Category Archives: San Dimas

‘Luger Bandit’ flees empty-handed following failed takeover at San Dimas bank

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SAN DIMAS – A serial bank robber dubbed by the FBI as the “Luger Bandit” ordered customers and employees of a local bank to the floor at gunpoint Friday, but fled empty-handed, authorities said.

The failed robbery took place about 11:25 a.m. at Wells Fargo, 925 W. Arrow Highway, Los Angeles County sheriff’s Sgt. Vicki Gregory said.

The masked robber brandished a handgun as he ordered everyone to the floor, the sergeant said.

But once all the customers and the employees, who were shielded behind security glass, complied, there was no one left to hand over money.

The gunman then fled empty-handed, and was last seen driving away in a newer-model BMW sedan with paper license plates displaying the word “Keyes,” Gregory said.

FBI officials said the same man is wanted for takeover robberies at a Wells Fargo bank in Granada Hills on Jan. 3 and a Wells Fargo in Fontana on Feb. 18…

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Bystander shoots pit bull that attacked horse in San Dimas

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SAN DIMAS — A bystander shot and killed one of two pit bulls that were attacking a horse with a woman riding it Saturday, officials said.
A 47-year-old San Dimas woman was riding her horse about 9 a.m. at Foothill Boulevard and Walnut Avenue when two pit bulls, which had escaped from a nearby yard, attacked the horse, Los Angeles County sheriff’s Lt. Andy Berg said.
One of the dogs bit the horse, causing the animal to fall, according to the lieutenant. The rider managed to get clear of the horse as it fell and was not hurt.
“The dog was latched onto the horse and wouldn’t let go,” Berg said. “A third party, an uninvolved person, used a small-caliber rifle and shot one of the dogs dead.”
The bystander, a 24-year-old San Dimas man, fired several shots from a .22-caliber rifle, officials added.
Animal control officials took custody of the other pit bull, Berg added.
The horse, named Mecca, was injured and taken to a veterinarian, he said. It was not believed that it would be necessary to euthanize the horse.
The owner of the dogs was contacted, and animal control officials were investigating, Berg said.
The man who shot the dog was not cited or arrested, as the shooting appeared to have been necessary and carried out responsibly, he said.

San Dimas men convicted of Glendora man’s beating

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POMONA — Two 19-year-old San Dimas men have been convicted for beating and seriously injuring a Glendora man late last year, officials said.
A Pomona Superior Court jury Thursday convicted Gabriel Andrew Ojeda and Mark Antoine Hachem of assault by means likely to produce great bodily injury, Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office spokeswoman Jane Robison said.
Ojeda was additionally convicted of a count of misdemeanor assault, and Hachem was convicted of a count of intimidating a witness, Robison said. The jury acquitted Ojeda of a witness intimidation charge.
Glendora police suspected the attack was carried out because the victim, a 22-year-old man, was a potential witness in an unrelated assault case, officials said in the days following the arrest.
Ojeda immediately received a sentence of four years and six months in state prison, officials said. Hachem was ordered to return to court for sentencing Feb. 21.
The beating took place Dec. 26 at Gladstone Street and Willow Avenue in Glendora.
The assailants continued punching and kicking the victim even after he was knocked to the ground, resulting in serious inju

Six sought in takeover robbery at San Dimas jewelry store

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SAN DIMAS — Five armed men and a woman smashed open display cases and helped themselves to a “large amount” of merchandise in a takeover robbery at an Arrow Highway jewelry store Friday afternoon, authorities said.
The crime was reported shortly after 2 p.m. at the San Dimas Jewelry Mart, 490 West Arrow Highway, Los Angeles County sheriff’s officials said.
The female robber entered the store first and held open a security door to allow the five armed men inside, according to Sgt. David Grall.
“Armed with blue steel handguns and wearing ski masks or bandannas to conceal their faces, the five suspects ordered the employees to the ground and began smashing display cases, removing items and placing them in backpacks and their pockets,” Grall said in a written statement.
All six were last seen driving off in an older model, gray, 4-door sedan — possibly a Toyota Camry — with paper license plates, Grall said. They were all described as black and in their 20s.
Investigators did not disclose the amount of jewelry taken in the heist.
No injuries were reported.
Anyone with information was asked to contact the sheriff’s San Dimas Station at 909-450-2700. Tips can also be submitted anonymously by contacting L.A. Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477.

Grenade in San Dimas parking lot turns out to be fake

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SAN DIMAS — Several businesses were evacuated after a grenade was found in the parking lot of a commercial center Friday night.
Deputies said the sheriff’s Arson/Explosives Detail, which is the bomb squad, rendered the device safe and also determined it was a replica grenade.
The San Dimas station received a call at 7:23 p.m. of a hand grenade lying in the parking lot near a pizza parlor in the 500 block of West Arrow Highway, according to Lt. Diana Gealta.
She said businesses were evacuated and the bomb squad notified.

- Ruby Gonzales

San Dimas gas station robbed

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SAN DIMAS – A man armed with a handgun robbed a local gas station of an undisclosed amount Thursday night.

The robbery occurred around 8:40 p.m. at the Mobil station, 845 W. Arrow Highway.

Lt. Diana Gealta of the sheriff’s San Dimas station said the suspect showed a gun to the clerk and demanded money. Once he was given the money from the cash register, Gealta said the robber left.

No car was seen. There was no suspect description available yet.

- Ruby Gonzales

Deputies plan checkpoint in San Dimas

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SAN DIMAS — The traffic unit of the sheriff’s San Dimas station will hold a DUI/driver’s license checkpoint this Friday.
The checkpoint, which will be in the area of Arrow Highway and Valley Center Avenue, will start 7 p.m. Friday and end 3 a.m. Saturday.
The checkpoint is funded by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

- Ruby Gonzales

Deputies plan checkpoint in San Dimas

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SAN DIMAS — Sheriff’s deputies are planning to screen drivers for sobriety and valid licenses Friday, officials said.
The checkpoint is to be held from 7 p.m. Friday to 3 a.m. Saturday in the 600 block of West Bonita Avenue, Los Angeles County sheriff’s officials said in a written statement.
In addition to drunken drivers, specially trained officers will be present when available to evaluate drivers suspected of being under the influence of drugs, authorities said.
Funding for Friday’s checkpoint is being provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Pedestrian struck and injured by school bus in San Dimas

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SAN DIMAS — A man was hospitalized in unknown condition after being struck by a Bonita Unified School District bus early Wednesday, authorities said.
The incident took place about 8:40 a.m. on Arrow Highway at Rennell Avenue, Los Angeles County sheriff’s Lt. Andy Berg said.
The man, who is in his 60s, suffered head injury and was taken by ambulance to the trauma center at Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center for treatment, California Highway Patrol Officer Rick Green said. An update on his condition was no available.
There were eight elementary school-age special needs children aboard the bus, along with a female driver, Green said. No one on the bus was injured.
The pedestrian was walking north in a crosswalk across Arrow Highway when he was struck by the bus, which was making a left turn from southbound Rennell Avenue to eastbound Arrow Highway, Green said.
“She said the sun was in her eyes, so she never saw him,” the officer said.
It appeared the man was mainly struck by the side view mirror of the bus, and possibly struck his head on the ground as he fell, Green said.
The cause of the crash remained under investigation, however under the California Vehicle Code, it appeared the pedestrian had the right of way, Green added.
The driver estimated the bus was moving at about 5 mph when it struck the man, the officer said.
Investigators had yet to interview the injured pedestrian, Green said, who was believed to be en route to a nearby medical clinic when struck.
Authorities initially called for a helicopter to respond to the scene to rush the injured pedestrian to the hospital, however he was ultimately hospitalized by ambulance, Green said.
As in all school bus crashes in which children are on board in California, the incident is being investigated by the CHP.
No citations or arrests were made Wednesday morning.

Good Samaritans help deputy capture suspect in San Dimas

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SAN DIMAS — A deputy arrested a parolee with a dagger who was driving a stolen car with the held of two good Samaritans who helped subdue him, officials said.
Ryan Edwards, 38, was booked on suspicion of auto theft, possession of a dagger and violating parole at the conclusion of the incident, which began about 9 a.m. Wednesday in the 400 block of South Lone Hill Avenue, Los Angeles County sheriff’s Sgt. Kirk Smith said.
A deputy spotted Edwards driving in a pickup truck and tried to pull him over after witnessing a traffic violation, Smith said.
Edwards quickly drove the pickup truck into the parking lot of a business complex, where he abandoned the truck and began to run, the sergeant said.
As the deputy tried to detain the Edwards at gunpoint, he threw an object — later found to be a dagger with a 6-inch blade — underneath a nearby vehicle, Smith said. Edwards then kept his hands raised as he walked away from the deputy and into traffic on Lone Hill Avenue.
As the deputy was struggling to subdue the man in the middle of the street, Smith said, two good Samaritans joined the scuffle and helped the deputy handcuff Edwards.
Investigators then recovered the dagger and determined the pickup truck Edwards was driving had been reported stolen from Rialto, Smith said.
Edwards, who is on parole for a previous robbery convicted, was being held without bail pending his initial court appearance Friday, according to county booking records.