Crime alerts for Tarzana and 12 other L.A. neighborhoods
Crime reports are up significantly for the latest week in 13 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. Tarzana was the most unusual, recording five reports compared with a weekly average of 1.5 over the last three months. Manchester Square topped the list of eight neighborhoods with property crime alerts.
Los Angeles Times

Man shot to death while sitting in a car in L.A. ID'd
The county coroner's office on Monday released the name of the 41-year-old man who was shot to death while sitting in a car in Los Angeles. Eduardo Duran Gonzalez was found fatally shot Saturday afternoon near East Sixth Street and Euclid Avenue, Officer Cleon Joseph of the Los Angeles Police Department said. "Upon arrival, the officers saw a man sitting in a car suffering from multiple gunshot wounds," Joseph said in a statement. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Los Angeles Daily News

Stabbing at Studio City strip mall; woman arrested
A woman was arrested after stabbing a man at a Studio City strip mall Monday afternoon. Authorities responded to the stabbing at a strip mall on the 11900 block of Ventura Boulevard at 12:10 p.m. A male victim was rushed to a local hospital in unknown condition. The stabbing occurred outside a dry-cleaning business next to a Trader Joe's grocery store near the intersection of Ventura Blvd. and Laurel Canyon Blvd.
ABC7

Court reverses death sentence against SoCal gang leader 'Big Evil'
In a rare double-reversal in a capital murder case, the California Supreme Court Monday threw out the convictions and death sentences of notorious South Los Angeles gang leader Cleamon "Big Evil" Johnson and one of his cohorts for the August 1991 slayings of two rivals. The state's highest court unanimously ruled that the trial judge erred by discharging a juror during deliberations in the guilt phase of the trial for prejudging the case and relying on evidence that was not presented at trial.
Los Angeles Daily News

South Korean robot prison guards: R2-D2 maybe, not the Terminator
South Korea is ready to wheel out its latest weapon in the war against crime: a 5-foot-tall, four-wheeled prison guard robot that will patrol the behind-bars hallways of penal institutions, even assess the mental states of prisoners. This won't be just any new guard to join the team. There will be no breaks, no demands for higher pay, no unprovoked attacks and not even a chance of accepting a bribe.
Los Angeles Times

FBI plans biometrics tech center
The FBI has employed new biometrics technology and is teaming with the Department of Defense to help enhance the crime-fighting and prevention work of its largest division, the Criminal Justice Information Services Division. CJIS is responsible for information repositories - such as the National Crime Information Center, the Interstate Identification Index, and the National Instant Criminal Background Check System - that provide law-enforcement officers with real-time data on people's criminal history, stolen property, missing persons, and other information.
Information Week

Central City Association endorses Joe Buscaino for L.A. City Council
The Central City Association of Los Angeles, L.A.'s premier business advocacy group, announced it has endorsed LAPD Officer Joe Buscaino for his first term representing District 15 on the Los Angeles City Council. Buscaino was one of two candidates who won the most votes during the special district election on November 8. A special runoff election will be held on January 17, 2012.
Central City Press Release

Los Angeles weighs steps to hold its banks more accountable
Under pressure to deliver a law that will hold banks more accountable, the City Council began Monday to debate a proposal that would require some banks seeking the city's financial business to disclose detailed information about their lending practices in Los Angeles. The proposal falls far short of the ambitious agenda pressed by Occupy L.A., community activists and union workers who drew about 160 protesters to a raucous rally outside City Hall.
Los Angeles Times

Mayor supports advertising in parks
A top adviser to Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa urged a City Council committee Monday to pass an ordinance that would allow advertising in the Los Angeles Zoo and city parks. Brian Currey, an attorney for Villaraigosa's Office, made a personal appearance before the Planning and Land Use Committee meeting, saying the city is looking for "innovative revenue sources." "We are in a very difficult time, facing a $70 million deficit," said Currey. "The mayor's position is: Let's not rule out any options."
Los Angeles Times