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MONTBELLO -- A doctor was arrested Wednesday for allegedly molesting a female patient at Kaiser Permanente's Montebello Medical Offices.

MONTEBELLO - The Pomona (60) Freeway opened in both directions at 3:15 p.m. Saturday for the first time since Wednesday.

Traffic in the westbound lanes of the freeway had opened at 11:08 a.m. Saturday, according to Caltrans officials.

The freeway had been closed since the tanker truck exploded and caught fire beneath the Paramount Boulevard overpass.

Before the eastbound side could open, workers had to put the finishing touches on scorched roadway.

Overnight work will continue to affect westbound lanes of the 60 Freeway at Paramount Boulevard as crews demolish the portion of the bridge over the westbound lanes.

MONTEBELLO -- For the first time since Wednesday, motorists were able to drive on the 60 Freeway through Montebello Saturday, though only in one direction.
The westbound lanes of the freeway, which has been closed in both directions since Wednesday's tanker truck fire beneath the Paramount Boulevard overpass, reopened to traffic just after 11 a.m., according to Caltrans and CHP officials.
The eastbound lanes of the freeway were expected to reopen by 5 p.m. Saturday, Caltrans spokesman Patrick Chandler said.
"The westbound lanes are now open," he said.
On  the eastbound side, workers were putting the finishing touches on scorched roadway.
"We have to let the concrete cure and harden on the eastbound lanes," Chandler said. "Then we should be able to open it."
The announcement came as an unexpected surprise to motorists, as Caltrans officials had reported just Saturday morning that the closure would continue through Sunday evening.
Overnight work will continue to affect westbound lanes of the 60 Freeway at Paramount Boulevard as crews demolish the portion of the bridge over the westbound lanes, which was previously thought to be structurally sound, officials said.
"Demolition of the bridge over the westbound SR-60 could begin late Sunday evening," Caltrans officials said in a written statement. "The demolition of the bridge will occur from from Sunday evening to Tuesday, between the hours of 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. Up to two lanes of the eastbound SR-60 will be closed and the westbound SR-60 will be entirely closed near the area."
Montebello Police Chief Kevin McClure said he was pleased and relieved to hear the freeway near resuming normal operation.
"We are very happy," he said. "Obviously, it's put a great deal of stress on our resources in the city."
"It was a huge impact on businesses here at the mall, the Montebello Town Center," he added.
McClure thanked city, county and state officials for their hard work in recent days.
"Everybody's been working around the clock. It's good to have it back open," he said.

MONTEBELLO -- The 60 Freeway closure caused by Wednesday's tanker truck fire beneath the Paramount Boulevard overpass is now expected to last through Sunday evening, and partial closures could continue through Tuesday, Caltrans announced Saturday.
Officials had previously said they hoped to reopen both directions of the freeway, which remain closed between Rosemead Boulevard and the 605 Freeway, by Saturday afternoon, however the time frame was revised Saturday morning.
"The California Department of Transportation is working to re-open both directions of the Pomona Freeway to traffic by Sunday evening," Caltrans spokesman Patrick Chandler said in a written statement. "Closures are subject to change."
The Paramount Boulevard bridge hanging above the westbound lanes of traffic will need to be demolished, Caltrans officials said Saturday. Authorities previously said it appeared only the eastbound side would have to be torn down, which has already taken place.
"Demolition of the bridge over the westbound SR-60 could begin late Sunday evening," Chandler said. "The demolition of the bridge will occur from from Sunday evening to Tuesday, between the hours of 11 p.m. and5 a.m. Up to two lanes of the eastbound SR-60 will be closed and the westbound SR-60 will be entirely closed near the area."
Traffic moved slowly Saturday morning on the westbound 10 Freeway from the 605 Freeway into Monterey Park, as the freeway remained the prime alternate route to get around the closure.

MONTBELLO - Commuters will have to continue to find alternate routes around the 60 Freeway through Saturday at least as transportation officials ran into obstacles in an effort to demolish a bridge over the freeway, officials said.
The bridge that hangs over the 60 Freeway at the Paramount exit was damaged after a tanker truck exploded in flames underneath, damaging at least the side of the bridge hanging over the eastbound side of the freeway.
Both sides of the freeway have been closed since Wednesday, causing long delays in traffic in side streets around the 60 Freeway, on the 10 Freeway, and the 605 and 710 Freeeway.
The discovery of asbestos encased AT&T fiber optic and telephone wires pushed the expected reopening of the 60 Freeway between the 605 and 710 freeways back to Saturday at the earliest, California Highway Patrol Officer Doris Peniche said.
Demolition has begun on the collapsed portion of the Paramount Boulevard overpass above the eastbound lanes of the 60 Freeway, where the truck fire was centered, officials said.
Caltrans officials announced Friday that the portion of the bridge over the westbound lanes of the freeway would not need to be demolished.
Had that been the case, the closure could have lasted through the weekend and potentially into next week, authorities said.
Meanwhile on the roads and freeways, "(Traffic) is still pretty bad out there," CHP Officer Francisco Villalobos said. "It's not going to be your typicial Friday light this morning. We do tell people to give yourselves extra time, and bring along lots of patience."
The westbound 10 Freeway was jammed early Friday from Vincent Avenue in West Covina to the 710 Freeway, as it continued to be commuters primary route around the 60 closure. Traffic was flowing clearly from the 57 Freeway to Vincent, where it was gridlocked Thursday morning.
The westbound 210 Freeway provided a slow ride between the 57 Freeway and Pasadena, and traffic became jammed between Irwindale Avenue in Irwindale and Santa Anita Avenue in Arcadia.
Surface street alternatives to the 60 Freeway, such as Garvey Avenue, Whittier Boulevard and Beverly Boulevard continued running slower-than-usal as well.

MONTEBELLO -- A thief or thieves have destroyed the 24-year-old Constitution Bicentennial Monument at City Park, apparently in order to steal and recycle the brass plaques that adorned it, authorities said.
The theft was discovered by a city employee early Saturday at the park, 1301 W. Whittier Blvd., Montebello police officials said, Montebello police officials said.
The stolen plaques measure about four feet by two feet and bear the preamble to the U.S. Constitution and its articles is on one of the metal plates. It was installed to commemorate the bicentennial of the Constitution in 1987.
"This crime is senseless and disrespectful, Montebello police Lt. Andy Vuncanon said.
The suspect or suspects also caused damage to the marble fixture that held the plaques, Vuncanon added.
"The whole memorial is ruined because of that," Lt. Michael Bergman added. "It's just a shame that they would steal and vandalize the property that belongs to the citizens of Montebello just for the purpose of financial gain. There's quite a bit of meaning in those plaques that's disrespected the the theft and damage to city property."
Authorities believed the plaques were taken in order to recycle their brass for cash.
No one has reported seeing or hearing the theft, investigators said.
Detectives are "actively seeking any leads," Bergman said. Officials are checking nearby surveillance cameras for any indications of the theft.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Montebello Police Detective Bureau at 323-887-1262.

MONTEBELLO -- Authorities are investigating the death of a man whose body was found on a Montebello sidewalk early Saturday.
The man's name was not released pending notification of his family, Montebello police Lt. Luis Lopez said. He was initially described as a Los Angeles man in his 40s.
At the outset of the investigation, "There doesn't appear to be any foul play," the lieutenant said.
"We responded to a call of a man down at Lincoln and Howard (avenues)," Lopez said. "He was found lying on the south sidewalk."
The initial report was made by a local resident out for a morning walk, he said.
Paramedics pronounced the man man dead at the scene, police said.
The body showed signs of significant trauma on the head that appeared consistent with a fall to the ground, Lopez said.
"Preliminarily, robbery can be ruled out," he said. "He had all of his belongings. It looks as though he may have just fallen."
Coroner's investigators will perform an autopsy to determine whether the man died as the result of the fall, or something else.

WHITTIER -- A failed robbery at a Chase bank branch in Uptown Whittier Wednesday is believed to be the work of a serial robber dubbed the "Black and Blue Bandit," according to the FBI.
He's been linked to robberies and attempted robberies at banks in Whittier, Montebello and Downey. He was given his moniker because he wears arm slings, knee and arm braces and Band-Aids during the crimes, FBI spokeswoman Laura Eimiller said.
Wednesday's robbery was reported at 5:01 p.m. at the bank, 13103 E. Philadelphia Street, Whittier police officials confirmed Friday.
The suspect entered the bank and passed a note to a teller demanding money, Whittier police Sgt. Jim De Masi said.
He fled the bank on foot without receiving any money, the sergeant said. "No weapon was seen."
Whittier police said the robber wore a Band-Aid on his right cheek during the crime.
The Black and Blue Bandit has also been linked to a Nov. 12 robbery at a Chase bank branch at 896 Beverly Blvd., Eimiller said.
In that case, the robber pretended to have a weapon as he handed a teller a note demanding $4,000, Montebello police Lt. Rick Rojas said shortly after the heist.
The teller went to a back room, claiming he was going to retrieve the money for the bandit, Rojas said. The teller activated a silent alarm instead.
The robber apparently became nervous and ran from the bank without any cash, police said. He was last seen headed east from the bank.
Witnesses told police the bandit was dressed in blue medical scrubs and wore a blue baseball cap and kept one of his arms in a blue sling, Rojas said. He also has blue eyes.
FBI officials said the Black and Blue Bandit had previously made an Oct. 20 visit to the Bank of America branch, 10010 Paramount Blvd. in Downey.
In that robbery, a handgun was seen tucked into his waistband, and the robber fled with about $3,300, Downey police Detective Maria Villegas said.
The FBI described the bandit as a white man in his 40s, about 5-feet 9-inches tall, 175 pounds, with acne scars on his face.
Anyone with information is asked to call the FBI's Los Angeles 24-hour line at 800-226-8883.

SURVEILLANCE photos courtesy of the FBI

MONTEBELLO -- Police arrested one man and sought another Monday after an armed robbery at a cell phone store, police said.
Parolee Ruben Arreola, 28, of Los Angeles was booked on suspicion of robbery, Montebello police Lt. Rick Rojas said. A second robber remained at large.
The robbery was reported just before noon at Metro PCS, 2300 W. Beverly Blvd., the lieutenant said.
"Two suspects entered the store with a knife and a handgun," he said. "A store employee was forced to lie on the ground as they proceeded to take cell phones, cell phone accessories, about $400 in currency, and the employees' cell phone."
The men then ran from the store, and nearby detectives spotted Arreola near the scene and arrested him without a struggle, Rojas said. Property believed stolen in the robbery was found in his possession, however a weapon was not.
Police searched for the other robber with no success, Rojas said. He was described as a Latino man in his 20s, of light complexion, bearing a blue or green sweater, blue jeans, a beanie and a black backpack.
Anyone with information on the outstanding suspect is asked to call Montebello police detectives at 323-887-1262.
According to county booking records, Arreola was being held without bail and was due for arraignment Wednesday in East Los Angeles Superior Court.
MONTEBELLO -- Police arrested one man and sought another Monday after an armed robbery at a cell phone store, police said.
Parolee Ruben Arreola, 28, of Los Angeles was booked on suspicion of robbery, Montebello police Lt. Rick Rojas said. A second robber remained at large.
The robbery was reported just before noon at Metro PCS, 2300 W. Beverly Blvd., the lieutenant said.
"Two suspects entered the store with a knife and a handgun," he said. "A store employee was forced to lie on the ground as they proceeded to take cell phones, cell phone accessories, about $400 in currency, and the employees' cell phone."
The men then ran from the store, and nearby detectives spotted Arreola near the scene and arrested him without a struggle, Rojas said. Property believed stolen in the robbery was found in his possession, however a weapon was not.
Police searched for the other robber with no success, Rojas said. He was described as a Latino man in his 20s, of light complexion, bearing a blue or green sweater, blue jeans, a beanie and a black backpack.
Anyone with information on the outstanding suspect is asked to call Montebello police detectives at 323-887-1262.
According to county booking records, Arreola was being held without bail and was due for arraignment Wednesday in East Los Angeles Superior Court.