Community Scanner

Anaheim Street and Pacific Avenue. At 10:25 p.m., police located a man who was shot in the upper torso. Transported to a hospital by paramedics with what were assumed to be non-life-threatening injuries, he was in critical condition after surgery. A gang connection is being investigated.

Hill Street and Earl Avenue. At 3:20 p.m., calls about gunshots, police found two vehicles that were hit by bullets, but no victims of the human variety. Again, gang connections are suspected, as two groups were reported firing away.

Long Beach. At 10 a.m., a city trash truck took out a five-foot section of a residence. No word on whether there would be an extra charge on the bill, or if the section would in turn be disposed of by said trash truck. All is left to probable litigation, an insurance payout, negotiation or just fuggetaboutit.

Los Coyotes Diagonal and Palo Verde Avenue. At 11 a.m., police were called to a crash of a motor and a bicyclist. Long Beach firefighters responded and took 62-year-old Ian Anthony Martin of Long Beach to a hospital where he died. Police determined Martin was biking north in the bike lane on Los Coyotes Diagonal approaching Palo Verde Avenue on a green light. Just before he entered the intersection, police said he “dangerously cut across all lanes of traffic in a northwesterly direction and hit a Toyota sedan travelling southbound on Los Coyotes Diagonal in the right lane.” The Toyota’s 88-year-old male driver of the car remained at the scene and cooperated with the investigation. He was not charged or arrested in connection with the crash.

2600 block of 67th Street. At 1:30 a.m., three men reportedly opened fire on two others. The victims told officers as they were closing up their business, three men approached, shooting one man. They attempted to enter the business. The other victim was in his vehicle when shots were fired and he fled. His vehicle was also shot.

Long Beach Boulevard and 16th Street. The black-and-white police SUV collided with a Toyota Camry at 8 p.m. The Camry then hit a bicyclist who was waiting at the traffic signal. Both drivers and the bicyclist were taken to a local hospital. The officer and the bicyclist were treated for minor injuries and released, while the Camry driver was held for observation, but was expected to be released.

300 block of 14th Street. At 2:45 a.m., police responded to a report of a shooting in which a woman and two men were not struck. A gang connection is being investigated.

400 block of Melrose Way. After a confrontation, at 9 p.m. a stabbing occurred. Alleged assailant, 24-year-old Robert Love of Long Beach was cuffed up. The stabbing victim, injured in the upper torso, was taken to a hospital where he was expected to survive. According to police, the men were socializing with other people when they began arguing. Booked on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon and attempted murder, Love was held on $1 million bail.

Citywide. From the Long Beach Towne Center to the Long Beach Port, the U.S. Army invaded specific sections of town, a very convincing training exercise scheduled until Saturday. Acts of gunfire and military air craft, with paratroopers rappelling down, all part of honing soldier skills in urban environments. Both private and public exercise areas were cordoned off, lest a non-planned battle begin. Per the military, “local terrain and training facilities in the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach provide the Army with unique locations and simulates urban environments the service members may encounter when deployed overseas.” Wonder where and when the real invasion will occur. Caracas, anyone?

2590 Lakewood Blvd. Oblivious to the closure, four folks fought in the empty Spires parking lot at 7:30 p.m. Maybe now, with the absence of traffic, a fight club zone, prior to new infrastructure being installed.

300 block of West 15th Street. At 7 p.m., an altercation, then a 17-year-old boy stabbed in the upper torso by a man to whom he was related and who was arrested, booked on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, held on $30,000 bail.

900 block of Harbor Plaza. At 11:30 p.m., during a traffic stop at the One Love Cali Reggae Festival, a loaded firearm and open alcoholic containers were recovered from the vehicle. More officers arrived, one of whom unintentionally discharged his weapon and shot the vehicle’s driver in the arm. The driver was treated and released from a hospital. None of the four passengers in the vehicle were injured. The shooting is being investigated by the department’s homicide division; the Los Angeles County District Attorney will also conduct an independent investigation.

 steve@beachcomber.news