Law Enforcement

Lawsuits filed against owners of alleged gang-controlled properties
The Los Angeles city attorney filed lawsuits Wednesday against the owners of three allegedly gang-controlled properties in South L.A., a day after dozens of gang members were arrested by local and federal law enforcement. The properties involved in City Atty. Mike Feuer's suit are allegedly controlled by the Five Deuce Broadway Gangster Crips, the street gang targeted in Tuesday's arrests, and suspected of being used for gang activity, including drug sales.
Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles offers $100,000 reward for Ramona Gardens firebombers leads
Federal and local Southern California officials are offering a $100,000 reward for information leading to arrests in the May 12 arson attack on the Ramona Gardens apartment complex in Boyle Heights. FBI investigator Tim Delaney said the attack happened just after midnight. A surveillance video was released showing a group of eight unidentified individuals entering the complex. A large flash of light appears after which the group runs away from the scene.
KPCC

Driver arrested after 10 minute car chase from Hollywood to Sherman Oaks
A driver was in custody Wednesday after a 10-minute chase from Hollywood to Sherman Oaks, police said. The chase began near the intersection of Highland Avenue and Sunset Boulevard around 11:15 p.m. Tuesday after the driver failed to yield, according to broadcast reports. Television footage showed the light-colored sedan heading westbound on Ventura Boulevard in the San Fernando Valley with at least five police vehicles in pursuit.
City News Service

Traffickers are 'cloning' official vehicles to transport massive amounts of drugs
Drug smugglers have developed another strange method to stay under the radar, CBS News reports. Traffickers are "cloning" vehicles that look like official government or corporate trucks, even down to the paint jobs and markings. At least 15 of these deceptive vehicles have been seized around southern Texas in recent years, carrying 10 tons of marijuana in total, a local sheriff told CBS.
Business Insider

LAPD hosts forum on safety issues in San Fernando Valley's Jewish community
A forum to discuss safety and security issues affecting the San Fernando Valley's Jewish community was set to take place Wednesday night. The "LAPD Jewish Community Forum" at the Braemar Country Club in Tarzana will include discussion of plans currently in place to protect against "potential threats," security and safety challenges facing the Jewish community and ways the community and police can work together.
City News Service

DA: Sandra Bullock stalker had an 'arsenal of weapons,' machine guns
The suspect in a home-intruder case involving actress Sandra Bullock was charged Wednesday with possessing an arsenal of weapons, including several machine guns, prosecutors said. Authorities said numerous weapons were discovered inside the Montrose home of Joshua James Corbett, 39, who is suspected of breaking into the actress' home and has been charged with burglary.
Los Angeles Times

Pensions

Supervisors put pension initiative on ballot, call it illegal
An initiative that would phase out the county pension system is headed both for the November ballot and a court test on its legality. Ventura County supervisors voted Tuesday to send the initiative to voters, then directed County Counsel Leroy Smith to advocate for a timely court ruling on its validity. The battle shifts now to Ventura County Superior Court, where attorneys for a coalition of county labor unions said they had filed a lawsuit Tuesday afternoon. The unions are asking the court to remove the measure from the ballot and declare that it cannot be lawfully submitted to voters.
Ventura County Star

Election 2014

LA County sheriff's race: LA deputy sheriffs union endorses Jim McDonnell
Deputies union the Association for Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs endorsed Long Beach Police Chief Jim McDonnell in the race for L.A. County sheriff on Tuesday, according to a press release from the union. "Working together, we will once again be recognized as the greatest in the nation," McDonnell said. Other organizations that endorsed McDonnell at the press conference include the Los Angeles Police Protective League, the Long Beach Police Officers Association, the L.A. County Professional Peace Officer Association and the L.A. County Deputy Probation Officers - AFSCME Local 685, along with dozens of other law enforcement organizations, according to the Association.
KPCC

Public Safety

Van Nuys fire station recommended for approval, despite some neighborhood concerns
A Los Angeles City Council committee voted Wednesday to approve a new fire station to be built in Van Nuys, even though some area residents were not happy with the plan. The Public Works and Gang Reduction Committee signed off on a proposal to build a 18,500-square-foot fire station at Oxnard Street and Vesper Avenue. If approved by the full City Council, it would replace a 14,000-square-foot station about a half-mile away.
City News Service

City Government

L.A. councilman wants to put ground-based solar arrays on pause
Worried solar farms could overtake prized patches of open space, a Los Angeles councilman is asking the Department of Water and Power board to put off allowing new arrays that are mounted on the ground -- part of its Feed-In Tariff program -- until the city can make sure they mesh with neighborhoods. Councilman Felipe Fuentes argued that before any more such projects are approved, the city should work out a "city planning review process" that would allow community reaction.
Los Angeles Times

Perjury, voter fraud trial of former L.A. Councilman Richard Alarcon starts Thursday
One year after leaving Los Angeles City Hall, former councilman Richard Alarcon will stand trial Thursday on perjury and voter fraud charges. Alarcon's wife, Flora Montes de Oca Alarcon, is also on trial. The veteran politician and his wife are accused of residing outside the boundaries of Council District 7 in the northeast San Fernando Valley during his two council campaigns, in defiance of city charter rules requiring councilmembers to live within the boundaries of their district.
Los Angeles Times