Law Enforcement

Police seek suspects in Hollywood, Rampart Village shootings
Los Angeles police had cordoned off large parts of Hollywood and Rampart Village early Thursday in searches for suspects in separate shootings. In Hollywood, officers blocked off an area as they searched for shooters in a gun battle on Franklin Avenue near Gower Street that left one man in critical condition. Officers brought in bloodhounds to search for suspects in the shooting, which erupted just before midnight Wednesday, according to KTLA-TV. A few miles away, at Fourth Street and Virgil Avenue, police also cordoned off a large area as they searched for a man who fired at an officer, grazing him in the leg about 3 a.m. Thursday, officials said. The officer was treated by paramedics at the scene and released.
Los Angeles Times

LAPD beefs up NoHo presence in face of thefts, break-ins
A spree of thefts in the NoHo Arts District spurred police to warn residents Wednesday to "lock it, hide it, keep it." Crime was down 5 percent overall across North Hollywood, but the theft of bicycles and items from cars and businesses around the Red Line station shot up 19 percent, police said. "We've had an explosion of thefts of electronics taken," said Capt. Justin Eisenberg, commander of North Hollywood Division, during a news conference near the subway entrance. "At nearby apartments, we've had cars broken into.
Los Angeles Daily News

LAPD Chief tells officers to ignore federal illegal immigrant law
In Los Angeles, where the distinctions between the citizen and the non-citizen are often little more than abstractions, they are one step closer to vanishing altogether. That such a thing should occur in Los Angeles comes as no surprise to anyone paying even the slightest attention to recent trends in the city's governance. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa is famously sympathetic to the cause of illegal immigrants, and most members of the city council hold similar views.
Jack Dunphy/PJ Media

LAPD: 'Mystery' why man so heavily armed at airport
Investigators say they still don't know why a Dorchester, Mass., man was wearing body armor and carrying a significant cache of weapons at Los Angeles International Airport last week. Yongda Huang Harris, 28, was on his way from Japan to Boston when customs agents stopped him last Friday. In his luggage, they found a smoke grenade, three leather-coated Billy clubs, a collapsible baton, a full-face respirator, various knives, a hatchet, body bags, a biohazard suit, handcuffs, leg irons and a device to repel dogs.
CBS Boston

Los Altos Hills fugitive arrested, LAPD assist in case
A Los Altos Hills resident evading custody after conviction on numerous white-collar crimes was found and arrested Oct. 3 in Watsonville, according to law enforcement officials. Jay Chandrakant Shah, 48, was convicted Sept. 19 of 13 felony counts, including grand theft, money laundering, forgery, filing forged documents and conspiracy. Shah posted $1 million bail but failed to appear for the verdict. A new sentencing hearing is scheduled Nov. 9. Shah, one of five co-conspirators in a massive fraud case, faces more than 35 years in prison.
Los Altos Town Crier

LAPD to host Topanga area town hall
The Los Angeles Police Department's Topanga Community Station will host its annual town hall meeting Thursday. Area officers will address crime concerns from the community and representatives from Council members Dennis Zine and Mitchell Englander's offices will be on hand to address matters not covered by the police. The event will take place from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at West Valley Christian Church, 22450 Sherman Way in West Hills. For more information, contact Senior Lead Officer Dennis Cunningham or Sam Sabra at 818-756-3070.
Woodland Hills Patch

Van Nuys man gets 25 years in prison for shooting LAPD helicopter
A 20-year-old man was sentenced to 25 years in prison Wednesday after pleading no contest to shooting at a Los Angeles police helicopter over Van Nuys and forcing the pilot to make an emergency landing. Danny Anthony Lopez was 18 at the time of the shooting in April 2011, when he admitted opening fire on the Los Angeles police helicopter, hitting its fuel tank.
Los Angeles Times

Mammoth Lakes proposes laying off nearly half of police force
A proposal to lay off nearly half the police force in the High Sierra town of Mammoth Lakes would jeopardize the safety of residents, tourists and officers, the president of the Mammoth Lakes Police Officers Assn. warned. "Our main concerns include public safety and maintaining backup for our officers," Sgt. Paul Robles, president of the Mammoth Lakes Police Officers Assn., said in an interview.
Los Angeles Times

Shuttle Endeavour

Final preparations underway for Endeavour's last trip
Excitement is building for the final journey of the space shuttle Endeavour on city streets from LAX to the California Science Center. Endeavour is scheduled to begin its 2-day, 12-mile trek from LAX to Exposition Park around 2 a.m. on Friday. It will crawl along the route at just 2 mph. City officials warn that the public should anticipate traffic delays on the route and in surrounding areas throughout Endeavour's last trip -- dubbed "Mission 26."
KTLA News

City Government

Unclaimed parking ticket refunds go to city of L.A.
Some at City Hall are questioning whether the city of Los Angeles should have taken more than $56,000 set aside for motorists who had successfully challenged their parking tickets and used it to help patch a budget hole. They wonder whether the motorists, owed sums as large as $350, had enough of a chance to claim the money before it was rolled into city coffers.
Los Angeles Times

City Election 2013

Greuel, Garcetti neck and neck in campaign fundraising
Los Angeles City Councilman Eric Garcetti has raised $2.87 million for his 2013 mayoral bid since launching it last year, edging ahead of City Controller Wendy Greuel in the search for funds by nearly $72,000, according to figures released by the two campaigns. Greuel, who has been running since March 2011, has taken in $2.8 million so far. Garcetti raised $664,000 during the three-month period that ended Sept. 30, compared to $592,000 collected by Greuel.
Los Angeles Times