BRIEFLY AUTHORITIES TAKE APART PIPE BOMB.

NORTH HOLLYWOOD - The LAPD's North Hollywood station was evacuated for more than two hours Monday after a resident who found a pipe bomb brought the device to the facility, authorities said.

A bomb squad was called to the station at 11640 Burbank Blvd. about 5:20 p.m. to dismantle the device, said Officer Jason Lee of the Los Angeles Police Department.

Police closed the Burbank off-ramp from the northbound 170 Freeway as a precaution and evacuated the station until 7:40 p.m., when the device was deactivated, Lee said.

- Daily News

Hurt NoHo hiker found after 2 days

A North Hollywood hiker reported missing by his family spent two cold nights in the Angeles National Forest before being found by a search and rescue team Monday, authorities said.

Searchers found Wayne Brosman, 37, at about 12:15 p.m. in the Colby Canyon area, Los Angeles County sheriff's Sgt. Stefanie Fredericks said. He was in good condition, she said.

Brosman went hiking Saturday and apparently fell and hurt his ankle, Fredericks said. Brosman's family reported him missing early Monday morning, and searchers found his car parked near the Colby Canyon trail head about 8 a.m. A helicopter crew spotted Brosman about four hours later.

- Daily News

Suspicious liquid left at heist scene

ENCINO - A bomb squad on Monday responded to the scene of an armed bank robbery after the gunman left behind three bottles of suspicious liquid, authorities said.

The contents of the three 40-ounce bottles were found to be harmless, and no one was injured, LAPD Officer Jason Lee said.

The masked robber walked into the First Bank and Trust at 17777 Ventura Blvd. about 3:35 p.m., Lee said. Armed with a handgun, he took an undisclosed amount of money and left the bottles behind before running away, Lee said. No arrests were made.

The incident prompted the closure of a stretch of Ventura Boulevard.

- Daily News

Foothill releases its own Rat Patrol

PACOIMA - Three LAPD feline warriors were released Monday around Foothill Division to defend the vicinity against vermin.

The cats were conscripted from feral cat populations citywide and housed in the Foothill basement for eight months to control the station's rat problem.

They will be fed at Foothill to serve as an area cat patrol to deter rats and other pests from pestering police.

``Today is the Independence Day for the cats,'' said Sgt. Christy Donorovich, who has tended the Los Angeles police Fe-9 patrol since they were introduced at Foothill.

- Daily News

Hotels file lawsuit against workers

An organization representing nine Los Angeles hotels filed an unfair labor practice charge against UNITE H.E.R.E. Local 11, which represents 3,000 hotel workers, it was announced Monday.

The Los Angeles Hotel Employer's Council filed the charge Friday with the National Labor Relations Board, contending the union has refused to bargain in good faith by demanding a two-year contract term that would end at the same time as those in seven cities, including New York.

- City News Service