Law Enforcement

2 LAPD Officers Injured During Traffic Stop In Koreatown; 1 Bitten By Suspect
Two Los Angeles police officers were hospitalized Monday night after a traffic stop suddenly turned violent in Koreatown. The officers scuffled with the suspect near Wilshire Boulevard and Western Avenue. Additional units responded to an "officer needs help call" shortly after 9 p.m.
ABC 7

Opinion: LAPD calls in the reinforcements. What could possibly go wrong?
Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck "wants to swarm high-crime neighborhoods with more than 200 highly trained officers from the elite Metropolitan Division without undermining years of progress the department has made in building better relationships with those communities," report Kate Mather, Richard Winton and Cindy Chang in The Times. Metro Division cops are the best of the best — the department's elite. So what could go wrong?
Los Angeles Times

Sherman Oaks Massage Therapist Arrested After Allegedly Sexual Assaulting Customers; Additional Victims Sought
A Sherman Oaks massage therapist was recently arrested on suspicion of felony sexual assault and detectives believe there may be additional victims, police said Monday. Hong Quiang Shi, also known as Steven, is accused of sexual assaulting “numerous victims” while providing massage services at Super Relax Massage in the 14400 block of Ventura Boulevard, according to an LAPD news release.
KTLA 5

Shocking Westside Shooting Were Gang-Related, Cops Say
Shootings that shocked the Westside last week were gang-related, police said today. Over the weekend authorities announced that 35-year-old James Pickens of Inglewood was arrested on suspicion of murder in connection with the first attack on Thursday, which took place at Woodbine Park in the Palms neighborhood.
LA Weekly

$50K Reward Offered In Fatal North Hollywood Hit-And-Run Accident
Officials Monday offered a $50,000 reward for information that would lead to the arrest of a hit-and-run driver who fatally struck a 57-year-old woman. Around 8:20 p.m. on Feb. 27, Melva Evangelin Chapman, of Sun Valley, was struck by a vehicle while crossing Saticoy Street at Lemp Avenue in North Hollywood, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.
CBS Los Angeles

LAPD officer charged with assault in videotaped beating
On Monday, Officer Richard Garcia, 34, was charged with one count of felony assault for using what prosecutors described as unlawful force when arresting Alford after he had surrendered. The decision to file an assault charge is highly unusual for on-duty police officers, who are given broad legal authority to use force. But Garcia's case highlights how prosecutors are more willing to charge a cop when incidents are caught on video, which can then be presented to a jury to provide clarity in the face of conflicting witness accounts.

Los Angeles Times

City Government

LA Mayor Unveils $8.5B Budget Plan To Boost Services, LAPD Staffing
Tree-trimming services, sidewalk repairs and affordable housing in Los Angeles would be among several local programs to receive a boost in funding under a proposed $8.5 billion budget plan released Monday. KNX 1070's Jon Baird reports Garcetti unveiled his budget proposal for the 2015-16 fiscal year, a plan which the mayor called the healthiest in years.
CBS Los Angeles , KPCC

Prop. 47

Prop. 47 backers put a new face on victims of crime
Flush from their successful campaign in support of Proposition 47, the ballot initiative that made drug possession and other nonviolent crimes no longer a felony in California, a coalition of community activists and private foundations is now pushing to change policing and sentencing laws throughout the state.
Los Angeles Times