Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor LOS ANGELES - The ex-LAPD cop Sheriff’s investigators accused of molesting children for more than a decade died while in custody and the cause of his death was revealed.
Paul Jack Razo, 46, died May 20 from sequelae of B-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner. As many as four boys ranging in age from 9 to 13 were abused from 2006 to 2017 in Razo’s Covina home in the 4800 block of Brightview Drive, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Sheriff’s investigators are searching for additional victims. Razo was arrested May 10 and booked at the San Dimas Sheriff’s Station. Five days prior, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office filed eight counts of lewd acts with a child. “Based on the nature of the allegations and Mr. Razo’s access to children, detectives believe there may be additional unidentified victims,” according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department in a written statement. Anyone with information on this case is urged to call the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Special Victims Bureau toll-free at 877-710-5273, or by email at specialvictimsbureau@lasd.org. Remain anonymous by calling LA Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), through the P3Tips mobile app, or lacrimestoppers.org. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor LOS ANGELES - Sheriff’s investigators are searching for additional victims of an ex-LAPD officer accused of abusing children over nearly a decade.
Paul Jack Razo, 46, is accused of child sex abuse from 2006 to 2017 while Razo lived in unincorporated Covina in the 4800 block of Brightview Drive, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Razo was arrested May 10 and booked at the San Dimas Sheriff’s Station. Five days prior, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office filed eight counts of lewd acts with a child. Razo is being held in lieu of $2.5 million bail, according to Los Angeles County booking records. “Based on the nature of the allegations and Mr. Razo’s access to children, detectives believe there may be additional unidentified victims,” according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department in a written statement. Anyone with information on this case is urged to call the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Special Victims Bureau toll-free at 877-710-5273, or by email at specialvictimsbureau@lasd.org. Remain anonymous by calling LA Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), through the P3Tips mobile app, or lacrimestoppers.org. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor LOS ANGELES - A Covina man who repeatedly cyberstalked two victims, including a teen girl, over a period of years, demanding sexual favors and threatening violence if they didn’t comply, was sentenced to prison time.
Carl De Vera Bennington, 34, was sentenced April 14 to 18 months in federal prison. He pleaded guilty in December 2020 to his crimes. He sent hundreds of messages over several years to his victims, whom have never met Bennington in the flesh. Prosecutors describe Bennington as having a "deep-seated and violent ideology regarding women,” according to a sentencing memo. When one victim blocked Bennington from contacting her online, he created new accounts and continued his harassment between June and November 2019, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. “He insulted the victim, demanded she engage in sex acts with him, and threatened to sexually assault her. When the victim demanded that Bennington stop harassing her, he threatened to kill her and her family,” according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in a written statement. Another victim deactivated her accounts in 2017 after Bennington’s solicitation for sex. She reactivated her accounts in 2019 and Bennington was there again to send her numerous online messages. He threatened to kill her unless she caved to his sexual demands, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. “Bennington frequently promoted incel (involuntarily celibate) ideology, which involves individuals who are unable to find a willing sex partner,” according to a sentencing memo filed by prosecutors. “The ideology ranges in tone from expressing sadness and self-loathing to advocating the “absolute hatred” of women.” United States District Judge Dolly M. Gee described Bennington’s messages to his victims as “repeated, cruel” and “sadistic.” Bennington reportedly suffers from mental health issues, prompting prosecutors to seek enhanced supervision and mental health treatment following his release. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor REGION - Two 500 kilovolt transmission lines in the Walnut area malfunctioned, causing 159,239 customers to lose power in the San Gabriel Valley early Sunday, a Southern California Edison spokesman said.
Some customers in Walnut, Covina, West Covina, La Puente, Hacienda Heights, Rowland Heights, El Monte, the Whittier Narows area, Irwindale and Baldwin Park were affected by the outage that began at 6:47 a.m., according to Reggie Kumar, Southern California Edison spokesman. Customers in Carson were affected as well. Power was fully restored with the help of generators at 7:36 a.m., Kumar told SGV CityWatch. “Those transmission lines actually feed all the way to Bakersfield, so it was a very large loss,” Kumar told SGV CityWatch. The transmission lines are located in the City of Walnut. The cause is under investigation and repair work continues, Kumar told SGV CityWatch. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor LOS ANGELES - A Rialto man and Upland woman were identified after being killed in a crash November 8.
Ana Miramontes, 41, was named by the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner. While the coroner would not release the name of the man because next of kin had not been notified, the California Highway Patrol identified him as Daniel Miramontes who is in his 40s. The fatal collision occurred on the eastbound I-10 freeway at Via Verde around 2:08 a.m. Witnesses reported seeing a black minivan rear end a white sedan, according to California Highway Patrol traffic logs. Both Ana Miramontes and Daniel Miramontes occupied the white sedan that was rear ended. They both died at the scene, according to California Highway Patrol officer Xavier Becerra. Both fatal victims were pronounced dead at the scene at 2:30 a.m., according to California Highway Patrol traffic logs. The crash initially affected the No. 2, 3 and 4 traffic lanes. CHP officers temporarily had all lanes blocked during the investigation. Eventually all lanes, except for the No. 1 lane, remained closed. A good Samaritan attempted to perform CPR on at least one person injured in the crash who was reportedly down in lanes of traffic, according to CHP traffic logs. Two others were injured in the crash: an 18-year-old man who suffered major injuries and a 16-year-old male who suffered moderate injuries were taken to Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center, according to the CHP. Initial reports from the scene indicated that one person, possibly two people, ran from the crash and into the nearby foothills. The CHP requested assistance from the air in locating a person described as a driver who fled into the foothills, according to CHP traffic logs. It is unclear if the CHP determined if someone actually ran from the crash scene. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor POMONA - The California Highway Patrol arrested a driver September 7 after he allegedly led Claremont Police and CHP officers on a chase throughout the San Gabriel Valley.
Claremont officers initially pursued Anthony Orlando Franco, 33, who was driving in a stolen vehicle. The CHP was notified of the chase as it was west on the I-10 freeway west of Indian Hill Boulevard, according to Officer Rodrigo Jimenez of the California Highway Patrol Baldwin Park Office. CHP officers took over the pursuit of a black 2017 Kia Soul on the west 210 freeway at Grand Avenue, Jimenez told SGV CityWatch. The chase took to surface streets through Glendora, Covina, Irwindale, Pomona, La Verne, Claremont, Baldwin Park and West Covina. He also allegedly fled in opposing lanes of traffic, Jimenez told SGV CityWatch. The suspect also traversed the I-10, 210, 57, 71 and 605 freeways. The pursuit briefly reentered the 210 freeway eastbound from Sunflower Avenue in Glendora. The CHP attempted to disable the Kia Soul with the Pursuit Intervention Technique, but the vehicle kept moving and exited onto southbound San Dimas Avenue in San Dimas. While westbound in the area of Walnut Avenue and Arrow Highway, the driver reportedly struck the front of a CHP officer’s patrol vehicle, Jimenez told SGV CityWatch. The CHP canceled the chase due to the driver’s reckless nature. Claremont officers located the suspect and continued the pursuit into Pomona where the suspect abandoned the Soul and fled on foot at the American Inn & Suites, 310 E. Foothill Blvd. The Kia rolled and crashed into two parked vehicles, Jimenez told SGV CityWatch. Franco was caught shortly after running and was medically cleared before being booked at the Inmate Reception Center on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon other than a firearm, assaulting a peace officer, felony evading an officer, being in possession of a stolen vehicle and driving under the influence of drugs, Jimenez told SGV CityWatch. Franco was additionally booked for warrants related to felony evading and parole violations. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor LOS ANGELES – Arraignment for the man accused of raping and brutally beating a woman found dead in her Covina retirement home unit 24 years ago was continued to September 1. David Adolph Bernal, 46, was charged with one count of murder with the special circumstance allegations that the crime was committed during a rape, sodomy and burglary, according to Greg Risling, Assistant Media Chief with the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. Bernal was located and arrested at his El Monte home August 6, 2020. Investigators allege he is the suspect in the January 19, 1996 death of Mary Lindgren, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Information Bureau. Lindgren, 67, was found dead in her first-floor bedroom at Covina Villa Retirement Home. Her body was found by facility staff at 7:30 a.m. A break in the case came this July when DNA evidence submitted last year yielded a result, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Information Bureau said.
Sheriff’s Homicide detectives assisted Covina Police in the investigation. Facility staff, residents, family members, outside vendors and neighbors living near the facility were interviewed and determined to have no involvement in the murder, the Sheriff’s Information Bureau said. DNA, as well as several other pieces of evidence, was collected at the scene. A suspect profile was generated from DNA collected at the scene, but matches with state and federal criminal justice databases could not be found, the Sheriff’s Information Bureau said. As years went by, state and national crime broadcasts were sent to participating agencies. Several leads were acquired, but led nowhere, the Sheriff’s Information Bureau said. It was last year when the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office and homicide detectives with the Sheriff’s Unsolved Unit submitted suspect DNA evidence with the California State Department of Justice for a DNA search and identification process, the Sheriff’s Information Bureau said. Investigators focused their attention on the possible suspect, eventually jailing Bernal, who is being held in lieu of $2 million bail. He is scheduled for a court appearance August 7. If convicted as charged, Bernal faces life in prison without the possibility of parole, or the death penalty. A decision to seek capital punishment will be decided at a later date, Risling said. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor REGION - Investigators working the cold case of a brutally beaten, raped and murdered woman in Covina used a statewide DNA technology to identify and arrest a suspect.
David Adolph Bernal, 46, was located and arrested at his El Monte home August 6. Investigators allege he is the suspect in the death of Mary Lindgren, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Information Bureau. Lindgren, 67, was found dead in her first-floor bedroom at Covina Villa Retirement Home January 19, 1996. Her body was found by facility staff at 7:30 a.m. A break in the case came this July when DNA evidence submitted last year yielded a result, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Information Bureau said. Sheriff’s Homicide detectives assisted Covina Police in the investigation. Facility staff, residents, family members, outside vendors and neighbors living near the facility were interviewed and determined to have no involvement in the murder, the Sheriff’s Information Bureau said. DNA, as well as several other pieces of evidence, were collected at the scene. A suspect profile was generated from DNA collected at the scene, but matches with state and federal criminal justice databases could not be found, the Sheriff’s Information Bureau said. As years went by, state and national crime broadcasts were sent to participating agencies. Several leads were acquired, but led nowhere, the Sheriffs Information Bureau said. It was last year when the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office and homicide detectives with the Sheriff’s Unsolved Unit submitted suspect DNA evidence with the California State Department of Justice for a DNA search and identification process, the Sheriffs Information Bureau said. Investigators focused their attention on the possible suspect, eventually jailing Bernal, who is being held in lieu of $2 million bail. He is scheduled for a court appearance August 7. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor REGION - A man accused of setting arson fires in around Azusa and Covina pleaded not guilty Thursday. Jose Javier Salgado, 39, faces 12 counts of arson during a state of emergency, nine counts of arson of property and three counts of arson of a structure or forest, according to Ricardo Santiago of the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. Santiago was arraigned Thursday. Prosecutor Arthur Leahy of the DA’s Arson Explosives Section said Santiago set nine fires April 4 and set three more April 15 near mini-malls in and around the border between Azusa and Covina. Three fires burned roughly within an hour of each other late April 15, a Los Angeles County Fire Department dispatch supervisor said.
A particularly large fire was set behind the Covina Walmart Supercenter, 1275 N. Azusa Ave., at 10:36 p.m. April 15. Firefighters finally knocked down the blaze at 11 p.m., according to Los Angeles County Fire Department Dispatch Supervisor Michael Pittman. The fire destroyed pallets, a forklift and forced people to evacuate the store. Bail is set at $4.87 million. Salgado faces a possible maximum sentence of 27 years in state prison if convicted as charged, Santiago said. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor UNINCORP. COVINA - Nine homes suffered various damage after being hit by what deputies described as large bore air rifle bullets. The shootings took place over a six-week period around unincorporated Covina communities and within Covina city limits. Projectiles have hit homes, front yards, backyards and objects on private property, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s San Dimas Station. “These are relatively large projectiles, not like what you might expect from a traditional BB or pellet gun. These are actual bullets fired from an air rifle as powerful as some pistols,” the San Dimas Sheriff’s Station said in a written statement. Some residents were home when the shots were fired. Incidents occurred:
Such weapons use compressed air to fire the large bore projectiles, usually lead. The sound emitted closely resembles that of a paintball gun.
Deputies have not been able to determine the origin of the gunfire. Sheriff's deputies and Covina Police are working to find the shooter responsible. “What the perpetrator may not know is, even though these air rifles are not considered firearms, he or she can and will be charged with assault with a deadly weapon or shooting at an inhabitant dwelling when arrested,” according to the San Dimas Sheriff’s Station. Anyone with information on the shootings is urged to call San Dimas Sheriff’s Station detectives at 909-450-2718. Information can be provided anonymously by calling L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), through the P3 Tips mobile app or lacrimestoppers.org |
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