Law Enforcement

Suspects Sought In Armed Takeover Bank Robbery In West Los Angeles
An investigation is underway into a violent bank robbery at OneWest Bank in West Los Angeles Thursday afternoon. Police say three suspects, one described as a black male in a blue-hooded sweatshirt, allegedly robbed the branch in the 11300 block of National Boulevard at about 1:50 p.m. The suspects, who witnesses say were wearing ski masks, burst into the bank, tasing the security guard and pistol-whipping two people before making off with an undisclosed amount of cash. "The multiple male suspects entered the location armed with Tasers and handguns," said LAPD Lt. Robert Long.
ABC 7

Are These Women Dead or Alive? LAPD Seeking More Victims of the Grim Sleeper Serial Killer
The Los Angeles Police Department is trying to identify 35 women who may have been killed by alleged Grim Sleeper serial killer Lonnie Franklin. Detectives found more than 1,000 photos and videotapes of women and teenage girls in the former sanitation worker's garage and backyard camper days after he was arrested in south L.A. on July 10, 2010, for a string of serial murders dating back to 1984.
People.com

LAPD To Officially Mark Ties With Abu Dhabi Police
The Los Angeles Police Department is set to officially recognize ties with police from the United Arab Emirates. LAPD Chief Charlie Beck and other department officials were expected to be on hand at police headquarters Thursday in downtown Los Angeles to culminate a “cooperative relationship” with the Abu Dhabi Police Department.
CBS Los Angeles

Carjacking Ends With Brand-New BMW Slamming Into a Tree
A carjacking early Friday morning ended with the suspects slamming the brand-new car they just stole into a tree in Pasadena. Two men with guns approached a man parking a brand-new BMW with paper plates, the Los Angeles Police Department said. They carjacked the BMW on the 4500 block of Willowbrook and though the men were armed, the victim was not harmed, police said.
NBC Los Angeles

Man who barricaded himself inside Panorama City home arrested
A man was taken into custody on Thursday after barricading himself inside a Panorama City home where police had responded to a woman's call for help. Officers were sent to the residence in the 13000 block of Roscoe Boulevard about 2:50 p.m., said Officer Jack Richter of the Los Angeles Police Department's Media Relations Section. Traffic was rerouted around the area as SWAT officers took up positions.
Los Angeles Daily News

Help Sought in Maywood Hit-and-Run That Killed Pedestrian
Authorities asked the public for help Thursday in their search for the driver involved in a hit-and-run crash that killed a 43-year-old woman in Maywood earlier this year. The victim, who was a resident of Maywood, was walking in the 4800 block of Randolph Street (map) when she was hit by a vehicle at about 5:20 a.m. on March 14, according to Detective Jimmy Yee of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.
KTLA 5

Young Mother From Antelope Valley Disappears Under Suspicious Circumstances
Family members asked for the public's help Thursday in locating a 28-year-old woman who left her Littlerock home a week ago and hasn't been seen since. Monique Figueroa left the Antelope Valley to go to the Florence area of Los Angeles on May 19. Figueroa has a 2-year-old daughter, and family members said she would never abandon her little girl. Detectives at the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department confirmed they were investigating Figueroa's disappearance as “suspicious,” and as a possible kidnapping, but would not provide further details.
KTLA 5

More police body cameras expected in California
It's been a violent week for Stockton, a city that just experienced its 11th homicide this year. "Even though we continue to have shootings, it's important to understand our homicides are actually down this time this year, compared to last year," Stockton Police Chief Eric Jones said Wednesday. Jones was at the state Capitol to discuss policing techniques. He said Stockton's homicide numbers are actually down -- compared to the 18 that had happened last year by this date. Jones promised a new tool to reduce crime. "We are rolling out this summer our body-worn camera project where we will equip all of our front-line personnel with body-worn cameras," Jones said. "We think it adds trust and accountability, and cameras are for the betterment of everyone."
KCRA

County Government

L.A. County seeks input on network of emergency radio towers
Los Angeles County residents will have five opportunities next month to give input on plans to build a network of radio towers to allow first-responders from dozens of agencies to communicate quickly in an emergency. The Los Angeles Regional Interoperable Communications System, or LA- RICS, would replace an existing collection of 40 separate radio and data networks used by police, fire and paramedics to serve 10 million county residents.
mynewsLA.com

Prop. 47

Measures to alter Prop. 47 held back in Assembly committee
Two measures seeking to restore tough penalties for crimes that were downgraded to misdemeanors after Proposition 47 passed last year were shelved in the California Assembly on Thursday. Both bills were introduced in response to the ballot initiative, passed last November, under which drug possession and other nonviolent crimes are no longer a felony. That included downgrading theft of anything valued at $950 or less. Critics charged that would make the punishment for stealing a gun, if it was below that value, too lenient.
Los Angeles Times