Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor LOS ANGELES – Authorities announced 13 arrests and the seizure of 114 firearms and more than 49,000 rounds of ammunition in a five-day sweep across Los Angeles County to keep the weapons and ammo out of the hands of criminals.
Agents from the California Department of Justice Bureau of Firearms partnered with police departments from Azusa, Pasadena, Pomona, the City of Los Angeles, the Los Angeles County Probation Department and Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Authorities targeted 51 cities and arrested individuals prohibited from possessing firearms, according to the California Department of Justice. The sweep began February 14. Firearms seized reportedly included 55 handguns, 19 rifles, 15 shotguns, 17 assault weapons, and 8 ghost guns, according to the California Department of Justice. The arrests were aided by the state DOJ’s Armed and Prohibited Persons System, in which the arrestees were identified as being prohibited from possessing firearms. “Pasadena Police Department is excited about partnering with the California Department of Justice in an effort to stop gun violence," Interim Pasadena Police Chief Cheryl Moody said. "This collaboration will certainly benefit those communities most impacted by individuals who illegally possess or use firearms.” The Armed and Prohibited Persons System was launched in California 16 years ago. California was the first to launch such a database. “California’s Armed and Prohibited Persons System is a critical tool that makes the work of cracking down on illegal gun ownership and possession possible,” said Attorney General Rob Bonta. “Last week, using APPS and working together with our law enforcement partners in Southern California, our teams removed 114 firearms from individuals who are no longer legally allowed to own or possess firearms or ammunition. Collaborative efforts like these increase our success in taking guns out of potentially dangerous hands, reducing gun violence, and keeping our neighborhoods safe.” Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor REGION – The man police accuse of setting the Ranch 2 Fire appeared in court September 11. Osmin Palencia, 36, pleaded not guilty to one felony count each of arson during a state of emergency and arson of a structure or forest, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. Police accuse Palencia of intentionally starting a fire that grew to burn 4,237 acres. The blaze, dubbed the Ranch 2 Fire, was reported to authorities around 2:53 p.m. August 13. Azusa Police allege Palencia ignited the fire during an argument. He is apparently a homeless man who lives in a tent near where the fire started at San Gabriel Canyon Road and Ranch Road.
The case against Palencia also includes allegations that he was previously convicted of dissuading a witness in 2015, according to Ricardo Santiago of the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. Palencia faces a possible maximum of 23 years in state prison if convicted as charged. Palencia is scheduled to return to court December 9. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor REGION – The Azusa transient accused of causing the brush fire still burning across the San Gabriel Mountains was charged Wednesday.
Osmin Palencia, 36, was charged with one felony count each of arson during a state of emergency and arson of a structure or forest, according to Los Angeles County District Attorney Public Information Officer Ricardo Santiago. The Ranch 2 Fire began burning near Highway 39 and Ranch Road in the Azusa foothills Thursday, August 13. The fire has since scorched 4,300 acres and is 19 percent contained as of the morning of August 19, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department. After Azusa Police publicized Palencia as a suspect in the Ranch 2 Fire, he surrendered to officers Sunday, August 16. His bail is set at $435,000. If convicted as charged, Palencia faces a possible maximum of 23 years in state prison. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor LOS ANGELES - Coroner investigators revealed what killed a newborn girl found in an Azusa apartment dumpster last March. Amira Bello-Pacheco died from intrauterine fetal demise. Her death was ruled accidental, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner. Azusa Police responded to a 9-1-1 call March 7, 2019 at 3:43 p.m. and found a lifeless newborn in a dumpster to the very rear of an apartment complex in the 600 block of East Fifth Street. Firefighters and policer attempted to revive the child. The newborn was taken to Queen of the Valley Hospital in West Covina and was declared dead by doctors at 4:37 p.m. According to NBC4 news, a resident witnessed the mother walking away from the dumpster, a trash can in hand and a large amount of blood nearby.
Many intrauterine fetal deaths, otherwise known as stillbirth, have no known cause. It is not immediately clear if a coroner examination determined the stillbirth’s cause. The Azusa Police Department’s case will proceed in the appropriate direction with the coroner determining the cause of death, according to Sgt. Jorge Sandoval of the Azusa Police Department Detective Bureau in a previous interview.. “We’re obviously looking at various options before we proceed one way or the other,” Sandoval said in a March 2019 interview with SGV CityWatch. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor LOS ANGELES - The 29-year-old woman accused of molesting a 16-year-old boy beginning three years ago pleaded no contest October 2. Jessica Marie Esparza was sentenced to five years probation and one year in county jail after pleading no contest to unlawful sexual intercourse and oral copulation with a person under 18, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. Esparza was credited with 300 days served while in custody. Esparza is originally charged with one count each of unlawful sexual intercourse, sodomy of a person under 18, sexual penetration of a person under 18 and two counts of oral copulation with a person under 18, authorities said.
The alleged acts are believed to have occurred from March 2016 to October 2017. Esparza was a part-time Azusa Unified staff member and served as an assistant baseball coach. Administrators were made aware of the allegations Friday, May 3. They then notified Azusa Police officers around 2:20 p.m. the same day. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor AZUSA - Two people were rescued from the San Gabriel Riverbed Thursday morning after becoming stranded. The people were rescued just after Noon July 11 from the riverbed near the 100 block of Old San Gabriel Canyon Road. At least one of the patients were spotted clinging to a tree, according to a representative with the Los Angeles County Fire Department.
Sgt. Matthew Bodell of the San Dimas Sheriff's Station. described the victims as a 13-year-old child and his father. The rising river may have been caused by more water being released by nearby Morris Dam. Firefighters and their urban search and rescue team were dispatched along with a copter at 11:36 a.m. The people were lifted to the road and assessed by county fire paramedics. It is not immediately clear if the people were transported to a hospital for observation. Azusa Police and the San Dimas Sheriff's Station also responded. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor WASHINGTON, D.C. - Seven Azusa Police officers and one Irwindale Police officer were awarded the Medal of Valor for their actions during the 2016 Election Day shooting in Azusa. In a ceremony in the East Wing of the White House, President Donald Trump awarded the Medal of Valor to retired Azusa lieutenant Xavier Torres, Azusa Sergeant Seth Chapman, retired Azusa sergeant Terry Smith Jr., Azusa Sergeant Thomas Avila III, Azusa Sergeant Rocky Wenrick, retired Azusa corporal Andrew Rodriguez Jr., Senior Azusa Officer Carlos Plascencia and Irwindale Detective Manuel Campos. (SLIDESHOW BELOW) “When they arrived, Carlos and Xavier raced through a hail of bullets to save a woman who had been shot in the head. At the same time, Terry, Andrew, and Seth returned fire. Tommy, Rocky, and Manuel drew the gunman out of his house, enabling their fellow officers to shoot him and bring the rampage to an end. A very dangerous situation,” Trump remarked. “To each of you: You represent the unity, devotion, teamwork, and swift action that makes America’s law enforcement the best and bravest anywhere in the world,” Trump said. Attorney General William Barr also spoke at Wednesday’s ceremony and commended the work of each award recipient. “The work that first responders do every day is heroic, and each one of them deserves our gratitude,” Barr said. “Even among these selfless public servants, some have distinguished themselves through exceptional acts of valor. Today, the men and women of the Department of Justice are proud to join with President Trump in honoring 14 first responders who did just that, including two who gave their lives in the line of duty. Also awarded today were law enforcement officers from Ohio State University, Oregon State Police, a fire captain and firefighter paramedic from Kansas and two fallen officers: one from Tennessee and one from Texas. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor MOUNTAINS - Deputies and Azusa Police officers detained three men after a call of a kidnapping turned out to be a music video shoot, a Sheriff’s lieutenant said. Deputies responded to a call of a possible kidnapping on San Gabriel Canyon Road near mile marker 21.59 at 11:22 a.m. March 13. The caller drove past the scene and reported a vehicle backed into a turnout. Two men were standing near an apparent victim with his hands duct-taped together, said Lt. Mark Skaggs of the San Dimas Sheriff’s Station. A police helicopter was first on scene as the suspect vehicle went into motion north on San Gabriel Canyon Road. Azusa Police were closer to the scene and responded to stop the vehicle first, Skaggs said.
All three men were detained and they explained what was occurring. One man was arrested. A concealed handgun was found inside the vehicle, a misdemeanor offense, Skaggs said. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor WEST COVINA - The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office announced the case against the Azusa man accused of sexually assaulting a woman who accidentally entered his car was dismissed Friday. The case against Luis Geraldo Peña, also known as Javier Martinez, was dismissed Friday, February 22 after his victim was unavailable to appear in court, according to DA Public Information Officer Ricardo Santiago. It was never divulged why the victim was unavailable to make an appearance.
The incident occurred August 24, 2018. The victim requested an Uber ride and waited for her vehicle. A different Uber ride arrived. The victim entered the vehicle anyway. “Once inside the vehicle the female victim realized something was wrong when the driver began asking her inappropriate questions. The driver then reached over and began inappropriately touching the victim,” Azusa Police said. The victim fought off Peña and exited the vehicle, Azusa Police said. Detectives identified Peña as an Azusa man, located him and arrested him. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor REGION - The escaped inmate sought by Sheriff’s deputies was apprehended Sunday afternoon. David Luis Bustamonte, 43, was found under a freeway overpass at the 5 freeway and 126 freeway around 3 p.m., according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Bustamonte was found near a transient camp and was wearing civilian clothing. How and where he obtained the clothing is not known, deputies said. Scent dogs aided in locating Bustamonte.
Bustamonte was discovered missing during an inmate count around 7 a.m. February 3 at South Facility, one of the facilities at Pitchess Detention Center. The entire facility was locked down after he was discovered missing. Bustamonte was arrested by the Azusa Police Department July 9, 2018 at 3:27 p.m. for a felony-level offense, according to Los Angeles County booking records. Because the Sheriff’s Department is handling the search, the Azusa Police Department is deferring all questions to Sheriff’s officials, according to Sgt. Fernando Vasconselos of the Azusa Police Department. |
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