Monthly Archives: August 2010

No injuries reported after fiery crash in Covina

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COVINA — Two men walked away unharmed from a fiery car crash in Covina late Wednesday, police said.
The crash occurred about 9 p.m. at Cypress Street and Cummings Road, Covina police Sgt. Trevor Gaumer said.
A sedan containing two men was eastbound on Cypress when the driver lost control and struck a telephone pole, the sergeant said.
The pole was sheared off and the car burst into flames, he said, however both the driver and passenger escaped from the car without injury.
The crash knock live power lines into the street and damaged nearby transformers, Gaumer said. Southern California Edison crews worked through the night to fix the damage.

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Deputies grab woman who threatened to jump from bridge in El Monte

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EL MONTE — Two sheriff’s deputies helped rescue a woman Thursday as she threatened to jump from the Lower Azusa Street Bridge in El Monte.
The incident began about 6:45 a.m. as deputies from the sheriff’s Temple Station were in El Monte for an investigation.
Deputies David Lopez and Steve Suarez spotted an elderly woman standing on the bridge in the 10800 block of Lower Azusa Road, Los Angeles County sheriff’s officials said in a written statement.
“As they watched her, she climbed over the safety fence and stood on the approximately 4-inch outer ledge of the bridge,” the statement said. “When the deputies approached the woman, she turned away and extended both arms as if she was going to dive off the bridge and began to yell incoherently.”
Lopez and Suarez convinced the woman to put one leg back over the safety railing before both deputies rushed forward and grabbed the woman, pulling her back to safety, officials said. She was taken into protective custody by the El Monte Police Department.

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Pasadena man suspected of attempted child molestation, other crimes

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PASADENA — A Pasadena man is awaiting trial after being tracked down in Mexico on suspicion of holding an underage girl captive in a motel room and attempting to molest her, police said Thursday.
Robert James Ruiz, 46, appeared in court Monday in Pasadena Superior Court, however is arraignment was postponed until Aug. 26, Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office spokeswoman Sandi Gibbons said.
“On July 29, 2010, Ruiz, an ex-convict, held an underage female against her will in a motel room and attempted to molest her,” Pasadena police said in a written statement.
The girl, a teenager, was ultimately released by her alleged captor, police said.
“When Ruiz learned that he was wanted by police, he called the handling detective and declared that he had no intention of going back to prison and that he had left the area,” the police statement said.
“Investigators tracked Ruiz to Mexico where he was ultimately arrested (Aug. 12) without incident,” according to the statement.
Pasadena police, the U.S. Marshals and the Mexican government all worked together to arrest Ruiz, police added.
He was booked on suspicion of attempted lewd acts with a minor, false imprisonment, child abuse and indecent exposure toward a minor, officials said. He was being held in lieu of $1.2 million bail.

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Arraignment delayed for teen girl accused of killing grandparents in Rosemead

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ROSEMEAD — Arraignment has been postponed for a 14-year-old girl accused of stabbing her grandparents to death along with her 21-year-old boyfriend, authorities said.
Sophia Cristo of Rosemead, who is being charged as an adult with two counts of murder, is due to appear Sept. 2 in Los Angeles County Superior Court to be arraigned, Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office spokeswoman Sandi Gibbons said.
Also charged in the case is 21-year-old Rodolfo Lopez, a resident of the San Gabriel Valley.
Cristo appeared in Los Angeles Superior Court Monday but did not enter a plea, Gibbons said.
Cristo and Lopez are accused of fatally stabbing Cristo’s grandparents, 71-year-old Jack Bezner and 64-year-old Susan Bezner, Aug. 9 as they laid in their bed in their home in the 4200 block of Arica Avenue in Rosemead, investigators said.-
The granddaughter and her boyfriend were arrested two days after the slaying after they were found driving the Bezners’ SUV in El Paso County, Texas.
Officials are working to have Lopez extradited back to California, which may take weeks.
In addition to two counts of murder, Cristo and Lopez are both accused of the special allegations of multiple murder, using a knife in the crime and causing great bodily injury, District Attorney’s officials said in a written statement.
Both Jack and Susan Bezner died of “multiple sharp force injuries,” Los Angeles County Department of Coroner’s Chief of Operations Craig Harvey said.
Because of her age, Gibbons said, Cristo is not eligible for the death penalty. The maximum penalty she could face, if convicted as charged, is life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Prosecutors have not yet decided whether they will seek the death penalty against Lopez, officials added.

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Arrest made in fatal crash that killed Monrovia school teacher

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A man is behind bars on suspicion of being under the influence of methamphetamine and marijuana when he caused a Riverside County crash that killed a Monrovia school teacher, authorities said Thursday.
Jeremy Cook, 33, of Moreno Valley was booked Wednesday on suspicion of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated in connection with the May 8 crash just outside of Hemet in Riverside County that killed 44-year-old Maggie Clark, Riverside County District Attorney’s spokesman John Hall said.
Clark was a kindergarten teacher at Mayflower Elementary School in Monrovia.
Cook turned himself in to investigators in Murrieta after a warrant was issued for his arrest Aug. 4, Hall said.
Cook as arrested immediately following the crash, but released after prosecutors declined to file charges.
Clark and another teacher were driving to an education conference when Cook’s truck allegedly crossed a center divider, veered into oncoming traffic and struck their car.
Clark was fatally injured, while the other teacher in the car with her suffered a broken leg.
Co-workers said Clark was a dedicated, well-respected and well-liked teacher who started teaching at Mayflower in 1988.
According to court records, Cook was previously convicted twice of misdemeanor driving under the influence in Idaho in 1999 and 2004.
Cook was being held in lieu of $1 million bail and was due for arraignment Friday in the Southwest Justice Center of the Riverside Superior Court.

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Forest ranger injured in attack at ranger station

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ANGELES NATIONAL FOREST — A man attacked and injured a forest ranger Wednesday in a “bizarre” assault at a ranger station in the Angeles National Forest north of Azusa, authorities said.
The ranger, who was estimated to be in his 30s, was struck and in the face and knocked unconscious with an unknown object shortly before 4 p.m. at the East Fork Ranger Station, in the forest north of Azusa, sheriff’s and fire officials said.
He was flown to an area trauma center was he was listed in stable condition and awaiting X-rays, Los Angeles County sheriff’s Capt. Michael Parker said.
“We do not know the reason for this bizarre and seemingly unprovoked attack,” he said.
The attacker showed up at the ranger station about 3:40 p.m. and asked to use the telephone, Parker said.
“When the (ranger) opened the door, he was struck in the face by the suspect with an unknown object, rendering him unconscious,” Parker said.
The ranger was not armed, official added.
When the ranger awoke, he called 9-1-1, Parker said.
He was in and out of consciousness prior to be hospitalized, Los Angeles County Fire Department Capt. David Middleton said.
Robbery did not appear to be a motive in the attack, Parker said.
“We have not identified anything that was taken,” he said.
The attacker was described only as a Latino man driving a green Mitzubishi Eclipse, Parker said.
Forest rangers, sheriff’s deputies and officers from the Azusa and Glendora police department searched the area for the assailant with no luck, officials said.
The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office’s Crimes Against Peace Officer’s Unit is also investigating the incident.

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Photo of Arcadia bank robber released

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44561-ARCAIDA BANK ROBBER 8-17-10-thumb-300x398-44560.jpgARCADIA — Police asked the public’s help Wednesday identifying a man who robbed a Bank of America Branch in Arcadia, authorities said.
The crime took place jut after 4:10 p.m. Tuesday at the branch at 180 N. Santa Anita Avenue, Arcadia police Sgt. Mike Castro said.
“Preliminary investigation revealed the (robber) entered the bank and presented a demand note for money while threatening to have a gun,” Arcadia police Sgt. Tom Le Veque said in a written statement.
After receiving cash, the robber fled in an unknown direction, he added.
Police described the robber as an Asian man between 20 and 30 years old, about 5 feet 6 inches tall and 140 pounds. He has brown eyes, a thin mustache and goatee and acne on his cheeks.
He was last seen wearing a black baseball cap, black-frame glasses, shorts and a black T-shirt.
“This suspect should be considered armed and dangerous,” Le Veque said. Anyone with information is asked to call Arcadia police at 626-574-5150.

*Surveillance photo courtesy of the FBI.

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Temple City figitive suspected of stealing from elderly woman surrenders

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From the Associated Press:

LONG BEACH — A fugitive caregiver from Temple City charged with stealing $4 million from an ailing elderly woman to fund a lavish lifestyle has surrendered after two years on the lam.
A $2.5 million arrest warrant was issued in 2008 for Li Ching Liu, who was charged with abuse and robbery of a 74-year-old stroke victim. Liu, who also uses the name Susan Liu, was hired in 2002 to care for the woman, who amassed a fortune through real estate investments.
Liu, 54, surrendered Tuesday in Long Beach Superior Court with her attorney, Joseph Camarata. She pleaded not guilty and was jailed. Bail was set at $2.5 million pending an Aug. 24 hearing.
Liu, who disappeared after her adult son and her boyfriend were arrested two years ago, withheld food from the victim to make her comply while Liu drained the woman’s bank accounts, police Detective Stacey Holdredge said. Liu set up more than 60 accounts at half a dozen banks and laundered more than $4 million with the help of 58-year-old boyfriend Abolfath Okhovat of Thousand Oaks and her 29-year-old son, Yun Shih of Temple City, the detective said.
Besides lavish Las Vegas gambling trips and jewelry purchases, Holdredge says the money was used to buy a Porsche sport utility vehicle and a Temple City house for Liu and her boyfriend. The money was also used to pay for Yun Shih’s tuition at the University of Southern California and a BMW.
Both men are in prison after being convicted last year of financial elder abuse.

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Man, woman suspected in East Valinda school burglary

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EAST VALINDA — Deputies arrested two people and sought a third in connection with an elementary school burglary in East Valinda Sunday, authorities said.
Anne Marie Blanco, 40, and David Mejia, 40, both of Ontario, were booked on suspicion of burglary, Los Angeles County sheriff’s Sgt. Raymond Enriquez said.
School police officers noticed a white pickup truck leaving Rorimer Elementary School, 18750 Rorimer Street, about 5:40 p.m. and pulled it over, the sergeant said.
The truck, which was being driven by Blanco, had four computers, five monitors, two keyboards and a digital camera in the back, Enriquez said.
Deputies then determined that the equipment had been taken from the office at the school after someone broke in through a rear door, he said.
Mejia was found walking in the area and arrested, Enriquez said.
A third suspect, described as a Latino man between 40 and 45 years old, was believed to be involved but was not located, he said.

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Similar robberies reported in Hacienda Heights, Diamond Bar

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Authorities are investigating two similar gas station robberies that occurred early Saturday in Hacienda Heights and Diamond Bar, sheriff’s officials said.
The robbers were described similarly in both crimes, which occurred within an hour of each other, however officials said it was too early to tell if they were related.
The first of the robberies was reported about 1 a.m. at an ampm store at 1401 S. Hacienda Boulevard in Hacienda Heights, Los Angeles County sheriff’s Sgt. Raymond Enriquez said.
A robber described as a black man of about 6 feet 1 inch tall and wearing a black jacket entered the store and announced his intention to rob it, the sergeant said.
He threatened to have a gun, though none was seen, Enriquez added.
An employee sprayed the robber with pepper spray, he said, but the robber still managed to grab a cash drawer from a register.
He fled to a getaway car with a waiting male driver, who also threatened the clerk, Enriquez said. The car then fled westbound.
No description of the car or the driver was available.
Just under an hour later, another robbery was reported at a Chevron Station at 21324 Pathfinder Road in Diamond Bar, sheriff’s Lt. Mike Browne said.
Two robbers described as black men of about 6 feet tall wearing dark clothing entered the store about 1:45 a.m. and demanded cash, the lieutenant said. At least one of them was armed with a handgun.
After stealing an undisclosed amount of cash, the robbers were last seen fleeing on foot, he added.

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