15-Year-Old Daughter Honored by LAPD After Mother Fatally Shot in South L.A.
The 15-year-old daughter of a woman fatally shot by a stray bullet was honored by the Los Angeles Police Department on Wednesday. Emily Santos, 15, received a special certificate of recognition from Councilmember Joe Busciano's office for her strength and courage. The high school student has been raising her 1-year-old son and helping to take care of her 9-year-old sister, Melisabeth Cordero, since the June 2016 shooting of her mother. “In light of what you've been through, your bravery, what you've displayed to all of us. Many of us can learn from you. Many of us can take a page from your book,” said one LAPD official during a press conference.
KTLA 5

Shooting Victim Staggers Aboard Metro Bus in Van Nuys
A man managed to board a Metro bus just after he was shot and wounded Wednesday in Van Nuys. The shooting occurred about 3:40 p.m. in the area of Sepulveda and Burbank boulevards, according to Officer Sal Ramirez of the Los Angeles Police Department's Media Relations Section. After being shot, the victim got aboard a Metro bus, which was stopped by police at the intersection of Sepulveda Boulevard and Vanowen Street, according to Ramon Montenegro of the Sheriff's Transit Policing Division. The man was in stable condition when taken to a hospital, Ramirez said. There were few details available about the shooting or how the victim managed to climb aboard the bus despite his wounds.
MyNewsLA.com

Dramatic Surveillance Videos Show Robberies Amid Crime Spike in Downtown Los Angeles
Amid a spike in crime in downtown Los Angeles, two recent robberies in the area were captured on harrowing surveillance video.  One video shows a man using a cane as he approaches an entrance to his apartment building. Two people in hoodies walk past him on the sidewalk, and one of the passerby taps the man's pocket - a maneuver known as a "pocket check."  Minutes later, the same hooded suspect attacks the man, dragging him along the sidewalk. As the victim is knocked unconscious, the suspect's accomplice searches his clothes.  "Somebody will come behind you, bump into you a little bit, kind of distract you," said Capt. Scott Harrelson of the Los Angeles Police Department's Central Division. "But at the same time, they're checking your pocket."  The captain said such street crimes are on the rise in downtown.
ABC 7

‘He's got a gun!' Breathless Cops Shoot at Armed Suspect in Foot Chase
A man allegedly armed with a gun was taken into custody in the south Los Angeles area Wednesday following a foot chase by Los Angeles police, who fired at least one shot that did not injure anyone. The incident began when someone flagged down officers Wednesday afternoon regarding a man with a gun near 51st Street and McKinley Avenue, the Los Angeles Police Department reported. Officers investigating the report became involved in a foot chase, during which the suspect allegedly “produced a handgun, and an officer- involved shooting occurred,” police said. The man was taken into custody without further incident, police said. His name was not immediately released.
MyNewsLA.com

Chase Bank Robber Evades LAPD in Downtown Van Nuys
A bank robber made off with some cash and evaded Los Angeles police near the Van Nuys Civic Center Wednesday afternoon, authorities said. The robbery occurred at Chase Bank in the 6300 block of Van Nuys Boulevard, police said. “The person did get away with some money,” said Los Angeles Police Department spokeswoman Officer Jenny Houser. No one was apparently hurt in the robbery, and the amount taken was not disclosed. Early reports indicate that no weapon was seen, Houser said. Traffic was stopped on some streets: eastbound Victory Boulevard at Sylmar Avenue and westbound traffic at Victory Boulevard and Hazeltine Avenue. The search was called off later in the afternoon. Police had no further details as of 5 p.m.
Los Angeles Daily News

Driver Slams Truck Into Wall After Being Fatally Shot
A man  driving  a truck slammed into a wall after being shot at Gage Avenue and Blanchard Street just before 4 p.m. Wednesday. The victim was taken to a hospital, where he died, authorities said. Investigators say the man may have gotten into an argument before being shot, tried to  drive  away, then lost consciousness and crashed. He appeared to have been shot several times. His girlfriend, who may have been a passenger, got help from a neighbor. “I saw both airbags out and he was leaning to the right, she was trying to pick him up, I moved his head so he could breathe, I was just trying to stay with him,” Jorge Zepeda said. The suspected shooter is still at large.
CBS 2

$50K Reward Offered to Help Find Mar Vista Mother's Murder Suspect
The family of a 56-year-old woman who was murdered last month pleaded with the public Wednesday to help bring her killer to justice.  A neighbor had found Juana Sandoval on the ground and unconscious on Feb. 17. She was next to her car in the Mar Vista Gardens housing development in the 4900 block of Marionwood Drive around 7 p.m.  Authorities said that night, when a powerful storm struck the Southland, there was a blackout in the neighborhood she was in. They said she died from blunt force trauma to the head.  "We keep going over what we think might have happened. We're just driving ourselves insane. We haven't left home for about two-and-a-half weeks. We're just desperate to find out what happened," daughter Maritza Galvez said.
ABC 7

Woman Who Allegedly Stole Several Lawn Items From Studio City Front Yards Arrested
A woman suspected of stealing plants and other landscaping items from several Studio City homes apparently over the course of several months was arrested Wednesday, LAPD officials said.  Detectives believe the woman spent roughly twelve hours going through a Studio City neighborhood taking plants, trees, even patio furniture, but possibly was hitting homes for some time. They believe there could other victims throughout the San Fernando Valley.  Some of the incidents were caught on surveillance video. In one, the woman is seen walking away with a lemon tree.
KTLA 5

High-Speed Chase Ends in Crash in Sun Valley; 2 Suspects Sought
Two suspects were being sought Thursday morning after a high-speed pursuit ended in a dramatic crash in Sun Valley, authorities said.  The chase began about 3:20 a.m. in San Fernando after a driver was seen exceeding the speed limit, according to the California Highway Patrol. The pursuit culminated in a collision involving three parked vehicles at Roscoe Boulevard and Webb Avenue.  One of the vehicle's occupants was arrested. Two others fled on foot, prompting CHP and Los Angeles Police Department officers to set up a perimeter in the area.
ABC 7

LA County Opens Review of Bail System that Favors Wealthy
In a move long sought by civil rights activists, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Wednesday ordered a comprehensive review of the county's bail system. “Getting out on bail correlates much more to a person's ability to pay, than to any likelihood of appearing in court or relative risk to the safety of the public,” Supervisors Sheila Kuehl and Hilda Solis said in their motion. “Many people remain in jail awaiting trial simply because they cannot afford bail, often losing their jobs.” The five-member board unanimously supported the motion. 
KPCC

Family of 13-year-old involved in Anaheim scuffle with off-duty LAPD policeman files lawsuit
The parents of a 13-year-old boy involved in an altercation with an off-duty Los Angeles policeman in an Anaheim neighborhood last month have filed a civil rights lawsuit against the officer. The Anaheim Police Department has said it is investigating the incident and will present its findings to the Orange County District Attorney's Office. Dustin DeRollo, a spokesman for the Los Angeles Police Protective League, issued a statement about the issue. "It comes as no surprise that a lawsuit seeking to shake down the officer for money has been filed," he said. "We hope that this lawsuit determines why multiple young adults chose to physically assault a police officer and what the parents of these young adults could have done to teach their children right from wrong."
Orange County Register

Washington Senate passes bill making crimes against police a hate crime
The Senate has passed a measure that would make crimes and threats against police officers a hate crime. Senate Bill 5280 passed the chamber on a 35-14 vote and now heads to the House, where a companion bill did not receive a hearing there. Under current law, it's a felony to threaten, damage the property of, or physically injure a person because of race, ethnicity, nationality, religion, gender, disability or sexual orientation.
Associated Press

Assemblyman wants to tax firms that contract with state prisons and use the funds for incarceration-prevention programs
In an attempt to increase the revenue stream for early education programs, a state assemblyman wants to impose a tax on companies that contract with prisons in California to provide goods and services. The bill authored by Assemblyman Tony Thurmond (D-Richmond) would require companies to pay 10% of the value of the contract for any agreements signed on or after Jan. 1, 2018.
Los Angeles Times