Law Enforcement

Reward announced in fatal Pico-Union Jack in the Box shooting
Los Angeles police detectives Thursday announced a $50,000 reward in the fatal shooting of a 27-year-old man at a Jack in the Box restaurant in Pico-Union last year in hopes the money will motivate witnesses to come forward. Jesus Eduardo Vargas was riding his bicycle in the 2100 block of West Pico Boulevard about 7:20 p.m. on July 1 when he was confronted by two men.
Los Angeles Times

L.A.'s neighborhood prosecutor program expanding
Calling it a key element in dealing with quality of life issues, City Attorney Mike Feuer said Thursday he has found the funds to double the number of neighborhood prosecutors to 16. "In the next few weeks, we will hire and deploy these prosecutors in key areas of Los Angeles," Feuer said during a coffee with reporters. "What that program ought to do is focus on quality of life issues.
Los Angeles Daily News

Spike in heroin use subject of San Fernando Valley symposium
While it seemed to have leveled off since the 1990s, heroin is flowing again in the veins of Americans, but this time, the drug is leaving quiet tracks on younger arms. The problem has escalated so much across the Los Angeles region that a parent support group will hold what is being touted as the San Fernando Valley's first heroin symposium in years at 6:30 tonight at Granada Hills Charter High School, to raise awareness among parents, children, teachers and politicians.
Los Angeles Daily News

Highland Park-Mount Washington property crime spree continues well past new year
January is traditionally a slow month for business, but not for property crimes in Highland Park and Mount Washington. During the last five days of 2013, when holiday shopping and celebrations were in full swing, the 90042 and 90065 zip codes recorded as many as 17 property crimes, according to CrimeMapping.com, the national database of crime statistics to which the Los Angeles Police Department contributes real-time information.
Highland Park - Mount Washington Patch

Man charged with dragging bleeding puppy on L.A. street
A 28-year-old man allegedly seen on video dragging a puppy on a leash has been charged with two counts of felony animal cruelty, Los Angeles police said Wednesday. Video images and witness statements show that Dossey James repeatedly dragged the bleeding puppy on the street and a sidewalk because the animal refused to walk, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.
Los Angeles Times

Driver not guilty of traffic violation for wearing Google Glass
A Temecula woman was found not guilty in traffic court Thursday of a charge of distracted driving for wearing Google Glass. San Diego Traffic Commissioner John Blair found that wearing the computer-in-eyewear could be covered as distracted driving by the traffic code, but that police must prove that the eyewear was on. Cecilia Abadie, 44, is believed to be the first driver in the nation to have received such a ticket. Google Glass is not yet on the market.
Los Angeles Times

Prisons & Jails

Higher property crime rates as state unpacks prisons
A rise in property crime coincides with California's massive effort to reduce its prison population, a new study says. Property crimes like auto theft and burglary rose 7.6 percent between 2011 and 2012, the first year of the prison reform measure known as "realignment," according to a study by the Public Policy Institute of California. There was also an uptick in violent crime, but the study found no correlation between that and reform.
Monterey County Weekly

Sheriff's Department wrongly keeps inmates' money, audit finds
Los Angeles County sheriff's officials inappropriately kept more than $1 million belonging to county inmates in a two-year period, an audit released Thursday found. When inmates are booked, the cash they have on them is held until they're released. And while they're inside, their loved ones can deposit money into accounts the prisoners can use to buy goods from jailhouse commissaries. Every year, money is left behind by inmates who are released and don't claim their funds.
Los Angeles Times

State Government