La Habra man accused of kidnapping following police chase

LA HABRA >> A La Habra man is accused of kidnapping after leading police on a pursuit through Orange County with his girlfriend riding as an involuntary passenger on Saturday, police said.
Christopher Jonathan Westreicher, 22, was booked on suspicion of kidnapping following the pursuit, which began about 5:45 p.m. in La Habra and came to an end in Irvine, according to La Habra police officials and Orange County booking records. He was also being held on a pre-existing “no-bail” warrant.
A witness called police to report seeing a possible domestic disturbance between a man and woman inside a car in the area of Imperial Highway and Walnut Street, La Habra police Sgt. Rob Diehl said. Officers caught up with the small, gray Toyota in the area of Imperial Highway and Village drive.
The driver, later identified as Westreicher, refused to pull over, initiating a chase that sped through La Habra, Brea, Fullerton, Buena Park Anaheim and Irvine, Diehl said.
As the car drove slowly approaching the 91 Freeway at Brookhurst Street in Anaheim, the woman exited the car as it was still moving, according to the lieutenant. The woman managed to stay on her feet as she exited the moving car and ran toward officers for help. She suffered no significant injuries.
The chase continued until Westreicher stopped and surrendered to police on the 5 Freeway, near Culver Drive in Irvine, Diehl said.
Westreicher was being held without bail pending his initial court appearance, scheduled Tuesday in Orange County Superior Court’s Central Jail branch, records show.

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Envelope filled with powder draws bomb squad to La Habra police station


LA HABRA >> A bomb squad responded to the La Habra Police Department on Thursday after a residents brought in an envelope containing an unknown white powder — ultimately determined to be baby powder — that they received in the mail.
The incident began about 2:45 p.m., when two people arrived at the front counter of the police station, 150 N. Euclid Street.
“They indicated they had picked up their mail from their post office box, which is located in the city of La Habra, and returned home,” La Habra police officials said in a written statement. “At approximately 11:30 a.m., they opened the envelope, from an unknown sender, and an unknown white powdery substance spilled out.”
The concerned residents contacted the post office, which, in turn, referred them to the La Habra Police Department.
“Due to the unknown nature of the substance, as a precautionary measure, a containment area encompassing the police department was established and Los Angeles County Fire Department contacted,” according to the statement.
An Orange County Fire Department bomb squad determined about 5 p.m. that the powder in question was, in fact, baby powder.

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$300K in computer equipment stolen in La Habra break-in


LA HABRA >> A thief or thieves used a vehicle to smash through the front of a La Habra computer business before making off with an estimated $300,000 worth of computer equipment early Sunday, authorities said.
The break-in took place just before 6:30 a.m. at HIDevolution, 511 S. Harbor Blvd., La Habra police Sgt. Jeff Baylos said. The business sells high-end, customized computers
Officers responding to an alarm activation discovered someone had smashed a car through the roll-up door to gain entry, he said.
A full inventory of missing property was pending, but it initially appeared the burglar or burglars escaped with about $300,000 worth of computer equipment, Baylos said.
No suspect description was available. Detectives were in process of collecting footage from area surveillance cameras in hopes of generating leads.
Anyone with information can reach La Habra police at 562-383-4300. Tips may also be submitted anonymously to Orange County Crime Stoppers at 855-847-6227.

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Two gunmen rob La Habra 7-Eleven store


LA HABRA >> Two masked men armed with handguns carried out a robbery at a La Habra 7-Eleven store early Sunday, police said.
The robbery took place about 4:40 a.m. at the convenience store, 2000 W. La Habra Blvd., La Habra police officials said in a written statement.
“Two male suspects in ski masks, gloves and both with handguns entered the store and demanded money,” according to the statement.
They were last seen running west through the parking lot with an undisclosed amount of ill-gotten cash, Sgt. Jeff Baylos said.
Anyone with information can reach La Havbra police at 562-383-4300. Tips may also be submitted anonymously to Orange County Crime Stoppers at 855-847-6227.

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Man steals cash register from La Habra sandwich shop


LA HABRA >> Police are seeking a man who sat down for dinner at a La Habra sandwich shop, then stole the business’ cash register as he left.
The crime took place about 9:40 p.m. on Thursday at a Subway sandwich shop at 1201 E. La Habra Blvd., La Habra police Sgt. Jeff Baylos said.
Police said the robber ordered food and sat down to eat it before the robbery.
He then grabbed the entire cash register from the counter as he left, Baylos sad. An employee struggled with the robber over the register, but the thief managed to get it outside and into a black BMW, which he fled in. The register contained about $300.
A detailed suspect description was not available.
Anyone with information can reach La Habra police at 562-383-4300. Tips may also be submitted anonymously to Orange County Crime Stoppers at 855-847-6227.

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La Habra man jailed in connection with two recent armed robberies

LA HABRA >> Police jailed a man late Friday on suspicion of robbing a La Habra tobacco shop, as well as another armed heist at a La Habra market the day before, authorities said.
Richard James Bustillos, 55, of La Habra was booked on suspicion of robbery minutes after Friday’s 6:30 p.m. robbery at a smoke shop in the 900 block of North Harbor Boulevard, according to La Habra police and Orange County booking records.
After holding up the clerk at gunpoint and fleeing with cash, a responding La Habra police officer spotted Bustillos, who matched the description of the robber, in the area and detained him, La Habra police Sgt. Jeff Baylos said.
Police recovered a loaded handgun from the suspect, later identified as Bustillos, and arrested him in connection with the robbery.
Further investigation indicated Bustillos was likely the same gunman who carried out another robbery about 5:40 p.m. on Thursday at a market at the corner of La Habra Boulevard and Cypress Street, Baylos said.
In that case, “The robber produced a handgun to the store clerk and demanded money,” police said in a written statement. The gunman made off with about $200, police said.
“Evidence” related to Thursday’s robbery was recovered from Bustillos during his arrest Friday, Baylos said.
According to county booking records, Bustillos was being held in lieu of $500,000 bail pending his initial court appearance, scheduled Wednesday in the Central Jail branch of Orange County Superior Court.

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Man found dead in hot tub in La Habra


LA HABRA >> An investigation is underway, though foul play is not initially suspected, after the body of a 25-year-old man was found face-down in a hot tub at a La Habra condominium and apartment complex on Friday night, officials said.
A resident of the complex called authorities after spotting an unresponsive man lying underwater in a hot tub at the complex in the 900 block of North Idaho Street, La Habra police Lt. Jeff Baylos said.
Officers pulled the man from the water, and he was soon pronounced dead, the lieutenant said.
There were no obvious signs of trauma on the body, he said. Foul play was not suspected, and the incident was being investigated as an apparent accident. The victim, who was not yet identified, was wearing sweat pants and no shirt when he was found.
The man’s cause of death will be determined through an examination by Orange County coroner’s officials, he said.
Anyone with information can reach La Habra police at 562-383-4300.

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La Habra man fatally struck by minivan identified


LA HABRA >> Authorities have identified a 42-year-old La Habra man who was struck and killed by a minivan while crossing Imperial Highway late Thursday.
Roberto Valdivia died at the scene of the 6:30 p.m. collision along in the 1000 block of West Imperial Highway, near Idaho Street, according to Orange County coroner’s records.
The driver of the involved minivan remained at the scene and cooperated with investigators, La Habra police officials said in a written statement. The cause of the collision remains under investigation.
Any witnesses, or anyone with information, is asked to contact the La Habra Police Department Traffic Unit at 562-383-4300.

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Man fatally struck by minivan along Imperial Highway in La Habra


LA HABRA >> A man died late Thursday after he was struck by a minivan along Imperial Highway in La Habra, authorities said.
The fatal collision was first reported about 6:30 p.m. in the 1000 block of West Imperial Highway, near Idaho Street, La Habra police officials said in a written statement.
“When officers arrived they found an unresponsive male adult lying in the roadway,” according to the statement. “Los Angeles County Fire Department paramedics arrived to treat the victim, but he was pronounced deceased at the scene.”
The driver of the vehicle, described in coroner’s records as a minivan, remained at the scene, police said. He and a passenger suffered no injuries.
“The cause of the collision is undetermined at this time, however, alcohol does not appear to be a factor,” the statement said.
Officials withheld the victim’s name Friday pending notification of his family.
Any witnesses, or anyone with information, is asked to contact the La Habra Police Department Traffic Unit at 562-383-4300.

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Man robbed at gunpoint at La Habra shopping center


LA HABRA >> Police are seeking a man who robbed another man at gunpoint in the parking lot of a La Habra shopping center late Saturday, officials said.
The crime unfolded shortly after 7 p.m. as the victim was walking through a parking lot of a shopping center in the 900 block of Harbor Boulevard, just north of Whittier Boulevard, La Habra police Sgt. Jeff Baylos said.
The robber approached the victim, brandished a handgun and demanded money, the sergeant said. The gunman then patted the victim down and grabbed about $200 in cash and a cell phone from his pocket.
Baylos said the robber was last seen getting in to a pickup truck, possibly a black Ford Ranger, which sped off.
Police described the robber as a Latino man, about 5 feet 2 inches tall, with long hair and wearing a hooded sweat shirt.
Anyone with information can reach La Habra police at 562-383-4300.

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