 Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor LOS ANGELES - The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department announced the November 8 arrest of a man accused of rape, extortion and more after reportedly luring his victims through Instagram.
Michael Watson Jr, 21, pleaded not guilty to 16 felony counts, including rape by force or fear, robbery, assault with a firearm, unlawful sex with a minor, attempted extortion and grand theft, according to Los Angeles County Superior Court records. Four of his alleged victims are minors. The alleged crimes date back to as far as February 2021 when Watson was invited to a home in Walnut by two women he met through Instagram. He allegedly raped one woman and took their cellphones, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Watson allegedly attempted to extort money from one of the women by posting nude images he found on a cellphone. Investigators used DNA evidence to tie Watson to 12 other incidents in other cities, including Los Angeles, Inglewood, Hollywood and East Los Angeles, using Instagram to lure his other victims, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Investigators from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Special Victims Bureau and the Inglewood Police Department will discuss more details of this investigation in a November 30 press conference at 2 p.m.  Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor EAST LOS ANGELES - A known gang member who reportedly frequents the West Covina area is being sought for an April 18 shooting in East Los Angeles the left three people wounded, investigators said.
Investigators are searching for Edward Figueroa, who is a member of the Harpys 13 gang. An argument inside a bar located in the 5200 block of Pomona Boulevard in East Los Angeles led to Figueroa reportedly revealing a handgun and opening fire, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Figueroa is known to carry a weapon and should be considered armed and dangerous. Anyone with information on Figueroa’s whereabouts is urged to call the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Operation Safe Streets bureau at 323-264-4151. Information can be provided anonymously by calling LA Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), through the P3Tips mobile app, or lacrimestoppers.org.  Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor LOS ANGELES - Authorities hope a combined $35,000 reward will encourage people to provide information leading to the arrest and conviction of a man who critically shot a Metro L Line train operator January 29.
The train operator was shot at least two times at the Indiana L Line Station in East Los Angeles around 4:11 a.m. The suspect walked up to the front of the train as it stopped and fired twice. The suspect ran after the operator fleeing through the train and opened fire again, injuring the operator, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Information Bureau. The motive in the shooting is either unknown, or has yet to be publicly shared. The suspect fled on foot northbound off the platform and west on Gleason Avenue, the Sheriff’s Information Bureau said. The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority authorized a $25,000 reward. Hilda Solis, Los Angeles County Board Supervisor and Metro 1st Vice Chair, has contributed $10,000 to the reward. Anyone with information on the shooting is urged to call the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Transit Services Detective Bureau at 323-563-5041 to speak with Detective Allen. Information can be provided anonymously by calling LA Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), through the P3Tips mobile app, or at lacrimestoppers.org.  Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor EAST LOS ANGELES - A Sig Alert has been issued for all lanes of the north and south 710 freeway south of Whittier Boulevard after fallen cables have caused traffic to come to a halt. The California Highway Patrol is reporting drivers who are not stuck are exiting the freeway on nearby onramps. At least one vehicle may have been damaged by the falling cables. Construction is being done in the area. A crane operator became trapped by the fallen cables until he was freed from his equipment, according to the CHP.
An off-duty Sheriff’s deputy reported that some of the wire are sparking, the CHP said. It is unclear if all the fallen cables are live power lines. CHP officers report traffic signals around the 710 and 60 freeways are out.  Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor LOS ANGELES - Sheriff’s homicide detectives announced the arrest of two men involved on the fatal shooting of Rene Lupian.
Abraham Julianny Cabrera, a 19-year-old Alhambra man, and Wayne Andrew Seare Jr., a 20-year-old Montebello man, were both arrested December 21. Cabrera is the accused gunman, while Seare is the second suspect wanted in connection with the killing, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau. Rene Lupian, 22, from Montebello, was robbed while walking home from an East Los Angeles In N Out restaurant November 7, 2018 around 10:30 p.m. After leaving a liquor store, he was met by an armed man who exited a white compact car in the 900 block of Concourse Avenue. Lupian surrendered a backpack, but refused to surrender a sentimental gold chain. “It appears that Rene gave-up a backpack he was carrying but resisted giving a gold chain and cross that was given to him by his grandmother as a keepsake,” said Homicide Bureau Captain Christopher Bergner. The suspect shot Lupian and fled into the waiting car. Lupian later died at a hospital. Minutes before the fatal shooting, a female passenger of the car was inside the same liquor store where Lupian entered and left a short time after he arrived. Sheriff’s Homicide detectives later located and identified her through surveillance footage, but have yet to identify her role in the shooting. Seare is being held in lieu of $2.1 million bail. Cabrera is being held without bail.  PHOTO/A still image of suspect Manuel Ortiz taken from a security camera. Courtesy of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor LOS ANGELES - The victim in a highly-publicized stabbing aboard a Montebello Bus Lines route stabbed April 8 died after a nearly two-month fight for his life.
The unnamed victim was stabbed aboard a bus in the 5700 block of Whittier Boulevard around 3:40 p.m. Three days later, Manuel Ortiz, 27, was arrested April 12 and booked in connection to the stabbing. A motive remains unknown, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Ortiz, a Los Angeles County transient, was arrested after being contacted by members of the public. In the wake of the victim’s death, Ortiz’s charges were upgraded to first-degree murder. His bail was set at $2 million. “It was a savage attack and one that caused us great concern,” said Los Angeles County Sheriff Jim McDonnell. “It was seemingly unprovoked, as the suspect walked towards the front of the bus, pulled a knife and stabbed the victim multiple times.” |
Archives
January 2024
Categories
All
|
RSS Feed