With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today .
Glendora police nearly fire on film crew shooting armed robbery scene
()
Glendora police narrowly avoided firing on the cast of a film set Wednesday after receiving "frantic" reports of an armed robbery.
All on-duty Glendora officers responded to the Classic Coffee cafe on North Glendora Avenue at around 7:19 a.m. Thursday, police said. There, they saw masked men toting an assault rifle and a handgun and ordering would-be patrons around.
Turns out the robbery was a scene being filmed by a freelance film crew with false guns and costumes.
Glendora Police Lieutenant Matt Williams said the crew was extremely lucky the incident didn't escalate further.
Support for LAist comes from
"Officers arrived in force and saw two suspects with hooded sweatshirts, bandana masks, black gloves and were armed with realistic handguns, including an AR-15 assault rifle," Williams said. "One of the suspects dropped his gun, and officers immediately recognized that the gun didn't sound like a real gun when it hit the floor."
Police said the fake guns didn't have the required orange tips or other markings that would have let officers distinguish them as false. The cafe manager gave crews permission to film, but didn't notify police of the filming.
Despite that, the manager will not face any penalties for the incident, Williams said.
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
The study found recipients spent nearly all the money on basic needs like food and transportation, not drugs or alcohol. -
Kevin Lee's Tokyo Noir has become one of the top spots for craft-inspired cocktails. -
A tort claim obtained by LAist via a public records request alleges the Anaheim procurement department lacks basic contracting procedures and oversight. -
Flauta, taquito, tacos dorados? Whatever they’re called, they’re golden, crispy and delicious. -
If California redistricts, the conservative beach town that banned LGBTQ Pride flags on city property would get a gay, progressive Democrat in Congress. -
Most survivors of January's fires face a massive gap in the money they need to rebuild, and funding to help is moving too slowly or nonexistent.
Best of LAist