As in prior years, a lavish selection of food and drink was available, including offerings from Drago Catering & Special Events, Beverly Hills Cookies and Pompadour Beverly Hills.

“The mayor is, if you will, the team leader. We’re all on the same team and our goal is to do what is best and right for our residents. I look forward to supporting Sharon’s initiatives,” the newly sworn-in Vice Mayor John Mirisch told the Courier. 

Former Mayor Julian Gold, M.D., served as mayor from 2023 to 2024. He said that the event is an “opportunity to celebrate the mayor who is leaving that seat for a job well done in the past. And to hear what our incoming mayor has to say. What kinds of things that they want to bring forward to the community. It’s always great. Always fun. Always well attended. It’s a very good community thing.”

Many at the reception expressed excitement about Nazarian becoming the first Iranian American woman to hold the office of mayor in Beverly Hills. Mojgan Yaghouvzadh stood with a group of several women discussing the future with Nazarian at the helm. She told the Courier, “It is nice to see not just a Persian, but also a woman being the mayor of Beverly Hills … I hope that all women, all girls, who think they might not be able to be what they want to be will pursue it now.”

Yaghouvzadh said she was optimistic about Nazarian at the helm of Beverly Hills city politics. 

“She gave a very beautiful speech, and we were just looking forward to have her as our mayor. And hopefully she can accomplish all the things that she wanted and promised [attendees]. I’m sure she will.”

Jimmy Sedghi attended the installation with his family. He shared Yaghouvzadh’s optimism, and told the Courier, “It is unbelievably good to have such an energetic, knowledgeable young lady to be the mayor of Beverly Hills.” 

The post Residents Speak of Pride in Nazarian appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

The suit names UCLA, the University of California Regents, officials working for UCLA’s Police Department (UCPD), the California Highway Patrol, the Los Angeles Police Department and more than 20 individual defendants. It was filed in Los Angeles Superior Court. The lawsuit’s 12 causes of action include civil rights violations, assault, battery and false arrest. It seeks compensatory damages, statutory damages of $25,000 for each claim, trebling of compensatory damages, punitive damages, costs of litigation and attorneys’ fees.

According to the lawsuit, the encampment erected on the UCLA campus was a protest against “Israeli state actions in Gaza.” On April 30, a large group of masked counter-protesters launched fireworks into the camp, hurled racial epithets, beat protesters with large sticks and sprayed chemical irritants, resulting in multiple injuries. 

In a press release, the plaintiffs announced that they had filed the civil rights lawsuit against “numerous mob attackers, three police agencies, and the university—because those three nights deprived the plaintiffs of their rights to assemble, speak, learn, and organize freely and safely and left many with life-altering injuries and post-traumatic stress disorder.”

Dina Chehata, the Civil Rights Managing Attorney for the Greater Los Angeles area office of CAIR, said the over 30 plaintiffs were each “injured in a different way.” She added, “A lot of our plaintiffs were directly injured by these thugs that came onto campus and beat them viciously.”

Chehata also said that “UCLA holds some of the liability for letting that attack go on. People have to remember this attack that went on for at least four hours, with UCPD standing right there and witnessing calls and pleas of help to UCLA.”

Two of the defendants named in the suit are described as Beverly Hills residents. Defendant Edan On was a student at Beverly Hills High School at the time of the attack. The lawsuit also names Isaac Bokhoor, who plaintiffs claim is a Beverly Hills resident and owner of Angel City Jewelers. He is accused in the suit of “repeatedly smashing” plaintiff Thistle Boosinger’s hand, “breaking it and severing a nerve in her finger.” 

The Courier reached out to several of the individual defendants named in the suit, but none returned requests for comment.

Rachel Zaentz, Senior Director of Strategic and Critical Communications for the University of California’s Office of the President, emailed a statement to the Courier that said, “We were recently notified of the suit, and we are currently gathering additional information. We want to be clear: the University of California unequivocally rejects all forms of hate, harassment, and discrimination. Violence of any kind has no place at UC.   

We have instituted systemwide reforms to promote safety and combat harassment and discrimination on our campuses. Our focus remains to maintain a UC that is safe and welcoming to all.”

Another lawsuit, filed by a group of Jewish students and a Jewish professor at UCLA, alleges that the university knowingly acted in concert with or allowed members of the protest encampment to prevent the Jewish students from accessing a central campus space. The newly created Federal Task Force to Combat Antisemitism announced on March 17 that the Justice Department has filed a statement of interest in the case. 

The post New Lawsuit Filed Regarding UCLA Protests appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

The Community Outreach Meeting was held as part of a study designed to find new ways to promote the MUOZ. Among the studies’ goals are continuing to provide adequately zoned sites for multi-unit housing, allowing the creation of work-live units in infill areas or commercial corridors, and allowing multi-unit housing in closer proximity to major transportation hubs. Chloe Chen, the city’s principal planner, said “We are in the listening stage right now. And so, we’re trying to understand: what should our direction be with those potential changes?”

Chen explained, “The total number of housing units that the city had to prove out through its zoning was 3,104 units, and then it’s broken up into different income categories. The main way that we were satisfying this housing capacity, as I mentioned, is through the use of the MUOZ housing capacity…”

Initially, the goal of the MUOZ was to bring additional housing into commercial areas of the city. To date, only one mixed-use development has been approved with several proposed developments working their way through city approvals. The approved proposal is a 56-unit residential and retail complex located at 55 N. La Cienega Blvd. 

The city commissioned the design firm Gensler to consult on the MUOZ regulations study. According to Chen, the firm expected to finish the study and present recommendations to the Planning Commission and City Council by “late summer/early fall.”

Gensler’s Principal Building Transformation & Adaptive Reuse Leader Steven Paynter said at the meeting that community feedback is a priority. “We don’t want to actually put a plan together that isn’t commercially viable. We want to be able to show if you have the option to develop this site, you’d actually do it and actually create housing,” he said.

Some residents at the meeting expressed concern that the MUOZ could allow for larger high rises and increase density.

Paynter told the crowd, “The decision of the amount of density is in state hands; that’s out of our control. What we’re talking about here is how we can best deploy that density to minimize the impact.” 

The post City Holds Mixed-Use Overlay Zone Outreach appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

The burglary was first reported shortly after 4 p.m. on March 15. It resulted in a large police presence, with at least five BHPD cruisers observed on the scene by the Courier. 

One of the residents of the home is a former reality television star turned clothing line entrepreneur and fashion influencer. The other resident is the son of a prominent talk show host. One of the residents made social media posts to her 1.5 million Instagram followers, hinting that she would be out of town shortly before the robbery. 

The suspect is still at large. Lt. Kevin Orth, a spokesman for BHPD, told the Courier, “We are not releasing further information because it is an active investigation.”

One day earlier, another burglary was reported on the 1000 block of Hillcrest Road.

Another crime that took place last month continues to raise concern in the community. Anthony Barrett, 32, is accused of attacking and then attempting to sexually assault a woman exiting a bus on Santa Monica Boulevard in Beverly Hills. The attack reportedly occurred around 2:30 in the afternoon near the intersection of North Santa Monica Boulevard and Hillcrest Road.

According to the BHPD, Barrett was in the process of an attempted sexual assault after a physical attack. The BHPD arrived in time to stop the attack from continuing, although the victim did sustain several minor injuries. Barrett was booked on charges of assault with intent to commit a felony, and assault with intent to rape.

Originally from Ohio, Barrett has a lengthy criminal record. He was previously arrested in Beverly Hills on Dec. 9 for a parole violation and outstanding warrant. He also has previous arrests in Los Angeles and Santa Monica. In 2022, Barrett was arrested after grabbing a woman in Santa Monica on 4th Street and Colorado Avenue on June 28 of that year. The Santa Monica Police Department is seeking additional victims. 

The Feb. 20 crime in Beverly Hills does not appear on the interactive map of reported crimes in the city because it is a crime of a sexual nature. Orth told the Courier, “Certain crimes are not added to the map; those would be sex-based crimes such as this one, or if it’s crimes involving juveniles and a couple of other things that have privacy or other kinds of statutes protecting the victims.”

On Feb. 24, Barrett pled not guilty to the charges stemming from the Feb. 20 arrest. 

He is currently being held at Twin Towers Correctional Facility on $275,000 bail. His next court date will be April 2 at the Los Angeles County Superior Court Hollywood Courthouse.  

The post Beverly Hills Police Department Investigating Trousdale Burglary appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

A motion in support of resentencing the brothers was filed last fall by former District Attorney George Gascón. The decision by Gascón was a contentious one during his 2024 reelection bid, in which he was ultimately unseated by Hochman. 

Hochman said during the press conference that the brothers have not addressed false statements made during the murder investigation and following trials. “As a full examination of the record reveals, the Menendez brothers have never come clean and admitted that they lied about their self-defense as well as suborned perjury and attempted to suborn perjury by their friends for the lies, among others, of their father violently raping Lyle’s girlfriend, their mother poisoning the family, and their attempt to get a handgun the day before the murders.”

In papers filed with the court the same day as the press conference, the DA’s office stated, “While the People are prepared to go forward with a hearing on the Court’s initiation of resentencing if the Court deems it appropriate to do so, the People request to withdraw their motion for resentencing based on multiple ‘legitimate reasons’ after a thorough and extensive review of the record.”

In an interview with “Today,” Mark Geragos, attorney for the Menendez brothers, questioned Hochman’s legal standing to rescind the previous motion. “He can say he wants to withdraw. It isn’t his decision. All that was grandstanding,” said Geragos, referring to the Hochman press conference. He added, “There’s a case that says you can’t withdraw unless you show certain factors. And [the District Attorney’s Office] hasn’t talked about any of those factors.”

Geragos also said that Hochman is mischaracterizing the brothers’ legal arguments. “He keeps saying they were claiming self-defense. They were not claiming self-defense. They were claiming what was called ‘imperfect self-defense.'” He added, “The first jury did not convict. That was a hung jury. Then the judge took away imperfect self-defense. He basically directed a verdict the second time around.”

The same day as the press conference, family members of Erik and Lyle Menendez released a statement that criticized Hochman’s comments during the press conference, saying, “Let’s be clear: Erik and Lyle are not the same young boys they were more than 30 years ago. They have apologized for their actions, which were the results of Jose’s sexual abuse and Kitty’s enablement. They have apologized for the horrific actions they took. They have apologized to us. And, they have demonstrated their atonement through actions that have helped improve countless lives. Yet, DA Hochman is effectively asking for them to publicly apologize for a checklist of actions they took in a state of shock and fear. “

On March 12, Governor Gavin Newsom spoke about the case in his recently launched podcast, “This is Gavin Newsom.” “The DA now, the new DA, is pulling back recommending from the Menendez brothers to be resentenced …” He continued, “It doesn’t impact the processes underway, that review for clemency in my office or the independent risk assessment that will be concluded on June 13 by the Board of Parole Hearings. And I’ll repeat that, on June 13, both Lyle and Eric Menendez independently will have their final hearing.”

Last week, Newsom announced that both brothers will first undergo an independent risk assessment designed to determine if the two would be “an unreasonable risk to the public” if released. Newsom said Hochman’s announcement was “very significant,” but that “it doesn’t fundamentally change the facts as it relates to the independent investigation in my office or the Board of Parole hearings.” 

The post Hochman Withdraws Menendez Resentencing Motion appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

CorePower Yoga has more than 200 locations across the United States. According to their website, they are the nation’s largest yoga studio brand. In addition to in-person classes, they also offer digital livestream and on-demand classes.

Shelby Silva, a fitness influencer, posted a video to her TikTok account on March 7 claiming her credit card was stolen from a locker at CorePower Beverly Hills and the perpetrator took a photo of her ID. In the video, she says “I got robbed for $16,000 at CorePower Beverly Hills last week. And I want to share this, so this never happens to anyone else ever again.” 

The video has received more than 2 million views on TikTok.

Since Dec 2024, at least two people have made reports to the Beverly Hills Police Department (BHPD) alleging theft at the studio. Separately, two people have told the Courier that items were stolen while at CorePower Yoga. Though Beverly Hills Police Department said they have records of two complaints of theft and fraud at the location in December, both Silva and another woman who spoke to the Courier on condition of anonymity said that they were victims on other dates.

Lieutenant Kevin Orth, a public information officer for BHPD, told the Courier that they are not able to comment on incidents at Core Power Yoga at this time, because “it is still an active investigation.”

Silva says her items were stored in one of the studio’s lockers. After exercising at the studio, she received multiple fraud alerts from American Express. One asked her if she had attempted to make a $4,000 purchase at Saks Fifth Avenue, which she blocked. 

Another fraud alert stated that a $16,000 charge at Tiffany had gone through. After calling American Express, Silva said she discovered that her card had gone missing. Tiffany, she said, accepted the $16,000 charge after a woman had shown the cashiers a photo of Silva’s identification. “That is just mind-boggling to me,” Silva said about the store allowing the transaction to go through.

Silva has made multiple follow up videos and said she is receiving an “overwhelming” number of messages from others with similar claims of theft. Several messages refer to the same CorePower location. The resulting videos have also received a large share of views on the social media platform.

Silva told the Courier that CorePower reached out to her and promised to contact others who allege they have also had items stolen there. As of press time, CorePower has not returned the Courier’s requests for a comment. 

Silva said she has received her money back after making fraud claims with the BHPD and following up with her credit card company. She says that she’s concerned also about several others that contacted her stating that valuables had been stolen that had sentimental value and couldn’t be replaced. 

The post Victims Allege Theft at CorePower Yoga in Beverly Hills appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

According to Beverly Hills’ Interactive Crime Map, the break-in occurred at 9:45 p.m. Several sources familiar with the incident told the Courier that the suspect broke into the store, managed to open the case containing vehicle keys and then drove a vehicle through the glass wall of the showroom. He parked the vehicle, then returned inside and stole another vehicle. The suspect sustained lacerations in the commission of the crime.

Lieutenant Kevin Orth of the BHPD tells the Courier that units responded to the scene after being alerted by a radio call. He said that the suspect fled the area and quickly left the boundary of Beverly Hills. Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) officers pursued the suspect for a short time. “LAPD got in pursuit later that night, but the guy was able to evade. The next day, we received a radio call of a suspicious person in the area who was then identified as the suspect of the initial crime,” said Orth. 

The suspect, identified as Julian Flake, was then arrested by BHPD Officers.

Flake has been charged with one count of felony second-degree commercial burglary, two counts of felony grand theft of an automobile and one count of felony vandalism $400 or more in damage or destruction of property. Flake also faces two separate charges of trespassing that were filed in December 2024 after arrests by Pomona Police Department officers.

McLaren specializes in luxury sports cars. The Beverly Hills location has listings between $145,990 for a pre-owned GT Coupe and $436,130 for a 2024 750S Coupe.

Flake’s next day in court will be a preliminary hearing set for March 19 at Los Angeles Superior Court Airport Courthouse.  

The post BHPD Makes Arrest in McLaren Grand Theft appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

The brothers’ current attempts to gain a new trial, resentencing or release hinge in part on new evidence that may corroborate claims their parents sexually abused the brothers. A letter from Erik Menendez to a cousin implies the abuse continued up until months before the killings. Roy Rosselló, a pop singer, also made a statement that he was abused by the brothers’ father.

At the press conference, Hochman questioned the credibility of the new evidence. He also noted that “Sexual abuse in this situation may have been a motivation for Erik and Lyle to do what they did, but it does not constitute self-defense.”

In response to Hochman’s decision, a coalition led by family members of the brothers released a statement that the DA “effectively tore up new evidence and discredited the trauma they experienced. To suggest that the years of abuse couldn’t have led to the tragedy in 1989 is not only outrageous, but also dangerous. Abuse does not exist in a vacuum.”

The same day as the conference, the DA’s office filed papers urging the court to reject the habeas corpus petition, which effectively killed chances for a retrial. A video also released that day by the office outlined the brothers’ legal attempts at release “from a procedural perspective.” A statement accompanying the video said that it was produced because “transparency and public education are essential to ensuring confidence” in the justice system.

The March 20 resentencing hearing has the potential to change the brothers’ sentences from life in prison without parole to life in prison with parole. If resentenced, they’d likely be released. Relatives of the two brothers released a statement expressing hope that the judge in that case “will examine the evidence in their case without prejudice, carefully adhering to California law with modern understanding of trauma.”

Resentencing would also examine if the brothers have been rehabilitated while incarcerated. Attorneys and relatives have claimed that Erik and Lyle have, among other things, mentored other prisoners and attended college classes while incarcerated. 

The fate of the Menendez brothers took a political turn during the last election, in which Hochman handily unseated his predecessor, George Gascón. Hochman accused Gascón of being politically motivated when publicly weighing the decision to file the motion for resentencing. 

Sacramento politicians are also involved in the case, as Gov. Newsom contemplates the clemency application. Newsom’s office announced on Feb. 26 that he has directed the state parole board to make a “risk assessment investigation” before he rules on the brothers’ application for clemency. In videotaped remarks, Newsom said, “The question for the board is a simple one—do Erik and Lyle Menendez pose what we call unreasonable risk to public safety,’’ and said the assessment would be shared with the DA’s office, defense attorney and court ruling on the case.

Previously, Newsom said he would defer to Hochman’s review and analysis of the Menendez case prior to making any clemency decisions.

If Newsom approves the application for clemency, the parole board has up to six months to review the case. If clemency is approved, the decision would go to Newsom, who then could reverse or modify that recommendation.

On Feb. 27, a cousin of the Menendez brothers praised Newsom’s announcement.

“This is a pretty exciting time for us as the family of Erik and Lyle Menendez,’’ Anamaria Baralt said. She described it as “a positive step toward Erik and Lyle’s release.’’

She added, “We are incredibly grateful that Governor Newsom is paying attention to this case … For us, it is a huge sigh of relief that someone in a seat of power is paying attention to what we have seen up close since Erik and Lyle have been incarcerated. We have seen their rehabilitation. Erik and Lyle have changed countless lives since their conviction in 1996. Inmates have seen it, corrections officers have seen it and now we need the entire criminal justice system to see it.’’ 

The post Hochman and Newsom Weigh In on Menendez Case appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

DOGE was established via executive order by President Donald Trump. When announcing the creation of the office, led by Elon Musk, Trump indicated that it would “provide advice and guidance from outside of government,” with a stated goal of streamlining government and bringing savings to taxpayers.

At the Feb 25 board meeting, community member Romi Azevedo expressed concern about the manner in which the Bregy resignation was handled. She also had this to say about Stuart’s post. “The actions of newly elected Board Member Russell Stuart are deeply troubling,” said Azevedo. She continued, “His posting of the BHUSD logo with ‘DOGE’ written next to the letter ‘D’ on social media is not only inappropriate and disrespectful, but it also appears to align with a political agenda that has no place in a public school district.” 

Azevedo also opined that the post violated board bylaws, including those pertaining to personal viewpoints not shared by the entire board. She said that her child, a student within BHUSD, told her, “It is insensitive and disrespectful that we have a leader so immature that connects personal politics to the education of growing children.”

Later in the meeting, Stuart addressed Azevedo’s comments, clarifying his intention with the post. “What [it] means is that it’s an ideological stance that we believe that we’re wasting money on things federally, statewide and especially here.”

He added, “It’s unfortunate that certain people had such intense feelings about my social media post … So, for those that don’t like my post personally, and your emotions take over, I’m sorry. But my job is still the same, and our job is still the same. It’s to effectively and properly spend your tax dollars for the benefit of every single student, and that is exactly what we’re doing.”

The morning after the board meeting, Stuart made additional comments on social media. “At last night’s board meeting, some tried to distort my message and create unnecessary controversy over a lighthearted post. Trying to bully me will NEVER work. Let’s be clear: my priority has always been transparency, accountability, and ensuring that every tax dollar is spent wisely for the benefit of our students. #BHUSDoge.” He also clarified in the post that he was speaking his own views, and not the views of the board.”

On Feb. 27, Stuart provided the Courier with some additional remarks on the matter. 

“I stand by every word I say and that’s what different about me … If you have the type of mindset that believes in the mission of DOGE, which means government efficiency to be efficient with finances, then you’re going to see what it is. If you’re someone who disagrees with that mission, then it expands into any other political ideology that you want to make up in your head. That’s not what the post was. My mission is to uncover spending that I believe is not done properly,” he said. 

Stuart also singled out Tina Wiener, President of the Beverly Hills Education Foundation (BHEF). Wiener attended the Feb. 25 board meeting and was listed as one of the speakers during public comment. However, noting that there was very little time left in that portion of the meeting, Wiener ceded her time to Azevedo, who made the statements pertaining to Stuart’s social media post, set forth above. 

“I think the biggest disappointment for me was seeing Tina Wiener, the President of BHEF, which is our funding raising arm, going against financial efficiency,” Stuart told the Courier. 

When reached by the Courier, Wiener had this response. “I am very supportive of efficiency in government but was not happy with the manner in which the resignation of Dr. Bregy was handled. As for the social media post using the BHUSD letters and colors, I did not feel it was the appropriate messaging to explain the board’s position on their decisions.” 

The post BHUSD Board Member Stuart Defends Social Media Post appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

The resignation was announced in a Feb. 21 email to parents and teachers from the BHUSD board. The email referred to Bregy’s “dedication and leadership over the past eight and a half years.” It continued, “His impact on BHUSD has been profound, starting with leading the district’s reconfiguration which allowed for a significant expansion of elective offerings and enriching students’ educational experiences, to prioritizing professional development opportunities for staff and fostering key partnerships within the Beverly Hills community, including the Beverly Hills City Council, the Beverly Hills Education Foundation and our PTAs.”

In an email statement to the Courier, BHUSD Board President Rachelle Marcus said, “Michael’s community involvement was also always evident, and he availed himself in joining many local organizations. His tenure with Beverly Hills Unified has and will going forward make a lasting impact, and I wish him nothing but success in all future endeavors.

At the BHUSD board meeting of Feb. 25, Bregy was mentioned only briefly. Board Member Dr. Amanda Stern said at the close of the meeting, “I just wanted to take a moment to thank Dr. Bregy for his eight years of extremely hard work and a very open-door policy to all teachers, staff, parents and students. I just want to say I’m grateful for his service.”

During public comment, district parent Romi Azevedo voiced frustration that the board “issued a communication on [Bregy’s] behalf, depriving him of the opportunity to personally express his departure on his own terms. The decision lacked transparency and professionalism, and it has left many in our community questioning the motives and leadership of this board.”

Some wonder if Bregy’s sudden resignation was due to pressure from the board. Jackie Kruger, who has several children in the district, told the Courier, “You don’t have the head of all the things in the school leave in the middle of the second semester without so much as a goodbye or an explanation. Something must have happened.” She added, “We as a community deserve to have some accountability as to why that happened. What was the impetus?”

Acting Superintendent Hasty has spent time before his tenure in Beverly Hills as Assistant Superintendent at Wiseburn Unified School District and Executive Director of Human Resource Services at Los Angeles County Office of Education.

At his first board meeting in his new role, Hasty said to those in attendance, “Please know that we have an exceptional team of leaders, educators and staff who have the capacity, vision and expertise to take our district into a new era of excellence.”

That first board meeting was occasionally contentious. School security had to approach a speaker who began talking over his allotted time before he went back to his seat. 

The situation also grew tense when two individuals voiced complaints about not being allowed to speak—despite waiting some five hours at that point. As the back-and-forth between the two continued, Hasty announced, “I’m going to stop there; we’re going to move forward. If we cannot move forward, we are going to need to call a recess and take a break.” 

He then instructed Board President Rachelle Marcus to “call a recess” and told the board members to “get up,” motioning for them to leave the meeting room. Hasty went on to meet with members of the audience in the hallway. He listened to frustrations for several minutes, then said, “Here’s what we’re going to do, can we go back and sit down? I’m going to go tell [the rest of the board] we have two more speakers…” and later “We’re going to get better for the next meeting, I promise you.” A few minutes later, the board reappeared and listened to the speakers. 

Inheriting a school district facing several controversies and legal actions, Hasty will face hurdles beyond merely frustrated speakers at board meetings. Last Dec 1, teacher and KBEV Executive Producer Romeo Carey was placed on administrative leave. The letter informing him of the administrative leave offered no cause for the suspension, he said. The action against Carey has resulted in an outpouring of support from students and parents, who have expressed their incredulity and displeasure at board meetings for the past few months. Additionally, the district faces claims of racial discrimination and retaliation by current and former teachers and administrators. Athletic Director Tim Ellis has also been accused of sexual harassment in a wrongful termination claim. 

The post Dr. Michael Bregy Resigns as BHUSD Superintendent appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

Previously, the only rooftop dining available in the city was limited to specific types of structures like hotels. Restaurants sit atop several city hotels, including the Peninsula Beverly Hills, Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills, the Beverly Hilton, Maybourne Beverly Hills and SIXTY Beverly Hills.

An ordinance passed in Aug 2024 allows applications for rooftop restaurants and open-air dining within the area which encompasses most of Beverly Hills’ Business Triangle. The ordinance requires the permits to be reviewed directly by the commission and thereafter by Community Development Director Ryan Gohlich.

Under the plans of the approved application, patrons of the restaurant will arrive via a new elevator within the building located adjacent to the entrance of the parking area. A valet stand would be located in front of the elevator entrance. The dining area will be 2,765 square feet and includes a 182-square-foot bar area and 270-square-foot kitchen. The restaurant will total 128 seats. A retractable canvas cover will sit atop, and there will be a nine-foot trellis structure.

During the Planning Commission meeting, Alan Berro, a neighbor who lives nearby, shared concerns about late-night noise. 

The owner of the building, Shawn Far, stated, “I understand that everyone is concerned about the noise. Our concern is not to create a restaurant with loud noise. This rooftop is so beautiful that you don’t need anything else to be added to it to bring a beauty out of it.” 

Architect Hamid Gabbay, who submitted the application, told the commission, “One thing I have to say, the noise of Santa Monica Boulevard is much, much more than what possibly this small space could generate.”

However, the commission ultimately placed conditions on the permit approval pertaining to the live or prerecorded music. 

Gabbay later told the Courier, “Our opinion was that this rooftop is extremely far away from the houses.” 

The post Rooftop Dining Permit Approved for 499 N. Canon Drive appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

On Feb 5, Sures’ home was the target of a protest in the early morning. Video on social media shows protesters holding large banners reading “disclose, divest, we will not stop, we will not rest,” and “Jonathan Sures, you will pay until you see your final day.” Los Angeles Police Department officers arrived there while protesters chanted, and some officers carried “less lethal” munitions.

Red handprints were reportedly left on Sures’ garage door at some point during the protest. According to a statement by UCLA Chancellor Julio Frenk, “Individuals surrounded the vehicle of a Sures family member and prevented that family member’s free movement.” 

The student organizations, Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) and Graduate Students for Justice in Palestine (GSJP) were suspended based on a review of initial reports about the groups’ involvement in the incident, said Frenk’s statement. 

After the protest, SJP released a now-deleted statement on Instagram that the protest was due to the UC’s Board of Regents not working with pro-Palestinian demonstrators to divest funding and investment from Israel. It read in part that university officials “have repeatedly kicked us out of their meetings, canceled forums for public comment, and criminalized our attempts to protest investment policies. We have taken our issues straight to the Regents because they have systematically militarized our campus in response. Over the last eight months, Jay Sures has led the UC’s efforts in suppressing pro-Palestine speech and expression on campus, including through increased militarization and draconian [time, place and manner] policies.”

Sures is Vice Chairman and Managing Director of the Beverly Hills-based United Talent Agency, which represents the Anti-Defamation League (ADL). On Feb 5, SJP and GSJP made a statement via social media condemning Sures’ work with the ADL as well his work as a board member of the Los Angeles Police Foundation, Los Alamos National Laboratory and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. The post also stated that Sures “is one of the unelected officials responsible for protecting UC investments in genocide and weapons manufacturing.” 

Several days after the protest, the Jewish Federation Los Angeles (JFEDLA) released an open letter signed by hundreds of entertainment professionals, celebrities and Jewish religious leaders. Signatories included Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of the ADL. The letter calls for “law enforcement and university officials to fully investigate this hateful incident and ensure that all those responsible are held accountable.” It continues, “Furthermore, we urge local elected officials and university leadership to unequivocally condemn the protesters’ unlawful and antisemitic actions and reaffirm their commitment to protecting the safety and dignity of all individuals and groups, including the Jewish community.”

Frenk announced the suspensions on Feb 12. An open letter to the Bruin community said in part, “The Office of Student Conduct is undertaking the standard process for addressing potential violations of UCLA’s student group conduct code. It is conducting an administrative review, and this suspension will remain in effect during the review. If these reports prove true as part of this review, disciplinary action may be taken.”

UCLA’s suspension of SJP follows the same action taken at UC Santa Cruz, UC Irvine and UC San Diego. SJP chapters have also been suspended by several other universities across the country. During this suspension, the organizations cannot reserve space for meetings on campus or apply for funding for the student club. 

The post UCLA Suspends Two Pro-Palestinian Student Groups appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

On Feb 3, Nancy Theberge and Brock Lunsford both filed notices that they intend to sue for discrimination and harassment, retaliation, Labor Code violations and emotional distress, among other theories. Theberge and Lunsford named L.A. District Attorney Nathan Hochman, the County of Los Angeles, the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office and Deputy District Attorney John Lewin in their complaints.

Under California law, plaintiffs must file a claim 45 days before a lawsuit when the defendant is a public entity. Theberge and Lunsford seek more than $250,000 in economic damages and over $5 million in non-economic damages.

Erik and Lyle Menendez both were sentenced in 1996 to life sentences without parole for the 1989 murders of their parents José and Mary Louise “Kitty” Menendez in Beverly Hills. Both are now in their 50s and have served more than 35 years in jail. After new evidence which corroborates that their father had been sexually abusing the brothers since childhood surfaced, former L.A. District Attorney George Gascón reviewed a habeas petition and recommended a resentencing via a memo last October.

Theberge and Lunsford were both authors of the memo. Theberge was in charge of L.A. County’s resentencing unit at this time. Lunsford was Assistant Head Deputy Post-Conviction and Litigation. Lunsford has now been moved to a calendaring clerk position in Norwalk. Theberge is back at the alternate public defender’s office, an office she held several years ago.

Justin Shegerian, one of the attorneys for Theberge and Lunsford, told the Courier, “They were applying the law to the Menendez brothers case, and they recommended the resentencing of them based on a variety of factors that the law provides.” He added that the incoming DA “retaliated against them for that. They harassed them for that, and they demoted them and sent them off to Siberia to positions where they had worked previously with far less experience as well as to non-supervisory positions in the bottom of the organizational chart.”

Hochman has not publicly stated whether his office will continue to support resentencing for the brothers. He criticized Gascón’s handling of the case during his campaign, calling the handling politically motivated. In a move many consider as a possible indication of his position, Hochman hired Kathy Cady to oversee the DA’s victims services bureau. Cady formerly represented one of the only Menendez relatives who have called for the brothers to remain in prison. 

Deputy District Attorney John Lewin is also listed as a defendant in the tort claims. The claim states that Lewin defamed Theberge by making public statements that Theberge was incompetent and violated courtroom ethics. The claim also states that Lewin accused Theberge of violating her duty of candor to the court.

The claim alleges that even though Lewin made social media statements that defamed the two, Lewin was promoted. Lewin was also a vocal critic of Gascón. He too sued the office for political retaliation in Feb 2023 when Gascón was at the helm. Lewin had been transferred from the Major Crimes Division to the role of calendar attorney at the Inglewood Courthouse. Once Hochman entered the office, Lewin was transferred back to Major Crimes. 

Pam Johnson, a spokesperson for the L.A. District Attorney’s Office, said via email, “Our office does not comment on litigation or personnel matters.”

A hearing for Erik and Lyle Menendez is planned for March 20 and 21.  

The post Hochman Sued Over Alleged Menendez Retaliation appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

A spokesman for the Waldorf Astoria told the Courier, “Upon being alerted to the situation, the hotel’s security team immediately contacted the Beverly Hills Police Department.” The spokesman said, “The safety and security of our guests and team members is always a top priority, and we continue to make every effort to ensure all practices and standards are in line with strict safety and security protocols. We are working with the third-party store and cooperating fully with local authorities.”

The suspects fled in several vehicles after the robbery. One of the vehicles, a black Mercedes sedan, was located by the BHPD shortly thereafter. When officers attempted to make a traffic stop, the vehicle did not yield. Officers pursued the Mercedes into Bel-Air, with the pursuit concluding on Sepulveda Boulevard and Moraga Drive. Five suspects were taken into custody, along with evidence and property connected to the robbery. 

Orth told the Beverly Hills Courier that no officers were injured during the pursuit or arrests.

Arrested were Alexander Cash, 20; Kolion Beyan, 20; Jordan Jackson, 20; Kevin Turner, 23 and James Knight, 19. All are from Los Angeles. All were booked on suspicion of felony robbery, burglary, organized retail theft and criminal conspiracy. Beyan was additionally charged with resisting arrest, reckless evading, assault with deadly weapon or force likely to produce great bodily injury and receiving stolen property. Jordan was also booked on suspicion of reckless evading and resisting arrest. Turner was booked on suspicion of reckless evading and resisting arrest. Knight was booked on suspicion of resisting arrest and receiving stolen property. 

The charges of organized retail theft are charges newly available to law enforcement pursuant to a statute that went into effect on Jan. 1. A conviction carries a maximum sentence of one year in prison.

The BHPD is still searching for one vehicle as well as several additional suspects. 

The post Five Arrested After Smash-and-Grab Robbery at Waldorf Astoria Retailer appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

Both men were arrested by investigators with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in Los Angeles. They face up to 20 years in prison for each of the conspiracy and wire fraud counts, and five years on the stalking count.

According to the indictment, from May 2021 to May 2024, the defendants sponsored several NFT and other digital asset projects and then promoted them. They then are alleged to have made materially false and misleading statements regarding the projects being launched and provided false and misleading project “roadmaps” detailing plans for the assets they never intended to fulfill.

Both men pled guilty and were released on $200,000 bail. A trial date is set for Feb. 11. 

The post Beverly Hills Resident Indicted in Cryptocurrency Scheme appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

Entertainment Industry

The California State Assembly passed several laws focusing on protecting actors from having their likenesses used without their consent using artificial intelligence. Additionally, several laws will make it so that child actors’ protections in the film and television industry will also now be expanded into social media.

AB 2602 and AB 1836 make it illegal to use artificial intelligence to replicate an actor’s voice or likeness without consent of the actor or their estate. The California Labor Federation wrote in a statement in support of the legislation, “It is critical that workers and their unions have a voice in the development and use of AI and other technologies in the workplace. Otherwise, technology will rapidly worsen the exploitation of workers and the elimination of jobs.” SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher was present at the bills’ signing.

Retail Theft

New laws in 2025 will increase charges against those committing retail theft. 

In a statement examining new legislation in 2024, the Public Policy Institute of California said, “Reported [shoplifting] incidents are 28% higher than in 2019. Commercial burglaries dropped by 9% in 2023 but remain about 6% above their pre-pandemic level.” While data for 2024 has not been completed, the Institute noted that Los Angeles County was one of four counties responsible for more than 90% of the statewide rise in 2023, along with Alameda, Sacramento and San Mateo.

AB 3209 will allow retail stores to apply for restraining orders against people sentenced for stealing, vandalizing or assaulting an employee. 

AB 1779 provides that California district attorneys can coordinate with other DAs to consolidate charges for suspects in retail theft crimes which occur across county lines.

AB 1960 creates sentencing enhancements for taking, damaging or destroying property while committing a felony if the property value exceeds $50,000.

SB 1242 increases sentencing for those convicted of organized retail theft if they set a fire within a merchant’s premises and considers it an aggravating factor.

Social Media

SB 764 provides that social media posts using children will require their parents to set aside some of the earnings for them in a trust. AB 1880 also expands the Coogan Law to include minor content creators on online platforms. Parents must keep records of how much time their children appear in monetized social media posts and how much money they earn.

Food Delivery

AB 375 requires food delivery services to provide the first name and photo of delivery drivers beginning on March 1. While several food delivery companies already require this, it could provide an extra layer of safety.

SB 1490 requires food delivery applications to provide an itemized receipt of a transaction including purchase price and fees/commissions charged to both the restaurant and the customer. It also bans applications from limiting the number or value of transactions disputed by restaurants and provides a way for restaurants to remove themselves from a food delivery application.

Cannabis

AB 1775 allows for local jurisdictions to license cannabis cafes or lounges by allowing cannabis retailers to make and sell food and nonalcoholic beverages. Previously, dispensaries could only sell prepackaged food and drinks. The bill also allows for live events such as comedy shows and music on the site of the cafes. The bill also requires several employee protections, and a similar bill without the protections was vetoed last year. California Governor Gavin Newsom said in a statement, “I commend the author for incorporating additional safeguards, such as expressly protecting employees’ discretion to wear a mask for respiration, paid for at the expense of the employer, and requiring employees to receive additional guidance on the risks of secondhand cannabis smoke.”

Firearms

California is often one of the first states in the nation to create laws restricting the use or carrying of firearms, and 2025 will continue that trend. New firearm purchasers will now see a requirement to confirm possession of every firearm they possess, and a new safety pamphlet will have to be provided by licensed firearms dealers. Additionally, a new law allows courts to weigh a person’s threats towards groups when deciding whether to bar them from purchasing guns. 

AB 574 requires all purchases or transfers of firearms to include an acknowledgment by the purchaser or transferee that they have, within the last 30 days, confirmed possession of every firearm that they own or possess.

AB 1483 eliminates an existing private party transaction exemption from a prohibition on more than one firearm purchase in 30 days.

AB 1598 requires safety pamphlets to be provided by licensed firearm dealers for purchasers and transferees, as well as those being loaned a firearm.

AB 2917 threats directed towards a group or location will be permissible in court when deciding whether to prohibit a person from purchasing or possessing a firearm or ammunition.

Education

New legislation in the state expands protections for transgender students and adds to the public school curriculum the impact of European settlement and the Gold Rush on Native Americans in the state.

Several years after the college admissions scandal, a new law now bars preferential treatment for “legacy” students as well as the children of large donors. 

AB 1955 prohibits school districts in the state from policies forcing educators to notify parents if students identify as transgender or if they request to use a different name. The last several years have seen pushes from various groups to force teachers to inform parents in Los Angeles County, and a new law will largely make that impossible.

AB 1821 requires California public schools to teach the impact of the Mission Period and Gold Rush on California Native Americans.

AB 1780 prohibits legacy and donor preferences in the admissions process for private, nonprofit higher learning institutions. Both have been officially excluded from the state’s public university admissions process. The University of California system eliminated legacy preferences in 1998. 

Several states have enacted similar bans on legacy and donor admissions in the wake of a Supreme Court ruling in June 2023 banning affirmative action in college admissions.

Of the bill, Governor Gavin Newsom said “Everyone should be able to get ahead through merit, skill, and hard work. The California dream shouldn’t be accessible to just a lucky few, which is why we’re opening the door to higher education wide enough for everyone, fairly.”

Healthcare

New laws in 2025 will increase coverage of IVF, require pharmacies to provide accessible labels for those with vision issues and ban a potentially toxic substance from feminine hygiene products in the state.

SB 729 requires insurance companies to cover IVF and expand access to LGBTQ families.

AB 2515 bans the sale of menstrual products that contain potentially toxic perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances.

AB 1902 provides that pharmacies must provide to any customers (or authorized representative thereof) who are blind, have low vision or are otherwise print disabled, at no additional cost, an accessible prescription label affixed to the container accessible to that person.

SB 639 requires continuing education in geriatrics and dementia care for health care professionals providing care to people 65 and older. 

Employment

In addition to minimum wage increases,  a number of new laws will affect the workplace. Areas affected include the classification of sick days and family leave, payment schedules for independent contractors and rules regarding  employee meetings. 

The state minimum wage will increase by 50 cents to $16.50 per hour in 2025. (A ballot measure was rejected in November which would have increased it to $18 per hour in 2026.) Countywide, the minimum wage rose to $17.27 per hour, which will apply to Beverly Hills. The minimum wage in West Hollywood will increase to $19.65 per hour in the new year.

SB 988 requires independent contractors to be paid on or before the date specified in their contract, or no later than 30 days after completion of services if no date is specified.

AB 2123 allows employees to use paid family leave without using vacation hours first. 

SB 1105 allows agricultural workers to use paid sick days when they are working outdoors in dangerous conditions such as smoke or extreme heat.

AB 2499 expands the definition of paid sick leave to include situations when an employee’s family member is a victim of violence or the threat of violence. It allows employees to use sick leave to help family members obtain a restraining order or seek out services related to domestic violence or assault.

AB 399 bars California employers from discriminating or retaliating against employees who refuse to attend any employer-sponsored meeting related to matters that are religious, political or related to the decision to support or not support a labor organization/union.

Housing 

The topic of housing continues to loom large in Beverly Hills and across the state. While the rate of homelessness in L.A. County decreased by .27%, housing costs in the state continue to be well above the national average. One bill could make it easier for homeowners to divide their homes to rent. Another will make cities planning to build “tiny homes” for unhoused residents experience less red tape.

SB 450 requires local governments to drop certain zoning requirements, making it easier for homeowners to divide their homes into as many as four separate units. 

SB 1395 makes it easier for cities to build “tiny homes” for unhoused residents.

AB 2347 raises the amount of time tenants have to respond to eviction notices from 10 business days up from five.

Miscellaneous

AB 1825 prohibits public libraries from banning books due to race, nationality, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability or socioeconomic status as well as the political affiliation of a book’s subject, author or intended audience. 

AB 413 allows cities to fine drivers parking any vehicle within 20 feet of any unmarked or marked crosswalk or 15 feet of any crosswalk where a curb extension is present. The law will allow cities to fine drivers starting Jan. 1. It was designed to increase the visibility of bicyclists. 

The post New 2025 Laws Will Impact Residents appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

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In a statement, United States Attorney Martin Estrada said, “This defendant took part in a blatant assault on a store operating in daylight hours, believing he could rob and intimidate others with impunity. Now, he will serve a lengthy sentence in federal prison. Our office and our law enforcement partners will not tolerate these sorts of brazen attacks on our community.”

Vernon was charged along with two other adults and one minor. The indictment describes the group driving together in three different vehicles from Long Beach to Beverly Hills before the robbery. Vernon’s cell phone fell out of his sweatpants pocket while he was committing the robbery and left it behind. According to an affidavit previously filed in this case, the phone was later recovered by law enforcement.

The group made off with approximately 19 bracelets, seven pairs of earrings, four necklaces, a pair of obelisks, eight rings and 20 watches, according to the U.S. Attorney’s office. 

After the robbery, the group ran out of the store and left behind a vehicle which had been reported stolen in Long Beach four days before the robbery. According to court documents, one of Vernon’s accomplices posted various pictures of large stacks of money and a message praising his “robbery gang,” just two days after the robbery.

Peter Sedghi, the CEO of Luxury Jewels of Beverly Hills, described the events on the day of the robbery for the Courier. “I was sitting in my office, and we have special glass.” He described loud sounds coming from the robbery, “sledgehammers hitting the glass, it sounded like gunshots. I hit the burglar alarm, I told my employees to hit the floor, and I grabbed my gun. One of my employees that sits up front told me, ‘Pete, shoot them! Pete, shoot them!’ They saw me with the gun and started running.”

Vernon faced a statutory maximum of 20 years in federal prison. Deshon Bell, a co-defendant, pleaded guilty in December 2023 to one count of Hobbs Act Robbery and is serving a federal prison sentence of one year and one day. Another co-defendant, Ladell Tharpe, pleaded guilty on Sept. 30 to one count of Hobbs Act robbery and will have a sentencing hearing on Jan. 6, 2025.

Both the FBI and the Beverly Hills Police Department investigated the robbery. Assistant United States Attorneys Kevin J. Butler of the Violent and Organized Crime Section and Kevin B. Reidy of the Major Frauds Section prosecuted the case.

Previously, a Beverly Hills Police Department spokesman told the Courier, “If you commit a crime in the city of Beverly Hills, we are going to exhaust all leads until we have you in custody and then we will make sure you answer up to charges either on the state or federal level.” He then added, “Once we started working with our federal partners, the decision was made to seek federal charges. In the past we have had great results on the federal level.”

For his part, Sedghi said that he wanted more time in jail for the robbers. “I think he should have gotten more time. A lot more, for what they did to us not just financially but mentally. He caused emotional damage to my employees.”

The store is open now, but Sedghi says after the robbery they had to close for more than a month. “We had to shut down for a while, do inventory, fix broken glass, the windows. It was tough in the beginning.” 

The post Defendant Sentenced in Jewelry Story Robbery appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

Gage announced the action at a press conference this week outside BHHS. 

Ivory has previously gone on the record with allegations of racism. As set forth in the Courier’s Nov. 15 issue, she and several members of the Black Student Union spoke out at the Nov. 12 BHUSD Board meeting. They recounted experiencing racially based harassment by students involved in a boisterous pro-Trump rally on campus. 

As described in the administrative claim, “In early November, 2024 on the day of the election students marched through the halls carrying Trump flags. They congregated in front of the a Black Student Union meeting being lead by Ms. Ivory. The mob of kids were outside her door. Some of the kids had on MAGA hats. one of the kids tried to open the door, causing fear and apprehension. Because of the assault and mob, Black students said they felt like it was the KKK trying to break into their meeting. … Bella was also called a ‘Nig**r bitch’ by a female student in her Tik Tok post after the mob came to Bella’s classroom and Black students have consistently been called the N-word face to face.”
  The claim adds, “While there have been various prior complaints about discrimination, the Administration has done nothing to stop these blatant acts of racism.”
In fact, the administrative claim singles out one member of the faculty, stating, “Athletic Director Tim Ellis often used the N-word at the school and in front of teachers/coaches.”
  The claim adds,”Harassment continues through the present. On or about April 22, 2024 Students from BHHS posted a video called ‘Normans PSA’ showing how nice beautiful and clean the cafeteria looked in the morning. The two white students then say ‘Let’s fast forward to lunch.’ The two white girls zoom in on a table where Black students are enjoying their lunch. The white girls say, ‘This is disgusting, I am repulsed’ … Obviously, the girls zooming in on Black students eating making the place ‘disgusting’ perpetrates racial stereotypes and prejudices harking back to Apartheid and ‘separate but equal’ which was anything but equal.”

At the press conference, Gage said that he has been contacted by parents in the school system with additional stories asking to be represented. 

He also noted at the press conference that Ivory is currently on leave. 

“On Dec. 9 we filed a complaint as a precursor to a lawsuit with the school. And then on Dec. 10 we received a notification that the school is now going to investigate Bella for alleged wrongdoing. We’re not stupid. When the investigation comes one day after the complaint, that’s pretty obvious retaliation,” Gage said. 

In response to these two new administrative claims, BHUSD Superintendent Dr. Michael Bregy released a statement indicating, “We do not have evidence that suggests that there was racism at the recent spirited demonstrations however BHUSD has implemented proactive measures to ensure that any concerns related to racism and antisemitism—perceived or real—are addressed promptly and effectively.”
The statement added, “The district remains focused on ensuring that our schools remain spaces of learning, growth, and mutual respect. Allegations stemming from external events, such as political demonstrations, are taken seriously and assessed within the context of our commitment to student safety and community harmony.” 

The post Two Black Teachers File Claims Against BHUSD appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

Video widely shared on social media shows the incident taking place at the intersection of Rodeo Drive and Brighton Way. In the video, several people in black hoodies with their faces covered are seen running from the scene. One appears to be holding a handbag as he flees. It also shows the victims on the ground, with several people running toward them. 

The statement from the BHPD indicates that “During the altercation, the suspects forcibly took two designer handbags —one from each victim—containing cash and cellphones. One cellphone was recovered nearby. The suspects also attempted to steal the male victim’s jewelry but were unsuccessful.”

According to the BHPD, both victims were treated by paramedics on scene and afterwards decided to go to a hospital in their own vehicle. As of press time, no additional details about their conditions were available. The BHPD is “actively investigating to identify and apprehend the suspects.” 

The post Two Robbed at Gunpoint on Rodeo Drive appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

Attorneys for the brothers are currently pursuing several avenues as they hope to secure their release and contend that new evidence backs the brothers’ claims they were sexually abused by their father.

The January hearing dates will allow newly elected District Attorney Nathan Hochman more time to review the case. Current District Attorney George Gascón announced last month that he supports the resentencing of the brothers. Hochman has not publicly stated how his office will handle the case. He released a statement on Nov. 25, saying that the delay will provide him with “sufficient time to review the extensive prison records, transcripts of two lengthy trials and voluminous exhibits, as well as consult with prosecutors, law enforcement, defense counsel and victim family members.” Hochman added, “I look forward to thoroughly reviewing all the facts and the law to reach a fair and just decision, and then defend it in court.”

Erik Menendez, 53, and Lyle Menendez, 56, both attended Monday’s hearing in Van Nuys via an audio link from their prison in San Diego. They were expected to appear via video, but the video link would not function. Other than a brief acknowledgment they were able to hear the proceeding, the brothers did not speak at the hearing. The matter attracted a sizable contingent of media outlets, and an overflow room was set up to accommodate those who could not be seated in the courtroom. 

During the hearing, witness Joan VanderMolen, Kitty Menendez’s 93-year-old sister, spoke for the release of the two brothers. “I would like to be able to hug them and see them…” she began to tell the judge. Later, she’d say that “I know they’re not kids anymore; to me they are.”

Menendez defense attorney Mark Geragos noted that it was “quite the moving experience” to hear two of the brothers’ aunts make “impassioned pleas with the judge to send the brothers home.”

Geragos hopes to have the brothers resentenced on a lesser charge of voluntary manslaughter based on the new evidence. The pair were convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life without the chance of parole. The defense filed a petition last year arguing that newly uncovered evidence bolsters defense allegations that the brothers were victims of sexual abuse.

The Menendez brothers’ defense team also submitted a request for clemency to Governor Gavin Newsom requesting clemency. The governor said last week he would not make any decision on the request until Hochman has a chance to review the case. “The governor respects the role of the district attorney in ensuring justice is served and recognizes that voters have entrusted District Attorney-elect Hochman to carry out this responsibility,” a statement from the governor’s office said. 

The post Judge Continues Menendez Hearing Until January appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

A community survey contained in the report indicated that traffic circles were more favorable than curb extensions. Out of the 214 responses, 52% stated the traffic circles were successful, compared to 40% who believed the curb extensions were successful. A majority of those surveyed supported keeping the traffic circles and curb extensions. 

According to the report, traffic decreased by 1% after the calming measures were installed. Vehicle speeds remained about the same, but the maximum speeds recorded on Clifton Way decreased from the 45-50 mph range to the 35-40 mph range. Stop sign compliance was modestly improved as well. 

The Traffic and Parking Commission voted unanimously to continue the project at its Nov. 7 meeting. “We need to make sure we have community buy-in,” Vice Mayor Sharona Nazarian said at the Study Session, citing concerns residents may not be aware of potential changes to the intersections.

The council agreed to continue the Clifton Way study with narrower curb extensions. One intersection will receive the smaller curb extension, one curb extension will be removed, and one of the extensions will be converted to a traffic circle. “I don’t like the curb extensions at all, but I think if we’re testing we should test,” Mayor Lester Friedman said.

The Study Session also looked at the number of pedestrians who cross five intersections along Coldwater Canyon Drive. It compared that to traffic collisions at those intersections. Those findings revealed that none of the intersections met the established criteria for installing traffic signals or stop signs. They did, however, warrant the consideration of pedestrian hybrid beacons.

The intersections studied for crosswalk feasibility were at Coldwater Canyon Drive and Loma Linda Drive, Lindacrest Drive and Monte Cielo Drive.

The council determined that one pedestrian hybrid beacon should be installed on Coldwater Canyon Drive at a site to be determined by further study. A pedestrian hybrid beacon, also called a “HAWK” signal, is a lighting device that remains dark until activated by a pedestrian. When activated, it displays yellow lights to warn drivers to prepare to stop. When pedestrians see a signal telling them to walk, the lights on the roadway flash red requesting drivers to stop. 

The post Council Studies Traffic Calming Reports appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

The Beverly Hills Police Department received a call shortly after 7 p.m. on Nov. reporting a carjacking of a BMW X3 on the 400 block of North Bedford Drive. They later received a second call of a vehicle-versus-pedestrian traffic incident. When officers arrived at the scene at Wilshire Boulevard and Camden Drive for their investigation, they determined that it was the stolen vehicle that had crashed, leaving behind multiple injured victims. The driver, 22-year-old James Portul of Pittsburg, fled on foot but was detained on the 200 block of North Beverly Drive. 

The Courier was at the scene of the crash moments after it took place. The black BMW was crumpled into the wall of a building, leaking fluid with its airbags deployed. Balloons and items with holiday lights were strewn across the area. Several people were still awaiting medical attention. In addition to Stuart, the balloon vendor and her son were also injured. Stuart’s dog, Rudy, was trapped underneath the vehicle and received a laceration under his eye but has recovered.

Stuart spoke to the Courier from his hospital room this week. He recounted that moments before the incident he was purchasing a Hello Kitty balloon with his young daughter and his dog, Rudy. Suddenly, he heard a screech of tires and then woke up in an ambulance. He said he knew the paramedic, who was holding his hand, assuring him that he was alive. He remembers nothing else about the crash and is thankful to “the good Lord, who not only protected me in that moment, but has shielded my soul.”   

Stuart said he would like to purchase the balloon vendor a new cart if he can track her down. 

“One of the things that hit me hardest was someone had handed me a plastic bag of my belongings. It also had the $15 that I was handing the woman to buy the balloon,” he said. 

As word spread that Stuart was one of the victims, more than 150 people posted well wishes to him on social media.

Among the dozens of posts was one from former Mayor Lili Bosse, who said, “Thank God our beloved community member, Russell Stuart will be OK. This does make me believe in miracles. We love Russell and his beautiful family…” Bosse purchased new dog toys for Rudy as well.

Lisa Stuart, Russell’s wife, posted words of gratitude to the community.  “I’m so grateful to the unbelievable number of people that have reached out to me. The community of Beverly Hills; people don’t understand how tight knit it can be,” Stuart said.

Despite suffering from broken ribs and arms, Stuart plans to attend his swearing-in ceremony on Dec. 17.

Portul pled guilty on Nov. 18 to charges of PC 215-carjacking and VC 20001(A), hit-and-run with injury. A preliminary hearing is set for the matter on Dec. 5. 

The post Russell Stuart Recovering from Injuries Sustained in Carjacking Incident appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

“The holiday season is truly one of the most memorable times of the year. We can all come together as family, friends and neighbors to celebrate a little happiness during a time when we need a little light in our lives as we see some of the darkest events occurring throughout our world,” Mayor Lester Friedman said in a statement. 

Friedman, members of the Beverly Hills City Council, the Rodeo Drive Committee, Beverly Hills Chamber of Commerce, and members of the Beverly Hills Conference and Visitors Bureau joined together on the main stage at Brighton Way and Rodeo Drive to welcome Santa Claus and countdown the illumination of Rodeo Drive. A recording of Paul McCartney’s “Wonderful Christmastime” played as the palm trees dotting Rodeo Drive lit up. 

Performers gracing the stage throughout the evening included The Red-Hot Band featuring Tera Bonilla, Blue Grass Strings, Holiday Harmony Carolers and a Yuletide Irish Dance Ensemble. Additional entertainment was provided by UCLA a cappella group the ScatterTones, the Beverly Hills High School Drumline, NBC Songland Winner Greg Scott and “American Idol” finalist Vonzell Solomon. CoryLive served as the master of ceremonies. 

A large fireworks display capped the evening off, drawing admiration from the crowd. 

June Caldwell, who performed at the event with a group of friends called the Love Dance Tribe, told the Courier, “We just appreciate that Beverly Hills does this.” Everyone is ready for the holidays to start early this year!” 

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In a release sent that evening, the Beverly Hills Police Department said that at 7:06 p.m. they received a call reporting a carjacking using force of a black BMW X3 on the 400 block of North Bedford Drive. They later received a second call of a vehicle-versus-pedestrian traffic incident. When they arrived on Wilshire Boulevard and Camden Drive for their investigation, they determined it was the stolen vehicle and that the driver had fled the scene on foot and had left behind multiple injured victims. Officers assigned to the nearby event detained the suspect on the 200 block of North Beverly Drive.

The Courier was at the scene of the crash moments after it took place. The black BMW was crumpled into the wall of a building, leaking fluid with its airbags deployed. Balloons and items with holiday lights were strewn across the area. Several people were still awaiting medical attention; one, likely Stuart, was loaded into an ambulance via stretcher. Another, a minor, looked dazed as he was led by hand into another waiting ambulance.

Mayor Lester Friedman arrived and spoke with officers.

About 10 people gathered after the incident, watching the scene. One told the Courier that it was “just bizarre to see people so happy just a few blocks away,” and walk past several people getting medical attention.

Stuart later spoke from his hospital room to FOX 11, recounting that he had left the lighting ceremony because his dog had become rambunctious and was in the process of buying his daughter a balloon. The next thing he remembers was being in the back of an ambulance. “If there is a God, I just met him for sure,” he told an interviewer while wearing a medical neck brace. “There’s no way to say it other than the grace of God protected me.”As word spread that Stuart was one of the victims, more than 100 people posted well wishes on his social media accounts.

Among the dozens of best wishes posted on social media, former Mayor Lili Bosse said, “Last night was the scariest and hardest night we have had in our community in a very very long time. Thank God our beloved community member, Russell Stuart will be ok. This does make me believe in miracles. We love Russell and his beautiful family…”

Lisa Stuart, Russell’s wife, posted words of gratitude to the community for its love and support.

Arrested that night was 22-year-old James Portul of Pittsburg, who was booked on PC 215-Carjacking and VC290001(A) hit and run with injury. This is a developing story, and the Courier will add more details as they become available.

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A rumor circulated via social media that there were gunshots used during the vandalism. However, the LAPD confirmed that there was no evidence of gunshots in the area. An LAPD spokesperson also indicated that the incidents are being investigated as possible hate crimes.

Alan Toolami, the owner of Beverly Oakhurst Pharmacy, stood outside his business on Nov. 5 after workers cleared the shattered glass of a window. He said that his alarm never went off because the person vandalizing hadn’t attempted to get into the business. Another shop owner, who asked not to be named, looked through his security footage and provided a photo of a man in the process of grabbing what appears to be a skiing pole at 4:35 a.m.

Rabbi Yossi Eilfort, founder of Magen Am, the Jewish nonprofit community security organization, told the Courier, “It appears to have been possibly somebody experiencing homelessness who took a weapon of opportunity or a tool of opportunity to smash a few windows, walk into one of the stores to steal something.” 

Los Angeles City Councilmember Katy Yaroslavsky stated on social media, “This morning’s vandalism against Jewish-owned businesses in Pico-Robertson is alarming and unacceptable. On a day when Angelenos are casting their votes and shaping the future of our city, it’s especially troubling to see acts that harm our community.”

In addition to Yaroslavsky, the statement is signed by LA Councilmember Traci Park, LA Mayor Karen Bass, Santa Monica Mayor Phil Brock, LA County Supervisors Lindsey Horvath and Holly Mitchell, California State Assembly Members Rick Chavez Zbur and Jacqui Irwin, and California State Senator Ben Allen.

Elected leaders representing LA Westside communities also issued a joint statement in response to the vandalism. 

“As leaders representing the Westside of Los Angeles, we stand together to strongly condemn recent antisemitic incidents targeting Jewish neighborhoods in our community. These acts threaten the safety, dignity, and respect that every resident in our community deserves. We are committed to working with local law enforcement, community organizations and leaders across the city to respond swiftly to these threats and ensure that Jewish Angelenos feel safe, supported, and valued. Together, we stand firm against hate and protect the strength and resilience of our diverse communities.” 

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Hochman’s campaign platform focused on rejecting progressive policies brought forth by Gascón. Coining himself as a “hard middle” candidate, he vowed to undo or modify many of Gascón’s approaches, which he labeled as “failed social policies.” In particular, Hochman criticized Gascón’s handling of juvenile cases, alleging that they contributed to a “breakdown” in public safety caused by a lack of consequences for young offenders. And he often claimed that the District Attorney’s office had created a barrier between itself and police departments. His message resonated with voters. 

“Safety is a crossover issue,” Hochman said at his election party. Of his next steps in office, Hochman told his supporters, “We’ll go back to just two things—the facts and the law.” 

Hochman received endorsements from many political organizations as well as figures influential in Los Angeles County. They included the former Los Angeles mayoral candidate and developer Rick Caruso, former District Attorney Jackie Lacey, the Los Angeles Police Protective League, Beverly Hills Police Officers’ Association, as well as more than 70 current or former county officials. Current or former Beverly Hills elected officials who supported his race included Lester Friedman, Lili Bosse, Sharona Nazarian, Julian Gold, M.D., John Mirisch, Craig Corman and Mary Wells. Several of those officials attended the victory party, along with many current Deputy District Attorneys. 

Hochman was raised in Beverly Hills and still has strong ties to the city. After graduating from Beverly Hills High School, Hochman attended Brown University and then Stanford Law School. He began a legal career as a clerk for United States District Judge Stephen V. Wilson in Los Angeles. He then became an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California. After that, he worked as a United States Assistant Attorney General for the Tax Division of the United States Department of Justice. He then transitioned into private practice and worked as a criminal defense attorney. In 2022, he ran an unsuccessful bid as the Republican nominee in the California Attorney General election.

Hochman’s younger brother David, a partner at a Century City law firm, was a crucial member of his campaign team. David said at the election night event, “There is no place I’d rather be than by my brother’s side.”  

He recounted years earlier at the campaign election party that his brother Nathan had approached him asking for help winning the election for 8th-grade president at Hawthorne Elementary School. David recalled four years later telling Nathan that he would help him win as student body president of Beverly Hills High School, saying, “I got the sophomore class. Let’s do this.”

Though many Hochman supporters agreed with the characterization that Gascón was “soft on crime,” and the campaign often used the slogan “Make crime illegal again,” California Department of Justice data shows violent crime has risen 8% in Los Angeles County from 2019 to 2023. That is a lower rate of growth than many other California counties. 

A concession statement released on Nov. 6 by Gascón stated in part, “I have called Mr. Hochman and wish him the best as Los Angeles County’s next District Attorney. I’m deeply proud of what we’ve accomplished over the past four years and grateful to the communities who have been and will always be the heart of criminal justice reform.” 

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“The institutional inertia of Los Angeles County government has prevented change from coming, and that is what [LA County residents] so desperately deserve, and that is what Measure G will deliver.” Horvath mentioned that there had been motions passed which had not properly been followed up on in the past. She believes that Measure G would help alleviate that issue, and that it would create more transparency. Horvath is a co-sponsor of the ballot measure alongside Supervisor Janice Hahn.

The Beverly Hills City Council voted 4-1 to oppose the measure at its Sept. 17 Regular Meeting, citing concerns about the need for a County Executive. Mirisch was the only member of that body who voiced support for the measure.

“This is a baby step towards more transparency and better government,” said Mirisch. He compared it favorably to Beverly Hills’ Sunshine Task Force, a committee which meets once a month and is designed to study measures to advance greater transparency. After the press conference, Mirisch told the Courier, “This is a common sense reform… it isn’t even a radical reform. You want better representation for 10 million people in the 88 cities of LA County plus the unincorporated areas who are currently all only represented by five people.”

Hirschaut said that the American Jewish Committee is an apolitical organization, and he was at the press conference on his own behalf. He then compared the number of constituents represented by most U.S. House of Representatives members (around 750,000) to those represented by LA County Supervisors (almost 2 million).

Stern told the Courier a more personal story. His in-laws are Holocaust survivors and needed nursing home and in-home personal healthcare via county services. “Having good service, those intimate and crucial parts of your life, is so important. And if I weren’t a state senator I don’t know if I could have gotten them the care they needed.” He said that he believed having more Supervisors would also increase services.

A new study conducted by Loyola Marymount University’s Center for the Study of Los Angeles (StudyLA), found that many of the items in Measure G would be a positive force for representation and ethics within the county. The study addresses some arguments against the measure and argues for the necessity of the many proposed county changes included in Measure G.

Several county employee unions have come out in opposition to Measure G, including those representing firefighters and sheriff’s deputies.

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The judgment, which must be approved by the court, will settle the Attorney General’s investigation of the city for violations of the California Constitution and Health and Safety Code section 123460, et seq. (“the Reproductive Privacy Act”).

Under the terms of the judgment, the city will not face fines and does not admit any “liability, fault or wrongdoing.” Its terms further provide that the city “shall not discriminate against any Reproductive Healthcare Provider in their provision of full and equal accommodations, advantages, facilities, privileges, or services, prohibited by the California Constitution, Article I, sections 1 and 1.1, and the Reproductive Privacy Act. The city shall not interfere, obstruct, or otherwise withhold city resources, including city permits and/or public safety resources, from Reproductive Healthcare Providers or the owners of property where the Reproductive Healthcare Providers operate, in a discriminatory manner, as prohibited by the California Constitution, Article I, sections 1 and 1.1 and the Reproductive Privacy Act.”

Moreover, the city agrees in the judgment to take affirmative action, including the development of training modules and materials for select employees regarding state and federal reproductive rights laws. The city must make said training modules and materials publicly available; establish a procedure to report violations thereof; and appoint a “Reproductive Justice Compliance Officer” who shall be responsible for disseminating and overseeing same.

Compliance with the judgment shall be overseen by the Attorney General’s office, with the city obligated to provide yearly reports for five years.

Attorney General Rob Bonta held a press conference on Oct. 31 to announce the stipulated judgment. There, Bonta noted, “I can’t but express my disappointment in the fact that we had to be here at all. And It’s more than  a disappointment. It’s anger, and it is frustration that the DOJ had to get involved. We shouldn’t have had to get involved. Governments are there to uphold your rights, defend your liberties, protect you from others who might seek to violate your rights. They’re there to give you safety, including public safety. And the reprehensible actions of Beverly Hills were exactly the opposite. They undermined, stripped away and conned. They interfered with and denied the rights that the state constitution in California state law has given us.”
The city and several current and former officials are still parties to civil litigation regarding this matter. Dr. Jennefer Russo, Chief Medical Officer of the DuPont Clinic, released the following statement in response to the stipulated judgment:

“For years, municipalities across this country have used permitting power and governmental pressure campaigns to quietly prevent clinics from opening and thus limiting abortion access, even in California, which holds itself up as an abortion access state. But never before has the state’s Attorney General had to go to court to intervene when a local government in California abused its power to prevent an abortion clinic from opening. This is unprecedented. Attorney General Bonta intervened because this is more than a city meddling with a private lease: this is about protecting access to abortion and fundamental freedom in California.”

The city has consistently denied any wrongdoing in this matter. Mayor Lester Friedman issued a statement in which he noted, “Beverly Hills is already home to medical facilities that offer complete reproductive health services. The city reaffirms and pledges that it did not and will not discriminate against any reproductive healthcare provider and strongly supports a woman’s right to choose.”

Councilmember John Mirisch issued a separate statement that said he was the lone City Council vote against the stipulated judgment on grounds, among other things, that the Attorney General’s office has unfairly singled out Beverly Hills.

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The brothers have admitted to the killings, but contend they were victims of repeated sexual assaults by their father and lived in fear for their lives. They were tried twice, with jurors in the first trial unable to reach verdicts, deadlocking between first-degree murder and lesser charges including manslaughter. The second trial, which began in October 1995 and lacked much of the testimony centered on allegations of sexual abuse, ended with first-degree murder and conspiracy convictions of both brothers. The two have repeatedly appealed their convictions unsuccessfully.

In court papers filed last year, attorneys for the brothers pointed to two new pieces of evidence they claim corroborate the abuse allegations. The evidence consists of a letter written by Erik Menendez to one of his cousins in early 1989, eight months before the August 1989 killings. The other evidence consists of allegations by a former member of the Puerto Rican boy band Menudo that he was sexually abused by Jose Menendez, a music company executive, as a teenager. The prosecution’s response to those papers is due by Nov. 26.

Around 30 Menendez family members attended the Oct. 16 conference. Kitty Menendez’s sister, Joan Andersen VanderMolen, said she struggled for many years to come to “terms with what happened in my sister’s family.’’

“It was a nightmare none of us could have imagined, but as details of Lyle and Erik’s abuse came to light, it became clear that their actions, while tragic, were the desperate response of two boys trying to survive the unspeakable [cruelty] of their father,’’ VanderMolen said. 

She added, “As their aunt, I had no idea of the extent of the abuse they suffered at the hands of my brother-in-law. None of us did …They were just children—children who could have been protected and were instead brutalized in the most horrific ways. The truth is Lyle and Erik were failed by the very people who should have protected them—by their parents, by the system, by society at large. When they stood trial, the whole world was … not ready to believe boys could be raped or that young men could be victims of sexual violence. Today we know better.’’

Additional relatives spoke of the brothers as desperate and fearful victims of repeated sexual abuse by their father. Brian Anderson Jr., a cousin to Erik and Lyle, said “as details of Erik and Lyle’s abuse came to light it became clear that their actions, while tragic, were the desperate response of two boys trying to survive the unspeakable cruelty of their father.”

Anamaria Baralt, a niece of Jose Menendez, said that the gathering reflected “both sides of the family, united, sharing a new bond of hope. Hope that with the reexamination of the case a new outcome will be reached. Hope that this 34-year nightmare will end, and we will be reunited as a family.”   

At least one member of the family publicly disagrees with the sentiment shared by those at the press conference. Kitty Menendez’s brother, Milton Anderson, said via an attorney that he was “opposed to any resentencing.” 

Mark Geragos, the attorney for the brothers, said at the conference that both of them have been model prisoners. He said that Lyle earned a bachelor’s degree as part of the first graduating class of a partnership between University of California Irvine and the Department of Corrections. 

After the press conference, members of the family met across the street with the resentencing unit of the District Attorney’s office. Shortly after that, the District Attorney’s office released a statement saying, “While we cannot formally comment on any decisions at this time, please know that our office is dedicated to a thorough and fair process and is exploring every avenue available to our office to ensure justice is served.” 

In an interview with NBC News, Gascón said he hopes to make a decision on resentencing by Oct. 26.

With City News Service 

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At sunrise, the first speaker was Rabbi Jonathan Aaron, the Senior Rabbi of Temple Emanuel Beverly Hills. Holding a shofar, he stated that it would be blown at the same time that the attacks began. “As we stand here with this darkness today, we are reminded of this time in Israel one year ago when people were sleeping in their beds…” 

Rabbi Yossi Cunin of Chabad Beverly Hills offered a prayer for the hostages, saying that “over the last few weeks we’ve seen the resolve of our people and Israel.”

In his remarks, Beverly Hills Mayor Lester Friedman said he was invited to visit Israel in June, where he witnessed some of the areas that had been attacked. Beverly Hills Vice Mayor Sharona Nazarian demanded the release of the remaining hostages taken by Hamas last year. She noted that Iran uses “their own people as human shields,” adding, “We mourn for those innocent lives as well.”

Israel Bachar, Consul General of Israel to the Pacific Southwest, told the Courier at the event that since Oct. 7, the Jewish community had become “active, emotional, committed, and want to help the Israeli people as much as they can.” He also said that Rabbis told him in the wake of the attacks that local Jewish people had become more connected to their Jewish faith.

Additional commemorative events took place at the Luxe Sunset Boulevard Hotel and at a local school in Beverly Hills (see companion stories in this issue). Later in the day, demonstrations took place at UCLA. Several hundred people attended pro-Palestinian as well as pro-Israel marches across campus. Except for minor heckling, the demonstrations were peaceful. 

On the evening of Oct. 7, the Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills hosted “LA Remembers,” a commemoration of the attacks. The heavily attended event was organized by the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles, Israeli-American Council, StandWithUs and Temple of the Arts. Many of those who spoke were prominent Los Angeles County politicians, Jewish leaders and people directly affected by the Oct. 7 attacks.

Among those in attendance were actress/neuroscientist Mayim Bialik, and more than 30 elected officials, including Senator Alex Padilla and Congressman Brad Sherman (CA-32).

Candles filled the Saban Theatre stage, and many of those who spoke conveyed ongoing feelings of grief for the hostages taken last year. 

Eitan Gonen, whose daughter Romi remains a hostage after being taken at the Nova Music Festival, told the crowd that he’d spoken to his daughter during the attacks. He said the phone call began with his daughter saying, “Dad, I’m at a festival, there is a missile attack, and I’ve been shot.” Crying at times, he also said that he relives the moment in his daily life. Eitan wore a T-shirt with his daughter’s face. “I want to simply hug my daughter. I don’t want to look at her picture anymore,” he said.  

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In a press release, the BHPD said that at approximately 2:51 p.m., they received a request for police indicating “unknown trouble” on the 100 block of Spalding Drive and Wilshire Boulevard. Arriving officers found two men suffering from injuries resulting from the altercation; the attacker had been stabbed. Police told the Courier that a taser was deployed on the attacker by officers. After an investigation, BHPD determined that the man stabbed had confronted the father and his child while they were walking on the sidewalk. A man who only identified himself as “Brian” to KCAL who was driving by witnessed the scene. Brian then told NBC4 the attacker “was not present, he was having some kind of psychotic break, and so it was kind of scary.” Pulling over his vehicle to help the two being attacked, Brian said his son intervened. The attacker then focused on them. Approaching Brian’s vehicle, the attacker lunged into it and grabbed his dog in the back seat.

Brian also told NBC4 he began punching the attacker, who was attempting to take the dog away from his vehicle. Fortunately, Brian was able to remove the dog’s collar to free the dog. The attacker then began pounding on the windows of a nearby home.

Videos posted to social media captured much of the violent episode. They show a father holding a baby pleading with witnesses to call 911. The attacker launches himself inside a vehicle’s backseat window, grabbing a dog by the collar. People inside the vehicle wrest the dog’s collar off and began to punch the attacker, fighting him out of the car. Another video shows the attacker appearing unresponsive and with gashes on his face and neck as officers render aid.

The attacker was transported to a local hospital where he later died; his exact cause of death remains under investigation. 

According to the BHPD, the victim cooperated with their investigation and remained on scene. He was treated for injuries at the incident’s location and released.

The crime scene was blocked off for much of the night. Officers searched for evidence and talked to residents nearby.

Several days later, blood stains were still visible on a patch of grass where the attacker was taken into custody and treated by BHPD. A cross, candle and flowers were visible on the sidewalk in an apparent memorial.

No identifying details have yet been released for the parties involved. The BHPD encouraged anyone with information about the incident to contact them. 

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