Recently in Baldwin Park Category
ROY, UTAH -- Utah police looking into the case of a missing San Gabriel man unearthed a body Thursday from a property where they've been digging for four days, however it was not clear if it belonged to the missing man, authorities said.
Further details about the body would not be available until an autopsy is performed by coroner's officials, Layton police Lt. Garret Atkin said.
Police made the grisly find while investigating the disappearance of then-25-year-old Victor Flores of San Gabriel, who headed to Utah from his Southern California home in May for a job, according to Layton and San Gabriel police. He was last seen May 9.
An autopsy was scheduled to be performed Saturday, Atkin said, however results would likely not be available until early next week.
It was unclear what, if any, other evidence was found with the body.
SANTA ANA -- A Baldwin Park man has been arrested on suspicion of a violent Orange County rape and kidnapping as officials investigate the possibility he's responsible for other similar attacks.
Jose Luis Capacete, 39, was arrested Jan. 20 on suspicion of rape and kidnapping with intent to commit rape in connection with an alleged vicious attack on a prostitute in Santa Ana on Christmas Eve of last year, Santa Ana police officials said in a written statement.
Capacete, who works as an armored car driver in Orange County, picked the woman up in a van along Harbor Boulevard, officials said.
"Once the victim was inside Capacete's vehicle, Capacete produced a handgun and a Taser," according to the police statement. "The victim's hands were tied behind her back and she was sexually assaulted in the van."
Evidence found at the scene ultimately led police to identify Capacete as a suspect in the kidnapping and rape, and authorities carried out a search warrant at his Baldwin Park home, Santa Ana police Cpl. Anthony Bertagna said.
"We collected evidence that belonged to six different females that have no relation to him," Bertagna said. "That's what leads us to believe there are other victims."
Capacete was arrested Jan. 20 and is being held in lieu of $1 million bail, according to police and Orange County booking records.
Since his arrest, Santa Ana detectives have learned of other strikingly similar kidnappings and rapes and are investigating the possibility Capacete was also involved in those cases.
Another woman, also a prostitute, reported she was kidnapped and raped with the use of a handgun and Taser on Jan. 7 in Garden Grove, Bertagna said.
Additionally, detectives learned following Capacete's arrest that U.S. Department of Homeland Security officials investigating an unrelated case had interviewed another prostitute in August who told them she had been the victim of a similar attack in Santa Ana, the corporal said.
Federal officials did not notify Santa Ana police of the report until after Capacete's arrest.
"This woman that they're working with brought this incident to their attention and told them what happened, but the documentation never made it here, so we never had a case," Bertagna said.
"Unfortunately, that's one of those things that slipped through the cracks," he said.
The investigation into the DHS report and the Garden Grove case remained in their early stages, Bertagna said. The only case in which a charge has been filed is the Christmas Eve assault.
"(The other two) cases are ongoing and being looked into, as well as the six additional pieces of evidence (from Capacete's home)," Bertagna said.
All of the three possible victims identified so far were prostitutes, immigrants and in their 20s, officials said.
Police sought the public's help Thursday in connecting Capacete to any additional crimes.
Though Capacete lived in Baldwin Park, investigators had not linked him to any assaults in the San Gabriel Valley, police said.
The brutality and sophistication displayed in the alleged Dec. 24 assault indicates an experienced attacker," Bertagna said. "With this level of violence, our concern is, how long has he been doing this?"
Capacete appeared in court for arraignment Jan. 24, however it was continued and he did not enter a plea, Orange County District Attorney's officials said. He was scheduled to return to the Central Jail Court Feb. 9.
PHOTO of Jose Capacete courtesy of the Santa Ana Police Department
BALDWIN PARK -- An unlicensed and drunken driver who struck and killed a 25-year-old Baldwin Park woman as she was walking to church last year was sentenced to more than 19 years in prison Tuesday, officials said.
Rafael Espinoza Moreno, 27, was sentenced to 19 years and 8 months in prison after pleading no contest to charges stemming from the Aug. 14, 2011 crash that killed Esmeralda Ramirez of Baldwin Park, according to Baldwin Park police and District Attorney's officials.
Ramirez was walking to church with her boyfriend about 2:30 p.m. when Moreno, who was later found to have a blood-alcohol level nearly twice the legal limit, lost control of the 2005 Jeep Laredo he was driving, travelling onto the sidewalk along Baldwin Park Boulevard near Stewart Street and fatally striking Ramirez, Baldwin Park police Lt. David Reynoso said.
"Alcohol and excessive speed were factors in this collision," Reynoso said. "Moreno had never been issued a California Driver's License but had previously received a citation for driving with no license and speeding. Moreno had also been previously deported and was in the country illegally at the time of the crime."
Moreno fled the crash scene and was found hiding about two blocks away and arrested, police said.
"It appears Moreno was in the process of telephoning his family members to pick him up so he can elude arrest," Reynoso said.
The crash occurred on Moreno's birthday.
In Pomona Superior Court, Moreno pleaded no contest to gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, leaving the scene of an accident, drunken driving causing injury or death and driving with a blood-alcohol level above .08 causing injury or death, District Attorney's spokeswoman Shiara Davila-Morales said.
After striking Ramirez, the Jeep Moreno was driving also struck a bus bench and a building, causing significant structural damage, officials said.
Ramirez was pronounced dead at the scene.
PHOTO of Rafael Espinoza Moreno courtesy of the Baldwin Park Police Department.
BALDWIN PARK -- A man who crashed head-on into a Baldwin Park police officer as he was fleeing while intoxicated in a stolen car last year was sentenced Tuesday to more than 14 years in prison, officials said.
David Perez, 22, of Baldwin Park pleaded 'no contest' in Pomona Superior Court and was immediately sentenced to 16 years and 4 months in prison, court officials said.
"We are glad that this suspect, who shows no regard for the well-being of others, is off the streets so he can't do this to someone else," Baldwin Park police Lt. David Reynoso said.
Police were pursuing Perez in the early-morning hours of July 16 when he crashed, head-on, into a a patrol car being driven by a Baldwin Park police officer on Merced Avenue near Frazier Street, police said at the time of the crash.
The officer suffered a badly broken femur and other injuries in the crash, officials said.
"It was a pretty traumatic injury," Reynoso said. The officer has been unable to return to work since.
"The officer is currently rehabilitating and working hard to return to police work," the lieutenant said.
In court Tuesday, Perez admitted to evading police causing injury and driving a car without the owner's consent, Los Angeles County District Attorney's spokeswoman Jane Robison said. Charges of DUI causing injury and possession of methamphetamine were dismissed.
Perez suffered minor injuries in the crash and was treated before being booked into jail, police added.
BALDWIN PARK -- Rudolph, the 2-year-old pit bull mix rescued from the 10 Freeway, now has a home.
The dog was adopted New Year's Eve and his owner is from Venice, according to officials with the Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control.
"Although a bit shy at first, he was very kind and gentle, especially when he visited with his new owner," said Lance Hunter, manager for the department's Baldwin Park shelter.
Rudolph was a stray that had been living on a freeway center median when he was rescued by animal control officers on Dec. 21.
California Highway Patrol officers called animal control after they saw the pooch hopping over the center divider and running into traffic lanes.
The CHP shut down traffic for several minutes while animal control officers took the dog from the 10 Freeway, just east of the 605 Freeway.
Animal care staff christened the dog Rudolph because of the holiday season.
- Ruby Gonzales
PHOTOS courtesy of the Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control
BALDWIN PARK - Two suspected burglars were arrested New Year's Day after police used GPS tracking to find an iPhone reported stolen earlier that morning.
Baldwin Park police Lt. Dave Reynoso said a woman living in the 3500 block of Stichman Avenue woke up around 5 a.m. on New Year's Day and found that her purse was missing.
"Apparently someone broke into her house while she slept, possibly from an open door," Reynoso said.
After police arrived at her home, the woman and the officers used the GPS tracking feature of the phone to trace it to an address in the 14800 block of Pacific Avenue - about a mile from where she lived.
Reynoso said the officers responded to the address and detained Alberto Zuniga, 40, of Baldwin Park. When they dialed the woman's phone number, they could hear her phone ringing and found it in Zuniga's pocket.
The officers also detained Manual Alfaro, 28, of Baldwin Park at the same home and found him in possession of the woman's credit cards.
Both men were arrested on suspicion of possession of stolen property. Zuniga was also faces a burglary charge.
Zuniga is being held on $46,502 bail at the Baldwin Park jail. Alfaro is being held on $20,000 bail.
Both are due for arraignment at the West Covina courthouse on Wednesday.
- J.D. Velasco
BALDWIN PARK - A 19-year-old Baldwin Park man was shot in the arm during an argument with another man at a bus stop Wednesday night.
Police said the gunman, who used a shotgun in the attack, left in a car with two other suspects.
The shooting occurred about 8:30 p.m. in the 13200 block of Francisquito Avenue.
Lt. Joe Bartolotti said the 19-year-old was standing at a bus stop when a car pulled up next to him and the rear passenger got out.
He said words were exchanged between the two men. Bartolotti didn't know what the argument was about.
The suspect fired one shot, hitting the victim in the arm.
He and his accomplices drove off. The wounded 19-year-old went to a local hospital where police later found him.
Bartolotti said the victim, who is in stable condition. told police he didn't know the shooter.
There was no description given for the getaway car and the suspects were only described as three Latinos with shaved heads.
Anyone with information on the shooting is asked to call the Baldwin Park police at 626-960-1955.
- Ruby Gonzales
BALDWIN PARK -- A thief cut a hole in the fence of the local animal shelter and stole a 2-month-old miniature Schnauzer/terrier mix Thursday night.
Police think the puppy-napper struck between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. at the Los Angeles County Animal Care & Control Baldwin Park shelter, 4275 N. Elton Street.
Baldwin Park Police Lt. Joe Bartolotti said workers discovered a brown female puppy was missing.
There was no description of the thief available.
Anyone with information is asked to call Baldwin Park police at 626-960-1955.
- Ruby Gonzales
BALDWIN PARK -- Officials mounted a rescue operation Wednesday afternoon to save a stray two-year-old dog that has made a center median on the 10 Freeway its home for the past week.
The pit bull mix, named Rudolph by rescuers, was safely snatched from the freeway, just east of the 605 Freeway, shortly after 1 p.m. and is now being prepared for adoption, Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control officials said in a written statement.
"This is one lucky dog," Animal Care and Control Director Marcia Mayeda said.
California Highway Patrol officers have spotted the animal hopping over the center divider and running into traffic lanes since at least last weekend, officials said.
When CHP officers spotted the dog again Wednesday morning, they summoned animal control officials and the agencies coordinated to rescue the dog.
CHP officer shut down traffic on the freeway for several minutes so that animal control officers could wrangle Rudolph, officials said.
"Our officers are trained ropers and generally have a high success rate at quickly and safely capturing stray dogs," Mayeda said.
The well-organized effort was over with in minutes, she added.
"Traffic was only stopped for a few minutes, and Rudolph was safely en-route to our animal care center before the song playing on the car radio had finished," Mayeda said.
Rudolph displays a friendly disposition and likely has not been on the streets long, officials said. He's being assessed by animal care center staff and is expected to be ready for adoption in about a week if his owner isn't found.
"He was a bit frightened yesterday," Animal Care and Control Aaron Reyes said. "He's warming up. He got his blankets and toys last night and slept like a baby."
Staff will continue working with Rudolph over the coming days to get a good idea of his personality, Reyes said.
"He seems to respond to people in general," Reyes said, adding the Rudolph allowed Reyes to pet him moments after his capture.
"We know he's had a family. He doesn't act like a feral dog," he said.
Rudolph did not have an identifying microchip implanted and had not been neutered when found, though he will be altered before being adopted out.
Reyes said it was remarkable that Rudolph managed to survive alone on a highway for so long.
It required survival skills and luck, and I think Rudolph had a little bit of both," he said.
Anyone interested in adopting Rudolph should can contact the Baldwin Park Animal Care Center, 4275 Elton Street, at 626-430-2366.
BALDWIN PARK -- A 24-year-old bicyclist was wounded in the arm and leg during a drive-by shooting Friday night.- Ruby Gonzales
The shooting broke out at 5:20 p.m. in the area of Olive Street and Edra Avenue.
Baldwin Park police Sgt. Ray Findley said a Baldwin Park man was riding his bicycle east on Olive Street when someone inside a dark blue or black compact vehicle fired five shots at him.
The man was hit in the left calf and right forearm. He left the bicycle and ran to a friend's house for help, according to Findley.
The suspects drove off.
The victim described his assailants to police as two men with shaved heads.
Findley said the bicyclist was taken to a local hospital where he was listed in stable condition.
PASADENA -- Officers responding to gunfire heard in an area found a wounded man Friday.
The incident occurred about 11:50 a.m. in the 1800 block of Glen Avenue.
Pasadena police Lt. Cheryl Moody said the 26-year-old man had been shot in the shoulder. He was taken to Huntington Memorial Hospital where he was in stable condition, she added.
Lt. Diego Torres described the shooter as a black man in his mid-20s, 5 feet 8 inches to 5 feet 9 inches tall, of medium build and wearing dark clothing. He was last seen on foot.
The motive in the shooting was unclear.
BALDWIN PARK -- One dog died and another was resuscitated by firefighters following a large house fire late Wednesday, officials said.
No humans were hurt, either civilian or firefighter, in the blaze, which was reported about 10:30 p.m. in the 14700 block of Macdevvit Street, Los Angeles County Fire Department officials said.
Firefighters arrived to find the house already well-involved with fire, Capt. Steve Scheidemantle said.
The home's three adult residents had gotten themselves out of the burning home safely, but reported their two pet dogs were still trapped inside, the captain said.
Firefighters went into the home and pulled out the dogs, both of which were unconscious, Scheidemantle said.
A medium-sized dog died at the scene, he said, however firefighters were able to use an oxygen tank to resuscitate a small dog pulled from the home.
A malfunctioning electrical outlet was initially blamed for the fire, though the cause remained under investigation, officials said.
The blaze caused an estimated $230,000 worth of damage to the house and its contents, authorities added. The Red Cross helped in finding temporary lodgings for the three people displaced from the home.
No humans were hurt, either civilian or firefighter, in the blaze, which was reported about 10:30 p.m. in the 14700 block of Macdevvit Street, Los Angeles County Fire Department officials said.
Firefighters arrived to find the house already well-involved with fire, Capt. Steve Scheidemantle said.
The home's three adult residents had gotten themselves out of the burning home safely, but reported their two pet dogs were still trapped inside, the captain said.
Firefighters went into the home and pulled out the dogs, both of which were unconscious, Scheidemantle said.
A medium-sized dog died at the scene, he said, however firefighters were able to use an oxygen tank to resuscitate a small dog pulled from the home.
A malfunctioning electrical outlet was initially blamed for the fire, though the cause remained under investigation, officials said.
The blaze caused an estimated $230,000 worth of damage to the house and its contents, authorities added. The Red Cross helped in finding temporary lodgings for the three people displaced from the home.
BALDWIN PARK -- A driver was shot at twice by a carload of suspects Wednesday night but wasn't injured.
Baldwin Park police Sgt. Darryl Kosaka said the Baldwin Park man was driving south on Bogart Avenue when for unknown reasons he was followed by another car.
Kosaka said four men inside the second vehicle kept throwing gang signs. Their car pulled alongside the victim's car and one of the suspects fired.
They shot at the victim's car a second time before driving off. The suspects' were last seen eastbound on Pacific Avenue.
The suspects were only described as 18 to 15, possibly Latino.
Kosaka said the Baldwin Park man wasn't hit by gunfire but his car ended up with a bullet hole.
Baldwin Park police Sgt. Darryl Kosaka said the Baldwin Park man was driving south on Bogart Avenue when for unknown reasons he was followed by another car.
Kosaka said four men inside the second vehicle kept throwing gang signs. Their car pulled alongside the victim's car and one of the suspects fired.
They shot at the victim's car a second time before driving off. The suspects' were last seen eastbound on Pacific Avenue.
The suspects were only described as 18 to 15, possibly Latino.
Kosaka said the Baldwin Park man wasn't hit by gunfire but his car ended up with a bullet hole.
BALDWIN PARK -- Police Thursday sought the public's help in tracking down a Baldwin Park man who accused of shooting a pregnant woman in the head after getting into a fight with her husband at an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting.Omar Martinez, 19, is wanted for attempted murder, Baldwin Park police Lt. David Reynoso said. He's believed to be hiding in the West Covina or Los Angeles areas.
Martinez was attending a court-ordered AA meeting about 7:30 p.m. Nov. 10 at a church at Los Angeles Street and Stewart Avenue when he got into a fight with another man in his 20s who was attending the meeting, police said.
The fight was broken up and the men separated and left, Reynoso said.
"The intended victim left the meeting and entered a vehicle driven by his pregnant wife," Baldwin Park police said in a written statement. "Suspect Martinez followed the intended victim and shot twice at the vehicle as it left."
The woman driving the car was struck in the back of the head, Reynoso said. She was initially hospitalized in critical condition, however she's since been updated to stable condition.
Police have learned the woman was several weeks into a pregnancy at the time she was shot, and has since miscarried.
"At this time, we haven't been able to determine if the miscarriage is related to the crime," Reynoso said.
Martinez fled after the shooting and hasn't been seen since, Reynoso said.
He was immediately identified as the shooter by witnesses who knew him from the AA group, and he left his AA membership card behind when he fled the scene, the lieutenant said.
Authorities released a photo of Martinez Thursday in hopes a member of the public may be able to help them identify the man wanted for the "cowardly" attack, Reynoso said.
Martinez is described by police as a Latino man, 5 feet 11 inches tall, 180 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. He has a tattoo of the word "pride" on his right elbow.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Baldwin Park Police Department at 626-960-1955.
PHOTO of Omar Marintez courtesy of the Baldwin Park Police Department
Baldwin Park leads the day's news:
BALDWIN PARK - An argument between two men during an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting led to a woman being shot in the head Thursday night.
Officers are looking for the shooter.
Baldwin Park police Lt. Joe Bartolotti said the woman is the wife of one of the men.
The shooting broke out about 7:30 p.m. in a church parking lot at Stewart Avenue and Los Angeles Street.
Bartolotti said the men got into a fight during an AA meeting held at the church. He didn't know what the dispute was about.
The fight spilled into the parking lot. Bartolotti said one of the men pulled out a gun and fired once.
The round didn't hit the other man who police said was the intended target. The man's wife who was sitting in a car was shot instead.
Police weren't sure if the husband was also inside the car at the time of the shooting.
The vehicle rolled across the street and came to rest at the curb.
Bartolotti said the woman was taken to Los Angeles County USC Medical Center where she was listed in stable condition.
The suspect fled the scene. He was only described as a Latino about 20 wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt and jeans.
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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