No arrests made at Azusa Avenue police checkpoint

AZUSA — Police screened more than 1,000 cars that passed through an Azusa Avenue sobriety and driver license checkpoint late Saturday, yielding two unlicensed drivers but no intoxicated ones, officials said.
The checkpoint was was held beginning at 7 a.m. in the 800 block of South Azusa Avenue, just north of Arrow Highway, Azusa police Sgt. Andy Sutcliffe said.
Officers screened 1,029 of the 1,123 motorists who passed through the checkpoint, he said.
One driver was cited for driving without a license, officers cited and impounded the car of another driver for both being unlicensed and vehicle code violations approaching the checkpoint.
Several drivers were given field sobriety tests, but all passed, Sutcliffe said.

Bicyclist fatally struck by car in Pasadena

PASADENA — A man died Saturday after being stuck by a car while riding his bicycle, police said.
The fatal collision took place about 5:30 p.m at Del Mar Boulevard and Wilson Avenue, Pasadena police Lt. Cheryl Moody said.
The bicyclist, initially described as a man in his 30s, was taken to Huntington Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries, the lieutenant said.
The driver of the compact car involved in the crash remained at the scene and was cooperating with officers, Moody said.
No arrests were immediately made following the collision, she said. The investigation remained in it’s early stages.

Chino man injured, suspected of DUI following 60 Freeway crash in Walnut

WALNUT — A Chino man suffered major injuries and is suspected of drunken driving after rear-ending a big rig on the 60 Freeway, which then fled the scene early Saturday, authorities said.
Christopher Oviedo, 20, was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving and hospitalized in stable condition following the 6 a.m. crash on the westbound 60 Freeway, just east of Fairway Drive, California Highway Patrol Officer Adam Christopher said in a written statement.
He was driving a 2000 Jeep Cherokee at an unknown speed in the No. 3 lane prior to the crash, the officer said. A big rig was traveling ahead of Oviedo in the No. 4 lane.
“For an unknown reason, Mr. Oviedo turned his car to the right and entered the No. 4 lane where it collided with the rear of the big rig,” Christopher said.
The Jeep spun out of control and ended up crashing into the metal guardrail along the north side of the freeway, he said. He became trapped in the vehicle and had to be freed from the wreckage by Los Angeles County firefighters.
Oviedo, who was not wearing a seat belt, suffered “major facial injuries,” in the crash.
A description of the big rig was not available.
Witnesses were encouraged to contact the Baldwin Park office of the CHP during normal business hours at 626-338-1164. After hours, the CHP can be reached at 323-982-4900.

6-year-old girl bitten by loose pit bull in Azusa

AZUSA — A 6-year-old is expected to make a full recovery after she was attacked by a pit bull while walking with her grandmother Friday, authorities said.
The incident was reported about 5 p.m. in the 900 block of West First Street, Azusa police Sgt. Andy Sutcliffe said.
The girl and her grandmother were walking on the sidewalk when, “a pit bull terrier came from a yard on the south side of the street and bit her on the right side of her body near her rib cage,” Sutcliffe said.
“She received a relatively minor injury which required treatment by Los Angeles County Fire paramedics from Station 32, followed by transportation to a local hospital,” the sergeant added. “She is expected to make a full recovery.”
As police arrived to investigate the incident, they came upon two large brown pit bulls in the front yard of a home with a gate open, giving the dogs easy access to the street, Sutcliffe said.
One resident obeyed police commands to secure one of the dogs, he said, but another resident became argumentative and would not secure the second, larger pit bull.
“As the dog approached several officers who were standing near the open driveway gate, an officer shot it with a Taser while another applied a portable snare around his neck,” Sutcliffe said. The dog, which was not injured, was turned over to animal control officials, who were investigating the incident.
It was unclear Saturday which dog did the biting.
A determination regarding whether criminal charges would be filed hinged upon the investigation by the Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control.

Police: Man leaps to death from third floor of Pasadena parking structure

PASADENA — Suicide was suspected after a man apparently jumped to his death from the third floor of a parking structure early Saturday, police said.
The body of the man, described as a 22-year-old Los Angeles resident, was found about 4 a.m. on Fraser Alley at the base of a parking structure in the 00 block of De Lacey Avenue, Pasadena Lt. Jason Clawson said.
He was believed to have been drunking when he climbed to the third floor of the parking structure and apparently leapt from a stairwell, the lieutenant said.
No foul play was initially suspected, he said, however the Los Angeles County Department of Coroner planned an autopsy to determined the man’s official cause of death.

Whittier man and boys killed in head-on collision following 6th grade graduation party identified

FATALFOLO4

Coroner’s officials Saturday identified the man and two boys killed in a car crash in Industry while celebrating the boys’ sixth grade graduation.

Efren Velasquez, 22, Gilbert Enriquez Jr., 12 and Braulio Duque, 13, died in Thursday’s crash, which took place shortly before 9 p.m. on San Gabriel River Parkway, just south of Rose Hills Road, Los Angeles County Department of Coroner Lt. Cheryl MacWillie said.

Velasquez lived in Compton, though friends and family said he was born and raised in Whittier.

FULL STORY….

FBI searches Industry business

INDUSTRY — Federal search warrants were served at a local business Friday morning, FBI officials said.
FBI spokeswoman Arielle Dekofsky said the warrants served at 15305 Stafford Street were due to an ongoing investigation.
However, she didn’t say what the investigation was about and didn’t name the business.
There were reportedly no arrests.
The address comes back to IKON Motorsports Inc. which was incorporated on March 6, 2007, according to the California Secretary of State online records.
Company officials couldn’t be reached for comment Friday night.

- Ruby Gonzales

Reward offered for capture of ‘Luger Bandit’

Luger Bandit

Authorities on Friday asked for the public’s help in identifying and finding a serial bank robber dubbed “The Luger Bandit”.
They also released bank surveillance photos.
Bank of America and Wells Fargo are offering a combined reward of up to $15,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the robber.
The FBI gave the suspect the moniker “The Luger Bandit” due to the gun he uses which was described as a silver German Luger-style weapon.
The bandit robbed a Wells Fargo in Granada Hills on Jan. 3, a Wells Fargo in Fontana on Feb. 8, a Chase Bank in Mira Loma on March 12 and a Bank of America in Corona on June 4.
He is also tied to an attempted robbery of a Wells Fargo in San Dimas on March 8.
During each robbery, FBI spokeswoman Laura Eimiller said the suspect orders employees and customers to the ground, brandishes a weapon and demands cash in various denominations.
The bandit left empty-handed when he tried to rob the Wells Fargo at 925 W. Arrow Highway in San Dimas.
Deputies said an armed masked robber ordered everyone to the floor.
But once all the customers and the employees complied, there was no one left to hand over money. The robber left the bank.
Eimiller said witnesses have described the suspect’s vehicle as a charcoal gray BMW, 3-series with a sports package.
Bank surveillance photos show the the bandit wearing pullover sweatshirts with hoods as well as a face mask, sunglasses and black gloves to conceal his appearance.
He also carries a black bag with a strap during the robberies.
The suspect was described as a white man or Latino, 30 to 40, between 5 feet 8 inches and 6 feet in height and about 200 pounds.
Anyone with information on the identity or whereabouts of the bandit is asked to call the FBI or dial 9-1-1. In Los Angeles, the FBI can be reached 24 hours a day at 1-888-226-8443.

- Ruby Gonzales

PHOTO courtesy of the FBI

Five people bound and blindfolded in Arcadia home-invasion robbery

ARCADIA — Five people were bound and blindfolded, and two of them were beaten, during a home-invasion robbery late Thursday, police said.
The violent robbery took place shortly before 11:45 p.m. at a home in the 500 block of East Norman Avenue, Arcadia police Lt. Roy Nakamura said in a written statement.
The victims were two men and three women, ranging in age from 19 to 33, Sgt. Kollin Cieadlo said.
“There were initially two victims at the residence who were tied up and blindfolded as the suspects ransacked the home,” Nakamura said. “Three additional victims arrived home at the residence while the crime was in progress and they too were tied up and blindfolded.”
Five robbers took part in the crime, at least one of whom was armed with a handgun, police said. A further suspect description was not available Friday.
The two men were struck by the robbers during the robbery and were treated by paramedics at the scene for minor injuries, Nakamura said.
Stolen were the victims’ passports, laptops and other electronics, jewelry and cash, the lieutenant said.
The robbers took the victims’ car keys, though their cars were not stolen.
Anyone with information was asked to contact Arcadia police at 626-574-5150. Tips may also be submitted anonymously by contacting L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477.

La Puente man killed in West Covina crash identified

WEST COVINA — Authorities Friday released the name of an 83-year-old La Puente man killed in a two-vehicle crash on Shadow Oak Drive.
Carmen Manriquez died in the crash, which occurred just after 9:30 a.m. Thursday at Shadow Oak and Shakespeare drives, Los Angeles County Department of Coroner Assistant Chief of Operations Ed Winter said.
He was driving a Ford Focus that collided with a Honda Pilot in the intersection, West Covina police Lt. Pat Cirrito said.
Manriquez was turning left from northbound Shakespeare Drive to westbound Shadow Oak, he said.
The Honda, which was being driven west on Shadow Oak Drive by a woman in her early-20s, collided with the Focus, officials said. Paramedics pronounced Manriquez dead at the scene.
The cause of the crash remained under investigation, however nothing criminal was initially suspected, Cirrito said.