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Man arrested in San Diego in connection with assault of two women in Venice
Police in San Diego have arrested a man suspected of clubbing two women from behind in separate incidents near the Venice canals on Saturday night. The arrest of Anthony Jones, 29, for assaulting the two women was announced on Friday in front of the Los Angeles Police Department’s Pacific Division Station. Los Angeles City Councilmember Traci Park, whose district includes Venice, participated in announcing the arrest.
The attacks reportedly had a “sexual element” to them, according to police commander Steven Lurie, who declined to provide further details. The identities of the victims have not been released to the public.
One of the victims spoke to The Times from a hospital where she was recovering from at least eight fractures to her jaw, a large laceration to the back of the head, and contusions on her face and neck. She shared that she was struck from behind while walking to reach her daily 10,000-steps goal after work on Saturday night. The victim expressed her gratitude to the police for their efforts.
The first attack occurred at 10:30 p.m. on Saturday, when a woman walking in the 2700 block of Strongs Drive was approached from behind and struck with a hard object, rendering her unconscious. About an hour later, another woman was attacked in a similar manner near the Sherman Canal, less than a mile away.
The suspect fled the scene, leaving behind evidence that the police have not disclosed. Both victims sustained significant injuries, according to a police report.
The LAPD identified Jones two days ago and found that he was in San Diego. Jones was apprehended on Thursday night, brought back to Los Angeles, and taken into custody. The LAPD is withholding specific details of the attacks in order to protect the integrity of the investigation, with more information expected to be released by the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office at a later time.
Commander Lurie emphasized the importance of the department’s collaboration with the community in solving this case. Councilmember Park expressed her shock and sorrow over the incidents, highlighting the need for community vigilance and support for law enforcement efforts.
Residents and businesses that aided in providing information leading to the arrest were thanked by Park. She also stressed the impact of such crimes on the city, urging for unity in the face of violence and emphasizing the vulnerability of people in public spaces.
News
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and Protesters reach an agreement to dismantle encampment
Protesters at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee have agreed to end their pro-Palestinian encampment following an agreement reached with the school, university officials announced on Sunday. The encampment, which had been in place for two weeks, will be dismantled by Tuesday, marking the end of what was believed to be the last standing encampment at a Wisconsin college.
University officials had allowed the encampment to remain on a patch of lawn between Mitchell Hall and a busy thoroughfare on the campus’s southern boundary, opting not to involve law enforcement. This approach differed from the response at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where police were called in to remove tents after negotiations fell through. Despite initial efforts to disband the encampment, Wisconsin-Madison eventually reached an agreement with protesters to voluntarily dismantle the camp prior to commencement ceremonies.
Chancellor Mark Mone of Wisconsin-Milwaukee stated last Wednesday that the university had exhibited “the widest possible amount of patience and restraint.” However, he also cautioned that patience was wearing thin and hinted at potential action by the school. Following discussions with the UWM Popular University for Palestine Coalition, the university agreed to advocate for a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas, condemn the destruction of schools and universities in Gaza by Israeli forces, and hold meetings with protest leaders regarding university investments.
Additionally, the university pledged to urge the Water Council, a Milwaukee organization of water technology companies, to sever connections with two Israeli government-owned entities, Mekorot and the Israel Innovation Authority. Chancellor Mone serves as the treasurer on the Water Council’s board of directors.
In return for these commitments, the protesters agreed to dismantle the encampment beginning on Sunday and completing the process by Tuesday. They also agreed not to disrupt the university’s commencement ceremonies scheduled for Sunday. In a statement, the protesters expressed their satisfaction with the agreement, stating, “After hard fought edits and careful consideration by the coalition, we determined we had obtained all possible benefits from the encampment.”
The resolution of the encampment at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee represents a successful outcome of negotiations between university officials and protesters. By reaching a compromise that addresses the concerns of both parties, a peaceful resolution has been achieved, allowing for the encampment to be taken down without incident.