Law Enforcement

Hearing set for woman accused of killing veteran LAPD motorcycle officer in crash
A preliminary hearing was scheduled for Thursday for the Pacoima woman accused of crashing her SUV into an LAPD motorcycle officer who later died of his injuries. Qaneak Shaney Cobb, 33, has pleaded not guilty to charges of driving under the influence of a drug and being in possession of cocaine. On April 5, the Pacoima resident reportedly plowed her Chevrolet Blazer into Officer Chris Cortijo's motorcycle, trapping him between the SUV and a Honda Accord.
CBS LA

Chase suspect wanted in kidnapping arrested in North Hollywood
An FBI-LAPD fugitive task force arrested a man wanted on kidnapping charges in Minnesota who authorities believe is the same man who led police on a chase in downtown Los Angeles earlier Thursday, officials said. Jesus Ramirez, 31, of Los Angeles, was taken into custody without incident at the Peppertree Motel in North Hollywood, FBI spokeswoman Laura Eimiller said. She said Ramirez was walking out of the motel, saw authorities and tried to walk the other way, but was taken into custody. He was in the process of being booked at an LAPD station on Thursday evening.
Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles City Attorney Mike Feuer adding 8 neighborhood prosecutors
The city attorney's popular neighborhood prosecutor program will be doubled from eight to 16 attorneys beginning in June in what officials call a major effort to deal with quality of life issues in the city. City Attorney Mike Feuer said Thursday he has completed the hiring of the new attorneys and he plans to begin assigning them to their new posts after meeting with local community leaders to discuss what is needed in the different areas.
Los Angeles Daily News

Man under evaluation after making false bomb claim at LAX, police say
A man is being evaluated at a local hospital after falsely claiming he had a bomb in his bag at Los Angeles International Airport on Thursday morning, prompting a brief evacuation in part of Terminal 7, authorities said. The man, who was not identified, was arrested by airport police after he approached the ticketing counter about 7:40 a.m. and stated he had a bomb in his bag, according to Sgt. Belinda Nettles. After the ticketing area was partially evacuated, Los Angeles Police investigators were called in and cleared the bag at about 8:45 a.m.
Los Angeles Times

Twin Towers jail escapee now will do his time in state prison
An inmate who walked out of a downtown Los Angeles jail by impersonating another inmate and then spent three weeks on the lam pleaded no contest Thursday to one count of escape. Christopher Lee Brown, 37, is expected to be sentenced to eight months in prison -- on top of his original sentence of four years and eight months -- when he returns to court next week, the Los Angeles County district attorney's office said.
Los Angeles Times

North Hills cell phone bandits sought
Los Angeles Police Department detectives are searching for three suspects who robbed a North Hills cell phone store on March 21. The men entered the T-Mobile store on Nordhoff Street and immediately began cutting cables and taking several Samsung and Apple smartphones. The suspects reportedly simulated they had guns and threatened employees when confronted. "These guys are brazen and determined," LAPD Mission Detective Division Commanding Officer Lt. Paul Vernon said in a press release.
Post-Periodical

Sylmar couple plead not guilty in human trafficking case of 9-year-old girl
A restaurant owner who allegedly paid to have a 9-year-old girl smuggled into the country from El Salvador, then forced the child to work at her restaurant and in her home, pleaded not guilty Thursday to one felony count each of human trafficking and slavery, as did her live-in boyfriend. The Sylmar couple allegedly had the girl working for them for the past two years.
City News Service

LAPD promote National Child Abuse Awareness Month
The Los Angeles Police Department staged an informational event today outside its downtown headquarters as part of National Child Abuse Awareness Month. "Child abuse can be physical, emotional, sexual. Now with the Internet, it could be something happens through the Internet that you are not even aware you being abused," said Detective Juan Perez of the LAPD Juvenile Division. Child abuse can often go unreported, he said.
Venice-MarVista Patch

Prisons

California fails to adequately educate youth inmates, report says
California and other states are largely failing to adequately educate most of the 70,000 youth locked up at any given time in juvenile detention facilities, according to a national report released Thursday. Most youth fail to earn any course credits or complete their high school diploma or equivalency degree while in custody, the report by the Southern Education Foundation found.
Los Angeles Times

City Government

Budget official sees three more years of deficits at L.A. City Hall
Los Angeles will confront revenue deficits in each of the next three budget years, even if elected officials keep a lid on spending and secure new concessions from the workforce, the top budget analyst at City Hall warned Thursday. In a memo to the City Council, City Administrative Officer Miguel Santana said lawmakers won't have the money to rebuild services cut during the recession until 2018, when a $20.9-million surplus is expected, unless new tax revenue is found or other programs are cut.
Los Angeles Times