The Downey Patriot

08/20/2026

MISSING TEEN: A 16-year-old girl from Aliso Viejo has been reported missing, and her mother believes she was recently in Downey.

Leyla Carlson, 16, has been missing since Monday afternoon, according to her mother, Diane Carlson, who said she filed a missing-person report with the Orange County Sheriff’s Department.

Carlson said information she obtained led her to an address in Downey where Leyla was reportedly staying with people she had recently met through social media. According to Carlson, people at the location told Downey police that Leyla had been there but left before her mother arrived.

Her current whereabouts are unknown.

Anyone who has seen Leyla or has information about her whereabouts is urged to contact law enforcement. Her mother can also be reached at 949-312-0494.

This is a developing situation. Information regarding the circumstances of Leyla’s disappearance has been provided by her mother and has not been independently verified.

08/20/2026

A controversial 145-unit townhome project proposed for the former Honda World service center site will get another hearing after the Downey Planning Commission voted 3-0 Wednesday to reconsider its previous denial.

Commissioners Carrie Uva, Elias Saikaly and Gil Legaspi supported reopening the project after receiving additional information, including legal considerations. Commissioner Hector Lujan was absent, while Mario Guerra recused himself.

Guerra said the commission had received litigation threats from Honda World and the developer following last month’s unanimous 5-0 rejection. He said he continues to believe the project is too dense, does not fit the surrounding neighborhood and places some three-story buildings too close to existing homes.

The proposal calls for 145 townhomes on 6.15 acres at 11136 Dollison Drive.

The project will return to the Planning Commission for a new public hearing Sept. 16.

08/20/2026

CRIME REPORT

On 08/10/2026, Homeless Outreach officers assisted Code Enforcement with a homeless outreach and encampment enforcement throughout the City.

On 08/10/2026, during a street takeover, we received a call of an alarm at Autozone. CCTV video captured approximately 20 people ransacking the store. Officers responded and detained four adults inside Autozone. All four suspects were arrested for 459 PC. The Spirit Halloween Store was also burglarized; however, no suspects were located. Detectives are investigating.

On 08/09/2026, a suspect (M/H/32/ Transient) went to Ralphs and started taking food and beverage items. The victim-store manager confronted the suspect to stop him from stealing the items. The suspect brandished a wrench and threatened to use it against the store manager. The suspect fled on foot with approx. $150 of stolen items. Officers detained the suspect and located the weapon and stolen items. The suspect was arrested.

On 08/08/2026 officers conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle.The driver fled on foot from officers. Officers pursued the driver on foot and took him into custody. A records check of the vehicle revealed it was stolen, and two fi****ms were recovered in the vehicle.

08/20/2026

08/19/2026

A vacant 2.64-acre property along Woodruff Avenue could be consolidated from 24 separate parcels into a single lot under a proposal before the Downey Planning Commission.

The property at 12850 Woodruff Ave., just north of the 105 Freeway, consists of remnant parcels created by Caltrans during construction of the Century Freeway. Most are landlocked and lack direct street access.

No development is currently proposed. The consolidation would create one developable parcel, but any future project would require a separate city review.

The site was previously proposed for a 28-unit townhome development, but city staff said that application has been formally withdrawn.

Planning staff is recommending approval of the parcel consolidation.

08/17/2026

A SuperLotto Plus ticket sold at Stater Bros. supermarket in Downey matched five of six numbers in Saturday night’s drawing, earning its holder a $14,756 prize.

The Downey ticket was one of three statewide to match all five regular numbers while missing the Mega number, according to the California Lottery. The other winning tickets were sold at a liquor store in San Diego and a market in Salinas.

Saturday’s winning numbers were 6, 8, 17, 18 and 31, with Mega number 19.

No ticket matched all six numbers, causing the estimated jackpot for Wednesday’s drawing to climb to $47 million. Saturday’s jackpot was $46 million.

The drawing marked the 40th consecutive SuperLotto Plus drawing without a jackpot winner.

The odds of matching all five numbers plus the Mega number are 1 in 41,416,353, according to the California Lottery.

08/13/2026

Downey police used drones 29 times in 2025 and deployed the department’s BearCat armored rescue vehicle six times, according to an annual report approved by the City Council.

The council renewed the Police Department’s military equipment policy, which governs equipment classified as “military equipment” under state law. That category includes drones, armored vehicles, specialized fi****ms, less-lethal launchers, flash-bang devices and chemical agents.

Police said drones were used for burglary and robbery investigations, searches for missing people, domestic violence cases, traffic incidents and protests. The BearCat was deployed primarily during SWAT warrant operations.

State law requires law enforcement agencies to receive approval from their governing bodies to acquire and use certain types of equipment and to report annually on how it was used.

08/12/2026

Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn crowned longtime staff member Ivan Sulic “King of Downey Pride” during the city’s sixth annual LGBTQ+ Pride celebration Saturday in Downtown Downey.

Sulic serves as a senior deputy for Hahn in Downey and surrounding communities and also works as her homeless and housing deputy.

Downey Pride has been sponsored by Hahn’s office since its inception and is organized by the Los Angeles Centers for Alcohol and Drug Abuse in collaboration with local leaders, including Councilmember Mario Trujillo.

“I can’t think of anyone more deserving of a recognition as special as this one,” Hahn said. “Ivan represents the very best of public service. He brings heart and compassion to every role he serves, lifting up others and making people feel like they belong. Those are the values Pride celebrates, and those are the values that make us stronger.”

Sulic has worked for Hahn since 2011, when she was first elected to Congress. In his current role, he has worked on issues including LGBTQ+ resources, housing and environmental conservation.

He was also instrumental in establishing the Whittier LGBTQ+ Community Center, which provides medical care, mental health services, workforce development and other resources.

“I am deeply honored to be crowned Downey Pride King,” Sulic said. “This recognition is about so much more than me, it is a celebration of the incredible LGBTQ+ community, our allies, and everyone who has worked tirelessly to make Downey a place where all people are welcomed, valued, and celebrated.”

08/11/2026

A 60-year-old man fatally shot by police after officers discovered two people shot to death in Downey has been identified as Javier Ordonez, according to the Los Angeles County medical examiner.

Police responded around 7:50 a.m. Saturday to reports of gunfire in the 11800 block of Downey Avenue, near De Palma Street. Officers found a man suffering from a gunshot wound and later located a woman who had also been shot. Both were pronounced dead at the scene.

While officers were investigating, sheriff’s officials said they were confronted by an armed man and an officer-involved shooting occurred. Ordonez was pronounced dead at the scene. No officers were injured.

Los Angeles County sheriff’s homicide detectives are assisting with the investigation. Detective Lt. German Ochoa told City News Service the incident appeared to involve domestic violence and that all three people were members of the same family.

08/11/2026

Sophia Schades said she was changing at the Nordstrom at Cerritos Mall when she noticed a camera concealed inside a black shirt on the floor of a neighboring dressing room.