onto the northbound 101 Freeway from the 110 Freeway. Officers with the California Highway Patrol joined the chase just before 11 p.m. as the driver traversed several other SoCal freeways and neighborhoods. At least three of the suspects jumped out of the car in the area of South Vermont and West 49th and fled on foot. 

KTLA 5

Former NFL linebacker sentenced to prison after being convicted in $5 million Ponzi scheme

A former NFL linebacker was sentenced on Monday for his part in a Ponzi scheme that saw victims conned out of more than $5 million, according to federal prosecutors. John Robert Lake, 43, of Plano, Texas, but who formerly lived in Marina del Rey, was sentenced to two years and six months in prison for the scheme that involved falsely telling victims that he was involved in lucrative luxury real estate investments, gold mines in Alaska and Ghana and other ventures. He promised them high rates of return if they invested with him, according to a statement from the U.S.Attorney's Office. On top of his sentence, Leake was also ordered to pay $5.3 million in restitution, prosecutors said. He previously pleaded guilty in Sept. 2024 in a Los Angeles federal court to one count of wire fraud and one count of transactional money laundering, according to court records. Prosecutors say that from June 2015 to March 2020, Leake solicited money from his victims by falsely promising them that he was involving in the lucrative business ventures. He also said that he was subletting luxury real estate properties, offering them the opportunity to loan funds for him to invest, to which he said he would exchange for a high rate of return.

CBS 2

Californians warned of ‘pig butchering’ scam from fraud cryptocurrency websites

California consumers were warned Monday about confidence schemes from fraudulent cryptocurrency websites sometimes referred to as “pig butchering” scams. The typical pig butchering scheme involves a victim receiving a random text or social media message from the scammer, who often attempts to build trust, and then is directed to a fraudulent website to invest money in what appears to be legitimate cryptocurrency. “As scammers grow increasingly sophisticated and calculated, so must our enforcement,” said Attorney General Rob Bonta. “Scammers can use deception and emotional manipulation to take advantage of people looking for connection.” The California Department of Justice (DOJ) said the schemes are often carried out by international scammers making them difficult to arrest and prosecute, but that they are mitigating the scammers’ effectiveness by shutting down fake sites.

KTLA 5

Man who killed 2 Kansas deputies during jail transfer sentenced to life in prison

A Wyandotte County judge ordered a man to serve two life sentences without the chance for parole Thursday for the killing of two sheriff’s deputies during a jail transfer. The sentencing comes after Antoine R. Fielder, 36, pleaded guilty in December to two counts of capital murder and one count of aggravated robbery in the killings of deputies Theresa King and Patrick Rohrer in 2018. The guilty plea was part of an agreement in which Wyandotte County District Attorney Mark Dupree agreed not to seek the death penalty. In exchange for the plea, Fielder also agreed not to file any appeals unless he was sentenced to an illegal sentence or if he received ineffective assistance of counsel. Wyandotte County Judge Bill Klapper sentenced Fielder to life in prison on each count of capital murder, and six years and 11 months on the aggravated robbery charge, all to run concurrently. Upon arriving at the courthouse Thursday morning, members of the media were told those attending the sentencing hearing had to do so virtually from a different courtroom. A Wyandotte County Sheriff’s deputy escorted media to the Division 7 courtroom, where onlookers viewed the hearing from a 32-inch television. The hearing, scheduled to start at 9 am, began around 40 minutes late as the court worked to accommodate more than 50 onlookers who filed in.

Kansas City Star

2 pedestrians struck, killed by train in Los Angeles

Two pedestrians were struck and killed by a train in the Lake Balboa neighborhood of Los Angeles on Monday evening. The L.A. Police Department said a call came in at 6:13 p.m. reporting the fatal Metrolink collision at Roscoe and Balboa Boulevards. Initial reports from the L.A. City Fire Department said crews arrived to find two female patients who were beyond medical help, and determined them dead at the scene. However, LAPD told KTLA that the victims were described as one female and one male. Details are limited, and neither organization immediately gave a definite statement regarding the victims’ identities. Unconfirmed reports said the victims were both adults, but officials had not confirmed their ages as of 8:30 p.m. Monday. Video footage from Citizen.com showed crews placing a canopy over the victims. The victims’ bodies were covered under a white sheet.

KTLA 5

LAFD arson investigators on scene of building fire in downtown LA

Firefighters were battling heavy flames in a commercial building downtown that spread to a nearby building and took one hour and 37 minutes to put out. The fire was first reported at 1:43 a.m. in a two-story building at 1338 S. Flower St. according to the Los Angeles Fire Department's Margaret Stewart. That is between Venice and Pico boulevards. Video showed flames through the roof of the graffiti-covered building. At 2:15 a.m., Stewart reported that the fire had spread to nearby commercial units in a separate building and that additional resources were en route. Firefighters first put out the flames in the original building and had the flames out in the second building at 3:20 a.m., she said. No injuries were reported. Firefighters expected to remain on the scene through the morning to put out hot spots, so drivers were advised to avoid the area, Stewart said. 

NBC 4

Two Rescued From Garage Fire in Mission Hills

Firefighters rescued two people from a garage fire Saturday in a single-story home in the Mission Hills area of Los Angeles, authorities said. The fire was reported around 7:25 a.m. Saturday at 14600 Maclay St., near Interstate 5 and San Fernando Mission Boulevard, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department. It was knocked down in 21 minutes. The victims, a 60-year-old woman and a 34-year-old man, were listed in fair condition, according to the LAFD. The cause of the fire was under investigation.

MyNewsLA

Flood watch issued across Los Angeles, Ventura counties as heavy rainfall expected in region

The first storm in a set of weather events has arrived in Southern California bringing light showers Tuesday morning. The National Weather Service said this current storm will not last long and by the afternoon it will move east. The only rain that will occur will be in the southern part of Los Angeles County, particularly in the San Gabriel Valley. Parts of LA County could likely receive between a third and two thirds of an inch of rain. Mountain areas around 6,000 feet could get around six inches of snow. The second storm is slated to arrive Wednesday afternoon with rainfall increasing overnight. Weather officials have issued a flood watch for much of LA and Ventura counties, 6 p.m. Wednesday through 6 p.m. Thursday. The NWS warns about potential flash flooding and debris flows in burn scar areas caused by excessive rainfall. During the peak of the storm, forecasters said, rainfall rates could be between .50 and .75 inches of rain per hour.

CBS 2

Deadlines for LA County wildfire disaster relief services extended to end of March

Federal and state programs extended several deadlines to allow more survivors of the Los Angeles County wildfires to apply for disaster aid. Instead of the original March 10 deadline, residents affected by the Palisades, Eaton, or any of the other fires from early January will have until April to fill out most of their forms. All programs, except for the LA County Small Business Relief Fund, have a March 31 deadline. Here's a list of financial, unemployment, small business and debris removal programs that will close enrollment by the end of the month. The FEMA Individual Assistance program provides victims with funds to pay for basic home repairs and personal property losses. It also covers uninsured disaster-related needs, including childcare, transportation, medical needs, and funeral and dental expenses. FEMA established two disaster recovery centers near the Palisades and Eaton fire zones to help residents apply. Both locations are open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Saturday. 

CBS 2

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.