Law Enforcement

Crime alerts for Reseda, Larchmont and 13 other L.A. neighborhoods
Crime reports are up significantly for the latest week in 15 L.A. neighborhoods, according to an analysis of Los Angeles Police Department data by the Los Angeles Times' Crime L.A. database. Five neighborhoods reported a significant increase in violent crime. Reseda was the most unusual, recording 11 reports compared with a weekly average of 3.6 over the last three months. Larchmont topped the list of 10 neighborhoods with property crime alerts.
Los Angeles Times

2 South L.A. shootings, one fatal, might be connected
Los Angeles police are investigating whether two shootings that occurred within a few blocks and about an hour of each other Sunday in South Los Angeles were related, officials said. The first happened shortly after 4 a.m. near the intersection of Broadway and 47th Street, where a man who is said to be in his 40s, was shot in the leg. Just over an hour later, near the intersection of Broadway and 51st Street, another man -- who police said was in his 30s -- was fatally shot.
Los Angeles Times

LAPD shuts down pot store in Chatsworth; 3 arrested
Police said Monday night that officers have shut down a final medical marijuana dispensary in an area where dozens of pot shops once thrived. Narcotics officers from the Devonshire Division served a search warrant at Herbal Medicine Care in the 10100 block of South Topanga Boulevard in Chatsworth, the Los Angeles Police Department said. Three people were arrested on suspicion of possessing marijuana for sale, the LAPD said, and officers seized 50 pounds of marijuana, 156 marijuana plants and more than $6,000.
Los Angeles Times

Driver in high-speed chase fires gun before arrest, LAPD says
A driver suspected of leading officers on a high-speed chase was arrested Monday night after he fired at least one gunshot round as he was being uncovered by a search dog after the chase, police said. The man was taken into custody after he and a female passenger bailed from a suspected stolen vehicle at the end of a lengthy pursuit near Griffith and East 28th streets, the Los Angeles Police Department said. An LAPD search dog had found the suspect, who fired his weapon as the dog neared, Officer Karen Rayner said.
Los Angeles Times

3 wounded after gunfire breaks out in Wilmington
Three people were wounded Monday night after gunfire broke out on a Wilmington street, police said. Multiple gunshots were reported near East Mauretania Street and Watson Avenue while the victims were in or near a white SUV, the Los Angeles Police Department said. LAPD officers swarmed the scene late Monday as police gathered evidence and searched for witnesses.
Los Angeles Times

Scam Watch: Consumers conned by would-be lovers
With Valentine's Day approaching, now might be a good time for lonely consumers to watch out for a con called the "romance scam." In this scam, criminals pose as would-be lovers through social media or dating websites, strike up an Internet-based relationship and then ask for money so they can travel to meet their pursuer. Once the lonely victim sends the money, the conversations end and the money is gone.
Los Angeles Times

L.A. County's broken jails: What's the fix?
Last week, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted to apply for a $100-million state grant to help build a new jail. Whether the state will provide the funds is unclear. What is obvious, however, is that no one at the county level - not Sheriff Lee Baca, not Chief Executive William T Fujioka, not even the supervisors - has a sensible plan in hand for how to solve the system's broader problems.
Los Angeles Times Editorial

Legislation

Assembly considers softening Three Strikes law
Some state lawmakers want to ask voters to revise California's Three Strikes Law as a way to reduce prison sentences and save money on corrections, but they're having a hard time getting the issue through the Legislature. The Assembly on Monday failed to pass AB327, which would require that a defendant's third strike be for a serious or violent felony. Assemblyman Mike Davis, D-Los Angeles, asked for the bill to be taken up again Tuesday, the deadline for each house to pass legislation introduced last year.
Associated Press

Assembly kills bill proposing four-tier sex registration system
Legislation to create a tiered sex-offender registration system designed to focus attention on violent criminals was killed Monday by the Assembly. Assembly Bill 625 died by a vote of 19-41. Its author, Assemblyman Tom Ammiano, D-San Francisco, said he will propose a similar measure later this year.
Sacramento Bee

Election 2013

Wendy Greuel, Eric Garcetti raise $1 million each in bids to become next L.A. mayor
With the election 15 months away, two city officials said Monday they have raised more than $1 million each in what is expected to be a crowded and costly race for mayor. City Controller Wendy Greuel and Councilman Eric Garcetti each said they will file reports today showing they have exceeded the million-dollar mark at this point in the campaign.
Los Angeles Daily News