Police Employee Dies After Weekend Attack

Angela M. King, a 34-year-old traffic control assistant for nine years with the Anaheim Police Department, died Sunday from injuries she suffered a day earlier from an attacker who deliberately set her Anaheim apartment on fire.

King’s 70-year-old neighbor, who lived two doors away, was also assaulted and her two-bedroom apartment torched. She was taken to UC Irvine Medical Center, where nursing supervisor Jean Necas said she was “awake and alert” and was listed in serious condition.

Citing concerns for the older woman’s safety, Anaheim police declined to release her name.

Both women apparently lived alone in the four-unit building in the 100 block of North East Street, a busy block dominated by multistory apartment complexes.

Authorities said they were not sure which woman was attacked first. Nor did they know whether the assailant knew either or both women.

Fire officials said the two apartments suffered only smoke damage. Another apartment between the two torched units did not burn.

Anaheim detectives and forensic specialists continued to comb through the two apartments Sunday.

King had just completed a shift directing traffic at the Anaheim Pond for the Mighty Ducks’ season-opening game, officials said. Firefighters discovered her in her apartment shortly after 1 a.m. Saturday and found smoke billowing from the building. King was still wearing her Anaheim police vest and uniform.

In her position as a part-time civilian employee in the Police Department’s traffic control division, King directed traffic at sporting events at the Pond and Edison Field, as well as at the scene of car accidents and police investigations.

“We are proud of Angela, her service and her accomplishments,” Anaheim Police Sgt. Rick Martinez said on behalf of the department.

Another Anaheim city worker said, “She was a nice, pleasant young lady with a great sense of humor and a wonderful personality.”