Crackdown on prostitution in Sun Valley leads to 16 arrests
The Los Angeles Police Department conducted its largest undercover prostitution sting yet on Lankershim Boulevard in Sun Valley on Wednesday, arresting at least 16 men, including an on-duty county employee. About 80 LAPD detectives and officers took part in the sting along Lankershim Boulevard, which involved arresting johns who propositioned undercover female officers. The 20-hour sting was scheduled to end at midnight on Wednesday.
Los Angeles Daily News

Man fatally shot in Watts in confrontation with gang detectives
A man was shot and killed in a confrontation with gang detectives after a traffic stop in Watts, police said Wednesday night. The incident began about 3 p.m. Wednesday when the detectives from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department conducted a traffic stop near 103rd and Hickory streets, police said. A man got out of the vehicle, allegedly with a gun, and began running. At least one detective followed on foot and the shooting occurred, the Los Angeles Police Department said.
Los Angeles Times

No charges filed in alleged Notre Dame High shooting plot
Los Angeles police continued to investigate Wednesday an alleged plot by a Notre Dame High School student to kill a teacher and two students after prosecutors declined to file charges because of insufficient evidence. The 16-year-old was arrested Friday on suspicion of making terrorist threats at the Catholic prep school in Sherman Oaks, said Officer Wendy Reyes of the Los Angeles Police Department. After LAPD officers executed a search warrant at his home Monday and discovered a WWII-era rifle, they submitted the case to the Los Angeles County district attorney's office.
Los Angeles Times

Double murder suspect unarmed when shot by officers in La Mirada
A double murder suspect shot and killed by L.A. police and a federal agent after reportedly firing at them from the rooftop of a La Mirada home was unarmed, authorities said Wednesday. The Thursday shooting occurred after three LAPD officers and an FBI agent went to serve an arrest warrant for Frank Martinez, 27, at a home in the 15500 block of Escalona Road.
Los Angeles Times

Man arrested in hit-and-run that injured homeless woman
A man has been arrested in a hit-and-accident that seriously injured a 50-year-old woman as she slept in her tent on a skid row sidewalk, Los Angeles police officials said Wednesday. Arturo Betanzos of Los Angeles was booked on suspicion of felony hit-and-run after allegedly running into the woman with his car March 4 about 2:15 a.m. on Towne Avenue between Fourth and Fifth streets, according to LAPD officials. The 50-year-old victim, identified as Christina Silver, sustained serious injuries, but is expected to recover.
Los Angeles Times

Exploding plastic bottles cause bomb scare at middle school
The Los Angeles Police Department sent the bomb squad to Pacoima Middle School on Wednesday after two plastic bottles exploded on campus. Two students complained of fumes, but there were no serious injuries reported, LAPD Officer Cleon Joseph said. There were no threats associated with the bottles, and investigators are still trying to determine what was inside, Joseph said.
Los Angeles Times

FBI chief: Court ruling forces bureau to use agent surveillance instead of GPS in some probes
A recent Supreme Court ruling is forcing the FBI to deactivate its GPS tracking devices in some investigations, agency director Robert Mueller said Wednesday. Mueller told a congressional panel that the bureau has turned off a substantial number of GPS units and is using surveillance by agents instead. "Putting a physical surveillance team out with six, eight, 12 persons is tremendously time intensive," Mueller told a House Appropriations subcommittee.
Associated Press

L.A. Council moves against mobile billboards again
In another effort to ban mobile billboards from city streets, the Los Angeles City Council on Wednesday gave preliminary approval to a new rule banning signs attached to cars, mopeds and scooters. "This is just road spam," Assemblyman Bob Blumenfield told the City Council. "What we are talking about is something that is a quality of life issue ... and is something I get more constituent mail about than any other thing."
Los Angeles Daily News

Villaraigosa may campaign for Obama in the South, West
Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa could be hitting the road to campaign for President Obama's reelection, he said Wednesday during his latest trip to Washington. Obama campaign manager Jim Messina, in a lunch with Villaraigosa on Tuesday, raised the possibility of the mayor traveling to states such as Virginia, Iowa, Nevada, Florida, North Carolina and Colorado, Villaraigosa said at Politico's Playbook Breakfast at the Newseum.
Los Angeles Times