Law Enforcement

Hate crimes in Los Angeles County at 24-year low, but attacks on lesbians and transgender individuals are up
The number of reported hate crimes in Los Angeles County last year dipped to its lowest level in nearly 21/2 decades, according to a report released Wednesday, though on average more than one hate crime still occurred each day. There were 384 hate crimes reported in the county last year, representing a 17 percent decrease from 2012, according to the Los Angeles County Human Relations Commission.
Los Angeles Daily News

Man shot, killed in Arlington Heights
A 20-year-old man was shot and killed Tuesday night in Arlington Heights. The shooting occurred around 8:50 p.m. near the intersection of West 21st Street and Eighth Avenue, a block north of the Santa Monica (10) Freeway, Los Angeles Police Department Officer Jane Kim said. The suspect was described as 18 to 20 years old and wearing a black hooded sweatshirt.
City News Service

Appeal denied for San Fernando Valley armed robber who shot at Glendale cops
The California Supreme Court on Wednesday refused to hear the case against a man convicted of a series of armed robberies in the San Fernando Valley. The state's highest court denied a defense petition seeking its review of the case against David Cesar Santos, who was found guilty in October 2012 of six counts of second-degree robbery and one count each of assault on a peace officer and attempted second-degree robbery involving the crimes between November 2010 and June 2011.
City News Service

LAPD seeks additional victims of 70-year-old driving instructor accused of sex crimes against 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

LAPD asks City Council for $50K reward in fatal scooter attack
The LAPD Wednesday asked the City Council to approve a $50,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of a suspect who fatally attacked a man on a motorized scooter in Hollywood. Louie Rodriguez, 54, was attacked around 12:40 a.m. on Sept. 21 near Hollywood Boulevard and Highland Avenue.
CBS LA

L.A. gets $1.6 million to combat elder abuse
Calling elder abuse one of the most under-reported crimes in the city, Los Angeles officials on Wednesday announced plans to expand its efforts to protect senior citizens with some help from the Department of Justice and Verizon Corp. Mayor Eric Garcetti and City Attorney Mike Feuer said the awarding of $1.6 million in grants to the city will help fund efforts to train police officers in recognizing the signs of elder abuse, which often involves family members and can be somewhat of a hidden crime.
Los Angeles Daily News

Mother faces criminal charges after son allegedly takes gun to school
Los Angeles City Atty. Mike Feuer on Wednesday announced that he filed criminal charges against a woman whose 17-year-old son allegedly took a loaded semiautomatic handgun to school. Feuer said the action is "unique in the history of the city" and a first step toward holding parents accountable for poor supervision of firearms in the home.
Los Angeles Times

Public Health & Safety

Virus-transmitting 'yellow fever' mosquitoes discovered in L.A. County
A new aggressive daytime-biting mosquito capable of transmitting debilitating and possibly deadly viruses has been found in the Los Angeles region, officials announced Wednesday. Known as yellow fever mosquitoes, the insects were found Oct. 7 and 8 in Commerce and Pico Rivera, respectively, according to the Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District.
Los Angeles Times

As Rx deaths dip, heroin overdoses surge
Prescription drug deaths declined in 2012 for the first time in more than a decade, but a surge in fatal heroin overdoses wiped out the modest improvement, according to U.S. government statistics released Wednesday. Fatal heroin overdoses rose 35% to 5,927, while deaths involving chemically similar prescription painkillers such as OxyContin and Vicodin dropped 5% to 16,007, for an overall increase, according to figures released by the Office of National Drug Control Policy.
Los Angeles Times

City Government

Los Angeles' earthquake 'czar' Dr. Lucy Jones outlines doomsday scenarios
A massive earthquake in Southern California could economically cripple the Los Angeles region, earthquake "czar" Dr. Lucy Jones warned City Council members during a hearing Wednesday. The devastation could be more costly than Hurricane Katrina's impact on New Orleans, which lost $105 billion in gross domestic product over a seven-year period after the 2005 hurricane, Jones said.
Los Angeles Daily News