Police

Despite calls to further postpone the Sugar Bowl, the game is set to kick off in five hours ... and the New Orleans Police Department says they're confident the city will safely host the big game following the Bourbon Street terror attack which killed at least 14.

NOPD Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick appeared on the Today show where she was asked if her police force was ready for the Notre Dame vs. Georgia playoff game ... after some, including the state's Attorney General, called on officials to postpone the game.

"We are not alone," Kirkpatrick said. "We are in partnership with many other partners. Both local, federal, military, police will be here. We are gonna have absolutely 100's of officers and staff lining our streets, lining Bourbon Street, lining the French Quarter."

Matthew Stafford is pulling out all the stops to make sure he's not the next athlete targeted in the recent string of burglaries -- TMZ Sports is told the Rams quarterback invited police officers and NFL security to inspect his L.A. area home for any potential weak spots.

Law enforcement sources tell us league staffers and cops met at the Super Bowl champ's residence this month to scope out his current setup ... and provided tips and safety measures on what his family can do further to deter crooks from targeting his pad.

While Stafford himself was not present, we're told the NFL specifically asked the cops about the South American burglary crews believed to be behind all the hits ... as well as how they can work together to make it more difficult for the criminals to execute their operation.

Robert Brooks died allegedly at the hands of New York State Corrections employees -- and perhaps even more shocking is that some of the officers rake in whopping six-figure salaries ... TMZ has learned.

Brooks -- an inmate at Marcy Correctional Facility in upstate NY -- died of asphyxia due to compression of the neck during the December 9 attack by the guards and other prison workers, according to a preliminary autopsy report.

Bodycam footage worn by staff showed the violent attack on Brooks, during which the inmate was viciously beaten while restrained and gagged. Before his death, Brooks was serving a 12-year sentence for first-degree assault.

Jennifer Lopez's ex-boyfriend Casper Smart had some unexpected visitors at his home two days before Christmas ... 'cause TMZ has learned cops showed up and searched the property.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... cops received a tip that Smart had a cannabis grow operation at his L.A. home. They obtained a search warrant and served it just before 9 AM on December 23. We're told Casper and a woman were home at the time.

While searching the property, our sources say officers found a small- to medium-size grow operation at the home.

Three officers who the New York State Attorney General's Office claims were present when Robert Brooks was beaten are named in other lawsuits alleging brutal beatings at the hands of prison guards.

In documents reviewed by TMZ ... Nicholas Anzalone, Glenn Trombly and Anthony Farina -- all three suspended pending further investigation by New York's Department of Corrections and Community Supervision Commissioner -- are named as defendants in lawsuits filed by incarcerated or formally incarcerated individuals.

In a lawsuit filed in September 2022, a man named Adam Bauer sued Anzalone along with several other correctional officers ... after he claimed he suffered an unprovoked beating by one for smoking a cigarette in a bathroom in 2020.

The fatal beating of Robert Brooks -- which was captured on horrifying body cam video from NYC corrections officers -- is being investigated by the FBI, TMZ has learned.

The federal agency said in a statement to TMZ ... “The FBI Albany Field Office and the Department of Justice are reviewing the facts and circumstances surrounding the death of Robert L. Brooks to determine the appropriate federal response. As this is an ongoing review, we are not able to comment further at this time.”

The major development comes one day after body cam footage of corrections officers brutally beating a restrained Brooks -- who died hours later -- was released by the New York State Attorney General ... showing officers hitting the bloodied man repeatedly.

12/30 12:24 PM PT -- James Miller, rep for NYS Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association tells TMZ ... "NYSCOPBA’s Executive Board has reviewed the video footage released by the Attorney General regarding the death of Robert Brooks at Marcy Correctional Facility.  What we have witnessed is reprehensible. It is clear to all of us that these actions are a disgrace to our profession and have put everyone inside our facilities at risk. As correction officers and sergeants, we have a duty to protect every person inside a correctional facility. At all times, we must be ready to stop those seeking to do harm, and that includes fellow staff. We, as an organization, stand in complete defiance of the callous disregard for the suffering that we have all witnessed on this video. NYSCOPBA will continue to fulfill its legal obligation to defend all members from all administrative charges, regardless of severity or public outcry. However, as more information becomes readily available, NYSCOPBA must continue to focus its efforts on advocating on behalf of those members who dutifully come to work every day and act with the professionalism and selflessness demanded of them."

Body cam footage of corrections officers brutally beating a restrained inmate -- who died hours later -- has been released by the New York State Attorney General ... showing officers hitting the bloodied man repeatedly.

The video shows Robert Brooks -- an inmate serving a 12-year sentence for first-degree assault -- repeatedly being punched and kicked ... and, one man appears to gag him with a towel.

Videos released by the attorney general's office show one officer repeatedly striking Brooks in his midsection with a shoe as other officers hold him down with his arms behind him. At one point, the officers lift Brooks up by his neck ... he's got blood all over his face and he can't even hold up his own weight.

The National Lacrosse League player who was seen on video attacking a pair of fans following a game last weekend has been issued a citation over his role in the altercation.

The incident went down on Dec. 21 after the Halifax Thunderbirds' loss to the Colorado Mammoth in Denver ... when Tyson Bell went after two people who appeared to be heckling him and his team.

In footage captured by a spectator inside of Ball Arena, you can see Bell punched one of the fans, before he hit another with his stick.

A Chipotle customer smashed an employee in the face with a burrito bowl after she didn't get a refund for her Uber Eats order -- and the food fight was partially caught on video!

Check it out ...  the footage begins with the unhappy customer behind the counter at a Chipotle restaurant in Washington, D.C. -- making her own food with the stunned staff surrounding her.

At first, some of the workers try to stop her from helping herself to the grub ... but their efforts fall flat.

John Bennett Ramsey has plans to meet with local police once again ... in hopes of convincing them to use new DNA-testing technology to solve his daughter's killing.

The father of JonBenét is expected to speak with the Boulder Police Department in Colorado again in January, along with representatives from a leading DNA lab, to push for a new approach to evidence authorities collected nearly three decades ago.

John explains there is new DNA tech that could separate mixed samples ... a major issue with DNA collected at the time, he says. Ramsey's hopeful the police will allow an independent lab to conduct testing on the old crime scene items. JonBenét was killed on Christmas night in 1996, and her body was found hours later, after she had been reported missing.

Jamie Foxx isn't turning the other cheek when it comes to the alleged assault where he took a glass to the face ... TMZ has learned he wants the perpetrator prosecuted.

A source with direct knowledge tells us the actor -- who is fully cooperating with the investigation -- wants to press charges so this type of incident does not happen to others.

No arrests have been made yet. While not named a suspect or person of interest in the investigation, we're told cops want to speak with Jasper Dolphin -- a "Jackass" stuntman who was apparently at Mr. Chow's on the night in question ... in connection to the alleged assault.

Actor Hudson Meek's death is being treated as an accident, and it doesn't appear substances played any role in the fall that took his life ... TMZ has learned.

Law enforcement sources tell us ... no foul play is suspected in Hudson's death -- and, cops are looking into this as an accident.

We're told there were no signs of drugs or alcohol ... and, cops do not believe they played any part in the accident.

Kim Richards made an unusual call to the police over the weekend which prompted cops to respond and perform an evaluation on Kim ... TMZ has learned.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" alum was visited by LAPD on Sunday afternoon at a house owned by her sister, Kyle Richards.

Cops say Kim told police someone had taken her cat -- only to later return it -- before she began rambling about ongoing issues with Kyle.

Cops are investigating a wild fight that broke out at a California outlet store — while also searching for the troublemakers caught on dramatic video.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... the brawl erupted outside the Citadel Outlets in Commerce, CA, last Thursday — and a witness filmed part of it with a cell phone camera.

Check out the footage posted to X ... A group of mostly young women are going at it near a bunch of parked cars outside the mall. They start throwing punches and hurling around the word b***h," but it's unclear what sparked the confrontation.

Michael B. Jordan is the latest Celebrity to have an unwanted guest show up at his Los Angeles-area home.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... Wednesday afternoon, while Jordan was home, a suspect was seen in his front yard.

Jordan’s security called the LAPD and then escorted the suspect off the property and waited for the cops.

Comedian Corey Holcomb is being accused of punching another comic in the face outside a club earlier this month ... and, it's apparently all over a longstanding feud.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... comedian Cristina Payne was hanging outside the Hollywood Improv comedy club earlier this month when witnesses say Corey came up and started screaming at her and her friend.

Our sources say they were told Corey threatened to punch Cristina in the face ... so a man at the club that night got in between the two. Corey then allegedly swung over the man and hit Payne square in the face.