Law Enforcement

Crime alerts for Sunland and 16 other L.A. neighborhoods
Crime reports are up significantly for the latest week in 17 L.A. neighborhoods, according to an analysis of LAPD data by the Los Angeles Times' Crime L.A. database. Nine neighborhoods reported a significant increase in violent crime. Sunland was the most unusual, recording three reports compared with a weekly average of 0.5 over the last three months. Leimert Park topped the list of eight neighborhoods with property crime alerts.
Los Angeles Times

Two killed in shooting in South LA; police searching for gunmen
Two men were killed in a shooting early Sunday morning in South Los Angeles, authorities said. The incident happened at the corner of South Figueroa St and W. 50th St, near the Harbor Freeway. Initial calls were made to 911 at about 5 a.m. saying there had been some type of traffic accident, according to Los Angeles police. Moments later, witnesses reported hearing gunfire. Two men were found dead at the scene, police said.
KTLA

3 stabbed, 3 shot in separate incidents near Hollywood & Highland
Two men were stabbed early Monday morning on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, authorities said. The men were sitting at a table outside Leila's Pizza and Deli on the south side of Hollywood Blvd near Highland, when they were approached by a group of men. One victim was stabbed in the head, the other in the neck at about 1:30 a.m., according to Los Angeles police. Firefighters treated the victims at the scene, before they were taken to area hospitals.
KTLA

Man wanted in connection with 210 Freeway death arrested on murder charges
The boyfriend of a woman who was killed after falling out of a car on the 210 Freeway was arrested on suspicion of murder late Saturday night. Ricardo "Rick" Jimenez, 26, is being held at the Van Nuys jail in lieu of $1 million bail, police said, accused of murdering his 22-year-old girlfriend Maria Josefina "Josie" Jimenez. Police say Rick was behind the wheel of his girlfriend's red Toyota Corolla early Thursday morning when she either fell or was pushed out of the passenger side door of the car and onto the freeway just after 1 a.m.
Los Angeles Daily News

Eagle Rock woman returns home to find gardener shot multiple times
An Eagle Rock woman returned home Saturday morning to find her gardener suffering from multiple gunshot wounds, police said. The woman came back to her house in the 1800 block of North Avenue 51 about 10 a.m. to find the wounded man, said to be in his 40s, on the ground, said Officer Sally Madera of the LAPD. He had been shot three times, Madera said. He was taken to a hospital and is listed in stable condition.
Los Angeles Times

Woman says she was thrown handcuffed from LAPD car
A woman has filed a lawsuit against Los Angeles police saying she was somehow ejected from a moving police car while handcuffed. Kim Nguyen, 28, told the Los Angeles Times police questioned her on the night of March 17 as she waited outside a Koreatown restaurant with two men for a sober friend to pick them up. The same officers saw Nguyen running across the street soon thereafter, arrested her for public intoxication, handcuffed her and put her in the car, she said.
Associated Press

A call to crack down on those who pay for child sex
Saying not enough has been done to crack down on people who exploit children forced to become prostitutes, Los Angeles county officials will launch a campaign Tuesday to make California the most expensive state in the country to be convicted of soliciting sex from a minor. Supervisors Don Knabe and Mark Ridley-Thomas are set to introduce a motion asking the state legislature to stiffen penalties for so-called "johns" from $1,000 to $10,000.
Los Angeles Daily News

Good News Bears: Watts' LAPD-coached youth football team huddles up
We've got some news that is sure to make you feel all fuzzy-wuzzy: LAPD's Community Safety Partnership has teamed up with the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles to coach the Watts Bears, a football team for seven-, eight-, and nine-year-old boys from the Nickseron Gardens, Imperial Courts, and Jordan Downs Public Housing Developments. Conceived in 2012 and coached by LAPD officers Keith Mott, Cesar Rivera, Sergio Sanchez and Grant Goosby, the activity provides an outlet for kids who may not have had the chance to play football otherwise.
Los Angeles Magazine

Utah police officer fatally shot
A Draper, Utah police officer was killed and two other people were critically wounded early Sunday morning. Sgt. Derek Johnson was found fatally wounded in his cruiser in the 13800 block of Fort Street around 6 a.m., according to The Salt Lake Tribune. Responders pulled the 32-year-old officer from the vehicle and tried to save him, but were unsuccessful.
Officer.com

New social network for law enforcement to launch
The final stages are near completion for the launch of a law enforcement social media network designed exclusively for the men and women in blue. Created by former high-profile New York City police commissioner and Los Angeles Police Chief Bill Bratton, BlueLine is being touted as a site where officers can share their expertise, insight and information securely through video, instant messaging, videoconferencing and screen share capabilities.
Associated Press

Jails

Even violent and sex offenders released early by L.A. County Jail
More jail inmates in Los Angeles County are being set free after serving only a fraction of their sentences because of budget problems and a space crunch caused by an influx of offenders now serving their terms in county jails rather than state prisons. The releases are benefiting even inmates sentenced to jail for violence and sex crimes, with those offenders released after serving as little as 40% of the time they were meant to spend behind bars, according to Sheriff's Department records obtained by The Times under the California Public Records Act.
Los Angeles Times

City Government

L.A. council OKs Garcetti's nominees for Police Commission
The Los Angeles City Council on Friday signed off on Mayor Eric Garcetti's nominees to the Board of Police Commissioners, including one who questioned the fairness of a gang injunction proposed for neighborhoods northwest of downtown. Council members heaped praise on Garcetti's four appointees during back-to-back hearings, first in the Public Safety Committee and then during the council's regular meeting.
Los Angeles Times