Law Enforcement

Crime alerts for Encino, Mission Hills and 10 other L.A. neighborhoods
Crime reports are up significantly for the latest week in 12 L.A. neighborhoods, according to an analysis of LAPD data by the Los Angeles Times' Crime L.A. database. 10 neighborhoods reported a significant increase in violent crime. Encino was the most unusual, recording three reports compared with a weekly average of 0.5 over the last three months. Mission Hills topped the list of two neighborhoods with property crime alerts.
Los Angeles Times

Charles Manson follower allegedly tried to smuggle phone to killer
A follower of Charles Manson has been arrested for allegedly trying to smuggle a cellphone to the cult leader at Corcoran State Prison. Craig Carlisle Hammond, 63, was arrested Sunday on charges of possession of an illegal communication device, attempting to bring a cellphone into a prison and conspiracy, said Terry Thornton, a California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation spokeswoman.
Los Angeles Times

LAPD can have tapes of Charles Manson follower, Texas judge rules
A federal judge in Texas has ruled that the Los Angeles Police Department can have access to 40-year-old taped conversations between one of Charles Manson's most fervent followers and his late attorney to see if it can help solve more murders. U.S. District Court Judge Richard A. Schell ruled that Charles "Tex" Watson waived his right to attorney-client privilege when he allowed the lawyer to sell the tapes to an author who wrote a book on Watson.
Los Angeles Times

Suspect in Brutal Kidnapping Attempts May Have Targeted More Women: LAPD
A La Crescenta man suspected of at least two attempted kidnappings in one day may have been involved in additional abduction attempts, Los Angeles police said Tuesday. Jason Kies, 37, was arrested March 23 while he was allegedly scoping out another potential victim, police said at a news conference in North Hollywood.
NBC4

Woman who escaped Louisiana prison captured in downtown L.A.
A 33-year-old woman who escaped from a Louisiana prison while serving time for manslaughter was arrested in downtown Los Angeles on Monday. Keana Barnes is believed to have broken out of the Louisiana Correctional Institute for Women by jumping out her first-floor cell window and scaling several fences, including at least one barbed wire fence, on Jan. 1.
Los Angeles Times

Suspected drug dealer injures 2 men in car crash while evading police
A suspected drug dealer is behind bars after injuring two men in a car crash while evading police in Tarzana Monday afternoon. The collision happened at the corner of Avenida Hacienda and Tarzana Drive. Authorities said they tried to pull over the driver of a black Dodge Charger who sold drugs to an undercover officer. "It was an observation of a narcotics transaction. It was a planned buy/bust type of an operation," said Capt. John Egan of the Los Angeles Police Department.
CBS LA

LAPD remains "committed" to reward offered during Christopher Dorner manhunt
The Los Angeles Police Department on Tuesday said it remained "committed" to doling out the $1.2 million reward offered during the manhunt for rogue ex-LAPD officer Christopher Dorner, one day after the city of Riverside pulled its $100,000 pledge. The city of Riverside announced it is withdrawing its $100,000 pledge offered during the frantic manhunt that left four people, including Riverside police officer Michael Crain, dead.
NBC4

The Courts

Court: Drug dog sniff is unconstitutional search
The Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that police cannot bring drug-sniffing police dogs onto a suspect's property to look for evidence without first getting a warrant for a search, a decision which may limit how investigators use dogs' sensitive noses to search out drugs, explosives and other items hidden from human sight, sound and smell.
Associated Press

Prisons

California to seek return of sole control over mental health care at prisons
On Wednesday, California will ask a federal judge to end his oversight of the mental health care system in state prisons. Since the judge appointed a special master more than a decade ago, California has spent billions of dollars to improve psychiatric care for inmates. But the state's failure to lower the inmate suicide rate will complicate its effort.
Southern California Public Radio

City Government

L.A. Council votes to study controversial cost-cutting package
Saying it had no choice in the face of persistent budget deficits, the Los Angeles City Council agreed Tuesday to examine a package of controversial cost-cutting proposals that one councilman likened to a "declaration of war" on city workers and business. The action, suggested by Councilman Bernard C. Parks, directs City Administrator Miguel Santana to prepare reports on a number of areas where the city could reduce costs, including doing away with a shortened work week
for police officers, deferring or eliminating proposed employee raises and abandoning efforts to reduce the business tax.
Los Angeles Times

Reseda Park hours limited by L.A. City Council due to gang, drug activity
Council members on Tuesday approved a plan that would limit the hours of operation in a portion of Reseda Park after complaints of increased gang and drug activity. "The LAPD asked us to do this so we can have better control at the northern portion of the park," Councilman Dennis Zine said. Nancy Sweeney of Revitalize Reseda said the area affected is removed from the main portion of the park and is the least well lit.
Los Angeles Daily News