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Los Angeles, Ca

This Southern California beach city says it will 'vigorously' protect coast from surf gang

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This Southern California beach city says it will 'vigorously' protect coast from surf gang

It’s been years since beachgoers have been able to catch some waves at Lunada Bay in Rancho Palos Verdes without fear of being harassed. Now, the city is trying to take its beach back.

Lunada Bay was infamously taken over by a local gang, the Bay Boys, who engaged in a turf war to ensure that only gang members can surf at the beach. Tactics included the construction of a stone fort, which stood for years, where members allegedly launched rocks from in the direction of innocent surfers.

While that fort was torn down in 2016, harassment persisted. Local surfers have long accused the city of Rancho Palos Verdes of avoiding the issue, but that’s all about to change, officials say.

This week the city announced the settlement of a long-standing lawsuit brought against the city for the alleged lack of action against the Bay Boys. The settlement, which doesn’t affirm any claims made by plaintiffs, is eight years in the making.

The lawsuit was originally filed in 2016 by Cory Spencer and Diana Miernik, according to the Los Angeles Times. The two surfers said the Bay Boys slashed car tires and started fist fights will beachgoers.

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In settling the lawsuit, the city agreed to do the following:

  • Add stone benches in key points along the Lunada Bay bluffs, similar to benches in other coastal areas of the City.
  • Improve the existing pathway along the Lunada Bay bluffs.
  • Add simple signage to assist with navigation and to ensure the public is aware that the beach access at Lunada Bay is available to everyone.

“This settlement resolves the matter with the addition of modest amenities, which will be designed to maintain the natural feel of the blufftop, and a promise that the City will continue to vigorously enforce the laws protecting coastal access,” said The city’s legal counsel, Christopher Pisano with Best Best and Krieger, LLP. “This is a win for the City given the structure of the beach access laws and the uncertainty of the legal outcome.”

Visitors have said that a group of locals called the Bay Boys hold forth in this “fort” and discourage outsiders from surfing in Lunada Bay. (Credit: Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)

The city will also pay the plaintiffs’ legal fees, of which the amount will be decided by a judge at a later date.

“There is no doubt residents who have been tracking this matter for years will either be relieved or frustrated by this outcome,” said Rancho Palos Verdes Mayor Dawn Murdock. “The City has been through a rollercoaster of rulings on this lawsuit, and as we looked into the future, we simply saw nothing but more legal fees and uncertainty. Our focus needs to be on resident priorities and it’s good to no longer have this matter consuming valuable resources.”

According to the Times, the lawsuit also listed 12 Bay Boys members as defendants. They each settled separately.

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Los Angeles, Ca

Vehicle, 2 occupants plunge into crowded Southern California harbor

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Vehicle, 2 occupants plunge into crowded Southern California harbor

Two people were taken to the hospital after a vehicle they were inside plunged into the harbor Sunday night in Marina Del Rey, officials confirmed to KTLA.  

Details are limited and It’s unclear exactly how the incident occurred, but authorities with the Los Angeles County Fire Department responded to 4675 Admiralty Way just after 6 p.m. on reports of the vehicle in the water.  

L.A. County Fire Department Public Information Officer Marco Rodriguez said the two occupants were able to get themselves out of the vehicle after it went into the water.  

Both were examined by medical personnel with the fire department and taken to a nearby hospital in unknown condition.  

Rodriguez said that two L.A. County Lifeguard divers were deployed to ensure there were no other occupants trapped in the vehicle.  

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  • Car into Marina del Rey harbor
  • Car into Marina del Rey harbor
  • Car into Marina del Rey harbor
  • Car into Marina del Rey harbor
  • Car into Marina del Rey harbor
  • Car into Marina del Rey harbor
  • Car into Marina del Rey harbor

A witness, Johnny Hamcheck, told KTLA that a third person, a woman, exited the vehicle before it went into water, though officials did not confirm that detail.  

Footage of the recovery effort showed crews attaching large yellow floating devices to the vehicle as it was anchored to a crane and eventually pulled out of the water and loaded onto a tow truck.  

The vehicle showed heavy front-end damage, presumably from crashing through the steel railing and into the water.  

An investigation into the crash is ongoing and no further details were provided.  

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Los Angeles, Ca

Armed robbers hit couple in broad daylight on high-end Beverly Hills street

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Armed robbers hit couple in broad daylight on high-end Beverly Hills street

Two people were hospitalized after a broad daylight armed robbery on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills Sunday, police confirmed to KTLA.  

Officers with the Beverly Hills Police Department responded to the 400 block of North Rodeo Drive, at the intersection of Brighton Way just before 1:30 p.m. on reports of the incident.  

According to a BHPD news release, a man and a woman were waiting outside a boutique when they were approached by four suspects, one of whom pulled out a gun during a physical altercation between the victims and the suspects.  

“During the altercation, the suspects forcibly took two designer handbags – one from each victim – containing cash and cellphones,” police said. “One cellphone was recovered nearby. The suspects also attempted to steal the male victim’s jewelry but were unsuccessful.”  

  • Beverly Hills armed robbery
  • Beverly Hills armed robbery
  • Beverly Hills armed robbery
  • Beverly Hills armed robbery

In video of a portion of the incident obtained by KTLA, four suspects all wearing dark clothing and hooded sweatshirts can be seen running from the scene. At least one of the suspects has an item, possibly one of the handbags, in his hands.  

The crew was last seen running up Rodeo Drive and ducking into an alleyway. 

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It is unclear if anyone was injured, but the male victim was seen on the ground as the victim and another person knelt over him, one of which was yelling for help.  

Medical personnel with the Beverly Hills Fire Department responded to the incident, but authorities said the man and woman sought their own medical attention at a local hospital.

Their conditions were not immediately available.

An investigation into the robbery remains ongoing and anyone with information is urged to contact BHPD at 310-285-2125. Those wishing to remain anonymous can call the L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers Hotline at 800-222-8477 or leave tips online at www.lacrimestoppers.com.  

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Los Angeles, Ca

Authorities searching for at-risk missing teen last seen in Lancaster

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Authorities searching for at-risk missing teen last seen in Lancaster

Authorities in Los Angeles County are searching for a teenage girl they say could be at risk.

According to the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department, 13-year-old Aleah Ashley Salgado was last seen at 11 p.m. Friday night on the 3000 block of East Avenue H-2 in Lancaster.

Authorities say her family is concerned for her well being.

Salgado was described as Hispanic, 5-foot-4 and 120 pounds, with long black wavy hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing a black T-shirt, grey sweatpants and black shoes.

Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, Lancaster Station at 661-948-8466.

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