Two men arrested by West Covina police on suspicion of an attempted car burglary in a Home Depot parking lot Wednesday have been linked to an Upland bank robbery from last month, officials said.
Darryl Matthews, 29, and Lorenzo Carrillo, 28, both of Los Angeles, were booked on suspicion of robbery, West Covina police Lt. Ron Mitchell said in a written statement.
Police arrested Matthews, Carrillo and a third person who was ultimately released without charges after an attempted vehicle burglary was reported shortly before noon Wednesday in the parking lot of Home Depot, 2220 S. Azusa Avenue, according to police officials and sheriff's booking records.
Officers stopped the men in a car as they were about to get on the 10 Freeway from Azusa Avenue, Mitchell said.
"When the suspect vehicle was searched, officers located ski masks, latex gloves and two demand notes," Mitchell said. The suspects were additionally charged with suspicion of robbery.
West Covina police detectives Wednesday connected Matthews and Carrillo to an Aug. 10 robbery at a Chase bank branch in Upland, Mitchell said.
The suspects were turned over to the Upland Police Department, where they were being held.

ARCADIA -- Police jailed a man Thursday after a failed bank heist in Arcadia who may be responsible for another local bank robbery last month, police said.
Homan Zhang, 24, of Arcadia was booked on suspicion of robbery in connection with the attempted robbery, which was reported shortly after 11 a.m. at Citibank, 100 S. 1st Avenue, Arcadia police officials said.
He allegedly entered the bank and handed a teller a note demanding money, Sgt. Dan Crowther said.
"The teller essentially walked away," he said.
Zhang then walked out of the bank empty-handed and was arrested nearby, the sergeant said.
A robber with the same description used similar tactics to successfully hold up a bank of America Branch, 180 N. Santa Anita Avenue, about 4:10 p.m. on Aug. 17, officials said, and it's believed that Zhang is responsible for that robbery as well.
After presenting a teller with a demand note and threatening to be armed with a gun, the crook fled the area with an undisclosed amount of cash.
According to sheriff's booking records, Zhang was being held in lieu of $100,000 bail at the Arcadia Police Department jail and was due for arraignment Tuesday in Pasadena Superior Court.

From City News Service:

MONTEREY PARK -- Asian business owners in Monterey Park have been targeted with threatening calls in which money is demanded in exchange for supposed hostages, but no one has been harmed, police reported Thursday.
As recently as Tuesday, police received reports from business owners regarding the threatening calls, said Sgt. Frank Duke of the Monterey Park Police Department.
"These reports were similar to ones... received in the past," Duke said. "In both the current and past incidents, Asian business persons were telephoned and money was demanded for the caller's brothers."
Duke said the suspects apparently selected their targets at random using a business phone directory.
"There are no reported incidents of any of the threats being carried out or business persons paying money to the suspects," the sergeant said.
Officials urged anyone with information to contact the Monterey Park Police Department.

AZUSA -- Police arrested a 15-year-old boy Wednesday on suspicion of stabbing a 14-year-old boy in Azusa, authorities said.
The incident was reported about 8:40 p.m. at an apartment complex in the 500 block of East Gladstone Street, Azusa police Lt. Mike Bertelsen said in a written statement.
"The victim was transported to the hospital for treatment and is expected to make a full recovery," he said.
Investigators located the 15-year-old boy in the area and arrested him on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, Bertelsen said.
No information regarding a motive was released.
"This is an ongoing investigation and there may be other people involved in this crime," he added. Anyone with information is asked to call the Azusa Police Department.

From City News Service:

LOS ANGELES -- A Whittier bail bondsman pleaded guilty Thursday to embezzling $30,000 from a client.
Arturo Miramontes, 40, failed to return $30,000 in cash collateral to a client after that client's court case was completed and his bail was exonerated, prosecutors said.
He was working at the time as a licensed bail bondsman for Rodeo Bail Bonds in Whittier.
Miramontes is facing up to three years in prison when he is to be sentenced by Los Angeles Superior Court Judge David Horwitz March 2.
As part of his plea, he also agreed to return the money to the client, according to the District Attorney's Office.

ARCADIA -- A San Gabriel convicted sex offender received a sentence of 30 years to life in prison Thursday for molesting a 5-year-old girl at a mall bookstore in Arcadia, officials said.
Jaime Elvis Elizondo, 35, was convicted of committing a lewd act on a child June 8 in Pasadena Superior Court, Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office spokeswoman Jane Robison said.
The conviction stemmed from a May, 2008 assault in the children's section of a Borders bookstore at Westfield Santa Anita, 400 S. Baldwin Ave., officials said.
In the assault, which was captured on video, Elizondo pressed his exposed genitals against the young victim, police said.
Elizondo, who was already a registered sex offender, was tracked with the help of a witness who confronted him in the bookstore, then found his picture listed on the Megan's Law Web site and turned the information over to police.

ROSEMEAD -- A court appearance was postponed Thursday in the case of a married couple allegedly stabbed to death in their Rosemead home by their 14-year-old granddaughter and her boyfriend, as sheriff's officials prepared to return the older suspect back to California from Texas.
Sophia Cristo, 14, and Rodolfo Lopez, 21, are charged with the Aug. 9 stabbing deaths of Jack Bezner, 71, and Bezner, 64, as they lied in their bed in their home in the 3200 block of Arica Avenue in Rosemead.
Cristo was scheduled for arraignment Thursday in Los Angeles Superior Court, however the court date was pushed back to Sept. 20, Los Angeles County District Attorney's spokeswoman Shiara Davila-Morales said.
Lopez remained jailed in Texas Thursday, according to officials and booking records.
He waived extradition proceedings Wednesday, which should allow sheriff's investigators to bring him back to Southern California within the next few weeks, Davila-Morales said.
Cristo and Lopez were found two days after the slayings with the Bezner's SUV in El Paso County, Texas, investigators said.

PASADENA -- Police asked the public's help Thursday in finding a hit-and-run driver who struck and critically injured an 83-year-old Pasadena man on an electric scooter.
Lucio Morales, also known as Martin Beltran, is suspected of driving the 1994 Mercedes-Benz S500 that struck Frank Paneno about 7:30 a.m. Wednesday at Cordova Street and Chester Avenue, Pasadena police officials said. Morales and a passenger both pulled the injured man out from underneath the car before Morales fled, leaving the passenger at the scene.
Little information was known about Morales, who is believed to have moved to the United States about a year ago, Lt. Randell Taylor said. He worked at Zankou Chicken in Pasadena and may have been staying in Highland Park.
"We're working with every capable investigative source to figure out more about him," the lieutenant said.
Morales is described as Latino, about 5 feet 8 inches tall, 160 pounds, with wavy black hair.
Only a grainy photograph taken from an employment document was available, police said.
Paneno remained hospitalized in critical condition Thursday morning with broken ribs, head trauma and other injuries, police said.
Paneno was riding his motorized scooter westbound in the bicycle lane on Cordova Street prior to the crash, Pasadena police officials said in a written statement. The Mercedes was making a left turn from eastbound Cordova Street onto Chester Avenue.
"Morales struck Paneno in the intersection, dragging him and his scooter several feet before stopping," according to the police statement.
"Morales, along with his passenger, exited their vehicle and pulled both the scooter and victim from underneath the vehicle," the statement added. "Morales got back into his vehicle and fled the scene leaving his passenger and the victim behind."
Investigators found the Mercedes, which belongs to Morales' niece, Wednesday morning in Highland Park, though Morales himself remained at large.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Pasadena Police Department.

PHOTO of Lucio Morales courtesy of the Pasadena Police Department.

As you'll read below, Ontario police ultimately shot and killed a Tec-9-toting, bullet proof vest wearing suspect who allegely raised a weapon toward police. The text below was taken from Ontario Police Department press release:

On Wednesday, September 01, 2010 at approximately 9:21 A.M. hours, Ontario Police Officers responded to a call of a man with a gun occurring at a residence in the 1000 block of East Sixth Street, Ontario.
Upon arrival, Officers surrounded the multi-unit building where the armed man was believed to be holding his girlfriend at gunpoint. As officers were attempting to make verbal contact with the female victim, believed to be the suspect's girlfriend, the suspect was seen fleeing in a white Honda Accord from a rear attached garage.
At the same time, the police department armored assault vehicle was arriving to the scene and stopped the suspect from driving away. The suspect actually collided with the front end of the assault vehicle. The assault vehicle was used to push the suspect vehicle into an adjoining garage, pinning the suspect vehicle in the garage, thus preventing him from escaping.
As this occurred, the suspect pointed an assault pistol at the officers while he attempted to ram the assault vehicle. Fearing for their safety, two of the officers were forced to fire their weapons at the suspect striking him in the upper body.
The suspect refused to submit to arrest as officers attempted verbal negotiations with him. A short time later, the suspect was removed from the vehicle and taken into custody without further incident. He was transported, via ground ambulance, to an area hospital where he later died from his injuries.
The suspect was found to be in possession of a loaded Tec-9 assault pistol and was wearing a bullet proof vest.
The deceased suspect is identified as 37 year old Jason Marcellus Martin of Desert Hot Springs. Martin had been recently released from prison and was on parole for a prior domestic violence conviction. Martin is a gang member out of Riverside County who has a lengthy criminal history that includes resisting arrest, domestic violence, robbery, carjacking, hit and run, DUI and felony assault on a peace officer.
The two officers involved in the shooting will only be identified as a 15 year veteran assigned to the patrol division who holds the rank of Officer. The second is an 8 year veteran also assigned to the patrol division and holds the rank of Corporal.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact Detective David Rowe at (909) 395-2749.

PHOTO of Jason Martin courtesy of the Ontario Police Department.

From wire reportsL

EL MONTE --  A memorial fund has been established to help the mother and family of a 14-month-old girl who was struck and killed by a car when her aunt was backing out of a driveway bury their child, it was announced Wednesday.
The girl was run over at 10:22 a.m. Sunday in the 12100 block of McGirk Avenue, Lt. Ken Alva of the El Monte Police Department said.
The incident was "an unfortunate chain of events that occurred at the same time and left the 14-month-old unsupervised for a few critical moments," Alva said.
The mother of the 14-month-old turned her attention from the girl after her 2-year-old boy ran to an inflatable swimming pool in the front yard, Alva said.
The victim's aunt is a 28-year-old unlicensed driver, but the accident was on private property, Alva said.
Donations can be made at Joanna Munoz Memorial Fund, El Monte Community Credit Union, 11718 Ramona Blvd., El Monte, 91732-2310.
More information is available by calling 626-444-0501.

From wire reports:

EL MONTE -- The District Attorney's Office announced Wednesday it has filed charges against two men arrested at Arroyo High School for suspicion of graffiti vandalism.
Fernando Aguila, 22, of Temple City, will face felony charges while Carlos Garcia, 21, of El Monte will face misdemeanor charges, said Detective William Acosta of the El Monte Police Department.
The two were arrested at 9:30 p.m. on Friday at Arroyo High School after two witnesses called police, said Acosta.
Acosta said that the damage was estimated at $3,000. They also were believed to be tagging on Lower Azusa Road.

From City News Service:

BEVERLY HILLS -- A man suspected of killing three men in a West Hollywood apartment for several thousand dollars of marijuana was charged Wednesday with three counts of capital murder.
Harold Yong Park, who could be eligible for the death penalty if convicted, made his first
court appearance this afternoon in Beverly Hills Superior Court, but did not enter a plea.
The 31-year-old defendant is scheduled to be arraigned Sept. 14 on charges stemming from the shooting deaths of Pirooz Moussazadeh, 27, his 38- year-old brother Shahriar and Bernard Khalili, 27. Their bodies were found Thursday night in an apartment in the 600 block of North Kings Road, near Melrose Avenue.
The charges include special circumstance allegations of murder during a robbery and a
burglary, murder for financial gain and multiple murders.
Prosecutors will make a decision about seeking the death penalty later.
Park also is charged with three counts of robbery and one count each of burglary and transporting marijuana for sale.
Lt. Pat Nelson told a news conference in front of the Sheriff's Headquarters Bureau in
Monterey Park that Park's "original arrival at that location was for the purpose of purchasing several thousand dollars of marijuana. Unfortunately the deal didn't go as he had hoped, I'm sure, and three people lost their lives as a result of it."
Sheriff Lee Baca said the case proved the dangers of medical marijuana, claiming that the
medical marijuana business has become a magnet for crimes such as this.
"Is it no surprise that people are going to get killed behind this kind of easy profit. Drugs,
violence go together. High profits, violence go together," said Baca, named today as a
co-chair of the campaign opposing Proposition 19, the November ballot measure that would
legalize the recreational use of marijuana.
Sheriff's deputies used a license plate scanner to track down Park, who was arrested about 11 a.m. Monday in Lomita during a traffic stop. Deputies said they found several pounds of
marijuana in the vehicle.
Sheriff's Capt. Ronene Anda said the device "can scan thousands of license plates in just
moments. It's times like this which absolutely proves its worthiness."

As Labor Day weekend appraoches, law enforcement agencies throughout the area are preparing to hold sobriety checkpoints to screen for impaired drivers. Here's a few coming up in the next couple of days:

PASADENA -- Pasadena police are planning a sobriety checkpoint to kick off the coming Labor Day weekend.
The checkpoint will take place at an undisclosed time and place within Pasadena, Pasadena police said in a written statement.
"Beyond taking dangerous drivers off the road, a major component of these added efforts is to educate the driving public about the consequences of impaired driving," Pasadena Police Chief Phillip Sanchez said.
Friday's checkpoint will be part of a nation-wide DUI crackdown between Independence Day and Labor Day, officials said.
Funding for this checkpoint is being provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

GLENDORA -- Police are hoping to combat injuries and deaths related to impaired driving this Labor Day weekend with a sobriety checkpoint Friday in Glendora.
The checkpoint will be made of law enforcement officers from throughout the San Gabriel Valley, Glendora police said in a written statement.
"The Task Force is dedicated to educating drivers about the consequences of drinking and driving and identifying and removing intoxicated drivers from our roadways," according to the police statement.
The checkpoint is being paid for by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

LA PUENTE -- Los Angeles County Sheriff's deputies will stop motorists Thursday in search of drunken drivers, valid driver's licenses and safety violations.
Deputies did not specify a time or location for the checkpoint.
A number of law enforcement agencies in Los Angeles County will be holding checkpoints over the holiday weekend to curb drunken driving during the Labor Day weekend.

From City News Service:

SANTA ANA -- The attorney for a man accused in a drunken driving collision that killed three people, including Angels pitcher Nick Adenhart, will not be able to tell jurors that the driver of the other vehicle had also consumed alcohol, an Orange County judge ruled Wednesday.
Andrew Thomas Gallo, 23, of San Gabriel, is charged with three counts of second-degree murder in the April 9, 2009, collision in Fullerton that killed Adenhart, 22, Courtney Frances Stewart, 20, and Henry Pearson, 25.
Jon Wilhite, 24, of Manhattan Beach, survived, but his skull had to be reattached to his spine.
Attorneys today began the work of settling pretrial motions, with jury selection scheduled to start Thursday. Opening statements in the trial could begin Sept. 13.
Orange County Superior Court Judge Richard Toohey ruled that Gallo's attorney, Jacqueline Goodman, will not be able to tell the jury that Stewart had a blood-alcohol level of at least .06, above the legal limit for drivers under 21 years old.
Another test indicated her blood-alcohol level was .16, Goodman said.
"Even assuming .06 was accurate, it's relevant whether she might be the one who was negligent in blowing the red light," Goodman argued. "If my client was drunk and had a green light and if she caused the accident, there's no liability on behalf of my client."
Deputy District Attorney Susan Price disagreed.
Gallo was driving about 65 mph in a 35 mph zone on Orangethorpe Avenue in Fullerton and was drunk, so even if he didn't run the red light, he's still guilty of the negligence that led to the murders, she argued.
On Tuesday, Goodman lost her final attempt to delay the trial when the state Supreme Court denied her requests for a stay and to move the case out of Orange County.
Goodman has unsuccessfully argued that publicity about the case will jeopardize her client's ability to get a fair trial.
Toohey ruled Wednesday that video and still cameras will not be allowed in the courtroom during the trial.
Goodman and Price did not object, but attorney Michael Fell, who represents the families of the victims, asked Toohey to keep the cameras out of the proceedings.
"Only one family did not object to the media in the courtroom, but the majority of the families and extended families did not wish for the media in the courtroom," Fell said.
"Evidence that will be shown could be additionally devastating to what the families are going through," he said. "Out of respect for them, we asked that the cameras not be permitted in the courtroom."