Monthly Archives: June 2011

West Covina police jail Hacienda Heights man on suspicion of car burglaries

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WEST COVINA — Police arrested a Hacienda Heights man Wednesday on suspicion of breaking into half a dozen cars in West Covina, authorities said.
Scott Rumenap, 19, was booked on suspicion of auto burglary, West Covina police Lt. Ron Mitchell said.
A witness called police about 7:40 a.m. to report seeing a man trying to open several car doors in the 2600 block of Greenleaf Drive, the lieutenant said.
Officers arrived to find Rumenap wearing gloves and trying to pry open car doors with a screwdriver, Mitchell said.
They then discovered that six nearby cars had been burglarized, he added, and Rumenap was in possession of items stolen from those cars.
According to sheriff’s booking records, Rumenap was being held in lieu of $20,000 bail and was due for arraignment Friday in West Covina Superior Court.
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Investigation continues into worker’s death at Santa Fe Springs factory

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SANTA FE SPRINGS — A Bellflower man who was killed when he fell from the roof of his workplace last week may have been flying a kite at the time of the accident, officials said Wednesday.
The initial investigation indicated Perry Wayne Isham, 53, was on the roof flying a kite June 7 when he stepped on a skylight and plummeted about 30 feet to the ground, coroner’s and California Division of Occupational Safety and Health officials said.
Though he was an employee at Southern California Valve Co., where he had worked as a technician for about 15 years, he was not carrying out job-related duties when he fell, a company representative said.
Cal/OSHA’s investigation remained in its early stages, spokeswoman Erika Monterroza said, and it would likely take three to four months to complete.
The investigation will include a thorough inspection of the site, interviews with witnesses and fellow employees and a review of the company’s safety procedures and training, she added.
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Sheriff’s Department to host golf tournament

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LA HABRA HEIGHTS — Sheriff’s officials are hosting a golf tournament Monday to raise money for youth drug education, officials said.
The tournament will begin with registration at 9 a.m. with an 11 a.m. shotgun start at the Hacienda Golf Club, 718 East Road, in La Habra Heights, organizers said in a written statement.
“This tournament is designed to be fun and unique, while raising funds for the STAR (Success Through Awareness & Resistance) program, which educates children on the dangers of drugs, gangs and violence,” according to the statement. The STAR program partners with deputies from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, school districts, teachers and parents throughout Los Angeles County. 
“This year we have some on-course surprises planned that are sure to have people talking,” tournament co-coordinator Deputy Robert Amstutz said. “I don’t want to give too much away, but we will be doing the longest drive competition with handcuffs.”
“We are trying to offer a golf experience that will be fun and challenging for all levels of golfers, while getting the message out about the importance of helping the youth in our communities,” tournament coordinator, Deputy Cesar Romero said. “This year, more than ever, we need to raise funds to keep the program running in our schools.” 
Player spots and sponsorships are available, officials said, with tee sponsorships beginning at $100. Player spots include golf, a tee bag, lunch, on-course prizes, a buffet dinner including tri-tip steak and chicken, a silent and live auction, a raffle and a comedy show.
For more information or to sign up for the tournament, call the sheriff’s STAR Unit office at 562-946-7263.
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Baldwin Park police plan checkpoint Saturday

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BALDWIN PARK — Police are planning to hold a checkpoint Saturday, authorities said.
The checkpoint will be held at an undisclosed time and place within the city, Baldwin Park police said in a written statement.
Officers will screen motorists for signs of driving under the influence, as well as those driving without valid driver’s licenses, officials said.
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Bicycles targets of robbery in Whittier, Santa Fe Springs

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Bicycles were the targets in a Santa Fe Springs robbery Sunday and a failed robbery on the Greenway Trail in Whittier Monday:
WHITTIER — A man fought off a would-be robber who tried to take his bicycle on the Greenway Trail Monday, police said.
A man and woman, both from Whittier, were riding their bicycles on the Greenway Trail near Five Points when a young man attempted to grab the man’s bike, Whittier police Lt. Steve Dean said.
“The victim was able to fight the suspect off,” police said in a written statement. The failed robber fled empty-handed.
Police described the suspect as a Latino man in his late teens with short black hair.
SANTA FE SPRINGS — Police arrested two Whittier teens early Sunday on suspicion of robbing a 15-year-old girl of her bicycle, authorities said.
Rafael Corona, 18, and a 17-year-old boy were booked on suspicion of robbery, Whittier police said in a written statement.
The girl was walking her bicycle about 1:30 a.m. in the 10800 block of Pioneer Boulevard when three suspects approached, police said.
“The males robbed the victim of her bicycle and fled,” according to the police statement.
With the help of witnesses, officers found Corona and the 17-year-old suspect riding in a vehicle.
According to sheriff’s booking records, Corona was released later Sunday after posting $50,000 bail. Information on his initial court appearance was not available.
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Man shot in foot outside El Monte restaurant

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EL MONTE — A man was wounded in the foot early Sunday in a mysterious shooting at a taco restaurant, authorities said.
The shooting was reported about 4:30 a.m. at King Taco, at Peck Road and Forest Grove Street, El Monte police Lt. Bob Roach said.
Two men had just purchased food at the restaurant and were walking to their car, parked just to the south of the eatery, when one of the men felt a pain in his foot, the lieutenant said.
The victim, a man in his mid-20s, had been wounded in the foot.
The wounded man told police he did not see or hear where the shot came from, Roach said. A motive in the shooting was unclear.
The attack remained under investigation. Anyone with information is asked to call the El Monte Police Department.
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Brothers arrested after alleged gunpoint eviction attempt

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WHITTIER — Police arrested two Nevada brothers Saturday after they broke into an apartment and used a handgun to threaten the residents in an eviction attempt, authorities said.
The incident was reported about 12:40 p.m. at an apartment in the 14600 block of Christine Drive, Whittier police Lt. Carlos Solorza said.
The lieutenant said Edward Gomez, 30, of Henderson and Gabriel Gomez, 34, of Las Vegas were booked on suspicion of burglary and making terrorist threats. They are relatives of the landlord at the apartment where the incident took place.
“The investigation revealed that the two subject are relatives of the landlord and did enter the apartment with a handgun in, more or less, a forced eviction,” he said.
A woman who was inside the home when the Gomez brothers forced their way through the front door fled and notified police, Solorza said. Another woman and man remained inside the apartment.
“(The suspects) threatened them with physical force, and threatened them if they notified the police,” he added.
Once police arrived and surrounded the apartment, one of the brothers immediately surrendered while the other was found hiding in a carport, Solorza said. A 9mm handgun was recovered.
According to sheriff’s booking records, Edward and Gabriel Gomez were released from jail about 11 p.m. Saturday pending court appearances in lieu of $50,000 bail each.
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Montebello bank robbery suspect named

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MONTEBELLO — Authorities have released the name of an 18-year-old local man accused of trying to rob the same bank twice in two days earlier this week.
Paul Jackson, 18, of Montebello, was being held in lieu of $100,000 bail Saturday at the Montebello Police Department’s jail, according to sheriff’s booking records.
Jackson successfully used a demand note to rob the Banco Popular, 2133 W. Beverly Blvd., of about $400 Wednesday before returning to the very same bank branch Friday to try it again, Montebello police investigators said.
After fleeing the bank without any money on his second attempt, officials said, police found Jackson walking in the area and arrested him on suspicion of both Wednesday’s robbery and Thursday’s failed heist.
Jackson was due for arraignment Monday in East Los Angeles Superior Court, records show.
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Teenage bicyclist struck by car dies; Whittier woman suspected of vehicular manslaughter of

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NORWALK — A 15-year-old boy struck by a car while riding his bicycle one week ago died Friday morning, and a Whittier woman accused of being drunk when she struck him now faces charges of vehicular manslaughter, authorities said.
The teen’s name was not released pending positive identification and notification of his family, coroner’s officials said.
Anna Chavez, 38, was initially booked on suspicion of felony drunken driving in connection with the June 3 crash, Los Angeles County sheriff’s Lt. Josie Woolum said.
The teen was riding his bike east on Alondra Boulevard near Pioneer Boulevard when the collision took place, the lieutenant said.
Chavez was also headed east in her car when she struck the boy, who may have been starting to cross the street, officials said.
Rescuers rushed the badly injured boy to the hospital for treatment, Woolum said. He clung to life for a week before he was pronounced dead at 7:02 a.m. Friday.
According to sheriff’s booking records, Chavez was being held in lieu of $100,000 bail and was due for arraignment Tuesday in Downey Superior Court.
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Police look into couple offering children candy in La Habra

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LA HABRA — Police cautioned the public Friday about suspicious encounters two young boys had with a couple who offered them candy.
The incidents were reported about 3 p.m. Thursday near Rose and College streets, La Habra police said in a written statement.
An 11-year-old boy was walking in the area when a car containing a young man and woman pulled up along the curb, police said.
“The driver asked the boy if he would like some candy,” the statement said. “The boy did not accept the offer and walked away. As he did so, he noted that the driver attempted to contact another student before driving east on Rose Street and out of view.”
Police searched the area but were unable to find the suspicious man and woman, authorities said, however they were able to track down the second boy who encountered the couple.
The second boy, 13, “indicated that he, too, was asked if he wanted candy, but simply ignored the question and continued walking,” according to the police statement.
Police described the couple as being in their late teens or early 20s. The driver was a white woman, while the passenger was a Latino man.
The car was a gray, four-door sedan.
The investigation was ongoing, and anyone with information was asked to call La Habra police at 562-905-9750.
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