Law Enforcement

LAPD seeks public's help in locating missing woman, 86
Authorities are asking for the public's help in locating a missing 86-year-old woman who was last seen five days ago. Irina Gitelma was last seen about 7 a.m. on March 18, at her home in the 5800 block of San Vicente Boulevard, Los Angeles police said in a department statement. Police said Gitelma speaks only Russian and suffers from memory loss. Gitelma weighs about 125 pounds and has blonde hair and brown eyes.
CBS LA

South LA girl escapes attempted sexual assault; suspect sought
Police are asking for the public's help in identifying a man who allegedly kidnapped and attempted to sexually assault a 16-year-old girl in the Newtown area of South Los Angeles. The incident occurred as the victim walked home from Freemont High School on Gage Avenue near San Pedro Street at 6:10 p.m. Thursday. The suspect walked up to the girl with a knife and forced her into his van. The LAPD says she was then driven to an alley.
ABC7

Man charged with driving with three pipe bombs in Northridge
A 55-year-old man was charged Friday with four felony counts after police allegedly found three pipe bombs in his SUV during a traffic stop in Northridge. David Patton, of Encino, had allegedly been driving with one of the pipe bombs between his feet on the floorboard when he was pulled over Wednesday for appearing to be "a little bit under the influence of narcotics," LAPD Capt. Stephen Carmona told KTLA-TV.
Los Angeles Times

Armed man wounded in officer-involved shooting in Tarzana
A man in his 70s was wounded in an officer-involved shooting in Tarzana Friday after he allegedly armed himself with a knife and a long gun and threatened to kill a woman and himself, police said. Officers were first called around 5:10 p.m. to a home in the 5200 block of Mecca Avenue just south of Ventura Boulevard to investigate a man in his 70s who was armed with a knife and threatening to kill himself and a woman, said Los Angeles police Detective Gus Villanueva.
City News Service

8-year-old boy in stable condition after drive-by shooting
An 8-year-old boy was in stable condition Sunday after being wounded in a drive-by shooting in South Los Angeles, police said. The shooting occurred near Imperial Highway and Avalon Boulevard about 6:35 p.m. Saturday, said Sgt. Val Valenti of the Los Angeles Police Department's Southeast Station. The boy was at a house party when the suspect drove up in a blue Mercedes-Benz, shouted something gang-related and fired multiple shots from a handgun, Valenti said.
Los Angeles Times

One dead after speeding vehicle crashes in Koreatown
One person was killed when a speeding Mercedes-Benz slammed into a parked vehicle in Koreatown early Sunday, officials said. Officers responded around 5:30 a.m. to the crash near Western Avenue and 7th Street. Police said the luxury SUV was traveling up to speeds near 100 miles per hour. A female driver was killed in the crash. Alcohol did not appear to be a factor in the crash, and authorities were investigating whether the driver was racing another vehicle at the time of the collision.
NBC LA

Simple Internet-connected devices can end up in complex online crimes
For decades, hackers have used the Internet to break into network routers, personal computers and advanced industrial devices. But now, a whole new generation of often mundane, household devices is being connected to the Internet - and hackers are having a field day. Thanks to smaller, cheaper processors, speedier wireless connections and the explosion of smartphones and tablets, it's becoming easier and more affordable to digitally link just about any object - sports equipment, watches, light bulbs, washing machines, thermostats.
Los Angeles Times

City Government

Trail head to Hollywood Sign temporarily closed
A popular trail head to the Hollywood Sign will be closed for more than a month so that crews can install a new gate to prevent trespassers at night. Los Angeles City Councilman Tom LaBonge tells the Los Angeles Times that the blocked access to the Hollyridge trail head would only last for five weeks. LaBonge says the city decided to replace the old T-bar gate with a more secure barrier. LaBonge says the trail head will be open from dawn to dusk to tourists and hikers once the new gate is installed.
Associated Press

Los Angeles City Council panel briefed on runaway production
California continues to lose entertainment jobs as big-budget films and television shows move to states that offer more lucrative tax subsidies, an analyst told a Los Angeles City Hall panel on runaway production Friday. In particular, the Golden State is losing television one-hour dramas to New York, which gives away $420 million a year in subsidies, Kevin Klowden, a managing economist at the Milken Institute, told the Ad Hoc Committee on Film and Television Production Jobs.
Los Angeles Daily News

Garcetti's decision on LAFD leaves 850 in limbo
Mayor Eric Garcetti's decision to suspend hiring at the Los Angeles Fire Department has left 850 people eligible to be hired out of luck and who likely may be required to reapply for jobs with the department. Garcetti announced Thursday he was halting all recruiting and hiring because of what he considered a system with "fatal flaws" in a large percentage of the recruits had relatives in the department and had been received special training.
Los Angeles Daily News