Law Enforcement

LAPD adds drones to arsenal, says they'll be used sparingly
The Los Angeles Police Department has acquired some eyes in the sky. On Friday, the department announced that it had acquired two "unmanned aerial vehicles" as gifts from the Seattle Police Department. The Draganflyer X6 aircraft, which resemble small helicopters, are each about 3 feet wide and equipped with a camera, video camera and infrared night-vision capabilities.
Los Angeles Times

LAPD narcotics officers rescue couple from burning apartment in Canoga Park
Two Los Angeles police officers saved a husband and wife from a burning apartment in Canoga Park, suffering smoke inhalation in the process, police said Friday. Ben Mia and Matt Stuart, narcotics officers based at the Los Angeles Police Department's Topanga Station, were advised by neighbors around midday Wednesday that an occupant of a burning apartment in the 21700 block of Roscoe Boulevard had gone back inside to rescue his wife, who was asleep in a bedroom.
City News Service

Alleged DUI driver pleads not guilty to new charges in LAPD officer's death
A Pacoima woman has pleaded not guilty to additional charges of murder and vehicular manslaughter in connection with a traffic collision that killed an LAPD motorcycle officer, the Los Angeles District Attorney's Office announced on Friday. Qaneak Shaney Cobb, 33 had previously pleaded not guilty to two felony charges - driving under the influence of a drug causing injury and possession of cocaine - stemming from the April 5 crash that initially left Officer Christopher Cortijo critically injured.
KTLA

Couple accused in hit-and-run that killed federal judge's son
Prosecutors have charged a Los Angeles couple in the hit-and-run death of a 23-year-old Pacific Palisades man whose father and grandfather are federal judges, prosecutors said. Driver Marguerite Dao Vuong, 66, is charged with hitting David Pregerson at about 3 a.m. Dec. 27 while he was walking in the 600 block of Chautauqua Boulevard in the Palisades and then leaving the scene, according to the Los Angeles County district attorney's office.
Los Angeles Times

Hollywood homicide investigation after man found shot near Las Palmas Hotel
Authorities were interviewing witnesses after a man was fatally shot outside a Hollywood hotel with a bullet wound to his chest Friday. The man was found in the 1700 block of North Las Palmas Avenue around 2 a.m. in front of the Las Palmas Hotel. Officers patrolling the area on foot heard what appeared to be the sound of multiple firecrackers and when they walked in the direction of the sound, they found the victim, according to LAPD Detective Steven Katz.
NBC4

LAPD distributes gift cards at citywide gun buyback event
The Los Angeles Police Department on Saturday held an anonymous gun buyback at four locations citywide, offering gift cards to members of the public in exchange for firearms. "People drive up, the officers will ask where the gun is located, if it's loaded or unloaded. Most of the time it's unloaded, because people have read the qualifications to come here," said Officer Bruce Borihanh.
KTLA

Granada Hills residents catch alleged mail thief on surveillance video
Residents in Granada Hills say they have recently endured a rash of mail thefts. They also told KCAL9s Jeff Nguyen that they aren't getting much help from authorities. The residents also believe they have caught the alleged thief - on surveillance tape. "Not only did I have a crime perpetrated against me, but it's almost like rubbing salt on the wound," said Dr. Aviva Ebner. The Ebners reached out to the LAPD but police told them what they told Nguyen - the post office is in charge of investigating mail theft.
CBS LA

Man dies from gunshot wound in South Los Angeles
An unidentified man in South Los Angeles has died from a gunshot wound, police said Saturday. The shooting occurred in the 100 block of West Colden Avenue, in the Broadway-Manchester neighborhood, at 9:40 p.m. Friday, Los Angeles Police Department Lt. A. Neal said. The victim was pronounced dead at a hospital. Neal said the circumstances of the shooting were unclear.
City News Service

Prisons

Report faults California prison mental health care
California is providing haphazard, inadequate psychiatric treatment to its most severely mentally ill inmates, according to a new report by a federal court official. The report filed in federal court Friday by special master Matthew Lopes found some patients were drugged instead of counseled, returned to prison too soon and rarely received one-on-one therapy.
Associated Press

Election 2014

City Government

Mayor Garcetti unveils new city data website at tech event
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti unveiled a new website Saturday loaded with information on how the city works, including numbers tracking stray animals, bicycle lanes, graffiti cleanup and other services. The website is part of a broader push to make city government more open and accountable through technology.
Los Angeles Times

JPMorgan accused by Los Angeles of discriminatory lending
The city of Los Angeles accused JPMorgan Chase & Co. of targeting minority borrowers with predatory loans in a lawsuit filed two days after Wells Fargo & Co. lost a court bid to dismiss a similar case. The second-largest U.S. city sued Wells Fargo, Citigroup Inc. and Bank of America Corp. last year, saying the lenders engaged in biased practices since at least 2004 by placing minority borrowers in mortgages they couldn't afford and driving up the number of foreclosures in their neighborhoods.
Bloomberg