James Queally
James Queally writes about crime and policing in Southern California. Since coming to The Times he has also traveled to Ferguson, Mo., and Cleveland to cover large-scale protests involving police use-of-force and the 2016 election. A Brooklyn native, he came to The Times in 2014 after covering crime and police news for the Star-Ledger in New Jersey. In that time he profiled Frank Lucas, the drug kingpin who inspired the film “American Gangster,” and wrote a series of stories that revealed how the state’s largest police departments failed to solve thousands of nonfatal shootings, which led to policy changes.
As Ventura seethes over fatal stabbing, police acknowledge mistake in handling of homeless man
Ventura's police chief says his officers erred in not responding to reports of a transient scaring people in the city's boardwalk. Hours later, the same man would stab a father to death in front of a restaurant, reigniting concerns about the way the city handles homelessness.
His convictions were overturned; he's in failing health. Will Bobby Joe Maxwell gain freedom in '70s serial killer case?
An appellate court overturned the conviction of Bobby Joe Maxwell, believed to be the "Skid Row Stabber," eight years ago. Four months ago, Maxwell had a heart attack and cannot move or speak. Los Angeles County prosecutors are still seeking a retrial.