Latest news with #SimiValleyPolice
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Yahoo
4 teens arrested in violent assault outside Simi Valley movie theater
Four people, believed to be juveniles, have been arrested in connection with a violent late-night assault near a movie theater in Simi Valley, police confirmed Sunday. The brawl, which broke out shortly after midnight Friday near the Regal Cinemas on Tapo Canyon Road, was captured in graphic videos that have since circulated widely on social media. In a statement to KTLA on Sunday, a Simi Valley Police Department spokesperson provided more details surrounding the investigation. 'Upon arrival, the victim of the assault was no longer on scene,' the spokesperson said. 'On Aug. 2 at approximately 12:45 a.m., SVPD was called by the victim and his mother regarding the assault. Officers responded to their residence and a criminal investigation was launched.' In the footage obtained by KTLA — which contains violence and much profanity; viewer discretion is extremely advised — a group of juveniles is seen punching and kicking one victim. Some are heard yelling for the group to get back into their cars, while others, clearly agitated, kept yelling and trying to fight. Another angle of the same altercation appeared to depict the moments that led up to the fight and showed the group attacking the victim, who appeared to be covering his head in self-defense. One of the three videos included in the post (which also contained a slide of pictures of some of the alleged suspects) shows one of the teens in the vicinity at the time leaning casually against a Simi Valley Police Department squad car right next to officers. 'I lying! Fake! Fake! Fake! I lying [sic],' the young man is heard saying in a mock accent, before transitioning to a different tone of voice. 'Gangster s–t! I'm with all the cops…yeah, we own this s–t.' After trying to put his arm around the shoulder of one of the officers, the teen is told to get in the police car. Someone is heard threatening to tell his father; however, the video ends there. Many of the social media posts pertaining to the incident claimed that one of the attackers is the son of an SVPD officer. Teen detained after other juvenile has bottle broken over head during fight at closed park After that video ended, more footage of an altercation between a group of youths and a victim is shown. The victim, who was holding up a chair in self-defense, was surrounded by the group, who was hurling profanities at him. The victim then ran away, but his assailants pursued and started beating him in an outdoor area. Another post on Facebook claimed that the victim may have been targeted in a racially motivated attack. The post, purportedly published by the victim's sister, said that her brother was violently beaten and that 'eight [or] more' assailants were hurling slurs at him. 'They punched him in the head, the back and the mouth to the point where he now has a chipped tooth. [They] kicked him and were even dragging him by his sweater,' the post from Jasmine Gonzalez states. 'They called him many racial slurs like dirty [N word] with a hard R…' Police on Sunday also confirmed that there is a second victim: an 18-year-old man. Between the two victims, authorities said injuries included a possible concussion, chipped teeth and minor cuts. Sgt. Ryan Morton, a spokesperson for the department, confirmed to KTLA via email that four individuals had been arrested on suspicion of battery. He added that one of the suspects is related to a member of the Simi Valley Police Department. That employee was not at the scene and will not be involved in the investigation, officials said, adding that the relationship 'has no bearing on this investigation.' Shooting reported at large house party near USC campus 'At this time, it remains unclear what initiated the altercation or whether it may constitute a potential hate crime,' Simi Valley Police Department officials said. Authorities said the four individuals arrested are facing charges of battery. The investigation is ongoing, and police are continuing to review video evidence and interview witnesses. This incident occurred the day before another group of juveniles got into an altercation that turned violent in Santa Clarita. In that case, a teen was detained for breaking a bottle over another teen's head. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Yahoo
Police investigate teen assault caught on video outside Regal Cinemas
Simi Valley police are investigating a late-night assault involving multiple juveniles that took place early Friday in a movie theater parking lot and has since drawn widespread attention on social media. Officers responded just after midnight on Aug. 1 to the Regal Cinemas parking lot at 2751 Tapo Canyon Road following a report of a physical altercation. According to the Simi Valley Police Department, several juveniles were involved in the incident. One adult victim was located at the scene and sustained injuries that were not considered life-threatening, police said. Videos of the incident began circulating online shortly afterward, prompting community concern. Some social media users, including at least one Facebook commenter, have described the incident as a 'horrific anti-Black racist hate crime.' 1 teen killed, 2 injured in Coachella shooting, officials say The police department said it is reviewing those videos as part of its investigation, but has not yet determined what initiated the altercation or whether the incident will be classified as a hate crime. Anyone with video evidence or information is encouraged to contact Officer Juarez at 805-217-7905. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
07-07-2025
- Yahoo
1 person killed in California house fire after fireworks explode in garage
One person died in a fire at a California home after fireworks exploded in the garage, police said on July 3. The fire erupted in the garage and spread to the attic and main areas of the home in Simi Valley, California, part of Ventura County about 40 miles northwest of Los Angeles, officials said. The Ventura County Fire Department and Simi Valley Police Department responded to the fire at the residence at about 11:48 a.m. on July 3. Calls reported what sounded like a large explosion followed by a series of smaller ones, said Simi Valley police Sgt. Rick Morton. When the first police supervisor arrived at 12:08 p.m., he could still hear small explosions. The garage and attic were fully engulfed in flames and the roof had collapsed, Morton said. "The explosions were determined to be fireworks," the Simi Valley Police Department said in a statement. Firefighters on the scene issued a second alarm as the flames spread, officials said on social media. "I was in bed and woke up when I heard the explosion," said Wilfredo Aceves-Velasquez, 25, who lives nearby on Hudspeth Avenue. Are fireworks safe? Fireworks needlessly destroy fingers, hands and lives every year, doctors say By 1:45 p.m., caution tape closed off portions of Edmund Street where fire engines and utility trucks parked along the roadway. The home's garage door was blown from its hinges and could be seen near the curb across the street. At the scene, Scott Thomsen, county fire spokesman, confirmed the explosion. The cause of the fire was under investigation. Fireworks, which are illegal in Simi Valley, were found in the garage and in a truck in the driveway. Investigators have not yet confirmed what started the fire, Morton said. Police said the person killed was an adult male but did not release his identity. A mother and an adult son reportedly live in the residence. The mother was at work when the explosion occurred, Morton said. She returned home as firefighters worked to extinguish the flames, he said. Over 400 miles away from Simi Valley in the northern part of the state, another explosion at a fireworks factory sparked a fire earlier in the week, authorities there said. The factory exploded on July 1 in Yolo County northwest of Sacramento shortly after 6 p.m. The blast caused fires at several nearby structures and the fire spread to 78 acres. It was 60% contained as of July 4, according to CalFire. Video of that explosion showed a fire and huge plume of smoke with fireworks continuously going off within the smoke. The fire and explosion prompted evacuation orders and crews worked to locate seven people unaccounted for. Last year, 11 Americans died from fireworks injuries and more than 14,700 were treated in emergency rooms, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Injuries include burns to the hands and fingers or head, face and ears in more than one-third of cases. "These are effectively bombs people are holding in their hands," Dr. Nicolas Lee, a professor of clinical orthopedic surgery at the University of California San Francisco who directs a hand reconstruction program, previously told USA TODAY. "We see hands and fingers blown off, groin injuries, facial burns and damage. I've had kids blow off their eyelids so they can't close their eyes." Experts say following these safety tips can help prevent a life-changing injury or death: Never hold a lit firework in your hands Light fireworks one-at-a-time and then move back quickly Never try to re-light or pick up fireworks that have not gone off Never use fireworks when impaired by alcohol or drugs If you or someone is injured in an explosion, call 911 immediately Ernesto Centeno Araujo covers breaking news for the Ventura County Star. He can be reached at ecentenoaraujo@ Contributing: Elizabeth Weise and Anthony Robledo, USA TODAY This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: 1 person killed in house fire after fireworks explode in garage
Yahoo
04-07-2025
- Yahoo
1 dead after fireworks explode in garage, setting fire to Cali. house
July 3 (UPI) -- One person in southern California is dead after fireworks stored in a garage exploded on Thursday, setting fire to the house, authorities said. The Simi Valley Police Department said in a statement that emergency crews responded to the residential fire in the 1600 block of Edmund Street, while instructing residents to avoid the area. The identify of the deceased person was not released. Ventura County Fire officials reported that the fire was caused by fireworks in the garage, which then spread to the attic and into the house. "The explosions were determined to be fireworks, which resulted in the death of one person," the Simi Valley Police Department said. "This incident is still under investigation." The Ventura County Fire Department added in a statement that firefighters "continue to work on full extinguishment and overhaul." #EdmundIncident - VCFD Firefighters are on scene of a structure fire in the 1600 block of Edmund St. in Simi Valley. Crews responded to reports of an explosion in the garage, possibly caused by fireworks. The fire extended from the garage into the attic and main areas of the... VCFD PIO (@VCFD_PIO) July 3, 2025 The fire is the latest caused by fireworks in the state ahead of the July Fourth weekend. In northern California, a warehouse near Sacramento storing fireworks exploded Tuesday evening. Authorities said Wednesday that seven people were unaccounted for due to the blast and fire.
Yahoo
03-07-2025
- Yahoo
1 person killed in house fire after fireworks explode in garage: Police
One person was killed in a residential fire in California after fireworks exploded in a garage on the eve of July Fourth, police said. Emergency crews responded midday Thursday to a fire at the home in Simi Valley, located in Ventura County in the greater Los Angeles area. MORE: 7 missing after massive explosion and fire at California warehouse filled with fireworks: Officials Explosions were reported inside the garage, according to police. "The explosions were determined to be fireworks, which resulted in the death of one person," the Simi Valley Police Department said in a statement. "The fire spread from the garage to the attic and into the house." MORE: Madre Fire in California explodes to more than 35,000 acres overnight, evacuation orders issued Police did not release any details on the victim. Authorities urged people to avoid the area as fire crews worked to put out the blaze. This incident remains under investigation. #EdmundIncident – VCFD Firefighters are on scene of a structure fire in the 1600 block of Edmund St. in Simi Valley. Crews responded to reports of an explosion in the garage, possibly caused by fireworks. The fire extended from the garage into the attic and main areas of the… — VCFD PIO (@VCFD_PIO) July 3, 2025 Thomas Kudlick, who lives across the street from the residence, told ABC Los Angeles station KABC that he came outside his home after hearing a "big explosion." "I could see the garage had collapsed," he told the station. "Within just minutes, there was more explosions and more smoke and fire."
