Category Archives: 211

Cell phones stolen in Pico Rivera Radio Shack robbery

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PICO RIVERA — Two men stole more than two-dozen iPhone and Samsung cell phones during an armed robbery at a Radio Shack early Wednesday, officials said.
The crime took place just before 9:15 a.m. at the store in the 8700 block of Washington Boulevard, Los Angeles County sheriff’s Lt. Robert Smith said.
The robbers entered the store and pointed a handgun at employees, demanding cell phones, the lieutenant said. At least some of the employees hid in a storage room.
Smith said the robbers helped themselves to about 25 iPhones and Samsung Galaxy SIII phones and fled. No getaway car was seen.
Officials described the robbers as two black men, both about 6 feet 2 inches tall and of thin build. Both wore dark clothing and hooded sweat shirts, and one had several tattoos on his neck.

Suspect charged in Pasadena deputy-involved shooting; one of three suspects in prior home-invasion also charged

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PASADENA — Prosecutors Tuesday charged a two-strike felon with attempted murder of a peace officer and other counts in connection with a gunfight with a deputy last week, authorities said.
A U.S. Marshals task force arrested Michael Garrett, 24, of Pasadena Monday in San Bernardino County, Pasadena police Lt. Tracey Ibarra said. He was charged Tuesday with the attempted murder of a Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Deputy, assault with a deadly weapon and being a convicted felon in possession of a gun.
The charges stem from a Thursday afternoon gunfight between the deputy and at least one suspect, Pasadena police officials said. No law enforcement officers were injured, though it was unclear if either of the suspects was wounded in the exchange.
The shooting took place as Pasadena police, with the help of sheriff’s deputies, were investigating the home-invasion robbery of an elderly woman which took place two days earlier, Pasadena police Cmdr. John Perez said.
No suspects in the shooting were arrested during the eight-hour manhunt that followed it, however police arrested three men in connection with the home-invasion robbery, officials said.
Two Pasadena men, Paul Darryl Scott, 31, and Marquice Garrett, 19, were found within the police search perimeter following the shooting and arrested on suspicion of home-invasion robbery, Perez said. A SWAT team arrested a third man, 20-year-old Eddie Brodney McFadden, the same evening in his hometown of Arcadia.
Scott and Marquice Garrett were released from custody without charges Tuesday pending further investigation, Ibarra said.
Prosecutors charged McFadden Tuesday with three counts of home-invasion robbery, one count of elder abuse, three counts of assault with a deadly weapon, two counts of criminal threats and unlawful possession of a gun, the lieutenant said.
Michael and Marquice Garrett are family members, Ibarra said, adding that she believed them to be brothers.
The shooting with which Michael Garrett has been charged took place about 12:20 p.m. Thursday on Orange Grove Boulevard near Mar Vista Avenue, police said.
A deputy was following a car containing Garrett and at least one more suspect in connection with the previous home-invasion robbery, according to Pasadena police.
Another vehicle collided into the deputy’s car and fled, officials said. The deputy continued following the original car until it abruptly pulled into a driveway and at least two suspects got out.
At least one of the suspects began shooting at the deputy, who returned fire, police said.
It was not clear Wednesday if Michael Garrett fired a weapon during the gun battle, Ibarra said.
The home-invasion robbery that preceded the shooting took place about 11 p.m. March 12 in the 1900 block of Arroyo Boulevard, Perez said. Three armed and masked man forced their way into the home of an 89-year-old woman, with two other family members present, and robbed the home of cash and other valuables, investigators said. The crime was not initially reported to police,
Officials learned of the alleged crime the following day when the robbers called the victim and demanded she withdraw more money from her bank, Perez said. A bank employee thought the transaction suspicious and notified police. Upon speaking with the woman, officers were told of the home-invasion robbery.
According to county booking records, both Michael Garrett and McFadden were being held without bail.

Alhambra robbery suspect arrested in San Marino following non-injury officer-involved shooting

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Police shot at, but did not hit, a suspect in an armed convenience store robbery before arresting him at San Marino High School early Sunday, officials said.
William Bolczak, 42, a transient from the Hemet area, was ultimately booked on suspicion of robbery and possession of prescription painkillers, Alhambra police Sgt. Eddie Rodriguez said.
The incident began about 11:20 p.m. Saturday when police responded to a robbery alarm at 7-Eleven, 1111 N. Garfield Ave., Alhambra police Sgt. Jerry Johnson said in a written statement.
Bolczak was armed with a knife during the robbery, Rodriguez said.
Moments later, a witness called police to report he had seen the robbery occur and was following the suspect as he drove east on Huntington Drive, Johnson said. With the information provided by the witness, officers found the suspect near San Marino High School, 2701 Huntington Drive.
“As the officers approached, the suspect threatened officers and made furtive movements toward his waistband,” Johnson said. “An officer-involved shooting then occurred.”
The alleged robber then ran onto the high school campus, police said. He was arrested following a search at 6:35 a.m.
The suspect was not wounded in the shooting, Rodriguez said. He did not know whether the knife used in the robbery had been recovered.
According to county booking records, Bolczak was being held in lieu of $65,000 bail pending a scheduled arraignment Wednesday in Alhambra Superior Court.

Ontario man and woman jailed in connection with West Covina robbery, beating

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A man and woman from Ontario were behind bars Thursday on suspicion of stealing items from a JC Penney store, then beating a security guard who confronted them, while accompanied by two young children, authorities said.
Roman Daniel Landero, 36, and Monica Belen Ortiz, 24, are accused of the Feb. 24 crime at the Westfield West Covina Shopping mall, according to West Covina police Cpl. Rudy Lopez.
A tipster who recognized the suspects from surveillance photographs released to the media led to their apprehension, according to West Covina police Cpl. Rudy Lopez.
“Detectives received a tip from a citizen who saw the suspect photos, which had been posted Tuesday in the San Gabriel Valley Tribune newspaper’s website, which led to the identification of the two suspects,” Lopez said in a written statement.
Officers served search warrants early Wednesday in the 1700 block of East D Street in Ontario, where they arrested Landero and Ortiz without a struggle, police said. The relationship between them was not available Thursday.
“The property stolen from JC Penney was recovered at the residence,” Lopez added.
A 7-month-old baby found at the home was released to the custody of a family member, officials added.
The suspects had a toddler in a stroller and an elementary school-age girl with them when they entered the department store and began placing items inside the stroller, police said. Landero also put on a pare of shoes before he and Ortiz exited the store without paying for any of the merchandise.
When a security guard approached Ortiz, “(Landeros) ran up to him and punched him on his face,” Lopez said. “The male suspect chased the loss prevention agent back into the store where he knocked him down and began striking him several times before running out of the store.”
The security guard suffered injuries including a broken nose, police said.
According to county booking records, Landero and Ortiz were being held in lieu of $50,000 bail each pending their scheduled arraignments Friday in West Covina Superior Court.

PHOTOS of Roman Landero and Monica Ortiz courtesy of the West Covina Police Department.

Store clerk attacked and robbed in Covina

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COVINA — A man attacked and robbed a discount store clerk late Sunday, police said.
The crime took place about 8:35 p.m. at a business on Citrus Avenue near Arrow Highway, Covina police Lt. Dave Foster said.
The robber entered the store and acted as if he was going to make a purchase, Foster said.
When the woman working behind the counter opened the register, he punched her, then swung at her with an unknown instrument, striking her under the chin, the lieutenant said.
The robber then grabbed cash from the register, as well as a pair of shoes, and fled.
The woman was taken to a hospital with a cut nearly two inches long under her chin.
Police described the suspect as a Latino man in his early-20s with some sort of tattoos on his face. He wore a dark hooded sweat shirt and blue jeans.
Police searching for the robber detained a man with facial tattoos in the area, Foster said. Though he turned out not to be involved in the robbery, he was jailed due to outstanding warrants.

Covina man carjacked, kidnapped and robbed in Baldwin Park

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BALDWIN PARK — Two armed men in a tow truck carjacked, kidnapped and robbed a Covina man this weekend as he was driving along Baldwin Park Boulevard, authorities said.
The crime took place about 1 p.m. Friday at Baldwin Park Boulevard and Merced Avenue, but was not reported to police until Saturday afternoon, Baldwin Park police Sgt. Chris Hofford said.
A 36-year-old Covina man was driving at Baldwin Park Boulevard and Francisquito Avenue when a white, older-model tow truck pulled up next to him, the sergeant said.
“The driver of the tow truck points a gun at him and tells him not to move,” Hofford said. “The passenger of the tow truck enters the victim’s vehicle and takes the driver’s seat.”
Also armed with a handgun, the carjacker blindfolded the victim and began driving with the kidnapped man as a passenger.
After driving for about 10 minutes, Hofford said, the carjacker abandoned the car and victim at Puente and Francisquito avenues, a little under a mile away. The carjacker fled after robbing the man of his wallet and cell phone. The victim was no hurt.
Police described the driver of the tow truck as a Latino man in his mid-30s, about 6 feet tall and 300 pounds. He was armed with a black pistol.
The second suspect, who drove around with the victim, was a white man, about 6 feet tall and 200 pounds, officials said. He was armed with a chrome handgun.
The investigation was ongoing.

‘Luger Bandit’ flees empty-handed following failed takeover at San Dimas bank

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SAN DIMAS – A serial bank robber dubbed by the FBI as the “Luger Bandit” ordered customers and employees of a local bank to the floor at gunpoint Friday, but fled empty-handed, authorities said.

The failed robbery took place about 11:25 a.m. at Wells Fargo, 925 W. Arrow Highway, Los Angeles County sheriff’s Sgt. Vicki Gregory said.

The masked robber brandished a handgun as he ordered everyone to the floor, the sergeant said.

But once all the customers and the employees, who were shielded behind security glass, complied, there was no one left to hand over money.

The gunman then fled empty-handed, and was last seen driving away in a newer-model BMW sedan with paper license plates displaying the word “Keyes,” Gregory said.

FBI officials said the same man is wanted for takeover robberies at a Wells Fargo bank in Granada Hills on Jan. 3 and a Wells Fargo in Fontana on Feb. 18…

Full story

La Habra Green Burrito restaurant robbed

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LA HABRA – Two men with handguns fled with $500 and a cell phone after robbing a Green Burrito Wednesday night.
La Habra police Lt. Jeff Swaim said no one was injured during the 9:20 p.m. robbery of the store at 911 West Whittier Blvd.
The suspects left the store on foot, he said. They were only described as black men wearing black sweatshirts.
Swaim said prior to the La Habra robbery, there was a robbery in Fullerton involving two black men in a white 1990s Suburban with Arizona license plates.
He said the two cases haven’t been linked.

Monterey Park gas station robbed

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MONTEREY PARK – A man wearing blue clothing and armed with a handgun robbed a gas station of $300 Thursday morning, police said.
The suspect hit the Chevron station, 2301 S. Atlantic Blvd., at 12:39 a.m.
Monterey Park Police Lt. Tina Montoya said the employee at the gas station reported the robbery.
She said the suspect was described as a black man, about 30, 5 feet 8 inches tall and 220 pounds. He wore blue jeans and a blue plaid shirt.

- Ruby Gonzales

Gunman in delivery uniform robs Pasadena jewelry store

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PASADENA — An armed man dressed as a delivery man robbed a Colorado Boulevard jewelry store Thursday, police said.
The crime took place about 11:40 a.m. at Prestige Jewelry, 255 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena police Lt. Jason Clawson said.
The robber was described as a black man standing about 5 feet 8 inches tall, Clawson said. “The subject was possibly dressed in FedEx clothing.”
He brandished a gun inside the store and helped himself to an unknown amount of jewelry, the lieutenant said.