Violence is common and often unreported along the 51-mile Los Angeles River, daytime haunt of the occasional jogger and bird-watcher and in many parts a lawless no-man's-land populated by hard-core addicts, the mentally ill and uncountable others, broke or hiding.

To read Christopher Goffard's story about life and fear along the river click here. You can also view the audio slide show narrated by homeless who live along the waterway and a gallery of still images, taken by LA Times photographer Francine Orr.

Photo: John Lackey, 42, says he is a drug addict and does not want help.Credit: Francine Orr /Los Angeles Times.

A woman who allegedly gunned down another woman on Los Angeles' skid row was arrested today after witnesses chased her into the arms of a police officer, authorities said.

Michelle Cato, 26, ran into the Los Angeles Police Department officer as she tried to escape from the witnesses and the dead woman's son. The officer was across the street from the LAPD's Central Division station when he grabbed Cato, police said.

Cato allegedly shot the 38-year-old victim shortly before 4 p.m. in the 500 block of San Julian Street.

"This appears to be a cold-blooded shooting," said Lt. Paul Vernon, commander of the station's detective unit. "The suspect shot this woman in full view of the victim's 23-year-old son and dozens of bystanders."

[Updated 10:46 p.m.: The victim was identified as Sheila Zaldana, 46, of South Los Angeles, Vernon said.]

The victim and her son were not residents of skid row, police said.

The witnesses chased the woman south on San Julian and then followed her as she fled westbound on 6th Street. Witnesses directed detectives to a small-caliber gun, which was found on the sidewalk where Cato had fled, according to police.

Cato, who is on parole for a prior narcotics conviction, was booked on suspicion of murder, police said.

Vernon said it was the fifth slaying recorded downtown this year, but added that homicides have dropped dramatically from previous years.

-- Robert J. Lopez

John Arthur Walthall, 54, of Laguna Beach was indicted in October on nine counts of wire fraud, money laundering and other charges for allegedly conning a couple in their 80s from Laguna Niguel into investing more than $4.7 million in a partnership to extract gold from old mines in the Imperial Valley, Nevada and Brazil.

He told the couple he had invested more than $3 million of his own money in more than a decade worth of researching the gold extraction process. By investing in Advanced Recycling General Partners, Waltham told the couple they would receive a salary and get to approve expenses.

But prosecutors allege Walthall used the money for personal expenses, including alimony, child support payments, rent and an eHarmony.com account. He also used the money to make a $10,000 payment to a film school for his son and to buy a hyperbaric oxygen chamber worth $60,000.

FBI agents arrested Walthall last week at a friend's home in La Habra, where he was staying.  They found $500,000 in gold coins under his bed and seized three vehicles he allegedly bought with the victims' money: two Ford Excursions and a Ford 450 pickup truck.

If convicted on all charges, Walthall faces a maximum penalty of 150 years in federal prison, a spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's office said.

He is being held without bond until Dec. 7, when he is scheduled to be arraigned.

-- Tony Barboza in Orange County

Photo: Gold seized by federal authorities. Credit: FBI

Schwarzenegger made the announcement today at a taping of "The Jay Leno Show."

If confirmed by the Legislature, Maldonado would replace John Garamendi, a Walnut Grove Democrat who was recently elected to Congress.

[Updated 6 p.m.: The governor called Maldonado “a terrific, loyal man that has worked very hard in public service.  But he’s also into bipartisanship and post-partisanship, so he can cross the aisle.

"He makes decisions based on what’s best for the people rather than what’s best for the party," Schwarzenegger said. "He has helped us...pass a budget, which was very important.”

An earlier version of this post stated that Maldonado's appointment must be confirmed by the state Senate. He must be approved by the Assembly as well.]

-- Evan Halper in Sacramento

The boys, who are not being identified because they are minors, have been charged with misdemeanor sexual battery and were released to their parents, said police spokeswoman Jackie Bezart.

On Tuesday, a female student told school officials that the boys circled her and grabbed her body after lunchtime near the student store, said Long Beach Unified School District spokesman Chris Eftychiou. The district called police and two more alleged victims came forward, he said.

In addition to the criminal charges, three of boys were suspended for five days and two will be sent to alternative schools. At least two of the boys are football players at Poly, which is a powerhouse in the sport.

Poly Co-Principal Victor Jarels sent a letter to parents Monday informing them about the incident and noting that the school is arranging sexual harassment sensitivity training for freshman boys. He urged parents or students to report any safety concerns to school officials.

“Hopefully this is extent of it,” Eftychiou said. “But we just want parents to know they and their children should feel comfortable approaching the school if they even suspect anything like this occurring.”

-- Seema Mehta

The reputed tagger who was arrested by L.A. County Sheriff's deputies after making a guest appearance over the weekend at a grafitti art store promoted his name -- and the work of other vandals -- through blogs and Twitter posts, authorities said.

Jason Williams, 32, faces the possibility of multiple felony charges after his arrest on suspicion of illegally possessing vandalism tools and a counterfeit Los Angeles Police Department badge, and receiving stolen property.

Sheriff's deputies say Williams, who uses the tagging name REVOK, was paid $1,000 to appear as the guest of honor Sunday at the 33rd Graffiti Art Store, which was exhibiting a spraypaint brand used by taggers.

That wasn't Williams' only entrepreneurial stroke, according to deputies. His revok1 website sold T-shirts for $30 with such messages as "Build and destroy" and "Crime in the City," his bestseller.

The most expensive item was a "Zoo York" skateboard design and an untitled print retailing for $100.

-- Andrew Blankstein

Photo: Jason Williams' REVOK1 Twitter page

The male dog was dead while the female survived. They were discovered by a county public utilities employee doing a routine check of the waterway near Cridge and Olivewood about 11 a.m.

The dogs were found on a metal grate in the canal.  The female is being examined by veterinarians.  A $500 reward has been offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible.

"This is just disgusting that someone would do something like this to innocent, defenseless animals," Animal Services Director Robert Miller said.

-- David Kelly in Riverside

Photo: The female Chihuahua survived, the male did not. Credit: Riverside Department of Animal Services

Last week, Assemblyman Paul Krekorian sent a mailer depicting his opponent, former Paramount Pictures executive Christine Essel, as the “consummate downtown political insider” and trying to link her to Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, who had a weak showing in the San Fernando Valley in his March re-election campaign.

Krekorian’s brochure included a 2000 letter sent on official stationery by then-Assembly Speaker Villaraigosa expressing gratitude to Essel for hosting a meet-and-greet at her home. The mailer claimed the letter thanked Essel “for launching his mayoral campaign with a fundraiser.”

But Essel’s campaign said the event had nothing to do with Villaraigosa’s mayoral campaign and no money was raised for him at the event.  A Villaraigosa spokeswoman confirmed those statements.

Villaraigosa was just one of a number of guests, including state Treasurer Bill Lockyer and state Sen. Carol Liu, invited by Essel to speak to a group of women at her home on different occasions, according to her campaign.

Essel’s spokesman said she has never hosted a fundraiser for Villaraigosa. She gave him a total of $1,000 for his mayoral campaign in 1999 and 2001, according to the city's ethics website.

On Monday, Essel’s campaign sent a news release to reporters with a provocative subject line in all caps: “Burglary charge in city council special election.” Aides included a police report filed by Essel on Friday at the North Hollywood station and a letter she sent to L.A. County Dist. Atty. Steve Cooley asking him to investigate where Krekorian’s campaign got the letter, which she said was a personal note that was “mine only to possess and or release.” [That assertion is debatable since the document was sent by a public official on State Assembly letterhead].

Essel told Cooley “the development” was something that “eerily conjures up images of the Watergate break-in scandal.” Her campaign consultant John Shallman said “someone broke into some particular place and took that letter,” and said the campaign believes only Republicans in the district received the mailing.

Neither Villaraigosa’s office nor the office of Assembly Speaker Karen Bass released the letter, according to aides for Bass and the mayor. A spokeswoman for Bass said the Speaker’s office does not keep records going back that far.

Krekorian’s campaign said a person -- whom the campaign would not identify -- brought the letter to the campaign office. His campaign consultant Eric Hacopian called the burglary allegation “another silly attempt” by Essel’s campaign to change the subject.

“Her hypocritical claims are laughable,” Hacopian said in a statement. “What's more, in directing the North Hollywood police to look into this frivolous matter to pursue her own political interests, she is wasting valuable police resources at a time when we can ill-afford to misuse public funds.”

But Shallman said “Until they show they had a public records request to get it [the letter] they are in possession of stolen property.”

-- Maeve Reston at L.A. City Hall

Less than a week after taking over the Los Angeles Police Department, Chief Charlie Beck announced a shakeup to the structure and make-up of the department’s command staff, including the demotion of two of the LAPD’s highest ranking officials and promotion of several others.

Beck, who was confirmed as chief by the City Council last Tuesday, promoted Deputy Chief Michel Moore to become one of the LAPD’s three assistant chiefs and assigned him to a newly-created post in charge of Special Services, according to an announcement released Monday. 

In his new post, Moore will oversee an array of specialized operations that, until now, have been run separately, including the agency’s Counter-Terrorism and Criminal Intelligence Bureau, the elite Metropolitan Division, and the Detective Bureau.

Senior LAPD officials, who requested that their names not be used because they were not authorized to speak publicly about the changes, said Beck decided on the creation of Moore’s new post in hopes that it would streamline a sometimes inefficient organization, in which different units sometimes overlap each other.

To make room for Moore, Asst. Chief Jim McDonnell, who for several years has been the second highest ranking person in the department and ran the agency when the previous chief was out of town, dropped one rank to deputy chief and will move into a new role as Chief of Detectives under Moore.

In the most dramatic of the moves, Beck demoted Asst. Chief Sharon Papa, who has run the LAPD’s Support Services Bureau, down two levels to the rank of commander, several sources close to the decision said.

Beck and his aides declined to discuss Papa’s fall, saying it was a private personnel matter.

The new roster of top-ranking officials released by the department Monday made no mention of Papa. In Papa’s place, Beck elevated Deputy Chief Sandy Jo MacArthur to assistant chief and assigned her to a new position in charge of Administrative Services — a role that will be similar to Papa’s old one.

The third assistant chief, Earl Paysinger, will remain in charge of the Office of Operations, although the size of Paysinger’s domain will shrink somewhat, as several units currently under his control are moved to Moore’s new portfolio. The moves by Beck were met with support by council members.

“I looked at the names that he is putting together, and I think it’s a very strong team, and I fully support what’s he’s done,” said Smith, chairman of the council’s Public Safety Committee. “Every chief has the ability to form his own inner circle.”

With the reshuffling, three of department’s four regional bureaus will also see new leaders. Commanders

Debra McCarthy and Pat Gannon will be promoted to deputy chiefs so that McCarthy can take over the West Bureau and Gannon can run the South Bureau, while Deputy Chief Kirk Albanese will head the Valley Bureau, where Moore is currently in charge.

-- Joel Rubin and Phil Willon

The fire, which burned about 5 acres, was reported at 1:20 p.m. in the 2500 block of N. Hacienda Boulevard, said Inspector Matt Levesque of the L.A. County Fire Department.

About 100 firefighters, three helicopters, a Skycrane and two SuperScoopers were summoned. The fire was quickly brought under control and was knocked down about 2:20 p.m., Levesque said.

Initially, a structure protection team was called in because the fire threatened several homes and a construction area. No buildings were damaged, and no injuries were reported.

The cause of the fire is under investigation, Levesque said.

-Baxter Holmes

The decision was prompted after two visitors were bitten by coyotes in separate incidents in September, officials said. The two attacks initially sparked a controversial eradication effort in which hunters killed eight coyotes in the 4,210-acre park. The eradication effort ended in after two days.

Before climbing a ladder and bolting a sign off Zoo Drive, LaBonge said some people might think they’re helping the coyotes by feeding them scraps such as sandwiches or chicken bones, but they’re not.

“We have to respect the wildlife and nature to a greater degree,” LaBonge said. 

Feeding the coyotes is illegal and can carry a fine of up to $1,000 and jail time, LaBonge said.

More than 70 signs will be installed in the park, mainly in popular areas such as trailheads and picnic locations. LaBonge said the signs were a direct response to the eradication effort.

Gregory Randall, the wildlife specialist for the city, said it’s hard to gauge how many coyotes reside in Griffith Park, but that between 4,000 and 7,000 are believed to live in the Los Angeles area.

When the public feeds the animals, it disrupts their natural habitat, Randall said.

“They don’t need our help, they need to survive on their own,” he said.

Tom McCall, the principal grounds maintenance supervisor for the park, said the Thanksgiving holiday is one of the busier times of year for the park, especially when the weather is warm. The Griffith Observatory is expecting 12,000 to 15,000 visitors this weekend, he said.

LaBonge, who hikes in the park every day, said he often sees coyotes.

“I never feed them, we just say hi to each other,” he said.

--Nicole Santa Cruz

The first reported incident occurred Friday morning when a 12-year-old boy was kicked and hit in two incidents on the campus of A.E. Wright Middle School by a dozen of his classmates, Los Angeles County Sheriff's investigators said.

Further investigation led detectives to confirm a second attack in the city, and they now believed there may be two more victims, said Steve Whitmore, a department spokesman.

The students who participated in the attack may have been motivated by a Facebook message telling them that Friday was "Kick a Ginger Day," according to Lt. Richard Erickson. "Ginger" is a label given to people with red hair, freckles and fair skin.

Whitmore confirmed that all four victims in the investigation have red hair.

The Facebook message may have been inspired by an episode of the television show "South Park." An episode in 2005 focused on prejudice against "gingers" after one of the characters said people with red hair, light skin and freckles have no souls and suffered from a disease called "Gingervitis."

Investigators have not made any arrests and don't consider the attacks to be hate crimes.

The first victim sought help Friday from a school nurse, who contacted the principal. Sheriff's officials arrived on campus shortly afterward.

Investigators say the boy was accosted by seventh- and then eighth-graders who kicked and hit him. Detectives are investigating the incident as a possible assault with a deadly weapon.

The boy's injuries were not severe. His name was not released because he is a juvenile.

Facebook spokesman Barry Schnitt said the network relies on its more than 300 million users to report problems with groups or events. Staff members then follow up to see if groups should be removed or reported to law enforcement, he said.

Schnitt said he had not been made aware of this specific message or group.

"Inciting violence against any individual or group is against what we stand for and our policies," Schnitt said.

--Richard Winton

Full story: UCLA's Dragovic allegedly pushed man into glass case in fight, D.A. says

Billy Joe Johnson, 46, was convicted last month of assisting two other men  in the March 2002 murder of Scott Miller, a founding member of the gang, the Orange County district attorney’s office said in a  statement.  Miller was featured in a Fox News broadcast a year earlier that focused on a criminal case against known leaders of the gang.

Fellow gang members were offended by his actions, prosecutors said. Although Miller’s voice and face were disguised during the television broadcast, other gang members were able to identify him by his tattoos.

Gang members Michael Allen Lamb, 35, and Jacob Anthony Rump, 34, were also convicted for their role in the murder.  Last year, Lamb was sentenced to death in the case, and in 2007 Rump received a sentence of life without the possibility of parole.

-- Baxter Holmes

Photo: Billy Joe Johnson. Credit: Daily Pilot

Anyone with information about the case is asked to call homicide detectives at (714) 245-8390.

--Baxter Holmes

A San Luis Obispo rancher who for years has illegally housed homeless people was ordered today to serve 90 days in jail.

-- Catherine Saillant in San Luis Obispo

Photo: San Luis Obispo deputy sheriff Noah Martin puts the handcuffs on Dan De Vaul after De Vaul was sentenced to 90 days in jail. Credit: Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times

Related

Story: A rehab center is praised -- and vilified

Photos: Needed haven or unsafe eyesore?

The latest cuts, which take effect in March, will eliminate 150,000 bus-service hours. Since September 2008, the Orange County Transportation Authority has reduced bus service by 20% — a total of 383,000 annual bus-service hours — because of the budget shortfall.

Beyond eliminating routes, the cuts will result in shortened routes, fewer stops, longer waits between buses and the elimination of the agency’s popular Night Owl service. In January, the agency raised fares to $1.50 from $1.25 for a single ride.

The eliminated routes are: 62, which runs from Huntington Beach to Santa Ana; 74, Fountain Valley to Irvine; 75, Tustin to Newport Beach; 131, Yorba Linda to Orange; 147, Brea to Santa Ana; and 164, Seal Beach to Westminster.

A complete list of cuts can be found on the agency’s website at www.octa.net/marchchange.

-- Paloma Esquivel in Orange County

Barrett's case is scheduled for trial Jan. 12. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of five years in federal prison.

-- Baxter Holmes

Photo: ESPN sideline reporter Erin Andrews in 2008. Photo credit: Mike Zarrilli / Getty Images

Jason Williams, 32, who was on probation and goes by the name REVOK, was appearing Sunday as the guest of honor at the 33rd Graffiti Art Store, said Sgt. Augie Pando of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. The store was exhibiting Montana spray paint, a brand used by taggers, Pando said.

-- Andrew Blankstein and Richard Winton

Photo: Booking mug shot of Jason Williams. Photo credit: Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department

Good morning from the City Desk, where we're hoping that the morning freeway traffic will start lightening up soon for Thanksgiving. Some California stories from today's Los Angeles Times to help speed you on your way:

Pondering pot limits: The L.A. City Council's scheduled to take up debate this week on how many medical marijuana dispensaries the city should allow.

Budget blues: Sacramento columnist George Skelton takes a look at the bleak budget landscape ahead.

Starting over: Choosing board members will be key to the success of a completely revamped Martin Luther King Jr. medical facility.

Bearing witness: A seminar focusing on Jewish history helps prepare Catholic educators to teach students about anti-Semitism.

Helping hand: Mental illness is a nearly taboo subject in many Asian communities. A Rosemead nonprofit offers support to those in need.

We'll bring you more news as we get it. Got news for us? An idea for a story? Drop me a line at nita.lelyveld@latimes.com.

-- Nita Lelyveld

Leave us your comments here or follow @latimescitydesk on Twitter.

The doctor at the center of the Michael Jackson death investigation is going back to work in Houston.

Dr. Conrad Murray's attorney told the Associated Press that Jackson's personal doctor has began seeing patients again at his private-practice office, adding that Murray needs to earn a living as the investigation into the pop star's death continues.

 "He has not been able to earn a living since the death of Michael Jackson," Edward Chernoff told AP. "His legal fees are enormous and his debts have mounted to the point where it is unclear whether he will be able to keep his house or support his family."

Police are investigating Murray in connection with Jackson's death in June. Murray has denied any wrongdoing, and no criminal charges have been filed in the case.

Murray told Los Angeles Police Department detectives that he had been treating Jackson for insomnia for about six weeks. He had been giving Jackson 50 milligrams of the powerful drug propofol every night using an intravenous line, according to court records.

But Murray told detectives that he feared Jackson was forming an addiction and began trying to wean the pop star off the drugs. He said he lowered the dosage to 25 milligrams and mixed it with two other sedatives, lorazepam and midazolam, according to affidavits. On June 23, two days before Jackson's death, he administered those two medications and withheld the propofol, he told detectives.

On the morning Jackson died, Murray tried to induce sleep without using propofol, according to the affidavit. He said he gave Jackson Valium at 1:30 a.m. When that didn't work, he said, he injected lorazepam intravenously at 2 a.m. At 3 a.m., when Jackson was still awake, Murray said, he administered midazolam.

Over the next few hours, Murray said he gave Jackson various drugs, the affidavit said. Then at 10:40 a.m., Murray administered 25 milligrams of propofol after Jackson repeatedly demanded the drug, according to the court records.

-- Shelby Grad

The attack on the boy occurred at A.E. Wright Middle School by as many as 14 classmates, police said. The incident may have been motivated by a Facebook message on Friday saying it was "Kick a Ginger Day."

However, the incident does not meet the criteria of a hate crime, said Lt. Scott Chew of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

"This doesn't apply," he said.