Developing Stories

Scratch disagreement ... a feud has erupted over the Dr. Conrad Murray case between the LAPD and the Los Angeles County District Attorney ... law enforcement sources tell TMZ.

As we first reported, the LAPD was ticked that the D.A. kept top cops out of the loop on the subject of charging Dr. Conrad Murray in the death of Michael Jackson.

We told you that yesterday members of the D.A.'s Office met with the LAPD and everyone agreed that cops would take Dr. Murray into custody, book him and deliver him to the courthouse for his arraignment on involuntary manslaughter charges.

But this morning, the feud has intensified and it's now at the top levels of both the LAPD and D.A. The fight is bitter and ultimately the D.A. could do an end around the PD and just have Dr. Murray show up in court tomorrow.

One law enforcement source tells TMZ relations between the D.A. and the LAPD have "totally deteriorated" over the Murray case.

UPDATE: 2:32 PM PT. One of Dr. Murray's lawyers, Ed Chernoff, just posted on his website that he's working with the D.A. to turn his client in after the case is filed. Chernoff said, "An arrest of Dr. Murray would be a waste of money, time and resources." The LAPD begs to differ.

Dr. Conrad Murray will be arraigned Friday and charged with involuntary manslaughter in the death of Michael Jackson -- law enforcement sources tell TMZ.

We're told Dr. Murray will turn himself in to the LAPD Friday morning. He will be booked and then taken to Airport Court in L.A., Department 144, where he will face a judge at 1:30 PM.

A pool video camera and a still camera will record the event.

Wayne Newton claims he was ripped off by the people he hired to fix his private jet -- claiming he blew more than $700,000 in repairs and the damn thing still doesn't work.

Newton is reportedly under fire for allegedly abandoning the jet in a hangar at the Oakland County International Airport in Michigan nearly three years ago -- the hangar claims Wayne owes more than $60,000 in storage fees.

But TMZ spoke with Newton's rep who told us Wayne is the real victim here -- because he's spent "more than $700,000 to get the plane fixed and it's still not fixed."

The rep tells us Wayne is exploring his legal options -- but it's unclear who Newton is looking to sue.

TMZ obtained a letter sent from the producers of "Jersey Shore" to the owner of Miami's Mynt Lounge -- asking for clearance to shoot footage inside the club in March and April.

The letter says 495 Productions is "currently researching Miami Beach as a possible location" for Season 2 and "won't be able to shoot the show on Miami Beach unless we're able to shoot in the hottest clubs."

But sources close to the show tell TMZ "Jersey Shore" has not committed to one city yet -- and even though they've sent out feelers to a bunch of different places, they're still deciding between 9 other cities both inside and outside of the US.

Leif Garrett was carrying black tar heroin in his shoe when he was arrested Monday morning in L.A., this according to law enforcement sources.

According to sources, cops first noticed Garrett shaking and sweating profusely at an L.A. Metrolink station -- when they asked him if they could perform a search of his person.

We're told cops asked Garrett if he had any drugs on him -- at first, Garrett told them he didn't ... but then later admitted he was packing heroin in his shoe.

Cops seized the drugs and arrested Garrett on the spot -- before transporting him to a nearby jail where he stayed behind bars until Wednesday morning.

Garrett was eventually released after posting $10,000 bail.

Kim Kardashian was a winner in court today -- turning a temporary restraining order against an alleged stalker into a permanent one.

Kim -- who's in Miami for the Super Bowl with Reggie Bush -- claimed a guy named Dennis Shaun Bowman was, among other things, showing up at her appearances in the L.A. area acting bizarrely, sometimes wearing Joker face paint. She claimed he was stalking her and threatening Reggie Bush.

Neither Kardashian nor Bowman showed up to court. The restraining order is in effect until 2013.

Sources tell TMZ the L.A. County District Attorney's Office has a criminal complaint drafted and ready to file against Dr. Conrad Murray in the death of Michael Jackson.

We're told it's now just a matter of timing before Dr. Murray is charged with involuntary manslaughter -- a felony that carries a maximum 4-year prison sentence.

As we first reported, Dr. Murray plans on surrendering today, so all signs point to the D.A. filing criminal charges as early as this morning.

Dr. Murray is in Los Angeles and his legal team is already mapping out strategy.

Captain Phil Harris from "Deadliest Catch" woke up from a medically induced coma Tuesday, according to his sons -- and immediately started barking commands from his Anchorage hospital bed.

Jake and Josh Harris tell TMZ their dad "showed some good signs of improvement" today, including squeezing their hands.

Harris' sons -- who both work with him aboard the F/V Cornelia Marie -- say they are "encouraged but still very cautious" as Captain Phil recovers from the stroke he suffered on Friday.

One really good sign -- his sons tell us that shortly after waking up, Harris told his doctors and nurses: "Don't f**k up."

Aye, aye Captain.

Simon Monjack had planned a huge launch party Thursday night for his new Brittany Murphy Foundation -- an organization he claims is dedicated to arts education for children. Monjack had been reportedly soliciting $1,000 donations per person to attend.

But just days before the big night, someone called the Beverly Hills Temple of the Arts -- where the event was supposed to go down -- and told the Rabbi to hold the Manischewitz... because the party was off.

We're told Monjack insists the party was simply postponed -- but so far, no new date has been set.

UPDATE: TMZ has learned guests for the event received the following email from someone at the Brittany Murphy Foundation, "So sorry but the memorial has been canceled due to an illness in the family."

Randy Jackson isn't used to stealing the show -- but according to a new lawsuit, that's exactly what he did with "America's Best Dance Crew."

The Dawg and MTV are being sued by a guy named Dwight McGhee -- who claims the two powerhouses ripped off his idea for a reality show about a dance crew ... called "International Breakerz League."

According to the lawsuit, filed last week in L.A. County Superior Court, McGhee claims he pitched his show idea -- which he calls "uncannily similar" to ABDC -- to MTV back in 2004.

Fast forward four years later: ABDC premieres on MTV ... and McGhee is pissed, claiming he and MTV struck an "implied" contract when he pitched his concept.

Now, McGhee wants Randy and MTV to pay more than $2,000,000 for his trouble. Good luck with that.

No immediate comment from Jackson or MTV.

We're told Murray will meet with his California lawyer, J. Michael Flanagan, who told TMZ just a few minutes ago, "I don't know what's going on."

Dr. Murray is also meeting with Ed Chernoff, his Houston lawyer, and others on his team.

TMZ has obtained a photo of Rip's home (left) and the yellow bank he was arrested in over the weekend (right). Rip claims he entered the bank -- with a loaded weapon -- because he thought it was his own pad.

We're told the two locations are 4 blocks apart. At least they both have white trim.

Keeping in mind he blew a .203 on his Breathalyzer test, we have one question ...

Our MTV sources say they've already scouted 10 cities in the U.S. for a place Snooki, Pauly D and The Situation can call home. We're also told the network has expanded its search to other countries. Producers have called cast members to make sure they have valid passports.

Taking the ferry to Staten Island doesn't count as "overseas travel."

According to Pauly D's manager, Reebok is flying the fist pumping DJ to and from Miami so he can attend Super Bowl XLIV at Sun Life Stadium -- where he'll most likely spend his time creeping on tight ends ... except for Dallas Clark and Jeremy Shockey.

We're told Pauly D will also be decked out in complimentary Reebok gear ... which means he'll have to leave his "I Heart Jewish Girls" t-shirt at home.

Dr. Conrad Murray is one step closer to being charged in the death of Michael Jackson after yet another top level meeting in the L.A. County District Attorney's Office last Friday -- this according to multiple law enforcement sources.

The way it was described to us: It was "a big meeting." D.A. Steve Cooley was on the list of attendees.

As we first reported, the D.A. is ready to charge Dr. Conrad Murray with involuntary manslaughter in the death of Michael Jackson and the case could be filed as early as this week.

The deputy D.A. assigned to the case -- David Walgren -- has all the LAPD's investigative notes, and the D.A. could charge Murray even without having the case formally presented by detectives.

In the report, cops say they showed up to the Litchfield Bancorp building in Connecticut at around 10 PM and found a wool hat, a pair of brown boots and broken glass next to the back door.

Once inside the bank, cops say they observed a "highly disoriented" Rip wandering around inside -- and that the actor wasn't wearing any shoes, his zipper was down and he had a loaded .22 caliber pistol in his pocket.

Cops say Rip failed a number a field sobriety tests and eventually blew a .203 on his Breathalyzer test -- and the actor kept asking "why we took him out of his house" when he was arrested.

Rip posted bail today and his lawyer says he's going to enter an alcohol treatment facility.