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DA reverses decision, charges Long Beach sexual assault suspect with felony

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:26 GMT

The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office has reversed course and opted to file felony charges against a man suspected of sexually assaulting a woman on a Long Beach sidewalk last month.Miguel Avila, 30, was initially charged with a misdemeanor for his alleged assault of a woman who was walking on the 140 block of Linden Avenue on Oct. 20.Video of the attack showed the victim walking down the street when the suspect, later identified as Avila, gets up from the sidewalk, begins following the woman and grabs her from behind, exposing himself as she falls to the ground. Surveillance video shows the victim walking alone when her attacker, who was sitting on the sidewalk, stands up, exposes himself, and grabs the woman from behind. Oct. 20, 2023. A good Samaritan then intervenes and scares the attacker off. Avila was eventually arrested not far from the scene of the attack.The misdemeanor filing drew outrage from members of the public, as well as the victim herself, who said she ...

2 alligators seized from squatters in San Bernardino

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:26 GMT

Two small alligators have been relocated to an animal sanctuary after they were found at a home inhabited by squatters in San Bernardino, authorities said.The gators were seized last Thursday when San Bernardino police visited a home on Santa Fe Street. Original reports that they were found at a homeless encampment were incorrect.With the assistance of California Fish and Wildlife experts, the alligators were eventually transported to Forever Wild Exotic Animal Sanctuary, a non-profit sanctuary located in Phelan.One of two alligators seized from a homeless encampment in San Bernardino, Calif. Nov. 2023 (City of San Bernardino)One of two alligators seized from a homeless encampment in San Bernardino, Calif. Nov. 2023 (City of San Bernardino)One of two alligators seized from a homeless encampment in San Bernardino, Calif. Nov. 2023 (City of San Bernardino)“They’re not in the best of shape. They had some white paint on them. Their skin is not in the best condition,” Joel Alquist, the s...

SAG-AFTRA negotiators may reach a deal with studio execs soon

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:26 GMT

After 113 days on the picket lines, the end of the SAG-AFTRA strike could finally be in sight as negotiators are reportedly in the home stretch of finalizing a deal. On Friday, SAG-AFTRA members were on standby waiting to hear from studio executives on their most recent counter-proposal. “It could be over soon,” said Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, the national executive director and chief negotiator of SAG-AFTRA. "The focus today is trying to bring this deal home, and the fact is, there are still some issues between us. We're waiting for a response from the studios and streamers, but I am hopeful."In what could be the final hours for picketing, Crabtree-Ireland told KTLA that he met with studio executives up until 9 p.m. Thursday evening, but the studios and streamers have not responded to the union’s counter-proposal since then. Both sides seem frustrated and unwilling to budge on the use of artificial intelligence. "These are really important things that we're out here fighting for,” Cr...

Lawsuit filed after girl beaten at L.A. McDonald's

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:26 GMT

Editor's note: This article has been updated to include a previous statement from the McDonald's franchisee.LOS ANGELES - The mother of a 13-year-old girl who was attacked by a woman inside a Harbor City McDonald's is suing the suspect and the restaurant, her attorney announced on Friday.Video captured the incident on Sept. 6 when police say Ariana Lauifi, 32, punched and kicked Kassidy Jones in front of many witnesses and McDonald's staff near the order counter.Her attacker only stopped when a man she was with pulled her away, the video shows. Jones was bloodied and suffered bruises to her face. The family's attorney,Toni Jaramilla, says she also suffered "long-lasting emotional injury."Video of 13-year-old Kassidy Jones getting beaten by an unknown woman inside a Harbor City McDonald's on Sept. 6, 2023. (Angelina Gray)Lauifi was arrested several weeks later and faces charges of felony child abuse. "McDonald’s had a duty to provide a safe environment for its customers and...

I-5 to be fully closed for 4 miles in Southern California

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:26 GMT

A full closure of a section of the 5 Freeway in the Santa Clarita Valley has been announced ahead of the demolition of the Weldon Canyon Road bridge over the weekend. Drivers from Fresno County going to Los Angeles County are advised to take detours.The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority and the California Department of Transportation say they will fully close both northbound and southbound directions of Interstate 5 Golden State Freeway from Calgrove Boulevard to Highway 14, from Saturday, Nov. 4 at 8 p.m. to Sunday, Nov. 5 at 8 a.m. The section is around four miles long.Motorists are warned to expect delays and consider taking alternate routes during these closure periods. The recommended detours are:Northbound: Exit I-5 to northbound Highway 14, continue to westbound Golden Valley Road/Newhall Ranch Road, and proceed to the Newhall Ranch Road I-5 on-ramp.Alternate northbound detour: Exit I-5 to northbound Highway 14, continue to westbound Newhall Avenue, rig...

An Oakley woman insisted she would never deliberately crash the car with her kids inside, killing her son. But her daughter had been filming, police say

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:26 GMT

OAKLEY — In the aftermath of the crash that killed 21-year-old Edward Morgan, his mother granted a police interview in which she tried to explain how her blue Chrysler PT Cruiser had veered off the roadway as it travelled eastbound on Highway 4.Yes, been drinking earlier in the evening at a Mother’s Day celebration with her family in Oakland, 44-year-old Latyna Morgan allegedly told police. And yes, she’d smoked marijuana at the start of dinner too. But she insisted she had no memory of the actual crash, and that she’d certainly never have driven off the road intentionally, she said.California Highway Patrol officers on the scene had already smelled alcohol on Latyna Morgan at the scene of the crash that night, where Edward Morgan was killed and the car’s other four occupants, including Latyna herself, were injured. But days later, when police downloaded the contents of one of the children’s cellphone, the investigation took a drastic turn.The vid...

Photos: Wild coyote lounges on San Francisco home's couch

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:26 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- A San Francisco homeowner woke up and found a wild coyote sleeping on an outdoor patio couch this week. The resident called San Francisco animal control officers out of concern that the animal was injured or unwell. As it turns out, the coyote was just super comfortable lounging on plush furniture and was in good health, Animal Care & Control San Francisco Officer Mullen said.Mullen wrote, "I was called out to a residence to check on one of my favorite species of San Francisco urban wildlife, a coyote. The animal was reluctant to move when the resident approached."(Image courtesy Animal Care & Control San Francisco)Officer Mullen said he talked to the sleepy couch coyote.(Image courtesy Animal Care & Control San Francisco)The coyote was "comfortably resting on a couch. I approached the coyote and started talking to him, telling him that it was time to get up. He looked at me, got up, took a big stretch and made his way to the edge of the yard. He was movi...

Direct deposits delayed for some across US due to ACH banking system issue

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:26 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- Some people are not getting their paychecks Friday due to a banking system issue. Deposits are reportedly delayed at multiple banks across the U.S.The Federal Reserve is reporting an issue with the Automated Clearing House, which is the primary system agencies use for electronic funds transfers. Customers of Bank of America, Chase, U.S. Bank, Wells Fargo and other banks have been reporting issues with deposits on X, formally Twitter, and Downdetector. FOX31 Newsletters: Sign up to get breaking news sent to your inbox A spokesperson for ACH operator The Clearing House told The Hill that there was a "processing issue" with a single file that affected less than 1% of the daily ACH volume across the country.Both Chase and Bank of America gave statements to CNN, confirming that some deposits may be delayed.Banks reassured customers on Friday. “Customer accounts remain secure, and balances will be updated when deposits are received. We do not have an estimate on timing...

Ex-martial arts pro takes down knife-wielding man caught cracking car window in Cutler Bay

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:26 GMT

A former martial arts fighter spotted a crime in progress involving his car and turned the tables on a knife-wielding man in Cutler Bay, a parking lot confrontation that was caught on camera.Speaking with 7News on Friday, Javier Baez said he had spotted the assailant cracking his car window, just before 5 a.m. on Wednesday.Baez said he told the man, who was holding a 12-by-14-inch knife, that he was calling the police.“I tried to talk him down, and I tried not to tell him to leave, and then I told him I was going to call the cops,” said Baez, “and he got mad, and he rushed me with the knife.”The security footage captured what happened next.Baez was quick to his feet and knocked the assailant knife to the ground.“I just threw him. It was all so fast, some of it escapes my head,” he said.If Baez made the takedown look easy, that’s because he was a professional fighter for about 10 years.He has since retired, but Baez said he still trains and c...

Fairhaven runs down Winthrop, 35-21

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:26 GMT

FAIRHAVEN – It took a few years as Fairhaven was getting used to playing on the road in the playoffs, but everyone loves a little home cooking.The No. 8 Blue Devils (8-1) remained undefeated on their home turf with a 35-21 victory over No. 9 Winthrop in the Div. 6 round of 16 state playoffs.Justin Marques shook off a second-quarter leg injury to rush for 200 yards on the dot on 38 carries and the junior fullback added four of the five rushing touchdowns for the Blue Devils. Marques was the workhorse for the Blue Devils, but it was quarterback Jayce Duarte with the two crucial carries for Fairhaven down the stretch along with key runs from Aaron Lague and Chase Fano.“He made a lot of great reads, some good runs, and our ‘A’ backs didn’t get a lot of carries, but they blocked on every play, ” said Fairhaven head coach Derek Almeida. “When we called their number – they made some good runs too but I’m just really proud of our group and our coaching staff worked really hard.”Both t...