Man arrested for possession of cocaine, meth & Viagra

A routine patrol check led two sheriff’s deputies to arrest a 27-year-old man for possessing large quantities of cocaine, methamphetamine and prescription Viagra, authorities said.

According to a statement from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department's Santa Clarita Valley Station, the deputies were on patrol on Monday about 12:30 a.m., when they spotted a car inside the parking lot of a bowling alley in the 21600 block of Soledad Canyon Road in Santa Clarita.

The officers spoke with the man, identified as James Deroze of Arleta, and determined that he was on parole and had search conditions as part of his terms and also a  “no bail” outstanding felony warrant for his arrest, authorities said.

Online education groups add colleges from U.S. and overseas

Two of the emerging providers of online college classes, Coursera and edX, are announcing significant expansions in the numbers of campuses that will join their organizations and offer free courses.

The high-powered competitors, both founded last year, say their academic offerings will have more of an international flavor as a result of additional schools signing on from outside the U.S.

Mountain View-based Coursera said 29 universities are joining the 33 already offering at least one class on the platform of the for-profit group. Among the 13 new U.S. members are CalArts in Valencia, UC San Diego, UC Santa Cruz, Penn State and Rutgers University. The 16 new overseas ones include the Ecole Polytechnique of France, the University of Tokyo, the University of Copenhagen and the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico. More classes will be offered in languages other than English, officials said.

The not-for-profit edX, which is headquartered in Cambridge, Mass., was founded by Harvard University and Massaschusetts Institute of Technology and was joined later by four other U.S. schools, including UC Berkeley. EdX said it is adding one U.S. campus, Rice University in Houston; two from Canada, University of Toronto and McGill University; the Australian National University; Delft University of Technology inf the Netherlands; and Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne in Switzerland. At first, all will be taught in English but edX will be adding other languages later, administrators said.

Students from around the world are taking the free online courses that are largely offered without college credit. Some offer a completion certificate for a small fee. Professors typically videotape lectures and often comment in general on message boards without answering specific questions. It's not unusual for a class to enroll tens of thousands of students to start.

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Grapevine on Interstate 5 reopened

The California Highway Patrol reopened a stretch of Interstate 5 through the Grapevine that had been closed earlier Wednesday because of ice.

The highway was opened to vehicles with escorts at about 9:15 a.m., said CHP Officer Ed Jacobs. The freeway was closed between Castaic and Grapevine Road at about 6:35 a.m., Jacobs said.

Traffic moving at a slow speed on the highway will help warm the highway and melt the ice, he said.

Lingering rain, snow showers and gusty winds were expected to affect mountain regions until midday, according to the National Weather Service. Up to three inches of snow could fall Wednesday at elevations as low as 2,000 feet.

The additional precipitation could create hazardous icy roadways, the National Weather Service said. Snowfall, coupled with heavy winds, could reduce visibility to zero.

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Photo: Morning snow clings to a sign on the closed Interstate 5 in Lebec on Wednesday. Credit: Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times

Grapevine on Interstate 5 closed due to ice

The California Highway Patrol shut down a stretch of Interstate 5 through the Grapevine early Wednesday because of ice.

The freeway was closed about 6:35 a.m. between Castaic and Grapevine Road, said CHP Officer Ed Jacobs. No motorists were stranded, he said.

PHOTOS: I-5 closure

“Until further notice, it’s Mother Nature’s call” on when to reopen the highway, Jacobs said.

Lingering rain, snow showers and gusty winds were expected to affect mountain regions until midday, according to the National Weather Service. Up to three inches of snow could fall Wednesday at elevations as low as 2,000 feet.

The additional precipitation could create hazardous icy roadways, the National Weather Service said. Snowfall, coupled with heavy winds, could reduce visibility to zero.

A stretch of California 58 in Kern County, which was shut down Tuesday night because of snow, remained closed, according to the California Highway Patrol.

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Photo: The CHP escorts southbound traffic on Interstate 5 traffic as snow falls in the Grapevine in Lebec. Credit: Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times

Storm expected to bring cold rain, snow; road closures planned

A cold, blustery storm originating from the Gulf of Alaska is expected to move down the California coast Tuesday, creating traffic headaches in some places, authorities warned. 

Possible thunderstorms were expected to affect most of the Southland, bringing between one-tenth to half an inch of rain in most areas.

Snow could fall as low as 1,500 feet, and there was high potential for icy roadways, including Interstate 5 from the Grapevine to the Santa Clarita Valley, according to the National Weather Service.

Highway 14 through Soledad Canyon and Antelope Valley, Highway 33 in the Ventura mountains and Highway 138 through the Antelope Valley might also be difficult to pass, according to the National Weather Service.

For roads entering the Angeles National Forest, the L.A. County Public Works Department said it would begin closures at 3 a.m. Tuesday. The closures will affect the Angeles Forest Highway from Aliso Canyon Road to Angeles Crest Highway, Big Tujunga Canyon Road from Angeles Forest Highway to Vogel Flats and Upper Big Tujunga Canyon Road from Angeles Forest Highway to Angeles Crest Highway

Once the roads are closed, county officials warn, local access will not be permitted. The closures are to remain in effect until the storm system has passed and the roads have been inspected.

More information and updates can be found on the county’s website.

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Gusty winds blow through Southern California, advisory issued

A wind advisory for the Los Angeles area is expected to remain in effect through Saturday with moderate Santa Ana conditions bringing gusty northeast winds, the National Weather Service said.

Winds are expected to continue in varying strength through Saturday afternoon, said Rich Thompson, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Oxnard. Mountain areas can expect gusts of up to 50 mph and sustained winds of 25 to 30 mph, Thompson said.

The Santa Clarita and San Fernando valleys and the Santa Monica area can expect gusts of up to 45 mph, Thompson said.

There could be "dangerous crosswinds" possible for drivers of high-profile vehicles, he said. Highways that could be affected by the gusty winds include Interstate 5 and California 14.

Despite the winds, Friday and Saturday should be a "beautiful couple of days," Thompson said, with sunny skies and high temperatures in the 80s.

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Phony Casanova is nabbed on Valentine's Day

Authorities in Santa Clarita have arrested a man they say used popular dating websites to woo women, gain their trust and then rob them.

Jeffrey Elvington, 39, of Saugus was arrested Thursday, according to a statement from the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff's Station, which alleged that Elvington admitted that over the past two years “he used various scams” to seduce several women on dating websites such as Match.com.

After winning their trust, he would steal their property, including credit card information that he used to buy expensive electronics he later sold, authorities said.

Elvington conned at least five women by pretending to have different professions, including chef, military serviceman and private investigator, authorities said. They are seeking the public's help in identifying other victims.

Anyone with information about the Elvington case is urged to call the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station at (661) 255-1121.

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Photo: Authorities say Jeffrey Elvington, 39, of Saugus seduced women on poular dating websites and then robbed them. Credit: Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department

Victims in helicopter crash at TV-production site are identified

Authorities on Monday identified the three people who died in a helicopter crash near Acton on a ranch used by production companies to film movies, TV shows and commercials.

The victims were apparently helping film a reality TV show when the Bell 206 helicopter went down Sunday at about 4 a.m. at the Polsa Rosa Ranch.

[Updated, 7:29 a.m. Feb. 11: Eyeworks USA, a TV production company, was working on a new military-themed reality series for the Discovery Channel, according to a news release posted on Eyeworks Group's website.

“Eyeworks sends its condolences to all those affected by the helicopter crash during the shooting,” the release said. “We share in our affiliate's sympathies for the families and others who are now dealing with this tragedy and send them our warmest regards.”]

Investigators have said they are unsure what caused the crash. The National Transportation Safety Board is leading the investigation with help from the Federal Aviation Administration.

Lt. Cheryl MacWillie of the Los Angeles County coroner's office identified the deceased as David Gibbs, 59, of Valencia, who was the pilot; Michael Donatelli, 45, of Pennsylvania; and Darren Rydstrom, 46, of Whittier.

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Man admits threatening to kill ranger over parking ticket

A Santa Clarita man pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor count of threatening to kill a Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority park ranger over a parking citation, authorities said Wednesday.

Derrick Alfoldy, 41, was accused of leaving a message on the ranger's office answering machine threatening that “someone is going to die.” He pleaded to one count of making a criminal threat. A second count was dropped.

Alfoldy was sentenced to 36 months probation and 20 days of community service. He was ordered to give up the firearms he owns, attend more than two dozen anger management sessions and stay at least 100 yards from Towsley Canyon Park and the ranger that he threatened.

A Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority spokesman said the case was more serious than simply being disrespectful to law enforcement.

"This incident is not to be taken lightly and we are pleased that Mr. Alfoldy is getting the help that he needs," said authority spokesman Eric Rose. "The court recognized that it's unconscionable to threaten to kill a peace officer."

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Manti Te'o hoax: Alleged mastermind’s family hires legal counsel

The father of Ronaiah Tuiasosopo, who has been publicly identified as the man behind the Manti Te’o girlfriend hoax, thanked his Antelope Valley congregation Sunday for their support for his family but declined to discuss the case with reporters.

“I want to thank you for your prayers, church family,” said an emotional Pastor Titus Tuiasosopo, pausing to regain his composure. “I love you. Thank you for being here.”

At the end of the two-hour service, his brother Peter “Navy” Tuiasosopo told reporters in the church parking lot that the family had obtained legal counsel and would be giving an interview later this week.

“The family is strong,” he said. “The family will stay together.”

Te'o, a star linebacker at Notre Dame, has strongly denied he had any role in an elaborate hoax involving a girlfriend he allegedly met on the Internet and later learned did not exist, blaming instead Ronaiah Tuiasosopo for the entire incident.

"I wasn't faking it. I wasn't part of this." he told ESPN last week.

In the interview, Te'o identified the alleged hoaxer as  Tuiasosopo. He said Tuiasosopo and two other people perpetrated the scam. Tuiasosopo, he added, called him last week to apologize.

"Two guys and a girl are responsible for the whole thing," he said.

A Deadspin.com report Wednesday linked the Palmdale man to the hoax that fooled media outlets across the nation. The man allegedly was involved in creating a Twitter account for a fictitious woman and linking her with the Heisman Trophy runner-up, who spoke repeatedly to the media about her, her illness and death.

"I hope he learns," Te'o told ESPN, referring to Tuiasosopo. "I hope he understands what he's done. I don't wish an ill thing to somebody. I just hope he learns. I think embarrassment is big enough."