Police

A violent offender fleeing from police shoved a child to the floor after he broke into an Ohio daycare center ... and the wild foot chase was all caught on video.

Lamar Mitchell was driving in the city of Warren when a patrolman recognized him as a suspect wanted for a felony assault and tried to pull him over.

But, Mitchell sped away to elude capture ... but he didn't get far because he plowed into a nearby vehicle.

Luckily, no one was injured in the accident ... Mitchell took off on foot with officers running in hot pursuit.

That's when cops fired up their body cameras and captured the dramatic events released by the Warren Police Department.

In the bodycam footage, one officer is seen dashing after Mitchell while pulling out his taser.

Mitchell forced his way inside the daycare and then spun around, simulating a gun by pointing his finger at the cop.

Still, the officer pursues Mitchell down a corridor and into a room filled with kids.

Mitchell hurls into the playpen over a child, pushing him headfirst to the ground.

A daycare worker scoops up the toddler -- who thankfully wasn't hurt -- and rushes off to safety as other kids are heard crying. Officers handcuffed Mitchell and took him away.

Alec Baldwin has taken the offense in the shooting death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins ... as he remains under the D.A.'s microscope for possible criminal prosecution, he's filed suit against some crew members, arguing they're to blame -- not him.

Alec's accusing 4 crew members  -- Chief Armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, Assistant Director Dave Halls, Prop Master Sarah Zachry and the gun supplier Seth Kenney -- of failing to safeguard the film set.

According to the lawsuit, “This tragedy happened because live bullets were delivered to the set and loaded into the gun.”

It goes on, “Gutierrez-Reed failed to check the bullets or the gun carefully, Halls failed to check the gun carefully and yet announced the gun was safe before handing it to Baldwin, and Zachry failed to disclose that Gutierrez-Reed had been acting recklessly off set and was a safety risk to those around her."

Alec “seeks to clear his name” and hold the crew members “accountable for their misconduct.”

He also pointed a guilty finger at Kenney, the film's gun supplier, for “haphazardly” storing all the bullets, according to the suit. The lawsuit references an F.B.I report, stating prop specialist Zachry and armorer Gutierrez-Reed failed to monitor the live rounds on the New Mexico set of "Rust."

As we reported ... The DA in Santa Fe Mary Carmack-Altwies has made it clear she might charge Alec and others criminally. Carmack-Altwies is currently reviewing the matter after the Santa Fe Sheriff's Office recently turned over its investigative file.

On the heels of Aaron Carter's death, some of his fans are making life even harder for his fiancée Melanie Martin by harassing her ... and occasionally even spooking her in person.

Sources connected to Melanie tell TMZ ... ever since Aaron died, going online has been a nightmare for Melanie because she's getting so many hateful messages from the singer's supporters.

The constant harassment includes fans wishing death on Melanie, while others accuse her of being responsible for Aaron's death.

She's also come face-to-face with some real-life drama.

Our sources say folks have been showing up at Aaron's Lancaster, CA home ... where he was found dead in a bathtub. We're told they come onto the property and go right up to the windows of the house or vehicles to peer inside, and it's scaring the hell out of Melanie.

TMZ broke the story ... there was a police presence outside Aaron's home earlier this week, while Melanie was moving some of her things out of the house.

We're told Melanie called police to the house to keep the peace. Due to all the harassment directed at her, she wanted to ensure there'd be no issues while she was at Aaron's house.

Our sources say Melanie was retrieving baby items, diapers and clothes for their son, Prince, along with some of her things ... and now Aaron's fans are accusing her of stealing his possessions, which we're told is NOT the case.

It's all getting to Melanie ... we're told she's scared and now understands the issues Aaron was living with for years, because the online harassment turned from him toward her.

A disturbing discovery at the site of the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago has put construction on pause ... because someone left a noose in the area.

The group overseeing construction, Lakeside Alliance, says operations were halted after "an act of hate was discovered at the project site."

Chicago police are on the case ... a CPD officer was photographed leaving the construction site Thursday afternoon with what appears to be plastic bag containing the rope.

Mayor Lori Lightfoot says "Racism and racist symbols have no place in Chicago."

Meanwhile, recently reelected Governor J.B. Pritzker condemned the incident, saying he'll make sure Illinois "will make all needed resources available to help catch the perpetrators."

The Obama Foundation called the incident "shameless" and an "act of cowardice and hate ... designed to get attention and divide us."

The Obama President Center is supposed to open in 3 years ... and plans include a library, activity center, plaza, forum and a museum.

Cain Velasquez was nothing but smiles and relief after finally getting out of jail on Tuesday night -- giving a huge hug to a friend, and saying he feels "appreciative" and "blessed."

Velasquez had been locked up since Feb. 28 -- after authorities say he fired a gun at Harry Goularte, a man who had been accused of molesting one of the UFC legend's close relatives.

But, following a lengthy hearing Tuesday afternoon, a judge set Velasquez's bail at $1 million ... and he posted the bond several hours later, giving him his first taste of freedom in over eight months.

Velasquez will now have to follow multiple restrictions while out on bond -- including wearing a GPS monitor -- although it was clear on Tuesday night, Velasquez was very happy to finally be out from behind bars nonetheless.

"I just feel blessed, you know?" Velasquez said. "Ready to go home, be with the loved ones -- family, friends."

The 40-year-old promised to "make something positive of this terrible situation," and thanked all of his fans and former coworkers for their support. His friend even joked about getting him some Taco Bell.

Velasquez is still facing 10 criminal charges in the case -- including 1st-degree attempted murder and multiple counts of assault with a deadly weapon.

Aaron Carter's home is bustling with activity a few days after his sudden death -- his fiancé is moving her stuff out, and deputies are there too.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... a woman called L.A. County Sheriff's deputies to the late singer's home Tuesday afternoon, telling cops she wanted deputies to "keep the peace" while she retrieved her belongings.

A couple moving trucks are parked outside Aaron's home in Lancaster, CA ... and his fiancé, Melanie Martin, was pictured opening the front door, wearing a hoodie.

Our sources say police arrived at the property 10 minutes after the call came in, with cops keeping an eye on things while the moving process unfolded.

It's unclear why Melanie felt she needed law enforcement there to keep things calm ... but it appears a couple other folks were helping her pack.

Aaron had a live-in housekeeper, but we don't know if she was there while Melanie was grabbing her stuff. As far as we know, no one else was living there with him.

Law enforcement tells us no crimes were committed at the home, and deputies consider it a civil matter. We're told all the cops have now left Aaron's home.

Nikita Dragun left a swanky Miami Beach hotel in handcuffs ... after cops say she was walking around the pool in the nude before dousing officers and security guards with water.

The transgender influencer was arrested Monday night on a felony charge of battery on a police officer ... and it sounds like she was having too good a time at The Goodtime Hotel.

According to the police report, obtained by TMZ, cops responded to a report of someone causing a disturbance and being extremely disorderly at the hotel. Police say when they got there, hotel security told officers Nikita had been causing a disturbance for a long period of time and walking around the pool area naked.

Cops say security also told them Nikita ignored demands to stop causing the disturbance and at one point intentionally threw water on hotel staffers.

Once officers arrived on scene, they say they went with security up to Nikita's room, where they heard loud music being played.

Police say Nikita opened the door after several knocks, but when security explained to Nikita she needed to cut it out or she'd be asked to leave the hotel, Nikita slammed the door in their faces.

A few moments later, cops say Nikita opened the door again and asked security, "Do you want more?" Officers say Nikita then swung an open water bottle, causing water to hit and spill on both the security guard and the officer, resulting in her arrest.

Nikita was booked for felony battery on a police officer, misdemeanor disorderly conduct and misdemeanor battery. She was booked at Miami-Dade County's Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center on $5,000 bond.

Gillie Da Kid's travel plans were soured a bit Tuesday ... after the Million Dollaz Game podcaster was pressed by a patrolling officer claiming he smelled of marijuana at the airport.

Gille and co-host Wallo had previously been enjoying their downtime at Dallas/Fort Worth with jokes ... but the fun would be short-lived once they began boarding their plane.

The dramatic video begins with the Philly-bred rapper arguing with the officer ... as both of them stand their ground.

With his bag open, Gillie and the officer go back and forth over search protocol ... leaving the officer in disbelief that Gillie would search his own bag -- and Gillie was left stunned he was singled out over everyone on the plane.

The bickering heightens with Gillie telling the officer he was probably "the richest" person on board the aircraft and the Marshal reiterating a cold hard fact ... cannabis is illegal in Texas.

The officer eventually backed off -- after realizing Gillie was backing down, but not before getting in one last angry shout.

Aaron Carter's death touched off a chaotic situation inside his L.A. home ... as his housekeeper was heard screaming over the police scanner after discovering his body.

TMZ has obtained a police audio clip of the moment the housekeeper found Aaron unresponsive inside his bathtub Saturday morning and frantically called 911.

The 911 operator stated on the audio clip FIRE/EMS units were needed at Aaron's home for a "female yelling" and made a cryptic reference to "in the tub."

By the time paramedics arrived on scene, Aaron was already dead. Authorities have not released an official cause of death, but law enforcement sources tell TMZ police will be doing a deep dive into his past drug use.

Investigators were seen wheeling Aaron's corpse in a body bag out of his home and loading him into the back of a truck labeled "Coroner."

TMZ broke the story of Aaron's passing ... police responded to his Lancaster home after receiving a 911 call at 11 AM Saturday that a male had drowned in the tub.

Aaron's fiancé, Melanie Martin, later told TMZ ... "My fiancé Aaron Carter has passed away. I love Aaron with all my heart and it’s going to be a journey to raise a son without a father. Please respect the privacy of my family as we come to terms with the loss of someone we love greatly. We are still in the process of accepting this unfortunate reality. Your thoughts and prayers are greatly appreciated."

Aaron shot to fame back in the late 1990s as a pop singer, releasing four studio albums, starting with his self-titled debut album in 1997 when he was only 9 years old.

Aaron Carter has died ... TMZ has learned.

The singer-turned-rapper and actor was found dead Saturday at his house in Lancaster, CA ... multiple sources tell us Aaron's body was found in his bathtub. Law enforcement sources tell TMZ they received a 911 call at 11 AM Saturday that a male had drowned in the tub.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... homicide detectives have been dispatched to the scene, but we have no information or evidence of foul play. It's standard operating procedure for homicide detectives to investigate such death scenes.

TMZ obtained a photo of sheriffs' cars and paramedics outside Aaron's home ... and the property is surrounded with caution tape.

Aaron shot to fame back in the late 1990s as a pop singer, releasing four studio albums, starting with his self-titled debut album in 1997 when he was only 9 years old.

After his first album sold a million copies, Aaron's second album, "Aaron's Party," tripled that number ... and from there he became a regular on Nickelodeon.

Aaron also used to tour with the Backstreet Boys during their heyday ... his older brother Nick was part of the hugely popular boy band.

AC transitioned into rap as his music career progressed ... and he also appeared on "Dancing With The Stars" and acted in the Broadway production "Seussical."

Aaron had tons of legal and substance abuse issues over the years ... infamously going on "The Doctors" a couple years ago and talking about all the pills he was taking. He also went to rehab numerous times.

AC is survived by his son, Prince.

He was only 34.

RIP

Cops are trying to piece together the argument that escalated to the point of gunfire in the fatal shooting of Takeoff, and the triviality of the whole thing is just mind-boggling.

Law enforcement sources tell us ... angry words were exchanged between Quavo and others after he lost in a dice game at the bowling alley. We're told they took the argument outside, and somehow they begin jawboning over who could beat who at basketball.

That lines up with video obtained by TMZ, in which you hear Quavo become increasingly frustrated ... talking about basketball and assuring the group he'd win.

From there is when things hit a breaking point ... Quavo begins to walk away and then, our sources say, a punch was thrown. Suddenly, at least 10 shots ring out. It appears multiple weapons were fired, striking 3 people -- Takeoff fatally.

No arrests have been made, and cops haven't publicly named a suspect. However, in another video obtained by TMZ, you see one man in the group holding and then raising his gun. Cops tell us he's currently a person of interest.

Takeoff's Migos groupmates have not yet made public statements about his death.

There's no magic at the Magic Kingdom, not for an NYC fugitive who successfully dodged the law for a year ... only to be captured at the so-called happiest place on Earth!!! 😂

Quashon Burton was reportedly kicking it at Walt Disney World's Animal Kingdom park in October when federal postal inspector Jeff Andre spotted him.

Eagle-eyed Jeff identified Burton by a distinctive "H" tattoo on his neck, and reported him to cops ... who caught up to Burton about an hour later. They reportedly found him with 2 family members while they were sitting at a bus stop in the park.

Cops say Burton wouldn't produce any ID and resisted arrest, so they took him down to the ground ... and later ID him with fingerprints.

Officials say Burton ran from his home in Brooklyn last year after fraudulently obtaining over $150K in forgivable PPP loans from the government, and allegedly used multiple identities to get cash out of an ATM at an NYC post office.

He's being held without bail, as NY prosecutors believe he's an "extreme" flight risk.

The family of Gabby Petito is taking the Moab City Police Department to court, filing a wrongful death suit, claiming officers could've saved her life in the weeks leading up to her death.

Legal docs, obtained by TMZ, say Moab PD failed to protect Gabby when police investigated the reported domestic violence incident roughly 2 weeks before she was killed by Brian Laundrie.

You'll recall, officers interviewed Gabby and Brian on the side of the road with one officer acknowledging she was crying uncontrollably and had cuts on her face and arm.

Still, Brian told officers Gabby had just been under distress -- and officers simply separated them for the day.

The suit claims police didn't probe hard enough on Brian's side of the story ... and even claims the officers treated Brian as if he were the victim, rather than the perpetrator, of domestic violence.

In the family's eyes -- all signs pointed to Brian, and they say the cops "egregiously misinterpreted" the situation.

Her family also calls out the department for failing to train its cops for situations like this -- characterizing this case as a "vehicle for systemic change and a reckoning about how the police enforce the State's domestic abuse laws." They are seeking $50 million in damages.

The city of Moab tells TMZ ... "We feel profound sympathy for the Petito and Schmidt families and the painful loss they have endured. At the same time, it is clear that Moab City Police Department officers are not responsible for Gabrielle Petito’s eventual murder."

The city says it will defend itself against the suit.

An armed man, standing just feet away from Takeoff and Quavo moments before the fatal shots, is now a person of interest in the rapper's death ... TMZ has learned.

We obtained this video -- a new angle of what went down only seconds prior to the gunfire -- and you can see a man dressed in black, with a black satchel and a handgun in his right hip pocket.

You can very clearly see the weapon in the man's pocket -- he has his hand on it -- as Quavo was involved in the heated discussion that preceded the gunfire.

In fact, Quavo, in the bright orange shirt, walks behind the man 2 seconds before the first shot is fired.

Now, there's nothing in the video proving the man fired the first shot, but about 5 seconds later he is seen raising his weapon and seemingly firing it. It's unclear where Takeoff or Quavo were in relation to him at that moment.

Houston PD tells us they have seen this video, and have deemed the man a person of interest. They have not identified him yet.

As we reported, Takeoff was standing a few feet behind Quavo early Tuesday morning outside the Houston bowling alley when things got heated.

After the gunfire -- at least 10 shots were fired -- Takeoff had been hit in the head, and was pronounced dead on the scene.

Two other people suffered non-life-threatening injuries.

Aaron Carter has certainly had his fair share of run-ins with cops ... but his latest one might be one of the more bizarre, and ended in the pop star clearing his name.

Law enforcement sources with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department tell TMZ ... deputies pulled the singer over Tuesday around 10:45 AM while he was driving an RV, after they got a call about a driver weaving in traffic and possibly driving under the influence.

Officers say they didn't even know the guy was Aaron Carter until they pulled him over. Once they did, we're told they conducted field sobriety tests and determined Aaron wasn't under the influence.

We're told it was a very windy day in the Antelope Valley ... which, possibly made it easier for the RV to get blown around and cross over the traffic lines.

You can see in the pics, Carter locked his keys in the RV and had to access the vehicle through a roof hatch.

Our sources say, it's not clear who made the 911 call but did note Aaron's off-again GF Melanie Martin, was driving behind him at the time in a white Range Rover.

Aaron posted on Instagram about the incident, saying "When you do the right thing, you don't get in trouble. Do the right thing, that's what you do."

As we've told you ... cops recently showed up at his house for a welfare check after fans got worried he might have been doing drugs on IG live. He later said it was all a joke and police found no drugs or criminal activity when they arrived.

The U.S. Capitol Police were apparently asleep at the wheel in monitoring security cameras at Paul and Nancy Pelosi's family home in San Francisco during the savage home invasion that nearly killed her husband ... this according to a new report.

The Washington Post reported Tuesday D.C.-based Capitol Police officers in a command center failed to see live images of David DePape allegedly smashing his way inside the Pelosi townhouse 3,000 miles away. The command center has 1,800 cameras watching the Capitol Complex and areas beyond, including the Pelosi townhouse.

Shortly after the break-in, one of the Capitol officers noticed on the security cameras police lights flashing outside the Pelosi residence.

The officer went back and reviewed footage from minutes before, spotting DePape smashing the glass panel with the hammer before entering the Speaker’s home, according to WaPo.

The reported security lapse comes as DePape was arraigned Tuesday on charges of attempted murder and several other felonies. DePape has also been charged federally with attempted kidnapping of a government official (Nancy Pelosi).

As we reported, DePape told the FBI that he planned to shatter Nancy Pelosi's kneecaps because he saw her as a liar. He allegedly brought zip ties, tape and rope with him to apparently tie her up. The Speaker was safe in D.C. at the time of the attack.

But her husband, Paul, was asleep in bed when DePape broke in. Paul was able to make a surreptitious phone call to 911 and speak in code, alerting the operator that something was wrong.

The operator quickly dispatched police, who arrived at the Pelosi residence within minutes. In front of the officers, DePape allegedly clubbed Paul in the head with the hammer, fracturing his skull. Police tackled DePape and took him into custody. DePape is currently being held without bail.