Monthly Archives: October 2012

Pedestrian robbed of cell phone in Baldwin Park

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BALDWIN PARK — A pedestrian was robbed of a cell phone late Thursday while walking in a residential neighborhood, officials said.
The crime took place about 10:15 p.m. in the 13300 block of Tracy Street, near Frazier Street, Baldwin Park police Sgt. Mark Harvey said.
The victim was approached by two women and man, the sergeant said. The man brandished a knife and demanded the victim’s cell phone.
The suspects fled once the victim complied, and the victim was unhurt, Harvey said.
A further description of the robbers was not available.
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Lightning strike sparks house fire north of San Gabriel

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A lightning strike during Thursday’s storm is believed to be to blame for a fire that cause about $50,000 worth of damage to a home in an unincorporated county area north of San Gabriel, officials said.
The fire broke out about 3:20 p.m. at the two-story house in the 9000 block of Southview Road, Los Angeles County Fire Department officials said.
The fire was confined primarily to a crawl space beneath the home, and was initially believed to have been ignited by lightning, officials said.
No injuries were reported, however the fire caused about $50,000 worth of damage to the house, and $2,000 worth of damage to the contents of the home.
The house was declared uninhabitable pending repairs, officials added. The residents declined Red Cross assistance in finding temporary lodging and planned to stay with friends.
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Fight escalates into stabbing in Pasadena

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PASADENA — An argument between two men escalated to a fight then a stabbing Thursday night.
Pasadena Police Lt. Cheryl Moody said a 33-year-old man sustained superficial stab wounds to the chest and back. His alleged assailant was arrested.
The dispute started at 5:45 p.m. She said two transients argued while in a parking lot in 700 block of South Arroyo Parkway. Moody didn’t know what started the argument.
A fistfight ensued.
“One produced a small knife and stabbed the other three to four times,” she said.
The wounded man was taken to a local hospital and treated.
Aaron Collings, 28, was arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon.
He was being held in lieu of $30,000 bail pending his initial court appearance, according to county booking records.
– Ruby Gonzales
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2nd UPDATE: Officials: man killed in industrial accident at Santa Fe Springs seafood plant

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SANTA FE SPRINGS — A seafood plant employee died Thursday in an industrial accident, authorities said.
Bumble Bee Foods officials identified the man as Jose Melena, a 6-year employee of the business.
He was 62 years old, according to Whittier police.
The incident took place about shortly before 7 a.m. at Bumble Bee Seafoods, 13100 Arctic Circle, Whittier police officials said in a written statement.
The initial investigation indicated that, “he was fatally injured when he was cooked in an oven,” California Division of Occupational Safety and Health spokeswoman Erika Monterroza said. Cal-OSHA has launched an investigation into the the circumstances of the apparent accident.
The cooking device that injured the man was described in coroner’s documents as a “steamer machine,” Dietz said.
It was unclear how the man ended up inside the industrial cooker.
“This is a horrendous tragedy,” Monterroza said.
Rescuers who responded to a 9-1-1 call pronounced the man dead at the scene, police said.
In a written statement, Bumble Bee Foods vice president of human resources Pat Menke expressed condolences to Melena’s family.
“The entire Bumble Bee Foods family is saddened by the tragic loss of our colleague, and our thoughts and prayers are with the Melena family,” he said.
“Operations at Bumble Bee Foods’ Santa Fe Springs processing plant have been suspended since yesterday morning to allow for a thorough investigation,” Menke said. “We expect to be able to resume operations on Monday.”
By OSHA policy, an investigation is to be completed within six months, Monterroza said. It will include visits to the tuna-canning plant, extensive interviews and a review of company safety documentation.
“Once all of the facts are gathered, at that point, a determination will be made if California health and safety regulations were violated,” she said.
A finding of violations would result in civil penalties assessed against the employer, Monterroza said. The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office will determine whether criminal charges are warranted.
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Flash flood warning issued for central Los Angeles County

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The National Weather Service issued a flash flood warning through Thursday afternoon as storm system continued making it’s way over Los Angeles County.
The warning was to be in effect until 4:45 p.m. for central Los Angeles County, and included the cities of La Crescenta, La Canada Flintridge, Altadena, Arcadia and Monterey Park.
“At 2:45 p.m., Doppler radar indicated strong and nearly stationary thunderstorms producing rainfall rated in excess of one inch per hour across the San Gabriel Mountain and foothills,” according to the flash flood warning. “People in locations near the Station Fire burn area should be especially alert for flooding and debris flows.”
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Bank branch robbed in La Mirada

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LA MIRADA — A man fled with cash after robbing a Bank of the West branch in La Mirada Thursday afternoon, authorities said.
The heist took place about 2 p.m. at the bank branch on Valley View Avenue, just south of Imperial Highway, Los Angeles County sheriff’s Sgt. Mark Wilkening said.
The robber entered the bank and passed a teller a note demanding cash, officials said. He received about $2,000 and fled.
No weapon was seen during the robbery, the sergeant said.
Authorities initially described the robber as a Latino man in his mid- to late-20s, about 5 feet 10 inches tall and of medium build. He wore a yellow shirt or jacket, and had tattoos on both arms.
Anyone with information was asked to call the sheriff’s Norwalk Station at 562-863-8711.
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VIDEO: Man sought for ‘brutal’ beating and robbery of female gas station attendant in West Covina

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WEST COVINA — Police Thursday released video footage of a the beating and robbery of a female gas station attendant in hopes of tracking down the attacker.
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The attack and robbery took place just after 6 p.m. Sept. 23 at a 76 gas station at 206 N. Vincent Ave., just south of the 10 Freeway, according to West Covina police Cpl. Rudy Lopez. The clerk, a 50-year-old woman, suffered significant injuries in the assault but was expected to recover.
Based on the unprovoked violence displayed by the robber, police were eager to catch up with him, Lopez said.
“We want to catch him before he hurts someone else,” the corporal said.
The entire incident was captured on tape by a store surveillance camera.
The man pulled up to the gas station in a dark green, 1990s car, possible a Honda Accord, and posed as a customer wanting to buy cigarettes before the clerk was “brutally attacked,” police said in a written statement.
As the clerk approach the cigarette display case, the robber can be seen going behind the counter with the clerk, brandishing what officials described as a knife and demanding cash, police said.
“Before she could comply, the suspect begins striking the victim’s face several times with his fist, and then again the the (gas) station telephone,” according to the police statement.
The woman ultimately managed to open the register for the robber, officials said. He helped himself to a large amount of cash and was last seen driving north on Vincent Avenue.
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After other avenues of investigation were exhausted, police released the video, along with still images showing the robber’s face, to the public in hopes of generating leads, Lopez said.
Anyone who spots the robber is advised to call 9-1-1 and not approach him.
Police described the attacker as a white man between 30 and 40 years old, 5 feet 8 inches to 5 feet 10 inches tall, with blond hair, a mustache and a goatee. He wore a baseball cap, a dark-colored short-sleeve shirt, light-colored pants and dark sunglasses.
Anyone with information is asked to call West Covina police at 626-939-8557. Tips can also be submitted to investigators anonymously by leaving a message at the West Covina Police Department’s 24-hour anonymous tip line at 626-939-8688.
SURVEILLANCE images and video courtesy of the West Covina Police Department
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Car-to-car shooting reported in West Valinda

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WEST VALINDA — A car was struck by bullets but no injuries were reported in a car-to-car shooting early Sunday, authorities said.
A local resident estimated to be about 30 years old was driving in the area of Ragus and League avenues when someone inside a vehicle described only as a pickup truck opened fire, Los Angeles County sheriff’s Lt. Arthur Scott said.
“The driver was not hit,” Scott said. “The vehicle was hit numerous times.”
A description of the shooter was not available, and a motive in the shooting was unclear.
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UPDATEd: Another indoor marijuana grow discovered in Diamond Bar

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DIAMOND BAR — Deputies have discovered four indoor marijuana growing operations in Diamond Bar and Hacienda Heights in the past 10 days — all believed to be run by the run by the same two men. 
The latest, containing nearly 1,000 plants valued at $2 million — was discovered in Diamond Bar Wednesday evening, Los Angeles County sheriff’s officials said.
Investigators believe that operation, on the 21000 block of Malad Court, was operated by the same two men who were arrested last week after indoor marijuana farms were discovered at three homes in Diamond Bar and Hacienda Heights.
The four homes were linked by “a common name that they were using to rent the houses,” Sgt. Kim McGee of the Sheriff’s Narcotics Bureau said.
Investigators do not believe the person whose name was used knew what was going on and was potentially a victim of identity theft, the sergeant said.
The owners of the homes were also not believed to be involved in the illicit farming operations, he added.
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About 2000 marijuana plants were seized from the original three homes, along with about 20 pounds of already-harvested pot.
The total value of the marijuana collected during the four raids is estimated at about $8 million.
Also Wednesday, deputies searched a fifth house in the 23300 block of Gold Rush Drive in Diamond bar that had been rented by the men in the past month under the same false name as the other four homes, McGee said.
The home was empty and had no marijuana growing inside, however, investigators “believe they rented it for this purpose,” McGee said.
Binh Ly, 43, of Rosemead and Thanh Chiem, 45, of San Jose, were jailed Oct. 3 after deputies raided homes in the 23200 block of Forest Canyon Drive in Diamond Bar, the 20900 block of Running Branch Road in Diamond Bar and the 17000 block of Glenfold Drive in Hacienda Heights, sheriff’s officials said. No additional suspects were being sought Thursday.
All four homes had been wired to steal their electricity directly from Southern California Edison to power the elaborate light and irrigation systems used to grow the pot, officials added.
The sophisticated grow houses indicated experienced growers, McGee said.
Though none of the homeowners were suspected of knowing what their tenants were up to, McGee advised homeowners to “double-check and triple-check who they’re renting to.” 
“You can be a victim of an expensive rental agreement,” he said. 
Growers generally cause extensive damage to a home when using it as a marijuana grow operation, and the illegal electrical modifications that often accompany the grow operations create a major fire hazard, the sergeant said.
Ly posted $170,000 bail the day after he was arrested, according to jail officials. He is scheduled to appear in Pomona Superior Court Dec. 5. 
A case had not yet been filed against Chiem Thursday, as he was being held in federal custody without bail due to a hold placed on him by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, McGee said. Charges are expected to be filed against him next week, according to Jane Robison, spokeswoman for the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. 
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Whittier police get $85,000 grant for traffic safety

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The Whittier Police Department has received an $85,000 grant to fund traffic safety and public awareness efforts, officials announced Wednesday.
The grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, will pay for a year of programs designed at reducing the number of injuries and deaths on Whittier’s roadways, Whittier police Sgt. Rob Hanson said in a written statement.
Activities that will be funded by the grant include: DUI saturation patrols, motorcycle safety enforcement campaigns, distracted driving crackdowns, speed enforcement, red light enforcement, sting operations, stakeout operations involving repeat offenders, and more.
For more information, contact Sgt. Hanson at 562-567-9156.
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