Recently in Baldwin Park Category

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.

But, the Baldwin Park cops haven't called back. 

BALDWIN PARK -- For the second time in less than a week, a pizza delivery man was robbed delivering to a neighborhood in Baldwin Park, authorities said.
The crime occurred about 8:30 p.m. Wednesday in the 3100 block of Vineland Avenue, Baldwin Park police Sgt. Doug Parnell said.
The delivery man was walking through an apartment complex to make a delivery when he was approached by four Latino men wearing all black clothing, the sergeant said.
The men demanded money and one of them punched the delivery man in the face before stealing $200 from him, along with the pizza, Parnell said. No weapon was seen, and the delivery man was not hospitalized.
The robbers were last seen running eastbound from the area through the Big Dalton Wash, he added. A vinyl pizza bag and a sweater worn by one of the robbers were found discarded nearby.
On Saturday, a similar crime occurred in the same neighborhood, and Parnell said police are looking into the possibility that the crimes are related.
A pizza delivery man was also delivering to an apartment complex in the 3100 block of Vineland Avenue about 10 p.m. when he was robbed by two men with knives, Baldwin Park police Lt. Joe Bartolotti said.
In that case, both cash and pizza were stolen, he said.

Officials charged two men Friday with two takeover-style robberies at video game stores in West Covina and Baldwin Park.
Gregory Todd, 22, and Thomas Stringer, 23, were each charged with six counts of robbery and six counts of kidnapping, along with a gang enhancement, according to the felony complaint. A charge was filed for each individual person considered a victim of each individual crime.
The robberies the men are charged with took place Wednesday afternoon at a West Covina Gamestop store, 2360 S. Azusa Ave., and a Baldwin Park Gamestop store, 14460 Merced Ave, Unit 120, authorities said.
In the West Covina crime, three or four men armed with several handguns barged into the store about 6 p.m., West Covina police Sgt. Steve Wheeless said.
"It was a takeover," he said. Though the employees were not tied up, but, "They were moved from the sales portion of the store to a back room," the sergeant said.
The suspects then allegedly helped themselves to cash, video games and electronic equipment from the store, he said.
A citizen helped lead police to an abandoned suspect vehicle near the robbery scene, authorities said.
"It was some time later that a citizen called regarding a suspicious vehicle," he said.
The abandoned vehicle fit the description of the car used in the West Covina robbery and was found nearby, officials added.
Four people were detained in the area and arrested, Wheeless said. Todd and Stringer were ultimately identified as suspects in the robberies, while the other two were released.
A similar robbery was reported about four hours earlier at the other Gamestop location in Baldwin Park, Baldwin Park and West Covina police said.
In that crime, the same two men suspected in the West Covina robbery were identified as suspects in a similar takeover-style robber at the Baldwin Park Gamestop location, Baldwin Park police Sgt. Kevin Gauthier said.
At least one other unidentified robber was believed to be involved in the Baldwin Park crime, as well as two other people who were seen in the getaway vehicle, Gauthier said.
Authorities allege Todd and Stringer are members of the "Swans" street gang, which is affiliated with the Los Angeles gang, the "Bloods".
According to sheriff's booking records, Todd and Stringer were being held in lieu of $100,000 each.
They were scheduled to enter pleas at an arraignment in West Covina Superior Court Friday, however the hearing was delayed until Sept. 28, court officials said.

BALDWIN PARK -- Three carjackers forced a man from his car at gunpoint Sunday, authorities said.
The crime was reported about 4:40 p.m. in the 3300 block of Athol Street, Baldwin Park police Sgt. Richard Villines said.
The victim was in his black 2001 Honda Civic when he was approached by three carjackers described as Latino men between 18 and 20 years old, the sergeant said.
One of the carjackers brandished a handgun, and the three suspects stole the man's car, he said. They were last seen driving on Francisquito Avenue.

EL MONTE -- Police jailed a Baldwin Park Thursday on suspicion of felony vandalism after he allegedly scrawled graffiti in a park bathroom, police said.
Daniel Parra, 18, was arrested about 5 p.m. at Zamora Park, 3820 Penn Mar Avenue, El Monte police said in a written statement.
Officials said he caused about $500 in damage to the bathroom at the park.
According to sheriff's booking records, Parra was being held in lieu of $20,000 bail. No information was available regarding his initial court date.

AZUSA -- A 13-year-old Azusa boy was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of drawing graffiti on a park bench, officials said.
He was jailed about 4 p.m. after he was allegedly spotted writing on a bench at Slauson Park, 501 W. Fifth Street, with a marker, Azusa police Sgt. Mike Gurbada said.
The teen was released to his parents with a court date after both he and they were cited, Gurbada said.

BALDWIN PARK -- Baldwin Park police Capt. Michael Taylor sat down at a restaurant Thursday for a grilled chicken lunch, but ended up saving a toddler's life, officials and restaurant employees said.
Taylor said he had just gotten up to pay for his meal about 1 p.m. at the El Llano restaurant, 13720 Ramona Blvd., when he noticed a 1-year-old girl choking.
Her family members desperately patted her on the back to try to free the obstruction -- a tortilla chip -- with no success.
"She was choking to death," Taylor said. "She was turning blue."
Restaurant waitress Julie Jimenez said Taylor immediately sprung into action and performed the Heimlich Maneuver.
"I was so scared," she said. "I was happy he saved the life of the little girl."
After performing the Heimlich Maneuver, the girl appeared to be doing just fine, Taylor said.
"I felt sorry for the family," he said. "They seemed pretty shaken up by the whole thing."
Taylor added he did not tell the "very grateful" family he was a police officer.
Jimenez said she was glad to have Taylor as a regular customer of the restaurant.
"I feel we need more people like that," she said. "I'm very glad that I know Capt. Mike."
Thursday's incident was not the first time Taylor has rescued a choking stranger at a Baldwin Park restaurant, Baldwin Park Mayor Manuel Lozano said.
"It doesn't surprise me, since I've seen it once before," the mayor said of the rescue.
About five years ago, Taylor was having lunch with Lozano at another Baldwin Park restaurant when Taylor noticed a man choking and performed the Heimlich Maneuver, Lozano said.
The mayor added he was amazed by how quickly Taylor reacted to the situation.
"The guy thanked him, and it was amazing," Lozano said. "He told me that it comes with the job."
Taylor said he also once had to perform the Heimlich Maneuver on his own toddler son more than 20 years ago when he choked on a cracker.
The captain encouraged all parents to take a class in basic life-saving procedures, such as the Heimlich Maneuver.
"I'm glad I picked that restaurant to have lunch (Thursday)," Taylor said. "Sometimes, there's a reason for things."

The gang rape of an 18-year-old girl in Baldwin Park Monday morning is getting lots of attention from local media this morning. Television trucks are parked outside the Baldwin Park Police Department, but police are saying little.

BALDWIN PARK - Fullerton police arrested Baldwin Park School Board member Sergio Corona on suspicion of assaulting a woman at an Orange County gas station, authorities said Wednesday.

Corona, 35, and a 38-year-old Baldwin Park woman were reported fighting in the parking lot of a Mobil gas station on July 11, said Lt. Craig Brower with the Fullerton Police Department.

Corona was arrested and cited on suspicion of assault and battery, Brower said. The unidentified woman was neither cited nor arrested.

Corona did not return calls seeking comment Wednesday.

It was the second time Corona has been arrested since May 2008, when Baldwin Park officers shot him with a Taser after he allegedly broke the windows of a home on Sandstone Street in Baldwin Park.

School board member Jack White said he was not aware of Corona's most recent arrest, but was concerned about how it would reflect on the district considering Corona's past.

"I really thought he'd learned his lesson," White said. "I'm really disappointed if this is the case."

Fish wrap for the afternoon:

BALDWIN PARK -- A man was shot to death inside his car early Sunday in a residential neighborhood, authorities said.
Officials initially described the dead man only as a Latino in his 20s believed to be from Baldwin Park. His name was withheld pending notification of family members, coroner officials said.
The shooting was reported about 6 a.m. as a car crash in the 3700 block of Foster Avenue, just south of Ramona Boulevard, Los Angeles County sheriff's Deputy Derrick Thompson said in a written statement.
Officials received reports of "an individual that was believed to be involved in a traffic accident deceased inside a car," said Lt. Dan Rosenberg of the Sheriff's Homicide Bureau said, which is investigating the case. "Responding Baldwin Park police officers found he had been shot."
Detectives believe the man crashed his car after being shot multiple times in the back.
Suspect information and a motive in the shooting was not known, Rosenberg said.
Several residents on Foster Avenue said Sunday afternoon they heard a loud crash in the morning, but no gun shots.
"I was sleeping and I just heard a big impact," said Jun Catap. "As soon as I heard that, I opened the door and saw the car crashed into the (telephone) pole."
Crews from Southern California Edison worked through Sunday evening to repair the damaged pole.
Jesus Costilla, who also lives on Foster Avenue, said he watched police pick up about five bullet casings from nearby the victim's car.
"It's just kind of weird though," Costilla said, "because no one heard any gun shots."

WHITTIER -- Officials jailed a Baldwin Park woman on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated early Saturday following a crash that killed a 26-year-old Fontana woman, authorities said.
Criselda Valderrama, 20, was arrested in connection with the crash.
Coroner's officials withheld the name of the dead woman pending notification of her family.
The incident occurred about 2:25 a.m. on the northbound 605 Freeway near Washington Boulevard, in an unincorporated county area near Whittier, California Highway Patrol officials said in a written statement.
The woman who was killed and two other 26-year-old Fontana women were inside a stalled Honda Civic after they crashed into a shoulder guardrail, officials said.
"(Valderrama) failed to notice the Honda stopped in the traffic lane and collided into the rear of the Honda," the statement said.
The fatal victim was initially driving the Civic, but switched seats with a rear passenger following the first crash, authorities said. The other women in the Honda suffered minor and moderate injuries.
Valderrama, who drove a 1991 Toyota Previa, was hospitalized with moderate injuries, CHP officials said.
According to court records, Valderrama is being held in lieu of $25,000 bail. No information on her initial court date was available Saturday.
Valderrama's MySpace.com Web page indicates she is a student at Cal State Long Beach and a graduate of Bishop Amat High School in La Puente. It also lists her as working at the Cal State Long Beach campus book store and Disabled Student Services Center, as well as a home health care company based in West Covina.
Her postings on Twitter.com talk about studying for upcoming exams.
A Twitter message sent Friday morning read, "I was driving in the carpool lane by myself and just as i exited i saw that the car a mile behind was highway patrol, close call!"
According to CHP logs, lanes of the freeway were blocked for more than three hours following the crash.

BALDWIN PARK -- A Los Angeles County sheriff's deputy suffered moderate injuries Thursday after he was thrown from his motorcycle in a crash on the 10 Freeway, authorities said.
The collision was reported about 11:15 a.m. in the westbound lanes of the freeway near Puente Avenue, California Highway Patrol Officer Jose Nunez said.
Deputy Marc Saunders, 45, of the sheriff's Walnut-Diamond Bar Station suffered moderate injuries in the crash, CHP spokesman Edmund Zorrilla said. No other injuries were reported.
The crash occurred when Debra Bonafede, 57, of Redlands sideswiped the deputy's motorcycle with her 2001 Toyota Avalon, causing him to crash, Zorrilla said.
The deputy was thrown from his motorcycle and suffered abrasions to his hip, elbows and shoulder, Zorrilla said. He was take to the Citrus Valley Health Partners -- Queen of the Valley Campus for treatment.
Immediately following the crash, Ambrocio Veyra, 34, of Pomona was unable to stop in time and rear-ended the rapidly slowing Toyota, Zorrilla said.
Drugs or alcohol did not appear to be a factor in the crash, Zorrilla said, and no citations or arrested were made Thursday afternoon.
The crash, he added, remained under investigation.

POMONA - Three men will likely spend the rest of their lives behind bars for the 2002 slaying of a Baldwin Park teenager whose body was dragged behind a car for miles through Turnbull Canyon.
Pomona Superior Court Judge Michael Camacho on Wednesday sentenced Victor Monge, 33, to 85 years to life in prison, Matthew Garcia, 27, to 80 years to life in prison and Abraham Acuna, 34, to 55 years to life in prison, court officials said.
All men were living in El Monte at the time of the murder.
They were each convicted of first-degree murder June 4 at Pomona Superior Court for the October 2002 murder of 17-year-old Gloria Gaxiola of Baldwin Park.
Prosecutor Stephen Dones called the killing "particularly vicious" and said the men killed Gaxiola to silence her.
"They were afraid of her testifying about a robbery they had committed," Dones said.
Gaxiola, whose was a member of Agape Christian Center in Pico Rivera where her brother was a pastor, had befriended the three men.
Monge and Garcia were sentenced as third-strike offenders, while Acuna was sentenced as a second-striker, Dones said.
Authorities believe Gaxiola was shot on Turnbull Canyon Road in Hacienda Heights before being dragged several miles by the killers' car.
The body was found at Hacienda Boulevard and Colima Road.
"We believe her foot was caught in the seat belt," Dones said.
Dones said coroner's officials were unable to determine exactly what injury killed Gaxiola.
At least one witness called police to report the body being dragged behind the car, he added, however the car was not found.
No arrests were made in the case for five years until 2008, Dones said, when a witness came forward with new information.
The prosecution alleged during the trial that Garcia was the gunman in the attack, he said, however the jury did not find that allegation to be true.
A jury convicted Monge, Garcia and Acuna after deliberating for less than a day.
The men were believed to live in the El Monte area at the time of the killing, officials said. It was not clear where they had been living since 2002.
Steve Burrola, 44, of Whittier said he was relieved to see the case come to and end at last.
Family members of Gaxiola could not be reached for comment Wednesday.
A truck driver, Burrola was driving down Colima Road when he saw Gaxiola's body alongside the road.
He said the image has remained fresh in his mind ever since.
Burrola said he initially thought the young woman had been struck by a car.
"I was deeply saddened when I learned more of the story about her," he said. "It really hit me, knowing she was dragged."
The sentencing of the killers Wednesday brought Burrola a sense of closure, he said.
"I would never forget and wanted the people responsible to be brought back to justice," Burrola said. "I will never forget Gloria Gaxiola."