UPDATED: Man struck in head in early-morning drive-by shooting in Norwalk

NORWALK — A man was lucky to be not only alive, but seemingly avoid serious injury after being struck in the head in a drive-by shooting early Saturday, authorities said.
The shooting took place about 8 a.m. on Lowemont Street near Elaine Avenue, Los Angeles County sheriff’s Sgt. Cynthia McDaniel said.
The victim was described as a man in his late-20s.
“He’s lucky to be alive,” Los Angeles County Fire Department Capt. Steven Kumasharo said.
A bullet struck the man in the head, but traveled along his skull and exited without penetrating, officials said.
He was conscious and “very stable” when taken to a hospital for treatment, the captain said.
The shots came from a passing vehicle occupied by four male attackers, McDaniel said. No further description was available.

Facebook Twitter Reddit Tumblr Linkedin Email

Armed man robs South El Monte motel office

SOUTH EL MONTE — A gunman robbed the lobby of a South El Monte motel Friday afternoon, authorities said.
The crime took place about 3:35 p.m. when the robber walked into the Rodeway Inn, 1228 Durfee Avenue, near Peck Road, Los Angeles County sheriff’s Lt. Ismael Chavez said.
“He asked the price of a room. As the victim began to answer, he produced a handgun and pointed it at him,” the lieutenant said.
The gunman demanded cash, and the clerk turned over $245 from the cash register, he said.
Chavez said the robber then ordered to victim, a 23-year-old man, to turn around and not look back as he fled.
Officials described the robber as a Latino man in his mid-20s, about 5 feet 9 inches tall and 190 pounds. He wore a black coat, purple shorts and purple shoes.
Anyone with information can contact the sheriff’s Temple Station at 626-285-7171.

Facebook Twitter Reddit Tumblr Linkedin Email

Police checkpoints planned Saturday in Arcadia, El Monte

SAN GABRIEL VALLEY — Police are planning checkpoints in Arcadia and El Monte Saturday as authorities throughout the region continue an ongoing holiday season crackdown on intoxicated driving.
Arcadia police plan to hold a sobriety and drivers’ license checkpoint during the evening hours at an undisclosed location within the city, according to Arcadia police Traffic Sergeant Brett Bourgeous.
El Monte police are also planning a checkpoint from 6 p.m. Saturday to 2 a.m. Sunday, El Monte police said in a written statement.
Funding for the checkpoints is being provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Facebook Twitter Reddit Tumblr Linkedin Email

Detectives investigate spate of home-invasion robberies in Los Angeles County

Detectives throughout Los Angeles County are comparing notes and looking for links following a spate of home-invasion robberies in recent months.
More than half a dozen home-invasion robberies have been reported in the San Gabriel Valley since October, including one in which a man and his 4-year-old daughter were shot in Covina earlier this month.
Additionally, Joseph Gatto, the father of Assembly Mike Gatto, was fatally shot in his Silver Lake home following an apparent home-invasion robbery last month, as was “America’s Next Top Model” director James Marcus Howe at his home in Eagle Rock.
Two failed home-invasion robberies took place Dec. 7 in Lancaster, including one in which a resident shot at the intruders.
And while the seeming spike in home-invasion robberies has caught the attention of detectives at the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Major Crimes Bureau, which investigates serial crimes, other than two failed home-invasions robberies in Lancaster believed carried out by the same suspects, investigators have not established concrete links between any of the brazen crimes.
“They’re not going unnoticed by law enforcement,” Lt. David Oliva said of the home-invasions. And investigators throughout the region are working together to find potential clues and discuss investigative leads.
“We coordinate with everyone that may have had some that are similar,” Oliva said. Everybody’s very cooperative with one another.” Some of the robberies appeared to share similarities, such as suspects descriptions and tactics, while others did not.
In some of the cases, the robbers posed as police officers.
Based on the number of crimes and the wide area they’ve been reported in, “I’m sure one crew isn’t doing every one,” Oliva said.
But he said it wasn’t clear whether several crews of home invaders are operating in the county, or whether each was isolated, perhaps indicating a trend among criminals to engage in home-invasion robberies.
“I can’t say at this point for sure,” he said.
Recent home-invasion robberies include:
— Oct. 14, 800 block of West Pine Street in West Covina: Two men kicked open the door of a home, ordered two residents to lie on a bed and ransacked their home about 11 p.m., West Covina police Lt. David Lee said. The robbers were initially described black men wearing hooded sweat shirts.
— Nov. 1, 17100 block of Francisquito Avenue in Valinda: Three masked men forced their way through a rear door before attacking and robbing the occupants, according to Los Angeles County sheriff’s Lt. Arthur Scott. A woman and teenage boy were struck with a shovel during the home-invasion, and another woman and young girl were held captive. The robbers were described only as three masked Asian men, armed with both a rifle and a shovel. The home was ransacked for valuables.
— Nov. 9, 1500 block of Camino Lindo in South Pasadena: A woman arrived home about 6:20 p.m. to encounter to intruders already inside, South Pasadena police Cpl. Matthew Ronnie said. They had a knife and claimed to have a gun as they ransacked the woman’s home, bound her and shoved her in a bathroom. They ultimately fled with a floor safe containing jewelry. Police described the robbers as two black men of average height, both wearing dark clothing and black leather gloves.
— Nov. 18, 2800 block of Bright Lane in Silver Lake: Joseph Gatto, 78, father of state Assemblyman Mike Gatto, was found fatally shot about 8 p.m. after an apparent home-invasion robbery, Los Angeles police officials said.
— Nov. 25, 15000 block of Facilidad Street in Hacienda Heights: An elderly man and woman, along with a 50-year-old woman, were held captive for about 45 minutes inside their home about 9:15 p.m., sheriff’s Sgt. Bob Boese said. After entering the home through a bathroom window, one robber guarded the victims while the other ransacked the house before both men fled. The intruders were described only as two Latino men in their 30s, both wearing dark clothing.
— Nov. 25, 500 block of Macenta Lane in Diamond Bar: Two robbers forced their way in to the home of an elderly couple and their adult son and ordered all three to lie down, according to sheriff’s Sgt. Roberto Causey. The robbers fled with about $120 taken from the victims’ purse and wallets. A detailed suspect description was not available.
— Nov. 27, 4400 block of West Avenue 42 in Eagle Rock: “America Next Top Model” director James Marcus Howe, 42, was fatally shot during a home-invasion after a gunman knocked at his door posing as a solicitor, LAPD officials said. Howe’s wife was injured in the attack. The killers were described as a black teen or man between 16 and 22 years old, a black man between 20 and 25 years old and a black woman. There were seen in a dark-colored, early-2000s Ford Mustang.
— Dec. 6, 200 block of South Cedar Avenue in Covina: A man and his 4-year-old daughter were shot and wounded during a home invasion about 12:20 p.m., Covina police Sgt. Ray Marquez said. The robber fled with jewelry. He was described as a black man in his early 20s with short hair, of thin build, about 5 feet 10 inches tall, with no facial. He fled the area in a gold- or light-colored vehicle.
— Dec. 7, 3600 block of West Avenue K in Lancaster: Two armed men kicked in the door of a home about 10:10 p.m. and ordered a man to lie on the floor before he retreated to a bedroom with his 10-year-old son, sheriff’s officials said. The robbers, described as two black men wearing white ski masks, fled empty-handed.
— Dec. 7, 5700 block of Spice Street in Lancaster: Two armed men kicked in the front door of a home about 11:25 p.m and forced their way into the master bedroom, according to sheriff’s officials. The resident managed to arm himself with a handgun and fire two shots at the robbers, who fled without taking any property. Neither of the robbers, described as black men wearing white ski masks, was believed to have been struck by the gunfire.
— Dec. 15, 400 block of Charmingdale Road in Diamond Bar: Three robbers posed as police before they forced there way into a home occupied by two women and three children. The robbers bound some of the victims and ransacked the home, Deputy Lillian Peck said. The robbers were described only as three men in their 20s.
Detectives did not find any nexus connecting the victims of the home-invasions, nor was it known why or how the victims were targeted, Oliva said.
As many of the robberies began with the robbers knocking at the door, Oliva advised residents to be cautious when dealing with strangers at their doorstep.
“If you’re not sure, do not open the door,” he said. “Ask for picture ID.”
If a person seems suspicious, do not hesitate to contact police immediately, Oliva said.

Facebook Twitter Reddit Tumblr Linkedin Email
Posted in 211

Updated: Fugitive arrested after standoff at El Monte home

EL MONTE — A wanted parolee holed-up inside an El Monte home for more than three hours before surrendering to U.S. Marshals and a sheriff’s SWAT team, authorities said.
Frankie Garcia, 23, was ultimately jailed on an arrest warrant stemming from an assault case in West Covina, as well as suspicion of violating his parole, said U.S. Marshals Chief Inspector Thomas Hession, who serves as Task Force Commander for the U.S. Marshals Los Angeles Regional Fugitive Task Force. Garcia was also described as a suspected affiliate of a local street gang.
The incident began about 1:30 p.m. in the 11600 block of Ferris Road, where Marshals descended on a back house to the rear of an apartment complex in search of Garcia, Hession said. “We attempted to make an arrest. He barricaded himself in a residence,” Hession said. The Marshals then summoned a SWAT team from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department to help with the standoff, which continued for more than three hours.
But Garcia exited the home and surrendered about 5 p.m., Hession said. “He realized that the sheriff’s Special Enforcement Bureau (SWAT team) was going to make entry.”
He was unarmed, and no other people were inside the home, he added.
Further details of the alleged assault in West Covina were not immediately available.

Facebook Twitter Reddit Tumblr Linkedin Email

Sobriety checkpoints planned this weekend in La Verne, San Dimas, La Puente

Police officers and sheriff’s deputies will be screening drivers for sobriety and valid drivers’ licenses during three checkpoints planned this weekend in La Verne, San Dimas and La Puente.
The La Verne Police Department will hold a DUI/Drivers License checkpoint Friday.
The checkpoint will run From 6 p.m. Friday to 2 a.m. Saturday at an undisclosed location in the city, police officials said in a written statement.
Also Friday, sheriff’s deputies will be holding a checkpoint from 7 p.m. to 3 a.m. the following morning at an undisclosed location within San Dimas, authorities said.
And deputies from the sheriff’s Industry Station plan to hold a checkpoint from 7 p.m. Saturday to 1 a.m. the following morning within La Puente, officials added.
Funding for the operations is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Facebook Twitter Reddit Tumblr Linkedin Email

Woman found dead at Bassett trash sorting facility identified; circumstances of death remain a mystery

BASSETT — Coroner’s officials Thursday released the name of a woman found dead on the conveyor belt at a trash sorting facility earlier this week.
The body of Kesha Williams, 45, was discovered about 8:40 a.m. Tuesday at Athens Services, 14048 E. Valley Blvd., Los Angeles County sheriff’s and coroner’s officials said. Her city of residence was not known.
An autopsy to determine how Williams died had not been completed Thursday, and handling detectives said it was not initially known whether the death involved foul play.
The body was brought to the facility in a trash container, officials said, though where the container may have originated was not clear.
Anyone with information was asked to contact the Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500.

Facebook Twitter Reddit Tumblr Linkedin Email

Masked robbers steal bicycle at gunpoint in La Puente

LA PUENTE — Two masked robbers stole a man’s bicycle at gunpoint Thursday afternoon, officials said.
The victim, a 51-year-old local man, was riding his bike about 3:50 p.m. when he was approached by the robbers at the corner of Amar Road and Willow Avenue, Los Angeles County sheriff’s Sgt. Greg Gutierrez said.
One of the robbers brandished a handgun as they demanded the man’s red Kent beach cruiser-style bicycle, which he handed over, the sergeant said.
One of the robbers rode the man’s bicycle and the other was on foot as they fled west on Amar Road, Gutierrez added.
Deputies described one as a 5 feet 9 inches tall, of medium build, wearing a dark shirt and dark jeans and armed with a small, semi-automatic handgun. The second robber was between 5 feet 7 inches and 5 feet 9 inches tall and wore a dark shirt and dark jeans. Both robbers wore ski masks.

Facebook Twitter Reddit Tumblr Linkedin Email

Former insurance broker from West Covina accused of ID theft, insurance fraud

A man from West Covina who previously had his insurance broker’s license revoked is accused of stealing the identity of another agent who responded to an online employment add to carry out an insurance scam, authorities announced Thursday.
Eugene Shy-Ren Hsu, 31, is charged with grand theft, forgery and identity theft following his Dec. 11 arrest, California Department of Insurance officials said in a written statement.
California Insurance Commissioner David Jones expressed outrage at the allegations against Hsu.
“It is inconceivable that a former agent whose license was already revoked by my office would go to such lengths to game the system for his personal gain,” he said. “I will not tolerate deceitful actions that smear the reputation of honest agents and brokers.”
Though his license had previously been revoked, Hsu owned and operated a business called the NCP Insurance Center.
“(Hsu) allegedly stole the identity of an unsuspecting licensed California insurance agent who applied for a job with Hsu,” according to the CDI statement. The agent had responded to a “help wanted” employment advertisement Hsu had posted online via the website Craigslist.
Hsu used the licensed agent’s identity to write several insurance policies, without the knowledge of either the agent or the individuals named in the policies, officials said. Hsu collected more than $16,000 in commissions from the fraudulent policies, and charged nearly $4,000 in premiums to a credit card he had allegedly established in the name of the licensed insurance agent to keep the scheme going.
Authorities said the crimes took place between June and October of 2010.
Anyone who has responded to an employment add posted by Hsu or NCP Insurance, or who has purchased insurance through Hsu or the company, is advised to watch for unusual credit activity and check with insurers to verify of policies are valid. Those with concerns may contact the CDI’s Consumer Hotline at 800-927-4357.
Hsu, who faces up to three years in prison if convicted as charged, was released from custody two days after his arrest after posting a $70,000 bond, according to Los Angeles County booking records. He was scheduled to appear Jan. 6 in El Monte Superior Court.

Facebook Twitter Reddit Tumblr Linkedin Email

Monrovia burglars captured on surveillance footage

PHOTOS

MONROVIA — Police sought help from the public Thursday in cracking a residential burglary case.
The break-in took place about 3 p.m. Dec. 7 at a home in the 200 block of Evergreen Avenue, Monrovia police officials said in a written statement. Images of the two burglars and their car were captured on surveillance footage, which investigators hope will lead to their capture.
The two men arrived in a silver, four-door sedan similar to a Lexus 300-series wit tinted windows, exited and went into the backyard, police said.
“They entered the residence by breaking the rear glass door,” according to the police statement. The silver car drove up and down the street as the burglars were inside the home.
The men fled with cash and jewelry just as the resident arrived home, officials said. The resident did not see the intruders.
Similar burglaries have been reported elsewhere in the area, and police advised residents to be alert.
“This incident is similar to many other burglaries that have recently occurred in the San Gabriel Valley,” according to the police statement. “Several of the incidents involve suspects using luxury model rental vehicles. The suspects knock on the front door, after no answer, they proceed to enter the rear yard and force entry into a rear door or window of the residence.”
Anyone who sees anything suspicious is encouraged to contact local police immediately.
Anyone with information regarding the Monrovia burglar is asked to contact Detective S. Bushmeyer at 626-256-8047, or via email at sbushmeyer@monrovia.laclen.org.

Facebook Twitter Reddit Tumblr Linkedin Email