Recently in Duarte Category

DUARTE -- A strange powder that prompted the evacuation of a Wal-Mart store Thursday was found to be harmless, authorities said.
Officials ordered the evacuation of Wal-Mart, 1600 Mountain Ave., about 2:45 p.m. after an "unknown powder" was discovered on cash that had been dropped off by an armored transport company, Los Angeles County sheriff's Sgt. Richard Mariscola said.
After cordoning off the area, a hazardous materials team was called in to inspect the power.
While it was unclear what the powder was, "Hazmat teams were unable to detect any source of chemical, biological, radiological and or nuclear-based substance," Mariscola said.
The store then resumed normal operation.

DUARTE -- Two drivers escaped with only minor injuries after one car drove off an elevated freeway onramp, landing squarely on top of another, officials said.
The crash was reported about 5:40 a.m. on the westbound 210 Freeway, just west of Mount Olive Drive, California Highway Patrol Officer Kerri Rivas said in a written statement.
A 23-year-old Azusa man was entering the 210 Freeway from Mount Olive Drive when, for reasons that remained under investigation, he lost control of his 1998 Toyota Camry and the car drove off an elevated onramp, Rivas said.
The car went airborne and fell an estimated 15 to 20 feet, landing on its wheels on a 2007 Toyota Camry being driven west in the No. 3 lane, the officer said.
After bouncing off the newer Camry, the falling vehicle rolled over onto its roof in the roadway.
The 54-year-old Azusa man in the newer car suffered only minor injuries, officials said. The driver of the older Camry suffered minor cuts to his head and arms.
The three right lanes of the freeway were shut down for about an hour during the investigation.

DUARTE -- Sheriff's officials and family members continued their search Saturday for a 66-year-old Duarte woman suffering from cancer and moderate dementia who went missing earlier this week.
Patricia Nelson was last seen at her home on Huntington Drive in Duarte about 6:15 a.m. Tuesday, Los Angeles County sheriff's officials said in a written statement.
She may have left her home to take a bus to a doctor's appointment in Pasadena, officials said.
Nelson is described as a black woman, about 5 feet 2 inches tall, 123 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. She was possibly wearing a sweater and a hat when she went missing.
Anyone with information is asked to call detectives Harris or Abraham at the Sheriff's Homicide Bureau, Missing Person's Detail at 323-890-5500.

PHOTO of Patricia Nelson courtesy of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

DUARTE -- Sheriff's officials and concerned family members asked the public's help Wednesday in finding a missing Duarte woman.
Patricia Nelson, 66, lives on Huntington Drive in Duarte, suffers from moderate dementia and is being treated for cancer, Los Angeles County sheriff's officials said in a written statement.
She was last seen at her home about 6:15 a.m. Tuesday.
"She possibly left her residence to take a bus to a doctor's appointment in Pasadena," the statement said. "Her family is very concerned and is also asking for the public's assistance."
Nelson is 5 feet 2 inches tall, about 123 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes, officials said. She may be wearing a hat and a sweater.
Anyone with information is asked to call the detectives Harris or Abraham at the Sheriff's Homicide Bureau, Missing Persons Detail, at 323-890-5500.

PHOTO of Patricia Nelson courtesy of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

DUARTE -- Two teenagers on bicycles robbed a check cashing business Friday, authorities said.

The crime was reported about 6:50 p.m. at Check 'n Go, 1104 E. Huntington Drive, Los Angeles County sheriff's Sgt. Richard Mariscola said.

One of the robbers was described as a 17 years old, Latino and wearing black clothing, while the other was described as 17 years old, black and wearing gray clothing, the sergeant said. They were armed with a handgun, and both fled the area on bicycles.

Anyone with information is asked to call the sheriff's Temple Station.

DUARTE -- Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich Friday offered a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of a hit-and-run driver who fatally struck an 86-year-old man in front of his home.
Longtime Duarte resident and father of 12 Gabriel Barragan Abundio died at the scene of the crash, which took place about 5:30 p.m. Wednesday in the 18000 block of Buena Vista Street, Los Angeles County sheriff's officials said.
A retired horse groom, Abundio was walking home from a bus stop after Christmas shopping when he was fatally struck by a vehicle described only as black, which then fled the scene, investigators and family members said.
Supervisor Antonovich offered a $10,000 reward Friday for information leading to the capture of the hit-and-run driver.
Anyone with information is asked to call the sheriff's Temple Station.

DUARTE -- Authorities asked the public's help Thursday in tracking down a hit-and-run driver who fatally struck an 86-year-old Duarte man in front of his home as he returned from Christmas shopping.
Gabriel Barragan Abundio died at the scene of the crash, which was reported about 5:30 p.m. Wednesday in the 18000 block of Buena Vista Street, near Duarte Road, Los Angeles County sheriff's Sgt. Sidra Strong said.
A longtime resident of Duarte and former horse groom and Santa Anita Park and other area racetracks, he is survived by 12 children -- six daughters and six sons -- as well as dozens of grandchildren and great grandchildren, his son, Silvester Barragan said.
"My father was a good man," he said. "Everybody knows him."
Abundio was crossing west across the street mid-block in the residential neighborhood when he was struck by a southbound vehicle, Strong said. That vehicle, which officials described only as dark in color, then fled the scene.
Barragan said his father was walking home from a nearby bus stop after a Christmas shopping trip to the Westfield Santa Anita Shopping Mall in Arcadia when he was struck. One of his daughters was cooking dinner for him at his apartment.
He added that his father, who was in good health, enjoyed life.
"He liked to say hi to everybody," Barragan said. "He enjoyed a lot of walking. He tried to live a peaceful life."
Born and raised in Oaxaca, Mexico, Abundio moved to California in the late 1960s and brought his family to Duarte in 1976, Barragan said.
Through his career as a groom at Santa Anita Park, Hollywood Park and the Del Mar Racetrack, Abundio met many famous jockeys and trainers, his son added.
Barragan said he was shocked that the "ruthless" driver did not stop to help his badly injured father after striking him.
"My father had a broken skull," he said. "I wish the guy who did the damage would turn himself in."
Anyone with information is asked to call the sheriff's Temple Station.

DUARTE -- Authorities Wednesday released the name of an 87-year-old Duarte woman who was fatally struck by a car while crossing Huntington Drive.
Guadalupe Maria Rocha was pronounced dead at Methodist Hospital in Arcadia shortly after Tuesday's 5:20 p.m. accident on Huntington Drive, west of Highland Avenue, Los Angeles County sheriff's Sgt. Jeff Walker said.
The initial investigation revealed Rocha was crossing southbound across Huntington when she stepped of a center median and into the path of an eastbound Honda Accord being driven by a 50-year-old woman, the sergeant said.
The driver was unable to stop in time and struck Rocha, police said.
Nothing criminal was suspected, Walker said, and the driver was not cited or arrested.

Nearly 20 cops from the Los Angeles area and New York are preparing to trade blows in an annual boxing match to benefit cancer research at City of Hope.
The "17th Annual Fight for Life" will take place at 6 p.m. Thursday at Quiet Cannon, 901 N. Via San Clemente, Montebello.
The boxing match will pit men and women from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department and Los Angeles police officers against their counterparts at the New York Police Department to raise money for the City of Hope in Duarte, a national leader in the fight against cancer.
Sheriff Lee Baca, Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck and New York police Lt. Dave Siev and the fighters met with hospital officials Wednesday in advance of the bouts.
"Through your efforts and your partnership, you enable City of Hope to do research that saves lives," City of Hope Senior Vice President of Development Alan Levey told the deputies and officers.
Funds raised by Fight for Life -- nearly $1 million to date -- allow researchers to transform new ideas into life-saving cures, he added.
Baca said he was pleased his department was able to help.
"We're not only enforcing the law," he said, "We're also helping children regain themselves and have a future," he said.
Fight for Life began in 1994 after some deputies in East Los Angeles befriended 9-year-old cancer patient, Joshua Moreno.
Though Moreno died of his disease in 1994, the charity event he inspired continues on.
New York police officers have taken part in Fight for Life before, most recently seven years ago, officials said. Their participation this year is due to an invitation from the LAPD.
"I put out an offer that the NYPD would fight anyone for charity," Siev said. "LAPD took me up on the offer."
As Chief Beck's officers prepared to trade blows, he said the more challenging battle is the one City of Hope researched take on daily. "The toughest fights are going on on this campus today."
Nine fights are expected to take place, including at least one between female fighters. The majority of bouts will place East Coast and West Coast cops in opposite corners of the ring, however LAPD and the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department are scheduled to clash in at least two fights.
Tickets are available through the Sheriff's Relief Association of Los Angeles County at 562-946-7081, or through the Los Angeles Police Protective League at 213-251-4554. Tickets start at $25, with reserved seating starting at $50 and ringside seats for $100.

PHOTO: Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck(rear, center),  flanked to his
right by New York Police Lt. Dave Siev and Los Angeles County Sheriff
Lee Baca, pose for a picture with LAPD, NYPD and LASD deputies and
officers at City of Hope in Duarte on Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2010. The
officers and deputies will be boxing in the "Fight for Life"
tournament on Thursday, Nov. 18, 2010, in Montebello, to raise money
for City of Hope.

From the Associated Press:

LONDON -- A British judge has sentenced a former Roman Catholic priest arrested in Duarte last year to 21 years in jail after he was convicted of 21 charges of sexual offenses against boys.
James Robinson, 73, had denied the charges. He was accused of abusing boys from 1959 to 1983. He was ordained in 1971.
Judge Patrick Thomas described Robinson on Friday as devious and manipulative. Thomas says "the offenses you committed were unimaginably wicked and caused immense and long-lasting -- we can only hope not permanent -- damage to the six victims."
Robinson left Britain in 1985 and moved to California.
Police issued an arrest warrant against him after he was tracked down by a BBC program and challenged in person by one of his accusers.
After being arrested last year in Duarte, he was extradited back to the UK to face trial.

PASADENA -- A Duarte elementary school teacher pleaded not guilty Friday to charges that he molested seven current and formers students over the past twelve years.
Wade Bughman, 41, of Monrovia was a 6th grade teacher at Beardslee Elementary School in Duarte when Los Angeles County sheriff's officials began investigating him in April, sheriff's and Duarte Unified School District officials said.
Through his attorney, John Tyre, Bughman denied wrongdoing.
"At this point we're denying all allegations and anything that is alleged against him," Tyre said. "Obviously that's our position - that he didn't do anything."
Tyre declined to discuss the specifics of the case.
Bughman is charged with 11 felony counts of child molestation -- including continuous sexual abuse of a child under 14 and forcible rape -- for alleged molestations of girls between the ages of 7 and 12.
Prosecutor Debra Archuleta could not be reached for comment Friday.
He was put on leave from his position at the elementary school as soon as the investigation began, DUSD officials said. He taught several grade levels since he began working for the school in 1993.
Bughman was arrested June 17 at his parents' home in Apple Valley, sheriff's spokesman Steve Whitmore said.
Pasadena Superior Court Judge Terry Smerling reduced Bughman's bail from $2.1 million to $700,000, Tyre said.
Tyre said he didn't know of Bughman would be able to raise that amount.
Bughman is due back in Pasadena Superior Court July 29, where attorneys will set a date for a preliminary hearing, Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office spokeswoman Shiara Davila-Morales said.
In a preliminary hearing, lawyers for the prosecution and defense present their cases to a judge, who decides whether there is sufficient evidence to require a defendant to stand trial.
Though the charges against Bughman date back to 1997, Whitmore said sheriff's officials suspect the molestations may go back further.
Anyone with information regarding the case was asked to call the sheriff's Special Victims Bureau, 866-247-5877.

PHOTO of Wade Bughman courtesy of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department