Category Archives: West Covina

San Gabriel Valley soccer coach suspected of sending inappropriate text messages to 11-year-old

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Covina police arrested a Walnut-area soccer coach from West Covina Wednesday on suspicion of sending inappropriate, sexual text messages to an 11-year-old player on his team, authorities said.
Albert David Gutierrez, 45, was booked on suspicion of contacting a minor with intent to commit certain offenses, according to Covina police and Los Angeles County booking records.
The arrest stemmed from an allegation by a woman that Gutierrez, who coached her 11-year-old daughter’s American Youth Soccer Organization team, sent inappropriate text messages to the girl in December, Covina police Sgt. Ray Marquez said.
“They were sexual in nature,” the sergeant said.
The girl then told her mother, who confronted Gutierrez about the messages, police said.
“The suspect apologized to the victim’s mother for sending the messages and indicated he would stop all interaction with her,” the police statement said.
The mother then reported the situation to Covina police, who launched an investigation.
Police took a report and interviewed Gutierrez, who quickly obtained a lawyer, in December, Marquez said.
Through his attorney, Gutierrez agreed to turn himself in to police after the holidays, Marquez said. Detectives continued building their case in the meantime.
But when the holidays passed and Gutierrez did not turn himself in, police went looking for him, the sergeant said.
Detectives conducted a surveillance operation Wednesday at Gutierrez’s home in the 3200 block of Stella Avenue in West Covina and arrested him without incident, officials said.
The messages involved text only, and no pictures were sent, Marquez said.
He added that investigators were unaware of any previous allegations of sex-related crimes against Gutierrez.
The father of the alleged victim, whose name is being withheld to protect the girl’s identity, said his daughter played in the Walnut-based branch of the AYSO, known as Region 624.
The father added that he and his wife were shocked to learn of the allegations against a man whom they had previously trusted.
He also said he was glad his daughter reported the inappropriate situation immediately, before it become more serious.
Jill Meshekow, Director of the Safe Haven program at the American Youth Soccer Organization National Office, said Gutierrez would not be on the soccer field as the investigation continues.
“Mr. Gutierrez is parent of children playing in Region 624,” she said in a written statement. “While not acting in any official coaching capacity over the last few years, Mr. Gutierrez has stepped aside from helping in this Region in any capacity pending the outcome of this case.”
Safe Haven Program is the AYSO’s program directed and protecting both children and organization volunteers. “We are disheartened anytime there is an investigation of this nature and we will continue to support law enforcement as needed,” Meshekow said.
Gutierrez was released from jail Thursday morning after posting $500,000 bail, records show. He could not be reached for comment.
He was scheduled to be arraigned Feb. 13 in West Covina Superior Court.
“Because of Mr. Gutierrez’s involvement in coaching youth sports in the local area, there is a concern there may be additional victims who have not yet been identified,” according to the police statement.
Anyone with information was asked to contact Covina police Detective Felipe Munoz at 626-385-5615, or 626-384-5808.

PHOTO of Albert Gutierrez courtesy of the Covina Police Department

Transient stabbed in leg in West Covina

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WEST COVINA — A transient who suffered a stab wound to the leg told police two men attacked him Wednesday night.
Hospital staff notified West Covina police about the injured man who ended up at their facility.
West Covina police Lt. Ken Plunkett said the incident happened at 9:29 p.m. outside a bar in the 300 block of South Glendora Avenue.
The victim told officers he was approached by two men. One punched him in the face, he fell to the ground and was punched again, according to Plunkett.
The victim felt his leg hurting and saw it bleeding. Plunkett said the man realized he’d been stabbed.
Someone took the wounded man to the hospital.
The victim didn’t know why he was attacked. He described the suspects only as two men, possibly Latinos.

- Ruby Gonzales

UPDATED: Elderly West Covina woman killed by alleged drunken, racing driver

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WEST COVINA — An elderly West Covina woman died and two young Rialto men were suspected of murder after a Christmas Day crash police suspect involved street racing and drunken driving.
Celia La Torre, 90, died at the scene of Tuesday’s 9 p.m. crash at Lark Ellen and Merced Avenues, according to West Covina police Cpl. Rudy Lopez.
Vincent Lopez, 30, of Rialto was arrested on suspicion of murder and drunken driving in connection with the crash, while Victor Hugo Sanchez, 34, of Rialto was arrested on suspicion of murder, the corporal said.
A Mitsubishi Eclipse and a Ford Escort were southbound on Lark Ellen Avenue from Cameron Avenue about 9 p.m. when the Mitsubishi broadsided a Dodge Caravan being driven east on Merced Avenue by Torre’s 72-year-old son, West Covina police Lt. Jerry Pearman said.
“Witnesses reported seeing the Eclipse racing with a red Ford Escort,” Cpl. Lopez said.
“Based on witness statements, we suspect that they did run a red light,” Pearman added.
It appeared the speeding cars ran a red light when the Eclipse slammed into the minivan, Pearman added.
The elderly passenger, who used a wheelchair and had just been released from a West Covina hospital where she was undergoing treatment, was thrown from the minivan and pronounced dead at the scene, police said.
The minivan driver’s elderly mother was thrown from the vehicle in the crash, officials said. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
The driver of the minivan was taken to a hospital in stable condition, Pearman said.
The driver of the Mitsubishi — later identified as Vincent Lopez — suffered a broken leg and was arrested at the scene, while his passenger fled the car on foot and was detained and questioned by police nearby, Pearman said.
The Ford Escort believed to have been racing the Mitsubishi fled the scene, Cpl. Lopez said, however follow-up investigation led detectives to arrest the alleged driver, Sanchez, early Wednesday in Pomona, Lopez said.
Both were booked on suspicion of murder, while suspect Lopez was also booked on suspicion of drunken driving, officials said.
The Ford was believed to have had passengers inside when the crash occurred, and police continued seeking them for questioning Wednesday.
The occupants of both the Mitsubishi and Ford were believed to have just left a bar in the 200 block of South Glendora Avenue prior to the crash, officials said.
Any witnesses, or anyone with information, is asked to contact West Covina police at 626-939-8500.

Baldwin Park man dies in solo-car crash near West Covina

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WEST COVINA — A 25-year-old Baldwin Park man died early Saturday in a solo-car crash in an unincorporated county area just outside of West Covina, authorities said.
Andrew Joey Villagran died shortly after the 2 a.m. crash on San Bernardino Road, just east of Orange Avenue, California Highway Patrol Officer Jimmy Frausto said in a written statement.
Villagran was driving a 1974 Volkswagen Beetle west on San Bernardino Road when, “For unknown reasons, Mr. Villagran allowed the Volkswagen to to veer in a southwesterly direction,” Frausto said.
The car crossed both lanes of opposing traffic before crashing into a wooden utility pole, the officer said.
Paramedics took Villagran to Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center where he died from his injuries a short time later, officials said.
Anyone with information was asked to call the Baldwin Park office of the CHP at 626-338-1164.

Police use dog, Taser to arrest burglary suspect found hiding under bed in West Covina

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WEST COVINA — A man suspected of breaking into a house and a car allegedly barged his way into an apartment and hid under a bed to elude police Friday night.
He was found, arrested and treated at a hospital. The man was bitten by a police dog and got Tased by officers.
West Covina police Lt. Ken Plunkett said officers used a Taser on the suspect because he wouldn’t show his hands and kept them concealed under his body.
The residential burglary in the 2200 block of Francisquito Avenue was reported to police at 5 p.m.
While officers were checking the area, Plunkett said police got a call of someone breaking into a car in the 14000 block of Francisquito Avenue. He said the man ran when an officer arrived. The man then allegedly forced his way into an apartment in the 1500 block of Orange Avenue.
“He ran into a back bedroom and hid under a bed,” Plunkett said.
Officers recovered a wallet, credit cards plus the owner’s manual and insurance of the car that was burglarized.
Victor Pacheco, 23, of La Verne was arrested on suspicion of burglary and possession of stolen property.
Pacheco, whose bail is $50,000, is expected to be transferred from West Covina jail to county jail.

- Ruby Gonzales

4-year-old burned in coffee pot accident in West Covina

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WEST COVINA — A 4-year-old girl suffered second degree burns to her chest and abdomen after she pulled down a coffee pot on herself Friday night, fire officials said.
At 8:26 p.m., West Covina firefighters were in the 200 block of Toland Avenue on on an unrelated call when they were flagged down by people across the street, Fire Capt. Mike Fountain said.
He said the child was in stable condition when taken to Los Angeles County USC Medical Center.

- Ruby Gonazles

UPDATED: Officials: elderly man found dead inside burning West Covina home was stabbed to death; fire ruled arson

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WEST COVINA — An autopsy has determined that an 82-year-old West Covina man found dead inside his burning house last week was stabbed to death.

Firefighters discovered the body of Ralph Simonian shortly after 11 a.m. Nov. 15 after responding to a fire at his home in the 900 block of Holiday Drive, investigators said. The fire was later determined to be arson.

Firefighters forced their way into the flaming home before finding Simonian unconscious in a room toward the rear of the house. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

But he did not die as a result of the fire, Los Angeles County Department of Coroner Assistant Chief of Operations Ed Winter said.

“It was ruled as multiple stab wounds: homicide,” he said.

No suspects were in custody in connection with the killing, sheriff’s officials said in a written statement. Further details on the circumstances of the slaying were not released.

An investigation by the Sheriff’s Arson-Explosives Detail found the cause of the fire was arson, Sgt. Mike Costleigh said.

He referred further inquiries to sheriff’s homicide investigators, who could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

Family members also could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

The home was well-involved with flames when firefighters arrived and took about 30 minutes to extinguish the fire, officials said.

Neighbor Paramjiet Sandhu, 63, said he was stunned and baffled to learn Simonian, who neighbors knew as “Roy,” had been intentionally slain.
“I cannot imagine who would do that to him,” Sandhu said. “He was an extremely nice guy. He was such a sweet man.”

Sandhu said he’d lived next-door to Simonian for the past 24 years.

A retired owner of a manufacturing company, Simonian had been living alone in the home following the death of his wife, Stephanie, known to neighbors as “Stevie,” years back, Sandhu said.

“They were both very good people,” he said.

Ralph Simonian was a quiet man who largely kept to himself, he added. Despite his age, he remained very active and was often seen doing yardwork or driving his car, the neighbor said.

“It’s just very sad. We’re going to miss Roy. We really are,” Sandhu said.

“I hope he gets justice. I truly do.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500.

Name of elderly man found dead in burning West Covina home released

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WEST COVINA — Authorities Sunday released the name of an 82-year-old West Covina man found dead inside his burning home earlier this week.
Ralph Simonian was pronounced dead at the scene of Thursday’s fire, reported just after 11 a.m. in the 900 block of Holiday Drive, Los Angeles County Department of Coroner Investigator Daniel Machian said.
An autopsy was pending to determine his cause of death, which Lt. Dave Dolson of the Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau described as, “suspicious.”
Investigators declined to specify what they found at the scene of the charred home that roused their suspicions.
Firefighters responded to the home after a fire alarm sounded and a passer-by called 9-1-1 at roughly the same time, officials said.
The house was well-involved with flames when they arrived and took about half an hour to extinguish, West Covina Fire Department Capt. Scott Gilmore said.
After forcing their way into the home, firefighters found Simonian unconscious in a room toward the rear of the house, Dolson said. They moved him to the home’s backyard, where he was pronounced dead.
The cause of the fire was under investigation.
Family members could not be reached for comment Sunday.

UPDATE: Burning big rig snarls commute on 10 Freeway in West Covina

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WEST COVINA — A flaming big rig snarled traffic for eastbound commuters on the San Bernardino (10) Freeway through the San Gabriel Valley for more than eight hours Friday, authorities said.
The big rig, which was hauling about $25,000 worth of “household goods,” caught fire and pulled over near the Vincent Avenue offramp of the eastbound 10 Freeway about 3:45 a.m., California Highway Patrol Officer Ed Jacobs said.
The items being carried by the truck appeared to be primarily electronics, CHP Sgt. Mike Dulong said.
No injuries were reported. Authorities initially shut down the two right lanes of the freeway and the offramp as they worked to extinguish the fire and clear the wreckage from the roadway, officials said.
“It’s a big mess,” Jacobs said.
The second lane from the right was reopened during the morning commute, however the right-hand lane and Vincent Avenue offramps remained shut down until 1:20 p.m., according to Dulong.
The cause of the fire remained under investigation, however officials were looking into the possibility it was sparked by overheated brakes, Dulong said.
The truck driver pulled over after being notified by a fellow motorist that his trailer was on fire, Dulong said.
The structure of the trailer was compromised by the blaze, causing it to drop smouldering debris onto the roadway, he said.
It took about seven hours for officials to load the charred big rig and its contents onto a large flatbed truck, and CHP officers began escorting it at 20 mph to a tow yard in Ontario, officials said.
Just after passing the Orange (57) Freeway shortly before noon, however, the contents of the trailer again began to smoulder, Dulong said. Firefighters were summoned again to douse the trailer before it got back on it’s slow-speed journey.

Body found inside burning home in West Covina

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WEST COVINA — A body has been found in the aftermath of a house fire in West Covina, authorities said.
The fatal fire was first reported about 11:15 a.m. at a home in the 900 block of Holiday Drive, near Grand and Cameron avenues, West Covina police Lt. Jerry Pearman said.
Firefighters discovered the body after extinguising the blaze, the lieutenant said. No description was available.
The incident was being investigated by both West Covina police and fire officials.