Monthly Archives: May 2011

Man stabbed during fight in Azusa

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AZUSA — A man remained hospitalized in “guarded condition” Saturday after being stabbed during a fight, police said.
Officers responded to reports of a fight involving multiple combatants about 11 p.m. Friday at a party or gathering outside a home in the 100 block of South Lemon Avenue, Azusa police Sgt. John Madaloni said.
The fight was over when officers arrived, but a man was found lying in the street with an apparent stab wound to his torso, the sergeant said.
The incident was not initially believed to be gang-related, police said.
No suspect description was available.
Anyone with information is asked to call Azusa police at 626-812-3200, or tips can be left anonymously at 626-812-3272.

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Burglary suspect arrested in South Pasadena

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SOUTH PASADENA — A man police have connected to at least two South Pasadena burglaries last month was behind bars Saturday, as investigators tried to link recovered items to other possible victims.
Officers spotted Neal Anthony Lapiana, 24, of Los Angeles, about 2 p.m. Friday near Monterey Road and Pasadena Avenue and arrested him after recognizing him as a wanted burglary suspect, South Pasadena police Cpl. Shannon Robledo said. He allegedly had burglary tools with him.
He was caught on surveillance video stealing a bicycle from a carport in the 700 block of Prospect Avenue on April 17, the corporal said.
Lapiana was also linked to an auto break-in that occurred April 22 in the 1800 block of Ramona Avenue, Robledo said.
About two hours after the April 22 break-in occurred, but before it had been reported to police, an officer stopped Lapiana as he rode a bicycle and questioned him about electronics he had with him, Robledo said. A check revealed the items had not been reported stolen, and Lapiana was let go.
A short time later, the victim of the Ramona Avenue auto burglary reported the same items Lapiana had with him had been stolen.
After arresting Lapiana Friday afternoon, South Pasadena police searched his Los Angeles home and found about 15 items such as laptop computers, cell phones and other electronics investigators suspect are stolen.
Lapiana, already and probation for a theft-related conviction, was booked on suspicion of burglary and possession of stolen property, police said.
According to sheriff’s booking records, he was being held in lieu of $50,000 bail. Information on his initial court appearance was not available.

PHOTO of Neal Anthony Lapiana, 24, of Los Angeles, courtesy of the South Pasadena Police Department

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San Gabriel man convicted of Cypress killing won’t face the death penalty

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From City News Service:
SANTA ANA — Orange County prosecutors announced Friday they will not pursue the death penalty for a 31-year-old San Gabriel man who shot five people, killing one of them, in a Cypress cafe.
Gang member Stephenson Choi Kim was convicted in March of the March 13, 2004, shooting spree at the 5th Wave Cafe that killed 21-year-old Venus Hyun and injured four others.
The same jury deadlocked 7-5 against recommending the death penalty, and Deputy District Attorney Cameron Talley told a judge today that his office will stop pursuing the ultimate punishment for Kim.
“It was the totality of the circumstances, it wasn’t just one particular thing — we weigh everything,” Talley said after the hearing.
Prosecutors considered that a majority of jurors were against recommending the death penalty and that the families of the victims did not object to a life sentence for Kim, Talley said.
“So he’ll spend the rest of his life in prison where he belongs because he’s a cold-blooded killer,” Talley said.
Kim will be sentenced on July 15 to life without parole, plus more than 100 years, Talley said.
Kim opened fire in the 5th Wave Cafe because he thought one of the victims had ties to a rival gang that had beaten him up, Talley said.
He was convicted of first-degree murder, six counts of attempted murder and street terrorism charges, with a special circumstance allegation of murder for the benefit of a gang.
A half-dozen other defendants in the case made deals with the prosecution to testify against Kim and pleaded guilty to lesser charges.
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Teen kidnapped at gunpoint in West Covina, found safe in Covina

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WEST COVINA — The armed kidnapping of a teenage boy prompted the lockdown of an elementary school Friday, police said.
Officers received a report about 3 p.m. of a kidnapping involving the use of a gun and a shot fired in the 1800 block of East Workman Avenue, West Covina police Cpl. Rudy Lopez said in a written statement.
“The victim, a male, 17, of West Covina was confronted by at least four males who drove up in a light-colored SUV,” Lopez said. “One suspect fired a shot from a handgun, forcing the victim to enter the suspect vehicle. The vehicle was last seen driving north on Azusa Avenue.”
Police found the kidnapping victim, unharmed, just under an hour later in the area of Citrus Avenue and Arrow Highway in Covina, police said.
As a result of the investigation, nearby Workman Elementary School was placed on a precautionary lockdown until about 4 p.m., Lopez said.
Police declined to release any further details about the incident. The investigation was ongoing.
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Los Angeles, San Bernardino county deputies accused molestation of minors

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As seen below, deputies in both the Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties sheriff’s departments are now facing allegations of committing sex acts with underage girls. In the Los Angeles County case, the alleged victim is a 16-year-old relative of the deputy. In San Bernardino County, two deputies are accused of having sex with a 17-year-old Explorer Scout:
Statement issued by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office:
LONG BEACH – A Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputy accused of engaging in sex acts with a teenage girl is expected to be arraigned this afternoon, the District Attorney’s Office announced.
Deputy District Attorney Deborah Escobar of the Justice System Integrity Division said Orlando Denison, 34 (dob 8/16/76), is charged with two felony counts of oral copulation of a person under 18.
Denison is expected to appear for arraignment in Department J of Long Beach Superior Court. The defendant was charged on May 5 in case No. NA088848 in a felony complaint for arrest warrant.
Officers of the Long Beach Police Department arrested Denison without incident at his residence yesterday afternoon. The alleged offenses, which occurred in July 2010, involve a female relative who was 16 at the time.
If convicted as charged, Denison faces a maximum sentence of three years, eight months in state prison. Bail for the defendant is recommended at $100,000.
From our counterparts at the San Bernardino Sun:

VICTORVILLE — Another San Bernardino County sheriff’s deputy has been arrested on suspicion of committing sex acts with a child in the department’s explorer program, officials announced today.

Sheriff’s Deputy Anthony Benjamin, 30, a supervisor of the program in Victorville, was arrested late Wednesday and posted $100,000 bail this morning, San Bernardino County sheriff’s officials said.

Investigators suspect the sex acts occurred while the victim, a 17-year-old girl, was on ride-alongs with the deputy.

Sheriff Rod Hoops said the explorer ride-along program will be suspended for 60 days and the entire program will be fully reviewed and overhauled.

Benjamin is the second deputy in less than two weeks to be arrested on suspicion of having sex with a child in the program.

Deputy Nathan Gastineau, 30, based at the sheriff’s Highland station, was arrested in late April on suspicion of committing lewd acts with a child. Jason Anguiano, 27, of Rialto, suspected of having sex with the same girl, also was arrested.

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Carjacking reported in Pasadena

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PASADENA — A gunman carjacked a man Wednesday in a residential area near Pasadena City College, police said Friday.
A 50-year-old Pasadena man was walking to his car about noon Wednesday in the 1800 block of Keystone Street when he noticed another man standing in the area looking around nervously, Pasadena police Lt. Chris Russ said.
The victim got into his car when the nervous man approached, pulled a black handgun and demanded the victim get out of his car and turn over his keys, the lieutenant said.
The victim complied and got away unharmed, Russ said.
The carjacker was described as a Latino man in his 20s, about 5 feet 10 inches tall, of heavy build, with a shortly cropped black hair, a thin mustache and goatee, police said. He had a tattoo with cursive writing on his neck and and wore a white T-shirt; black, blue and white checkered shorts; and white socks.
The stolen car was described as a burgundy, 2004 Ford Taurus 4-door sedan with a license plate number of 6DMU749.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Pasadena Police Department.
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Former La Mirada High School star athlete killed in Long Beach car crash

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LONG BEACH — The 2008 Whittier Daily News Boys Track and Field Athlete of the Year died early Friday in a car crash on the 605 Freeway.
Cameron Allan Gillett, 21, of Norwalk was killed in the 2:15 a.m. crash on the 605 Freeway, just south of Carson Street in Long Beach, coroner’s officials said.
He was driving his 1998 Nissan Altima northbound when, “For reasons unknown, (Gillett) allowed the vehicle to drift off the road, down a dirt/grass embankment,” California Highway Patrol Officer Jeremy Tolen said in a written statement. The car then went airborne and struck a concrete bridge abutment.
“Drugs and/or alcohol do not appear to be a factor in this collision,” he added.
Authorities added that the investigation is ongoing.
“He was such a joy to be around,” said Gillett’s mother, Eileen Neal. “He was really kind to everyone. He always had a word to make you feel comfortable. He put you at ease.”
Gillett was unrelenting in any goal he set for himself, whether on or off the track, she said.
“He’ll work at something hard and he’ll go to accomplish it,” Neal said. “He was competing with himself to be better.”
He is survived by his mother and step-father, Wilbert Saunders, as well as three brothers and a girlfriend.
“He just reached 21 (April 10). He was so excited,” his mother said.
He has worked as a recreation aid for the City of La Mirada for the past three years, Neal said, serving as a coach and referee for children among other duties.
He enjoyed listening to music, playing video games and going to museums and the beach with his girlfriend, she added.
Gillett studied economics at California State University Long Beach, where he was a jumper for the track and field team.
On Sunday, Gillett was on the track for CSULB, where he took fourth place in the 400m dash at the 17th annual Asics Steve Scott Invitational in Irvine. His brothers, with whom Neal said her son was extremely close, were there to cheer him on.
As a track and field star for La Mirada High School, Gillett was named the Whittier Daily News’ 2008 All-Area Boys Track and Field Athlete of the Year. He was also an honor roll student and basketball forward at the high school.
During his high school career, he became the 2008 State long jump champion with a leap of 24 feet, 1 3/4 inches.
He earned three top 10 Big West Championships finishes in the long and triple jumps during the 2010 indoor season.
Last year, as La Mirada High School’s only state champion, Gillett became the first inductee into the school’s track and field hall of fame, La Mirada head track and field coach Ollie Lynch.
“He was definitely the best athlete I’ve ever coached in track and field, bar none,” Lynch said.
“(But) he was humble. He came back every chance he got while he was at Long Beach State to help out our kids,” Lynch said.
“He’d come out on a weekly basis, and he’d have a big old smile on his face. That smile, I’ll never forget it.”
Beyond his athletic achievements, Gillett was a positive and hard-working young man and a role model to those around him, Lynch said.
“He was just an amazing kid,” Lynch said. “Always charismatic, everybody’s friend, always doing the right thing. He was just a positive person that others could emulate and try to be like.
“He’s going to be missed by everyone who ever met him. He’s had an impact on an entire community.”
Services had not been scheduled Friday.
PHOTO of Cameron Gillett courtesy of family members.
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Baldwin Park police jail two suspected car thieves

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BALDWIN PARK — Police jailed two men who fled from a stolen car Thursday, officials said.
Miguel Monzon and Edgar Valencia, both 18 and from Baldwin Park, were booked on suspicion of auto theft as officials looked into possible additional charges, Baldwin Park police Lt. Joseph Bartolotti said.
A Lo–Jack vehicle anti-theft system directed police toward a Honda CRV that had been stolen in Baldwin Park earlier in the day about 11:20 a.m., the lieutenant said.
Police found the car in the parking lot of a shopping center at Ramona and Baldwin Park boulevards, Bartolotti said. Monzon was sitting in the driver’s seat, while Valencia was standing near the passenger side of the car.
Both ran as soon as they spotted officers, he said.
An officer gave chase, Bartolotti said, pursuing the driver through a nearby 99 Cents Only Store before ultimately apprehending him behind the store.
Assisting officers arrested Valencia not far from where the car was found, the lieutenant said.
Valencia was found to be in possession of some possibly stolen jewelry, as well as a shaved car key used for auto theft.
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Officials check out ‘suspicious package’ in Santa Fe Springs

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SANTA FE SPRINGS — Police investigated a ‘suspicious package’ reported Thursday afternoon at a fast-food restaurant, officials said.
Whittier police were called to a Jack-in-the-Box at Telegraph and Orr and Day roads about 1 p.m., authorities said.
A man had apparently been eating at the restaurant left a briefcase behind, Whittier police Sgt. Sam Reed said.
In an exercise of “extreme caution,” he said, police requested the Los Angeles County sheriff’s bomb squad to check out the briefcase, which was described as being heavy.
Police said officials ultimately determined the briefcase contained nothing hazardous.
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La Habra teens report suspicious encounters with man

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LA HABRA — Police cautioned the public Thursday about four recent incidents involving what may me the same man harassing teenage girls as they walk home from school.
The incidents took place between 3 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday in the area around La Habra High School, La Habra police spokeswoman Cindy Knapp said.
A 15-year-old girl contacted police Tuesday to report a suspicious encounter with a man as she walked home from school on Greenwood Avenue, near Walnut Street, police said.
“A male Hispanic driving a red car stopped his vehicle and called to her, attempting to entice her to come over to him,” police said in a written statement. “The girl ignored him and continued home.”
A second 15-year-old girl came forward Wednesday to report three similar encounters on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday in the same area, officials said.
In all three cases, the suspicious person was described as Latino man in his 20s or 30s driving a red car with a spoiler, possible a Ford Mustang or Chevrolet Camaro.
He pulled up alongside the girl and beckoned her over on Monday and Tuesday on Walnut Street near La La Habra Boulevard, but she continued on her way, officials said.
On Wednesday, the man confronted her at Walnut Street and Highlander Avenue, where he exited his car and approached her, Knapp said. The girl managed to get away.
While police said they couldn’t be certain if the same man was responsible for all four incidents, the similarity of the girl’s descriptions led investigators to consider the possibility, Knapp said.
Anyone with information, or anyone who may have had a similar encounter recently is asked to call La Habra police at 562-905-9750.
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