SANTA ANA (CBSLA) — Mourners braved the cold and the rain Tuesday to pay their respects to Huntington Beach police Officer Nicholas Vella, who was killed this weekend in a helicopter crash off the Newport Beach. Light rain was falling in Santa Ana as Vella’s body left the Orange County coroner’s office. Dozens of people, most without umbrellas, stood by in silence as the hearse carrying Vella’s body, which was accompanied by dozens of motorcycle officers and other law enforcement vehicles, passed by slowly. Mourners standing in the rain to honor Huntington Beach officer Nick Vella whose body ..read more

SANTA ANA (CBSLA) — Brea Police Department officers took a convicted felon into custody on Wednesday, after a short scuffle ensued between both parties following an attempted traffic stop in La Habra. Gilbert Villalba. (Photo Credit: Orange County District Attorney) Gilbert Antonio Villalba, 31-years-old, was pulled over by authorities who recognized him behind the wheel of his vehicle near the Home Depot on South Harbor Boulevard. He had an outstanding felony warrant prior to Wednesday’s incident. Villalba, who hails from Whittier, is reported to be a gang member. He pulled over his ve ..read more

LA HABRA (CBSLA) – The La Habra police officer shot just outside the doors of the station was released from the hospital Friday, according to a tweet by the department. The incident occurred last Friday, Aug. 6. It was later determined that the shooting, which left one suspect dead, was sparked by a road rage incident some 14 miles away near the junction of the 5 and 57 Freeways. The 911 dispatcher who fielded the road rage call told the female caller to drive to the police station. The suspected road rage driver followed the woman to the station and exited his vehicle. According to Chief Adam ..read more

LA HABRA (CBSLA) – A suspect is dead and an officer is in critical, but stable condition after a shooting Friday night directly outside the La Habra Police Department that was initially sparked by an earlier road rage incident. Neighbors captured some of the aftermath of the gun battle. “We didn’t hear any yelling or anything before that. Just out of nowhere, watching a movie and ‘clack, clack, clack,’ and we’re like, ‘Fireworks,’ because nothing really happens here,” said Isabel Gonzales, who added that she then quickly realized it was gunfire she heard. “They got ready to disarm the guy layi ..read more

LA HABRA (CBSLA) – A large crime scene surrounded the La Habra Police Station Friday night on North Euclid Street after a shooting that took place right outside the front door claimed the life of one suspect and sent a male officer, now in critical, but stable condition, to UCI Medical Center. According to a press release from the La Habra Police Department, officers responded at approximately 7:04 p.m. to the front entrance of the police station at 150 N. Euclid St. regarding a disturbance call. When police arrived, an officer involved shooting occurred, the statement said, and one officer wa ..read more

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA) — Six California men, four of whom identify as members of the anti-​government Three Percenters movement, have been charged with crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, the U.S. Department of Justice said. One of the men charged is former La Habra Police Department Chief Alan Hostetter, 56, of San Clemente, who has made a name for himself as a vocal member of the “Stop the Steal,” and pandemic protest movements. “Yes, he has strong views,” Bilal Essayli, Hostetter’s attorney, said.”If he uses strong language, then so be it. But that doesn’t make him a cr ..read more

LA HABRA (CBSLA) — La Habra Police said a missing woman was safely located on Sunday night. 71-year-old Barbara Jordan was last seen early Sunday afternoon in the area of Lambert Road between South Beach Boulevard and Idaho Street in La Habra, police said. Source: La Habra Police Department As of 8:30 p.m. Sunday, police said they were getting reports that she was possibly seen at the Stater Bros Market on La Mirada Blvd and Imperial at about 5:30 p.m. She was later located safely in La Mirada on Sunday night. (© Copyright 2020 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. City News&n ..read more

LA HABRA (CBSLA) — Alejandra Ullola was already coping with the loss of her grandmother, her father and her sister when her mother contracted COVID-19. Maria Salazar, seen in this undated photo, lost her battle with COVID-19 after three weeks in the hospital. (Family photo) “I don’t know how my mom ended up getting COVID,” she said. “I just know she started getting symptoms. I had to take her to the hospital. “At first she was able to talk, she was doing good,” Ullola continued. “The oxygen was helping her, she just had like the tubes on her nose — she didn’t have the whole face mask.” The 2 ..read more

LA HABRA (CBSLA) – A man was shot and killed in La Habra Monday night. Nov. 2, 2020. (CBSLA) The shooting occurred in the 500 block of South Euclid Street just before 9 p.m., according to La Habra police. The victim, 33-year-old Jesus Lomeli, died at the scene. The circumstances of the shooting were not confirmed, although investigators believe it may have been gang-related. There was no suspect information ..read more

LA HABRA (CBSLA) — Two men and a woman were arrested Thursday on suspicion of possessing and selling fireworks in La Habra. (credit: La Habra Police Department) La Habra police say tips from the community led them to homes in the 600 block of North Ridgway Lane and the 700 block of West Exeter Avenue, where detectives recovered about 700 pounds of fireworks. Hugo Alvarado, 23, Luis Guijarro, 42, and Alyssa Coley, 31, were arrested on suspicion of felony selling and possessing of fireworks. Guijarro, who has prior felony convictions, was additionally charged with a possession of a firearm. Al ..read more