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Not-guilty pleas in deadly crash

VAN NUYS -- Two men pleaded not guilty Wednesday to murder and reckless driving charges stemming from an alleged road-rage crash in Reseda that killed a 5-year-old boy and critically injured his mother and 2-month-old sister.

Brian Gilbert Barnes, 44, of Northridge, and Armando Gamboa Ayon, 19, of Pacoima, were driving on West Sherman Way, between Balboa Boulevard and Louise Avenue, on Oct. 9 when they got into a dispute, according to Los Angeles police.

Ayon subsequently lost control of his sedan, which plowed into the rear of a parked car, knocking it into a second parked car, authorities said.

Syeda Arifa Arif and her children were between the two parked cars and were crushed in the crash, said Los Angeles Police Department Officer Jason Lee.

The 31-year-old mother and her infant, Ikra Arif, were critically injured, and her son, Ayman Arif, died of his injuries the following day.

-- City News Service

'Mickey Mouse Bandit' sought

A man dubbed the "Mickey Mouse Bandit," suspected in a series of San Fernando Valley bank heists, got away with $12,000 during the takeover robbery of a San Marino bank, authorities said Wednesday.

The suspect is wanted in connection with a robbery spree that began in January and involved banks in Woodland Hills, Encino, North Hollywood and Long Beach, officials said.

He is described as a Latino in his late 20s to early 30s, 5-foot-6 to 5-foot-8 and weighing 130 pounds. He was wearing a T-shirt, jeans and a black cap with a Mickey Mouse logo on it.

-- Daily News

Investor suspect in loan scheme

SAN FERNANDO -- James Anthony Rojas' attempts to cash in on the foreclosure market ran him afoul of the law, police said Wednesday.

The 50-year-old investor will appear in court Monday on charges stemming from his Sept. 28 arrest by the San Fernando Police Department on suspicion of forgery.

Investigators suspect Rojas, using the business name Victoria Holdings, found people facing foreclosure on their homes, used bogus documents to get them to sign their deeds over to him and then used their homes to secure loans.

Detectives believe the scheme dates back at least four years, affecting more than 15 people in the San Fernando and Santa Clarita valleys.

Rojas, who's accused of using the alias Jose Hernandez and the business name Tri-Star Investment Co., was given probation four years ago in a grand theft case.

Anyone with information about the case can call the San Fernando Police Department at [phone].

-- Daily News

Diamond dealer robbed of jewels

VALLEY VILLAGE -- A diamond dealer was robbed of a bag of jewels in the parking lot of a Gelson's in Valley Village, police said Wednesday.

The holdup outside the store at 4738 Laurel Canyon Blvd. occurred about 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, said Los Angeles police Sgt. Ben Alonso of the North Hollywood Station.

The getaway car was described only as a black or blue four-door auto.

-- City News Service

Robber hunted in home invasion

ARLETA -- At least one person was being sought Wednesday in a home-invasion robbery in which the culprits made off with three pistols, authorities said.

The robbery in the 9300 block of Dorrington Place, near Terra Bella Street, occurred about 9:30 p.m. Tuesday, said LAPD Sgt. Mike Baloud of the Foothill Station.

-- City News Service

Hacker, 911 call imperiled family

SANTA ANA -- Police mistakenly stormed the home of an unsuspecting couple and their children after a teen hacked into the county's 911 system and placed a bogus emergency call, authorities said Wednesday.

The Washington teen impersonated a caller from the family's Lake Forest home shortly before midnight on March 29, saying he'd killed someone in the house and threatened to shoot others, authorities said.

The teen, identified as Randall Ellis, 19, of Mukilteo, Wash., was arrested Friday and expected to arrive in Orange County this week after waiving extradition, according to the District Attorney's Office.

-- Associated Press