Latest news with #AndrewWillis
Yahoo
12 hours ago
- Yahoo
Spokane police officers who shot and killed man following an arson determined justified
Jun. 27—Two Spokane police officers who shot and killed a man after an arson in 2024 were found justified in their actions Friday by the Spokane County Prosecutor's Office. Alan Jenks, 38, was seen leaving a house fire at 1820 W. Dean Ave. in West Central in March 2024. First responders had pulled multiple people from the home and were investigating the blaze as an arson. Officers Brandon Roy and Andrew Willis went to speak to Jenks as he stood on the sidewalk near the home. Officers were in the process of detaining him to further investigate an outstanding warrant when he fired a gun from inside his sweatshirt pocket, a news release from the prosecutor's office said. Officers pushed themselves away from Jenks and returned gunfire, the release said. He died at the scene. Toxicology testing showed Jenks had multiple controlled substances in his system at the time of his death, according to the release. Because the officers were found justified in their use of deadly force, they will not face criminal charges.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Yahoo
‘Shame on you': California hotel under fire for attempting to privatize beach
A historic hotel in the upscale coastal community of Laguna Beach is facing scrutiny for attempting to create a private beach area for its guests in apparent violation of California state law. Hotel Laguna, a landmark along the Pacific Coast Highway for over a century, is accused of violating California's long-standing Coastal Act by constructing a sand berm and placing signage and lounge chairs on a public stretch of sand, SFGATE reported Wednesday. Social media platforms have been abuzz with images and videos in recent weeks showing a raised sand barrier to protect the protected area, groomed and furnished with lounge chairs bearing the hotel's name. One video allegedly showed hotel staff asking members of the public to leave the cordoned-off area. Andrew Willis, enforcement staff counsel for the California Coastal Commission, told SFGATE that the agency has received numerous complaints about the situation. The commission says Hotel Laguna's efforts are a clear violation of the California Coastal Act, a 1976 law safeguarding public access to the state's beaches. In a letter of violation sent to the hotel on May 8, the commission stated that the berm and signage 'unlawfully discourage public access to public trust lands,' SFGATE reported. Although some sections of California's beaches and coastal bluffs are privately owned, the state retains ownership of all land seaward of the mean high tide line. Under the California Coastal Act, the public has the right to access the wet sand, meaning property owners cannot legally block access to the shoreline, even if they own the adjacent dry sand. The backlash has spilled onto the hotel's Instagram page, where numerous commenters have voiced their disapproval on older posts. Among them: 'Shame on you for stealing public resources.' 'Y'all don't own any part of the California beach.' 'The richies in OC always act like the rules don't apply to them.' 'Stop calling dibs on what's not yours.' Hotel Laguna did not respond to SFGATE's request for comment. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
