BRIEFLY LEAP FROM BRIDGE STOPPED BY POLICE.

NORTH HOLLYWOOD - A despondent man tried to jump off a North Hollywood bridge that spans the Los Angeles River before being pulled to safety by police officers Saturday, authorities said.

About 7 p.m., police received a call that a man was running through traffic on Moorpark Street near Radford Avenue, said Lt. Andy Neiman of the Los Angeles Police Department's North Hollywood station.

When officers arrived they found the 25-year-old man threatening to jump into the concrete wash below, he said.

``He tried to jump six or seven separate times,'' Neiman said, but officers restrained him each time, and they took him into custody.

He may have been upset over issues at home, Neiman said.

- City News Service

Forum to discuss recent firebombs

ENCINO - In response to firebombings of religious institutions last month, the the Anti-Defamation League will hold a community forum Monday about how to make them safer.

Speakers will include City Councilman Jack Weiss; LAPD Assistant Chief Dean Cathey; Cmdr. Mark Leap, a member of LAPD's Counter Terrorism Bureau; and Yoni Fighel, director of education at the International Policy Institute for Counter Terrorism in Herzliya, Israel.

The free event begins at 7 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church of Encino, 4963 Balboa Blvd. For more information, call 310-446-8000, ext. 238.

- Daily News

Man found in pool, pronounced dead

NORTH HOLLYWOOD - A man found Saturday floating face down in a swimming pool at a North Hollywood home was pronounced dead later at a hospital, officials said.

Firefighters were sent to the 7100 block of Bellaire Avenue about 12:15 p.m. after a neighbor reported seeing the apparently lifeless man in the pool, said Brian Humphrey of the Los Angeles City Fire Department.

The man - who was described as 40 to 50 years old and clad in swimming trunks - had no pulse and was not breathing when taken to Kaiser Permanente hospital in Panorama City, Humphrey said.

The cause of death was under investigation.

- City News Service

Local kids going to U.S. derby race

LA CANADA FLINTRIDGE - Three Los Angeles County youngsters will participate in the All-American Soap Box Derby in Akron, Ohio, on July 26.

Fifty-eight derby racers participated in the Fourth Annual Greater Los Angeles Soap Box Derby on May 24, presented by the Kiwanis Club of La Canada Flintridge and California Family Soap Box Derby Association.

The three first place winners in the three competitive divisions who will go to the Ohio competition in July are Emily Kent of La Canada Flintridge, Masters division; Kimberly McKeown of Castaic, Super Stock; and Sean Wheeler of Chatsworth, Stock.

- Daily News

Motorist killed in four-vehicle crash

PALMDALE - A man was killed Saturday in Palmdale when his unsafe lane change caused a fender-bender that turned into a four-vehicle crash that split his car in half, authorities said.

It happened about 5:10 p.m. on Avenue R near East 15th Street, said Sgt. Jeff Acton of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

A man made an ``unsafe lane change and clipped the car behind him,'' said Sheriff's Deputy Mike Redding.

The impact pushed his car sideways. Two other vehicles then broadsided him, splitting the car in half, Acton said.

The man was pronounced dead at the scene, he said.

- City News Service