Law Enforcement

70 arrested in massive parole sweep aimed at countering gang crime
About 700 officers from federal, state and local agencies hammered on the doors of about 400 parolees across Los Angeles County early Wednesday morning in what officials called the largest surprise parole sweep ever. Authorities made at least 70 arrests, confiscated dozens of weapons and seized 30 grams of cocaine and 156 grams of marijuana.
Los Angeles Times

Where we've been and where we're going: Keeping Los Angeles safe
Safety doesn't happen by accident. And it is no accident that the Los Angeles of today is the safest it's been since the Eisenhower administration. The dedicated and brave men and women who protect our city every day have a lot to be proud of, and we thank them for their service. When I was elected Mayor of Los Angeles, we promised to take on the big challenges and make the tough choices: grow our economy, improve our schools and keep our neighborhoods safe.
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa/Huffington Post

7 injured in LA jail brawl involving 78 inmates
Authorities say seven inmates were taken to the hospital with injuries sustained in a racially-charged brawl that broke out at a downtown Los Angeles jail. Fire Department spokesman Erik Scott said firefighters responded to reports of a disturbance at Men's Central Jail at around 5 p.m. Wednesday. County sheriff's Capt. Mike Parker said four inmates began fighting, leading to a brawl that divided 78 inmates in a housing pod along racial lines. Deputies used pepper spray and sting balls to quell the fight, which lasted about 15 minutes.
Associated Press

Man convicted of pointing lasers at LAPD chopper
A 23-year-old man has been convicted of pointing laser beams at a Los Angeles police helicopter. The District Attorney's office said a jury found Floyd Atkins guilty of one felony count of discharging laser at an aircraft. Atkins was one of two men arrested July 4, 2011 by a helicopter crew trying to pinpoint the location where lasers were flashed at California Highway Patrol and LAPD helicopters several days earlier.
Associated Press

Man killed in Sylmar in suspected drug-related attack, LAPD says
A 25-year-old man died after he was shot in Sylmar in an apparent drug-related attack, police said Wednesday night. The man was found mortally wounded Wednesday afternoon near a home at 15808 Roxford St., the Los Angeles Police Department said. The victim was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital. The property included several horse stables, where officers found "two bricks of cocaine," Lt. Paul Vernon said.
Los Angeles Times

Crime tip: Skip the lip tattoo
Authorities on Wednesday arrested one of three people being sought in the fatal shooting of a 33-year-old man at an Arleta shopping center in what police described as a drug-related crime. The gunfire broke out at Plaza Romo in the 14000 block of Van Nuys Boulevard around 7:45 p.m. Tuesday, Los Angeles police Lt. Paul Vernon of the Mission Station said. The victim was found sitting in a white Nissan, shot at least twice, and died as paramedics were taking him to a hospital, Vernon said.
City News Service

Man fatally shot after going to 7-Eleven in Reseda
A man who was fatally shot Wednesday when he returned to his vehicle after going to a 7-Eleven in Reseda was most likely targeted by his killer, authorities said. The shooting near Victory and Reseda boulevards was reported about 1:15 a.m., said Los Angeles police Officer Gary Shanahan of the West Valley Station. Lamar Green Jr., 28, died at a hospital, said coroner's Chief Craig Harvey.
City News Service

Justin Bieber: Paparazzo in chase first to face charges under law
A paparazzo who allegedly pursued teen pop star Justin Bieber in a high-speed chase along the 101 Freeway will face criminal charges, the L.A. city attorney's office announced Wednesday, marking the first case filed under the state's harsher anti-paparazzi law. Paul Raef, 30, a freelance photographer, was charged with reckless driving, failing to obey the lawful order of a peace officer, two counts of following another vehicle too closely and reckless driving with the intent to capture pictures for commercial gain, City Atty. Carmen Trutanich said in a statement.
Los Angeles Times

2 LAPD officers lied about making DUI arrest, prosecutor says
Prosecutors charged two Los Angeles police officers Wednesday with perjury and filing a false report for allegedly lying about an arrest. Craig Allen, 39, and Phillip Walters, 56, turned themselves in to authorities at the downtown criminal courthouse after arrest warrants were issued, said Deputy Dist. Atty. Renee Chang, of the Los Angeles County district attorney's office's Justice System Integrity Division, in a statement.
Los Angeles Times

Ballot Initiatives

Death penalty repeal pits Mayor Villaraigosa vs. former Gov. Wilson
Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa goes up against former Gov. Pete Wilson in a debate over the death penalty that will be coming soon to mailboxes throughout California. Villaraigosa signed the ballot argument to be included in the official state voter guide on Proposition 34, which would repeal the state's death penalty if approved on the November ballot. Wilson signed the "no" argument.
Los Angeles Times

Prisons

'Realignment' has shifted 38,000 felons to local control
The "realignment" of California's criminal justice system, implemented in response to a Supreme Court decree to reduce overcrowding in state prisons, has shifted 38,000 felons from the state to local authorities so far, according to an initial study. The study, conducted by the Chief Probation Officers of California with a foundation grant, says that 23,000 prison inmates have been released into supervision by local probation officers, rather than by state parole agents, and an additional 15,000 felons have been diverted into local jails and probation rather than being sent to state prison.
Sacramento Bee

City Government

Hundreds of new parking meters going up in L.A.
Weeks after they hiked the fines for dozens of parking violations, elected leaders in L.A. voted Tuesday to add more than 400 parking meters to a pair of neighborhoods. The City Council agreed to install 247 meters on streets in Palms, just north of Culver City near the 10 Freeway. Another 190 will go up in a part of Westchester near Los Angeles International Airport, on streets such as Airport Boulevard, Century Boulevard and 98th Street.
Los Angeles Times

Editorial cartoon: Budget cuts: What should the LAPD scrimp on next?
The LAPD has notified cash-strapped police precincts that they may apply for only 10 fingerprint analyses from the crime lab every month. Cases are backing up due to budget cuts. What next in budget-cutting?
Ted Rall/Los Angeles