Email from Los Angeles Police Protective League Daily News & Updates Law Enforcement News LAPD seeks source of ‘large quantity of illegal pyrotechnic devices’ after teen’s death The search is on for the source of “a large quantity of illegal pyrotechnic devices” that killed a teenager in the Vermont Knolls area of South Los Angeles Wednesday evening. In a press release issued by the Los Angeles Police Department Thursday afternoon, police confirmed that the 17-year-old was declared dead at a local hospital after the 9 p.m. explosion in the 400 block of 84th Street. That teen had been “manipulating pyrotechnic materials when they exploded,” police said, and the ensuing investigation resulted in the discovery of “a large quantity of illegal pyrotechnic devices.” Those explosives were taken to “a safe storage location,” and “there are no ongoing public safety concerns,” police added. Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Allen at 213-486-7260. During non-business hours or on weekends, call 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (1-877-527-3247). KTLA 5 Hate crimes in L.A. County ‘continue at record levels,’ new report finds Hate crimes in Los Angeles County remained near record-high levels in 2024, despite slight decreases in several types of violent incidents, according to a report released Thursday. The findings from the Los Angeles County Commission on Human Relations, presented at a news conference in Koreatown, said there were 1,355 reported hate crimes victims in the county during 2024, a 1% decrease from the prior year. “To get a sense of the magnitude, that total represents an average of nearly four hate crimes in each day,” said Robin Toma, the commission’s executive director. Toma said hate crimes continuing locally at historic rates can be partially attributed to improved reporting, along with partnerships between law enforcement agencies, and community organizations such as LA vs. Hate and 211LA. Anti-Black hate crimes accounted for a majority of the reported incidents at 51%, with the total number of victims increasing from 325 in 2023 to 345 last year. The data maintain a years-long pattern of overrepresentation of Black individuals as victims in racially driven incidents. The report cited one incident in December last year, when a Black woman driving her car in Long Beach said a white perpetrator began to yell slurs at her and brandish a weapon “about 8 times.” Los Angeles Times Loved ones search for missing 17-year-old Southern California girl Loved ones are still searching for a Southern California girl who has been missing for over six weeks. Liza Mendoza, 17, was reported missing on Oct. 18, according to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC). She was last seen in the Pacoima neighborhood of the San Fernando Valley. She stands 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighs 100 pounds. She has brown eyes, brown hair and has several tattoos. It’s unknown what she was last wearing. Authorities believe Mendoza may either be in the Los Angeles County area or she may have been traveling to surrounding areas when she disappeared. Her family did not note any mental or physical health conditions that would’ve contributed to her disappearance. They have not heard from her since and are very concerned for her well-being. Anyone who may know Mendoza’s whereabouts or has information on the case can call NCMEC at 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678) or the Los Angeles Police Department at 1-877-275-5273. KTLA 5 Speeding car crashes through bus stop, flips into California McDonald’s drive-thru An investigation is underway after a car crashed into a McDonald’s drive-thru in Gardena early Friday morning. Los Angeles police responded to the crash at 850 Rosecrans Ave. around 12:30 a.m. Officers found a white sedan that had driven through a bus stop before rolling over into the fast-food chain’s drive-thru lane. Neither the restaurant nor the drive-thru was open at the time of the crash. Two people inside the car suffered minor injuries, according to news video service RMG News. Witnesses said the car was speeding on Rosecrans Avenue before the driver lost control and flipped the vehicle. Police have not confirmed details about the crash, but were at the scene investigating. No other vehicles appeared to be involved. KTLA 5 Woman convicted of killing retired nurse in Rolling Hills mall parking lot A seven-year crime saga finally came to an end after a woman was convicted of a brutal stabbing murder in a Los Angeles County mall parking lot. In May 2018, authorities found 66-year-old Susan Leeds dead in her SUV, the first murder in the area in nearly 10 years. The day after her death, law enforcement arrested a homeless man for her death, but he was quickly released because of a lack of evidence. Then-Sheriff Jim McDonnell, now the chief of the Los Angeles Police Department, said detectives believed it was a random attack. "We believe the motivation for this is robbery and that Mrs. Leeds was randomly chosen," McDonnell said in 2018. The LA County Sheriff's Department pleaded with the public for help, alongside her family. It wasn't until weeks later that deputies arrested Cherie Townsend for killing Leeds. The department claimed that circumstantial evidence, including her cell phone found under Leeds' car, proved that Townsend committed the crime. Townsend was released from jail after just five days, as the investigation into the crime continued. "I was wrongfully accused of murder," Townsend said in 2018. "I live my life in hiding." Later in 2018, Townsend sued LA County, alleging false imprisonment and civil rights violations. She would be arrested once again in 2023. CBS 2 BWC: Florida sergeant shot in the face twice during shootout with suspect The Port St. Lucie Police Department released body camera footage showing a shooting incident that left one officer wounded, WPBF reported. The Dec. 1 incident began when a mother called 911 reporting that her son was abusing drugs, according to the report. When officers arrived on the scene, they immediately spotted the suspect armed with a weapon. As officers approached the residence, the suspect looked out from behind a garage door and fired shots, body camera video shows. Sgt. Erik LeVasseur was struck twice in the face. After striking the officer, the suspect charged out of the residence, moving to fire shots at the remaining officers, who were taking cover behind a patrol car. The officers returned fire, fatally striking the suspect. LeVasseur, a 27-year veteran, was initially placed in a medically induced coma before being taken to HCA Florida Lawnwood Hospital, where trauma surgeons operated through the night to stabilize his injuries, Police Chief Leo Niemczyk said. His jaw was surgically repaired and wired shut, and a tracheostomy was placed to protect his airway amid significant swelling and facial trauma, according to the Sergeants Union. PoliceOne Man in custody after allegedly stabbing person more than 30 times, stealing Ohio police cruiser A 24-year-old man is in custody after he reportedly stabbed a person more than 30 times in Middletown and stole a police cruiser Thursday morning. The victim has critical injuries, according to Middletown police. Around 3:50 a.m., the Middletown Division of Police and Middletown Division of Fire responded to a stabbing in the 4400 block of Bonita Drive. The victim was transported to Atrium Medical Center and later transferred to Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton. The suspect, a 24-year-old man, fled on foot. While a police K9 was trying to track him, the man got into a locked Middletown police cruiser through the window and stole the vehicle, according to police. A BOLO, of be on the lookout, was issued for the area. The cruiser was found in Independence, Kentucky, and the man was arrested without incident. Charges and extradition to Middletown are pending. Anyone with information about the case should call detective Connor Kirby at 513-425-7736. PoliceOne Public Safety News Firefighter injured as crews contain fire at Boyle Heights business A Los Angeles firefighters was injured Thursday morning when the department worked to contain a fire at a textiles business in Boyle Heights. The firefighter was hospitalized, but details about the severity of the injury were not immediately available. The fire, which sent a tall plume of smoke over the area east of downtown Los Angeles, apparently extended to the building from a fire originally burning outside the structure, the LAFD said. Flames were risk of spreading to one other building, the department said. All employees were out of the burning building, according to the LAFD. When employees left the building, the doors locked behind them, forcing firefighters to use saws and other tools to get inside. At about 9:30 a.m., the LAFD said the fire was under control. A fire department robot entered the compromised structure to extinguish hot spots in unsafe areas. Details about the original fire that spread to the building were not immediately available. NBC 4 Crews respond to train derailment near downtown Los Angeles Several crews responded to the scene of a train derailment near downtown Los Angeles on Thursday night. BNSF said around 10:30 p.m., a train experienced a derailment involving multiple rail cars near Washington Boulevard. Crews are working to rerail the derailed cars and restore service to the train. No injuries were reported, and no hazardous materials were involved in the incident. The cause of the derailment is under investigation. CBS 2 24-Hour 211 Hotline Opens to Allow Reports of Child Sex Abuse by LA County Workforce Following settlements of thousands of childhood sexual abuse claims under state law AB 218, county officials announced Thursday that a daily 24-hour hotline will be available to take reports of suspected child sexual abuse committed by county employees, contractors or volunteers. Los Angeles County recently launched a centralized, independent reporting platform as part of its detailed corrective actions plans aimed at preventing abuse. County officials urged victims, families and witnesses of suspected abuse to call 211 or make a report online at 211la.org/report-childsexualabuse. Reports will be automatically flagged for a senior county team charged with assessing claims and expediting investigations. “Our new 211 hotline is a critical tool to help us identify, intervene and take swift action against anyone who would harm the children they are entrusted to protect,” Board of Supervisors Chair Hilda Solis said in a statement. MyNewsLA CDC committee drops hep B vaccine for newborns over objections from health officials A key vaccine advisory panel for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention voted Friday to drop a decades-old recommendation to vaccinate newborns against hepatitis B, the body’s most controversial decision since its overhaul by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in June. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices voted 8 to 3 to adopt “individual-based decision making” for the newborn dose of the hep B vaccine. The CDC has recommended the shot since 1991, resulting in a 99% decline in rates of chronic hepatitis B infections in children and teens. The move was met with condemnation by physicians and public health officials, including some on the committee. “Do no harm is a moral imperative. We are doing harm by changing this wording,” said Dr. Cody Meissner, an expert in pediatric infectious diseases at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, who cast one of the few dissenting votes. “This has a great potential to cause harm, and I simply hope the committee with accept this responsibility when that harm is caused,” said fellow no-vote Dr. Joseph Hibbeln, a psychiatrist formerly with the National Institutes of Health. Los Angeles Times About the LAPPL: Formed in 1923, the Los Angeles Police Protective League (LAPPL) represents more than 8,700 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 | Our Privacy Policy | Constant Contact Data Notice