Gunman robs Baldwin Park market


BALDWIN PARK >> A man with a pistol robbed a Baldwin Park market on Wednesday evening, authorities said.
The heist took place about 7 p.m. at Frank’s Market, 5026 Main Ave., Baldwin Park police Sgt. Jorge Huerta said.
A robber entered the store, brandished a semi-automatic handgun and demanded cash, the sergeant said. The clerk complied and was not injured.
The gunman fled with an undetermined amount of money, Huerta said. He was described a white man, about 5 feet 8 inches tall, 165 pounds, with tattoos on the back of his neck. He wore a black shirt and blue pants.
Police said the robber was last seen running north along Main Ave., toward Arrow Highway.
Anyone with information can reach Baldwin Park police at 626-960-1955. Tips may also be submitted anonymously to L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477.

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UPDATE: 80-year-old Baldwin Park found after eight days missing

An 80-year-old Baldwin Park woman with Alzheimer’s who disappeared more than a week ago during a routine trip to the park was found Friday afternoon at a Los Angeles hospital, police said.
Shirley Tsung was last seen about 10 a.m. Aug. 31 when she took a bus to Morgan Park, 4100 Baldwin Park Blvd., as she often does, according to Baldwin Park police officials and family members.
Tsung spoke with family by phone and told them she was preparing to head home via the bus, according to Baldwin Park police Sgt. Andy Velebil. Then she disappeared.
It was unclear if Tsung ever boarded a bus for her return trip, said her nephew Tom Wang. She usually takes Foothill Transit route 190, and was planning to meet a friend at home for lunch.
“There have been no good leads at this point,” he said Friday morning, shortly before Tsung was found. “We are getting very desperate.”
Family members passed out fliers and talked with residents who live near the park, Wang said. One neighbor said that Tsung may have gotten into a gray sedan.
But the search concluded Friday afternoon, Velebil said. The woman turned up at a hospital in Los Angeles, where she was listed under a different name.

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Father and son convicted in slaying of Baldwin Park woman

A father and son are awaiting sentencing after they were each convicted last week of charges stemming from the fatal shooting of a woman during a burglary at her Baldwin Park home in 2014, authorities said.
A Pomona Superior Court jury found Juan Carlos Santana, 45, of Baldwin Park guilty on Sept. 1 of murder, burglary and receiving stolen property, according to Los Angeles County Superior Court records and Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office spokeswoman Sarah Ardalani said. The jury also found true the special allegation that he personally fired a gun during in the Oct. 18, 2014, slaying of 63-year-old Patricia Sigala-Salva at her home in the 3700 block of Idaho Street.
Also convicted in connection with the case was Santana’s son, Andres Santana, 22, Ardalani said in an email. He pleaded “no contest” on Aug. 31, amid his trial, to a single count of voluntary manslaughter, along with the special allegation that a gun was used in the crime.
Juan Santana faces up to 40 years to life in state prison when he returns to court for sentencing on Oct. 25. His son is expected to be sentenced to 12 years in prison at his sentencing, scheduled on Sept. 19.
Juan Santana’s girlfriend, 47-year-old Deborah Curiel, has been convicted of receiving stolen property and acting as an accessory after the fact in connection with the case, Ardalani said. She’s scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 14.
Curiel was renting out a room in her home to Curiel at the time of the killing, Ardalani said. Her boyfriend, Juan Santana, was temporarily staying with her, along with his son.
(“Sigala-Salva) kicked all three of them out when she noticed money and jewelry missing from her home,” Ardalani said.
As a result of the dispute, Juan Santana shot her to death, officials said.
“It was argued during the trial that while Andres was an aider and abettor to the killing, it was actually Juan Santana who pulled the trigger,” Ardalani said.
The victim’s body was first discovered shortly before 2 p.m. on Oct. 18 after neighbors reported suspicious circumstances” at her home, Lt. Eddie Hernandez of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Homicide Bureau said at the time. Neighbors said they had not seen Sigala-Salva in several days, and that a man had been seen running from the garage of the home carrying beer.
An autopsy determined Sigala-Salva died from “multiple gunshot wounds,” and the death was ruled a homicide.
Investigators arrested all three defendants the following day, records show.

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80-year-old woman vanishes in Baldwin Park

Authorities are seeking an 80-year-old Baldwin Park woman who suffers from Alzheimer’s and vanished during a routine trip to a local park on Thursday morning.
Shirley Tsung was last seen about 10 a.m. when she left home to take a bus to Morgan Park, 4100 Baldwin Park Blvd., Baldwin Park police Sgt. Andy Velebil said.
Her family last heard from her later in the morning when she spoke with them by phone and said she was heading home via the bus, like usual, the sergeant said. But she never made it home, and she hadn’t been seen or heard from since.
Tsung suffers from Alzheimer’s and also has other medical conditions requiring treatment, according to Velebil.
She’s described as Asian, 5 feet 1 inch tall, 105 pounds, with brown hair, gray eyes and a mole on her forehead. She was last seen wearing a purple shirt, black pants and a large red hat.
The ongoing heat wave, which has brought sweltering triple-digit temperatures to the Southland in recent days, made the search for Tsung all the more urgent, Velebil said.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Baldwin Park police at 626-960-1955.

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Man shot while driving in Baldwin Park


BALDWIN PARK >> A man suffered a wound to his shoulder in a shooting when was driving through Baldwin Park on Sunday evening, police said.
The shooting took place about 7:30 p.m. as the victim, a man in his mid-20s, was driving an SUV at Ramona Boulevard and Harlan Avenue, according to Baldwin Park police Sgt. Joe Meister.
A bullet flew through an open window and struck the victim in the shoulder, the sergeant said. He did not see his attacker.
“He thought he heard a “pop,” then he felt the pain,” Meister said.
The victim was not believed to have gang ties, and the motive was unknown, he said.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Baldwin Park police at 626-960-1955. Tips may also be submitted anonymously to L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477.

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CHP hosts teen driver safety class in Baldwin Park

The California Highway Patrol is hosting another session of it’s popular “Start Smart” teen driving class this Friday in Baldwin Park.
The free, two-hour class — designed for young drivers and soon-to-be drivers between 15 and 19, as well as their guardians — will be held at 6:15 p.m. Friday at the CHP’s Baldwin Park-area office, 14039 Francisquito Ave. in Baldwin Park, according to California Highway Patrol Officer Rodrigo Jimenez.
Officers will discuss collision avoidance and other aspects of safe driving.
Videos depicting the tragic consequences of bad decision behind the wheel will be shown. A parent or guardian must attend with each student.
Spaces often fill quickly, and those interested are urged to reserve a spot early.
For more information, or to reserve a space in the class, email Officer Jimenez at rjimenez@chp.ca.gov or call 626-338-1164.

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Baldwin Park man jailed in connection with Irwindale hit-and-run

IRWINDALE >> A Baldwin Park man accused of seriously injuring a 70-year-old woman in a hit-and-run crash while driving a stolen car in Irwindale, then trying to carjack a passing motorist, faces numerous criminal charges, police said Saturday.
Mario Anthony Barillas, 37, was found and arrested by investigators on Tuesday on suspicion of hit-and-run involving injury, possession of a stolen car, attempted carjacking, reckless driving and violating his pre-existing probation stemming from a narcotics-related conviction, according to Irwindale police Sgt. Rudy Gatto. The initial crash took place about 3:10 p.m. on July 29 on Arrow Highway, just east of Bleecker Street.
Barillas was driving a stolen, 2010 Nissan Pathfinder SUV at high speed when the car slammed into a small 2004 Dodge pickup truck, Gatto said. The truck was struck on the passenger side as it made a left turn into a driveway from Arrow Highway.
The pickup truck was being driven by 70-year-old man, according to Gatto. His wife, also 70, was riding as a passenger as the couple headed to drop of recyclables at a nearby recycling center.
Firefighters had to free the woman from the wreckage, officials said. She was taken to an area hospital where she received emergency surgery to treat injuries described as “major, Irwindale police said in a written statement. Her husband suffered apparently minor injuries, Gatto added.
But the driver of Nissan, which was later determined to have been reported stolen, had fled the scene on foot.
“The suspect attempted to carjack another nearby vehicle as he was leaving the accident scene, however he was unsuccessful,” according to the police statement.
The driver of that car managed to speed away before being carjacked, Gatto said. Police had yet to find the victim of the failed carjacking on Heintz Street, but are hoping to speak with the driver.
Officers searched the area but did not find the hit-and-run driver.
Detectives continued their investigation in the days that followed, interviewing many witnesses and collecting footage from area video surveillance cameras, Gatto said. They ultimately identified Barillas as the suspect, obtained an arrest warrant and took him into custody in Covina on Tuesday.
Barillas was being held in lieu of $1.01 million bail at the Glendora Police Department’s jail pending his next court appearance, scheduled Aug. 24 in the West Covina branch of Los Angeles County Superior Court, booking records show.

PHOTO: Mario Anthony Barillas, 37, of Baldwin Park. (Courtesy, Irwindale Police Department)

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San Gabriel men jailed in connection with West Covina bank robbery


Police arrested two cousins from San Gabriel on Thursday in connection with a West Covina bank robbery the previous day, and were looking into the possibility the suspects were also responsible for another bank heist in Baldwin Park last week, authorities said.
Ruben Edward Mora, 48, and James Vincent Luevano were booked on suspicion of bank robbery following their arrests on Thursday afternoon, according to West Covina police officials and Los Angeles County booking records.
The investigation began after a robbery unfolded about 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday at Cathay Bank, 2672 E. Garvey Ave. South, West Covina police Sgt. Tony Cortina said.
A man entered the bank and gestured as if he had a gun, though none was seen, the sergeant said. He threatened to shoot a teller and demanded cash.
He fled the bank after obtaining $1,900, Cortina said. He was last seen getting into a car, which sped away.
“Our patrol officers canvassed the area for witnesses and evidence,” Cortina said. The obtained surveillance camera images depicting both the suspect and the getaway car.
As they continued their investigation, detectives found the car pictured in the surveillance images parked in the driveway of a home in the 5000 block of North Rosemead Boulevard in San Gabriel, police said.
They watched the car until a man exited the home and drove away in it, according to Cortina. Police pulled over the car and soon determined the driver, Luevano, had acted as the getaway driver in Wednesday’s bank robbery, he said.
Police also determined that the second suspect, who carried out the robbery, Mora, was inside the home, Cortina said. Officers ordered him out of the home and took him into custody without a struggle.
Officials recovered the allegedly stolen cash from the home, which is shared by the two cousins.
Investigators also found that Mora strongly matched the description of a robber who carried out a robbery at the HomeStreet Bank, 3119 Baldwin Park Blvd. in Baldwin Park, Cortina said. Authorities were looking into the West Covina robbery suspect’s possible connection to the Baldwin Park crime.
According to booking records, Mora was being held in lieu of $100,000 bail his initial court appearance, while Luevano was being held in lieu of $30,000 bail.

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Woman found dead at Baldwin Park motel identified; cause of death remains a mystery


BALDWIN PARK >> Authorities have identified a 19-year-old woman found dead inside a Baldwin Park motel on Friday, though her cause of death remained under investigation, authorities said.
Nancy Ester Mederos Gudino of Baldwin Park was pronounced dead shortly after 11:15 a.m. at a motel in the 13900 block of Francisquito Avenue, Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner Investigator Rudy Molano said.
It was not immediately clear how she died, but investigators noted signs of trauma to her upper torso, Deputy Ryan Rouzan of the Los Angeles County sheriff’s Information Bureau said.
An autopsy was yet to be completed, according to Molano.
A man was detained at the scene for questioning, officials said. But it was not clear Sunday whether officials had arrested the man or set him free.
No further details were available.
Anyone with information is urged to contact the sheriff’s Homicide Bureau, which is assisting Baldwin Park police in the investigation, at 323-890-5500. Tips may also be submitted anonymously to L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477.

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Man killed in Baldwin Park mobile home fire identified


BALDWIN PARK >> Coroner’s officials have identified a 28-year-old Baldwin Park man who died in a mobile home fire last month.
Richard Baggett Jr. died at the scene of the fire, which was reported just before 2:30 a.m. on June 20 in the 12900 block of Garvey Avenue, Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner Lt. David Smith said.
An autopsy determined Baggett died from thermal burns, and the death was ruled accidental, coroner’s records show.
The mobile home was parked behind a closed business when it caught fire, Baldwin Park police Lt. Chris Kuberry said.
About 30 firefighters extinguished the flames within 15 minutes and discovered Baggett, who was pronounced dead at the scene, officials s aid.
The cause of the fire was not available Saturday.

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