From the Valley to Leimert Park and Hancock Park, people in communities across Southern California have been spotting coyotes in their neighborhoods.

Not nestled in the mountains, but in urban areas where many young children and house pets live.   

“We actually shouldn’t be surprised that coyotes are showing up in what we consider to be non-traditional locations like the middle of a city,” said Tim Daly, California Department Fish and Wildlife public information officer.  

Daly says that’s in part because coyotes are looking for food and resources not being found in their environments. And, what we are doing might be inviting to them.   

“It’s almost always unintentional. We might forget that we left the pet food out at night. We might not have remembered to clean our barbecue at the end of a long meal,” Daly added. “And, there’s those odors and bits of food still on a barbecue. We may be forgetting to trim under our backyard brush because we think, oh, it looks so lush and fully grown but that’s also a place where wildlife can hide. It’s a shelter.”

Reports about coyotes to their office are tracked.  

Total coyote interactions 2017-2024

Coyote sightings, depredation, possible human conflict, and nuisance complaints.

Our analysis of data obtained by the NBC4 I-Team shows calls to the department about coyotes in Los Angeles County have increased in all categories -from sightings to nuisance- compared to last year.   

Looking back to 2017, most reports about coyote run-ins with pets or livestock or what’s called “depredation” in LA County happened in zip code 91745 — the Hacienda Heights neighborhood.  

Most nuisance reports, which could be anything from tipping trash cans or making messes, were most reported in the 91711 area near Claremont.   

And, most of the calls about potential human conflict came from zip code 90027, the Griffith Park neighborhood, followed closely by 91364, the community of Woodland Hills.    

“We look at those reports every day, and then we will respond accordingly if we feel there’s a potential public safety issue going on, we will work with the people who made that report to make sure A, they’re okay, and B, they’re doing everything they can to eliminate what’s attracting them to their yard,” Daly said.   

Daly believes part of the rise in report could coincide with more people at home. 

“Also, more of us have cameras on our homes and in our backyards than ever. And so, we’re getting a lot more sightings reported to us that way as well,” he added   

He says sighting numbers might be a bit skewed because multiple reports might come in about the same animal.  

Again, the department tells the NBC4 I-Team, we could be the ones creating space for coyotes and other wildlife to feel invited, barbeques not being cleaned up, fallen fruit in your yard, bird feeders with overflow of seed are attractive to coyotes.   

The department wants to hear from you if you come across a coyote, especially if you feel at risk, so they can better access what is happening.    

They have a way to do that right on the front page of their website. There is also a link that explains how to deal with not just coyote but any wildlife you might come across in your home.    

The man accused of commandeering an LA Metro bus at gunpoint in South LA, holding a driver and passenger hostage, and of murdering another passenger, previously served time in state prison for transporting or selling controlled substances, records and officials confirmed Thursday.

Lamont A. Campbell was arrested Wednesday by LAPD SWAT officers after the overnight standoff and pursuit, in which the bus passenger died after being shot multiple times, allegedly by Campbell, police said.

Jail records showed Campbell was being held without bail and was expected to make an initial appearance in court Monday.

No criminal charges had been filed in the bus hijacking as of Thursday afternoon.

Authorities have not shared the name or age of the person who was murdered during the ordeal.

The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation said Campbell, 51, began serving a 5 year term for transportation or sales of a controlled substance in August, 1996, and was paroled in 1998.

Campbell returned to prison in January, 2010 to serve a 6 year term for transportation or sales of a controlled substance with a prior conviction, and was released on parole in 2011.

He was released from parole supervision the next year.

LA County Superior Court records show Campbell pleaded no contest in 2018 to a misdemeanor drug possession charge and was placed on 3 years probation.

The LAPD said officers responding to a shots fired call near Figueroa and West 119th St. early Wednesday spotted a man, later identified as Campbell, boarding the Metro bus.

The bus operator was forced at gunpoint to drive through Downtown and stopped after running over spike strips near 6th and Alameda Streets, where members of the LAPD’s SWAT team stormed the bus, rescued the driver, and arrested Campbell.

Two people were arrested in connection with vandalism Wednesday at one of two abandoned Hollywood Hills mansions owned by the son of MLB team owner that became targets for taggers.

Officers assigned to a special detail at one of the defaced homes were on patrol Wednesday morning outside the residence in the 7500 block of Mulholland Drive when they received reports from residents about two vandals. The officers were told a man and woman had just spray-painted the property and left in a white Mercedes-Benz sedan.

Officers found the car nearby. Two people inside were arrested.

Spray paint cans and a loaded unregistered firearm were found in one suspect’s purse, police said. The suspects arrested Wednesday were identified by police as 35-year-old Jacob Smith, arrested on suspicious of vandalism, and 19-year-old Thomia Fagan, arrested on suspicion of possession of firearm in a vehicle.

Jail records did not indicate initial court dates. It was not immediately clear whether they have attorneys.

The hillside Mulholland Drive home overlooking Los Angeles is one of two owned by the son of the Philadelphia Phillies baseball team that have been abandoned for years. Neighbors said squatters moved in during that time and graffiti appeared on both mansions this month. Some reported seeing people run from the locations with foot stools, ladders, spray-paint and other items.

There was a dramatic difference in the state of the Mulholland Drive property Thursday after city crews removed graffiti that covered the multi-story structure earlier this week.

NBCLA

A Phillies spokesperson confirmed the properties are owned by John Powers Middleton with no other family involvement.

Records show John Powers Middleton bought the Mulholland Drive mansion in 2012. Then in October 2022, after it was declared a nuisance, the LA Department of Building and Safety said Middleton must build a fence and secure the property. When he didn’t, the city had to build the fence.

The four-story, six-bedroom mansion with a large pool is perched on a hillside overlooking Los Angeles with views to the east and south. All levels of the exterior and the roof of the home, built in 2003, were covered in graffiti. Many of the windows are shattered.

City workers placed fencing in front of the home earlier this week and Los Angeles Police Department officers were at the site.

Graffiti now covers a second mansion in the Hollywood Hills. Alex Rozier reports for the NBC4 News at 4 p.m. on Tuesday Sept. 24, 2024. 

The other eyesore mansion is in 1700 block of North Sunset Plaza Drive.  The multi-story residence is about 5 miles south of the Mulholland Drive mansion.

In a statement to NBCLA, the owner of the home John Powers Middleton wrote:

I would like to apologize to the people of Los Angeles, and especially to my neighbors.  What’s happened to the two properties I own is unacceptable, and no matter what caused it, I own the houses. I also want to set the record straight – a lot of the stories have left out important facts. Both houses have had a property manager and/or security in place, including drive-by security. We have caught or thwarted numerous break-in attempts, including graffiti trespassers at both houses. But the attackers, especially the squatters, have been relentless, and our security people were overwhelmed. I have now beefed up security – 24/7, armed – at both properties and have several painting and construction and other crews in both houses working to make repairs.  I’m doing my best to make the houses secure and fix them up, with the intent to sell each as soon as possible.  I’m disappointed to note that even as I have worked this week to paint over the graffiti, vandals still managed to break in and paint over the newly cleaned walls.  Given the persistence of the numerous trespassers, it’s a struggle. What’s happened to my property is criminal and I hope everyone caught will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.  No one in Los Angeles should have to put up with squatters and vandalism that are out of control. I will also repay any and all taxpayer funds used to gate, fence or board the houses and to pay all tax bills. I want to thank the city of Los Angeles for working with me to rectify this horrible situation.

Los Angeles Councilmember Nithya Raman’s office said the owner of both properties is in “egregious violation of the law.” The office has been in contact with police and the building and safety department.

“Our office has elevated the issue with the abandoned buildings unit at the Department of Building and Safety to ensure that the fullest extent of enforcement is being implemented urgently and swiftly,” Raman’s office said. “DBS has been on site at both locations to investigate, assess, and erect security measures.

“This is a public safety issue with serious consequences for both neighbors and the surrounding community. Irresponsible property owners must take accountability for their property or face action from the city.”