Category: Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD)

LAPD Opens Probe into LA City Councilors’ Leaked Conversation

LOS ANGELES—The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD)’s Major Crimes Division has opened an investigation into the leaked conversation that led to the City Hall racism scandal to determine if the conversation was recorded illegally, LAPD Chief Michel Moore said Oct. 25. “The department has initiated a criminal investigation into an allegation of eavesdropping relative to…


Man, 68, Fatally Struck With Scooter in LA Liquor Store Robbery; Teen Suspects Sought

LOS ANGELES—Police were searching Oct. 7 for a group of juveniles suspected of fatally injuring a liquor store clerk with a scooter in Highland Park. The group of two girls and two boys entered Tony’s Market near the intersection of Figueroa Street and E Avenue 40 about 8 p.m. Thursday and “attempted to steal various…


LAPD Losing More Officers than It Recruits

The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) is struggling to recruit new officers as the number of sworn personnel continues to decrease, Chief Michel Moore told the Police Commission Oct. 4. Over the last three years, the department has lost more than 600 officers, and each month they’re losing a minimum of 50 sworn personnel due…


Family of LAPD Officer Who Died After Training Accident Files New Claim Against City of LA

The family of Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) officer, Houston Tipping filed a new claim against the City of Los Angeles regarding his death during a training exercise earlier this year, his family attorney announced this week. Tipping family attorney, Bradley Gage, told reporters Oct. 3 that Tipping, 32, died due to a spinal cord…


Family of LAPD Officer Who Died After Training Accident Files New Claim Against City

The family of Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) officer, Houston Tipping filed a new claim against the city regarding his death during a training exercise earlier this year, his family attorney announced this week. Tipping family attorney, Bradley Gage, told reporters Oct. 3 that Tipping, 32, died due to a spinal cord injury allegedly caused…


LAPD: 2 Arrested in Wilmington Shooting That Killed 12-Year-Old Boy

WILMINGTON, Calif.—Two men were in custody Sept. 30 in connection with a December shooting in Wilmington that left a 12-year-old boy dead and a woman and a girl injured. Damian Martinez, 21, and Gabriel Martinez, 19, of Wilmington, were arrested Sept. 27, according to the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD). The men, who are cousins,…


Third Suspect Arrested in Rapper PnB Rock’s Killing

COMPTON, Calif.—A third suspect sought by police in the shooting death of rapper PnB Rock at a South Los Angeles restaurant was arrested in Las Vegas Sept. 29. Freddie Lee Trone, 40, was located and arrested at about 1 p.m. Thursday, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. He was booked in Las Vegas and…


Amid Increase in Violent Crime, LAPD Urges People to ‘Step Away’ From Heated Arguments

LOS ANGELES—Hoping to combat an increase in violent crime, the Los Angeles Police Department Sept. 28 released a “Step Away LA” public service announcement urging residents to actively de-escalate confrontations to avoid violence. The roughly two-minute video released by the department features members of the LAPD, the City Attorney’s Office, stakeholders, residents, and community partners…


LAPD: Mental Health Response Team Handling Just 32 Percent of Related Calls

LOS ANGELES—Less than one-third of calls to the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) involving people experiencing a mental health crisis is being handled by a co-response team that includes a mental health clinician alongside a sworn officer, Police Chief Michel Moore told the Board of Police Commissioners Sept. 27. The LAPD instituted a program last…


‘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…