Law Enforcement

Crime alerts for Hollywood Hills and 9 other L.A. neighborhoods
Crime reports are up significantly for the latest week in 10 L.A. neighborhoods, according to an analysis of LAPD data by the Los Angeles Times' Crime L.A. database. Five neighborhoods reported a significant increase in violent crime. Hollywood Hills was the most unusual, recording three reports compared with a weekly average of 1.0 over the last three months. Larchmont topped the list of five neighborhoods with property crime alerts.
Los Angeles Times

LAPD cracks down on drone aircraft use by real estate agents
The Los Angeles Police Department is warning real estate agents not to use images of properties taken from unmanned aircraft, saying the flying drones pose a potential safety hazard and could violate federal aviation policy. The warning was issued this week after officers saw a television news report showing a basketball-sized object with multiple rotors hovering over an expansive Westside residence.
Los Angeles Times

Three suspects arrested in rash of car break-ins at L.A. Fitness
Three people have been arrested for their alleged roles in a crime spree that started with car break-ins at an LA Fitness parking lot in Harbor City, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. Over the last month, purses and wallets were taken from nine vehicles. The owners' credit cards and personal information then were used to make thousands of dollars worth of purchases.
Los Angeles Times

LAPD seeks public's help to track down serial armed robber
The Los Angeles Police Department and city officials are asking for the public's assistance in finding a suspected serial armed-robber who has held-up half a dozen local restaurants and an electronics store. Between Dec. 9 and Jan. 15, two fast-food restaurants in Cypress Park, two restaurants in Highland Park, and a restaurant, a mini-market and an electronics store in Lincoln Heights were robbed at gunpoint, detectives from the Northeast Los Angeles Police Station said during a press conference on Jan. 19.
EGP News

Slain teen may have been the victim of boyfriend's jealous rage
The couple arrested for the killing of a star soccer player at El Camino Real High School were involved in a volatile relationship that included angry accusations of cheating on each other - when they weren't committing crimes together, investigators have determined. Elizabeth Ibarra, 19, and Jason Schumann, 24, have been accused of the Jan. 11 murder of Francisco Rodriguez Jr., a 17-year-old goalie at El Camino. The two carry convictions for forgery on their records, while Schumann has also been convicted of multiple charges that include drug possession and assault.
Los Angeles Daily News

Learn your rights: Crime victim's clinic to be held at LAPD headquarters
This Saturday, Justice for Homicide Victims (JHV) and Justice for Murdered Children (JMC), along with the LAPD, are putting on a four-hour victim's rights clinic at the Downtown police headquarters. This workshop is held twice a year and aims to educate the public on their legal rights if they become a victim of a crime. The definition of a crime victim is broader than the person who directly suffers harm; it encompasses the victim's spouse, parents, children, siblings or guardian, and under Marsy's Law, all of these people are entitled to 17 California constitutional rights.
Blogdowntown

Legislation

Senate approves bill restricting picketing at funerals
Legislation aimed at restricting protests at military and other funerals won unanimous approval in the state Senate today. Senate Bill 661, by Sen. Ted Lieu, D-Torrance, would prohibit picketing within 500 feet of a burial or memorial site within one hour of the service. Violators of the law could face misdemeanor charges punishable by up to six months in prison and a $1,000 fine. Supporters say the bill, which is backed by veterans groups, will protect grieving families from distress while maintaining the First Amendment rights of protesters.
Sacramento Bee

Bill on media access to prisoners advances
The Assembly voted 47-22 today to pass a Bay Area lawmaker's bill that would lift the ban on media interviews with specific inmates in California's prisons. Since the ban on pre-arranged inmate interviews went into effect in 1996, bill author Tom Ammiano noted, eight versions of this bill have been vetoed by three governors. "Independent media access to prison inmates is a critical part of keeping our prisons transparent and accountable while providing information to the public," Ammiano, D-San Francisco, said in a news release.
Political Blotter

City Budget

L.A. city pension funds shave $90 million in costs
After taking a long battering in investment markets, two Los Angeles city employee pension funds have produced some good news: They improved their performance during the last fiscal year, helping to shave $90 million in costs off of next year's budget. The strong performance by the two funds, combined with increased retirement contributions from the City Hall workforce, will reduce this year's scheduled payment to the two retirement systems from $948 million to $858 million, City Administrative Officer Miguel Santana said in a report released Thursday.
Los Angeles Times