La Habra man fatally shot by SWAT team following La Mirada standoff identified

Posted on November 24, 2016 by Brian Day

The robbery suspect stands inside by himself with a shot up window as Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputies surround an AMPM Arco gas station on Beach Boulevard at Hillsborough Drive in La Mirada on Monday November 21, 2016. (Photo by Keith Durflinger/Whittier Daily News/SCNG)

LA MIRADA >> Coroner’s officials have released the identity of a 45-year-old La Habra man who was fatally shot by SWAT deputies following a 3-and-a-half-hour standoff at a La Mirada gas station early Tuesday morning.
Mark Daniel Sly died at the scene of the deputy-involved shooting, which took place just before 1 a.m. at the ampm convenience store and ARCO gas station at 13550 S. Beach Blvd., Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner Assistant Chief of Operation Ed Winter said.
He fired at deputies at least twice during the standoff, which began with a report of a robbery in progress at the business, Los Angeles County sheriff’s officials said.
Deputies responding to the robbery encountered Sly, who matched the suspect description, standing at the front door of the convenience store armed with a handgun, Deputy Caroline Rodriguez of the sheriff’s Information Bureau said.
Sly refused commands to drop his gun and surrender, and deputies summoned a SWAT team and a crisis negotiation team to the scene.
At one point during the hours-long standoff, the suspect fired at deputies through a front window of the business, Rodriguez said.
A deputy returned fire through a window, but it was unclear of Sly was wounded in that exchange.
Sly exited the store with a handgun and again fired on SWAT deputies at 12:55 a.m., officials said. Deputies fired back, fatally wounding Sly.
The investigation remains ongoing, and anyone with information is asked to contact the sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500. Tips may also be submitted anonymously to L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477.

PHOTOS: Gunman robs same La Habra gas station twice

Posted on October 8, 2016 by Brian Day

LA HABRA >> Police are seeking a gunman who robbed the same La Habra has station twice in recent weeks and may be linked to additional robberies throughout the region, authorities said.
The robber struck Monday at the a Shell gas station, 101 E. Imperial Highway, and previously on Aug. 31 at the same service station, La Habra police Sgt. Jeff Baylos said.
“The suspects’ descriptions in both instances are similar, as are the circumstances surrounding each robbery,” La Habra police officials said in a written statement. “The suspect is still outstanding and the investigation is ongoing.”
In Monday’s crime, the gunman entered the business about 8 p.m., displayed a black semi-automatic handgun and demanded money from the clerk, police said. The robber fled with about $200 in cash.
He wore a brown fedora, sunglasses, white pants and a black-and-blue long-sleeve shirt during the heist.
The Aug. 31 robbery occurred in the same manner. In that case, the gunman wore sunglasses, a black baseball cap, a black jacket, blue jeans and white gloves. He locked the clerk in the station’s bathroom before fleeing with an undetermined amount of cash.
Police have released surveillance camera images of the suspect taken during the robberies in hopes a member of the public recognizes him.
Detectives were also looking into the possibility the same robber may be responsible for other similar crimes reported in nearby jurisdictions, Baylos said.
The robber is described as a 45- to 55-year-old man with a dark complexion, about 5 feet 6 inches to 5 feet 7 inches tall, between 200 and 230 pounds.
Anyone with information is asked contact La Habra police at 562-383-4300. Tips may also be submitted anonymously online at www.tip411.com.

SURVEILLANCE photos courtesy of the La Habra Police Department

Hacienda Heights man dies after motorcycle collides with pickup truck in La Habra

Posted on October 8, 2016 by Brian Day

LA HABRA >> A La Habra man died late Friday following a crash between his motorcycle and a pickup truck on Harbor Boulevard in a La Habra, police said.
Dominic Alvarez, 26, died at Orange County Global Medical Center in Santa Anta less than three hours after the crash, which took place at 9:02 p.m. on Harbor Boulevard, just south of Whittier Boulevard, according to Orange County coroner’s records.
He was riding a motorcycle was involved in a collision with a pickup truck, La Habra police Sgt. Jeff Baylos said.
Two women who were riding as passengers in the pickup truck were treated for apparently minor injuries, officials said. The driver of the pickup, described only as male, was unhurt.
The cause and circumstances of the crash remained under investigation, officials said.
Anyone with information was urged to contact the La Habra Police Department’s Traffic Unit at 562-383-4300.

La Habra pharmacy burglarized for second time in recent weeks

Posted on September 1, 2016 by Brian Day

LA HABRA >> Burglars smashed their way into a La Habra Boulevard pharmacy late Wednesday for the second time in just over two weeks, authorities said.
The most recent break-in was reported about 10:30 p.m. at Central Drugs, 520 W. La Habra Blvd., La Habra police officials said in a written statement.
“Upon arrival, it was discovered that the front window had been smashed and entry made into the business,” according to the statement.
Officers search the building with help from Buena Park Police Department K-9s but found no suspects.
It was yet to be determined Thursday exactly what had been stolen from the pharmacy.
The same drug store was also the scene of another burglary on Aug. 16, police said at the time.
Three suspects were jailed in connection with that incident, and another escaped. Officers recovered allegedly stolen prescription painkillers from the suspects.

UPDATED: 3 jailed, 1 sought in La Habra pharmacy break-in

Posted on August 19, 2016 by Brian Day

LA HABRA >> Police jailed three suspects and sought another following a break-in targeting prescription drugs at a La Habra pharmacy early Friday morning, authorities said.
An alarm activation at 3:30 a.m. first attracted the attention of police to Central Drugs, 520 W. La Habra Blvd., La Habra police officials said in a written statement.
The first officer to arrive on-scene spotted a suspicious silver Hyundai Sonata near the pharmacy, but it immediately sped away once the driver spotted the patrol car, according to the statement.
The driver of the Honda fled, but soon crashed into a wall at a dead end in the 700 block of West First Avenue, police said.
The driver, later identified at Daniel Estrada, 29, of Apple Valley, allegedly put the car into reverse and rammed the police car. He and passenger Lina Medina, 24, of Rialto, where then taken into custody.
“While this was occurring, two additional suspects, who had still been in the business when the officers arrived, fled the area on foot,” according to the statement.
Officers searched the area and found Gabriel Pille, 23, of Fontana behind a nearby supermarket and arrested him. The fourth and final suspect evaded police, but officers recovered “numerous pieces of evidence,” including recovered prescription drugs.
Police recovered thousands of prescription painkillers such as morphine, codeine and oxycodone from the suspects, Sgt. Ron Hurst said.
The investigation was ongoing.
Estrada and Pille were booked on suspicion of burglary, possession of stolen property and conspiracy, police said. Estrada is additionally accused of assault on a peace officer. Media was booked on suspicion of conspiracy.
Anyone with information can reach La Habra police at 562-383-4300. Tips may also be submitted anonymously online at www.tip411.com.

Body found inside car in La Habra identified as that of Sierra Madre woman

Posted on August 6, 2016 by Brian Day

La Habra Police and Orange County Coroner’s Investigators examine the car where the body of a woman in her mid-30’s was found in the parking lot on the West 1200-block of Imperial Highway in La Habra on Friday August 5, 2016. (Photo by Keith Durflinger/Whittier Daily News)

LA HABRA >> Coroner’s officials have released the identity of a 34-year-old Sierra Madre woman who was found dead inside a parked car at a La Habra shopping center Friday morning.
Megan Sterling was pronounced dead at the scene after a man walking his dog discovered her unresponsive inside the front seat of a car parked outside a shopping center in the 1200 block of West Imperial Highway, near Idaho Street, Orange County coroner’s officials said in a written statement.
Her cause of death was yet to be determined through an autopsy.
It was not clear how long the woman may have been dead before her body was discovered. Police declined to comment on whether there were signs of trauma on the body.
Anyone with information can reach La Habra police at 562-383-4300.

Police seek missing La Habra woman

Posted on August 5, 2016 by Brian Day

LA HABRA >> Police are asking the public to keep an eye out for a missing 18-year-old La Habra woman, as well as her ex-boyfriend, who investigators described as a “person of interest.”
Emily Casillas was last seen about 8 a.m. Thursday at the Molcasalsa restaurant, 2340 W. Whittier Blvd., La Habra police officials said in a written statement.
She was in a black, four-door, 2002 Mitsubishi Diamante sedan with a California license plate of 5BNS284, police said.
“Emily may be in the company of her ex-boyfriend,” according to the statement.
Police identified the ex-boyfriend as 22-year-old Francisco Corral.
Further details regarding the circumstances of Casillas’ disappearance were not available Friday afternoon.
Casillas is described as Latina, 5 feet 4 inches tall, 120 pounds, with black hair with green tips and brown eyes. She has a tattoo of the word “Edgar” on her upper back, and was last seen wearing pajamas of an unknown color.
Anyone who spots Casillas, Corral or the Mitsubishi is asked to contact local police, or the La Habra Police Department at 562-383-4300.

PHOTOS courtesy of the La Habra Police Department.

Anaheim teens arrested in Covina, accused of stealing $3,000 in razors, baby formula, Rogaine

Posted on July 31, 2016 by Brian Day

COVINA >> Police jailed three Anaheim teenagers Saturday amid an alleged massive theft spree in which they collected more than $3,000 worth of razors, baby formula and Rogaine from stores in Covina, Glendora and La Habra, authorities said.
Jailed were Mirabela Stoican, 18, of Anaheim, as well as a 17-year-old Anaheim girl and a 15-year-old Anaheim girl, Covina police Lt. Tim Doonan said.
Security guards at Rite Aid, 139 N. Grand Ave., first called police about 3 p.m. to report three young women had just tried to steal a large amount of razors from the store, but dropped the goods and fled empty-handed, according to the lieutenant.
Security watched as the trio went across the street into a Vons supermarket and pointed them out to arriving police officers as they left, the lieutenant said. Police pulled over the suspects’ car and detained them. Stoican’s infant child was also in the car.
A large amount of baby formula believed to have been stolen from the Vons was recovered from the car, Doonan said.
“A further search of the car located six 30-gallon trash bags filled with stolen property,” he said. The items were primarily baby formula, razor blades and the hair regrowth product Rogaine.
“The property we recovered is valued at about 3,000,” Doonan said..
Investigators suspected the items had been stolen previously during the day during visits to at least one other store in Glendora, and two in La Habra, he said.
According to Los Angeles County booking records, Stoican was released from custody later in the day pending her initial court appearance after posting $20,000 bail.
The two underage suspects were taken to Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall in Downey, Doonan said.

La Habra checkpoint nets one DUI arrest

Posted on July 23, 2016 by Brian Day

LA HABRA >> Police made one DUI arrest during a sobriety and driver license checkpoint in La Habra Friday night, officials said.
One driver is accused of driving under the influence of marijuana following the checkpoint, which was held from 10 p.m. Friday to 3 a.m. Saturday along southbound Beach Boulevard, approaching La Habra Boulevard, La Habra police Lt. Clint Angle said.
A total of 599 cars passed through the checkpoint, he said. Twenty-two of them were singled out for secondary screening.
In addition to the DUI arrest, one person was arrested on suspicion of being drunk in public, the lieutenant said.
Police cited five drivers for driving without licenses, and one driver for driving on a suspended license, Angle said.
The vehicles belonging to the alleged DUI driver and the driver with a suspended license were impounded, he added.

La Habra man wounded in shooting

Posted on July 17, 2016 by Brian Day

LA HABRA >> A man showed up at an emergency room after being shot in a residential neighborhood in La Habra early Sunday, police said.
The victim, a La Habra man, arrived at an area hospital about 3:20 a.m., La Habra police Sgt. Daniel Barnes said.
He was treated for injuries not considered to be life-threatening and listed in stable condition, the sergeant said.
“The shooting is believed to have occurred in the 400 block of Buena Vista Avenue and is believed to be gang-related,” Barnes said.
No further details regarding the circumstances of the shooting, including a suspect description, were available.
Anyone with information can reach La Habra police at 562-383-4300. Tips may also be submitted anonymously via text message by sending the tip, plus “LHPD,” to TIP411 at 847411.

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