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. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor MOUNTAINS - Authorities recently announced that a hiker missing since July 1 in the mountains above the Altadena area was found dead one week after he was reported missing.
Albert Baer Zisook, 65, was found on Bear Canyon Trail near Mt. Lowe Road, according to the County of Los Angeles Department of Medical Examiner. His cause of death has been deferred, pending additional investigation. Zisook was reported missing to the Los Angeles Police Department. He was last seen July 1 at 6 a.m. near Chaney Trail and Loma Alta Drive in Altadena. Zisook's family noted that he was an avid hiker. "After many days of searching, with more than a thousand man-hours from multiple search & rescue teams, our operation concluded. However, the outcome was not as hoped. Our heartfelt condolences to the family of Albert Zisook," according to the Altadena Mountain Rescue Team in a written statement. The arduous search led a search team member to sustain serious injuries. 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 MOUNTAINS - A hiker said to be in his early 30s died Sunday afternoon after jumping in a stream near Mount Baldy Road.
The hiker and a friend were out near the Barrett Stoddard Truck Trail near Mount Baldy Road when they came upon a stream. The hiker jumped once successfully into the stream and jumped in a second time, but failed to resurface, according to Sgt. Duarte of the Los Angeles county sheriffs San Dimas Station. The friend found the hiker’s body somewhere downstream and attempted CPR. Los Angeles County Fire Department paramedics took over CPR duties, but eventually declared the hiker dead at the scene, Duarte told SGV CityWatch. The hiker was declared deceased at 6:20 p.m., Duarte told SGV CityWatch. 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 UPDATE, 11:17 a.m.: Firefighters have brought the body out of the river and up to Camp Williams. The body will remain in an ambulance for two hours until the arrival of coroner investigators.
UPDATE, 10:40 a.m.: First responders have located a body in the river near Camp Williams RV Resort. They do not know if this is specifically the person spotted floating face down in the river this morning. MOUNTAINS - Los Angeles County Firefighters and Sheriff’s deputies are searching for a report of two bodies seen floating down the San Gabriel River. The rescue operation is unfolding at Camp Williams RV Resort, 24210 E. Fork Rd. Hikers reported initially seeing what appeared to be a person wearing a red jacket floating down the river, according to Los Angeles County Fire Department radio traffic. Firefighters were told once they arrived to Camp Williams that there are possibly two bodies floating down the river. A Los Angeles County Fire Department helicopter and a rescue team aboard a Los Angeles County Sheriff’s helicopter are all en route for reconnaissance and possible body recovery. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor LOS ANGELES - The man accused of gunning down an auxiliary bishop for the LA Archdiocese over alleged money issues awaits his day in court.
Carlos Medina, 61, is being held in lieu of $2 million bail. A court date has yet to be set. LA Archdiocese Auxiliary Bishop at David O’Connell was discovered dead from at least one gunshot wound in his bedroom after deputies were called at 1 p.m. to a report of a person not breathing in the 1500 block of Janlu Avenue in Hacienda Heights Saturday, February 18, according to Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna. The Sheriff’s Department was notified Sunday, February 19 at 7 p.m. of a person of interest tied to the murder. Deputies traveled to the city of Torrance where the person of interest lives and after the special enforcement operation, Medina was apprehended. Two firearms and items possibly tying Medina to the murder were confiscated. The firearms will have to be examined to determine if they were used in the Hacienda Heights murder, Luna said at the Monday press conference. A tipster told the Sheriff’s Department that Medina was acting strange, irrational and expressed that O’Connell owed Medina money. Medina is married to O’Connell’s housekeeper, Luna said at the Monday press conference. Investigators did not find any apparent forced entry into the home. Surveillance footage showed a dark-colored compact SUV pull into the bishops driveway and was driven away after a short time. That SUV is driven by Medina’s wife. Before Medina’s arrest, investigators were told that he was possibly in the Central California area. A tipster notified investigators that Medina had returned to his home in Torrance in the 20400 block of Kenwood Avenue. At 2 a.m. on Monday, February 20, deputies arrived to arrest Medina, but he refused to exit. At 8:15 a.m., Medina finally surrendered. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor LOS ANGELES - The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department announced the November 8 arrest of a man accused of rape, extortion and more after reportedly luring his victims through Instagram.
Michael Watson Jr, 21, pleaded not guilty to 16 felony counts, including rape by force or fear, robbery, assault with a firearm, unlawful sex with a minor, attempted extortion and grand theft, according to Los Angeles County Superior Court records. Four of his alleged victims are minors. The alleged crimes date back to as far as February 2021 when Watson was invited to a home in Walnut by two women he met through Instagram. He allegedly raped one woman and took their cellphones, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Watson allegedly attempted to extort money from one of the women by posting nude images he found on a cellphone. Investigators used DNA evidence to tie Watson to 12 other incidents in other cities, including Los Angeles, Inglewood, Hollywood and East Los Angeles, using Instagram to lure his other victims, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Investigators from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Special Victims Bureau and the Inglewood Police Department will discuss more details of this investigation in a November 30 press conference at 2 p.m. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor NORWALK - The suspect caught by employees as he assaulted a girl in a supermarket restroom pleaded no contest October 17.
Steven Magdaleno, 39, entered his plea, which is the same as a guilty plea, to one count of assault with further intent to commit a serious sex crime, according to Los Angeles County booking records. Magdaleno also faced one count of false imprisonment, escape from home detention and providing false identification to police, according to Los Angeles County booking records. Magdaleno faces eight years in state prison if convicted as charged. The incident unfolded inside a Stater Bros., 14212 Mullberry Dr., around 2 p.m. Sunday, September 18. The suspect followed the girl into a bathroom, locked the door and attempted to sexually assault her. The girl screamed, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. “Store employees accessed the bathroom and subsequently detained the suspect pending the arrival of deputies. The victim was medically treated at a local hospital. The suspect was arrested and booked at Norwalk Sheriff’s Station,” according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. “Based on the nature of the offense, detectives believe there may be additional unidentified victims. Detectives are seeking the public’s help in identifying any such victims,” according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Anyone with information on this incident is urged to call the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, Special Victims Bureau toll free tip line 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. Magdaleno is scheduled to appear in court October 28 for sentencing. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor WHITTIER - Stater Bros. employees and customers rushed to save a 16-year-old girl after a man locked himself inside a bathroom with her and tried to assault her.
The incident unfolded inside a Stater Bros., 14212 Mullberry Dr., around 2 p.m. Sunday, September 18. The suspect followed the girl into a bathroom, locked the door and attempted to sexually assault her. The girl screamed, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. “Store employees accessed the bathroom and subsequently detained the suspect pending the arrival of deputies. The victim was medically treated at a local hospital. The suspect was arrested and booked at Norwalk Sheriff’s Station,” according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Steven Daniel Magdaleno, 39, is being held without bail, according to Los Angeles County booking records. He is facing one felony count each of assault to commit rape, attempting to escape custody and false imprisonment by violence, as well as a misdemeanor count of providing false identification to a peace officer, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. “Based on the nature of the offense, detectives believe there may be additional unidentified victims. Detectives are seeking the public’s help in identifying any such victims,” according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Anyone with information on this incident is urged to call the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, Special Victims Bureau toll free tip line 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. |
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