Monthly Archives: March 2011

Skate shop employee fights off young robbers; police nab suspects

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ARCADIA — Police arrested two teenage robbery suspects Tuesday after a clerk at a skateboard shop they were trying to rob fought back, authorities.
The 15- and 16-year-old teens, both Pasadena residents, were booked on suspicion of attempted robbery, assault with a deadly weapon and false imprisonment, Arcadia police Sgt. Tom Le Veque said in a written statement.
The “brazen” robbery attempt occurred about 11 a.m. at Advantis Ride Inc., 1041 S. Baldwin Ave., the sergeant said.
The boys entered the store with what appeared to be handguns and ordered the employee, a 34-year-old man, to the floor, police said.
“They had him down to kneeling,” Sgt. Dean Caputo said, but the employee stopped complying with the would-be robbers when they made it clear they planned to tie him up.
“They were gonna zip tie him,” Caputo said. “He was in fear, so he took his chances and grabbed for the gun.”
The employee managed to pull a gun away from one of the young crooks and strike him with it, knocking him to the floor, police said.
The second gunman then struck the employee with the butt of a handgun, Le Veque said.
“The suspects abandoned their robbery and fled with the employee giving chase,” he added.
A witness flagged down an Arcadia police officer who happened to be nearby, Le Veque said. After a brief search of the area, both teen suspects were captured.
Police said the young suspects were sent to the Eastlake Juvenile Detention Facility in Los Angeles after booking.
The employee suffered a moderate head injury in the incident, police said.
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Trial delayed in San Gabriel teen’s killing

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SAN GABRIEL — Trial was postponed Wednesday for a woman accused of takin part in the 2005 shooting death of a Gabrielino High School senior, officials said.
Sarah Toledo, 23, is due back in Pasadena Superior Court Monday for a jury trial, court officials said.
She’s accused of murder, along with the special circumstances of committing the crime for the benefit of a street gang, in connection with the April 27, 2005 slaying of 17-year-old Ryan Dasalla, which occurred about a block away from Gabrielino High School, authorities said.
Co-defendant Gabriel Guerrero was convicted of Dasalla’s murder and sentenced to 84 years to life in prison, officials said. His brother, Daniel Guerrero, is also a suspect in the slaying but remains a fugitive.
Prosecutors have said that the Guerrero brothers – both members of the Varrio Nueva Estrada street gang – shot Dasalla under the mistaken belief that he was involved in the beating of their younger brother the night before.
Toledo allegedly helped the brothers target Dasalla.
According to sheriff’s booking records, Toledo is being held in lieu of $2 million bail.
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Whittier middle school teacher accused of lewd acts with 14-year-old student

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50684-Jesse Serrato, 29, of Whittier-thumb-300x352-50683.jpg
WHITTIER — Police arrested an East Whittier Middle School physical education teacher Wednesday morning on suspicion of carrying on an inappropriate relationship with a 14-year-old student, authorities said.
Jesse Anthony Serrato, a 29-year-old Whittier man who also worked as a part-time coach at La Serna High School, was booked on suspicion of committing lewd acts on a child, Whittier police spokesman Officer Mike Dekowski said.
The arrest stems from an alleged ongoing relationship with the 14-year-old girl.
“We think that it did go on over some time — a period of months,” Dekowski said.
East Whittier City School District Superintendent Joe Gillentine said district officials placed Serrato on leave and called the police Tuesday after learning of possible wrongdoing.
“We called the police, because that’s our first priority — children’s safety,” Gillentine said. “Whenever we think something is wrong, we refer it to the police department. We’re not going to take chances with our children.”
About a dozen counselors were on-campus at East Whittier Middle School Wednesday for any students or staff members who may need them, district officials said. Parents were being notified of the situation via letters home, as well as a recorded telephone message.
Serrato was placed on administrative leave from the EWCSD as the investigation continues, officials said.
According to sheriff’s booking records, Serrato was being held in lieu of $200,000 bail at the Whittier Police Department’s jail. Information on his initial court appearance was not available, however criminal defendants being held in custody are generally arraigned within two business days of arrest.
Police were unaware of any additional victims Wednesday, he added, but detectives urged anyone with information to come forward.
“If there’s anybody else that has had inappropriate contact with him, we want to know about it,” Dekowski said.
Whittier police detectives can be reached at 562-567-9270.
PHOTO of Jesse Serrato courtesy of the Whittier Police Department.
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Two men killed in La Mirada crash

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LA MIRADA – Two La Mirada men died Saturday when their pickup truck collided with a compact car, then veered into a tree, authorities said.
Jason Michael Hagen and Gregory Esparza Rocha, both 30, were pronounced dead at the scene of the crash, Los Angeles County Department of Coroner Lt. Joe Bale said.
The crash occurred about 1 a.m. on Santa Gertrudes Avenue at Lawnhill Drive, Los Angeles County sheriff’s Lt. Josie Woolum said.
The truck was being driven by Hagen at a “high rate of speed” when it collided with a compact car being driven by Salvador Fernandez, 31, of La Mirada, Woolum said.
After colliding with the compact car, the pickup truck continued traveling out of control and struck a tree, she added.
Though Fernandez was not believed to have been the primary cause of the crash, deputies believe he was under the influence and booked him on suspicion of drunken driving after he was treated for minor injuries.

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Pasadena woman suspected of DUI after series of crashes

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PASADENA — An allegedly drunken Pasadena woman crashed into a tree, a light standard and three parked cars before being followed by witnesses and jailed by police late Saturday, authorities said.
Nicole Sanders, 39, was booked on suspicion of drunken driving, Pasadena police Lt. Chris Russ said.
She was driving her SUV about 11:30 p.m. near Corson Street and Hill Avenue when she crashed into a light standard and a tree, he said.
Russ said Sanders then backed her vehicle up and continued driving, dragging a “significant portion” of the tree with her, and struck three parked cars around the corner in the 1500 block of Corson Street.
“Witnesses followed the suspect to the area of Sierra Bonita (Avenue) and Locust (Street),” the lieutenant said, where officers stopped her and took her into custody.
According to sheriff’s booking records, Sanders was being held in lieu of $30,000 bail at the Pasadena Police Department’s jail pending a court appearance.
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House and cars struck by gunfire in Pasadena

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PASADENA — A house and two parked cars were struck by gunfire late Saturday, but no injuries were reported, police said.
Officer responded to the 1000 block of Summit Avenue about 10 p.m. to investigate reports of gunshots heard in the area, Pasadena police Lt. Chris Russ said.
Officers found bullet casings on the ground and discovered that two parked cars, as well as a home occupied by a 43-year-old man, had been struck by gunfire, the lieutenant said.
No suspect description was available.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Pasadena Police Department at 626-744-4241.
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Turnbull Canyon death ruled a homicide

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HACIENDA HEIGHTS — A woman whose body was discovered in Turnbull Canyon last week was shot to death, coroner’s officials said Sunday.
The woman, listed at the Los Angeles County Department of Coroner as Jane Doe No. 11, died as a result of a gunshot wound to the head, coroner’s Lt. Cheryl MacWillie said. The death was ruled a homicide.
Though investigators had a possible identity for the woman, they were still working to confirm it Sunday.
A passer-by reported finding the body, already decomposing, about 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, 10-feet down an embankment along Skyline Drive in Turnbull Canyon, Los Angeles County sheriff’s investigators said.
Due to weather, officials did not retrieve the body until the following morning.
Handling homicide detectives could not be reached for comment Sunday.
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Montebello man shot to death

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MONTEBELLO — Police sought a killer Sunday who shot a man to death in a residential neighborhood.
Jesus Antonio Castro, 33, of Montebello died in the shooting, coroner’s officials said.
Few details were initially available about the shooting, which was reported about 1:08 a.m. in the 700 block of Via Altamira, Montebello police Lt. Rick Rojas said.
After receiving numerous 9-1-1 calls reporting gunshots, “Officers responded and found a male adult in the street who appeared to have been shot,” the lieutenant said.
It was determined Castro had been shot multiple times, officials said. Montebello Fire Department paramedics pronounced him dead at the scene.
No suspects were in custody, no description of the shooter was available and no motive in the shooting was known Sunday afternoon, police said.
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Man pistol-whipped during Pico Rivera home-invasion robbery

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PICO RIVERA — Two masked robbers bound two men and pistol-whipped one of them Friday during a home-invasion at a Pico Rivera condominium, authorities said.
Two men wearing ski masks and gloves barged their through an unlocked front door about 5:15 p.m. at a condominium in the 9000 block of Burke Street, Los Angeles County sheriff’s Sgt. Ernest Bille said. Two men, ages 19 and 21, were inside, he said.
“The suspects demanded money. They used plastic zip-ties to tie up the victims,” the sergeant said.
The robbers, at least one of whom was armed with a handgun, ransacked the house for whatever cash and checks they could find, Bille said.
The older victim was pistol-whipped in the back of the head when he tried to escape, he added. He was hospitalized in stable condition.
“The other victim began yelling for help at that point, at which time suspects jumped out of a sliding glass door toward Rosemead (Boulevard),” bile said.
They were last seen getting into a sedan, described as possibly gray.
The victims managed to free themselves and seek help once the robbers left, officials said.
A further physical description of the robbers was not available, Bille said. They spoke to the victims in Spanish.
Anyone with information is asked to call the sheriff’s Pico Rivera Station at 562-949-2421.

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Pomona man killed, children badly hurt in freeway crash

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From City News Service:

POMONA — A 40-year-old Pomona man was killed and three children suffered major injuries when their SUV rolled over and crashed on Interstate 5 in the San Joaquin Valley, the California Highway Patrol said Saturday.
Friday’s 3:45 p.m. crash on the freeway, between Los Banos and Tracy, involved a Ford Expedition whose driver lost control. The SUV swerved at least twice before rolling off the freeway, ejecting three passengers.
The dead man’s name has not been released by the Stanislaus County coroner.
A 39-year-old Pomona woman was driving a 2004 Ford Expedition at about the 70 mph speed limit when she made an abrupt lane change to the right lane, the CHP Modesto office said.
As the woman lost control, she made a sharp left turn, overcorrected and the SUV careened to right, left the roadway and overturned, the CHP said. Three of the six occupants were ejected from the vehicle.
The middle row right-side passenger, a 40-year-old man from Pomona, was ejected from the Expedition and died at the scene.
The woman suffered minor injuries and was rushed to Memorial Medical Center in Modesto.
Three girls, aged 17, 15 and 10, suffered major injuries, and a 9- year-old boy with minor injuries was also rushed to Memorial Medical Center.
The CHP said alcohol was not a contributing factor in the traffic accident and all the ejected passengers had not been wearing seatbelts.

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