Law Enforcement

Truck Driver In Death Of LAPD Officer Charged With Manslaughter
A truck driver faced manslaughter charges Monday for a crash that killed an LAPD officer last year. Roberto Maldonado was arrested Feb. 27 after a nearly yearlong investigation into the accident that took the life of LAPD Officer Nicholas Lee on Mar. 7, 2014, during a traffic collision in Beverly Hills.
CBS Los Angeles , ABC7

LAPPL issues statement regarding officer-involved shooting
In response to the officer-involved shooting in Central Area today, Craig Lally, president of the Los Angeles Police Protective League released the following statement on behalf of the League: “LAPD officers responded to a reported robbery on Skid Row this afternoon that resulted in the use of force and the subsequent death of the suspect. The incident occurred only hours ago and the investigation is in its very early stages. Testimony and facts are still being collected and assessed. Until that investigation concludes, the LAPPL urges everyone to reserve their judgment as there is much to learn about the incident. In fact, audio heard on a video recording during the incident clearly suggests that the officers felt they were in life-threatening danger.”
LAPD.com

LAPD chief says homeless man shot by police reached for officer's gun
Police fatally shot a homeless man on Skid Row during a "brutal" videotaped struggle in which a rookie officer cried out that the man had grabbed his gun, the Los Angeles police chief said Monday.Video showed the man reaching toward the officer's waistband, Chief Charlie Beck said. The officer's gun was found partly cocked and jammed with a round of ammunition in the chamber and another in the ejection port, indicating a struggle for the weapon.
Fox News

Mayor Garcetti asks for calm, calls skid row shooting 'fast-moving situation'
Mayor Eric Garcetti said the shooting death of a homeless man by Los Angeles police officers happened in a "fast-moving situation" and asked the public to withhold judgment until an investigation is completed. "I don't think you or I should judge tactics or whether a situation was done right or wrong before an investigation is done," Garcetti told a press gathering at City Hall.
Los Angeles Times

Wrongful Death Lawsuit Filed in Struggle With LAPD
The mother of an unarmed man who died hours after a struggle with Los Angeles police officers has filed a $25 million federal wrongful death lawsuit. Lilia Ábrego Figueroa, the mother of Omar Abrego, and her attorney, Shanta Driver, announced the lawsuit on on the steps of Los Angeles City Hall on Monday.
NBC Los Angeles

Driver apprehended after pursuit, standoff in stolen rental truck
An innocent mistake by a rental car customer led to a slow-speed pursuit on Southern California's freeways Monday when a thief stole a Budget rental truck and drove off. The pursuit came to an end about 2 p.m. when CHP officers deployed a spike strip that punctured at least two of the truck's tires. The driver continued as the area around the left front tire smoked and chunks of rubber began flying off the rim. The driver stayed in the vehicle for about 10 minutes before surrendering.
The Los Angeles Times

Man found stabbed to death in Highland Park alley
A man was found stabbed to death in an alley in Highland Park, authorities said today. The body was discovered about 9:45 p.m. Sunday near Avenue 60 and Figueroa Street, said coroner's Assistant Chief Ed Winter. Authorities withheld the name of the man, who was in his 30s, pending family notification. There were no arrests, police said.
Los Angeles Daily News

Suspicious Death Investigation Launched in South Los Angeles
A suspicious death investigation was launched in South Los Angeles early Tuesday. A call was received regarding the body at the 1000 block of Eubank Avenue in Wilmington, at around 3:45 a.m, Los Angeles Police Department said. The circumstances surrounding the death of the woman, who is in her 50s, are unknown at this time. Police were trying to get in touch with a doctor, as it appeared the death could be related to a medical issue.
NBC Los Angeles

2 Suspects Sought In Connection With Series Of Burglaries In Montecito Heights
Detectives seek the public's help in identifying two suspects police say are responsible for a series of burglaries in Montecito Heights. The Los Angeles Police Department said the two males were caught on camera during a Nov. 12, 2014, burglary in the 3900 block of Elderbank Drive. “According to detectives, this incident appears to be related to burglaries in the area,” the statement said. The LAPD said the most recent incident occurred Feb. 25 in the 3900 block of Paige Street. It was then, according to police, the pair broke into a home, took property and fled while the victim barricaded herself in a bathroom.
CBS Los Angeles

Elections

In election with a bid to boost turnout, participation may be lacking
In an election Tuesday where voters will weigh in on an idea to boost L.A.'s low voter turnout, it remains an open question how many people will go to the polls. With a late winter storm predicted for the weekend, candidates and their teams were scrambling to phone voters and knock on as many doors as possible. "We'll be out there, rain or shine,'' said Karren Lane, a consultant to Marqueece Harris-Dawson, one of four candidates hoping to replace retiring South Los Angeles Councilman Bernard C. Parks.
The Los Angeles Times

Courts

California Supreme Court Rejects Blanket Ban on Where Convicted Sex Offenders May Live
The California Supreme Court said Monday that San Diego County's blanket ban on where sex offenders may live is unconstitutional. The high court struck down blanket mandatory residency restrictions on San Diego County sex offenders, ruling that the limits had raised the risk of homelessness and hampered the ability of law enforcement to monitor parolees. The decision applies specifically to San Diego County, where residency requirements established by Jessica's Law made it impossible for some offenders to find a place to live. However, the ruling also paves the way for offenders in other counties, particularly those with large cities, to show that such requirements must be relaxed.
KTLA5