Law Enforcement

Crime alerts for Mount Washington and 12 other L.A. neighborhoods
Crime reports are up significantly for the latest week in 13 L.A. neighborhoods, according to an analysis of LAPD data by the Los Angeles Times' Crime L.A. database. Six neighborhoods reported a significant increase in violent crime. Mount Washington was the most unusual, recording four reports compared with a weekly average of 0.5 over the last three months. West Adams topped the list of seven neighborhoods with property crime alerts.
Los Angeles Times

Barricade standoff in Westlake ends with gunfire; suspect in custody
A woman who allegedly broke into a man's home in the Westlake district and then barricaded herself inside for several hours with a gun was taken into custody Friday morning, police said. Los Angeles Police Department officer Wendy Reyes said the incident began about 10:40 p.m. Thursday in the 1700 block of James M. Wood Boulevard when a man came home and found the suspect, who he reportedly did not know, inside.
Los Angeles Times

Man shot, injured after 'gang-related' fight in South Los Angeles
A man was shot and injured after a fight early Sunday morning in South Los Angeles in what police say is a gang-related shooting. The incident took place about 2:40 a.m. in the 8000 block of South Hoover Street, said Los Angeles Police Department Officer Rosario Herrera. A black man approached a Hispanic man, who was 26 years old, and the two started fighting. At least one other person was involved in the fight and is considered a suspect.
Los Angeles Daily News

Police investigate overcrowded Hancock Park home
Police are investigating a possibly illegal "board and care" operation at a home in Hancock Park, where at least two people with felony warrants were found. About 20 people were living in the residence, including some who were on parole, said Los Angeles police Sgt. Matt McNulty. Around 6:15 a.m. Friday, the LAPD received a call from a witness who believed a possible robbery was occurring in the 500 block of North Highland Avenue, said LAPD spokeswoman Wendy Reyes.
Los Angeles Times

Police find shotgun wielded by trenchcoat-wearing man, search continues in L.A.
Police continued their search for a man dressed in a trenchcoat who pointed a shotgun at two officers Sunday, police said. The officers fired two shots at the suspect, who had the shotgun supported by a sling, underneath his trenchcoat, according to Los Angeles police Sgt. Peter Zarcone of the 77th. Street Station. Zarcone said the suspect was not wounded and fled the scene on foot. Police recovered the shotgun at the scene, said Los Angeles police officer Rosario Herrera of the Media Relations Section.
City News Service

LAPD urged to take tougher stand on hit-and-run crashes
A Los Angeles City Council committee urged the LAPD Friday to crack down on hit-and-runs crashes. The Council's Public Safety Committee recommended the police department change its policy on the crashes, including taking reports on all hit-and-run incidents. The police department does not currently take reports on hit-and-runs if there is no injury or damage to city property. The Committee also recommended police remove the word "accident" from a hit-and-run, and classify it as a "crime."
KTLA5

One killed, one injured in Wilmington stabbing
A partygoer pulled a knife and stabbed two men, one fatally, in Wilmington on Saturday night, Los Angeles police said. Police were dispatched to the scene in the 300 block of West Q Street about 11:25 p.m. Saturday. Paramedics rushed the victims to a nearby hospital, where one victim was pronounced dead. The condition of the other man has not been released. Police have not released the victims' names. Police said they believe the attack was gang-related.
Los Angeles Times

For police, the goal is vigilance, not vigilantes
Cheviot Hills neighborhood watch group plans to be the eyes and ears and let the cops be the muscle.
Steve Lopez/Los Angeles Times

Too many alarms: Many electronic ankle bracelets go unchecked
Three decades after they were introduced as a crime-fighting tool, electronic ankle bracelets used to track an offender's whereabouts have proliferated so much that officials are struggling to handle an avalanche of monitoring alerts that are often nothing more sinister than a dead battery, lost satellite contact or someone arriving home late from work. Amid all that white noise, alarms are going unchecked, sometimes on defendants now accused of new crimes.
Associated Press

Prisons

CA inmate dies in solitary cell amid hunger strike
A California inmate has died in solitary confinement amid a system-wide hunger strike protesting living conditions in those cells, prison activists announced. Prison officials said Saturday that they are investigating Monday's death at California State Prison, Corcoran as a possible suicide. They are awaiting the Kings County coroner's report before making a final determination on the cause of death. The coroner didn't return a phone call seeking comment on Saturday.
Associated Press

City Government

L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti offers up 'Government 101'
In his continued push to make City Hall more user-friendly, Mayor Eric Garcetti on Friday held a "Government 101" session for more than 100 community activists, with the goal of teaching them how to accomplish change. "City Hall is both symbolic and real," Garcetti said at the opening session, held in the City Hall's forecourt, just down from his offices. "We are trying to open City Hall to make it accessible to you. This week, we opened a new Mayor's Help Desk to provide real answers to the problems you have."
Los Angeles Daily News