Monthly Archives: January 2017

El Monte man accused of trying to arrange sex with teen in South Whittier

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SOUTH WHITTIER >> Deputies jailed an El Monte man this week after showed up in South Whittier to meet who he believed was a 15-year-old girl for sex, but was instead greeted by detectives, officials said.
Pedro Ivan Reyes-Peralta, 21, was booked on suspicion of arranging a meeting with a juvenile for a lewd act or purpose, and contacting a minor to commit a sex crime, following his arrest on Wednesday, according to Los Angeles County sheriff’s officials and booking records.
(Reyes-Peralta) began communicating with an undercover detective on Tuesday, after he posted a Craigslist ad seeking sex,” Lt. Kent Wegener of the sheriff’s Human Trafficking Bureau said in a written statement. “The detective was posing as a 15 year-old girl and it was made clear that she was under age.”
After additional online communication, Reyes-Peralta arranged a meeting in South Whittier, Wegener said. He was arrested upon arrival.
“The suspect implicated himself during subsequent questioning,” the lieutenant added.
Sgt. Peter Hahn offered some words of caution for parents.
“Social media sites can be very hazardous places for minors. “Predators are actively seeing juveniles to exploit and victimize, since they believe they are hidden by the anonymous nature of the internet,” he said. “Parents are reminded to actively monitor the internet activity of their children, to prevent anyone from taking advantage of them.”
Reyes-Peralta was being held in lieu of $75,000 bail pending his initial court appearance, records show.

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Envelope filled with powder draws bomb squad to La Habra police station

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LA HABRA >> A bomb squad responded to the La Habra Police Department on Thursday after a residents brought in an envelope containing an unknown white powder — ultimately determined to be baby powder — that they received in the mail.
The incident began about 2:45 p.m., when two people arrived at the front counter of the police station, 150 N. Euclid Street.
“They indicated they had picked up their mail from their post office box, which is located in the city of La Habra, and returned home,” La Habra police officials said in a written statement. “At approximately 11:30 a.m., they opened the envelope, from an unknown sender, and an unknown white powdery substance spilled out.”
The concerned residents contacted the post office, which, in turn, referred them to the La Habra Police Department.
“Due to the unknown nature of the substance, as a precautionary measure, a containment area encompassing the police department was established and Los Angeles County Fire Department contacted,” according to the statement.
An Orange County Fire Department bomb squad determined about 5 p.m. that the powder in question was, in fact, baby powder.

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GPS tracker hidden amid cash leads officer to Arcadia restaurant burglary suspects

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ARCADIA >> Police arrested four suspects in an Arcadia restaurant burglary earlier this week after a GPS tracking device hidden amonf the stolen cash led officers straight to them, authorities said.
The burglary took place early Tuesday at a restaurant in the 1000 block of South Baldwin Avenue, Arcadia police spokesman Tom Le Veque said in a written statement.
“They smashed the glass on the front door, disabled a CCTV camera, and made off with the cash drawer,” he said. The four suspects then fled in a car.
Unknown to the burglars, however, a GPS tracking device was hidden amid the cash in the register.
“The GPS device led officers to the four suspects, parked in their getaway vehicle on Peck Road in El Monte,” according to Le Veque.
Arrested were Draynesha Lanette Williams, 19, Rahmiko Ahnaz Harris, 18, Jordan Eleese Hayes, 19, all of Long Beach, as well as 17-year-old boy, according to Arcadia police and Los Angeles County booking records.
All three adult suspects were released from jail pending the legal process after posting $20,000 bail each, records show.

PHOTO: [left to right] Draynesha Lanette Williams, 19, Rahmiko Ahnaz Harris, 18, Jordan Eleese Hayes, 19, all of Long Beach. (Courtesy, Arcadia Police Department)

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BBQ planned to seek bone marrow match for sheriff’s deputy in San Dimas

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SAN DIMAS >> The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department is inviting the community to join deputies at the sheriff’s San Dimas Station Saturday for a barbecue, and help save the life of a 17-year-veteran of the department who’s battling cancer.
Sgt. Jorge Chavez was recently diagnosed with leukemia, sheriff’s officials said.
“Sergeant Chavez is in need of a lifesaving marrow donor, and until a match is found, blood and platelet donations will be in dire need,” sheriff’s officials said in a written statement. “There is currently no matching marrow donor for Sergeant Chavez.”
Fellow deputies have taken it upon themselves to organize several bone marrow match events in search of bone marrow donor for Chavez.
A barbecue and bone marrow matching event is planned from 11 a,m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday at the sheriff’s San Dimas Station, 270 S. Walnut Ave., where Chavez worked from 2013 to 2016, coworkers said. His assignments have also included the sheriff’s Industry Station, and most recently, the sheriff’s Narcotics Bureau.
In just a few minutes, through a “quick and easy” oral swab, potential donors can find out if they are a match for the ailing sergeant.
“I encourage everyone to become a bone marrow donor. Even if you turn out not to be MY perfect match, you might be someone else’s perfect match,” Chavez said in a statement issued from his hospital bed. “There are so many of us that are waiting and hoping our match will be found soon. By taking a few minutes and becoming a donor, you can be an angel and save one of our lives and keep our families together.”
Marrow donors must between 18 and 44 years old, be in general good health and be willing to help a patient in need, officials said.
Those who are tested for a match will receive a free barbecue lunch, organizers said. Those not undergoing testing can purchase a plate for a fundraising price of $7.
Those wishing to be tested, but unable to attend the event, can request a swab kit via mail by visiting http://join.marrow.org/swabforjorge.
Blood and platelet donors must be 17 years of age, in good health and meet some basic requirements. Blood and platelet donations can be made at the City of Hope in Duarte.
For more information, contact RARobbin@lasd.org.

PHOTO of Sgt. Jorge Chavez courtesy of the LASD.

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UPDATE: Walnut man arrested for firing rifle in backyard

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WALNUT >> Sheriff’s deputies, including a SWAT team, descended on a Walnut neighborhood Thursday afternoon after reports of gunfire, ultimately arresting a man on suspicion of negligently firing a rifle, officials said.
The incident began about 1:30 p.m. in the 400 block of Camino de Gloria, north of Valley Boulevard, when deputies received reports of gunfire heard in the neighborhood, Los Angeles County sheriff’s Lt. David Buckner said.
“Upon their arrival, they heard two additional volleys of shots,” he said.
Deputies cordoned off the neighborhood and summoned a Special Enforcement Bureau team to the scene.
Officials ultimately determined the shots were fired from a nearby backyard, and did not appear to target anyone or anything in particular, according to the lieutenant.
Deputies found the suspected shooter walking in the neighborhood and took him into custody without a struggle about 4:15 p.m., Buckner said.
A .22-caliber rifle was recovered from his property, he added.
The suspect, a man of about 60 years old, was booked on suspicion of negligently discharging a firearm, Buckner said.
His identity was not available Thursday evening.

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Commerce swim coach from Whittier denies child molestation charges

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LOS ANGELES >> A Whittier man a denied charges related to the alleged repeated molestation of a 7-year-old girl who was a student at the Commerce aquatics center where he worked as a swim coach.
Steven Matthew Garcia pleaded not guilty to six felony county of committing a lewd act upon a child, Los Angeles County District attorney’s officials said. He was ordered back to Los Angeles Superior Court on Feb. 1 for a preliminary hearing setting.
Garcia is accused of fondling a 7-year-old student of the center on multiple occasions in recent months, while he worked as a lifeguard and swimming instructor at Brenda Villa Aquatic Center in Commerce, according to Deputy Juanita Navarro-Suarez of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Information Bureau.
“Detectives conducting the investigation subsequently arrested Suspect Garcia, a resident of Whittier, on Friday, January 13, 2017, for multiple counts of lewd acts and continuous sexual abuse of a minor,” Navarro-Suarez said in a written statement.
Prosecutors filed their case Wednesday. Garcia is being held in lieu of $600,000 bail.
Detectives from the sheriff’s Special Victims Bureau reached out to the public in search of additional information, or any possible additional victims of the suspect, the deputy added.
Anyone with information can reach the sheriff’s Special Victims Bureau can be reached at 877-710-5273. Tips may also be submitted anonymously online to L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477.

BOOKING PHOTOS of Steven Matthew Garcia courtesy of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

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Minivan smashes through La Puente juice shop

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LA PUENTE >> A minivan smashed through the front door of a La Puente juice shop on Thursday, causing significant damage but resulting in no injuries, authorities said.
The incident took place about 2 p.m. at Rio’s Water & Juice, 16012 Main Street, Los Angeles County sheriff’s Lt. Pete Cacheiro said.
A woman in her 30’s was parking when her Toyota Sienna minivan lurched forward, through the plate glass windows of the business, he said.
“It appears that she inadvertently accelerated instead of stepping on the break and drove through the front windows,” Cacheiro said.
The driver was unhurt, he said. An employee was inside the store at the time, but was standing toward the back of the business and also suffered no injuries.
It did not initially appear the building had sustained structural damage, however a city engineer was summoned to inspect it, the lieutenant said.
Officials initially estimated the dollar-value of the damage at $40,000.

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PHOTOS: (Courtesy)

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Woman struck, killed by car in West Covina

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WEST COVINA >> A woman died after she was struck by a car in West Covina late Wednesday, officials said.
The fatal collision was first reported at 7:55 p.m. on La Puente Road at Sentous Avenue, West Covina police Lt. Pat Benschop said.
Paramedics pronounced the woman dead at the scene, he said. Her identity was not yet known.
The driver of the involved car remained at the scene and cooperated with police, the lieutenant said.
No further details were available as the investigation remained in its early stages.
Anyone with information can reach West Covina police at 626-939-8500.

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Commerce swimming coach from Whittier charged with molesting 7-year-old girl

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COMMERCE >> Prosecutors filed six felony charges on Wednesday against a swimming coach from Whittier accused of repeatedly molesting a 7-year-old girl at the Commerce aquatic center where he worked, officials said.
Steven Matthew Garcia, 27, was charged with six counts of committing a lewd act upon a child in Los Angeles County Superior Court, according to Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office spokesman Greg Risling.
He entered no plea, as his arraignment hearing was postponed until Thursday, he said.
“Garcia is accused of fondling a 7-year-old girl in an employee lounge at an aquatic center on several occasions,” Risling said in a written statement. “After each incident, he allegedly threatened the victim, ordering her not to tell anyone.”
The alleged crimes took place between October and this month, officials said
Detectives from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Special Victims Bureau, who handled the investigation, arrested Garcia on Friday afternoon, according to county booking records. He was being held in lieu of $750,000 bail.
If convicted as charged, Garcia faces up to 14 years in state prison.

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$20K reward renewed in 2013 slaying of Azusa man on Altadena horse trail

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ALTADENA >> The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday renewed a $20,000 reward in the case of a West Covina man whose body was found four years ago on an Altadena horse trail.
Marcus Anthony Nieto, 26, was pronounced dead at the scene by coroner’s officials on February 16, 2013 after he was discovered unresponsive by two riders near the 3800 block of Canon Boulevard, officials said in a written statement.
He died of “multiple blunt trauma to the head” and the death was ruled a homicide, according to Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner records.
Investigators said Nieto left his home to visit an acquaintance in Pomona, but may have returned to the Covina/Azusa area at some point before he went missing.
The reward, originally approved by the board in April of 2014, had expired before Supervisor Kathryn Barger’s motion reestablishing it for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction of a suspect or suspects responsible for the murder.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500. Tips may also be submitted anonymously to L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477.

— Sandra Molina and Brian Day

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