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News and observations from around town, mostly off the police beat today:
- Chief Bratton told KPCC's Patt Morrison that an internal investigation is looking into reports of overfly forceful LAPD handling of anti-Minutemen protesters from ANSWER LA in Hollywood over the weekend. The National Lawyers Guild and ANSWER LA plan to file lawsuits. Video. (Politics in the Zeros)
- An off-duty LAPD officer driving through Anaheim was shot in the back by his four-year-old son with the officer's service revolver. The officer, whose name has not been released, is in critical condition. (L.A. Times)
- A reader visiting from Boston ran into over-active authority of an unofficial sort while taking photos downtown. He emails:
As I climbed the stairs on Bunker Hill, I turned toward the library to take a photo (using just a small Nikon coolpix digital camera). A youngish (20-25) male in a dark suit, with a walkie talkie, immediately came over, and politely informed me that he was "security" and that under homeland security it was illegal to point my camera or take pictures of public buildings, or words similar to that. There were no threats or anything, and the entire incident lasted less than a minute. I did see many others in that area with cameras. I said "no problem" and continued on my way.
- The Board of Supervisors wants more information before allowing Sheriff Lee Baca to open up his department to filming for two reality TV shows about deputies at work. "Am I crazy?" Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky said. "Why would we even consider this?" (CBS2.com)
- Karl Rove praised immigrants in a speech at the National Council of La Raza convention downtown, where he followed Mayor Villaraigosa, Gov. Schwarzenegger and former President Bill Clinton in addressing the group this week. (Associated Press)
- Lakers center Kwame Brown will not face sexual assault charges. (Daily News)