October 2011 Archives

COVINA -- Police asked the public's help in finding a 72-year-old man suffering from Alzheimer's disease who wandered away from his wife's business Sunday.
George Pavez of Covina walked away from his wife's business in the 600 block of South Shoppers Lane about 1 p.m., Covina police Sgt. Rob Bobkiewicz said.
In addition to Alzheimer's disease, Pavez also suffers from other medical conditions that require medication, police said.
He's described as Latino, 5 feet 2 inches tall, of medium build, Bobkiewicz said. He's badling with gray hair and has a 4-inch scar on the top of his head, and his eyes are brown.
Pavez was last seen wearing a gray checkered shirt and khaki pants.
Anyone with information is asked to call Covina police at 626-331-3391.

PHOTO of George Pavez courtesy of the Covina Police Department.

LA MIRADA -- Two women died and three people suffered serious injuries when a Honda Accord carrying seven people crashed into a power pole and a tree, authorities said.
The names of the dead women were not released pending notification of their family members, Los Angeles County Coroner's officials said.
California Highway Patrol officials described them as a 21-year-old woman, the driver, and a 20 year old woman. Both were from Whittier.
The car was heading west on Lambert Road, just east of Fireside Drive, about 3:50 a.m. when the crash occurred, CHP officials said in a written statement.
"For undetermined reasons, (the Honda) veered to the right, colliding with a wooden power pole, then continued in a westerly direction, colliding into a tree," the statement said.
The 21-year-old driver and 20-year-old passenger were taken to hospitals where they died from their injuries, authorities said.
A 20-year-old Cerritos man and an 18-year-old La Puente man were hospitalized in critical condition following the crash, officials said, and a 23-year-old La Habra man was hospitalized with injuries including cuts to his head and broken bones in his back.
A 19-year-old Bellflower woman and a 20-year-old Cerritos woman riding in the car were hospitalized with apparently minor injuries, according to the CHP.
The cause of the crash was being investigated by the Santa Fe Springs office of the CHP.

MONROVIA -- A man who had been holding his ex-wife at gunpoint near Library Park Saturday fatally shot himself when confronted by police, authorities said.
Police initially described the dead man as appearing to be in his late 40s.
The incident was reported just after noon in front of Library Park, in the 300 block of South Myrtle Avenue, Monrovia police Lt. Dan Verna said.
Police received several 9-1-1 calls reporting a domestic dispute in which a man threatening a woman with a gun.
"When officers arrived, they found a man holding a woman at gunpoint," Lt. Jaime Alfaro said.
Officers ordered the man to drop his gun and surrender, Alfaro said.
"The male turned the gun on himself and took his own life," the lieutenant said.
The woman, who was in her mid-40s, and two young children she was with were unhurt, police said.
Investigators learned the man was the woman's ex-husband, and one of the children with the woman was theirs, Alfaro said. He had followed the woman and children to the area.
Police summoned counselors to comfort the woman and children.

MONROVIA -- Police are investigating a shooting that took place during a domestic violence incident between a man and woman in front of Library Park, authorities said.
Police and fire officials were summoned to the park, 321 S. Myrtle Avenue, about noon, Monrovia police Sgt. Dan Verna said.
The man was pronounced dead at the scene from what police said was possibly a self inflicted gunshot wound.
Initial reports from the scene indicated multiple witnesses called 9-1-1 just prior to the shooting to report that a man armed with a gun was trying to "contact" a woman.
The woman was unarmed and unhurt, Verna said.
No further details were available.

ALHAMBRA -- A man died early Saturday after he was wounded in what authorities suspect was a gang-related car-to-car shooting after leaving a Halloween party.
Leopaldo Anaya, 19, of Los Angeles was taken by a friend to Los Angeles County USC Medical Center following the shooting, where he was pronounced dead, Montebello police officials said in a written statement.
The shooting is believed to have taken place just after midnight Saturday in the area of Winchester and Concord avenues in Alhambra, near the border with the El Sereno neighborhood of Los Angeles, Sergeant Joe Flannagan said.
"The friend stated that just prior to the shooting, he, the victim and a third friend known only as 'Danny' were attending a Halloween party in the area," Flannagan said.
They were driving away from the party when a car, possibly a black Honda, pulled alongside them.
"Shots were exchanged between the vehicles," Flannagan said.
Anaya, who was a passenger, was shot once in the chest, police said.
It was unclear Saturday whether the victims and suspects were involved in an argument or altercation prior to the shooting.
Investigators recovered spend bullet casings in the street at the scene of the shooting.
Anaya was believed to have ties to an El Sereno street gang, police said.
Detectives continued seeking "Danny," who gave no statement to police or medical staff before leaving the hospital, Flannagan said.
Anyone with information is asked to call Alhambra police Detective Gomez at 626-308-4844. Messages can be left anonymously if desired.

ALHAMBRA - An El Monte man who works as a student aide was arrested Friday for allegedly assaulting a 13-year-old girl earlier this year.
Alhambra police Lt. Dan Rodriguez said the alleged molestation happened sometime between January and February at Garfield Elementary School, 119 W. Mclean St.
Authorities found out on Friday.
"It appears the (girl) didn't reveal it to any school staff until today," Rodriguez said.
School employees then notified police.
Johnny Lagunas, 20, was arrested on suspicion of child molestation. He was being held at Alhambra jail in lieu of $100,000 bail.
Rodriguez said Lagunas should be arraigned Tuesday at Alhambra Superior Court.
Police suspect Lagunas could have been involved in other similar incidents and are looking for other victims.
Anyone with information is asked to call Det. Huezo or Det. Orozco at 626-570-5151.
-From staff reports

PHOTO of Johnny Lagunas courtesy of the Alhambra Police Department.

LA MIRADA -- A woman died in an early morning solo-car crash on Lambert road in an unincorporated county area northeast of La Mirada Saturday, officials said.
The woman appeared to be in her mid-20s, however her identity was not available early Saturday, Los Angeles County coroner's officials said. She was pronounced dead at Whittier Hospital Medical Center.
The crash was reported just before 4 a.m. on Lambert Road, near Fireside Drive, according to California Highway Patrol logs.
Two other people were reportedly injured when the car hit a power pole, however no further details were immediately available.

PASADENA -- A man awoke in the early morning hours Saturday to find an intruder breaking into his home, police said.
The break-in was reported about 2:40 a.m. in the 1100 block of North Wilson Avenue, Pasadena police Lt. Diego Torres said.
"The victim, a male in his 20s, was awakened when he heard someone tampering at his side door," the lieutenant said.
When he went to check on it, he saw someone climbing through a window, Torres said.
The man yelled at the intruder, who then ran away, he said. The victim was unable to provide a description of the burglar.

INDUSTRY -- A Diamond Bar man died and three other people were injured in a crash involving two cars and two big rigs early Saturday, authorities said.
Jonathan Guzman Vaca, 22, of Diamond Bar, died in the 2:50 a.m. crash on the eastbound 60 Freeway at Azusa Avenue, Los Angeles County Department of Coroner's Lt. Larry Dietz said.
It initially appeared that Vaca was entering the freeway from southbound Azusa Avenue in a 2003 Nissan 350Z when, "For reasons still under investigation, the driver was not able to control the Nissan as he entered the main portion of eastbound State Route 60," California Highway Patrol officials said in a written statement.
After entering the right-hand lane of the freeway, Vaca's Nissan was struck by a big rig, officials said.
"After being struck by the big rig," the CHP statement said, "the Nissan spun across into the No. 3 lane and was struck by another big rig."
The Nissan was forced into the center divider, and a 2000 Nissan Frontier SUV being driven by a 33-year-old Pomona man then struck the rear of the big rig, CHP officials said.
Fire Department paramedics pronounced Vaca dead at the scene, officials said.
The driver of the Nissan Frontier and one of the big rig drivers, a 27-year-old Anaheim man, were hospitalized with major injuries, according to the CHP. A 64-year-old Fontana man who was driving the other big rig suffered minor injuries.
All but one lane of the freeway were shut down as officials examined the scene early Saturday.
Officers from the Santa Fe Springs office of the CHP are continuing their investigation.

A task force based out of sheriff's Industry Station shut down an illegal recycling operation in Compton and seized about $500,000 worth of stolen plastic, officials said Friday.
The bust took place about 9 a.m. Wednesday in the 500 block of East Pine Street in Compton, Los Angeles County sheriff's officials said in a written statement.
The owner of the recycling business, 67-year-old Ernest Ojeda of Compton, was arrested on suspicion of receiving stolen property and illegal possession of trademarked plastic products, officials said. He was released from jail after posting $20,000 bail.
Investigators from the sheriff's Industry Station have found nearly $4 million in stolen plastic, primarily plastic pallets taken from businesses and mail containers taken from the U.S. Post Office, Detective Shelley Jones said.
The trend of plastic theft is a growing one, the detective said. "This is only going to get bigger."
In addition to arresting Ojeda and seizing the plastic, officials also closed down his business, which has not held a permit in four years, Shelley said.
About 50 bags of ground up plastic weighing 2,000 pounds each were found in the recycling center, and about 10,000 more plastic pallets were found in a house adjacent to the recycling center owned by a family member of Ojeda. A plastic grinder and a saw were also taken as evidence.
Firefighters responded to the business to collect "oil and other toxic substances" found at the recycling center.
"The theft of these plastics is an organized effort by thieves who have trucks and co-conspirators working at businesses throughout Los Angeles County and the entire region," according to the sheriff's statement. "Sheriff's investigators are recovering property stolen from victims throughout Los Angeles County, especially the San Gabriel Valley, as well as communities in neighboring counties such as the Inland Empire. The plastic pallets are often stolen from the loading docks behind businesses."
The Pine Street operation was believed to be related to another uncovered by sheriff's investigators on Oct. 10 at a commercial building less than a mile away in the 2700 block of North Alameda Street in Compton, officials said. Ojeda is believed to know four suspects arrested in that case.
About $2 million worth of allegedly stolen plastic was recovered from the Alameda Street address, along with more than 500 marijuana plants. About 6,000 of the recovered pallets belonged to the U.S. Postal Service, and officials are seeking federal charges against the suspects.
In May, the task force displayed about $1.3 million worth of plastic pallets stolen from businesses throughout Los Angeles County that investigators had collected over the previous five months.
In response to the success of the investigation, the City of Industry in early September funded a plastic task force at the sheriff's Industry Station to combat the problem county wide.

POMONA -- Police officers from throughout the San Gabriel Valley will help Pomona police keep the peace next week as a planned neo-Nazi rally unfolds in front of Pomona City Hall, officials said.
The National Socialist Movement, based in Detroit, Michigan, is planning the rally for 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 5 in front of the City Hall, 505 S. Garey Ave., according to El Monte police and rally organizers.
The white supremacists plan to demonstrate against illegal immigration and promote the interests of "White America," NSM organizers said in a written statement.
The group chose Pomona for it's demonstration because, according to the statement, "Pomona is a unique gathering place of continuing tension between ethnic minorities."
To prepare for any potential disturbances associated with the highly controversial rally, police from departments including West Covina, El Monte, Covina, Baldwin Park, Azusa, Glendora and others, will send officers to help the Pomona Police Department keep and eye on the situation, West Covina police Lt. Tommy Garcia said.

WALNUT -- A court date has been set for a woman accused of stabbing her husband in his Walnut home, authorities said.
Socorro Mora, 43, is scheduled to be arraigned Nov. 22 in Pomona Superior Court for the murder of her 47-year-old estranged husband George Mora Oct. 19 at his house in the 21600 block of Brookside Court, court officials said.
The hearing was initially scheduled for Thursday, but postponed as the defendant remained hospitalized due to her own stab wounds.
Deputies responded to a call from Socorro Mora reporting a domestic violence incident at the home before finding both she and her husband stabbed, investigators said.
Socorro Mora was found critically wounded in the front yard of the home, while George Mora was pronounced dead from his injuries inside the home.
Investigators have not said how Socorro Mora is believed to have suffered her injuries.

GLENDORA - An anonymous call about a bomb at Citrus College led to the entire campus being evacuated Thursday.

Paula Green, spokeswoman for the college at 1000 W. Foothill Blvd., said no bomb was found.

The incident started at 2:40 p.m.

The school received a brief, "very cursory" phone call saying that there was a bomb on the campus, Glendora police Lt. Rob Lamborghini said.

The caller didn't specify where the bomb was located.

Green said all buildings on campus were evacuated and searched. At about 5 p.m. an alert was sent out campus-wide that everything is all clear and normal operations should resume, according to Green.

PICO RIVERA -- Deputies arrested seven people early Wednesday during a sweep targeting a violent street gang believed to be responsible for three shooting this month, authorities said.
In response to the violence, which has left two men wounded and one man dead, gang investigators headed out in force to do probation compliance checks on known gang members, Los Angeles County sheriff's Sgt. Mark Bailey said.
"The reason for this operation was because we've had several shootings in the month of October involving the Pico Viejo gang," he said.
Five men and two women were arrested in the operation, in which deputies visited six homes within the city of Pico Rivera, officials said.
Charges ranged from being under the influence of drugs and possession of graffiti tools to assault with a deadly weapon, officials said.
One of the suspects nabbed in Wednesday's sweep, 21-year-old Adam Avalos of El Monte, is suspected in an Oct. 5 shooting at a Pico Rivera Wal-Mart store in which a member of the rival street gang Pico Nuevo was wounded while loading groceries into his car, Bailey said. A second teenage suspect had been identified and is also being sought in connection with the shooting.
Also arrested were: Sandra Robledo, 50, on suspicion of being under the influence of drugs and violating probation; her son, Manuel Robledo, 24, on suspicion of possession of marijuana; Oscar Oporto, 39, due to an outstanding narcotics warrant; Desiree Garcia, 30, on suspicion of being under the influence of drugs; Cresencio Garcia, 50, on suspicion of being under the influence of drugs; and Steven Alvarado, 18, on suspicion of possessing graffiti and vandalism tools, officials said.
Four of the suspects were arrested at the Lancer Motel, 4335 Rosemead Blvd., Bailey said.
Juan Z. Gutierrez, 33, of Whittier was shot to death as he rode his bicycle early Tuesday near Harrell Street and Layman Avenue, according to coroner's officials.
He was believed to be a gang member, and the shooting was believed to be gang related, investigators said.
No arrests have been made Thursday, and Sgt. Barry Hall of the Sheriff's Homicide Bureau said detectives were left with very few clues to follow in the case.
In another gang-related attack attributed to the Pico Viejo gang, a member of the rival Pico Nuevo gang was shot and wounded Oct. 2 at a gas station at Beverly and Rosemead boulevards, authorities said. The suspect or suspects remained at large.
While there is much work yet to be done to combat Pico Viejo and other criminal street gangs in the city, "We definitely made some good gains."

ACLU sues sheriff's department for detaining photographers: h/t @lacrimes:

LA HABRA - Police checking out a call about a fight found a man stabbed multiple times at a local park Wednesday and later arrested two men.
At 2:21 a.m., police were called to a fight at Electric Avenue and Walnut Street.
La Habra police Lt. Jeff Swaim said officers didn't ind a fight but located a seriously injured 30-year-old man at Portola Park, 301 S. Euclid Street. Swaim said the man was stabbed three times in the chest, once in the abdomen and three to four times in the back.
The injured man, a La Habra residents, remained hospitalized Thursday in critical-but-stable condition, La Habra police spokeswoman Cindy Knapp said. He was taken to UC Irvine Medical Center.
Officers later tracked down the suspect vehicle and arrested two men, 20-year-old Anthony Silva of Whittier and 21-year-old Michael Corcoran of Whittier, on suspicion of attempted murder, Swaim said.
Silva and Corcoran were being held at La Habra jail and will be arraigned Friday.
Detectives were still trying to piece what led to the stabbing.
Any witnesses to the attack are asked to call the La Habra Police Department.

HACIENDA HEIGHTS - Two children were injured after they were ejected during a two-car collision Wednesday.
California Highway Patrol Officer Christian Cracraft said the children sustained minor to moderate injuries.
He said the 5:47 p.m. crash on Turnbull Canyon Road led to all lanes south of Gale Avenue being closed.
Cracraft didn't know if both children were in the same car. The collision reportedly involved a BMW and a Ford Explorer.
There were no further details released.
- From Staff Writer Ruby Gonzales

PICO RIVERA -- Deputies arrested seven people on suspicion of probation violations Wednesday during an early morning compliance check, authorities said.
The probationers, five men and two women, were all arrested on suspicion of various violations when deputies visited eight homes to see if the residents were in compliance with the terms of their probation, Los Angeles County sheriff's Lt. Robert Smith said.
Deputies, including detectives and gang investigators, periodically carry out such compliance checks, he said.
People convicted of lesser crimes can be placed on probation in lieu of serving time in jail, however they are subject to conditions such as submitting to searches by law enforcement officers and obeying all laws.
If probationers are found to be in violation of the terms, the probation can be revoked and the convict sent to jail.

This is sick and disturbing. At least one of the instructors was in the Marine Corps. Nice to know our armed forces are turning out torturing monsters:

ARCADIA -- For the third time in as many days, firefighters have had to douse flames at an Arcadia home, authorities said.
A fire broke out just before 11 a.m. Wednesday inside an apartment in the 1100 block of Arcadia Avenue, Arcadia Fire Department spokeswoman Beth Stogner said.
The blaze, which was initially believed to have been sparked by clothing or towels left too close to a wall heater, was confined to a bathroom, Stogner said.
The occupants got themselves out of the apartment before firefighters arrived, and no injuries were reported, she said.
A dollar-value estimate of the damage was not available Wednesday afternoon.
Another fire caused about $150,000 worth of damage to a garage and two cars parked inside it about 7:20 a.m. Tuesday, officials said.
No one was hurt in the blaze, Stogner said.
Investigators could not isolate a definite cause, but could not rule out the possibility a pile of rags contaminated with a volatile chemical left in the garage spontaneously ignited.
Firefighters responded to another blaze about 2:50 a.m. Monday, where a house was badly damaged in the 200 block of West Camino Real, Stogner said.
Officials arrived to find the home well-involved with fire, but the residents had evacuated themselves, she said.
Firefighters extinguished the fire in about 20 minutes, Stogner said. One resident who declined to be hospitalized via ambulance was later taken to a hospital by a private car for treatment of smoke inhalation.
Monday's fire caused an estimated $250,000 worth of damage to the home and items inside of it, Stogner said.
The cause was found to be someone smoking in bed, she said.

NORWALK -- A doctor accused of molesting five patients during gynecological exams at offices in Whittier and La Mirada pleaded not guilty in court Wednesday, authorities said.
Dr. Steve Vouis, 65, is charged with six counts of sexual battery by fraud for alleged incident that took place between 2007 and 2009.
Vouis, who is free pending trial after posting $125,000 bail, was ordered to return to Norwalk Superior court Dec. 13 for a pretrial hearing, court officials said.

Law enforcement agencies throughout the San Gabriel Valley and the nation will be partnering with the Drug Enforcement Administration Saturday to collect unwanted prescription drugs.
Started in September of last year, the program is designed to remove expired and unwanted medications from medicine cabinets so they don't end up in the hand of abusers, or polluting the environment, Azusa police officials said in a written statement.
It us unsafe to simply throw unwanted drugs in the trash or flush them down the toilet, officials said.
Collections will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at police stations including the Azusa Police Department, 725 N. Alameda Ave., the El Monte Police Department, 11333 Valley Blvd. and the Whittier Police Department, 13200 Penn Street.
The service is free and anonymous, with no questions asked.

COVINA -- Police arrested three men who were selling meat door-to-door on suspicion of receiving stolen property Tuesday, police said.
Mustapha Math, 29, of Los Angeles, Stephen Hyman, 18, of Panorama City and Richard Olson, 52, of Sun Valley were all booked on suspicion of possession of stolen property, Covina police Lt. John Curley said.
Police received a call about 4:40 p.m. reporting suspicious people loitering in the 200 block of East Hurst Street, the lieutenant said.
Officers found Math, Hyman and Olson in the neighborhood, Curley said. They said they were there to selling meat products door-to-door,
Hyman showed signs of being under the influence of drugs and was detained, Curley said.
Upon further investigation, officers found newer-model computer equipment inside the men's car, "and they could not provide an explanation of where these items came from," Curley said.
All three men were arrested on suspicion of possessing stolen property, police said. Hyman was additionally booked on suspicion of being under the influence of drugs, and Olson was also booked on suspicion of possessing drugs -- marijuana and cocaine.
According to county booking records, Math, a parolee, was being held without bail, Hyman was being held in lieu of $10,000 bail and Olson was being held on $20,000 bail. All three were due to appear in West Covina Superior Court Friday.

PASADENA -- One man was stabbed and several others injured during a fight at an apartment complex late Tuesday, authorities said.
Police jailed two men and sought a third in connection with the 11:45 p.m. attack in the 500 block of North Marengo Avenue, Pasadena police Lt. Tracey Ibarra said.
The stabbing victim suffered injuries that appeared, "serious but not life-threatening," after being stabbed in the torso, the lieutenant said.
Two men became involved in a fight over a woman, and several other people joined in on both sides, Ibarra said.
During the fight, one man was stabbed and two other men were struck in the head with bottles, she said. The men who were hit with bottles were not hospitalized.
Govani Lopez, 21, and Victor Lopez, 41, both of Pasadena, were booked on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, Ibarra said. It was not clear if they were related. They were believed to have wielded the bottles.
A fourth man was hospitalized with a cut, Ibarra said. He was being investigated as a possible suspect in the attack as well.
The knife-wielding suspect remained at large, officials said. He was described only as a Latino man wearing dark clothing.
According to county booking records, Govani and Victor Lopez were being held in lieu of $30,000 each pending their initial court appearances.

PICO RIVERA -- Sheriff's deputies jailed two men suspected of at least five car break-ins after catching them in the act late Tuesday, authorities said.
Servando Villalobos, 34, and Rodolfo Lemus, 25, were booked on suspicion of auto burglary, Los Angeles County sheriff's Lt. Robert Smith said. Their cities of residence were not available.
They were being held in lieu of $40,000 bail each pending their initial court appearances, according to county booking records.
Sgt. Joe Van Damme was on patrol about 7:50 p.m. in the parking lot of L.A. Fitness, 8909 Washington Blvd., when he spotted a man breaking into a car, then getting into a Chevy Tahoe which drove away, the lieutenant said.
Van Damme followed the Tahoe and called for backup before deputies stopped the car and detained Villalobos and Lemus, Smith said.
Inside the Tahoe, he added, deputies found four third-row seats stolen from SUVs, ID cards, cell phones and other stolen items.
Items taken from the L.A. Fitness car break-in were returned to their owner, as well as items stolen in a car burglary at Target, 8800 Whittier Blvd., and one of the third-row seats, which was found to have been stolen from a car parked at Chuck E. Cheese's restaurant, 6005 Rosemead Blvd., Smith said.
Investigators were still trying to find the owners of the other three third-row seats Wednesday, Smith said. It was not known where they had been stolen.
Anyone who recently had an SUV third-row seat stolen in the area recently is advised to call the sheriff's Pico Rivera Station at 562-949-2421.

DIAMOND BAR -- Arraignment was postponed Tuesday for a Diamond Bar teacher who authorities allege was having a sexual relationship with a 14-year-old student.
Steven Shane Andrews, 41, was scheduled to be arraigned in Pomona Superior Court, but the proceedings were postponed, court officials said.
Andrews, a teacher at Lorbeer Middle School, faces 18 felony counts stemming from an alleged relationship with the girl from May through September, according to a criminal complaint filed in Superior Court by the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office.
Andrews is scheduled to return to court Nov. 1 for arraignment on the charges, officials said.
The defendant is being held at Twin Towers Correctional Facility in Los Angeles in lieu of $450,000 bail.
The girl told investigators that she had a sexual relationship with Andrews while she was in the eighth grade at Lorbeer, in the 2010-2011 school year, sheriff's officials said.
The school is in the Pomona Unified School District.
The defendant surrendered to deputies on Sept. 30 at a sheriff's station in Walnut.
Andrews faces six counts each of sexual penetration with a foreign object and unlawful sexual intercourse with a child, three counts of lewd acts with a child, two counts of oral copulation with a child under 16 and one count of first-degree residential burglary, according to the criminal complaint.

POMONA -- We-Tip information led police to a large-scale marijuana grow operation in Pomona.
Police officers received anonymous information that two men were cultivating marijuana inside a business at 2720 Pomona Blvd., which is in an industrial area of the city.
When officers arrived on Monday they talked to Van Quang Nguyen, 50, of Westminster who said he was the renter of the property and in charge of what was inside the building, Pomona police Sgt. Jaime Gutierrez said in a written statement.
More than 2,800 plants in various stages of growth were found inside, he said.
Follow-up searches at the Westminster homes of the suspects yielded an additional 30 pounds of harvested marijuana, police said. The estimated street value of the pot was more than $1.5 million.
Nguyen, along with Thanh Van Lee, 40, of Westminster were arrested and booked at Pomona City Jail on suspicion of possessing and cultivating marijuana for sale, officials said. Their bail was set at $100,000.
Police said the suspects also stole electricity from Southern California Edison to set up the operation.
LA IMPACT, a regional narcotics unit, was called to the scene for assistance.

PASADENA -- A man and woman accused of murdering a Pasadena barbershop owner pleaded not guilty Tuesday, officials.
Devon Westley Moore, 22, of Los Angeles, and Sabrina King, 18, of Compton, are due back in Pasadena Superior Court for a preliminary hearing setting on Dec. 14, court officials said.
King E. King, 43, of Pasadena was found stabbed to death Sept. 21 in a shared parking lot behind his barbershop on the 900 block of East Washington Avenue, investigators said.
Prosecutors have also accused Sabrina King, who is not related to the victim, and Moore with the special circumstance that the murder was done during a robbery, making them potentially eligible for the death penalty.
Prosecutors have not yet determined whether to seek capital punishment in the case.

SOUTH SAN GABRIEL -- A 6-year-old boy died over the weekend after a large bird bath fell on him as he played in a back yard, authorities said.
Hunter Thomas Mason Brule of Lake Arrowhead died at a hospital several hours after the accident, Los Angeles County Department of Coroner's Lt. Fred Corral said.
The incident was reported about 5 p.m. Saturday at a home in the 1700 block of Eckhart Avenue in the unincorporated county area known as South San Gabriel, Los Angeles County sheriff's Lt. Tom McNeal said.
The boy was playing in the back yard with a dog when a large concrete bird feeder fell over and landed on his chest, sheriff's and coroner's officials said.
An autopsy performed Tuesday concluded the boy died from blunt force trauma to his chest and the death was ruled accidental, Corral said.
Rescuers initially found the boy not breathing, but revived him and rushed him to Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center, McNeal said. He died from his injuries about 11:30 p.m.
Nothing criminal was initially suspected, he said.
Sheriff's chaplains were summoned to counsel both the family of the boy, as well as deputies who responded to the scene.

LOS ANGELS -- A federal judge Monday sentenced a Monterey Park man who was already on parole for identity theft to 8 years in prison in connection with another identity theft case, officials said.
Robert Delgado, 40, pleaded guilty in May to conspiracy to commit bank fraud, U.S. Attorney's spokesman Thom Mrozek said in a written statement. He also admitted participating in a scheme in which he and others used other people's information to obtain credit at stores and make purchases.
When arrested on March 8, Delgado was trying to hide a computer hard drive that contained personal information for more than 300,000 people, computer images used create copies of credit cards, computer images used to create DMV documents and ID cards and scanned checks in the names of other people, Mrozek said.
"Authorities are continuing to investigate how Delgado came into possession of the 300,000 identity profiles," he said.
Three other men involved in the fraud have also been guilty and are awaiting sentencing, officials said.
Officials learned of the fraud after a victim reported to the U.S. Post Office that his mail had been put on a vacation hold without his permission, and there were fraudulent charges on his Lowe's store credit card, which was managed by GE Moneybank, Mrozek said.
"Delgado's telephone records showed that he had called GE Moneybank's automated service line, which allows callers to check their available credit, 350 times in three months, even though he did not have a Lowe's account," Mrozek added.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.

LOS ANGELES -- A West Covina woman received a 9-year prison sentence Monday for running a Ponzi scheme in which she defrauded about 150 victims out of nearly $7 million, authorities said Tuesday.
Guadalupe Valencia, 47, was sentenced by United States District Judge S. James Otero and ordered to pay $5.2 million in restitution, U.S. Attorney's Office spokesman Thom Mrozek said in a written statement.
She pleaded guilty last December to two counts of mail fraud, two counts of wire fraud and two counts of tax fraud.
Through offices of a Downey companies she called Real Estate & Loan Consultants and R.E. Equity Group, Inc., Valencia solicited investments from investors promising large and timely returns, Mrozek said.
"Beginning in 2001 and continuing through 2009, Valencia promoted two types of investment pools, with one purportedly funding loans to purchase real estate, and a second purporting to fund short-term loans to businesses," Mrozek said.
"Valencia admitted that she falsely told investors that their investments were fully secured, backed by deeds of trust on valuable real estate, as well as promissory notes that equaled 'money-back guarantees,'" he said.
"When she pleaded guilty, Valencia admitted that the investments she promoted did not generate any profits and that she used newer investor funds to pay investors," Mrozek said. "Further, Valencia admitted that she had provided the victims with worthless promissory notes she had created."
Valencia stole $6.9 million dollars, and paid $1.7 million of the money back to investors, officials said.
The investigation was carried out by the IRS and the FBI.

Arcadia police jailed three burglary suspects after a high-speed chase on the 210 Freeway that ended in a crash in Covina, authorities said.
A resident of the 00 block of East Forest Avenue in Arcadia called police about 11:30 a.m. to report a break-in, Arcadia police Sgt. Tom Le Veque said.
"A neighbor saw a guy come out of the driveway carrying a television," he said.
The man then got into a car with two other people inside.
Officers found a car matching the description at Colorado Boulevard and First Avenue and tried to pull it over, the sergeant said, but the vehicle sped away instead, leading police on a chase onto the eastbound 210 Freeway.
The chase reached speeds of more than 100 mph before the fleeing sedan crashed on the Citrus Avenue offramp, officials said.
One suspect was arrested at the scene of the crash, while two others fled on foot and were captured by officers nearby, Le Veque said. Their names were not immediately available.
None of the three suspects appeared to have suffered any serious injuries, he added.
The men were expected to be booked on suspicion of burglary, police said, and the driver of the car also was expected to be booked on suspicion of evading police.
The chase lasted less than 10 minutes altogether.
President Barack Obama's visit to the Southland Tuesday delayed the response of a police helicopter during the chase, officials said.
Because of the presidential visit, the department's helicopter was grounded to keep the airspace clear, Le Veque said. A police helicopter announced it was ready to respond to the chase just as it concluded.

ARCADIA -- A large residential garage and two cars parked inside it went up in flames Tuesday in a fire on Maylflower Avenue, authorities said.
Firefighters responded to the fire about 7:20 a.m. in the 1400 block of South Mayflower Avenue, Arcadia Fire Department spokeswoman Beth Stogner said.
They extinguished the flames in about 30 minutes and prevented the fire from spreading from the detached garage to the home, Stogner said.
The damage to the garage and it's contents -- two cars and a workshop -- was estimated at about $150,000, officials said.
Nearby residents reported hearing explosions in the fire, which investigators suspected was the tires of the cars popping, and several propane tanks stored inside the garage exploding from the heat, Stogner said.
The cause of the fire remained under investigation, she said, however there were no initial signs of a crime.
Firefighters from Arcadia, Monrovia and Glendale responded to the fire.

AZUSA -- Azusa police Tuesday returned a set of wedding photo albums to a Covina couple that had been stolen in a home break-in more than a year ago, authorities said.
Police released photos from the wedding albums last week in hopes that someone would recognize the couple pictured and help police return their wedding photos to them, Azusa police Evidence Custodian Patrick Doyle said.
The husband recognized himself and his wife in media coverage over the weekend and called investigators, Cpl. Jorge Sandoval said.
The couple was "very appreciative," but did not want media attention, the corporal said.
They had their home in an unincorporated county area near Covina broken into in the summer of last year, Sandoval said.
A computer, which also contained some wedding photos, and other items were taken from the home, "but nothing as valuable as this," Sandoval said of the irreplaceable photo albums.
"Apparently, those were the only photos they had," he said. The other items stolen from their home were not recovered.
Police reached out to the public after exhausting other avenues of trying to track the couple down, Doyle said.
A man and woman have since been arrested, convicted and sentenced in connection with that break-in, as well as several others throughout the San Gabriel Valley.

WEST COVINA -- A home was destroyed by fire early Tuesday, however no injuries were reported, authorities said.
The blaze was first reported about 12:45 a.m. at 2644 S. Erica Avenue, West Covina police Lt. Tommy Garcia said.
No one was home at the time, and no one was hurt, the lieutenant said.
The cause of the fire was being investigated by the West Covina Fire Department.
No further details were available.

BALDWIN PARK -- Police are planning a checkpoint Friday, authorities said.
The checkpoint will be held at an undisclosed time and place within the city, Baldwin Park police Officer Ted Espanto said in a written statement.
The purpose of the checkpoint, police said, is to remove impaired drivers from the road and educate the public about the consequences of drinking and driving.
Baldwin Park police last year became the target of community criticism last year from residents upset about vehicles being impounded from unlicensed but sober drivers. The outcry prompted the city to temporarily halt checkpoints and draft more lenient impound policies.
A new state law signed by the governor this year prevents police from impounding cars from unlicensed but sober motorists, provided the car can be picked up by a licensed driver with permission from the registered owner. But the law doesn't take effect until Jan. 1.
Funding for this checkpoint is being provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety Administration through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

WHITTIER -- Two teenagers were in custody Tuesday for an allegedly gang-related attack on a man at a convenience store, authorities said.
Marcos Menchaca, 18, of Whittier and a second teenage suspect whose name was not released were booked on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon in connection with the attack, which was reported just after 7 p.m. at ampm, at the corner of Pickering Avenue and Hadley Street, Whittier police Lt. Carlos Solorza said.
The alleged victim was examined by paramedics at the scene but was not hospitalized, police said.
"The victim indicated he was assaulted by the ampm by three persons claiming they were gang members," Solorza said.
The juvenile suspect threw a bottle at the man, striking him in the face, the lieutenant said. Menchaca allegedly slashed at the man's back with a knife, inflicting a minor wound, and a third unidentified suspect struck the man in the back of the head with some type of wooden object.
Court information for Menchaca was not available Tuesday due to technical problems with the county booking files.

WALNUT -- A man found fatally stabbed at his Walnut home Wednesday, where his estranged wife was also found stabbed and badly wounded, was killed, coroner's officials said.
George Mora, 47, died from stab wounds and an autopsy ruled the death to be a homicide, Los Angeles County Coroner's officials said.
Sheriff's investigators have said they're still investigating what took place between the couple at the home in the 21600 block of Brookside Court, and it was unclear who may have been the aggressor in the domestic attack.
As of Friday, detectives had not been able to speak with the injured woman, 43-year-old Socorra Mora, due to her medical condition, Lt. Matt Burson of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Homicide Bureau said.
It remained unclear Saturday how Socorra Mora suffered her stab wounds.

MONTEBELLO -- Two masked men -- one of the wearing a Halloween mask -- carried out a takeover robbery at a supermarket Saturday, police said.
The crime was reported about 6:45 a.m. at Super A Foods, 2924 West Beverly Blvd., Montebello police Lt. Rich Meadows said.
One of the robbers carried a shotgun and wore a light blue or green ski mask, he said. The other wore a ghostly mask like the one popularized in the 1996 slasher film "Scream."
"They pulled up to the front of the business when they were opening," Meadows said.
When employees opened the front doors of the business, the robbers stormed in and ordered about 10 employees inside to raise their hands, police said. They then helped themselves to four cash register drawers and fled with about $900.
"They were in and out very quick," Meadows said. No injuries were reported.
Police described the robbers as male, about 5 feet 7 inches and of thin build. One wore a black jacket or sweat shirt and brown shorts, along with the ski mask, while the robber wearing the Scream mask was dressed in all black.
They were last seen fleeing north on Garfield Avenue in a light blue 1990 Honda Accord, Meadows said.

PASADENA -- A Pasadena woman stabbed and seriously wounded her boyfriend during an argument early Saturday, police said.
Najla Abdus-Samad, 22, was booked on suspicion of attempted murder, Pasadena police Lt. Diego Torres said.
She became involved in an argument with her boyfriend, a 23-year-old man, about 2:30 a.m. at their home in the 1300 block of East Washington Boulevard, the lieutenant said.
Abdus-Samad then retrieved a steak knife and stabbed her boyfriend about four times in the upper body, he said.
The man was hospitalized with serious injuries but expected to survive, police said.
According to county booking records, Abdus-Samad was being held in lieu of $500,000 bail at the Pasadena Police Department's jail. Her initial court date was not available, however criminal defendants being held in custody are generally arraigned within two court days of arrest.

NORWALK -- One teenager died and another was wounded following a stabbing near Norwalk High School Friday, and two suspects were arrested in connection with the fatal attack, authorities said.
The assault took place about 3:15 p.m. in the 14000 block of Harvest Avenue, Deputy Pete Gomez of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Headquarter's Bureau said in a written statement.
Two male suspects were arrested for the crime, Gomez said.
Sheriff's officials released no further information Saturday.

POMONA -- Police arrested a serial bank robbery suspect Friday after a heist at a Garey Avenue bank, authorities said.
Michael Williams, 56, was booked on suspicion of bank robbery, according to Pomona police and county booking records. He posted $100,000 bail and was released from jail about three hours after his 12:40 a.m. arrest.
He's also suspected in an October bank robbery in Ontario, and a September robbery at a bank branch in Chino, police and FBI officials said.
Pomona police responded to a report of a robbery about 11:45 a.m. at the Citizens Business Bank, 1095 N. Garey Ave., Pomona police Sgt. Duane Leonard said in a written statement. Witnesses provided a description of the suspect and his car.
Pomona police detectives happened to be in the area when employees reported a man had just robbed the bank by passing a note demanding cash, Leonard said.
"Within minutes, a suspect and vehicle matching the description was located in the area of Garey and Orange Grove (avenues)," he said.
After pulling over the 1989 Buick LeSabre and detaining the driver, Williams, and a passenger, "The stolen loot was found on the front seat of the vehicle along with the demand note."
Williams was identified as the "primary suspect" and arrested, Leonard said. Police did not identify the passenger.
"Representatives of the FBI responded to assist with the investigation and indicated that this suspect had committed bank robberies in other jurisdictions," Leonard said. "He was labeled 'The Know It All Bandit.'"
He's suspected in a an Oct. 8 robbery at the U.S. Bank, 333. N. Euclid Ave. in Ontario, as well as a Sept. 14 robbery at the Bank of America, 12747 Central Ave. in Chino, according to the FBI.
It was not clear Saturday how the serial bandit earned the moniker.
The case has been turned over to the FBI for prosecution.

*Bank surveillance photo courtesy of the FBI

From the Associated Press:

A teenage couple from Compton have been charged with killing the girl's parents and burying them in shallow graves in Norwalk and Long Beach.
Los Angeles County prosecutors say 15-year-old girl Cynthia Alvarez and 16-year-old Giovanni Gallardo were charged Friday as adults with counts of murder with special circumstances.
They're jailed and face life in prison if convicted.
Prosecutors say they killed the girl's mother, 58-year-old Gloria Villalta, last week in her Compton home, hid the body and then stabbed and beat her stepfather with a bat when 51-year-old Jose Lara came home.
The mother was found buried Saturday in vacant lot in Norwalk. Lara was uncovered Thursday in Long Beach.
Prosecutors say the killings were prompted by friction between the girl and her parents, partly over her relationship with Gallardo.

PICO RIVERA -- Two El Rancho High School football coaches were not present at Friday's game after being arrested on suspicion of breaking into an SUV early in the morning, officials said.
Juan Vigil, 31, of Maywood and Andrew Jimenez, 23, of Pico Rivera were booked on suspicion of auto burglary, Pico Rivera sheriff's Detective Gabriel Ramirez said.
The men had been drinking at the Tamarack Inn, 9257 Slauson Ave., when they left the establishment about 1 a.m., the detective said.
"When they left, one of them saw an opportunity to break into an SUV," Ramirez said. "The other acted as a look-out."
Deputies arrived to investigate, and Deputy Ryan Malone discovered that the suspects had used a credit card to pay for their drinks, the detective said. Vigil's name on the credit card receipt led officials to arrest him at his home in Maywood.
Upon further investigation, deputies also arrested Jimenez in connection with the break-in, Ramirez said.
Both men are walk-on football coached at El Rancho High School, El Rancho Unified School District Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources John Lopez said.
They were placed on leave following their arrest, however their future employment status was not clear Friday.
"They're not permanent employees," Lopez said.
As walk-on coaches, they are "at-will" employees and can be terminated by the district at any time, he added.
According to county booking records, Jimenez was being held in lieu of $30,000 bail at the sheriff's Pico Rivera Station, while Vigil was being held in lieu of $20,000 bail.
Both men were due for arraignment Tuesday in Whittier Superior Court.

WALNUT -- A woman critically injured in stabbing that left her estranged husband dead was hospitalized in stable condition Friday, however the circumstances of the incident remained a mystery, authorities said.
Socorra Mora, 43, was found seriously wounded in the front yard of her estranged husband's home in the 21600 block of Brookside Court shortly after she called 9-1-1 to report a domestic violence incident, Lt. Matt Burson of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Homicide Bureau said.
Her husband, 47-year-old George Mora, was found stabbed inside the home and pronounced dead, officials said.
While investigators have said it appears the stabbing involved only Socorra and George Mora, it was not clear what took place or who may have been the aggressor in the confrontation.
Because of Socorra Mora's medical condition, "We haven't had a real opportunity to talk to her," Burson said.
Coroner's officials planned an autopsy Saturday to determine George Mora's official cause of death, Los Angeles County Department of Coroner's Assistant Chief of Operations Ed Winter said.
The couple had four children who lived with their father, officials said. None were home at the time of the stabbings, and they had been placed with other family members following the incident.

MONTBELLO -- A Montebello man received a 9-year prison sentence Friday for fatally running over an elderly Montebello woman and her dog with his pickup truck, then fleeing the scene, court officials said.
David Loera, 38, faced a maximum sentence of 12 years behind bars after being convicted of the Oct. 5, 2009 crash that killed 84-year-old Norma Lambo and her dog Barney as they crossed the street at Jefferson Avenue and Alfred Court. He received his sentence from Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Stephen Marcus.
He was convicted in August of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence and hit-and run.
After striking Lambo, a passenger exited the truck and removed her walker from the bumper before the truck, driven by Loera, sped away, authorities said. The passenger has not been identified.
Lambo was a longtime Montebello resident who co-founded the city's "Ashiya Sister Cities" program.
Montebello police arrested Loera three days after the crash after finding his truck being repaired at a local auto body shop.

AZUSA -- Azusa police are seeking the public's help to return a set of stolen wedding albums to the couple it belongs to.
The two photo albums were among stolen property recovered in September of 2010 as part of a burglary investigation, Azusa police Evidence Custodian Patrick Doyle.
They were recovered, along with many other stolen items, from a storage unit in an unincorporated county area near Azusa, officials said. A Covina woman and an Azusa man have since been convicted in connection with the thefts.
"After a year of searching, we've exhausted all other avenues. Now we're asking the public's help to identify the victims so we can return their wedding photos," Doyle said.
Police have sent out notices to other agencies and tried to identify the location where the pictures were taken with no success.
Officials have released photos from the album in hopes that someone will recognize the couple and help reunite them with their wedding albums.
Police arrested Jennifer Jennings, 21, of Covina and Raymundo Nares, 36, of Azusa Sept. 17, 2010 as they were driving away from a storage facility along Azusa Avenue, Doyle said.
After finding stolen property in their car, police searched their storage unit and found it was also full of items taken in home burglaries throughout the San Gabriel Valley. Much of that property had been returned to its rightful owners, however the wedding albums remain unclaimed.
Jennings pleaded guilty to first-degree burglary and possession of drugs late last year and received three years of probation, as well as a suspended prison sentence.
Nares pleaded no contest to two counts of receiving stolen property in April and was sentenced to three years in state prison.
Anyone who recognize the couple pictured in the wedding album is asked to contact Azusa police evidence custodians Patrick Doyle or Steven Rodriguez at 626-812-3200.

*PHOTO courtesy of the Azusa Police Department

WEST COVINA -- A 15-year-old boy is expected to survive after being stabbed in an unprovoked attack as he walked home from school Thursday, police said.
The crime took place as teen was walking on Valley Boulevard near Nogales Street about 5:15 p.m., West Covina police Lt. Marty Sevilla said in a written statement.
"He was approached by the suspect, who stabbed him for no apparent reason in the back," Sevilla said. "The victim turned towards his assailant and was stabbed two additional times in the front torso."
The wounded teen ran to his apartment complex where friends called for help, the lieutenant said. He was hospitalized with wounds not believed to be life-threatening.
Police described the attacker as a Latino man, about 18 years old, 5 feet 9 inches tall, 180 pounds, of medium build, bald, wearing a white T-shirt and gray shorts.
Anyone with information is asked to call West Covina police at 626-939-8557.

DUARTE -- A strange powder that prompted the evacuation of a Wal-Mart store Thursday was found to be harmless, authorities said.
Officials ordered the evacuation of Wal-Mart, 1600 Mountain Ave., about 2:45 p.m. after an "unknown powder" was discovered on cash that had been dropped off by an armored transport company, Los Angeles County sheriff's Sgt. Richard Mariscola said.
After cordoning off the area, a hazardous materials team was called in to inspect the power.
While it was unclear what the powder was, "Hazmat teams were unable to detect any source of chemical, biological, radiological and or nuclear-based substance," Mariscola said.
The store then resumed normal operation.

MONTEBELLO -- Officials are seeking a man who kidnapped and sexually assaulted a woman Tuesday at an apartment complex.
The crime occurred about 8:30 a.m. in the 800 block of South Greenwood Avenue, Montebello police officials said in a written statement.
"The suspect covered the victim's mouth with one hand and placed an unknown weapon against her side with his other hand," the statement said.
The attacker then dragged the woman into a nearby carport and began sexually assaulting her, police said.
"The suspect threatened to shoot the victim if she resisted," the statement said. "The victim was able to fight off the suspect and notify the police."
The attacker was last seen fleeing the area on foot.
Police described him as a Latino man, about 17 to 20 years old, 5 feet 8 inches tall, 140 pounds, with a black sweat shirt, dark colored jeans and a black baseball cap. He also had two loop ring piercings with spike studs on his upper lip.
Anyone with information is asked to call Montebello police Detective Paul Antista at 323-887-1249.

Composite sketch courtesy of the Montebello Police Department

NORWALK -- Police have linked a body found in a shallow grave in Norwalk over the weekend and another found buried in long Beach Wednesday to the investigation into a missing Compton couple, authorities said.
A teenage boy and girl were arrested on suspicion of murder in the case, Los Angeles County sheriff's officials said in a written statement.
Sheriff's and coroner's investigators unearthed the body of a woman in Norwalk about 10 a.m. Saturday, officials said. It was buried just below the ground in the side yard of an abandoned property in the 11800 block of Norwalk Boulevard.
The woman remained listed Thursday as a Jane Doe at the coroner's office pending positive identification, Los Angeles County Department of Coroner Chief of Operations Craig Harvey said.
Concerned family members contacted sheriff's officials Tuesday to report a couple had gone missing under "suspicious circumstances," according to the sheriff's statement.
The following day, using information given to them by the family of the missing couple, investigators found a second body buried in a shallow grave in a vacant lot at Atlantic Avenue and Rates Boulevard, officials said. The second body also had not been identified Thursday.
The causes of deaths for both people remained under investigation.
A 16-year-old boy and a 15-year-old girl have been booked on suspicion of murder in connection with the killings and were being held without bail at a juvenile detention facility, authorities said. Their cities of residency were not available.
"The female juvenile is related to the missing couple, but their exact relationship has not been disclosed," according to the sheriff's statement.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Sheriff's Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500.

ROSEMEAD -- A video game console transaction turned sour resulted in a robbery and knife attack Wednesday, officials said.
Deputies arrested the primary suspect in the attack, who wielded the knife, shortly after the incident with the help of a witness, Los Angeles County sheriff's Lt. Tim Murakami said.
A witness reported seeing a group of about six young Asian men attack and stab a group of three young black men about 5:30 p.m. in the area of Rosemead and Valley boulevards, the lieutenant said. Two of the three victims suffered superficial cuts to their arms and backs.
The witness followed the attackers as they fled, providing deputies with a description and license plate number, Murakami said.
Deputies were able to capture the suspect believed to have wielded the knife, and continued seeking the others, he said. The suspect's name was not released Thursday due to the ongoing investigation.
During the attack, the knife-wielding man is accused of stealing the victims' cell phones.
Murakami said the attack stemmed from the sale of a video game console.
The victims had sold the suspects the machine the day before, but the suspects claimed it didn't work properly and demanded their money back Wednesday, he said.
When they did receive a refund, Murakami said, one of the attackers pulled a knife, slashed the men and helped himself to their phones.
Anyone with information is asked to call the sheriff's Temple Station at 626-448-9861.

ROSEMEAD -- A video game console transaction turned sour resulted in a robbery and knife attack Wednesday, officials said.
Deputies arrested the primary suspect in the attack, who wielded the knife, shortly after the incident with the help of a witness, Los Angeles County sheriff's Lt. Tim Murakami said.
A witness reported seeing a group of about six young Asian men attack and stab a group of three young black men about 5:30 p.m. in the area of Rosemead and Valley boulevards, the lieutenant said. Two of the three victims suffered superficial cuts to their arms and backs.
The witness followed the attackers as they fled, providing deputies with a description and license plate number, Murakami said.
Deputies were able to capture the suspect believed to have wielded the knife, and continued seeking the others, he said. The suspect's name was not released Thursday due to the ongoing investigation.
During the attack, the knife-wielding man is accused of stealing the victims' cell phones.
Murakami said the attack stemmed from the sale of a video game console.
The victims had sold the suspects the machine the day before, but the suspects claimed it didn't work properly and demanded their money back Wednesday, he said.
When they did receive a refund, Murakami said, one of the attackers pulled a knife, slashed the men and helped himself to their phones.
Anyone with information is asked to call the sheriff's Temple Station at 626-448-9861.

PASADENA -- A man was behind bars Thursday on suspicion of trying to strangle his 71-year-old mother at her Pasadena home, officials said.
Arturo Delgado, 29, was booked on suspicion of attempted murder, Pasadena police Lt. Jari Faulkner said.
The alleged attack took place about 9:45 p.m. Wednesday in the 100 block of East Mountain Street, the lieutenant said.
Delgado became angry because he felt his mother wasn't giving her husband proper medical care and attacked her, police said.
The mother suffered minor injuries but was not hospitalized, she added.
According to sheriff's booking records, Delgado was being held in lieu of $1 million bail pending his initial court appearance.

AZUSA -- Azusa police arrested a teenager and sought others after a man was beaten with a metal pipe and robbed of his bicycle late Wednesday, police said.
The suspect was described as a 15-year-old Azusa boy, Azusa police Sgt. Xavier Torres said in a written statement.
A group of teens carried out the attack and robbery shortly before 9 p.m. at an apartment complex in the 600 block of South Donna Beth Avenue, the sergeant said.
During the robbery, they assaulted (a 21-year-old Azusa man) with metal pipes and fists and stole his bicycle," Torres said. "A bystander who attempted to intervene was also assaulted by the suspects."
Officers saw the suspects running from the area on arrival, officials said, and were able to chase down and capture the 15-year-old.
The victim of the robbery suffered, "significant injuries to his head and face" and was taken to a hospital for treatment, Torres said. The good Samaritan who intervened suffered minor injuries and was not hospitalized.
One of the pipes used in the attack and the victim's bicycle were recovered at the scene, police said. The teen suspect was taken to a juvenile detention facility.
Anyone with information on the incident is asked to call Azusa police at 626-812-3200.

WALNUT -- Authorities Thursday released the name of a 47-year-old man found stabbed to death in his home in what detectives called a domestic incident that also left his estranged wife critically injured.
George Mora was pronounced dead in his home following the 8:50 a.m. stabbings in the 21600 block of Brookside Court, Los Angeles County Department of Coroner's Chief of Operations Craig Harvey said.
Sheriff's investigators said they do not know the circumstances surrounding the assaults, but believed they were the result of a domestic incident between Mora and his estranged wife. No suspects were being sought.
Deputies from the sheriff's Walnut-Diamond Bar Station responded to a 9-1-1 call from the woman reporting a domestic violence situation, Sgt. Robert Martindale of the Sheriff's Homicide Bureau said.
The estranged wife, a 43-year-old woman whose name was not released, was found sitting on a bench in the front yard of the home, officials said. She directed deputies inside the two-story house, where they found Mora.
Both Mora and the woman suffered stab wounds to their upper bodies, Martindale said. The woman was hospitalized in critical condition but expected to survive.
Coroner's officials planned to perform an autopsy to determine Mora's cause of death, Harvey said.
The woman's SUV, a black Ford Expedition, was found parked in the parking lot of a shopping center about 2,000 feet from the crime scene.
Neighbors said the couple had four children who lived with Mora, ranging from elementary school age to high school age.
None of the children were home when the incident occurred, officials said.

PICO RIVERA -- Detectives continued their investigation and asked the public's help Wednesday for clues into the shooting death of a Whittier man as he rode his bicycle.
Juan Z. Gutierrez, 33, of Whittier died at the scene of Tuesday's 1:25 a.m. shooting at Harrell Street and Layman Avenue, Coroner's officials said.
Detectives Wednesday were left with little information to work with, Sgt. Barry Hall of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Homicide Bureau.
The victim was suspected to have gang ties, and the shooting was believed to be gang-related, he said.
No description of the attacker or attackers was available, as no witnesses reported seeing the shooting, Hall said.
"He was riding his bicycle, heading toward Rosemead Boulevard, when he was shot multiple times by an unknown assailant or assailants," Hall said.
He was likely shot from a passing vehicle, but that was not known for certain, he added.
Anyone with information was asked to call the Sheriff's Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500.

WALNUT -- A man died and a woman was critically injured Wednesday in a stabbing initially believed to be a domestic incident between a husband and wife, officials said.
The incident was first reported about 8:50 p.m. at a home in the 21600 block of Brookside Court, Los Angeles County Fire Department Inspector Don Kunitomi said.
Officials initially received reports of to stabbing victims in critical condition, the inspector said.
Firefighters arrived and pronounced one of the patients dead at the scene, while the other was rushed to a hospital with major injuries, officials said.
Sheriff's officials said it was the husband who died at the scene, while the wife was hospitalized with serious injuries.
No suspect was believed to be outstanding, and the incident appeared to have involved only the husband and wife, Los Angeles County sheriff's Sgt. Ernie Vanderporten said. The circumstances of the stabbing remained under investigation.
Deputies have responded to family disturbances at the home several times in the past, he added.
The man and woman were believed to be the only people at home when the stabbing took place, officials said.
No further details were available.

SAN DIMAS - Three women died and four other people suffered injuries when a personal watercraft collided with a boat on Puddingstone Lake Saturday, authorities said.
The dead women were initially described as being in their 20s, 30s and about 60 years old, Los Angeles County Fire Department Dispatch Supervisor Bernard Peters said.
The crash was reported about 4:20 p.m. at the park, 120 Via Verde, Los Angeles County Fire Department Dispatch Supervisor Bernard Peters said.
Three men in their 20s and 30s were flown to a hospital by helicopter with apparently moderate injuries, Peters said, while a woman in her 20s was hospitalized with injuries believed to be minor.
Initial reports indicated a personal watercraft and a boat collided, officials said.
The three women who were killed were all believed to be riding on the personal watercraft, Peters said.

MONROVIA -- No arrests had been made Saturday as detectives investigated a man's claim that he shot his 62-year-old roommate to death in Monrovia out of self defense, officials said.
The fatal shooting took place about 5:20 a.m. Friday at a home in the 200 block of North Mayflower Avenue.
A 62-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene. His identity was not released pending notification of his family members, however investigators said he had moved into the home with a man and woman about two weeks ago.
"Basically, the residents are claiming self defense," Lt. Mike Rosson of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Homicide Bureau said.
According to a man and woman who live at the home, "He approached them while they were sleeping in their room in the early morning hours and made some statements which were threatening in nature," Rosson said. Fearing for their safety, the startled man shot alleged intruder, he added.
Following the shooting, the shooter himself called 9-1-1 to report it, Rosson said.
Once their investigation is completed, detectives will turn over their finding to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office, where prosecutors will decide whether any charges are to be filed in connection with the shooting.

NORWALK -- Sheriff's homicide detectives are investigating after a body was discovered Saturday in a shallow grave along Norwalk Boulevard, authorities said.
The body, initially described only as female, was found about 10 a.m. on a large abandoned property with a house on it in the 11800 block of Norwalk Boulevard, Los Angeles County sheriff's officials said.
"Deputies responded to a jogger's report of a foul odor in the area," Lt. Mike Rosson of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Homicide Bureau said. "They checked the area and found a shallow grave."
The body was buried in the side yard of the abandoned home, he said.
Investigators suspected the body had been buried within the past few days, Rosson said.
Detectives were questioning area residents about any suspicious activity, as well as researching missing persons cases, he said.
Coroner's officials worked to excavate the grave Saturday afternoon.
Anyone with information, or anyone who is missing a female loved is asked to call the Sheriff's Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500.

PASADENA -- An armed man held up the teller at a Colorado Boulevard motel late Friday, authorities said.
The robbery took place about 7 p.m. at the Quality Inn, 3321 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena police Lt. Diego Torres said.
A white man between 18 and 32 years old, about 5 feet 10 inches tall, 160 pounds, with brown eyes, bushy eyebrows and a round face entered the store and brandished a semi-automatic handgun, the lieutenant said.
He demanded cash from the clerk, a woman in her late 20s, and fled with a little over $100, Torres said.
The clerk was not injured.

WHITTIER -- Three victims of an assault behind a cigar lounge in Uptown Whittier Friday were off-duty Los Angeles County Sheriff's Deputies, police said.
The incident took place about 12:45 a.m. at the Havana House, 7020 Greenleaf Ave., Whittier police Lt. Carlos Solorza said.
The deputies became involved in an argument, which escalated into a fight, inside the establishment, Whittier police officials said in a written statement. The cause of the dispute was not clear.
"In an effort to avoid any further altercation, The Havana House security staff asked the three suspects to leave the front of the establishment, while the three (deputies) were escorted out the back," according to the statement.
The suspects approached the deputies behind the building, and the fight continued, police said.
The suspects struck one of the deputies in the head with a bottle, and slashed another in the face with a broken bottle, Solorza said.
When the bottles were used, one of the deputies drew a handgun, he said.
"One of the victims identified himself as an off-duty deputy sheriff, showing his badge and pointing a gun at the suspects in an effort to protect himself," the statement said. The suspects then ran away.
The injured deputies, men in their 20s, were treated and released at a local hospital, officials said. Their assignments with the sheriff's department were not available.
The suspects were described as three Latino men in their mid-20s, Solorza said. one was about 6 feet tall, of stocky build, with short black hair and was wearing a white T-shirt and blue jeans.
The other two suspects were about 5 feet 6 inches to 5 feet 7 inches tall and wore dark clothing.
Anyone with information is asked to call Whittier police detectives at 562-567-9267.

AZUSA -- A young man and woman were hospitalized in unknown condition after being shot at a house party early Saturday, police said.
Officers responded to a report of "shots fired" in the 300 block of South Aspan Avenue about 1:20 a.m., Azusa police Sgt. Xavier Torres said in a written statement.
"The victims were present for a large party at the location when the gunfire erupted," Torres said. "The suspect (or suspects) fled the location prior to officers' arrival."
Both victims were hospitalized in unknown condition.
Detectives continued to investigate Saturday morning, officials said, and no further details were available.
Anyone with information is asked to call Azusa police Detective Robert Landeros at 626-812-3200.

LA MIRADA - A fight at a local park between three off-duty female deputies led to two of the women being arrested Friday.

Sheriff's officials said during the fight at La Mirada Regional Park, one of the deputies fired her weapon. No one was injured.

Capt. Pat Maxwell said Deputy Judith Gonzalez, 36, was arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon while Deputy Adrianne Myers, 35, was arrested on suspicion of felony battery.

The third deputy was released. Officials didn't name her.

"We're not releasing which stations they're working at. They're from different areas, assigned to patrol," Maxwell said.

He said the three deputies "got into an altercation" that broke out early Friday at the park in the 13700 block of Adelfa Drive. Maxwell didn't know if the fight involved all three women.

"During the altercation, shots were fired," he said.

Just after 3 a.m., the sheriff's Norwalk station got a call about gunfire being heard in the area of the park.

Responding deputies detained the three off-duty deputies.

Investigators from Internal Affairs Bureau, Internal Criminal Investigations Bureau, and a representative from the Office of Independent Review were called in.

Gonzalez and Myers hadn't been booked yet as of 4 p.m.

No further information was available.

WEST COVINA -- Police are seeking a group of young men in an SUV who shot out the windows of another motorist's car during a road rage incident Friday.
It was not clear if the shooting involved a firearm or some sort of BB gun.
The crime was reported about noon on Grand Avenue near the 10 Freeway, West Covina police Lt. Tommy Garcia said.
The victim and the driver of a black Chevrolet Equinox with dark tinted windows became involved in a dispute on the freeway, the lieutenant said.
Both vehicles exited at Grand Avenue, and while the victim was stopped at a red light, a rear passenger of the SUV exited the vehicle, approached the victim's car and shot out both rear passenger windows and the rear windshield, Garcia said. The shooter then got back into the SUV, which fled northbound on Grand Avenue.
The victim was not injured.
Police described the attackers as four white men between 18 an 22.
Anyone with information is asked to call the West Covina Police Department at 626-939-8500.

LA MIRADA -- Sheriff's internal investigators and other officials are looking into reports of off-duty sheriff's deputies firing their guns at La Mirada Regional Park early Friday.
The incident was reported just after 3 a.m. at the park, 13701 Adelfa Drive, Los Angeles County sheriff's officials said in a written statement.
"Norwalk Sheriff's Station deputies received a call of gunfire heard in the area of (the park)," the statement said. "No one was hit by gunfire.
"Three off-duty Los Angeles County Sheriff's Deputies were detained at the scene. Investigators from Internal Affairs Bureau, Internal Criminal Investigations Bureau, and a representative from the Office Of Independent Review have responded to the scene."
No further information was available.

WHITTIER -- Three women bound, beat and tried to rob a man in his home in an unincorporated county area near Whittier early Friday, authorities said.
Natalie Gomez, 21, Jasmine Alvarado, 20, and Stephanie Gonzalez, 27, all of unincorporated Whittier, were arrested on suspicion of home-invasion robbery, assault, burglary and false imprisonment, Los Angeles County sheriff's Detective Gabriel Ramirez said.
According to county booking records, the suspects were being held in lieu of $120,000 bail and were due due for arraignment Tuesday in Whittier Superior Court.
The alleged crime took place about 2:45 a.m. in the 7800 block of Dutchess Drive, the detective said.
The investigation remained in it's early stages, he said, but it initially appeared that the victim may have been acquainted with one of the women and allowed her in.
The woman apparently let two other women in as the man slept, and he awoke to find himself being struck in the face with some kind of object and bound with duct tape by two women wearing ski masks and gloves, Ramirez said. They then demanded money.
A witness outside the home heard the commotion and called 9-1-1, officials said.
Deputies arrested the three women as they were leaving the home, Ramirez said. Ski masks were found discarded nearby.
The man, who is in his mid-40s, was taken to a hospital for treatment of cuts to his face, officials said. The injuries appeared minor.

MONROVIA -- A man died early Friday after being shot in what was initially believed to be some sort of domestic incident, authorities said.
The dead man's identity was not released pending notification of his family members, Monrovia police Lt. Jaime Alfaro said. Detectives initially described him as a white man in his mid-60s.
The shooting was reported about 5:20 a.m. inside a home in the 200 block of North Mayflower Avenue, Alfaro said. The man was pronounced dead at the scene.
"Monrovia police officers responded to a disturbance," said Lt. Mike Rosson of the Sheriff's Homicide Bureau, which is assisting Monrovia police with the investigation. "En route to the call, it was updated that shots were fired, and there was a gunshot victim."
Arriving officers found the man shot to death inside the home, Rosson said. A man and woman in their 30s who were also inside the home were questioned.
"They went to the police department on their own free will to cooperate with the investigation," he added.
No arrests had been made Friday morning, however Rosson said that investigators did not believe there were any outstanding suspects.
The circumstances of the shooting remained under investigation.
The man who was fatally shot had just moved into the home from out of state about two weeks ago, Rosson said. It was unclear what his relationship with the man and woman was.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Sheriff's Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500.

MONTEBELLO -- Police and coroner's officials are investigating the death of a woman believed to have plunged from a balcony at a senior citizens' condominium complex Thursday as a suicide, officials said.
The death was first reported about 5:45 p.m. in the 1300 block of West Beverly Boulevard, Montebello police Lt. Rich Meadows said. The dead woman appeared to be in her 50s.
"She was located in the east driveway, and she had injuries that were consistent with a high altitude fall," Meadows said.
The Los Angeles County Department of Coroner will conduct an investigation to determine the officials cause of death.
Nothing criminal was initially suspected, however the investigation was ongoing.

WHITTIER -- Police are seeking three men who slashed one man's face with a broken bottle, and struck another man over the head with a bottle during a fight outside a bar in Uptown Whittier early Friday.
Initial reports indicated three men became involved in a fight with three other men about 12:45 a.m. inside a bar in the 7000 block of Greenleaf Avenue, Whittier police Lt. Carlos Solorza said.
The combatants were kicked out of the bar, the lieutenant said.
Once outside, someone in the group of suspects struck one of the victims over the head with a bottle, while another slashed another victim in the face with a broken bottle, Solorza said.
Both injured men were hospitalized with injuries not believed to be life-threatening, he said.
A description of the attackers was not available Friday morning.

IRWINDALE -- A judge ruled Thursday that a Glendora man accused of killing his father with a dumbbell at an Irwindale storage facility is mentally competent to stand trial, court officials said.
Jonathan Pedraza, 25, is charged with the Sept. 10 murder of 62-year-old Miguel Pedraza of Glendora at A-1 Mini Storage, 4391 Irwindale Avenue.
He fled the scene after driving a car through a security gate enclosing the facility, then became involved in another hit-and-run crash in Baldwin Park, officials said.
A motive in the killing has not been released.
At his mental competency hearing in Pomona Superior Court, Jonathan Pedraza was ordered to West Covina Superior Court for a hearing Oct. 25.

GLENDORA -- A retired fire chief got a chance Thursday to meet and thank the Glendora police officer who saved him from a vicious pit bull attack earlier this week.
Milford Fonza, a 67-year-old retired Compton Fire Department chief, was out for his morning walk early Monday morning in the 1600 block of South Sunflower Avenue when he was attacked by two loose pit bulls, Glendora police and Fonza said.
Fonza estimated he'd been fighting with the dogs for about four minutes when Glendora police Officer Matt Fenner passed by on patrol, Lt. Tim Staab said.
The officer struck one of the pit bulls with his car, then shot the other one, police said.
Fonza suffered bite wounds to his face, arms, hands, torso, groin and legs, but was recovering well, Staab said.
"I've been wanting to meet him ever since the incident. I had to recover a little," Fonza said.
Without Fenner, "I wouldn't be here," he added. "There's no doubt in my mind. I was weakening. I don't think I could have kept fighting much longer."
Chief Robert Castro also attended the meeting.
A Glendora resident presented Fonza with a handmade walking stick to replace one that was destroyed during his fight with the dogs. The city also gave him one from a sporting goods store.
Fonza gave Fenner flowers and a fruit basket.
"It was great to thank him for his service and for saving my life," he said. "He's definitely my hero."

PHOTO courtesy of the Glendora Police Department

SANTA FE SPRINGS -- The second man convicted in a failed robbery at a medical marijuana dispensary last year has been sentenced to 16 years in state prison, officials said Thursday.
Chavasco Coogler, 30, of Los Angeles received his sentence after pleading "no contest" to a county of second-degree robbery in connection with the Aug. 10, 2010 robbery at the now-closed A.P. Natural Solutions medical marijuana dispensary in the 9800 block of Alburtis Avenue, Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office spokeswoman Shiara Davila-Morales said.
Coogler committed the crime with 19-year-old Travon Brooks of Harbor City, who pleaded guilty to the robbery and received a 12-year-prison sentence in November, Davila-Morales said.
The men failed to obtain any money or marijuana in the heist, but they did flee with a security guard's gun, officials said.
After fighting with the men, in a dramatic scene caught on a surveillance camera, the security guard locked the robbers inside the dispensary.
One of the men fired a shot at the door before forcing the guard to unlock it.
Last month, city officials sent cease and desist letters to 18 medical marijuana dispensaries within Santa Fe Springs, ordering them to close down by the end of the month.
Several owners of the dispensaries have said they will fight the decision.

LOS ANGELES - A woman accused of abducting her daughter from West Covina and taking her away from her father to Germany for two years pleaded "no contest" Thursday to a charge of deprivation of child custody.
Teresa Luisa Smith, also known as Teresa Smith Selvage, entered the plea at was scheduled to be her preliminary hearing in Los Angeles Superior Court, Los Angeles County District Attorney's spokeswoman Shiara Davila-Morales said.
"Under the terms of the negotiated plea, Smith is expected to be sentenced to five years formal probation, 270 days in county jail, and two years in state prison, suspended," she said.
Under the deal, Smith will not serve the prison sentence, provided she complies with the terms of probation. Sentencing was scheduled for Oct. 27.
Additionally, "Per the terms of the plea deal, the defendant must follow all orders of the family court," Davila-Morales said. A second charge of felony child stealing was dismissed.
Smith, 39, had been living with then-boyfriend Raul Gonzalez, the father of 4-year-old Theda Gonzalez, when she suddenly left town with the girl in May of 2009, officials said.
She took the child to Colorado, and then to Germany.
For two years, Raul Gonzalez used local, national and international courts to try to get his daughter back. Last month, he succeeded.
Theda Gonzalez, who now speaks only German and is just learning English, was dropped off at a German social services office in September, and soon reunited with her father.
A few weeks later, Teresa Smith had made arrangements with the consulate in Frankfurt Germany and was on a plane to Los Angeles, West Covina police Detective Irene Meza said.
Authorities took her into custody at LAX Sept. 29.
"I'm happy that justice was served," Raul Gonzalez said. "I'm just hoping she'll understand what she did was wrong."
Through her attorneys, Raul Gonzalez said, Smith has indicated she will be seeking some form of custody of Theda.
He said he felt more secure knowing that Smith would be on a lengthy probation once released from jail.
Raul Gonzalez is currently looking for a preschool for Theda.
"She's doing wonderful," he said.

GLENDORA -- Someone stole more than 50 used car batteries from a Wal-Mart store earlier this week, police said.
The crime took place sometime between 7:45 a.m. Tuesday and 7:45 a.m. Wednesday, Glendora police Lt. Rob Lamborghini said.
Workers at the store, 1950 Auto Center Drive, noticed a metal cage that houses used car batteries for recycling had been broken into, and a pallet containing 50 to 60 batteries -- valued at about $9 each -- had been taken.

SAN DIMAS -- A man accused of threatening passing strangers with a rifle and a knife remained at large Thursday after a SWAT team surrounded his home but found he was not there, authorities said.
Freddy Silva, 31, was being sought on suspicion assault with a deadly weapon, Los Angeles County sheriff's Lt. Craig Boyett said.
Deputies received a call shortly before 7 p.m. reporting two men and a woman walking in the 600 block of Baseline Road had been threatened and chased by an armed man.
"The suspect allegedly aimed a rifle at three adult victims, then chased them on foot while making threats and holding a knife," Boyett said in a written statement. "The suspect was last seen entering his residence on Baseline Road."
Detectives worked with the victims to identify Silva as the suspect, he said. Deputies contacted him via telephone, but he refused to surrender.
Believing Silva was possibly barricaded inside his home, officials summoned a SWAT team to help, Boyett said.
Deputies ultimately made their way into the home, however Silva was not there.
The motivation for Silva's alleged strange and violent behavior was not clear, Boyett said. He did not appear to know the victims at all.
Silva is described as Latino, 6 feet 1 inch tall and about 210 pounds.
Anyone with information is asked to call the sheriff's San Dimas Station at 909-450-2700.

PHOTO courtesy of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department

NORWALK -- Back by popular demand this Halloween season, the sheriff's Norwalk Station will be hosting it's "Haunted Jail" and open house event Oct. 22.
The free event is planned for 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the station, 12335 Civic Center Drive, organizers said in a written statement.
"Due to an overwhelming demand, we are going to empty our jails of all inmates and fill it with ghouls, ghosts, monsters and the living dead," the statement said.
The station parking lot will be filled with displays, including a sheriff's helicopter, motorcycles and other vehicles  and "Bert" the sheriff's camel.
Kids' activities such as face painting and a bounce house will also be offered.
"We gave had great success in getting community groups to partner with us and volunteer to decorate the jail cells and make this one of the scariest haunted jails ever," the statement said.
For more information, call the sheriff's Norwalk Station at 562-863-8711.

MONTEBELLO -- Four men beat an auto body shop employee Tuesday as a fifth attacker with a baseball bat held the victim's co-workers at bay, police said.
The incident was reported about 5 p.m. in the 700 block of South Maple Avenue, Montebello police Lt. Rich Meadows said.
Five men, described 19 to 27 years old, wearing dark gang attire, arrived at the victim's workplace and began attacking him with their fists and feet, the lieutenant said.
One of the men brandished a baseball bat to prevent the victim's co-workers from coming to his aid, Meadows said. He was a Latino man, about 27 years old, heavyset, wearing a black jersey and gray shorts.
The victim was not believed to be a gang member, though authorities suspected the attackers were.
The injured man was treated at a hospital and released later in the day, police said.

ALTADENA -- Deputies are seeking a man who exposed himself and tried to rape a woman late Sunday, officials said Wednesday.
A Pasadena woman in her early 20s was walking in the 1900 block of Lake Avenue about 10 p.m. when she was approached by a black man in his 20s, about 5 feet 9 inches tall, 140 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes, Los Angeles County sheriff's Lt. Joseph Dempsey said.
"He exposed himself to her, and then grabbed her from behind and tried to pull her into some bushes," he said.
The woman punched her assailant and he ran away, the lieutenant said. The woman was not hurt.
Detectives continued their investigation Wednesday and were working with the victim to see if a composite sketch of the attacker could be created, Dempsey said.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the sheriff's Altadena Station at 626-798-1131.

PICO RIVERA -- A mental competency hearing for a Pico Rivera man awaiting trial on suspicion of murdering his mother and brother, and attacking another brother, was postponed Wednesday, officials said.
Juan Garcia, 48, is charged with the murders of his mother Martha Garcia, 78, and his 52-year-old brother, Jorge Garcia, as well as attacking his younger brother April 2 at the family home in the 8900 block of Gallatin Road.
He appeared in the Mental Health Courthouse in Los Angeles Wednesday for a mental competency hearing, to determine whether he's mentally competent to stand trial -- however it was continued until Nov. 30, court officials said.
The mother was stabbed to death with a knife, while the brothers were beaten with a sledgehammer, authorities said.
Why the killings and attack took place remain a mystery, Sgt. Don Walls of the Los Angeles County Sheriffs.
"I'm not going to speculate on his motive," he said.
Other than the suspect himself, the only surviving witness was the younger brother, Walls said. "And he was basically blitzed."
The brother, then 31-years-old, had been in and out of the home throughout the day and was unaware Martha and Jorge Garcia were dead in the homes attached garage when Juan Garcia attacked him suddenly and without provocation, the sergeant said.
After escaping from the sledgehammer assault, the surviving brother called 9-1-1 about 8 p.m., officials said.
Deputies arrested Juan Garcia on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, and the injured sibling was taken to a hospital with moderate injuries.
Family members found the bodies after they went to the home because they were unable to get in touch with Martha or Jorge Garcia for several hours after the assault, Walls said.
Detectives booked Juan Garcia the following morning on suspicion of the two murders.
According to county booking records, Juan Garcia is being held without bail pending trial at the Twin Towers Correctional Facility in Los Angeles.

MONROVIA -- Police arrested a woman on suspicion of methamphetamine possession Tuesday after she was found sleeping in a shed behind an apartment building, officials said.
Amy Albright, 21, of Monrovia was booked on suspicion of possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia, as well as an outstanding warrant stemming from another methamphetamine possession case, Monrovia police Sgt. Dan Verna said.
Residents called police about 9 a.m. to report a woman sleeping in a shed behind an apartment complex in the 300 block of West Colorado Boulevard, the sergeant said.
An officer found Albright in the shed, along with a small bag of methamphetamine and a pipe, officials said.

ALHAMBRA -- Trial was again postponed Tuesday for a San Gabriel man accused of killing his girlfriend in 2007.
Isaac Campbell was scheduled to stand trial Tuesday in Alhambra Superior Court for the killing of Pasadena College Student Liya "Jessie" Lu, 31, of San Gabriel, but the trial was postponed until Oct. 17, court officials said.
Lu went missing in August of 2007, then her body was found in a trash can Campbell had stored at a friend's house in Arcadia about a month later.
Detectives arrested Campbell in Minnesota
Authorities then arrested Campbell in Minnesota less than two weeks after the body was found.
According to booking records, he's being held in lieu of $1.275 million bail pending trial.

PASADENA -- Police arrested a man late Monday on suspicion of negligently firing a gun, authorities said.
Alberto Perales, 25, of Pasadena was booked on suspicion of negligent discharge of a firearm, Pasadena police Cmdr. Lisa Rosales said.
Officials received calls reporting gunfire about 10:10 p.m. in the 100 block of West Tremont Street, the commander said.
Officers spoke with Perales, collected evidence from his property, including a handgun, and arrested him, Rosales said. It was not clear Tuesday why he fired the gun.
According to county booking records, Perales as being held in lieu of $35,000 bail pending his initial court appearance.

WEST COVINA -- A middle school math teacher accused of carrying on an inappropriate relationship with a 13-year-old student appeared in court Tuesday.
Devin William White, 33, did not enter a plea to charges of lewd acts on a child and possession of "obscene matter," Pomona Superior Court officials said. His arraignment was rescheduled for Nov. 1.
West Covina police arrested him Thursday night after school officials alerted police of the alleged inappropriate relationship Thursday afternoon.
"(The relationship) started at the end of last school year," West Covina police Sgt. David Lee said. It allegedly began again in the fall when the girl returned to school as an 8th-grader.
In addition to committing lewd acts on the girl, White was suspected of possessing inappropriate images on his cell phone, Lee said.
Detectives had not found any other students who reported inappropriate contact with the teacher, though Lee said the possibility was still being looked into.
West Covina Unified School District Superintendent Debra Kaplan said the school notified police immediately after learning of the alleged misconduct.
She declined to discuss the current employment status of White because it was a personnel issue.
As policy, however, "When any kind of investigation goes on, we take (teachers) out of the classroom," Kaplan said.
The school notified parents of the situation via a letter sent home with students Friday. More than 100 parents attended a meeting at the school Monday to discuss the issue.
"Our goal was to tell them as much as we could," Kaplan said. District officials also listened feedback from the parents.
Two counselors were on-hand at the meeting to talk with parents about how to talk to their kids about the situation, Kaplan added.
The meeting also focused how parents and school officials can make sure students feel comfortable reporting problems to adults.
"We really do want kids to be able to come to us," Kaplan said. "We really need to work together to make kids feel safe."
White has taught in the West Covina Unified School District for seven years, and he's taught at Walnut Grove Middle School for the last four years, WCUSD Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources Mike Seaman said. It was not clear Tuesday where he taught before Walnut Grove.
According to county booking records, White was being held in lieu of $100,000 bail.

MONTEBELLO -- Officials have released the name of a Montebello woman whose death Monday is being investigated by homicide detectives.
Cora Sam, 60, died at a hospital shortly after being taken there by a relative, Los Angeles County Department of Coroner's Assistant Chief of Operations Ed Winter said.
An autopsy was planned to determine her cause of death, officials added.
The death was being investigated as a "suspicious death" by the Montebello Police Department, as well as the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Homicide Bureau.
No further information was released Tuesday.

HACIENDA HEIGHTS -- Foul play was not initially suspected in the "suspicious" death of a 20-year-old man found unconscious in his bedroom over the weekend.
Arnold Hernandez Gomez was pronounced dead shortly after he was discovered unresponsive by his parents about 4:30 p.m. Sunday in his bedroom in the 1400 block of Riderwood Avenue, Los Angeles County Department of Coroner's Chief of Operations Craig Harvey said.
There were no initial signs of a crime, and no signs that drugs or alcohol were involved in the death, Lt. John Corina of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Homicide Bureau said. Detectives are primarily looking into the case because of Gomez's age.
Detectives suspected the young man may have suffered some type of medical condition, Corina said, however coroner's officials planned an autopsy to determine the cause of death.

Wow!

LOS ANGELES COUNTY -- Crime statistics released by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Friday show that both violent and property crime is down throughout the county, with some significant decreases in the San Gabriel Valley.
Violent crimes are down 12.61 percent the first nine months of 2011, compared with last year, according to a report issued by the sheriff's department. They're down 21.84 percent over the past five years.
Property crimes dropped by 3.5 percent in 2011, and 14.56 percent since 2006.
Most notable in the San Gabriel Valley, so-called "Part I" crimes such as murder, robbery, burglary, rape and auto theft, declined by 32.1 percent at the sheriff's Altadena Station, 15.6 percent at the La Crescenta Sation and 15.2 percent at the Temple Station, according to the report. All three stations have seen declined of more than 25 percent over the past five years, as have the Industry, San Dimas and Walnut stations.
The only notable spikes in crime in the San Gabriel Valley were in the categories of rape and criminal homicide, which both involve small numbers, making statistics subject to rapid change. Murders handled by the Norwalk Station gre from two last year to six, and five homicide have been investigated in Pico Rivera so far this year, compared with two the year before.
Reported forcible rapes handled by the Industry Station rose from 16 last year to 21 this year. Eleven rapes were reported to the San Dimas Station this year, compared with six last year, and 10 were reported to the Walnut Station, up from seven last year.
At many area sheriff's stations, robbery, assault, burglary, theft and auto theft statisitcs have seen significant and continuing decline over the past five years, continuing this year.
In Altadena, robberies are down 16.9 percent this year, and 33.1 percent over the past five years.
Robberies declined by 13.6 percent this year in the Temple Station's area, 32 percent at the Pico Rivera Station, 24.9 percent at the Pico Rivera Station and 14 percent at the Walnut Station.and 29.8 percent since 2006. All three stations have seen declined of more than 23 percent over the past five years.
Agravated assaults at the Crescenta, Altadena, Norwalk and Walnut stations are down this year by more than 20 percent, also continuing a five-year downward trend.
Burglaries in Altadena have dropped 33.2 percent this year. The Pico Rivera, San Dimas and Norwalk stationsl saw decreases around 15 percent.
Thefts, which were down throughout most of the county, were down in Altadena by 34.7 percent. The Norwalk and Pico Rivera stations saw single-digit increases in thefts.
And auto theft continues to become a less common crime in many areas, with annual decreases of 40.7 percent at the Altadena Station, 36.7 percent at the La Crescenta Station, 22.8 percent at the Temple Station, 36.8 percent at the San Dimas Station and 21.6 percent at the Walnut Station. All five stations have experienced a decrease in auto thefts of more than 40 percent over the past five years.
Rio Hondo College professor of criminal justice Bob Feliciano said the drop in crime was likely do to an aging population.
"That's the dynamic. We have an older society with older crooks, and older crooks don't commit crimes," Feliciano said. "There's very few burglars in their 50s."
He added that predictions five years ago that crime rates would skyrocket due to a bad economy and high unemployment failed to take into account the aging of the criminal population.
But the trend won't hold for long, Feliciano said.
"Unfortunately, we have a new cadre of young people coming up," he said. Once the next generation reaches the "age of crime" in the next five or ten years, police and jails will likely become busier.
"As I tell my students," who are primarily future law enforcement officials, "right now crime is down. but don't worry, business is going to get better."

See the raw data

MONTEREY PARK -- A 28-year-veteran Monterey Park police veteran has been appointed as the city's new permanent top cop.
Police Chief Jim Smith, who has served as interim police chief for more than a year, was officially designated as Monterey Park's police chief when the council voted unanimously to ratify his contract Wednesday, city officials said in a written statement.
He joined the Monterey Park Police Department as an Explorer Scout and then worked as a reserve officer, officials said. Be became a full time Monterey Park police officer in 1992.
"During his time he has held every rank in the department and worked various assignment in patrol, investigations and community relations," according to the statement.
First appointed interim police chief in September of 2009 to replace retiring chief Jones Moy. He also served as acting city manager on several occasions last year.
Smith was raised in Rosemead and graduated Mark Keppel high School. He earned his Associate's Degree from from Mt. San Antonio College, his Bachelor's Degree in criminal justice from Cal State Los Angeles and his Master's in Public Administration from the University of La Verne.
He's a current member and past president of a Monterey Park Lions Club and a member of a host of community and law-enforcement organizations.
Smith, who has a 15-year-old son with his wife, Margie, enjoys coaching youth baseball in his spare time.

The suspected "No Bands Bandit" wanted for robbing banks in Hacienda Heights and Santa Ana was arrested Thursday afternoon after someone tipped off authorities.
The FBI gave the bandit the moniker because he told tellers he didn't want cash with any bands.
"A witness recognized the suspect from a wanted flier and called the FBI," Sheriff's Capt. Mike Parker said.
He said parolee Joseph William Kipp, 52, was arrested by FBI agents and deputies at a parole office in Anaheim.
"The suspect has implicated himself in the two robberies," Parker said.
He added that Kipp is a transient who lives in a car and frequents Santa Ana.
FBI spokeswoman Laura Eimiller said Kipp will be charged in state court with bank robbery.
The "No Bands Bandit" robbed the U.S. Bank at 2040 S Hacienda Blvd. in Hacienda Heights on Tuesday and the U.S. Bank at 2740 N Grand Ave. in Santa Ana on Aug. 4.
He used a note demanding money and told tellers to give him cash without bands.
While no weapon was seen in the Hacienda Heights robbery, Eimiller said the bandit lifted his clothing and showed a teller a weapon in the Santa Ana robbery.
Deputies said Kipp will be booked at a sheriff's station and will be held without bail since he is a parolee.
- From staff writer Ruby Gonzales

WHITTIER -- Police are cautioning residents to be wary of an old scam that's made a resurgence lately in which con artist claim to be troubled relatives in need of emergency money.
The so-called "relative scam" or "grandparent scam" appears to grow more prevalent during the holiday season, when people are more likely to be traveling, Whittier police Officer Bradley White said.
Two Whittier residents have been conned out of nearly $9,000 in this type of scam in recent months, the officer said.
In the scam, "An individual calls, either from Mexico or Canada. Once you answer the phone, the individual keeps the conversation vague until the victim (you) gives them a name of a family member," Whittier police said in a written statement.
"Once the individual has that name, they will claim to be that person. The scammer then will tell you that they need money wired to a certain location because they have an emergency. The emergencies consist of; car accidents, auto repairs, they need bail money or they have to pay hospital bills for injuries," the statement said.
An 82-year-old Whittier woman fell victim to the scam Aug. 31 and wired $2,800 to the crooks after she received a phone call from someone "pretending to be a relative in jail (in Mexico) and needing bail money," White said.
A 34-year-old Whittier woman also came across the scammers on July 16, police said.
Over two days, he said, "She had wired a total of wired about $6,000 to a person in Mexico claiming to be in an accident." The caller said the money was needed to pay for medical bills and damage to the vehicle of the other driver.
"We want to make the public aware that this scam is out there," White said.
Similar scams have been reported throughout the region in recent months and years.
In January, two elderly West Covina resident sent about $4,800 and $9,500, respectively, though the same type of con, and an elderly Arcadia couple was duped out of about $17,000, officials said.
In October of 2009, an elderly Whittier man wired $2,8000 to scammers who convinced him his grandson had been in a car crash in Canada and needed money, according to investigators. He was about to wire more money when an alert Wal-Mart employee tipped him off to the scam.
The complex nature of the crime, and the fact that it appears to involve crooks outside the United States, investigators have said this type of scam is highly difficult to prosecute. As detectives work to gather useful information about the con artists, they advise they public to be cautious on the telephone.
Whittier police offered some tips to avoid being scammed when talking on the telephone.
"First, if you receive a call from someone pretending to be your relative, make them tell you their name. Never assume you are talking to your relative," according to the police statement.
"Second, ask them specific questions that would make them prove they are your relative. If they can't prove who they are, hang up. Third, if you believe you are talking to a relative and they are asking for money; double check their story before your wire the money to them. You can check by asking for their phone number to call them back. You can also call another relative to confirm their story."

PALMDALE -- A woman used threats of a curse to scare a 12-year-old girl into stealing more than $10,000 worth of jewelry from her parents, officials said.
Jackeline Lopez, 42, of Palmdale was arrested Sept. 17 and booked on suspicion of extortion after orchestrating the jewelry thefts over the course of a month, Los Angeles County sheriff's officials said in a written statement. Detectives are seeking any possible additional victims, as well as a man photographed helping Lopez pawn jewelry.
The young victim befriended Lopez's daughter in August and began sneaking away to visit the Lopez home, Deputy Robbie Royster said.
"During their discussions, the suspect claimed she was able to see into the victim's future," Royster said.
"Suspect Lopez allegedly conducted these psychic readings in her home's garage which she had decorated with numerous candles, chalk outlines, black caldrons, replicated human skulls, beads, dolls and other similar items consistent with psychic readings," he said.
"Suspect Lopez told the victim that she believed the victim to be cursed and several horrible things would come to both the victim and the victim's family if the curse was not removed," the deputy said.
But for a price, Lopez told her the curse could be removed, Royster said. Over the next month, Lopez encouraged the girl to bring jewelry from her home to help remove the curse.
"Routinely Lopez would orchestrate a ritual in which the victim would place the stolen jewelry in the caldron and attempt to remove the curse," Royster said. "Each time however Lopez would tell the victim that what they had brought was not enough to remove the horrible curse and she needed more."
When the girl's parents began to notice the missing jewelry -- valued at more than $10,000 -- they confronted their daughter, officials said.
After detectives found some of the missing jewelry in local pawn shops, Royster said, Lopez was arrested.
Officials are now seeking a man who was captured in photographs helping Lopez pawn the jewelry.
According to county booking records, Lopez was released from jail Monday after posting $35,000 bail and was due to appear in the Antelope Valley Courthouse Oct. 18.
Anyone with information is asked call Detective Dang at (661) 272-2477.

PHOTOS courtesy of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

From the Associated Press:

SACRAMENTO -- Gov. Jerry Brown and others who supported the dramatic shift in California's sentencing law that took effect this week have said it will send only those convicted of nonviolent or non-serious crimes to county jails instead of state prison, a change designed to save the state money and reduce inmate crowding.
Yet a review by The Associated Press of crimes that qualify for local sentences shows at least two dozen offenses shifting to local control that can be considered serious or violent.
Among them: Involuntary manslaughter, vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, killing or injuring a police officer while resisting arrest, participating in a lynching, possession of weapons of mass destruction, possessing explosives, threatening a witness or juror, and using arson or explosives to terrorize a health facility or church. Assault, battery, statutory rape and sexual exploitation by doctors or psychotherapists are also covered by the prison realignment law and carry sentences that will be served in a county jail instead of state prison.
more...

WHITTIER -- Authorities Thursday released the name of a 20-year-old Whittier woman killed in a three-car crash earlier this week.
Lauren Elizabeth Ontiveros died shortly after the 8:24 p.m. crash in the 9200 block of Greenleaf Avenue, Los Angeles County Department of Coroner Assistant Chief of Operations Ed Winter said.
Ontiveros was driving her 1995 Honda Accord east on Mulberry Drive when a work van turned left in front of her from westbound Mulberry Drive to Greenleaf Avenue, Whittier police Officer Brad White said.
She was taken to St. Francis Medical Center in Lynwood, where she died a short time later, officials said.
Following the initial crash, the vehicles collided with an SUV being driven by a Pico Rivera man in his 20s alongside the Honda, White said. The SUV driver was treated for complaints of back pain.
The cause of the crash was initially believed to be a failure to yield on the part of the van driver, White said, though the investigation was ongoing. Ontiveros was not believed to be wearing a seat belt.
The van involved in the crash was a fleet vehicle owned by a company called "Ecolab," police said. The driver, an Anaheim man in his 60s, was not injured.
No citations or arrests were made as of Thursday.

The FBI on Wednesday released bank surveillance photos of a man who robbed banks in Hacienda Heights and Santa Ana.
Officials dubbed him the "No Bands Bandit."
"In both robberies, he demanded cash without bands," FBI spokeswoman Laura Eimiller said. "He specifically said he didn't want cash with bands on it."
The bandit robbed the U.S. Bank at 2040 S Hacienda Blvd. in Hacienda Heights on Tuesday. He also hit the U.S. Bank at 2740 N Grand Ave. in Santa Ana on Aug. 4.
Eimiller said no one was injured during the robberies.
In Tuesday's robbery, the bandit entered the Hacienda Heights bank about 10:30 a.m. and handed a teller a note demanding money.
Eimiller said no weapon was seen.
But in the Santa Ana robbery, she said a teller saw the suspect displaying a weapon under his clothing.
The suspect was described as a Latino or white man, 45 to 55, between 5 feet 8 inches to 5 feet 9 inches tall and weighing between 170 to 180 pounds.
Anyone with information is asked to call the FBI at 1-888 CANT HIDE (1-888 226-8443).
- From staff writer Ruby Gonzales
*PHOTO courtesy of the FBI

From the Associated Press

CERRITOS -- An off-duty Los Angeles County sheriff's deputy has shot and wounded two burglary suspects at his Cerritos home.
A Sheriff's Department statement says that shortly before 11 p.m. Wednesday, the deputy heard voices and noises coming from his home, which was covered with a tent for fumigation.
The deputy walked into his backyard and was confronted by three men leaving the house. Authorities say the deputy ordered the men to raise their hands but a struggle ensued during which he shot two of the men.
They were taken to a hospital with non-life threatening wounds.
The third man fled.
The deputy received minor injuries.

SOUTH SAN GABRIEL -- A Pomona man died Wednesday after his car crossed into oncoming traffic and collided with another car, authorities said.
Yung Hsi Han, 38, of Pomona, died in the 1:50 p.m. crash on Rosemead Boulevard, just south of San Gabriel Boulevard, Los Angeles County Department of Coroner's Assistant Chief of Operations Ed Winter said.
Han was driving a 1996 Saturn northbound on Rosemead Boulevard when, "For unknown reasons, (Han's) vehicle crossed over the raised concrete median that divides northbound traffic from southbound traffic, directly into the path of (a 2009 Toyota being driven by a 74-year-old Monterey Park man)," California Highway Patrol officials said in a written statement.
The driver of the Toyota was unable to avoid colliding with the Saturn, officials said.
Han was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the Toyota was hospitalized with moderate injuries.
The crash is being investigated by the East Los Angeles office of the CHP.

WHITTIER - Three women testified Wednesday that a local doctor sexually assaulted them during breast and gynecological exams at offices in Whittier and La Mirada.
Dr. Steve Vouis, 65, is accused of six counts of sexual battery by fraud. The alleged assaults took place between 2007 and 2009 and involved five victims.
At the first portion of a preliminary hearing in Whittier Superior Court, three women took the witness stand to describe their encounters with the doctor. The hearing is expected to conclude Oct. 12.
Vouis pleaded not guilty to the allegations. He was freed after posting $125,000 bail. The case is being prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Heba Matta.
All three women, who are in their 20s and 30s, testified that Vouis inappropriately touched their nipples during breast examinations. Two of the women said he also molested them during vaginal examinations.
A 33-year-old alleged victim, identified only as Mary R. to protect her privacy, told of her experiences with the doctor when she went to his Whittier office in June 2007 for a gynecological appointment.
She said the doctor squeezed her nipples and made sexual comments about them while examining her.
During a vaginal exam, she testified that the doctor's touching went far beyond what she had experienced in previous exams.
When she told Vouis that he was hurting her, she testified, "he ripped off my gown, threw it on the floor."
At that point, Mary R. testified, she stopped the exam and left the office.
Jennifer Keller, the attorney representing Vouis, pointed out inconsistencies between what Mary R. testified in court, and what she wrote in notes taken the day of the appointment.
Vouis declined to comment outside the courtroom Wednesday.
Another alleged victim, identified in court as Yesica Y., told a story similar to Mary R.
The defense attorney asked Yesica Y. if she was angry over other issues, such as a billing dispute. She said she was not.
Keller also questioned why Yesica Y. allowed the exam to continue even after alleged inappropriate behavior.
Yesica Y. said she feared for her safety and her life.
Alleged victim Wendy Z. took the stand to talk about an April 2009 appointment with the doctor.
She said she became "very uncomfortable" when the doctor asked about her boyfriend.
Keller also highlighted differences between Wendy Z.'s testimony Wednesday and what she had written down shortly after the incident. Keller also asked her why she did not end the exam and leave at the first signs of impropriety.
Keller asked all the witnesses if they've filed lawsuits against Vouis.
When the preliminary hearing is completed next week, Whittier Superior Court Judge Cathryn Brougham will make a ruling on whether sufficient evidence has been presented to order Vouis to stand trial.

Local restaurant owners aren't happy about food trucks in Pasadena, so they got together at Cameron's Seafood on East Colorado to discuss options. Among those who attended were Robin Salzer (owner of Robin's B-B-Q), Ishmael Trone, a couple of city bureaucrats, a Starbucks exec and at least one food truck operator: 

PASADENA - Restaurant owners in Pasadena fired the opening shot Tuesday in a battle with trendy gourmet food trucks, which brick-and-mortar businesses claim are luring away customers.

To the chagrin of many Pasadena restaurant owners, the city of Pasadena doesn't subject food trucks the pricey conditional-use permits restaurants must obtain to open for business.

"You can't have a double standard and that's the problem," said Robin Salzer, owner of Robin's B-B-Q and Woodfire Grill. "The city created a double standard because food trucks were the flavor of the month."

Restaurant owners don't simply want to force food truck operators to apply for conditional-use permits. Many want food trucks barred from parking on city streets, restricted to operating on private property (500 feet from the nearest restaurant) and operating only after 10 p.m.

Some even suggested enacting a ban similar to San Marino's ordinance, which doesn't allow food trucks at all.

"The black and white of this is that catering trucks shouldn't be allowed in Pasadena," said Bessie Politis, Western Pacific regional quality assurance manager for Starbucks.

This from the Associated Press:

SANTA ANA, Calif. (AP) -- A former U.S. Marine who was convicted of three murders in Illinois will be returned to California to be tried in five other murder cases, prosecutors said Tuesday.

Andrew Urdiales, 47, will arrive Thursday to be prosecuted in killings committed in Orange, Riverside and San Diego counties from 1986 to 1995, the Orange County district attorney said.

Urdiales was convicted in 2002 in Illinois for killing two women and again in 2004 for killing a third.

He is accused of killing four of the Southern California women while stationed at various military facilities in the three-county region and of killing the fifth while on vacation in Palm Springs in 1995.

Among the alleged victims: Robbin Brandley, a Saddleback College student killed in 1986.

HACIENDA HEIGHTS -- A man robbed a Hacienda Heights bank branch Tuesday, officials said.
Few details were initially released about the crime, which was reported about 10:30 a.m. at the U.S. Bank, 2040 Hacienda Blvd., Los Angeles County sheriff's Lt. Raymond Enriquez said.
According to initial police reports from the scene, the robber handed a teller a note demanding money. He threatened to have a gun, though none was seen.
Police radio traffic indicated the robber was a Latino man, about 5 feet 10 inches tall and 170 pounds, and that no getaway car was seen.
Station officials said they could not confirm those details and deferred all comments to handling detectives at the Sheriff's Major Crimes Bureau, who could not be reached for comment.
The Major Crimes Bureau recently took over all bank robberies for the sheriff's department, officials said. The FBI was also assisting sheriff's officials in the investigation.

Chris Farley as Bocephus

C Dogg | Myspace Video

From the New York Times:

CUPERTINO, Calif. -- For its next act, Apple is turning the iPhone into a personal assistant.

The company on Tuesday unveiled an eagerly awaited new version of the device, the iPhone 4S, that comes with a "virtual assistant," Siri, that recognizes voice commands by users to schedule appointments, dictate text messages and conduct Web searches.

Although the new phone is virtually indistinguishable on the outside from its predecessor, the iPhone 4, the company says it is packed with better technical innards, including a more advanced camera. The phone also includes a more powerful chip known as the A5, the same microprocessor that acts as the brains inside the iPad.

Photo from ARS Technica

LA HABRA -- Two people were hospitalized, one of them with serious injuries, following a three-car crash on Lambert Road early Tuesday, authorities said.
The crash was reported just before 8 a.m. on Lambert Road, just east of Beach Boulevard, Los Angeles County Fire Department Battalion Chief Art Ellis said.
A man estimated to be in his 20s was hospitalized with major injuries but expected to survive after firefighters freed him from his wrecked Hyundai, Ellis said.
Based on the preliminary investigation, it appears that the driver of a pickup truck traveling westbound in the No. 1 lane veered into eastbound lanes," La Habra police officials said in a written statement.
"The truck first clipped a (Chevrolet) Tahoe and then broadsided a Hyundai, pushing that vehicle all the way to the curb line," the statement said.
After being cut free from the wreckage, the Hyundai driver was taken to the University of California, Irvine, Medical Center for treatment, Ellis said. The injuries were serious, but not believed to be life threatening.
The pickup truck driver, also estimated to be in his 20, was hospitalized at St. Jude Medical Center in Fullerton for apparently minor injuries, Ellis said. A woman in her 30s who was driving the Tahoe was unhurt.
"The exact cause of the accident remains under investigation," according to the police statement. Any witnesses are asked to call La Habra police at 562-905-9750.

*PHOTO by Staff Photographer Keith Durflinger

SOUTH WHITTIER -- Five children are recovering from injuries ranging from minor to major after the minivan they were riding in collided with a pickup truck Sunday, authorities said.
Two of the five children, who ranged in age from 1 to 9, were thrown from the minivan in the crash, officials said.
The crash took place about 7:10 p.m. Sunday on Telegraph Road and Victoria Avenue, in the unincorporated county area known as South Whittier, California Highway Patrol Officer Charles Quijada said.
A 29-year-old Whittier woman made a turn from eastbound Telegraph Road to Victoria Avenue when her minivan was struck by a pickup truck being driven westbound on Telegraph Road by an 18-year-old man, officials said.
Two of the young children were thrown from the minivan following the impact, Quijada said. It was not clear Tuesday if they had been wearing seatbelts.
Three other children in the minivan also suffered injuries, officials said, though none were believed to be life threatening.
The driver of the minivan was unhurt, and the driver of the pickup truck suffered minor injuries.
The cause of the crash was being investigated by the Santa Fe Springs office of the CHP.

PASADENA -- A fire displaced a family and caused about $750,000 worth of damage to a home a Sequoia Drive early Tuesday, authorities said.
The blaze was reported just before 2 a.m. at a three-story home in the 100 block of Sequoia Drive, Pasadena Fire Department spokeswoman Lisa Derderian said in a written statement.
Firefighters found heavy smoke and fire showing from the second floor when they arrived, official said.
After extinguishing the blaze, officials summoned an investigator to determine the cause.
A man, woman and a 1-year-old girl were home when the fire broke out but managed to exit the house safely, Derderian said.
The Red Cross was summoned to assist, but they were able to find their own temporary lodgings, .
Officials estimated the damage caused by the blaze at $500,000 to the home and $250,000 to contents.


PHOTO courtesy of the Pasadena Fire Department

PASADENA -- A man arrested in connection with an apartment fire that killed a 28-year-old Pasadena woman has been released from jail pending further investigation, authorities said Tuesday.
Corey Green, 28, of Los Angeles was released from jail Monday afternoon, according to county booking records.
The body of Maria Donnely was found inside her apartment in the 000 block of South Meridith Avenue after firefighters extinguished an early-morning blaze, police and fire officials said.
Originally booked on suspicion of murder Sunday, detectives released Green pending further investigation, Pasadena police Lt. Tom Delgado said. A case was not presented to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office for prosecution.
"This is a very complex investigation," the lieutenant said.
Green remains a "person of interest" in the investigation, he added.
"Detectives are doing their investigation and will follow up any leads that they develop," Lt. Phlunte Riddle said.
Officials said Green was believed to be Donnely's ex-boyfriend.
The cause of the fire has been ruled to be arson, Riddle said.
The exact manner in which the blaze was sparked was not clear Tuesday, she said, "but (fire investigators) do know that is was intentionally set."
Pasadena police investigators have said Donnely's death was a homicide, though coroner's investigators have not yet determined Donnely's specific cause of death.
She had suffered "blunt force trauma" prior to the fire, Lt. Phlunte Riddle said, though she declined to discuss the injuries in detail due to the ongoing investigation.
Donnely was likely dead, "or at least unconscious," when the fire broke out.
The specific cause of death remained unknown pending further examination, Los Angeles County Department of Coroner Assistant Chief of Operations Ed Winter said.

AZUSA -- A man was hospitalized in a jail ward Saturday after he accidentally shot himself in the foot, then was found to have a stolen gun, authorities said.
Octavio Quiroz of El Monte and Edward Aguilar of Glendale, both 33, were booked on suspicion of possession of stolen property, Azusa police Sgt. Dewayne Eldridge.
Police received word about 2:30 p.m. Friday that Quiroz had accidentally shot himself in the foot while at the Burro Canyon Shooting Park, 22100 East East Fork Road, the sergeant said. His friend, later identified as Aguilar, was driving him down San Gabriel Canyon Road to get medical help.
Officials advised the driver to pull over and wait for paramedics in the 700 block of North San Gabriel Avenue, which he did.
Authorities arrived and treated Quiroz for his gunshot wound, Eldridge said.
The men claimed they left their firearm at the shooting range, however officers discovered a box containing two handguns hidden in some bushes near the men's truck, he said.
One of the guns had been reported stolen, Eldridge said. The other was not registered to either man, and police were still working to determine who owned it Saturday.
Quiroz was booked at a hospital where he was being treated, and Aguilar was booked into the Azusa Police Department's jail, officials said.
The accidental shooting was being investigated by the U.S. Forest Service.
According to county booking records, the men were being held in lieu of $20,000 each and were due for arraignment Tuesday in West Covina Superior Court.

COVINA -- A robber wearing a multi-colored floral dress and an accomplice in a suit coat robbed a jewelry store Friday and tied up the owner and an employee.
Covina police Sgt. Gregg Peterson said the suspects posed as customers to get inside Legacy Jewelers. He said one has to be buzzed in to enter the store at 115 N. Citrus Ave.
"They probably wanted to give the impression they were a couple shopping," Peterson said, adding that the suspects asked about jewelry.
The takeover robbery happened at 12:50 p.m. Police said there were no other customers inside the store.
One of the robbers pulled a gun and took one of the victims to the back of the store, according to Peterson. The second robber did the same to the other victim.
Both victims were then bound.
He said the robbers left with a substantial amount of jewelry. The exact value hasn't been determined yet.
The victims were able to untie themselves and hit the alarm. As they came running out of the store, Peterson said there happened to be an officer in the area at the time.
Sgt. Trevor Gaumer said the victims are convinced one of the robbers was a man dressed as a woman. The suspect was described as a black man with braided hair, 5 feet 5 inches tall, about 200 pounds and of heavy build.
The police report didn't say if the floral dress was short or long.
The other robber was described as a black man, clean shaven, 6 feet tall, weighing 200 pounds and wearing a suit coat.
Gaumer said the victims ended up with scratches and bruising from being tied up.
- From Staff Writer Ruby Gonzales

MONTEREY PARK -- Two armed men wearing ski masks and dark clothing robbed a bank of an undisclosed amount on Friday.
Monterey Park police Lt. Eric Kim said no shots were fired during the takeover robbery at the Los Angeles National Bank, 700 West Garvey Ave. He wasn't sure if anyone was injured.
Kim said the robbers entered the bank at 9:14 a.m., brandished handguns and demanded money.
They took the cash and left. No getaway car was seen.
- From Staff Writer Ruby Gonzales

EAST VALINDA -- A Rowland Heights resident was arrested Friday for allegedly stabbing one man in the neck and body during a fight then slashing another man who tried to intervene.
One of the victims was critically injured, said Lt. Joe Chavez. He didn't know what started the fight.
Jose Garcia, 50, was booked on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon at the sheriff's Industry station. A knife was recovered.
At 7:46 p.m., deputies headed to Giordano Street and Valley Boulevard on a call about two men fighting and a third man getting stabbed in the hand.
Chavez said the suspect and a 28-year-old man were fighting when a 37-year-old man tried to stop it. But the suspect allegedly slashed his hand instead.
The 37-year-old backed off. His assailant fled the scene.
The 28-year-old victim was taken to Los Angeles County USC Medical Center. Chavez said the man was in critical but stable condition. The other victim, the 37-year-old, was treated at the scene by paramedics and later released.
Chavez said a sergeant saw the suspect in the 17800 block of Valley Boulevard and arrested him.
- From Staff Writer Ruby Gonzales

WHITTIER -- A 14-year-old girl who reported she was attacked in an attempted kidnapping Friday has admitted her story was false, police said Saturday.
The girl told her parents, who in-turn notified sheriff's deputies, that she had been assaulted by two men in a car who grabbed her, struck her and tried to force to get in the vehicle about 8:30 a.m. Friday on Dicky Street near Mills Avenue, in an unincorporated county area just south of Whittier, Los Angeles County sheriff's Lt. Bill Evans said.
Upon further investigation, the girl recanted her tale.
It was believed Saturday that the girl intentionally missed her bus in order to meet a boy she had met on the Internet, the lieutenant said.
She became alarmed when she approached a young man who she believed to be the person she was trying to meet, but he was not, Evans said. When the man reached out his hand to her, she struck him, and he pushed her before walking away.
The girl then went home and told her parents a false story of attempted kidnapping, he said.