Monthly Archives: September 2011

Man struck, badly injured by car while crossing street in El Monte

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EL MONTE — An elderly man was hospitalized in “very critical” condition Thursday after being struck by  a car while crossing the street, police said.
The accident was reported just after 5:30 a.m. near Vane Avenue and Cortada Street, El Monte police Lt. Dan Burlingham said.
The pedestrian, initially described only as an elderly man who was pushing a shopping cart, suffered major head trauma and was taken to Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center where he was listed in “very critical” condition, the lieutenant said.
The crash occurred mid-block, where traffic is not controlled by a crosswalk, signal or sign, police said.
The driver of the vehicle remained at the scene an cooperated with investigators, Burlingham said. Nothing criminal was initially suspected.
The cause of the crash remained under investigation.

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Megan’s Law tip line, help line now available

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Two nonprofit organizations have launched two new services to help citizens make better use of the state Megan’s Law sex offender database.
Parents for Megan’s Law and the Crime Victims Center have teamed up to offer a tip line to report sex offenders believed to be in violation of of their requirements as well as a National Megan’s Law Helpline to provide information and resources and help people access the database, organizers said in a written statement.
“The Sex Offender Registration Tips Program provides the public an opportunity to report registrants who are failing to comply with registration requirements, employment or supervision restrictions or who are in position of trust where they can access children,” the statement said.
Tips can be made by calling the Helpline at 888-275-7365, or online at www.parentsformeganslaw.org.
While the program is not designed to report police emergencies, “Agency deputized staff work collaboratively with federal, state and local law enforcement agencies to facilitate the appropriate follow-up action.”
Funding for the program is provided by the U.S. Department of Justice.

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Man sought for robbing, molesting young woman in Azusa

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AZUSA – Police are looking for the man on a skateboard who robbed and attacked a college student walking home.
The woman was robbed about 10 p.m. Tuesday in the 1100 block of North Angeleno Avenue.
Azusa police Sgt. Xavier Torres said the Azusa woman got off the bus and was heading home when she saw the suspect riding a skateboard toward her.
Torres said the man grabbed the woman from behind and threw her to the ground.
“He lay on top and tried to put his hands in her pants. She was able to push him off her,” Torres said.
The assailant fled with the woman’s computer bag which contained her school books and laptop.
The suspect was described as a Latino, 18 to 20, about 5 feet 7 inches tall, 160 pounds with a medium complexion. He wore a dark-colored baseball cap, a light-colored shirt and dark-colored jeans.
– From Staff Writer Ruby Gonzales

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Whittier robber fires shot, flees empty-handed after failing to break open glass jewelry case

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WHITTIER — A would-be jewelry thief fired a gunshot into the ceiling and fled empty-handed Wednesday night when he couldn’t smash a display case.
No one was injured during the 5:39 p.m. attempted robbery at Covenant Diamonds, 6752 Greenleaf Ave., according to police.
Employees told officers a man entered the store, tried to smash a display case and take the jewelry.
But his plan hit a snag when he was unable to break the glass, officials said.
The culprit was gone when officers arrived. It wasn’t clear if the man used the gun, a tool or just his hands to break the display case.
The suspect was described as a black man, 25 to 30 and 5 feet 11 inches tall. He wore a black jacket and black baseball cap.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Whittier police Department at 562-567-9200.
– From Staff Writer Ruby Gonzales

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Monterey Park man arrested following stabbing, stand-off

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MONTEREY PARK – A man was behind bars Thursday after allegedly stabbing his wife during an argument, then holing up in their home for four hours.
Xiong Chao, 49, was booked on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, Monterey Park police Sgt. John Martindale said.
Police rescued the man’s wife and their 3-year-old son, who had locked themselves in a bathroom to hide from the knife-wielding suspect, the sergeant said.
The woman called police about 9:30 p.m. from the 200 block of Sefton Avenue to report she had been stabbed in the leg by her husband, officials said.
“She was arguing with her husband when he went into the kitchen and retrieved two large knives,” Martindale said.
After being stabbed, the woman grabbed the couple’s 3-year-old son and him and herself in a bathroom, he said.
“Officers arrived and were able to remove baby through the window,” Martindale said.
Chao barricaded himself in a bedroom, police said, and a SWAT team was summoned to the scene.
SWAT officers went into the home and rescued the woman, whose injuries were not believed to be life-threatening, Martindale said. In addition to the stab wound to her leg, she had bruises on her head.
After about four hours, SWAT offers went into the bedroom and took Chao into custody. Details of the arrest were not available early Thursday, however no injuries were reported during the arrest.
According to county book records, Chao was being held in lieu of $30,000 bail and was due to appear in Alhambra Superior Court Friday.

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South Pasadena police seek man who exposed himself to teen

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SOUTH PASADENA — Police Wednesday alerted the public of a man who exposed himself to a 17-year-old girl last week.
The incident was reported just before 3:50 p.m. Thursday in the 1500 block of Diamond Avenue, South Pasadena police officials said in a written statement.
“As the victim walked past the suspect’s vehicle, the victim looked inside and saw the suspect masturbating,” the statement said. “The victim quickly walked away and the suspect drove away.”
Police described the suspect as a heavyset Latino man of about 40 years old, with a dark complexion, black hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a white T-shirt.
His car was described as a white, 1995 Honda Civic.
Anyone with information is asked to call the South Pasadena Police Department at 626-403-7200.

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Investigation continues into fatal officer-involved shooting of Altadena woman in Minnesota

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From the Associated Press:

MINNESOTA — Authorities have identified the Golden Valley police officer who fatally shot an Altadena woman on Interstate 394 last week.
Officer Robert Zarrett, who has been with the department since 1998, remains on administrative leave while the fatal shooting is under investigation.
According to initial reports, Zarrett initiated a traffic stop on the interstate about 1 p.m. Thursday. The driver of the Honda Civic, Katherine Marie Gordon, 58, of Altadena, pulled to the left side of the roadway, just west of the Hopkins Crossroad overpass.
Police said Gordon “was in possession of a handgun” and was shot by Zarrett. It’s unclear if Gordon fired her weapon or why Zarrett shot her. She died of multiple gunshot wounds, according to the Hennepin County Medical Examiner.
Zarrett has 16 letters of commendation in his file for his work in the community and police department, according to Golden Valley police. As of last week’s shooting, there were no open investigation complaints against him.

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Posted in OIS

La Habra woman’s body found at Huntington Beach

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HUNTINGTON BEACH — Authorities have identified the body of a woman that was found on Huntington State Beach on Monday morning as a 30-year-old La Habra woman.
The Orange County Register reports that the body is that of Myphuong Tran.
Huntington Beach police Lt. Russell Reinhart says the death appears to be a drowning.
Reinhart says body was fully clothed, appeared to have been in the water less than 24 hours, and there’s no indication of anything criminal.

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LASD vs. LAPD in upcoming charity boxing match

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MONTEBELLO — Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies and Los Angeles police officers are preparing to go toe-to-toe in the boxing ring to help the City of Hope battle cancer.
The 18th annual “Fight for Life: Battle of the Badges” will begin at 5:30 Dec. 2 at the Quiet Cannon, 901 Via San Clemente, City of Hope officials said in a written statement.
The event began in 1994 after some East Los Angeles sheriff’s deputies befriended 9-year-old cancer patient Joshua Moreno and decided to become involved in his cause.
Though the young man who inspired the event succumbed to the disease, the annual charity event continues in his memory.
“Whatever the outcome from this event, whether the competitors win or lose, they are all in agreement that the true winner here is City of Hope and the individuals they treat yearly,” according to the City of Hope statement.
Tickets are $25 for general admission, $50 for reserves seating and $100 for VIP ringside seating. Tickets can be purchased by calling the Sheriff’s Relief Foundation at 562-946-7081, and will also be available at the door.
For more information, contact Nancy Lewis at 213-241-7134.

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Stoner sentenced for growing pot in Whittier

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WHITTIER — A Whittier man with a fitting name has been sentenced for cultivating marijuana in an industrial building, authorities said.
Police arrested Kevin Stoner, 39, July 12 after he was found growing more than 300 pot plants inside a building in an industrial park at 13420 Lambert Road.
Stoner was due in Downey Superior Court for a hearing Tuesday, at which time he pleaded guilty to charges of cultivating marijuana and possession of marijuana for sales, Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office spokeswoman Shiara Davila-Morales said.
A judge immediately sentenced him to 180 days in jail and three years of formal probation, she said.
Investigators seized about 60 pounds of marijuana from the grow operation, valued at about $180,000, when they searched the building in July, police said at the time.
Stoner was arrested at the facility.
The hydroponic marijuana grow took up five separate rooms inside the building.

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