Los Angeles Local News - ABC News Radio

Parents Questioned Regarding Possible Torture of Child

2013-05-23T18:40:54Z

(LOS ANGELES) -- Two parents were questioned on Thursday after a boy was found with injuries consistent with torture.

According to the Los Angeles Times, the boy was discovered injured and not breathing on the 200 block of East Avenue Q-10 just before 12 a.m. Wednesday.

The L.A. County Sheriff's Department in Palmdale received a report regarding the home.

The Times reports that he was taken to Children's Hospital Los Angeles and is considered to be in critical condition with injuries, including burn marks and marks where he appeared to have been restrained.

The boy's parents are in custody while the Special Victims Bureau interviews them. Authorities will continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident.

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LAPD Searching for Burglary Suspects Caught on Tape

2013-05-22T18:01:59Z

(LOS ANGELES) -- The Los Angeles Police Department is asking for public assistance in identifying suspects caught on surveillance tapes committing burglaries at Los Angeles hotels.

According to the LAPD, typically two to three suspects enter the hotel between 8 a.m. and 11 a.m. One of the suspects creates a diversion while another steals the victim's property and flees in a getaway vehicle.

The LAPD believes the suspects may have committed other burglaries in the area.

The suspects are believed to be a Hispanic man and woman in their late 30s or early 40s. Anyone with information on the suspects or crimes is asked to call (213) 486-7367.

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LAPD Officers Fatally Shoot Armed Man

2013-05-21T18:27:06Z

(LOS ANGELES) -- A man was fatally shot by Los Angeles Police after allegedly pointing a gun at them in Boyle Heights Monday night, The Los Angeles Times reports.

The deceased man, whose name has not been released, was a known gang member. Officers on patrol spotted him riding a bicycle near South Gless and East 3rd streets when there was a confrontation. He reportedly pulled a gun at police who returned fire, killing him.

It’s not known at this time exactly how many shots were fired.

LAPD’s Force Investigation Division is investigating the incident.

Big Rig Carrying Fruit Overturns on 210 Freeway

2013-05-20T18:40:39Z

(LOS ANGELES) -- A big rig full of fruit created two types of jam when it crashed Monday morning.

According to The Los Angeles Times, the big rig overturned shortly before 5 a.m. near Myrtle Avenue. The crash blocked three westbound lanes and three eastbound lanes for most of the morning, and officials from the California Highway Patrol initially estimated that lanes would be blocked until 9:15 a.m.

Westbound traffic was reportedly jammed up to the 605 freeway, making the morning commute very difficult.

Officials aren't sure what caused the crash at this time.

LAPD Investigating Attemped Abductions

2013-05-17T17:07:45Z

(LOS ANGELES) -- Detectives are asking for public assistance in an investigation regarding a suspect or suspects trying to lure female victims into cars.

According to the Los Angeles Police Department, four separate incidents have occurred in the Cypress Park area since October, including two cases involving the same victim. The victims reported that a vehicle would pull alongside them while they were walking and offer a ride. Each time, the victim refused and fled the area.

It is not known whether there is one suspect or if there are multiple suspects, according to the LAPD.

The suspect or suspects have been described as a 30- to 45-year-old Hispanic male between 5 feet 8 inches and 6 feet tall. Victims have described two different vehicles, a 2007 to 2011 light-colored Honda Accord and a 2007 to 2010 green Toyota Camry.

Anyone with information regarding the suspect or suspects is asked to call (213) 344-5741.

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Los Angeles Tops List for Dog Attacks on Mail Carrier

2013-05-16T17:31:17Z

(WASHINGTON) -- Los Angeles has gone to the dogs, as the U.S. Postal Service has ranked it the top city in the country for dog attacks on letter carriers.

On Wednesday, the Postal Service released the list of cities where its employees were most frequently attacked last year. Los Angeles recorded the most attacks with 69 last year.

"If our letter carriers deem your loose dog to be a threat, you'll be asked to pick up your mail at the Post Office until it's safe to deliver," Ken Snavely, acting postmaster of Los Angeles, said in a statement.

The Postal Service says 5,879 postal employees were attacked last year.

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Drunk Man Gets Stuck in Chimney

2013-05-15T17:08:01Z

(LOS ANGLES) -- Police and firefighters rescued a man who had gotten stuck in a chimney while trying to break into the Sylmar Recreation Center early Tuesday morning.

According to police, 27-year-old Cuauhtli Castillo Lujano called police to tell them he was stuck, saying he had “fallen” into the chimney. When asked why, Lujano told police that he had been jumping from roof to roof because “that’s what people do.”

He smelled heavily of alcohol, police say.

After they got him out of the chimney, police determined that he had no prior criminal record, and technically hadn’t entered the building proper. He was booked for trespassing, and his bail was set at $2,500.

Police say they believe he was attempting to break in to steal something, but they cannot prove that. The do intend to check his fingerprints against unsolved local burglaries.

Police seemed to be somewhat amused by the whole situation.

“This guy could take some lessons from Santa Claus,” said Lt. Paul Vernon, head of detectives for the Mission Police Station. “Namely, abstain from drink before climbing down chimneys and keep better track of the calendar; there’s still 225 days until Christmas.”

LAPD Warn of Robbers Targeting Joggers Near Silver Lake Reservoir

2013-05-14T18:51:56Z

(LOS ANGELES) -- Los Angeles robbery detectives are investigating what they think may be a series of robberies targeting joggers in the neighborhood surrounding Silver Lake Reservoir, the department announced Monday.

The first robbery was two weeks ago, shortly before 9:30 p.m. on April 19. The victim was jogging near Silver Lake Boulevard and Armstrong Avenue when two suspects approached him and demanded his property. The jogger initially refused until one of the suspects revealed the handgun tucked away in his waistband. The jogger complied, and the two drove away in their vehicle.

The second incident occurred on May 6 around 8 p.m. Three suspects tackled at jogger from behind, took his property and drove off.

The suspects are described as Hispanics, ages 18-20, all standing between 5 feet 8 inches to 6 feet tall. The two getaway vehicles are described as a tan or silver 1998-2000, Toyota four-door Square back with tinted windows or a silver colored 1999-2002, four-door Honda Accord.

Police are advising residents to jog in pairs, and not to confront the suspects if they are spotted. They are considered armed and dangerous, and anyone who sees them should run away and call the police.

Family of Man Killed by LA County Sheriff's Deputy Disputes Official's Story

2013-05-13T18:33:04Z

(LOS ANGELES) -- A man was shot and killed by a Los Angeles County sheriff's deputy on Saturday night in Cudhay, the Los Angeles Times reports.

Officials say Rigoberto Arceo reached for a deputy’s gun after they stopped the car he was in on suspicion that he had fled the scene of a possible fight. The Sheriff’s Department claims that Arceo ignored their commands to stop and reached for the deputy’s weapon, and that the deputy fired due to fear for his life.

Arceo was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.

However, Arceo’s sister, Maria Arceo, who was driving the car with Rigoberto Arceo that night, says this isn’t what happened. She claims that her brother got out of the car with his hands in the air, and did not do anything but comply with the officer’s requests.

Police are continuing to investigate the incident.

Police Search for Missing Girl

2013-05-10T18:41:07Z

(LOS ANGELES) -- Police and family are searching for a 20-year-old girl who has been missing since May 1.

According to the Los Angeles Police Department, Shantell Patricia Chavez-Hardy was last seen at approximately midnight on May 1 on the 22300 block of Welby Way in Topanga. Hardy's family is concerned because she is said to have the mental capacity of a 10-year-old.

Hardy is described as an African-American female with brown hair and hazel eyes. She is approximately 5 feet 1 inch tall and weighs about 120 pounds. She was last seen wearing lime green pajamas and a white t-shirt.

Anyone with information about Hardy's whereabouts is asked to call (213) 996-1800.

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