LAPD back in headlines after high-profile cases and investigations; the city’s largest police force, with 8,832 officers and 3k staff, crashes into current events.
In early February 2026, the FBI issued a confidential alert warning that Iran allegedly aspired to conduct a surprise drone attack from an unidentified vessel off the California coast if the US struck Iran. Officials, including the White House and California Governor Gavin Newsom, emphasize no credible or imminent threat exists, but security measures remain heightened amid ongoing US-Iran conflict.
Los Angeles City Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson alleges he was racially profiled during a police stop, but police sources say he was pulled over for a traffic violation in a school zone and called a district official to try to avoid a citation. The incident has sparked political and police union criticism.
The new Michael Jackson biopic has been released after extensive reshoots that removed references to child sexual abuse allegations due to legal restrictions. The film now focuses on Jackson's rise to fame, ending before the controversies. Despite mixed reviews, it is tracking for strong box office performance, with plans for a potential sequel to explore his full story.
A hacking group called Handala claimed responsibility for leaking over 19,000 confidential images and documents from Israeli security and political figures. The leak includes top-secret military meetings, personal data, and images of officials, raising concerns about national security and cyber vulnerabilities.
A federal jury has ordered the Los Angeles Police Department to pay damages to Isaac Castellanos, who was permanently blinded in one eye after being struck by a projectile during a crowd control incident in 2020. The jury found the use of force excessive and without warning. Castellanos, a college student and aspiring esports player, has expressed relief and hope that the LAPD will review its crowd control practices. The case highlights ongoing legal challenges against the LAPD over the use of less lethal munitions, which have been restricted by federal and state courts following previous incidents involving journalists and protesters.
Activists have gathered at Ridglan Farms in Wisconsin to demand the release of 2,000 beagles used for research. Police have responded with tear gas, rubber bullets, and arrests. The protests are part of ongoing efforts to shut down the facility, which faces allegations of animal mistreatment. Today’s clashes follow previous attempts to rescue dogs.
Protests linked to real-estate events promoting Israeli and West Bank settlements have flared outside Manhattan synagogues, drawing counter-protests. Police have kept groups apart amid reports of scuffles and arrests in some demonstrations led by Pal-Awda NY/NJ and related groups.
A freight train has struck a city bus near Bangkok’s Airport Rail Link Makkasan station, killing eight people and injuring about 32. Videos show the bus stopped on the tracks at a red light, preventing barriers from closing; the train was unable to stop and the bus and nearby vehicles caught fire. Rescue teams are searching and treating the wounded.
Former LAPD detective Mark Fuhrman, involved in the O. J. Simpson case, has died. Reports say he passed away on May 12 from throat cancer, with public attention centering on his role in the 1994 investigation and his perjury conviction the following year.
A series of fatal incidents have emerged in California and Washington as investigators pursue homicide and related charges. In Aberdeen, Washington, a 36-year-old man has been detained on suspicion of murder and related offenses after the death of his son, Aiden, who had previously been in foster care. In California, a fatal stabbing spree near Modesto has left three people dead, including a 23-year-old mother, a grandmother, and an infant, with the suspect in custody. Investigations describe a pattern of violence tied to personal disputes. Authorities are coordinating across jurisdictions to determine motives and connections between cases.
81-year-old actor James Handy has been stabbed to death in Tarzana. Police have arrested 44-year-old Michael Gledhill, the son of Handy’s girlfriend, on suspicion of murder after a 911 call and subsequent discovery of the victim outside a home.