Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
UPDATE: LA judge rejects carjacked camp ranger's request to block Christopher Dorner reward money
UPDATE 1:59 p.m.: In denying camp ranger Richard Heltebrake's request for an injunction to stop the payment of the reward, the judge determined that if Heltebrake wins his suit, the city Los Angeles could use its own money to pay anything owed.
Heltebrake's attorney, Allen Thomas, says the procedure the city used to decide on the reward's recipients was unfair because it eliminated the right to appeal the decision.
"We consider that a violation of Mr. Heltebrake's civil rights," Thomas said.
The city is expected to file its response to the suit in the coming weeks. Meanwhile, Heltebrake has also sued the City of Riverside, the County of Riverside and Irvine, who also offered rewards in the Dorner case.
PREVIOUSLY: A Los Angeles judge has denied the request made by camp ranger Richard Heltebrake, carjacked by rogue ex-LAPD cop Christopher Dorner, to block the dispersal of $1 million in reward money, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Heltebrake argued that his call to 911 led authorities to capturing Dorner, but Judge Luis Lavin wouldn’t grant a temporary restraining order to stop authorities from giving the reward money to four others, according to the Times.
A panel of three judges previously decided that Heltebrake wasn’t entitled to any reward money because the police already knew Dorner was in the area.
Twelve parties had filed claims for the reward, but only three were chosen. Those include the couple that Dorner tied up who are set to receive 80 percent of the money, the man who found Dorner’s burning truck who has been assigned 15 percent of the reward, and the tow-truck driver who spotted Dorner at a gas station gets the last 5 percent.
Dorner, a fired L.A. police officer, killed four people before shooting himself in a Big Bear cabin in February.
Read the three-judge panel's memo on its decision:
This story has been updated.
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.

-
Isolated showers can still hit the L.A. area until Friday as remnants from the tropical storm move out.
-
First aspiring spectators must register online, then later in 2026 there will be a series of drawings.
-
It's thanks to Tropical Storm Mario, so also be ready for heat and humidity, and possibly thunder and lightning.
-
L.A. County investigators have launched a probe into allegations about Va Lecia Adams Kellum and people she hired at the L.A. Homeless Services Authority.
-
L.A. Mayor Karen Bass suspended a state law allowing duplexes, calling more housing unsafe. But in Altadena, L.A. County leaders say these projects could be key for rebuilding.
-
This measure on the Nov. 4, 2025, California ballot is part of a larger battle for control of the U.S. House of Representatives next year.