$15,000 in jewelry stolen in Sierra Madre burglary

SIERRA MADRE — A burglar snuck into a house via an unlocked door and took $15,000 worth of jewelry earlier this week.
Sierra Madre Police Sgt. Enrique Gonzalez said the burglary happened between 6 p.m. Sunday and 1 a.m. Monday in the 100 block of North Sunnydale Avenue.
Police don’t have a description of the suspect or suspects.

– Ruby Gonzales

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Barbecue mishap ignites house fire in Covina

COVINA — A fire caused by a barbecue grill late Sunday damaged a Covina home, displaced its residents and sent a man to the hospital with burns to his arms, authorities said.
The broke out about 8:20 p.m. at a single-story house in the 1100 block of East Wingate Street, Los Angeles County Fire Department Capt. Bruce Lakin said.
It ignited when food being cooked on a gas barbecue on the home’s patio flared up, the captain said.
The fire climbed a bamboo fence and made its way into the attic of the home, Lakin said.
A man at the house suffered burns to his arms while trying to move the flaming fence away from the home, he said. The injuries were apparently minor.
The fire primarily scorched the attic of the home and some exterior walls, though the interior sustained smoke and water damage, Lakin said. A dollar-value estimate of the damage was not immediately available.

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Police: All fireworks are illegal in Whittier

Fireworks sign JPEG

WHITTIER – With Independence Day approaching, police are reminding residents and visitors that all fireworks are illegal in Whittier, and the Whittier Police Department takes a “zero tolerance” stance toward them.
All fireworks, including the “Safe and Sane” variety – which are legal in some other nearby jurisdictions – are illegal to manufacture, possess or sell within the city, Whittier police Officer Brad White said in a written statement.
“Throughout the entire 4th of July weekend, Whittier Police officers will be taking a ‘zero tolerance’ approach towards enforcement of the Whittier Municipal Code by fielding dozens of officers for this explicit purpose,” White said. “Violators will be criminally prosecuted and may face fines of up to $1000.”
Anyone wishing to dispose of fireworks voluntarily may turn them in “anonymously, without fear of penalty” at the Whittier Police Department, 13200 Penn Street, White said.
For more information, contact the Whittier Police Department at 562-567-9200.

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Car crashes into 7-Eleven store in San Dimas

STORECRASH1 CROP

SAN DIMAS — A man crashed a car into a convenience store early Sunday, resulting in a large mess but no injuries, officials said.
The crash took place just after 1:35 a.m. at 7-Eleven, 660 E. Foothill Blvd., Los Angeles County sheriff’s Sgt. Victor Ibarra said.
A 50-year-old San Dimas man was trying to park his 1990 Honda Accord when his foot slipped off the brake and onto the gas pedal, the sergeant said.
The vehicle collided with the store and smashed the front window, however the structure of the building was not compromised, according to sheriff’s and Los Angeles County Fire Department officials.
Driving under the influence was not suspected, Ibarra added.
No one was hurt in the early-morning crash, the sergeant said, adding that the clerk was in a back stockroom at the time.
The store was open for business Sunday afternoon as workers made repairs.

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Woman, girl arrested on suspicion of auto theft in Pasadena

PASADENA — Police arrested a woman and 16-year-old girl Sunday after pulling them over in a car that had been reported stolen earlier in the day in Kern County, officials said.
Cynthia Alvarez, 18, of Bakersfield, who was riding as a passenger in the car, was arrested along with the teenage driver, also from Bakersfield, Pasadena police Lt. Vasken Gourdikian said.
The arrest took place about 8:50 a.m. at California Boulevard and Hudson Avenue, after an automated license plate reader mounted atop a patrol car detected a license plate from a vehicle that had been reported stolen, police said. The car had been reported stolen shortly after midnight in Bakersfield.
The teenage driver pulled over, Lt. Jason Clawson said, and she and Alvarez were arrested without a struggle. Both were booked on suspicion of auto theft.
According to county booking records, Alvarez was being held in lieu of $35,000 bail pending her initial court appearance.

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Man shows up at fire station after Pasadena stabbing

PASADENA — A transient showed up at a fire station with a small stab wound to his chest Saturday but would not cooperate with investigators, police said.
The wounded man, described as a 33-year-old Pasadena-area transient, arrived shortly after 4 p.m. at Pasadena Fire Department Station 33, 515 N. Lake Avenue, Pasadena police Lt. Jason Clawson said.
He was treated for a stab wound to his chest that was ultimately determined to be minor, the lieutenant said.
The stabbing was believed to have taken place at Villa Street and Mentor Avenue.
“He said he was in an argument with another person,” Clawson said. “He refused to give the suspect’s name.”
The injured man provided no further details, he added. “His overall demeanor was uncooperative.”
Officers searched the area but did not find the attacker, Clawson said.

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Suicide suspected after man plummets from San Dimas freeway overcrossing

SAN DIMAS –California Highway Patrol officers closed two lanes and an offramp of the westbound 10 Freeway in San Dimas early Sunday as they investigated the apparent suicide of man believed to have jumped from the 57 Freeway overcrossing above, officials said.
Witnesses reported seeing the man plummet from the southbound 57 Freeway about 7 a.m., CHP Officer Monica Posada said.
He landed on the right shoulder of the westbound 10 Freeway, she said. The man was pronounced dead at the scene.
The two right lanes of the freeway, as well as the Kellogg Drive offramp, were shut down for several hours due to the investigation.

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Man accused of attempted kidnapping of teen in West Valinda

WEST VALINDA — Deputies arrested a driver for allegedly trying to kidnap a 16-year-old girl near a continuation school Thursday.
The incident was reported at 5:12 p.m. Thursday in the 900 block of Willow Avenue.
Lt. Arthur Scott of the sheriff’s Industry station said the teen was in front of Nueva Vista Continuation High School when a man in a Honda Civic pulled up.
Scott said the man asked if the teen needed a ride. She refused the offer.
“He got out of the car, opened the passenger door, told her to get in,” the lieutenant said.
The teen told the driver, “No.” The man then took a step toward the girl and tried to grab her arm, according to Scott.
The teen ran.
Scott said a relative of the girl confronted the driver as the man drove away. The suspect apologized, he added.
Brandon Sandoval, 21, was arrested late Thursday night in West Covina on suspicion of attempted kidnapping, Detective Alfredo Gomez said.
The West Covina man is being held at the sheriff’s Industry station jail on a $130,000 bail. Sandoval will be arraigned Tuesday at El Monte Superior Court.

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Body found on campus of Covina continuation high school

COVINA — Police and coroner’s officials are investigating the death of a 47-year-old man whose body was discovered on the campus of a continuation high school early Saturday.
The dead man’s name was not released Saturday morning pending confirmation that his family had been notified, Covina police Sgt. Rob Bobkiewicz said. He was initially described as a San Gabriel Valley resident.
Officers received a call about 7:30 a.m. reporting a “man down” in the grass in the quad area of Fairvalley High School, 231 E. Stephanie Drive, the sergeant said.
“He was pronounced dead at the scene by L.A. County Fire (Department) paramedics,” he said.
“There doesn’t appear to be any sign of foul play,” Bobkiewicz said.
Officers found a “large amount of alcohol” at the scene, he said.
An official cause of death will be determined through an autopsy by the Los Angeles County Department of Coroner.
Anyone with information was asked to contact Covina police detectives at 626-384-5622.

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Senior with dementia goes missing in Pasadena

Manuel Rojas

PASADENA — Police are asking the public to keep an eye out for a 73-year-old man suffering from dementia who went missing from a care facility.
Manuel Rojas walked away from a care facility about 10 p.m. and was last seen in the 1800 block of North Fair Oaks Avenue, Pasadena police Lt. Vasken Gourdikian said in a written statement.
Rojas suffers from dementia but is able to communicate, according to the lieutenant.
“His destination is not known and he does not have family that lives in the area,” he added.
Police described Rojas as 5 feet 7 inches tall, 190 pounds, with gray hair. He was last seen wearing a red jacket, dark pants and white shoes.
“Should you see anyone resembling or matching his description, please notify the Pasadena Police Department by calling 9-1-1 or 626-744-4241,” Gourdikian said.

PHOTO of Manuel Rojas courtesy of the Pasadena Police Department

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