Sunday, October 16, 2011

Woman badly hurt in South L.A. hit and run

Los Angeles police are looking for the driver of a 2001 Chevrolet Tahoe that struck a car  in South Los Angeles early Sunday and fled, leaving a woman in the other vehicle seriously injured.

The hit-and-run occurred about 2:30 a.m. as the victim, identified only as in her mid-20s, drove her 2002 Ford Mustang southbound on McKinley Avenue, the LAPD said in a news release. Her car was struck by the SUV, which was traveling westbound on 54th Street.

“The driver of the Tahoe left the scene of the collision without providing identification or rendering aid to the woman,” the release said, noting that she was in serious condition Sunday night at a hospital.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Det. M. Kaden at (213) 972-1837, Det. J. Mapson at (213) 972-1825 or the Central Traffic Division watch commander at (213) 972-1853.

--Kim Christensen

L.A. County sheriff investigating fatal shooting by Pomona police


Pomona police shot and killed a man Sunday morning after confronting him and a woman in an alley, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, which is investigating.

The shooting occurred in the 900 block of West Holt Avenue about 8:40 a.m., when two Pomona officers encountered the pair and “the male became uncooperative and violent,” a sheriff’s press release said. The man was pronounced dead at the scene. His name and age have not been released.

No other information was available Sunday.

--Abby Sewell

 

Hundreds join Occupy O.C. protest while others scoff

Alex Sircello of Orange County stood with other protesters outside Irvine City Hall during the Occupy OC protests on Saturday

Resting on his bicycle between two fellow riders, Newport Beach resident Jeff Yeargain waited and watched with apparent contempt as more than 500 people marched across his path toward a major Irvine intersection.

Yeargain and with his two friends, a businessman from Costa Mesa and a retired attorney from Irvine,  waited at Alton Parkway on the canal's riding path for the Occupy Wall Street movement's latest incarnation to pass by.

"They just want something for nothing," Yeargain said.

Photos: 'Occupy' protests go global

"It's a complete joke," one of his friends said, the other claiming the demonstrators opposed capitalism and were probably brought in from New York.

To those marching from Irvine's City Hall on Saturday afternoon, the three men's criticisms echo early sentiments about the tea party movement before the 2010 elections, when across the country folks spontaneously connected over the government's bailouts of banks and Detroit car companies.

"It should mobilize people come 2012," Robin Kissel of Laguna Hills told the Daily Pilot.

Pomona police shoot, kill man

Pomona police shot and killed a man Sunday morning.

The shooting took place on the 900 block of West Holt Avenue at about 8:40 a.m., according to Deputy Guillermina Saldana of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. 

An unknown number of officers fired on a black man, who was pronounced dead at the scene, Saldana said. She had no further details on the circumstances. Pomona police referred all inquires to the Sheriff's Department, which was called in to investigate the officer-involved shooting.

Investigators remained on scene Sunday afternoon.

ALSO:

Detonation of Sylmar gas tanks complete

Three people killed, four injured as jet ski collides with boat

Hells Angel member killed at San Jose funeral for fellow biker

-- Abby Sewell

 

Reader photos: Southern California Moments Day 289

Click through for more photos of Southern California Moments

Ghosts of L.A.: Early morning sunlight streams through the windows of an old law office in an abandoned skyscraper in downtown L.A. in this Sept. 2 photo by lostlosangeles.

Every day of 2011, we're featuring reader-submitted photos of Southern California Moments. Follow us on Twitter and visit the Southern California Moments homepage for more on this series.

Earthquake: 3.2 quake strikes near Hiko, Nev.

A shallow magnitude 3.2 earthquake was reported Sunday morning eight miles from Hiko, NV, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The temblor occurred at 11:27 a.m. Pacific time at a depth of 9.3 miles.

According to the USGS, the epicenter was 22 miles from Alamo, Nev,, 24 miles from Helene, Nev., 34 miles from Caliente, Nev., and 103 miles from Las Vegas.

In the last 10 days, there have been no earthquakes magnitude 3.0 and greater centered nearby.

Read more about California earthquakes on L.A. Now.

— Ken Schwencke

Image: Google Maps

Halloween party shooting in Azusa leaves two wounded

Two people were shot at a Halloween party in Azusa early Sunday, authorities said.

Officers from the Azusa Police Department responded to the incident at about 1:20 a.m. Sunday, finding two wounded victims, a 21-year-old man and a 19-year-old woman, who were taken to a hospital for treatment, Det. Robert Landeros said. The victims' names weren't released.

The shooting occurred in a small housing complex on the 300 block of South Aspen Ave. in Azusa, where about 60 people attended a party that began Saturday night.

Investigators are pursuing a number of leads, Landeros said. Anyone with information can call the Azusa Police Department at (626) 812-3200.

ALSO:

Detonation of Sylmar gas tanks complete

Alleged Porsche-wheel thief arrested after 100-mph chase

Police investigate fatal shootings in South Los Angeles and Watts

-- Sam Allen

Detonation of Sylmar gas tanks complete

A third and final tank of volatile gas was successfully detonated at an energy plant in Sylmar on Sunday morning, officials said, and the 210 Freeway has reopened.

A Los Angeles Police Department bomb squad, working with federal environmental officials, detonated three tanks of volatile gas at an alternative-energy business in the 12300 block of Gladstone Avenue. A first detonation at about 7:45 a.m. destroyed two smaller tanks but failed to breach the main tank.

LAPD Cmdr. Andrew Smith said a robot inspected the scene after the first detonation with inconclusive results, so bomb squad personnel went in and found that the third tank was still intact.

The second attempt was carried out around 9 a.m. and successfully destroyed the tank. The 210 Freeway and roads around the facility, closed intermittently during the operation, have been reopened.

Authorities removed a total of 23 canisters of pressurized chemicals and gases from the building after an Aug. 9 explosion that left Timothy B. Larson critically injured. A similar explosion occurred at a Simi Valley plant last year. Both plants were owned by Larson's father, Timothy A. Larson. Tyson Larson, 28, the brother of Timothy B. Larson, was killed in the Simi Valley explosion. The family-owned business is the subject of investigations by Cal-OSHA and the Environmental Protection Agency.

— Abby Sewell

210 Freeway closed as Sylmar prepares for explosion

Officials have delayed the detonation of a gas canister in Sylmar, originally planned for 6:30 a.m., until approximately 7:30.

Federal environmental officials are planning to detonate at least one canister of highly volatile gas at a building in an industrial park in Sylmar — and it could cause a little early morning shaking, authorities said. A portion of the 210 Freeway is temporarily closed for the operation. The canister of tylar gas, a mixture of oxygen and hydrogen, will be detonated at an alternative-energy business in the 12300 block of Gladstone Avenue.

Authorities are choosing to destroy the canister in place because it is too volatile to transport, said Harry Allen, a section chief for Region 9 of the Environmental Protection Agency. Allen did not know the volume of the container. Nearby businesses and residents have been notified to expect the blast, Allen said, adding that damage is expected to be minimal.

Authorities removed a total of 23 canisters of pressurized chemicals and gases from the building after an Aug. 9 explosion that left Timothy B. Larson critically injured. A similar explosion occured in Simi Valley last year. Both plants were owned by Larson's father, Timothy A. Larson. Tyson Larson, 28, the brother of Timothy B. Larson, was killed in the Simi Valley explosion.

The family-owned business is the subject of investigations by Cal-OSHA and the Environmental Protection Agency.

The California Highway Patrol said the 210 Freeway would be closed for up to several hours between Maclay Avenue and the 118 Freeway. A parallel section of Foothill Boulevard also will be closed.

— Catherine Saillant and Abby Sewell

2 of 3 gas canisters detonated in Sylmar; 210 Freeway open for now

Officials carried out a planned detonation of tanks full of volatile gas at an energy plant in in Sylmar on Sunday morning, but will have to conduct a second explosion because one of the three tanks was not breached, EPA spokeswoman Nahal Mogharabi said.

A portion of the 210 Freeway closed during the first detonation has been reopened, but will close again for the second attempt, which is expected to take place around 9 a.m. she said. 

Federal environmental officials detonated the tanks of highly volatile tylar gas, a mixture of oxygen and hydrogen, at an alternative-energy business in the 12300 block of Gladstone Avenue. A robot then checked the scene.

Authorities removed a total of 23 canisters of pressurized chemicals and gases from the building after an Aug. 9 explosion that left Timothy B. Larson critically injured. A similar explosion occurred at a Simi Valley plant last year. Both plants were owned by Larson's father, Timothy A. Larson. Tyson Larson, 28, the brother of Timothy B. Larson, was killed in the Simi Valley explosion. The family-owned business is the subject of investigations by Cal-OSHA and the Environmental Protection Agency.

The 210 Freeway was closed between Maclay Avenue and the 118 Freeway. A parallel section of Foothill Boulevard was also closed.

— Abby Sewell

Alleged Porsche-wheel thief arrested after 100-mph chase

A man found allegedly stealing wheels off a Porsche in Garden Grove rammed a police car and then led officers on a high-speed chase, police said.

A resident of a condo complex on the 10500 block of Lakeside North reported hearing a possible prowler outside at about 4:30 a.m. Saturday. When police arrived, they found two men in the process of stealing wheels from a Porsche in a carport, authorities said.

The men fled, and one was captured near the scene, police said. The other man, identified by police as Robert Caruso, 41, of Corona, got into a car, rammed it into a responding officer's vehicle and drove off, according to a police statement. The officers were not injured.

Caruso led officers on a chase on the 22, 55 and 91 freeways, reaching speeds over 100 miles per hour, police said. He exited the 91 on Tustin Avenue, and crashed into a curb at Lambert and Tustin, then fled on foot before being captured, according to police. He was captured and arrested on suspicion of assault on a police officer and parole violation.

The other suspect, identified by police as Joseph Precilse, 42, of Garden Grove, was arrested on suspicion of grand theft.

ALSO:

Seal Beach shooting: D.A. expects an insanity defense

San Jose hot dog vendors held on weapons, drug charges

L.A. schools need billions in facilities upgrades, report finds

-- Abby Sewell

Police investigate fatal shootings in South Los Angeles and Watts

A 16-year-old boy died and a 19-year-old was wounded early Sunday morning in South Los Angeles in what police said appeared to be a gang-related shooting.

The 16-year-old was riding his minibike in the 6700 block of South 11th Avenue at about 1:35 a.m. when three men got out of an SUV and opened fire on him, said Sgt. Angela McGee with the LAPD's 77th Street station. He died at the scene. The suspects are still on the loose.

The 19-year-old, who was not believed to be an intended target of the shooters, was shot in the leg. He was transported to a local hospital and is in stable condition, McGee said. Neither of the teens was identified.

Also Sunday, detectives from the Los Angeles Police Department's Southeast station were investigating a fatal shooting in Watts. The shooting took place around 1 a.m. at 113th Street and Monitor Avenue. One victim died after being shot in the chest, said a watch commander at the Southeast station, but he had no further details. Homicide detectives were still on scene.

— Abby Sewell

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