Public safety agencies across the United States will deploy drones to spot illegal fireworks during Fourth of July celebrations, thanks to new federal rules that accelerated drone-based enforcement.
Last year, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) loosened regulations, allowing cities and counties to launch Drone as First Responder (DFR) initiatives more quickly by cutting bureaucratic red tape. That change led to an increase in the number of policing organizations implementing DFR programs, jumping from 50 to an estimated 1,500 nationwide. The rapid expansion reflects how drone-based enforcement has become a national trend, not only for monitoring illegal fireworks but also for emergency response, crowd management, and search-and-rescue operations.
While some cities have used drones to monitor fireworks for years, this is the first July 4th holiday where aerial enforcement is widespread.
California has been one of the most aggressive adopters, largely because of the extreme risk of wildfires and the prevalence of illegal pyrotechnics. Several cities, including San Jose, Sacramento, and Riverside, are deploying aerial enforcement units specifically to monitor fireworks this holiday weekend. Other western states with similar wildfire risks, including Colorado, Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah, have also adopted unmanned aircraft operations teams. First responders say drones help them detect and respond to fires quickly, especially in wooded areas and during the dry summer months.
The Wheat Ridge Police Department in Colorado has relied on drones to monitor illegal fireworks since 2024, and the Riverside Police Department began using them last year. The drones can capture footage to be used for citations and prosecutions, according to a spokesman.
“This has been a spectacular tool for us to identify those who obviously make the decision to not follow the rules and be unsafe,” Det. Steven Espinosa, public information officer for the Riverside PD, told the Los Angeles Times.
The growing use of DFR programs has raised some privacy concerns, but law enforcement says the technology is deployed only in response to specific calls, not for general surveillance. With thousands of law enforcement agencies now equipped with drones, this year’s Fourth of July could mark a turning point in how cities enforce fireworks laws and how Americans celebrate the holiday.

GettyImages-1241718780

This Fourth of July, The Sky May Be Watching Back

4th of July

Crime

Drones

Fourth of July

Police

U.S.

Wildfires

Ten Tennessee teenagers were arrested and face criminal charges in connection with a viral TikTok door-kicking challenge.
The “Door Kick Challenge” is a controversial social media trend in which individuals—typically young people—kick residential front doors, often at night, and quickly flee the area. 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
KNOCK IT OFF: Police are warning residents about a viral TikTok trend known as the “door kick” or “door knock challenge” after three Florida teenagers were arrested for allegedly kicking a homeowner&#8217;s door. <a href="https://t.co/CSNJFqv88Q">pic.twitter.com/CSNJFqv88Q</a>
— Seattle Smith🇺🇸 (@smith_seattle1) <a href="https://x.com/smith_seattle1/status/1996461333710352702?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 4, 2025</a></blockquote>
Attempting to outdo the “ding-dong ditch” prank, the challenge has at times led to property damage and safety concerns. 
Spanning <a href="https://www.police1.com/social-media/breaking-down-the-door-kick-challenge-a-viral-trend-with-real-world-risks">across the country</a> and <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/nanaimo-door-kick-challenge-9.7251462">around the world</a>, the trend has taken on a life of its own—and now carries real-world consequences for a group of teenagers in a Nashville suburb.
<a href="https://x.com/FranklinTNPD/status/2072717353658314927?s=20">The Franklin Police Department</a> arrested ten teenagers, ages 14 to 18, for allegedly participating in the prank. Just after 11 p.m. on Tuesday, officers responded to multiple reports of individuals kicking or striking the front doors of homes, then fleeing in the upscale neighborhood. 
“After receiving multiple calls, Franklin police officers quickly flooded the area, established a perimeter, and sealed off the neighborhood,” the police department said. “During the operation, officers located a vehicle carrying all 10 suspects.”
Inside the vehicle, police officers said they found a BB gun designed to closely resemble a real handgun, along with a ski mask. Two adults, Gio Smith, 18, and Jordan Curll, 18, were charged with aggravated burglary, vandalism, and contributing to the delinquency of a child. Eight additional suspects, ages 14 to 17, were taken into custody and charged in Juvenile Court with aggravated burglary, vandalism, and curfew violations.
&#8220;This dangerous trend is far from harmless,&#8221; said Franklin Police Chief Deb Faulkner. &#8220;Kicking the door of an occupied home in the middle of the night creates fear and uncertainty for the people inside. 
“Homeowners have no way of knowing whether someone is playing a prank or attempting to break into their home, and they may respond accordingly to protect themselves and their families,” she added.  
Franklin, an affluent suburb known for its Southern charm, is the latest community to report arrests tied to the trend.
Out west in California, police have reported eight incidents in Elk Grove, a suburb of Sacramento, resulting in five juvenile arrests, <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/sacramento/news/door-kick-challenge-arrests-elk-grove/">according to CBS Sacramento</a>. One homeowner’s doorframe was damaged so severely that repair costs totaled $900. 
&#8220;Somebody could come out with a gun, and you could never know, these kids could be dead just for a stupid prank,&#8221; homeowner Ronnie Monroe told the outlet. 
In Frisco, Texas, police arrested a 58-year-old man for aggravated assault after he allegedly fired multiple rounds at a vehicle fleeing a neighborhood following the door-kicking prank. 
“Parents, please talk to your kids about the dangers of participating in these types of TikTok challenges,” <a href="https://www.friscotexas.gov/m/newsflash/home/detail/2470">said</a> Frisco Police Chief David Shilson. “For homeowners, it is important to understand that there are legal and criminal consequences for running outside and shooting at a vehicle fleeing the scene.”

Viral TikTok Prank Lands Ten Teens In Custody

Nashville

News

Tennessee

TikTok

TikTok Trend

A heavily armed man was arrested earlier this week outside a North Carolina church after authorities found an arsenal of weapons, including two flamethrowers, in his truck. 
On Sunday morning during a service, a caller reported that an armed man wearing camouflage clothing was sitting in his truck in the parking lot of Wesley Memorial Methodist Church. Authorities responded to the call and arrested 44-year-old William S. Milliken III, charging him with possession of a weapon of mass destruction, impersonation of a law enforcement officer, and possession of a controlled substance, <a href="https://www.highpointnc.gov/DocumentCenter/View/30161/Officers-Arrest-Armed-Man-in-Church-Parking-Lot" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according</a> to the High Point Police Department.
Milliken was wearing body armor during his arrest and was disarmed by officers. He was taken into custody without incident and is currently being held at Guilford County Jail.
After Milliken’s arrest, the officers searched his truck and discovered several weapons, including a CO2-powered launcher made to resemble a handgun, two flamethrowers, two crossbows, more than 500 rounds of ammunition, rolls of black duct tape, three knives, and Oxycodone pills, according to police.
WFMY <a href="https://www.wfmynews2.com/article/news/local/man-with-flamethrowers-body-armor-500-rounds-ammo-arrested-outside-high-point-church/83-9a624fdd-9c94-4376-a36a-4534b90bd514">reported</a> that court documents revealed Milliken had a history of mental health issues. He possessed GPS coordinates, body armor, radios with police scanners, handcuff keys, an enlarged map of North Carolina, and a notebook with addresses of other churches, schools, and public buildings.
“Thanks to the quick action of our officers, a man armed with weapons was taken into custody before anyone was hurt,” Chief Curtis Cheeks III said. “The officers prevented a potentially dangerous situation from escalating and helped ensure everyone attending church services could return home safely.
“We also want to thank the community members who recognized a potential danger and had the courage to speak up. As we work to keep High Point safe, it is crucial that we continue to look out for each other,” Cheeks said.
Mayor Cyril Jefferson of High Point also <a href="https://myfox8.com/news/north-carolina/high-point/man-accused-of-bringing-flamethrower-to-high-point-church-had-notebook-with-addresses-of-churches-schools-mayor-says/">spoke</a> out about the incident.
 “Most importantly, no one was hurt,” Jefferson said. “Hundreds of people who had gathered to worship were able to return home safely to their families.”

mugshot

Police Stop Man With Flamethrowers Outside Church Service

Church

Deadly weapons

North Carolina

After months of silence, the FBI said Wednesday that some ransom notes sent during the Nancy Guthrie kidnapping investigation may &#8220;potentially&#8221; be legitimate, while others appear to be bogus.
&#8220;Some have been deemed to be extortion attempts without legitimacy. Other ransom demands may potentially be legitimate and are still being investigated as such,&#8221; the FBI posted on X. &#8220;This case continues to be investigated as a kidnapping for ransom case.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Statement on Guthrie Investigation <a href="https://t.co/zTUKcjPfsv">pic.twitter.com/zTUKcjPfsv</a>
— FBI Phoenix (@FBIPhoenix) <a href="https://x.com/FBIPhoenix/status/2072451468766941575?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 1, 2026</a></blockquote>
The statement appears to contradict a <a href="https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/fbi-determines-nancy-guthrie-kidnapping-notes-be-fakes-source-says-2026-07-01/">Reuters</a> report citing an FBI official who said none of the ransom notes were believed to be genuine.
The FBI added that it continues to provide resources to assist in the investigation to find the mother of &#8220;Today&#8221; host Savannah Guthrie, but made it clear the probe is being led by local authorities in Pima County, Arizona.
This is the latest back-and-forth in the case of the missing 84-year-old who was abducted from her home on February 1.
During the first week of the search, multiple ransom notes were sent to several outlets demanding money in the form of bitcoin, while describing disturbing details about Guthrie&#8217;s condition.
Last month, NewsNation&#8217;s Brian Entin reported that sources told him the second ransom note alluded to Guthrie being dead.
The note indicated her death was unintentional and said that Guthrie was &#8220;buried with nature now,&#8221; per Entin.
Savannah Guthrie addressed the report last month on the &#8220;Today&#8221; show alongside co-anchor Craig Melvin and Carson Daly.
&#8220;Somebody knows something, and this is a new story today that is on your radar, but this is the life that my sister lives, that I live, that my brother lives, that our extended families live, that our children live, every day,&#8221; Savannah said. &#8220;And we are in agony. We cannot be at peace.&#8221;
Shortly after Savannah&#8217;s plea, <a href="https://www.tmz.com/2026/06/26/new-nancy-guthrie-demand-letter-claims-video-evidence/">TMZ</a> reported that it had received another email containing a bombshell claim about the investigation.
The note contained a password to a phone in a &#8220;secure location&#8221; that had information on Guthrie&#8217;s disappearance. The sender of the note said they would provide the password in exchange for bitcoin, per TMZ.
TMZ has received numerous emails over the past several months, but the latest had the same bitcoin address as the sender who emailed the outlet in February.
The more than $1 million reward for information leading to the recovery of Guthrie is still available.
The number for tips is 1-800-CALL-FBI.

Credit: Nathan Congleton/NBC/Justin Sullivan via Getty Images

The FBI Isn’t Ready To Dismiss The Nancy Guthrie Ransom Notes

Arizona

Nancy Guthrie

Savannah Guthrie

A grand jury on Thursday indicted three-time U.S. Olympian David Hearn, alleging he ripped a piece of sealant from the bottom of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool with his bare hands, federal prosecutors said.
Hearn, 67, faces a single felony count for destruction of property following his arrest last month in the nation’s capital, according to Jeanine Pirro, U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia. 
“This was a deliberate act to damage the reflecting pool at the National Mall that members of the National Park Service actually have worked hard to restore,” Pirro said at a press conference. &#8220;We can state and prove beyond a reasonable doubt that he caused damage, and that damage is over $1,000.&#8221;
On June 19, Hearn, a former Olympic canoeist, was on a bike ride when he stopped to see the reflecting pool following reports of algae in the water, describing himself as a “curious, concerned citizen” to <a href="https://abcnews.com/Politics/olympian-arrested-reflecting-pool-damage/story?id=134078925%5C%5C">ABC News.</a> 
That’s when U.S. Park Police warned, then cited, the former Olympian after he touched a piece of blue coating. Prosecutors say he later tore two square feet of sealant from the bottom of the pool, an account Hearn denies.
“I saw a piece of this loose end of this blue coating … I reached out and touched the end of that piece that was loose but still attached to the bottom,” he told ABC News. “I was able to reach out and touch the edge that was still attached at the bottom and handled it a little bit.”
Federal prosecutors paint a different picture of the incident. 
“Our evidence further shows that the National Park Service employees observed Hearn actually forcefully and violently pulling up and removing the bottom liner with both hands,” Pirro said, adding that witnesses described Hearn’s behavior as &#8220;belligerent&#8221; and &#8220;disrespectful.&#8221; 
An attorney for Hearn <a href="https://x.com/ryanjreilly/status/2072768984160534736?s=20">said</a> his client was innocent and that the charges are &#8220;outrageous and should be alarming to every American.&#8221;
&#8220;On the eve of our nation&#8217;s Independence Day, Americans should be deeply concerned by the misuse of government power against an ordinary citizen based on a concocted narrative.&#8221;
Speaking to ABC, Hearn directly denied wrongdoing. 
“I did not remove, I did not damage, I did not rip, tear, break, destroy, or harm any part of the Reflecting Pool,” he told ABC. “The condition of that part and all other parts of the Reflecting Pool were in the same condition after I walked away as they were before I walked up to it.” 
On June 9, <a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.292242/gov.uscourts.dcd.292242.22.1.pdf">U.S. Park Police responded</a> to reports of damage to the reflecting pool, including foam sealant that had been cut with a sharp knife or razor. As a result, crews scrubbed algae from the pool as strips of “American flag blue” paint and sealant peeled from its bottom, just weeks after the $14.8 million restoration project, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-says-national-monument-vandalized-as-restoration-efforts-mobilize?author=Catherine+Maxwell&amp;category=undefined&amp;elementPosition=23&amp;row=3&amp;rowHeadline=Latest+News&amp;rowType=Vertical+Carousel&amp;title=Trump+Says+National+Monument+Vandalized+As+Restoration+Efforts+Mobilize">The Daily Wire</a> previously reported. 
Thursday’s indictment follows a string of alleged vandalism and protests, including one woman chanting, <a href="https://x.com/EndWokeness/status/2068070926994846144?s=20">“algae’s better than MAGA.”</a> 
The issues and negative publicity surrounding the iconic landmark have drawn Trump’s ire as he pushes to restore the site ahead of America’s 250th anniversary, describing vandals as <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/116790016615762850">“SICK, DERANGED PEOPLE!” </a>
At least six individuals have been arrested in connection with reflecting pool-related vandalism, <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/6-people-arrested-connection-alleged-vandalism-reflecting-pool-trump-s-rcna351409">according to NBC. </a>
“These landmarks and monuments belong to all of us, and they must be protected for generations to come,” Pirro said. “We will not allow our sacred monuments to be roped off, defaced, or diminished, or in any way impacted by disgruntled individuals.”
If convicted, Hearn faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.

REFLECTING POOL

The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool Case Just Took A Turn For An Ex-Olympian

Jeanine Pirro

Reflecting Pool

Washington D.C.

Police arrested a heavily armed transgender-identifying man who they said had a history of threatening mass violence after he parked a car loaded with firearms outside a Las Vegas-area casino.
Andrew Walsh of the Las Vegas Metro Police Department said Tuesday that law enforcement arrested 36-year-old “Allison” Howlett on Saturday on multiple charges, including “threats related to an act of terrorism.” 
Howlett was arrested outside of the Sunset Station Casino in Henderson after police received a phone call from his spouse claiming that he had stolen a vehicle full of weapons and had previously threatened “to commit suicide by cop and carry out a mass shooting.”
Howlett faces charges including gun theft, theft of a car, resisting an officer with a gun, and making a threat of terrorism or false information about an act of terrorism. During a Tuesday <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JUu4-95nBaw">briefing</a> on the case, officers played a recording of a person purported to be Howlett making threats of mass violence. 
“I swear to God, if the FBI doesn’t come f***ing arrest me, there’s gonna be a f***ing mass shooting,” a person reportedly identified as Howlett said in the recording. “There’s one day you’re gonna be pissing me the f*** off, and it’s gonna be the last f***ing straw.” 
Howlett has <a href="https://www.reviewjournal.com/crime/suspect-arrested-with-stockpile-of-weapons-at-sunset-station-faces-judge-3845342/?utm_campaign=widget&amp;utm_medium=section_row&amp;utm_source=homepage&amp;utm_term=Suspect%20arrested%20with%20stockpile%20of%20weapons%20at%20Sunset%20Station%20faces%20judge">denied</a> any accusations that he wanted to hurt anyone or made previous threats of mass violence. 
“Allison denied wanting to hurt anyone and denied making any prior threats to commit a mass shooting,” a police report obtained by the Las Vegas Review Journal said. “Allison stated that everyone is out to get her and are setting her up.”
Henderson Police Department Chief Reggie Rader said that Howlett was found in a vehicle outside the Sunset Station Casino on June 27 with music loudly blaring and refusing to leave the car. 
“The quick-thinking officers developed a plan to take her into custody as an opportunity arose when she reached for the water. Officers used that moment to gain control over her hands and remove her from the vehicle,” Rader said, using female pronouns for Howlett, who is listed as a male in booking records. 
Rader played footage showing several police officers surrounding the car and pulling Howlett out. Rader said that Howlett had been sitting on a handgun and had access to a fully automatic machine gun in the back seat of the vehicle. 
Investigators recovered 22 firearms and hundreds of rounds of ammunition, including multiple handguns and rifles, in the car. Later, they found an additional 30 firearms and thousands of rounds of ammunition at Howlett’s residence. 
A judge has set bail for Howlett at $500,000. A preliminary hearing date is set for July 15.

MixCollage-02-Jul-2026-10-56-AM-8045

Police Take Down Heavily Armed Transgender Suspect Outside Of Casino

Police Nab Well-Armed Transgender Suspect Outside Of Casino

Las Vegas

Nevada

Terrorism

Transgender

A 10-year-old Missouri boy has been charged with murder after allegedly fatally shooting a 7-month-old baby girl, while the infant&#8217;s 19-year-old father is also facing felony charges after police say he left the firearm accessible to children inside the home.
The shooting occurred shortly after 4 p.m. on June 26 at a residence in the 8400 block of North Broadway in St. Louis. According to the <a href="https://slmpd.org/infant-dies-in-baden-shooting/">St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department</a>, officers responded to reports of a shooting and found 7-month-old Kiyomi Parker suffering from a gunshot wound inside the home. Officers rushed the infant to a nearby hospital in a patrol SUV, but despite lifesaving efforts by officers and medical personnel, she died.
Homicide detectives and child abuse detectives launched a joint investigation, which police say determined that a 10-year-old boy was responsible for the shooting. The boy was taken into custody and has since been charged with first-degree murder in juvenile court. According to <a href="https://www.firstalert4.com/2026/06/28/father-7-month-old-killed-charged-with-2nd-degree-murder/">local reporting</a>, he is believed to be the youngest person ever charged with murder in Missouri.
Police have not publicly identified the child because he is a juvenile. Authorities also arrested the infant&#8217;s father, 19-year-old Ca&#8217;Marion Pawnell, after investigators determined the gun used in the shooting belonged to him.
Pawnell has been charged with one count of second-degree felony murder, one count of endangering the welfare of a child resulting in death, and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child creating a substantial risk.
<div id="attachment_1126935" style="width: 233px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1126935" class="size-medium wp-image-1126935" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/07/st-louis-19-year-old-132703961.jpg-223x300.webp" alt="" width="223" height="300" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/07/st-louis-19-year-old-132703961.jpg-223x300.webp 223w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/07/st-louis-19-year-old-132703961.jpg-429x576.webp 429w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/07/st-louis-19-year-old-132703961.jpg-768x1031.webp 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/07/st-louis-19-year-old-132703961.jpg-1144x1536.webp 1144w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/07/st-louis-19-year-old-132703961.jpg.webp 1525w" sizes=" (max-width: 223px) 100vw, 223px" />Ca&#8217;Marion Pawnell, 19.                      St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department</div>
According to court documents, witnesses told investigators that the 10-year-old picked up the gun and fired it while a 7-month-old child was also inside the home.
Investigators said the 10-year-old told police he knew the gun was hidden underneath a mattress in a bedroom, had been aware of its location for an extended period of time, and had previously removed and handled the weapon.
Court documents state that Pawnell admitted the firearm belonged to him and acknowledged that he had stored it beneath the mattress where the child described finding it.
Police have not publicly explained the relationship between Pawnell and the 10-year-old. Pawnell is being held without bond.
Prosecutors allege Pawnell&#8217;s decision to leave a loaded gun accessible to children contributed to his daughter&#8217;s death.
The investigation remains ongoing.

St. Louis Cityscapes And City Views

10-Year-Old Charged With Murder After Fatal Shooting Of Infant

Missouri

St. Louis

Eight alleged members of the Venezuelan prison gang Tren de Aragua have been charged in connection with heinous murders in the United States after crossing the border under the Biden administration, the Justice Department announced Wednesday during a press conference.
In one of the cases, five alleged TdA members, including a &#8220;high-ranking&#8221; one, kidnapped a man, his 13-year-old daughter, and 12-year-old nephew in the middle of the night on August 24, 2024, outside of Dallas, Ryan Raybould, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas, said. Prosecutors say the accused gang members zip-tied the victims&#8217; hands and demanded money from the man.
When the kidnappers realized the man couldn&#8217;t pay, they pulled the car over and took him to a nearby bridge, demanding that he jump off it, according to authorities.
The man refused to jump and tried to run before one of the alleged TdA members shot him &#8220;execution-style&#8221; in front of the children, Raybould said. The Farmers Branch Police Department found the man&#8217;s body on the side of the road with a gunshot wound between his eyes.
Three of the suspects are already in custody for other crimes, and one is being held in Colombia.
In a separate case in Chicago, three alleged gang members grabbed a man as he was walking near a park before shoving him into a car and taking him to a nearby apartment, Andrew S. Boutros, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, said.
The accused TdA members then tied the victim&#8217;s wrists behind his back, holding him against his will for three hours, Boutros said.
According to prosecutors, they later took the victim to an abandoned building, where they shot him multiple times in the head and body. The alleged killers then abandoned the victim&#8217;s lifeless body, leaving it face down in the bathtub of an abandoned unit.
The victim&#8217;s mother called police the next evening, asking for a wellness check at the abandoned building, Boutros said. She told officers that co-conspirators had informed her of his possible presence in the building.
When Chicago police entered the building, they found the man&#8217;s body with multiple gunshot wounds and his hands still bound behind his back.
One of the accused TdA members was out on bail in Chicago, authorities said.
The eight accused TdA members at the center of Wednesday&#8217;s announcement crossed the border between December 2021 and April 2024, when record numbers of illegal migrants were entering the United States, according to the Justice Department. During that time, TdA members exploited the chaos of the migrant influx and began embedding themselves among the large groups crossing the southern border illegally.
At the time, the Biden administration was instructing Border Patrol agents to process and then release illegal migrants quickly. As a result, the agents were unable to run thorough background checks on suspected TdA members.
The Venezuelan regime also refused to provide information on its citizens who crossed into the United States.
All the while, TdA gained a foothold in the United States, committing killings, including the murder of Georgia nursing student Laken Riley, orchestrating apartment takeovers in cities like Aurora, Colorado, and operating sex trafficking rings in New York City.
During Wednesday&#8217;s press conference, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche railed against the Biden administration, saying it was to blame for the killings.
&#8220;These violent crimes and murders happened because, under the Biden administration open border policies left our borders wide open, and hundreds of suspected and now convicted TdA terrorists poured through those borders and into our country,&#8221; Blanche said.
&#8220;Now, President Trump stopped this madness on January 20 of last year. That same day, President Trump designated TdA as a foreign terrorist organization. In the 18 months since January 20 &#8230; nearly 350 members and associates of TdA have been charged and/or convicted of horrific violent crime,&#8221; Blanche added.

Justice Department Announces Actions In Tren De Aragua Enforcement

Venezuelan Gang Members Let In By Biden Charged In Chilling Murder Cases

Department of Justice

Tren De Aragua

Unlicensed food trucks operating around the National Mall have become a growing safety, tax, and law enforcement problem — a problem exacerbated by Washington, D.C.&#8217;s soft-on-crime leadership.
Local legislators passed the Street Vendor Advancement Amendment Act in 2023, decriminalizing unlicensed street vending — including food trucks — which means that illegal vendors will now never face criminal prosecution for operating there without the proper permits and licenses. The problem has gotten so pervasive that U.S. Park Police told the <a href="https://washingtonian.com/2026/06/29/dc-food-truck-mafia-national-mall/">Washingtonian</a> that many of the illegal operations amount to organized crime.
The trucks, <a href="https://x.com/jsidman/status/2071551385548501311">often clustered</a> along Constitution Avenue near some of the country’s most visited museums and monuments, have been accused of blocking fire hydrants, operating without proper licensing, avoiding taxes, and creating fire and food-safety hazards.
Some of the trucks have been seen with unsecured propane tanks, gasoline spills, questionable generator setups, and no posted prices, according to the Washingtonian. In one case, the outlet said a small chocolate ice cream cone cost $16.50. The company listed on the receipt reportedly had no record with the D.C. Office of Tax and Revenue.
Officials said the problem is not just a handful of independent vendors breaking rules. Park Police said that “the majority of the illegal operations in the city are organized crime,” describing repeat offenders who replace one truck with another when enforcement removes a vehicle.
The illegal trucks have also created conflict with licensed food truck owners. One longtime legal vendor told the Washingtonian that some operators appeared to be selling food without proper refrigeration or ventilation, while another licensed truck owner said unlicensed vendors had blocked off spots and made the Mall difficult for rule-abiding operators.
In some cases, the issue has escalated to violence. Park Police said assaults around the Mall are often vendor-related, and some legal food truck owners told Washingtonian they avoid the area because unlicensed operators are aggressive and territorial. One vendor described a parking dispute in which another driver allegedly attacked him with a screwdriver near his eye.
Safety officials have also warned about the fire risk. The Washingtonian reported that a food truck caught fire in 2024 near the National Museum of African American History and Culture, critically injuring two people. In the last four years, the D.C. Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department has responded to 15 food truck fires in the city.
D.C. officials have issued hundreds of vending violations, but enforcement remains difficult because many trucks come from Virginia, leave before inspectors can act, or simply pay the fines and then return. Former and current officials told the Washingtonian that some operations appear to use multiple trucks, repeated addresses, shell companies, and coordinated lookouts to avoid enforcement.
The dispute is now moving to the City Council, where lawmakers are considering bills that would give civil officials more power to tow or seize vehicles and crack down on repeat offenders. One proposal would make unlicensed vending a misdemeanor again, while another would keep it decriminalized but give agencies more tools to target repeat violators.

Multi-ethnic customers buying from owner in food truck against building

DC’s Soft-On-Crime Leadership Enables Migrant Food Truck Mafia

Organized crime

Mexican authorities are searching for a mysterious vigilante dubbed the “Batman of Lagos de Moreno” after several suspected motorcycle thieves were found bound to lampposts. 
Jalisco State Security Secretary Juan Pablo Hernández said police discovered five men duct-taped to lampposts, the Sun <a href="https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/39573349/mysterious-vigilante-dubbed-mexican-batman/?utm_medium=Social&amp;utm_campaign=sunmainfacebook&amp;utm_source=Facebook&amp;fbclid=IwZnRzaASudWJleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEeiIbP4DqZXI8q8BNsNRknleGcA_Pj8VB7KO-s-u7O6uR2Sm1SeUV4YtUK7VE_aem_ub0H-0t9uOGDUmrB6uSqpg#Echobox=1782676251">reported</a>. Some were gagged or showed signs of being beaten. Several had pink signs placed above their heads detailing their alleged crimes, while others had mustaches, cat ears, or the word “ratero,” Spanish for &#8220;thief,&#8221; scribbled on them in marker. In some cases, stolen motorcycles were left beside them.
“In Jalisco, after the lack of help from the authorities, an anonymous hero started hunting down motorcycle thieves,” Mexican reporter Luis Cardenas said in his viral post. “So far, he&#8217;s already taken down five in ten days, and they call him the ‘Batman of Lagos de Moreno’.” 
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🚨 En Jalisco, tras la falta de ayuda por parte de las autoridades, un héroe anónimo empezó a cazar ladrones robamotos. Hasta el momento, ya lleva cinco en diez días y lo apodan el &#8216;Batman de Lagos de Moreno&#8217;. <a href="https://t.co/C1AJYqGIcO">pic.twitter.com/C1AJYqGIcO</a>
— LuisCardenasMX (@LuisCardenasMx) <a href="https://x.com/LuisCardenasMx/status/2069764950059372791?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 24, 2026</a><script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></blockquote>
Though no suspects have been arrested in connection with the incidents, officials said they are tracking two cars believed to be involved. Police are investigating the assaults on the bound men while also reviewing accusations that they were involved in motorcycle thefts.
Authorities have not said whether they believe a single person is acting alone or whether others may be involved. 
The unusual case has drawn attention as Mexico continues to fight organized crime, cartel violence, and to deal with police corruption.
Frustration with crime and distrust of law enforcement have fueled a rise in vigilantes in parts of Mexico. Earlier this year, armed women in the nearby state of Michocoán were reported patrolling their communities to protect residents from cartel violence. 
Motorcycle theft remains a recurring problem in the Altos Norte region of Jalisco, where Lagos de Moreno is located. The United States has <a href="https://travel.state.gov/en/international-travel/travel-advisories/mexico.html">issued</a> a Level 3 crime warning for the state of Jalisco, advising Americans to “reconsider travel” in the area.

Screenshot 2026-06-29 at 4.00.57 PM

Authorities Hunt ‘Mexican Batman’ After Vigilante Justice

Corruption

Mexico

Inmates overpowered correctional officers and seized control of a North Carolina jail Monday morning, holding two guards hostage for hours before state and federal law enforcement retook the facility in a dramatic operation that underscored growing concerns about security and staffing.
The incident began around 5 a.m. at the Bertie-Martin Regional Detention Center in Windsor, where 88 incarcerated people and just three correctional officers were inside the 90-bed facility when inmates assaulted staff and took control of portions of the jail.
According to Bertie County Sheriff Tyrone Ruffin, one correctional officer escaped while two others were taken hostage. Local deputies responded within minutes but were unable to enter the locked facility, forcing authorities to establish a perimeter as tactical teams and negotiators from dozens of local, state, and federal agencies converged on the jail.
Negotiations eventually secured the release of the two hostage correctional officers and most of the inmates before tactical teams entered the building. By approximately 2 p.m., agents from the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) and the FBI had regained full control of the facility.
Ruffin said in a <a href="https://www.wcnc.com/video/news/regional/ncsbi-to-investigate-inmate-takeover-of-nc-jail-bertie-county-sheriff/275-88b0aa3b-d598-42b7-9430-b96d8996a10b">press conference </a>the incident ended with &#8220;minimal injuries,&#8221; and authorities confirmed all correctional officers and inmates were accounted for. The injured guards received medical treatment, while inmates were transferred to secure detention facilities elsewhere in the state.
The sheriff cautioned that investigators are only beginning to determine exactly how the takeover unfolded.
&#8220;Now that the incident has concluded, the investigation into what occurred and how it happened is just beginning,&#8221; Ruffin said during the press conference. He added that investigators from both the SBI and the FBI will conduct interviews in the coming days and promised the public continued updates as the investigation progresses.
One question likely to receive significant scrutiny is staffing. At the time of the takeover, three correctional officers were supervising 88 inmates, including detainees facing charges ranging from low-level offenses to murder.
Ruffin declined to speculate on whether the staffing level complied with jail policy, noting that the Bertie-Martin Regional Detention Center operates independently of both the Bertie County and Martin County Sheriff&#8217;s Offices under a regional jail board.
&#8220;I&#8217;m not for sure about the officer-to-inmate ratio, and so I&#8217;m not sure if that is a common ratio or not,&#8221; Ruffin said. &#8220;Again, we will get those answers in the coming days and relate it to the public.&#8221;
Authorities have not yet said what sparked the uprising or whether investigators believe inmates planned the takeover in advance.
The operation drew assistance from the FBI, the SBI, State Highway Patrol, the Department of Adult Correction, Alcohol Law Enforcement, multiple SWAT teams, bomb squad personnel, and sheriff&#8217;s offices across eastern North Carolina.
North Carolina Democratic Gov. Josh Stein called for those responsible to be &#8220;held accountable for this horrifying action&#8221; while urging a review of jail security. 
&#8220;We also must do everything in our power to ensure this doesn&#8217;t happen again,&#8221; Stein <a href="https://x.com/NC_Governor/status/2071663240971538609">said</a>. 
The Bertie-Martin Regional Detention Center remains closed while investigators assess the damage inside the facility and continue what officials say could be a days-long investigation.

Jail

Inmates Take Over Jail, Hold Guards Hostage For Hours

A heated feud between Pastor Tony Spell and his neighbors turned violent as the pastor sought to defend his family and congregation.
Spell, who is the pastor at Life Tabernacle Church in Central, Louisiana, was arrested for second-degree battery against his neighbor’s son, Scott Sherwin, after an altercation outside his church. Spell has been released on a $25,000 bond, according to the East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
Louisiana pastor beats up a man who allegedly threatened to r*pe and kill his wife and grandchildren.
Pastor Tony Spell of Life Tabernacle Church says he was working on a church bus when the neighbor&#8217;s son started shouting at him.
Spell said that it is his job as the natural… <a href="https://t.co/v2ThlOEo3t">pic.twitter.com/v2ThlOEo3t</a>
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) <a href="https://x.com/CollinRugg/status/2069893607323320781?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 24, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The New York Post <a href="https://nypost.com/2026/06/25/us-news/louisiana-pastor-allegedly-assaulted-neighbor-who-threatened-to-rape-and-kill-wife/">reported</a> that Spell gave Sherwin a total of 35 punches. Sherwin’s father said his son had to receive five stitches to his chin after the incident. Released footage of the incident appears to show Spell confronting the younger man. 
Speaking at a news conference about the altercation, Spell claimed that Sherwin threatened to sexually assault and kill his family, WAFB <a href="https://www.wafb.com/2026/06/25/centrals-police-chief-denies-pastor-spells-claims-that-law-enforcement-failed-keep-peace/">reported</a>.  
“While this individual is walking up and down the shoulder of the road, he&#8217;s shouting vulgarities, profanities, and very nasty words towards my person, or myself,” Spell <a href="https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?ref=watch_permalink&amp;v=1341020884663588">recalled</a>. “And while I&#8217;m working on this particular bus, he said, Tony, I&#8217;m quoting him. He said, &#8216;Tony, I&#8217;m gonna rape your wife. I&#8217;m gonna rape all of your grandchildren.’ And he said, ‘The next time you go out of town, I&#8217;m going to kill them. And what the f*ck are you going to do about it?&#8217;” 
“Number one, I’m a husband, number two, I’m a father, and number three, I’m a pastor who shepherds his flock,” he added. “I will not allow a man to murder my children when I’m gone.”
Spell also <a href="https://www.wafb.com/2026/06/24/family-releases-new-video-fight-involving-pastor-tony-spell/">claimed</a> that the Sherwin family has thrown vulgarities at his congregation, which is racially diverse and made up of vulnerable individuals, including people recovering from addiction.
“[My congregation is] constantly stalked by these individuals across the street. They are constantly intimidated with threats of bodily harm,” Spell said. “There&#8217;s not a person that&#8217;s come to this church that&#8217;s standing behind me in this meeting today who hasn&#8217;t been called the racial slur of the N word. Their children have been screamed at and shouted at with vulgarities.” 
Spell appeared to make light of his actions to his congregation during a sermon by referencing Mark 16:18 from the Bible, <a href="https://www.wafb.com/2026/06/24/i-fulfilled-scripture-i-laid-hands-sick-pastor-tony-spell-confessed-his-congregation/">WAFB reported</a>.
“‘In my name, they shall lay hands on the sick. And they shall recover,’” he said. “So today, I fulfilled the Scripture. I laid hands on the sick. I don’t know how much recovery they’re going to have, but I laid hands on the sick.”
Spell’s lawyer, Jeff Wittenbrink, criticized the local police for negligence, stating that Spell had reported harassment multiple times previously and was ignored by the local authorities.
“There’s certainly a failure of laws and enforcers to keep the peace,” Wittenbrink said.
Corcoran disputed the claim that police failed to act on the Spells&#8217; complaints. “Our records reflect only 5 incidents involving Pastor or Mrs. Spell in the past 4 years, and only one of those involved a complaint against their neighbors,” Corcoran said in a statement. 
Corcoran has offered to investigate any failure by his department to respond to a complaint if Spell can provide the dates and times of the alleged unaddressed complaints.
Bad blood has reportedly existed between Spell and the Sherwin family for half a decade. Spell was ticketed for holding church services in person in violation of COVID-19 restrictions, the New York Post <a href="https://nypost.com/2020/11/19/louisiana-pastor-charged-for-coronavirus-violation-seeks-relief/">reported</a>. 
The Sherwin family allegedly set up surveillance cameras to monitor Spell and his violations of COVID protocol, prompting the pastor to sue the family.

Pastor At Life Tabernacle Church In Baton Rouge Holds Easter Service Amid Coronavirus Pandemic

The Sick Threats A Pastor Says Forced Him To Turn Violent

Louisiana

Pastor

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