Law Enforcement

Crime alerts for Hancock Park, Playa Vista and nine other L.A. neighborhoods
Crime reports are up significantly for the latest week in 11 L.A. neighborhoods, according to an analysis of LAPD data by the Los Angeles Times' Crime L.A. database. Five neighborhoods reported a significant increase in violent crime. Hancock Park was the most unusual, recording four reports compared with a weekly average of 0.8 over the last three months. Playa Vista topped the list of seven neighborhoods with property crime alerts. It recorded 11 property crimes compared with its weekly average of 4.0 over the last three months.
Los Angeles Times

Police ask for public's help in finding 2 men involved in sexual assault of woman in Fashion District
Police on Tuesday sought public help to find two men involved in the sexual assault of a woman in the Fashion District in downtown Los Angeles. The crime occurred early on the morning of July 16 near Olympic Boulevard and Main Street, said Los Angeles police Lt. Paul Vernon. The 18-year-old woman was walking to work when she was accosted by a man with long hair who sexually assaulted her. A second man, with a tattoo on his face, acted as a lookout and is wanted as an accessory to the crime, Vernon said.
Los Angeles Daily News

Police ID NoHo arson suspect
A 34-year-old man was taken into custody early Tuesday in connection with two vehicle fires after witnesses spotted him near an attempted fire, and authorities suspect he is involved in the series of arsons that have plagued a North Hollywood neighborhood. On Tuesday afternoon, authorities identified the suspect as Kurt K. Billie. Billie was previously convicted in Japan on arson charges in 2001 while serving as a U.S. Marine on Okinawa, a source in The Los Angeles Fire Department's Arson/Counter-Terrorism Section told NBCLA. Billie reportedly served jail time in Japan, the source said.
NBC4

Five arrested in smash-and-grab jewelry store robberies
Los Angeles police detectives have arrested two adults and three juveniles who allegedly were getting ready to rip off a downtown jewelry store near 6th Street and Broadway. Investigators suspect the five may be behind a slew of smash-and-grab robberies in the downtown Jewelry District in recent months. Jabril Greene, 24, and Makrice Leonard, 18, were booked Monday for conspiracy to commit robbery.
Los Angeles Times

LAPD urges drivers, cyclists to get along on the road
Citing a spike in bike accidents in the central area of the city, Los Angeles police on Tuesday asked both motorists and cyclists to do their part in sharing the road. "The mayor has declared the city of L.A. a bike-friendly city," said Capt. Ronald E. Marbrey. "We want to ensure we remain a bike-safe city." Marbrey said bike-related collisions have declined 4% across the city so far this year. But there has been a 9% uptick in bike accidents in the central part of the city.
Los Angeles Times

Juveniles and Miranda "custody"
In the 45 years since Miranda v. Arizona was decided, the court's Miranda jurisprudence has taken many twists and turns. Through 55 decisions, the U.S. Supreme Court has refined the rules and exceptions on such issues as custody, interrogation, content of the warning, waiver, invocation, reinitiation of questioning, admissibility, and civil liability. The rulings in these dozens of cases have not always been consistent. For example, in Fare v. Michael C. in 1979, the court said, "This court has not yet held that Miranda applies in juvenile proceedings." But in the years since-and without expressly ruling that Miranda does apply to juveniles-the court has acted as if it's a foregone conclusion that juvenile cases are in fact subject to Miranda.
Police Magazine

Parole

Prosecutor in Jaycee Dugard case attacks parole system
El Dorado County Dist. Atty. Vern Pierson, who prosecuted the man convicted of abducting Jaycee Lee Dugard and holding her for nearly two decades, on Tuesday blasted the criminal justice system that let onetime parolee Phillip Garrido previously go free. In a report issued the day before state Sen. Ted Gaines (R- Roseville) has scheduled a "community discussion" to focus on tightening parole requirements, Pierson cited the fact that parole agents over the years had made about 60 visits to Garrido's home and failed to discover Dugard, who was kept hidden in the backyard.
Los Angeles Times

Politics

Wendy Greuel leads in fundraising in 2013 mayoral race
Los Angeles City Controller Wendy Greuel pulled ahead of her early opponents in fundraising for the 2013 mayoral race, outperforming Councilwoman Jan Perry, former mayoral aide Austin Beutner and radio host Kevin James, according to reports filed Monday. Greuel collected more than $518,000, according to contribution statements covering the first six months of the year. She said her sizable haul showed that people want someone who can bring "needed reforms" to City Hall.
Los Angeles Times