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Los Angeles, Ca

Owner of DTLA building where explosion hurt 12 firefighter avoids jail time

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The proprietor of a downtown Los Angeles constructing the place an explosion injured 12 firefighters has been allowed to enter a judicial diversion program that permits him to keep away from jail time and probably have all fees dismissed.

A court docket commissioner on Wednesday granted the diversion request for Steve Sungho Lee. He and his firms should pay greater than $15,000 in investigative charges, be sure that the property meets hearth and constructing codes and arranging for Fireplace Division coaching.

Lee owned a business constructing on East Boyd Road within the metropolis’s Toy District that caught hearth on Could 16, 2020. Firefighters needed to run for his or her lives when a ball of flames shot out the constructing and scorched a hearth truck throughout the road.

Firefighters contained in the constructing needed to run by a wall of flames he estimated as 30 toes (9 meters) excessive and vast, and people on the roof scrambled down a ladder that was engulfed in hearth.

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Fireplace officers stated the constructing was a warehouse for Smoke Tokes, a wholesale distributor of provides for smoking and vaping merchandise together with butane hash oil, a concentrated hashish extract that may be eaten, smoked or vaped. Extremely flammable butane is used within the manufacturing course of.

A lot of the injured firefighters nonetheless haven’t returned to work and one, Capt. Victor Aguirre, was hospitalized for greater than two months and all of his fingers needed to be partially amputated, based on a lawsuit he filed towards the constructing and enterprise house owners.

Aguirre alleged that the realm contained “lots of of illegally and improperly saved butane canisters and hundreds of illegally and improperly saved nitrous oxide cylinders.”

A fireplace division report concluded that the blaze, which unfold to a close-by constructing, was fueled by an “extreme amount” of the containers.

Investigators from the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives concluded that the fireplace began underneath a storage rack within the constructing and {that a} employee with a lit cigarette was seen within the space. The reason for the fireplace was dominated unintentional.

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Nonetheless, metropolis prosecutors filed greater than 300 misdemeanor fees of violating hearth and security codes towards Lee, his firms and house owners of companies within the constructing and close by properties. That included greater than 160 counts towards Lee and his firms.

If Lee meets all circumstances of his judicial diversion program for 2 years, the costs can be dismissed.

“Mr. Lee can be deemed by regulation to have by no means been charged,” stated his legal professional, Blair Berk. “The exhaustive federal investigation of the tragic hearth objectively concluded that the trigger was unintentional, and there was no discovering of any wrongdoing by Mr. Lee or his firms.”

Metropolis Lawyer Mike Feuer opposed diversion for Lee, noting the severity of the fireplace, the accidents suffered by the firefighters and Lee’s alleged failure “to take steps which may have mitigated the extent of the blaze.”

The house owners of Smoke Tokes and one other enterprise, Inexperienced Buddha, agreed in November 2020 to pay $139,000 every to cowl investigative prices and to maneuver out of the constructing. Costs towards them have been later dismissed.

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This story has been up to date to right that Lee and his firms should pay greater than $15,000, not $125,000.

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Los Angeles, Ca

Ebony Alert issued for girl, 12, last seen with mother’s boyfriend in Long Beach 

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Ebony Alert issued for girl, 12, last seen with mother’s boyfriend in Long Beach 

An Ebony Alert has been issued for a 12-year-old girl who has not been seen since Wednesday afternoon. 

A release from the Los Angeles Police Department states that Teriana Mahomes was last seen in the 6600 block of Atlantic Avenue in Long Beach at 4 p.m.  

At the time, she was in the company of her mother’s boyfriend, identified by authorities as Clark Thomas Wheeler.

Teriana was last seen wearing a black and white checkered shirt, black jean shorts and white shoes. She stands at 4 feet, 6 inches tall and weighs 90 pounds, LAPD said. 

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Anyone with information regarding Teriana’s whereabouts is asked to call 911 or contact Detective Juarez with the LAPD’s Southeast Division by calling 213-972-7858. 

During non-business hours and on weekends, calls should be directed to 1-877-527-3247. Those wishing to remain anonymous can call L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or visit www.lacrimestoppers.org 

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Los Angeles, Ca

Alleged street takeover crash leaves woman dead in South Los Angeles 

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Alleged street takeover crash leaves woman dead in South Los Angeles 

A woman was killed after a collision involving vehicles leaving a reported street takeover in L.A.’s Willowbrook neighborhood. 

According to preliminary information, the crash occurred shortly before 1 a.m. Saturday at El Segundo Boulevard and South Central Avenue. 

At least one of the vehicles involved was associated with a street takeover convoy that was leaving the area, witnesses said. 

Video taken shortly after the crash obtained by KTLA shows a wrecked black Infiniti sedan that had come to rest on a sidewalk along South Central Boulevard; the other vehicle involved, a black Scion hatchback, sustained heavy damage and was found at the corner of El Segundo and South Central. 

The victim is an unidentified woman, stringer service RMGNews reported. It is not known if she was associated with the alleged street takeover. 

It also remains unclear if there were any injuries or if any arrests were made.

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KTLA has reached out to law enforcement for more information but have yet to hear back.

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Los Angeles, Ca

UCLA student sexually assaulted in dorm room, suspect at large

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UCLA student sexually assaulted in dorm room, suspect at large

A suspect remains at large after a student was sexually assaulted while she was sleeping in her dorm room at the University of California, Los Angeles.

The incident happened early Friday at around 2:40 a.m. as the female student was sleeping in her room located in the Saxon Suites, according to the UCLA Police Department.

The suspect entered the student’s room and sexually assaulted her while she was in bed, officials said. He then ran out of the building and fled the area in an unknown direction.

The suspect is described as a white male in his 30s. He has a heavy set build, a curly beard and was last seen wearing all-black clothing and a beanie.

  • The Saxon Residential Suite dorm rooms on the campus of the University of California, Los Angeles. (KTLA)
  • The Saxon Residential Suite dorm rooms on the campus of the University of California, Los Angeles. (KTLA)
  • The Saxon Residential Suite dorm rooms on the campus of the University of California, Los Angeles. (KTLA)
  • The Saxon Residential Suite dorm rooms on the campus of the University of California, Los Angeles. (KTLA)
  • The Saxon Residential Suite dorm rooms on the campus of the University of California, Los Angeles. (KTLA)
  • A UCLA Police Department patrol car seen on the University of California, Los Angeles campus. (KTLA)
  • UCLA Police Department patrol cars are seen on the University of California, Los Angeles campus. (KTLA)
  • Students participating in an activity near Royce Hall on the UCLA campus on March 11, 2020. (Robyn Beck / AFP / Getty Images)
  • Students walk through the UCLA campus in Westwood. (Credit: Los Angeles Times)
  • An undated file photo shows the UCLA campus. The UCLA Foundation has announced a $5-million gift for scholarships, COVID-19 emergency support, mental health services and other student needs. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

It’s unclear how the man was able to enter the dorm room or the building. The victim was medically treated at the scene.

Students were alerted of the assault Friday morning and many said they now feel uneasy.

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“They sent the police report saying a girl was assaulted while sleeping which is very frightening, especially for me as a young woman,” said Chantal de la Cruz, a UCLA student. “I’ve been living here for a year and the [crime] reports we usually get are burglary reports and they’re outside of the campus, so this is a huge shock for everybody. A lot of students don’t feel safe.”

Tips from UCLA police to stay safe on campus include:

  • Always be alert and aware of your surroundings
  • Report any suspicious activity to the police
  • Do not leave doors to buildings propped open
  • Secure your residence by locking all windows and doors
  • Avoid poorly lit or deserted areas when walking at night
  • Utilize the UCLA Safe Ride Service and UCPD CSO evening escorts
  • Callin 911 for emergencies or UCLA PD’s 24-hour line at 310-825-1491

The incident remains under investigation.

Anyone with information on the case is urged to call UCLAPD at 310-825-1491. Anonymous tips can be provided by calling 310-794-5824.

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