Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor GLENDORA – Regional traffic collision investigators are determining what led to a crash between a motorcycle and SUV that killed a Claremont man October 4. Luke Pruitt, a 19-year-old Claremont resident, was the motorcyclist who died at the crash scene at Grand Avenue and Mauna Loa Avenue, according to Sarah Ardalani, public information officer with the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner. Pruitt, a Claremont High School graduate, is listed as a defensive lineman with the Citrus College football team and was playing in his sophomore year with the community college. Multiple 9-1-1 calls were made about the injury crash, which occurred around 11:23 a.m. Paramedics performed life-saving measures on Pruitt, according to Sgt. Michael Henderson of the Glendora Police Department. Pruitt was in his second season playing with the Owls and one of the Owls' team captains, According to a statement from the Citrus College Athletics program. "Luke was a defining presence for our program," according to Citrus College Head Football Coach Brandon Hayashi in a written statement. "He was a leader on and off the field, always greeting everyone with a big smile. We are devastated by this loss." Traffic collision investigators from the La Verne and Azusa Police departments assisted Glendora detectives with the investigation, Henderson told SGV CityWatch. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor GLENDORA - An unidentified person infected with COVID-19 was present on the Citrus College campus March 31, according to a letter obtained by SGV CityWatch. The coronavirus patient was last on campus in the Professional Center building March 31 at 9 a.m., as well as the Center for Innovation, according to a letter from Citrus College Superintendent/President Geraldine Perri. “We have been in contact with this individual and remain in communication with the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health,” Perri said. “We have also been in touch with anyone whom we believe may have been in contact with this individual.”
To maintain confidentiality and in accordance with privacy laws, officials will not release the patient’s name, Perri said. Campus access protocols have been tightened and steps have been taken to clean all areas the patient may have accessed, Perri said. A self-quarantine of 14 days is recommended for people who believe they were exposed to a confirmed or presumed coronavirus case, according to the county department of public health. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor GLENDORA - Campus administrators announced the decision to eventually transition to remote instruction to suppress any possible Coronavirus spread.
While there are no known Coronavirus cases affecting the college, administrators made the decision Wednesday out of an abundance of caution. Mot in-person classes will transition to remote instruction March 23 through April 20, according to Citrus College in a written statement. Health science classes, labs, Career Technical Education offerings, performing arts and other courses requiring face-to-face instruction will continue to meet on campus as scheduled, school administrators said. Public events, gatherings, meetings and all non-essential public gatherings will be postponed or canceled. Meetings may be delivered remotely, school administrators said. Offices and buildings will remain open during this time with uninterrupted services, school administrators said. “Citrus College is committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of our students during this global health threat,” according to Citrus College Vice President of Students Services Martha McDonald. Additional information regarding Citrus College’s COVID-19 planning efforts can be found at the following link, as well as campus social media accounts and the new Citrus Mobile app to receive important notifications. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor GLENDORA - A Citrus College employee was arrested October 10 at Citrus College in connection to a reported sex assault. Clarence Dumasal Cernal, 38, was arrested around 1:52 p.m. He was identified by Lt. Mike Randazzo of the Glendora Police Department. Randazzo stated that Cernal was booked on suspicion of rape. While details are few regarding where the crime occurred, Citrus College crime logs showed Cernal was arrested in the Center for Innovation building regarding a sex offense. The alleged crime occurred September 27. Robert Sammis, director of human resources at Citrus College, declined to comment further on the investigation. He did state that Cernal’s future at Citrus College hinges on the outcome of Glendora Police’s investigation and a independent investigation by Citrus College. According to California public employee records, Cernal was employed by Citrus College as far back as 2012 and held such positions as payroll technician, an unspecified role in public relations at the college and spent most of his employment there as administrative assistant.
Cernal also served on the college’s Classified Development Committee. His name no longer appears under a list of committee members and it is unclear if it was removed due to the investigation. Cernal was held by police until he was released on $200,000 bond the same day of his arrest. It is unclear if a case has been presented yet by Glendora Police to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.
Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor
GLENDORA - A Chino man was taken into custody Tuesday during an hours-long lockdown of Citrus College after the suspect called police and threatened the school.
Terrell Lee Bennett, 30, surrendered peacefully on the Citrus College campus at 3:42 p.m. -- nearly five hours after making the threats, according to the Glendora Police Department. Bennett made statements after being arrested alluding to a desire to die by officer gunfire, police said.
Bennett called Glendora Police at 11:17 a.m. and threatened to shoot up the school. Within 11 minutes, police had the campus and surrounding streets locked down. Mutual aid from numerous surrounding agencies arrived soon after to assist, Glendora Police said.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Arson/Explosives Detail was summoned to the scene just before 11:40 a.m. after Bennett’s car was located. The silver four-door car was parked in the S1 parking lot, which rests in the corner of Citrus Avenue and Foothill Bouelvard. While not stated by Glendora Police, a bomb-sniffing dog preliminarily detected a scent of explosives on the car, according to police radio traffic. However, Arson/Explosives technicians found no bombs inside the car, Glendora Police said. The car was towed away just after 6 p.m., followed by several Glendora Police cruisers. Bennett is enrolled in online courses at Citrus College and was scheduled to appear for an in-person class, Glendora Police said. Officers began a room-to-room search of each building at 12:38 p.m. Most students were kept in darkened classrooms for hours during the searches. Some gave first-hand accounts of their ordeal -- little food, water, no restroom breaks and little information about what was happening. Nearby Azusa Pacific University was also placed on lockdown during the search.
Members of the Foothills Special Enforcement Team entered classrooms to check on students.
Nearby schools, such as Azusa High School, Charles H. Lee Elementary School and Foothill Middle School in Azusa had lunch period activities inside classrooms during the threat, according to the Azusa Unified School District.
After a thorough search of the campus, the lockdown was lifted at 5:58 p.m. Evening classes at Citrus College were cancelled shortly after the lockdown was lifted. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor GLENDORA – The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Arson/Explosives Detail has arrived to the Citrus College campus amidst a lockdown and search for a suspect. Details are very few at this time, but technicians with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Arson Explosives Detail arrived to campus about 25 minutes ago. A detective at the Arson/Explosives detail refused to divulge the circumstances of the response to protect the safety of his explosives technicians. The specific threat to the campus has not been publicized. Earlier reports by KCBS2 news stated it was a phoned-in bomb threat.
Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor GLENDORA – Police and K9s are searching the Citrus College campus Tuesday after a reported phoned-in bomb threat. KCBS2 news is reporting that a bomb threat was phoned into the campus.
Citrus College authorities issued a lockdown alert around 11:30 a.m. Amidst confusion and lack of information, the campus confirmed the lockdown alert was not a drill at 11:54 a.m.
Workers and students reported to SGV CityWatch of police searching the campus, with activity also taking place near the football stadium, which is near the intersection of Barranca Avenue and Route 66. “Citrus Alert: on 1/15/18 an order has been issued to lock down Citrus College. If you are not on campus, stay away. Go to the nearest room, turn off lights, lock door, and remain quiet. Remain locked down until an All Clear has been issued.” No other information is available. Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor GLENDORA - A Citrus College student has been arrested, accused of attempting to watch women through the bathroom stall doors on campus.
Phillip Osuna, 25, from Covina, was arrested Friday, October 5. Osuna was identified as a suspect in the days following the incidents after police worked with staff to identify victims, according to Glendora Police in a written statement. Osuna was booked on suspicion of four counts of invasion of privacy, Glendora Police said. Glendora Police and Citrus College Campus Safety investigated at least three cases of innovation of privacy, September 20, September 11 and September 6, but it is unclear how many of these incidents Osuna is tied to. Osuna is on parole for an unrelated crime. Osuna is being held without bail. Osuna is being held at the Twin Towers Correctional Facility on Los Angeles, ahead of a scheduled appearance at Citrus Municipal Court Wednesday, October 10. Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor GLENDORA - A man was reportedly seen peering through stalls in a women’s restroom at Citrus College Thursday morning.
The man was seen in the first floor women’s restroom in the Liberal Arts and Business building at Citrus, 1000 W. Foothill Blvd., around 10:40 a.m. The suspect left the area before Campus Safety personnel arrived, according to a written statement provided by Citrus College. No one was injured. The suspect is a white male, 20 to 25 years old, has short dark hair, has a slim build, stands 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighs 160 pounds. He wore a bluish green jacket, blue jeans and black suede tennis shoes with a yellow stripe and black laces. Anyone who may be a victim, or who may have information regarding the suspect is urged to call Citrus College Campus Safety at 626-914-8611 and reference case IR#2018-075. Glendora Police can also be called at 626-914-8250 and reference case #18-26708. Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor GLENDORA - Two colleges were placed on lockdown Friday after armed robbery suspects fled their crashed SUV at the end of a pursuit.
The two suspects robbed a pharmacy at gunpoint in the 200 block of South Grand Avenue around 10:50 a.m. The men, described as Black and wearing nursing scrubs, fled in a white SUV, which was spotted by officers patrolling nearby, according to Sgt. Mike Henderson of the Glendora Police Department. Officers attempted a traffic stop, but the SUV sped away and eventually crashed into a guardrail while attempting to turn south on Citrus Avenue from westbound Foothill Boulevard, Henderson said. The suspects fled the still-rolling SUV. One suspect fled into an Azusa neighborhood, while the second suspect fled onto the Citrus College Campus, 1000 W. Foothill Blvd. Nearby Azusa Pacific University and Citrus College were both placed on lockdown during a search. The suspect who fled onto Citrus College was found within minutes on the south side of the Student Services building, which faces Citrus Avenue. The second suspect changed his clothing while hiding in the nearby Azusa neighborhood. He was caught by searching officers while he tried to blend in after walking out onto Citrus Avenue, Henderson said. The stolen medication, as well as two handguns were recovered from the SUV. Booking information for the suspects was not yet available. No one was injured in the crash. |
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