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.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
LAFD Employee, 70-Year-Old Mom Allegedly Assault Woman Feeding Stray Cats
(Photo by successo / Shutterstock)
()
An ugly confrontation over feeding stray cats may lead to jail time for a Los Angeles Fire Department employee and his 70-year-old mother.
The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office announced today that it is charging Ian Justin Eulian, 37, and Lonieta Antonietta Fontaine, 70, with one felony count each of battery with serious bodily injury and assault.
The two allegedly confronted the 47-year-old victim, who has not been identified, in the 2500 block of West View Street about 12:20 a.m. on September 14. That's near the 10 Freeway La Brea Avenue exit.
The victim was in her car when they began arguing about the cats, police say.
Support for LAist comes from
Eulian, who was off duty at the time, according to the LA Times, allegedly punched the woman after she threw cat kibble at him. His mother reportedly slapped the woman several times. The Times reports that the 12-year LAFD veteran then "pulled the victim out of her car and allegedly punched the victim once or twice more as she fell to the ground motionless."
The two helped the woman back into her car after she regained consciousness and drove her home. They tried to convince her that she had tripped and hit her face on the car, but fortunately the attack was caught on surveillance cameras on a nearby building.
Neighbors told CBS 2 that the victim regularly feeds stray cats and dogs in the area every night, but that she never bothers anyone and is friendly.
"I still don't understand why [Eulian] would do something like that," said area resident Curtis Harman.
"We know him around here, but now he's a piece of mess to us," neighbor David Fuller told CBS. "He's a fireman! He's supposed to get us outta houses. He's a criminal to us."
Eulian is set to be arraigned October 17 and faces up to seven years in state prison if convicted of all charges, according to the District Attorney's Office. He's been placed on administrative detail, CBS reports.
His mother is scheduled to be arraigned October 18 and faces a maximum of four years in state prison if convicted.
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.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
If approved, the more than 62-acre project would include 50 housing lots and a marina less than a mile from Jackie and Shadow's famous nest overlooking the lake. -
The U.S. Supreme Court lifted limits on immigration sweeps in Southern California, overturning a lower court ruling that prohibited agents from stopping people based on their appearance.
-
Censorship has long been controversial. But lately, the issue of who does and doesn’t have the right to restrict kids’ access to books has been heating up across the country in the so-called culture wars.
-
With less to prove than LA, the city is becoming a center of impressive culinary creativity.
-
Nearly 470 sections of guardrailing were stolen in the last fiscal year in L.A. and Ventura counties.
-
Monarch butterflies are on a path to extinction, but there is a way to support them — and maybe see them in your own yard — by planting milkweed.
Best of LAist