Six deputies at the Los Angeles County Sheriff Men’s Central Jail in Chinatown were transported to nearby hospitals after exposure to an unknown substance Tuesday, authorities confirmed to KTLA.  

This is the second time crews with the L.A. County Fire Department have responded to the facility at 441 Bauchet St. in the last eight hours.  

Medical personnel with the county fire department were at the jail early this morning after it was reported that “seven persons, all believed to be inmates, who may have inhaled or been exposed to a yet to be formally identified substance within the jail facility.”  

One of those patients was listed in critical condition and six others were in serious condition, the Fire Department stated in an update. 

A Fire Department hazardous materials team was sent to the jail to assess the area but found no additional patients at that time and also determined there was no escalating hazard.  

Aerial footage of the afternoon response at the facility showed a large presence of L.A. County Fire crews, along with deputies outside the jail.  

The condition of the six deputies was not immediately available, though LASD told KTLA the afternoon incident was related to the earlier hazmat response and all six were taken to the hospital as a precaution.

It is unclear if the six deputies were exposed to the same unidentified substance as the inmates.

No further details were provided.  

Authorities are turning to the public for help in locating a man who has been missing for over two weeks after he went for a hike in the foothills above Sierra Madre. 

Gary Robert Nuetzel was hiking in Chantry Flat in the Angeles National Forest on Oct. 11 and has not been seen since, according to the Sierra Madre Search and Rescue Team.  

His car was found in the area on Monday, officials stated. 

Nuetzel, 80, is said to have an active lifestyle and frequently hikes Chantry. He was likely alone when he disappeared. 

He is described as standing 5 feet, 9 inches tall and weighing 140 pounds with blue eyes and collar-length hair. 

Anyone with information on Nuetzel’s whereabouts – especially individuals who hiked in Chantry Flat from Oct. 11 through this past weekend – are asked to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Temple Station by calling 626-585-7171. 

Chantry Flat re-opened to the public on Oct. 2 following the expiration of the Bobcat Fire closure order. Four of the trails in the area remain closed.

Officers arrested a man suspected of causing a fatal crash while attempting to flee from law enforcement, Riverside police announced Monday.

Reports show that Ezekial Avendano Lopez, 62, was being investigated by Fontana detectives on Oct. 24 when he intentionally rammed into an unmarked police vehicle and drove off.

Police did not disclose what Lopez was initially under investigation for.

After losing track of Lopez following his escape, detectives said they eventually found his white Nissan Maxima involved in a multi-vehicle collision at the intersection of Riverwalk Parkway and Collett Avenue in the La Sierra neighborhood.

The Riverside Police Department said reports came in around 2:30 p.m. for the multi-vehicle collision. The number of cars involved in the crash was not provided.

Police said the 62-year-old driver sustained moderate injuries and was taken to a local hospital for treatment. 

A 49-year-old woman in the passenger seat of his car was also hospitalized but later succumbed to her injuries. Her identity has not been released.

Three additional people from other vehicles involved in the crash suffered only minor injuries, according to the report.

After medical clearance, police said Lopez was arrested and booked into the Robert Presley Detention Center for assault with a deadly weapon against the Fontana detective.

Lopez is being held on $1 million bail, and the department said additional charges related to the cause of the fatal traffic collision are pending.

Detectives are looking to speak with any witnesses who observed Lopez driving just prior to causing the crash, urging anyone with additional information to contact Traffic Detective Jeff Derouin at 951-826-8722 or JDerouin@RiversideCA.gov.