Azusa: February 2012 Archives
AZUSA -- A man arrested earlier this week on suspicion of kidnapping a female friend was released from jail Wednesday after prosecutors declined to file charges, officials said.
Derrick Lee Zacheary, 61, of Los Angeles was released from custody early Wednesday after officials rejected the case against him due to insufficient evidence, according to county booking records and Los Angeles County District Attorneys officials.
Azusa police arrested him Monday afternoon following an alleged incident 200 block of North Aspan Avenue, Azusa police Detective Robert Landeros said.
The woman, who is in her 30s, is a friend of Zacheary who lives with him in a recreational vehicle, police added.
The woman told investigators that Zacheary locked her in the back of the RV and brandished a gun, Landeros said.
After driving to Los Angeles, Zacheary was accused of unlocking the back of the RV, at which point the woman ran off and went home, police said.
A handgun was recovered when police took Zacheary into custody, Landeros added.
Zacheary told police he had been hired by a property manager to keep watch over a home on Aspen Avenue, Landeros said, and that the woman wanted to go back to Los Angeles, but Zacheary didn't want to give her a ride.
Prior to being released without charges Wednesday, Zacheary had been held in lieu of $100,000 bail.
AZUSA -- A home was badly severely damaged an an elderly woman suffered minor injuries in a house fire Friday, police said.
The fire broke out about 4:45 p.m. in the 100 block of South Louise Avenue, Azusa police Sgt. John Madaloni said.
"Officers arrived first to find a single-story residence fully involved in smoke and flames," he said. "The lone resident, an elderly female, was located outside of the home and treated for minor smoke inhalation by paramedics."
The woman was taken to a hospital for further treatment, officials said.
The home sustained "major fire and smoke damage," Madaloni said, however a dollar-value estimate was not immediately available.
The cause of the fire was under investigation.
AZUSA -- Authorities continued seeking a truck that leaked a highly toxic chemical on a six-block stretch of Foothill Boulevard, prompting a closure for much of the day and a clean-up operation with a $10,000 price tag.
The chemical was later identified as chromic acid -- a toxic and carcinogenic cleaning material used in metal plating, Azusa police Cpl. Terry Smith said in a written statement.
"Witnesses reported the substance was leaking from an unidentified stake bed style truck that was traveling eastbound Foothill," Smith said.
The acid leaked onto eastbound lanes of the road from the 900 block of West Foothill Boulevard to the 300 block of West Foothill Boulevard, police added.
Westbound traffic lanes were briefly shut down following the spill, and eastbound lanes in the area remained closed for much of the day.
"The clean up costs were estimated at approximately $10,000," Smith added.
No injuries were reported as a result of the spill, officials said.
Anyone with information is asked to call Azusa police at 626-812-3200.
AZUSA -- An alleged drunken driver was arrested Thursday after his speeding car crashed into another vehicle, injuring him, his passenger and a 9-year-old child.
Azusa police Sgt. Xavier Torres said Rodney Gamez, 25, of Azusa was booked on suspicion of driving under the influence causing injury.
The crash occurred at 3:53 p.m. in the 1900 block of San Gabriel Canyon Road.
Torres said Gamez was driving a Honda Civic heading south at a high rate of speed when he lost control of the car. The Civic jumped the center divider, ended up on the opposing lane and crashed into a 2008 Lexus.
Gamez sustained a minor head injury while his front passenger, a 24-year-old Covina man, suffered serious injuries including a broken ankle, according to Torres.
The passenger was taken to Los Angeles County USC Medical Center.
Torres said a 9-year-old child riding in the Lexus complained of pain and was taken to a local hospital. He didn't know if the child was a boy or a girl.
The sergeant said Gamez displayed symptoms of being intoxicated and failed a field sobriety test.
Gamez was being held at Azusa jail in lieu of $20,000 bail and has a Feb. 14 arraignment in West Covina Superior Court.
- Ruby Gonzales
ANGELES NATIONAL FOREST -- A Duarte man died and a teenage girl was hurt early Sunday when a car plunged over the side of San Gabriel Canyon Road north of Azusa, officials said.
Alex Rodriguez, 20, of Duarte died in the 1:10 a.m. crash at mile-marker 27.62 of the winding mountain road, California Highway Patrol Officer Alex Antillon said in a written statement.
A 16-year-old Duarte girl was hospitalized with minor injuries following the crash, he added.
"Although the cause of the collision is unknown at this time, alcohol and or drugs is being investigated as a factor," Antillon said.
Rodriguez was driving a Honda sedan southbound at an undetermined speed when the crash occurred, he said.
"(Rodriguez) failed to negotiate a turn in the roadway and traveled out of control," the officer said. "(The Honda) subsequently left the roadway and traveled down the mountain embankment."
The car came to a rest about 100 feet over the side of the road, officials added.
Antillon said Rodriguez was thrown from the car in the crash and pronounced dead at the scene.
CONTRIBUTORS
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| Frank Girardot, Metro Editor for the San Gabriel Valley Newspapers, brings you behind the yellow tape with takes on true crime, cold cases and more. This is also your forum to discuss crime, its impact on your neighborhood and how we cover it. Have any questions or tips? You can leave a comment here or e-mail Frank. |
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Brian Day is the crime reporter for the San Gabriel Valley Newspaper group. E-mail Brian. |
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