Illegal Immigrants Can Carry Guns, Obama-Appointed Judge Rules
An Obama-appointed judge decreed foreign citizens can use guns while illegally present on U.S. property.An Obama-appointed judge decreed foreign citizens can use guns while illegally present on U.S. property.71-year-old bank robber who's spent over 40 years in jail strikes again before Christmas, cops say. Santa isn't kind to him.
A 71-year-old bank robber who's spent over 40 years behind bars allegedly struck again just before Christmas in southern California.
What are the details?
Los Angeles Police said Bruce Edward Bell — a "serial bank robber" — on Dec. 21 entered a location in the 8000 block of Vineland Avenue in Sun Valley. Sun Valley is a Los Angeles neighborhood in the San Fernando Valley.
Video police provided shows the robbery took place at a bank around 10:30 a.m.
Police said Bell, who was pointing a gun, grabbed an employee and forced the employee to walk to a restricted-access door, after which Bell demanded entry into a secure area and threatened to shoot the employee.
Once inside the restricted area, police said Bell ordered another employee to fill his bag with cash, after which Bell fled with over $60,000.
Police said witnesses saw Bell drive away in a 2002 silver Volvo sedan and called 911. Responding LAPD officers spotted the suspect's vehicle and conducted a high-risk traffic stop, cops said. Soon, police stopped Bell, searched the vehicle, and uncovered a black replica gun and $64,000 in cash.
Online records show Bell was being held Wednesday on $1.6 million bond, USA Today reported, adding that it wasn't immediately known if Bell had retained an attorney.
Los Angeles Sheriff's Office records show Bell is due in court Feb. 9, the paper added.
What's the deal with this guy?
Police said Bell has four prior bank robbery convictions and has served over 40 years in the federal department of corrections. Bell was released in July 2021 and was on supervised release at the time of his arrest, police added.
Investigators believe there are other Bell robbery victims still unidentified, police said. Photographs of Bell have been released in order to identify and speak with additional individuals who may have been victimized, police added.
Police added that any victims or anyone with information about this investigation can contact Detectives Mrakich and Delph at 213-486-6840 or email RHDTIPLINE@LAPD.ONLINE. Those wishing to remain anonymous can call LA Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477) or go directly to www.lacrimestoppers.org, police said. Also, tipsters can download the “P-3 Tips” mobile application and select the LA Regional Crime Stoppers as their local program, police said.
Serial Bank Robber Arrested - NR24010mo youtu.be
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'People are getting really tired of this': Looters ransack 7-Eleven after 'street takeover'; separate incident blocks drivers — some of whom had 'family emergencies'
A "street takeover" earlier spawned an "angry" mob of looters who ripped off and ransacked a 7-Eleven store, Los Angeles police said in a press release.
What are the details?
The street takeover occurred at the intersection of Figueroa Street and El Segundo Boulevard around 12:40 a.m. Monday, police said.
Motorists flooded the intersection, blocking traffic from all directions to create a “pit” in the middle of the intersection, police said.
During the street takeover, "spectators" exited their vehicles and watched as motorists recklessly did "donuts" — a maneuver in which a driver purposely loses tire traction while heading in circles while accelerating, police said.
Spectators then formed a "flash mob" of looters and rushed a nearby 7-Eleven, police said, adding that video surveillance showed looters vandalizing the store and grabbing for snacks, drinks, cigarettes, lotto tickets, and other merchandise, police said.
“It turns into an angry, somewhat mob mentality,” LAPD Detective Ryan Moreno said during a Thursday news conference, according to KTLA-TV. “They come inside the store, they start ransacking the place, taking everything.”
The store clerk was working alone that night, and police said he feared for his life. One man allegedly threw items at the clerk, which led to a “violent encounter” between the two, Moreno said.
Looters then exited the store to surrounding parking lots and streets and quickly dispersed before police arrived, police said.
Officers obtained surveillance video of the looters to identify and arrest individuals involved, police said.
Second street takeover
Another street takeover occurred along the 110 Freeway the same night, police told KTLA.
“There were people on the freeway that were trying really to get to places they had to go; some had family emergencies, and they’re just sitting there stuck so these guys can do their thing,” Moreno said, according to the station. “People are getting really tired of this.”
Detectives are asking for the public’s help in identifying those involved in the incidents, KTLA said, and are encouraging anonymous tips. The station said anyone with information about the incidents can contact South Traffic Division detectives at 323-421-2500 or email STDdetectives@lapd.online; those wishing to remain anonymous can call CrimeStoppers at 800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477).
Section 230 Needs To Be Fixed So Internet Companies Can’t Feature Child Pornography
In the leadup to the Communication Decency Act of 1996, America was concerned about the Internet exposing children to pornography. The July 1995 cover of Time magazine, titled “Cyberporn,” depicted a child staring at a computer with this caption: “Exclusive: A new study shows how pervasive and wild it really is. Can we protect our […]Police fire projectiles on unruly and destructive Rams fans following LA Super Bowl win
The Los Angeles Police Department was forced to fire projectiles on unruly crowds following the L.A. Rams' Super Bowl win on Sunday night, the Los Angeles Times reported.
What are the details?
Hundreds of fans converged on the streets near entertainment complex L.A. Live by 8 p.m. following the Rams' win, with some shooting off fireworks in the middle of the street.
According to the report, "multiple people" were seen climbing streetlights and throwing glass bottles at police, who'd quickly arrived on the scene to issue a dispersal notice to revelers.
Authorities soon declared an unlawful assembly and advised crowds that they were "risking serious injury" if they remained on the streets.
LAPD reporter Kevin Rector tweeted about the incidents and wrote, "I'm at 11th and Hope in downtown L.A. in an area LAPD have cordoned off. People are letting off fireworks. Police on bullhorns declared an unlawful assembly on a loudspeaker from a truck and told people they had 10 minutes to leave."
I\u2019m at 11th and Hope in downtown L.A. in an area LAPD have cordoned off. \nPeople are letting off fireworks.\n\nPolice on bullhorns declared an unlawful assembly on a loudspeaker from a truck and told people they had 10 minutes to leave.pic.twitter.com/VukrpUwK6e— Kevin Rector (@Kevin Rector) 1644814579
He added, "There are a dozen people on top of a graffitied city bus with a 'RAMS HOUSE' flag and a detour sign and street cones. The bus driver is inside. Cops in copter above. Fireworks constantly going off."
Some, according to the report, quickly left, but others remained behind and taunted officers, prompting responders to fire projectiles at the crowd.
Content warning: Rough language:
The bus\u2019s electric message (surely programmed before the game?) reads, intermittently, \u201cGo Rams!\u201d\n\nPeople are posing for pictures.pic.twitter.com/th1HeFfXmx— Kevin Rector (@Kevin Rector) 1644819052
Over the next hour, the crowd relocated to another area and were said to have climbed on top of parked cars and sprayed graffiti on area buildings and signs.
By 10 p.m., the L.A. Live crowd had relocated to Grand and 12th streets. People threw water bottles and traffic cones, and several climbed atop parked cars and even a Metro bus — while a driver was still inside. Some sprayed graffiti onto buildings and signs.
The LAPD on Twitter wrote, "We are seeing violent and destructive behavior by large crowds in the heart of the Downtown LA area. We have issued several dispersal orders and have a large police presence. Everyone that is part of those crowds, obey all dispersal orders and clear the streets immediately.”
We are seeing violent and destructive behavior by large crowds in the heart of the Downtown LA area. We have issued several dispersal orders and have a large police presence. Everyone that is part of those crowds, obey all dispersal orders and clear the streets immediately.— LAPD HQ (@LAPD HQ) 1644820514
Local authorities have yet to announce whether they arrested any people during the melee.
LAPD dispersing crowds in downtown LA and then this:pic.twitter.com/c1jJnUzv2T— MarlaTellez (@MarlaTellez) 1644818190
California 'smash-and-grab' looting suspects back on the street thanks to 'zero-bail' policy
Fourteen "smash-and-grab" robbery suspects recently arrested in Los Angeles, California, are back on the streets thanks in part to the county's controversial zero cash bail policy, the city's police chief said this week.
During a press conference Thursday, Chief Michel Moore told reporters, “All the suspects taken into custody are out of custody, either as a result of one juvenile, or the others as a result of bailing out or zero-bail criteria," according to Fox News.
Moore added that the 14 suspects had been arrested in connection with 11 separate robberies that took place over a ten-day period late last month, from November 18 to 28. In total, the crimes are believed to have cost the targeted businesses $338,000 in total stolen merchandise and more than $40,000 in total property damage.
Many have argued that lenient treatment for offenders has opened the door to a rash of "smash-and-grab" robberies in communities across the U.S. in recent months.
In response to the news, Los Angeles County's liberal district attorney, George Gascón — a supporter of zero cash bail — promised that "smash-and-grab" suspects would be held accountable for their crimes.
"Our office has been collaborating with multiple law enforcement agencies and once all the evidence has been gathered, we will review the cases to determine what criminal charges should be filed," Alex Bastian, special adviser to Gascón, said in a statement, CBS News reported. "These brazen acts hurt all of us: retailers, employees, and customers alike."
A statewide zero cash bail policy for misdemeanors and lower-level felonies was implemented last year as part of a supposed effort to reduce overcrowding in jails amid the coronavirus pandemic, but the policy ended in June.
A similar policy, however, was continued in Los Angeles County after Gascón was sworn in. On Twitter, the district attorney called the money bail system "unsafe" and "unjust" and vowed to end it altogether. He later told U.S. News and World Report that "eliminating money bail is one of the moral imperatives of our generation."
Amid the news of the 14 released looting suspects, Democratic Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti joined Moore calling for the policy to be terminated.
"We need the help of our criminal justice system, of our judges, of our jailers," Garcetti said. "We have opened up a lot of the city because we're in a better place with COVID. We should be able to also open up our jails, and we should be able to have judges that put people behind those bars."
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