Crime scene tape did not stop a food delivery robot in Los Angeles from getting where it needed to be on Monday.

The Los Angeles Police Department had set up the tape at a suspected shooting at a high school, which later turned out to be a hoax, USA Today and "Today" reported.

According to the news outlets, the robot rolled down a sidewalk when it stopped at an intersection before the crime scene.

When it got to the police tape, it seemed to contemplate what to do until what appeared to be a TV cameraman lifted up the tape, and the robot continued on its way, the media outlets reported.

Officers looked a bit confused as it passed by them, the news outlets reported.

According to the news outlets, officers were called to Hollywood High School around 9:45 a.m. for reported shots fired call, USA Today reported.

The newspaper reported that Los Angeles School District's Superintendent Alberto M. Carvalho later tweeted that officers had determined the call was a hoax.

A Hamilton police sergeant was in court to face charges after he swerved left of center and crashed into an oncoming vehicle Friday night.

Casey Johnson, 40, appeared in court by video from the Butler County jail.

Johnson was on the Hamilton force since 2004. He was recently promoted from detective to sergeant but is now on administrative leave.

It all came after a bizarre series of events that started in the Ross High School parking lot after a football game. Investigators said Johnson got into an altercation and then left. Later in the evening, he was involved in the crash.

Butler County sheriff’s deputies said Johnson swerved left of center and hit an oncoming vehicle head-on.

After the crash, deputies put Johnson in the back of a cruiser. Investigators said Johnson kicked the cruiser's door so hard it broke off pieces. He is charged with vandalism.

Johnson refused an alcohol test and has not been charged with OVI. That could change if investigators have any other evidence that he had been driving under the influence.

The woman in the other vehicle is Laura Farnsworth, who lives near the crash scene.

“I can’t walk without crutches right now. I can’t put any weight on my left leg,” Farnsworth said.

In court, Johnson asked to be released without paying a bond.

“If I could request an O.R. (own recognizance) bond. I have no criminal history whatsoever. I’ve resided in Butler County for over 15 years I’ve been employed at the same place for over 15 years,” Johnson said.

Johnson was released on his own recognizance and is to appear back in court Sept. 22.

Marcella Dake spent a combined seven months in jail before the Bail Project paid to have her released and the possession and assault charges she was facing ultimately dropped.    

"It made me feel not so good about myself. You know, you're not doing anything. It just felt like I was a bad person because I was in jail," said Dake. "Are you innocent until proven guilty? Because they treat you like a prisoner, you know, and they shouldn't."

Dake’s story is a common one — spending weeks, months or years in jail waiting on a court date because you can’t afford to bail yourself out.  

But over the last several years, bail reform has picked up steam across the country.  

Some courts in New York, Washington D.C. and Illinois have all experimented with reforms — sometimes controversial — that have allowed more defendants to go free while awaiting trial. The reforms have been fiercely debated with opponents claiming they increase crime.   

"Bail reform has to be changed, it’s ridiculous," said Patrick Lynch, the president of the Police Benevolent Association. 

And advocates say it finally takes an unjust burden off the poor and helps prevent pushing people into a tailspin of lost jobs and broken families.

"All Illinoisans will live in a safer more just state with this law on the books," said Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker.

Here in Houston, a federal lawsuit forced Harris County, the largest county in Texas, to take on misdemeanor bail reform in 2017. 

And while the reform was and still is controversial, a new study claims the reforms not only reduced pre-trial jail time for defendants but also increased public safety.   

Paul Heaton from the University of Pennsylvania was the lead author on the study. Heaton focused on those newly released individuals. 

"In no cases, is there any evidence that crime goes up," said Heaton. 

SEE MORE: Amended Autopsy: Black Man Died Due To Sedative, Restraint

A federal judge required county judges to release any individuals charged with misdemeanors who would ordinarily qualify for bail.  

"So what would you expect to see in the data, if it were true that releasing people leads to more crime. We should see higher future contact, right? More charges, you know, more felonies being filed against those folks. And, you know, when you look at the data, it's pretty clear that's just that's not true. That doesn't happen at all," he said. 

In the first six months following this change, there were 1,500 more people released under the reforms. Following them for three years, Heaton found a 6% decrease in prosecutions that would be expected based on historical trends. Not only that, but things like guilty pleas and time served also dropped.  

Doug Griffith is the president of the Houston Police Union and he’s been an outspoken opponent of bail reform.  

"We completely agree with the fact that you shouldn't be in jail just because you're poor, on misdemeanor charges. Now felony charges are a different animal," said Griffith. 

Griffith points to the substantial rise in homicides in Houston and across the country over the past two years.  

Houston’s homicide rate jumped by 42% and 17% in 2020 and 2021, respectively. Nationwide, the FBI reported a 30% rise in homicides in 2020.  

"As the bond reform for the misdemeanors went about it kind of transitioned and got sucked into the felony bond system, which was not the intent. It's been a disastrous program that's been shoved into Harris County that has cost lives," he said.  

Griffith claims judges in Harris County have been too lenient on repeat offenders, particularly those charged with violent felonies.    

SEE MORE: Curbing People With Mental Illness Away From Jail

"Misdemeanor bail has worked. Now, if you want to ask, has some judge made a mistake? Have they had a chance to push the reset button? Would they do something different? I'm sure that is the case," said Harris County commissioner Rodney Ellis.

Ellis was one of the first public officials in the county to throw his support behind bail reform.  

And while the reform he supported specifically targeted misdemeanor offenders, he says some of the same principles apply for felony cases.  

"If you believe in equal protection under the law, if you and I have the same profile, whether we are accused of a misdemeanor, or felony, the same standards apply to both of us," said Ellis. 

He said the rise in homicides in Houston has nothing to do with bail.  

"I think the big issue is a proliferation of easy access to guns. We spend more time banning books in schools than banning guns, but it's easier to go for the sound bite and blame everything on bail," said Ellis. 

For Marcella Dake, who lost her job and seven months of her freedom because she couldn’t afford bail, she’s still putting the pieces back together. 

"It took my time away. You know, for me pursuing to do better for myself. It took put a stop on my life, you know that hold on all my life," said Dake. 

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A night out in Cheviot ended with one woman being briefly pinned between two vehicles and taken to the hospital and another woman, 25-year-old Jashayla Headed, was arrested and transported to the Hamilton County Justice Center.

Headen is charged with felonious assault.

After the bars along Harrison Avenue closed Sunday morning, groups of people are seen on surveillance footage hanging out on the sidewalk.

A few women had words with each other, and as the argument starts to escalate, a man can be seen walking over and separating them. That only lasted so long before punches were thrown.

Eventually, a woman later identified as Headen crossed the street to get her boyfriend's car.

Cheviot police said she then returned at a high rate of speed, almost striking the group standing in the street.

The arguing continued, and the women were separated again.

Then, nearly seven minutes later, Headen hopped in the driver's seat again. Police said she put the car in reverse and slowly backed up toward the small crowd of people.

They can be heard screaming and banging on the car as one of the women in the group was briefly pinned.

She was taken to Mercy West to be checked out.

Headen's bond was set at $25,000.

What started as a rescue call ended with a moment of kindness thanks to police officers in Nebraska.

Karen Ressegieu recently woke up to find her husband unresponsive.

"I woke up at 1:30 a.m., and he was still breathing. So, I, evidently, I went back to sleep, I'd never heard him. And at 6:15 a.m. I got up because we had a funeral that morning," Ressegieu said.

When medics arrived, they performed multiple rounds of CPR before telling Ressegieu her husband had died.

Despite the devastating news, Officer John Danderand said Ressegieu still kept putting everyone else first.

"She had a lot going on, she had some neighbors stopping by trying to figure things out, get information from her. And she had mentioned about three times that she had to get a cake frosted, they were supposed to attend a funeral that morning," he said.

Danderand decided to jump in to help.

"They said, 'Karen, can I frost that cake?'" Ressegieu said.

Sgt. Kraig Gomon said he snapped a couple of pictures to serve as a memory down the line, but it captured a part of the job that goes on behind the scenes.

"She was just more worried about everybody else than herself. And that was what struck me the most as her kindness. And for me, it was a small gesture for us to be able to try to return that to her," Gomon said.

Ressegieu said that morning was a blur, so having officers she could rely on helped her through the loss of her husband.

"And they said, so where does it go? And I pointed to where, so they delivered the cake, too," Ressegieu said.

It was a somber day made a little sweeter by a simple gesture.

"They just showed lots of kindness, you know, going out of their way," she said.

The anguish being felt in Manati, Puerto Rico, is resonating with people in Middletown, Ohio, where Nitza Valderrama lived and worked.

"When I saw the news, I started to cry, and I just don't believe it," said Zairelishka Huertas.

The 11-year-old said Valderrama was like an aunt to her. She said she was beautiful and kind.

"We were just so close, and I never knew anything like this could happen. I just thought she was going to come back because I've been waiting for her," Zairelishka said.

Valderrama was killed on Friday while visiting family in Puerto Rico.

Her ex-partner, Amnerie Manzano Diaz, was arrested and charged with murder.

Investigators in Puerto Rico said Diaz showed up at a police department with Valderrama's body in her car and admitted to shooting her.

"I'm very teary inside my heart right now. I'm not going to see this wonderful person again," said Lewis Booker, Valderrama's neighbor.

Neighbors and close friends are heartbroken.

They said Valderrama was a Christian who was active in her church.

They said she was also a thrill seeker who went skydiving in April and was already looking forward to jumping again.

Above all, friends said she loved children and was very excited to land a job as a bilingual specialist at Rosa Parks Elementary School in Middletown.

"She worked really hard, and she had everything. She was going to live the American dream, and it was taken way too soon from her," said Mary Moore, a friend of Valderrama's.

Tuesday afternoon, loved ones gathered outside Valderrama's home. They honored her life with a balloon release. There were also whispers of "Happy birthday in heaven," as Tuesday would have been her 32nd birthday.

Baked goodness: Police save dog from canal using muffin made by officer's wife

Updated: 10:36 PM EDT Jun 27, 2023

Each fall, many humans descend upon their favorite bakeries and coffee shops for all things pumpkin-flavored. Some quick-thinking police officers who recently rescued a dog in Glendale, Arizona, proved that people aren't the only mammals who fancy pumpkin-infused goodies.A video posted to the Glendale Police Department Facebook page shows officers attempting to rescue a German shepherd after a passerby reported that it was stuck in a canal and was swimming back and forth. One of the officers removed his ballistic vest and gun belt and tried to swim to the dog and rescue it using a leash. The dog, however, "was skittish and did not immediately come" to the officer, according to the police department's Facebook post. That's when another officer remembered his wife packed a pumpkin muffin for his lunch and used it to successfully lure the dog back to safety. The dog was not hurt. See the rescue in the video player aboveOnce it was back on dry land, the German shepherd, whose name hasn't been released, enjoyed eating the pumpkin muffin."Gratefully, the dog was reunited with his owner who lived just down the street. Great work by our patrol officers," the police department said in the Facebook post, adding that the department was hopeful that the officer's wife was "able to whip up a new batch of muffins for him."Video below: Fire department saves dog stuck in underground pipe

1 dead, at least 20 hurt in a shooting at a Juneteenth celebration in Illinois, police say

Updated: 9:17 AM EDT Jun 18, 2023

At least 20 people were injured and one person died in a shooting overnight at a Juneteenth celebration in Willowbrook, Illinois, police say.Some of the injured were transported to hospitals by ambulance and others walked in, DuPage County Deputy Sheriff Eric Swanson told reporters Sunday.Ten patients were transported to four hospitals with injuries ranging from graze wounds to more serious gunshot wounds, and two people were in critical condition, Joe Ostrander, battalion chief of the Tri-State Fire Protection District said earlier. At least 12 ambulances responded to the scene, Ostrander added.Witnesses say the shooting took place around 12:30 a.m. in a parking lot in Willowbrook, about 21 miles west of Chicago. The motive behind the shooting is unclear and it is still an active investigation, Swanson said.

Robots with the ability to use lethal force will not be rolled out in San Francisco— at least for now.

Amid outcry from residents, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to pause the rollout, which they had previously approved.

“We stopped the use of killer robots in San Francisco today,” Supervisor Hillary Ronen said, according to CNN. “The public outcry helped six Supervisors fully appreciate the gravity of last week’s vote and the numerous unanswered questions about both the ethics and practical implications of allowing police to use machines to kill human beings.”

The issue was sent back to a committee for further consideration. It could be voted on in the future, according to The Associated Press.

Police wanted the robots to be equipped with explosive devices in extreme situations.

"Do we want to risk lives and the public by getting ourselves exposed to the suspect or can we send a robot in to deal with it," David Lazar, assistant chief of the San Francisco Police Department.

Supervisor Dean Preston said Tuesday the city shouldn't be providing more tools to use lethal force. He believes leaders should be looking for more ways to de-escalate situations.

A fatal plane crash in Watertown, Wisconsin, claimed the lives of a 73-year-old pilot and his 8-year-old grandson joining him for a flight up to northern Wisconsin.

Summit View Elementary School sent a letter to inform families about the tragic loss of student Colin Strebe on June 14 due to an accident.

The aircraft plunged into a grove of trees at Brandt Quirk Park near a residential area on Wednesday at approximately 9 a.m. Investigators spent much of Thursday at the site, where pieces of the wreckage were spread across the soccer field.

The National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration were at the airport hangar to examine the evidence.

According to reports from Federal Aviation Administration, the plane had just taken off from the Municipal Airport about 3 miles from the accident site. Sources say the flight was planned to Manitowish Waters.

Investigators will collect as much information as they can from witnesses, and the wreckage itself, to determine, if they can, what led to this family tragedy in Watertown.

Watertown police department said the Brandt Quirk Park would remain closed through the weekend for site cleanup.

Police have yet to identify the victims, officially saying only that there were two victims. The pilot is from Watertown, and his grandson is from Waukesha.

The FAA and National Transportation Board will lead the investigation.

WATCH: Scary moment for Watertown neighbors who heard and 'felt' the plane crash

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Human remains found in Hueston Woods are believed to be those of a man missing for more than two years.

Michael McKenney, 28, was last seen May 23, 2020. Investigators said there are strong indicators he has now been found.

“I'm totally not quitting until he's positively identified,” said McKenney’s mother Yolanda Middleton. “I'm a fighter. I'm not a quitter and I'm not going to quit until I know for certain, but everything points to that it is him.”

Texas Equisearch, Christian Aid Ministries and other volunteers have continued searching and Wednesday they made the discovery in a remote part of Hueston Woods.

“It's almost like you're going through the whole process over again, to be honest, from day one,” Middleton said. “I didn't know if we'd ever, ever come to this day.”

The family said there were some of McKenney’s personal effects found with the remains and some specific physical characteristics were the same.

“There were some things definitely strongly suggesting that it was him,” said Fairfield Township Police Sgt. Brandon McCroskey.

McCroskey said the cause of death could come with the coroner’s report, but so much time has passed, it could also be undetermined.

The case is in such early stages police cannot yet rule out foul play, however, there are no obvious indicators that anyone else was involved.

“I will say that we're not looking for anybody right now. We're not looking for any suspects at this point,” McCroskey said.

The identity will be confirmed by DNA. That could take weeks or even months to get back.

Police: 6 people shot in north Baltimore, including 17-year-old victim

Updated: 12:00 AM EDT Jun 17, 2023

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CONFERENCE. WHAT CAN YOU TELL US? YEAH, THAT’S RIGHT. ACTING COMMISSIONER RICHARD WORLEY JUST SPOKE, LIKE YOU SAID, SIX VICTIMS, AGES 17 TO 32 YEARS OLD. ONE WAS A FEMALE. WE’RE TOLD THAT RIGHT NOW, ALL NON-LIFE THREATENING INJURIES. I’M GOING TO STEP OUT OF THE SCENE AND SHOW YOU HOW THINGS LOOK RIGHT NOW. A BIG CRIME SCENE HERE. THE ACTING COMMISSIONER SAID THAT AT AROUND 847, ONE OF THEIR OFFICERS WAS DOING A CAR STOP. AND IN THE PROCESS OF THAT CAR STOP, THEY STARTED TO HEAR GUNSHOTS. THEY SAID THAT THREE VICTIMS WERE FOUND AT A BUS STOP IN THIS AREA. AND THEN THEY SAID THREE MORE ARRIVED AT LOCAL HOSPITALS. AND LIKE I SAID EARLIER, THEIR AGES 17 TO 32 YEARS OLD. THEY SAID ONLY ONE WAS 17. SO THE REST ARE ADULTS. ONE OF THEM WAS IS A FEMALE. AND RIGHT NOW ALL HAVE NON-LIFE-THREATENING INJURIES. AND HE SAID THAT THEY’RE ALL GOING THROUGH SURGERY RIGHT NOW AS WELL. NOW, I SPOKE TO NEIGHBORS HERE AND THEY TOLD ME THAT TWO DIFFERENT NEIGHBORS TOLD ME THAT THEY HEARD AROUND 20 GUNSHOTS WHEN ALL OF THIS HAPPENED. I WANT YOU ALL TO TAKE A LISTEN TO WHAT ONE MAN HAD TO SAY ABOUT THIS. JUST PUT THE GUNS DOWN. YOU KNOW, I MEAN, IN THE OLD DAYS, YOU KNOW, THEY ROLLED UP THE FIST AND DID IT LIKE THAT. BUT NOW IT SEEMS LIKE EVERYBODY HAS A GUN. AND IF THEY JUST PUT THE GUN, THEN WE’D BE WE’D BE BETTER OFF. NOW. NOW BACK OUT HERE LIVE. YOU CAN SEE THE ACTING COMMISSIONER RIGHT OVER THERE. LOTS OF DETECTIVES OUT HERE. AGAIN, THIS IS A PRETTY BIG CRIME SCENE. THIS IS YORK ROAD AND EAST COLD SPRING LANE POLICE ACTUALLY BLOCKED OFF AN ENTIRE BLOCK OF COLD SPRING LANE OVER THERE. AND TO OUR LEFT, RIGHT OVER HERE, YOU CAN SEE THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL EVIDENCE MARKERS RIGHT IN FRONT OF A BUS STOP. AND TO THE LEFT OF THAT, RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET, THEY TAPED OFF THE SUNOCO GAS STATION RIGHT HERE. SO, AGAIN, THIS IS STILL AN ACTIVE INVESTIGATION. AND POLICE DID NOT SAY WHETHER THEY MADE ANY ARRESTS. BUT AGAIN, WE HAVE SIX TOTAL VICTIMS. THEY FOUND THREE AT A BUS STOP AND THEY SAID THAT THREE SHOWED UP AT LOCAL HOSPITALS AGES 17 TO 32 YEARS OLD. OF COURSE, ALL OF THIS IS GOING TO BE UNDER INVESTIG AS SOON AS WE GET MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS, WE WILL BRING THEM T

Police: 6 people shot in north Baltimore, including 17-year-old victim

Updated: 12:00 AM EDT Jun 17, 2023

Baltimore City police said six people were shot in north Baltimore Friday night.Acting police commissioner Richard Worley said around 8:47 p.m., officers heard discharging in the area.Upon arrival, they found three victims at a bus stop, and three walked into area hospitals. One of the victims is 17 years old, Worley said.Each of them has non-life-threatening injuries, according to police.A neighbor told sister station WBAL that he heard about 20 gunshots."Just put the guns down," Kane Foster said. "It seems like everybody has a gun. If they just put the guns down we would be better off."This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

Baltimore City police said six people were shot in north Baltimore Friday night.

Acting police commissioner Richard Worley said around 8:47 p.m., officers heard discharging in the area.

Upon arrival, they found three victims at a bus stop, and three walked into area hospitals. One of the victims is 17 years old, Worley said.

Each of them has non-life-threatening injuries, according to police.

A neighbor told sister station WBAL that he heard about 20 gunshots.

"Just put the guns down," Kane Foster said. "It seems like everybody has a gun. If they just put the guns down we would be better off."

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.