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Los Angeles, Ca

Suspected child sex predator arrested in Riverside County

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Suspected child sex predator arrested in Riverside County

A man was arrested after allegedly trying to pick up a 14-year-old girl for sex in Southern California.

The suspect was identified as Laith Fathi Sikta, 44, from Sacramento, according to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department.

Authorities completed a month-long undercover operation focusing on suspects soliciting sex from minors online.

During the investigation, Sikta had been communicating with someone he believed to be a 14-year-old girl who, in reality, was an undercover officer. 

Plans were made to meet up with the suspect. On Aug. 30, Sikta drove from Sacramento to Murrieta believing he would pick up the young girl in the middle of the night. 

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When Sikta arrived, he was immediately taken into custody by deputies. Cannabis was also located in his vehicle, authorities said.

Laith Fathi Sikta, 44, a Sacramento resident. (Riverside County Sheriff’s Department)

Sikta was arrested on multiple charges including contacting a minor with the intent to have sex, sending harmful matter through electronic means to a minor, and offering to furnish cannabis to a minor.

The incident remains under investigation. 

Anybody with information on the case is encouraged to call Deputy Au or Lead Investigator Roberge at the Southwest Sheriff Station at 951-696–3000.

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Los Angeles, Ca

Millions of dollars worth of counterfeit luxury goods found in downtown L.A. bust

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Millions of dollars worth of counterfeit luxury goods found in downtown L.A. bust

Authorities discovered millions of dollars worth of counterfeit luxury goods in a downtown Los Angeles bust.

On May 14, detectives from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department executed a search warrant at two locations — a retail store in the 500 Block of South Los Angeles Street and a commercial warehouse in the 500 Block of Main Street.

Inside the warehouse, deputies found a significant amount of counterfeit luxury merchandise. In total, the retail value of the goods was estimated between $5 million and $10 million.

  • Authorities discovered a warehouse filled with counterfeit luxury goods worth an estimated $5-$10 million in a downtown Los Angeles bust operation on May 14, 2026. (Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department)

Two unidentified suspects, a man and a woman, were taken into custody. 

“This remains an active investigation,” LASD said. “Additional arrests or charges are possible as the case progresses.”

Anyone with information on the case is asked to call LASD’s Major Crimes Bureau’s Tip Line at 562-946-7893. 

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Anonymous tips can be provided to L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at lacrimestoppers.org.

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Los Angeles, Ca

Early morning Montebello fire leaves resident critically injured

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Early morning Montebello fire leaves resident critically injured

At least one person was critically injured in a house fire that erupted in Montebello early Thursday morning.

Crews responded to the blaze engulfing a detached unit in the 100 block of South 5th Street near West Whittier Boulevard around 5 a.m.

Flames quickly spread to a nearby electrical pole, blowing a fuse and knocking out power in the area. Sparks could be seen as a loud pop was heard in a Citizen.com video later obtained by KTLA.

A house fire in Montebello sparked a nearby electrical pole on May 14, 2026. (Citizen.com)

At least one person was believed to be in critical condition due to burn injuries, though officials have not released further details.

There was no immediate word on a possible cause of the fire.

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A neighbor told KTLA that three people lived inside the home, including a child.

This is a developing story.

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Los Angeles, Ca

Deputies reveal what led to violent L.A. County bus crash that injured 13 people

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Deputies reveal what led to violent L.A. County bus crash that injured 13 people

Authorities revealed new details Wednesday afternoon about the violent Santa Clarita crash involving a city transit bus, an overturned semi truck and two other vehicles that left 13 people injured.

According to the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station, the driver of a semi truck hauling a full load of gravel may have been traveling as fast as 70 mph when the vehicle approached a yellow light at the intersection of Golden Valley Road and Centre Pointe Parkway around 9:30 a.m.

Investigators said the driver then attempted to make a right turn to avoid running the red light before crashing into the bus and two passenger vehicles.

“[The driver] tried to make a right-hand turn to avoid running the red light and then crashed into the bus and the other two passenger vehicles,” Capt. Brandon Barclay of the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station told KTLA.

Officials noted that the speed limit on Golden Valley Road is 50 mph.

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Sky5 aerial footage showed the heavily damaged Santa Clarita Transit bus pushed onto a curb while the semi truck overturned nearby, and another vehicle appeared pinned beneath the front right side of the bus.

“When you look at it, it looks like a scene from Universal CityWalk,” Barclay said.

Authorities said 13 people were injured in the crash.

One passenger seated in the back of the bus had to be freed using the Jaws of Life and remained hospitalized in critical condition Wednesday afternoon, KTLA’s Angeli Kakade reported.

Seven additional people were transported to hospitals while five others declined medical treatment at the scene.

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“You have a bus that was hit by a semi truck, so it’s very impactful for this community,” Barclay added.

  • Santa Clarita city bus crash
  • Santa Clarita city bus crash
  • Santa Clarita city bus crash
  • Santa Clarita city bus crash
  • Santa Clarita city bus crash
  • Santa Clarita city bus crash

Former Santa Clarita transit bus driver Darryl Richardson said he was stunned when he saw the aftermath of the crash.

“I know how a person feels to see a big old truck coming right at you,” Richardson told KTLA. “Thank God if it had broadsided the driver, we’d be talking about a different conversation right now.”

The City of Santa Clarita said road closures around the crash scene were expected to continue for several hours as deputies investigated what led up to the collision.

All directions of Centre Pointe Parkway between Golden Valley Road and Ruether Avenue remained closed Wednesday afternoon. Eastbound Golden Valley Road was also shut down from Robert C. Lee Parkway to Centre Pointe Parkway.

Drivers were urged to avoid the area and use alternate routes.

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The crash remains under investigation.

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