Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

ALHAMBRA - Like a spinning top loosed upon the Earth, a pursuit suspect dangerously and carelessly evaded police around the Los Angeles and Alhambra areas Friday.

25-year-old Raquel Alvarez is accused of grand theft auto, felony evading and hit and run, according to the Alhambra Police Department.

An officer attempted to stop Alvarez who ran a red light in a white van at Fremont Avenue and Main Street around 9:11 a.m. February 19. Due to her erratic driving, the pursuit was terminated, Alhambra Police said.

From the westbound I-10 freeway, Alvarez fled to the northbound 101 freeway into the Los Angeles area where the California Highway Patrol was asked to take over.

The chase entered the south 101 after briefly exiting onto surface streets at Melrose Avenue.

Police followed far behind, tracking Alvarez with the aid of a helicopter.

After tearing a path in the Downtown Los Angeles area, Alvarez was seen on live television exiting the stolen van near Templeton Street and Sheffield Avenue. She talked to a pedestrian before fleeing in the van again when police approached her.

Other drivers paced the stolen van and pedestrians conversed with Alvarez during the remainder of the chase as she blew past red lights in the neighborhoods north of California State University, Los Angeles and north of Downtown LA until an unknown driver in a Mini Cooper took Alvarez.

Los Angeles Police officers eventually stopped the Mini Cooper and took Alvarez into custody.

The van Alvarez drove was reported stolen in Los Angeles the same day, Alhambra Police said.

“On Monday, February 23, 2021, detectives from the Alhambra Police Department will present their case to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office,” Alhambra Police said in a written statement.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

ALHAMBRA - A man accused of firing a weapon during an argument and wounding a woman January 15 was caught hiding in a residential attic at the end of an hours-long barricade, police said.

Angel Gandara allegedly attempted to shoot a 20-year-old man he was arguing with in the 400 block of South First Street at 9 p.m. Thursday. The bullet missed his intended victim, pierced a wall and struck a woman believed to be in her 50s. She suffered a wound to her arm, according to the Alhambra police Department.

Officers conducting surveillance in the 100 block of South Granada Avenue, January 21 found Gandara at a residence. He reportedly refused to comply with orders to surrender and barricaded himself inside the residence.

Alhambra officers requested the assistance of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Special Enforcement Bureau at 11 p.m.

At 5:42 a.m. January 22, sheriff’s deputies breached the residence and eventually located Gandara hiding in the attic. Alhambra police officers arrested him.

The case will be presented to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office Tuesday, January 26.

County booking information for Gandara was not readily available.

ALHAMBRA - The county coroner identified a woman who was found dead in an Alhambra lake Tuesday.

Jinlan Wang, 68, an Alhambra resident, was identified by Sarah Ardalani, public information officer for the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner.

The cause of death has not been determined yet. An exam is still pending, Ardalani told SGV CityWatch.

Officers were called to the park, 800 S. Almansor St., September 15 and found the body of a woman. Police do not suspect foul play.

“It is not believed there is anyone of interest at this point,” according to the Alhambra Police Department.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

ALHAMBRA - A woman’s body was found in the lake at Almansor Park Tuesday morning, police said.

Officers were called to the park, 800 S. Almansor St., and found the body of a woman reportedly in her late 60s. Police do not suspect foul play.

“It is not believed there is anyone of interest at this point,” according to the Alhambra Police Department.

The woman will not be identified until next of kin is notified.

ALHAMBRA - More than 3,000 marijuana plants were seized during a search warrant at a warehouse one week ago, police said.

While serving the search warrant, officers came into contact with a inside the location where the 3,000 marijuana plants were being cultivated, according to the Alhambra Police Department.

ALHAMBRA – Police are investigating the death of man found shot on an Alhambra sidewalk Friday.

Police responding to Westminster Drive and Ramona Road found a man dead from apparent gunshot wounds around 12:45 a.m. September 4, according to the Alhambra Police Department.

It is unclear if a suspect is identified, or still outstanding.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

ALHAMBRA - No injuries were reported after a gunman opened fire at a man attempting to sell a motorcycle on an Alhambra street Sunday.

The shooting occurred in the 1400 block of South Atlantic Boulevard around 1:47 p.m. August 23. No victims or witnesses were found, but spent shell casings were discovered, according to Lt. Tai Seki of the Alhambra Police Department.

A patron at a nearby taco stand reportedly witnessed either the victim or a suspect fleeing the scene after hearing gunfire, according to Alhambra Police radio traffic.

As the investigation continued, the intended victim returned to the scene and identified himself as the man shot at, Seki told SGV CityWatch.

“The victim stated he was at the location trying to sell a motorcycle to an unknown suspect when they opened fire on him,” Seki told SGV CityWatch.

A male suspect fled the scene in a dark-colored SUV.

Anyone with information on the shooting is urged to call the Alhambra Police Department at 626-570-5151.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

ALHAMBRA - A pedestrian was hit Hit by a vehicle and killed in the area of Garfield Avenue and Shorb Street, Saturday morning, Alhambra police said.

Officers responded to the collision at 7:50 AM April 25. Paramedics assisted the pedestrian who died at the scene, According to Sergeant Steven Carr of the Alhambra Police Department.

The driver who struck the pedestrian remained at the scene and is cooperating with investigators, Alhambra Police said.

“The driver and several witnesses stated that the pedestrian stepped off of the east Garfield Avenue curb without yielding to northbound traffic when he was struck,” Carr said an a written statement.

The pedestrian has not been identified yet and was only described as an Alhambra resident in his 40s, Carr said.

Alcohol and drugs are not suspected factors in the crash, Carr said.


The Driver Remained at the Scene. CLICK TO READ MORE

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

ALHAMBRA - Police arrested a driver Saturday morning after he lead them on a pursuit while driving a reported stolen vehicle.

The driver, Anwar Josue Ramos, fled Alhambra officers from South 9th Street and Front Street around 4:10 a.m. April 25 after they tried to pull him over after discovering the vehicle he was driving was stolen, according to Lt. Tai Seki of the Alhambra Police Department.

The pursuit wound its way through Alhambra surface streets, on the I-10 freeway into the east Los Angeles area where the pursuit continued on surface streets.

Ramos drove the stolen vehicle into a Burger King parking lot at 535 S. Atlantic Blvd. where he was taken into custody, Seki told SGV CityWatch.

The vehicle was reported stolen to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Pico Rivera Station April 24, Seki told SGV CityWatch,

Ramos, a 30-year-old Los Angeles resident, was booked on suspicion of grand theft auto and felony evading police.

REGION - The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office filed charges Tuesday against the man who reportedly confessed to killing his brother and brother’s spouse.

Sam Nhat Do, 42, was charged with two counts of homicide with special circumstances and one count of child endangerment, Alhambra Police said January 28.

Do is accused of gunning down Cuong Nhat Do, a 44-year-old man, and Camha Nguyen Do, a 38-year-old woman, in an apartment unit in the 400 block of North Second Street January 24 around 7:14 p.m. Officers responding to a gunfire call found both victims inside the apartment.

CPR was administered before time of death was called at 7:26 p.m.