Law Enforcement

What's it like to fly on an LAPD helicopter patrol?
The nation's largest police helicopter fleet lives in downtown Los Angeles. The L.A. Police Department owns and operates 17 helicopters that cover nearly 500 square miles of the city, from the San Fernando Valley to San Pedro. Most of them launch and land around the clock from the police department's spacious helipad, located just west of the Los Angeles River. "The mission is the same. It's just the vehicle is different," says Lt. Phillip Smith, assistant commanding officer at LAPD's Air Support Division.
KPCC

Vehicle burglaries spike, says Devonshire Division
There's been a recent uptick in car burglaries in the Northridge and Granada Hills areas, according to the local branch of the Los Angeles Police Department. The increase is reportedly centralized between Zelzah Avenue to the 405 freeway and Rinaldi Street south to Lassen Street, according to a statement from Devonshire Division. The LAPD asks if you know anything about these crimes, please call Devonshire detectives at (818) 832-0609, or, report crime tips anonymously 24 hours, 7 days a week at (818) 832-0563.
Northridge - Chatsworth Patch

Grieving family pleads with public to find beloved son's killer
A grieving family hopes the public can help find the suspect(s) who killed their beloved teenage son. Roberto Rizo, 17, was stabbed repeatedly at a massive house party near Sherman Way and Haskell Avenue in Van Nuys on Feb. 17. The teen died the next day. Rizo was reportedly involved in a confrontation between his group of friends and another group over the sale of nitrous oxide, according to Det. John Dunlop of the Los Angeles Police Department's West Valley Division.
CBS LA

Public's help sought in identifying hotel theft suspects
Police asked for the public's help Wednesday in identifying three commercial thefts suspects who have been caught on tape hitting area hotels. At least six burglaries have taken place in recent weeks at downtown and Los Angeles airport hotels, including three times at the Crown Plaza airport hotel, Det. Carlos Lamas said. During the crimes, two or three suspects have been recorded on surveillance entering the hotels through the lobby or dining area between 8 and 11 a.m.
CBS LA

Sun Valley bear tranquilized, captured after roaming neighborhood
A bear that spent more than an hour Wednesday morning roaming through a Sun Valley neighborhood was tranquilized and captured and will be returned to the forest, authorities said. The approximately 15-month-old bear scaled walls, climbed fences and slipped in and out of horse corrals in Sun Valley, south of the 210 Freeway, for about 1½ hours beginning about 6 a.m. About half a dozen Los Angeles police officers and a state game warden eventually cornered the bear and tranquilized it.
Los Angeles Times

Prisons

State's prison overseer blasts CA officials for stalling reforms
The federal receiver in charge of medical care in California's 33 prisons says state officials have dug in and are resisting mandated reforms. In a report filed in U.S. District Court late Wednesday, Clark Kelso said state officials have changed their tone "from acquiescence bordering on support for the Receiver's work, to opposition bordering on contempt." Kelso sighted the state's refusal last month to follow his directive to immediately transfer vulnerable inmates from prisons where Valley Fever has proliferated.
KPCC

City Election Results

Antonio Villaraigosa congratulates Mayor-elect Eric Garcetti
Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa congratulated Eric Garcetti on Wednesday for his victory in Tuesday's mayoral election, saying the three-term councilman's success in turning around his Hollywood district represents "positive indicators of the work he will do as mayor." Garcetti defeated his rival, Controller Wendy Greuel, 54% to 46% in the low-turnout election.
Los Angeles Times

New L.A. law on medical marijuana shops faces hazy future
Los Angeles voters took regulation of the city's medical marijuana shops into their own hands Tuesday, embracing a ballot measure to sharply reduce the number of dispensaries in the city. But as in all things related to pot policy, the future of the new law is hazy. Under the measure, only 135 dispensaries - those that were operating before a failed moratorium in 2007 - will be allowed to stay open.
Los Angeles Times

Change coming to L.A. City Hall in the form of some experienced politicians
Los Angeles voters decided on Tuesday it was time for a change at City Hall, and they turned to some experienced politicians to help bring that about. Starting with city attorney, voters rejected incumbent Carmen Trutanich after only one term, apparently continuing to hold his broken promise against him of not seeking higher office when he ran for district attorney last year.
Los Angeles Daily News

LAPD warns of bicycle thefts
Bicycle thefts have been a problem in recent weeks in the area, according to the Los Angeles Police Department's Pacific Division. "We have a lot taken from Venice Beach," said LAPD Detective Robyn Salazar. "People leave them unattended when they swim." Another problem is people do not lock their bicycles or do not use strong enough locks, according to Salazar. Police recommend using solid, medal locks for protection. Salazar also encourages bike owners to not leave valuables on unattended bikes.
Marina Del Rey Patch

FBI mourns loss of agents in hostage rescue training
The FBI is mourning the deaths of two special agents killed Friday during a training exercise off the coast of Virginia Beach, Virginia. The agents, Christopher Lorek and Stephen Shaw, were assigned to the FBI's Critical Incident Response Group. The FBI said the cause of the incident is under review. "We mourn the loss of two brave and courageous men," FBI Director Robert S. Mueller said in a statement issued Sunday. A law enforcement official said the agents were killed while training to use a rope for landing on a ship from a helicopter.
CNN

Driver gets 21 years in pedestrian's death in Canoga Park
A 20-year-old man was sentenced Tuesday to 21 years in prison on charges stemming from the death of a pedestrian who was struck in a Canoga Park crosswalk last year. Ernesto Jacinto Lopez of Canoga Park pleaded guilty on March 28 to one count each of voluntary manslaughter, evading an officer with willful disregard, leaving the scene of an accident, resisting an executive officer, grand theft auto, and admitted gang enhancements on those charges, according to Deputy District Attorney Elan Carr.
City News Service

Detectives seek to see what killed passenger in car on Ventura Freeway
Detectives from the Los Angeles Police Department's Van Nuys Division tried Tuesday to determine what killed a passenger in a car parked along the Ventura (101) Freeway in Sherman Oaks. California Highway Patrol officers came upon a black Toyota Yaris near the San Diego (405) Freeway on Sunday and the officer stopped and saw there were two females in the car. The passenger was not breathing and unresponsive. The driver was in a state of medical distress.
Sherman Oaks Patch