Results tagged “elmonte”

The 13-year-old El Monte boy who allegedly started the Morris Fire was charged today with two felony counts, arson and recklessly causing a fire to a forest or structure, according to KNX1070. He is not in custody, but will be arraigned on November 17th in Pomona Juvenile Court. The Morris Fire began on Tuesday, August 25th in the Angeles National Forest above Azusa and Glendora. It burned through some 2,168 acres and has been 100 percent contained

Remember that video of the car chase where the driver fled from the car, prompting a short foot chase where it ended with him surrendering, laying on the ground face down and then being kicked in the head by an officer in El Monte (If you don't, the video is embedded below)? Now he's suing for $5 million and his lawyer, a former Los Angeles City Councilman is advising him to change his looks for court.

On Wednesday as a car chase came to the end in a residential neighborhood, suspected driver and known gang member Richard Rodriguez gave up by laying down on the ground and fanning his arm away from his body. The first officer to arrive kicked Rodriguez in the head (watch the video here), prompting the latest hit in viral police violence videos. The police union representing the El Monte officer is calling it a distraction blow (remember the LAPD's distraction punch video?). The the union's attorney said this, via the LA Times: “Unfortunately these things never look good on video. Sometimes officers have to use force when dealing with bad guys. The officer initially came upon the suspect alone. The suspect hadn’t been searched and was a parolee and a gang member. The individual officer saw some movement. He feared the parolee might have a weapon or be about to get up. So the officer did what is known as a distraction blow. It wasn’t designed to hurt the man, just distract him." What do you think? Was that a legit distraction kick or not?

After a long car chase yesterday afternoon that whipped through freeways and city streets of the San Gabriel Valley, the car careened into a car and the driver split into a neighborhood, but soon gave up once he realized there was no where to go. That's where this video from NBC Los Angeles comes in: the first El Monte police officer to reach the suspect, who is already on the ground with his hands spread, kicks him in the head. Now the ACLU is seeking a suspension for that officer.

The 9-year-old who brought a gun to an El Monte elementary school yesterday said he was just trying to show it off to classmates. Problem is, the gun accidentally discharged when he pulled it out of the backpack. And the even bigger issue here is how the hell did he get the gun? Well, he said he found it at his grandmother's house. Apparently, the kid will face charges and the grandma may face charges of storing the gun negligently, according to the Associated Press.

     

When the Gold Line Eastside extension opens this summer whisking commuters from downtown to East LA, that won't be the end of the line if Metro gets their way. Metro staff has four light rail routes they are studying and proposing that would go from unincorporated East LA to the possibility of other cities such as Monterey Park, Whittier, Montebello, El Monte and others.

Ah, the dark underbelly of local politics... The Mayor of El Monte, Ernie Gutierrez, has been accused by a resident of being intoxicated at a city-sponsored event recently, which may have led him to shout vulgarities and publicly grope his alleged girlfriend, Graciela Solano. Gutierrez, who is married, did not respond to the accusations, which were raised earlier this month in a City Council meeting.

In Lancaster last night, a six month old dog was lit on fire. Luckily, witnesses heard the yelping puppy and extinguished the fire with a jacket. The dog, a pit bull mix, was taken to an animal shelter while police investigated looking for the culprit. More odd news came out of Lancaster earlier this year when a man was killed by an arrow while crossing the street.

Last week Monday, Metro released a series of service enhancements and additions including the new Gold Line schedule. In the additions bucket came two new Metro Rapid lines, both starting in Downtown.

Late last week the MTA board announced plans to convert some of LA County's car-pool lanes on heavily traveled freeways to toll lanes. The Daily News reported thatUnder the plan, solo drivers could use the car-pool lanes if they pay a toll. Vehicles with two or more occupants - which currently use the lanes for free - would also pay a toll, although less than solo drivers. It's unclear how the plan would apply...

Company the runs LA County jails inmate stores underpaid services - Daily News Trapeze artist plunges to death in South El Monte. Well, there go my dreams of going to circus school. - LA Times Phil's trial delayed because of his attorney, Bruce Cutler's, illness. He's probably allergic to those wigs. - TV Guide LA Immigration rally experiences low turnout. Maybe traffic wasn't that bad today after all. - AC LAWeekly co-founder Jay Levin's RealTalkLA...

Get stuck at the office tidying up the PowerPoint decks and missed the fireworks last night?

Earlier this week when we were hurting from the evils of drink, we got this advice over and over: exercise. Realizing you may have had a bit of liquor last night -- and keeping in mind that weather may soon make this impossible -- we suggest a series of walking/hiking resources. Because the air might do you good.

We're not quite sure how Captain Smith could have been confused by what he saw when El Segundo officers dropped off a homeless gentleman on Skid Row with his bag but El Segundo's Police Department claims he must've been. See, they, like Pasadena, Burbank and El Monte would never do such a thing. That the LAPD had to issue an order to stop other out-of-area police whom they suspected of delivering their homeless to downtown is just proof of even more confusion.