Man sentenced for San Gabriel Valley burglary spree

A judge sentenced a Pomona man to seven years and six months in state prison this week for a San Gabriel Valley burglary spree in late 2011.
Thomas Gordon Dandurand, 33, was sentenced Tuesday in West Covina Superior Court, Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office spokeswoman Jane Robison said.
He pleaded “no contest” in May to five counts of residential burglary, one count of receiving stolen property and one count of identity theft, Robison said.
He was arrested Nov. 24, 2011, by Covina police after detectives linked him to a burglary ring believed to have been responsible for more than 20 San Gabriel Valley break-ins in the previous months, authorities said.
Also arrested was Dandurand’s common-law wife, 29-year-old Susana Chaidez of Pomona, who pleaded “no contest” to a count of being an accessory and was sentenced to three years of formal probation May 16.
Police said the criminal crew used police radio scanners to help avoid capture, and was found with a list of names and personal information of burglary victims, including public officials and a judge.
Other suspects believed to have been involved in the string of burglaries have not been arrested.
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Man sentenced for stealing from dead South Pasadena man’s home

A man accused of stealing items including a car and dog from the home of a dead South Pasadena man he met on the Internet received a jail sentence Thursday, authorities said.
Benjamin Erik Johnson, 20, of Downey was sentenced to 270 days in jail and three years of formal probation, Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office spokeswoman Jane Robison said.
He was arrested May 30 on suspicion of stealing Miguel Santamaria’s wallet, computers, car and even his dog on May 21 after Santamaria, 51, died of natural causes, according to South Pasadena police and Los Angeles County coroner’s officials.
Johnson and Santamaria met on the Internet via Craigslist.com, officials said. Johnson was believed to be a guest at Santamaria’s apartment in the 1600 block of Amberwood Drive at the time of his death.
Though Johnson was not suspected of being involved in his host’s death, authorities began searching for him after discovering items missing from Santamaria’s home.
Initially charged with grand theft auto, grand theft animal and petty theft, Johnson pleaded “no contest” Thursday in Alhambra Superior Court to a single count of auto theft, Robison said. He was immediately sentenced.
Santamaria’s dog turned up at a Downey animal shelter in the days after the theft, officials said.
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San Gabriel police plan charity golf tournament

SAN GABRIEL – The San Gabriel Police Officers’ Association is signing up players and diners for its 3rd annual Badges of Courage Golf Tournament and Banquet.
The event is Aug. 20 at the San Gabriel Country Club, 350 E. Hermosa Drive, organizers said.
The golf tournament will begin with a shotgun start at noon, with sign-ins beginning at 11 a.m.
A four-course meal will follow the tournament, officials said. A dress code will apply.
The fee for golfers is $160 and includes lunch, dinner and a caddy, police said. Non-golfers can take part in the dinner for $50.
Golfers are asked to sign up as soon as possible to reserve a place in the tournament. Non-golfing diners are asked to RSVP by Aug. 19.
Proceeds from the event will benefit the San Gabriel Police Officers’ Association, as well as local charity organizations.
To make reservations or for more information, contact San Gabriel police Officer Vincent Salazar at 626-422-9052, or e-mail board@sangabrielpoa.com. Reservations and payments can also be made online at www.sangabrielpoa.com.
NOTE: This story has been corrected to clarify the tournament is to be held on Aug. 20.
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UPDATED: Gang member arrested after 3-hour standoff in Baldwin Park

BALDWIN PARK — Police SWAT teams used a K-9 unit to arrest a gang member who absconded from a probation camp and is suspected in a stabbing following a three-hour standoff early Friday, officials said.
Eduardo Rodriguez, 18, of was taken to a hospital for injuries he suffered during the arrest and was expected to be jailed without bail on an arrest warrant, Baldwin Park police Lt. David Reynoso said.
“He’s wanted for questioning involving an assault with a deadly weapon involving a knife that happened several months ago,” the lieutenant said.
In addition, he said, Rodriguez went missing from a Los Angeles County probation camp in recent months.
Detectives came to believe Rodriguez had been hiding at two homes — his family’s home in the 3800 block of Cosbey Street and another home just around the corner in the 13200 block of Earl Avenue, Reynoso said. Previous searches of Rodriguez’s home turned up handguns, but not the suspect himself.
Friday’s incident began as Baldwin Park and West Covina police SWAT teams simultaneously carried out search and arrest warrants both homes shortly before 5 a.m., Sgt. Chris Hofford said.
The search at the Earl Avenue address took place without incident, Reynoso said. The residents complied with police, and no arrests were made.
But after police ordered the residents out of the Cosbey Street home, “we were told by at least two family members that the suspect were looking for, Eduardo Rodriguez, was in the home,” he said.
Officials spent three hours ordering Rodriguez to surrender via a loudspeaker and and trying to contact him on his cell phone, Reynoso said.
“After about three hours, officers forced open a garage door,” he said. “They were able to see the suspect hiding in the back seat of an SUV, which was located inside the garage. The suspect would poke his head up and down and make eye contact with the officers, but still refused to come out.”
Fearing Rodriguez may be armed, officers used a bean bag projectile to smash out a window of the SUV, then sent in a police dog as they took him into custody, officials said.
Rodriguez was taken to a hospital for treatment of dog bites and cuts to his face he suffered when the SUV window was shattered, Reynoso said.
A loaded handgun was found hidden in Rodriguez’s home after his arrest, police said. Officers continued searching the home Friday morning.
Further details on the stabbing Rodriguez was being investigated for were not immediately available.
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Monterey Park police join in warning residents of ‘distraction burglaries’

MONTEREY PARK — Monterey Park police Wednesday joined other area law enforcement agencies in cautioning residents to watch out for burglars posing as city workers, tree trimmer or utility workers.
Two homes were burglarized this month by crooks posing as city employees, Monterey park police Lt. Carrie Mazelin said in a written statement.
Arcadia and West Covina have issued similar warnings in recent weeks, as an ongoing trend of “distraction burglaries” continues in the San Gabriel Valley.
The most recent Monterey Park burglary took place about 3:30 p.m. Tuesday in the 1800 block of Cielito Avenue, police said.
A woman was doing work in her front yard when she was approached by a Latino man in his late-20s to early-30s, about 5 feet 8 inches tall and wearing a green work jumpsuit with a City of Monterey Park seal stitched onto the front, according to Mazelin.
The man told the woman he represented the city and asked her to join him in the backyard so he could point out trees that needed to be trimmed, the lieutenant said.
Meanwhile, a second burglar apparently ransacked her home and stole items, police said.
Another similar crime took place June 6 in the 200 block of East Riggin Street, Mazelin said.
A woman was sitting on her front porch when a Latino man in his 40s approached her while wearing a gray uniform-style shirt with a logo resembling the city’s seal on it. He was further described by police as about 5 feet 5 inches tall, 135 pounds, clean-shaven and of dark complexion.
Again, the man told the woman he needed to inspect her trees and lured her to the backyard while a second suspect stole items from her home, Mazelin said.
The burglars primarily targeted jewelry and money, police added.
Mazelin reminded residents that “the only reason a city worker will go into a rear yard is if service has been requested by the homeowner.”
All city workers carry photo identification and wear blue or green uniforms, she added.
If someone claiming to be a city employee refuses to show ID or appears suspicious, residents are advised to call 9-1-1 immediately.
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El Monte shooting victim identified

EL MONTE — Authorities have released the name of a 34-year-old El Monte man shot to death last week.
German Palacios-Diaz died at a hospital shortly after the 9:40 p.m. shooting on June 14th, Los Angeles County Department of Coroner’s Capt. John Kades said.
El Monte Police Lt. David Vautrin said that about 10 shots were heard in the 11500 block of Medina Court at 9:40 p.m.
A passer-by called 9-1-1 after seeing Palacios-Diaz lying wounded in the street, El Monte police officials said.
He was pronounced dead less than an hour later at Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center, according to police and Los Angeles County Sheriff’s officials.
A motive or suspect description in the shooting was not available.
Anyone with information was asked to contact the Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500. Tips can also be submitted anonymously by calling L.A. Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477.
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Driver sought in Baldwin Park injury hit-and-run

BALDWIN PARK — Police are seeking a hit-and-run driver who struck and seriously injured a pedestrian on Ramona Boulevard.
The crash took place at about 8:50 p.m. on Ramona Boulevard at Stewart Avenue, according to Baldwin Park police Lt. David Reynoso.
The pedestrian, a 57-year-old Baldwin Park man, was crossing the street when he was struck by a westbound vehicle, described only as a dark-colored Honda sedan, police said.
The Honda continued westbound following the collision, Reynoso said.
Police suspected the pedestrian may have been under the influence of alcohol when he was struck, he added.
The man suffered significant head trauma, including a 6-inch gash to his head, and was hospitalized in stable condition, officials said.
Anyone with information is asked to call Baldwin Park police at 626-960-1955.
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Brothers jailed, third suspect sought in violent Covina robbery

VIDEO courtesy of the Covina PD: 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HMb3uP9Q13I&feature=plcp 


60813-SV22-ROBBERS Moises Ortega, 20, of Covina-thumb-300x375-60812.jpg
COVINA — Two brothers were behind bars Thursday and police sought a third suspect in connection with a violent robbery at a tobacco shop.
Moises Ortega, 20, and Valentin Ortega, 18, both of Covina, were booked on suspicion of robbery and kidnapping following their arrests shortly after 3 p.m. Wednesday, according to Covina police officials and county booking records.
A third suspects, identified by police at 18-year-old Claude Aaron Gonzales, of West Covina, was also suspected of taking part in the robbery but remained at-large Thursday
The crime took place shorty after 2:40 p.m. at a store in the 800 block of East Badillo Avenue, Covina police Sgt. Gregg Peterson said.
All three suspect entered the store together before they separated and one of them approached the counter ass if to make a purchase, police officials said in a written statement.
“As the clerk opened the cash register to complete the transaction, one of the suspects jumped the counter and attacked the clerk,” the statement said.
“The suspect began choking the clerk and pulled him away from the register and down to the ground,” the statement said.
60815-SV22-ROBBERS Valintin Ortega, 18, of Covina-thumb-300x375-60814.jpg
Meanwhile, the other two robbers helped themselves to about $400 from the open cash drawer before all three ran away, police said.
Moises and Valentin Ortega were found during a search of the area, while a third suspect, later identified as Gonzales, escaped.
The clerk was treated at the scene by paramedics for minor injuries but was not taken to a hospital, Peterson said.
According to county booking records, Moises and Valentin Ortega were being held in lieu of $100,000 bail pending their initial appearance Friday in West Covina Superior Court.
60817-SV22-ROBBERS Claude Gonzales, 18, of West Covina-thumb-300x351-60816.jpg
PHOTOS: Top to bottom: Moises Ortega, Valntin Ortega, Claude Gonzales (Courtesy of the Covina Police Department)

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Neighbor helps cops nab teen burglary suspects

ROWLAND HEIGHTS — Deputies arrested four teenagers Wednesday after a man confronted them while they were trying to break into a neighbor’s home, authorities said.
A witness spotted the four teenage boys removing a rear screen from a neighbor’s apartment about 3 p.m. in the 2000 block of Batson Avenue, Los Angeles County sheriff’s Lt. Chris Blasnek said.
“When questioned (by the witness), all four juveniles took off running and the witness followed for a short distance,” Blasnek said.
Deputies responded to the area and arrested four teens, he said.
Blasnek commended the neighbor who helped catch the young burglary suspects.
“While the sheriff’s department urges the public to immediately report crime and suspicious behavior, we also want to caution people (to) avoid confrontations,” Blasnek said.
“In this case we had a good witness who felt something was wrong and questioned the activity,” Blasnek said. “He did not continue to chase the subjects and relayed his information quickly to other residents who called 9-1-1.”
One of the teenage suspects was released to a parent with a citation, he added, while the other three were taken to Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall in Downey.
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Snake wrangled in parking lot of Glendora pizza parlor

GLENDORA — A garter snake spotted in the parking lot of a local pizza place was sent packing Wednesday night.
Glendora police Sgt. Scott Strong said the station received a call around 8:30 p.m. about a snake in the parking lot of Papa John’s Pizza in the 100 block of West Route 66.
He didn’t know how long it was.
Los Angeles County firefighters put the snake in a pizza box, took it away and later released it in a field, according to Strong.
– Ruby Gonzales
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