Crime & Safety

Top 5 Westside Stories: Christine Dahab, Venice Barricade, Pedicabs, Promposal, Shot and Scream

Here are the top stories from the Westside Patch sites from April 7-April 13.

Close out your weekend with a recap of the newsiest and most popular Patch articles from last week. Here are the five stories that topped the headlines on Westside Patch sites:

  • Christine Dahab, the driver accused of plowing into a group of 50 cyclists the night of June 19, 2011, injuring 13, pleaded no contest to felony DUI, according to bikinginla. The crash occurred on West Jefferson Place in front of the Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook. After several postponements of her court dates, Dahab pleaded no contest and will report to prison on April 22, reports bikinginla. She will undergo a 90-day evaluation by the corrections department, which will then deliver its sentencing recommendations to the court.
  • Los Angeles police said a man broke into a Venice apartment on Venice Boulevard April 6 and used a couch to barricade himself inside for almost eight hours. A SWAT unit fired several canisters of gas into the apartment to roust the man, described by police as a mentally ill transient. Police subdued the man with a Taser and he was treated for related injuries, the City News Service reported.
  • Pedicabs will have to acquire business licenses and pay permit fees under regulations approved by the Santa Monica City Council on April 9. At the same time, pedicabs must steer clear of the Beach Bike Path. "Barcycles" would also fall under the new rules. Councilman Tony Vazquez raised concerns about the barcycles, which can carry up to 16 passengers . The Council directed the city staff to come up with a report in six months on the number of pedicabs that are licensed.
  • A video of Palisades Charter High School student Jonathan Senn asking a girl to a campus dance by shaking his booty to a rapper Juvenile ditty got picked up by The Huffington Post, sending it viral. As of April 13, the "best yes" video had attracted 6,851,444 hits. The best moment in the video may well be at the end — we won't spoil it for you.
  • A gunshot followed by a scream brought out a Los Angeles Police Department helicopter and patrol units to Pacific Palisades near Sunset Boulevard and Drummond Streets the night of April 6. At first, it appeared a crime was afoot. "It ended up being a murder mystery dinner," said Pali Patrol dispatcher James Robbins. 

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