BELL GARDENS (CBSLA) — Bell Gardens Police Department is seeking public assistance in locating a missing man who suffers from both dementia and Alzheimer’s. (Source: Bell Gardens Police Department) Emidio Espericueta, 76-years-old, was last seen at around 11 a.m. Monday in a convalescent center in Bell Gardens. He stands 5 feet, 5 inches tall and has gray hair. He was last seen wearing a blue jacket and blue jeans. Anyone with information on Espericueta’s whereabouts was asked to contact BGPD Detective Oertel at (562) 806-7616. (© Copyright 2022 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved ..read more

BELL GARDENS (CBSLA) — An investigation continues Thursday morning into a deadly shooting during an apparently botched robbery at a Bell Gardens marijuana dispensary. It was later revealed that the business was actually an illegal dispensary, operating out of a mobile phone store called “Geek Mobile.” (credit: CBS) Gunshots were reported at 5845 Florence Ave., near the 710 Freeway, just before 8 p.m. Wednesday. Officers responding to the scene found two men in their teens or early 20s inside the business with gunshot wounds. One of the men was pronounced dead at the scene, and the other was ..read more

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA) — A World Series of Poker bracelet winner is one of four Los Angeles-area men who have been charged in connection with an illegal video gambling operation and money laundering. Gal Yafrich, 35, a frequent player in “Live at the Bike” poker games and the 2018 World Series of Poker bracelet winner, and 39-year-old Nick Shkolnik were both charged with operating an illegal gambling business. Israeli-born Yafrich also faces money laundering charges along with 32-year-old Shalom Ifrah and 33-year-old Schneur Zalman Getzel Rosenfeld. All four of the defendants named in the federal ..read more

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA) — The operators of the Bicycle Hotel & Casino in Bell Gardens will pay $500,000 to settle violations of the Bank Secrecy Act, the U.S. Department of Justice announced Friday. The casino accepted responsibility for failing to properly file reports for a Chinese national who conducted millions of dollars in cash transactions back in 2016, which violates a number of federal anti-money laundering rules, according to federal prosecutors. Bicycle Casino also agreed to strengthen its anti-money laundering practices. BELL GARDENSS, CA – APRIL 4, 2017 Federal authorities execut ..read more

BELL GARDENS (CBSLA) — Help is needed Tuesday after video of a possible kidnapping surfaced in Bell Gardens. Home surveillance video recording the street in the 6500 block of Toler Avenue showed a disturbing scene at about 10:55 p.m. Saturday. The video shows a small, coupe-style car stopping and a woman getting out of the passenger side. (credit: Bell Gardens Police Department) The woman ran, but a man in a hooded sweatshirt gets out of the driver’s seat and quickly grabs the woman around her midsection in what police called a “bearhug,” put her back in the car and closed the door. He was t ..read more

BELL GARDENS (CBSLA) – A 32-year-old man has been arrested in connection with hidden cameras which were discovered in women’s restrooms of a Bell Gardens church last weekend. Stephen Ramirez, a parishioner at L.A. Pentecostals Church, located at 8300 Eastern Ave., has been arrested on suspicion of invasion of privacy and lewd conduct, according to Bell Gardens police. On Aug. 29, staff of L.A. Pentecostals discovered the cameras inside a women’s restroom and immediately contacted police. After filing a police report, church staff, working with investigators, determined that Ramirez was the cul ..read more

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA) — Gov. Gavin Newsom was in Bell Gardens Wednesday to promote the state’s $5.2 billion program to pay back 100% of rent for low-income renters affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. “If we see mass evictions, we will have seen something we’ve never experienced in our lifetime, and that’s the number of people on streets and sidewalks that will overwhelm. That’s why this program is so important,” Newsom said. The program is part of the state’s 2021-22 fiscal year budget, which Newsom signed Monday. Applicants can receive 100% of rent owed from April 2020 and through September 2021 ..read more

BELL GARDENS (CBSLA) — A COVID-19 vaccination is now as easy as grabbing breakfast at the nearest McDonald’s. McDonald’s and California Public Health are hosting pop-up vaccine clinics at fast food franchises across the state. People getting a jab are getting more than antibodies, too – they’re also getting coupons for free food and other giveaways. “We’ve seen high numbers of COVID over time. We also have been a little behind on vaccines in the community, and with this spike in LA County, it’s just really concerning,” Assemblywoman Cristina Garcia said. (credit: CBS) New coronavirus infecti ..read more

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA) – The clinicians at the vaccination clinic at Bell Gardens Veterans Park said Wednesday the push to get more people vaccinated is now more important than ever. They know as vaccination rates fall, the number of Delta variant cases of COVID-19 are going up. “We are trying to do everything in our control to get people vaccinated,” said Parth Parikh, Pico Care Pharmacy manager. “The fact that it is very, very fast to spread is the reason why we have been emphasizing vaccines within the community.” The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health says the Delta variant is spr ..read more

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA) — A major vaccination site in Los Angeles has such an excess of COVID-19 vaccine doses that it is allowing anyone age 18 and older to walk up and receive a vaccination. People stand in line to receive the COVID-19 vaccine at the Cal State LA site. April 7, 2021. (CBSLA) The state’s Office of Emergency Services reported Wednesday that many Johnson & Johnson vaccine appointments at the federally-run Cal State LA super site were going unfilled. While only people in eligible groups can make advanced appointments online, Cal State LA is providing walk up vaccinations for a ..read more