latimes--2020-08-06--Amid coronavirus outbreak at Bakersfield immigration facility, emails show ICE deliberately limited

Amid coronavirus outbreak at Bakersfield immigration facility, emails show ICE deliberately limited testing

Last month , as the coronavirus spread through federal immigration detention centers around the country , officials at the Mesa Verde facility in Bakersfield rejected a suggestion to test all detainees there because it would be difficult to quarantine those who tested positive , the officials said .
In an email on July 6 , Janese Mull , the acting field office director for Immigration and Customs Enforcement in San Francisco , said lawyers for ICE had advised that it was in the facility ’ s best interest to look into conducting COVID-19 testing for all detainees .
But Brooke @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at Wellpath , a private Nashville-based healthcare company that provides services to ICE detention facilities , pushed back against Mull ’ s direction .
The proposal to test all detainees , Sanchez Othon wrote , already had been denied “ due to the housing restrictions we face.
” “ Testing all detainees will potentially cause the same housing issue we had last week but on a larger scale , ” Sanchez Othon continued , referring to the problem of quarantining infected detainees .
“ Completing the testing is not the issue it is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the results once they are received.
” The email exchange , obtained by lawyers with the American Civil Liberties Union and the public defender ’ s office of San Francisco , provides a strikingly candid look at how ICE has failed to contain the spread of the coronavirus in its facilities , critics of the agency contend .
This week , a COVID-19 outbreak emerged at the Mesa Verde ICE Processing Center , where about 120 detainees are being held .
So far , 14 staff members and nine detainees have tested @ @ @ @ @ @ @ described a chaotic situation there , with at least two men hospitalized and several more displaying symptoms of the virus while being housed in large dormitories with others who feared becoming infected .
As test results trickled in , the staff ran out of quarantine spaces , at one point reportedly placing two men in a bathroom for hours .
An ICE spokesman declined to comment because of pending litigation .
GEO could not be reached immediately for comment .
On Thursday , a federal judge in San Francisco issued a searing ruling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the health crisis in such a cavalier fashion ” that it has “ lost the right to be trusted.
” “ The documentary evidence shows that the defendants have avoided widespread testing of staff and detainees at the facility , not for lack of tests , but for fear that positive test results would require them to implement safety measures that they apparently felt were not worth the trouble , ” Judge Vincent Chhabria wrote in granting the temporary restraining order .
Chhabria ordered officials to administer weekly rapid COVID-19 tests to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ take in new detainees .
Emails and other documents obtained by the lawyers , who sued the federal government in April over conditions at the facility amid the pandemic , provide a rare behind-the-scenes look at ICE ’ s response to the novel coronavirus .
Detainees in dorm B demanded to be tested for days before facility staff supplied tests late last month , advocates and detainees said .
In an email sent Wednesday , an attorney for the federal government said that 78 detainees in the remaining three dormitories at Mesa Verde @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Detainees from dorm B were moved into dorm C so that dorm B could be designated for those who test positive .
In a May 18 memo , Nathan Allen , the warden at Mesa Verde , laid out a COVID-19 testing plan .
Testing would begin two days later , and detainees who refused to be tested would be held together in a dorm for 14 days .
Those who tested positive would be moved to medical isolation areas or a general population living area , depending on the number of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ positive will be quarantined appropriately according to CDC guidelines , ” he wrote .
But that plan was not executed , documents show .
Three days later , the assistant field office director , Alexander Pham , wrote in notes from a conference call that , because of constraints that the ICE Health Service Corps guidelines would put on housing resources , “ we will be limiting the scope of testing as much as possible.
” Further correspondence makes clear ICE and GEO Group ’ s indifference to testing , and their inability @ @ @ @ @ @ @ advocates say .
Another heated exchange began May 21 when Wendy Baca , the acting health service administrator for Mesa Verde , addressed by email concerns that she had with the warden ’ s plan for testing “ street arrests ” — those brought to the facility after being arrested by ICE rather than being transferred in .
Baca said that testing those detainees immediately and then releasing them to the facility ’ s general population right after they test negative “ will not ensure COVID-19 does not make it into the facility @ @ @ @ @ @ @ period ( generally 14 days ) needed to trigger a positive COVID-19 test result.
” Erik Bonnar , the deputy field office director for ICE in San Francisco , replied by email bluntly : “ It appears GEO has no interest in conducting asymptomatic testing AND the test kits GEO secured are not the IHSC [ ICE Health Service Corps ] recommended type .
You can ’ t make this ... up.
” On May 26 , the warden , Allen , wrote that the acting field office director “ would rather not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ affect Enforcement and Removal Operations , the arm of ICE that handles deportations .
A month later , an executive with the GEO Group , the private prison company that manages the facility , scolded Allen , saying that his testing plan fell short of identifying mitigating strategies for incoming detainees who don ’ t consent to being tested but are placed directly into a housing unit anyway .
“ We can not just throw up our hands and say there isn ’ t anything we can do , ” said Paul Laird @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president .
“ We should at minimum identify specific areas within the unit for new arrivals .
Maybe it is in a row of bunks in the front , maybe in the back etc , but we can ’ t just scatter them throughout the unit without any controls .
“ Whether it be tape on the floor , privacy curtains , or any other strategy you can identify , it would be better than just saying we are unable to do anything .
”

Last month, as the coronavirus spread through federal immigration detention centers around the country, officials at the Mesa Verde facility in Bakersfield rejected a suggestion to test all detainees there because it would be difficult to quarantine those who tested positive, the officials said.
In an email on July 6, Janese Mull, the acting field office director for Immigration and Customs Enforcement in San Francisco, said lawyers for ICE had advised that it was in the facility’s best interest to look into conducting COVID-19 testing for all detainees.
But Brooke Sanchez Othon, a clinical operations specialist at Wellpath, a private Nashville-based healthcare company that provides services to ICE detention facilities, pushed back against Mull’s direction. The proposal to test all detainees, Sanchez Othon wrote, already had been denied “due to the housing restrictions we face.”
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“Testing all detainees will potentially cause the same housing issue we had last week but on a larger scale,” Sanchez Othon continued, referring to the problem of quarantining infected detainees. “Completing the testing is not the issue it is just what we will need to do with the results once they are received.”
The email exchange, obtained by lawyers with the American Civil Liberties Union and the public defender’s office of San Francisco, reveals how ICE has failed to contain the spread of the coronavirus in its facilities, critics of the agency contend.
This week, a COVID-19 outbreak emerged at the Mesa Verde ICE Processing Center, where about 120 detainees are being held. So far, 14 staff members and nine detainees have tested positive.
Detainees and immigrant rights advocates described a chaotic situation there, with two men hospitalized since Saturday and several more displaying symptoms of the virus while being held in large dormitories with others who feared becoming infected. As test results trickled in, the staff ran out of quarantine spaces, at one point reportedly placing two men in a bathroom for hours.
Spokespeople for ICE and GEO declined to comment because of pending litigation.
On Thursday, a federal judge in San Francisco issued a searing ruling, saying that ICE has “responded to the health crisis in such a cavalier fashion” that it has “lost the right to be trusted.”
Advertisement
“The documentary evidence shows that the defendants have avoided widespread testing of staff and detainees at the facility, not for lack of tests, but for fear that positive test results would require them to implement safety measures that they apparently felt were not worth the trouble,” Judge Vincent Chhabria wrote in granting the temporary restraining order.
Chhabria ordered officials to administer weekly rapid COVID-19 tests to all detainees at the facility and not take in new detainees.
Emails and other documents obtained by the lawyers, who sued the federal government in April over conditions at the facility amid the pandemic, provide a rare behind-the-scenes look at conditions in the facility and ICE’s response to the novel coronavirus.
Mesa Verde has four dorms, each outfitted with enough bunk beds for 100 people. The facility has three disciplinary segregation rooms, two medical segregation rooms and three intake rooms, which don’t have beds. Before the outbreak last week, detainees alternated top and bottom bunk sleeping assignments, with one person per bed.
Detainees in dorm B demanded to be tested for days before facility staff supplied tests late last month, advocates and detainees said. In an email sent Wednesday, an attorney for the federal government said that 78 detainees in the remaining three dormitories at Mesa Verde were tested and seven others refused testing. Detainees from dorm B were moved into dorm C so that dorm B could be designated for those who test positive.
In a May 18 memo, Nathan Allen, the warden at Mesa Verde, laid out a COVID-19 testing plan. Testing would begin two days later, and detainees who refused to be tested would be held together in a dorm for 14 days. Those who tested positive would be moved to medical isolation areas or a general population living area, depending on the number of people.
“Any detainee who tests positive will be quarantined appropriately according to CDC guidelines,” he wrote.
But that plan was not executed, documents show.
Three days later, the San Francisco assistant field office director, Alexander Pham, wrote in notes from a conference call that, because of constraints that the ICE Health Service Corps guidelines would put on housing resources, “we will be limiting the scope of testing as much as possible.”
Further correspondence makes clear ICE and GEO Group’s indifference to testing, and their inability to agree on a consistent strategy, advocates said.
Another heated exchange began May 21 when Wendy Baca, the acting health service administrator for Mesa Verde, addressed by email concerns that she had with the warden’s plan for testing “street arrests” — those brought to the facility after being arrested by ICE rather than being transferred in.
Baca said that testing those detainees immediately and then releasing them to the facility’s general population right after they test negative “will not ensure COVID-19 does not make it into the facility. This is due to the incubation period (generally 14 days) needed to trigger a positive COVID-19 test result.”
Erik Bonnar, the deputy field office director for ICE in San Francisco, replied by email bluntly: “It appears GEO has no interest in conducting asymptomatic testing AND the test kits GEO secured are not the IHSC [ICE Health Service Corps] recommended type. You can’t make this ... up.”
On May 26, the warden, Allen, wrote that the acting field office director “would rather not have staff testing” because it would affect Enforcement and Removal Operations, the arm of ICE that handles deportations.
A month later, an executive with the GEO Group, the private prison company that manages the facility, scolded Allen, saying that his testing plan fell short of identifying mitigating strategies for incoming detainees who don’t consent to being tested but are placed directly into a housing unit anyway.
“We cannot just throw up our hands and say there isn’t anything we can do,” said Paul Laird, GEO’s western region vice president. “We should at minimum identify specific areas within the unit for new arrivals. Maybe it is in a row of bunks in the front, maybe in the back etc, but we can’t just scatter them throughout the unit without any controls.
“Whether it be tape on the floor, privacy curtains, or any other strategy you can identify, it would be better than just saying we are unable to do anything.”
On April 29, Chhabria ordered ICE to produce a list of detainees at serious risk of becoming infected with COVID-19 for consideration for release. Nearly 130 detainees have been ordered released by Chhabria since then. Others have been released voluntarily by ICE or on bond.
But at the same time, ICE continued bringing new detainees into the facility — about 175 since early May, lawyers said.
Detainees have been left to wonder how the outbreak began, speculating that it could have been either through staff or recent arrivals.
The first Mesa Verde staffer to test positive, on June 17, was a nurse. The first detainee tested positive at intake and remained quarantined before entering the general population on July 1.
But the virus didn’t spread until four weeks later, on July 30, when 65-year-old Yao Saeturn tested positive. He was taken to a local hospital the next day and released to his family on Monday.
Some detainees arrived from prisons with coronavirus outbreaks. One detainee who was transferred from the California Correctional Institution in Tehachapi, where more than 150 inmates have COVID-19, said that he was tested only after he requested a test. Another detainee who was transferred July 28 from Avenal State Prison, where the virus has killed two inmates, said his temperature was taken when he arrived but he wasn’t tested.
When German Najera Grajeda was transferred to Mesa Verde April 9 from the Growlersberg Conservation Camp northeast of Sacramento, he did not receive a coronavirus test.
Najera developed nausea and body aches early last week. The 33-year-old, who suffers from asthma, said he immediately requested a coronavirus test but was told that it wasn’t necessary.
He received one days later. By Monday, he was taken to medical, where a nurse told him he had COVID-19.
Najera said she told him not to tell anyone “so they wouldn’t be alarmed” and sent him back to the dorm. An hour later, they moved him to a disciplinary segregation room.
That night, he fainted and woke up in the hospital, where he was placed on oxygen and had a seizure before being discharged and taken back to Mesa Verde.
“They haven’t treated me like a human being,” Najera said. “They’re viewing this illness as if it’s not serious. They don’t fear it.”
He said things started to improve Wednesday, under pressure from lawyers. Finally, nurses began checking his temperature three times a day instead of one.
Susan Beaty, a fellow at Centro Legal de la Raza in Oakland, was one of 14 people arrested July 27 at the home of California Gov. Gavin Newsom while demanding that he halt transfers from prisons to detention facilities.
“We were there because clients and community members had been telling us for six months that the transfers are going to fuel the outbreak,” Beaty said. “A week later, here we are.”


latimes--2020-08-06--Then the pandemic hit. New restaurants change plans but not dreams

For 10 years , Shoshanah Abraham whipped up her famous buttercream frosted cake for weddings and corporate events , creating a business from her home kitchen one teaspoon at a time .
With business outgrowing her home , the 34-year-old decided to open her own bakery in Long Beach , .
Abraham found a small but spacious shop on Wardlow Road , glistening with potential and fresh paint , and planned to open it in February .
The economy seemed rosy then , the future optimistic .
Then , as the now-familiar saying goes , the pandemic hit .
What @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like these days ?
Some first-time restaurateurs , with determination and creativity , are showing how to navigate this extraordinarily difficult time .
When Abraham moved to California eight years ago , she began baking for friends and neighbors , creating from scratch a network of customers .
Pretty soon , she left her stressful corporate auditing job to spend more time in her happy place : the kitchen , enshrouded in a cloud of flour .
Her business flourished , inspiring her to put her hard-earned savings last fall into the shop @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sank everything into it , ” she said .
Despite the challenges , many small businesses are forging ahead .
Christine Bos , government affairs manager for the Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce , said the pace of new business openings hasn ’ t slowed much since pandemic-related shutdowns and disruptions began in March .
For many restaurant owners , their attention is focused on readying a pandemic-proof business .
Abraham had planned to open the bakery in February but a few last-minute tweaks postponed her opening until March .
Then later @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hall dragged out her permit processing .
Equipment took a while to arrive .
Large events , such as weddings and corporate gatherings , were canceled , cutting off a main revenue stream for her baking .
At the same time , her other part-time gigs — teaching a motorcycle course , managing a podiatry clinic , conducting market research — dried up .
“ There have been moments when I want to walk away , ” she said .
There was one bright spot , though .
A few weeks before the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jonathan Magnusson-Gumm , who worked for her contractor .
Their romance blossomed during quarantine as the two shared many of their days together — and their dreams of starting a small business .
Soon Abraham and Magnusson-Gumm decided to combine forces : The oven will churn out baked sweets from morning until early afternoon , and then pizza dough until nighttime .
Magnusson-Gumm demurs at the suggestion that a pandemic-induced recession is a bad time to start a business .
“ This is not an economic thing for me .
All it is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ feel is right , ” he said .
“ If it ’ s well received , it ’ s well received .
If it ’ s not , then guess what , I get to walk away knowing I got to share my beliefs and my dreams.
” But it ’ s not all ganache roses and pizza pie .
With indoor dining prohibited , the shop won ’ t look exactly how Abraham envisioned .
Any recent restaurant-goer has noticed the changing look of eating out : paper or QR-code menus , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Some new businesses are brainstorming how to embed the changing guidelines into their new spaces .
The bricks-and-mortar opening of chef Soozee Nguyen ’ s vegan restaurant Wild Chive was supposed to be a family affair for longtime fans of the beloved Long Beach pop-up .
Instead , with large gatherings prohibited , Nguyen threw a “ grand ‘ takeout ’ opening ” in June .
“ Strategically , this pandemic has affected our every move .
It ’ s hard to go big on a long-awaited launch during a time that has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nguyen wrote in an email .
“ We ’ ve had to carefully plan out our days in order to establish a suitable rhythm of operating.
” That includes developing a menu curated specifically for takeout and delivery with dishes that Nguyen said would travel well .
Wild Chive is in a stylish , spacious building on Broadway with high-top bars lining the windows and long , community-style tables .
In reimagining the space for a pandemic setup , Nguyen designed a one-way path from the host stand at the door to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , contactless pickup .
“ Every decision weighs heavily on what ’ s happening around us , and since it ’ s ever-changing , so are we , ” she said .
Wild Chive offers only weekend brunch , with hopes of expanding to dinner service soon .
Nguyen ’ s plans for live music , featured work from local artists and special ticketed dinner and drink events are on hold .
“ I wouldn ’ t say any of our restaurants are saying that they ’ re ... having great business , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they ’ re meeting the basic bottom line , at the most.
” A few months ago , Arturo Enciso ’ s Gusto Bread , which he operated from his North Long Beach home , had a line of customers down the block for Sunday sales .
His farmers market stand sold out in minutes .
In May , Food & Wine magazine named Gusto Bread one of the nation ’ s best 100 bakeries .
Like Abraham , Enciso thought 2020 would be the perfect year to finally open a restaurant .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ flush with cash .
While other restaurants struggled to adapt to contactless food sales , Gusto Bread , which is still operating out of Enciso ’ s home , was already accustomed to offering pickup and delivery options .
In fact , though sales to wholesale customers such as restaurants and grocery stores dropped off , retail sales boomed .
All he needed was a $ 275,000 Small Business Administration loan .
“ At one point we were told , ‘ You better submit this ; you have one day or you might @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you needed , ’ ” Enciso recalled .
“ That was a little scary because we were really depending on those funds.
” The funds eventually came through .
For Enciso , like any other restaurateur these days , it was yet another pandemic-era hurdle .
If a business is able to get through this moment , Abraham said , “ You ’ ll be pretty solid .
”

Shoshanah Abraham and 10-year-old daughter Eva at the Getting Caked bakery in June. Opening a business during the pandemic has been challenging but not impossible.
For 10 years, Shoshanah Abraham whipped up her famous buttercream frosted cake for weddings and corporate events, creating a business from her home kitchen one teaspoon at a time. With business outgrowing her home, the 34-year-old decided to open her own bakery in Long Beach, Getting Caked .
Abraham found a small but spacious shop on Wardlow Road, glistening with potential and fresh paint, and planned to open it in February. The economy seemed rosy then, the future optimistic.
Then, as the now-familiar saying goes, the pandemic hit.
What does the birth of a restaurant look like these days? Some first-time restaurateurs, with determination and creativity, are showing how to navigate this extraordinarily difficult time.
When Abraham moved to California eight years ago, she began baking for friends and neighbors, creating from scratch a network of customers. Pretty soon, she left her stressful corporate auditing job to spend more time in her happy place: the kitchen, enshrouded in a cloud of flour. Her business flourished, inspiring her to put her hard-earned savings last fall into the shop and top-of-the-line kitchen equipment.
“I sank everything into it,” she said.
Despite the challenges, many small businesses are forging ahead. Christine Bos, government affairs manager for the Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce, said the pace of new business openings hasn’t slowed much since pandemic-related shutdowns and disruptions began in March.
For many restaurant owners, their attention is focused on readying a pandemic-proof business.
Advertisement
Abraham had planned to open the bakery in February but a few last-minute tweaks postponed her opening until March.
Then later and later. The closure of City Hall dragged out her permit processing. Equipment took a while to arrive. Large events, such as weddings and corporate gatherings, were canceled, cutting off a main revenue stream for her baking. At the same time, her other part-time gigs — teaching a motorcycle course, managing a podiatry clinic, conducting market research — dried up.
“There have been moments when I want to walk away,” she said.
There was one bright spot, though. A few weeks before the pandemic, she met someone special: Jonathan Magnusson-Gumm, who worked for her contractor. Their romance blossomed during quarantine as the two shared many of their days together — and their dreams of starting a small business. Soon Abraham and Magnusson-Gumm decided to combine forces: The oven will churn out baked sweets from morning until early afternoon, and then pizza dough until nighttime.
Magnusson-Gumm demurs at the suggestion that a pandemic-induced recession is a bad time to start a business.
“This is not an economic thing for me. All it is is being in alignment with what I feel is right,” he said.
Advertisement
“If it’s well received, it’s well received. If it’s not, then guess what, I get to walk away knowing I got to share my beliefs and my dreams.”
But it’s not all ganache roses and pizza pie.
With indoor dining prohibited, the shop won’t look exactly how Abraham envisioned. Any recent restaurant-goer has noticed the changing look of eating out: paper or QR-code menus, masked servers and single-use containers aplenty. Some new businesses are brainstorming how to embed the changing guidelines into their new spaces.
The bricks-and-mortar opening of chef Soozee Nguyen’s vegan restaurant the Wild Chive was supposed to be a family affair for longtime fans of the beloved Long Beach pop-up. Instead, with large gatherings prohibited, Nguyen threw a “grand ‘takeout’ opening” in June.
“Strategically, this pandemic has affected our every move. It’s hard to go big on a long-awaited launch during a time that has proven to be so unpredictable,” Nguyen wrote in an email. “We’ve had to carefully plan out our days in order to establish a suitable rhythm of operating.”
That includes developing a menu curated specifically for takeout and delivery with dishes that Nguyen said would travel well.
The Wild Chive is in a stylish, spacious building on Broadway with high-top bars lining the windows and long, community-style tables. In reimagining the space for a pandemic setup, Nguyen designed a one-way path from the host stand at the door to the exit in the back, for seamless, contactless pickup.
“Every decision weighs heavily on what’s happening around us, and since it’s ever-changing, so are we,” she said.
The Wild Chive offers only weekend brunch, with hopes of expanding to dinner service soon. Nguyen’s plans for live music, featured work from local artists and special ticketed dinner and drink events are on hold.
“I wouldn’t say any of our restaurants are saying that they’re ... having great business,” Bos said. “I think they’re meeting the basic bottom line, at the most.”
Baker Arturo Enciso forms dough at his home bakery, Gusto Bread. (MB Maher)
A few months ago, Arturo Enciso’s Gusto Bread, which he operated from his North Long Beach home, had a line of customers down the block for Sunday sales. His farmers market stand sold out in minutes. In May, Food & Wine magazine named Gusto Bread one of the nation’s best 100 bakeries.
Like Abraham, Enciso thought 2020 would be the perfect year to finally open a restaurant. Unemployment was low and the economy was flush with cash.
Food A Long Beach baker has turned his living room into a popular neighborhood bakery To get to Gusto Bread, the Long Beach bakery that specializes in breads made with whole grains and natural levain, knock on the door of an old wooden house on a leafy, residential street, the front porch filled with cozy chairs and the earthy, nearly primal perfume of baking.
While other restaurants struggled to adapt to contactless food sales, Gusto Bread, which is still operating out of Enciso’s home, was already accustomed to offering pickup and delivery options. In fact, though sales to wholesale customers such as restaurants and grocery stores dropped off, retail sales boomed.
All he needed was a $275,000 Small Business Administration loan.
“At one point we were told, ‘You better submit this; you have one day or you might not get the funds you wanted or you needed,’” Enciso recalled. “That was a little scary because we were really depending on those funds.”
The funds eventually came through. For Enciso, like any other restaurateur these days, it was yet another pandemic-era hurdle.
If a business is able to get through this moment, Abraham said, “You’ll be pretty solid.”


latimes--2020-08-06--Orange County posts its highest single-day  COVID death total: 32

Orange County reported 32 new coronavirus deaths Thursday , a single-day high for the county .
The newly reported fatalities broke the previous one-day record — 31 , set Saturday , according to The Times ’ tracker — and pushed the county ’ s total COVID-19 deaths to 697 .
Of the latest deaths , eight were residents of either skilled-nursing or assisted-living facilities , according to the Orange County Health Care Agency .
Overall , about 45 % of the county ’ s fatalities have been residents in such institutions .
Experts and health officials have said deaths are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ probably reflect exposures to the virus that occurred weeks earlier .
Confirmed COVID-19 cases began rising sharply statewide in late May , when California reopened many sectors of its economy .
Orange County also announced 580 new COVID-19 cases Thursday , boosting its total to 38,711 .
An estimated 28,109 people have recovered from the virus to date , health officials said .
According to the latest available data , 517 COVID-19 patients remain hospitalized countywide , with 171 of them in intensive care .
However , county officials noted that issues with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which collects information from laboratories and feeds it to state and local health departments , “ may result in a lower number of daily COVID positive cases received and tests reported.
” The ongoing technical problems affect the state ’ s ability to track the spread of the virus , potentially resulting in significant undercounts of infections .
Michelle Steel , chairwoman of the county Board of Supervisors , urged the state Thursday “ to provide timely , transparent information on the status ” of the system .
“ Public health officials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this data to understand COVID spread and make decisions on opening and closing schools , businesses and gatherings , ” she said during a news conference .
“ It is essential to know the extent of the problems with the CalREDIE system and understand how it is affecting the data we report .
”

Patrons dine under umbrellas and other portable shelters on Main Street in Huntington Beach on July 28.
Orange County reported 32 new coronavirus deaths Thursday, a single-day high for the county.
The newly reported fatalities broke the previous one-day record — 31, set Saturday, according to The Times’ tracker — and pushed the county’s total COVID-19 deaths to 697.
Of the latest deaths, eight were residents of either skilled-nursing or assisted-living facilities, according to the Orange County Health Care Agency.
Overall, about 45% of the county’s fatalities have been residents in such institutions.
Experts and health officials have said deaths are a lagging indicator of coronavirus spread and probably reflect exposures to the virus that occurred weeks earlier. Confirmed COVID-19 cases began rising sharply statewide in late May, when California reopened many sectors of its economy.
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Orange County also announced 580 new COVID-19 cases Thursday, boosting its total to 38,711.
An estimated 28,109 people have recovered from the virus to date, health officials said.
According to the latest available data, 517 COVID-19 patients remain hospitalized countywide, with 171 of them in intensive care.
However, county officials noted that issues with the state’s CalREDIE electronic system, which collects information from laboratories and feeds it to state and local health departments, “may result in a lower number of daily COVID positive cases received and tests reported.”
The ongoing technical problems affect the state’s ability to track the spread of the virus, potentially resulting in significant undercounts of infections.
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Michelle Steel, chairwoman of the county Board of Supervisors, urged the state Thursday “to provide timely, transparent information on the status” of the system.
“Public health officials and policymakers across the state rely on this data to understand COVID spread and make decisions on opening and closing schools, businesses and gatherings,” she said during a news conference. “It is essential to know the extent of the problems with the CalREDIE system and understand how it is affecting the data we report.”


latimes--2020-08-06--Apple fire chars over 28,000 acres, prompting new evacuations for Morongo Valley

The San Bernardino County Sheriff ’ s Department has issued new evacuation warnings for residents of Morongo Valley , where the nearby has ravaged Cherry Valley and the mountains of the San Bernardino National Forest for nearly a week .
The warnings came two days after evacuation orders in Riverside County as firefighters seemed to gain ground in their battle against the blaze .
As of Thursday , 28,085 acres have burned , and the fire is 30 % contained .
More than 2,000 personnel have been dispatched to fight the fire , the San Bernardino Forest Service said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ County , San Bernardino County officials said the blaze was creeping over county lines .
They advised residents of Morongo Valley to use the 62 Freeway east or west as an evacuation route .
Evacuation warnings remain in place for Forest Falls , Pioneer Town and Rimrock , as well as the area east of Potrero Road , north of Morongo Road and west of Whitewater Canyon Road , according to the forest service .
The community of Oak Glen also remains under an evacuation order .
Residents can check whether their address @ @ @ @ @ @

The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department has issued new evacuation warnings for residents of Morongo Valley, where the nearby Apple fire has ravaged Cherry Valley and the mountains of the San Bernardino National Forest for nearly a week.
The warnings came two days after evacuation orders in Riverside County were lifted as firefighters seemed to gain ground in their battle against the blaze.
As of Thursday, 28,085 acres have burned, and the fire is 30% contained. More than 2,000 personnel have been dispatched to fight the fire, the San Bernardino Forest Service said.
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Although the fire remains mostly in Riverside County, San Bernardino County officials said the blaze was creeping over county lines. They advised residents of Morongo Valley to use the 62 Freeway east or west as an evacuation route.
Evacuation warnings remain in place for Forest Falls, Pioneer Town and Rimrock, as well as the area east of Potrero Road, north of Morongo Road and west of Whitewater Canyon Road, according to the forest service. The community of Oak Glen also remains under an evacuation order.


latimes--2020-08-06--Inside the 'culture of violence' alleged by LAPD SWAT whistleblower

After assessing the hilly terrain around a Sunland house where a homeless man had holed up one morning in May 2017 , the Los Angeles Police Department ’ s heavily armed SWAT team requested more firepower — and got it in the form of a helicopter equipped for “ aerial shooting , ” dubbed “ Sniper-1.
” By the time they ’ d left the scene hours later , the team had fired more than 40 rounds at 29-year-old Anthony Soderberg , including more than a dozen from the helicopter — a first in LAPD history .
Many of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ away , and many came after a bloodied and unarmed Soderberg had exited the home , rolled off the edge of a patio and dropped into a ravine , where he ’ d later be pronounced dead .
The Los Angeles Police Commission ruled that the officers had opened fire when they were not in imminent danger or when they were too far away to determine if a threat existed .
Of 13 officers investigated , the commission ruled that 12 had used deadly force in a way that “ was not objectively @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It was one of three incidents that a SWAT officer reported to LAPD internal affairs early last year as part of a whistleblower complaint about the elite unit .
Now , that officer , SWAT Sgt .
Tim Colomey , has filed a civil lawsuit accusing a group of veteran officers known as the “ SWAT mafia ” of creating a “ culture of violence ” in the unit that glorifies deadly force , and alleges commanders turned a “ blind eye ” to the problems despite his flagging them internally .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but Colomey ’ s attorney said they include the three cases he ’ d previously reported — each of which offers a window into the actions of SWAT and how Police Department leaders handled them .
The helicopter incident resulted in few changes within the SWAT unit , as top commanders and SWAT leaders maintained the officers did nothing wrong .
In another incident , a SWAT team member shot a homeless man on a skid row roof with a Taser , jolting him to his death on the pavement below .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ avoided killing a gunman after firing more than 80 rounds into a shed where he was hiding .
An LAPD source familiar with Colomey ’ s statements to internal affairs , who requested anonymity to discuss the matter candidly , confirmed to The Times that Colomey had flagged the three cases as part of an earlier investigation into the SWAT team ’ s selection process that began in 2018 .
Colomey , who often worked as a negotiator for the unit and helped oversee the SWAT training academy , felt that the veteran @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disregarded department rules governing the use of force and encouraged younger officers to do the same , according to his lawsuit .
He claims the older officers called members of the unit who tried to deescalate situations or use less lethal weapons “ cowards , ” and used nepotism to fill the unit with like-minded officers willing to “ kowtow ” to them .
Diana Wells , Colomey ’ s attorney , said that after Colomey spoke to internal affairs in the prior investigation , they produced a report , which Colomey received @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ SWAT mafia ” and referenced the Soderberg case , but otherwise ignored Colomey ’ s concerns .
Wells declined to provide that report to The Times .
Greg Kirakosian , an attorney who represents Soderberg ’ s family , said Colomey ’ s claim of a corrupt clique encouraging deadly force when less lethal alternatives were available helps explain the circumstances in Soderberg ’ s case .
“ They run by their own rule book as to what they deem an appropriate opportunity to use deadly force , ” Kirakosian said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ up to these officers to use deadly force at any given time couldn ’ t be more true.
” The incident involving Soderberg began after a woman found him in her Sunland kitchen one morning .
According to the subsequent investigation , gunshots were heard in the home and Soderberg was heard screaming , “ I ’ ll put a bullet in your head.
” The SWAT team descended on the scene and Colomey came in as a negotiator .
The standoff dragged on for hours — with officers deploying a camera-equipped robot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fired a projectile to crack a window , and used a stinger grenade and “ hot gas ” to agitate him and force him out .
Soderberg , 29 , was seen with a firearm shortly after 1 p.m. , and he fired at the helicopter about 1:08 , the investigation found .
But when he emerged at 1:48 , he was no longer holding a weapon , and the Police Commission ultimately found that he was unarmed when he exited the house .
Kirakosian said Lt. Ruben Lopez had given the officers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ order .
Colomey alleges in his lawsuit that Lopez was involved in suppressing his earlier complaints about the so-called mafia and its members .
Now , Kirakosian said he ’ d like to hear more from Colomey .
Soderberg ’ s family is currently suing the Police Department , alleging SWAT officers violated Soderberg ’ s rights and the LAPD failed to properly train its SWAT team .
The case was scheduled to go to trial in March , but was delayed because of the coronavirus pandemic .
With the latest allegations , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more time to collect evidence , given that the LAPD had not previously disclosed , as it should have , Colomey ’ s past concerns about Soderberg ’ s shooting or the prior internal affairs investigation that looked at it .
“ They didn ’ t tell us about this other investigation or this other person who clearly knows facts about the case , ” Kirakosian said .
Two years before Soderberg ’ s death , in May 2015 , the SWAT team responded to reports of a man on the roof of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 56 , who also was homeless , atop a billboard .
According to a subsequent investigation , police decided to lure Ocana down from the billboard by placing a cigarette at the bottom of a ladder , and coax him further from the ledge by offering him a lighter .
Instead , Ocana took the cigarette , pulled a lighter from his pocket , and turned back to climb back up the ladder , the investigation found .
Scallon later said he fired to prevent Ocana from climbing the ladder again .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ roof .
He fell more than 15 feet and landed in a parking lot below , just missing one of two air cushions that firefighters had placed below him .
He was pronounced dead at a local hospital .
Skid row residents protested the unit ’ s approach to the incident with Ocana , and said police needed to change their approach to mentally ill people in the area .
They said Ocana had been terrified of the SWAT team , which had arrived with “ big guns.
” Then-LAPD Chief Charlie Beck @ @ @ @ @ @ @ substantially and unjustifiably deviated ” from his training .
The third incident flagged by Colomey occurred in June 2017 , one month after Soderberg was killed .
In that incident , police alleged that a gunman in South L.A. had fled from them while engaging in a roving gun battle in which a police dog was shot in the leg and a SWAT team member had a bullet ricochet off his helmet .
Jose Rauda was ultimately cornered in a shed behind a home .
After the officer ’ s helmet was grazed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fire on the shed , according to sources .
Rauda was taken into custody , charged with attempted murder of officers , convicted by a jury and sentenced to life in prison .
Sources said Colomey took issue with the degree of force used in each of the three cases , arguing that much of the shooting could and should have been avoided .
An LAPD source who is not authorized to discuss the matter and requested anonymity said Colomey seemed particularly irate about the shooting of Soderberg from a helicopter .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the LAPD acknowledged that it was already aware of some of his allegations , but said other claims were new and “ deeply concerning.
” The department promised a thorough investigation by its inspector general , and said it is “ committed to rooting out misconduct at all levels.
” It declined to answer questions about the past cases Colomey flagged , citing pending litigation .
The LAPD source said some of the SWAT members involved in the incidents Colomey reported are no longer on the team , having retired .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been aware of the influence of older officers in the unit , given his 11 years assigned to the team , and only took issue with it once he and others had a falling-out over how new members were selected .
Wells , Colomey ’ s attorney , said Colomey believes that “ most of the officers and supervisors in SWAT don ’ t act like ” the alleged SWAT mafia veterans , but that he had come to realize in recent years “ the very real influence ” the older men had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Colomey remains a part of the elite Metropolitan Division but was transferred to a detail at Los Angeles International Airport in October , which worsened his commute from his home in San Bernardino County .
He alleges he was transferred as retaliation for speaking out , or “ freeway therapy , ” as it ’ s known in the LAPD .

After assessing the hilly terrain around a Sunland house where a homeless man had holed up one morning in May 2017, the Los Angeles Police Department’s heavily armed SWAT team requested more firepower — and got it in the form of a helicopter equipped for “aerial shooting,” dubbed “Sniper-1.”
By the time they’d left the scene hours later, the team had fired more than 40 rounds at 29-year-old Anthony Soderberg, including more than a dozen from the helicopter — a first in LAPD history. Many of the rounds were fired from hundreds of feet away, and many came after a bloodied and unarmed Soderberg had exited the home, rolled off the edge of a patio and dropped into a ravine, where he’d later be pronounced dead.
The Los Angeles Police Commission ruled that the officers had opened fire when they were not in imminent danger or when they were too far away to determine whether a threat existed. Of 13 officers investigated, the commission ruled that 12 had used deadly force in a way that “was not objectively reasonable and was out of policy.”
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It was one of three incidents that a SWAT officer reported to LAPD internal affairs early last year as part of a whistleblower complaint about the elite unit.
Now, that officer, SWAT Sgt. Tim Colomey, has filed a civil lawsuit accusing a group of veteran officers known as the “SWAT mafia” of creating a “culture of violence” in the unit that glorifies deadly force, and he alleges commanders turned a “blind eye” to the problems despite his flagging them internally.
The lawsuit does not cite any specific incidents, but Colomey’s attorney said they include the three cases he’d previously reported — each of which offers a window into the actions of SWAT and how Police Department leaders handled them.
The helicopter incident resulted in few changes within the SWAT unit, as top commanders and SWAT leaders maintained the officers did nothing wrong.
In another incident, a SWAT team member shot a homeless man on a skid row roof with a Taser, jolting him to his death on the pavement below. In a third, SWAT members miraculously avoided killing a gunman after firing more than 80 rounds into a shed where he was hiding.
An LAPD source familiar with Colomey’s statements to internal affairs, who requested anonymity to discuss the matter candidly, confirmed to The Times that Colomey had flagged the three cases as part of an earlier investigation into the SWAT team’s selection process that began in 2018.
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Colomey, who often worked as a negotiator for the unit and helped oversee the SWAT training academy, thought that the veteran officers who ran the “mafia” disregarded department rules governing the use of force and encouraged younger officers to do the same, according to his lawsuit. He alleges that the older officers called members of the unit who tried to deescalate situations or use less lethal weapons “cowards,” and used nepotism to fill the unit with like-minded officers willing to “kowtow” to them.
Diana Wells, Colomey’s attorney, said that after Colomey spoke to internal affairs in the prior investigation, they produced a report, a copy of which Colomey received, that mentioned the “SWAT mafia” and referenced the Soderberg case, but otherwise ignored Colomey’s concerns.
Wells declined to provide that report to The Times.
Greg Kirakosian, an attorney who represents Soderberg’s family, said Colomey’s claim of a corrupt clique encouraging deadly force when less lethal alternatives were available helps explain the circumstances in Soderberg’s case.
“They run by their own rule book as to what they deem an appropriate opportunity to use deadly force,” Kirakosian said. “The notion that they give thumbs-up to these officers to use deadly force at any given time couldn’t be more true.”
The incident involving Soderberg began after a woman found him in her Sunland kitchen one morning. According to the subsequent investigation, gunshots were heard in the home and Soderberg was heard screaming, “I’ll put a bullet in your head.”
The SWAT team descended on the scene, and Colomey came in as a negotiator. The standoff dragged on for hours — with officers deploying a camera-equipped robot to keep watch on Soderberg. They fired a projectile to crack a window, and used a stinger grenade and “hot gas” to agitate him and force him out.
Soderberg, 29, was seen with a firearm shortly after 1 p.m., and he fired at the helicopter about 1:08, the investigation found. But when he emerged at 1:48, he was no longer holding a weapon, and the Police Commission ultimately found that he was unarmed when he exited the house.
Kirakosian said Lt. Ruben Lopez had given the officers what amounted to a “shoot-to-kill” order. Colomey alleges in his lawsuit that Lopez was involved in suppressing his earlier complaints about the so-called mafia and its members. Now, Kirakosian said he’d like to hear more from Colomey.
Soderberg’s family is suing the Police Department, alleging that SWAT officers violated Soderberg’s rights and the LAPD failed to properly train its SWAT team.
The case was to go to trial in March, but was delayed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. With the latest allegations, Kirakosian said, he may have to request more time to collect evidence, given that the LAPD had not previously disclosed, as it should have, Colomey’s past concerns about Soderberg’s shooting or the prior internal affairs investigation that looked at it.
“They didn’t tell us about this other investigation or this other person who clearly knows facts about the case,” Kirakosian said.
Two years before Soderberg’s death, in May 2015, the SWAT team responded to reports of a man on the roof of a downtown building and found Carlos Ocana, 56, who also was homeless, atop a billboard.
According to a subsequent investigation, police decided to lure Ocana down from the billboard by placing a cigarette at the bottom of a ladder, and coax him further from the ledge by offering him a lighter. Instead, Ocana took the cigarette, pulled a lighter from his pocket, and turned back to climb back up the ladder, the investigation found.
Officer Steve Scallon then shot Ocana with a Taser.
Scallon later said he fired to prevent Ocana from climbing the ladder again. Instead, it jolted Ocana off the roof. He fell more than 15 feet and landed in a parking lot below, just missing one of two air cushions that firefighters had placed below him. He was pronounced dead at a local hospital.
Skid row residents protested the unit’s approach to the incident with Ocana, and said police needed to change their approach to mentally ill people in the area. They said Ocana had been terrified of the SWAT team, which had arrived with “big guns.”
Then-LAPD Chief Charlie Beck concluded that Scallon’s tactics “substantially and unjustifiably deviated” from his training.
The third incident flagged by Colomey occurred in June 2017, one month after Soderberg was killed.
In that incident, police alleged that a gunman in South L.A. had fled from them while engaging in a roving gun battle in which a police dog was shot in the leg and a SWAT team member had a bullet ricochet off his helmet.
Jose Rauda was ultimately cornered in a shed behind a home. After the officer’s helmet was grazed, the SWAT team members unleashed heavy fire on the shed, according to sources. Rauda was taken into custody, charged with attempted murder of officers, convicted by a jury and sentenced to life in prison.
Sources said Colomey took issue with the degree of force used in each of the three cases, arguing that much of the shooting could and should have been avoided. An LAPD source who is not authorized to discuss the matter and requested anonymity said Colomey seemed particularly irate about the shooting of Soderberg from a helicopter.
In a statement after Colomey filed his lawsuit, the LAPD acknowledged that it was already aware of some of his allegations, but said other claims were new and “deeply concerning.”
The department promised a thorough investigation by its inspector general, and said it is “committed to rooting out misconduct at all levels.”
It declined to answer questions about the past cases Colomey flagged, citing pending litigation.
The LAPD source said some of the SWAT members involved in the incidents Colomey reported are no longer on the team, having retired. The source also said that Colomey had long been aware of the influence of older officers in the unit, given his 11 years assigned to the team, and only took issue with it once he and others had a falling-out over how new members were selected.
Wells, Colomey’s attorney, said Colomey believes that “most of the officers and supervisors in SWAT don’t act like” the alleged SWAT mafia veterans, but that he had come to realize in recent years “the very real influence” the older men had on “everything within the unit.”
Colomey remains a part of the elite Metropolitan Division but was transferred to a detail at Los Angeles International Airport in October, which worsened his commute from his home in San Bernardino County. He alleges he was transferred as retaliation for speaking out — “freeway therapy,” as it’s known in the LAPD.


latimes--2020-08-06--Drug bust at San Francisco hotel prompts new coronavirus safety measures

The city of San Francisco is revising its health and safety protocols at facilities housing homeless people who are at risk of contracting COVID-19 or are in need of quarantine after police arrested two people for manufacturing and selling drugs at one of its sites .
San Francisco police responded Saturday afternoon to a hotel in the 300 block of 9th Street after a strong chemical order was detected from a guest room .
The scene was contained , but further investigation led officers to discover narcotics in a guest room .
Two adults were arrested on suspicion of possessing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ include methamphetamine and heroin .
“ The incident is currently under investigation by the San Francisco Department of Public Health and the San Francisco Police Department , ” Officer Robert Rueca , a police spokesman , said Thursday .
The city has issued new guidance for its housing program to include visual wellness checks that require guests to open their doors to staff and updated room inspections .
The policy also calls for the expulsion of anyone linked to the manufacture or distribution of certain narcotics .
“ The health and safety of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ paramount for the city and county of San Francisco .
We will regularly review and adjust policy , protocols and operations to ensure the well-being of guests and staff , ” said Joseph Sweiss of the city ’ s joint information center .
San Francisco announced in March that it would provide temporary housing and quarantine locations to those who have tested positive for the coronavirus and do not need to be hospitalized , as well as individuals who have been exposed to the virus and don ’ t have access to proper @ @ @ @ @ @ @ living arrangements.
” “ Our top priority is public health and slowing the spread of COVID-19 in our community , ” Mayor London Breed said at the time .
“ Not everyone in our city has access to housing where they can go if they are infected or are exposed to the virus , and it ’ s important that we take measures like this to care for our most vulnerable residents , including people who are homeless .
”

The city of San Francisco is revising its health and safety protocols at facilities that house homeless people.
The city of San Francisco is revising its health and safety protocols at facilities housing homeless people who are at risk of contracting COVID-19 or are in need of quarantine after police arrested two people suspected of manufacturing and selling drugs at one of its sites.
San Francisco police responded Saturday afternoon to a hotel in the 300 block of 9th Street after a strong chemical odor was detected from a guest room.
The scene was contained, but further investigation led officers to discover narcotics in a guest room. Two adults were arrested on suspicion of possessing and manufacturing the substances, believed to include methamphetamine and heroin.
“The incident is currently under investigation by the San Francisco Department of Public Health and the San Francisco Police Department,” Officer Robert Rueca, a police spokesman, said Thursday.
The city has issued new guidance for its housing program to include visual wellness checks that require guests to open their doors to staff and updated room inspections. The policy also calls for the expulsion of anyone linked to the manufacture or distribution of certain narcotics.
“The health and safety of alternative housing program guests and staff are paramount for the city and county of San Francisco. We will regularly review and adjust policy, protocols and operations to ensure the well-being of guests and staff,” said Joseph Sweiss of the city’s joint information center.
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San Francisco announced in March that it would provide temporary housing and quarantine locations to those who have tested positive for the coronavirus and do not need to be hospitalized, as well as individuals who have been exposed to the virus and don’t have access to proper shelter “due to homelessness or shared living arrangements.”
“Our top priority is public health and slowing the spread of COVID-19 in our community,” Mayor London Breed said at the time. “Not everyone in our city has access to housing where they can go if they are infected or are exposed to the virus, and it’s important that we take measures like this to care for our most vulnerable residents, including people who are homeless.”
San Francisco County has reported 63 coronavirus-related deaths and 7,228 cases.


latimes--2020-08-06--Hacienda Heights pastor charged with sexual assault of minors

The pastor of a Hacienda Heights church has been charged with sexual assault after he molested multiple girls in incidents dating back to 2000 , authorities said .
Jonathan Tsai , 40 , pastor of Abundant Life Ministries , was arrested July 21 after a six-month investigation , the Los Angeles Sheriff ’ s Department said .
Tsai ’ s accusers are now grown .
One woman told authorities that Tsai repeatedly assaulted her from ages 12 to 18 .
He was her youth pastor at the time .
Three other women reported similar sexual assaults while they were minors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there might be others .
“ It ’ s an ongoing investigation , ” said Lt. Michael Burse , of the Special Victims Bureau .
“ We feel there are probably more victims because these are crimes that occurred over a long period of time.
” Tsai faces four charges of lewd acts on a child younger than 14 , one count of oral copulation of a minor under 16 , and one count of sexual penetration of a minor younger than 16 , according to the Los Angeles County district attorney ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s being charged in occurred beginning in 2000 , prosecutors said .
Tsai was released on $ 1.4-million bond three days after his arrest and was scheduled to return to court Aug. 26 .
West Covina police are also investigating Tsai in connection with multiple sexual assault cases .
The Sheriff ’ s Department is requesting that anyone with information contact the Special Victims Bureau tip line at ( 877 ) 710-5273 .

The pastor of a Hacienda Heights church has been charged with sexual assault after he molested multiple girls in incidents dating back to 2000, authorities said.
Jonathan Tsai, 40, pastor of Abundant Life Ministries, was arrested July 21 after a six-month investigation, the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department said.
Tsai’s accusers are now grown. One woman told authorities that Tsai repeatedly assaulted her from ages 12 to 18. He was her youth pastor at the time.
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Three other women reported similar sexual assaults while they were minors, and sheriff’s investigators said there might be others.
“It’s an ongoing investigation,” said Lt. Michael Burse, of the Special Victims Bureau. “We feel there are probably more victims because these are crimes that occurred over a long period of time.”
Tsai faces four charges of lewd acts on a child younger than 14, one count of oral copulation of a minor under 16, and one count of sexual penetration of a minor younger than 16, according to the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office. The incidents he’s being charged in occurred beginning in 2000, prosecutors said.
Tsai was released on $1.4-million bond three days after his arrest and was scheduled to return to court Aug. 26.
West Covina police are also investigating Tsai in connection with multiple sexual assault cases.
The Sheriff’s Department is requesting that anyone with information contact the Special Victims Bureau tip line at (877) 710-5273.


latimes--2020-08-06--Eighth California corrections officer dies of COVID-19

A correctional sergeant at Valley State Prison in Chowchilla has become the eighth state prison employee to die of COVID-19 , authorities said .
Sgt .
Seeyengkee Ly , 38 , died Aug. 2 , according to a statement released by the California Correctional Peace Officers Assn .
He spent more than 17 years with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and served at several prison facilities .
“ Seeyengkee accomplished a lot in his life , ” wrote his sister , Mor Ly , on a set up for the officer .
“ He was an exceptional son @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , an awesome friend to everyone , and a tough big brother.
” Ly was diagnosed with COVID-19 about four weeks ago , his sister said , and died from complications of pneumonia after two weeks on a ventilator .
According to , 1,927 prison employees have tested positive for the virus , including more than 40 at the two facilities in Chowchilla .
The virus has run rampant in the state prison population , and the Corrections Department is preparing to by the end of August in an attempt to stop the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been infected with the virus , and .
In a statement , the peace officers association president , Glen Stailey , expressed condolences to Ly ’ s family .
“ He will be remembered for his life and service , ” Stailey said .
“ His ultimate sacrifice is a reminder of the challenges faced by all of those who choose to walk the line behind prison walls.
” Ly is survived by his wife and four children , three siblings and his parents .

Seeyengkee Ly, a correctional sergeant at Valley State Prison in Chowchilla seen in a family photo, is the eighth state prison employee to die of COVID-19.
A correctional sergeant at Valley State Prison in Chowchilla has become the eighth state prison employee to die of COVID-19, authorities said.
Sgt. Seeyengkee Ly, 38, died Aug. 2, according to a statement released by the California Correctional Peace Officers Assn. He spent more than 17 years with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and served at several prison facilities.
“Seeyengkee accomplished a lot in his life,” wrote his sister, Mor Ly, on a GoFundMe page set up for the officer. “He was an exceptional son, hard working father, wonderful husband, an awesome friend to everyone, and a tough big brother.”
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Ly was diagnosed with COVID-19 about four weeks ago, his sister said, and died from complications of pneumonia after two weeks on a ventilator.
According to the Department of Corrections , 1,927 prison employees have tested positive for the virus, including more than 40 at the two facilities in Chowchilla.
The virus has run rampant in the state prison population, and the Corrections Department is preparing to release thousands of prisoners by the end of August in an attempt to stop the spread. To date, 1,251 inmates have been infected with the virus, and 51 have died .
In a statement, the peace officers association president, Glen Stailey, expressed condolences to Ly’s family.
“He will be remembered for his life and service,” Stailey said. “His ultimate sacrifice is a reminder of the challenges faced by all of those who choose to walk the line behind prison walls.”
Ly is survived by his wife and four children, three siblings and his parents.


latimes--2020-08-06--LAPD officer shot in suspected 'friendly fire' incident in Hollywood, police say

A Los Angeles police officer was wounded by suspected “ friendly fire ” — that is , accidentally shot by a fellow officer — while responding Wednesday to a report of a distraught man in Hollywood , the LAPD said .
The officer ’ s injuries were not life-threatening , and she had been released from an area hospital as of Thursday morning , said Josh Rubenstein , a police spokesman .
Officers had responded to reports of a suicidal man near Santa Monica Boulevard and Wilton Place about 2:10 p.m. and found a man holding scissors .
A Rottweiler @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whether the dog belonged to the man .
What occurred next is still under investigation , Rubenstein said .
He could not say how many officers shot or what the target of the gunfire was .
“ It appears the officer was struck by ‘ friendly fire , ’ but that has not been confirmed , ” the department wrote on Twitter late Wednesday .
The man was taken into custody .
He was not injured , Rubenstein said .
However , the Rottweiler was hurt — Rubenstein did not say how — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ office .

A Los Angeles police officer was wounded by suspected “friendly fire” — that is, accidentally shot by a fellow officer — while responding Wednesday to a report of a distraught man in Hollywood, the LAPD said.
The officer’s injuries were not life-threatening, and she had been released from an area hospital as of Thursday morning, said Josh Rubenstein, a police spokesman.
Officers had responded to reports of a suicidal man near Santa Monica Boulevard and Wilton Place about 2:10 p.m. and found a man holding scissors. A Rottweiler was nearby, but it was unclear whether the dog belonged to the man.
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What occurred next is still under investigation, Rubenstein said. He could not say how many officers shot or what the target of the gunfire was.
“It appears the officer was struck by ‘friendly fire,’ but that has not been confirmed,” the department wrote on Twitter late Wednesday.
The man was taken into custody. He was not injured, Rubenstein said. However, the Rottweiler was hurt — Rubenstein did not say how — and taken to a veterinarian’s office.
The incident remains under investigation.


latimes--2020-08-06--Magnitude 3.2 earthquake strikes offshore near Santa Cruz

A magnitude 3.2 earthquake was reported at 9 a.m. Thursday off the Northern California coast 16 miles from Santa Cruz , according to the U.S. Geological Survey .
The earthquake occurred 17 miles from Palo Alto , 18 miles from Scotts Valley , 20 miles from Saratoga and 21 miles from Cupertino at a depth of 4.6 miles .
It was originally reported as a magnitude 3.1 quake .
In the past 10 days , there has been one earthquake of magnitude 3.0 or greater centered nearby .
An average of 234 earthquakes with magnitudes of 3.0 to 4.0 occur @ @ @ @ @ @ @ according to a recent three-year data sample .
Did you feel this earthquake ?
Consider reporting what you felt to the USGS .
Even if you didn ’ t feel this small earthquake , you never know when the Big One is going to strike .
Ready yourself by following our five-step earthquake preparedness guide and building your own emergency kit .
This story was automatically generated by Quakebot , a computer application that monitors the latest earthquakes detected by the USGS .
A Times editor reviewed the post before it was published @ @ @ @ @ @ @ learning more about the system , visit our list of frequently asked questions .

Map shows approximate location of a magnitude 3.2 earthquake that was reported Thursday morning offshore near Santa Cruz.
A magnitude 3.2 earthquake was reported at 9 a.m. Thursday off the Northern California coast 16 miles from Santa Cruz, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
The earthquake occurred 17 miles from Palo Alto, 18 miles from Scotts Valley, 20 miles from Saratoga and 21 miles from Cupertino at a depth of 4.6 miles. It was originally reported as a magnitude 3.1 quake.
In the past 10 days, there has been one earthquake of magnitude 3.0 or greater centered nearby.
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An average of 234 earthquakes with magnitudes of 3.0 to 4.0 occur each year in California and Nevada, according to a recent three-year data sample.
Did you feel this earthquake? Consider reporting what you felt to the USGS.
Even if you didn’t feel this small earthquake, you never know when the Big One is going to strike. Ready yourself by following our five-step earthquake preparedness guide and building your own emergency kit.
This story was automatically generated by Quakebot, a computer application that monitors the latest earthquakes detected by the USGS. A Times editor reviewed the post before it was published. If you’re interested in learning more about the system, visit our list of frequently asked questions.


latimes--2020-08-06--Raucous parties, young adults fueling California's COVID-19 crisis

Younger adults are fueling California ’ s COVID-19 pandemic like never before , health officials are warning , and raucous parties and other large social gatherings are threatening to unravel the progress the state is making .
A second surge of COVID-19 cases in Los Angeles County has been fueled by skyrocketing growth in disease transmission and hospitalizations among the youngest adults .
Residents under the age of 50 now make up 60 % of new coronavirus cases in L.A. County , the county ’ s public health director , Barbara Ferrer , said .
And officials warn that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus to those who are vulnerable .
California ’ s cumulative COVID-19 death toll surpassed 10,000 on Thursday , a Los Angeles Times tally found , with the number of total cases surpassing 540,000 .
Young people may feel they are at low risk of becoming seriously ill or dying of the virus .
But experts say they can serve as “ super spreaders , ” easily transmitting the illness to others who are more vulnerable , especially older relatives .
The surge in California over the last two months had several causes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that allowed the coronavirus to spread rapidly among low-wage workers , many of them Latino essential workers whose employers haven ’ t followed new infection control rules .
But summer celebrations among young people are also a recurring problem , and one particularly frustrating to officials trying to slow outbreaks .
“ As long as you have any member of society — any demographic group — who is not seriously trying to get to the endgame of suppressing this , it will continue to smolder and smolder and smolder , ” Dr. Anthony @ @ @ @ @ @ @ top infectious diseases expert , said this week .
It ’ s important to ask , Ferrer said , “ why so many people are willing to put our entire community at risk during this unprecedented pandemic ?
” L.A. County has had a number of outbreaks among younger adults .
At least 45 people linked to three fraternities associated with USC have become infected , as has a group of USC graduate students who have socialized , studied or lived together , Ferrer said .
“ And at UCLA , we ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who returned to campus and tested positive , ” Ferrer said .
UC Berkeley in July reported that most of the 47 new cases reported in a single week stemmed from parties connected to fraternities .
The outbreak was a factor in the university ’ s decision to go with fully remote instruction for the fall semester .
Health officials have been dismayed at ongoing reports of large parties in the midst of the worst global pandemic in more than a century .
An investigation has been launched into a party allegedly thrown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last week , despite a statewide order shutting bars down .
On Monday night , hundreds of people gathered at a mansion on Los Angeles ’ Mulholland Drive at a party so big it attracted the attention of television news helicopters .
The party , which drew numerous noise complaints before sundown , continued past midnight , when shots rang out , leaving one woman dead and four other people injured .
Concern is also growing that young adults are heading to parties at private homes in tony areas of the city , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mayor Eric Garcetti on Wednesday night authorized shutting off water and electricity service to homes that had repeatedly hosted large parties in defiance of the ban on gatherings .
“ While we have already closed all nightclubs and bars , these large house parties have essentially become nightclubs in the hills , ” Garcetti said .
“ These large parties are unsafe and can cost Angelenos their lives.
” Hours after Garcetti ’ s announcement , police were summoned to the Holmby Hills area after receiving multiple noise complaints about a massive gathering @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of people outside , dancing and posing for pictures .
Most were not wearing masks .
The crowd , reportedly guests at a large wedding reception , dispersed after police arrived shortly before midnight .
Statewide , adults ages 18 to 34 make up more than one-third of all infections .
In Silicon Valley , coronavirus case rates are increasing particularly fast among people in that age group , said Dr. Sara Cody , Santa Clara County ’ s health officer .
At Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital in early July , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 41 , said Dr. Grant Colfax .
“ The people in the hospital ... are not only the elderly and most frail , ” Colfax , San Francisco County public health director , said recently .
“ Young people , middle-aged people , older people — we are all at risk for this disease.
” In L.A. County , new coronavirus cases among adults in their 30s and 40s nearly tripled from the beginning of June to July 24 .
Adults in their 30s and 40s contracted the virus at a daily rate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ L.A. County residents in that age group over the previous seven days .
No other age group has a higher case rate .
The youngest adults saw an even faster growth in cases .
The rate among those 18 to 29 quadrupled from early June to the end of July , from 200 cases per 100,000 residents to 882 cases per 100,000 residents , Ferrer said .
“ This explosive growth in cases , ” she said , “ shows that these two age groups continue to drive new infections here in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up the bulk of our new cases.
” Adults younger than age 50 are particularly likely to socialize with people outside their household — perhaps spurred by the knowledge that their age group is less likely to die from COVID-19 .
“ This is also the age group that ’ s most likely to be attending the large parties that we keep seeing , ” Ferrer said .
“ Gatherings of people from different households are such a bad idea at this point in time.
” Gatherings are banned in L.A. County “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for transmission at activities that really are not essential , ” she said .
Parties and gatherings with people outside of your household “ hurt all of us ” and , further , make it less likely that children can get back to school anytime soon , allowing more parents to return to work .
“ We ask that everyone make good decisions : Don ’ t host large parties .
And don ’ t attend a party if you ’ re invited , ” Ferrer said .
“ It isn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it certainly isn ’ t worth the risk you ’ re creating for our collective recovery journey.
” Young adults infected with COVID-19 are also increasingly being hospitalized .
Adults ages 18 to 29 now account for 10 % of COVID-19 hospitalizations in L.A. County , double the number in May .
Adults in their 30s and 40s account for 1 of every 4 COVID-19 hospitalizations .
Social young adults have also become vectors for the disease in other nations .
A study in Japan found that , among 61 clusters of illness @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their 20s or 30s — infected but not showing signs of illness — who were responsible for spreading the infection .
And although it ’ s still true that the oldest adults are most likely to die from COVID-19 , hundreds of younger adults have died from the disease in L.A. County .
Among residents in their 30s and 40s , 319 have died , and 32 adults younger than age 30 also have died .
“ No matter how young you are , ” Ferrer said , “ you are at risk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Supervisor Hilda Solis says officials will advertise on billboards and post on Twitter , Facebook and Instagram an educational campaign that targets younger adults and warns that the pandemic is a threat to them .
“ The risk is real , ” Solis said .
Young people can have a false impression that partying only hurts themselves if they get infected , Fauci said at a forum hosted Wednesday by the Harvard T.H .
Chan School of Public Health .
What they don ’ t realize is that , once infected , they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disease .
About 40 % of people who get infected show no symptoms but can easily infect others , who can become severely ill and die from COVID-19 .
“ If you get infected — even if you have no symptoms — you are part of the propagation of the pandemic , ” Fauci said Thursday at an event hosted by the Alliance for Health Policy .
“ Because your getting infected ... means it ’ s like you ’ re going to innocently and inadvertently infect someone else.
” “ You can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the outbreak , or you can be part of the solution , ” Fauci said .
“ Don ’ t be the weak link in the chain.
” Times staff writers Leila Miller , Richard Winton and Luke Money contributed to this report .

Party rental crews pack up at a home in the 10000 block of Wyton Drive in Holmby Hills, where police responding to noise complaints shut down a wedding reception Wednesday night.
Younger adults are fueling California’s COVID-19 pandemic like never before, health officials are warning, and raucous parties and other large social gatherings are threatening to unravel the progress the state is making.
A second surge of COVID-19 cases in Los Angeles County has been fueled by skyrocketing growth in disease transmission and hospitalizations among the youngest adults. Residents under the age of 50 now make up 60% of new coronavirus cases in L.A. County, the county’s public health director, Barbara Ferrer, said.
And officials warn that the spread among younger adults is transmitting the virus to those who are vulnerable. California’s cumulative COVID-19 death toll surpassed 10,000 on Thursday, a Los Angeles Times tally found, with the number of total cases surpassing 540,000.
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Young people may feel they are at low risk of becoming seriously ill or dying of the virus. But experts say they can serve as “super spreaders,” easily transmitting the illness to others who are more vulnerable, especially older relatives.
The surge in California over the last two months had several causes, including the reopening of the economy that allowed the coronavirus to spread rapidly among low-wage workers, many of them Latino essential workers whose employers haven’t followed new infection control rules. But summer celebrations among young people are also a recurring problem, and one particularly frustrating to officials trying to slow outbreaks.
“As long as you have any member of society — any demographic group — who is not seriously trying to get to the endgame of suppressing this, it will continue to smolder and smolder and smolder,” Dr. Anthony Fauci, the U.S. government’s top infectious diseases expert, said this week.
It’s important to ask, Ferrer said, “why so many people are willing to put our entire community at risk during this unprecedented pandemic.”
L.A. County has had a number of outbreaks among younger adults. At least 45 people linked to three fraternities associated with USC have become infected, as has a group of USC graduate students who have socialized, studied or lived together, Ferrer said.
“And at UCLA, we’ve seen a number of football players who returned to campus and tested positive,” Ferrer said.
UC Berkeley in July reported that most of the 47 new cases reported in a single week stemmed from parties connected to fraternities. The outbreak was a factor in the university’s decision to go with fully remote instruction for the fall semester.
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Health officials have been dismayed at ongoing reports of large parties in the midst of the worst global pandemic in more than a century. An investigation has been launched into a party allegedly thrown for first responders at a Hollywood bar last week, despite a statewide order shutting bars down.
On Monday night, hundreds of people gathered at a mansion on Los Angeles’ Mulholland Drive at a party so big it attracted the attention of television news helicopters. The party, which drew numerous noise complaints before sundown, continued past midnight, when shots rang out, leaving one woman dead and four other people injured.
Concern is also growing that young adults are heading to parties at private homes in tony areas of the city, especially the Hollywood Hills. Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti on Wednesday night authorized shutting off water and electricity service to homes that had repeatedly hosted large parties in defiance of the ban on gatherings.
“While we have already closed all nightclubs and bars, these large house parties have essentially become nightclubs in the hills,” Garcetti said. “These large parties are unsafe and can cost Angelenos their lives.”
Hours after Garcetti’s announcement, police were summoned to the Holmby Hills area after receiving multiple noise complaints about a massive gathering at a mansion. Video showed dozens of people outside, dancing and posing for pictures. Most were not wearing masks.
The crowd, reportedly guests at a large wedding reception, dispersed after police arrived shortly before midnight.
Statewide, adults ages 18 to 34 make up more than one-third of all infections. In Silicon Valley, coronavirus case rates are increasing particularly fast among people in that age group, said Dr. Sara Cody, Santa Clara County’s health officer.
At Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital in early July, the average age of hospitalized COVID-19 patients was 41, said Dr. Grant Colfax.
“The people in the hospital ... are not only the elderly and most frail,” Colfax, San Francisco’s public health director, said recently. “Young people, middle-aged people, older people — we are all at risk for this disease.”
In L.A. County, new coronavirus cases among adults in their 30s and 40s nearly tripled from the beginning of June to July 24. Adults in their 30s and 40s contracted the virus at a daily rate as high as 1,122 cases per 100,000 over the previous seven days.
No other age group has a higher case rate.
The youngest adults saw even faster growth. The rate among those 18 to 29 quadrupled from early June to the end of July, from 200 cases per 100,000 residents to 882 cases per 100,000 residents, Ferrer said.
“This explosive growth in cases,” she said, “shows that these two age groups continue to drive new infections here in the county, and they’re making up the bulk of our new cases.”
Adults under 50 are particularly likely to socialize with people outside their household — perhaps spurred by the knowledge that their age group is less likely to die from COVID-19.
“This is also the age group that’s most likely to be attending the large parties that we keep seeing,” Ferrer said. “Gatherings of people from different households are such a bad idea at this point in time.”
Gatherings are banned in L.A. County “because they create a lot of risk for transmission at activities that really are not essential,” she said. Parties and gatherings “hurt all of us” and, further, make it less likely that children can get back to school anytime soon, allowing more parents to return to work.
“We ask that everyone make good decisions: Don’t host large parties. And don’t attend a party if you’re invited,” Ferrer said. “It isn’t worth the risk you run, and it certainly isn’t worth the risk you’re creating for our collective recovery journey.”
California California shatters another record for new coronavirus cases, hospitalizations Gov. Gavin Newsom said Wednesday that 12,807 new coronavirus infections had been reported statewide in the past 24 hours — a record high.
Young adults infected with COVID-19 are also increasingly being hospitalized.
Adults ages 18 to 29 now account for 10% of COVID-19 hospitalizations in L.A. County, double the number in May. Adults in their 30s and 40s account for 1 of every 4 COVID-19 hospitalizations.
Social young adults have also become vectors for the disease in other nations. A study in Japan found that among 61 clusters of illness, it was most often adults in their 20s or 30s — infected but not showing signs of illness — who were responsible for spreading the infection.
And although it’s still true that the oldest adults are most likely to die from COVID-19, hundreds of younger adults have died from the disease in L.A. County. Among residents in their 30s and 40s, 319 have died, and 32 adults under 30 also have died.
“No matter how young you are,” Ferrer said, “you are at risk for death from COVID-19.”
L.A. County Supervisor Hilda Solis said officials will advertise on billboards and post on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram an educational campaign that warns younger adults that the pandemic is a threat to them. “The risk is real,” she said.
Jose is 47 years old and spent 20 days at LA County’s Olive View Medical Center receiving treatment for #COVID19. This is his story. #TheRiskIsReal pic.twitter.com/zDY3hIhShG — Los Angeles County (@CountyofLA) August 5, 2020
Young people can have a false impression that partying only hurts themselves if they get infected, Fauci said at a forum hosted Wednesday by the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
What they don’t realize is that once infected, they likely will become a silent spreader of disease. About 40% of people who get infected show no symptoms but can easily infect others.
“If you get infected — even if you have no symptoms — you are part of the propagation of the pandemic,” Fauci said Thursday at an event hosted by the Alliance for Health Policy. “Because your getting infected ... means it’s like you’re going to innocently and inadvertently infect someone else.
“You can be part of the problem of propagating the outbreak, or you can be part of the solution,” Fauci said. “Don’t be the weak link in the chain.”
Times staff writers Leila Miller, Richard Winton and Luke Money contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-08-06--FBI removes firearms from Jake Paul's mansion in probe of shopping mall riot

YouTube personality Jake Paul was outside the Scottsdale Fashion Square mall in Arizona in May when what police described as a riot broke out .
Scottsdale police announced that Paul participated in the unrest and would be charged with criminal trespass and unlawful assembly .
But on Wednesday , officials said those charges would be dropped because of a federal investigation into the incident .
By then , SWAT officers and the FBI were serving search warrants at Paul ’ s Calabasas mansion .
The exact nature of the federal probe remains unclear .
“ The Scottsdale Police Department and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coordinating with the United States attorney ’ s office for the District of Arizona and the FBI to ensure that justice is served regarding criminal acts at Scottsdale Fashion Square on May 30 , 2020 , ” the department said in a statement .
“ It is in the best interest of the community to dismiss misdemeanor charges without prejudice so that a federal criminal investigation can be completed .
Scottsdale retains the option to refile charges depending on the outcome of the federal investigation , ” Police determined that “ Paul was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unlawful assembly and the rioters were urged to leave the area , ” and said he entered and remained inside the mall when it was closed .
Paul has denied any wrongdoing and said he was merely trying to find people protesting .
In a June social media post , Paul said he and his friends found people engaged in looting and property damage that included shattered windows of offices and stores .
He said he didn ’ t participate in that activity , according to a report in the Associated Press .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ looked on camera .
However , that isn ’ t the case , ” he said .
Paul said he kept walking in the mall area despite encountering the criminal activity because he wanted to find the protest .
He said it was upsetting that social media posts had accused him of vandalism .
“ I ’ m above that , ” he said .
“ I don ’ t need to vandalize .
I don ’ t need to loot , and I know it ’ s not the way forward.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the FBI warrants were tied to the mall incident and that warrants were also served in Nevada and Arizona .
“ The FBI is executing a federal search warrant at a residence in Calabasas in connection with an ongoing investigation .
The affidavit in support of the search warrant has been sealed by a judge and I am , therefore , prohibited from commenting as to the nature of the investigation .
No arrests are planned , ” an FBI representative said in a statement .
Sources said multiple firearms were found @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Los Angeles County sheriff ’ s deputies carrying at least five long guns to a cruiser parked in front of the mansion and securing the weapons inside the vehicle .
After the initial search , federal agents left Paul ’ s home in a procession of vehicles , including an armored SWAT truck , a dark van and a truck with several camouflage-dressed agents riding in the back .
The Associated Press contributed to this report .

Jake Paul attends the Logan Paul Workout Showcase at Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood on Oct. 22, 2019.
YouTube personality Jake Paul was outside the Scottsdale Fashion Square mall in Arizona in May when what police described as a riot broke out.
Scottsdale police announced that Paul participated in the unrest and would be charged with criminal trespass and unlawful assembly.
But on Wednesday, officials said those charges would be dropped because of a federal investigation into the incident. By then, SWAT officers and the FBI were serving search warrants at Paul’s Calabasas mansion.
The exact nature of the federal probe remains unclear.
“The Scottsdale Police Department and Scottsdale city attorney’s office are coordinating with the United States attorney’s office for the District of Arizona and the FBI to ensure that justice is served regarding criminal acts at Scottsdale Fashion Square on May 30, 2020,” the department said in a statement. “It is in the best interest of the community to dismiss misdemeanor charges without prejudice so that a federal criminal investigation can be completed. Scottsdale retains the option to refile charges depending on the outcome of the federal investigation,”
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Police determined that “Paul was present after the protest was declared an unlawful assembly and the rioters were urged to leave the area,” and said he entered and remained inside the mall when it was closed.
Paul has denied any wrongdoing and said he was merely trying to find people protesting the death of George Floyd .
In a June social media post, Paul said he and his friends found people engaged in looting and property damage that included shattered windows of offices and stores. He said he didn’t participate in that activity, according to a report in the Associated Press.
“That’s the way it looked on camera. However, that isn’t the case,” he said.
Paul said he kept walking in the mall area despite encountering the criminal activity because he wanted to find the protest.
He said it was upsetting that social media posts had accused him of vandalism.
“I’m above that,” he said. “I don’t need to vandalize. I don’t need to loot, and I know it’s not the way forward.”
Sources on Wednesday confirmed to The Times that the FBI warrants were tied to the mall incident and that warrants were also served in Nevada and Arizona.
“The FBI is executing a federal search warrant at a residence in Calabasas in connection with an ongoing investigation. The affidavit in support of the search warrant has been sealed by a judge and I am, therefore, prohibited from commenting as to the nature of the investigation. No arrests are planned,” an FBI representative said in a statement.
Sources said multiple firearms were found on the Calabasas property. Video showed Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies carrying at least five long guns to a cruiser parked in front of the mansion and securing the weapons inside the vehicle.
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After the initial search, federal agents left Paul’s home in a procession of vehicles, including an armored SWAT truck, a dark van and a truck with several camouflage-dressed agents riding in the back.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-08-06--Police called to mansion party in Holmby Hills after mayor pledges stricter enforcement

Los Angeles police were dispatched to a wedding reception in the tony Holmby Hills area Wednesday night after receiving multiple noise complaints , hours after Mayor Eric Garcetti announced additional enforcement measures aimed at curbing large parties held in violation of coronavirus-related health orders .
Overhead footage broadcast by KABC-TV showed dozens of people gathered outside under a canopy of lights at a mansion in the 10000 block of Wyton Drive .
A number of guests could be seen dancing and posing for pictures .
Most were not wearing masks .
However , a man identified only as a guest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ telling the station that the gathering featured “ social distancing , washing hands , temperatures , masks , elderly separated — everything was according to standard.
” The crowd apparently dispersed after police arrived shortly before midnight , according to KCBS .
The party was the latest large-scale event to draw law enforcement ’ s attention despite L.A. County ’ s COVID-19 public health order , which forbids gatherings or parties of any size , public or private .
Early Tuesday , a massive and boisterous party on Mulholland Drive ended in gunfire @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other people injured .
Such parties have alarmed health officials , who say that closely clustered crowds heighten the risk of spreading the coronavirus .
Officials also have expressed concern that , with bars and nightclubs closed , people may be increasingly holding private parties as a substitute .
Garcetti said Wednesday that “ these large house parties have essentially become nightclubs in the hills ” and often happen at homes that are vacant or used for short-term rentals .
He announced that , starting Friday night , if Los Angeles police officers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ party is occurring at a property , and there ’ s evidence that the venue has repeatedly engaged in such behavior , the department will request that the city shut off water and power services to the property within 48 hours .
“ The consequences of these large parties ripple far beyond just those parties , ” Garcetti said .
“ They ripple throughout our entire community because the virus can quickly and easily spread.
” Times staff writers Leila Miller and Richard Winton and City News Service contributed to this report .

Map shows approximate location of a party in Holmby Hills that prompted noise complaints.
Los Angeles police were dispatched to a wedding reception in the tony Holmby Hills area Wednesday night after receiving multiple noise complaints, hours after Mayor Eric Garcetti announced additional enforcement measures aimed at curbing large parties held in violation of coronavirus-related health orders.
Overhead footage broadcast by KABC-TV showed dozens of people gathered outside under a canopy of lights at a mansion in the 10000 block of Wyton Drive.
A number of guests could be seen dancing and posing for pictures. Most were not wearing masks.
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However, a man identified only as a guest painted a different picture to KCBS-TV, telling the station that the gathering featured “social distancing, washing hands, temperatures, masks, elderly separated — everything was according to standard.”
The crowd apparently dispersed after police arrived shortly before midnight, according to KCBS.
LAPD officials did not immediately provide additional details Thursday morning.
The party was the latest large-scale event to draw law enforcement’s attention despite L.A. County’s COVID-19 public health order, which forbids gatherings or parties of any size, public or private.
Early Tuesday, a massive and boisterous party on Mulholland Drive ended in gunfire, leaving one woman dead and four other people injured.
Such parties have alarmed health officials, who say that closely clustered crowds heighten the risk of spreading the coronavirus.
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Officials also have expressed concern that, with bars and nightclubs closed, people may be increasingly holding private parties as a substitute.
Garcetti said Wednesday that “these large house parties have essentially become nightclubs in the hills” and often happen at homes that are vacant or used for short-term rentals.
He announced that, starting Friday night, if Los Angeles police officers respond to and verify that a large party is occurring at a property, and there’s evidence that the venue has repeatedly engaged in such behavior, the department will request that the city shut off water and power services to the property within 48 hours.
“The consequences of these large parties ripple far beyond just those parties,” Garcetti said. “They ripple throughout our entire community because the virus can quickly and easily spread.”
Times staff writers Leila Miller and Richard Winton and City News Service contributed to this report.