The driver of a dump truck who collided with an LAPD patrol car in Beverly Hills last year, killing one officer and injuring another, was charged with vehicular manslaughter Monday.

Roberto Maldonado was arrested Feb. 27 in connection with the crash that killed Officer Nick Lee.

Lee and his partner were responding to a call around 8 a.m. March 7, 2014, when a truck driven by Maldonado lost control and collided with their patrol car at Robert Lane and Loma Vista Drive.

Maldonado also owned the truck, and prosecutors said he failed to properly maintain its brakes.

Maldonado has been released on $50,000 bail, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.

"This was a terrible tragedy and the Los Angeles Police Department thanks the CHP for all their efforts throughout this investigation," Chief Charlie Beck said in a statement.

Lee was a 16 year department veteran who was assigned to the Hollywood area at the time of his death.

"We hope this arrest can bring some small piece of closure to the family. Officer Nick Lee was a great cop and a great man. The LAPD is forever grateful for the 16 years he spent protecting our great city. We will never forget him or his sacrifice."

An earlier version of this story identified the vehicle driven by Maldonado as a cement truck. It was a dump truck.

A 14-year-old boy who was hospitalized after being struck by a hit-and-run driver in Santa Ana over the weekend suffered a brain injury in the collision and was fighting for his life, his family said Monday.

The victim, identified by family members only as Juan, was in critical condition at UC Irvine Medical Center.

"He has multiple injuries to his head, his brain, to his leg, he's fighting - he's fighting for his life. He's strong, he's not giving up," said the teen's cousin, Diane Meneses.

The victim is a high school freshman who family members described as a good boy who loves science and the band Cold Play. He was on his way to school when he was hit.

Police found him lying unconscious on Fairview Street, just south of Civic Center Drive, about 8:10 a.m. Saturday.

The car that struck the teen may have been a 2001-2006 BMW 300 series, based on evidence found at the scene, police said. Witnesses described the car as black.

Police said the car will be missing a right-side mirror and fog light, and will have damage to the right side fender.

Anyone with information is urged to call police at 714-245-8214.

For the first time, brain surgeons at UCLA’s Neurosurgery Center can look inside the heads of their patients before they go under the knife.

Using a breakthrough tool called the Surgical Theater, doctors can create ultra-realistic 3-D virtual replicas of a patient’s brain and look inside when preparing for surgery.

"We can see the anatomy with great precision and it’s not obscured by fluid, by blood, by any of the things that can be problematic during the operation," explains to Dr. Neil Martin of the UCLA Neurosurgery Center. “That allows us to operate with greater precision and a lot more confidence.”

Some problems can be cured if the surgery is performed perfectly. This 3-D technology improves the chance of a successful procedure by giving doctors a road map for the surgery. Once the 3-D virtual brain is created by combing layers of a traditional CT scan, it’s displayed on a large touch sensitive screen.

The surgeon can then manipulate the image by touch, rotating it, resizing it and locating specific parts of the anatomy.

"We’re prepared before we even get there," Dr. Martin said. "It shortens the operative time and, in my experience, that sense of déjà vu leads you to a much better operation."

Recently, Dr. Martin used the device to prepare for two surgeries that if performed perfectly could lead to a full cure.

Sibyl Stringer was diagnosed with an aneurism - a weakened blood vessel - which could have killed Stringer if it burst.

"I didn’t have any symptoms and it was discovered while we were looking for something else," Stringer said.

Lucas Deines discovered he has a non-cancerous brain tumor when visiting his doctor because of an unrelated problem with headaches. Although benign, the tumor had the power to recur and require further surgery or even radiation, according to Dr. Martin.

"I was scared to death to be frank," Deines said.

After studying the 3-D models of each of their brains, Dr. Martin was able to successfully complete Sibyl and Deines’ difficult surgeries without any major complications.

"I feel blessed that I’m talking to you, and that it’s not a bad dream," Deines said.

Dr. Bruce says: "Lucas told us that just five days after his surgery. This breakthrough technique may soon be used in other areas of the body as well. It may save lives and cut down on risks."

A Perris city councilman who is already facing felony drug charges stemming from an alleged methamphetamine party last year is once again in trouble with the law, and now some colleagues say it's time for him to step down.

Julio Rodriguez was caught allegedly driving with a suspended license last week, something he has apparently been doing for months, and his car impounded for at least 30 days.

Witnesses said Rodriguez has been driving his car to council meetings, even though he knows he is not supposed to drive.

NBC4 first confronted Rodriguez about his driving on a suspended license last August, but he declined to comment.

Right after last Tuesday’s council meeting, Rodriguez was pulled over in this car for a faulty brake light, leading to the citation and impound, according to Riverside County Sheriff’s officials.

Some of his fellow city leaders think enough is enough, and the mayor said he’s fed up with Rodriguez’s run-ins with the law.

"Council members and elected officials are held to a high standard, and that's not a higher standard," Mayor Daryl Busch said.

In addition to the drug charges and current license trouble, his driving history is littered with citations going back to 2008. He was cited several times for various vehicle violations including speeding and driving without a license.

Rodriguez again declined to comment to NBC4 Monday, but Busch said enough is enough, and he wants Rodriguez to step down from the city council.

"I'm not out for blood but I think that it would be beneficial to the city, yes,” he said.

In the wake of a fatal police shooting on Skid Row, Mayor Eric Garcetti said the Los Angeles Police Department is leading the nation in efforts to properly deal with the mentally ill.

"All officers are trained for instance in dealing with the capacity of mental health issues that people have out there," the mayor said. "These (LAPD) officers get an additional training above and beyond that."

The mayor's point was underscored earlier by Police Chief Charlie Beck, who said officers working on Skid Row are trained in identifying behavior, advising support agencies and defusing sometimes violent situations.

Beck said the officers involved in Saturday's shooting of a man were well trained.

"Several of the officers had participated and completed our most extensive mental illness training - over a 36-hour course," Beck said.

Some of those who work with the city on Skid Row issues disagree. They contend more training is needed for the officers' sake and those who live on the street.

Others say some officers do better than others.

Rick Ruiz, a convicted felon living on Skid Row, says he was angered by Saturday's shooting, but was inclined to cut police a break.

"They do the best that they can under the circumstances, this is like a jungle out here," Ruiz said. "After seeing what happened yesterday, the officers might have saved something from happening that could have been worse."

Two of the three officers involved in yesterday's shooting had body cameras that videotaped the confrontation.

Besides helping with the investigation, it may shed light on how much the training has helped or needs improvement.
 

A former son-in-law of screen legends John Cassavetes and Gena Rowlands has been arrested on suspicion of kidnapping a 16-year-old New York City teenager and raping her over five days, authorities said.

Victorville resident Buck Wylde Murphy, the 49-year-old ex-husband of actress Xan Cassavetes, was arrested in a San Bernardino recreational vehicle last week after allegedly forcing the girl to fly across the country, then keeping her captive from Feb. 22 through Feb. 26, according to a criminal complaint and to the private investigator who worked on the case.

The Staten Island girl's mother reported her missing to police last Monday and hired a private investigator, Sean Crowley, to track her daughter down, Crowley told NBC’s local news station in New York, WNBC.

The girl had been corresponding online with Murphy since he reached out to her on social media, according to Crowley, and the complaint stated that Murphy stalked her since September 2014.

"She was in the chat rooms that many kids today use, and this individual began to befriend her as a 19-year-old," said Crowley.

Murphy allegedly sent the teen romantic song lyrics in an email that turned out to have a virus that gathered information on the victim and her family, Crowley said.

Murphy used that information to threaten to kill the girl and her family when she initially refused his request for her to fly out to California, Crowley said. The girl then secretly flew to California on Sunday using a ticket he purchased for her.

"He gave her very specific information about her family, that he would cause harm to them and kill them if she didn't get on that plane," said Crowley.

The victim's mother contacted Crowley when she felt police didn't take her report seriously. Crowley told NBC 4 New York he conducted an intensive investigation into the teen's phone records and tracked her to San Bernardino.

Crowley contacted authorities there, and police moved in to raid Murphy's trailer in Apple Valley and arrest him Thursday night after the girl had been captive five days. The San Bernardino Sheriff Department said he'd sexually assaulted the girl over the course of several days.

The teen was rescued and flown back to New York City, where she's back home with her mother on Staten Island, according to Crowley.

Murphy is being held in San Bernardino on felony charges of kidnapping, rape and other sex assault of a child over 14 years, showing child porn to a minor, criminal threats and stalking.

Bail has been set at $1 million; it's not clear if has an attorney. Arraignment has been rescheduled from Monday to Tuesday.

Murphy was married to Xan Cassavetes for several years in the 1990s. Her father John Cassavetes starred in "Rosemary's Baby" and "The Dirty Dozen," and her mother Gena Rowlands in "Gloria," "A Woman Under the Influence" and "The Notebook."

Gus Rosendale contributed to this report.

SWAT officers arrested a pair of armed robbery suspects after swarming a trailer park in Ontario early Tuesday.

The cops managed to capture the men without incident at the 1800 block of East Riverside Drive at around 1:50 a.m, Ontario Police Department said.

The stand-off began after an officer spotted a stolen vehicle on Vineyard Avenue that had been used during the home robbery in Fontana at around 2:30 p.m. Monday.

The vehicle sped to the trailer park, and the two men inside ran away on foot.

Police put the trailer park on lockdown, and some residents were evacuated to Westwinds Park Community Center.

The suspects are being handed over to Fontana Police Department, as the rime initially took place in their jurisdiction.

A suspicious death investigation was launched in South Los Angeles early Tuesday.

A call was received regarding the body at the 1000 block of Eubank Avenue in Wilmington, at around 3:45 a.m, Los Angeles Police Department said.

The circumstances surrounding the death of the woman, who is in her 50s, are unknown at this time. Police were trying to get in touch with a doctor, as it appeared the death could be related to a medical issue.

Multiple vehicles were destroyed in a tow yard fire in Anaheim early Tuesday.

The blaze broke out Anaheim Fullerton Towing at the 1100 block of North Anaheim Boulevard just before 12:30 a.m, Anaheim Fire Department said.

Firefighters were able to extinguish the fire within 15 minutes, and no injuries were reported.

It is unknown what sparked the fire, and arson investigators were heading to the scene to investigate.

A woman who was trying to park her car was shot in a possible case of mistaken identity in East Hollywood early Tuesday.

The incident happened as the woman was sitting inside the vehicle on New Hampshire Avenue just before 1 a.m, when a male walked up and fired  at her multiple times, Los Angeles Police Department said.

The victim, who is in her 40s, suffered a wound to her left shoulder. Two other people sitting in the car were uninjured.

After the shooting, she drove to a McDonald's parking lot at the intersection of Vermont Avenue and Melrose Avenue, and was then taken to a local hospital for treatment.

Officers are looking for at least one suspect, possibly a male juvenile, and believe the vehicle may have been targeted in error.

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Three men in ski masks shot at police officers in South Los Angeles early Tuesday, the Los Angeles Police department said.

At least one of the suspects fired at the cops on West Florence Avenue in Vermont-Slauson at 5:50 a.m, however no one was hit, police said.

At least one of the men were armed, and a perimeter was set up between Van Ness and Normandy.

The suspects have been taken into custody, however officers have yet to recover a weapon.

 A torrent of brown water shut down streets in East Los Angeles Tuesday as officials worked to fix a water main break in the early morning hours.

The break happened shortly after 5 a.m. at the intersection of Gateside Drive and Multnomah Street.

Water could be seen gushing from the ground flooding streets.

It was unclear when the roads would reopen and how long it would take officials to shut off the water.

A stabbing suspect fled on foot after crashing into a convenience store following a pursuit in Compton early Tuesday.

The incident began after someone was attacked with a knife at around 4 a.m. near the intersection of Alondra Boulevard and Atlantic Avenue, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said.

A man ran into the AM-PM store, and said a fight was happening outside. A deputy who was inside dashed to his car, and then chased a grey vehicle around the block a few times. 

The attacker then crashed into the shop, and fled on foot. It is believed the man might have stolen the vehicle in a carjacking.

A perimeter has been set-up during a police search.

The victim, who was in a green car nearby, was taken to the hospital and is in an unknown condition. Police initially said the victim was shot, but later said the case involved a stabbing.

Investigator's said the victim was not cooperating with officers.

Crisis counselors were called to an Orange County high school Monday morning after a group of students discovered their teacher hanged herself inside a locked classroom, officials said.

The students at El Dorado High School in Placentia found the photography teacher, 31-year-old Jillian Jacobson, about 8:30 a.m., Placentia police said.

The students arrived before school started to find the classroom door locked, Placentia Police Lt. Eric Point said. They got a teacher to unlock the door, when they then found the woman inside.

"She was just really involved in her students' lives," student Lacie Urquhart said. "She would ask everybody how their weekend was. If you were down, she would try to help you. She was just a very kind, loving person."

Jacobson worked at the high school since 2008, and she taught art camp during summer at Cal State Fullerton.

Parents of students at the school told NBC4 Jacobson, a wife who lived in Anaheim, had empathy for her students because her own father committed suicide.

The district sent crisis counselors to the school to comfort the students and staff and provide support, and they will remain available through the week.

Point said the students from her class were sent home for the day.

Jeremy Lin has not always covered himself in glory since joining the Los Angeles Lakers via trade in the summer of 2014. Playing next to Kobe Bryant proved to be a challenge for the 26-year-old, and his worst night came against his hometown Golden State Warriors on Nov. 16 when he finished with zero points in 22 minutes.

For the first 20 games of the season, Lin started every game and averaged 11.9 points, 4.9 assists and 2.8 rebounds in 29.8 minutes per game. Although Lin shot 46 percent from the field, he turned the ball over 2.7 times per game and never quite looked comfortable next to Bryant in the backcourt.

Lin's move to the bench did not exactly instill confidence in the point guard, and his play suffered. In his first 33 games off the pine, Lin's projection and minutes dipped. Lin averaged only 8.9 points to go along with 4.2 assists and 2.2 rebounds per game. In only 22.2 minutes per game, the point guard averaged 2.1 turnovers per game as a backup for Ronnie Price and, later, for rookie Jordan Clarkson.

Entering the All-Star break with the Lakers stumbling to a 13-40 record, Lin did not look like a guy the Lakers would look to re-sign. However, a week off provided the Torrance-born kid new perspective on his basketball life. Following the break, Lin looks like the player the Lakers hoped for when they made the trade to acquire him.

In the five games following the break, Lin is averaging 17.0 points, 5.0 assists and 2.8 rebounds per game. Adding to the growth in stats, Lin is averaging 0.6 turnovers per game and has yet to commit more than one statistical error in a game.

To reward Lin's improved production and efficiency, Lakers coach Byron Scott provided the Harvard graduate with added minutes, especially in the fourth quarter.

"The ball is given to me basically every possession of the fourth quarter," Lin said after Sunday's loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. "I'm the quarterback of everything going on. Wasn't able to get the job done."

While Lin did not lead LA to victory on Sunday, his 20 points, eight assists and six rebounds helped LA keep the scoreline respectable. In two of the Lakers' last four games, Lin has been the best player of the team. Lin probably made that case twice in the first 50 games of the season. However, if he manages to continue on this level of form, the Lakers may start thinking the point guard may be worth bringing back next season.

If Lin can quarterback the Lakers down the stretch and show consistency for the final 24 games, the Lakers may be wise to bring back Lin, even if it is only to play in a backup role. If nothing else, Lin is about the only Lakers' point guard not to get injured over that past three years.

While not alone in playing for his future, Lin has been afforded a rare opportunity of playing point guard for the Lakers down the stretch. How he handles the extra pressure and responsibility should determine if Scott and the Lakers welcome Lin back over the upcoming center.

Firefighters had to get creative to rescue a dog trapped between a wall and a hard place in West Hollywood Monday.

Every time the pooch whimpered or cried while stuck between a retaining wall and a house in the 9000 block of Lloyd Place, he fell deeper into the gap.

This would cause him to become even more tightly trapped. Rescuers couldn't destroy either wall, so the Los Angeles County Fire Department first responders had to think outside the box.  

Firefighters slid a pike pole, which is normally used to pull down ceilings during a fire, under the dog to prevent him from falling farther, then tied webbing around his paws and pulled him out.

The dog, which was not injured, was reunited with his family.

Inspector Randall Wright said  the incident was a "great training opportunity for firefighters." Video from the rescue might be used to train firefighters who encounter a similar situation, Wright said.

A protest and march to Los Angeles Police Department headquarters are planned for Tuesday, two days after the shooting death of a homeless man on Skid Row in downtown LA.

A rally involving LA Community Action Network and Skid Row community members is scheduled to begin at about 8 a.m. near Sixth and San Pedro streets. Participants will then march to LAPD headquarters, where a police commission meeting is scheduled for Tuesday morning.

The protests are part of the backlash after Sunday's fatal shooting of a man who had been staying in a tent on Skid Row. The man, who was the subject of a 911 call robbery report, tried to reach for an officer's holstered weapon during a struggle that began after he refused to comply with police commands, LAPD Chief Charlie Beck said.

At a Monday news conference, Beck cited several screengrabs obtained from witness videos that he said show the man attempting to "forcibly grab" one of the officer's guns. He also said an officer in the video said "He has my gun" several times before three other officers opened fire in what the chief described as an "extreme tragedy."

Flowers, notes and other items were left Monday at a memorial for the man, known to others on Skid Row as "Africa."

Two Los Angeles Police Department officers involved in Sunday's altercation that led to the fatal shooting were wearing body cameras, providing police with another video for review in the department investigation, Beck said Monday. Investigators also plan to review video from the camera system at the Mission,  where officers responding to the robbery report encountered the man in 500 block of South San Pedro Street.

The man can be seen on a bystander's video recording swinging his arms as officers approach. The man repeatedly refused to comply with officers' commands and a stun gun had "little effect," Beck said.

"While on the ground, the suspect and officers struggled over one of the officer's handguns and then an officer-involved shooting occurred," the LAPD said in a statement.

At least five rounds were fired, police said.

The subject died at the scene. Two officers suffered minor injuries.

Some people who live in the area said they believe police are at least partially responsible for what transpired.

"You can't tell me five officers can't take down one man. What about police training?" One homeless man told NBC4 Monday. "I think they treated him like they normally treat homeless people on Skid Row, with disrespect, with harassment."

Chief Beck said Monday the officer's involved in the Skid Row shooting are well trained.

The pilot of a small plane was injured when his aircraft crashed near the Santa Ana riverbed in the Mentone area Tuesday afternoon, according to officials from the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department.

Several agencies responded to the crash near the intersection of Mentone Boulevard and Garnet Avenue shortly after 12 p.m.

The small blue and yellow biplane was not carrying any passengers at the time of the crash.

The extent of the pilot’s injuries are unknown but he “appears to be okay,” officials said.

He is being transported to a nearby hospital.