A convicted felon was arrested for allegedly trafficking a 14-year-old girl who was discovered in Anaheim.

The suspect was identified as Marcus Boyd, 36, of Las Vegas, Nevada, according to the Orange County District Attorney’s Office.

On July 9, authorities received information about a 14-year-old girl who was being trafficked for sex. The girl was located in Anaheim and detectives began investigating the alleged trafficking.

Boyd was identified as the suspect and was spotted driving later that day. Officers attempted to pull him over but he refused to yield, leading police on a pursuit.

At one point, Boyd ditched his vehicle and began fleeing on foot. He was eventually located and taken into custody.

On July 11, he was charged with:

• Human trafficking of a minor
• Pandering a minor under 16 years old
• Possession of a silencer
• Evading a police officer
• Resisting and obstructing a police officer

Boyd’s previous convictions were not released. The case was investigated by the Orange County Human Trafficking Task Force (OCHTTF).

“A critical component of the OCHTTF is the OCDA’s Human Exploitation And Trafficking (HEAT) Unit, which targets perpetrators who sexually exploit and traffic women and underage girls for financial gain, including pimps, panderers, and human traffickers,” officials explained.

The lead agencies involved in the task force include the California Highway Patrol, Irvine Police Department, Santa Ana Police Department, Orange County District Attorney’s Office, Orange County Probation Department, Orange County Social Services Agency, The Salvation Army, U.S. Attorney’s Office, and U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Boyd remains in custody and is being held on $1 million bail.

If you or anyone you know is a victim of human trafficking, you can contact the National Human Trafficking Resource Center Hotline at 888-373-7888 or call your local law enforcement agency.

The man who was caught on video slapping an autistic boy in Pacoima now faces criminal charges.

Scott Sakajian, a Sun Valley resident, was charged with willful cruelty to a child and battery on a person, according to the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office.

Sakajian is accused of slapping Alfredo Morales, 10, after the boy touched the emblem on his Mercedes-Benz sedan on July 1.

Alfredo and his older sister, Claudia Morales, were crossing the street when the incident happened.

Sakajian made an immediate U-turn and followed the siblings to a bus stop. He stepped out, walked over to Alfredo who was sitting on a bench and slapped him.

His sister tried intervening and explained that Alfredo had autism, but the man still struck the boy.

Cell phone video of the confrontation went viral on social media, leaving community members outraged. The family also filed a police report.

Since the incident, Alfredo’s family, who is homeless and lives out of a broken truck, have been surrounded by an outpouring of support, with many saying they resonated with the story.

Along with a successful GoFundMe campaign and fundraising event, the family’s broken truck underwent a complete makeover. The family is staying at a motel temporarily until local housing officials can help them transition into more permanent housing.

The boy’s father, Miguel Morales, recently lost his job at a restaurant and was struggling to make ends meet.

Alfredo and his sister ride the bus daily to make a food and grocery run for the family. They were taking their usual bus route on July 1 when the confrontation happened. 

The Morales family said they are overwhelmed by the generosity and kindness of strangers and said they plan to give back in some way to everyone who has helped them. 

The family also has an attorney representing them, Antonio Villegas. Villegas said he became aware of their story after L.A. rapper Swifty Blue sent him the viral video.

“I will do anything in my power to help them,” Villegas told KTLA. “And I don’t mean just by filing some sort of lawsuit, but by getting them resources to turn this tragic situation into something that helps improve their lives.”

Sakajian is scheduled to appear in court for an arraignment hearing on Aug. 2, at the San Fernando Valley Courthouse.

If convicted on all charges, he faces up to six months in jail.

The annual Lotus Festival returned to Echo Park this weekend, marking its 43rd celebration with a vibrant display of cultural heritage. Held on July 13-14, the event highlighted the rich traditions of Los Angeles’ Asian and Pacific Islander communities.

Each year, the festival features a different nation from this region. This year’s celebration honored the Philippines, offering attendees a taste of Filipino culture through traditional dance performances, music, art, and cuisine.

With over 65 vendors, the festival drew thousands of visitors to Echo Park Lake to enjoy the festivities. For Katherine Quimpo, the Lotus Festival has been a cherished tradition.

“I’ve been coming here with my family since I was 12 years old, and now at 25, as a proud Filipino American, I love experiencing the culture and meeting other Filipino Americans here,” Quimpo said. “I love getting to sit in front of the stage and listen to the local Filipino-based artists. Some of them even sing in Tagalog, which is our native language.”

The Lotus Festival began in 1972, making it one of the longest-running cultural festivals in Los Angeles. The festival was named after the lotus flowers that bloom in Echo Park Lake, which are believed to have been planted by local Japanese-American residents in the early 20th century.

Building on this rich history, this year’s festival aimed to offer something new and exciting for attendees. Organizers introduced a special addition that brought an extra layer of fun to the event.

“This year we added a carnival. Throughout some of the areas, we opened up the parking lot more to add more carnival rides and community booths for our guests,” said Lotus Festival Chairman Carlos Alvarado. “We work on this festival year round and it brings our staff together at the Department of Recreation and Parks. I am very happy our staff’s hard work is showing because we have a big amount of people this year that showed out.”

The event also featured a Water Lantern Festival, where attendees designed their own lanterns and set them afloat in Echo Park Lake.

One of the standout artists at this year’s festival was Diane Valencia, owner and creator of Ginto Seeds, an artistic multimedia platform. She showcased handmade necklaces and intricate wood art, drawing considerable attention from festival-goers.

“My artwork is inspired by pre-colonial Filipino culture, and I use an ancient Filipino script called baybayin in a lot of my pieces because a lot of people don’t know that we have our own writing system,” Valencia said. “My wooden pieces are made from a method I use called solar pyrography, where I use a magnifying glass to focus sunlight and burn intricate designs into the wood.”

Food lovers also had plenty to indulge in, with a wide array of culinary delights from various Asian and Pacific Islander cuisines. From savory Filipino adobo and lumpia to sweet treats like halo-halo and bibingka, there was something to satisfy every palate.

The two-day event featured a diverse lineup of speakers, including Mayor Karen Bass and actor Peter Kwong. KTLA’s Cher Calvin also attended and served as the festival’s emcee for the opening ceremony.

Perhaps one of the most remarkable aspects of this festival is its ability to span generations, attracting both new visitors and those with deep, long-standing connections. Nancy Sumida, 82, shared that this festival holds a special place in her heart.

“I still come to this day because it reminds me of when I used to come here with my husband years ago. We were young then, and I remember bringing our son when he was just  a little boy—he’s now 48. It has always been so beautiful, nice, and green. The performances, atmosphere and people have always made this festival special,” Sumida said.