Law Enforcement

LAPD officer struck by car; distracted or drunk driving may be to blame
Distracted or drunk driving may be to blame for a crash that sent a Los Angeles police officer to the hospital on Tuesday. Investigators say the officer was behind his cruiser, talking to a civilian near Van Noord Avenue and Sarah Street just after midnight when a car slammed straight into him. Medics rushed the officer to Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center in Burbank with leg injuries.
ABC7

'Django Unchained' actress, boyfriend charged with lewd conduct
A "Django Unchained" actress and her boyfriend who accused Los Angeles police of unjustly handcuffing her last month in Studio City have been charged with lewd conduct in connection with the incident. Daniele L. Watts and Brian James Lucas drew national headlines after the couple alleged they were mistreated because Watts is black and Lucas is white.
Los Angeles Times

Man accused of stealing ambulance, leading police on chase
A man who allegedly stole a Los Angeles Fire Department ambulance and crashed it was charged Tuesday with carjacking and other crimes. Mohamed Zahir, 21, was scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday afternoon. He is charged with two counts of carjacking and one count each of attempted carjacking and fleeing police causing serious bodily injury, according to the District Attorney's Office.
City News Service

LAPD officer accused of faking military documents to get paid leave
A veteran Los Angeles Police officer was arrested Tuesday on charges of stealing public funds related to allegedly submitting fictitous military leave documents on several occasions. Christine Bulicz, a 15-year LAPD officer and a California Army National Guard member, is alleged to have submitted fake military documents that allowed her to take more than $5,400 worth of paid time off from the department, which she was not entitled otherwise, an LAPD news release said.
Los Angeles Times

Search underway for driver after stolen items thrown from vehicle in Sun Valley: LAPD
A search was underway for a driver after two people allegedly threw stolen items out of vehicle early Tuesday, according to the Los Angeles Police Department said. Officers were called out around 3:15 a.m. after receiving a report of a theft from a vehicle in the 7300 block of Tujunga Ave., LAPD Sgt. Season Nunez said.
KTLA

Detectives working 'good' leads in shooting following Friday's football game in San Pedro
Detectives were working productive leads Monday in the shooting of three teens in the parking lot of the In-N-Out Burger restaurant on Western Avenue after a San Pedro vs. Banning football game. "We have some really good leads," said Sgt. Michele Santillan of the Los Angeles Police Department Harbor Division gang unit. "We're getting a lot of good information and people are cooperative."
Torrance Daily Breeze

LA's Most Wanted: Suspect in death of musician Tyree Rowe
There is a $50,000 reward for information that sends the killer or killers of slain musician Tyree Rowe to prison. Rowe was murdered Aug. 25, 2012 on West 77th Street near Gramercy Place in Manchester Square. Anyone who has information that may qualify them for the reward should contact Los Angeles Police Department Detective B. Durazo or Dave Ross at (213) 485-4341.
My Fox LA

Metro bus struck by gunfire; passengers appear uninjured
Police are searching for a gunman who fired shots that struck a Metro bus in South L.A. on Tuesday afternoon, officials said. The shooting occurred a few minutes before 4 p.m. as the No. 40 bus was eastbound on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard at Vermont Avenue, said Metro spokesman Paul Gonzales. The gunshots shattered the glass of the rear door, but no one appeared to have been injured, he said.
Los Angeles Times

Vote No on Proposition 47

Sandra Hutchens: Prop. 47 won't reduce crime, increase safety
I find it disturbing when the majority of financial backers of this Proposition 47 use clever marketing tactics in an attempt to deliberately mislead the voting public. "Safe Schools and Neighborhoods Act" - sounds like mom and apple pie. How could we not support that? But, that is not what Prop. 47 is - not even close.
Orange County Register LAPPL Blog

Our Voice: Prop. 47 is a flawed proposal
For a state the size of California, the estimated savings would not have a great impact. The proponents of Proposition 47 have good intentions, but the potential for more crime under this formula is too great. Vote no.
Desert Sun

Public Health & Safety

L.A. County prepared to deal with Ebola, health officials say
Los Angeles County health officials offered assurances Tuesday that they are prepared to meet any threat from Ebola as they cautioned the public against over-reacting to accounts of the danger of the virus. Dr. Jeffrey Gunzenhauser, interim county health officer, noted there are an average of 155 deaths a day in the county and not one of them was due to Ebola.
Los Angeles Daily News LAPPL Blog

Texting to 911 in Los Angeles County? It could soon be possible
Los Angeles County may join other jurisdictions in providing technology for residents to text-message 911 emergency dispatchers. Text-to-911 technology is already being used in some counties in New York, Texas, Ohio and at least 13 other states, according to the Federal Communications Commission.
City News Service