Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor LOS ANGELES – Three juveniles were taken into custody recently, accused of terrorizing businesses across six communities from December 12 to December 14.
Deputies accuse the juveniles of hitting gas stations and convenience stores in City of Industry, Bellflower, Norwalk, Pico Rivera, Whittier and Downey, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. The department’s Major Crimes Bureau – Metro Detail deputies began investigating robberies in Norwalk and City of Industry December 14. Detectives learned that as many as two suspects, described as Black males, committed robberies with the use of a handgun, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. A vehicle description and license plate were obtained, allowing deputies to enter the vehicle into a countywide database, listing it as a “felony vehicle – armed and dangerous,” according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Shortly after an armed robbery in Bellflower, a patrol deputy located the vehicle. A High-risk stop was conducted and three suspects were arrested. More than $1,000 in cash and evidence linking the juvenile suspects to the crimes was seized. The handgun was not located, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. The suspects remain in custody. The case will be presented to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office for filing consideration. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor REGION - A man was rescued in April, but two others weren’t so lucky in a kidnapping and ransom plot involving a former Colton resident and her boyfriend. Leslie Briana Matla, 20, and Juan Carlos Montoya Sanchez, 25, were arrested last week on a federal criminal complaint alleging the couple collected ransom money in a kidnapping conspiracy where US citizens were held captive in Mexico, according to the Justice Department. The criminal complaint charges Matla and Sanchez with one count of money laundering and conspiracy. On March 28, April 13 and April 22, three men – residents of San Diego, Norwalk and Pasadena – were kidnapped in Tijuana while on business or visiting family. A suspect using a Mexican telephone number called the victims’ families and were told to deposit ransom money at a specific location, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Matla, a current Mexican resident, Would venture into the US to pick up ransom payments placed by the kidnapped victims’ family members at locations chosen by her co-conspirators, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said. Mexican authorities found the San Diego victim’s body March 29 after the victim’s adult son placed a bag containing $25,000 inside the women’s restroom of a McDonald’s restaurant in San Ysidro, The U.S. Attorney’s Office said. The Norwalk victim’s body was found in Mexico April 14 after the victim’s family tried, but failed to pay a $25,000 ransom to a woman whom law enforcement believes was Matla, at a Lowe’s parking lot in Norwalk, according to court documents. A Pasadena woman alerted authorities April 22 that her family member was being held captive in Mexico and that a suspect demanded a ransom of $20,000 be left in a Food 4 Less parking lot in Lynnwood. A pregnant woman was to pick up the cash.
The relative of the Pasadena woman was rescued that day from a Tijuana hotel - the same hotel where the two other victims met their fate, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said. Cell phone records helped authorities to discover that all three victims have been held at the same motel. Nine suspects were arrested at the hotel. US border crossing records, surveillance footage from the ransom drop off points and social media messages helped identify Matla. Sanchez also received Wire transfers from two of the kidnapping victims, according US Attorney’s Office said. Both suspects face a possible maximum sentence of life in prison if convicted as charged. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor NORWALK - A driver was hospitalized early Wednesday after his car exited the Glen Anderson Freeway and crashed through a building. The crash occurred around 1:52 a.m. at a medical building at 12820 Studebaker Road. The vehicle exited the freeway and didn’t stop until it slammed into the unoccupied medical building.
“The driver was lucky to make it out alive,” said deputies with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Norwalk Station. It is unclear if alcohol, drugs or distracted driving were factors in the crash. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor REGION - A woman has not been seen since last night after she left her home, deputies said. Yessel Guadalupe Lopez, 19, was last seen leaving her home around 10 p.m. February 3. She suffers from schizophrenia and has the mental capacity of an 8-year-old, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. She was last seen in the 12100 block of Pine Street.
Lopez is a Hispanic woman, 5 feet 2 inches tall, 175 pounds, has brown hair, brown eyes and wears braces. She was seen carrying a brown backpack. Anyone with information on Lopez’s whereabouts is urged to call the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Missing Persons Detail at 323-890-5500. Information can be provided anonymously by calling L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor NORWALK - A 46-year-old Norwalk man may have died after severing an artery when he punched a plate-glass window during a domestic disturbance, Sheriff’s investigators said.
Mario Espinoza was found dead on the shoulder of the north 605 freeway exit onto Firestone Boulevard around 1:13 a.m. Thursday. Investigators discovered a laceration to the man’s left arm. Espinoza was identified by Lt. Brian Kim of the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner. “After the laceration, the decedent entered his vehicle and drove away from the location. His wound caused him to bleed profusely. Detectives believe he drove to the 605 fwy and eventually expired,” according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Information Bureau. The death is being considered accidental. An autopsy has yet to be scheduled, Kim said. Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor NORWALK - CHP officers responding to a disabled vehicle along the 605 freeway at the Firestone Boulevard exit found a dead man, Sheriff’s investigators said.
The discovery was made at 1:13 a.m. along the northbound 605 freeway. The victim was found with signs of trauma to his body. The cause of death is not known at this time according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Information Bureau. Anyone with information on this incident is urged to call the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500. Information can be provided anonymously by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). |
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