Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor MOUNTAINS - Searches are continuing their efforts Wednesday in locating a 59-year-old Northern California woman who was swept away in the San Gabriel River March 9.
Terrain and the swiftness of the river in certain locations makes the effort more difficult for searchers. Tuesday was spent with searchers traversing the river to inspect areas obscured by debris, according to deputy Bommarito, search and rescue coordinator with the San Dimas Mountain Rescue Team. “We haven’t stopped yet. We’re not going to stop. We’re going to keep pushing through with different missions,” Bommarito told SGV CityWatch. Searchers are continuing to focus on an area from the point last seen, which is the Bridge to Nowhere, south to San Gabriel Reservoir. However, Bommarito doesn’t believe at this time that the hiker traveled as far as the reservoir. If she did make it to the reservoir, the hiker would have to travel in one to two miles of shallow water: anywhere from 6 inches to one foot deep, Bommarito told SGV CityWatch. Depending on availability, search teams may range from as few as six to as many as 30 per day, with teams from San Dimas, Sierra Madre, Altadena, Malibu and Avalon, Bommarito said. From the air, the Sheriff’s Department has deployed their Air Rescue 5 helicopter and have had drones from the Sheriff’s Special Enforcement Bureau searching the river. The trail leading to the Bridge to Nowhere is a roughly 10-mile hike with as many as four to five river crossings. Some crossings take hikers through ankle-deep water in late spring or early summer. Where the missing hiker tried to cross features water that can be waist deep or chest high, Bommarito told SGV CityWatch. Eyewitnesses who crossed before and after the missing hiker and her friends told searchers that the water was waist high for them Saturday, Bommarito told SGV CityWatch. Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor MOUNTAINS - Hazmat crews with the Los Angeles County Fire Department and Los Angeles County Sheriff’s detectives are investigating the scene where a dead body was found inside of a van Monday night. First responders were called to the area of Mount Baldy Road near Shinn Road around 10:37 p.m. Monday March 11. It is not immediately clear why hazmat investigators were called to the scene, but they remained at the location and cleared the scene Around 3:17 a.m. Investigators returned just before 5 a.m. and left a location around 8:35 a.m., according to Los Angeles County Fire Department dispatch logs. Detective with the Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau were called to investigate the death, according to Lt. Elisabeth Sachs of the Sheriff’s San Dimas Station. It is not immediately clear how long the body may have been inside the van at that location, nor is it immediately clear how the person died. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor LOS ANGELES - A Federal arrest warrant has been issued for a non-custodial mother accused of taking her baby after an unsupervised visit February 6.
Bridget Benitez, 31, was confirmed to have crossed the border at Otay Mesa March 6. She was last seen with her biological son, Miguel Eduardo Zuniga Medina, who is 16 months, according to the FBI. The child was placed into the care of a foster parent by the Department of Child and Family Services. Benitez and the baby were last seen in a black 2021 Toyota Camry with California license plate 8WAS968, according to the FBI. Benitez may have taken the baby to Aguascalientes, Mexico. “A federal arrest warrant for Benitez was obtained on Thursday, March 7, after she was charged with international parental kidnapping in a criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles. The complaint alleges that Benitez intentionally obstructed the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), who holds legal and physical custody of Medina, Jr.,” according to the FBI in a written statement. The child’s father, Miguel Eduardo Medina Zuniga, Sr., is the non-custodial father and is believed to be living in Aguascalientes, Mexico. Medina was arrested last year, accused of a domestic violence incident and apparently has a history of violent altercations in the presence of children, according to a juvenile dependency petition filed in Los Angeles County. Following last year’s arrest, the child was placed in the custody of DCFS, according to the FBI. “The Superior Court in Los Angeles County found that it was necessary to remove Medina, Jr. from his parents for his own health, safety, and well-being. Benitez and Medina, Sr. have also been charged in Superior Court in Los Angeles County,” according to the FBI. Anyone with information as to the whereabouts of Benitez is asked to call their local FBI office or nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. Information may also be provided at www.tips.fbi.gov. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor SAN GABRIEL MOUNTAINS - Search and rescue teams will continue looking for a female hiker Sunday who reportedly slipped and fell into the San Gabriel River March 9.
The search was paused Saturday due to diminishing sunlight. Crews will be back at sunrise March 10, according to Lt. Elisabeth Sachs of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s San Dimas station. First responders were sent to Camp Bonita Road and Heaton Flats near the Bridge to Nowhere around 10 a.m. March 9. The victim, only described as a female, may have attempted a river crossing and slipped. Deputies spent Saturday attempting to notify the victim’s family, Sachs told SGV CityWatch. Search and rescue crews will once again search by foot and will have more air support Sunday. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor REGION - A suspect accused of shooting at another driver in January is behind bars after being found by California Highway Patrol investigators.
The suspect, who was not identified publicly by the CHP, fired a weapon multiple times at the intended victim while northbound on the 605 freeway at the 60 freeway January 14. “During the incident the suspect ultimately deliberately fired multiple rounds at the victim, with a clear disregard for anyone in that vehicle,” according to the CHP in a written statement. The suspect was arrested February 27. It is not immediately known if anyone was wounded during the shooting. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor RANCHO CUCAMONGA - The victim of an attempted carjacking fought off two aggressors January 9 and suffered a gunshot wound to one of his hands during the ordeal.
The crime went down in the 9000 block of Foothill Boulevard around 3:34 p.m. Rancho Cucamonga deputies originally responded to a report of gunfire and soon discovered it was an attempted carjacking as well. Both suspects, identified as Lorenzo Ortiz, 41, and Raymond Joshua Bowman, 26, fled after failing to take the victim’s vehicle. Officers found and arrested both suspects as they attempted to flee the area, according to the Rancho Cucamonga Sheriff’s Station. The 41-year-old victim Was hospitalized for his injuries. Ortiz and Bowman were booked at the West Valley Detention Center. Ortiz was officially charged with one count each of attempted carjacking and an allegation under California’s Three Strikes Law. He pleaded not guilty, according to San Bernardino County Superior Court records. He is being held in lieu of $140,000 bail. Bowman was officially charged with one count, each of attempted carjacking, an enhancement of using a firearm and enhancement of discharging a firearm, according to San Bernardino County Superior Court records. He is being held in lieu of $190,000 bail. Both suspects have since made an initial appearance in court and are scheduled for a preliminary hearing January 17. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor MOUNTAINS - The driver of a Ford Ranger had little choice but to wait for help to somehow find her as she lay injured after crashing down 250 over Mt. Baldy Road one week ago.
Authorities said the driver, only described as a middle-aged woman, swerved to avoid striking a deer. She suffered a fractured ankle and was unable to call for help due to a lack of cellphone reception. The twisted Ford Ranger could not be seen from the roadway. “In this person’s case, she had enough supplies to survive in her pickup for four nights before help arrived,” according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s San Dimas Station in a social media statement. A passing hiker set on finding new fishing spots heard the woman’s cries for help and contacted first responders. The San Dimas Mountain Rescue Team rappelled down to the twisted wreck, pulled the woman free and helped package her for air transport to Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center. “We can’t stress this enough: if you plan on traveling on a mountain road this winter, bring extra supplies. It never hurts to have food, water, a sleeping bag, and extra layers on hand in the event of an emergency,” according to the Sheriff’s San Dimas Station. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor MOUNTAINS - Hikers reportedly stumbled upon a crash scene and a driver was saved after spending three frigid days inside the twisted wreck along Mt. Baldy Road Sunday.
The driver, only described as a middle-aged woman, was apparently alert enough to tell first responders that she had crashed and remained in her vehicle since Wednesday. She was taken by helicopter to Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center for further treatment, according to Lt. Philpot of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s San Dimas Station. The Ford Ranger crash happen along about Mt. Baldy Road north of Shinn Road. First responders were called to the scene around 12:30 p.m. A Los Angeles County fire engine was in the general area when the call was made, and firefighters were very quickly on scene, Philpot told SGV CityWatch. The driver was pulled from the vehicle, which was estimated to be 100 feet down from the roadway, according to the California Highway Patrol. The extent of injuries to the driver is unclear. Written by AARON CASTREJON Citywatch Editor LOS ANGELES - Investigators announced the arrest of two men accused of robbing a woman of her purse and severely beating her at a Costco.
The robbery occurred at 17500 Castleton Street November 26 around 6:30 p.m. The victim fought back and attempted to take back her purse. She was repeatedly punched in the face. She was dragged by the suspects’ vehicle during the getaway, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. “As a result of the suspects’ actions, the victim suffered facial and head trauma resulting in serious, life-threatening injuries. The victim was transported to the hospital for treatment,” according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department in a written statement. A search warrant was served in Diamond Bar December 28 and David Morrison, 38, and Andrew Morrison, 34, were arrested. Evidence from the victim was found during the search. Both men were booked on suspicion of robbery and are being held in lieu of $500,000 bail. Both men were scheduled for an appearance in the West Covina Courthouse. Investigators are trying to determine if the pair are involved in any other crimes in the San Gabriel Valley. Anyone with information on these suspects, or who may have been a victim of similar crimes is urged to call the Sheriff’s Major Crimes Bureau at 562-946-7187. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor LOS ANGELES - A 22-year-old Monrovia man was charged in a two-count federal grand jury indictment, accused of coercing a two-year-old child into engaging in a sexually explicit act with him so he could record record it.
David Lisandro Prerez Figueroa was charged with production of child pornography and distribution of child pornography. Figueroa was arrested earlier in December and is scheduled to appear in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles December 28, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. A federal magistrate ordered Figueroa to be held without bond, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. A federal search warrant was executed December at Figueroa’s home where he was arrested. British authorities investigating a target in the United Kingdom obtained chat logs from the X social media platform showing child sex abuse material and notified authorities stateside. Figueroa allegedly distributed the child sex abuse material on July 22 through X in an account allegedly linked to him. “If convicted of all charges, Figueroa would face a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in federal prison and a statutory maximum sentence of 50 years in federal prison,” according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in a written statement. |
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