West Covina officers help save toddler who stopped breathing

WEST COVINA —  Two officers are being credited for saving a 19-month-old child who stopped breathing Friday night.
West Covine police got a call at 8:10 p.m. about a child possibly having a seizure in the 2700 block of Dawn Ridge Place.
Officer Justin Schienle was the first officer to arrive at the house. The child, Maddox Proglio, wasn’t breathing.
Lt. Marty Sevilla said Schienle gave back blows to Maddox and used his finger to check if there was something blocking the boy’s airway.
Officer Matthew Nelson who also responded to the call did the same thing. Sevilla said the two officers were able to get Maddox breathing again.
The boy was taken to a local hospital.
“The family is thankful,” Sevilla said.
– Ruby Gonzales
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Teen suspect in seven West Covina tagging incidents

WEST COVINA — Police alleged a 17-year-old West Covina boy tagged seven locations in the city since November, causing about $1,300 in damages.
West Covina police Lt. Marty Sevilla said the teen was arrested Friday on suspicion of felony vandalism, resisting arrest and possession of a vandalism tool.
The incident began at 11:33 a.m. when an alarm was activated at the ITT Technical Institute building, 1530 W. Cameron Ave.
Sevilla said officers who went to the call saw the teen hiding in the bushes and thought he had something to do with the alarm.
The teen ran from the officers and allegedly tossed a marker during the chase. Police found the marker and also caught the boy by Orange Avenue.
Sevilla said the teen didn’t vandalize the ITT building.
Because of the marker, he said the teen admitted to being part of a tagging crew. Police checked a database and matched the teen’s alleged moniker to seven previous tagging incidents in the city.
The teen was later released to the custody of his parents. He has a Feb. 21 appearance at Pomona Juvenile Court.
Sevilla said the teen’s parents are also facing a $1,000 fine under the West Covina municipal code.
– Ruby Gonzales
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Cash, booze stolen in Azusa liquor store takeover

AZUSA — Three robbers wearing bandannas on their faces fled with cash and several bottles of alcohol after robbing a liquor store Friday night, authorities said.
The crime took place about 10:45 p.m. at Eddie’s Jr. Market, 596 E. Foothill Blvd., Azusa police Sgt. Randy Schmidt said in a written statement.
“Three men, one of them armed with a handgun, entered the store and ordered the clerks to the ground at gunpoint,” the sergeant said.
The robbers helped themselves to several hundred dollars from the cash register, as well as several bottles of liquor from the store shelves, police said.
Two of the robbers wore black hooded sweat shirts and dark jeans, Schmidt said, while the third wore a long-sleeved white shirt under a gray, short-sleeved shirt and a black beanie. They were last seen fleeing south on Cerritos Avenue from the store on foot.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Azusa Police Department’s Tip Line at 626-812-3272.
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San Gabriel man accused of stealing from mourners at Forest Lawn cemetery near Covina

Deputies arrested a man Thursday on suspicion of stealing from parked cars at a cemetery while mourners visited grave sites.
Tommy James Lopez, 34, of San Gabriel, was booked on suspicion of petty theft from a vehicle and was being investigated in connection with at least four similar thefts at the same location — Forest Lawn Memorial Park and Mortuary, 21300 East Via Verde Street in an unincorporated county area near Covina, Los Angeles County sheriff’s officials said.
A woman was visiting a grave at the cemetery about 10:20 a.m. when someone spotted Lopez stealing items from her unlocked car, Sgt. Steve Perez said.
The witness informed a security guard, who followed Lopez to the exit and flagged down a nearby Highway Patrol Officer, who took Lopez into custody, Perez said.
Perez was found in possession of several items believed to have been taken several similar break-ins at Forest Lawn reported over the past two months, Estrada said. The thefts primarily targeted women visiting the cemetery who left their cars unlocked.
Sgt. Mario Estrada reminded residents to keep valuables out of view in their cars to avoid creating temptations for opportunistic thieves, especially during the holiday season when auto burglaries tend to increase.
According to county booking records, Lopez was being held in lieu of $52,000 bail and was due for arraignment Tuesday in West Covina Superior Court.
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UPDATED: Former Covina police records clerk pleads guilty to theft, hiding record

WEST COVINA — A former Covina Police Department civilian records clerk pleaded guilty Friday to charges of stealing more than $100,000 dollars from the agency and hiding her son-in-law’s crime report to prevent his prosecution, authorities said.
Mary Louise Wasilchin, also known as Louise Vance-Wasilchin, 58, of Upland, admitted to stealing at least $140,000 from the police department and hiding the records during an arraignment hearing in West Covina Superior Court, Los Angeles County District Attorney’s officials said.
Under a plea agreement, she is expected to be sentenced to two years and eight months in state prison, according to police and Los Angeles County District Attorney’s officials. She will not be eligible to serve her sentence in county jail under the state’s new prison realignment program.
“I’m glad there’s a resolution in the case,” Covina Police Chief Kim Raney said. “It’s appropriate that she goes to state prison, and the next step now is to get full restitution for the city.”
He added that the investigation and prosecution has been an unpleasant experience for the department.
“You’ve got a supervisor who was trusted by her managers, and it turns out that trust was betrayed,” Raney said.
Police believe Wasilchin actually stole more than $340,000, officials said. The exact amount Wasilchin will be ordered to repay will be determined at a sentencing and restitution hearing Feb. 17.
Wasilchin has already agreed to repay $140,000 of stolen money, however officials will present evidence in the restitution hearing that the amount is higher, Lt. Patrick Buchanan said.
“We look forward to presenting more information to the court,” he said.
Prior to Friday’s plea deal, Wasilchin could have faced up to six years and eight months in prison if convicted as charged, according to Deputy District Attorney Edward A. Miller.
Wasilchin stole city parking meters funds and fine money, as well as vehicle impound fees, D.A. spokeswoman Jane Robison said in a written statement. The thefts allegedly took place between January 2008 and May 2011.
Raney pointed out that the amount of money Wasilchin is suspected of taking could have paid the salaries of three patrol officers for a year.
She was arrested Dec. 15 following an extensive probe, investigators said. She was first placed on leave, then resigned.
Authorities became suspicious of Wasilchin after she was involved in a car crash on April 29 and a police officer noticed 1,000 quarters inside the vehicle in a canvas bag. She was not working that day.
A subsequent search of Wasilchin’s Upland home turned up more than 2,000 dollar coins in a bedroom and another $1,000 in coins in an office, Miller said.
When investigators searched Wasilchin’s desk on May 5, they discovered a police report she had intercepted detailing her son-in-law’s alleged driving under the influence and hit-and-run arrest on May 6, 2008.
“An investigation revealed that the report was never delivered to be filed in court,” Robison said, adding that, “there was no evidence that her son-in-law was aware of her actions.”
Raney said the Wasilchin’s guilty plea so early in the trial process was “a reflection on how solid the case was.”
“We’re pleased that it didn’t have to go into a long lengthy trial and she admitted her guilt,” Buchanan added.
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Public fund established for victims of Irwindale SCE shooting

IRWINDALE — In response to public inquiries, Southern California Edison officials have established a fund to benefit the families of the victims of a fatal shooting inside a Southern California Edison office one week ago.
Longtime Edison employees Henry Serrano, 56, of Walnut and  Robert Lindsay, 53, of Chino Hills died in the Dec. 16 attack at the SCE facility in the 4900 block of Rivergrade Road, officials said. Two other employees were wounded in the shooting but survived, before gunman and fellow employee Andre Turner, 48, of Norco turned the gun on himself.
Donations to benefit the victims and their families can sent to Wells Fargo Bank’s “SCE Rivergrade Victims Fund,” 1803 Walnut Grove Ave., Rosemead, CA, 91770.
Edison had also seeded a company fund with $100,000 and will match employee contributions.
While it has been learned that Turner had recently been reprimanded at work and possibly had financial problems, investigators have not disclosed a motive in the shooting.
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Air Jordan sneaker release fuels bad craziness throughout American shopping malls

The release of new Air Jordan sneakers is apparently causing chaos throughout the country. Here’s just a few headlines:



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Suicide suspected after body found hanging near Rose Bowl

PASADENA — A hiker discovered the body of a man early Friday believed to have hung himself on a hiking trail near the Rose Bowl, police said.
The dead man, who appeared to be in his 40s, was found hanging from a tree about 7 a.m. on a trail at the west end of the Brookside Golf Course, just north of Washington Boulevard, Pasadena police Lt. Diego Torres said.
No foul play was initially suspected, he said.
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DUI suspected in West Covina injury crash

WEST COVINA — Three people including two brothers were injured when a car ran a red light and hit another vehicle Thursday night.
West Covina police Lt. Marty Sevilla said one of the brothers was in critical condition.
The collision was reported around 10:30 p.m. at Azusa and Cameron avenues.
He said a Chevrolet Impala heading north on Azusa Avenue and travelling at an excessive speed failed to stop at red light.
The Impala struck a car that was preparing to make a left turn from Cameron Avenue to Azusa Avenue, according to Sevilla.
The lieutenant said the Impala’s driver is suspected of being under the influence. The driver sustained serious injuries and was taken to Los Angeles County USC Medical Center.
The siblings, both 19, were in the other car.
Sevilla said the one sitting in the passenger seat was taken to Citrus Valley Medical Center, Queen of the Valley campus as a precaution.
The other brother who was behind the wheel was taken to Los Angeles County USC Medical Center where he was in critical condition, Sevilla said.
– Ruby Gonzales
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Puppy pilfered from Baldwin Park pound

BALDWIN PARK — A thief cut a hole in the fence of the local animal shelter and stole a 2-month-old miniature Schnauzer/terrier mix Thursday night.
Police think the puppy-napper struck between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. at the Los Angeles County Animal Care & Control Baldwin Park shelter, 4275 N. Elton Street.
Baldwin Park Police Lt. Joe Bartolotti said workers discovered a brown female puppy was missing.
There was no description of the thief available.
Anyone with information is asked to call Baldwin Park police at 626-960-1955.
– Ruby Gonzales
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