Crime & Arrests

Rex Heuermann -- the suspected Gilgo Beach serial killer -- will be hit with a new charge tied to his murder case ... TMZ has confirmed

Sources with direct knowledge tell us Heuermann will be arraigned in Riverhead, NY on Thursday -- and while the exact details aren't official yet ... we're told he's expected to be hit with yet another murder charge ... his fifth in the sweeping case.

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney told CBS News Monday ... "There were a number of necessary investigative steps that were taken, we've pointed out just some of them. Thursday, you will see the fruits of that investigation." The identity of the new alleged victim has yet to be released.

Jay Leno is railing against the light punishment for most perps caught stealing catalytic converters as the L.A. crime wave is turning deadly ... specifically with the recent murder of "General Hospital" actor Johnny Wactor.

The stand-up comic and renowned car guru tells TMZ ... it's outrageous the penalty for ripping off converters -- usually a $1,000 fine amounting to just a misdemeanor charge -- isn’t vastly harsher.

JL adds ... The slap on the wrist most thieves receive -- if they even get nabbed -- is the reason they're so brazen.

Kathryn Dennis' recent DUI isn't the only legal woe on her plate, but it is the only one that's pressing at the moment ... 'cause a hit-and-run case her car was involved in is still in limbo.

Here's the deal ... the "Southern Charm" star might've recently been involved in a DUI bust in South Carolina -- but there's another case that has ties to her (or her vehicle, more like) in the same state ... in which her car is alleged to have been involved in a hit-and-run.

This happened way back in October -- Kathryn was identified as a suspect in a hit-and-run investigation after a sheriff’s deputy was injured outside an elementary school ... although she was never arrested or charged with a crime because they couldn't pin her as the driver.

Looks like WeHo Pride kicking off this weekend might be more tense than celebratory ... we've learned cops are gearing up for the worst amid recent global events.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... with the Pro-Palestine Rally going down in West Hollywood Saturday, coupled with anger from Donald Trump supporters over his recent conviction in the hush money case, cops are bracing for a rocky ride.

We're told there'll be uniformed deputies scattered all over the place, along with cops in plain clothes, and a heavy dose of surveillance.

Ivanka Trump waited until the bitter end to weigh in on her dad's Manhattan hush money trial ... and she threw her full love and support behind The Donald.

After ex-Prez Donald Trump was convicted on a slew of felony charges Thursday that could land him behind bars, the former first daughter posted a throwback photo to Instagram that showed her as a child sitting in the lap of the 45th U.S. President.

The image was accompanied by a short message, "I love you dad," alongside a heart emoji. Her words marked the first time Ivanka has spoken publicly about his criminal trial.

Former NFL star Everson Griffen was arrested again for DWI this week ... after officers say they initially stopped the four-time Pro Bowler for driving his Bentley at a high rate of speed.

Minnesota State Patrol tells TMZ Sports a trooper pulled over the 36-year-old defensive end for allegedly going 82 MPH in a 55 MPH zone in Minneapolis around 11:35 PM on Tuesday.

According to the criminal complaint, cops say they could smell alcohol in the vehicle -- which had two people inside -- and Griffen had "slightly watery eyes." When asked when his last drink was, he said around 1 PM.

Sarah Palin went running to court this week to get a legal forcefield around her to keep a guy away, who actually has a history of stalking ... tied to none other than her own daughter.

The former Alaskan governor -- and one-time presidential VP candidate -- got a temporary restraining order Wednesday in Palmer, Alaska ... where she told the judge she needed protection against somebody named Peter Paul Ferrero. There's a hearing on this matter scheduled for next month.

It's troubling news for one major reason -- namely, Ferrero has previously been charged and convicted of stalking over an encounter with Bristol Palin 10 years ago ... when she alleged he showed up at her house in Wasilla -- and wouldn't scram when she told him to.

11:34 AM PT -- Scottie Scheffler is speaking out following the dropped charges ... saying he has no ill will toward the officer and will look to move past the incident.

"Police officers have a difficult job and I hold them in high regard," Scheffler said. "This was a severe miscommunication in a chaotic situation."

"I appreciate the support during the past two weeks and want to again encourage everyone to remember the real tragedy of May 17. My thoughts and prayers continue to be with John Mills and his family, and I hope to personally offer my condolences now that the case is over. May John rest in peace."

Scottie Scheffler can breathe easy once more ... the criminal charges he was facing in his assault case have just been dropped.

Jefferson County prosecutors filed a motion in court Wednesday afternoon to dismiss the case against the world's best golfer -- and a judge granted it without issue.

In explaining why they wanted to move on from the case, officials said they simply did not have enough evidence to go forward. In fact, they said Scheffler's characterization of the incident as a huge misunderstanding was actually "corroborated" by the evidence they had collected.

The American man who mistakenly brought hunting ammo into Turks and Caicos is breathing a sigh of relief as he heads back home -- 'cause he won't do any major prison time.

Tyler Wenrich -- a Virginia 911 operator and emergency medical tech -- got hit with a hefty $9,000 fine, and has been sentenced to 3 weeks in jail -- but seeing as he's already spent that time in prison, the court's calling it even-steven and recognizing it as time served.

Wenrich initially faced up to 12 years behind bars -- the minimum term for smuggling ammo into the country -- after his guilty plea on two counts of ammo possession for two 9mm rounds on May 21.

Body cam footage from Scottie Scheffler's arrest at the PGA Championship earlier this month has just surfaced ... and in the new video, you can hear the world's best golfer admitting he "should have stopped" for the cop who was barking orders at him outside the major event.

The clip was posted on Facebook back on May 23 -- six days after Scheffler was first arrested -- but it just began making its rounds on other social media apps on Wednesday morning.

It shows Scheffler in the back of a squad car minutes after he allegedly ignored a policeman and then dragged him with his vehicle as he attempted to make his way into Valhalla Golf Club to get ready for his early morning tee time.

When Sean Kingston gets back to Florida he'll be facing a mountain of charges in his fraud case, and cops claim he and his mother racked up around a million bucks worth of merch ... without paying.

According to the arrest warrant issued in Broward County the singer is facing a total of 10 charges related to the raid Sheriff's deputies conducted last week ... with the biggest one being an alleged organized scheme to defraud several companies.

In the docs, authorities say Sean and his mother, Janice Turner ripped off a jeweler, an exotic car dealer and several other businesses for well into the 6-figures. For instance, the car dealer allegation is over a Cadillac Escalade worth $159,701.49 ... and the jewelry was worth a whopping $480K!

Sean Kingston's mother is breathing fresh Florida air again -- after spending 4 days behind bars, she's bailed out following her arrest in the raid at Sean's house.

Janice Turner got busted a few hours before Sean during the Broward County Sheriff's raid Thursday on the singer's Florida home. As we reported ... Janice was taken into custody on a warrant for fraud and theft.

According to court records, the 61-year-old is facing 8 charges, including conducting an organized scheme to defraud, grand theft and identity theft. After her bail hearing Friday, she posted a $160,000 bond to secure her release. The Broward County jail tells us she was released Sunday around 5:54 PM.

Ivica Zubac's Los Angeles-area house was broken into and burglarized late Wednesday night ... and now LAPD is on the lookout for the people responsible!

TMZ Sports has learned three people were spotted inside the 27-year-old's crib around 11:30 PM on May 22. The 7-foot tall center was not home at the time ... but the burglars were somehow spotted, either by a witness on the grounds, or through a surveillance camera, and police were called to the scene.

Cops took a burglary report and are investigating.

Nicki Minaj isn't shying away from the haters after her recent run-in with the law ... seemingly addressing the incident to all those people who cracked jokes while she dealt with her legal troubles.

The singer-songwriter took the stage in Birmingham, England Sunday ... just one day after being detained while leaving Amsterdam and having to cancel her show in Manchester -- and, she touched on the moment briefly during her show.

Check out the clip ... NM calls out all the trolls on the internet who were laughing at her for about five or six hours -- the amount of time she says she was detained -- before adding, "Guess who's still winning, bitch!!!"

1:46 PM PT -- Despite fans' high hopes, it appears the concert in Manchester's been canceled ... with some sharing a notice they say they received at the venue on X.

1:03 PM PT -- It appears Nicki Minaj's been released from custody ... the police department put out a statement saying it had released a 41-year-old American from custody with just a €350 fine. While again they don't name Nicki, it appears they're referring to her.

Nicki Minaj's flight out of Amsterdam didn't proceed as planned ... 'cause cops detained her on her way to the UK -- and, now, she's seemingly been arrested.

Franky Venegas – one half of the viral hip hop duo The Island Boys – has been busted in Florida for driving-related offenses.

The tattooed TikTok star --who shares the limelight with his twin brother Alex – was arrested in Fort Lauderdale Friday and booked into the Broward County Jail.

Franky was hit with three charges – operating a motor vehicle without a valid license, false ID provided to a law enforcement officer and reckless driving.