Category: Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department

Los Angeles Races: Bass, Caruso Tie for Mayor; Sheriff Villanueva Trailing Behind in Reelection Bid

In the hours after the polls close on Election Night, the Los Angeles races unfolded in ways more divergent than expected, with the mayoral candidates—U.S. Rep. Karen Bass (D-Calif.) and businessman Rick Caruso—closing in on each other and county Sheriff Alex Villanueva trailing far behind his opponent. Angelenos voted for a new mayor to replace termed-out…


Los Angeles Elections: Caruso Leads in Race for Mayor, Sheriff Villanueva Trails Behind in Reelection Bid

In the hours after the polls closed on Election Night, the Los Angeles races unfolded in unexpected ways, with businessman Rick Caruso taking a slight lead over his opponent U.S. Rep. Karen Bass (D-Calif.) in the mayoral race and county Sheriff Alex Villanueva trailing far behind his opponent. Angelenos voted for a new mayor to replace…


2 Arrested In Connection With Harbor City Armored Truck Robbery

LOS ANGELES—Two men suspected in multiple armored car robberies were arrested Oct. 21 on federal robbery and firearms offenses alleging they robbed an armored vehicle on Monday in Harbor City and shot a guard several times in the leg. Gregory James, 47, of San Pedro, and Lamond Akins, 30, of Compton, were arrested pursuant to…


‘Blue Cloth Bandit’ Arrested in Series of More Than 60 Armed Robberies

LOS ANGELES—A man dubbed the “Blue Cloth Bandit” for his alleged habit of using a cloth to cover a handgun during a string of more than five dozen robberies over a span of nearly two years was in custody Sept. 28, police said. Charles Chukwuma Onwuemelie, 29, of Quartz Hill was arrested at his residence…


Judge: Warrants to Search Homes of LA County Supervisor, Metro Properly Obtained

A Los Angeles judge has ruled the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department properly obtained warrants to search the home of county Supervisor Sheila Kuehl and other locations targeted in a political corruption probe. However, he ordered the agency to turn over any items seized in the searches to the state Attorney General’s Office, which has…


California Attorney General Takes Over LA Sheriff’s Probe of County Supervisor Kuehl, Metro

California Attorney General’s Office has taken over a Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department investigation into allegations of political corruption against the L.A. Metropolitan Transportation Authority and county Supervisor Sheila Kuehl. The move by Attorney General Rob Bonta was confirmed in a letter (pdf) sent to the sheriff’s department Sept. 20. The investigation was launched after a…


LASD Deputy Missing After Crash Arrested for Alleged DUI

STEVENSON RANCH, Calif.—A Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy who went missing after a traffic crash in Stevenson Ranch only to be found at his home nearby has been arrested on suspicion of drunk driving and relieved of duty, department officials said. The deputy’s patrol SUV was found crashed in some bushes at Pico Canyon Road…


Teen Stabbed to Death in East Los Angeles

EAST LOS ANGELES, Calif.—A 17-year-old boy was found dead from an apparent stabbing in the East Los Angeles area Aug. 11. Jaime Castellano Jr. was identified on Aug. 14 as the stabbing victim, according to the Los Angeles County coroner’s office. Paramedics pronounced Castellano dead at the scene. Deputies responded to the 4900 block of…


Voters to Decide if Los Angeles Supervisors Can Remove Sheriff

The Los Angeles Board of Supervisors voted Aug.2 without discussion to pass an ordinance that will be on the November ballot that will allow the board to remove a publicly elected county sheriff from office. The measure passed in a 4–1 vote, with Supervisor Kathryn Barger dissenting. “Giving the Board of Supervisors the authority to…


LA County Supervisors Moves to Put Sheriff Removal Measure on November Ballot

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors July 26 approved the first reading of an ordinance that would allow county voters to decide whether the board should have the power to remove a county sheriff from office under certain conditions. The ordinance, introduced by Board Chair Holly Mitchell and Supervisor Hilda Solis, received a 4–1…