Laurel Canyon

LAUREL CANYON—On November 27, at 4:43 p.m., the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) responded to a call of a structure fire at 8541 W. Lookout Mountain Avenue, in Hollywood Hills West. Once the fire was extinguished, the body of an elderly male, later identified as William “Will” Rothschild of the Jewish banking empire established in the 19th century in Germany.

The home he resided in was a mansion. The Rothschilds were a prominent family in the banking industry in the 18th and 19th centuries and are still known today as one of the wealthiest families in the United States. Though their legacy began in Frankfurt Germany, it lives on today through the heirs of the Rothschild dynasty who live in homes throughout the United States who prophet still today from the fruits and labor of their ancestors.

The Daily Mail first reported that Lord Jacob Rothschild of the same banking family, died last February at age 87. Reports indicate that William Rothschild was in his 70s.

The initial post on the Alert page, on the LAFD website was made by LAFD spokesperson, Brian Humphrey who described the fire as an “offensive fire attack at the two-story ascending hillside home with fire showing”. LAFD Valley Bureau was first on the scene.

The second post was made at 5:16 p.m. and added an address correction. The fire progressed into a knockdown structure fire with a civilian fatality.

“45 LAFD Firefighters took just 33 minutes to access, confine, and fully extinguish [the] fire.” One person whose age and gender had yet to be determined was found dead.

On November 27, at 6:02 p.m., a third update on the incident was listed as fire #1178.

“Flames were confined to the first floor of the two-story hillside home, and prevented from extending to vegetation or nearby residential structures. Discovered deceased within the premises was an elder adult male. No other injuries [were] reported.

The Mayor’s Crisis Response Team has been summoned to provide emotional support and assistance to the decedent’s family and neighbors. The cause of the fire remains under active investigation. The cause, time, and manner of the man’s death will be determined by the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner.”

By Sharon

LAUREL CANYON—On Tuesday, September 17, Singer-Songwriter Country – Rock legend, John David “JD” Souther passed away peacefully in his home in Sandia Park, New Mexico. He was 78. No cause of death has been released.

The following came directly from a Discography on the JD Souther webpage.

“He was born in Detroit [Michigan] when his father, John Souther, was crooning in front of the big bands of his day, under a stage name, Johnny Warren. His mother hated the fact that “Johnny Warren,” wasn’t home and so, the singing father stepped halfway out of the road life going to work for MCA as an agent fascinating for a curious five-year-old, John David, who met The Three Sounds, The Mills Brothers, other jazz greats, and the legendary Victor Borge, who once acted as babysitter for the lucky son.

Eventually, the family relocated first to Wellington, Dallas, and then to Amarillo Texas.

John David would stay until he left Amarillo College and headed west to Los Angeles.”

“Hanging out in the bar at the Troubadour with Glenn Frey and Jackson Browne and playing open mike Mondays, then opening for Poco and the Flying Burrito Brothers, it was the best study in songwriting I can imagine,” Souther reminisced on his webpage.

“So many great songwriters came through; Laura Nyro, Kris Kristofferson, Randy Newman, Elton John, James Taylor, Tim Hardin, Carole King, Rick Nelson, Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, Waylon Jennings, Tim Buckley, Gordon Lightfoot, Tah Mahl and more. It seems impossible now to imagine that much music in a year and a half or so, but that was my life, and The Troubadour was our university. It’s also where I met Linda Ronstadt and where Don Henly and Glenn Frey met to form this little country rock band called Eagles that would go on to make musical history.

We had an amazing band, but the label was small, the records didn’t sell, and our managers felt we should try recording better-known songs of other people. No way: we were committed to songwriting.”

And what a songwriter he was. Souther wrote songs for the Eagles, and Linda Ronstadt that was dating Souther when they co-produced, “Don’t Cry”. He also wrote for James Taylor.

In 1979, Souther released “You’re Only Lonely,” from the You’re Only Lonely LP with Sony/Columbia hitting number one on adult contemporary radio and number seven on the billboard-top 100.

In 2013, Souther was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Simultaneously, Souther co-wrote the Eagles hit, “Heartache Tonight,” with Don Henley, Glen Frey, and Bob Seger.

Henley made a tribute to Souther. The full text was published in The Observer.

“He was like a brother to me; we were family, and like most families, there was some dysfunction. But the bond we forged 45 years ago was never broken, even during the 14 years that the Eagles were dissolved.

By Sharon

LAUREL CANYON—On Tuesday, August 6, the Los Angeles Police Department reported Valley Bureau Homicide detectives are seeking details from the public regarding a shooting in an apartment that left one person dead.

The LAPD reported on August 5, around 9:30 p.m., North Hollywood area patrol officers responded to a radio call of “shots fired” on the 5600 block of Laurel Canyon Boulevard. Officers found the victim inside of an apartment, suffering from a gunshot wound.

Paramedics with the Los Angeles Fire Department responded to the location and pronounced the victim deceased at the scene. Victim identification has been withheld pending next of kin notification.

Valley Bureau Homicide detectives responded to the location, and their preliminary investigation revealed that a shot was fired from a firearm in an adjacent apartment, which penetrated the neighboring wall, striking the victim.

Anyone with additional details is asked to call the LAPD, Valley Bureau Homicide, at (818) 374-9550. During non-business hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (1-877-527-3247). Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should call the L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477) or go directly to www.lacrimestoppers.org.

By Trevor

LAUREL CANYON—The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Missing Persons Detail announced on Saturday, February 10 that they are asking for the public’s help in locating Missing Person, Alexis Gabi Bader who was last seen on February 3, at 6 p.m. on the 6000 block of Laurel Canyon Blvd., in North Hollywood.

Bader is described as a 25-year-old, White Female, standing 5 feet and 8 inches tall and weighing 140 pounds. She has brown eyes, brown hair with a ponytail. She has a tattoo of “Birds” on the left shoulder.

Bader’s family is concerned for her well-being. Anyone with information about Bader’s whereabouts is asked to contact the Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau – Missing Person’s Detail. To provide information anonymously, call “Crime Stoppers” by dialing (800) 222-TIPS (8477), use your smartphone by downloading the “P3 Tips” Mobile APP on Google play or the Apple App Store or by using the website http://lacrimestoppers.org.

By Trevor

LAUREL CANYON—The Los Angeles Police Department’s Force Investigation Division is investigating an Officer-Involved Shooting that transpired in the North Hollywood Division on November 30 around 2:30 p.m. Patrol officers responded to a radio call for an “Assault with a Deadly Weapon, suspect there now,” at a business located at the 7500 block of Laurel Canyon Boulevard.

The suspect later identified as Francisco Javier Alba, 52, assaulted an employee inside the location and exited before walking across the street to the west sidewalk. Officers arrived at the location and spoke with the victim, who provided details of the incident, which described that a misdemeanor battery and vandalism occurred. The victim described Alba as the suspect but declined to make a private person’s arrest.

Officers exited the business and returned to their police cruiser where they began to complete the associated crime reports, when Alba returned. He approached the officers while holding a drywall hammer with combined hatchet blade in his hand and appeared to be wearing numerous layers of clothing. Alba began arguing with the officers when they ordered him not to return to the business.

The suspect walked across the street to the west sidewalk while becoming increasingly agitated. Officers requested an additional unit for a “415 man” and for approximately 30-35 minutes continued to order Alba to leave the area and drop the bladed hammer. Alba started crossing the street toward the officers with the hammer in his hand. Officers gave Alba numerous orders to stop, get out of the street and drop the hammer.

He refused to comply with commands resulting in officers utilizing numerous less lethal munitions including a TASER, 40mm less-lethal-launchers and beanbag shotguns, which were ineffective. Alba continued to advance towards one officer, while still armed with the hammer in his hand stating, “Shoot it, shoot it,” at which point an Officer-Involved Shooting occurred.

He was struck by gunfire, fell to the ground and was taken into custody without further incident. Personnel from the Los Angeles Fire Department responded to the scene and transported Alba by rescue ambulance to Holy Cross Medical Center where he was admitted for gunshot wounds and listed in stable condition.

A drywall hammer with combined hatchet blade was recovered from the scene and booked as evidence. No officers or other community members were injured as a result of this incident.

The LAPD’s specialized Force Investigation Division responded to the scene, interviewed witnesses, and supervised the collection of evidence by the Forensic Science Division personnel. The complete investigation will be reviewed by the Chief of Police, the Board of Police Commissioners, and the Office of the Inspector General to determine the thoroughness and accuracy of the investigation and whether the use of deadly force complied with LAPD’s policies and procedures.

By Trevor

STUDIO CITY—The Los Angeles Police Department Valley Traffic Detectives are investigating a fatal hit-and-run that occurred on Thursday, April 6 at 8:30 p.m. on Laurel Canyon at Keswick Street in Los Angeles, CA, 91605.

They are seeking the public’s help to identify the driver of the vehicle (shown above). The truck is described as a two-tone blue older model pickup truck that is either manufactured by Nissan or Toyota. The driver pulled into an unspecified nearby parking lot nearby following. The incident caused damage to the front of the vehicle.

“[The] pickup truck was traveling southbound Laurel Canyon at Keswick Street when it ran the red light and hit a pedestrian who was walking inside a marked crosswalk. The pedestrian was pushing a small cart and got stuck on the truck causing the pedestrian to travel southbound colliding with the roadway. The driver of the truck continued traveling southbound on Laurel Canyon towards Saticoy Street without stopping to render aid to the pedestrian who was left on the roadway. The Los Angeles Fire Department responded to the scene and transported the pedestrian in grave condition to a local hospital where she died,” the LAPD stated on their website.

The victim is described as a 55 year-old Hispanic female. Under the Hit-And-Run Reward Program Trust Fund, a reward of up to $50,000 is available to those who provide information that lead to the “offender’s identification, apprehension, and conviction”

Anyone with information is asked to contact Valley Traffic Division Detective Davis, Serial No. 38353 at (818) 644-8032 or (818) 644-8000. During non-business hours, or on weekends, calls should be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (877-527-3247).

Those wishing to remain anonymous can call the LA Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477) or go directly to www.lacrimestoppers.org.
By Rob

BEVERLY HILLS—The city of Beverly Hills indicated in a press release that the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (LACDPH) will issue a new Health Officer Order that requires customers to show proof of their COVID-19 vaccination prior to entering indoor bars, wineries, breweries, nightclubs and lounges.

Under the modified Order, employees and customers are required to have at least one vaccine dose by October 7 and both doses by November 4.

The New Health Officer Order will require workers and attendees at outdoor mega events (consisting of crowds over 10,000 people) to show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours before working or attending the event.

Attendees at indoor mega events are already required to show proof of vaccination or a negative test prior to entry. These requirements will also apply to theme parks within the county.

While not required, LACDPH also recommends vaccine verification at indoor portions of restaurants to reduce transmission risk.

This announcement impacts businesses in the City of Beverly Hills. When available, theupdated Health Officer Order can be viewed at beverlyhills.org/coronavirus.

To find the nearest vaccination site, visit VaccinateLACounty.com or beverlyhills.org/covidvaccine. For questions about business impacts from the new Health Office Order, email businessrecovery@beverlyhills.org.

To stay updated on the latest COVID-19 news, visit beverlyhills.org/coronavirus or call the City’s COVID-19 Hotline Monday-Friday from 9:30 a.m. – 6 p.m. at 310-550-4680.

By Donald