Law Enforcement

Palms chiropractor found dead in office in possible homicide
Los Angeles police homicide detectives are investigating the death of a Palms chiropractor who was found dead in his office Thursday morning. Robert Rainey, 52, was found by a patient about 8 a.m. at his office in a strip mall in the 9200 block of Venice Boulevard, LAPD Lt. John Radtke said. He suffered apparent blunt-force trauma to the head, authorities said. Investigators suspect foul play but stress that the investigation is still in its early stages.
Los Angeles Times

Police seek Studio City hot-prowl burglars
Police sought the public's help Thursday in apprehending the suspects who burglarized a Studio City home where a family was sleeping, then fled with a stolen credit card after a child and an adult woke up. The break-in was reported at 4 a.m. May 21 at a home in the 12100 block of Laurel Terrace Drive. Police said two men broke in, armed themselves with a kitchen knife and began burglarizing the home. When a youngster and a relative woke up, the suspects fled in a white vehicle that was waiting in the driveway.
Los Angeles Daily News

Woman attacked inside her apartment
Police are investigating a home invasion attack. On the 3rd floor, near the end of the hallway, LAPD detectives work the crime scene. "I've been here 22 years, no problems down here. There's great people in this building," according to manager Lenny Vaughn. Vaughn is the manager of the building where police say a woman was attacked inside her own apartment. The building is located on Culver Boulevard, just three blocks from the LAPD's Pacific Division.
NBC4

Outpost Estates will form neighborhood watch program
Outpost Estates has officially decided to form a Neighborhood Watch Program. A group of residents gathered in the Community Room at Highland Camrose Park Wednesday night to hash out their plans. "We discussed a lot of different ways to start up," said LAPD officer Nicole Montgomery of the Hollywood Division. Montgomery was on hand to answer questions from residents as well as brief them about local crimes and offer tips on how to prevent crime. "Lately, the big issue has been lock your car, and hide all your valuables," Montgomery said.
Hollywood Patch

County orders city to clean up skid row
Citing immediate public health risks, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health has ordered city officials to remove feces, hypodermic needles and trash from Skid Row sidewalks. That, however, doesn't mean the city's street cleaning regimen is poised to change. The health department issued a 32-page report last week detailing conditions on nine blocks of the poverty-stricken neighborhood, where community stakeholders have been clamoring for months for cleaner sidewalks.
Downtown News

LAPD detective takes 25-hour Ferris wheel ride for charity
A Los Angeles police detective was on the ride of his life Thursday as he sought to set a world record for the longest time spent on a Ferris wheel. But this isn't going to be a leisurely ride for him - "I don't like heights, at all." LAPD Detective Gus Martinez began his attempt to break the Guinness World Record for "Longest Ride On A Fair Ground / Theme Park Attraction" at 7:30 a.m. at Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier. Martinez is seeking to ride the 130-foot tall Pacific Wheel Ferris wheel for 25 hours through 8:30 a.m. Friday in an attempt to raise funds and awareness for Special Olympics Southern California.
CBS2

Traffic

Toll lanes on 110 Freeway expected to be ready by November
It's something that can make solo drivers stuck in traffic on the Harbor Freeway pound their fists on the steering wheel -- watching those lucky enough, or smart enough, to speed by in the carpool lane. But officials will soon begin telling solo motorists how -- for 25 cents to $1.40 -- they too can join the exclusive lane. Transportation crews working to install toll lanes on 11 miles of the 110 Freeway and 14 miles of the 10 Freeway at a cost of about $290 million are 70% done with the lanes on the Harbor Freeway and hope to open the tolls there in November.
Los Angeles Times

Pensions

State pension agency slashes benefits for former Vernon officials
Two former administrators in the city of Vernon who received lavish compensation will have their retirement benefits slashed in what state pension officials described as the largest public pension reduction in state history. Bruce Malkenhorst, who receives the biggest public pension in California, $545,000 a year, will see his yearly benefit drop to about $115,000. His successor, Eric T. Fresch, will have his pension stripped completely. Fresch, who made as much as $1.6 million in 2008, has yet to formally retire.
Los Angeles Times

Legislation

Lawmakers decline to reduce penalties for meth, heroin possession
State lawmakers on Thursday rejected a proposal to reduce the charge for simple possession of heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine from a felony to a misdemeanor. Sen. Mark Leno (D-San Francisco) said his bill would save money and result in more people getting successful drug treatment so they can re-enter society.
Los Angeles Times

City Government