latimes--2020-09-26--UC regent says his letter for Berkeley applicant wasn't intended as unfair influence

University of California Regent Richard Blum said Saturday he did not intend to unfairly influence the UC admissions process when he wrote what a state audit called an “ inappropriate letter of support ” to get an uncompetitive student admitted to UC Berkeley .
“ It was never my intention to circumvent or unfairly influence the admissions process , ” Blum , a San Francisco financier and husband of Sen. Dianne Feinstein , ( D-Calif. ) , said in a statement .
“ I do not intend to write letters of recommendation going forward.
” Blum ’ s statement came @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s Office released documents showing that the regent ’ s favored candidate was admitted from the waitlist after UC Berkeley ’ s fundraising and admissions offices met to discuss which applicants from that list would be approved .
The offices had received Blum ’ s letter about the prospective student , who had been denied initial admission after receiving scores from application evaluators that indicated a 26 % chance of acceptance , the audit said .
Blum ’ s intervention came in one of 64 cases identified in an 82-page state audit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which applicants were granted slots using inappropriate factors , such as connections to donors , staff and alumni .
Among them , 55 cases involved UC Berkeley , with four at UCLA , four at UC Santa Barbara and one at UC San Diego .
Blum said he respected the findings and concerns raised in the audit , but said he had never been told his letters of recommendation were improper .
He said he had written more than a dozen such letters for UC applicants over the last 18 years , submitting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ On no occasion did I receive feedback that that was not the appropriate protocol and that letters needed to be sent to the Director of Admissions , ” he said .
“ Moreover , I was never informed about whether any of the applicants for whom I wrote letters were later accepted for admission and I never inquired about the ultimate decisions in these cases.
” The redacted documents showed that Blum sent the letter to current UC Berkeley Chancellor Carol Christ .
Blum told Christ he wanted to “ express my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ applicant on the waitlist who “ embodies all the qualities we look for in our students.
” “ Beyond college , I can see [ the applicant ] as a devoted alumnus who will greatly contribute to the CAL community , ” Blum wrote .
He asked Christ to give the student “ every consideration ” as a “ worthy addition ” to the undergraduate class .
The date of the letter was redacted , but the other documents released indicate Blum wrote it in spring or summer of 2018 , during Christ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after regular admissions decisions for prospective freshmen are released in late March .
UC Berkeley spokeswoman Janet Gilmore said that the campus declined to comment on Blum ’ s statement and the auditor emails because the matter is under review by the UC Office of the President ’ s ethics , compliance and audit services office .
She said the chancellor ’ s administrative staff “ routinely directs correspondence it receives to other campus offices , as appropriate , for response and action.
” Gilmore also said Berkeley officials had asked the auditor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the findings “ for several months now ” but have not yet directly received any material .
Margarita Fernández , a spokeswoman for the state auditor ’ s office , said Friday that the documents show that UC Berkeley accepted the Blum letter “ contrary to its admissions process and policy.
” A 1996 Board of Regents policy allows members to send letters of recommendation , when appropriate , during the regular admissions process .
But Blum sent his letter outside those bounds , after the applicant had been denied initial admission and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ showed .
UC policy allows letters of recommendation only if requested by admissions officials under specific circumstances that Fernández said did not apply in the Blum case .
She said the applicant had already submitted two other letters of recommendation — which is the maximum allowed under UC policy .
Berkeley is not supposed to accept or consider letters of recommendation as part of the waitlist decision process , she said .
Yet the letter was not only accepted , it was also discussed by high-level campus officials — treatment not afforded other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the emails , Christ ’ s executive assistant , Carolyn Koo , forwarded the letter from Blum — along with a letter from an unidentified regent emeritus advocating for a different student — to MiHi Ahn , executive vice president of the UC Berkeley Foundation , the university ’ s primary private fundraising arm .
Koo asked Ahn to respond to Blum and the regent emeritus on behalf of Christ .
Blum , a UC Berkeley alumnus , has been an important contributor to the university over the years .
In 2006 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Blum Center for Developing Economies to address global poverty and subsequent contributions to expand that work .
The regent emeritus , whose name was redacted from the documents , made a point of mentioning a potential forthcoming donation in the letter .
“ A small ps : my love for Berkeley recently led to my urging a ... client to donate ” to Boalt Hall , the former name of the UC Berkeley law school .
The redacted emails appeared to indicate that the applicant was not admitted .
Ahn sent an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vice chancellor and director of admissions , alerting her to the two letters .
“ I ’ m going to draft a letter of response that basically says , ‘ there ’ s a bright line between us and admissions and we have no influence , but we will forward the letters to admissions.
’ Just FYI ... of course everyone here knows the letters are not considered unless requested , ” Ahn wrote .
In a second email to Jarich forwarding the letters , Ahn reiterated that she planned to draft a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from Christ ’ s office saying that “ we have no influence but we will go ahead and forward the letter , ( but of course we are all well aware that these letters carry no weight ) .
But we can just say we forwarded them.
’ ” Sometime after the emails , Jarich discussed which students to admit from the waitlist with Greg Dubrow , then director of research and policy analysis in the Office of Undergraduate Admissions .
The emails show that Jarich modified Dubrow ’ s plan for prioritizing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by her and the staff on top .
Ahn also provided a list of favored students — showing that the university ’ s fundraising arm communicated with admissions officers during decision-making periods .
Such practices are common among many private universities , but UC officials have repeatedly said that donations do not affect an applicant ’ s chances of acceptance at the public research university system .
In annotated notes written in red on the emails , the auditor ’ s office said the exchanges showed that Jarich determined her selection strategy after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ It is therefore likely that the applicant recommended by the Regent would have been on Amy ’ s list that she placed at the top of the priorities , ” the auditor ’ s notes said .
Fernández said that additional emails showed that the directors of admissions and development met to discuss whom to accept from the waitlist after they received copies of Blum ’ s letter .
The day after the meeting , Fernández said , Berkeley admitted the applicant .
“ These factors led us to conclude that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s decision to admit this student , ” Fernández wrote in an email to The Times .
Jarich left her position as admissions director in October 2018 , according to her LinkedIn profile .
Dubrow also left the admissions office , in November 2018 , his LinkedIn profile says , and he is currently director of information strategy and analytics at the Haas School of Business Development and Alumni Relations .
Berkeley has since hired a new director of undergraduate admissions , Olufemi “ Femi ” Ogundele .
Fernández said the communication between @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the emails underscored the pressing need for reform .
“ Ultimately , it is the UC system ’ s responsibility to ensure fairness in its admissions process , which is why based on what we found in the audit we recommended that all communications between Admissions and Fundraising about applicants or prospective applicants be strictly prohibited , ” Fernández said .

UC Regent Richard Blum, second from right, wrote an “inappropriate letter of support” to help a student applicant at UC Berkeley, according to a state audit.
University of California Regent Richard Blum said Saturday he did not intend to unfairly influence the UC admissions process when he wrote what a state audit called an “inappropriate letter of support” to get a noncompetitive student admitted to UC Berkeley.
“It was never my intention to circumvent or unfairly influence the admissions process,” Blum, a San Francisco financier and husband of Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), said in a statement. “I do not intend to write letters of recommendation going forward.”
Blum’s statement came the morning after the California state auditor’s office released documents showing that the regent’s favored candidate was admitted from the waiting list after UC Berkeley’s fundraising and admissions offices met to discuss which applicants from that list would be approved. The offices had received Blum’s letter about the prospective student, who had been denied initial admission after receiving scores from application evaluators that indicated a 26% chance of acceptance, the audit said.
Blum’s intervention came as part of 64 cases identified in an 82-page state audit on UC’s admissions policies, which found that applicants were granted slots based on inappropriate factors, such as connections to donors, staff and alumni. Among them, 55 cases involved UC Berkeley, four were at UCLA, four at UC Santa Barbara and one at UC San Diego.
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Blum said he respected the findings and concerns raised in the audit but added that he had never been told his letters of recommendation were improper. He said he had written more than a dozen such letters for UC applicants over the last 18 years, submitting them to the chancellors’ offices.
“On no occasion did I receive feedback that that was not the appropriate protocol and that letters needed to be sent to the director of admissions,” he said. “Moreover, I was never informed about whether any of the applicants for whom I wrote letters were later accepted for admission, and I never inquired about the ultimate decisions in these cases.”
The redacted documents showed that Blum sent the letter to UC Berkeley Chancellor Carol Christ. Blum told Christ he wanted to “express my support” for an “outstanding” applicant on the waiting list who “embodies all the qualities we look for in our students.”
“Beyond college, I can see [the applicant] as a devoted alumnus who will greatly contribute to the CAL community,” Blum wrote. He asked Christ to give the student “every consideration” as a “worthy addition” to the undergraduate class.
The date of the letter was redacted, but the other documents released indicate that Blum wrote it in the spring or summer of 2018, during Christ’s first year as chancellor and after regular admissions decisions for prospective freshmen were released in late March.
UC Berkeley spokeswoman Janet Gilmore declined to comment on Blum’s statement and the auditor emails because the matter is under review by the UC Office of the President’s ethics, compliance and audit services division. She said the chancellor’s administrative staff “routinely directs correspondence it receives to other campus offices, as appropriate, for response and action.”
Gilmore also said Berkeley officials had asked the auditor for the underlying documents that led to the findings “for several months now” but have not yet directly received any material.
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Margarita Fernández, a spokeswoman for the state auditor’s office, said Friday that the documents show that UC Berkeley accepted the Blum letter “contrary to its admissions process and policy.” A 1996 Board of Regents policy allows members to send letters of recommendation, when appropriate, during the regular admissions process. But Blum sent his letter outside those bounds, after the applicant had been denied initial admission and was placed on the waiting list, the audit showed.
UC policy allows letters of recommendation only if requested by admissions officials under specific circumstances that did not apply in the Blum case, Fernández said. She said the applicant had already submitted two other letters of recommendation — the maximum allowed under UC policy. Berkeley is not supposed to accept or consider letters of recommendation as part of the waitlist decision process, she said.
Yet the letter was not only accepted, it was discussed by high-level campus officials — treatment not afforded other applicants, Fernández said.
According to the emails, Christ’s executive assistant, Carolyn Koo, forwarded the letter from Blum — along with a letter from an unidentified regent emeritus advocating for a different student — to MiHi Ahn, executive vice president of the UC Berkeley Foundation, the university’s primary private fundraising arm. Koo asked Ahn to respond to Blum and the regent emeritus on behalf of Christ.
Blum, a UC Berkeley alumnus, has been an important contributor to the university over the years. In 2006, he donated $15 million to launch the Blum Center for Developing Economies to address global poverty and made subsequent contributions to expand that work.
The regent emeritus, whose name was redacted from the documents, made a point of mentioning a potential forthcoming donation in the letter. “A small ps: my love for Berkeley recently led to my urging a ... client to donate” to Boalt Hall, the former name of the UC Berkeley law school. The redacted emails appeared to indicate that the applicant was not admitted.
Ahn sent an email to Amy Jarich, who at the time was assistant vice chancellor and director of admissions, alerting her to the two letters.
“I’m going to draft a letter of response that basically says, ‘there’s a bright line between us and admissions and we have no influence, but we will forward the letters to admissions.’ Just FYI ... of course everyone here knows the letters are not considered unless requested,” Ahn wrote.
In a second email to Jarich forwarding the letters, Ahn reiterated that she planned to draft a response to Blum and the regent emeritus from Christ’s office saying that “we have no influence but we will go ahead and forward the letter (but of course we are all well aware that these letters carry no weight). But we can just say we forwarded them.”
Sometime after those emails were sent, Jarich discussed which students to admit from the waiting list with Greg Dubrow, then director of research and policy analysis in the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. The emails show that Jarich modified Dubrow’s plan for prioritizing the wait-listed students, placing recommendations made by her and the staff on top.
Ahn also provided a list of favored students — showing that the university’s fundraising arm communicated with admissions officers during decision-making periods. Such practices are common among private universities, but UC officials have repeatedly said that donations do not affect an applicant’s chances of acceptance at the public research university system.
In annotated notes written in red on the emails, the auditor’s office said the exchanges showed that Jarich determined her selection strategy after she received the letters from regents. “It is therefore likely that the applicant recommended by the Regent would have been on Amy’s list that she placed at the top of the priorities,” the auditor’s notes said.
Fernández said additional emails showed that the directors of admissions and development met to discuss whom to accept from the waitlist after they received copies of Blum’s letter. The day after the meeting, Fernández said, Berkeley admitted the applicant.
“These factors led us to conclude that the letter appears to have influenced UCB’s decision to admit this student,” Fernández wrote in an email to The Times.
Jarich left her position as admissions director in October 2018, according to her LinkedIn profile.
Dubrow left the admissions office in November 2018, his LinkedIn profile says, and is currently director of information strategy and analytics in the development and alumni relations division at Berkeley’s Haas School of Business. Berkeley has since hired a new director of undergraduate admissions, Olufemi “Femi” Ogundele.
Fernández said the communication between the Berkeley fundraising and admissions offices demonstrated by the emails underscores the pressing need for reform.
“Ultimately, it is the UC system’s responsibility to ensure fairness in its admissions process, which is why, based on what we found in the audit, we recommended that all communications between admissions and fundraising about applicants or prospective applicants be strictly prohibited,” Fernández said.


latimes--2020-09-25--Affluent Orange County town roiled by police killing of Black homeless man

Big questions loomed Friday over the death of Kurt Andras Reinhold , who was fatally shot by Orange County sheriff ’ s deputies in the beachfront town of San Clemente .
How did this well-educated , churchgoing Black man , who coached youth soccer and had two children of his own , end up living on the streets of south Orange County ?
What pushed him into mental illness and homelessness ?
Why did two deputies , part of a specialized detail to help people who are homeless , confront him Wednesday ?
And then there ’ s the doubt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rani Craig as they headed Thursday to an impromptu memorial near the spot where Reinhold was killed : “ How did a routine interaction from a homeless outreach effort escalate into a gun incident ?
” Engeman asked .
Reinhold ’ s name has been added to the long list of Black men and women killed by police under questionable circumstances across the country : George Floyd , Breonna Taylor , Brendon Glenn , Michael Brown and many others .
Those deaths have fueled a summer of coast-to-coast protests against systemic racism .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ reform , including proposals to strip police of the routine responsibility of dealing with people who are mentally ill or homeless .
The 42-year-old Reinhold was not the first homeless man to die at the hands of law enforcement officers in Orange County .
But his death underscores the inherent tension between police and homeless people , which has increased along with the double-digit growth in the homeless population in Southern California over the past four years .
“ We continue to see police killings of homeless people because we have not fundamentally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this country , ” said Eric Tars , legal director of the National Homelessness Law Center .
“ In spite of all the calls to divest law enforcement of its role in managing homeless people and to invest in housing , that hasn ’ t caused the change that we need.
” That issue is underscored in the circumstances of Reinhold ’ s death , which was captured on a cellphone video .
The recording shows two deputies — who have been trained in techniques used to de-escalate dangerous situations — confronting Reinhold @ @ @ @ @ @ @ middle of El Camino Real , not far from Hotel Miramar .
The deputies tell Reinhold he is walking in the middle of the street .
“ Go sit down , ” one deputy tells him .
But the agitated man ignores him and tries to walk past them .
The deputies wrestle him to the ground .
Reinhold wriggles as they try to restrain his arms .
Then a voice shouts : “ He ’ s got my gun !
He ’ s got my gun !
” Two shots ring out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the video to tell whether Reinhold grabbed the weapon .
Orange County sheriff ’ s deputies do not wear body cameras .
“ Oh , my God , ” says the bystander who is recording the altercation .
The deputies involved in the shooting have not been identified by the Orange County Sheriff ’ s Department .
However , the department ’ s San Clemente Police Services Facebook page shows multiple images of the two homeless services deputies assigned to the city .
In a video on the site , they reunite a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dementia and wandered away from her Inland Empire home .
Department spokeswoman Carrie Braun said she did not know what caused the deputies to approach Reinhold , who had been in San Clemente for about a month before he was shot to death .
During that time , Braun said , the deputies had spoken to him at least twice , in part about trespassing .
Reinhold had never been cited or arrested in San Clemente , Braun said .
None of the interactions had been combative .
The Wednesday shooting echoes the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Charly “ Africa ” Keunang , who was mentally ill and homeless .
Keunang was shot to death by Los Angeles Police Department officers in broad daylight on skid row .
In that case , one officer , a rookie , shouted that the homeless man had his gun .
Keunang allegedly grabbed it as the officer knelt on his chest and pummeled him .
The Los Angeles County district attorney declined to prosecute the two officers , saying the dead man had had his fingers around the weapon .
Pasadena civil rights @ @ @ @ @ @ @ family members during a civil trial in which a jury found the two officers liable in the shooting .
Stormer ’ s firm reached a $ 1.95-million settlement with the city on behalf of the family .
Los Angeles police have since adopted a de-escalation policy requiring officers to defuse tension before using their guns .
However , the LAPD ’ s annual use-of-force review shows that , while the number of shootings by officers has gone down dramatically , the number of homeless people who are shot by officers has risen every @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suspects shot by LAPD officers in 2019 , six — nearly a quarter — were determined to be homeless people .
“ They are training officers to de-escalate , but they ’ re also trained that , if you feel threatened , you can go directly to lethal force , whether the fear is supported or not , ” Stormer said , adding that there is little evidence that the LAPD or other Southern California forces have changed their basic approach in confrontational situations .
Jackson Hinkle , who ran unsuccessfully for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ On Thursday , Hinkle helped lead protests over Reinhold ’ s killing and said that “ the city has a lot of animosity and aggression toward the local homeless population.
” There was also animosity against those who mourned Reinhold ’ s death Friday .
In South San Clemente , along bustling and noisy El Camino Real , where the incident played out , traffic streamed nonstop .
Truck drivers honked at the dead man ’ s memorial , while youths yelled from their cars , telling mourners to “ Get a life @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the shooting , Hinkle said , “ know our local unhoused population , and they are supposed to be trained to handle issues with the unhoused , like mental health crises and de-escalation.
” He added , “ In this effort , that clearly failed them.
” Since Reinhold ’ s death , friends on social media have circulated an image of him in better times .
He ’ s smiling and happy , posing at a birthday party with his son , his daughter and his wife , a nurse at some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
More recently , though , Reinhold had struggled with mental health issues , said Najee Ali , a South Los Angeles civil rights activist who knows the dead man ’ s family .
That ’ s what propelled Reinhold from a comfortable life in Ladera Heights to the streets of San Clemente .
Reinhold spent about a decade as a Nissan car sales associate in the South Bay , according to his LinkedIn profile .
Before that , he was an audiovisual technician in Burbank .
Michelle Maltais , a former Los @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Today , met Reinhold through youth soccer .
She called him a “ loving dad and gentle man who quietly offered to help when I was co-coaching a very energetic team of 5-year-old boys and girls.
” The kids “ responded immediately to his positive energy , ” she said .
“ I remember him as a proud father of his incredibly talented son and as a positive force on the field.
” On Thursday , Phil Pascal knelt at Reinhold ’ s growing memorial , praying after hearing the “ crushing ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Facebook and Instagram .
The two men were classmates at Clark Atlanta University , a historically Black college in Georgia , and took business courses together .
Pascal last saw Reinhold at a college homecoming event in Atlanta .
He said he worries about the two young children left without a father , a man who had been “ always jovial , funny and really , really sweet.
” Pascal handles marketing accounts in Las Vegas .
This week , he ’ s been visiting Orange County .
The terrible news about his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hotel Miramar and pay his respects .
“ Oh , my God , I don ’ t know what happened that led him to this point , ” Pascal said .
“ But why ?
”

Richard Winton, Anh Do, Gale Holland, Maria L. La Ganga

Danny Blain is overcome with emotion as he kneels Friday at a memorial for Kurt Andras Reinhold, 42, a homeless Black man who was shot by Orange County deputies last week after they stopped him for jaywalking.
Big questions loomed Friday over the death of Kurt Andras Reinhold, who was fatally shot by Orange County sheriff’s deputies in the beachfront town of San Clemente.
How did this well-educated, churchgoing Black man, who coached youth soccer and had two children of his own, end up living on the streets of south Orange County? What pushed him into mental illness and homelessness? Why did two deputies, part of a specialized detail to help people who are homeless, confront him Wednesday?
And then there’s the doubt that nagged at neighbors Laura Engeman and Rani Craig as they headed Thursday to an impromptu memorial near the spot where Reinhold was killed: “How did a routine interaction from a homeless outreach effort escalate into a gun incident?” Engeman asked.
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Reinhold’s name has been added to the long list of Black men and women killed by police under questionable circumstances across the country: George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Brendon Glenn, Michael Brown and many others.
Those deaths have fueled a summer of coast-to-coast protests against systemic racism. And they have spurred calls for police reform, including proposals to strip police of the routine responsibility of dealing with people who are mentally ill or homeless.
Kurt Reinhold during an American Youth Soccer Organization match Nov. 25, 2018, at the Kenneth Hahn soccer fields in Los Angeles. (Richard Winton / Los Angeles Times)
The 42-year-old Reinhold was not the first homeless man to die at the hands of law enforcement officers in Orange County. But his death underscores the inherent tension between police and homeless people, which has increased along with the double-digit growth in the homeless population in Southern California over the past four years.
“We continue to see police killings of homeless people because we have not fundamentally changed the way we treat homelessness in this country,” said Eric Tars, legal director of the National Homelessness Law Center. “In spite of all the calls to divest law enforcement of its role in managing homeless people and to invest in housing, that hasn’t caused the change that we need.”
That issue is underscored in the circumstances of Reinhold’s death, which was captured on a cellphone video.
The recording shows two deputies — who have been trained in techniques used to de-escalate dangerous situations — confronting Reinhold at about 1:15 p.m. Wednesday in the middle of El Camino Real, not far from Hotel Miramar.
The deputies tell Reinhold he is walking in the middle of the street.
“Stop touching me,” Reinhold tells them repeatedly.
Danny Blain, right, of San Clemente hugs Phil Pascal of Las Vegas at a memorial for Kurt Andras Reinhold. Pascal was Reinhold’s classmate at Clark Atlanta University in Georgia. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
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“Go sit down,” one deputy tells him. But the agitated man ignores him and tries to walk past them. The deputies wrestle him to the ground. Reinhold wriggles as they try to restrain his arms.
Then a voice shouts: “He’s got my gun! He’s got my gun!”
Two shots ring out. There is not enough detail in the video to tell whether Reinhold grabbed the weapon. Orange County sheriff’s deputies do not wear body cameras.
“Oh, my God,” says the bystander who is recording the altercation.
The deputies involved in the shooting have not been identified by the Orange County Sheriff’s Department. However, the department’s San Clemente Police Services Facebook page shows multiple images of the two homeless services deputies assigned to the city. In a video on the site, they reunite a man with his mother, who has dementia and wandered away from her Inland Empire home.
Department spokeswoman Carrie Braun said she did not know what caused the deputies to approach Reinhold, who had been in San Clemente for about a month before he was shot to death. During that time, Braun said, the deputies had spoken to him at least twice, in part about trespassing.
Reinhold had never been cited or arrested in San Clemente, Braun said. None of the interactions had been combative.
The Wednesday shooting echoes the 2015 death of a Black man named Charly “Africa” Keunang, who was mentally ill and homeless. Keunang was shot to death by Los Angeles Police Department officers in broad daylight on skid row.
In that case, one officer, a rookie, shouted that the homeless man had his gun. Keunang allegedly grabbed it as the officer knelt on his chest and pummeled him. The Los Angeles County district attorney declined to prosecute the two officers, saying the dead man had had his fingers around the weapon.
Pasadena civil rights attorney Dan Stormer represented Keunang’s family members during a civil trial in which a jury found the two officers liable in the shooting. Stormer’s firm reached a $1.95-million settlement with the city on behalf of the family.
Los Angeles police have since adopted a de-escalation policy requiring officers to defuse tension before using their guns. However, the LAPD’s annual use-of-force review shows that, while the number of shootings by officers has gone down dramatically, the number of homeless people who are shot by officers has risen every year since 2016.
Of the 26 suspects shot by LAPD officers in 2019, six — nearly a quarter — were determined to be homeless people.
“They are training officers to de-escalate, but they’re also trained that, if you feel threatened, you can go directly to lethal force, whether the fear is supported or not,” Stormer said, adding that there is little evidence that the LAPD or other Southern California forces have changed their basic approach in confrontational situations.
Jackson Hinkle, who ran unsuccessfully for the San Clemente City Council, concurs. On Thursday, Hinkle helped lead protests over Reinhold’s killing and said that “the city has a lot of animosity and aggression toward the local homeless population.”
There was also animosity against those who mourned Reinhold’s death Friday. In South San Clemente, along bustling and noisy El Camino Real, where the incident played out, traffic streamed nonstop. Truck drivers honked at the dead man’s memorial, while youths yelled from their cars, telling mourners to “Get a life!”
The two deputies involved in the shooting, Hinkle said, “know our local unhoused population, and they are supposed to be trained to handle issues with the unhoused, like mental health crises and de-escalation.” He added, “In this effort, that clearly failed them.”
Since Reinhold’s death, friends on social media have circulated an image of him in better times. He’s smiling and happy, posing at a birthday party with his son, his daughter and his wife, a nurse at some of the biggest hospitals in Los Angeles.
More recently, though, Reinhold had struggled with mental health issues, said Najee Ali, a South Los Angeles civil rights activist who knows the dead man’s family. That’s what propelled Reinhold from a comfortable life in Ladera Heights to the streets of San Clemente.
Reinhold’s family declined to comment.
Reinhold spent about a decade as a Nissan car sales associate in the South Bay, according to his LinkedIn profile. Before that, he was an audiovisual technician in Burbank.
Michelle Maltais, a former Los Angeles Times editor now working for USA Today, met Reinhold through youth soccer. She called him a “loving dad and gentle man who quietly offered to help when I was co-coaching a very energetic team of 5-year-old boys and girls.”
The kids “responded immediately to his positive energy,” she said. “I remember him as a proud father of his incredibly talented son and as a positive force on the field.”
On Thursday, Phil Pascal knelt at Reinhold’s growing memorial, praying after hearing the “crushing” news about Reinhold from mutual friends on Facebook and Instagram. The two men were classmates at Clark Atlanta University, a historically Black college in Georgia, and took business courses together.
Pascal last saw Reinhold at a college homecoming event in Atlanta. He said he worries about the two young children left without a father, a man who had been “always jovial, funny and really, really sweet.”
Pascal handles marketing accounts in Las Vegas. This week, he’s been visiting Orange County. The terrible news about his old friend prompted him to head to Hotel Miramar and pay his respects.
“Oh, my God, I don’t know what happened that led him to this point,” Pascal said. “But why?”


latimes--2020-09-27--LAPD officer wounded during attack inside Harbor Division station in San Pedro, police say

A Los Angeles police officer suffered a head injury when he was attacked by an assailant Saturday night inside the Harbor Division police station in San Pedro , authorities said .
“ Some individual came into the Harbor station , and when an officer went to speak with him , some type of confrontation occurred where we believe an officer was disarmed , ” said LAPD Chief Michel Moore .
Early Sunday , Moore tweeted : “ Spoke with officer at hospital .
He is resting and will be ok. Bumps and bruises .
He was not shot .
Harbor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into custody.
” Assistant Police Chief Horace Frank said the watch commander at the station heard the commotion and came out , when he saw the assailant was hitting the officer and had taken his gun .
Frank said the watch commander fired his gun at the suspect , who then fled .
The suspect jumped into a car with a second man and was captured after a short pursuit , Frank said .
It does not appear the suspect was hit by the watch commander ’ s gunfire , he said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ investigating the incident .
Mayor Eric Garcetti tweeted his support Saturday night for the injured officer .
“ Sending my best wishes for a quick and full recovery to our @ LAPDHQ officer injured in an incident at the Harbor Station tonight .
The officer is in stable condition and we ’ re closely monitoring the situation.
” There have been other violent incidents involving local law enforcement officers in recent days .
On Friday , police said an off-duty LAPD officer was shot at in his car in Reseda by an unknown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s vehicle was struck , but the officer was not injured .
That incident remains under investigation .
Saturday ’ s incident also comes two weeks after two Los Angeles County Sheriff ’ s Department deputies were shot while sitting in a patrol vehicle in Compton .
The two deputies survived but suffered serious injuries .
Video shows the gunman fire at them at close range before fleeing , then the deputies exit the vehicle and try to take cover behind a column as they call for backup .
The latest incident @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over police brutality against Black people , in L.A. and around the country , including large demonstrations in which police and protesters have clashed .
Protests have continued in recent days .
On Thursday night , protests in Hollywood were interrupted when a large truck and then a Prius drove through the crowd .
The driver of the pickup truck hit a woman , sending her flying onto Sunset Boulevard before she was transferred to the hospital .

An LAPD officer was wounded by an assailant at a police station in San Pedro on Saturday night, authorities said.
A Los Angeles police officer suffered a head injury when he was attacked by an assailant Saturday night inside the Harbor Division police station in San Pedro, authorities said.
“Some individual came into the Harbor station, and when an officer went to speak with him, some type of confrontation occurred where we believe an officer was disarmed,” said LAPD Chief Michel Moore.
Early Sunday, Moore tweeted: “Spoke with officer at hospital. He is resting and will be ok. Bumps and bruises. He was not shot. Harbor units responding pursued suspect and took him into custody.”
Assistant Police Chief Horace Frank said the watch commander at the station heard the commotion and came out, then saw the assailant was hitting the officer and had taken his gun. Frank said the watch commander fired his gun at the suspect, who then fled.
The suspect jumped into a car with a second man and was captured after a short pursuit, Frank said. It did not appear the suspect was hit by the watch commander’s gunfire, he said. The LAPD’s Robbery-Homicide Division is investigating the incident.
Mayor Eric Garcetti tweeted his support Saturday night for the injured officer. “Sending my best wishes for a quick and full recovery to our @LAPDHQ officer injured in an incident at the Harbor Station tonight. The officer is in stable condition and we’re closely monitoring the situation.”
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There have been other violent incidents involving local law enforcement officers in recent days.
On Friday, police said an off-duty LAPD officer was shot at in his car in Reseda by an unknown suspect with a handgun. The officer’s vehicle was struck, but the officer was not injured. That incident remains under investigation.
Saturday’s incident also came two weeks after two Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department deputies were shot while sitting in a patrol vehicle in Compton.
The two deputies survived but suffered serious injuries. Video shows the gunman fire at them at close range before fleeing, then the deputies exit the vehicle and try to take cover behind a column as they call for backup.
The latest incident also follows a summer of intense protests over police brutality against Black people, in L.A. and around the country, including large demonstrations in which police and protesters have clashed.
Protests have continued in recent days. On Thursday night, protests in Hollywood were interrupted when a large truck and then a Prius drove through the crowd. The driver of the pickup truck hit a woman, sending her flying onto Sunset Boulevard; she was subsequently taken to a hospital.


latimes--2020-09-27--Driver arrested for attempted murder at Yorba Linda protest against police brutality

A woman was arrested Saturday on suspicion of attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon after driving her car into a crowd during a demonstration in Yorba Linda involving protesters against police brutality and counter-demonstrators , authorities said .
Two people were injured in the incident , according to Sgt .
Dennis Breckner of the Orange County Sheriff ’ s Department .
One man suffered two broken legs and was hospitalized and one woman suffered major and moderate injuries throughout her body , he said .
The driver of the vehicle was not identified .
The original protest was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , social injustice and systemic racism , according to a flier posted on Instagram by the Urban Organizers Coalition .
It was scheduled for 2 p.m. Saturday outside the Yorba Linda Library on Imperial Boulevard .
A counter-demonstration held by Trump supporters was slated to start at the same time .
The two groups faced off with protesters on one side shouting “ Black Lives Matter ” and their counterparts yelling “ U.S.A. , ” according to the Orange County Register .
The Sheriff ’ s Department received multiple reports of physical altercations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
They also received reports that someone was displaying a firearm .
He estimated that there were a total of 250 people from both sides .
Shortly before 3 p.m. video posted on social media shows a white car driving into a group of people , many of whom were waving Trump 2020 and American flags .
“ The people in the crowd that were hit were in the Trump support group , ” Breckner said .
The Sheriff ’ s Department declared an unlawful assembly and put out an order for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was arrested for refusing to disperse , but the area was mostly cleared by 4 p.m. and all streets are open , Breckner said .
One of the organizers of the Urban Organizers Coalition , who asked that her name not be used out of safety concerns , said later that her group had only been at the protest for a few minutes before Trump supporters crossed the street and came into the library parking lot where the protesters were gathering .
“ We were not there to fight , or for violence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ feelings and the community of Yorba Linda was not happy with us being there , ” she said .
Someone came up to her , she said , and told her , “ I am a racist and you need to get out of my town .
You need to go back where you came from.
” Later she said members of her group were sprayed with bear mace .
“ Today was the most scared I have ever been , ” she said .

A woman was arrested Saturday on suspicion of attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon after driving her car into a crowd during a demonstration in Yorba Linda involving protesters against police brutality and counter-demonstrators, authorities said.
Tatiana Turner, 40, of Long Beach was being held at the Orange County Jail Intake-Release Center in Santa Ana in lieu of $1 million bail, according to jail records. Investigators believe she was part of a group that planned the protest, the Orange County Sheriff’s Department said.
Two people were injured in the incident, said Sgt. Dennis Breckner of the Sheriff’s Department.
One man suffered two broken legs and was hospitalized, and one woman suffered major and moderate injuries throughout her body, he said.
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The original protest was advertised as a march against police brutality, social injustice and systemic racism, according to a flier posted on Instagram by the Urban Organizers Coalition.
It was scheduled for 2 p.m. Saturday outside the Yorba Linda Library on Imperial Boulevard.
A counter-demonstration held by Trump supporters was slated to start at the same time. The two groups faced off, with protesters on one side shouting “Black Lives Matter,” and their counterparts yelling “U.S.A.,” according to the Orange County Register.
The Sheriff’s Department received multiple reports of physical confrontations between the two groups, Breckner said. At least one person was pepper-sprayed by a protester or counter-protester, the Sheriff’s Department said. Authorities also received reports that someone was displaying a firearm.
Breckner estimated that there were a total of 250 people from both sides.
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Shortly before 3 p.m. video posted on social media shows a white car driving into a group of people, many of whom were waving Trump 2020 and American flags.
“The people in the crowd that were hit were in the Trump support group,” Breckner said.
The Sheriff’s Department declared an unlawful assembly and put out an order for the crowd to disperse. One other person — Jason Mancuso, 46, of Anaheim — was arrested for refusing to disperse, but the area was mostly cleared by 4 p.m., Breckner said. Mancuso was cited and released, according to jail records.
One of the organizers of the Urban Organizers Coalition, who asked that her name not be used out of safety concerns, said later her group had been at the protest for only a few minutes before Trump supporters crossed the street and came into the library parking lot where the protesters were gathering.
“We were not there to fight, or for violence, we were there to express our feelings, and the community of Yorba Linda was not happy with us being there,” she said. Someone came up to her, she said, and told her, “I am a racist and you need to get out of my town. You need to go back where you came from.”
Later she said members of her group were sprayed with bear mace.
“Today was the most scared I have ever been,” she said.


latimes--2020-09-26--PG&E plans to cut power to 89,000 Northern California customers starting Sunday because of fire cond

PG&E plans to cut power to 89,000 Northern California customers starting Sunday because of fire conditions

Pacific Gas & Electric plans to cut power to 89,000 customers in parts of 16 counties beginning early Sunday as dry , unseasonably hot conditions and strong winds continue to increase fire danger across much of Northern California , officials announced Saturday evening .
The shut-off will be in three phases and last until late Monday , officials said .
The first phase will begin at 2 a.m. Sunday and include about 15,000 customers in Butte , Plumas , Shasta and Tehama counties .
The second phase will begin at 4 p.m. and include 74,000 customers in Alpine , Amador @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Lake , Napa , Nevada , Placer , Plumas , Sierra , Sonoma , Yuba and Mooretown Rancheria .
Fifteen customers in Kern County will be affected in the third phase around 8 p.m. Utility officials said that a “ public safety power shut-off ” is necessary because hot and dry conditions , combined with expected high wind gusts , pose an increased risk for electrical-system damage that could ignite fires in areas with dry vegetation .
Gusts of up to 55 mph are expected in some areas .
are now in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ early Monday .
The warnings cover from just above Redding southeast into the Sierra foothills , parts of the Sacramento Valley , and areas in and around the San Francisco Bay Area , including the North Bay mountains , East Bay hills and interior valleys .
David Sweet , a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Oxnard , previously said a large area of high pressure covering almost the entire West Coast is expected to build over the weekend .
Temperatures could climb 10 to 20 degrees above normal in some areas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which include sustained winds , low humidity and summer-like temperatures — will make it easier for fires to both start and spread .
That ’ s unwelcome news in a region where crews are still working to contain some of the largest wildfires in California history .
Those include the northeast of Oroville — which has burned more than 304,000 acres and has become one of the deadliest and in the state ’ s history .
Containment on that blaze is at 78 % .
The mammoth has charred a state-record 870,000-plus acres @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Six Rivers national forests , southwest of Redding .
That blaze is 43 % contained .

Pacific Gas & Electric cut power to 11,000 customers in Butte County early Sunday and planned to extend the outages to 54,000 more customers in the Central Sierra by Sunday evening, as dry, unseasonably hot conditions and strong winds continue to increase fire danger across much of Northern California, officials announced Sunday morning.
There was a sliver of good news in the update by PG&E, as the outages announced Sunday will affect far fewer customers than the utility had planned just a day earlier — a total of 65,000 customers potentially left without power in parts of 16 counties, down from the previous estimate of 89,000.
“The weather conditions have improved,” said Fiona Chan, a PG&E spokeswoman. “We are closely monitoring the situation.”
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The second phase of the shut-off Sunday is scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. and affect customers in Alpine, Amador, Calaveras, El Dorado, Lake, Napa, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Shasta, Sierra, Sonoma, Tehama and Yuba counties.
Fifteen customers in Kern County will be affected in the third phase around 7 a.m. Monday.
Power should be restored for all customers by Monday night, utility officials said.
The hardest hit county is El Dorado, home to Placerville and east of Sacramento, where more than 27,000 customers are expected to lose power. In Sonoma County, Chan said, only two customers will be affected.
Utility officials said that a “public safety power shut-off” is necessary because hot and dry conditions, combined with expected high wind gusts, pose an increased risk for electrical-system damage that could ignite fires in areas with dry vegetation. Gusts of up to 55 mph are expected in some areas.
Red flag warnings are now in effect for much of Northern California from 9 p.m. Saturday through Monday afternoon. The warnings cover from just above Redding southeast into the Sierra foothills, parts of the Sacramento Valley, and areas in and around the San Francisco Bay Area, including the North Bay mountains, East Bay hills and interior valleys.
David Sweet, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Oxnard, previously said a large area of high pressure covering almost the entire West Coast is expected to build over the weekend. Temperatures could climb 10 to 20 degrees above normal in some areas.
Officials said the forecast conditions — which include sustained winds, low humidity and summer-like temperatures — will make it easier for fires to both start and spread.
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That’s unwelcome news in a region where crews are still working to contain some of the largest wildfires in California history.
Those include the North Complex fire northeast of Oroville — which has burned more than 305,000 acres and has become one of the deadliest and most destructive in the state’s history. Containment on that blaze is at 78%.


latimes--2020-09-27--L.A. County coronavirus numbers show continued decline in hospitalizations

Los Angeles County saw a continued decline in the number of people with serious cases of COVID-19 this weekend , with fewer than 700 patients hospitalized on Sunday .
There were three times as many COVID-19 hospitalizations during the summer surge .
The reduction in the most serious cases came as the county reported 815 new cases overall and 10 deaths for the day .
These are declines from past highs , but the lower numbers may reflect a lag in weekend reporting , the county said .
There were 692 people hospitalized with COVID-19 on Sunday , compared with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2,200 in mid-July .
Hospitalizations , like new cases and deaths , are considered a key indicator of how well counties are handling the spread of the coronavirus and how much demand the pandemic is putting on local healthcare systems .
Since the pandemic began , officials have kept a close eye on hospitalizations , fearful that unchecked community spread of the virus would lead to more cases than hospitals could handle .
More recently , officials were worried that gatherings over the Labor Day weekend would trigger a spike , but they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not materialized .
“ I ’ m grateful that so many people are doing their part to protect their fellow neighbors , workers and family members from COVID-19 , and it is clear that the actions people are taking have reduced the number of people hospitalized and dying , ” Barbara Ferrer , director of the Los Angeles County Public Health department , said in a statement .
Ferrer said the latest data are being considered as county officials weigh “ additional reopenings.
” The county trend comes amid broader declines in hospitalizations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ improvements will hold .
State officials said Friday that they expect to see an 89 % increase in COVID-19 hospitalizations over the next month .
Many regions in the state have seen increases in the rate of cases per 100,000 residents , and emergency room visits were up last week across the state .
Dr. Mark Ghaly , the state ’ s health and human services secretary , said California has hospital capacity for new patients , but officials are concerned about COVID-19 hospitalizations rising just as flu season — a perennial killer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ve never done COVID hospitalizations with flu hospitalizations , ” Ghaly said .

Los Angeles County saw a continued decline in the number of people with serious cases of COVID-19 this weekend, with fewer than 700 patients hospitalized on Sunday. There were three times as many COVID-19 hospitalizations during the summer surge.
The reduction in the most serious cases came as the county reported 815 new cases overall and 10 deaths for the day. These are declines from past highs, but the lower numbers may reflect a lag in weekend reporting, the county said.
There were 692 people hospitalized with COVID-19 on Sunday, compared with 1,100 in late August and more than 2,200 in mid-July.
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Hospitalizations, like new cases and deaths, are considered a key indicator of how well counties are handling the spread of the coronavirus and how much demand the pandemic is putting on local healthcare systems.
Since the pandemic began, officials have kept a close eye on hospitalizations, fearful that unchecked community spread of the virus would lead to more cases than hospitals could handle. More recently, officials were worried that gatherings over the Labor Day weekend would trigger a spike, but they said Saturday that the holiday surge had not materialized.
“I’m grateful that so many people are doing their part to protect their fellow neighbors, workers and family members from COVID-19, and it is clear that the actions people are taking have reduced the number of people hospitalized and dying,” Barbara Ferrer, director of the Los Angeles County Public Health department, said in a statement.
Ferrer said the latest data are being considered as county officials weigh “additional reopenings.”
The county trend comes amid broader declines in hospitalizations statewide — but little optimism that the improvements will hold. State officials said Friday that they expect to see an 89% increase in COVID-19 hospitalizations over the next month. Many regions in the state have seen increases in the rate of cases per 100,000 residents, and emergency room visits were up last week across the state.
Dr. Mark Ghaly, the state’s health and human services secretary, said California has hospital capacity for new patients, but officials are concerned about COVID-19 hospitalizations rising just as flu season — a perennial killer — gets underway.
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“We’ve never done COVID hospitalizations with flu hospitalizations,” Ghaly said.


latimes--2020-09-27--Woman arrested after attempt to kidnap infant grandchild of NFL's Joe Montana in Malibu

Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Montana and his wife confronted a home intruder who attempted to kidnap their 9-month-old grandchild over the weekend , law enforcement officials confirmed Sunday .
Montana told deputies that his grandchild was sleeping in a playpen Saturday when an unknown woman entered their home in Malibu and grabbed the child , according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff ’ s Department .
Montana and his wife , Jennifer , confronted the woman , whom authorities later identified as Sodsai Dalzell , tried to “ de-escalate the situation ” and asked her to give back their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enforcement officials said , Jennifer Montana pried the child out of the woman ’ s arms .
“ Thank you to everyone who has reached out , ” the former San Francisco 49ers star tweeted .
“ Scary situation , but thankful that everybody is doing well .
We appreciate respect for our privacy at this time.
” The sheriff ’ s office says that Dalzell fled the home but was later arrested .
She faces kidnapping and burglary charges .
It wasn ’ t immediately known if Dalzell had a lawyer who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sheriff ’ s office declined to release any more information , citing that the case was still ongoing .
Montana , 64 , retired after the 1994 season , playing 13 years of his 15-year-career with the San Francisco 49ers , which won four Super Bowls with him as starting quarterback .

Joe Montana speaks to reporters during a panel at Super Bowl 50 in San Francisco in 2015.
Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Montana and his wife confronted a home intruder who attempted to kidnap their 9-month-old grandchild over the weekend, law enforcement officials confirmed Sunday.
Montana told deputies that his grandchild was sleeping in a playpen Saturday when an unknown woman entered their home in Malibu and grabbed the child, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
Montana and his wife, Jennifer, confronted the woman, whom authorities later identified as Sodsai Dalzell, tried to “de-escalate the situation” and asked her to give back their grandchild.
After a tussle, law enforcement officials said, Jennifer Montana pried the child out of the woman’s arms.
“Thank you to everyone who has reached out,” the former San Francisco 49ers star tweeted. “Scary situation, but thankful that everybody is doing well. We appreciate respect for our privacy at this time.”
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The Sheriff’s Department said that Dalzell fled the home but was later arrested. She faces kidnapping and burglary charges.
It wasn’t immediately known if Dalzell had a lawyer who could speak on her behalf.
Sheriff’s officials declined to release any more information, saying that the case was still under investigation.
Montana, 64, retired after the 1994 NFL season,. He spent 13 years of his 15-year-career with the San Francisco 49ers, which won four Super Bowls with him as starting quarterback.


latimes--2020-09-27--Suspect in custody after LAPD officer is attacked inside police station

A 29-year-old suspect was in custody Sunday after he allegedly took an officer ’ s weapon , pistol-whipped him and fired shots inside the Los Angeles Police Department Harbor Division station in San Pedro , police said .
LAPD Chief Michel Moore said the officer had bumps and bruises and would recover from the injuries after the attack , which unfolded shortly before 10:30 p.m. Saturday .
The attack occurred after the veteran officer came to the front desk to assist a man who had walked into the station ’ s closed front lobby , Moore said .
A struggle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who allegedly took the officer ’ s gun from him , hit him in the head with the weapon and then began firing , Moore said .
Sources who were not authorized to speak publicly about the matter said the man fired at least three shots .
An LAPD watch commander heard the commotion , saw the attack and opened fire , but his shots did not hit the man , who ran from the lobby , Assistant Chief Horace Frank said .
The man fled in a white pickup truck and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suspect was apprehended at 18th Street and Pacific Avenue , where another altercation broke out before officers were able to take him into custody , police said .
Authorities said another officer was injured in that arrest .
Moore said the suspect was treated for injuries at a hospital and would be booked in the attack .
His identity was not immediately released .
“ I am grateful that the officer who was in this incident tonight , who was working the desk , came out to assist this individual to understand what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and that during this engagement that he did not lose his life , ” Moore said while speaking to reporters after visiting the officer .
“ He did not suffer the injury that apparently this suspect meant to inflict.
” Robbery Homicide Division detectives are investigating the attack and the motive has yet to be determined .
Mayor Eric Garcetti tweeted his support Saturday night for the injured officer .
“ Sending my best wishes for a quick and full recovery to our @ LAPDHQ officer injured in an incident at the Harbor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ The officer is in stable condition and we ’ re closely monitoring the situation.
” There have been other violent incidents involving local law enforcement officers in recent days .
On Friday , police said an off-duty LAPD officer was shot at in his car in Reseda by an unknown suspect with a handgun , police said .
The officer ’ s vehicle was struck , but the officer was not injured .
That incident remains under investigation .
Two weeks ago , two Los Angeles County Sheriff ’ s Department deputies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vehicle in Compton in what authorities described as an ambush attack .
The deputies survived but suffered serious injuries .
Surveillance video shows the gunman fire at them at close range before fleeing .
No suspect has been arrested in the attack .

A suspect was in custody Sunday after he allegedly took an officer’s weapon and fired shots in the Los Angeles Police Department Harbor Division station in San Pedro, police said.
A 29-year-old suspect was in custody Sunday after he allegedly took an officer’s weapon, pistol-whipped him and fired shots inside the Los Angeles Police Department Harbor Division station in San Pedro, police said.
LAPD Chief Michel Moore said the officer had bumps and bruises and would recover from the injuries after the attack, which unfolded shortly before 10:30 p.m. Saturday.
The attack occurred after the veteran officer came to the front desk to assist a man who had walked into the station’s closed front lobby, Moore said.
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A struggle ensued between the officer and the man, who allegedly took the officer’s gun from him, hit him in the head with the weapon and then began firing, Moore said. Sources who were not authorized to speak publicly about the matter said the man fired at least three shots.
An LAPD watch commander heard the commotion, saw the attack and opened fire, but his shots did not hit the man, who ran from the lobby, Assistant Chief Horace Frank said.
The man fled in a white pickup truck and was pursued by several officers. The suspect was apprehended at 18th Street and Pacific Avenue, where another altercation broke out before officers were able to take him into custody, police said. Authorities said another officer was injured in that arrest.
Moore said the suspect was treated for injuries at a hospital and would be booked in the attack. His identity was not immediately released.
“I am grateful that the officer who was in this incident tonight, who was working the desk, came out to assist this individual to understand what his needs were, that he survived and that during this engagement that he did not lose his life,” Moore said while speaking to reporters after visiting the officer. “He did not suffer the injury that apparently this suspect meant to inflict.”
Robbery Homicide Division detectives are investigating the attack and the motive has yet to be determined.
Mayor Eric Garcetti tweeted his support Saturday night for the injured officer. “Sending my best wishes for a quick and full recovery to our @LAPDHQ officer injured in an incident at the Harbor Station tonight,” he wrote. “The officer is in stable condition and we’re closely monitoring the situation.”
There have been other violent incidents involving local law enforcement officers in recent days.
On Friday, police said an off-duty LAPD officer was shot at in his car in Reseda by an unknown suspect with a handgun, police said. The officer’s vehicle was struck, but the officer was not injured. That incident remains under investigation.
Two weeks ago, two Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department deputies were shot while sitting in a patrol vehicle in Compton in what authorities described as an ambush attack. The deputies survived but suffered serious injuries. Surveillance video shows the gunman fire at them at close range before fleeing. No suspect has been arrested in the attack.


latimes--2020-09-27--The Bear fire nearly wiped this town off the map. Miraculously, one landmark survived

When the Bear fire barreled over the mountain ridge headed for the Butte County town of Feather Falls , Nancy Baker Preston and her daughter Kellie Swann made a pact : meet at the Gold Flake .
After packing their most important possessions , Preston and Swann converged at the historic saloon , which doubles as a post office with a small grocery .
The sky burnt the air orange , transforming trees into a glowing green .
Ash fell like snow .
Inside the saloon , the phone was “ ringing off the wall , ” said owner Sandy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ town with spotty cell signal , the old saloon ’ s currency is information .
Even during normal times , the pulse of Feather Falls runs through the Gold Flake ’ s phone lines .
As one of two volunteer firefighters in town — the other is her husband , Craig , 57 — Bourasa pleaded with her neighbors “ Get off the hill.
” Since lightning storms ignited the Plumas National Forest on Aug. 17 , smoldering for weeks and then exploding into the North Complex fire , much of the state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ town of Berry Creek , which was obliterated in the flames , killing at least 13 people .
But at roughly the same time , on Sept. 8 , the fire roared into Feather Falls , taking with it the lives of two residents : Randy Harrell , 67 , and Jacob “ Jake ” Albright , 74 , a former Gold Flake owner .
Dozens of homes , the meetinghouse , schoolhouse and acres of beloved forest are gone .
Preston , Swann and their families survived with their homes mostly intact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ property collapsed , breaking 12 solar panels and a freezer full of food ) .
As of Saturday morning , 78 % of the fire was contained as fire crews fought to hold their lines of protection ahead of a weekend of windy weather .
The Gold Flake , Feather Falls ’ last remaining landmark of the tight-knit mountain town , stands untouched .
“ That ’ s the hub of the community , ” Bourasa said Thursday .
“ And it ’ s the only thing we ’ ve got.
” Dating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Gold Flake Saloon is a nod to the region ’ s mining past , painted barn red with signs that advertise “ dry goods and such ” and other necessities , such as horse shoes and “ ales to go.
” Though it has moved around throughout the years , the town post office next door officially turned 100 years old in March , according to Bourasa .
The bar is open every day for residents to swing by and shoot a game of pool or gab with Swann , one of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Every holiday is celebrated at the Gold Flake , with dress-up Halloween parties and full Thanksgiving spreads , complete with fried turkeys .
Craig Bourasa was stationed at the Gold Flake , distributing water to other fire crews from his truck .
Someone at headquarters radioed him that the fire was headed his way .
He drove around the corner and pulled out his phone , ready to film his business going up in flames .
Then his radio patched again : “ Structure protection for the Gold Flake.
” Within minutes , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , saving it from flames coursing down the mountain , and sparking hope for the small mountain community ’ s return .
Feather Falls sits just over the charred ridge southeast from Berry Creek and about 50 miles from Paradise — site of the 2018 Camp fire , California ’ s deadliest .
Residents cherish the quiet but fiercely tight-knit mountain community .
Maidu people nurtured their native land for hundreds of years before settlers came and built a prosperous logging industry .
A cluster of red-and-white cabins , a general store , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ post office became “ the village , ” centered around a wood mill .
In the late 20th century , Sierra Pacific Industries acquired much of the land , including the village , to expand its lumber production .
Now , Feather Falls is little more than a web of roads tucked into the mountains , a tiny sliver of unincorporated land in Butte County .
It ’ s so small , the 2010 U.S. census clumped it with nearby Berry Creek , Forbestown and Clipper Mills to estimate a population of 2,565 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s Office .
Locals say the real number in town is probably close to a couple hundred .
“ It just is a feeling that ’ s in your heart and your whole being , ” said Preston , 71 , describing Feather Falls .
“ It ’ s like Lassie coming home or something .
It ’ s home.
” Strangers may pass through without even witnessing a town .
But for Preston , 71 , who has lived in Feather Falls since 2000 and for a few years in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her memory .
She rattles off sites with a flick of her hand : That ’ s where her best friend lived .
Here was the schoolhouse where her granddaughter graduated last year .
There was the old village .
Now , only ghosts of those landmarks remain .
“ I know where I am but , I mean , all the stuff — the trees , the view , all the buildings , ” her voice trailed off .
In total , the North Complex fire killed 15 people and burned 304,619 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 112 structures .
It is the fifth-largest fire in the state , and has destroyed the sixth-highest number of structures of any fire , according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection .
The fire decimated entire structures but left certain relics untouched : a white lamppost , a green storage container , an American flag , a pile of broken dishes where a cupboard burned .
Preston is no stranger to destruction by wildfire .
Her own property — with its swimming pool , deck and tennis court — burned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and her partner lived briefly in a friend ’ s cabin before moving into her former garage on the burn scar .
“ It ’ s like pioneer glamping .
You ’ ve got to be tough , ” she said .
But Preston brushes away talk of the Ponderosa fire with a dismissive wave .
“ I prayed that the rest of my community , family and friends would never have to feel what I felt three years ago , ” Preston said .
“ Now they all do , and I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ losing my home , because we lost all of our historical buildings .
All of our gathering spots , except the Gold Flake .
All of our trees .
And we ’ ll probably lose more .
The worst thing is the two deaths.
” Among the landmarks lost was the schoolhouse , where Feather Falls Union School District held classes until it closed in 2019 because it was too small , with only about 10 children .
Also lost was the Grange , a meetinghouse for special events run by a local @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forest was among their most heartwrenching losses .
Just days before the fire , children romped through the woods .
On weekends , residents went riding four-wheelers , swimming in one of the ponds or fishing in the nearby lake .
Oftentimes , they were satisfied to simply drive through the mountain and find a spot by the river to camp out for the day .
“ All of these are gon na die , all these trees , ” Preston said , sighing .
“ You move here for this beauty.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to move back to Feather Falls .
Swann , who has lived in Feather Falls much of her life , is reevaluating her future there , although she is glad that Bourasa , the Gold Flake owner , plans to reopen Wednesday .
“ I ’ m ready to get back and do some work and see who may come in from our community , ” Swann said .
“ They will be coming by the Gold Flake , and that will give us a chance for hugs and tears — and hopefully @ @ @ @

The Gold Flake Saloon survived the North Complex fire and sits relatively untouched in the fire-scorched town of Feather Falls on Thursday. “It’s kind of like the hub of the hill,” resident Kellie Swann said of the old saloon, where she has worked for five years.
When the Bear fire barreled over the mountain ridge headed for the Butte County town of Feather Falls, Nancy Baker Preston and her daughter Kellie Swann made a pact: meet at the Gold Flake.
After packing their most important possessions, Preston and Swann converged at the historic saloon, which doubles as a post office with a small grocery. The sky burnt the air orange, transforming trees into a glowing green. Ash fell like snow.
Inside the saloon, the phone was “ringing off the wall,” said owner Sandy Bourasa, 53. In a mountain town with spotty cell signal, the old saloon’s currency is information. Even during normal times, the pulse of Feather Falls runs through the Gold Flake’s phone lines. As one of two volunteer firefighters in town — the other is her husband, Craig, 57 — Bourasa pleaded with her neighbors: “Get off the hill.”
Since lightning storms ignited Plumas National Forest on Aug. 17, smoldering for weeks and then exploding into the North Complex fire, much of the state’s attention has focused on the town of Berry Creek, which was obliterated in the flames, killing at least 13 people. But at roughly the same time, on Sept. 8, the fire roared into Feather Falls, taking with it the lives of two residents: Randy Harrell, 67, and Jacob “Jake” Albright, 74, a former Gold Flake owner.
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“The sadness and the heartbreak hang in the air just like the smoke and the ash,” Nancy Baker Preston said. “It’s just heavy with it.” (Faith E. Pinho)
Dozens of homes, the meetinghouse, the schoolhouse and acres of beloved forest are gone. Preston, Swann and their families survived with their homes mostly intact (a shed on Swann’s property collapsed, breaking 12 solar panels and a freezer full of food).
As of Saturday morning, 78% of the fire was contained as fire crews fought to hold their lines of protection ahead of a weekend of windy weather. The Gold Flake, Feather Falls’ last remaining landmark of the tightknit mountain town, stands untouched.
“That’s the hub of the community,” Bourasa said Thursday. “And it’s the only thing we’ve got.”
Dating back to at least the 1950s, the Gold Flake Saloon is a nod to the region’s mining past, painted barn red with signs that advertise “dry goods and such” and other necessities, such as horse shoes and “ales to go.” Though it has moved around throughout the years, the town post office next door officially turned 100 years old in March, according to Bourasa.
The bar is open every day for residents to swing by and shoot a game of pool or gab with Swann, one of the saloon’s four employees. Every holiday is celebrated at the Gold Flake, with dress-up Halloween parties and full Thanksgiving spreads, complete with fried turkeys.
Craig Bourasa was stationed at the Gold Flake, distributing water to other fire crews from his truck. Someone at headquarters radioed him that the fire was headed his way. He drove around the corner and pulled out his phone, ready to film his business going up in flames. Then his radio patched again: “Structure protection for the Gold Flake.”
Within minutes, a fire crew had drenched the property, saving it from flames coursing down the mountain, and sparking hope for the small mountain community’s return.
Even during COVID-19, the Gold Flake Saloon continued to serve residents in its back-patio beer garden. Preston’s brother, Emmett Baker, built a new wooden bar and branded it with the symbols of families up the mountain. (Faith E. Pinho / Los Angeles Times)
Feather Falls sits just over the charred ridge southeast from Berry Creek and about 50 miles from Paradise — site of the 2018 Camp fire, California’s deadliest. Residents cherish the quiet but fiercely tightknit mountain community. Maidu people nurtured their native land for hundreds of years before settlers came and built a prosperous logging industry. A cluster of red-and-white cabins, a general store, a doctor’s office and a post office became “the village,” centered on a wood mill.
In the late 20th century, Sierra Pacific Industries acquired much of the land, including the village, to expand its lumber production.
Now, Feather Falls is little more than a web of roads tucked into the mountains, a tiny sliver of unincorporated land in Butte County. It’s so small, the 2010 U.S. census clumped it with nearby Berry Creek, Forbestown and Clipper Mills to estimate a population of 2,565, according to the Butte County Sheriff’s Office. Locals say the real number in town is probably close to a couple hundred.
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“It just is a feeling that’s in your heart and your whole being,” said Preston, 71, describing Feather Falls. “It’s like Lassie coming home or something. It’s home.”
A charred washer and dryer are some of the only recognizable remains at one family’s home. (Faith E. Pinho / Los Angeles Times)
Strangers may pass through without even witnessing a town. But for Preston, who has lived in Feather Falls since 2000 and for a few years in the 1970s, the map is imprinted in her memory. She rattles off sites with a flick of her hand: That’s where her best friend lived. Here was the schoolhouse where her granddaughter graduated last year. There was the old village.
Now, only ghosts of those landmarks remain.
“I know where I am, but, I mean, all the stuff — the trees, the view, all the buildings,” her voice trailed off.
In total, the North Complex fire killed 15 people and burned 304,619 acres, destroying 2,248 structures and damaging 112 structures. It is the fifth-largest fire in the state and has destroyed the sixth-highest number of structures of any fire, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
The fire destroyed entire structures but left certain relics untouched: a white lamppost, a green storage container, an American flag, a pile of broken dishes where a cupboard burned.
“This is the rubble of their life right here,” Preston said of her friend’s home, which burned to the ground. “Just doggone heartbreaking is what it is.” (Faith E. Pinho / Los Angeles Times)
Preston is no stranger to destruction by wildfire. Her own property — with its swimming pool, deck and tennis court — burned in the 2017 Ponderosa fire. She and her partner lived briefly in a friend’s cabin before moving into her former garage on the burn scar.
“It’s like pioneer glamping. You’ve got to be tough,” she said.
But Preston brushes away talk of the Ponderosa fire with a dismissive wave.
“I prayed that the rest of my community, family and friends would never have to feel what I felt three years ago,” Preston said. “Now they all do, and I hate that. It hurts worse than losing my home, because we lost all of our historical buildings. All of our gathering spots, except the Gold Flake. All of our trees. And we’ll probably lose more. The worst thing is the two deaths.”
Preston stands in front of the remains of the Feather Falls schoolhouse, which her daughter and granddaughter attended. Preston served on the district’s school board for several years. The school closed in 2019 because it was too small. Feather Falls children now attend school in nearby Oroville. (Faith E. Pinho / Los Angeles Times)
Among the landmarks lost was the schoolhouse, where Feather Falls Union School District held classes until it closed in 2019 because it was too small, with only about 10 children.
Also lost was the Grange, a meetinghouse for special events run by a local nonprofit.
The Grange hosted special events in Feather Falls, from annual Christmas parties to biweekly Sunday breakfasts. (Vickie Brown Miller)
Only a heap of mangled metal chairs is left to tell of the joyful gatherings at the Grange. (Faith E. Pinho)
For many residents, the forest was among their most heart-wrenching losses. Just days before the fire, children romped through the woods. On weekends, residents went riding on four-wheelers, swimming in one of the ponds or fishing in the nearby lake. Oftentimes, they were satisfied to simply drive through the mountain and find a spot by the river to camp out for the day.
“All of these are gonna die, all these trees,” Preston said, sighing. “You move here for this beauty.”
A few people have already decided not to move back to Feather Falls. Swann, who has lived in Feather Falls much of her life, is reevaluating her future there, although she is glad that Bourasa, the Gold Flake owner, plans to reopen Wednesday.
“I’m ready to get back and do some work and see who may come in from our community,” Swann said. “They will be coming by the Gold Flake, and that will give us a chance for hugs and tears — and hopefully some smiles.”