Law Enforcement

LAPD officers shoot, wound suspect in Southeast Los Angeles
Los Angeles police are investigating an officer-involved shooting Wednesday that left one suspect wounded after a pedestrian stop, department officials said. No officers were hurt in the incident, which was reported about 3:15 p.m. near 106th and San Pedro Streets, according to police. The suspect suffered a gunshot wound to his foot. No details about the incident were immediately available, including how many officers shot at the suspects or the number of rounds fired. But LAPD officials said a gun was recovered at the scene.
Los Angeles Times

LAPD perimeter search fails to locate alleged suspect who brandished a gun
A man brandished a handgun late Tuesday night and chased another man in the area of Vanowen Street and Radford Avenue in North Hollywood, but a massive perimeter search by the Los Angeles Police Department yielded no suspects or arrests, police said. "A man was confronted by a man with a gun. It's not clear if it was an attempted robbery or gang-related, but the suspect presented a gun. The suspect ran away," said Officer Sara Faden of the LAPD Media Relations section.
Studio City Patch

LAPD bomb squad investigates World War II howitzer shell found in Reseda
A Los Angeles Police Department bomb squad was investigating a World War II howitzer shell that was found today at American Legion Post 308 in Reseda. The shell, which was originally reported by police as a "suspicious package" was found about 2:35 p.m. under the floorboards in the attic of the legion post located in the 7300 block of Canby Avenue, one block north of Sherman Way, said LAPD Lt. Robert Davis, watch commander at the West Valley Station.
City News Service

Thefts on the rise, LAPD Rampart Division warns
The Los Angeles Police Department's Rampart Division is warning about a rise in thefts in its patrol area. Officers said there has been a more than 25-percent increase in year-to-date burglaries and thefts from vehicles. They have also seen a more than 14-percent jump in year-to-date personal property thefts. Laptop computers, phones, backpacks, purses and wallets are being left unattended at places like restaurants, stores, banks and parks for very short periods of time, and thieves are swiping them, according to police.
ABC7

$50,000 reward is offered in double hit-and-run
The city is offering a $50,000 reward for information on two drivers who separately struck and ran over a Pacoima woman who was on her way to morning Mass. Virginia Ramirez, 79, was struck at about 6:30 a.m. on March 17 as she crossed the street at Glenoaks Boulevard and Mercer Street, walking to Mary Immaculate Church in Pacoima. Police said they believe she was knocked down first by a 1998-2000 Nissan Frontier and the driver sped off. Moments later, she was hit again by a 1997-2000 Chevrolet Monte Carlo.
Los Angeles Daily News

Jurors recommend death for gang member who killed Jamiel Shaw
A gang member who gunned down a standout Los Angeles High School football player because he was carrying a red Spider-Man backpack should be sentenced to death, a jury recommended today. Pedro Espinoza, 23, was convicted May 9 of killing Jamiel Shaw on March 2, 2008, near his home in Arlington Heights. The same jury deliberated for about a day before reaching their verdict in the penalty phase of trial. Shaw was shot twice -- once in the abdomen and once in the head.
Los Angeles Daily News

Job fair gets mixed reviews
A job fair at Pasadena City College gave students an opportunity to find work and maybe even a career. Sponsored by the Career Center, employers included the Los Angeles Police Department, California Highway Patrol, Citi Bank, the Navy, Goodwill, and the Boys and Girls Club. "We are hiring and looking for students that are interested," said Elodia Lopez, representing the LAPD. Recruiters seemed pleased. "There are a lot of qualified applicants and a lot are interested in getting a career," said Mark Cortez, Navy representative
Pasadena City College Courier

Family asks for help to find missing FBI agent from Burbank
The Burbank family of an FBI agent who has been missing for 12 days is making a public plea for the man to come home. In a press conference Wednesday, Thea Ivens pleaded with her husband, 35-year-old Steven Ivens, to return home and keep his promise that they would grow old together. Burbank police say while they got more than 200 tips, their leads have dried up in the search for the agent.
Associated Press

Traffic

L.A. does not have worst traffic congestion
Think Los Angeles has the worst traffic congestion of any city in the United States? Not so. Honolulu, where drivers wasted an average of 58 hours in traffic last year, earned top honors for 2011, according to an annual score card released this week by the traffic information research group Inrix Inc. Los Angeles was not far behind, though -- in second place. Drivers in L.A. waste an average of 56 hours each year in traffic, according to the study. San Francisco was third, according to the group's analysis, and New York City fourth.
Los Angeles Times

City Government

LA Council moves to ban plastic grocery bags
Los Angeles is becoming the nation's largest city to ban plastic bags at grocery stores in an increasingly widespread move to conserve the environment. The City Council voted 13-1 Wednesday to approve a policy that would ban single-use plastic bags later this year after an environmental impact report is completed and an ordinance is adopted. The program would be modeled after bag bans in 48 other California cities that aim to prod consumers into using reusable bags in order to prevent plastic litter that clogs waterways, swells landfills and clutters streets.
Associated Press