Law Enforcement

Crime alerts for Pico-Union, Elysian Park and 5 other neighborhoods
Crime reports are up significantly for the latest week in seven L.A. neighborhoods, according to an analysis of LAPD data by the Los Angeles Times' Crime L.A. database. Six neighborhoods reported a significant increase in violent crime. Pico-Union was the most unusual, recording 12 reports compared with a weekly average of 5.7 over the last three months.
Los Angeles Times

Man killed in drive-by shooting in South L.A.
A 43-year-old man was killed Monday night in a drive-by shooting in South Los Angeles, police said. The victim was standing in the 1100 block of West 45th Street when a vehicle drove by about 8:15 p.m. and gunshots were reported, the Los Angeles Police Department said. The victim was taken to a local hospital and pronounced dead, Officer Karen Rayner said. No arrests had been made. Since January 2007, at least 168 homicides have been reported within two miles of the shooting scene, according to The Times Homicide Report database.
Los Angeles Times

Parents of slain USC students visit crime scene, meet with police
The parents of two USC graduate students from China killed near the university visited the scene of the crime Sunday evening and are meeting with detectives Monday to discuss the horrific events, police said. Los Angeles Police Cmdr. Andrew Smith said the parents and relatives of Ming Qu and Ying Wu, both 23, flew in from China and have been to the 2700 block of Raymond Avenue. They were scheduled to meet with detectives Monday to discuss what investigators know at this stage in the slayings. USC has offered a $125,000 reward.
Los Angeles Times

Family of teen shot, killed by LAPD on 101 Freeway in Woodland Hills files $120M claim against L.A.
The family of 19-year-old Abdul Arian, who was shot and killed by police on the 101 Freeway in Woodland Hills last week, filed a claim on Monday seeking $120 million - or $1 million for each bullet they say LAPD officers fired at the young man. The claim, filed by parents Ahmad and Deena Arian against the city of Los Angeles, said their son was "brutally and unlawfully shot to death" by eight officers who fired approximately 120 rounds of ammunition at the unarmed teen.
Los Angeles Times
Related: LAPPL News Release

Thefts of cellphones jump in downtown L.A.
Police in downtown Los Angeles have seen cellphone thefts soar as smartphones like the iPhone become easily turned into pay-as-you-go phones. In the first quarter of this year, thefts of cellphones increased 32% in the downtown area. In the one-mile-square area of skid row, the increase is even more pronounced, said Los Angeles Police Lt. Paul Vernon. Individuals reported 54 cellphones taken in crimes within skid row in the first three months of 2012, compared with 115 during all of 2011.
Los Angeles Times

Search is on for man who rappelled down Marina del Rey highrise
Police were looking Monday for a burglary suspect they say used rope to drop onto a balcony at a high-rise apartment building in Marina del Rey and demand entry to a woman's residence. Police were trying to get a surveillance video Monday and would likely release it to the public to help identify the suspect. The bizarre burglary occurred around 6 a.m. Saturday on the 19th floor of a complex near the corner of Maxella Avenue and Lincoln Boulevard, said LAPD Det. Warren Porche.
Los Angeles Times

Police discover explosives, weapons cache inside San Pedro home
A bomb squad searched a San Pedro residence Monday after police discovered potentially explosive devices and weapons inside a man's home while conducting a regular parole sweep. Los Angeles police officers made the discovery during a routine parole check, according to the City News Service. Along with the improvised explosives, the man, who was not the subject of the parole sweep, had biologically dangerous material inside a home located near the intersections of Mesa and 25th streets, reported KTLA.
Belmont Shore - Naples Patch

Legislation

Law would protect cops from car insurance hikes
Cities are nervous about a bill that, they say, would saddle them with liability for the personal auto use of their police officers and firefighters. California law already forbids insurers from dinging police and firefighters for accidents they've had in official emergency vehicles during the course of their work. Assembly Bill 1551, by Norma J. Torres, would take this a few steps farther.
Orange County Register

Prisons

Prisons to block use of smuggled phones
A private company has agreed to pay millions to install technology in California prisons to block Web searches, text messages and phone calls by inmates using smuggled phones. The deal won't cost taxpayers a dime, state officials insist, because the company, Global Tel Link, also owns the traditional pay phones prisoners can legally use. Company officials are betting that once the contraband cell devices are disabled, demand for pay phones will skyrocket. Like other states, California is battling a plague of phones smuggled to inmates.
Los Angeles Times

The Courts

California chief justice warns budget cuts are threatening court system
The chief justice of the state Supreme Court warned Monday that another possible round of budget cuts threatens to continue the shuttering of courtrooms, depriving Californians of access to their judicial system. Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye said the judicial system's budget has been cut by 30% in the last four years and faces the potential loss of an additional $125 million next year if a tax measure on the November ballot fails.
Los Angeles Times