April 2011 Archives
I hope you'll bear with me as I depart from the usual fare of crime and courts stories to make a personal note. As many of you know, longtime Whittier Daily News editor and columnist Bill Bell passed away April 1 after suffering a stroke. A beautiful public memorial service was held for him Saturday at Rose Hills in Whittier. I was assigned the honor of covering the service for the Whittier Daily News. I'd like to share some thought on Mr. Bell with you.
I sat down at my computer Saturday afternoon with a lofty task: to write a story about a memorial service for former longtime Whittier Daily News Editor Bill Bell.
I've only been with the newspaper a handful of years, and there are many others reporters who knew him much better than myself. Nonetheless, I was resolved to make sure I did the story justice.
My first thought as I began tapping away at the keyboard was a sobering one. For a story of this magnitude and importance to the Whittier community, I sure could use Bill Bell's advice right about now, I thought. But he's gone, and he's not coming back. We're on our own now. No more "Mr. Whittier."
Bill Bell gave me my first job at a daily newspaper when he hired me as an intern for the Whittier Daily News about six years ago.
It was clear that I was not as experienced as he would have liked. Ultimately, however, with a little coaxing from then-assistant editor Hector Gonzalez, who for some reason saw some potential in me, he decided to give me a chance.
Without Bill Bell's willingness to take a chance on an eager, but clueless, kid, I sincerely doubt I'd be doing the work I love today.
So for your years of dedicated service to Whittier, your inspiration to new generations of writers and for starting me on my beloved career, thanks Mr. Bell. Someday, I hope to make you proud.
SANTA FE SPRINGS -- A 13-year-old boy suffered major injuries Saturday after he was struck by an SUV while crossing Florence Avenue on a bicycle, authorities said.
The collision was reported about 3:30 p.m. on Florence Avenue, near Ringwood Avenue, Whittier police Lt. Randy Inman said.
The young bicyclist, who was not wearing a helmet, was riding northbound across the street mid-block, without a crosswalk, when he was struck by the SUV, which was westbound on Florence Avenue at about 40 mph, the lieutenant said.
Officials rushed the injured boy to Long Beach Memorial Medical Center where he underwent surgery late Saturday.
The driver of the SUV, a man in his mid-60s, was not initially cited or arrested in connection with the collision, Inman said.
The investigation was ongoing.
LA CRESCENTA - A woman was found shot to death along a freeway offramp Friday, and detectives believed it may be related to the attempted suicide of a man along the 2 Freeway in Glendale, authorities said.
The woman's body was found about 5:20 p.m. at the La Crescenta Avenue offramp of the westbound 210 Freeway, Los Angeles County sheriff's Deputy Mark Pope said.
Coroner's officials identified her Saturday as Adrine Arzumanyan, 33, of North Hollwood.
It initially appeared the body had been dropped off at the location, and it was unclear where the shooting took place, officials said.
"Detectives are also en route to the southbound 2 Freeway at Mountain Avenue (in Glendale) regarding an attempted suicide of a male white adult believed to be connected to the shooting death of the female white adult," the deputy said.
The wounded man was taken to a hospital in unknown condition, Pope added.
Though investigators believed the man who attempted suicide was involved in Arzumanyan's killing, deputies stopped short of calling him a suspect Friday afternoon.
COVINA -- Police arrested a 24-year-old Covina man Friday on suspicion of annoying and making sexual statements to at least three underage girls and a young woman in the Covina area in recent weeks, authorities said.
Michael Allen Garner was booked on suspicion of child annoyance, Covina police Sgt. Dave Foster said in a written statement.
Covina police had received reports on April 25, 26 and 28 of a man in a sedan "contacting females on the sidewalk, offering them a ride and asking them for sexual favors," the sergeant said.
A similar incident was also reported to sheriff's officials patrolling an unincorporated county area near Covina, he said.
All of the victims were minors except one, who was 18 years old, Foster said.
A school police officer assigned to Charter Oak High School pulled over a car about 10:30 Friday for making an illegal U-turn in front of the school, police said.
Both the driver and vehicle matched the description of the sexual annoyance cases, Foster said, and Garner was ultimately identified by victims as the person who had approached them.
According to sheriff's booking records, Garner was being held in lieu of $5,000 bail at the sheriff's San Dimas Station and was due for arraignment Tuesday in Pomona Superior Court.
PICO RIVERA -- Two men with a handgun held a video store patron at gunpoint as they robbed both the store and the customer late Thursday, authorities said.
The robbery was reported just after 9 p.m. at Mega Video, 9425 Telegraph Road, unit 119, Los Angeles County sheriff's Sgt. Dianna Woodward said.
Two men entered the store and pretended to be customers until a real customer approached the register, the sergeant said.
"The two suspects came up from behind. They held the customer at gunpoint and they demanded money from both the clerk and customer," Woodward said.
After receiving some cash, the robbers were last seen running east from the store, officials said. They were described only as black men between 20 and 25 years old.
Anyone with information is asked to call the sheriff's Pico Rivera Station.
ANGELES NATIONAL FOREST -- A man was fatally shot at the Chantry Flats Campground Thursday, authorities said.
The name of the man was not released pending positive identification an notification of his family, Los Angeles County Department of Coroner Chief of Operations Craig Harvey said. He was described as a 55-year-old Arcadia man.
The shooting was reported about 5:40 p.m. at the campground in the Angeles National Forest north of Sierra Madre, Los Angeles County sheriff's officials said in a written statement.
"A passer-by discovered the man lying on the side of the road," Deputy Mark Pope said. "When he saw the man was injured, he contacted Temple Sheriff's Station deputies, who responded to the location."
"The victim was suffering from a gunshot wound to the upper body and was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead," Pope said.
Detectives searched for the victim's car Friday, which was described as a silver, 4-door 1993 BMW 740, with a California license plate of 3XKB366.
Harvey said the man's injury were initially described as a single gunshot wound to the abdomen. He died at Huntington Hospital in Pasadena shortly after he was found.
"Witnesses heard gunshots (and) found him lying on the ground," he said.
No further information was released.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Sheriff's Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500.
From City News Service:
EL MONTE -- Police Friday sought the public help to find three people who defrauded an El Monte woman out of $28,000 in a lottery scam.On April 4, the suspects befriended the 52-year-old woman, who speaks only Spanish, and convinced her that they had a $1.7-million lottery ticket, El Monte police Detective Tim Siedentopp said.They told the woman they needed money to help them cash the ticket, and they would give her a $15,000 payment, Siedentopp said.The suspects drove her to two Bank of America branches in El Monte, and she withdrew $20,000 from one bank and$8,000 from another, Siedentopp said.She gave the suspects the money, and they drove her to a market, where they asked her to buy them some water "while a suspect made a photocopy of the lottery ticket prior to responding to a lottery office in Temple City to collect their winnings," Siedentopp said.When the woman lost sight of the suspects, they fled.Police released security photos of one suspect, a woman described as Hispanic, about 30-35, 5 feet 2 inches to 5 feet 4 inches tall, with a medium build. She had brown hair and brown eyes.She was accompanied by a Hispanic man of about the same age and height. A description of the third suspect was not released.Anyone with information about the case was urged to call police.
WHITTIER -- Police sought four robbers who injured an 80-year-old market owner during a beer run late Thursday.
The crime took place about 7 p.m. at Helen's Market, 8843 Santa Fe Springs Road, Whittier police officials said in a written statement.
Four crooks grabbed several containers of beer and and left without paying, police said.
The owner of the market confronted the thieves in the parking lot and was struck in the face by the door of the robbers' car, Lt. Carlos Solorza said.
The robbers then fled the area in their white Ford Taurus.
The elderly market owner was taken to a hospital for treatment of minor injuries, authorities added.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Whittier Police Department at 562-567-9200.
ARCADIA -- Police jailed a man Wednesday on suspicion of snapping photographs up a young girl's skirt at the Westfield Santa Anita Shopping Center, authorities said Friday.
Aaron D. Koniak, 35, of Encino, was booked on suspicion of a misdemeanor charge of invasion of privacy with a camera after being captured by a good Samaritan, Arcadia police Sgt. Tom Le Veque said in a written statement.
An 11-year-old girl was shopping with her mother at a kiosk inside the mall about 6:30 p.m. when the incident occurred, the sergeant said.
"A witness noticed the suspect standing very close to the victim and watched the suspect lean over and hold what appeared to be a camera below the girl's skirt line," he said.
The witness immediately told the mother what was going on, and the mother confronted Koniak, who tried to run away, police said.
"The mother yelled and chased after the suspect where another bystander detained him," Le Veque said.
Police arrived and detained Koniak, he said. A "smartphone" was recovered. "Evidence was found on the phone supporting witness accounts of the incident."
"Based on evidence and suspect statements, we believe that there are potentially additional victims at other area shopping centers," the sergeant said.
Anyone with information is asked to call Arcadia Police detectives at 626-574-5160.
According to sheriff's booking records, Koniak was released from jail late Wednesday after posting $25,000 bail.
*PHOTO of Aaron Koniak courtesy of the Arcadia Police Department
SOUTH PASADENA -- Two men threatened and robbed a 60-year-old woman of her purse and jewelry at knifepoint Thursday, police said.
The victim was walking with another woman, 78, near Magnolia Street and Forest Avenue about 2:30 p.m. when they were approached by the robbers, South Pasadena police Sgt. Craig Cooper said.
One of the men brandished a knife and demanded property from the 60-year-old woman, saying, "Give me your purse and chains or I'm going to stab you," the sergeant said.
The woman handed over her purse and necklaces and the men fled the area on foot, he said.
Police described both robbers as Latino men in their early 20s. One was about 5 feet 5 inches tall and heavy set, while the other was about 5 feet tall, thin and brandished a folding knife.
LOS ANGELES COUNTY -- Online public crime information from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department is temporarily unavailable as the agency switches to a new crime reporting software, officials said.
For more than a year, the sheriff's department has provided limited information about the type, time and locations of crimes reported to the department via the website Crimereports.com. Several other Los Angeles County agencies, including the Baldwin Park, Covina and Whittier police, also provide crime information to the public via Crimereports.com.
The department has elected to start using a new system, effective this weekend, officials said, and the process has had the unintended consequence of no online crime information being posted on Crimereports.com since April 18.
"We don't know what the glitch was, but we're going to get it fixed," Los Angeles County sheriff's Capt. Michael Parker said.
"It was supposed to be seamless," Parker added of the transition between crime reporting systems.
The sheriff's department has paid for services from Crimereports.com through Saturday, Parker said, so it was unclear why crime data is no longer being updated. Once informed of the issue, authorities began looking into it.
Starting this weekend, Parker said, sheriff's officials will post crime data on the website Crimemapping.com, which is already used by agencies including Pasadena, Los Angeles, Arcadia and Sab Gabriel police.
When sheriff's data begins to show up on Crimemapping.com this weekend, Parker said, it will likely take a week or two to work out all the bugs.
"We expect glitches, because that's what happens when you do a big transition," he said.
Once in place, Crimamapping.com will retroactively pull all crime data from the previous six months
The switch is designed to provide better information to the public at a reduced cost to the sheriff's department, Parker said.
"We have changed systems because we found a system that was less expensive and was able to provide more information to public," he said.
Police warned the public Thursday about a recent string of three similar "distraction burglaries" targeting elderly women home alone in West Covina and Arcadia.
All three burglaries, which took place on April 20 and April 26, involve similar suspect descriptions and tactics, leading investigators to believe the same swindlers may be involved, West Covina police Cpl. Rudy Lopez said.
"Each of the victims is female, over the age of 75 and was alone at the time of the crime," Lopez said.
The crooks have been posing as workers asking to check on the victims' water or pipes, the corporal added.
The burglaries took place April 20 in the 3100 block of East Eddes Street in West Covina, April 26th in the in the 1800 block of East Cortez Street in West Covina and April 26 in the 1900 block of South Santa Anita Avenue in Arcadia, officials said.
Carol Krzywiec, 75, became a victim of the burglars after answering her door in West Covina.
She said doesn't believe she normally would fall for such a ruse, but coincidentally, she had recently experience plumbing problems. So when a man identifying himself as "Rocko" said he needed to check her water, it seemed to make sense.
"That's why I fell for the scam," she said.
The man arrived at her door about 9:30 a.m. and said he had been working with a crew on a nearby water main and needed to check Krzywiec's water supply for contamination, she said.
"I said 'no,' I'll bring you a cup of water," she said. "I still had my wits about me."
After inspecting the glass of water, "Rocko" continued arguing that it was important that he check the water fixtures, and it would only take a minute. The homeowner relented.
As the man went to supposedly check on the water fixtures, Krzywiec said she spotted from the corner of her eye a second man dart in her front door.
When questioned about the second man, "Rocko" told her it was his helper, who was going to check the water in the bathroom.
As "Rocko" let water run from faucets, and the second man flushed toilets in the bathrooms, "Rocko" engaged the Krzywiec in conversation, she said.
"He pulled out a $100 bill," Krzywiec said. "He told me the water company said I overpaid, and do I have change for $100."
She told the man she had no money with her, and the men quickly finished their pseudo inspection and left.
In hindsight, Krzywiec said she believed the crooks used the $100 bill story to try to figure out where she kept her money.
She said when her son arrived a short time later, he informed Krzywiec that $200 in cash was missing.
"If that's it and they didn't hurt me, so be it," she said.
Krzywiec added that the experience taught her to be more cautious.
"I thought I was weary before, but I'm much more weary now."
In the other West Covina incident, the burglars convinced the resident to step outside to "inspect" the sprinklers while the second burglar ransacked the home, he said.
In the Arcadia crime, "The suspect used the same ruse to get in the house, but was unsuccessful in getting the other suspect in because the victim never left his side," Lopez said.
Police described the first suspect, who contacts the residents at their doors, as a Latino man in his 30s, about 5 feet 9 inches tall and heavy set. He has black hair, brown eyes and a distinctive decayed or gold-capped upper tooth. He wore a blue baseball cap with the letters "NY" on it and was seen talking on a cell phone while inside the victims' homes.
The second suspect was described as a Latino man in his early 30s, of thin build, and speaking with a thick Spanish accent.
Anyone with information is asked to call the West Covina Police Department at 626-939-8557. Tips can also be left anonymously via recorded message at 626-939-8688.
SKETCHES courtesy of the Arcadia Police Department (color), and the West Covina Police Department (black and white).
IRWINDALE -- Sheriff's deputies will stand in ceremonial guard over the spot where Los Angeles County Sheriff's Deputy David March was murdered during a traffic stop nine years ago.
Deputy David March, 33, of Saugus, was gunned down on April 29, 2002, by Jorge Arroyo Garcia, also known as Armando Garcia. Garcia is serving a life prison term for the killing after being returned to the U.S. after fleeing to Mexico.
On every anniversary since, his colleagues at the sheriff's Temple Station -- where March was last assigned -- have kept watch over the spot for 24 hours to honor his memory.
Deputies, some who knew March well, others who never met him, take half-hour shifts standing in silent guard near a plaque commemorating the fallen deputy.
From City News Service:
LOS ANGELES -- A state appeals court panel Thursday upheld a 100-year- to-life prison sentence for a young woman convicted along with her boyfriend of the July 2000 stabbing murders of four members of her adoptive family as they slept in their Pico Rivera home.The three-justice panel from California's 2nd District Court of Appeal rejected Monica Diaz's claims thatNorwalk Superior Court Judge John A. Torribio abused his discretion in imposing the term and that her August 2009 sentence constituted cruel and unusual punishment."Admittedly, defendant's sentence is severe, she was young when she committed the crimes, she has no prior criminal record, and there was evidence to support a finding that she suffered enduring psychological effects of her difficult early childhood years," Acting Presiding Justice Robert M. Mallano wrote on behalf of the panel."But when her sentence is viewed in light of the number and gravity of her commitment offenses, it is not an extreme or grossly disproportionate sentence and does not violate the Eighth Amendment."Diaz -- who was 16 at the time of the attack -- was convicted in February 2004 of first-degree murder for the slayings of her uncle, Richard Flores, 42, and cousins Richard, 17, Sylvia Jr., 13, and Matthew, 10, who were attacked in the early morning hours of July 21, 2000.Diaz's high school sweetheart, Michael Naranjo, pleaded guilty to the murders in October 2003 and was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.During her trial, Diaz testified that she and Naranjo agreed to stage a fake robbery at the home to draw her family closer because she believed her aunt and uncle -- who took her in after her mother died -- were having marital problems.Diaz acknowledged cutting duct tape for her then-17-year-old boyfriend so her family could be tied up. But she denied taking part in the murders.During her trial, the prosecution presented a March 1999 letter in which Diaz wrote to Naranjo that the "best job is to kill people professionally." She testified that the missive was "just words."Diaz was first sentenced in April 2004 to life in prison without the possibility of parole, but an appellate court panel reversed a special circumstance allegation of multiple murder, along with her conviction for the attempted murder of her aunt and adoptive mother, Sylvia Flores, who survived the attack.In its December 2005 ruling, the appellate court panel found the trial court "erroneously limited consideration of evidence that defendant thought her boyfriend would only frighten the people inside the house by pretending to rob them and did not know of his plan to kill."Prosecutors opted not to re-try the attempted murder count or the multiple murder allegation. She was re-sentenced in April 2007 -- that time to four consecutive 25-year-to-life terms. But a three-judge panel from the 2nd District Court of Appeal ruled that a lower court judge should have granted a continuance to allow Diaz's attorney more time to prepare, requiring another sentencing hearing in 2009.At Diaz's August 2009 sentencing, her aunt was among those calling for the harshest possible sentence."I want her to get life -- four life sentences ... nothing less ... I fear for this community if she were to come out," Sylvia Flores told the judge.Calling it the "most horrific situation I've been involved in," the judge noted that the family had opened their door to Diaz and her half-sister after their mother died and treated her like their own.The judge said at the August 2009 hearing that he believed there was "no other sentence that is appropriate other than four consecutive life sentences," noting the victims were "massacred in their own home" and that the crimes should be "punished individually."The judge then sentenced her to the identical 100-year-to-life term he had imposed in 2007.
PASADENA -- A Pasadena man pleaded not guilty Thursday to charges of beating his neighbors dog to death with a hammer during a dispute, officials said.
Young Song, 40, was charged in Pasadena Superior Court with a felony count of cruelty to animals along with the special allegation of personal use of a deadly weapon, along with a misdemeanor count of petty theft of his neighbor's 16-month-old German Shepherd, Los Angeles County District Attorney's officials said in a written statement.
"Song allegedly entered his neighbor's yard on April 20 and shot the dog with a pellet gun," the statement said. "He allegedly returned to the owner's yard a short time later and beat the dog to death with a hammer, then removed the dog's body from the owner's yard."
Pasadena Humane Society officials called the incident, which was captured on video, the worst incident of animal cruelty they've ever seen.
Song is due back in court May 26. If convicted as charged, he could face more than four years in state prison.
According to Los Angeles County sheriff's booking records, Song was being held in lieu of $40,500 bail at the Pasadena Police Department's jail.
WHITTIER -- Police are planning to hold a checkpoint Friday, authorities said.
The DUI/driver's license checkpoint will take place from 7 p.m. Friday to 3 a.m. Saturday at Leffingwell Road and Santa Gertrudes Avenue, Whittier police officials said in a written statement.
ALHAMBRA -- Police are planning a checkpoint Friday at an undisclosed location within the city, authorities said.
The checkpoint, designed to screen for those driving under the influence or without driver's licenses, will take place between 6:30 p.m. Friday and 2:30 a.m. Saturday, Alhambra police officials said in a written statement.
"Over the course of the past three years, DUI collisions have claimed one life and resulted in 29 injury crashes, harming 42 of our friends and neighbors," the police statement said.
Funding for the checkpoint is being provided by the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
LA PUENTE -- Sheriff's deputies are planning a checkpoint in La Puente Friday, authorities said.
The "DUI/Safety" checkpoint will be held at an undisclosed time and place within the city, Los Angeles County sheriff's Deputy Michael Lang said.
From City News Service:
BALDWIN PARK -- The state's high court declined to review the case against a man found guilty of murdering a Baldwin Park man during a 1986 burglary and causing the death of the victim's fiance, who was raped and stabbed during the attack and suffered self-inflicted injuries while in a psychiatric ward.A majority of the California Supreme Court on Wednesday denied a defense petition seeking review of the case against Martin Rios Talavera, while Associate Justice Joyce L. Kennard "is of the opinion the petition should be granted," according to the court's docket on the case.In a 2-1 ruling in January, a panel from California's 2nd District Court of Appeal rejected Talavera's claim that there was insufficient evidence that he "proximately caused" the death of Peggy Johnson, who died of self-inflicted wounds in March 1987."In this case, there was substantial evidence that as a result of appellant's attack, Johnson's mental condition continually spiraled downward until she became mentally disordered at the time of her self-inflicted pelvic and leg injuries," Associate Justice Patti S. Kitching wrote in the Jan. 26 ruling, with Presiding Justice Joan D. Klein concurring.Kitching noted in the 26-page ruling that Johnson, 61, had been in excellent health and would frequently take 10-mile walks before she and her fiance, Sylvester Flood, were attacked during a 1 a.m. break-in at their home in January 1986.In a dissenting opinion filed along with the appellate court panel's opinion, Associate Justice H. Walter Croskey wrote that he would reverse Talavera's conviction for Johnson's murder and instead modify it to attempted premeditated murder."The majority opinion accepts the people's argument that Johnson was brutally sexually assaulted by defendant, and that it was foreseeable that a victim of such an assault might engage in self-harm even many months after the attack. I disagree," Croskey wrote.The killings went unsolved for 22 years until DNA evidence linked Talevera to the crime.He was sentenced to two consecutive life prison terms without the possibility of parole for the attack, which also involved a second man who has not been identified.
WHITTIER -- The public is invited to come tour the brand-new Whittier Police Station, sans the handcuffs, at an open house next month.
The police open house will be combined with a community health fair and take place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 14 at the Whittier Police Station and City Hall, at Painter Avenue and Penn Street, officials said.
In addition to tours of the new police station and a children's fun run, the event will include police K-9, SWAT and mounted patrol officers, Jaws of Life demonstrations, military equipment and displays, Los Angeles County Fire Department displays, free medical screenings, information on nutrition and fitness programs and healthy snacks.
For more information, contact the Whittier Community Center at 562-567-9430.
GLENDORA -- A woman came home from work Wednesday afternoon to find herself face to face with a knife-wielding man in her own house, police said.
The woman arrived home about 1:15 p.m. in the 1400 block of East Linfield Street, Glendora police Lt. Joe Ward said.
She noticed a silver, Ford F-150 pickup truck with a crew cab and a matching silver bed cover, the lieutenant said.
When she entered her house, she saw a burglar emerge from her bedroom carrying a pillowcase full of her property, including a laptop computer and jewelry, Ward said.
The intruder brandished a knife and said something like, "I just want to leave," before dropping the pillowcase and fleeing from the home, Ward said.
The woman was unharmed.
Police described the burglar as a clean-shaven Latino man in his 20s, wearing a white T-shirt, shorts and a black baseball cap.
Anyone with information is asked to call Glendora police at 626-914-8250.
GLENDORA -- A car collided with a horse and rider Wednesday, killing the horse and sending the rider to the hospital, authorities said.
The incident took place about 4:35 p.m. at Glendora Mountain Road and Big Dalton Road, in an equestrian area on the northern edge of town, Glendora police Lt. Joe Ward said.
Two horses with riders were travelling southbound in the shoulder of Glendora Mountain Road when a Lexus sedan, which was also southbound on Glendora Mountain Road, veered toward the shoulder, the lieutenant said.
"The vehicle struck one of the horses, killing the horse instantly and throwing the rider off," Ward said.
The rider, a 54-year-old Glendora man, was taken to a trauma center by helicopter as precaution, he said, though his injuries were not initially believed to be life-threatening.
The other horse and rider were not injured, police said.
The Lexus was being driven by a 17-year-old Valinda boy, Ward said. He had several passengers in the car.
The cause of the crash remained under investigation, though officers examined the driver and ruled out driving under the influence, he said.
From reporter Brian Charles:
PASADENA - In what local Humane Society officers called the worst case of animal abuse they've ever seen, a 40-year-old Pasadena man was booked Wednesday on suspicion of repeatedly beating a muzzled German shepherd while it was lashed to a fence.
Jung Song was arrested at his home on suspicion of felony animal cruelty in connection with the brutal attack on the 14-month-old dog, which was caught on videotape, officials said.
Song is due in court today for an arraignment. He was being held on $40,000 bail at the Pasadena City Jail, according to Pasadena police. The beating was captured by a security camera the dog's owner mounted outside his home, said Ricky Whitman, Pasadena Humane Society spokeswoman, who viewed it. Attempts to reach the dog's owner Wednesday were unsuccessful.
"This is the worst animal cruelty case we have ever seen," Whitman said. "We have seen dogs hit with baseball bats in a moment of fury, but this was worse."
In the video, the suspect is seen scaling the back of his neighbor's home in the 1900 block of Navarro Avenue in Pasadena on April 20, shooting the shepherd with a pellet gun and beating it while it was leashed to a fence and muzzled, according to Whitman's description.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department has apparently stopped updating the public about crime via Crimereports.com.
The online system, which allows residents to view maps indicating what crimes have been reported in a selected area, has been hailed by community members and officials alike as a way to keep the public informed about the activities of the sheriff's department and state of crime in their own neighborhoods.
After many months of consistent data, which officials explain is sent automatically from station computers to the Crimereports.com servers, the information has dried up.
A search of Crimereports.com over the past seven days indicated not a single call for service or reported crime in areas patrolled by the sheriff's department.
Other police agencies who make use of Crimereports.com continue to be updated as usual.
No information about the change was available late Wednesday, and it was not clear if the data is being omitted intentionally or because of technical problems.
From City News Service:
LOS ANGELES - A 24-year-old La Habra Heights man was sentenced Wednesday to 54 years to life in prison for the shooting death of an Orange County man who tried to intervene in a fight outside a Koreatown karaoke bar.Louis Woo Lee was convicted Sept. 24 of second-degree murder and two counts of assault with a firearm for the June 7, 2009, shooting that killed Michael Kim, 36, outside M2 Cafe & Karaoke Bar.Jurors also found true allegations that Lee had used and discharged a handgun during the crime.Kim was shot once in the head after trying to intervene in the fight outside the bar, according to Deputy District Attorney Kennes Ma.Authorities believe the shot was aimed at another person who suffered a graze wound, according to Ma.Lee had gone to the bar to back up his friends, who had been involved about two hours earlier in a verbal dispute that was renewed outside and escalated to a physical fight, the prosecutor said.
IRWINDALE -- A 28-year-old Rialto woman died early Wednesday when the disabled car she had been a passenger in was struck by a big rig, authorities said.
Jaime Angelina Jones died at the scene of the 2:35 a.m. crash on the eastbound 210 Freeway, just west of Irwindale Avenue, Los Angeles County Department of Coroner Chief of Operations Craig Harvey said.
Jones was a passenger in a 2008 Kia being driven by a 29-year-old Bloomington woman, California Highway Patrol Officer Brian Parks said in a written. Another woman, 28 and from Fontana, was also a passenger in the Kia.
"For reasons still undetermined, (the driver) lost control of (the Kia) and collided with the guardrail at the south road edge," Parks said. The car came to a rest sideways in the two left lanes of the eastbound 210 Freeway.
About a minute later, a 2003 Freightliner big rig being driven by a 60-year-old Dayton man approached in the no. 2 lane at 40-45 mph, Parks said.
"(Two of the Kia passengers) managed to exit (the Kia) and move to safety, however (Jones) apparently was having difficulty exiting," the officer said.
Just as the other passenger made it out of the car, the big rig plowed into the Kia, fatally injuring Jones, he said.
Alcohol was not believed to be a factor in the crash, investigators added.
From the Associated Press:
PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Two men, including one from Hacienda Heights and one from Downey, linked by authorities to an unspecified Mexican drug cartel and charged in one of the state's largest-ever drug busts have been indicted in federal court.Armando Saucedo, of Hacienda Heights, and Andrew Rios, of Downey, were indicted Wednesday on conspiracy and drug and gun possession charges. A third man, Adilson Reyes, of South Ogden, Utah, has already been charged and pleaded not guilty. The court earlier entered not guilty pleas on Rios' and Saucedo's behalf.The men were arrested in January with over $1.2 million and $6.6 million worth of cocaine. An arresting agent's affidavit says that at the time of his arrest, Reyes admitted he drove large shipments of cocaine from California to Rhode Island.Lawyers for the men didn't immediately return calls seeking comment.
PICO RIVERA -- For the second time in five months, deputies arrested a teenage boy late Tuesday on suspicion of shining a laser beam at a sheriff's helicopter.
Deputies flying in a helicopter asked for help from ground units about 10:45 p.m. regarding someone shining a green laser at their aircraft from inside a vehicle driving near Rosemead Boulevard and the 5 Freeway, Los Angeles County sheriff's Lt. Andy Berg said in a written statement.
Deputies found the car travelling on the 605 Freeway and pulled it over, detaining several people who were inside, the lieutenant said.
"A 16-year-old passenger was identified by the aero unit personnel as the subject who pointed the laser at the aircraft," Berg said.
A green laser pen light was found in his possession, and the teen admitted to shining the laser at the helicopter, he added.
The teenage suspect was released to his parents with a citation to appear in court.
Green lasers, which have became cheaply available to consumers in recent years, are marketed as being many times brighter than their older, red counterparts.
While they have legitimate uses, such as giving presentations or astronomy, the devices have been causing issues for law enforcement aircraft, for more than two years.
Pico Rivera sheriff's deputies arrested a 15-year-old boy Dec. 16, 2010 after allegedly shining a green laser light at a sheriff's helicopter as it was trying to land at the sheriff's Pico Rivera Station, sheriff's officials said in a written statement.
"The light distracted the pilot to the point where he felt he could not safely land the aircraft and the landing was aborted," the statement said.
A search soon turned up the 15-year-old suspect, who had a laser pointer with him, officials said.
Pico Rivera deputies arrested a local 24-year-old man Aug. 8, 2009, on suspicion of shining a green laser pointer at aircraft.
West Covina police jailed a 28-year-old local man March 2 on suspicion of shining a green laser beam at both police and civilian aircraft between December of 2009 and January of 2011.
In addition to a green laser pointer with a range of about 10,000 feet, officers also discovered the suspect had a police radio scanner with him.
El Monte police jailed a 19-year-old man in February on suspicion of shining a green laser pointer at a police helicopter as it orbited over the scene of a traffic crash.
Lasers, which can temporarily blind or disorient pilots, can be highly dangerous to both people on aircraft and those on the ground below, sheriff's officials said.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration officials have cautioned the public that a laser beam pointing directly into the eye can be more damaging than staring at the sun.
Shining a laser at an aircraft can be punished either as a misdemeanor or a felony, depending on the circumstances, officials added. Those convicted can face a maximum of three years in prison and a $2,000 fine.
MONTEREY PARK -- A gun battle between police officers and suspects left
an officer, a suspect and two bystanders wounded, as police scoured
the area for a possible second suspect, authorities said.
Police responded to a call reporting a hit-and-run traffic crash about
4 p.m. at Garfield and Newmark Avenues, Monterey Park police Lt. Rick
Rojas said.
"As soon as the officers arrived on scene, (the suspects) immediately
engaged them with gunfire," the lieutenant said.
One officer was hospitalized with a gunshot wound, Rojas said. He
condition was stable and he was expected to survive.
A man Rojas referred to as the "main suspect" was also shot in the
exchange, and was hospitalized in unknown condition.
Two bystanders were also believed to have been wounded in the
shooting, though their conditions were unclear late Sunday.
At least one additional suspect involved in the shoot-out was believed
to have fled into a nearby neighborhood, police said. A description
was not available.
Sheriff's helicopters circled overhead as Monterey Park and Alhambra
police, assisted by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department,
cordoned off and searched several blocks east of Garfield Avenue along
Newmark Avenue. A SWAT team also joined the search.
Authorities set up their command post at the United Methodist Church,
333 S. Garfield Avenue.
Dozens of curious residents and business people lined Garfield Avenue
and peered from behind yellow police tape to get a glimpse of what was
going on. Many said they heard nothing prior to a sea of police and
sheriff's cars arriving at the scene.
Traffic in both directions of Garfield Avenue was shut down in the area
during the investigation
No further information was available.
an officer, a suspect and two bystanders wounded, as police scoured
the area for a possible second suspect, authorities said.
Police responded to a call reporting a hit-and-run traffic crash about
4 p.m. at Garfield and Newmark Avenues, Monterey Park police Lt. Rick
Rojas said.
"As soon as the officers arrived on scene, (the suspects) immediately
engaged them with gunfire," the lieutenant said.
One officer was hospitalized with a gunshot wound, Rojas said. He
condition was stable and he was expected to survive.
A man Rojas referred to as the "main suspect" was also shot in the
exchange, and was hospitalized in unknown condition.
Two bystanders were also believed to have been wounded in the
shooting, though their conditions were unclear late Sunday.
At least one additional suspect involved in the shoot-out was believed
to have fled into a nearby neighborhood, police said. A description
was not available.
Sheriff's helicopters circled overhead as Monterey Park and Alhambra
police, assisted by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department,
cordoned off and searched several blocks east of Garfield Avenue along
Newmark Avenue. A SWAT team also joined the search.
Authorities set up their command post at the United Methodist Church,
333 S. Garfield Avenue.
Dozens of curious residents and business people lined Garfield Avenue
and peered from behind yellow police tape to get a glimpse of what was
going on. Many said they heard nothing prior to a sea of police and
sheriff's cars arriving at the scene.
Traffic in both directions of Garfield Avenue was shut down in the area
during the investigation
No further information was available.
PASADENA -- Police arrested a Pasadena man late Friday after a burglary alarm led them to find an indoor marijuana garden and more than eight pounds of pot, authorities said.
The discovery was made shortly after 8:30 p.m. in the 700 block of North Mar Vista Avenue, Pasadena police Lt. Chris Russ said.
Police responded to a house to check out a burglary alarm that had gone off, he said.
"While conducting a check of the detached garage for signs of burglary, they could smell the odor of marijuana coming from a second floor detached garage," the lieutenant said.
Further investigation led them to find a marijuana growing operation of about 30 plants inside the garage, complete with lights, fans and hydroponic systems, Russ said.
More than eight pounds of pot marijuana were also recovered from the home, police added.
Officials jailed a 39-year-old resident of the home on suspicion of cultivation of marijuana and possession of marijuana for sales, Russ said. His name was not released Saturday afternoon.
"The investigation is ongoing," Russ said. "We're trying to figure out what else is going on with this situation."
While the suspect has a doctors recommendation for medical marijuana, police said it appeared his activities went beyond legal medical use.
AZUSA -- Police arrested two teenage graffiti vandalism suspects Friday, authorities said.
The teens, a 14 and 16 years old, were booked on suspicion of vandalism and released to their parents with citations to appear in court, Azusa police Cpl. Rick Hayden said in a written statement. Both teens are Azusa residents.
A witness called police about 8:30 p.m. to report seeing the teens tagging on a wall near some train tracks in the 400 block of West Foothill Boulevard, the corporal said.
"The teens were located and arrested without incident," he said. "During an evidence search of the area, a backpack loaded with spray paint cans was located."
The graffiti caused about $300 worth of damage, police said.
Azusa police have taken a "zero-tolerance" stance toward graffiti, Hayden said, and encourage anyone who witnesses it to call the police immediately.
"With the public's help the Azusa Police Department has seen a significant increase in the number of vandalism-related arrests," he said. "The City of Azusa also seeks restitution from convicted graffiti vandals and/or their parents to pay for the cost of repairing the damage."
From City News Service:
GLASSELL PARK -- A 19-year-old from Whittier who drove a sports utility vehicle into a parked big rig in Glassell Park died Saturday, authorities said.The big rig driver reported that he was sitting inside the truck on a private business driveway when the crash occurred at 2:25 a.m. in the 2900 block of North San Fernando Road, below the 2 Freeway, police said. The big rig driver was not injured.James Henry Freiman was killed, according to the coroner's office and Richard French of the Los Angeles Police Department.According to the preliminary report, Freiman was driving more than 50 miles mph when he slammed into the middle area of the trailer and there were no skid marks on the road.It was unknown if alcohol was a factor in the crash.
WHITTIER -- Friends and family Friday mourned and remembered a Whittier great grandfather killed when his fishing boat capsized off the coast of Seal Beach.
Randale Walker, 75, was pronounced dead at Los Alamitos Medical Center shortly after Thursday's 12:45 p.m. accident just yards off the coast near the 100 block of Surf Side Avenue, Orange County coroner's officials said.
An 8-year-old-boy and his 40-year-old father, friends of Walker, were also on the boat but were not seriously injured, Orange County sheriff's officials said.
"Witnessed described what they thought was the boat capsizing in an oncoming wave," sheriff's spokesman Dan Salcedo said.
Family members said Walker, known as "Randy," was a fun-loving, giving man who had a special affinity for children.
"He was outgoing, charismatic. He loved people," said his wife, Joanne Walker. "He was a very, very religious man."
They couple would have been married 20 years in December.
Walker was an avid fisherman who took his boat out on the ocean with friends every chance he got.
On Thursday, he had taken out a friend and his son for an excursion when disaster struck, said his step-daughter, Debbie Pendleton.
"He was a really great guy. He was always wanting to help people and doing things for other people," she said.
Walker is survived by his wife, three children, four step-children, grand children, step-grandchildren and great grand children, family members said.
"It's a big loss. He was a wonderful person. My kids just adored him," Pendleton said.
"He loved the kids," she added. "He came to everything they did. He was at all their track meets, all their football games."
Born in Oklahoma, Walker was raised in the agriculture area north of Bakersfield, Joanne Walker said.
He worked as a contract harvester before moving to Arizona and getting involved in horse-racing, she said.
Ultimately, Walker made his career installing sprinkler systems. He moved to Southern California and joined the Sprinkler Fitters Local 709 in Whittier.
He lived in Whittier for the past 20 years.
When the 18-foot-long boat flipped over, "The 40-year-old man was thrown clear," Salcedo said, but Walker and the boy became trapped beneath the vessel.
Lifeguards, Seal Beach police and Hunting Beach fire responded to help.
"They only managed to lift the boat up enough to get the victim and 8-year-old out," Salcedo said. They were unable to flip the boat back over.
Salcedo said he did not know whether the boaters were wearing life vests.
Coroner's officials planned to carry out an autopsy to determine how Walker died.
ALHAMBRA -- A judge sentenced a Alhambra man and former Huntington Park school teacher to 69 years to life in prison for the murder of his estranged wife in 2008.
Alhambra Superior Court Judge Jared Moses handed down the sentence to Aaron Leonel Raigoza, 37, who pleaded guilty last year to shooting 32-year-old Ana Maria Acosta to death in front of her parents' house in Monterey Park
"Raigoza, who has been tracking the victim using a global positioning system device, ambushed her as she sat in her car on Feb. 4, 2008," Los Angeles County District Attorney's officials said in a written statement. "Acosta was shot five times."
Raigoza and Acosta were in the midst of a divorce when the murder occurred, investigators said.
"(Raigoza) attacked her within 10 minutes of the victim reporting a child custody issue to the Monterey Park police," the statement said.
He was then working as a teacher at City of Angels independent study school in Huntington Park, authorities added.
In addition to first-degree murder, Raigoza also pleaded guilty to the special allegation that he personally fired a gun in the killing, officials said.
Prosecutors said Raigoza also pointed a gun at a man who came out of his house after the shooting in the 500 block of South Russel Avenue in Monterey Park.
Detectives arrested Raigoza nearly three weeks after the killing in Yucca Valley.
HACIENDA HEIGHTS -- A small house fire Wednesday led officials to discover an indoor marijuana growing operation, authorities said.
The blaze was reported about 6:30 p.m. at a single-story house in the 15600 block of Senadale Street, Los Angeles County sheriff's Sgt. Ernie Barbosa said.
Firefighters extinguishing the fire notices several bedrooms in the home were being used to grow marijuana, the sergeant said.
More than 200 plants were found inside the house, he added.
No one was home at the time of the fire, he said, and an investigation into who was responsible for the pot plants was ongoing.
The blaze caused about $10,000 worth of damage to the home, officials said. It was likely sparked by the electrical equipment and lights used to grow the plants.
The home's electrical system bypassed the electric meter, Barbosa added, so the house was stealing its power from Southern California Edison.
AZUSA -- Police shot at, but missed, an allegedly drunken man who crashed his SUV into several homes and a garage, authorities said.
The shooting took place about 4:30 p.m. in the 1200 block of Pine Needle Court, near West Annandale Lane, Azusa police Lt. Frank Chavez.
Though not struck by gunfire, the man was taken to a hospital for examination at the recommendation of paramedics, the lieutenant said. His name was not available Wednesday afternoon pending booking.
Police noticed the man driving erratically and crashing prior to contacting him, officials said. He struck about three condominiums before crashing through the garage door.
Two police officers then "perceived a threat," Chavez said. "Several rounds were fired."
It was not clear how many shots were fired by each officer, however no one was injured by the gunfire.
Further details regarding the circumstances of the shooting were not available as the involved officers had not been thoroughly interviewed, Chavez said.
"There's not a whole lot of details at this point," he said.
The driver was expected to be booked on suspicion of drunken driving and resisting police officers, officials said.
An empty bottle of tequila at the scene was marked off by police, however it wasn't clear if the bottle was believed to have belonged to the driver.
Shelley Harrell, who lives in a condominium struck by the SUV, described a frightening experience.
"I felt the whole house shake, it scared me to death and I didn't really know what happened," she said.
Joshua Normington, a 16-year-old resident of another condominium struck by the SUV, said he heard "tires screeching and then heard a big crash. I went outside and saw a big hole in the corner house."
He said he then went outside and heard three to four gunshots fired.
Normington described the driver as a quiet man who had lived on the street for more than 10 years. He keeps mostly to himself and speaks primarily Spanish.
ALHAMBRA - Police Wednesday arrested a parolee suspected of committing a series of more than 20 armed robberies targeting lone women coming home throughout the western San Gabriel Valley over the past few months, authorities said.
Jose Avila, 29, of Chino was arrested in connection with the series of robberies early Wednesday, according to investigators and sheriff's booking records. He was already on parole for home-invasion robbery.
Monterey Park police Capt. Gene Harris said as the number of robberies climbed, a task force of officers and detectives from Alhambra, Monterey Park and San Gabriel was assembled for the express purpose of identifying a suspect. It was unclear Wednesday whether others were still being sought.
In the majority of the crimes, which number as many as 20, a suspect confronted women as they arrived at home late at night and robbed them, investigators said.
In March and April, at least nine such robberies were reported in Alhambra, as well as at least nine in San Gabriel and four in Monterey Park, investigators said. In one of the Alhambra cases, a victim was pistol-whipped.
Detectives are also looking into the possibility that crimes in South Pasadena and Arcadia may also be linked, Harris said.
In Arcadia, a woman who arrived home with a small child just after midnight Friday was shot in the face with some sort of BB during a similar robbery, though it was unclear if it was related to the string.
Harris said the task force was working near 6th Street and Valley Boulevard when one of the members spotted a car matching the description of the suspect's vehicle about 10:20 p.m.
Investigators stopped and searched the car after discovering that the driver, Jose Avila, 29, of Chino was on parole for home-invasion robbery.
Harris said inside the car, they found the gun believed to have been used in the robberies, along with clothing and other evidence that implicated Avila in the crimes. The gun was described as a toy or replica, possibly an "airsoft" gun, which shoots large BBs.
After he was taken into custody, investigators obtained a warrant and searched his home in Chino, where they found items they believe belong to some of the robbery victims.
Avila is being held without bail at the Alhambra jail and is due for arraignment Friday at Alhambra Municipal Court.
SANTA FE SPRINGS -- Police arrested a group of teenagers late Tuesday on suspicion of breaking into a a middle school and stealing a cash register, a bicycle and other items, authorities said.
Michael Figueroa and Kristine Valladares, both 18 of Norwalk, were arrested along with two 17-year-old Norwalk girls, Whittier police Sgt. Brent Anderson said.
Officers responded to a burglary alarm about 11:30 p.m. at Lake Center Middle School, 10503 Pioneer Blvd., when they spotted three people walking away from the school, the sergeant said.
"One of them was in possession of a cash register," he added.
After detaining the suspects, police found they had clothing, office supplies and several items that appeared to have been stolen from the school's student store, Anderson said.
Further investigation led police to a fourth suspect, who was arrested in Norwalk and found to be in possession of a bicycle believed stolen from the school, he added.
According to sheriff's booking records, Figueroa and Valladares were being held in lieu of $20,000 bail each. Information was not available regarding their initial court appearance, however criminal suspects held in custody are generally brought before a judge for arraignment within two working days of arrest.
ARCADIA -- Police arrested five young men -- two adults and three juveniles -- who jumped from a still-moving car during a chase on the 210 Freeway Wednesday, authorities said.
The incident began about 10:10 a.m. when a police officer tried to pull over a car for traffic violation, but the vehicle refused to stop and got onto the westbound 10 Freeway, Arcadia police Lt. Colleen Flores said in a written statement.
As officers chased the car, which had five people inside, "The suspect vehicle slowed to approximately 15 mph and all five occupants exited the moving vehicle," Flores said. "The unoccupied vehicle rolled into the center median of the 210 freeway east of Madre (Street)."
The two adults and three juveniles who fled from the vehicle were all captured and arrested on suspicion of evading a police officer, burglary and possession of burglary tools, police said.
Police found items inside their car that were believed to have been stolen, Flores said.
The names of the adult suspects were not available Wednesday afternoon pending booking, she said.
One of the adult suspects was taken to a hospital for treatment of minor injuries suffered while jumping from the moving car, police said.
ARCADIA -- A resident spotted a hospital scrubs-clad burglar fleeing the scene of a home break-in Tuesday, police said.
The crime was reported about 1:10 p.m. in the 2500 block of Lee Avenue, Arcadia police Sgt. Tom Le Veque said in a written statement.
A resident arrived at home and found an unknown man standing on the doorstep the the home's front door wide open, the sergeant said.
The man walked immediately made his way to a parked black Nissan Maxima and told the resident in Korean that he was a friend of the resident's son, police said. The car was last seen driving off toward Longden Avenue.
"The resident entered the home and found it to be ransacked," Le Veque said. "The suspect apparently turned off the power at the home circuit breakers and then forced open a rear screen, entering through a window. The loss included a laptop computer and a watch at time of report."
Police described the burglar as an Asian man of about 40 years old, 5 feet 6 inches tall, of thin build, with brown hair and brown eyes. He wore green hospital scrubs.
Anyone with information is asked to call Arcadia police detectives at 626-574-5160.
From the Associated Press:
LA HABRA -- Police say four people were killed and two injured when a pick-up truck that may have been speeding through a residential neighborhood in La Habra went out of control and crashed into a tree.La Habra police Sgt. Jeff Baylos says the fatal accident happened shortly after 1 a.m. Sunday.Three men and a woman, ranging in age from 25 to 21, were pronounced dead at the scene. Two women in their 20s were hospitalized.None of the victims' names were released, and the conditions of the injured were not immediately known.All six were riding in the cab of the truck, which had a back seat.Police are investigating whether alcohol was involved and whether the driver was speeding.The area speed limit is 25 miles per hour.
HACIENDA HEIGHTS -- An arsonist may have destroyed a house of worship over the weekend, however St. John Vianney Church is as strong as ever, clergy and parishioners said.
Los Angeles County sheriff's investigators have determined a massive fire that caused an estimated $8 million worth to damage to the church,1345 Turnbull Canyon Road, just after midnight Saturday was intentionally set.
"The extensive structure fire at St. John Vianney Church in Hacienda Heights has been confirmed as an act of arson," sheriff's officials said in a written statement.
"We are actively investigating to identify the suspect responsible. At this time we are not able to share any leads that we are working on."
Richard and Maria Navarro, who have been attending the church for 38 years, said they were devastated by the destruction behind the church's scorched main building.
"Whoever did this is just... there's no name for it," Maria Navarro said. "They did it to a whole community."
"(But) it is a building, and they did not destroy the church. We are the church."
Despite the outrage over the senseless destruction, parishioners and church staff also spoke of forgiveness.
"It's a very troubled person that did this, and we'll pray for him as well," Maria Navarro said.
The Navarros said they have made countless wonderful memories inside the gutted church. All three of their children received their first communion there, and one of their daughters was married there.
Masses are being held in the church's activities center, to the rear of the damaged main church building.
Father Ricky Viveros reiterated that the loss of a building will not weaken the church.
"Our parish is alive and well," he said. "We're the church. The people."
Viveros also called on the community to pray for whoever's responsible for the blaze.
While Viveros acknowledged that the fire has cause caused some broken hearts, "There's a sense that we're going to triumph over this act of evil and move forward."
St. John Vianney Church, he said, "will be rebuilt."
Viveros was one of three church officials inside on on-campus house when the fire broke out.
"What woke me up was what sounded like glass breaking," he said. "I thought someone was breaking in."
When he looked out his second-floor window, the church was already engulfed in flames.
He gathered the other two men inside the home and all three exited unscathed.
Despite preliminary official reports that one of three priests who were inside a house on the church property suffered minor smoke inhalation, Viveros said that was, luckily, not the case.
A firefighter suffered a cut to his hand while battling the blaze, Los Angeles County Fire Department Dispatch Supervisor Bernard Peters said. He was treated at a local hospital and released later Saturday.
Anyone with information about the fire is asked to call the sheriff's Industry Station at 626-330-3322.
From City News Service:
POMONA - A 36-year-old man was shot to death early Saturday in Pomona, police said.Jimmie Lee Adams of Pomona was fatally shot just before 5 a.m. in the 200 block of East Holt Boulevard, said Sgt. Jaime Gutierrez of the Pomona Police Department.Authorities had no suspects in the death.Anyone with information on the murder was asked to contact Pomona police at (909) 620-2085.
SAN MARINO -- Police arrested an 18-year-old Altadena man Friday on suspicion of burglarizing a San Marino house, authorities said.
Adrian Rodriguez was booked on suspicion of possession of stolen property and was being held in lieu of $20,000 bail at the Alhambra Police Department's jail, according to San Marino police officials and sheriff's booking records.
A resident of Avondale Road called police about 10:50 a.m. to report to report a neighbor's house had been broken into and two men were driving off in a black Chevrolet HHR, San Marino police Sgt. Aaron Blonde said in a written statement.
A witness provided police with a license plate number for the car, which was determined to have been rented by a Pasadena man, the sergeant said.
"This individual told officers that he had lent the vehicle to Mr. Adrian Rodriguez," Blonde said.
After contacting Rodriguez by telephone, officers found him walking in the area of Lincoln Avenue and Woodbury Road in Altadena.
A police helicopter found the rented Chevrolet driving on Lincoln Avenue, Blonde said. "The vehicle was stopped, however, available information did not link the (female) driver to the crime."
San Marino police received additional information that someone had hidden computer equipment in some bushes in the 3000 block of Lincoln Avenue in Altadena, officials said.
Officers recovered equipment allegedly stolen from the Avondale Road home, and a witness identified Rodriguez as the person who hid it.
The second burglary suspect was not found.
Rodriguez was due for arraignment Tuesday in Alhambra Superior Court.
Anyone with information is asked to call San Marino police at 626-300-0720.
HACIENDA HEIGHTS - A massive arson fire caused an estimated $8 million worth of damage to a Catholic church early Saturday, authorities said.
A priest suffered minor smoke inhalation and one firefighter suffered a minor injury in the blaze, which was reported just after midnight at St. John Vianney Church, 1345 Turnbull Canyon Road, Los Angeles County Fire Department Dispatch Supervisor Bernard Peters said. Firefighters arrived to find the building "fully involved" with flames.
"The extensive structure fire at St. John Vianney Church in Hacienda Heights has been confirmed as an act of arson," Los Angeles County sheriff's officials said late Saturday in a written statement.
"We are actively investigating to identify the suspect responsible. At this time we are not able to share any leads that we are working on."
One firefighter suffered a cut to his hand during the battle with the fire, which went on for about 2 1/2 hours, officials said. He was treated at a local hospital and released.
One of three priests living at the site was treated at the scene for minor smoke inhalation, officials said.
Church officials and representatives of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles could not be reached for comment Saturday.
Turnbull Canyon Road was closed in both directions Saturday morning as officials investigated the scene.
Authorities are asking anyone with information to call the sheriff's Industry Station.
PHOTO by Eric Reed, Staff
INDUSTRY -- A Whittier man died early Saturday in a motorcycle crash on the 605 Freeway, authorities said.
Robert Garcia Sr., 48, was pronounced dead at the scene of the 1:58 a.m. crash on the northbound 605 Freeway, just south of Rose Hills Road, California Highway Patrol Officer G. Chavez said in a written statement.
Garcia was riding a 2009 Suzuki GSX-R when, for reasons that remained under investigation, he lost control of his motorcycle and was thrown into the carpool lane, the officer said.
Garcia came to rest directly in the path of a 2007 Chevrolet Avalanche being driven by a 65-year-old Diamond Bar man who was unable to avoid hitting him, officials said.
The driver of the Chevrolet pulled over and waited for CHP officials to arrive, Chavez said.
Any witnesses to the crash are asked to contact the Santa Fe Springs office of the CHP at 562-868-0503.
LA HABRA -- A police car collided with a civilian vehicle Friday, sending both the officer and a woman to the hospital with apparently minor injuries, officials said.
The crash took place about 4:40 p.m. at Lambert Road and Walnut Street, La Habra police Lt. Jeff Swaim said.
The officer collided in the intersection with a small SUV being driven by a woman, the lieutenant said.
Both the officer and the woman complained of pain and were taken to a hospital to be checked out, officials said.
The cause of the crash was being investigated by the California Highway Patrol.
Statement from Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca:
Often Heard But Not Seen: National Public Safety Telecommunications Week
The challenging work of public safety telecommunicators is being acknowledged this week during National Public Safety Telecommunications Week.Telecommunicators efforts to protect the public are heard but not seen every day when members of the community call their local sheriff's or police station seeking help. Dispatchers and 9-1-1 operators are the 'behind the scenes' link between those in need and those that can help.At least one week every year, we celebrate and honor our Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department dispatchers by recognizing their contributions to helping keep the people of the Los Angeles County safe.Please take a moment and say thank you if you happen to talk to a telecommunicator.National Public Safety Telecommunications Week (April 10-16, 2011) was established by Patricia Anderson of the Contra Costa County (Calif.) Sheriff's Office in 1981 to raise awareness of the hard work and dedication of 9-1-1 calltakers, dispatchers and other telecommunications staff. These include the technicians that maintain radio and emergency phone systems, those that train communications staff and the supervisors and managers of communications centers across the country. Telecommunicators provide a vital link to the public safety services on which Americans rely every day.Leroy D. Baca, SheriffLos Angeles County Sheriff's Department
ARCADIA -- A young man robbed a woman and shot her in the face with a BB gun as she arrived home with a small child just after midnight Friday, authorities said.
The woman arrived at home in the 1100 block of South Third Avenue with the child and was walking to her front door when she was approached by a man who demanded her purse and and a laptop computer she was carrying, Arcadia police Sgt. Tom Le Veque said in a written statement.
"The victim did not immediately comply and the suspect brandished a dark 'handgun,' discharging it toward the victim," the sergeant said. "The victim was struck in the cheek and the suspect grabbed the purse and computer, running off to an awaiting vehicle."
The woman suffered a cut and bruising to her cheek but did not require immediate medical attention, Le Veque said. The child wasn't hurt.
"It appears that the weapon was a BB or pellet gun," he added.
Police described the robber as a black man in his early 20s, of medium build, wearing dark clothing and jeans. The getaway car was a newer-model, dark-colored vehicle, possibly a Dodge.
Anyone with information is asked to call Arcadia police detectives at 626-574-5160. Tips can also be left anonymously through L.A. Regional Crimestoppers at 800-222-8477.
Statement from the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office:
PASADENA - A former juvenile probation camp teacher who pleaded no contest to staging fights between students was sentenced today to jail and other terms.
Pasadena Superior Court Judge Terry Smerling sentenced Stephen Wesley, 44, of Winnetka, to 180 days in county jail and three years of formal probation, plus one year of anger management.
Wesley pleaded no contest to six felony counts of child abuse on Jan. 18. The defendant pleaded "open" to the court, meaning a sentence was not negotiated with the District Attorney's Office.
Wesley was a substitute math and science teacher at Camp Karl Holton, a juvenile probation camp located in the foothills of the San Fernando Valley. His students were boys between the ages of 13 and 17.
On Aug. 8, 2008, the defendant matched up six students from rival gangs to fight. The incident was captured on video.
Deputy District Attorney Ilean Richard of the Pasadena Branch Office prosecuted the case.
ALTADENA -- Four autistic men who wandered away from a group in Eaton Canyon, north of Altadena, were found safe after a five-hour search, authorities said.
A group of autistic patients from the One Step Ahead care facility for dependent adults in Pasadena was taking a bi-monthly lunch excursion to Eaton Canyon when the four men became separated and lost, Sgt. Debra Herman of the sheriff's Crescenta Valley Station said.
Officials scoured the area on foot, in vehicles, on horseback and in helicopters for five hours before locating the four men, who were in their 30s, unharmed, Herman said.
"All were fine and didn't require medical attention," she said.
As a result of the incident, the care facility will be revisiting its policies, Herman said.
MONTEBELLO -- A new permanent police chief is heading the Montebello Police Department following a swearing-in ceremony Thursday.
The city council unanimously selected Montebello native and 30-year Los Angeles Police Department veteran Kevin L. McClure top become the city's 15th top cop at their March 9 meeting.
"I'm honored to do it," McClure said. "I loved my 30 years with the LAPD, but this is a new chapter in my life, and I'm glad to be here."
McClure was greeted by a standing ovation in the packed council chamber.
McClure's previous post was as a captain commanding the LAPD's Robbery-Homicide Division.
Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck, Los Angeles County District Attorney Steve Cooley and police chiefs and representatives from throughout the county attended the ceremony.
"I've known Kevin since he was a rookie police officer," Beck said. "He's a fantastic human being and a great police officer. They're lucky to have him and I'm sorry to see him go."
The process of choosing a police chief was difficult, Montebello Mayor Art Barajas said. "We know we did the right thing by hiring Mr. Kevin McClure for this job."
McClure replaces former police chief Dan Weast, who retired early in January amid a discrimination lawsuit filed against him by 13 officers.
Capt. Greg Wilsey has served as interim police chief.
Born in Montebello, McClure was raised in the San Gabriel Valley and attended school in Hacienda Heights, according to an LAPD statement.
He now lives in La Verne with his wife, Katherine, and two children, ages 11 and 19.
He earned his bachelor's degree at Cal State University Los Angeles and has commanded and instructed many different aspects of law enforcement, said Lt. Brad Keller, president of the Montebello Police Administrators Association.
"Chief McClure comes to us with a great deal of leadership and experience in law enforcement," he said. "The men and women of the Montebello Police Department are looking forward to Chief McClure becoming a part of our family."
McClure became an LAPD sergeant in 1993, lieutenant in 2003 and captain in 2006. He has worked varied assignments including patrol, investigations, K-9 handling, gangs and narcotics.
He is a member of the Hispanic Law Enforcement Administrators.
After taking his oath of office, McClure expressed gratitude to all his friends, family members and co-workers who have supported him throughout his career.
"Thank you from the bottom of my heart," he said.
As you can read on the Arcadia Police Department's News and Information Blog, the Arcadia police bid farewell in recent weeks to three veterans with a combined 90 years or so of experience with the Arcadia PD. They are Chief Bob Sanderson, Captain Gene Gioia, and Sergeant Dean Caputo. Each spent about 30 years with department.PHOTO: From left to right, young police officers Sanderson and Gioia, and Cadet Caputo. (Courtesy of the Arcadia Police Department)
MONTEBELLO -- Police arrested two men and sought at least one more Tuesday in connection with a bungled home burglary, police said.
Anthony Robinson, 18, of Los Angeles and Andrew Lopez, 21, of Los Angeles were were booked on suspicion of attempted burglary and possession of stolen property, according to Montebello police officials and sheriff's booking records.
A resident heard a knock at her front door about 3 p.m., but the didn't answer it, Montebello police Lt. Andy Vuncanon said in a written statement.
The person walked away and entered a silver Mercedes-Benz, just before three to four people got out of the car and began walking toward the house, the lieutenant said.
"The resident opened and shut a door, which apparently scared off the subjects," Vuncanon said. The woman then called the police to report the incident.
A responding officers spotted the Mercedes in the area and followed it until it pulled into a residential driveway at Vail Avenue and Germain Drive, the officials said.
One suspect, the driver, was immediately arrested as he exited the car, Vuncanon said. Three to four other occupants fled the vehicle and ran off in different directions.
After an extensive search of the area, one of the additional suspects was found and arrested near Schurr High School, police said.
Inside the Mercedes, Vuncanon said, police found new clothing and shoes with labels still attached, as well as a large screwdriver.
According to sheriff's booking records, Robinson was being held in lieu of $50,000 bail and was due for arraignment Thursday in East Los Angeles Superior Court. Lopez, a parolee, was being held without bail and was due to appear in East Los Angeles Superior Court on May 4.
WHITTIER -- Investigators Wednesday continued piecing together the events leading up to the weekend death of Whittier man shot by police with a Taser after being found wandering nude and bleeding in Uptown Whittier.
James Robert Hudson, 34, of Whittier died at 11:38 p.m. Saturday at Presbyterian Intercommunity Hospital, Los Angeles County Department of Coroner Lt. Cheryl MacWillie said.
Whittier police officers found him while responding to reports of a nude and bleeding person running around in the 13800 block of Philadelphia Avenue, Lt. Mike Rosson of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Homicide Bureau said Wednesday. A witness reported the person had run into the back of a car.
Officers found Hudson, still nude and bleeding from a gash on his head, lying face-down in some ivy, Rosson said. He did not respond to verbal commands.
"When they go to turn him over to examine him, he jumped up and aggressed the officers," Rosson said.
Fearing that Hudson was either under the influence or mentally unstable, "A Taser was deployed," he said.
"The Taser worked properly," dropping Hudson to the ground," Rosson said. Because he was kicking, both his hands and feet were cuffed.
As paramedics looked over Hudson at the scene, he began to show signs of physical distress, and officials rushed him to the hospital where he was pronounced dead about an hour later, according to sheriff's and coroner's officials.
Hudson's officials cause of death remained under investigation Wednesday pending toxicology testing, she said.
Sheriff's officials were also looking into whether mental illness played a role in the incident, officials added.
Rosson said acquaintances of Hudson reported seeing him just after 9 p.m. Though he appeared "agitated," friends said he was lucid and fully clothed when they last saw him walk away.
"Sometime between the time he was last seen by acquaintances and the time he was found by officers, he sustained a laceration to his head," Rosson said. It was unclear if had been the victim of an assault or had taken some kind of fall.
"There's a lot more questions then there are answers," he said.
Barbara Strout, who lives in the hills above Whittier College, said a combined 10 emergency personnel vehicles were on the scene.
"It's very rare for that to happen here," she said.
There were rumors that a naked man was running around the neighborhood knocking on doors, Strout said.
Hudson lived within walking distance of where he encountered police, investigators said.
Rosson said his clothes were found nearby in the middle of the street in the 6700 block of Hillside Lane.
His wallet was with the clothing, so it did not appear Hudson had been the victim of a robbery, he added.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department is investigating the death at the request of Whittier police, officials said. No official information about the death was released until Wednesday, four days after the death.
Whittier Police Chief Jeff Piper said that once the sheriff's department and Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office complete their criminal investigations, Whittier police will conduct their own internal probe into the death.
Whittier police officials referred all questions about the incident to sheriff's homicide investigators.
Anyone with information is asked to contact sheriff's homicide detectives as 323-890-5500.
-- Staff Writer Sandra Molina contributed to this story.
ARCADIA -- A 16-year-old girl died and another was left seriously injured Sunday after they were struck by a car while crossing Duarte Road, authorities said.
The collision was reported about 6:40 p.m. in the 600 block of West Duarte Road, Arcadia police Lt. Bob Anderson said in a written statement.
The girls were crossing the street on foot when they were struck by a car being driven by a 20-year-old Arcadia man, police said.
One of the girls died from her injuries, while the other was rushed to Huntington Hospital in Pasadena with serious injuries, the lieutenant said.
The driver of the car was not arrested late Sunday.
The cause of the collision was being investigated by the Arcadia police Major Accident Investigation Team. Any witnesses are encouraged to contact Detective Hale at 626-574-5161.
AZUSA -- Police arrested an El Monte man Saturday on suspicion of breaking into a car in the parking lot of a shopping center, officials said.
Timothy Alvarez, 31, was being held in lieu of $20,000 bail, according to sheriff's booking records.
A witnesses called police just after 1 p.m. to report seeing a car burglary at a shopping center in the 800 block of E. Alosta Avenue, Azusa police Lt. Mike Bertelsen said in a written statement.
The witness gave police a description of the burglar, as well as the car he fled in, and officers soon pulled over a vehicle matching the description.
"(Alvarez) and the vehicle's driver were detained by police and identified by the witness," Bertelsen said. "Property stolen during the burglary was found in their possession."
Both men were arrested, police said, however ultimately the driver was released and only Alvarez was booked on suspicion of burglary.
He was scheduled for arraignment Monday in West Covina Superior Court.
PASADENA -- A dog died and a house sustained an estimated $60,000 worth of damage after a kitchen fire broke out Saturday, authorities said.
The fire was reported about 6:50 p.m. in 511 Evergreen Drive, Pasadena Fire officials said in a written statement.
The fire was mainly contained to the home's kitchen, however the entire home suffered heavy smoke damage, officials said.
While no people were home when the fire broke out, firefighters found an unconscious dog in a rear bedroom, according to the statement.
Firefighters tried to resuscitate the animal using a specially design resuscitation mask for animals, but the dog died, officials said.
The cause of the fire was under investigation.
PASADENA -- Police arrested two people and seized marijuana, a handgun and cash Saturday while serving a search warrant at a Northwest Pasadena home.
As part of an ongoing investigation, a team made up of SWAT, vice and K-9 officers carried out the raid about 1:20 p.m. at the home in the 1600 block of N. Marengo Avenue, across the street from the soccer field of Washington Middle School, Pasadena police officials said.
Inside the home, police found under a pound of marijuana pre-packaged for sales, a handgun and an undisclosed amount of cash believed to be proceeds from drug sales, Lt. Chris Russ said.
Two men were arrested at the home, he said. One for possession of marijuana for sales, and the other for battery on a police officer during arrest.
Their names were not released Sunday pending further investigation, Russ said.
PASADENA -- Police, with the help of a tow truck driver, arrested a Pasadena man on suspicion of stabbing an acquaintance during an argument early Sunday, authorities said.
Carlos Mauricio Lopez, 23, was booked on suspicion of attempted murder in connection with the 2:40 a.m. stabbing in the 700 block of Worcester Avenue, Pasadena police Lt. Chris Russ said.
He became involved in an argument with an acquaintance, a 24-year-old Pasadena man, and stabbed him in the upper torso with a small knife, the lieutenant said. Lopez then fled the scene.
"A driver for local tow service heard the broadcast on the police scanner and was in the immediate area," Russ said. "(He) observed a suspect matching the description and kept him under observation until officers arrived."
The wounded man was rushed to a hospital in critical condition, police said. After undergoing surgery, he was upgraded to guarded but stable condition.
On of the first officials on-scene, Officer Matthew Griffin, immediately applied pressure to the victims wound, "slowing the loss of blood and possibly saving the victim's life," Russ said.
According to sheriff's booking records, Lopez was being held in lieu of $1 million bail.
PASADENA -- Police arrested four teenage burglary suspects Friday following two unrelated break-ins, officials said.
Two 15-year-old boys were arrested in the first burglary, reported about 9:25 a.m. in the 600 block of South Oak Knoll Avenue, and two other 15-year-old boys were arrested following a 1:30 p.m. break-in in the 700 block of Cypress Avenue, Pasadena police Lt. Chris Russ said. All the suspects are Pasadena residents.
In the earlier incident, a resident called to report two suspicious teens walking down a neighbor's driveway, the lieutenant said.
The caller was able to provide a description of the young men as they left, Russ said, and dispatchers quickly relayed the information to officers, allowing them to arrest two teenagers within six minutes of the initial phone call.
Items including a laptop computer and coins believed to have been stolen from house on Oak Knoll were found in the suspects' possession, he added.
In the afternoon burglary, another resident called police to report seeing two teens jumping fences in the neighborhood, Russ said.
A Pasadena police helicopter was quickly overhead and watched as the teens entered the home through a window, police said.
Again, officers were able to meet the suspects as they walked away from the burglarized home, Russ said. An iPad believed stolen from the home on Cypress was found in a backpack carried by one of the teens.
VALINDA -- Deputies jailed a Valinda man Thursday on suspicion of repeatedly exposing himself to both school age children and adults in recent months, authorities said.
Jesse Martin Aragon, 22, was booked on suspicion of six misdemeanor counts of indecent exposure stemming from incidents in Valinda, La Puente and West Covina dating back to January, Los Angeles County sheriff's Lt. John McBride said.
Several of the incidents centered around Rimgrove Park in Valinda, the lieutenant added.
"The cases are similar in that the suspect was usually seen inside a white SUV-type vehicle with his penis exposed and masturbating as he drove alongside the victims," sheriff's officials said in a written statement.
Victims in the incidents were able to identify Aragon as the person who exposed himself during follow-up investigation, officials said.
According to sheriff's booking records, Aragon was being held in lieu of $35,000 bail.
In addition to notifying the community that an arrest has been made in regard to recent reports of indecent exposure, McBride asked that if anyone else had had encounters with Aragon that have not been reported to step forward.
DIAMOND BAR -- Authorities on Friday identified a man shot and killed in a residential neighborhood Thursday and deputies have arrested his roommate on suspicion of murder.
Ryan Alan Modica, 39, died at the scene of the shooting, which took place just before 11 a.m. Thursday in front of a home in the 1100 block of North Del Sol Lane, Los Angeles County Department of Coroner Chief of Operations Craig Harvey said. Autopsy results were not available Friday, however initial reports indicated Modica was killed with a shotgun.
Modica was listed at the coroner's office as a resident of Concho, Ariz., however neighbors and officials said he had been staying at a home on Del Sol Lane until being evicted about a week ago.
Kyle Jacobs, 26, of Diamond Bar was booked on suspicion of murder, officials said.
"The incident developed after two former roommates got into an argument," Deputy Mark Pope of the sheriff's Headquarters Bureau said.
"It's an ongoing argument that's been going on for the past week or two," Detective John O'Brien of the Sheriff's Homicide Bureau said. Modica returned to the house to pick up some property prior to the shooting.
O'Brien said that Jacobs stayed at the scene until officials arrived and "fully cooperated with the deputies on-scene."
However the evidence led them to doubt his contention that the shooting was necessary in self defense, so they elected to turn the case over to the district attorney's office to decide whether charges will be filed.
Booking records indicate Jacobs was booked on suspicion of murder at 11:40 a.m. Thursday, though officials initially said he was only detained for questioning.
Neighbor Marie Aguinaga said she drove away from the neighborhood just minutes before the fatal shooting.
As she left, she said she saw Modica park his car in the street and begin to gesture angrily toward Jacobs' house.
She added that she couldn't imagine Jacobs would shoot someone without provocation.
"He's a good kid," she said.
According to sheriff's booking records, Jacobs was being held in lieu of $1 million bail. He was due to appear in Monday in Pomona Superior Court.
Officials are cautioning the public about a series of at least 15 robberies primarily targeting women as they arrive home late at night reported in recent weeks in Alhambra, Monterey Park, San Gabriel and South Pasadena.
While it was unclear if all the crimes were the work of the same robber or robbers, the tactics and descriptions bear striking similarities, investigators in all four cities said.
In general, "The victims are returning home in their driveways when they are approached by the suspect, and the suspect demands the victims property," Alhambra police Lt. Jennifer Wiese said.
In nearly all of the cases, the a robber has waited for a woman to arrive home alone during evening or early morning hours before demanding their purses or money, investigators said. Sometimes a single robber was seen, other times two were present.
In some cases, the victims reported seeing a gun, while in other cases they did not, officials said.
In at least one robbery in Monterey Park, the gun -- believed to be a replica or toy -- was fired, Lt. Tina Montoya said.
"We got the call of shots fired," she said, "(But) there were no bullets, nothing to indicate any propellant came out."
In March and April, at least six such robberies were reported in Alhambra, as well as five in San Gabriel, three in Monterey Park and one in South Pasadena, detectives said.
The Alhambra crimes were reported March 16 in the 1000 block of South 2nd Avenue; March 20 in the 300 block South Curtis Avenue; March 22 in the 100 block of North Bushnell Avenue; March 24 in the 800 block of East Norwood Place; March 25 in the 1500 block of South Sierra Vista Avenue; and April 5 in the 700 block of South Chapel Avenue, Wiese said.
In one of the Alhambra crimes, she added, a male victim fought back against the robber, who fled empty-handed.
Monterey Park police are investigating similar robberies that occurred late Thursday in the 300 block of Sefton Avenue, April 4 in the 300 block of East Emerson Avenue and April 5 in the 700 block of Hershey Avenue, Montoya said.
A South Pasadena woman was the victim of another similar crime March 24in the 1900 block of Primrose Avenue, South Pasadena police Sgt. Jim Valencia said.
San Gabriel police are also looking into at least five similar crimes in their city over the past two month, Sgt. Brian Kott said.
The exact dates and locations were not available Friday, however Kott said they mainly took place in residential streets near Valley Boulevard.
In many cases, victims reported the robber or robbers as a Latino man between 5 feet 7 and 6 feet tall, of thin build, wearing all-dark clothing and sometimes covering their faces with bandanas. A dark colored SUV has also been spotted in connection with many of the crimes.
"We're not sure if they're the same suspects, but the M.O.s are very similar," the he said.
Officials urged residents to be observant and aware of their surroundings, and to call police if anything suspicious is seen.
Police have provided the above sketch of a suspect sought in connection with robberies throughout the Western San Gabriel Valley in March and April.
From staff writers Brian Day, Ruby Gonzalez and Justin Velasco:
LA MIRADA -- Investigators arrested a man Thursday in connection with a hit-and-run crash last month that killed a 90-year-old La Mirada man dead.
Jingyu Park died the morning of March 24 after he was hit by two cars as he crossed the street near Valley View Avenue and Adoree Street, officials said. One of those cars fled the scene after dragging the elderly pedestrian about 250 feet.
Jerry Laiblin, 68, of La Mirada was arrested about 4:20 p.m. at his home and booked on suspicion of felony hit-and-run, Los Angeles County sheriff's Sgt. Steve Mills said.
Investigators found Laiblin's Toyota Camry after examining evidence and contacting local body shops, authorities said. A piece of the car's front grill fell off at the scene and provided evidence for detectives.
"The suspect vehicle was located about a mile away from the scene of the collision in the city of La Mirada," sheriff's officials said in a written statement.
The 90-year-old grandfather headed out for his usual morning stroll about 6 a.m., officials said. He was trying to cross west across Valley View Avenue when he was struck and knocked to the ground by a Honda Accord being driven by a La Mirada man in his mid-20s.
A second car described as a Toyota Camry traveling 35 to 40 mph then hit the prone senior.
"The blue Toyota Camry dragged (Park) about 250 feet before he was dislodged north of the first collision," according to the sheriff's statement.
"He was killed instantly," said Deputy Jeff Tibbetts.
A second car, a Toyota Camry, then struck Park, officials said. The Honda driver pulled over and remained at the scene, Evans said, however the Camry sped away.
As the Accord was coming back to the collision scene, Tibbetts said the driver saw the Toyota hit what he thought was either a roll of carpet or a person. As he got closer, he realized it was a person being dragged by the Toyota.
The Accord's driver called police and put his car behind Park so no other cars would run over the senior.
Los Angeles County Department of Coroner Assistant Chief of Operations Ed Winter said Park died of traumatic injuries and his death was ruled as an accident.
Deputies said Park's grandson is an officer with the Los Angeles Police Department Park's family couldn't be reached for comment Thursday night.
The intersection of Valley View Avenue and Adoree Street has no traffic signals or a marked crosswalk. But deputies said the point where Park crossed is considered an unmarked, or "implied" crosswalk.
Drivers are required to yield the right-of-way to crossing pedestrians. But under the law, pedestrians are also expected to yield to any vehicles that are "so near as to constitute an immediate hazard."
According to sheriff's booking records, Laiblin was released from custody after posting $50,000 bail. He is due for arraignment Monday in Downey Superior Court.
Staff Writer J.D. Velasco contributed to this report.
DIAMOND BAR - A man was shot and killed in a driveway Thursday morning following an argument, authorities said.
The dead man's name was not released pending notification of family members, coroner's officials said.
The shooting was reported shortly before 11 a.m. in the 1100 block of North Del Sol Lane, sheriff's officials said in a written statement.
"When deputies arrived at the location the victim was lying in the driveway suffering from a gunshot wound to the upper body. He was pronounced dead at the scene," the statement said.
"Apparently, the victim and his roommate were involved in an argument when the shooting occurred," the statement continued. "The roommate is being detained. There is no more information available at this time."
Neighbor Marie Aguinaga, 52, said the man who had been killed was a former resident of a nearby home in his late 20s who had been evicted last week.
Aguinaga said she left her home about 10:30 a.m., just before the shooting occurred.
As she drove away, Aguinaga said she saw the evicted resident had parked his car in the middle of the street, gotten out of the car and appeared to be gesturing angrily toward his former residence.
PASADENA -- A man showed up at a hospital Thursday after being wounded in a shooting, authorities said.
The victim, a 20-year-old Pasadena man, was shot about 5 p.m. in McGrew Alley, between Orange Grove Boulevard and Parke Street, Pasadena police Lt. Pete Hettema said.
Officers responded to multiple 9-1-1 calls reporting shots fired, he said. They found what appeared to be shattered automobile glass in the street and many people who said they heard shots, but no victims or suspects.
A short time later, a man arrived at Huntington Hospital with a gunshot wound to his leg, Hettema said. The injury was not initially believed to be life-threatening.
Detectives were continuing to gather information about the shooting late Thursday.
PASADENA -- Police are planning to swarm the streets of Pasadena in search of intoxicated drivers Friday during a "Zero Tolerance DUI Saturation Patrol," officials said.
The enforcement campaign will take place between 8 p.m. Friday and 3 a.m. Saturday, Pasadena police officials said in a written statement.
"The Pasadena Police Department encourages people who are planning on consuming alcoholic beverages to select a designated driver prior to drinking or to simply telephone a taxi cab service for a safe ride home," Pasadena Police Chief Phillip Sanchez said.
Police also encouraged the public to call 9-1-1 to report drunken drivers on the road.
Funding for this program is being provided by the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Statement issued by the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office:
LOS ANGELES - A retired sheriff's deputy accused of embezzling half a million dollars from the City of La Puente pleaded no contest today and will be sentenced to three years in state prison, the District Attorney's office announced.
Deputy District Attorney Amy Pellman Pentz with the Justice System Integrity Division said Joseph Dyer, 56, pleaded no contest to one felony count of public officer crime before Judge Stephen Marcus. He returns to court on May 31 for sentencing.
Dyer and his wife, Lydia Dyer, 47, were indicted in July 2009 on charges that he stole nearly $500,000 in tow fees from La Puente and they failed to report that money on their tax returns.
As a sheriff's deputy, Dyer supervised the impound program at LASD's Industry Station and collected towing fees from residents. Between June 2001 to December 2007, he stole money that should have been paid to the City of La Puente.
The indictment charged Dyer with grand theft, embezzlement and public officer crime. In addition, he and his wife were charged with five counts of filing false tax returns.
Pentz said Lydia Dyer pleaded no contest today to a reduced charge of misdemeanor filing a false tax return. She was immediately sentenced to 12 months summary probation.
As a condition of their plea, Pentz said the couple today repaid the Sheriff's Department $554,588, which included the loss plus $100,000 to help reimburse the LASD for the cost of the investigation.
They also paid $44,149 in back taxes to the state Franchise Tax Board on March 10.
AZUSA -- A 23-year-old Gladstone High School volunteer was behind bars Wednesday on suspicion of carrying on an inappropriate relationship with a 16-year-old student, officials said.
Eric Duong is also a former volunteer at West Covina High School, and worked or volunteered at El Modena High School in Orange and Tustin High School in Tustin, Azusa police Lt. Steve Hunt said in a written statement.
The West Covina resident was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of felony sex charges, the lieutenant said.
The parents of the alleged victim contacted police Tuesday to say they believed their child may be involved in an inappropriate relationship with Duong, the lieutenant said.
"The investigation revealed Eric Duong engaged in sex acts with the victim, who is a minor," Hunt said.
Police declined to release the gender of the involved minor Wednesday.
"(Duong's) role at Gladstone High School is not clear at this time, but it does not appear he is actually employed by the Azusa Unified School District and was an informal volunteer," Hunt said.
At all of the four school's Duong was known to have worked or volunteered at, he instructed extracurricular activities.
"It appears this may have been an isolated incident, but we are reaching out to ensure there are no additional victims," Hunt said.
Anyone with information is asked to call Azusa police Detective Jerry Jarrett at 626-812-3200.
According to sheriff's booking records, Duong was being held in lieu of $50,000 bail and was due for arraignment Thursday in Pomona Superior Court.
PASADENA -- A man suffered minor injuries Wednesday when he was stabbed by two men during a robbery, police said.
The crime took place about 1:30 p.m. at Fair Oaks Avenue and Penn Street, though the victim did not report it until after seeking medical attention, Pasadena police Lt. Pete Hettema said.
A 28-year-old Pasadena man was approached by two robbers described only as Latino men of about 19 or 20 years old with tattoos, the lieutenant said.
The robbers brandished a small knife and demanded money, he said.
The man "froze up," during the confrontation, he said, at which point one of the robbers poked him twice with a knife, inflicting small puncture wounds. The men then reached into the man's pocket and helped themselves to his wallet.
The wounded victim sought his own medical attention and was treated prior to contacting police, officials said.
SAN GABRIEL -- Trial was again postponed Wednesday for a San Gabriel man accused of killing his ex-girlfriend and leaving her body in a trash can at a friend's house in Arcadia.
Isaac Campbell, 35, is charged with the 2007 murder of 31-year-old Liya "Jessie" Lu of San Gabriel.
Trial was scheduled to begin Wednesday in Alhambra Superior Court, however it was continued until May 11, court officials said.
Campbell and Lu were nursing students at Pasadena City College when Lu went missing after Aug. 11, 2007, officials said.
Campbell allegedly placed Lu's body in a trash can at a friend's house in the 1700 block of South Baldwin Avenue in Arcadia. The body was found about a month after Lu went missing.
Detectives arrested Campbell in Minnesota after the discovery of the body.
According to sheriff's booking records, Campbell is being held in lieu of $1.275 million bail at the Pitchess Detention Center in Castaic.
WEST COVINA -- Police asked the public's help Wednesday in tracking down a man who grabbed female jogger in broad daylight and pulled her into some bushes before she managed to fight her way free late last month.
A 29-year-old woman was jogging about 3:30 p.m. on March 30 at Tuesday Drive and Missouri Street when she was grabbed from behind, West Covina police Cpl. Rudy Lopez said in a written statement.
"The victim was then pulled into the bushes by the suspect," Lopez said. "The victim fought with the suspect and managed to break away."
The woman, who was not hurt, described her attacker as Latino man in his 30s or 40s with dark features, about 5 feet 7 inches tall, with black hair and brown eyes, police said. He spoke with a thick Spanish accent.
The attacker was last spotted fleeing northeast on Tuesday Drive toward Shakespeare Drive.
Lopez said police are looking into the possibility the March 30 attack might be related to a series of other attempted and successful sexual assaults dating back to 2001.
A 17-year-old girl was on her way to school on Shadow Oak Drive in January of 2009 when she was attacked by a man and sexually assaulted, officials said. The suspect was described only as a Latino man of about 5 feet 8 inches tall and 160 pounds.
An 18-year-old woman was alone at a bus stop on Shadow Oak Drive in October of 2001 when she was attacked from behind by a Latino man in his 20's or 30s, about 5 feet 7 inches tall and of medium build, Lopez said. She managed to struggle her way free from her attacker.
A 17-year-old girl was sexually assaulted while walking to school on Shadow Oak Drive in September of 2001, police added. Again, the suspect description was somewhat vague, but similar to the other cases.
"It is possible that there have been additional events that went unreported to the police," Lopez said.
Anyone with information about any of the cases is asked to call the West Covina Police Department at 626-939-8557. Tips can also be left anonymously via a recorded message at 626-939-8688.
LA VERNE -- A Covina man pleaded guilty Wednesday to two counts of murder in connection with a a drunken driving crash in La Verne that killed his two passengers, authorities said.
Alan McConnell, 28, faces 15 years to life in prison when he returns to Pomona Superior Court for sentencing on April 22, Los Angeles County District Attorney's officials said in a written statement.
McConnell had become involved in a minor traffic crash on Jan. 23, 2010, at Foothill Boulevard at Damien Avenue and was fleeing the scene in his 2000 Pontiac Grand Am when he struck a center median and a tree at Foothill Boulevard and Wheeler Avenue, prosecutors and police said.
His passengers, 22-year-old Telassie Dague and 20-year-old Renee Hardy, 20, both of Alta Loma, suffered fatal injuries in the crash.
McConnell had nearly twice the legal limit of alcohol in his blood at the time of the crash, officials added.
In exchange for his guilty plea, district attorney's officials said, authorities dropped seven misdemeanor charges, including hit-and-run, drunken driving and driving on a suspended or revoked license.
PASADENA -- Community members are invited to meet with Pasadena police officers and park safety specialists Saturday to talk about issues affecting city parks and enjoy some barbecue.
Pasadena police Commander Darryl Qualls and Lieutenant Chris Russ will man the grill while park safety specialists meet with community members from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at La Pintoresca Park, 45 E. Washington Blvd., park safety specialist Maria Huerta said.
The goal of the "park watch" meeting is to familiarize residents with the park safety specialists and encourage them to take pride in city parks.
"It's like a neighborhood watch; it's got that concept," Huerta said.
By encouraging residents to take ownership of the parks and report suspicious activity, officials said they hope to preserve them as a valuable resource for the community.
"We want people to come to the park and be able to let their children run around," Huerta said.
Whether the issue is someone drinking in a park or loitering gang members, "We want to make sure that the neighbors in the park feel comfortable enough to come up to us and talk to us about problems they're having in the park."
In addition to food, raffles and a demonstration of a police "spike-strip" are planned, officials said.
The Pasadena Police Department has five civilian park safety specialists responsible for patrolling the city's 25 parks, Huerta said.
The department strives to hold about one "park watch" meeting per month at a different park within the city.
PASADENA -- Police arrested five men late Saturday on suspicion of burglarizing a cell phone store in Old Pasadena, authorities said.
The names of the suspects were not released Sunday pending further investigation, Pasadena police Lt. Chris Russ said. All five were Los Angeles men between 23 and 44 years old.
Officers responded to a burglary alarm about 11 p.m. at the AT&T Store, 83 E. Colorado Blvd., the lieutenant said.
Police spotted the men leaving the building and arrested them without a struggle, Russ said. Property taken from the store was recovered, as well as a vehicle believed connected to the men.
Officers were in the area and able to arrive at the scene quickly as the Pasadena Police Department routinely fields extra officers in Old Pasadena on Saturday nights.
PICO RIVERA -- A woman and her son were found dead inside the garage of their Pico Rivera home late Saturday, authorities said, while another family member was being investigated in connection with the double-slaying.
Martha Sotello Garcia, 78, and Jorge Gustavo Garcia, 52, were pronounced dead after their bodies were discovered about 11 p.m. at their home in the 8900 block of Gallatin Road, Los Angeles County Department of Coroner's Lt. Cheryl MacWillie.
Forty-seven-year-old Juan Garcia, son to Martha Garcia and brother to Jorge Garcia, was booked on suspicion of attacking another brother with a blunt object earlier Saturday evening, Sgt. Don Walls of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Homicide Bureau said.
"He's being investigated for the homicides," the sergeant said, though officials stopped short of calling Juan Garcia a suspect in the killings.
Martha Garcia appeared to have died from stab wounds, while Jorge Garcia was believed to have been beaten to death, officials said. Coroner's investigators will perform autopsies to determine the official causes of death.
Officials at the sheriff's Pico Rivera Station received a 9-1-1 call about 8 p.m. from Juan Garcia's brother, Salvador Villalobos, 31, saying that Juan Garcia had beaten him with a blunt object at their home on Gallatin Road, Sgt. Sandra Nava said.
Deputies arrested Juan Garcia on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon and took Villalobos to the hospital with moderate head injuries, Walls said. The blunt object believed to have been used in the assault was recovered, though detectives declined to specify Sunday what it was.
"Later in the evening, around 11 o'clock, family members became concerned because they were unable to locate (Martha and Jorge Garcia)," Nava said.
Family members then went to the home and found the bodies inside the detached garage, she said.
No motive in the killings was known, Walls said.
According to sheriff's booking records, Juan Garcia was being held in lieu of $30,000 bail and was due for arraignment Tuesday in Whittier Superior Court.
If ultimately booked on suspicion of murder, bail is generally increased to at least $1 million.
From City News Service:
AZUSA - The body of a young man was found Sunday in the Angeles National Forest by searchers looking for a 20-year-old Anaheim man who was swept away while trying to cross the East Fork of the San Gabriel River, a sheriff's deputy said.The body was found around 3:30 p.m. in the Coyote Flats area, said Deputy Benjamin Grubb of the Sheriff's Headquarters Bureau.Grubb said the body was that of "an adult Asian male," but that it had not been positively identified as Golden West College student Joe Le.Le was swept away about 1:30 p.m. Friday while trying to cross the snowmelt-swollen river in the Angeles National Forest near Camp Williams, where a rope is strung across the river, according to witnesses and sheriff's deputies.Hikers saw him floating face-down in a pool, but could not reach him in the steep, boulder-strewn canyon.Le's hiking partner, Brian Tran, was found safe in the vicinity, Boyett said. He told deputies Le had fallen and drifted downstream while trying to wade through the river at the rope crossing.A backpack Le was wearing was found about five hours later, but search crews found no other sign of him until Sunday afternoon.A sheriff's deputy said another man fell into the river at the same spot earlier last week, but someone was able to pull him out downstream."The river is a very dangerous place to hike near and around," Boyett said. "Water flow is running at approximately 13 mph on the surface and twice that speed underneath. With water temperatures in the mid 40s, hypothermia would set in very quickly."
POMONA -- A judge sentenced a Chino Hills man to 15 years in state prison Friday for a drunken driving, hit-and-run crash that killed a longtime Azusa police officer in 2009.
Ronald Becerra Jr., 39, received the sentence as part of a plea agreement after entering a plea of "no contest" in Pomona Superior Court to charges of vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and felony hit-and-run, Azusa police Lt. Frank Chavez said in a written statement.
He was drunk when he crossed drove the wrong way down the transition road between the westbound 60 Freeway and the northbound 71 Freeway and struck retired Azusa police Cpl. Randy Phillips, 55, who was riding his motorcycle on his way to teach a Police Explorer Academy class in Arcadia, officials said.
"Becerra fled from the accident scene but was ultimately apprehended by the California Highway Patrol later the next day," Chavez said.
Also sentenced Friday was Becerra's father, Ronald Becerra Sr., 63, of Chino, who pleaded "no contest" to felony charges of aiding and abetting his son after the crash, the lieutenant said.
He was given credit for time already served in Los Angeles County Jail and three years of formal probation.
Phillips, retired from the Azusa Police Department on his 50th birthday in 2004 after 29 years of service, colleagues said.
He is survived by a wife and daughter, and his first grandchild is expected to be born any day, officials said.
Azusa Police Chief Bob Garcia thanked the CHP officers who investigated the case, as well as the district attorney's officials who prosecuted it.
"Two families were forever altered as a result of drinking and driving by Becerra Jr." he said. "And I can not emphasize enough the responsibility of everyone who drives on our roadways to not drink and drive."
Ronald Becerra Jr., 39, received the sentence as part of a plea agreement after entering a plea of "no contest" in Pomona Superior Court to charges of vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and felony hit-and-run, Azusa police Lt. Frank Chavez said in a written statement.
He was drunk when he crossed drove the wrong way down the transition road between the westbound 60 Freeway and the northbound 71 Freeway and struck retired Azusa police Cpl. Randy Phillips, 55, who was riding his motorcycle on his way to teach a Police Explorer Academy class in Arcadia, officials said.
"Becerra fled from the accident scene but was ultimately apprehended by the California Highway Patrol later the next day," Chavez said.
Also sentenced Friday was Becerra's father, Ronald Becerra Sr., 63, of Chino, who pleaded "no contest" to felony charges of aiding and abetting his son after the crash, the lieutenant said.
He was given credit for time already served in Los Angeles County Jail and three years of formal probation.
Phillips, retired from the Azusa Police Department on his 50th birthday in 2004 after 29 years of service, colleagues said.
He is survived by a wife and daughter, and his first grandchild is expected to be born any day, officials said.
Azusa Police Chief Bob Garcia thanked the CHP officers who investigated the case, as well as the district attorney's officials who prosecuted it.
"Two families were forever altered as a result of drinking and driving by Becerra Jr." he said. "And I can not emphasize enough the responsibility of everyone who drives on our roadways to not drink and drive."
DIAMOND BAR -- A man was behind bars Saturday on suspicion of running over a fallen motorcyclist on the 60 Freeway and fleeing the scene, authorities said.
Jose Quinones, 46, of San Bernardino died in Friday's 8:10 a.m. crash on the westbound 60 Freeway, just west of Diamond Bar Boulevard, California Highway Patrol officials said in a written statement.
Hussein Abuatieh, 50, of Chino Hills was jailed on suspicion of felony hit-and-run shortly after the fatal crash, officials said.
Quinones was riding his 2009 Kawasaki motorcycle when, for reasons that remained under investigation, he lost control and was thrown into the roadway, directly in front of an oncoming 2007 Honda Accord being driven by Abuatieh, according to the CHP statement.
"The Honda struck Quinones and the motorcycle," the statement said. "Abuatieh pulled over to the right shoulder briefly and then fled the scene."
Authorities soon tracked down the suspected hit-and-run driver and arrested him, officials said. Details of the arrest were not available Saturday.
According to sheriff's booking records, Abuatieh was being held in lieu of $50,000 bail and was due for arraignment Monday in Pomona Superior Court.
Jose Quinones, 46, of San Bernardino died in Friday's 8:10 a.m. crash on the westbound 60 Freeway, just west of Diamond Bar Boulevard, California Highway Patrol officials said in a written statement.
Hussein Abuatieh, 50, of Chino Hills was jailed on suspicion of felony hit-and-run shortly after the fatal crash, officials said.
Quinones was riding his 2009 Kawasaki motorcycle when, for reasons that remained under investigation, he lost control and was thrown into the roadway, directly in front of an oncoming 2007 Honda Accord being driven by Abuatieh, according to the CHP statement.
"The Honda struck Quinones and the motorcycle," the statement said. "Abuatieh pulled over to the right shoulder briefly and then fled the scene."
Authorities soon tracked down the suspected hit-and-run driver and arrested him, officials said. Details of the arrest were not available Saturday.
According to sheriff's booking records, Abuatieh was being held in lieu of $50,000 bail and was due for arraignment Monday in Pomona Superior Court.
BALDWIN PARK -- A 22-year-old San Dimas was struck and killed by an ambulance early Saturday after he exited his vehicle involving a prior non-injury crash on the 10 Freeway, authorities said.
Eduardo Montano died in the 5:13 a.m. accident on the eastbound 10 Freeway, just west of Puente Avenue, California Highway Patrol Sgt. Steve Licon said in a written statement.
Montano was driving a 1992 Toyota Tacoma pickup truck when, for an unknown reason, Montano allowed his truck to strike the rear of a 2010 Nissan Sentra that was driving ahead of him at about 65 mph, the sergeant said.
The driver of the Nissan pulled over in the right lane and turned on his emergency flashers, officials said, while the pickup truck went out of control and collided with the center median.
A 23-year-old West Covina man was driving an ambulance eastbound on the 10 just after the crash and saw the Nissan stopped in the right lane, Licon said.
The ambulance driver swerved into the fast lane to pass the stalled Nissan, but was focused on the Nissan and did not immediately see the pickup truck disabled in the fast lane, nor Montano, who had exited his truck and was standing next to it, the sergeant said.
"When he focused his attention forward, he observed the Toyota Tacoma directly ahead," Licon said. "(The ambulance driver)steered his vehicle to the left, and the right front of his vehicle struck the left side of the Toyota Tacoma and Mr. Montano."
Montano was pronounced dead at the scene, officials said. No one else was injured in either of the collisions.
Any witnesses to this crash are asked to call the Baldwin Park office of the CHP at 626-338-1164.
Eduardo Montano died in the 5:13 a.m. accident on the eastbound 10 Freeway, just west of Puente Avenue, California Highway Patrol Sgt. Steve Licon said in a written statement.
Montano was driving a 1992 Toyota Tacoma pickup truck when, for an unknown reason, Montano allowed his truck to strike the rear of a 2010 Nissan Sentra that was driving ahead of him at about 65 mph, the sergeant said.
The driver of the Nissan pulled over in the right lane and turned on his emergency flashers, officials said, while the pickup truck went out of control and collided with the center median.
A 23-year-old West Covina man was driving an ambulance eastbound on the 10 just after the crash and saw the Nissan stopped in the right lane, Licon said.
The ambulance driver swerved into the fast lane to pass the stalled Nissan, but was focused on the Nissan and did not immediately see the pickup truck disabled in the fast lane, nor Montano, who had exited his truck and was standing next to it, the sergeant said.
"When he focused his attention forward, he observed the Toyota Tacoma directly ahead," Licon said. "(The ambulance driver)steered his vehicle to the left, and the right front of his vehicle struck the left side of the Toyota Tacoma and Mr. Montano."
Montano was pronounced dead at the scene, officials said. No one else was injured in either of the collisions.
Any witnesses to this crash are asked to call the Baldwin Park office of the CHP at 626-338-1164.
LA MIRADA -- A fight between rival gang members at a sports bar and grill early Saturday left three women and two men hospitalized with stab wounds, authorities said.
The brawl took place about 1:40 a.m. at Draft Picks Sports Grill, 15854 Imperial Highway, Los Angeles County sheriff's Lt. Bill Evans said.
"A fight among two rival gangs spilled out into the parking lot," he said.
Two women and two men were found at the scene suffering from stab wounds, officials said.
Another woman reportedly showed up at an area hospital with stab wounds a short time later.
None of the injuries appeared to be life-threatening, Evans said.
No suspects were initially arrested, he said, and sheriff's gang detectives were continuing to investigate.
Anyone with information is asked to call the sheriff's Norwalk Station.
AZUSA -- Sheriff's and fire officials called off a search of the East Fork of the San Gabriel River Friday for a 21-year-old hiker who fell into the water and was swept away in the Angeles National Forest north of Azusa, officials said.
The man was hiking with others about 1:30 p.m. near the Camp Williams Resort when he tried to cross the East Fork of the river at a rope crossing and fell in to the waist-deep water, Los Angeles County sheriff's Sgt. Pete Shupe said.
"(Other hikers) saw him tumbling down the river," the sergeant said. The other hikers soon lost sight of him.
After more than five hours of searching by both ground and air, firefighters and sheriff's officials recovered a backpack believed to belong to the missing hiker from the river, Shupe said, but the hiker himself remained missing.
Plans to resume the search early Saturday had not been finalized late Friday, he said.
PASADENA -- Prosecutors Friday charged two men shot and wounded by an off-duty sheriff's deputy last week and dismissed charges against two others, officials said.
Mark Lewis, 27, of Temple City and Aaron Beierschmitt, 24, of Redondo Beach, were shot and wounded just before 1 a.m. on March 26 after they allegedly confronted, threatened and assaulted an off-duty sheriff's deputy as he waited at the drive-through of a Del Taco restaurant in the 200 block of South Rosemead Boulevard in an unincorporated county area near Pasadena, according to Los Angeles County sheriff's and District Attorney's officials said.
Lewis and Beierschmitt, who both received non-life-threatening wounds after being shot by the deputy, were charged with assaulting a peace officer and two counts each of making criminal threats, Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office spokeswoman Sandi Gibbons said.
Four men were inside a car that pulled up behind the deputy's, sheriff's officials said in a written statement.
"(Lewis and Beierschmitt) exited their vehicle and, for unknown reasons, accosted the deputy," according to to the sheriff's statement.
The off-duty deputy then exited his vehicle as well, and shot Lewis and Beierschmitt, officials said. No weapons were recovered at the scene.
The district attorney's office rejected charges sought against the two other men who were with Lewis and Beierschmitt, but did not exit their car, due to insufficient evidence, Gibbons said.
Sheriff's officials have released no further details regarding the confrontation between the off-duty deputy and the suspects.
If convicted as charged, Lewis could face more than five years in state prison, officials said. Beierschmitt, who has a previous "strike" for an attempted robbery conviction, faces up to 16 years in prison if convicted as charged.
The men were being held in lieu of $100,000 bail each.
From the Associated Press:
LOS ANGELES -- A former state insurance adjuster pleaded guilty Friday to killing seven women and was sentencedto life in prison for a series of deadly sexual attacks by a man known by police as the "Westside Rapist."John Floyd Thomas, 74, pleaded guilty to seven counts of first-degree murder and was sentenced to seven life terms, including one without the possibility of parole in the attacks that terrified Los Angeles County in the 1970s and 1980s, Los Angeles County district attorney's spokeswoman Sandi Gibbons said.Some of the murders included special allegations that the crimes were committed during the commission of burglary or rape.A call to Thomas' court-appointed public defender, Alan Gelfand, was not immediately returned.Based on cold-case DNA testing, Thomas was arrested in March 2009 and charged in the "Westside Rapist" case in which a man entered the homes of middle-aged and elderly women who lived alone, raped them and choked them until they passed out or died.Although he was charged with seven murders, investigators have said they believe he may have killed as many as 30 women and raped many more.The attacks stopped in 1978 -- the year Thomas went to prison for the rape of a Pasadena woman -- but authorities say they resumed a decade later in the eastern county.Thomas initially was charged with the 1972 murder of Ethel Sokoloff, 68, at her home in the Mid-Wilshire area of Los Angeles and the 1976 murder of Elizabeth McKeown, 67, in the Westchester area.Sokoloff, a retired school administrator, was found semi-nude and dead inside the trunk of her car two blocks from her apartment.Thomas later was charged killing Cora Perry, 79, in the unincorporated Lennox area in 1975 and with the 1976 Inglewood killings of Maybelle Hudson, 80, Miriam McKinley, 65, and Evalyn Bunner, 56.He also was charged with killing 56-year-old Adrienne Askew in 1986 in Claremont, about 40 miles east of LosAngeles. At the time of that killing, Thomas was living in Chino, a community only a few miles away.The killings again appeared to stop in 1989, when Thomas took a job with the state workers compensation insurance agency in the Los Angeles suburb of Glendale.Thomas has a criminal history that included a 1978 rape conviction and a nearly decade-long prison term for burglary, attempted burglary and subsequent parole violations that kept him locked up until 1966.As a registered sex offender, he was required to check in annually with police. During one visit in the fall of 2008, officers took a saliva swab to collect his DNA, which is a requirement for all sex offenders.Cold-case investigators later used the swab to link Thomas to the killings.
ARCADIA -- A man apparently shot himself to death Friday on the stairwell of a commercial building, police said.
The name of the man, who was in his 50s, was not released pending notification of family members, Arcadia police Lt. Paul Foley said.
"At approximately 9:20 a.m., the Arcadia Police Department was contacted by a 9-1-1 caller who reported a man with a gun in the 500 block of Las Tunas Drive," Foley said in a written statement. "The caller advised seeing an unconscious man lying on a stairwell at a small common commercial complex and that this man was holding a handgun."
Officers determined that the man had apparently shot himself in the head, Foley said. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
No suicide not was found at the scene, police said.
The death is being investigated by Arcadia police, as well as the Los Angeles County Department of Coroner.
CONTRIBUTORS
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| Frank Girardot, Metro Editor for the San Gabriel Valley Newspapers, brings you behind the yellow tape with takes on true crime, cold cases and more. This is also your forum to discuss crime, its impact on your neighborhood and how we cover it. Have any questions or tips? You can leave a comment here or e-mail Frank. |
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Brian Day is the crime reporter for the San Gabriel Valley Newspaper group. E-mail Brian. |
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