Tag: Topanga

TOPANGA CANYON—On February 2, the Los Angeles Police Department announced that detectives from the Major Crimes Division (MCD) are announcing the arrest of a suspect involved in multiple vandalism hate crimes.

The LAPD reports that starting in August 2025, the LAPD Major Crimes Division began investigating a series of vandalism incidents targeting Jewish businesses along the Ventura Boulevard and Winnetka Avenue corridors. The vandalism involved the defacement of properties with swastikas and other hate-related graffiti.

The investigations led to the identification of Jose Antonio Montes Gutierrez. In total, MCD detectives secured a filing of five felony counts against Montes Gutierrez. These charges include Hate Crime and felony Vandalism.

On January 29, 2026, personnel from Major Crimes Division and Topanga Division served a search warrant at Montes Gutierrez’s residence in the San Fernando Valley. Gutierrez was taken into custody without any incident. Investigators searched Montes Gutierrez’s residence and recovered items of evidence related to the crime.

Gutierrez was booked at Van Nuys Jail for the five felony counts mentioned with a $250,000 bail. Booking Number 7171805.

Investigators will continue to review the case and the evidence collected and will work with the District Attorney’s office for further follow-up.

Anyone with details is asked to contact Major Crimes Division Detective Shannon Curtis at 213-486-7220. During non-business hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (877-527-3247). Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should call the L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477) or go directly to www.lacrimestoppers.org.

 

By Danny Jones

TOPANGA CANYON—On Tuesday, November 18, the Los Angeles Police Department reported that the Force Investigation Division is investigating an Officer-Involved Shooting (OIS) that occurred in Topanga Division.

The LAPD reported on its website that on November 17, at around 12:25 p.m., Topanga Patrol Division uniformed officers responded to a radio call of an Assault with a Deadly Weapon suspect near the 8300 block of Northgate Avenue. The comments of the call indicated that the suspect, later identified as Marcus Hayes, 27, was armed with a firearm and had pointed it at the person reporting the incident.

Officers spotted Hayes running past them and ordered him to drop the weapon. Hayes refused to comply, and a foot pursuit ensued. Officers followed Hayes as he traversed through apartment buildings before returning to Northgate Avenue, where he stopped and faced the officers while still holding the firearm. Despite repeated commands to drop the weapon, the suspect raised the gun and fired at the officers, resulting in an Officer-Involved Shooting (OIS). Hayes threw the firearm onto the street and raised his hands.

As officers approached to detain him, he clenched his fist and attempted to strike them. Officers took Hayes to the ground and took him into custody. The suspect was not struck by gunfire.

No officers or other community members were injured during the incident. A loaded 9mm semi-automatic pistol and a 15-round magazine, was recovered at the scene and booked as evidence.

 

By Danny Jones

MALIBU—The city of Malibu posted on its Facebook page that residents of Topanga and Malibu can now purchase Native Garden Kits.

Residents can pre-purchase your Native Garden Kit for $70 (save $50) & bring native plants to your yard! Limited to 350 kits.

The TreePeople Native Garden Kit Program is designed to make native landscape transformation accessible, affordable, and hassle-free. This program will help residents reduce water usage, beautify the urban environment, and support native plant nurseries across Southern California.

Instant rebates are offered by some of our water agency partners. Complete the brief survey by entering your address, including city and zip code, to determine if you are eligible to receive a discount on the native garden kit.

The kit includes:
-10, one-gallon native plants (Pre-designed for 10’x10,’ or any 100 square foot garden space)

-A ‘plant-by-number’ site map

-A native plant installation guide and educational materials

Pick up can transpire on Saturday, November 22 at Malibu City Hall. To learn more visit https://treepeople.org/native-garden-kit/.

By Danny Jones

MALIBU/TOPANGA—On Tuesday, July 22, it was announced by the Los Angeles County Department of Economic Opportunity and Supervisor Lindsey Horvath launched the Malibu-Topanga Business Interruption Fund to support small businesses affected by the closures of Pacific Coast Highway and Topanga Canyon Boulevard following the January 2025 windstorms and wildfires in the region.

Grants from $10,000 to $20,000 are available for eligible businesses in Malibu or Topanga experiencing revenue loss.

To be eligible to apply applicants must adhere to the following:

-be a small business with under $6 million in revenue and fewer than 100 employees

-be located in zip codes 90265 or 90290

-must have incurred a 10 percent plus revenue loss year over year between the months of January and May

-must be a brick-and-mortar business with storefront or conduct business through in-person services

Applications opened on Wednesday, July 23 at 9 a.m. and will be accepted through Friday, August 22 at 5 p.m. Funding is limited, and meeting eligibility requirements does NOT guarantee a grant award.

By Danny Jones

MALIBU—On Sunday, February 2, the city of Malibu announced on its Facebook page that the EPA is conducting rapid hazardous materials cleanup for the Palisades Fire. Some key details about the Topanga staging area include:

-This is a temporary staging area only – not for long-term storage or disposal.

-Materials are quickly sorted and transported out.

-Site has multiple safety measures in place, including security & fencing, plastic lining & spill controls, 24/7 air monitoring, regular dust control and pre/post soil testing.

The EPA deployed 1,000+ personnel to complete this crucial Phase 1 cleanup in 30 days, ensuring residents can return home safely while protecting the environment. The site is on State Parks land outside Malibu City limits and will be the only staging site in the burn area.

To learn more there will be a Special City Council Meeting Monday, February 3 at 12:30 p.m. where the EPA and FEMA will share a presentation on the Palisades Fire debris removal. Details are available at: MalibuCity.org/AgendaCenter.

By Trevor

TOPANGA CANYON—The Los Angeles Police Department Major Crimes Division indicated on Monday, October 23 that they are asking for the public’s help in identifying the suspect responsible for an arson that transpired in the Topanga Division.

The LAPD reported on October 21, around 7:58 p.m., Topanga Area patrol officers responded to an arson investigation in the 23000 block of Welby Way. A suspect walked onto the victim’s property and ignited an American flag on fire that was connected to a flagpole. The suspect fled from the location on foot and the Major Crimes Division is investigating if the incident has a hate crime connection.

The suspect is described as a male, standing between 5 feet and 9 inches and 5 feet and 11 inches tall, and weighs between 160 to 170 pounds. Major Crimes Division is collaborating with the Los Angeles Fire Department Arson about the case.

Anyone with details about the fire is asked to contact Major Crimes Division at (213) 486-7260. During non-business hours, or on weekends, calls should be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (877-527-3247). Anyone wanting to remain anonymous should call the LA Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477) or go directly to www.lacrimestoppers.org.

By Trevor

TOPANGA CANYON—The Los Angeles Police Department are hunting for the suspects involved in a “Flash Rob” style theft that occurred at the Nordstrom store inside the Westfield Topanga Shopping Center on Saturday, August 12th.

The LAPD reported the incident occurred after 4 p.m. at the store located at 21725 Victory Boulevard. Over 30 people entered the establishment and started grabbing merchandise. More than $300,000 in merchandise was stolen from displays near the entrance of the store.

The suspects ran from the store, ransacking shelves and display tables as they took merchandise. The suspects were wearing ski masks and fled with high-end handbags, clothing, and other re-saleable items. One suspect, after entering the store, sprayed bear spray on the face and body of the security guard at the entrance.

In video that has been posted on the internet, the masked individuals can be seen storming the store and grabbing items on displays damaging property along the way as they exited the establishment. The store was also targeted in 2021.

Similar incidents have occurred at high-end retailers like the Louis Vuitton store at Union Square in San Francisco in 2021. Last week, thieves targeted an Yves Saint Laurent establishment in Glendale, California. In June 2023, Westfield Mall in San Francisco announced it would stop paying a $558 million mortgage because of the decline in sales in the region. Other retailers like Whole Foods, Old Navy and Nordstrom are also leaving the downtown San Francisco area.

The LAPD is combing through security footage to identify the suspects involved. Anyone with details on the incident or other incidents like this are asked to contact the Commercial Crimes Division, Organized Retail Crime Section, Detective Santander at (818) 374-9420. During non-business hours or on the weekends, calls should be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (877-527-3247).

Individuals wanting to submit videos or information about the incident via e-mail, send the information to ORC@lapd.online. Anyone wishing to remain anonymous can call the LA Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (1-800-2228477) or go directly to www.lacrimestoppers.org.

By Trevor