Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor AZUSA - Three people were arrested after authorities searched nine locations, police announced Friday. The 4 a.m. raids February 1 were part of a gang search warrant operation conducted by Azusa Police as part of a multi-faceted effort to curb recent deadly violence. While the exact locations were not publicized, police were out in force at the Atlantis Gardens area near Rockvale Avenue and 6th Street, considered the heart of gun and gang violence in Azusa. A resident nearby told SGV CityWatch of SWAT vehicles, lots of police and commands to surrender made through a loud speaker.
The booking information for those arrested was not yet made public. Assisting Azusa Police were the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, Los Angeles County District Attorney's Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Marshal Service, California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, and police departments from Covina, West Covina, Upland, Baldwin Park, Pomona and El Monte. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor AZUSA - The City of Azusa has announced several changes made to improve public safety in one of the most violent neighborhoods in town. Colloquially referred to as “Little TJ” and “The Projects,” the Atlantis Gardens area near Rockvale Avenue and 6th Street has seen additional officers patrolling the streets and improved lighting, the latter is said to positively influence human behavior, according to Steve Hunt, Azusa Police Chief. Surrounding police agencies have provided increased staffing to Azusa Police, agencies such as Baldwin Park, Claremont, Covina, El Monte, Glendora, Irwindale, West Covina, Los Angeles County District Attorney investigators and the U.S. Marshal Service, Hunt said. Friday morning, local, state and federal law enforcement agencies assisted Azusa Police with a multi-location search warrant, resulting in evidence seized that was linked to recent gun violence, according to Cpt. Mike Berteslsen of the Azusa Police Department. "Investigators located evidence related to recent violent crimes that have occurred in our community and made several arrests," Bertelsen said. “Working closely with the Azusa City Council, City Manager Sergio Gonzalez and other City Staff we identified an urgent need to improve the lighting conditions in the area of Atlantis Gardens,” Hunt said in a written statement. Azusa Light and Water staff have enhanced conditions in the above neighborhoods with state-of-the-art LED street lighting as a means of creating psychological and physical barriers to crime. The practice known as Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) was established to influence criminal behavior before the crime can occur. By increasing the perceived risk of being caught (in this case with lighting), CPTED can aid in crime reduction. “This improvement will increase visibility around Atlantis Gardens and further assist law enforcement in patrolling the area,” Hunt said. While continuing work with state and federal law enforcement partners, Azusa Police will seek to build stronger relationships with non-profit and faith-based organizations to dialogue about youth programs, Hunt said. A presentation on the city’s public safety will be delivered at the next Azusa City Council meeting Monday, February 4, scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor AZUSA - Detectives are trying to identify the suspect or suspects behind a deadly shooting Wednesday morning. The victim, 36-year-old Abel Balderas, was a resident of the apartment complex where he was gunned down, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner and Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Balderas was found critically wounded on the second floor of the building near a doorway around 12:38 a.m. in the 600 block of North Rockvale Avenue. Azusa Police received numerous calls of gunfire in the area.
No suspect description, nor a potential motive, are known. Anyone with information on the killing is urged to call the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500. Information can be provided anonymously by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor AZUSA - The 14-year-old boy killed in a hail of gunfire on an Azusa sidewalk May 1 was identified.
Jaime Butanda, an Azusa boy, was killed after being shot multiple times while he rode his bike in the 300 block of South Enid Avenue Tuesday. Butanda was identified by the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner. Butanda was administered CPR by arriving Azusa Police officers. He was further treated at the scene by Los Angeles County Firefighters before being taken to an area hospital where he was declared dead. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau is investigating the shooting. A motive and suspect have not yet been identified. Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor AZUSA - A 14-year-old boy fatally shot as he rode a bicycle has not yet been identified.
No next of kin has been notified yet, said Rudy Molano, investigator with the Los Angeles Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner. The boy was shot and killed by an as-of-yet unidentified assailant in the 300 block of South Enid Avenue Tuesday, May 1 just before 3 p.m. Residents in the neighborhood reported hearing as many as nine gunshots. At the scene of the shooting, a sea of yellow evidence markers peppers the street and sidewalk near where the boy was struck. The boy was struck multiple times by gunfire in the upper torso. The boy was rushed to Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center where he was pronounced dead. Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Homicide detectives are working to piece together a possible motive in the shooting. No suspect description is available. Anyone with information on the shooting is urged to call the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500. Information can be provided anonymously by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor AZUSA - The male juvenile struck by gunfire in an Azusa neighborhood died from his wounds.
The shooting took place in the 300 block of South Enid Avenue just before 3 p.m. The victim, described as 14 years old. was taken to a nearby hospital, but died of his wounds. The victim’s time of death was not known, according to Deputy Tracy Koerner of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Information Bureau. Sheriff’s Homicide detectives were called to assist minutes after the shooting occurred. The Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner has no identifying information yet. The fatally-injured boy’s remains are still at the hospital he was taken to. It is unknown if the shooting is gang related. A suspect remains outstanding, as well as the murder weapon. No suspect description is available. Anyone with information on the suspect or suspects is urged to call the Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500. Information can be provided anonymously by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-22-TIPS (8477). Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor AZUSA - A resident was named as the victim found suffering from at least one gunshot wound out on an Azusa street.
William Perez, 21, was gunned down last night, discovered by responding Azusa officers who were dispatched to a shots fired call in the 600 block of North Glennfinan Avenue around 9:55 p.m. Perez was identified by Lt. David Smith of the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner. Police found Perez suffering from at least one gunshot wound, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau. The weapon has not been recovered and a suspect is outstanding. It is unclear if the shooting is gang related. Anyone with information on the shooting is urged to call the Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500. Information can be provided anonymously by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor AZUSA - A man was was found shot to death near an apartment complex Friday night.
The victim was discovered by Azusa Police who were dispatched to a call of shots fired in the 600 block of North Glenfinnan Avenue around 9:55 p.m. Police found the man suffering from at least one gunshot wound, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau. The weapon has not been recovered and a suspect is outstanding. It is unclear if the shooting is gang related. Anyone with information on the shooting is urged to call the Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500. Information can be provided anonymously by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor AZUSA - Sheriff’s Homicide detectives are searching the San Gabriel Riverbed in their quest to find the remains of a man missing since 2005.
Acting on information received in the last few months, Sheriff’s Homicide detectives are combing the riverbed to find the remains of Beau Garrett Heller, which may be in the section of the riverbed near Duarte’s Encanto Park, said Lt. Je Mendoza of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau. No remains have yet been found. “We’re doing our due diligence to see if there’s anything there,” Mendoza told SGV CityWatch, acknowledging that it is a wide area to search. A cadaver search took place March 8 with the assistance of cadaver dogs in the same area. The search began around 10 a.m. and ended about 5 hours later with nothing found. Recent searches in this case have been initiated from a community tip that Heller’s remains may be in the riverbed. Heller disappeared after leaving his Duarte home January 20, 2005. In a broadcast news interview in 2014, Sheriff’s Homicide Detective Louie Aguilera stated information was developed that Heller may have been killed. Heller was last seen in the 200 block of Opal Canyon Road in Duarte around 6 p.m. in 2005. He was riding a blue makeshift bicycle, possibly en route for a ride on the San Gabriel River Bike Path. Heller was a student of Citrus College, having briefly worked alongside this reporter at the Citrus College Clarion student newspaper in 2005 just before his disappearance. Anyone with information on Beau’s disappearance is urged to call Sheriff’s Homicide at 323-890-5500. Information can be provided anonymously by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor AZUSA - The Azusa city council approved a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the suspect or suspects who shot and killed a transient man 13 months ago.
Alexander Alfredo Morales, 48, was found shot to death in the San Gabriel Riverbed in the City of Azusa March 7, 2017. His body was found near Todd Avenue and Sierra Madre Avenue and is believed to have been transient and was staying in a nearby encampment, Azusa Police said. Morales’ body was found several days after he was killed. He was shot several times in the upper torso, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Homicide detectives said. Anyone with information on the suspect or suspects is urged to call the Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500. Information can be provided anonymously by Calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). |
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