Law Enforcement

Crime alerts for Northridge and 18 other L.A. neighborhoods
Crime reports are up significantly for the latest week in 19 L.A. neighborhoods, according to an analysis of LAPD data by the Los Angeles Times' Crime L.A. database. Nine neighborhoods reported a significant increase in violent crime. Northridge was the most unusual, recording nine reports compared with a weekly average of 3.4 over the last three months. North Hollywood topped the list of 10 neighborhoods with property crime alerts.
Los Angeles Times

LAPD bicycle community outreach meeting today
The Los Angeles Police Department invites the bicycling community to a Bicycle Community Outreach Meeting to introduce four newly appointed Traffic Division Bicycle Liaisons. The meeting will be held at 4 p.m. today at the Police Administration Building. Instead of just one point of contact with the LAPD, there will now be four officers solely dedicated to bicycle safety and outreach, one for each LAPD Traffic Division. Each Traffic Division is responsible for the investigation of traffic collisions and traffic-related crimes located in its respective Bureau.
LADOT BIke Blog

LAPD search for gold necklace thief; last seen in the Hollenbeck area
Los Angeles Police are asking for the public's help in providing any information that would lead to the arrest of a man who stole a gold necklace from the neck of a young girl. The robbery occurred in the Hollenbeck area around 1 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 24. Authorities say the girl was walking near Cesar Chavez Avenue and Flicket Street when the suspect walked up to the victim and pulled her gold chain off her neck. The suspect, last seen running from the location, is described as a black male, 20-25-years-old, approximately 6'5", 180 lbs.
ABC7

LAPD home invasion prank
Police were investigating an apparent prank involving a fake 911 call from someone who reported to Wednesday that a home invasion involving gunfire was unfolding at actor Ashton Kutcher's Hollywood Hills home. Officers sent to the 3000 block of Arrowhead Drive about 11 a.m. on a report of a burglary in progress detained three people, said Los Angeles police Officer Tenesha Dobine of the Media Relations office. Police searched the multi-level residence, but found no other people inside, Dobine said. A preliminary investigation indicated that the incident apparently was a prank, Dobine said.
City News Service

Sheriff Baca agrees to sweeping reforms amid scandal
Faced with mounting pressure over a jail abuse scandal and criticism of his management, Sheriff Lee Baca on Wednesday agreed to dozens of reforms including the establishment of an independent inspector general to scrutinize Sheriff's Department operations. The move would create significantly stronger civilian monitoring of the Sheriff's Department, with an inspector general having the power to conduct investigations both inside the nation's largest jail system and elsewhere in the department.
Los Angeles Times

FBI says it's using Facebook, Twitter to find 'wanted terrorist'
The FBI says it is deploying Facebook and Twitter to find "a wanted terrorist" who grew up near Boston and may now be living in Syria. He is Ahmad Abousamra, 31, a French-born dual citizen of the United States and Syria. Abousamra was indicted in 2009 after taking trips to Pakistan and Yemen. The bureau is offering a reward of up to $50,000 for information leading to his arrest. "Knowing that the public is the FBI's best ally in finding fugitives, we're requesting their assistance to locate Ahmad Abousamra," said Richard DesLauriers, special agent in charge of the FBI's Boston division.
CNN

Proposition 32

Editorial: No on Proposition 32
Proposition 32 claims to be a reform measure, a good-government proposal to rid state and local elections of the special-interest money that increasingly dominates in political races around the country. But it isn't. In reality, Proposition 32 is a deceptive measure that would disproportionately weaken some special interests while leaving others essentially unaffected. Those who have seen its list of backers will not be surprised to learn that it would have a devastating effect on labor unions' political fundraising efforts and only a trivial impact on corporate spending. Voters should reject it.
Los Angeles Times

The Economy

Analysts: California likely in for another gas price spike
Energy analysts are warning of a possible 10- to 20-cent spike in gasoline prices throughout California this week. National gas price tracker GasBuddy.com said some Golden State locales might see a spike of up to 30 cents per gallon as the result of "refinery outages due to excessive heat and other related issues, as well as a continued outage at a Chevron facility due to fire this past summer." An Aug. 6 fire at a key Chevron refinery in Richmond prompted a 25.8-cent spike in gasoline prices within just a few days, and prices have hardly moved since then.
Sacramento Bee