Los Angeles, Ca
L.A. County deputy faces federal charge for controversial arrest at Lancaster WinCo
A former Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputy has been federally charged with using excessive force during a 2023 shoplifting investigation in Lancaster.
Trevor James Kirk, 31, of Santa Clarita, has been charged with deprivation of rights under color of law after the June 24, 2023, confrontation at WinCo Foods, 740 W. Ave. K 4.
That day, when investigating a report of shoplifting by a man and woman that turned into a physical altercation, Kirk “used excessive force when he assaulted and pepper-sprayed a woman,” the U.S. Department of Justice said in a news release.
While detaining the man, Kirk and a partner were filmed by the woman, identified by the DOJ as J.H.
J.H. told the deputies that her video was being livestreamed online and that the deputies were legally required to tell the man for what he was being detained.
“The indictment alleges that Kirk then approached J.H. and, without giving any commands, attempted to grab her phone,” the release said. “J.H. turned away, at which point Kirk allegedly grabbed J.H. by her arm, hooked his left hand behind her neck, and violently threw her to the ground.”
While on the ground, Kirk put his knee on J.H.’s shoulder. When the woman yelled “stop” at Kirk and called him an obscenity, he “cocked his right arm back with a clenched fist and said, ‘Stop or you’re gonna get punched in the face,’” the DOJ said.
“Kirk then allegedly pressed his knee into J.H.’s neck, and she said, ‘Get your neck [sic] off my . . . off my . . . I can’t breathe,’” the release added. “While on top of J.H., the indictment alleges that Kirk used his LASD radio to misleading report that he was in a ‘fight.’”
Kirk also allegedly pepper sprayed J.H. in the face twice while she was detained, despite Kirk’s official LASD report that prosecutors called “misleading,” adding that he “he portrayed J.H. as a threat to his physical safety, claiming that J.H. assaulted him, attempted to hit him, and took a ‘fighting’ or ‘blading’ stance.”
A video of the leadup to the conflict was released in the weeks following, and though Kirk’s attorney has called the deputy’s actions “completely justified,” citing the video as evidence, L.A. County Sheriff Robert Luna was not as supportive.
“It’s disturbing,” Luna said at a press conference following the video’s release. “There are no ifs, ands, or buts about it.”
U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada said in the DOJ’s news release that “when an officer violates the civil rights of another person, it undermines public safety for all of us.”
“Officers must be held accountable when they violate constitutional rights, and my Office is committed to prosecuting those who abuse their authority and breach the public’s trust,” Estrada said.
If convicted, Kirk faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison.
Los Angeles, Ca
Fort Irwin soldier allegedly murdered comrade
A soldier from Fontana has been charged with murder in the death of another soldier at Fort Irwin in San Bernardino County.
Spc. George Cornejo, 26, is accused of killing Spc. Andrew P. Smith on Oct. 28, military officials said in a press release.
Smith, 27, was found injured in his residence that day and later succumbed to his wounds, officials said when announcing his death. The Rye, New York, native had been stationed at Fort Irwin for more than two years.
The manner and possible motivation for the alleged murder were not released.
Cornejo has been in pre-trial custody since Oct. 29, and he’s expected to be transferred to the Naval Consolidated Brig in Miramar.
A preliminary hearing will be held to determine if Cornejo will be tried by court-martial.
Los Angeles, Ca
Vehicle, 2 occupants plunge into crowded Southern California harbor
Two people were taken to the hospital after a vehicle they were inside plunged into the harbor Sunday night in Marina Del Rey, officials confirmed to KTLA.
Details are limited and It’s unclear exactly how the incident occurred, but authorities with the Los Angeles County Fire Department responded to 4675 Admiralty Way just after 6 p.m. on reports of the vehicle in the water.
L.A. County Fire Department Public Information Officer Marco Rodriguez said the two occupants were able to get themselves out of the vehicle after it went into the water.
Both were examined by medical personnel with the fire department and taken to a nearby hospital in unknown condition.
Rodriguez said that two L.A. County Lifeguard divers were deployed to ensure there were no other occupants trapped in the vehicle.
A witness, Johnny Hamcheck, told KTLA that a third person, a woman, exited the vehicle before it went into water, though officials did not confirm that detail.
Footage of the recovery effort showed crews attaching large yellow floating devices to the vehicle as it was anchored to a crane and eventually pulled out of the water and loaded onto a tow truck.
The vehicle showed heavy front-end damage, presumably from crashing through the steel railing and into the water.
An investigation into the crash is ongoing and no further details were provided.
Los Angeles, Ca
Armed robbers hit couple in broad daylight on high-end Beverly Hills street
Two people were hospitalized after a broad daylight armed robbery on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills Sunday, police confirmed to KTLA.
Officers with the Beverly Hills Police Department responded to the 400 block of North Rodeo Drive, at the intersection of Brighton Way just before 1:30 p.m. on reports of the incident.
According to a BHPD news release, a man and a woman were waiting outside a boutique when they were approached by four suspects, one of whom pulled out a gun during a physical altercation between the victims and the suspects.
“During the altercation, the suspects forcibly took two designer handbags – one from each victim – containing cash and cellphones,” police said. “One cellphone was recovered nearby. The suspects also attempted to steal the male victim’s jewelry but were unsuccessful.”
In video of a portion of the incident obtained by KTLA, four suspects all wearing dark clothing and hooded sweatshirts can be seen running from the scene. At least one of the suspects has an item, possibly one of the handbags, in his hands.
The crew was last seen running up Rodeo Drive and ducking into an alleyway.
It is unclear if anyone was injured, but the male victim was seen on the ground as the victim and another person knelt over him, one of which was yelling for help.
Medical personnel with the Beverly Hills Fire Department responded to the incident, but authorities said the man and woman sought their own medical attention at a local hospital.
Their conditions were not immediately available.
An investigation into the robbery remains ongoing and anyone with information is urged to contact BHPD at 310-285-2125. Those wishing to remain anonymous can call the L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers Hotline at 800-222-8477 or leave tips online at www.lacrimestoppers.com.
-
Business1 week ago
Column: Molly White's message for journalists going freelance — be ready for the pitfalls
-
Science6 days ago
Trump nominates Dr. Oz to head Medicare and Medicaid and help take on 'illness industrial complex'
-
Politics1 week ago
Trump taps FCC member Brendan Carr to lead agency: 'Warrior for Free Speech'
-
Technology1 week ago
Inside Elon Musk’s messy breakup with OpenAI
-
Lifestyle1 week ago
Some in the U.S. farm industry are alarmed by Trump's embrace of RFK Jr. and tariffs
-
World1 week ago
Protesters in Slovakia rally against Robert Fico’s populist government
-
Health3 days ago
Holiday gatherings can lead to stress eating: Try these 5 tips to control it
-
News1 week ago
They disagree about a lot, but these singers figure out how to stay in harmony