LA 'Super-Spreader Task Force' detains over 900, arrests and fines nearly 100 revelers during NYE raids



The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department cracked down on New Year's Eve parties by deploying its "Super-Spreader Task Force." The strict clampdown resulted in hundreds of partygoers being detained, arrested, and fined.

The Superspreader Task Force was comprised of "hundreds of detectives, patrol deputies, and Specialized Response Teams." The coronavirus lockdown enforcers crashed five large NYE parties in Los Angeles, Malibu, Hawthorne, and Pomona. The "illegal" celebrations were held in speakeasy locations such as upscale homes, vacant warehouses, a DoubleTree hotel, and shuttered businesses.


*COVID PARTY ALERT* Influencers hosted & attended HUGE Covid Super Spreader events all over Los Angeles. The DripCr… https://t.co/XeLN79ZrlJ
— Def Noodles (@Def Noodles)1609558250.0

Los Angeles news station KTTV-TV was on the scene on many of the parties that were broken up by police. Based on the footage, most of the offenders appeared to be in their late teens and early 20s.

Over 900 people were detained, 90 were arrested and/or given citations. Law enforcement announced that they recovered at least six guns.

The @LASDHQ COVID-19 Super-Spreader Task Force conducted operations in 5 separate locations last night.  90 adult… https://t.co/W1vO1p267L
— Alex Villanueva (@Alex Villanueva)1609543311.0

"I have made it clear that we will seek out and take law enforcement action against all 'Super-Spreader' events occurring anywhere within Los Angeles County," Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva said. "The goal of these enforcement actions is to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and the risk to our vulnerable populations."

LASD Captain Holly Francisco said, "We are actively enforcing the superspreaders to protect against COVID. Once we confirmed there was a party here, we had our super spreader task force respond and detain the occupants."

Lt. John Satterfield stated, "We're going ahead and writing citations to the people that knowingly placed others in jeopardy by having a large gathering. There was no social distancing, there were no masks, it was unsafe and irresponsible."

One frustrated New Year's Eve reveler told KTTV, "We're tired of closing this sh** down, my people have lost businesses and all that sh**, and we really just wanted some fresh air, man, that's what's going on we wanted some fresh air, they come out with the tanks and all man, sh** is crazy."

Last month, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti (D) told his constituents to expect more COVID-19 lockdowns, going so far as to say, "It's time to cancel everything."

Dodgers star Mookie Betts extends prayers to ambushed LA deputies, calls for justice



Los Angeles Dodgers right fielder Markus "Mookie" Betts has spoken out condemning the weekend ambush of two LA County Sheriff's deputies, saying his prayers are with the officers and calling for justice in the shooting.

What are the details?

"I am angered and disappointed by the ambush of the two LA deputies in Compton," one-time MVP Betts tweeted Wednesday. "My prayers are with both deputies. #JusticeForAll"

I'm angered and disappointed by the ambush of the two LA deputies in Compton. My prayers are with both deputies. #JusticeForAll
— Mookie Betts (@Mookie Betts)1600306371.0

Authorities are still searching for the gunman who was caught on surveillance video opening fire on the two deputies while they sat in their patrol cars on Saturday. According to Fox News:

Officials have offered a $300,000 reward for information that leads authorities to the gunman who ambushed the deputies. The reward for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the brazen shooter has ballooned by more than $200,000 with the help of public and private donors.

The ambushed officers were both hospitalized in critical condition due to the injuries they sustained in the shooting. LA County Sheriff Alex Villanueva announced Wednesday that one of the deputies was released on Wednesday, but still "has a long road ahead for recovery."

We at @LASDHQ appreciate the outpouring of prayers and support you have shown for our ambushed deputies. Great n… https://t.co/rWvqmjeKOi
— Alex Villanueva (@Alex Villanueva)1600303716.0

The deputy who remains hospitalized has been identified as Claudia Apolinar, a former librarian and the mother of a 6-year-old boy. She has been hailed a hero for applying a tourniquet to her partner to save his life in the moments following the attack, despite the fact that she herself had just been shot in the face and several times in torso.

According to the LA County Sheriff's Office, protestors attempted to block the entrance to the hospital when the deputies were rushed there for emergency surgery, yelling, "We hope they die."

The attack comes after months of ongoing protests across the U.S. following the death of George Floyd, that have often descended into rioting, looting, arson, and calls for defunding the police. Every major sports league has advocated for social justice during the movement, and several athletes and teams have boycotted games to protest police brutality.

One of the most outspoken athletes has been LA Lakers star LeBron James, who tweeted last month that black men are "being targeted" by the police in reaction to the shooting of a man who became involved in an altercation with police after officers responded to call that he allegedly committed sexual assault.

Sheriff Villanueva challenged James earlier this week to meet or match the reward for information leading to the arrest of the suspect who ambushed the deputies. James has remained silent on the shooting.

Shocking video shows gunman ambush two LA police officers sitting in car: 'Without warning or provocation'



Two Los Angeles County Sheriff's deputies are fighting for their lives after they were ambushed "without warning or provocation" while sitting in their patrol vehicle on Saturday.

According to the LA County Sheriff's Office, the highly disturbing incident happened in Compton Saturday evening.

"Moments ago, 2 of our Sheriff Deputies were shot in Compton and were transported to a local hospital. They are both still fighting for their lives, so please keep them in your thoughts and prayers. We will update this thread with information as it becomes available," the agency announced.

"One male deputy and one female deputy were ambushed as they sat in their patrol vehicle. Both sustained multiple gunshot wounds and are in critical condition. They are both currently undergoing surgery. The suspect is still at large," the agency added.

Update: One male deputy and one female deputy were ambushed as they sat in their patrol vehicle. Both sustained mul… https://t.co/naPUeXMbo2
— LA County Sheriffs (@LA County Sheriffs)1599967331.0

Surveillance footage of the brutal attack shows a lone gunman walk up to the passenger side window of the patrol vehicle and begin firing "with warning or provocation," according to the LA County Sheriff's Office.

The gunman then runs away after firing multiple shots into the stationary vehicle.

(Content Warning: The following video contains graphic material):

Update: The gunman walked up on the deputies and opened fire without warning or provocation. pic.twitter.com/cBQjyKkoxJ
— LA County Sheriffs (@LASDHQ) September 13, 2020

More from Fox News:

Both deputies were sworn in just over a year ago and the female deputy is the mother of a 6-year-old boy, officials said in a 10 p.m. news conference. Both of their families were rallying around them at the hospital.

Sheriff Alex Villanueva said while authorities don't have a detailed suspect description, one of the deputies described the shooter as a "dark-skinned male." Villanueva said the shooting shows the dangers officers face in the streets and how situations can change in "the blink of an eye."

"That was a cowardly act," Villanueva said, KABC-TV reported. "The two deputies were doing their job, minding their own business, watching out for the safety of the people on the train."

He added, "To see somebody just walk up and start shooting on them. It pisses me off. It dismays me at the same time. There's no pretty way to say it."

Fortunately, the officers were out of surgery just hours after the attack, Fox News reported.

President Donald Trump also responded to the brazen act of violence.

"Animals that must be hit hard!" the president said.

Animals that must be hit hard! https://t.co/zrOd9ZUl8o
— Donald J. Trump (@Donald J. Trump)1599973541.0

Lawyer for family of LA man shot by police says officers shot him in back more than 20 times. Cops deny it.



Police shot a Los Angeles man, Dijon Kizzee, at least 20 times during a Monday incident, his family's attorney says.

Cops fatally shot Kizzee after he was reportedly violating vehicle codes while riding a bicycle. Kizzee fled, and allegedly dropped a semiautomatic handgun and had punched an officer in the face before police fired shots.

What are the details?

Attorney Ben Crump — who represents families of Ahmaud Arbery, Jacob Blake, George Floyd, and Breonna Taylor — tweeted about the killing on Tuesday, said that authorities stopped Kizzee for violating the code, shot him more than 20 times, and left him for "hours."

Crump wrote, "[Dijon Kizzee], a 29yo Black man, was fatally shot by @LASDHQ deputies. Cops stopped him while riding his bike for alleged 'vehicle code violation.' They say he ran, dropped clothes and handgun. He didn't pick it up, but cops shot him in the back 20+ times then left him for hours."

#DijonKizzee, a 29yo Black man, was fatally shot by @LASDHQ deputies. Cops stopped him while riding his bike for al… https://t.co/cPVeJAf4hb
— Ben Crump (@Ben Crump)1598972081.0

What else?

Los Angeles County Sheriff's Lt. Brandon Dean initially told the Los Angeles Times that reports alleging that police shot the victim more than 20 times were erroneous.

Dean on Monday said that two officers approached Kizzee riding his bicycle and determined that he had violated "codes," which remain unnamed at the time of this reporting.

When the officers stopped Kizzee, he reportedly abandoned his bicycle and began running.

"Our suspect was holding some items of clothing in his hands, punched one of the officers in the face, and then dropped the items in his hands," Dean said during a news conference on the shooting. "The deputies noticed that inside the clothing items he dropped was a black semiautomatic handgun, at which time a deputy-involved shooting occurred."

First responders pronounced Kizzee dead at the scene.

"Give us time to conduct our investigation," Dean advised reporters. "We will get all of the facts of this case and eventually present them."

The officers, who have not been identified at the time of this reporting, were removed from patrol duty pending an investigation into the incident.

Kizzee's killing sparked a fresh wave of protests against police brutality across the city.

(Content warning: Rough language, distressing imagery):

Shooting by police on 109th/Normandie in Los Angeles. Killed with 27 shots. And then they handcuffed him dead. https://t.co/YG20VaqKTI
— lovinglynn (@lovinglynn)1598924046.0

(H/T: Fox News)