Crime & Arrests

A protester was killed by a security guard Saturday and now the guard has been arrested.

It went down in Denver, where there were 2 rallies going on at the same time ... a patriots rally and a Black Lives Matter rally. A guy wearing a "Black Guns Matter" t-shirt began arguing with several men, including the man in the camo bucket hat who ended up getting shot.

You see the argument get heated as the man in the camo hat walks out of frame. He encounters a security guard and according to reports, the guy may have maced the guard. That's when you hear a shot and see the man in the hat go down. He later died at a hospital.

It appears the victim was part of the Patriot's group. His t-shirt read, "BLM You're f***ing Right Bikers Lives Matter."

Turns out the guard works for a company that was hired by a local TV station that had been using security to protect its reporters who were covering the various protests.

The Archbishop of New Orleans is outraged that a priest allegedly had sex inside a church, so he's doing an exorcism of sorts by having the altar removed and burned!!!

Archbishop Gregory Aymond called the act "demonic." As for how it went down ... someone called the cops after allegedly seeing the priest at the Saints Peter and Paul Roman Catholic Church, saying they saw the man of the cloth with 2 high-heeled women wearing corsets. He was dressed in his priestly issue ... well, only partially. The witness shot video of the encounter and went to cops.

The priest and the 2 women were arrested for allegedly violating an obscenity law that prohibits people from having sex in public view. What's bizarre here ... the only way the witness could have seen it was to peer through the windows.

Earl Thomas and his wife have clearly moved on from their wild April incident ... the NFL superstar just wished her a happy birthday by penning a mushy love note.

Earl and his wife, Nina, were involved in a crazy incident back on April 13 ... one in which Nina was accused of holding the ex-Ravens safety at gunpoint.

The story was insane ... cops say Nina admitted to aiming a loaded gun at the football player's head after she allegedly caught him cheating.

Nina was eventually arrested ... and her case is still playing out in the court system.

But, seems all has been forgiven in the Thomas household ... 'cause the 3-time All-Pro gushed about Nina in a social media post Friday for her 31st birthday.

"Just want to take the time to wish the woman who I can talk to in the middle of the night ... who has accepted who i am through it all and has helped me grow in so many ways," Earl wrote.

"I hope you enjoy what I’ve planned for you bae.... 31 is going to be your best year yet ... I love you wife.. HAPPY 31st Mrs Thomas."

Of course, 31-year-old Earl gave plenty of indications he had been working toward this since the arrest.

Shortly before we broke the story in May, Thomas said he and Nina were "back talking." And, just a few days later, Earl shared a diamond pendant he had received from Nina for his birthday.

For her part, Nina shared her own birthday message Friday about personal growth ... writing on social media, "Happy birthday to me."

"A new year of life to grow, be challenged, succeed & fail but get right back up again, to love & be loved, to healing & breaking generational curses, to be vulnerable & also strong, to be wise yet still give myself grace when I make mistakes, to living in my truth and being unapologetically me."

A Sheriff in Michigan not only shared a stage with one of the men arrested for allegedly trying to kidnap and possibly kill Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer ... he says the 13 alleged extremists wanted what lots of people wanted ... Whitmer arrested.

Barry County Sheriff Dar Leaf has a connection with William Null -- they were on the same stage at a Grand Rapids rally in May protesting Governor Whitmer's stay-at-home order -- and he says he has no regrets about being on the same platform as the man charged in a kidnapping plot.

Sheriff Leaf says he was "shocked" by the arrest and says he "did not see this coming" with Null ... according to an interview he did with FOX 17 in West Michigan.

Leaf is downplaying the arrest, saying "it's just a charge." The Sheriff claims the men might not have been trying to kidnap Governor Whitmer, and instead might have been trying to arrest her for a felony ... presumably her hardline on COVID regs.

Governor Whitmer called the 13 people arrested in the plot "sick and depraved," but Sheriff Leaf insists the Null brothers are nice and respectful ... and he says lots of people in his state are angry with the Governor and want her handcuffed and taken away.

Meanwhile, the Null brothers are being held on $250,000 bail and could face up to 22 years in prison if convicted.

Ex-NFL quarterback Ryan Leaf has been charged with 2 misdemeanors stemming from an alleged domestic violence incident back in May, TMZ Sports has learned.

We broke the story ... the QB was arrested for misdemeanor domestic battery in Palm Springs, CA on May 22.

Details about the specific allegations are still unclear -- but what is clear, prosecutors believe Leaf committed a crime that day.

According to court records, prosecutors are moving forward with 2 charges against Leaf -- 1 count of misdemeanor battery and 1 count of violating the personal liberty of the accuser ... aka false imprisonment (also a misdemeanor).

Both charges carry a maximum 1-year jail sentence.

44-year-old Leaf was listed on his booking sheet as 6'6", 250 pounds with brown hair and blue eyes.

Of course, Leaf was the #2 overall pick in the 1998 NFL Draft -- but his career flamed out fast and his life fell apart soon after.

Leaf has been arrested multiple times for things like drug possession and burglary ... but he had sobered up and became a program ambassador for an organization that runs sober houses in multiple cities including L.A. and N.Y.

Before the arrest, Leaf had been covering college football for ESPN.

Derek Chauvin -- the ex-cop accused of murdering George Floyd -- is now allowed to leave the state of Minnesota as he awaits trial ... after a judge ruled there are concerns over his safety.

The Hennepin County judge changed the conditions of Chauvin's bond Thursday, a day after he was released after posting $1 million. The former Minneapolis police officer can now reside in Minnesota OR a bordering state pending trial.

The decision came after the Department of Corrections provided evidence supporting safety concerns for Chauvin ... according to the judge's order.

Chauvin must report his new address to law enforcement and will remain under normal supervision as he awaits his murder trial ... which is scheduled for March.

Chauvin is required to obtain a cell phone and keep it on him at all times and answer all calls from the Minnesota Dept. of Corrections.

As for which states are contiguous to Minnesota -- North and South Dakota, Iowa and Wisconsin.

As we've reported ... Chauvin is facing charges of 2nd-degree after leaving his knee on Floyd's neck for 8 minutes and 46 seconds back on May 25.

Ex-WWE champion Alberto Del Rio has been charged with 4 counts of sexual assault and 1 count of aggravated kidnapping stemming from a May incident with his ex-GF, officials announced.

Alberto -- real name Jose Rodriguez Chucuan -- was arrested in San Antonio, Texas in early May after his ex-GF told cops the pro wrestler went into a rage after accusing her of cheating on him.

If convicted, all 5 counts carry serious penalties. Felony aggravated assault carries a maximum sentence of 99 years in prison. The sexual assault charges carry a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. So, a conviction could put Del Rio away for a very long time.

The accuser -- who cops say only speaks Spanish -- claimed Del Rio smashed her cell phone, her laptop and attempted to burn her passport in an attack that started at around 10 PM on May 3 and lasted until around 2:30 PM on May 4.

The woman also claims Del Rio attacked her, causing multiple injuries and left her, "feeling woozy and dizzy from the hits to her head."

There's more ... the accuser also claims Del Rio choked her and at one point "shoved a sock into her mouth, to keep [her] quiet."

The woman says, "When the sock was in her mouth, she could not breathe."

During the incident, the woman claims Del Rio also sexually assaulted her with his penis and other body parts. The woman is adamant she did NOT consent to sexual activity with Del Rio.

The responding officer reported he saw "multiple bruises" on the accuser's face, arms, legs and neck.

43-year-old Del Rio is listed at 6'4", 240 pounds.

Kyle Rittenhouse appeared in court as his lawyers continue fighting efforts to extradite him to Wisconsin to stand trial as an adult.

The 17-year-old arrested in the killing of 2 people during the protests over the shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, WI was briefly back in court Friday morning, where his lawyers are fighting to keep him in his home state of Illinois ... as opposed to sending him back to Wisconsin.

Rittenhouse's legal team stated this case is a "very unique, extraordinary situation," and argued there are issues with the extradition paperwork by prosecutors that suggest "this is a political prosecution."

The defense lawyers have also argued extradition would violate Rittenhouse's constitutional rights and "turn him over to the mob" ... and claim his life would be in danger if he's jailed with adults in Wisconsin.

Prosecutors accused the defense of intentionally delaying the case, but the judge did grant Rittenhouse's attorneys more time before a decision is made on extradition. There will be another hearing later this month.

The Antioch, IL teenager is accused of killing 2 people and wounding a third on August 25. He's been charged with first-degree intentional homicide and first-degree reckless homicide. If convicted, he's looking at a mandatory life sentence.

As we reported ... Rittenhouse traveled roughly 21 miles from Antioch to Kenosha -- armed with a semi-automatic rifle -- to join armed vigilantes taking on rioters. Video showed him running on the street with his gun while witnesses told cops he shot someone.

After falling to the ground and appearing to be accosted by others, cops say he opened fire ... killing two people and injuring another.

Tory Lanez has been charged in connection with the shooting involving Megan Thee Stallion ... just weeks after the singer released an album claiming his innocence.

The L.A. County D.A.'s Office hit him with one count of assault with a semiautomatic firearm, and one count of carrying a loaded, unregistered firearm in a vehicle. The D.A. also alleges Tory inflicted great bodily injury.

If convicted, the rapper/singer faces up to 22 years and 8 months in prison.

As we reported ... the prosecutors had said they were mulling over a charge of felony assault with a firearm against Tory after Megan said she was shot back in July. Remember, Tory had been arrested but only charged with possession of a firearm. Prosecutors are now explicitly pointing the finger at Tory as the man who pulled the trigger ... leaving Meg with a gruesome foot injury.

It took Meg some time before she went public and accused Tory by name as the person who shot her. She didn't mince words saying ... "Yes, this n***a Tory shot me. You shot me, and you got your publicist and your people to these blogs lying and s**t, stop lying!"

As we reported, sources connected to Tory say there were mitigating circumstances -- and based on what we know ... we believe Tory's going to say it was an accidental shooting. Megan didn't help the D.A.'s effort with a social media caption -- which has since been deleted -- that said she had her back to the SUV when she was shot in the heel. That might indicate she didn't see it with her own eyes when Tory allegedly pulled the trigger.

You'll recall ... video of the incident showed cops pulling over the SUV in the Hollywood Hills -- with Tory lying face-down on the pavement and Megan gingerly tip-toeing ... leaving bloody footprints with each painful step.

WNBA legend Cappie Pondexter has been arrested in Los Angeles and is NOT missing ... TMZ Sports has learned.

The LAPD tells us the 37-year-old was taken into custody Tuesday and booked on a misdemeanor battery charge.

We're told Pondexter refused to ID herself to cops so she was booked as "Jane Doe" ... and was held in jail until she was released earlier Thursday.

Now, multiple law enforcement officials tell us the woman has been identified as Pondexter.

Details of the alleged incident are unclear ... we're working on it.

Pondexter -- a 2-time WNBA champ -- was thought to have been missing ... after those close to her said she hadn't been heard from since Monday.

In fact, the WNBPA released a statement Thursday saying, "We are sharing this out of concern for our fellow WNBPA sister, Cappie Pondexter."

"If you have any information, please contact authorities. Please help us spread the word and ensure that she is safe."

Cappie is a hoops legend ... and played for the Phoenix Mercury, New York Liberty, Chicago Sky, L.A. Sparks, Indiana Fever and several international teams.

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer just made a stunning revelation ... 13 members of 2 militia groups have been arrested for hatching a plot to kidnap and possibly kill her.

The Governor, who has been sharply critical of Donald Trump, said the FBI investigated and made the arrests.

She blames Trump for setting a violent tone that encourages right-wing groups to resort to violence.

Trump has gone after Governor Whitmer, sometimes not even referring to her by name but rather as "that woman." The 2 got into it over Trump's response to the coronavirus.

As you know ... Trump urged his supporters to "liberate" Michigan and a gaggle of his supporters showed up with guns at the State Capitol to make their point.

A Long Island mother apparently missed a memo from M.A.D.D. ... she got busted for DWI after a terrifying crash -- captured on camera -- with her 3 young children in her vehicle.

Ashley Thomas-Smith lost control of her Lincoln Navigator, and home surveillance cameras caught the moment she careened through a front yard, nearly flipping the SUV on its side. She then crashed into a home Sunday afternoon and demolished the kitchen.

Check out the video ... you can hear the tires screeching and, sadly, the screams of frightened children. Fortunately, the kids suffered no injuries and were released to their father. Thomas-Smith was arrested for DWI and endangering the welfare of a child.

The homeowner, Angelica Reyes, told WCBS TV the crash could have been much, much worse had they been home at the time, because she and her family, including a 2-month-old baby, spend a lot of time in the kitchen.

The man who got sucker punched for playing "F*** Donald Trump" says he now fears for his life, thanks to constant online threats from people backing the President.

Dan Schochler is the 20-year-old who got decked by a Trump supporter Saturday at a gas station in Denton, TX. Police showed up and Jason Lata was later arrested for the incident.

Dan's attorney, Loren Klitsas, and his friend, Ryan King -- who was with him at the protest -- tell TMZ ... the threats are coming on multiple social media platforms and include warnings to all 3 men to watch their backs.

Klitsas tells us Dan and Ryan are both scared, and not looking for this kind of trouble. He says they went to the Trump rally Saturday to peacefully protest ... and the video speaks for itself. They're turning over all threats to Denton PD.

We're told the punch from Lata resulted in broken teeth for Dan, face abrasions, and a possible concussion. His lawyer says his condition is worsening even after being treated at the hospital -- and both Dan and Ryan are seeking counseling to cope with trauma.

As we reported ... Lata was arrested hours after the incident for assault causing bodily injury.

Ricky Schroder is looking out for the L.A. County Sheriff's deputies who were ambushed by a gunman in Compton ... sending them a donation with special meaning.

Sources close to the 'NYPD Blue' star tell TMZ ... Ricky donated $11,111 to the two deputies who were shot last month at point-blank range. We're told the actor was one of the first people to donate, and he wanted to send the funds directly to the deputies.

Our sources also say Ricky chipped in another $25,000 to boost the reward for the shooting suspect.

As we reported ... LASD identified the man who allegedly opened fire on 2 deputies sitting in a cop car, and now he's charged with attempted murder.

Ricky's got a special appreciation for law enforcement ... he feels society would crumble without the folks who enforce the law.

As for the $11,111 donation, we're told a Gold Star Mom once told Ricky it's a "divine number" representing new beginnings. Gold Star families are those who've had loved ones die while fighting in the U.S. Armed Forces.

KC Chiefs cornerback Bashaud Breeland just agreed to plead guilty to 2 charges stemming from his terrifying altercation with a cop back in April ... and TMZ Sports has learned he'll likely receive nothing more than a slap on the wrist as punishment.

Breeland was stopped at around 11 AM on April 28 after an officer said he saw the 28-year-old smoking weed with two other men at a York County, SC gas station.

In police documents, the cop claimed when he tried to detain Breeland ... the NFL player became combative. In video of the incident, obtained by TMZ Sports, you can see what happened next was horrifying.

Breeland argued with the officer repeatedly, and at one point, stared down the cop's gun barrel as the officer tried to get the football player to comply.

Fortunately, Breeland ultimately gave up and was arrested without harm. He was eventually hit with several charges, including resisting arrest.

But, prosecutors said Friday they just cut a deal with Breeland ... in which the defensive back agreed to plead guilty to public disorderly conduct and possession of 28g or less of marijuana first offense.

In exchange, prosecutors said they agreed to drop his driving with an open container of alcohol charge, as well as his resisting arrest and driving without a license charges.

As for the punishment part of the deal ... court documents show Breeland agreed to a 30-day suspended jail sentence and $200 in fines.

"This was a relatively minor situation that could have turned into a serious incident," law enforcement officials said in a statement. "Failing to comply with law enforcement’s instructions too often leads to tragic results."

"I appreciate Mr. Breeland’s recognition of this fact and acceptance of responsibility for his actions. Compliance is the best way to avoid a dangerous escalation of routine encounters with the police."

A rep for Breeland added in a statement, "We are pleased to have come to a fair and swift resolution in this case. Mr. Breeland looks forward to putting this entire ordeal behind him."

"We appreciate the York County prosecutor's cooperation and professionalism throughout this process. This case is a prime example of how a person is best served by allowing these matters to be litigated in a court of law, rather than roadside during an arrest."

Breeland -- who recorded an interception in the Chiefs' Super Bowl win last February -- has been serving a four-game suspension to start this season over a failed drug test that happened before his arrest.

A Black woman arrested by an Aurora, CO police officer was cuffed, hogtied and thrown in a patrol car ... where she rode upside down, begging for help for 20 minutes, as she feared she would die.

The disturbing video shows 28-year-old Shataean Kelly being arrested on Aug. 27, 2019 on charges resulting from a fight. After Officer Levi Huffine cuffs her and puts her in the back of the patrol car, he claims she tried to escape by grabbing the door handles. Huffine then decides, "I'm going to hobble her" ... tying her handcuffed hands to her feet ... also known as hogtying.

While on the backseat, Kelly unloaded insult after insult on the cop, clearly feeling she should not have been arrested. But, the situation turned much scarier for her when she slipped off the backseat headfirst onto the floor with her legs up in the air.

Almost immediately she started pleading for her life, fearing she might break her neck or her arms ... or suffocate. At one point she sadly whimpered, "This is some slavery s**t," and "How many times I gotta beg you master?"

Aurora PD is releasing the footage because Huffine was fired in February over the incident, and is appealing his termination.

Aurora Police Chief Vanessa Wilson points out that the backseat door handles are inoperable and she believes Huffine was "punishing" Kelly.

Chief Wilson says she believes this was a form of torture by the officer, and adds he's lucky Kelly didn't die of asphyxiation, "Because he would be -- in my opinion -- in an orange jumpsuit right now" if she had.

Despite Kelly repeatedly screaming, "Please don't let me die back here" ... Huffine never replied or stopped the vehicle to move her into a safer position. Kelly at one point is heard saying, "I never felt so much racism in my life."

All criminal charges against Kelly were eventually dropped, and Huffine's termination appeal is under review.

It should be noted ... this incident occurred just 3 days after the Elijah McClain incident in Aurora on Aug. 24, 2019, during which he was allegedly placed in a chokehold by police and sedated by paramedics.