Los Angeles, Ca
Some say deputies response excessive after 73 teens detained at Carson mall
After more than 70 juveniles were detained and cited Saturday night in connection with a major disturbance at a mall in Carson, some parents and relatives of the kids are calling the law enforcement presence excessive.
Deputies with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department responded to the SouthBay Pavillion Mall around 5:30 p.m. on reports of a large and unruly gathering of an estimated 200 minors that prompted the mall to close earlier than normal.
Authorities said that some of the juveniles were setting off illegal fireworks inside a store at the mall and that someone else started a fire inside of a trashcan.
Dispersal orders were issued but the crowd reportedly refused to comply. Officials said that more law enforcement backup was called to the scene as the teens were disrupting business and endangering shoppers.
Sheriff’s deputies set up a perimeter and were, at one point, seen jumping into bushes to detain some of the teens, many of whom were seen scrambling to get out of the mall as law enforcement officers arrived.
Jamila Buie’s 16-year-old nephew was one of the 73 teens detained and told KTLA that she believes the law enforcement response was over the top.
“I feel like they should’ve only detained the ones that started the fire, not all the kids,” she explained to KTLA’s Carlos Saucedo. “It’s only 30 people. They said they had video of the kids that started the fire.”
Deputies issued the minors citations for failure to disperse and disturbing the peace. Parents were forced to come and collect their children, with some saying their kids should never have been held by deputies.
“He’s 11-year-old, exactly,” Amber Lyn, whose son was detained, told KTLA. “No paperwork, never been in trouble. He gets straight A’s and he’s an athlete.”
A similar incident occurred late last year at the Del Amo Fashion Center in Torrance that led to curfews and the requirement that minors be accompanied by adults while in the shopping center.
At the mall in Carson, there were no reports of any injuries or thefts from any shops Saturday night.
On Sunday, the mall was back open for business, though with a visible presence of security on hand.
In a news release on Sunday, Carson Mayor Lula Davis-Holmes said:
“Mayor Lula Davis-Holmes commented, “The safety and well-being of our residents and businesses are our top priority. We are taking immediate steps to ensure such incidents do not recur. Our community’s strength lies in our ability to come together and address challenges head-on. I commend the Sheriff’s Department for their quick action and the community for their cooperation.”
While it’s unclear what those steps might entail, there were other shoppers who said they were rattled by the incident.
“I come to the mall often here,” San Pedro resident Michelle Brooks said. “I think it’s ridiculous. Parents need to get a hold of their children at all times.”
Jurors deliberating the fate of the man accused of starting the Palisades Fire, one of the most destructive wildfires in California’s history, failed to reach a verdict Thursday afternoon, telling the judge they were deadlocked.
A spokesperson from the United States Attorney’s Office told KTLA that jurors will continue to deliberate until they reach a verdict or give up.
Jonathan Rinderknecht, 30, a former Uber driver and one-time Pacific Palisades resident, is accused of starting the Lachman Fire on New Year’s Eve. The fire continued to smolder underground for about a week, even after Los Angeles firefighters believed it had been extinguished.
Flames reignited on Jan. 7, erupting into the deadly Palisades Fire that killed 12 people and destroyed thousands of homes in the upscale community, authorities said.
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A courtroom sketch of Jonathan Rinderknecht, 29, during his initial court appearance on Oct. 23, 2025. (Bill Robles) -
The U.S. Dept. of Justice booking photo of Jonathan Rinderknecht over the Palisades Fire devastation in Malibu, California in January 2025 (AP).
Prosecutors argued that Rinderknecht deliberately set the fire, claiming he had grown increasingly resentful of wealthy residents and viewed Pacific Palisades as a symbol of that frustration.
“Their case, though circumstantial, is strong,” KTLA legal analyst Alison Triessl said. “The defense is relying on, can they (prosecutors) show beyond a reasonable doubt that Mr. Rinderknecht actually started this fire and it wasn’t the result of fireworks or some intervening cause.”
The defense argued there is no direct physical evidence tying Rinderknecht to the fire and said the prosecution’s case relies entirely on circumstantial evidence. Rinderknecht did not testify during the trial.
Defense attorney Steve Haney spoke outside the courthouse Wednesday about why he believes it will be difficult for prosecutors to prove how the fire started.
“The lack of scene preservation. The fact that they got there after a lot of the evidence was missing. Not a lot of direct evidence. This is a circumstantial case, which is always difficult as a prosecutor to prove,” Haney said.
Rinderknecht, who was arrested and indicted last October, faces up to 45 years in prison if found guilty of three arson counts, including destruction of property by means of fire, arson affecting property used in interstate commerce and timber set afire.
Tony Kurzweil contributed to this report
Los Angeles, Ca
Boyle Heights warehouse cleanup begins as crews face 85 million pounds of spoiled food
Cleanup efforts are underway Thursday at the Boyle Heights cold-storage warehouse that burned for eight days after firefighters officially declared the massive blaze knocked down Wednesday evening. Los Angeles Fire Department crews remain at the Lineage warehouse near Union Pacific Avenue and South La Puente Street as they transition into the overhaul phase, searching for […]
A hospital needs help identifying a male patient who was found injured and unconscious in downtown Los Angeles.
The man is believed to be in his 30s, according to the Los Angeles General Medical Center.
He was found injured on the ground on Omar Street and has been hospitalized since June 22.
He stands 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighs 176 pounds. He has brown eyes, dark brown hair and tattoos across his upper body.
He did not have any personal belongings to help staff identify him or contact loved ones. Workers did not disclose the nature of his injuries.
Anyone who recognizes the man is asked to call clinical social worker Cesar Robles at 323-409-6885.
The public can also call the L.A. General Medical Center’s Department of Social Work at 323-409-5253 or, after hours from 5 p.m. to 8 a.m., call 323-409-6883. On weekends, call 323-409-5254.
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