Law Enforcement

LAPD seeks help in finding woman tied to 6 bank robberies
Los Angeles police are asking for the public's help in locating a female bank robber who authorities believe is connected to at least six robberies. Robbery-homicide detectives say that last week, the woman entered a bank in the 100 block of North La Cienega Boulevard, near the border of Beverly Hills, West Hollywood and Beverly Grove. After presenting a teller with a handwritten demand note, the woman brandished a handgun and demanded money, according to the LAPD.
Los Angeles Times

LAPD seeks person of interest in fatal hit-and-run
Los Angeles police on Thursday night released a photo of a person of interest in a hit-and-run incident that left a 19-year-old man dead. Jerry Arrendondo was killed Tuesday night when he was struck by a 2013 black Camaro that was speeding east on 105th Street near Wadsworth Avenue in South Los Angeles, police said. The driver of the Camaro struck Arrendondo and then hit several other vehicles before the driver and a passenger bailed out of the Camaro and ran away, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. Arrendondo was pronounced dead at the scene. Anyone with information is asked to call LAPD detectives at (323) 421-2570.
Los Angeles Times

LAPD seeks witnesses to hit-and-run incident at Lincoln and Rose
Los Angeles Police Department West Traffic Division detectives are hoping for public assistance with their investigation of a hit-and-run incident in which a pedestrian was seriously injured. On January 18, 2014, around 6:50 p.m. a pedestrian was crossing Lincoln Boulevard eastbound from the southwest curb of the intersection at Rose Avenue when the pedestrian was struck by an unknown vehicle traveling east on Rose Avenue and turning southbound onto Lincoln Boulevard.
LAPD Headquarters

LAPD seeks Good Samaritan who helped friend prior to his death
Detectives Thursday sought the public's help in identifying a Good Samaritan who carried his friend to an emergency room before he died. The Good Samaritan was caught on surveillance in the early morning hours of Jan. 31 at the Kaiser Hospital in Panorama City, the Los Angeles Police Department said. He was carrying the limp body of 19-year-old Ricardo Saiija, of North Hollywood, who was later pronounced dead by doctors.
CBS LA

LAPD commissioner says penalties weak in Dorner mistaken ID shooting
The president of the police commission expressed disappointment that Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck is not issuing more severe penalties for the seven officers who mistakenly opened fire on two women during the hunt for Christopher Dorner. Steve Soboroff, whose panel oversees the LAPD, made the statements to The Times in response to a message Beck sent through the department's internal communication system.
Los Angeles Times

Prisoner Releases

Afraid of freeing felons, O.C. supervisors reject jail release plan
Citing concerns about prematurely releasing criminals into the community, the Orange County Board of Supervisors refused to allow law enforcement officials to expand the county's inmate electronic monitoring program to include felons. "I understand they need to find an alternative to incarceration, and I appreciate the sheriff's efforts," Supervisor Janet Nguyen said Tuesday. "But I'm still uncomfortable allowing felons to be out on the street."
Los Angeles Times

Ride Sharing

Ride-sharing firm Lyft says it has improved insurance
Ride-sharing company Lyft is improving its insurance coverage for drivers and passengers after state regulators complained that there could be holes in the coverage that Lyft and its competitors provide. Critics questioned whether the policy goes far enough to fully protect people involved in accidents. Lyft announced this week that it's giving drivers the option of getting collision insurance to repair damage to their cars. It's also offering protection against being hit by an uninsured or underinsured driver to its basic, $1-million commercial liability coverage.
Los Angeles Times

City Government

L.A. city leaders unsatisfied with DWP's audit of nonprofits
Los Angeles Department of Water and Power union leader Brian D'Arcy's effort to "clear the air" and explain what happened to more than $40 million in ratepayer money paid to two nonprofits has failed to convince city leaders calling for full accounting of the groups' expenditures. Instead, Mayor Eric Garcetti, City Controller Ron Galperin and City Atty. Mike Feuer said Wednesday they would ramp up actions to determine how the money was spent.
Los Angeles Times

L.A. Council panel urged to use conditional-use permits for group housing
Los Angeles should consider making greater use of the conditional-use permit process to regulate community-care facilities and group homes, a city panel was told on Wednesday. The City Council's Ad Hoc Committee on Community Care Facilities, formed to look at complaints filed related to group homes in L.A., was told the conditional-use process gives the city wider latitude in overseeing where the homes are located and regulating their operation.
Los Angeles Daily News

Amy Wakeland, L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti's wife, steps up for family and medical leave
The wife of Mayor Eric Garcetti made her first policy appearance before the City Council on Wednesday as part of her effort to raise awareness about paid family leave benefits available to Californians. Amy Elaine Wakeland's public comments before the council came in response to a resolution introduced by Councilwoman Nury Martinez that advocates for the FAMILY Act, a federal bill that would "provide workers across the country partial income when taking leave from work."
Los Angeles Daily News