Tag: Hollywood Hills

Hiker Rescued In Griffith Park October 6

October 7, 2024 ·

Photo courtesy of Pedro Marroquin.

GRIFFITH PARK—On Sunday, October 6, the Los Angeles Fire Department reported that they had to rescue a hiker near Mt. Hollywood Drive at 8:39 a.m. Firefighters and paramedics located one hiker with a medical emergency in a remote area approximately one mile from Griffith Observatory.

The LAFD Rescue Helicopter hoisted the patient and directly transported to a local hospital by air. No additional details about the incident were reported to the public.

A hiker was also rescued by officials on Saturday, October 5 in Hollywood Hills. That incident was reported at 12:31 p.m. at 3824 Mt Lee Dr. A female, approximately 45-years-old sustained a lower extremity injury in a remote area near the Hollywood sign.

Paramedics located her and provided treatment on the ground prior to preparing her for a hoist. The LAFD Rescue Helicopter performed the hoist operation to bring her out of the remote area and is transported her to a local hospital in fair condition.

By Trevor

LAFD Battle Structure Fire In Hollywood Hills

September 23, 2024 ·

The LAFD battled a structure fire in Hollywood Hills.

HOLLYWOOD HILLS—On Thursday, September 19, the Los Angeles Fire Department battled a structure fire in Hollywood Hills.

The incident was reported at 1:52 p.m. at 2930 N Cahuenga Blvd. Approximately one-quarter acre of light-to-medium brush burning, with one structure threatened. By 2:20 p.m., the LAFD provided an update where firefighters found a hillside behind a home burning and quickly deployed hose lines around both flanks of the fire.

It took 36 firefighters to extinguish the flames in 28 minutes, keeping the fire from affecting structures on a nearby residential property. One wooden fence sustained minor damage. The total size of the burned area is between approximately 1/8 to 1/4 of an acre. There were no reported injuries during the blaze. The cause of the fire is still under investigation by officials.

By Trevor

Squatters Take Over Hollywood Hills Mansion

September 20, 2024 ·

Photo Credit: BP Miller

HOLLYWOOD HILLS—On September 19, new reports circulated on the condition of the Hollywood Hills mansion that has been taken over by squatters. According to public records, this home and another Hollywood Hills mansion are both owned by John Powers Middleton, who is the son of John S. Middleton who owns the Philadelphia Phillies.

Middleton, who is an American television and film producer reportedly stays between Malibu, California, and Pennsylvania, best known for his work in the Lego, and the Lego Batman movie.

The producer has reportedly had the squatters evicted. Neighbors have stated publicly that they’ve called the police multiple times over the last year to no avail. The police have cleared the unwelcome guests out of the home, only for more to come and inhabit it.

The people staying in the home are not just occupying the space rent-free, they are reportedly trashing the home property, and have now begun spray-painting or tagging it. The home is filthy inside and out, covered in graffiti, leaving the neighbors in that upscale community at a loss of what to do.

There have been reports of the neighbors being attacked, one with a piece of rebar which is a hard, thick stick of metal. Broken glass, litter, and beer bottles cover the property that was once an exceptionally beautiful home in Hollywood Hills.

By Sharon

Earthquake Strikes Malibu Area

September 12, 2024 ·

An earthquake struck the Malibu region on September 12.

MALIBU—On Thursday, September 12, a 4.7 magnitude earthquake was reported in Southern Los Angeles. The United States Geological Survey reported the earthquake 7 kilometers north of Malibu after 7:28 a.m. Data from the USGS indicate the quake was 7.2 miles deep. An aftershock transpired 2 minutes later.

Other cities that may have felt the quake include Agoura Hills, Westlake Village, Thousand Oaks, Simi Valley and parts of Ventura. Other cities include Santa Monica and the Hollywood Hills.

According to reports, there were several aftershocks after the earthquake with magnitudes of 2.8, 2.4, 2.1, 1.8 and 1.5. There were no reports of any injurie or major damage as a result of the earthquake.

An earthquake is the result of seismic activity in the Earth. Earthquakes are the result of the sudden release of energy in the lithosphere that causes seismic waves.

One of the most dangerous earthquakes in California was in 1906 when the ‘Great Quake’ devastated the city of San Francisco. The other being the 1994 earthquake that took place in Northridge, causing significant damage to Southern California.

By Trevor

Hiker Rescued On W. Innsdale Drive

August 27, 2024 ·

Photo courtesy of Joel Jasmin Forestbird.

HOLLYWOOD HILLS—The Los Angeles Fire Department reported a hiker was rescued in Hollywood Hills on Monday, August 26. A 9-1-1 call was received at 8:11 p.m. regarding hikers at 6301 W Innsdale Drive who were lost.

The LAFD Air Operations conducted hoist operations to secure two female hikers in their 20s, uninjured but lost. Air Ops located them to a helispot where firefighters evaluated them and facilitated them returning to their transportation.

There were no additional details about the rescue mission disclosed to the public.

By Trevor

Hiker Rescued By LAFD In Hollywood Hills

August 12, 2024 ·

Photo courtesy of NEOM.

HOLLYWOOD HILLS—On Friday, August 9, the Los Angeles Fire Department reported that they had to rescue a hiker in Hollywood Hills West.

The incident was reported at 1:59 p.m. at 2000 N. Fuller Avenue. Firefighters located a 40-year-old male hiker in moderate distress with signs and symptoms of a heat related illness. The LAFD Air Ops is preparing a hoist operation with follow on air ambulance transport. The 9-1-1 call was received at 1:34 p.m., no additional details about the incident has been disclosed to the public.

By Trevor

LAFD Battle Structure Fire In Hollywood Hills

July 1, 2024 ·

The LAFD battled a structure fire in Hollywood Hills on June 30. Photo by Maxim Tajer via Unsplash.

HOLLYWOOD HILLS—On Sunday, June 30, the Los Angeles Fire Department battled a structure fire in Hollywood Hills West. The fire was reported at 6:59 a.m. at 8100 W. Sunset Blvd.

First-arriving companies reported a one-story single-family dwelling with fire showing from the front. Firefighters proceeded in offensive mode, breaching entrances to fight fire and search for victims. They ascended to the roof to ventilate the pressurized smoke and heat.

Full extinguishment of the blaze was completed in 35 minutes. There was a total of 37 firefighters on-scene. There were no reports of any injuries. The official cause of the fire is unknown and under investigation.

By Trevor

Two-Story Four-Plex Blaze In Hollywood Hills

June 19, 2024 ·

Photo courtesy of Spencer Davis via Unsplash.

HOLLYWOOD HILLS—The Los Angeles Fire Department reported a two-story fourplex blaze at 3322 N. Barham Blvd. in Hollywood Hills on June 18.

Officials were first alerted about the fire at 5:33 p.m. where firefighters investigating the source of the smoke inside of the two-story fourplex found a small fire involving contents only (no structural involvement yet).

Crews quickly snuffed out the small fire and remained on scene to evacuate the smoke from the building using blowers. There were no reported injuries during the blaze. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation.

By Trevor

BHPD Arrests One Following High-Speed Chase

May 23, 2024 ·

Benjamin Lehman Photo Via Unsplash

BEVERLY HILLS—On Wednesday, May 22, the Beverly Hills Police Department (BHPD) took one suspect into custody after chasing him in high pursuit. Police began following the suspect near Hollywood Hills when the suspect they were following reportedly brandished a weapon.

The incident then escalated into a high-speed chase. The suspect sped into oncoming traffic driving down the wrong side of Mulholland. CBS Videocam footage shows the police in pursuit of a dark-colored SUV traveling down Sunny Cove, to Woodrow Wilson Drive, running red lights, and weaving through traffic as he approached Cahuenga Boulevard W. and the Cahuenga access road. The suspect appeared to be driving on the shoulder of Oakcrest Drive, onto the shoulder of Cadet Drive to Bennet Drive, and Barbara Court, picking up speed while weaving through all lanes and the shoulder of Ventura Boulevard and Vineland Avenue.

CBS KCAL helicopter footage shows the driver of a white SUV exiting his vehicle. He managed to get out of his car and sit on the ground after enduring the impact of the suspect plowing into his vehicle at a high rate of speed.

Reports indicate that the suspect was traveling at nearly 100 m.p.h. when he crashed into another driver at the intersection of Colfax Avenue and Erwin Street. Firefighters made their way to aid the victim of the crash while police continued after the suspect who had not exited his vehicle and ran on foot into a nearby alley.

It appeared that the suspect attempted to break into a nearby home while attempting to elude police. Video footage shows an officer escorting the now handcuffed suspect who appeared to be a light-skinned male wearing gray pants and a white t-shirt.

Canyon News reached out to the Beverly Hills Police Media Relations Department for more information. BHPD Lieutenant Andrew Myers responded with the following information:


The driver and sole occupant of the vehicle was Gagik Arshakyan, a 26-year-old from Van Nuys, California.  


Booking Charges are as follows


245(A)(2) PD – Assault with a firearm.


2800.2(A) VC – Evading a peace officer: reckless driving.


4463(A)(1) VC – Forge/Alter vehicle registration.


11350(A) H&S – Possession of a controlled substance.


20001(A) VC – Hit & Run causing injury.


148 PC – Resisting or obstructing a public officer.


245(C) PC – Assault on a police officer.


According to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department inmate locator, Arshakyan was booked into the Beverly Hills Police Department jail. His bail was set at $50,000.  His court date is Friday, May 24, at 8:30 a.m. at Los Angeles Superior Court on La Cienega Boulevard.


Arshakyan has a criminal record with 22 charges against him dating back to 2022.

By Sharon

 

Hiker Rescued In Runyan Canyon

May 13, 2024 ·

A hiker was rescued by the LAFD after getting injured at Runyan Canyon. Photo by Joel Jasmin Forestbid via Unsplash.

HOLLYWOOD HILLS—On Thursday, May 9, the Los Angeles Fire Department disclosed they rescued a hiker in Runyan Canyon. The LAFD were informed at 7:20 p.m. of a hiker who suffered injuries near 2469 N. Solar Drive.

The 35 year-old hiker sustained injuries secondary to a 15-foot fall in a remote area of Runyon Canyon. Crews on the ground and in the air coordinated to locate and assist the patient, who was able to walk down the trail.

He was able to meet an LAFD paramedic ambulance for treatment and was transported to a local hospital for treatment.

By Trevor

Another Landslide In Hollywood Hills

March 26, 2024 ·

Landslide photo by Wolfgang Hasselmann

HOLLYWOOD HILLS—On March 24, several homes in the Hollywood Hills area were damaged after recent rainfall. According to local meteorologists, Sunday’s bouts of rain added to the already saturated ground sending mud and debris down below the hillside on the 9200 block of Flicker Way.

The area near Sierra Mar Place, where comedian Jerry Seinfeld use to live, has also been one of the places most seriously affected by the Spring rains this year.

According to The Landslide Blog, on EOS written by Dave Petley, due to a landslide, four homes in the area have been red-tagged or declared “unsafe for occupation.” Petley explained that aerial video footage showed the rotation of blocks of sandstone and siltstone bedrock has caused large amounts of “weathered material” into the homes below.

According to the Washington State Department of Natural Resources, “Rotational slides (slumps) are landslides that occur along a curved or spoon-shaped surface. Back-tilting may occur near the scarp of the landslide and there is often a toe of displaced material. Rotational slides often occur because the internal strength of the material is overcome by its own weight.”

According to World Weather information, Hollywood Hills has a sixty-one percent chance of more rain in the forecast for Saturday, March 30, and Sunday, March 31.

By Sharon

Two Victims Shot During House Party

February 12, 2024 ·

Police units respond on scene.

HOLLYWOOD HILLS— On Monday, February 12, a shooting took place during a house party at the 1600 block of North Crescent Heights Boulevard near the Chateau Marmont hotel, Los Angeles Police Department’s Officer Madison confirmed with Canyon News. 

At 12:10 a.m, LAPD officers responded to a radio call of an assault with a deadly weapon. Officer units arrived at the scene and located two shooting victims – identified as both male and 24 and 25-years-old – suffering from gunshot wounds. The party and incident reportedly took place at an AirBnb rental property, Officer Madison said. A couple of loaded firearms were located in the bushes of the residence, no further description of the weapons were disclosed nor  if they were the weapons used. 

Both victims were transported to a local hospital and listed in stable condition.

A video posted on Instagram by @stillbrazy, shows several LAPD officer units at the scene. LAPD Air Ops can also be heard above. Officers appeared to be transporting the victims to a location down the street and away from the scene, to be transported into an ambulance. In the video, one victim – a black male – appears to have been shot in the rear and bleeding. This victim can be seen getting walked from the officer vehicle and transported on a gurney to be put in the ambulance. 

Two possible suspects were apprehended and questioned at the scene, but were later released, Officer Madison said. Suspects remain at-large with no further description disclosed at this time. No other victims or injuries were reported. 

This is an on-going investigation.

By Lacy

RVs Removed From Hollywood Hills Neighborhood

December 7, 2023 ·

HOLLYWOOD HILLS—More than 50 RV’s were being removed from Forest Lawn Drive in Hollywood Hills on Wednesday, December 6, as part of Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass’ Inside Safe Program. Bass signed the Executive Directive back in December 2022.

The Inside Safe Program is aimed to help those encountering homeless get into stable housing. Inside Safe will assess street homelessness across Los Angeles and proactively engage with people living in tents and encampments based on which locations are chronic and where people are most in crisis.

Inside Safe will support the following five goals:

-Reduce the loss of life on our streets
-Increase access to mental health and substance abuse treatment for those living in encampments
-Eliminate street encampments
-Promote long-term housing stability for people experiencing homelessness
-Enhance the safety and hygiene of neighborhoods for all residents, businesses, and neighbors

The city is working to remove makeshift encampments that have been littered throughout the area in recent years. There were dozens of RVs on the street for more than 2 miles on the road.

Andrew Rindge informed reporters that people were informed a few days earlier that they were going to “clean the whole area.”

“There was nothing written down or anything, just people coming from the city and telling them they had to leave,” Rindge told ABC 7 Los Angeles.

The portion of Forest Lawn Drive that was being cleaned up was closed to traffic as the vehicles were removed.

By Trevor

Car Demolishes Storefront Of Jones Hollywood Cafe’

November 15, 2023 ·

Hollywood Hills—On Tuesday, November 14, at approximately 7:00 p.m., a driver in a four-door, dark-colored sedan drove into the storefront of Jones Hollywood Café located at 7141 Santa Monica Boulevard causing significant damage to the building. No injuries have been reported at this time.

Jones’s Hollywood Café is known for its fresh-baked bread and vegetarian items along with a wide variety of desserts including apple pie for two that according to the menu is served hot.

There is limited information available on this accident. There have been no reports that alcohol or drugs were a factor in the accident. If you were there and have any information on the incident, please contact the Hollywood Community Police Station at 1358 N. Wilcox Avenue in Hollywood, California or call 213-972-2971 Voice or after hours and on weekends, 213-485-9899 TDD/TTY.

By Sharon

LAPD Offering Reward In The Murder Of Mercy Melissa Martinez

April 13, 2023 ·

HOLLYWOOD HILLS—The Los Angeles Police Department is offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to the identification and arrest of a suspect – or suspects – involved in the murder of Mercy Melissa Martinez, the LAPD released in a statement on April 12, 2023. 

On June 13, 2022, 28-year-old Martinez’s skeletal remains were found by the workers of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power inside a sewer drain in the Hollywood Hills. The exact location was not disclosed. Detectives found evidence at the scene which prompted them to believe Martinez’s body was placed there by someone else, the LAPD reported. 

Martinez was last seen by her family in April 2021, and was last known to be alive during a police incident on June 15, 2021. She was experiencing homelessness and was dealing with substance abuse issues at the time of her disappearance.

Mercy Melissa Martinez.

“Mercy was someone very special in our lives and to say we’re heartbroken is an understatement,” Martinez’s family said in a GoFundMe post. “Mercy was a person who always put others happiness before her’s and was always willing to help anyone.”

Martinez is survived by her 14-year-old son, Sandorson, her 7-year-old son, Danny, and her mother. 

LAPD detectives are requesting the public’s help in aiding in the arrest of the suspect(s) involved in her death, as well as any information about Martinez’s whereabouts between the time of her last known contact and the day her remains were discovered. 

Anyone with information is asked to contact Detectives John Lamberti (serial number 40252) or Tamara Momayez (serial number 40279) at (213) 382-9470. Anonymous tips may also be reported via text by logging onto www.lapdonline.org and clicking on “Anonymous Web Tips.”

By Lacy