Crime Scene

Election day charges for Mussenden in Holt Ave hooker case

2009-11-04T01:03:18Z

LOS ANGELES -- James Mussenden, the former El Monte city manager caught up in a Pomona prostitution sting, will face misdemeanor solicitation charges, officials said Tuesday.

Mussenden, 59, of Glendora, was one of 18 men caught in the Holt Ave. hooker sting on Oct. 15. He likely faces a fine in the case. No court date has been set.

"It's one count of soliciting," DA spokeswoman Sandi Gibbons said Tuesday. "All the men arrested in the case have been charged with the same count."

Mussendin, who had been city manager since 2006, resigned his job two days after the arrest. He additionally resigned his post as a commissioner for the Trails of the Valley Boy Scouts council.

Fire threatens homes in Diamond Bar

2009-11-03T20:37:28Z

Several fires broke out Tuesday in a densely populated area of Diamond Bar along the 60 freeway.

Super Scoopers have already attacked the blazes. it is uncertain how many homes are threatened. Fire seems to be rapidly moving through brush along hte 60 freeway. A smoke plume is visible from our office here in West Covina.

Here's a Google Map of the area:

View Diamond Ranch Fire in a larger map

Cache of sea cucumber sushi seized

2009-11-03T15:43:18Z

This stuff sells for $45 a pound. Wow!

SAN DIEGO - Customs officials say they seized 343 pounds of sea cucumbers at the San Ysidro port of entry as smugglers tried to bring the Asian culinary delicacy into the U.S. from Mexico.

Inspectors found undeclared sea cucumbers in a minivan in San Diego Sunday afternoon.

Customs and Border Protection spokeswoman Jackie Dizdul says the oblong marine animals were hidden in the luggage of two Chinese citizens, a 51-year-old man and his 24-year-old son.
The two were fined $15,264 and their U.S. visas were canceled.
Dizdul says all imported food must be declared, especially large quantities intended for commercial use.
Sea cucumbers are eaten in soups in Asia, where they are harvested from the ocean bottom and dried. They go for about $45 per pound in the U.S.

Attorney protests Sirhan move

2009-11-03T15:39:27Z

This from the AP. Sirhan lived in Pasadena. His brother Munir maintains the family home near Muir High School:

LOS ANGELES - An attorney for the man who assassinated Robert F. Kennedy said Monday his client was transferred from a prison that houses high-risk offenders to a new facility where his life could be in danger.

Attorney William F. Pepper said Sirhan Sirhan opposed the move from the state prison in Corcoran, which houses high-risk prisoners such as Charles Manson, to Pleasant Valley State Prison in Coalinga.
"Our main concern is for his safety," said Laurie Dusek, an associate of Pepper. "We are not sure that Pleasant Valley has the ability to protect him. He is a target."
Pepper said he has new evidence and wants to reopen Sirhan's case.
Oscar Hidalgo, a spokesman for the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, said Sirhan, 65, had requested the transfer and wants to stay in Pleasant Valley.
"After discussing his hesitation with prison officials at Pleasant Valley, Sirhan Sirhan indicated he wanted to stay at the new facility after all," Hidalgo said. "He can indicate if he feels unsafe at any point and the department will respond appropriately."

Witness in Temple City murder trial can't ID shooter

2009-11-03T15:35:01Z

This from Alfred Lee, in court covering the trial of two men accused of shooting Deandre Netter to death in the summer of 2007: Our coverage of the shooting is here.

ALHAMBRA - A friend of murdered Temple City teenager DeAndre Netter testified Monday that he could not see the driver or the shooter during the drive-by shooting.

The 17-year-old friend, identified in court only as "Mike M," had been walking home from a Carl's Jr. with DeAndre and DeAndre's twin brother in the 5700 block of Golden West Avenue in Temple City in July 2007 when DeAndre was shot and killed. DeAndre was 17.
Christopher Gilbert Lopez and Phillip Adrian Guerra, both of Temple City, are facing a re-trial in Netter's murder after jurors could not reach a unanimous verdict in April.
Mike recalled seeing a car pull up nearby and being pushed out of the way by one of the Netter twins when shots were fired. But he said he could only see a light emanating from the dashboard when he looked inside the car.
"I tried to (look), but it was really dark," Mike testified. "I just saw a blue light."

The crime mapping trend --San Gabriel PD unveils new Web site

2009-11-02T15:25:00Z

At least three stabbed outside Halloween party in Whittier

2009-11-02T01:27:14Z

WHITTIER -- At least three people were stabbed Saturday during a fight outside a Halloween party, police said.
The stabbings were reported about 11:15 p.m. in a residential neighborhood in the 7700 block of Comstock Avenue, Whittier police Sgt. Kevin Ramos said.
Three men found their own way to the hospital following the incident, and police were seeking a possible fourth stabbing victim who was unaccounted for, the sergeant said.
The conditions of the wounded men were not available, he said, however none of the injuries were believed to be life-threatening.
The stabbings were discovered after officers responded to a report of about 20 people fighting in the street, Ramos said.
The knife-wielding man was described as Latino, about 20 years old, about 5 feet 9 inches tall and weighing about 150 pounds, officials said. He had black hair and wore a black hooded sweat shirt and checkered shorts.

Authorities investigate death in Baldwin Park

2009-11-01T23:38:01Z

BALDWIN PARK -- Sheriff's homicide investigators are looking into the death of a man who appeared "severely malnourished" when his body was discovered early Sunday, a sheriff's deputy said.
The body of a 22-year-old man was found about 8 a.m. at a home in the 3100 block of Vineland Avenue, Los Angeles County sheriff's Deputy Lillian Peck said in a written statement.
"The victim had several medical issues and was living at the location with his family as a dependent adult," the statement said. "At this time, no evidence of foul play has been detected. However, the investigation is ongoing."
No further details were released.

Man shot to death, brother wounded, at Halloween party

2009-11-01T23:04:30Z

WEST COVINA -- A gunman killed one man and wounded his brother during a fight outside a Halloween party early Sunday, authorities said.
Ramiro Limon Jr., 27, of East Los Angeles died at the scene of the shooting, which took place just before 1 a.m. at the intersection of Shadydale Avenue and Roxbury Street, Los Angeles County coroner's officials said.
His brother, 40-year-old Rodrigo Ruiz of East Los Angeles, was shot in the hand, West Covina police Cpl. Rudy Lopez said. He was hospitalized and is expected to recover.
The shooting occurred as a Halloween house party was winding down, Lopez said.
"The party was breaking up, and apparently a fight ensued between the victims and the suspects," he said.
"During he fight, the (shooter) went to his vehicle and retrieved a handgun and fired several shots, hitting both victims," police said in a written statement.
The shooter, described only as a male Latino, then got into the passenger side of a dark-colored vehicle with a female driver and several other male passengers and fled the scene, Lopez said.
A second suspect was also involved in the fight, but Lopez said it was not clear if that other suspect -- also described only as a male Latino -- fled with the shooter or if they split up.
No further suspect descriptions were available.
Police Sunday afternoon were working to sort through conflicting witness statements.
Authorities believe as many as 50 people attended the party, and detectives were working to interview as many of them as possible.
A man who answered a door near where the shooting took place said the party occurred at his house, but the shooting took place in the street. He declined to comment further.
Mary Dugan, who lives on Roxbury Street, said she arrived home about 1 a.m. -- just minutes after the shooting -- from a Halloween party herself.
She saw a body lying in the street, covered by a white sheet. Her house was blocked off by police crime scene tape, and officers told her she could not return until the morning.
Dugan said she was allowed back in her home about 9:30 a.m.
"They're always having parties over there," she said, but the gatherings had never before erupted in violence.

Teen wounded in shooting at West Covina house party

2009-10-31T23:25:52Z

WEST COVINA - A teenager is expected to recover after being shot during a fight at a house party Friday, officials said.
Police responded to a report of several groups fighting in front of a house party about 11:10 p.m. in the 1900 of E. Nanette Avenue, West Covina police Lt. David Rozeboom said.
At some point during the scuffle, someone in the fight pulled a gun and shot a 16-year-old Baldwin Park boy in the shoulder, he said.
Police stopped a car that was leaving the scene of the shooting, Rozeboom said, and found the wounded teenager was a passenger inside.
The teen was treated at a hospital and has since been released, he added.
The shot was apparently fired from a crowd, he said, and no description of the shooter was available Saturday.

6-year-old girl killed by falling television

2009-10-31T23:16:56Z

WEST COVINA - A 6-year-old girl died Saturday after a 32-inch television set fell on top of her, police said.
Jasmine Starr Ilgenfritz of West Covina died at the hospital shortly after the accident, Los Angeles County Department of Coroner Lt. Joe Bale said.
The incident occurred about 10:30 a.m. at a home in the 600 block of S. Gaybar Avenue, West Covina police Lt. David Rozeboom said in a written statement.
"The victim was apparently playing in the living room with her siblings, ages 1 and 3, when the television was accidentally dislodged from the table it was resting on," the statement said.
The children were being supervised by their grandmother, who was in the kitchen of the home, officials said, and no adults witnessed the incident.
Paramedics rushed the girl to a hospital, Rozeboom said, where she was pronounced dead a short time later.
The initial investigation revealed no signs of foul play, he added.

Body found inside burning car near L.A. River

2009-10-31T22:14:42Z

From the Associated Press:

LOS ANGELES -- Authorities say a body has been found in a burning car on
the banks of the Los Angeles River.
Fire officials discovered the body after responding to a report of a car fire early
Saturday in the riverbed near the 710 Freeway in the South Gate neighborhood.
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Sgt. Steve Rubino says due to the severity of the burns,
authorities have been unable to identify the body.
The incident is under investigation.

*UPDATED: La Mirada teen struck by car dies from injuries

2009-10-31T21:10:34Z

*UPDATED:

WHITTIER - A teenage girl who was struck by a car while crossing Imperial Highway near Whittier late Friday has died from her injuries, authorities said Saturday.
Samantha Sandoval, 16, of La Mirada died at the hospital shortly after the crash, Los Angeles County Department of Coroner Lt. Joe Bale said.
On Saturday, about three dozen young people gathered at the scene of the crash around a memorial of candles, pictures, flowers and balloons.
Jessica Mendiola, 16, of La Mirada said Sandoval was a close friend, and they both attended El Camino High School.
"She was an intelligent, young, beautiful lady who I looked up to," Mendiola said. "She worried about everyone else before herself," she added through tears.
Family members could not be reached for comment Saturday.
Sandoval was crossing north across Imperial Highway at Burgess Street in an unincorporated county area near Whittier when she was struck by a tan 1993 Toyota sedan that was driving west on Imperial Highway at about 35 mph, CHP officials said in a written statement.
The driver of the sedan, a 74-year-old North Hollywood woman, apparently did not see the pedestrian, according to the CHP statement.
The intersection where Sandoval was struck is not regulated by a crosswalk or traffic signal.
Sandoval suffered major head trauma and was rushed to Whittier Hospital Medical Center, officials said, where she was pronounced dead.
Mendiola said her friend, a junior in high school, planned on attending college and had a bright future ahead.
"She had a scholarship already," Mendiola said.
"She liked to to art a lot," she said. "Her favorite thing was music. She played the guitar. She wanted to be in a band. She wanted to travel the world."
The cause of the crash remains under investigation by the Santa Fe Springs office of the CHP.

Teenage girl killed, two men wounded in high school shooting

2009-10-31T20:46:24Z

This tragic story comes courtesy of the Associated Press:

LONG BEACH -- A 16-year-old girl died and two men were wounded after being shot following a football game at a Long Beach high school.
Long Beach police Sgt. Dina Zapalski says it's unclear what led to Friday night's shooting at Wilson High School. Police are searching for a gunman.
The girl died at a hospital.
An 18-year-old man and a 20-year-old man sustained non-life-threatening injuries.
City Councilman Gary DeLong described the girl as "an innocent bystander who was not
involved" in the altercation.
It's unclear if any of the victims were students at the school.

Shooting reported at Pico Rivera house party

2009-10-31T20:25:59Z

PICO RIVERA -- A man was shot and wounded late Friday at a house party, authorities said.
The shooting took place about 10 p.m. in the 9200 block of Balfour Street, said Pico Rivera sheriff's Sgt. Giambalvo, who declined to give his first name.
A group of people tried to get into the party but were not allowed in, the sergeant said.
One of those barred from the party, described only as a Latino man in his 20s, pulled a handgun and wounded a man who was attending the party, Giambalvo said.
The wounded man's injuries did not initially appear to be life-threatening, he added.
No further details were released.