September 2008 Archives

We heard this call on the scanner about 3 p.m. this afternoon. Draw your own conclusions:

HACIENDA HEIGHTS - A woman who looked pregnant and had a young child waiting in her car swiped a charity bucket on Tuesday from a CVS Pharmacy.

Los Angeles County sheriff's Lt. Mark Relyea said the woman took the bucket from the CVS at 887 Hacienda Blvd. around 3 p.m.

Relyea did not say how much money was in the bucket.

The "heavyset" woman left in a white Toyota Corolla, Relyea said.

Here's the top of a story on a Monrovia man who terrorized the San Gabriel Valley for a few hours last week before spending his last moments of freedom at Disneyland.

An earlier version is here.

A Monrovia man's wild ride through the San Gabriel Valley, which authorities suspect included carjackings, home invasions and an attempted murder, ended at "The Happiest Place on Earth," authorities said Tuesday.
Anthony Hislar, 27, of Monrovia, was booked on suspicion of dozens of crimes including two carjackings and one attempted murder after spending the day at Disneyland with two acquaintances he met on MySpace, officials said.
"This man was just a one-man crime spree," Los Angeles County Sheriff's Det. Randy Rue-Las said. "Just out of control."

So what happens when you write about the economic meltdown and the total lack of leadership in Washington DC but lead with an anecdote about flipping a cigarette butt into the street?

People latch onto the anecdote.

I've been called a "slob." I've been accused of using the SGV as my "toilet."  I've been admonished in a letter to the publisher. My fellow smokers have wagged their fingers.

It has been suggested I take a tour of the sewer system just to see that butts float to the sea.

OK. I get it. Thanks for the suggestions.

If you've got more suggestions (or cigarettes) pass 'em my way.

A federal grand jury handed down an extensive indictment Tuesday charging a group of Californians and Canadians in a conspiracy to move MDMA from local cities to Canada.

A portion of the indictment talks about how defendant Nathanael Lineham used his position with a company called beStealth to supply encrypt BlackBerrys to drug dealers. Here's a link to the beStealth site.

Here's the indictment:

Candystore_-_Lineham_indictment[1].pdf

Here's a portion of our Web story:

Prosecutors allege the organization was overseen by Temple City resident Jason I. Ming Wei, 30, a Canadian national. He was arrested Sunday night at Los Angeles International Airport while preparing to board a flight to Canada.

A total of 18 people, including seven residents of the San Gabriel Valley, have been named in two federal indictments that outline the operations of the organization. Marijuana and ecstasy were allegedly brought to the United States from Canada, while cocaine was shipped from the United States to Canada.

The other suspects arrested Monday morning include: Jerry Fanyuan Lin, 32, of Temple City; Jose G. Garibay, aka "Guero," 28, of La Puente; Ming Chien Hsieh, aka "Sonny," 24, of San Gabriel; and four others from California and Canada.

The ten others being sought by authorities include Ren Sui, aka "Jeffrey," 31, of Rosemead; Erik Damien Vicente, 41, of Baldwin Park; Hong Yee "Annie" Chow, 28, of Rowland Heights. 

The FBI has released a photo of a man who robbed a Cathay Bank in Alhambra Saturday.

The robbery was reported just before 1:40 p.m. at the bank located at 1 W. Bay State Street, police said.

The masked man used a bucket and an umbrella to hide a shotgun as he entered the bank, then poited it at a teller while demanding money.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Alhambra Police Department at (626) 570-5151.

From the Suffolk County DA's office:

BOSTON, Sept. 29, 2008--A Suffolk Superior Court clerk magistrate today set bail at $50 million cash for the kidnapping defendant formerly known as Clark Rockefeller, "based on what I perceive the risk [of flight] to be."

Clerk Magistrate Gary D. Wilson did not adopt prosecutors' requests to continue holding CHRISTIAN KARL GERHARTSREITER (D.O.B. 2/21/61) without bail, but set it at an amount well beyond the $25,000 recommended by Gerhartsreiter's attorney.

Gerhartsreiter may also post 10 times the cash amount in property as surety - in this case, $500 million.

At the agreement of Assistant District Attorney David Deakin and defense attorney Stephen Hrones, Wilson also scheduled Gerhartsreiter's trial for March 23.

Wilson was prepared to allow both parties a full year to prepare for those proceedings. Indicted Friday by a Suffolk County grand jury, Gerhartsreiter today pleaded not guilty to single counts of kidnapping a minor relative, assault and battery, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, and furnishing a false name to police officers.

AP article on Gerhartsreiter's plea:

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hGbAirbzAI5iGCtDGLR58A4-gYQwD93GELI00 

PASADENA -- Officials had to treat about 800 people who were watching college football at the Rose Bowl on Saturday for heat-related illnesses, authorities said.

***********

COVINA -- A woman was arrested Saturday after allegedly leading police on a high-speed chase while drunk, then trying to ram patrol cars, authorities said.

WEST COVINA -- A parolee-at-large was arrested Saturday after allegedly leading police on a chase and then eating methamphetamine in an apparent attempt to get rid of evidence, authorities said.

LA PUENTE -- Two men escaped with an undisclosed amount of cash Saturday after robbing an El Pollo Loco restaurant, authorities said.

*******************'

Whit:

A Pico Rivera father was killed by a hit-and-run driver Saturday night after watching a high school football game at his alma mater.

For the second time in nine days, an Alhambra bank was robbed Saturday.

The robbery was reported about 1:40 p.m. at Cathay Bank, 601 N. Atlantic Ave., officials said.

The robber brandished a shotgun at a teller while demanding money, police said, before fleeing on foot.

He was described as a white man in his late 20s or early 30s, between 5 feet 10 inches and 6 feet tall, weighing about 170 pounds, Wiese said. He was wearing a tan shirt and tan pants.

Another Alhambra bank, this time a Citibank branch located at 1 W. Bay State Street, was robbed on Sept. 18 by a female bandit.

The woman, who the FBI is calling the "Bag Lady Bandit" because of a large beaded bag she carried during the heist, used a note to steal an undisclosed amount of money.

She was described as a white or Latina woman, standing about 5 feet 4 inches tall and weighing about 125 pounds, with reddish hair, officials said.

Anyone with information is asked to call Alhambra police Detective Kevin Laing at (626) 570-5187.

O'Ryan Johnson at the Boston Herald writes:

The man once known as Clark Rockefeller was formally charged today with crimes he allegedly committed in early August when he ran off with his daughter during a supervised visit with a social worker.

Christian Karl Gerhartsreiter was indicted by a Suffolk County grand jury for parental kidnapping, assault and battery, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, and providing a false name to police, according to the Suffolk District Attorney's office.

Gerhartsreiter fled from the Back Bay, prompting a week-long manhunt, during which authorities began to uncover a twisted pattern of false identities and possible ties to murdered California newlyweds.

Here's a press release from the Suffolk County DA's Office:

BOSTON, Sept. 26, 2008--A Suffolk County grand jury today returned indictments charging CHRISTIAN KARL GERHARTSREITER (D.O.B. 2/21/61) with parental kidnapping, assault-related offenses, and providing a phony name to the Boston Police detectives investigating the case, Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley announced.
Currently held without bail on similar district court complaints, the indictments move Gerhartsreiter's case to Superior Court, where it will be adjudicated. Conley said he expects Gerhartsreiter to be arraigned on the indicted charges Monday.
Gerhartsreiter - formerly known as "Clark Rockefeller," among other aliases - allegedly kidnapped his daughter on July 27, during their first scheduled visit following his divorce from her mother.
Under the terms of their 2007 divorce, Gerhartsreiter and his ex-wife agreed that she would have legal custody of her daughter and that Gerhartsreiter would be allowed a limited number of visits each year, with those visits monitored by an independent social worker. In addition to the kidnapping charge, Gerhartsreiter is also charged with assault and battery for allegedly shoving that social worker to the ground during the abduction and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon - the sport utility vehicle in which he escaped - for allegedly directing his driver to accelerate when he knew the social worker was holding on to the moving vehicle's door. Those charges carry maximum penalties of 2½ years in a house of correction and 10 years in state prison, respectively.
Finally, Gerhartsreiter was also indicted today for giving a false name to a police officer, a crime punishable by up to a year behind bars from and after any sentence for the underlying offense for which he was arrested. Gerhartsreiter incurred that charge by identifying himself as "Clark Rockefeller" to the Boston Police detectives interviewing him upon his August arrest.
"That the victim in this case is the defendant's own daughter doesn't minimize the wrongness of his actions," Conley said. "He took her across state lines without her legal guardian's knowledge or permission - it's any parent's worst nightmare. People on the run take risks they wouldn't in other circumstances, and we're all very lucky that this young girl suffered no long-term physical injury as a result of her ordeal."
Gerhartsreiter's arraignment will likely take place Monday morning in the Magistrate's Session of Suffolk Superior Court, located on the seventh floor of the courthouse. The defendant is represented by attorney Stephen Hrones.

A San Gabriel woman facing foreclosure because of a second mortgage has threatened to chain herself inside a bank this morning in protest of the bailout plan and the bank's unwilllingness to help her out of a jam. Here's an early version of the story we have just posted:

SAN GABRIEL - Facing foreclosure on her home, a woman has vowed to handcuff herself inside a Wachovia bank branch in San Gabriel to protest what she says is the bank's unwillingness to listen to her.

Irene Garcia claims Wachovia defrauded her on loan documents. She says her efforts to get the bank to look into her complaints have been to no avail. Legal Aid and other groups she's turned to for help have also brushed her off, Garcia claims.

"We tried everythng -- no one wants to listen to us. We're losing our home, and nobody seems to care."

Efforts are being made to contact Wachovia officials for comment on Garcia's claims.

Reporter Amanda Baumfeld turned in a great obituary about Buddy McDonald, one fo the original Little Rascals. He died this week in a Seal Beach retirement home. Here's a snippet of Baumfeld's piece:

What he might not be known for is his endless dedication and work in substance abuse counseling, those who know him said.

In the 1950 s, McDonald developed a drinking problem and ended up in Alcoholics Anonymous. It was a move that ended up being a "significant turning point of his life," according to his son, Scott.

Soon after, McDonald became a popular speaker at AA meetings throughout Southern California and strived to help people regain control of their lives.

In 1965, he met Leon Emerson, a Downey Municipal Court judge. The two of them thought people convicted of alcohol-related offenses should be sent to AA meetings instead of jail.

I also found an interview with Buddy that ran on a Web site devoted to Laurel and Hardy comedies. The interview is fascinating and describes a robbery conviction from the 1950s:

Question: What did they send you to prison for?

Bud McDonald: Robbery. I was with some other guys, and we robbed a market. I had just come out of the marine corps, served in Guadalcanal. I didn't know any better, I didn't have any money to get an attorney, so I took a public defender. He got me to cop a plea. I plead guilty. Later on, when I was sober about a dozen years after Alcoholics Anonymous, a probation officer named Brown in Walnut Park gave me some advice. He was going to law school and we found a law I didn't know about and together with my sponsor, a man named Carson, they got all my felonies taken back to court and the guilty pleas removed and the not guilty pleas entered. All my citizenship rights and everything else were restored to me.
 

KFI's Steve Gregory is blogging live reports from Las Vegas, where OJ Simpson is on trial for robbery. He's put together some pretty interesting tidbits covering, testimony, acrimony and disharmony.

Here's an excerpt from one of yesterday's entries:

WOW - what an afternoon......Walter Alexander just finished his testimony....the defense wanted to impeach his testimony because of allegations that Alexander's a pimp and owns a website that hires out hookers. Judge says NO. Prosecution says all of that came up in preliminary hearings and they could have stopped it then. At one point, Simpson attorney, Yale Galanter, approached Alexander in the witness stand and began reading a transcript -- Alexander says, "Step Back" - Galanter says, "No, I'm going to do what the prosecution does" - the bailiff starts to go over...the judge tells Galanter to step back and chews his ass out for disobeying a request from the witness and an order from the court!!!

A man and woman were arrested following a standoff with the Monrovia PD in the 100 block of North Magnolia.

Interestingly enough, the story came to light because the woman notified the news media.

Here's a link to Robert Hong's story.

The incident apparently followed an eviction attempt. Another sign of a failing economy?

A woman who apparently threatened Sheriff's deputies on Tuesday with a shotgun is apparently barricaded ina home in the 100 block of Magnolia with a shotgun.

Now she's apparently threatening Monrovia officers who are outside her home.

We'll get an update as soon as more information becomes available.

*THe woman is apparently distraught about an eviction.

She called several local television stations to discuss her grievances, according to reporter Robert Hong.

As of 6:22 she remains holed up. Fortunately, looks like the local TV stations cared more about Bush's address to the nation.

Dave Gunderson, a former member of the Baldwin Park Police Department, is probably headed to state prison after his conviction on several firearm related charges.

From The Eureka Times-Standard:

Former Blue Lake Police Chief David Gundersen faces a state prison sentence of up to three years and eight months for the illegal possession of a submachine gun and a pistol with a silencer, charges a jury convicted him of on Wednesday.

Gundersen will also be sentenced for 11 charges of battery, each of which carry a maximum six month county jail term or a fine of $2,000, or both. He originally faced 24 counts of spousal rape with the use of intoxicant, which carried far longer sentences that might have totaled 72 to 192 years in prison.

The felony firearms convictions effectively end Gundersen's career as a law enforcement officer, and the misdemeanor battery convictions make would make it illegal for Gundersen to possess firearms.

Gundersen was found not guilty of attempting to dissuade the victim of a crime, but guilty of violating a court order. He will be sentenced on Oct. 22.

On Tuesday, the jury sent a note to Superior Court Judge Bruce Watson shortly before 2 p.m. announcing that it had arrived at a verdict. Since one juror had to leave early, the judge postponed the reading of the verdict until this morning.

Here's what we've posted in the Whittier Daily News. Very few datails have emerged in the wake of the shooting:

PICO RIVERA - Los Angeles County sheriff's officials said a deputy was involved in a shooting at about 12:53 Wednesday morning at Rosemead Boulevard and Reichling Lane in Pico Rivera.

No sheriff's deputies were injured in the incident, but officials have declined to say whether any suspect was hurt or killed.

According to a sheriff's press release, "two male hispanic adults" are listed as suspects in the incident.

The department has sent internal affairs investigators to the scene to learn more about what happened, according to the press release. Sgt. Rich Pena said the department will soon provide more details.

At least two bullet holes were visible in a truck belonging to a neighbor, and officials towed another car from the driveway.

Not much detail yet, but reports from the overnight police logs indicate there was a stabbing in La Puente near Nogales High School just before 10 p.m.

Sheriff's homicide is handling the investigation into the case. The slaying happened near the intersection of La Puente Road and Nogales Avenue.

Here's the latest on our Web site. I've also posted a map of the area below.

The FBI hopes to catch a man suspected of opening fire on two cops in Whittier by erecting a billboard at the border. Here's the top portion of their press release:

The FBI has purchased a billboard, visible to vehicles traveling across the Tijuana/San Diego border, as part of its ongoing publicity campaign to find and capture Emigdio Preciado, a fugitive on the FBI's national list of "Ten Most Wanted," announced Salvador Hernandez, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI in Los Angeles . The billboard, which will be posted for approximately three months, displays three photographs of Preciado and contact numbers for the FBI in Los Angeles, the United States Consulate General in Guadalajara, Mexico, and a special number established by the FBI's Fugitive Task Force to directly respond to tips, (888) CANT-HIDE

A similar billboard that was errected in Whittier last year has been defaced several times by thugs hoping to hide the face of Preciado.

That's his mugshot and here's a link to the wanted information from the FBI.

Other's on the FBI's 10 most wanted list include Osama Bin Laden and "Whitey" Bulger. 

The preliminary hearing for Manling Williams, 28, who is accused of killing her husband with a sword and smothering their two young children in their beds at their Rowland Heights home was again delayed, officials said.

The hearing, at which a judge determines whether there is enough evidence to hold the defendant for trial, was scheduled for today (Tuesday) after numerous delays.

Deputy District Attorney Pak Kouch said the hearing was continued to Oct. 15 after a sealed motion was filed by the defense. She declined to comment further on the reason for the delay.

Neal Williams, 27, and his two sons, Devon, 7, and Ian, 3, were found dead in their home on the morning of Aug. 8, 2007.

Manling Williams, who initially told officials she was not home when the killings occurred, was arrested later that night on suspicion of murder.

Here's some stories we've been following over the weekend:

1. BALDWIN PARK -- City Councilman Anthony Bejarano was arrested late Friday on suspicion of being intoxicated in public.

2. VALINDA -- A Duarte man was jailed on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter and driving under the influence Saturday following a crash that killed a 61-year-old Valinda man.

3. PASADENA -- A 16-year-old girl was shot in the leg Saturday while congregating with a group of other young women in front of an apartment building.

4 .BALDWIN PARK -- A 17-year-old boy showed up at a local hospital Sunday after he was stabbed but refused to tell police the details.

5. IRWINDALE -- A truck driver was robbed and shot Saturday as he dropped his truck off at a business at the end of his work day.

6. PASADENA -- A woman was arrested Sunday after allegedly attacking her boyfriend with a "The Club" steering wheel lock and vandalizing his car after discovering him at a motel with another woman.

A scorned woman allegedly used a popular auto theft prevention device Sunday to take out her frustrations on her apparently cheating boyfriend and his car.

Leina Marie Butler, 38, of Altadena was arrested after police say she used "The Club" steering wheel lock to smash the windows out of her 31-year-old boyfriend's car and then went after him.

The woman apparently tracked her beaux to a motel in the 2800 block of East Colorado Boulevard Sunday morning where she found him with another woman.

She began attacking his car, but when he came outside, she turned her rage toward him, allegedly striking him in the temple and arm.

He was hospitalized with moderate injuries including a cut to his head.

Butler was booked on suspicion of spousal abuse and is being held in lieu of $50,000 bail.

Baldwin Park City Councilman Anthony Bejarano was arrested late Friday on suspicion of public intoxication, police said.

According to court records, Baldwin Park police made the arrest shortly after 10 p.m.

Bejarano posted $250 bail for the alleged misemeanor offense and was released within three hours of his arrest.

A one-man crime wave threatened the lives of several San Gabriel Valley residents early Friday morning. Here's the top of our updated story:

A string of violent crimes including one shooting, five carjackings and two home-invasion robberies reported early Thursday in the northeastern San Gabriel Valley may have been the work of the same criminal, authorities said.

Crimes were reported in Arcadia, Azusa, El Monte and Rosemead, police and sheriff's officials said.

Similar suspect descriptions and a trail of abandoned stolen vehicles seemingly connect the crimes, though the cases all remain under investigation, authorities said.

Additionally Brian Day put together a Google map that details the suspected spree:

Elizabeth Duer, 27, missing for several days from her home on Kenoak Drive in Baldwin Park was found last night in a ward at the Los Angeles County/USC Medical Center, officials said.

Duer, a student at Cal Poly, was being sought by the Baldwin Park Police Department after her boyfriend and parents reported her missing.

A nurse at the hospital recognized Duer from news accounts, police said. During an earlier check of the hospital police were given the impression that Duer was not a patient there.

Information as to Duer's whereabouts for the past several days remains sketchy.

Police had been following up on some information obtained from a home computer by the District Attorney's Office, before Duer was finally located, authorities said.

Here's the latest story.

Here's the top of the story we've just posted on the web. These two knuckleheads are suspected of causing about $15,000 in damage:

AZUSA - Two teens were arrested earlier this week on suspicion of tagging more than 30 windows at a shopping center during the course of a week, according to police officials.

Azusa Police first received reports of etchings in several plate glass windows at the Citrus Crossing Shopping Center, at the corner of Citrus Avenue and Foothill Boulevard, on Sept. 4, according to Azusa police Lt. Frank Chavez.

Further investigation led merchants and police to discover more than 30 windows had been vandalized, he said. Damage of the windows is estimated to be $15,300, Chavez said.

Detectives determined the etchings to be connected to a local tagging crew and proceeded to interview members of the crew at an Azusa area school. Chavez would not disclose the name of the school.

While at the school Thursday one juvenile, 16, was identified as one of the taggers at the shopping center. The other teen was turned in by his parents at the Azusa Police Department Jail.

Family members of Elizabeth Duer, a 27-year-old missing Baldwin Park woman,  have turned to the Internet for help in their search. I came across a blog post that highlights their turmoil:

Almost two weeks ago my cousin went missing and we are all needless to say extremely worried and scared for her safety as there was a possibility of a stalker situation behind all this.

 

 

Police are searching for a 27-year-old woman who was reported missing from her Baldwin Park home. Here's the story as we know it now:

BALDWIN PARK - Police are looking for 27-year-old Elizabeth Duer, who has been missing from the area for more than a week under suspicious circumstances.

Duer, a landscape architect and student at Cal Poly Pomona, was last scene leaving her Baldwin Park home in her silver 2000 Honda Insight at 6 p.m. Sept. 7. She told her roommates she would return home later that evening, but that night they found she had not returned.

Duer's aunt, Pati Weaver, said that it is very unusual for her to leave her room unsecured.

"So many things about the situation are just so unlike her," Weaver said.

Duer is 5 feet 8 inches tall, 120 pounds and has brown hair and hazel eyes.

Detectives have apparently told a CBS reporter in New York that Duer took money from an ATM machine prior to her disappearance. Some family members hope Duer is on a camping trip, but her boyfriend apparently said "no way."

The boyfriend is unidentified.

*Some other blog posts and news reports:

True Crime Report 

In Session

Web Sleuths

KTLA

KABC

KNBC

*Baldwin Park Police Department is holding a 2 p.m. press conference to discuss the case

Channel Seven is on Bear Watch 2008!

The station is reporting that a bear is on the prowl in Horsethief Canyon above San Dimas.

Their helicopter has had some interesting shots of the bear at work digging through a dumpster.

The bear looks like a cub, and obviously he's hungry.

Picnic basket anyone?

* A scanner transmission from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department indicated "it's a little bitty bear that's not harming no one. He's just going through some trash cans up there behind the nature center." 

I just watched a series of stills from an attempted Starbucks robbery in Pico Rivera.

A gunman walks around the counter and opens fire on an employee, who was saved by the glass muffin case.

As soon as I get a usable copy I will post it here. Cops are hoping that viewers of the video will help them identify the shooter, who appears to be quite ruthless.

We sort of missed this one during vacation, but it's relevant to note that Michael Gargiulo, 32, arrested in connection with the death of Ashton Kutcher's former girlfriend is also charged in a 2005 El Monte cold case involving the death of Maria Bruno at her apartment, according to the Chicago Tribune. Here's a portion of their Sept. 5 story:

On Thursday Michael T. Gargiulo, 32, was charged with capital murder in the 2001 death of Ashley Ellerin, Kutcher's former girlfriend, whose body was found in her Hollywood Hills home.

Gargiulo also was charged Thursday with the 2005 stabbing death of Maria Bruno in her El Monte, Calif., apartment.

This year, Gargiulo, an air conditioner repairman living in Santa Monica, Calif., was arrested at home in June on suspicion of attempted murder after he allegedly broke into a woman's home in April and stabbed her. She fought him off and DNA from blood at the scene was linked to Gargiulo, officials said.

This from LA Observed:

The LAPD has apparently decided to convene Board of Rights hearings for some of the officers who abused media and protesters in MacArthur Park on May 1, 2007.

<Snip>

... four officers were recommended for termination, eight others for suspension and three for official reprimands. Four of the 15 have reportedly been transferred out of the Metro division that ran amok that day, and three were given pay downgrades.

Kevin Roderick cites a Police Protective League statement in the post.

A set of human remains found near the Pomona Freeway in Montebello may have been there for eight years, officials told reporter Ruby Gonzales.

The remains of a human male skeleton also show signs of having been struck by a car, coroner's officials said. Here's Ruby's update from this morning:

MONTEBELLO - The man whose bones were discovered alongside the Pomona (60) Freeway could have been hit by a car, coroner's officials said.

The left femur shows a fracture consistent with being struck by a vehicle, according to Lt. Fred Corral of the Coroner's Office.

Corral said an ID card was found among the clothing which belonged to a man who was reported missing eight years ago. However, he said they are still trying to identify the remains.

Caltrans workers clearing heavy brush in the 200 block of Pomona Boulevard discovered the skeletal remains on Sunday morning.

A registered sex offender was playing football for PCC while wearing a GPS tracking device, according to a story by Jeremy Balan in the PCC Courier.

Darryl "Slurp" Stevens was kicked off the team after he was arrested on an assault charge, according to the article. Here's a sample:

A registered sex offender and member of PCC's football team, was arrested Sept. 2, the first day of school, on an assault charge after a fight with a female friend.

Darryl Stephens (also known as "slurp" to friends and teammates) has been on parole since April 4, 2005, for a charge of "assault to commit a specific sex crime," according to the California Department of Corrections. He was also wearing a GPS high-risk sex offender bracelet on his left ankle and was listed as a restrained person per a domestic violence order, according to the arrest report.

Stephens is now being held at Pitchless Detention Center in Castaic.

Photo by Daniel Lottes for PCC. 

Vacation is over. So is the Detroit Lions' season.

Looks like there was a mess of crime stories during the hiatus.

Most notable:

• The doctor who is a suspected molester.
• Another postponement in the case of Man-ling Williams, accused of killing her husband and two sons.
• Olympian Kim Rhode's shotgun being stolen in Lake Smell-some-more.
• An elderly couple killed looking at the full moon.
• The death of a Glendora man slain after a fight at his home.
• More Clark Rockefeller news.

SANTA FE SPRINGS -- A person was hospitalized with burns Sunday after a propane tank fire, according to police, however few details are available as the fire department did not provide any information.

The incident was reported about 3:30 p.m. in the 10900 block of Gard Avenue, Whittier police Lt. Steve Dean said.

The injured person was believed to be trying to put out the fire, he said.

Several nearby homes were evacuated as firefighters worked on the blaze, Dean said.

A dispatcher at the Santa Fe Springs Fire Department refused to give out a direct phone number to the handling station, or even to pass along a reporter's phone number to fire officials. She also said the department has no public information officer, and that there was simply no way for the department to release information on the incident Sunday.

What happens in Santa Fe Springs stays in Santa Fe Springs, I guess.

Fire officials say three foreign exchange students escaped from their burning Temple City townhome "just in time" Saturday.

The blaze occurred about 7 a.m. in the 6200 block of Rosemead Boulevard, officials said.

The students, two men and a woman, were all in their early 20s and were believed to be exchange students from China, Los Angeles County Fire Department Capt. Al Traxler said.

The fire was sparked by a space heater downstairs and started moving up the stairs of the two-story townhome toward the upstairs bedrooms where the residents slept.

They awoke and smelled fire, and were able to get out before the fire blocked the stairwell, Traxler said.

The students had suit around their noses but were not injured, he said.

The townhouse was a total loss, Traxler said, and the damage was estimated at about $350,000.

The students were relocated with the help of the Red Cross. 

It's official.

Ralph Steven Flores, 26, was sentenced Monday to the death penalty three times over as well as life without the possibility of parole by Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Kathleen Kennedy.

FLORES.bmp

Sentencing is scheduled Monday for convicted quadruple-murderer Ralph Steven Flores.

The 26-year-old member of the "Azusa 13" street gang who has the word "Azusa" tattoed above his lip like a mustache was convicted of the murders in March.

The jury recommended the death penalty in three of the murders. Flores was 17 at the time of his first murder, so he was not eligible for the death penalty for that crime.

All the slayings were carried out in the Azusa area between 1999 and 2004.
Flores victims include:

- Christopher Lynch, 16, of Valinda, who was shot to death while attending a party on May 14, 1999. The jury found shooting was racially motivated because Lynch was black.
- Claudia Chenet, 23, of Azusa, who was shot to death on Nov. 19, 2003, because Flores mistakenly believed she had helped the police in a narcotics investigation.
- Miguel Reyes, 20, of Covina, who was shot after being assked his gang affiliation at a Christmas party on Dec. 26, 2004.
- Fenise Luna, 28, of Azusa, who was strangled and beaten to death on Dec. 28, 2004 because of a financial dispute. Jurors also convicted Flores of the special allegation torture in her death.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Kathleen Kennedy is expected to sentence Flores to death... then come the appeals.

The sentencing has already been delayed several times, we'll see if this time around it sticks.

* LA PUENTE -- A West Covina man was found dead in the street Friday after an apparent hit-and-run, authorities said.

* POMONA -- An Azusa man was charged Friday with the murder of a woman whose body was found in a van parked in front of a Pomona courthouse earlier this year, officials said.

* WEST COVINA -- Police are seeking a man who pestered a 15-year-old girl on her way to school Friday.

* WEST COVINA -- Three men used a handgun Saturday to rob a pizza delivery man of his money and his pizza, authorities said.

* AZUSA -- Police are seeking two men who sprayed a convenience store clerk with some type of chemical Thursday before stealing beer and chips, authorities said.

* SOUTH PASADENA -- Two brothers were stabbed Saturday when a fight broke out at a restaurant and bar, officials said.

An arrest has been made in connection with the stabbing death of a woman whose family found her body in her minivan after police released it to them.

Joseph Orta, 35, of Azusa, who at least one family member has said he suspected from the outset, was charged with the murder of Eileen Ponce-Orta, 22, of Covina Friday.

According to an uncle of Ponce-Orta, Orta had a romantic interest in Ponce-Orta.

Orta is a relative of of Ponce-Orta's husband, Nicholas Orta.

Nicholas Orta reported his wife missing on Valentine's Day, and her minivan was found the following day abandoned at Pomona Superior Court.

Without performing a thorough search, police released the van to relatives, who then discovered Ponce-Orta's body inside.

Joseph Orta has been in jail since Feb. 16 when he was arrested on a parole violation stemming from a conviction for attacking his step-father with a deadly weapon in 2002.

After six months worth of investigating, detectives presented their case to the district attorney's office.

This from ABC7.com: (h/t commenter jensy nguyen)

A family of four that went missing after a weekend getaway was found Thursday night.

Johnny Nguyen, 28, his wife Jessica and their two sons Joshua and Jacob, ages 8 and 2, were last heard from via text message on their way to Laughlin on August 22.

They stayed at various hotels on the Las Vegas strip, and were expected to return to Woodland Hills but never returned.

Family members said the family returned Thursday night. No further information was available.

This comes from LAist:

Good news. Andrea Wilson-Smith, the 14-year-old we reported on yesterday, was found early this morning.

The LAPD writes in an update to the media... "On September 5, 2008, at around 3:00 a.m., a CHP patrol unit found missing person Andrea Wilson-Smith near Foothill Boulevard and Michillinda Avenue, in Pasadena. She was taken to LAPD's Northeast Division, where she was picked by her parent. Investigators still haven't determined why the teen ran away from her home."

Serene Branson at KCBS/KCAL reported today on the story of a family who went to Nevada for the weekend and disappeared. I didn't catch the family's name. Apparently the mom and dad haven't shown up for work ... but their credit cards have been used on the Las Vgeas Strip.

Reportedly there are security camera images of the Mom and Dad, but their two kids have apparently vanished.

I'll find the whole story on Google news and post it here later.

Don't know if this is a Caylee Anthony case or a Runaway Bride, but interesting nonetheless.

Just heard a funny story on the scanner out of La Verne.

Apparently some druggie went into a liquor store, bought a cup of ice, handed the clerk a dollar and his bag of "H&S 11350"

Not sure if that's meth, coke or heroin, but the dispatcher said the culprit appeared to be "strung out" and "sweating profusely."

We'll keep an eye on this one...

What's up with PPD anyway?

They've done everything possible to limit the flow of infomation to the public from their investigation into the shooting death of Jennifer Avina-Ortega. Fortunately, reporter Robert Hong spoke to a witness early on and was able to get some details about what happened and description of the two cars seen fleeing the scene.

Not sure why Pasadena thinks this stuff won't get out... Anyway here's the latest:

PASADENA - Detectives spoke with several people of interest Wednesday in connection with the shooting death of a 20-year-old woman last month, Pasadena police officials said, but no new arrests were made as of press time.

So far, police have only arrested one man, 30-year-old Roberto Barajas, in the death of Jennifer Ortega.

Barajas was arrested without incident on Aug. 29 and was charged with murder by the Los Angeles District Attorney's Office on Tuesday, police said.

Police have not released any further details about the shooting or arrest, saying that the case is an "ongoing and very fluid investigation."

 

This from an email tipster:

There's been a pretty serious accident at Bonnie Cove and Calora.... Eyewitless News  called it in West Covina... apparently accident after short pursuit of burglary suspect... seems to be all Glendora PD although it's below Arrow on Bonnie cove

Pasadena police reported this afternoon they've made an arrest in the shooting death of Jennifer Avina-Ortega. The 20-year-old was shot to death outside a liquor store on Villa Street about 10 days ago. From the story:

 PASADENA -- Police have arrested a man in connection with the shooting death of a 20-year-old woman in Pasadena last month.

Roberto Barajas, 30, of Pasadena was arrested today in connection with the death of Jennifer Ortega, who was shot in a parking lot on the 1800 block of Villa Street just before 10 p.m. on Aug. 19, Pasadena Police officials said.

Meanwhile the family of Albert Anthony Garcia, who (along with his father) was shot to death at a graduation party in Montebello, reports that Montebello resident Angel Sosa is facing arraignment in a downtown courtroom this afternoon in connection with the double homicide.

Sosa, a juvenile, is facing adult criminal charges, officials said.

Los Angeles County Firefighters have been dispatched to Lousiana to help out with swift water rescue in the wake of Hurricane Gustave's visit to the Bayou State. THis comes from a press release:

On Sunday, August 31, 2008 at 11:45 p.m., the Los Angeles County Fire Department deployed a 14 Member Swift Water Team to Louisiana to support logistical and potential rescue operations for those affected by hurricane Gustav.

The team assembled out of the Technical Operations Center in Pacoima, California just before midnight on Sunday August 31, 2008 and prepared for a caravan to the Gulf Area. The crew will be there for an unknown amount of time to assist and support the Office of Emergency Services for the State of Louisiana. The team is one of seven supporting FEMA teams at the request of Emergency Assistance Compact (EMAC) to respond to the Gulf States Region.

In addition, the department has responded seven overhead personnel to support logistical needs of the team's. The Los Angeles County Fire Department Swift Water team members are well trained individual's that specialize in various water rescue skills working with watercrafts and search equipment to perform life saving missions.

Investigators are continuing to search for a 25-year-old San Gabriel Valley man who allegedly attacked a woman Sunday and forced her into the trunk of her own car before she escaped by jumping out of the car as it sped down the 57 Freeway.

The man's name was known, sheriff's officials said, but was not released Monday as officials continue to investigate. Detectives also declined to release information on the victim's car, which the suspect may still be driving.

The victim, a 21-year-old area woman, was also not named.

She left a party in unincorporated Covina with the man when officials believe he struck her in the head with a blunt object, knocking her unconscious.

She woke up in the trunk of her own car and was able to get it open, then jumped from the trunk as the car continued at freeway speed on the 57 Freeway, north of the 60 Freeway in the Walnut area.

Officials said the woman suffered severe road rash, but no critical injuries.