Law Enforcement

Funeral service set for LAPD officer killed in car crash
Members of the local Korean-American community were expected to be among those on hand this week to honor a Los Angeles police officer killed in a car crash Friday. Nicholas Choung Lee, a 16-year veteran who received more than 70 commendations, will be honored Wednesday night at a rosary service at St. Basil Catholic Church in Koreatown. The service will be open to the public. A funeral service was scheduled for Thursday morning at Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in downtown LA, where a large turnout is expected, according to LAPD Cmdr. Andrew Smith. Several streets around the cathedral are expected to be closed on Thursday morning. Police officers from all over the state of California and across the nation were also expected to attend.
CBS LA

Suspect charged with murder in Griffith Park body-parts case
The man accused of killing his boyfriend and dumping his severed head, hands and feet below the Hollywood sign two years ago has been charged with murder, prosecutors said. Gabriel Campos-Martinez, 36, faces a single count of murder in connection with the 2012 death of Hervey Medellin, the Los Angeles County district attorney's office said. Campos-Martinez was arrested by LAPD's elite robbery-homicide detectives Sunday in San Antonio, Texas.
Los Angeles Times

Henry's Taco's cook seeks answers in deaths of wife, 19-month-old son
Henry's Tacos cook Oscar Reyes is seeking answers in the fiery deaths of his wife and their 19-month-old son now being investigated as possible murders. It's a homicide investigation and "possibly an arson fire" that claimed the lives of Reyes' 28-year-old wife, Gissella Yauli, and their 19-month-old son, Dillan Reyes, said Los Angeles Police Department Detective Kelle Baitx.
Los Angeles Daily News

More than 100 marijuana shops shuttered, L.A. City Attorney says
More than 100 pot shops have shut down since Los Angeles started enforcing new rules restricting medical marijuana dispensaries, City Atty. Mike Feuer announced Monday. In addition to the rules prompting scores of closures, Feuer said city lawyers had successfully fended off a host of legal challenges. In one closely watched case, they prevented a dispensary from opening in Mar Vista, securing a permanent injunction before it could set up shop.
Los Angeles Times

Woman arrested after 4 hour standoff in Eagle Rock
A woman barred from owning firearms because of mental illness flashed a rifle at police officers who were summoned by concerned family members, then ducked into her Eagle Rock home, sparking a 4- hour standoff with police, including SWAT officers, until early Monday, authorities said. Family members called police to the 1400 block of Yosemite Drive about 10:30 p.m. Sunday because the woman, who has a history of mental illness, was feeling distraught and was handling a rifle, said Lt. Andy Mathes of the Los Angeles Police Department's Northeast Station.
City News Service

West Los Angeles police warn of costly scam
The West Los Angeles Division of the Los Angeles Police Department is warning the public to be wary of a costly scam that's taking place on the Westside. Senior Lead Officer Maria Gray said the scam has been quite rampant and victims all over the U.S. have fallen prey, particularly in the immigrant and elderly community. "There are people out there impersonating IRS agents," Gray said. "They claim that the intended victim owes back taxes. They are then threatened that if they don't pay them via a pre-loaded debit card the 'agent' will send an officer or sheriff to arrest them within an hour."
Westside Today

Legislation

Citing truancy 'crisis,' Kamala Harris, lawmakers seek action
Emphasizing that young students who frequently miss school are far more likely to fall behind and commit crimes later in life, California Attorney General Kamala Harris and half a dozen lawmakers introduced an anti-truancy bill package on Monday. The legislative effort ties to a report from Harris' office that depicts the repercussions of an estimated one million truant elementary school students a year, good for a 29.6 percent truancy rate among California youngsters.
Sacramento Bee

City Government

Mayor Eric Garcetti: No raises for Los Angeles city workers
As union contract negotiations get underway for Los Angeles city firefighters, police officers and most City Hall employees, Mayor Eric Garcetti said Monday he does not support any raises for city workers. The comment was made in a wide-ranging interview with KPCC editors and reporters. The mayor said the city cannot afford pay increases in the next contracts with city unions.
KPCC 89.3