Monterey Park police plan pedestrian safety crackdown

MONTEREY PARK >> Police in Monterey Park plan to crack down on pedestrian and bicycle safety Monday during a special enforcement campaign, authorities said.
Officers pay special attention to traffic violations by bicyclists, pedestrians and motorists that endanger pedestrian safety, Monterey Park police officials said in a written statement.
The officers will distribute “sidewalk education,” answering questions, giving warnings and issuing citations when appropriate, he said.
Authorities will focus their efforts on areas in the city that tend to see higher numbers of pedestrian- and bike-involved collisions.
Funding for the campaign is being provided by a grant from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, through the California Office of Traffic Safety.

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Arcadia woman killed by SUV on Monterey Park sidewalk identified

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MONTEREY PARK >> Officials have identified an Arcadia woman who died after being struck by an SUV on a Monterey Park sidewalk on Thursday morning.
Meiping Lin, 68, died at the scene of the 8 a.m. collision at Garfield and Avondale avenues, Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner Investigator Rudy Molano said.
Two men who were also struck by the same SUV when it drove up onto the sidewalk were hospitalized in critical condition, according to Monterey Park police Lt. Gus Jimenez.
The three pedestrians were walking on a sidewalk when a small SUV suddenly veered to the right side of the road and struck them, police said. The out-of-control SUV then also struck to other cars.
The cause of the crash remained under investigation. The woman at the wheel of the SUV was also taken to a hospital for treatment of an apparent medical issue.
Any witnesses, or anyone with information, can reach Monterey Park police at 626-573-1311.

PHOTO by Michael Ares

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Woman killed, two men critically injured when SUV plows into sidewalk in Monterey Park

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MONTEREY PARK >> A woman died and two men clung to life in critical condition after an SUV veered off the roadway and struck them as they were walking on a Monterey Park sidewalk on Friday morning, authorities said.
The collision took place about 8 a.m. on Garfield Avenue at Avondale Avenue, Monterey Park police Lt. Gus Jimenez said.
The woman and two men were walking on the sidewalk along the east side of the street when the small SUV heading north on Garfield Avenue suddenly veered to the right, according to the lieutenant.
“The vehicle went up onto the curb and struck the three pedestrians,” he said.
Paramedics pronounced the woman who was struck dead at the scene, Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner Assistant Chief of Operations Ed Winter said. She was yet to be identified.
The two men who were also struck by the SUV were taken to Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center, where they remained listed in critical condition Friday afternoon.
The driver of the SUV, a woman described as a senior citizen, was also taken to a hospital for treatment of an apparent medical issue, Monterey Park police and fire officials said.
After striking the pedestrians, the SUV struck two other cars before coming to a rest in the intersection, Jimenez said. No significant injuries were reported from those vehicles.
The cause of the crash remained under investigation, Jimenez said. The SUV driver was cooperating with police.
Officials shut down Garfield Avenue well into the afternoon.
Any witnesses, or anyone with information, can reach Monterey Park police at 626-573-1311.

PHOTO via Michael Ares

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Pedestrian killed in Monterey Park freeway hit-and-run identified


MONTEREY PARK >> Coroner’s officials have identified man who died after being struck by a hit-and-run vehicle while walking in traffic lanes of the 60 Freeway in Monterey park on Wednesday.
Kevin Smalls, 49, who is believed to have been homeless, died after he was struck by an unidentified vehicle shortly before 11 p.m. Wednesday on the westbound 60 Freeway, just west of Pomona Boulevard, according to Los Angeles coroner’s and California Highway Patrol officials.
Smalls had been walking on the center divider before stepping into traffic lanes for unknown reasons, CHP Officer I. Villareal said in a written statement.
A vehicle struck him, but fled the scene without stopping to help, officials said. No description of the hit-and-run vehicle was available.
Anyone with information can reach the CHP’s East Los Angeles area office at 323-980-4600.

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Man walking on 60 Freeway in Monterey Park struck, killed by hit-and-run driver


MONTEREY PARK >> A man walking in traffic lanes died after he was struck by a vehicle, which fled the scene, on the 60 Freeway in Monterey Park late Wednesday, authorities said.
The pedestrian was yet to be identified Thursday.
The fatal collision took place about 10:55 p.m. in the westbound lanes of the 60 Freeway, just west of Pomona Boulevard, California Highway Patrol Officer I. Villareal said in a written statement.
Prior to the incident, callers reported a man was walking on the center divider of the freeway, then walking in traffic lanes, according to CHP logs. One driver reported having to swerve to miss the man.
“For unknown reasons, (the man) entered the traffic lanes and was struck by an unidentified vehicle,” Villareal said.
The vehicle continued driving, heading west on the 60 Freeway, according to the officer. No description was available.
It was unclear why the man was on the freeway on foot, officials said. There were no signs of a vehicle in the area associated with the man.
Anyone with information can reach the CHP’s East Los Angeles area office at 323-980-4600.

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Man sentenced for Monterey Park pizza parlor murder


MONTEREY PARK >> A Bakersfield man received a sentence of more than 16 years in state prison Thursday for stabbing another man 15 times, killing, at a Monterey Park pizza parlor four years ago, officials said.
A Los Angeles Superior Court jury in Burbank convicted Jose De Jesus Ruiz, also known as Jose De Jesus Salas, 26, in July of second-degree murder for the Oct. 6, 2012, stabbing death of 25-year-old Patrick Raymond Ortega at Shakey’s, 1955 S. Atlantic Blvd. The jury also found true the special allegation that Ruiz personally used a knife in the crime.
Judge Michael Carter sentenced Ruiz to 16 years to life in state prison, Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office spokeswoman Sarah Ardalani said.
The stabbing took place shortly after 7 p.m. as Ruiz was gathered at the restaurant with members of a youth football organization.
He became involved in a dispute with Ortega, who witnesses testified was being “disruptive” inside the pizza parlor while dining with friends, according to Deputy District Attorney Theodore Swanson, who prosecuted the case.
Ruiz briefly left the restaurant before returning and stabbing Ortega 15 times, Swanson said.
Ruiz was found hiding in his car several hours later and arrested, officials said. .
Second-degree murder is defined in California as the unlawful killing of another with malice, but without deliberation or premeditation.
If convicted of first-degree murder — a murder deemed deliberate, premeditated and with malice — Ruiz could have faced a maximum sentence of 26 years to life behind bars.

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Teen slashed with knife during robbery in Montebello


MONTEBELLO >> Police are seeking a man who slashed a teen’s hand with a knife during a robbery along Whittier Boulevard Saturday morning, officials said.
The teenage boy was walking at Whittier and Montebello boulevards about 10:40 a.m. when the robber approached, Montebello police Lt. Boris Zeissig said.
The robber brandished a knife and demanded property from the victim, ultimately fleeing with items including a cell phone, according to the lieutenant.
At some point during the robbery, the teen suffered a cut to his hand, he said.
A detailed suspect description was not available.
Detectives were looking into the possibility the crime was related to another knifepoint robbery reported just over an hour before and four miles away in Monterey Park, though a concrete link had not been established, authorities said.
In that case, a woman was walking alone in the 1900 block of South Atlantic Avenue when a man approached from behind, Monterey Park Lt. Tina Montoya said. He brandished a knife and robbed her of her cash, purse and cell phone.
Police described the Monterey Park robber as a Latino man in his early-30s, 5 feet 6 inches to 5 feet 7 inches tall, with short black hair and wearing all black clothing.
Anyone with information can reach Montebello police at 323-887-1313, or Monterey Park police at 626-573-1311. Tips may also be submitted anonymously to L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477.

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Woman robbed at knifepoint in Monterey Park


MONTEREY PARK >> A man robbed a woman of her wallet at knifepoint along Atlantic Avenue early Saturday, police said.
The crime took place about 9:35 a.m. in the 1900 block of South Atlantic Boulevard, just south of Brightwood Street, Monterey Park police Lt. Tina Montoya said.
The woman was walking alone when she was approached from behind by a robber who brandished a knife and threatened to stab her if she didn’t give him money, the lieutenant said.
The woman handed over a small amount of cash, she said. Unsatisfied, the robber reached into the woman’s purse and snatched her wallet and cell phone as well. The victim was unhurt.
Police described the robber as a Latino man in his early-30s, 5 feet 6 inches to 5 feet 7 inches tall, with short black hair and wearing all black clothing.
Anyone with information can reach Monterey Park police at 626-573-1311. Tips may also be submitted anonymously to L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477.

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Video: Man sought in unprovoked stabbing of Monterey Park hair salon owner


MONTEREY PARK >> Police released surveillance video footage Thursday in hoped of identifying a man who stabbed a woman in a seemingly random and unprovoked attack at a hair salon she owns last month.
The woman was working in her shop in the 2300 block of South Garfield Avenue when the attacker walked in about 3:42 p.m. on June 14, according to Monterey Park Lt. Bill Cuevas.
0805_NWS_SGT-L-MPSTABBING“The suspect… stabbed the unsuspecting victim without provocation and made no demands,” Cuevas said in a written statement. The assailant fled the area on foot, as captured on video by nearby surveillance cameras.
*Video: Monterey Park hair salon stabbing
Officers searched the area but did not find the attacker, police said.
The woman was treated for a non-life-threatening slash wound to her torso, Sgt. Bob Hung said.
No motive in the seemingly random stabbing was known, police said.
The attacker was described as a Latino man, about 5 feet 9 inches tall, heavy-set, with a shaved head. He wore a white shirt with a large blue horizontal stripe, dark-colored shorts, a backward baseball cap and a bandana covering his face.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Monterey Park police detectives at 626-307-1236. Tips may also be submitted anonymously to L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477.

NOTE: This story has been updated to reflect the correct date of the attack.

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Monterey Park man accused of Pasadena burglaries, brick attack


PASADENA >> Police arrested a Monterey Park man Thursday after he broke into several Pasadena businesses and cars, then attacked a business owner who confronted him with a brick, officials said.
Brian Anthony Wheeler, 45, was booked on suspicion of burglary, assault with a deadly weapon and making criminal threats following the incident, which unfolded about 6:25 a.m. in the 1000 block of South Arroyo Parkway, Pasadena police Lt. John Luna said.
A business proprietor caught Wheeler leaving his businesses, where a window had been smashed out with a brick, police said. Wheeler had stolen a can of beer.
Wheeler attacked the business owner with the brick, leaving him with redness to his face but no serious injuries, Luna said.
The attacker fled from the area, trying unsuccessfully to steal a car.
Witnesses pointed responding police officers in the direction where the fleeing suspect had jumped a fence onto Marengo Avenue.
Officers found Wheeler hiding in the community laundry room of a nearby apartment complex, Luna said.
Investigators soon found other windows allegedly smashed by Wheeler.
“Prior to this incident, the suspect attempted to enter two adjacent business and (several) cars,” Luna said.
Officials suspected Wheeler was under the influence of some sort of narcotic, he added.
According to county booking records, Wheeler was being held in lieu of $50,000 bail pending his initial court appearance.

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