UPDATED: Power outage prompts cancellation of evening classes at Mt. SAC; 3,000 customers affected

WALNUT >> A widespread power outage turned out the lights in and around Mt. San Antonio College, officials said.
Evening classes at the college were cancelled as a result of the outage, Mt. SAC officials said on the campus website.
The outage, which was first reported about 6:30 p.m., knocked out electricity to 3,000 Southern California Edison customers, including the college, SCE officials said.
Equipment problems caused the outage, however a more specific cause was not available, SCE spokesman Paul Netter said.
Los Angeles County sheriff’s Lt. John Saleeby said lights were beginning to turn back on in the affected area about 7:45 p.m.
Crews worked to identify the problem and restore power as quickly as possible, Netter said.
All power was restored by 8:37 p.m., he said.

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Police plan checkpoint Saturday in Whittier

WHITTIER >> Police plan to hold a checkpoint Saturday to screen drivers for sobriety and drivers’ licenses.
The checkpoint will take place from 7:30 p.m. Saturday to 2:30 a.m. Sunday at an undisclosed location within Whittier, Whittier police Sgt. Rob Hanson said in a written statement.
“Over the course of the past three years in the cities of Whittier and Santa Fe Springs, DUI collisions have claimed four lives and resulted in 119 injury crashes harming 167 of our friends and neighbors,” Hanson said.
The checkpoint is being funded by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

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Parolee accused of burglarizing home of elderly Pasadena residents as they slept

PASADENA — A Pasadena man already on parole for burglary was again behind bars Thursday on suspicion of breaking into an elderly Pasadena couple’s home as they slept last week and stealing valuable, police said.
Investigators arrested Angel Luis Tapia, 23, shortly after midnight in connection with the “brazen” burglary, which took place in the early-morning hours on Feb. 19 in the 1300 block of North Catalina Avenue, Pasadena police officials said in a written statement.
“The suspect in this burglary was able to enter the house as the elderly residents slept,” according to the police statement. “Once inside, the suspect removed items including a wallet, a cellular telephone and jewelry. A surveillance camera within in the residence captured the suspect’s image and actions.”
Detectives began investigating and identified a possible suspect, officials said.
Footage from the home surveillance camera was aired on a television news broadcast Feb. 23, police added. “As a result, the Pasadena Police Department received an anonymous tip through ‘Crime Stoppers’ that confirmed the suspect as Angel Luis Tapia.”
Police tracked Tapia to a motel in the 2800 block of East Colorado Boulevard in Pasadena, where he was arrested early Thursday.
Officials continued seeking items stolen in the burglary.
Tapia, who was already on parole for burglary, was being held without bail pending his initial court appearance, according to county booking records.

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Man accused of bizarre break-in, arson in Covina Hills

COVINAHOUSE

COVINA HILLS >> A man refused to get out of a burning car and had to be pulled from the vehicle by firefighters following a bizarre burglary and arson that unfolded Thursday afternoon in an unincorporated county area near Covina, authorities said.
A 32-year-old man was arrested and treated for minor injuries following the alleged unusual crimes, which took place just before 3 p.m. in the 3200 block of Rancho La Carlota Road, Los Angeles County sheriff’s Lt. David Vega said. The suspects identity was not immediately available.
Firefighters responded to a fire alarm at the home an encountered a black car in the driveway, with flames emanating from the hood and the suspect sitting inside, talking on a cell phone, Vega said.
“He was sitting in there, with an engine fire, with the windows up,” the lieutenant said. The doors were also locked.
Firefighters urged the man to get out of the car as they extinguished the flames, but he refused, Vega said. When the man rolled down a window, apparently due to the thickening smoke, firefighters grabbed him and pulled him from the burning vehicle.
The man, who appeared to be under the influence of an unknown drug, suffered a minor cut and burn.
Officials also discovered the man had broken into the Rancho La Carlota Road home through a window and ransacked the house, causing significant damage, Vega said. It was not immediately clear whether anything had been stolen.
He was also accused of lighting several potted plants around the home on fire.
Vega said the man was a stranger to the residents of the house, who were not home during the incident.
Due to the unusual circumstances of the incident, such as the burning gas can and jumper cables found running into a backyard swimming pool, officials initially feared the home may have been booby trapped, according to sheriff’s radio traffic. But no booby traps were ultimately found.
A motive in the bizarre series of alleged crimes was unclear.

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Deputies arrest auto theft suspects after short pursuit in Norwalk

NORWALK — Deputies jailed two alleged auto thieves following a short car chase and a neighborhood search Wednesday, officials said.
Scott Catalano, 21, of Norwalk was booked on suspicion of auto theft following the incident, along with Luis Magallanes, 25, of Norwalk, who was jailed on suspicion of auto theft, assault on a peace officer, burglary and evading police, Los Angeles County sheriff’s Lt. Jason Skeen said.
A deputy tried to pull over a black Hyundai for a traffic violation just before 1 p.m. on Alondra Boulevard near Norwalk Boulevard, the lieutenant said. Deputies discovered the car had been reported stolen.
The driver of the car — later identified as Catalano — exited the vehicle and ran, Skeen said. Deputies quickly captured him nearby.
Magallanes, who had been the passenger of the stolen car, slid over to the driver’s seat and fled, leading police on short chase two blocks north to Nava Street, where he abandoned the car and ran, Skeen said.
Deputies set up a search perimeter to hunt for Magallanes, he said. About two hours later, he again ran from deputies and fled through homes as they closed in on his hiding spot in a residential neighborhood
He was subdued following a fight with a deputy, Skeen said. The deputy suffered minor injuries. The suspect was taken to a hospital for treatment prior to being booked into jail.
According to Los Angeles County Superior Court records and county booking records, Catalano has been free from jail for less than a month after serving time for vandalism, resisting or obstructing police, receiving stolen property and carrying a concealed dirk or dagger.
He was convicted of the crimes in November of 2013, sent to jail and released Jan. 28, records show. It was unclear how much time he spent behind bars. Catalano was also convicted in March of 2013 of carrying a switchblade knife.
Magallanes had to existing arrest warrant stemming from a previous pursuit case, as well as a gun possession case, Skeen said.
Records indicated Catalano was being held in lieu of $25,000 bail pending his arraignment, scheduled Friday in Bellflower Superior Court. Magallanes was being held in lieu of $20,000 bail pending a Friday arraignment in Bellflower Superior Court.

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Azusa neighborhood under voluntary evacuation; mandatory evacuations planned Thursday

AZUSA >> Officials strongly urged residents living beneath hillsides recently denuded by the Colby Fire to evacuate voluntarily Wednesday evening ahead of a major rainstorm that threatened to trigger mudslides and flooding.
“The Azusa Police Department is advising residents residing in on Ridge View Drive in Azusa to evacuate their residences as soon as possible,” police officials said in a written statement issued shortly before 6:30 p.m.
The voluntary evacuation orders preceded planned mandatory evacuation orders, which were set to take effect at noon Thursday, police said.
Police urged Ridge View Drive residents to heed the evacuation orders.
“Many deaths occur during a landslide when people are sleeping,” according to the police statement. As storm clouds moved toward the region late Wednesday, “We strongly encourage you to leave your residence.”
An evacuation center was set up at the Crowther Teen & Family Center, 241 W. Dawson Avenue in Glendora, officials said. The shelter can be reached by telephone at 626-914-2357.
Police pumped extra patrols into the affected neighborhood to protect the property of evacuated residents, officials added.

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Hacienda Heights woman charged with manslaughter for pedestrian’s death in La Habra

Prosecutors have filed felony charges against a 21-year-old Hacienda Heights woman accused of speeding through a red light and striking two pedestrians in a La Habra crosswalk before leading police on a high-speed chase.
Caroline Sujin Kim is charged with vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence, hit and run causing permanent injury or death and evading police while driving recklessly in connection with the Oct. 25, 2013 incident, Orange County District Attorney’s officials said in a written statement.
A scheduled arraignment last week was postponed to March 26 at the Orange County Superior Court’s North Justice Center in Fullerton, District Attorney’s Office spokeswoman Roxi Sotomayor said. Kim, who had remained free pending the trial process on $100,000 bail, is yet to enter a plea in the case.
Officials allege Kim drove a Cadillac sedan at high speed down Whittier Boulevard shortly before 9 p.m. on Oct. 25.
“She is accused of illegally driving through a red light at the intersection at Rigsby Street and crashing her car into two pedestrians,” according to the district attorney’s office statement.
Sandra Ceballos, 38, of La Habra suffered major injuries, district attorney’s officials said.
“The force of the collision (threw Ceballos) onto the hood and roof of the vehicle before falling into the roadway,” according to the district attorney’s office statement. “She was pronounced dead approximately one hour later due to the injuries she sustained in the crash”
A second woman crossing the street with Ceballos, described as 43 years old, was also struck by the Cadillac and suffered minor injuries, La Habra police officials said.
After hitting the victims, Kim is accused of failing to stop and render aid,” the district attorney’s office statement said. “She is accused of fleeing the scene.”
A witness soon called police in Whittier to report spotting and following the hit-and-run driver, Whittier police Lt. Steve Dean said at the time.
When officers tried to pull over Kim on Colima Road, she sped off, leading police on a chase at speeds as high as 90 mph.
Kim ran through several more red lights before ultimately crashing into a parked car at Countrywood Avenue and Pepper Brook Way in her hometown of Hacienda Heights, police and prosecutors said. Officers then took her into custody.
If convicted as charged, Kim could face up to 13 years and 8 months in state prison.

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Checkpoints net more than 100 arrests throughout the San Gabriel Valley

Checkpoints held throughout the San Gabriel Valley over the weekend resulted in more than 100 arrests, most of which were for driving without a license, officials said Sunday.
A six-hour checkpoint in La Puente late Friday and early Saturday resulted in two DUI arrests, along with 55 arrests of unlicensed drivers and 22 arrests for other alleged crimes, authorities said.
The checkpoint, run by deputies from the Los Angeles County sheriff’s Industry Station, took place from 7 p.m. Friday to 1 a.m. Saturday on Hacienda Boulevard at Temple Avenue, sheriff’s officials said in a written statement. It was one of several checkpoints held throughout the San Gabriel Valley over the weekend by area law enforcement agencies from La Verne to Pasadena.
Of the 2,271 cars that passed through the overnight checkpoint, deputies screened 1,673 drivers, officials said.
Two drivers were arrested on suspicion of drunken driving and two people were arrested on suspicion of drug possession, according to the sheriff’s department statement. One person was jailed on suspicion of knowingly allowing an unlicensed person to drive and one driver was accused of driving without a court-ordered ignition interlock device.
One person was jailed on an outstanding traffic warrant, officials said. And 17 drivers were arrested for driving on a suspended or revoked license.
But the vast majority of the 79 arrests, 55 of them, were of unlicensed drivers, officials said.
Eleven cars were impounded for 30 days at the checkpoint, while 15 were impounded for one day and 48 were released at the checkpoint.
Similar results were seen during the sheriff’s Industry Station’s last checkpoint, which was also held in La Puente overnight Dec. 21 and 22.
More than 70 people were arrested at the December checkpoint, which took place on Hacienda Boulevard at Nelson Avenue, sheriff’s officials said at the time. One driver was accused of driving under the influence of methamphetamine; one person was jailed for drug possession; one person was arrested on a parole violation, three people were arrested due to traffic warrants; two people were arrested for allowing an unlicensed person to drive, 14 people were jailed for driving on a suspended or revoked license; and 56 arrests of unlicensed drivers were made.
The dozens of arrests of unlicensed drivers at the December checkpoint, as well as dozens more at a checkpoint in Baldwin Park the following weekend, sparked outrage from family members of those arrested and immigrant rights activist who allege the checkpoints unfairly target undocumented immigrants.
But the sheriff’s department maintains the checkpoints are designed to improve public safety.
“Checkpoints are placed in locations that have the greatest opportunity for achieving drunk and drugged driving deterrence and provide the greatest safety to the public,” according to the sheriff’s department statement. But arresting intoxicated drivers is not the only goal.
“This DUI/Driver’s License checkpoint lowers DUI deaths and injuries. A major component of these checkpoints is the deterrent effects it has on those who might drive drunk or drugged.”
The La Puente checkpoint was one of several held over the weekend throughout the region. Arcadia, La Verne, and Pasadena also had overnight checkpoints. The California Highway Patrol also sent 20 extra officers out on a DUI saturation patrol late Saturday and early Sunday.
In Arcadia, police screened about 1,200 of the nearly 2,000 cars that passed through a checkpoint held from 9 p.m. Saturday to 3 a.m. Sunday along Baldwin Avenue at the Gate 8 entrance to Santa Anita Park and the Westfield Santa Anita shopping mall, Arcadia police Lt. Bob Anderson said.
“Fifteen (field sobriety tests) were given, resulting in five DUI arrests,” Anderson said. Two people were jailed on traffic warrants.
Police cited, but did not arrest, 16 unlicensed drivers and 7 people who were driving on a suspended or revoked licensed, Anderson said. One person was arrested on suspicion of being drunk in public.
Arcadia police impounded six cars for 30 days, and another six cars for 1 day, Anderson said.
Official results from Pasadena’s checkpoint, which took place late Friday and early Saturday at Fair Oaks Avenue and Hurlbut Street, were not available over the weekend, officials said. But electronic police logs indicated four suspected DUI drivers were arrested.
In La Verne, a checkpoint late Saturday and early Sunday netted 15 arrests, La Verne police Sgt. Monica Schusse said.
Two of the arrests were for intoxicated driving, while the other 13 resulted from other alleged crimes, the sergeant said. Further details regarding the arrests were not available Sunday.
The reasons for the difference in the ways in which police agencies deal with unlicensed drivers at checkpoints — whether such drivers are cited or arrested is not entirely clear.
Following protests in Baldwin Park in December and January, Baldwin Park police officials said unlicensed drivers were taken to jail because they did not have valid identification to prove their identities, as the Los Angeles Superior Court’s West Covina Branch, where the department files it’s cases, would no longer accept matricula consular cards as identification.
Court officials said no such policy change occurred.
Baldwin Park city officials subsequently announced police would resume accepting matricula consular cards as identification, and the city council discussed considering a moratorium on checkpoints. The city previously suspended checkpoints and changed its checkpoint impound policy in 2010 amid outcry from activists.
Funding for the checkpoints is provided by the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

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Police: Stolen van, mail, other items recovered in Pasadena

PASADENA — A tip from a concerned resident led police to recover a stolen van containing hundreds of pieces of stolen mail and other suspected stolen property late Saturday, officials said.
Three thieves — two men and a woman — were being sought following the discovery, which was made about 11:30 p.m. in the 1000 block of South Chester Avenue, just south of Green Street, Pasadena police Lt. Jason Clawson said.
“A caller stated they believed someone had been tampering with the mailbox at an apartment complex,” he said, adding that mail had been stolen from the box in the past.
Three people were reported to be involved in the possible mailbox tapering, Clawson said. Witnesses reported seeing them place a bicycle into a van parked near the apartment complex before walking away.
The trio was gone when police officers arrived, the lieutenant said. Officers quickly discovered the white Ford van had been reported stolen and fitted with stolen license plates, or “cold plated.”
“Upon searching the vehicle, they found property that may have been stolen and hundreds of pieces of mail stolen from residents from throughout Pasadena and Altadena,” he said. The bicycle mentioned by the caller, which was believed to be stolen, was among the recovered items.
Police continued seeking the three alleged thieves Sunday, Clawson said.
One was described as a Latino woman between 20 and 25 years old, about 5 feet 1 inch tall, 130 pounds, with a shaved head and tattoos on the back of her neck. She wore a black basketball Jersey.
The second thief was described as a black man between 25 and 30, about 5 feet 6 inches tall, 180 pounds, with a short Afro-style hair and a mustache, police said. He wore a black Orlando Magic basketball jersey.
Officials described the third suspect as a white man between 30 and 35 years old, about 5 feet 5 inches tall and between 180 and 200 pounds. He had short brown hair, which he wore slicked black, and wore a white T-shirt.

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UPDATED: Upland man accused of DUI following injury crash on 210 Freeway in Glendora

GLENDORA >> A two-vehicle crash that injured three people on the 210 Freeway in Glendora Saturday afternoon is blamed on a drunken driver, according to California Highway Patrol officials.
Daniel L. Runnestrand, 53, of Upland was arrested on suspicion of felony driving under the influence of alcohol following the 2:20 p.m. crash on the eastbound 210 Freeway, just east of Grand Avenue, California Highway Patrol Officer Rodrigo Jimenez said. He suffered injuries described as moderate in the collision.
He was driving a 2007 Ford F-250 pickup truck at a “high rate of speed” in the No. 3 lane just prior to the collision with a 1984 Oldsmobile Cutlass, the officer said.
“This collision occurred when Mr. Runnestrand changed lanes from the No. 3 lane to the No. 4 lane and collided with the rear end of the Oldsmobile Cutlass,” Jimenez said.
The pickup truck overturned, ending up on it’s roof in the No. 4 lane, he said. The Oldsmobile was spun around and pushed to the right shoulder.
The sedan was severely damaged in the crash, however the occupants were conscious and breathing when treated by firefighters, Los Angeles County Fire Department Capt. P.J. Carter said.
Jimenez said the driver of the Oldsmobile, who had not been positively identified but was believed to be a Pomona resident in his 50s, suffered major injuries. They included internal injuries and a fractured leg.
His passenger, a 54-year-old Pomona woman, was hospitalized with injuries believed to be moderate.
Both the man and woman from the Oldsmobile were flown to Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center by helicopter for treatment, officials said.
“Mr. Runnestrand was placed under arrest for suspicion of felony driving under the influence of alcohol causing great bodily injury and was transported to USC Medical Center via ambulance to be treated for his injuries,” Jimenez said.
Witnesses reported the pickup truck had been weaving in and out of traffic lanes just prior to the crash, according to CHP logs.
Officials issued Sig Alert for the two right lanes of the eastbound 210 Freeway that remained in effect for nearly two hours.
Coincidentally, CHP’s Southern Division fielded 20 extra officers late Saturday into early Sunday to hunt for intoxicated drivers in a DUI saturation patrol, officials said.
The collision was being investigated by officers from the Baldwin Park office of the CHP.

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