BASSETT – Sheriff’s deputies and Explorer Scouts teamed with Bassett High School and a La Puente restaurant owner to provide a day of traditional holiday fun, as well as gifts, to more than 400 local residents Friday.
The Winter Fiesta treated local families to sled rides and other entertainment, free gifts of clothing and toys, a free lunch and more at Bassett High School, Lt. Pete Cacheiro of the Sheriff’s Industry Station said.
The event was conceived when Suzie Perez, owner of El Campechano Grill in La Puente, approached Cacheiro and Code Enforcement Officer Dan Rodriguez and asked about helping with a community event, the lieutenant said.
Bassett High School officials offered up the campus for the event, while Perez provided food, drinks and desserts to all those who attended, as well as rides including sled rides and a jumper, organizers said.
Deputies and Explorer Scouts solicited donations from companies including Quiksilver, Roxy, DC and Mattel, Cacheiro said. The items were given as gifts to elated children.
The Chino-based nonprofit Isaiah’s Rock brought bags of food for the families, as Bassett Unified School District Martin Galindo played the part of Santa Claus.
“It was better than expected,” Perez said. “Everyone played a part.”
“I had a great time,” Perez added. “I was very glad to see the families interacting with each other.”
While her family traditionally takes part in holiday giving, often feeding the homeless in Downtown Los Angeles, Perez said this year, she decided to do something for local families as well.
“I walk around and I see all these kids that are depressed,” she said. “They need something.There’s a lot of needy families.”
With the success of Friday’s Winter Fiesta, Perez said she hopes to do it again next year.

PHOTOS from Bassett Winter Fiesta on Friday, Dec. 14, 2012, courtesy of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

BASSETT — Rescuers flew a teenager to the hospital Tuesday after he was struck by a car while walking to Bassett High School, authorities said.
The incident was reported shortly before 8 a.m. at Puente and Temple avenues, Los Angeles County Fire Department Capt. Paul Sotelo said.
Firefighters treated a 17-year-old boy at the scene before taking him via helicopter to Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center, the captain said.
His vital signs were stable, however he appeared to have suffered head trauma and was rushed to the hospital as a precaution, Sotelo said. His condition was unclear.
The driver of the car remained at the scene, and nothing criminal was initially suspected, Los Angeles County sheriff’s Sgt. Kelly Huffman said.
It initially appeared that the teen was running late for school and darted into traffic when he was struck, she said.

BASSETT — A man brandished a gun in front of sheriff’s deputies late Thursday, and a fellow deputy became involved in a car crash while rushing to assist, authorities said.
The incident began about 10:30 p.m. when deputies approached a man near a liquor store in the 1300 block of Valley Boulevard, Los Angeles County sheriff’s Sgt. James Beamon said.
The man pulled a gun from his waistband and started running, the sergeant said. The deputies gave chase and called for backup.
A deputy responding to the call with emergency lights and sirens on became involved in a crash with another car at Nelson and Sunset avenues, Beamon said.
Neither the deputy nor the civilian were hurt, he said. Further details of the crash remained under investigation.
Officials continued their hunt for the armed man with the help of a helicopter, Beamon said, however he was not found. A description of the man was not available Friday.

BASSETT — A man escaped injury in a mysterious and seemingly unprovoked shooting in a residential neighborhood late Wednesday, authorities said.
A 22-year-old man was walking to his car about 9:10 p.m. on Pellissier Road, near Famosa Street, when he spotted the shooter, described only as male and wearing a dark baseball cap and a dark zip-up jacket, Los Angeles County sheriff’s Lt. Steve Katz said in a written statement.
“The suspect was on the embankment of the transition road from the eastbound 60 Freeway to the southbound 605 Freeway when he fired approximately six shots at the victim,” Katz said.
The man was not wounded by the gunfire, though his car was struck twice, Lt. Victor Sotelo said. He moved his car around the corner, then called for help.
No words were exchanged prior to the shooting, he said, and the victim did not report recognizing his attacker.
The victim was not believed to have gang ties, Sotelo added, and a motive in the shooting was unclear Thursday. “This is quite unusual,” he said.
After firing the shots, the attacker was last seen running north up the embankment before he disappeared into the brush, officials said.
Sheriff’s deputies and California Highway Patrol officers searched the area with the help of helicopters, but the shooter was not found, Katz said.
CHP officers briefly shut down the connector road between the eastbound 60 Freeway and the southbound 605 Freeway during the search, officials said, however traffic in the area was light at the time.

BASSETT — A man kicked the window out of a sheriff’s patrol car and fled from deputies Friday as two of his affiliates were arrested on suspicion of attempted carjacking and drug possession, authorities said.
Marcos Ayala, 25, was booked on suspicion of attempted carjacking and Carlos Rivera, 23, was booked on suspicion of possession of methamphetamine, Los Angeles County sheriff’s Sgt. Vic Sotelo said. Their cities of residency were not known.
The incident began about 5 p.m. when deputies approached three men standing near a car in a parking lot at Valley and San Angelo boulevards, Sotelo said. Deputies suspected the men may have been involved in a narcotics transaction.
Ayala ran from deputies and was arrested as he tried to carjack a vehicle nearby, the lieutenant said.
Another suspect, who was being detained without handcuffs in the back of a patrol car, kicked out a rear passenger window and ran away, Sotelo said. Deputies searched the area, but the man was not found.
Rivera was grabbed by deputies as he also tried to flee from the back of the patrol car, Sotelo said. Sheriff’s officials said was found to be in possession of a small amount of methamphetamine.