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NORWALK -- NORWALK -- Officials in Long Beach Friday morning found a man convicted of stalking entertainer Madonna who walked away from Metropolitan State Hospital in Norwalk last week, officials said.
Robert Hoskins, 54, was "located and en route back to the hospital," Los Angeles County sheriff's Lt. Pat Valdez said.
He walked away Feb. 3 from a non-secured area of the facility, 11401 Bloomfield Ave., where he was committed last year, officials said.
"The Long Beach Police Department transported the patient back to MSH where the patient is being housed in the hospital's high-security compound," MSH hospital spokesman Alonzo Townsell said. "MSH cannot release any specific information about patients due to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act."
While the search for Hoskins was ongoing, Los Angeles police officials, in a written statement, described him as, "highly psychotic when not taking his medication," and had, "very violent tendencies."
Hoskins served a 10-year prison sentence for stalking and threatening Madonna after being convicted by a jury in 1996. The singer reluctantly testified against the man, who was shot by her personal security after he jumped the fence of her Hollywood Hills home.
"Upon his release from prison Hoskins also completed a stay at Atascadero State Hospital where he was determined to be a Mentally Disturbed Offender," according to the LAPD statement. Within about a year of being released from Atascadero, he had an additional police contact in July 2011 that resulted in his arrest and eventually being placed in Metropolitan State Hospital."
Court records indicate the July, 2011 arrest resulted in a conviction for vandalism.
Authorities had been searching the Long Beach and Paramount areas, where Hoskins was believed to have ties, officials said.
Hoskins was found in by Long Beach police about 9 a.m., police and sheriff's officials said.
"Officers in the area of South Street and Cherry Avenue in Long Beach saw a male subject matching the physical description of subject Hoskins walking down the street," sheriff's Capt. Mike Parker said. "Officers made contact with the subject, confirmed his identity to be that of Robert Hoskins, and took him into custody without incident or injury."
In addition to Madonna, Hoskins has also reportedly made threats against actress Halle Berry, contributing to her decision to ask a judge for permission to move herself and her daughter to France.
- The Associated Press contributed to this report.
NORWALK -- A 25-year-old Bell Gardens man was shot in the elbow by another man who asked him where he was from Tuesday night.
The sheriff's Norwalk Station got wind of the shooting at Flatbush Avenue and Foster Road from a 9-1-1 call at 9:45 p.m.
Sheriff's Sgt. Maybury said the suspect walked up to the Bell Gardens man.
After asking the victim where he was from, the suspect said, "This is Norwalk" and shot him, according to Maybury.
The suspect left in a black Honda Civic which was last seen eastbound on Foster Road. A description of the shooter wasn't available Tuesday night.
The sergeant said the victim was taken to a hospital and treated.
- Ruby Gonzales
NORWALK -- An man armed with a handgun robbed a woman of her engagement ring and earrings Tuesday, officials said.
The robbery took place about 11:50 a.m. to the rear of a 99 Cents Only Store on Pioneer Boulevard near Rosecrans Avenue, Los Angeles County sheriff's Sgt. Mike Mendoza said.
The woman was approached by the robber who displayed small black handgun tucked into his waistband and demanded the woman's white gold and diamond engagement ring and earrings, the sergeant said. The woman complied and the robber ran off.
Officials described the robber as a Latino man of about 20 to 25 years old, of skinny build, with a shaved head, a goatee and a black hooded sweat shirt. He had an "LA" tattoo on the right side of his neck and lips tattooed on the other side.
Anyone with information is asked to call the sheriff's Norwalk Station.
NORWALK -- Deputies sought two men -- including one with a tattooed face -- who seriously wounded another man in a shooting Wednesday, authorities said.
Deputies responded to the shooting about 2:20 p.m. on Domart Avenue, just south of Imperial Highway, Los Angeles County sheriff's Lt. Bill Evans said.
The victim, a man in his 50s, had been shot several times and was flown to a trauma center by helicopter for treatment, Evans said. An update on his condition was not available.
Officials initially described the attackers as two Latino men between 18 and 20 years old, one with some type of tattoo on his face. They both wore blue jeans and Los Angeles Dodgers jackets -- one blue and one black.
A motive in the shooting had not been determined, and the investigation was ongoing.
NORWALK -- Deputies are looking for the armed man who a witness reported carjacked and kidnapped a woman Tuesday night, authorities said.
The carjacking was reported at 10:36 p.m. at Studebaker Road and the 105 Freeway.
Sheriff's Lt. Frank Rivera said a witness saw a man with a gun jump into a silver Nissan that was stopped at Studebaker Road. He said the woman driving the Nissan was getting ready to enter the freeway when she was carjacked.
The woman rolled down her car window and yelled, "Help, he's got a gun," Lt. Bill Evans said.
The car was last seen heading westbound on the freeway followed by a black BMW. Rivera said the witness thinks the gunman came from the BMW.
Sheriff's officials had received no reports of a woman going missing Wednesday morning, Evans said.
NORWALK -- Deputies jailed a man and woman late Tuesday after they carjacked, bound, robbed and kidnapped a man, officials said.
Benny Rios, 22, of Norwalk was being held in lieu of $1 million bail in connection with the incident, and Jacqueline Alvarez, 22, of Norwalk, was being held without bail, according to county booking records.
Los Angeles County sheriff's gang investigators are handling the investigation, Lt. Bill Evans said.
The alleged victim, a man in his 30s, was approached by the Rios, Alvarez and two other unidentified suspects about 8:30 p.m. in the 15100 block of Lefloss Avenue, the lieutenant said.
The suspects tied the victim up, forced him into his Honda Accord, robbed him and drove him a short distance before kicking him out of the car a short distance away, officials said.
The man freed himself from his bindings and went home, Evans said.
A deputy spotted Rios and Alvarez in the carjacked Honda later that night and arrested them without a struggle, authorities said.
Two other suspects in the incident remained at large, Evans said. They were described only as Latino men, one in his early 30s and the other in his early- to mid-40s.
The apparently gang-related crime remained under investigation, Evans said.
According to county records, Rios and Alvarez were due for arraignment Friday in Bellflower Superior Court.
NORWALK -- Authorities Friday released the name who was shot and wounded by deputies after allegedly shooting at them earlier this week.
Arthur Bates Jr., 39, of Norwalk has been booked on suspicion of attempted murder of a police officer, according to sheriff's officials and county booking records.
Bates was wounded by deputies early Tuesday in the 11700 block of Elmcroft Avenue, Los Angeles County sheriff's Sgt. Bill Evans said.
Deputies responded to reports of a man shooting a handgun in the street when they encountered Bates, who was clutching a gun in one hand and a bottle of alcohol in the other, officials said.
After urging deputies to kill him, he fired toward them, striking a patrol car, Sgt. Pauline Panis said.
Several deputies returned fire, wounding Bates, officials said. Bates was treated at a hospital before being booked.
According to county booking records, he was being held in lieu of $1 million bail.
Arthur Bates Jr., 39, of Norwalk has been booked on suspicion of attempted murder of a police officer, according to sheriff's officials and county booking records.
Bates was wounded by deputies early Tuesday in the 11700 block of Elmcroft Avenue, Los Angeles County sheriff's Sgt. Bill Evans said.
Deputies responded to reports of a man shooting a handgun in the street when they encountered Bates, who was clutching a gun in one hand and a bottle of alcohol in the other, officials said.
After urging deputies to kill him, he fired toward them, striking a patrol car, Sgt. Pauline Panis said.
Several deputies returned fire, wounding Bates, officials said. Bates was treated at a hospital before being booked.
According to county booking records, he was being held in lieu of $1 million bail.
NORWALK -- Coroner's officials Friday released the name of a Norwalk man shot to death by sheriff's deputies during a SWAT raid in which a murder suspect was arrested.
Emiliano Esteban Amaya, 39, was pronounced dead at the scene of the 4:50 a.m. shooting in the 11400 block of Pioneer Boulevard, Los Angeles County Department of Coroner's Assistant Chief of Operations Ed Winter said.
A sheriff's SWAT team had gone to the home to serve an arrest warrant on Henry Bahema, 30, of Norwalk, who is suspected in the July 31 shooting death Rogelio Sanchez, 31, of Norwalk, authorities said.
When the deputies arrived, they encountered both Bahema and Amaya, Lt. Matt Burson of the Sheriff's Homicide Bureau said.
Amaya pointed a gun at the deputies, and they shot him, Burson said. Bahema was arrested without further incident.
NORWALK - Sheriff's SWAT team members shot and killed a man early Thursday as they arrested a suspect in a fatal shooting earlier this year, authorities said.
The dead man's name was not released pending positive identification and notification of his family members, Los Angeles County Department of Coroner Assistant Chief of Operations Ed Winter said. Sheriff's officials initially described him as a 39-year-old Norwalk man.
The shooting took place about 4:50a.m. in the 11400 block of Pioneer Boulevard, Los Angeles County sheriff's Sgt. Diane Hecht said in a written statement.
Investigators had identified Henry Balema, 30, of Norwalk as a suspect in the July 31 shooting death of 31-year-old Rogelio Sanchez, Lt. Matt Burson of the Sheriff's Homicide Bureau said.
"(SWAT) deputies were serving an arrest warrant," the lieutenant said. "They encountered the primary individual and a second person armed with a gun."
The armed man pointed his weapon at the deputies, at which point they shot him, Burson said. The man was pronounced dead at the scene, where a gun was also recovered.
Bahema is suspected of shooting Sanchez twice, killing him, in an alley behind Sanchez's home in the 11900 block of Pioneer Boulevard, five blocks south of Thursday's deputy-involved shooting an arrest, investigators said.
Little information has been released about the homicide, which Burson son is believed to be gang-related.
Thursday's incident was the second deputy-involved shooting in Norwalk in the past three days.
Deputies shot and wounded a man who threatened them with a handgun early Tuesday, sheriff's officials said.
That shooting occurred about 3:50 a.m. in the 11700 block of Elmcroft Avenue as deputies responded to reports of a man firing a gun in the street, according to sheriff's Sgt. Pauline Panis.
"Upon arrival, the deputies made contact with the suspect, who was standing in the street holding a handgun in one hand and a bottle of alcohol in the other," she said. "The suspect appeared agitated and yelled at the deputies, challenging them to kill him. The deputies attempted to talk to the suspect and asked him to drop the handgun."
The man instead raised his weapon and fired at the deputies, striking a patrol car, officials said. The deputies returned fire, striking the man several times.
The man, whose name has not been released pending booking, was taken to a hospital where he was listed in stable condition, officials said.
NORWALK -- Deputies shot and wounded a man early Tuesday after he opened fire on them with a handgun, authorities said.
The shooting took place after three deputies responded to a 9-1-1 call reporting a man with a gun about 3:40 a.m. in a residential cul-de-sac in the 11700 block of Elmcroft Ave., Los Angeles County sheriff's Lt. Bill Evans said.
The deputies found the armed man when they arrived and ordered him to drop his gun, and he opened fire on them, the lieutenant said. None of the deputies were struck.
"The deputies returned fire and struck him several times," Evans said.
The wounded suspect, initially described as a 39-year-old Norwalk man, was taken to a hospital where he underwent surgery early Tuesday, officials said. His condition was not available.
A handgun was found at the scene, Evans said.
As is standard procedure when a deputy-involved shooting takes place, sheriff's homicide and internal affairs investigators are looking into the incident, as well as officials from the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office and the County of Los Angeles Office of Independent Review.
The shooting took place after three deputies responded to a 9-1-1 call reporting a man with a gun about 3:40 a.m. in a residential cul-de-sac in the 11700 block of Elmcroft Ave., Los Angeles County sheriff's Lt. Bill Evans said.
The deputies found the armed man when they arrived and ordered him to drop his gun, and he opened fire on them, the lieutenant said. None of the deputies were struck.
"The deputies returned fire and struck him several times," Evans said.
The wounded suspect, initially described as a 39-year-old Norwalk man, was taken to a hospital where he underwent surgery early Tuesday, officials said. His condition was not available.
A handgun was found at the scene, Evans said.
As is standard procedure when a deputy-involved shooting takes place, sheriff's homicide and internal affairs investigators are looking into the incident, as well as officials from the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office and the County of Los Angeles Office of Independent Review.
NORWALK -- A man snatched a gold necklace with a heart-shaped pendant from a 93-year-old woman on Thursday.
Sheriff's Lt. Frank Rivera said the woman ended up with an abrasion from the robbery which was reported at 4:15 p.m. in the 15000 block of Alburtis Avenue.
Rivera said the robber either came up behind the victim or approached her from the side then pulled the necklace off her neck.
The robber was seen getting into a black 4-door car, possibly an Infiniti, with tinted windows. Deputies think the second suspect was driving the car but didn't have a description for the culprit.
The suspect who took the necklace was described as a black man in his early 20s, 5 feet 7 inches tall and with a thin build. He wore a green T-shirt, a green baseball cap and dark-colored shorts.
- From Staff Writer Ruby Gonzales
Sheriff's Lt. Frank Rivera said the woman ended up with an abrasion from the robbery which was reported at 4:15 p.m. in the 15000 block of Alburtis Avenue.
Rivera said the robber either came up behind the victim or approached her from the side then pulled the necklace off her neck.
The robber was seen getting into a black 4-door car, possibly an Infiniti, with tinted windows. Deputies think the second suspect was driving the car but didn't have a description for the culprit.
The suspect who took the necklace was described as a black man in his early 20s, 5 feet 7 inches tall and with a thin build. He wore a green T-shirt, a green baseball cap and dark-colored shorts.
- From Staff Writer Ruby Gonzales
NORWALK -- The fatal stabbing of a 15-year-old boy and the wounding of a 16-year-old boy Thursday is believed to have stemmed from a fight between classmates at Norwalk High School, authorities said.
One 16-year-old suspected was arrested on suspicion of the killing, and authorities continued to seek a second teenage suspect, Los Angeles County sheriff's Deputy Guillermina Saldana said in a written statement.
Coroner's officials did not release the name of the teen who died in the attack pending positive identification and notification of his family members.
The young suspect's name was not released due to his age.
The stabbing took place about 3:15 p.m. Thursday in the 14000 block of Harvest Avenue, Saldana said.
"Two juveniles were walking south on Harvest Avenue when a compact vehicle with two male Hispanic juveniles drove up alongside them," the deputy said. "The passenger got out of the vehicle, confronted the victims then stabbed them both several times. The suspect then got back into the vehicle and the driver sped away."
The 15-year-old victim was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead, Saldana said. The 16-year-old victim was hospitalized in stable condition.
"The victims attend Norwalk High School," Saldana said. "It is believed that a verbal argument at school between the deceased victim and one of the suspects precipitated the attack."
Information on how the suspect was arrested was not available.
He was booked on suspicion of murder and being held at a juvenile detention facility.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Sheriff's Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500. Tips can also be left anonymously by calling Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477.
NORWALK -- One teenager died and another was wounded following a stabbing near Norwalk High School Friday, and two suspects were arrested in connection with the fatal attack, authorities said.
The assault took place about 3:15 p.m. in the 14000 block of Harvest Avenue, Deputy Pete Gomez of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Headquarter's Bureau said in a written statement.
Two male suspects were arrested for the crime, Gomez said.
Sheriff's officials released no further information Saturday.
The assault took place about 3:15 p.m. in the 14000 block of Harvest Avenue, Deputy Pete Gomez of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Headquarter's Bureau said in a written statement.
Two male suspects were arrested for the crime, Gomez said.
Sheriff's officials released no further information Saturday.
From the Associated Press:
A teenage couple from Compton have been charged with killing the girl's parents and burying them in shallow graves in Norwalk and Long Beach.
Los Angeles County prosecutors say 15-year-old girl Cynthia Alvarez and 16-year-old Giovanni Gallardo were charged Friday as adults with counts of murder with special circumstances.
They're jailed and face life in prison if convicted.
Prosecutors say they killed the girl's mother, 58-year-old Gloria Villalta, last week in her Compton home, hid the body and then stabbed and beat her stepfather with a bat when 51-year-old Jose Lara came home.
The mother was found buried Saturday in vacant lot in Norwalk. Lara was uncovered Thursday in Long Beach.
Prosecutors say the killings were prompted by friction between the girl and her parents, partly over her relationship with Gallardo.
CONTRIBUTORS
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| Frank Girardot, Metro Editor for the San Gabriel Valley Newspapers, brings you behind the yellow tape with takes on true crime, cold cases and more. This is also your forum to discuss crime, its impact on your neighborhood and how we cover it. Have any questions or tips? You can leave a comment here or e-mail Frank. |
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Brian Day is the crime reporter for the San Gabriel Valley Newspaper group. E-mail Brian. |
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