Law Enforcement

18 assault rifles and handguns seized in Sylmar parole check
Police seized 18 weapons and the parts for building a fully automatic machine gun during a parole check in Sylmar on Monday. While searching the home of a parolee convicted of shooting out the tire of another person's car in a road rage incident, investigators determined the man still owned weapons but was storing them at a friend's house, a violation of the terms of his release.
Los Angeles Daily News

LAPD launches 'LOOK UP!' campaign for 'National Distracted Driving Awareness Month'
The Los Angeles Police Department kicked off their campaign Tuesday to bring awareness to the public about the dangers of texting and driving. LAPD's Valley Traffic Division held an 8 a.m. news conference at Panorama High School, 8015 Van Nuys Blvd., to launch their "LOOK UP!" campaign for National Highway Transportation and Safety Administration's "National Distracted Driving Awareness Month".
CBS LA

Officer hospitalized after finding white powder
Three people including a Los Angeles police officer and a firefighter were hospitalized after being exposed to what was thought to be a dangerous substance. Police Lt. Sabrina Kuhn tells City News Service that firefighters responded late Monday to a call of a possible overdose in Van Nuys. They found a 23-year-old man had injected himself with a mix of an unknown white power and crushed castor beans. The deadly poison ricin is found in castor beans.
Associated Press

LAPD Chief Beck defends position on overturning officer's termination
LAPD Chief Charlie Beck is responding to accusations of providing special treatment for an officer being disciplined in the department. LAPD Officer Shaun Hillman became involved in a late-night altercation at the Maverick Bar in Norco, and reportedly used racial slurs, before allegedly lying to investigators. While the disciplinary board decided that his actions were severe enough for his termination from the force, Chief Beck overturned the board's verdict, and on Tuesday defended his decision to do so, following a police commission meeting in San Pedro.
CBS LA

$50,000 reward offered in deadly Boyle Heights hit-and-run
A $50,000 reward was offered on Tuesday for information leading to the identification and arrest of a hit-and-run driver who struck and killed a 54-year-old pedestrian in Boyle Heights. Edward Nix was crossing the street in a marked crosswalk near the intersection of East Olympic Boulevard and Orme Avenue when he was struck by a van shortly before 6 p.m. on Feb.3, according to a news release from the Los Angeles Police Department.
KTLA

Anderson Silva studying to become a LAPD officer
Anderson Silva wants to be a Hollywood star, fight Roy Jones Jr. in a boxing match and return to the UFC in 2015. Now, you can add "becoming a police officer" to Silva's wish list. The former UFC middleweight champion won't return to the Octagon in 2014, so apparently he's using his time off to recover from the injury he suffered against Chris Weidman and study to become a cop in Los Angeles, California, where he lives with his wife and kids.
MMA Fighting

Anti-Semitic incidents drop in nation and state, according to Anti-Defamation League
The number of reported anti-Semitic incidents in the nation declined by 19 percent from 2012 to 2013, while Cali­fornia experienced a drop of 23 percent in that same period, according to data released Tuesday by the Anti-Defamation League. Still, there was an uptick in the number of physical assaults on Jews nationwide. Nationally, a total of 751 anti-Semitic incidents, including assault, vandalism and harassment were reported last year, compared with 927 in 2012 and 1,821 in 2004.
Los Angeles Daily News

Immigration

Immigration officials warn Angelenos of saying 'I do' to marriage fraud
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials launched a new campaign on Monday that aims to warn Los Angeles residents that marriage fraud is a federal crime and no laughing matter. Placards have started going up at a few Los Angeles bus stops warning residents that marriage fraud committed to gain permanent resident status in the country is a felony that carries prison sentences of up to five years, fines of up to $250,000 and loss of benefits.
Los Angeles Daily News

City Government

Los Angeles City Council overhauls trash pickup at apartments, businesses
The Los Angeles City Council Tuesday approved a transformation in the way trash is picked up from businesses, apartments and condominiums, backing a franchise system aimed at bolstering recycling and slashing the number of trucks on city streets. The revised system divides the city into 11 zones and limits the number of trash hauling companies permitted to operate within the city.
City News Service

More than 450 medical pot shops file to renew taxes in Los Angeles
More than 450 medical marijuana dispensaries have filed renewals to pay Los Angeles business taxes this year - more than three times as many as are allowed to stay open under Proposition D. The new numbers won't settle the debate over exactly how many medical marijuana dispensaries are now operating in Los Angeles. Additional pot shops may be open but have fallen delinquent on their taxes. Some may have never registered to pay taxes.
Los Angeles Times