L.A. Latinos praise Spanish-speaking, Latin American pope

The selection of Pope Francis I resonated across Southern California as Spanish-speaking Catholics said they were especially pleased to hear a Latin American pontiff would lead the church for the first time.

Parishioners gathered for noon Mass at St. Emydius Catholic Church in Lynwood said they clapped when Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio's name was announced but clapped even louder when they heard he was from Argentina.

"I'm very pleased with a Latino," said Maria Ramirez, 65, who is originally from Mexico. "It's possible that he will understand other Latinos better."

PHOTOS: Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio elected pope

"As the pope, he is the pope to the whole world, but I'm very pleased that he's from Latin America," she said in Spanish.

Francis, 76, succeeds Benedict XVI as leader of the world’s 1.2 billion Roman Catholics. Benedict stunned the church when he stepped down last month, becoming the first pontiff to do so in six centuries.

Francis is the first pontiff from the Americas and the first non-European pope selected in more than a millennium.

FULL COVERAGE: The papal conclave

White smoke signaling a decision had been made poured out of the Sistine Chapel shortly after 11 a.m. PDT, prompting pealing bells and celebratory Masses at churches across Southern California.

Occidental College defends response to reported sexual assault

Occidental College officials are defending the school’s response to an alleged sexual assault last weekend near campus.

School officials did not issue a campus alert because it was determined there was no “continuing threat” following the report, Barbara J. Avery, dean of students, wrote in an email sent Thursday to students, faculty and staff.

Authorities said a police investigation began when a female Occidental student “went to get medical treatment on her own regarding the sexual assault,” said Richard French, a Los Angeles Police Department spokesman.

The alleged assault was reported to have happened early Sunday at a party off campus, French said. Partygoers were intoxicated, he said.  

Detectives have a suspect, though that person was not yet in custody, French said.

In her email, Avery said the reported assault involved two students.

“Had this been a case where a student was assaulted by a person unknown, or a case where the college determined that there was a continuing threat, we would have immediately issued a campus alert, as we have in the past,” Avery wrote. “This case, while very serious, was determined not to constitute a continuing threat.”

Avery said that because the case involved two students, “federal privacy laws and Department of Education rules apply.” The college, she wrote, “has an obligation to conduct a thorough, impartial and prompt investigation and take appropriation.”

The college’s investigation, separate from the LAPD investigation, is ongoing, she wrote.

Occidental College, she wrote, “will not tolerate sexual misconduct.”

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At least two injured in explosion at Sport Chalet in La Canada Flintridge

At least two people were burned Friday morning after an explosion ripped through a Sport Chalet in La Canada Flintridge.

Just before 10 a.m., Los Angeles County fire officials received a report of an explosion at the sporting goods store near the intersection of Foothill Boulevard and Angeles Crest Highway.

Televised aerial footage showed a person being wheeled into an ambulance on a gurney. Officials said more injuries could be reported.

The two injured people were both employees of the store, said Los Angeles County sheriff's Sgt. Cynthia Gonzales of the Crescenta Valley Sheriff’s Station, according to the La Canada Valley Sun.

Preliminary information indicates the explosion was caused by natural gas, fire inspector Tony Imbrenda said. The official cause of the explosion remains under investigation.

There was no active fire at the Sport Chalet, officials said. A hazardous-materials team was on scene.

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Photo: Emergency personnel at the scene of an explosion ripped through a Sport Chalet in La Canada Flintridge. Credit: Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times

Southern California heating up for Valentine's Day

With a little help from Mother Nature, it’s going to be a warm, cozy weekend for Southern Californians starting on Valentine’s Day.

The National Weather Service forecasts temperatures rising to the low to mid-70s Thursday and peak in the 80s Friday as Santa Ana winds blow across Los Angeles.

Forecasters expect 10 mph winds through the region, with areas between Malibu and the Hollywood Hills getting stronger gusts up to 35 mph, the weather service predicted.

Wind advisories will go into effect Thursday at 6 p.m. in the mountains and 10 p.m. along the coast and will last through Saturday.

Temperatures will drop to the 40s or 50s overnight, said weather service meteorologist Curt Kaplan.

“Through Saturday it’s going to be nice and warm,” Kaplan said.

Then, a trough of cold air from Alaska is supposed to roll through the region by the end of the weekend, bringing in cold air and rain.

Forecasters predict a 40% chance of rain Tuesday night and 30% chance of rain on Wednesday.

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Photo: Palms sway and a flag flutters in gusty winds in Fontana. Credit: Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times

Former bank executive sues LAPD over alleged beating

A former executive at Deutsche Bank filed suit Wednesday against the Los Angeles Police Department,  alleging that he was severely beaten last year by two officers, including one with a history of "threats, abductions and assaults."

Brian C. Mulligan, who until recently was a managing director and vice chairman at Deutsche Bank, filed the federal civil rights lawsuit in connection with an altercation that occurred May 15 in Highland Park in which he suffered multiple fractures to his nose and a broken shoulder blade.

In the aftermath, Mulligan alleges, the department and its police union, which is also named in the lawsuit, smeared his reputation. The suit, which also names Officers James Nichols and John Miller, is seeking $20 million in damages.

Mulligan first made the allegations last year when he a filed claim against the LAPD detailing his injuries. He alleged that he was forced to go to a Highland Park motel and was attacked and beaten by the officers when he left.

Nichols and Miller claimed they used forced to subdue a snarling, thrashing man who arched his back, waved his arms, stiffened his fingers like claws and charged them, and who had told them he had used the drugs known bath salts, according to a police report viewed by The Times.

The department declined to comment on the suit.

The suit alleges that Nichols was a “serial predator” harbored by the LAPD and has “a history of using threats, fear and his badge to abduct and assault people.”

Union officials said Wednesday that Mulligan “thrust himself into the public eye by holding a press conference to discuss his wild and lurid allegations against LAPD officers.”

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Photo: Brian C. Mulligan  Credit: Chelsea Lauren / Getty Images

Pasadena opens its first 'bicycle boulevard'

Pasadena's first "bicycle boulevard" was unveiled this week as part of the city's plan for traffic management and safer cyclist conditions along Marengo Avenue.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony and inaugural ride marked an “important event in the bicycle life of Pasadena,” said Mayor Bill Bogaard at the Thursday event. “There's a lot to be seen in the city of Pasadena on foot and on a bike, and as we are reminded today, there are great benefits to slowing down and enjoying the journey.”

The bicycle boulevard, which is the second in L.A. County, stretches about three-quarters of a mile along Marengo Avenue, from Orange Grove Boulevard to Washington Boulevard.

5 Freeway reopens after big-rig accident

All lanes of the 5 Freeway near Elysian Park were reopened Tuesday morning after a big rig hit the center divider and caught fire, backing up traffic for miles during the early commute.

Authorities reopened the freeway shortly after 7:30 a.m., said Officer Monica Posada of the California Highway Patrol.

Traffic delays are still expected in the area around Fletcher Drive on the southbound side and Stadium Way on the northbound side.

The closure was prompted at 3:16 a.m. when the big rig crashed into the center divider. No injuries were reported in the accident.

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Map: Approximate location of crash shown in blue. Credit: Google Maps

LAPD seeks leads in weekend fatal shooting of man in Los Feliz

Los Angeles police are asking for help solving a killing that took place over the weekend in Los Feliz.

Officers responding to a call of shots fired found John S. Lee lying next to his black Audi at 9:18 p.m. Sunday on Russell Avenue, east of Talmadge Street.

He had been shot four times in the chest. Lee, 33, died the next day.

The Audi belongs to Lee's father, but investigators know little about the dead man, Det. Arthur Castro said. The motive is unknown.

Anyone with information may call Castro or Det. Jose Carrillo during business hours at (323) 344-5744 or the Northeast watch commander at (323) 344-5701. During non-business hours, call (877) 527-3247.

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Map: Approximate location of incident shown in black. Credit: Los Angeles Times Mapping L.A.

More than 200 attend peace rally in Pasadena in wake of recent violence

Pasadena-area community leaders staged a peace and unity rally Sunday to denounce recent violence that claimed the life of longtime youth sports leader and community activist Victor McClinton, among others.

About 250 people gathered on the steps of All Saints Episcopal Church near City Hall for the afternoon rally to hear city leaders, clergy members and law enforcement officials discuss ways to stem the violence.

“It was a call for peace and for the community to come together in light of some of the recent gang violence and shootings that have occurred,” said William Boyer, a Pasadena public information officer.

Speakers included the Rev. Ed Bacon of All Saints, Pastor Jean Burch of Community Bible Church, Pastor Kerwin Manning of Pasadena Church, Pasadena Mayor Bill Bogaard and Police Chief Phillip Sanchez and a respresentative of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

“The message was, we need to do something about all the gun violence that seems to be happening across the country,” Boyer said. “It can’t just be the city alone. It has to be the public, the clergy, parents and young people. It has to be a collaborative effort. We have to take back the city, say no to gangs and say no to guns. We have to turn it into a message of hope for young people.”

About 400 people gathered Thursday evening at Pasadena City Hall to mourn McClinton, who was killed by stray gunfire Christmas morning.

McClinton, a Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department technician, died outside his home in the 1900 block of Newport Avenue. A second man, who may have been the target of the drive-by shooting, was wounded by gunfire, according to police.

McClinton, 49, founded the Brotherhood Community Youth Sports League nearly two decades ago and served as its volunteer director, the Pasadena Sun reported.

Two others also died Christmas Day after a driver, being pursued by police, crashed into a minivan. Tracey Ong Tan, 26, of Glendale and an 11-year-boy from Daly City, Calif., were pronounced dead at the scene. Three other occupants of the minivan suffered serious injuries.

On Friday, the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office filed murder charges, with an enhancement for gang activity, against Darrell Lee Williams, 22, of Pasadena and Brittany Michelle Washington, 21, of Los Angeles. Williams is accused of driving the Dodge Durango that struck the minivan. Washington was a passenger in the Durango. Two other passengers were not charged. All four occupants of the Durango sustained moderate injuries.

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L.A. Councilman Jose Huizar fined $10,500 for campaign violations

The Los Angeles City Ethics Commission on Thursday fined City Councilman Jose Huizar $10,500 for paperwork violations committed during his 2011 reelection campaign.

On a 4-0 vote, the panel penalized Huizar for taking $2,000 in donations that exceeded the city's contribution limits and for failing to provide the public with copies of three campaign communications.

Under city law, candidates are required to submit to the Ethics Commission copies of all pieces of campaign literature, including glossy mailers and email blasts, that are distributed to more than 200 people.

Huizar attorney Stephen Kaufman said the councilman has taken "full responsibility" for the mistakes but noted that the excess contributions represented less than one half of one percent of his total contributions. Of the 39 campaign communications sent by Huizar, 36 were submitted in accordance with the city's ethics law, Kaufman said.