Law Enforcement

LAPD watchdogs warn 'ghost cars' may indicate deeper problems
Los Angeles police commissioners on Tuesday expressed concern that the falsification of patrol reports and the misclassification of crime statistics may be symptoms of deeper problems at the LAPD. Commissioners said the department may be relying too heavily on data and pressuring the LAPD supervisors collecting it to falsely report positive numbers.
KPCC

LAPD officials downplay report on 'ghost cars'
A Los Angeles police officials Tuesday downplayed a recent report about falsified patrol records, saying it was an isolated problem that had been overstated and corrected. Last week, the inspector general for the Police Commission, Alex Bustamante, released the findings of an investigation into the so-called "ghost car" scheme, in which officers were inaccurately shown in department databases and deployment logs to be on patrol.
Los Angeles Times

For LAPD cop working Skid Row, 'There's always hope'
LAPD Officer Deon Joseph patrols one of the toughest places in America: Skid Row, a 50-block concentration of drug dealers, gangs, chronically homeless and the mentally ill - and the shelters and clinics in downtown Los Angeles that serve them. "About 2,500 people on probation for violent crimes or narcotics crimes. Registered sex offenders, which can range from 500 to 700 individuals concentrated in here because there are no services anywhere else," Joseph says.
NPR

LAPD: Man caught on tape burglarizing high-end properties
Authorities say a man has been burglarizing several high-end properties during open houses, and the crimes were caught on tape. At least three burglaries have occurred within the span of two months in the Benedict Canyon area, the Los Angeles Police Department said in a written statement. The most recent occurred about 2:30 p.m. Oct. 7 in the 2800 block of Hutton Drive.
CBS LA

Man gunned down in apartment parking lot ID'd
Police on Tuesday identified a man shot at a San Fernando Valley apartment as Jorge Arturo Lopez, 34, of Pacoima. He was visiting family members when he was shot and killed early Tuesday in the complex's parking lot, the Los Angeles Police Department said. The shooting occurred around 12:20 a.m. in the 12700 block of Branford Street in Pacoima.
NBC4

LAPD seeks additional victims of 70-year-old driving instructor accused of sexually battering students
Investigators believed a 70-year-old traffic school and driving instructor who was recently arrested on suspicion of sexually battering students may have had more victims, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. Jorge Ernesto Ubillus was taken into custody Monday after being accused in an undisclosed amount of sexual battery cases spanning from July 2014 to Aug. 13, 2014, according to an LAPD news release.
KTLA

Stolen truck found with drugs, suspicious device prompts evacuation in Van Nuys
A stolen truck that was reported to contain drugs and a suspected explosive device in Van Nuys Monday prompted the evacuation of a shopping center and surrounding neighborhood, authorities said. Officer found a stolen truck with a suspicious package inside just before 11 a.m. near the intersection of Sepulveda Boulevard and Sherman Way, Los Angeles Police Department Officer Liliana Preciado said. The all-clear was declared by about 3 p.m., another LAPD spokesperson said.
KTLA

Reward in Echo Park animal deaths grows to $5,000
A $5,000 reward is being offered for information about the deaths of seven animals that were found arranged in a circle in ritualistic fashion in Echo Park. This is the second reward offered by the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals since the animals were found near the group's headquarters on Sunset Boulevard.
Los Angeles Times

Homelessness

$12 million is pledged to supportive housing for homeless people
A major philanthropic funder has pledged $12 million to develop supportive housing for Los Angeles County's homeless population. The Conrad N. Hilton Foundation announced Tuesday that its donation, split evenly between a grant and a loan, would go to the Corporation for Supportive Housing for both new construction and adaptation of private units for homeless people.
Los Angeles Times

City Government

Garcetti announces new water use restrictions for Los Angeles
Looking to conserve more drinking water as the state's drought persists, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti announced new city-wide water use restrictions Tuesday. The executive order urges residents to water their lawns only two days a week, not three, and cover their pools to prevent evaporation. Those restrictions and others could become mandatory if the city doesn't hit its conservation goals.
Los Angeles Daily News

Los Angeles extends deal with developer to get NFL team
The City Council Tuesday extended for six months a 2012 deal with AEG in which the developer agreed to secure an NFL team for Los Angeles, build a football stadium and help expand the Los Angeles Convention Center. With the original pact expiring on Saturday, the company has yet to get a National Football League franchise to agree to move to the city.
City News Service

Richard Alarcon banned from public office for voter fraud, perjury
Former Los Angeles City Councilman Richard Alarcon was sentenced Tuesday to 120 days in jail and banned for life from holding public office for his conviction on charges of perjury and voter fraud. Alarcon, a veteran San Fernando Valley politician, and his wife, Flora Montes de Oca Alarcon, were found guilty in July of lying about where they lived so Alarcon could run for a seat on the council.
Los Angeles Times