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 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 REGION - One of two suspects involved in a violent Valinda home invasion robbery was arrested December 19.
Jeremy Rahmelle Dates, 29, was arrested during an Upland traffic stop by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Burglary Robbery Task Force. The home invasion occurred January 31, 2023 in the 16400 Block of Burtree Street in Valinda. Dates is accused of beating his elderly victim after entering the home. The bedroom was ransacked. The victim suffered facial and head trauma, according to the Sheriff’s Department. There was a second suspect, an unknown lookout only described as Black male. “The investigation is ongoing in order to determine if this robbery suspect is related to other home invasion robberies that have recently occurred in the Southern California Area,” according to the Sheriff’s Department in a written statement. Dates was transported to Sheriff’s Industry Station where he was booked and held in lieu $200,000 bail and is scheduled to appear at the West Covina Courthouse December 21. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor LOS ANGELES - Surveillance footage once again helped identify the man accused of gunning down three homeless people in Los Angeles late last month.
The suspect was already in custody, accused of murdering a San Dimas man after following him home from West Covina. Jerrid Joseph Powell, 33, was arrested by the Los Angeles Police Department Saturday. The three murders of homeless men occurred from November 26 to November 29. The same vehicle was seen at all three murder scenes, investigators said. Ballistics examination determined the gun seized after Powell was arrested in Beverly Hills was used in the homeless murders, according to an LAPD written statement. The first LA murder occurred around 3 a.m. November 26 in the 800 block of West 110th Street. The next murder occurred around 5 a.m. November 27 in the 800 block of East Seventh Street. The third happened around 2:30 p.m. November 29 at South Avenue 18 and South Pasadena Avenue. All victims in the LA murder were sleeping either on a public sidewalk or in an alleyway. Powell will remain in custody pending the filing of charges. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor REGION - No one was injured after an unidentified suspect chucked padlocks from a moving vehicle and struck three Los Angeles County Sheriff’s patrol vehicles while on the freeway November 1.
In all three incidents the suspect and victims occupied the HOV lanes on the 134 and 210 freeways. The suspect was eastbound and all three patrol vehicles were westbound. The first incident occurred on the 134 freeway around 2 p.m. The second incident occurred on the 210 freeway at Huntington Drive. The third incident occurred on the 210 freeway at Mountain Avenue in Monrovia: the last two incidents happened about 20 minutes after the first, according to Kari Mercer of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Transit Services Bureau. There are no witnesses so far, Mercer told SGV CityWatch. The California Highway Patrol has assumed the investigation. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor REGION - Law enforcement and school authorities are extra vigilant Friday after students reported separate incidents of stalking.
A student of the Hacienda La Puente Unified School District was reportedly grabbed by a man while walking to school around 8:30 a.m. September 14. The student was able to break free and notify school and Sheriff’s deputies, according to school officials. The suspect, last seen near Hacienda Boulevard and Francisquito Avenue. He is a Latino man in his 40s, wearing a yellow shirt, blue hat and neck tattoo he drove a white van. West Covina Unified officials said a similar incident occurred in their area where a student appeared to be followed near Hollenbeck and Hollencrest. Authorities searched for, but did not locate the white van that was seen. “As this case undergoes investigation, HLPUSD school police, City of Industry deputies and the West Covina Police Department will be providing additional patrol officers in the surrounding areas,” according Alfonso Jiménez, superintendent of schools for the Hacienda La Puente School District. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor LOS ANGELES - Authorities announced Friday the arrest of two suspects in a highly-publicized and violent robbery in Hacienda Heights.
Russell Hardy Jr. and Cameron DeShawne Perry, both 19 years old, were located through a multi-jurisdictional investigation. Russell was arrested August 16 and is being held without bail. Perry is being held in lieu of $400,000 bail, according to Los Angeles County booking records. Both men were officially charged each with two counts of second-degree robbery, two counts of first-degree automated teller machine robbery and one count of attempted second-degree robbery. Perry also is charged with two counts of elder or dependent adult abuse, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. Hardy was named as the getaway driver of a blue vehicle, Perry as the suspect who violently took the woman’s purse during the August 14 robbery in Hacienda Heights, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Both suspects are believed to have operated as a criminal crew the last several months and targeted Asian victims in Hacienda Heights, Rowland Heights and City of Industry, committing similar robberies. A meeting between the Sheriff’s Major Crimes Bureau-Burglary Robbery Task Force and the Orange County Violent Crimes ATF Task Force was held to investigate the robberies when they were notified of the highly-publicized robbery. Both suspects are believed to be involved in a robbery May 30 near 1457 Nogales St. in Rowland Heights where a purse containing $150,000 in jewelry was taken. June 9, a woman who withdrew money from a bank at 17801 Colima Rd. in Industry had her wallet stolen. June 14, a woman was in a parking lot at 1611 N. Azusa Ave. when someone approached from behind, stolen the purse and fled. July 2, a man exiting a bank at 18958 Daisetta St. in Rowland Heights fought back after being pistol-whipped, leaving the robber empty-handed, according to the DA’s office. in all but one of the robberies a blue vehicle was seen fleeing. Both suspects are scheduled for an appearance in the Pomona Courthouse Monday, August 21. |
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