Law Enforcement

Crime alerts for Gramercy Park, Fairfax, 9 other L.A. neighborhoods
Crime reports were up significantly in the latest week in 11 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. Gramercy Park was the most unusual, recording nine reports compared with a weekly average of 2.9 over the last three months. Fairfax topped the list of five neighborhoods with property crime alerts.
Los Angeles Times

LAPD Detectives hope to catch killers before July murder becomes cold
LAPD Homicide Detectives plan on holding a news conference Tuesday to step up efforts to catch two suspects in the murder of a Victorville man last month. The murder occurred in the parking lot of a 7-Elevent located at Venice Boulevard and 12th Avenue on July 12. The victim, 21-year-old Dejon Ward, had apparently become lost and drove into the parking lot to review his directions.
CBS LA

DUI suspect crashes into police car, tree and house
A man is under arrest after the SUV he was driving crashed in to the back of a police car in South Los Angeles Sunday. The incident occurred at Normandie Avenue and 90th Street around 1:30 a.m. Investigators say the driver was under the influence. The car hit a tree and a house after crashing into the police car. Two people in the SUV were taken to the hospital.
ABC7

US Postal Service worker killed in South Los Angeles rear-end crash
Authorities say it appears alcohol was involved in a deadly crash that killed a U.S. Postal Service employee on his way to work early Saturday morning. Investigators say the victim was pulling into work, when he was rear-ended by a 2001 Chevy Monte Carlo that was estimated to be going 95 mph. Police later identified the victim as Armando Aceves, 47, of Covina. According to police, Aceves suffered multiple blunt-force trauma injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.
ABC7

Babysitter's son accused of sex crimes, "rigging" room with cameras
A 47-year-old son of a woman who cares for children in her Sylmar apartment was charged with molesting children and recording the crimes on hidden cameras, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. Israel Sanchez was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of child molestation after authorities served a search warrant at the apartment unit in the 13000 block of Foothill Boulevard. He was charged with annoying a child under 14. Computers, cameras and other items were seized at the apartment.
NBC4

1 dead, 1 hurt after Jefferson Park stabbing
One man is dead and another injured after a stabbing in Jefferson Park early Sunday morning. Los Angeles police say an argument broke out between a suspect and the two victims at 9th Avenue and Jefferson Boulevard around 2:20 a.m. Officers say the suspect pulled out a knife and stabbed the victims. One man, who was stabbed in the stomach, was pronounced dead at the scene. The other victim was taken to a hospital with a stab wound to his leg. He was listed in stable condition.
ABC7

Public toilets vandalized, closed
It appears someone is intentionally disabling public restrooms in Skid Row. Five automated public toilets have been vandalized since Aug. 16, with the unidentified suspect opening a maintenance hatch and stealing the computer chip that enables the toilet to flush and the doors to open, according to an LAPD crime report. Skid Row community activist "General" Jeff Page said he is "deeply troubled" by the vandalism because it renders the expensive units useless "in regards to helping to ease the already overwhelming need of toilets in Skid Row."
Downtown News

Transient arrested for stealing car, leaving dog inside to die in Studio City
Friday night, Nayo Mateo came face to face with the man police suspect is responsible for letting his family pet die inside his stolen and abandoned minivan. Police arrested a transient man on suspicion of animal cruelty after Mateo saw him walking down the same street where the stolen car was abandoned and recognized him from surveillance video police released "I was driving down Whitsett (Avenue) and recognized him," Mateo said.
Los Angeles Daily News

USC freshman get crash course in campus safety after shootings
Public safety officers gave incoming students at the University of Southern California a lecture on personal safety Friday. KNX 1070s Megan Goldsby reports the topic was on the mind of this year's new crop of USC freshmen after the murder of two Chinese students in an attempted carjacking last spring. An LAPD lead senior officer joined the USC Department of Police Services for student orientation to talk about behavior expected of students at parties off-campus and how to follow directions should police be called to parties.
CBS LA

New app connects LAPD officers with faith-based resources they can use to help victims, teens, homeless
Seven years ago, the San Fernando Valley Faith Coalition, a non-profit that connects law enforcement to faith organizations, worked to give police officers pocket-sized cards listing the numbers of religious leaders, outreach groups and services that could help the crime victims, troubled teens and homeless cops frequently encounter.
Los Angeles Daily News

Author claims to have new evidence in Black Dahlia murder
At a book signing for his latest novel, Hodel said he has uncovered new evidence that will finally link his father to the gruesome crime. Short, an aspiring actress, was found murdered and mutilated in a vacant lot in in Leimert Park in 1947. According to Hodel, his father, a prominent surgeon, was considered a prime suspect at the time but skipped town before officials could arrest him. Hodel claimed his latest novel will reveal unpublished evidence about his deceased father's alleged role in the murder.
KTLA5

City Government

DWP contract advances in Los Angeles City Council
Ending a two-week public dispute over a contract for Department of Water and Power workers, the Los Angeles City Council voted Friday to approve final bargaining instructions on the four-year agreement freezing salaries for three years. With an estimated $6.1 billion savings over the next 30 years, the proposal includes several changes insisted upon by Mayor Eric Garcetti in what he said is a start in reforming the DWP dealing with health care, pension reform and salary inequities.
Los Angeles Daily News