Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
The Biebs' L.A. Home Site of Another 'Swatting' Prank

Just like the title of Justin Bieber's album, when someone calls 911 about a person waving a gun, the cops are apt to "Believe." But in the case of the call that came in last night about such a person outside Bieber's L.A. home, well, it seems to have been yet another "swatting" prank targeting celebs.In response to the Tuesday night call, deputies from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department's Malibu/Lost Hills Station sent out "cars, helicopters, the works," reports TMZ, whose sources told them Bieber's people let the cops in to do a sweep of the home, but they found nothing. Deputies conducted a similar sweep on two other homes on the Calabasas block--a block that is home for "Travis Barker, Romeo, Kourtney Kardashian, and a number of athletes."
In the Kutcher case, the prankster used a teletype machine to submit the call. Last night, police told TMZ the incident was reported using an app.
The FBI came up with the term "swatting" a few years ago to describe a deliberate phony distress call that results in the police sending out the SWAT team. In L.A. it has been done recently to Miley Cyrus and Ashton Kutcher at their homes.
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.

-
The union representing the restaurant's workers announced Tuesday that The Pantry will welcome back patrons Thursday after suddenly shutting down six months ago.
-
If approved, the more than 62-acre project would include 50 housing lots and a marina less than a mile from Jackie and Shadow's famous nest overlooking the lake.
-
The U.S. Supreme Court lifted limits on immigration sweeps in Southern California, overturning a lower court ruling that prohibited agents from stopping people based on their appearance.
-
Censorship has long been controversial. But lately, the issue of who does and doesn’t have the right to restrict kids’ access to books has been heating up across the country in the so-called culture wars.
-
With less to prove than LA, the city is becoming a center of impressive culinary creativity.
-
Nearly 470 sections of guardrailing were stolen in the last fiscal year in L.A. and Ventura counties.