Law Enforcement

LAPD commissioners satisfied with fixes to homicide case tracking
Members of the Los Angeles Police Department's civilian oversight board said Tuesday they were satisfied that officials were fixing the department's homicide record-keeping problems. LAPD detectives and clerks weren't consistently tracking homicide case closures, and department leaders agreed to add safeguards to the process, according to a report presented by LAPD Inspector General Alex Bustamante. At the regular Los Angeles Police Commission meeting, Bustamante said he was initially concerned detectives were inappropriately closing homicide cases, but he found the problems were instead administrative. Police commissioners were relieved after reading the report released Friday.
Los Angeles Daily News

L.A. Police Commission clears sergeants in death of Omar Abrego
The Los Angeles Police Commission ruled Tuesday that two LAPD gang sergeants acted within department policy last year during a violent arrest of a South L.A. man who died the next day. Commissioners unanimously sided with LAPD Chief Charlie Beck, who recommended the two sergeants and four officers who responded as backup be cleared in the Aug. 2 encounter with Omar Abrego.
Los Angeles Times

Mystery of dead man and his 1,200 guns deepens
The body went unnoticed for two weeks in the summer heat, decomposing inside a sport utility vehicle parked in the affluent neighborhood of Pacific Palisades. Once Los Angeles police were called, they traced the dead man inside the vehicle to a town house down the street. There, investigators found roughly two tons of ammunition and more than 1,200 high-end pistols, shotguns and rifles. The cache of firearms and ammunition was so large that it took police days to remove several truckloads from the canyon home.
Los Angeles Times

Man Fatally Shot Near Police Station In Westlake District
Police Tuesday investigated the circumstances surrounding the fatal shooting of a 33-year-old man in the Westlake District. Around 11:45 p.m. on Monday, a pair of officers were traveling in the area of 6th Street and Union Drive when a pedestrian flagged them down to report a body that was found on a sidewalk. Police were then sent to the 400 block of South Union Drive to investigate, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.
CBS Los Angeles

Missing Man Triggers Search Near Venice Breakwater
LAPD joined LA County Lifeguards in a search last night to find an 18-year-old man believed missing in the ocean near the Venice breakwater. The man had been swimming around 7pm last night when he became separated from his friend. His friend reported him missing to police at around 10pm.
YoVenice.com

Police Nab Man Suspected In Designer Purse Snatchings
Women with designer handbags can rest easier at grocery stores now that police say they've arrested a serial purse snatcher. Police say they have video of the man doing the same thing to another woman in a Ralph's parking lot in Sherman Oaks. It's footage you'll only see on CBS2/KCAL9. “He would attack people from their blind spots so, in many instances, the victims don't even see his face,” LAPD Det. Kenneth White said.
CBS Los Angeles

128 years to life for gang member who shot little boy
Leonard Hall, a 26-year-old black man, was sentenced Tuesday to 128 years to life in prison for fatally shooting a 5-year-old boy showing off his new Spider-Man outfit on Halloween night in 2010. Hall, a gang member, had been found guilty in May of second-degree murder for the death of Aaron Shannon Jr. and two counts of attempted murder.
Los Angeles Times

US marshal on trial in Los Angeles man's fatal shooting
Trial has begun for a deputy U.S. marshal who fatally shot a Los Angeles man in an alley after a night of drinking. Matthew Itkowitz's federal trial began Tuesday with jury selection. Opening statements are expected Wednesday. Itkowitz has pleaded not guilty to civil rights violations and obstruction of justice.
The Sacramento Bee

City Government

Los Angeles County leaders vote to raise minimum wage in unincorporated areas
A proposal to raise the minimum wage in Los Angeles County has passed, along with another that will raise the wages of employees of county contractors. KPCC's Brian Watt is at the board of supervisors meeting. You can follow him on Twitter for the latest updates. We also have a quick review of the three proposals the supervisors were expected to vote on below, along with a look at the unincorporated areas of L.A. County the wage hike would affect.
KPCC