SANTA MONICA—On January 15, the Santa Monica Police Department posted on their Facebook page that they partnered with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) Parole and Los Angeles County Probation to conduct an enforcement operation focused on individuals on active parole and probation within Santa Monica.

It was a state and county public-safety operation, centered on court-ordered supervision and active felony warrants.

Parole Agents and Probation Officers worked alongside SMPD officers. During the operation, 11 individuals were taken into custody for no-bail warrants, felony parole violations, and probation violations, including individuals under supervision for violent crimes, robbery, and sex-related offenses.

These operations are conducted to:
• Enforce court-ordered supervision
• Locate individuals with active felony warrants
• Reduce repeat violent and high-risk criminal behavior

• Improve overall community safety

 

By Danny Jones

MALIBU—The city of Malibu is preparing for individuals to sign up now for Malibu’s FREE Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Training Course starting February 24 at the Malibu City Hall. Learn how to prepare for wildfires, earthquakes & other disasters.

As part of its ongoing efforts toward community-wide preparedness, Malibu is offering the next round of the highly popular CERT training. The free series of six classes will be held on Tuesday and Thursday evenings at the Malibu City Hall, starting on February 24 through March 12, from 6 p.m. – 9 p.m., with the Course Review & Final Drill on Saturday, March 14, from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.

The highly acclaimed free program training program is administered by the city of Malibu and other public safety agencies across the country, and empowers community members to help themselves and their neighbors during disasters.

Through hands-on training, participants learn the most up-to-date information on basic disaster preparedness, the use of a fire extinguisher, disaster medical care, first aid, search and rescue, disaster psychology, and neighborhood team building.

For more details and to sign up, visit www.MalibuCity.org/CERT or email PublicSafety@malibucity.org.

 

By Danny Jones

MALIBU/TOPANGA—On Sunday, January 18, the California Department of Transportation announced that Caltrans crews reopened Topanga Canyon Boulevard/State Route 27 (SR-27) from Pacific Coast Highway to Grand View Drive as of 7:30 p.m. Sunday, January 18.

This stretch of highway remains an active work zone for Palisades Fire emergency repairs and is now restored to its previous conditions, including:

The stretch of SR-27 is closed to the motoring public from midnight to 5 a.m. daily. This includes tonight, Sunday night, into Monday morning.

One-way traffic control with a pilot car, postmile 2.5 to 2.8 for Caltrans emergency project work, 5 a.m. to midnight daily

The 3.6-mile section of highway closed at 12:01 a.m. Saturday for crews to begin installation of an 84-inch reinforced concrete pipe underneath the highway. Crews successfully placed one of the most challenging sections of the pipe and will evaluate next steps to install the remaining portions.

The concrete pipe will run underneath and perpendicular to SR-27 and is designed to carry increased capacity of water and mud during rainstorms, reducing the amount of debris flow on the highway in future storms.

Caltrans District 7 also posts updates to its social media pages. For information about Caltrans’s emergency work from the Palisades Fire and early 2025 rainstorms can be found at the Palisades Fire Emergency Repairs website.

 

By Danny Jones

GRIFFITH PARK—On Sunday, January 18, the Los Angeles Fire Department reported a traffic collision left one person dead. The LAFD reported at 3:20 a.m. on the northbound 5 freeway a five-car traffic collision. The LAFD personnel arrived on scene for approximately one hour coordinating extrication operations and patient management.

One person, a 25 year-old male was determined dead on scene after being ejected from a vehicle; Five other patients, a 61 year-old male was listed in fair condition, as well as a 35 year-old male, and 2 22 year-old males. A 28 year-old male was listed in serious condition.

They were all transported to local hospitals via LAFD ambulances. LA County Medical Examiner and CHP (LOG #326) coordinated for investigation and dignified removal of the body of the decedent. No additional details about what caused the crash has been disclosed to the public.

 

By Danny Jones

WEST HOLLYWOOD—Around 1:20 p.m. on Sunday, January 18, two men tried to rob a house on North Poinsettia Place in West Hollywood, between Santa Monica Boulevard and Fountain Avenue, but were driven off by the residents. The suspects broke through a window and then entered the building while wearing masks.

They were confronted by a resident who had come down from the upstairs level, and then the robbers fled in a vehicle described by the authorities as either a black BMW X1 or X2, with a license plate starting with 51, and they travelled north.

The attempted robbery was witnessed by neighbors from the adjacent duplex unit, who were out barbecuing in their backyard.

Deputies from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department West Hollywood Station arrived and secured the scene.

According to Deputy Costales of the West Hollywood Sheriff Station informed West Hollywood Online that deputies sought to gather evidence from the scene. The individual who confronted the robbers was not injured. No additional details about the incident have been disclosed to the public.

Anyone with information the incident should contact the LASD West Hollywood station at West Hollywood Sheriff’s Station at (310) 855-8850. Anonymous tips can be submitted through LA Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or online at lacrimestoppers.org.

 

By Daniel Diquinzio

SANTA MONICA—JSX, a Dallas-based charter airline, has started passenger services at Santa Monica Airport.

Starting January 22, JSX will provide an increased number of flights between Santa Monica and the Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas. On February 5, JSX will be doing so three times a day.  Also, it will provide flights between Santa Monica Airport and Scottsdale Airport.

All of the flights will be done using ATR 42-600 turboprop aircraft, each of which can carry 30 passengers.

During the first few months of 2026, JSX plans to add free Starlink Wi-Fi to its planes and operate a minimum of 6 flights per day from Santa Monica.

Residents of Santa Monica and the Measure LC Defense advocacy group filed a lawsuit claiming that the city of Santa Monica failed to conduct an appropriate environmental review before giving JSX permission to operate at the airport, but the city claims that federal law prevents them from denying access to the airport to qualified operators.

 

By Daniel Diquinzio

BRENTWOOD—On January 17, at approximately 9:30 a.m. the Los Angeles Fire Department Air Operations answered a call for a seriously injured hiker located at 3001 Rustic Canyon Road. According to the LAFD, no hoist was necessary to load and transport the patient to an area hospital. There is no more information available at this time. On January 14, the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department Public Affairs Division issued the following statement warning winter hikers to exercise extreme caution. “Following a temporary closure due to severe weather and recovery operations, previously closed trails in the Mount Baldy area have reopened. However, the Sheriff’s Department emphasizes, reopening does not mean conditions are safe. Winter hazards remain present, and hikers should expect snow-covered trails, icy sections, limited visibility, and the potential for sudden storms.” Winter Hiker Safety Reminders: -Check weather forecasts prior to your trip. -Be prepared for winter terrain, including snow and ice traction devices. Proper footwear is critical. -Avoid narrow exposed trails during icy and windy conditions. -Hike within your experience level and turn back when conditions worsen. -Carry Navigation tools, extra food, water, and emergency communications devices.   By Sharon

TOPANGA CANYON—From January 17 to January 19, a section of Topanga Canyon Boulevard, which is also known as State Route 27, will be closed so that an 84-inch reinforced concrete pipe can be installed underneath the highway, and this pipe is intended to increase the capacity to capture water and mud during rainstorms, which will reduce closed-off area will stretch from Pacific Coast Highway to Grand View Drive, and it will be closed for 55 hours.

The roadwork will start early on Saturday, January 17, and continue until the evening of Monday, January 19. State Route 27 will remain open from Grand View Drive to U.S. 101 over this weekend.

The roadwork is part of ongoing recovery efforts following damage from the winter storms and the Palisades Fire.  The goal of the work crews is to have access to State Route 27 fully restored by the summer of 2026.

Current traffic conditions can be checked on the Caltrans Quickmap.

 

By Daniel Diquinzio

BEVERLY HILLS—On Friday, January 16, the Beverly Hills Police Department informed Canyon News that they are investigating an assault with a deadly weapon that occurred in the city Friday.

At approximately 12:42 p.m., BHPD received numerous 911 calls reporting a suspect with a weapon assaulting an individual in the vicinity of Wilshire Boulevard and San Vicente Boulevard. There were also witnesses that indicated the suspect used his vehicle to harm the victim.

Patrol officers arrived on scene within two minutes. A containment was quickly established, and the suspect was subsequently taken into custody without incident. The relationship between the suspect and the victim is unknown at this time and the suspect’s identification is pending as this is an active and ongoing investigation.

There is no known threat to public safety.  The victim was transported to Cedars Sinai Medical Center and despite extensive life medical staff, he later died from his injuries.
The investigation determined the suspect, and the victim were involved in a verbal altercation.

During the altercation, the suspect struck the victim multiple times with a metal object, then got into his vehicle and drove into the victim, running him over.

The exact relationship between the suspect and the victim is unknown at this time. The suspect was identified as Christopher Cornelius, 54, of San Bernadino. Cornelius was booked into BHPD Jail for 187 PC Murder and his bail is set at $2 million.

He has an extensive criminal record including violent crimes. This is an active homicide investigation. Anyone with information should contact the BH Police Department at 310
550-4951.

Anyone wanting to remain anonymous should text TIP BHPDALERT followed by the tip information to 888777. Individuals may also submit anonymous tips to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS or online at lacrimestoppers.org.

 

By Danny Jones

PACIFIC PALISADES—On January 17, at approximately 1:10 p.m. the Los Angeles Fire Department Air Operations responded to a call of an injured hiker on E. Topanga Rd. First responders arriving at the scene discovered a 30-year-old male with non-life-threatening injuries sustained while riding his mountain bike. LAPD Air Operations used the hoist to get the patient to safety. Follow-up transportation was provided to meet Air Operations to get the injured party back to his vehicle.   By Sharon