July 18, 2025 #1 Local News, Information and Event Source for the Century City/Westwood areas.

L.A. Times Photographer Arrested While Sending Photographs of Nancy Reagan’s Funeral

A Los Angeles Times photographer was arrested in Simi Valley while transmitting photographs of former first lady Nancy Reagan's funeral motorcade. (Thinkstock: Photo by Sandra Mu/Getty Images)
A Los Angeles Times photographer was arrested in Simi Valley while transmitting photographs of former first lady Nancy Reagan’s funeral motorcade. (Thinkstock: Photo by Sandra Mu/Getty Images)

A Los Angeles Times photographer was arrested in Simi Valley while transmitting photographs of former first lady Nancy Reagan’s funeral motorcade, the newspaper reported today.

Ricardo DeAratanha, 65, was arrested on suspicion of resisting and obstructing a law enforcement officer, a misdemeanor, according to a citation issued by Simi Valley police.

Deputy Chief David Livingstone said police responded to a report of a suspicious vehicle near Roosevelt Court and Wood Ranch Parkway, about three- quarters of a mile downhill from the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, where a public viewing was being held for the former first lady. DeAratanha had parked by the side of the road to use his laptop computer to transmit his photos, according to The Times.

Livingstone said DeAratanha refused to identify himself and balked at providing identification, The Times reported.

“Had he cooperated, we would have had a different outcome,” Livingstone reportedly said.

Mark Werksman, an attorney for the photographer, disputed the police account, saying DeAratanha provided “multiple unassailable press credentials,” including identification cards issued by The Times and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

The officers “kept asking him for more ID,” Werksman told The Times. “Then they ordered him out of the car when they weren’t satisfied with his answer.”

At some point, Werksman said, the photographer — who is Brazilian and tanned — suggested the officers were harassing him because of his ethnicity, and “they resented that he would question their motives. …They swarmed him and threw him to the ground and cuffed him.”

Livingstone denied that ethnicity played a role in the incident and said officers were responding to a report of suspicious activity at a “high- security event.” A neighbor had reported that a tarp was partly covering the car and that a man inside was bent over with a cover on his head, he said.

The photographer had been using the tarp to provide shade so he could read the screen of his computer as he transmitted his photos, Werksman said.

After he was arrested, DeAratanha explained to officers that he was a photojournalist, and a commander allowed him to finish sending his photos, Livingstone said.

DeAratanha, who joined The Times in 1989, was taken to a hospital, where he was treated for a sprained elbow, according to The Times.

The Ventura County district attorney’s office has 30 days to decide whether to file charges. DeAratanha is scheduled to be arraigned April 7.

Related Posts

Man Arrested in Brentwood for Impersonating Firefighter During Palisades Fire

July 18, 2025

July 18, 2025

The suspect faces at least 28 criminal counts—including 23 felonies—spanning incidents from 2023 to May 2025 Federal and local law...

Study Highlights Economic Impact of Cap-and-Trade Extension in Los Angeles

July 18, 2025

July 18, 2025

Governor Gavin Newsom and legislative leaders are pushing to reauthorize the program this year, citing its role in generating 287,000...

Nearly $1B Secured for Refinancing of Westfield Century City Mall

July 17, 2025

July 17, 2025

The proceeds will replace a $925 million commercial mortgage-backed securities loan, originally issued by Morgan Stanley in 2023 and due...

West Coast Premiere of ‘The Opposite of Love’ Opens at Hudson Backstage Theatre

July 17, 2025

July 17, 2025

Produced by Neil Gooding Productions, behind shows like Back to the Future: The Musical, the play runs Thursdays through Saturdays...

Tesla Seen Nearly Crashing into West LA Home After Collision

July 17, 2025

July 17, 2025

Footage depicted a blue Prius on the road with significant front-end damage A crash involving injuries was reported around 12:30...

DUI Checkpoints to be Conducted Across LA This Weekend

July 16, 2025

July 16, 2025

The LAPD selects checkpoint sites based on data indicating high incidents of impaired driving-related crashes and arrests The Los Angeles...

Mayor Bass Hails National Guard Withdrawal as Victory for Unity

July 16, 2025

July 16, 2025

The Pentagon’s decision to reduce the troop presence follows weeks of legal challenges and public demonstrations Mayor Karen Bass celebrated...

(Video) Did You Know Emma Chamberlain’s Coffee Shop is in Century City?

July 16, 2025

July 16, 2025

The outpost is a first for the popular influencer Did You Know Emma Chamberlain’s Coffee Shop is in Century City?...

Dodgers to Host Back to School Bash for Fire-Affected Families

July 16, 2025

July 16, 2025

The free event will offer free groceries, school supplies, outfits, haircuts, medical screenings, and carnival rides The Los Angeles Dodgers...

Hundreds of Red-Legged Frog Tadpoles Released in Santa Monica Mountains

July 16, 2025

July 16, 2025

Once widespread in California, red-legged frogs vanished from the Santa Monica Mountains by the 1970s Nearly 600 California red-legged frog...

LA Sees Second Straight Year of Homelessness Decline, Leaders Celebrate Progress

July 16, 2025

July 16, 2025

The survey, designed by the University of Southern California, reported a 17.5% drop—the largest two-year decrease on record The Los...

Westwood Village Board to Discuss Public Art Initiative

July 15, 2025

July 15, 2025

The initiative aims to enhance community pride, boost local business revenue, and address urban blight through public art corridors and...

Beverly Hills Plans Major Apartment Development Near Civic Center

July 15, 2025

July 15, 2025

The site, currently holding 13 residential units, is slated for demolition to make way for the new development A proposal...

Federal Judge Sides with Santa Monica, Other Local Governments Against Immigration Raids

July 15, 2025

July 15, 2025

Santa Monica Mayor Lana Negrete praised the ruling, saying it reaffirmed the city’s commitment to protecting residents from unjust detention...

California Hits Two-Thirds Clean Energy Milestone

July 15, 2025

July 15, 2025

This year, clean energy has powered the state for an average of seven hours daily, with over 90% of days...