He’s baaaack — Most Wanted fugitive returned to US from Mexico

Emigdio Preciado,  whose picture has been on billboards, the FBI’s 10 Most Wanted List and the television program America’s Most Wanted, returned to the US Tuesday, according the the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. 

Here’s a portion of Ruby Gonzales’ story on the gang member’s return:
36418-preciado1-thumb-300x400-29963-thumb-200x266-29964.jpg

A Southside Whittier gang member on the run for nine years is back in Los Angeles county to face trial for shooting at two deputies during a Sept. 5, 2000 traffic stop.

Norwalk Station Deputy Michael Schaap was shot in the forehead while Deputy David Timberlake wasn’t injured during the shooting. Schaap underwent rehabilitation and had to learn how to walk and talk again.

The FBI brought back Emigdio Preciado Jr. on Tuesday from Mexico, according to Sheriff’s Capt. Mike Parker in a written statement.

He said Preciado is scheduled to appear Thursday in Whittier Superior Court.

According to FBI spokeswoman Laura Eimiller, Preciado was extradited to the U.S. and handed over to FBI agents at the border in Brownsville, Texas on Tuesday morning. The 39-year-old was flown to Los Angeles International Airport under FBI escort in the afternoon where he was handed over to sheriff’s detectives.

“The Sheriff’s Department and the people of Los Angeles County express their gratitude to the FBI and Mexican law enforcement authorities for their tireless efforts to return Preciado to Los Angeles County,” Parker said.

The shooting happened on Gunn Avenue, north of Mulberry Drive in the county area of Whittier. Schaap and Timberlake tried to pull over a 1979 Chevrolet van for a burned-out headlight when Preciado allegedly fired at the two with an AK-47 assault rifle.

Detectives said Preciado was wanted for violating parole and didn’t want to return to prison.

Facebook Twitter Reddit Tumblr Linkedin Email

Vandals target Whittier synagogue

There’s three swastikas painted on the side of the Temple Beth Shalom, but the cops don’t think its a hate crime:

WHITTIER – Vandals painted graffiti – including a swastika – on the main building at Temple Beth Shalom over the weekend, officials said Monday.

At this point in the investigation, the incident is not being labeled a hate crime, said Sgt. Craig Harman of the Norwalk Sheriff’s Station.

“Not to diminish the painting of a swastika on the synagogue, but it looks like it was just some punk kids who did this,” he said.

Herb Sussman, Beth Shalom boardmember agreed, saying he thinks it was gangs and not anti-semitic.

“Graffiti has popped up here before, and it’s been gang-related,” he said.  

Facebook Twitter Reddit Tumblr Linkedin Email

Woman with slit throat dumped in Whittier

WHITTIER – A woman who was beaten, had her throat slit and was left for dead this morning survived her harrowing ordeal.


She sought help by knocking on doors in the 6000 block of Altmark Avenue about 3 a.m. today.

Three El Monte men, who police said the victim knows, were later arrested.

The victim, a 20-year-old Bellflower woman, was able to describe the events to investigators before she was taken to County USC Medical Center. She underwent surgery and is in critical condition at the hospital.


View Woman dumped in a larger map

Facebook Twitter Reddit Tumblr Linkedin Email

Missing woman found dead in car

WHITTIER – A woman was found dead in the back seat of a car early this morning, deputies said.
The grisly discovery was made about 2:20 a.m. in the 11700 block of Santa Gertrudes Avenue which is in the unincorporated county area of Whittier.
Sheriff’s Sgt. Raul Gama said people passing by noticed a strange smell and saw the body in the back of the vehicle. He said it could be connected to a missing person’s case out of Pico Rivera.
There were no details released on the missing person.
Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau, which also handles missing persons, is investigating the case. Detectives couldn’t be reached for comment this morning.
Coroner’s officials haven’t identified the body yet and haven’t determined how long the body had been in the car before being discovered.

Facebook Twitter Reddit Tumblr Linkedin Email

Anna Nicole connections in Octomom’s hometown

This comes from the Associated Press:

Anna Nicole Smith’s lawyer-turned-boyfriend and a doctor surrendered to face charges that they conspired to provide the Playboy Playmate with thousands of prescription pills before her 2007 fatal overdose. A second doctor also is accused.

Howard K. Stern and Dr. Sandeep Kapoor were released late Thursday after posting $20,000 bond. Charges include conspiracy, unlawfully prescribing a controlled substance and prescribing, administering or dispensing a controlled substance to an addict, authorities said.

For booking photos of Stern and Kapoor, go to http://whittierpd.blogspot.com.

They were booked by the Whittier Police Department, according Whittier Police Officer Jason Zuhlke.

Stern and Kapoor were booked by the Whittier Police Thursday night. They each paid $20,000 bail and were released at 9:15, Zuhlke said.

Why the pair were booked in Whittier was not immediately clear.

Dr. Khristine Eroshevich was expected to surrender Monday. Her attorney, Adam Braun, acknowledged Eroshevich wrote some of the prescriptions using fictitious names for Smith, but it wasn’t intended to commit fraud.

Here’s what Whittier PD posted this a.m.:

On March 12th, 2009, Sandeep Kapoor(bottom) and Howard K. Stern(top) were booked at the Whittier Police Department at 7:13pm and 8:27pm, respectively. Both men were booked on warrants on behalf of the California Attorney General’s Office and released on $20,000 bail at 9:15pm. This represents the extent of the Whittier Police Department’s involvement in the case and any further inquiries may be directed to the Attorney General’s Office, specifically, Scott Gerber at (510) 502-3755
Facebook Twitter Reddit Tumblr Linkedin Email

Bizarre big rig hijacking on the 605

Who knows what this truck was carrying?

WHITTIER – Authorities are looking for a big rig towing a shipping container that was hijacked on a San Gabriel Valley freeway by three men who left the truck’s driver tied up on the side of the road.

California Highway Patrol Officer Joe Zizi says the driver had just picked up his cargo early Wednesday when he was forced over to the right shoulder by two other heavy trucks.

Three men got out of the trucks and took the driver’s big rig by force, binding his legs and leaving him on the road’s shoulder.

Highway patrol officers found the driver after receiving reports of a man bound by his legs limping along the side of the road.

The driver did not know what was inside the shipping container.

Facebook Twitter Reddit Tumblr Linkedin Email