Recently in Montebello Category

MONTBELLO -- In response to the shooting death of a 19-year-old man at a Montebello park last week, Montebello police searched 19 locations and arrested three people in a sweep Wednesday, police said.
Officials served arrest and search warrants, conducted probation and parole compliance checks and carried out code enforcement investigations during the operation, Montebello police Sgt. Luis Lopez said in a written statement.
Three young men, whose names were not released due to an ongoing investigation, were booked on suspicion of possession of narcotics for sale and outstanding warrants, Lopez said. None of the three jailed Wednesday were suspected of being directly involved in the recent homicide.
Raymond Camberos died as paramedics rushed him to the hospital after he was shot March 11 at Reggie Rodriguez Park, authorities said.
Police and family members of Camberos said he was playing basketball at the park when he was attacked by three unidentified young men.
Camberos is survived by a 1-year-old son.
Wednesday's sweep, "was conducted in response to the homicide," Lopez said.
"The Montebello Police Department will continue to follow every lead and use all available resources to apprehend the persons involved in the killing of Raymond Anthony Camberos," he said.
In addition to Montebello officials, Lopez said, county probation and state parole officials participated in the sweep.

MONTEBELLO -- Authorities are asking the public's help in finding an autistic Montebello man who went missing more than a week ago.
David Allen Kelty, 44, was last seen by his caretaker on Jan. 13, Montebello police said in a written statement.
He suffers from autism, though he is able to care for himself, police said. He also requires daily medication for a blood-clotting condition.
"He frequents the Montebello Bus Lines and is known to travel throughout Southern California," according to the police statement.
Foul play is not suspected, police added.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Montebello Police Department.

PHOTO of David Kelty courtesy of the Montebello Police Department.

MONTEBELLO - A young man was shot and dropped off at a local hospital Wednesday, police said.
The man was shot at about 7:38 p.m. in the 100 block of W. Madison Avenue and then dropped off at Beverly Hospital by an unknown person, Montebello police Sgt. Ismael Navarro said.
The man, who was in his late teens, was expected to survive, the sergeant said.
Further details of the shooting were not immediately available, and detectives continued interviewing witnesses Thursday, Ismael said.
A motive in the attack remained under investigation, he said, though it initially appeared related to gangs or tagging.

MONTBELLO -- Police released a composite sketch Wednesday of a woman involved in the kidnapping for ransom of a motel worker in Montebello last month.
The woman was one of four kidnappers who abducted a female motel employee on Dec. 30 from the Quality Inn, 7709 Telegraph Road, Montebello police Sgt. Luis Lopez said in a written statement.
A woman pretended to be interested in renting a room at the motel and convinced the victim to accompany her to the parking lot, police said.
"The victim was pushed into the suspect vehicle," Lopez said. "Once in the vehicle, the victim was bound and blindfolded."
The kidnappers then demanded a ransom, police said.
The victim called fellow employees, explained she had been kidnapped and asked them to retrieve her personal checkbook and cash a large personal check for her. The employees called police.
The worker was dropped off several hours in the city of Inglewood with minor minor injuries to her face, Lopez said. The kidnappers fled with only some cell phones that belonged to the woman.
The woman who lured the victim and is featured in the composite sketch was described as a Latino woman in her early 30s, about 5 feet tall, 130-135 pounds, with short brown curly hair and dark eyes, officials said. She wore a purple or violet winter jacket.
Another woman, described as Latino and in her 30s with long, dark hair and a skinny face, police said. She wore a knitted hat.
Another woman and a driver were also inside the van, Lopez said, though no further description of them was available.
The suspects' van was described as a metallic-green minivan.
Anyone with information about the crime is asked to call Montebello police Detective J. Martinez at (323) 887-1250. After hours, Montebello police can be reached at (323) 887-1313.

MONTEBELLO -- A would-be robber fled empty-handed Saturday after trying to rob a man of a laptop computer, police said.
The crime occurred about 4 p.m. in the 3500 block of West Via Corona Street, Montebello police Lt. Brad Keller said.
The victim, a man in his 20s, was sitting on the sidewalk working on his laptop computer when another man approached on a bicycle, the lieutenant said.
The failed robber got off of the bike and tried to forcefully take the laptop, he said, but the victim held on during a brief struggle and the crook ultimately gave up and fled on his bicycle.
Police described the robber as a Latino man, about 5 feet 7 inches tall, about 150 pounds, with a shaved head. He wore a blue sweat shirt.
Keller added that the victim was not hurt during the confrontation.

MONTEBELLO -- A man and woman kidnapped a motel worker Wednesday and unsuccessfully tried to hold her for ransom before releasing her, police said.
The crime occurred shortly before 1 p.m. at the Quality Inn, 7709 Telegraph Road, as a female motel employee was showing a banquet room at the motel to another woman who claimed to be interested in renting it, Montebello police said in a written statement.
The woman told the employee, who was in her 50s, she wanted to see the parking lot, Montebello police Sgt. Luis Lopez said.
"When the victim and suspect went outside to the parking lot, the victim was pushed into the suspect vehicle," according to the police statement. "Once in the vehicle, the victim was bound and blindfolded."
The vehicle -- a gray or green minivan -- had a man waiting behind the wheel.
A short time later, the kidnapped employee called co-workers, told them what had happened and asked them to retrieve her personal checkbook and cash a check for a "large amount" of money for ransom, Lopez said. The co-workers then called police.
The woman was released by her captors in Inglewood with minor injuries to her face about three hours later, Lopez said. The kidnappers received no money.
The female kidnapper was described as a Latino woman in her 30s, about 5 feet tall, 160 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. The driver was described only as a Latino man.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Montebello Police Department Crimes Against Persons Bureau at (323) 887-1262.

Controversial and unpopular Police Chief Dan Weast was placed on Admin leave in Montebello by interim City Administrator Randy Narramore.

A woman was hospitalized and expected to face charges after allegedly leading Monterey Park police on a chase that ended in a crash in Montebello, authorities said.
Jacqueline Ruiz, 24, was taken to Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center with injuries that appeared to be life-threatening, Monterey Park police Lt. Tina Montoya said.
She was expected to be charged with petty theft with a prior conviction, felony evading and narcotics possession, the lieutenant said.
The incident began shortly before 8 a.m. when the an employee at Rite Aid, 2150 S. Atlantic Blvd., called police to report a woman had just stolen items from the store and fled in a car, Montoya said.
Police found the BMW on Atlantic Avenue and Ruiz allegedly led officers on a chase to Montebello.
When the pursuit reached Via Campo and Garfield Avenue in Montebello, Montoya said, Ruiz made an abrupt turn to the right and struck two other vehicles.
Montebello police Lt. Brian Bart said two other drivers suffered minor injuries in the crash.

MONTEBELLO -- Police asked the public's help Wednesday in finding a 16-year-old girl believed to have run away with her boyfriend nearly two weeks ago.
Christy Gomez was last seen Nov. 13 when she was dropped off in the morning at Schurr High School, 820 N. Wilcox Ave., Montebello police said in a written statement.
No foul play is suspected and police believe Gomez ran away with her boyfriend, the statement said, however officials are growing concerned because of the length of time she has been gone.
Police believe Gomez may be staying in the Fontana area.She is described as 5 feet 9 inches tall, about 210 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Montebello Police Department.

PHOTO of Christy Gomez couresy of the Montebello Police Department

MONTEBELLO - Police are looking for whoever broke into a Best Buy store early Friday and helped themselves to about $50,000 worth of Sony PlayStation 3 video game systems and other electronics.
The burglary occurred in the early morning hours at Best Buy, 2415 Via Campo, Montebello police said in a written statement.
Police believe at least two suspects entered the store by making a hole in the wall of an empty business next door.
They stole PlayStation 3 video game systems, as well as other video game equipment, police said.
No description of the burglars was available.
Police ask that anyone who sees someone selling large quantities of PlayStation 3 consoles, other than a reputable business, is asked to call the Montebello Police Department.

MONTEBELLO -- A Montebello Transit bus collided with a car Wednesday, officials said, injuring five people on the bus and the driver of the other car.
The crash occurred about 4 p.m. at Whittier Boulevard and Bluff Road, Montebello police Lt. Greg Sells said.
Five people on the bus apparently suffered minor injuries, while the driver of the car suffered minor-to-moderate injuries, the lieutenant said.
Officials said the circumstances and cause of the crash were being investigated late Wednesday by traffic investigators from the Montebello Police Department.

From a Montebello Police Department press release -- notice how the police omit the name Norma Lambo from their press release...Ms. Lambo, has been called by some Motebello's matriarch...

  The Montebello Police Department is pleased to announce that an arrest has been made in the fatal hit and run that occurred on October 5, 2009 - on Jefferson Blvd. and Alfred Place, in the City of Montebello. 

      The investigation included the Montebello Police Department's Investigations Bureau, Special Investigations Unit, Crime Suppression Unit and the Traffic Bureau.  As a result of the a tireless investigation that included numerous follow ups, interviews, canvassing, research and information received from the public, the vehicle and alleged driver in this case was identified, located and subsequently arrested.  The vehicle was located in a local auto body shop and was in the process of being repaired.  An additional suspect was arrested in connection with this case as an accessory in this crime.  The vehicle and additional evidence was processed by the Los Angles County Sheriffs - Scientific Services Bureau. 

      The driver David Louis Lorea, 36 a resident of Montebello was charged with 20001 (b) (2) CVC and McArthur Gutierrez Mutuz 39 of San Gabriel was charged with 32 P.C.  Both are housed in the Montebello City Jail pending a court appearance.   

   This case was solved by utilizing sound investigation techniques and by the information that was received from the community.  This is a classic example of how by partnering together, the Community and Police Department can make the community safer.   

Any additional information can be obtained by contacting Sgt. Luis Lopez at (323) 887-1297

From KCBS/KCAL

MONTEBELLO, Calif. (CBS) ― Police were searching for the driver of a pickup truck who struck and killed an 84-year-old woman as she walked her dog in the Los Angeles suburb of Montebello.

Police Lt. Brian Bart said 84-year-old Norma Lambo was struck at 6:12 p.m. Monday and pronounced dead at the scene. The driver kept going after the crash.

Friends and loved ones said Lambo was well-loved and respected for her generosity in the Montebello community. The victim was the widow of former Montebello City Clerk Andrew T. Lambo.

The pickup was described as a white Chevrolet Silverado extended cab with two doors, a tinted back window, chrome rims and a chrome front bumper that was apparently damaged in the crash and was last seen dragging on the street.

MONTEBELLO -- Police jailed two men Friday on suspicion of stealing a car, authorities said.
Christopher De La Rosa, 19, of Montebello and Kenny Guadamuz, 21, of Victorville, were booked on suspicion of auto theft, Montebello police Lt. Brad Keller said.
Officers followed a signal from a LoJack anti-theft device and discovered the car, which had been stolen earlier in the day in Montebello, shortly after 1 p.m. at Greenwood Avenue and Date Street, the lieutenant said.
Police watched the car and arrested De La Rosa and Guadamuz when they approached, Keller said.
According to sheriff's booking records, De La Rosa was being held in lieu of $330,000 bail, and Guadamuz was being held in lieu of $25,000 bail. Both men are due in East Los Angeles Superior Court Tuesday for arraignment.