LOS ANGELES (CBSLA) – On Friday, authorities sought the public’s help locating a 48-year-old man with schizophrenia who was last contacted in Los Angeles county. John Michael Wehrly last spoke with family members about 10:50 a.m. on Oct. 14, though his exact whereabouts were not known, according to Deputy David Yoo of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Wehrly is white, 6 feet, 3 inches tall and weighs 280 pounds, with brown eyes, curly brown hair and a full beard. He is also known to frequent the Whittier area. Anyone with information on Wehrly’s whereabouts was asked to contact the ..read more

WHITTIER (CBSLA) — Two of three suspects were transported to the hospital after a deputy-involved shooting south of Whittier. The shooting took place at 14000 Leffingwell Road in unincorporated Whittier after the suspect led the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department on a pursuit. Deputies shot two suspects of the three suspects. They were transported to the hospital with gunshot wounds. No deputies were injured. (Credit: CBS)   ..read more

DOWNEY (CBSLA) — A man was charged Monday with a series of arson counts in connection to the Sycamore Fire that burned six homes in Whittier. Kevin Whitlock, 55, was charged with six counts of arson of an inhabited structure or property and one count each of arson of property of another and arson of a structure or forest, according to the District Attorney’s Office. (credit: CBS) Whitlock was found on a hiking trail with a “non-lethal” burn injury and was taken to a hospital where he was arrested. The fire was first reported at about 2:45 p.m. last Thursday in the hills behind East Banyan Ri ..read more

WHITTIER (CBSLA) — A suspect was arrested for arson Friday in connection with the Sycamore Fire that burned three homes in Whittier, two of which were heavily damaged by the flames. “My heart just goes out to them,” said Jeffrey Ng, one of the many neighbors who was suddenly forced to evacuate at a moment’s notice Thursday. (Credit: CBS) The fire was first reported at about 2:45 p.m. in the hills behind East Banyan Rim Drive and Cinco View Drive, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department. Footage from Sky 9 chopper overhead showed at least two homes engulfed by flames. A third was ..read more

WHITTIER (CBSLA) — Three homes were burned by the Sycamore Fire in Whittier, two of which completely burned to the ground. (credit: CBS) The fire was first reported at about 2:45 p.m. in the hills behind East Banyan Rim Drive, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department. Just seven acres in the Sycamore Park area have burned so far, but the fire has burned at least two homes and threatens several others. Two homes are burning and more are threatened by this blaze in Rose Hills…burning near Banyan Rim drive, only a few acres so far but with these winds and dry conditions this fire ha ..read more

LA HABRA HEIGHTS (CBSLA) — A La Habra Heights Fire Department firefighter was arrested on Thursday for allegedly impersonating a police officer on several occasions. Timothy Peel. (Photo Credit: Las Angeles County Sheriff’s Department) An investigation from the Sheriff’s Public Corruption Unit revealed that Timothy Peel, Assistant Fire Chief with the department unlawfully detained a number of people using a 2020 Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck that was equipped with lights and a siren. According to their investigation, Peel made an unknown amount of traffic stops. Peel, 34-years-old, w ..read more

WHITTIER (CBSLA) — The City of Whittier has opened a free drive-through COVID-19 test site to serve the community and the surrounding areas. The site, located at Guirado Park at 5760 Pioneer Blvd., will be open on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11  a.m.to 7 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The site was opened in partnership with GUARDaHEART. “We are honored to support the city and community of Whittier in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic by providing on-site PCR swab testing in the face of the Omicron surge. We can manage the risk of spread by identifying infected individuals ..read more

WHITTIER (CBSLA) — A 23-year-old woman who was reported missing from Whittier on Monday has been found, authorities said Tuesday. Julia Skye Portugal de Aguilar was last seen around 7:15 a.m. in the 12900 block of Racimo Drive, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. On Tuesday afternoon, the LASD reported that she had been found unharmed. Further details were not released. (© Copyright 2021 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. City News Service contributed to this report ..read more

WHITTIER (CBSLA) — The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department was seeking the public’s help locating a 23-year-old woman who was reported missing from Whittier on Monday. Julia Skye Portugal de Aguilar was last seen around 7:15 a.m. in the 12900 block of Racimo Drive, according to the LASD. She was described as Hispanic, standing 5-feet-5 inches tall and weighing 120 pounds. She has brown eyes and dark brown, shoulder-length hair. Aguilar was last seen wearing a beige T-shirt and was driving a green 2005 Toyota Camry with the California license plate SNCT784. Anyone with information on Aguila ..read more

WHITTIER (CBSLA) – Two people were hurt in a fiery wreck on the 605 Freeway in Whittier Monday morning. Dec. 20, 2021. (CBSLA) At around 5:20 a.m., a vehicles that was traveling south on the 605 Freeway, near Washington Boulevard, went into the center divider and somehow ended up in the northbound lanes. A motorcycle and three vehicles were believed to have been involved, California Highway Patrol told CBSLA. The Los Angeles County Fire Department confirmed that two people were taken to local hospitals with undisclosed injuries. The circumstances of the crash were still unclear. Several nort ..read more