Orange County Neighborhood Evacuated for 'Suspicious Package'

(LOS ANGELES) -- The area surrounding a Del Taco restaurant in Fullerton has been evacuated and authorities are investigating "suspicious packages" in the parking lot.

According to the Los Angeles Times, authorities shut down the area near Chapman Avenue and State College Boulevard at about 8:30 a.m. The Orange County Sheriff's Department bomb squad is responding to the incident.

According to the Times, Southern California has had a number of bomb scares since the explosion at the Boston Marathon on Monday. Since Monday, police have reportedly responded to suspicious packages at UCLA, Cal State Los Angeles, UC Berkeley and a Hooters restaurant.

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Man Fatally Shot on Sidewalk

(LOS ANGELES) -- A man was shot and killed while walking on the sidewalk on Wednesday, and Los Angeles Police Department West Bureau Homicide detectives are asking for the public’s help in finding the suspect.

Police say the victim, 31-year-old Kallen Mahone was walking on S. Gramercy Drive around 1:15 a.m. when an unknown suspect approached and shot him numerous times. Mahone, who had moved to Los Angeles less than a year ago, collapsed on the sidewalk.

Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics arrived and transported Mahone to a local hospital, but he died due to his injuries.

There is very little known about the suspect, and officials have no known motive for the crime at this time.

Police are asking anyone with information that may lead to the arrest of Mahone’s killer to contact West Bureau Homicide Detectives at (213)382-9470. Anyone wishing to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477).  

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Trial Begins for Woman Who Cut-off Husband’s Penis

(LOS ANGELES) -- On Wednesday, the trial for a woman accused of sedating her husband and then severing his penis heard its opening statements, the Los Angeles Times reports.

The suspect, 50-year-old Catherine Kieu, allegedly maimed her husband in July 2011. Kieu reportedly laced her husband’s food with ambien following an argument. Prosecutors say she then tied him to the bed, and cut his penis with a knife, and mutilated the severed member by throwing it in the garbage disposal.

Reattachment surgery failed.

Kieu is pleading not guilty to the charges, though police say that she told them that her husband “deserved it” at the time of her arrest.

If convicted, Kieu faces a maximum sentence of life in prison with the possibility of parole.

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LA Detectives Arrest 33-Year-Old Man on Peeping Tom Charges

(LOS ANGELES) -- Los Angeles detectives arrested a 33-year-old man for allegedly pointing his cellphone under a woman's skirt while in line at a convenience store.

The incident occurred April 3 at Panorama City in the area of Roscoe Boulevard and Ventura Canyon Boulevard. A female customer in line at the store witnessed the man pointing his cellphone under the woman's skirt and followed the victim to the parking lot to tell her what had happened. The victim then took pictures of the man in his car as well as his license plate. The incident was also caught on videotape.

Detectives identified the suspect as Joaquin Cortes Rodriguez. The 27-year-old victim then picked his image out of a lineup.

After obtaining an arrest warrant, Rodriguez was booked April 12 on a misdemeanor Peeping Tom charge. His bail was set at $50,000.

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Councilmember Englander to Attend Street Bond Proposal Meeting

(LOS ANGELES) -- Councilmember Mitchell Englander is set to attend a street bond proposal community meeting this week.  

Englander will attend a special community meeting at Van Nuys City Hall to welcome the Public Works Committee to the San Fernando Valley, and to encourage residents and stakeholders to share their ideas and suggestions on the proposed bond measure to fund the repair of 8,700 miles of failed streets in Los Angeles, according to a news release.

“It is vital that we take action to update our City’s infrastructure and actively seek funding options to improve our streets,” said Englander.  “I am excited to hear the input of the community residents and stakeholders on solving this problem and moving toward a better transportation future.

The meeting will take place Tuesday, April 16 at 6 p.m. at Van Nuys City Hall at 14410 Sylvan Street.

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