Law Enforcement

LAPD seeks information in deadly crosswalk shooting
Los Angeles police Wednesday night were seeking information in the slaying of a man gunned down in a crosswalk. The victim was shot Tuesday about 3:15 p.m. near Council Street and Virgil Avenue in the Westlake neighborhood, the Los Angeles Police Department said. The attacker or attackers ran away, the LAPD said. The victim has not been identified, and no family members have come forward. The victim died of his wounds at a local hospital.
Los Angeles Times

LAPD looks for leads in Porter Ranch home-invasion robberies
Los Angeles police Tuesday night were looking for three men involved in robberies at three Porter Ranch homes, including one in which a resident was tied up as robbers ransacked the place. One of the robberies occurred about 2:30 p.m. Jan 9 after two of the men ransacked a residence in the 1200 block of Dunblane Avenue, the Los Angeles Police Department said. The person who was tied up was not injured, police said. The men are suspected of breaking into two other homes in the area and taking jewelry and cash.
Los Angeles Times

LAPD searching for Pacoima home-invasion robbers
The LAPD is searching for two suspects in a home-invasion robbery in the Mission area. Three suspects committed the robbery at about 9:20 a.m. on January 16 on the 14000 block of Nordhoff Street. The first suspect is described as a male of Middle Eastern descent with black hair and brown eyes, standing 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighing about 210 pounds. He is between 35 and 40 years old and reportedly spoke Arabic and English. The second suspect is described as a Hispanic female with black hair and brown eyes.
ABC7

LAPD warns Van Nuys residents to keep windows locked after rash of burglaries
The Los Angeles Police Department's Van Nuys Station issued warnings Wednesday to residents about recent strings of home burglaries and car thefts. Police advised residents to lock their windows because of a rash of burglaries through unlocked windows. Senior Lead Officer Trent Berry said "we have recently had residential burglaries where the suspect was able to gain entry through an unlocked window." Berry urged residents to "harden the target" and lock their windows when not at home.
CBS2

Investigation leads police, volunteers to comb Calabasas Landfill
Police and volunteers combed through some 630 tons of smelly, wind-blown trash Wednesday, searching the Calabasas Landfill for the gun allegedly used to kill an El Camino Real High School soccer star earlier this month. They came away empty-handed but plan to resume the hunt Thursday. The searchers were looking out for a plastic Target bag that police believe held the weapon used to kill Francisco "Pancho" Rodriguez Jr., the 17-year-old goalie gunned down in front of his Winnetka home on Jan. 11.
Los Angeles Daily News

The LAPD's continued defense of illegal immigrants
As things now stand, when an LAPD officer stops a driver for a traffic violation and finds him to be unlicensed, the officer issues a citation (or in some circumstances makes an arrest) and, under the authority of the California Vehicle Code, impounds the car for 30 days. This, say advocates for illegal immigrants, imposes an unfair burden on those whose immigration status precludes them from obtaining a driver's license in the first place. Among those advocates for illegal immigrants are the mayor of Los Angeles, Antonio Villaraigosa, and the man he appointed as police chief, Charlie Beck.
Jack Dunphy/Pajamas Media

The Courts

City Government

Buscaino to take L.A. council seat on Tuesday
Newly elected Los Angeles City Councilman Joe Buscaino will take office on Tuesday, when the council is slated to adopt a resolution declaring the final results of the Jan. 17 special election. Buscaino will assume office immediately after the council adjourns. His first council meeting will be Wednesday. A community swearing-in ceremony open to the public is scheduled for 2 p.m. Feb. 25 at the Warner Grand Theatre in downtown San Pedro.
Torrance Daily Breeze

L.A. redistricting panel unveils proposed council boundaries
Los Angeles' Redistricting Commission unveiled its proposed boundary changes for City Council seats Wednesday, setting the stage for a series of pitched battles over neighborhood identity, ethnic clout and raw political power. The maps sent one council district deeper into the San Fernando Valley, pulled another completely out of it and, in a third, employed what Councilman Bill Rosendahl called an "outrageous case of gerrymandering."
Los Angeles Times