Law Enforcement

Surveillance video shows attack on blind woman in Little Tokyo
Los Angeles police released surveillance video Monday and asked for the public's help in catching a mugger who choked a blind retiree and stole her jewelry in Little Tokyo. The robbery took place July 24 on First Street between Los Angeles and San Pedro streets, normally a busy shopping area with little crime, lined with sushi restaurants and clothing and trinket stores. The 68-year-old woman was pushing a walker when the man came up behind her and grabbed her around the throat as she struggled to understand what was happening, police said.
Los Angeles Times

Grim Sleeper: LAPD wants voice sample of serial killer suspect
Authorities on Monday requested permission to allow police detectives to take a voice sample of the man accused of being the Grim Sleeper serial killer for comparison with voice recordings from an anonymous male caller who had reported at least two of the killings to 911 operators. "Obviously, we want to compare his voice, so we think he is the caller," said Det. Dennis Kilcoyne. Lonnie David Franklin Jr. is accused of murder in the deaths of 10 women in South Los Angeles.
Los Angeles Times

Red-light cameras off, but tickets are still on
While city officials have waffled on whether motorists fined recently under the red-light camera program should have to pay up, justice officials say they will process the remaining 56,000 tickets issued through Sunday. The program officially ended Monday, but the fate of the remaining tickets and some 186,000 unpaid tickets is still uncertain. Superior Court spokeswoman Katherine Roberts said judges had no plans to cease processing the tickets.
Los Angeles Daily News

Community policing reaches youths
As morning broke over the city Monday, cops assigned to the Los Angeles Police Department's Southeast Division went about their normal routine, patrolling the streets. There was, as always, plenty to do. The division's 10-square-mile area has some of the highest crime and poverty rates in the city and is home to 120 documented gangs and three of the city's roughest housing projects. But 18 miles and a world away, Officer Scott Burkett was working a very different beat. Having traded his uniform for a wetsuit, the 15-year LAPD veteran was in the water at Torrance Beach with about two dozen kids from the Watts-area neighborhood that Southeast patrols, teaching them to surf.
Los Angeles Times

Prosecutors: Suspect kicked San Francisco Giants fan Bryan Stow after he was already unconscious
One of two suspects accused of savagely beating a San Francisco Giants fan outside Dodger Stadium kicked the victim several times in the head even though he was unconscious after being punched, prosecutors alleged Monday. Authorities for the first time provided a detailed description of the allegations against Louie Sanchez and co-defendant Marvin Norwood in a motion opposing a reduction of the $500,000 bail set for Sanchez.
Associated Press

Key witness in Bryan Stow beating dies unexpectedly
A key witness in the beating case of Giants fan Bryan Stow at Dodger Stadium died suddenly, apparently of an allergic food reaction. According to law enforcement sources familiar with the case, Matthew Lee died Sunday after eating a salad that apparently contained nuts, which caused the allergic reaction. The coroner has not determined a cause of death, however.
Los Angeles Times

Gov. signs bill cracking down on prostitution in massage parlors
Gov. Jerry Brown acted Monday to make it harder for massage parlors to operate as fronts for prostitution in California. The governor signed the legislation after The Times reported a proliferation in the number of erotic massage parlors in Los Angeles.
Los Angeles Times

Government Budgets

California's big stake in the federal deal
When Gov. Jerry Brown and state legislators were working on a state budget deal this year, they were talking about the general fund budget, which was finally pegged at $85.9 billion. That, however, is much less than half of total state spending, which includes special funds with restricted purposes, such as the gasoline taxes that are spent on highways, proceeds from bond issues and - most importantly - federal funds.
Sacramento Bee

Prisons

Highly paid prison doctor cleared to see patients
Jeffrey Rohlfing, a prison doctor who was paid more than $777,000 in 2010 despite not having treated a patient for six years because of alleged incompetence, was cleared to start examining inmates again Monday. "He has been granted privileges to see patients," said Nancy Kincaid, spokeswoman for the federal receiver overseeing California's troubled prison health system. "In a non-emergency setting," she added.
Los Angeles Times