Law Enforcement

Murder charges filed in case of woman killed on 210 Freeway
Murder charges were filed Tuesday against a man driving the car from which a woman, police say, either fell or was pushed onto the 210 Freeway on Aug. 29. Prosecutors allege that Ricardo "Rick" Jimenez, 26, of North Hollywood murdered 22-year-old Maria Josephine "Josie" Jimenez of Westlake, who died after being run over by multiple cars and semitrailers on the eastbound freeway near Polk Street in the early morning hours that day.
Los Angeles Daily News

Man arrested in fatal Hollywood stabbing over Labor Day weekend
A 22-year-old man was in custody Tuesday on suspicion of murder in connection with a fatal stabbing outside a Hollywood hotel during a violent Labor Day weekend in the area. Julio Cesar Velasquez was arrested Monday, minutes after a 29-year-old man was stabbed outside the hotel in the 2000 block of North Highland Avenue about 6:30 a.m. Los Angeles paramedics took the victim to a hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
Los Angeles Times

City Council considers reward motion after Studio City hit and run
The Los Angeles City Council at 10 a.m. Wednesday is slated to consider a $50,000 reward motion from Councilmember Paul Krekorian in relation to a hit-and-run that left one man dead last month in Studio City. This is different from the Sherman Oaks hit-and-run reward that Tom LaBonge announced last week for an accident on the same night.
Studio City Patch

Loss of steering in police cars triggers Ford Crown Victoria recall
A mysterious case of police officers losing control of their squad cars has been solved, leading to the recall of 355,000 Ford Crown Victorias - including the Police Interceptor version - Mercury Grand Marquis and Lincoln Town Cars. The National Highway Safety Traffic Administration started looking into the problem a year ago after learning of cases of the steering going out on certain types of police cars. The recall includes all Crown Victoria, Grand Marquis and Town Car vehicles from the 2005 through 2011 model years, not just the Police Interceptors.
Los Angeles Times

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

This week, eat barbecue and thank the public safety workers
The 14th annual Public Safety Appreciation Barbecue is set for Friday, Sept. 6, at FIGat7th. The 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. happening organized by the Downtown Center Business Improvement District is a buffet-style outdoor event open to the public that includes live music and dozens of booths. The public safety personnel, including LAPD officers, firefighters, members of the CHP and the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department, will get free food, while members of the public pay $9.
Downtown News

Pancakes with LAPD, walk with Garcetti Saturday in Venice
Venice and Mar Vista community members have two events they can attend Saturday. One is an Open House and Pancake Breakfast at the Los Angeles Police Department's Pacific Station, 12312 Culver Boulevard, from 9 a.m. to 12 noon. The other is a Community Walk with the Mayor held from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Oakwood Recreation Center. The open house is free; the pancake breakfast costs $5 per person.
Venice - MarVista Patch

Legislation

Bill would expand state's gun-storage requirement
A bill that appears headed to the governor would require gun owners to lock up their weapons if they live with a convicted felon or anyone else who is prohibited from owning a firearm. The legislation from Sen. Rod Wright, D-Inglewood, expands the state's gun-storage law to those who know or should know they are living with someone who is not allowed to possess a firearm. SB363 heads back to the Senate for a final vote after passing the Assembly on a 62-8 vote Tuesday.
Associated Press

Bill would make it illegal to bar life-saving help
California lawmakers on Tuesday sent legislation to Gov. Jerry Brown that would bar employers from having policies that prohibit offering life-saving medical help in an emergency after a worker's attention-grabbing refusal to perform CPR on a resident at an independent-living facility. The bill by Assemblyman Rudy Salas, D-Bakersfield, was prompted by the February death of Lorraine Bayless, 87, at a Bakersfield retirement home.
Associated Press

Prisoner Release

L.A. County supervisor calls for reducing early releases from jails
Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich asked sheriff's officials to look into ways to stem early releases of county jail inmates serving time for violence and sex crimes, after a report by the Los Angeles Times on the increasing number of inmates released early. "The county needs options that result in [serious and violent offenders] serving their full sentences," Antonovich said.
Los Angeles Times

City Government

City examines three options for empty Parker Center
Bedraggled Parker Center has been a problem for Downtown Los Angeles stakeholders since even before most of the LAPD left the edifice in 2009 for the $400 million Police Administration Building. Now, finally, city officials have completed a long-awaited report on what the site in the heart of the Civic Center could become.
Downtown News