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U.S. Marines Sent to Los Angeles in Response to Protest Violence

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LOS ANGELES — CNN has reported that a contingent of 500 to 700 U.S. Marines from the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms is being dispatched to Los Angeles. This deployment aims to bolster federal law enforcement efforts following violent protests against immigration enforcement actions that erupted on June 8 in downtown Los Angeles. The demonstrations, which began on June 6, have sparked numerous confrontations with police, resulting in property damage and numerous arrests.

During these disturbances, law enforcement officials have documented several instances of violence, including officers being hit with rocks, scooters, and other projectiles. A video showed demonstrators hurling debris from an overpass at California Highway Patrol officers positioned on the freeway below.

Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna reported injuries among deputies, with one requiring hospitalization due to burns from a firework. He also mentioned that a Molotov cocktail was thrown during the chaos. In response, officers used crowd control tactics like tear gas and rubber bullets after declaring the protests an unlawful assembly. Luna emphasized that arrest teams were in place, warning that anyone involved in violence or damage to property would be detained.

As the Marines prepare for their assignment, the Department of Defense is still working out the details of their involvement, including use-of-force guidelines. CNN noted that the rules of engagement for military personnel who may face protestors in the city are still being crafted.

On June 9, California Governor Gavin Newsom filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, aiming to regain state authority over the California National Guard. Newsom opposed the president’s decision to deploy National Guard troops to Los Angeles without his consent.

In response to the lawsuit, President Trump suggested Governor Newsom should face arrest. “I think his primary crime is running for governor, because he’s done such a bad job,” Trump remarked while speaking in Washington, D.C.

The deployment of active-duty Marines domestically is rare, and Pentagon officials have yet to disclose how long the forces will remain in the Los Angeles area.

Capture of Escaped Convict Grant Hardin, Dubbed ‘Devil in the Ozarks’

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LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — After an extensive manhunt lasting nearly two weeks, authorities announced on Friday the capture of former police chief and convicted murderer Grant Hardin, known as the “Devil in the Ozarks.” Hardin was found 1.5 miles (2.4 kilometers) northwest of the northern Arkansas prison he had escaped from.

Grant Hardin, once the police chief in Gateway, a small town near the Arkansas-Missouri border, was serving long-term sentences for murder and rape. His criminal history later became the subject of a TV documentary, “Devil in the Ozarks.” As officers approached, Hardin made a brief attempt to flee but was swiftly apprehended, according to Rand Champion, a spokesperson for the Arkansas prison system. “After being on the run for a week and a half, he was likely exhausted,” Champion noted.

The Izard County Sheriff’s Office confirmed Hardin’s identity through fingerprint analysis in a Facebook post. Although there were no signs of injury, Hardin will undergo checks for dehydration and other potential health issues.

Investigators are eager to question Hardin, Champion stated, having captured a photo of him being escorted by officers using his cellphone. During his capture, Hardin remained silent. Since 2017, Hardin has been incarcerated at the Calico Rock prison after pleading guilty to first-degree murder for a fatal shooting. His escape was facilitated by disguising himself as a corrections officer, allowing him to exit through a secure gate, as per court documents. Champion criticized the failure to verify Hardin’s identity as a “lapse” currently under investigation.

Since Hardin’s escape on May 25, search efforts have included bloodhounds, horseback officers, drones, and helicopters. Recently, a specialized U.S. Border Patrol team joined the search, federal officials revealed. Known as BORTAC, the team provided “advanced search capabilities and operational support,” and is skilled in complex terrains, the agency explained. The rocky and forested Ozark Mountains, with their intricate cave networks, posed significant challenges.

In 2017, Hardin admitted to the first-degree murder of James Appleton, 59, who worked for the Gateway water department and was shot in the head on February 23, 2017, near Garfield. Appleton’s body was discovered in a car, leading to Hardin’s 30-year prison sentence. Additionally, Hardin’s DNA linked him to a 1997 rape case involving an elementary school teacher in Rogers, north of Fayetteville, resulting in a 50-year sentence.

Cheryl Tillman, Appleton’s sister and mayor of Gateway, learned of Hardin’s capture while at a flea market in Ozark, Missouri, with her family. She expressed relief at the news, describing it as a “big sigh of relief” for her family. “We can now live without constantly looking over our shoulders,” Tillman said, grateful to the officers involved in Hardin’s capture.

Deputy in Texas Saved by Bullet-Resistant Windshield in Potential Ambush

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JEWETT, Texas — A Leon County deputy escaped harm in a shooting incident that authorities describe as a possible ambush, thanks to the bullet-resistant glass installed in the deputy’s patrol car, as reported by KBTX.

Sheriff Kevin Ellis stated that the event unfolded when the deputy was answering a 911 call from a woman in need of assistance. Upon the deputy’s arrival, the suspect began shooting, discharging eight bullets into the driver’s side windshield of the patrol vehicle.

The deputy emerged unscathed, shielded by the bullet-resistant glass. The suspect was apprehended without any further complications.

Sheriff Ellis expressed gratitude for the life-saving technology and the support from the community. “The Leon County Sheriff’s Office extends a special thank you to the citizens of Leon County and Operation Safe Shield for enabling us to outfit some of our vehicles with bullet-resistant glass,” he remarked. “Thanks to this, our deputy was able to return home safely this morning.”

Clifford Dorn, president of Operation Safe Shield, emphasized the significance of their work in safeguarding law enforcement officers. “This incident underscores the vital nature of our mission,” Dorn said. “It validates the importance of our technology, and today it saved an officer’s life. The investment has proven worthwhile. Our goal is to ensure officers return home safely at the end of their shifts, and today, the bullet-resistant glass fulfilled its purpose.”

Currently, Operation Safe Shield has equipped over 120 patrol vehicles in the Brazos Valley with bullet-resistant glass. A vehicle with these protective features was recently donated to the City of Snook.

In Texas, legislation aimed at broadening this initiative is on the brink of approval. House Bill 2217, spearheaded by State Representative Trey Wharton, proposes a statewide grant program to assist law enforcement agencies in installing bullet-resistant windshields and windows. The bill has passed with bipartisan support and is pending the governor’s signature.

Officer Saves Kayaker in Clinton River Rescue

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STERLING HEIGHTS, Mich. — Officer Nikolas Bruno from Sterling Heights Police found himself unexpectedly utilizing his lifeguard training during his patrol last Saturday. At 2:30 p.m., he responded to an emergency at Riverland Park concerning a woman kayaker in trouble. Without delay, Bruno dove into the Clinton River to rescue the woman who was without a life jacket and holding onto a log for safety.

“As soon as I exited the patrol vehicle, I heard the commotion and saw she was in grave danger,” Bruno recounted. “She wasn’t wearing a life jacket and wasn’t a strong swimmer, so I removed my gun belt and jumped in.”

The incident occurred when the woman, part of a kayaking group, collided with a submerged tree, causing her kayak to capsize and strike her head. She managed to cling to a log, while her daughter, who was kayaking alongside her, reached a more secure log dam.

The woman, along with her daughter and niece, was kayaking for the first time when her kayak snagged on the submerged tree, causing the accident. She later told Officer Bruno she was “barely holding on” when he arrived to save her.

“This serves as an important reminder to always wear a life jacket,” advised Bruno. “You never know when you might need it, and it’s always better to have it on just in case.”

Florida Man Attacked by Alligator Attempts to Grab Deputy’s Gun Before Being Fatally Shot

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LAKELAND, Fla. — A man who survived an alligator attack while swimming across a lake was later shot and killed by deputies after charging at them with garden shears, according to a statement by a Florida sheriff. The individual has been identified as 42-year-old Timothy Schulz.

On the morning of Memorial Day, May 26, a 911 call was made from a gas station about a man who was acting erratically and asking to contact his son, reported Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd during a press conference on Facebook.

A few hours later, the sheriff’s office received another call about a man swimming in a lake behind a Lakeland residential area, where a caller observed an alligator near the swimmer, Judd stated.

The caller suspected the swimmer might be under the influence, and although a bystander attempted to offer Schulz a life preserver, he refused it, according to Judd. During the swim, Schulz appeared to have his right arm bitten by an alligator, Judd noted.

After exiting the lake, witnesses saw Schulz grabbing garden shears and attempting to break into a vehicle by throwing a brick, as described by the sheriff.

Deputies arriving at the scene reported seeing Schulz walking between homes with the shears. When he allegedly charged at them, they attempted to de-escalate the situation, using a Taser on him twice, but he remained aggressive.

Schulz then entered the passenger seat of a running patrol vehicle, attempting to seize a gun inside. This action prompted two deputies to open fire, resulting in Schulz’s death, the sheriff explained.

Sheriff Judd mentioned that Schulz had a record of meth-related arrests and had been recently released from jail less than a week prior to the incident. Judd believed Schulz might have been under the influence of drugs at the time.

Defending the deputies’ response, Judd stated that Schulz’s actions were violent, despite attempts to peacefully resolve the situation. “He showed no fear of two deputies, he showed no interest in complying,” Judd said, adding that his deputies “are going home safe tonight.”

Lakeland is situated about 35 miles east of Tampa.