Los Angeles, Ca
Reward now $25K for arrest of person who left zip-tied dog in Malibu wilderness
Reward money continues to pour in as animal rescuers increase their efforts to locate and arrest the person or people responsible for leaving a dog in a remote area of Malibu with its snout zip-tied shut.
The dog was found by a pair of rock climbers about 250 feet down the side of the road in Malibu Creek Canyon earlier this month.
The adult German shepherd, given the name Argon by his medical care providers, was discovered over the scorching Fourth of July weekend with a zip tie around its neck and another around its mouth.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department responded to the call and deputies met the climbers near the 500 block of North Malibu Canyon Road to help bring the dog to safety.
He was rescued and taken to a local animal shelter for treatment of myriad illnesses, including inflammation, warts and skin tags on his legs, stomach and groin. Officials suspected that he may have been exposed to poison oak during his time lost in the wild.
In addition to those more obvious surface level illnesses, it was also suspected that Argon was suffering from lymphoma — cancer of the lymphatic system.
Last week, the dog was taken in by German Shepherd Rescue of Orange County. On Wednesday, In Defense of Animals said the rescue organization had confirmed that diagnosis.
They also found double ear infections, swelling in his lower extremities and “trauma to his hind legs.”
“His ears are now healing, but his feet are still swollen two weeks after his ordeal,” a spokesperson for In Defense of Animals wrote.
Maria Dales, the founder and director of German Shepherd Rescue of Orange County, said Argon remains a “gentle soul” despite the abandonment and abuse he’s suffered.
“He seems to sense that we are all here to help him and his trust level is growing,” Dales said. “He doesn’t appear to be as introverted as he was when he arrived.”
The next steps in Argon’s care will be for him to see a veterinary oncologist to determine the severity of his cancer diagnosis and come up with a plan for treatment, Dales added.
In Defense of Animals was the first organization to announce a reward for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person who abandoned the dog in the sweltering heat with its mouth closed shut.
That reward tripled within days and has since increased to $25,000 thanks to multiple organizations and individuals chipping in cash in hopes of finding those responsible.
Fleur Dawes, communications director for In Defense of Animals, said they’ve been “overwhelmed” by the public support and said they hope the reward is enough motivation for someone to come forward.
“Someone knows this dog and the person who hurt him,” Dawes said in a news release. “We hope this huge reward offer encourages that person to step forward and share their tip with us so we can get justice for Argon.”
Argon’s case remains under investigation by the Sheriff’s Department and the Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control. Anyone with information is urged to contact the LASD Malibu/Lost Hills station at 818-878-1808.
In Defense of Animals is also soliciting donations and collecting tips related to Argon’s case, which can be provided anonymously or directly by calling 415-879-6879.
“We are hoping that someone in the public will have the courage and compassion to get this cruel abuser off the streets,” Dales concluded.
Los Angeles, Ca
LADWP begins long-term repairs after West Hollywood water main rupture
Crews worked overnight on what is expected to be a long-term effort to clean up and repair a broken water main that caused extensive damage in West Hollywood on Thursday.
Yellow tape remained in place Friday morning, blocking streets around Sunset Boulevard and Holloway Drive as crews continued pumping water out of the century-old trunk line.
Asphalt and soil were also being removed so crews could get a better look at the damaged 36-inch trunk line, a major feeder pipe serving the area.
“First and foremost is our crews’ safety,” a Los Angeles Department of Water and Power spokesperson said Thursday. “When we excavate, we are going to have to make sure the area is safe before we send crews in to proceed and start the actual repairs on the pipe.”
The water main ruptured around 3 a.m. Thursday, sending thousands of gallons of water rushing through West Hollywood streets, flooding dozens of garages and pushing parked cars into one another.
A Metro bus yard was also flooded, leaving several buses partially submerged.
The force of the water washed away dirt and gravel supporting the roadway, creating a massive sinkhole on Sunset Boulevard and a smaller one near Palm Avenue, where two people fell in.
“I’m astounded by the massive sinkhole that has just opened up before our eyes,” KTLA’s Annie Rose Ramos reported Thursday from Palm Avenue.
The two men appeared to be uninjured.
As for the larger trunk line that burst beneath Sunset Boulevard, KTLA’s Carlos Herrera reported it was scheduled for replacement in 2031.
LADWP officials now hope to establish a repair timeline after getting a closer look at the damage Friday. For now, the intersection is expected to remain closed for anywhere from several days to several weeks.
The cause of the rupture remains under investigation.
Los Angeles, Ca
Arrest made in deadly shooting at 4th of July gathering in Compton; search for 2nd suspect continues
Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna gave an update Thursday on several shootings over the Fourth of July weekend that left three people dead and several others injured.
Police arrested Antoine Jones, a 50-year-old man from the Los Angeles area, who they believe is responsible for the murder of a 19-year-old woman and the attempted murder of two additional surviving female victims who were attending a large community block party in Compton.
On July 4 at approximately 11:40 p.m., deputies from the Compton station responded to an apartment complex on the 700 block of West Laurel Street following reports of multiple people being shot.
Meah Bordenave-Jenkins, a 19-year-old nursing student at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, was killed when gunfire broke out at the party.
Deputies located Bordenave-Jenkins and the two other women suffering from gunshot wounds outside of the apartment complex.
“While today’s announcement represents an important step towards justice for Meah and her family, our work is very far from being over,” said LASD Sheriff Robert Luna.
The LASD is also seeking the public’s help in identifying those responsible for the murder of Eric Washington, 37, a beloved community activist and former government staffer, and the attempted murder of another surviving man injured that same night at the same party.
Washington was reportedly killed while trying to deescalate a conflict at the party, his family said. Deputies found victim Washington suffering from a gunshot wound inside the complex.
Investigators later learned that another man had also been shot at some point during the incident.
Bordenave-Jenkins and Washington both died from their injuries. The remaining victims, two women and a man, sustained non-life-threatening injuries and have been released from the hospital. They have not been identified by police.
Detectives determined the two shootings happened moments apart at the party but appear to be separate and unrelated.
Detectives identified Jones as the suspect responsible for Bordenave-Jenkins’ death and the attempted murder of the two surviving women. Authorities located Jones on July 14 in Los Angeles and took him into custody.
The LASD is still searching for the suspect or suspects responsible for the murder of Washington and the attempted murder of the surviving male victim.
“Although today’s arrest is significant, this investigation remains extremely active,” Luna said.
“There were hundreds of people at this gathering,” Luna said. “Somebody knows, somebody saw or somebody heard what happened.”
The LASD also announced they’re searching for a suspect in a separate shooting at a different Fourth of July gathering that occurred in the early morning of July 5.
At approximately 12:10 a.m., Compton deputies responded to the 2100 block of North Grandee Avenue, where they located a 30-year-old victim, Thaddeus Clark, and a second victim suffering from gunshot wounds at the gathering.
Clark, a father of three, did not survive his injuries, Luna said.
The LASD is urging anyone with information about Clark’s murder and the attempted murder of the surviving victim to contact the LASD Homicide Bureau.
Although these shooting incidents occurred at gatherings less than an hour apart, investigators found no evidence that the two were connected, Luna said.
Luna also announced three suspects have been arrested in connection with a shooting in East L.A. on July 5. It happened as crowds crossed the intersection near Whittier Boulevard and Leonard Avenue during a World Cup match.
Four people were hit by gunfire, including two men, one woman and a boy. None of the injuries were life-threatening.
The sheriff said the alleged shooter, a 15-year-old known gang member, was arrested. Two female suspects, ages 21 and 38, have been arrested in the Lancaster and Palmdale areas for their alleged roles in luring the primary victim to the location and assisting the shooting suspect in evading arrest.
They’re all facing four counts of attempted murder.
Los Angeles, Ca
Water main break floods West Hollywood streets, traps cars
A broken water main sent water gushing from an apartment building and turned nearby streets into rivers in West Hollywood early Thursday morning. The break was reported around 3 a.m. near Holloway Drive and Sunset Boulevard. “It’s a rupture of one of the significant mains that goes through here. West Hollywood, as it turns out, […]
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