ALHAMBRA – A 2-year-old girl died from injuries sustained after she was struck by a vehicle in a driveway August 18, Alhambra Police said.

Officers responded to multiple 9-1-1 call of the collision in the 2200 block of Larch Street around 10:38 a.m. They found the child suffering major injuries, according to the Alhambra Police Department.

The girl was given first aid by Alhambra police officers and firefighters. The latter transported the child to a nearby hospital where she died. The child’s parents were in the area when the collision occurred.

“During the initial investigation, officers learned that the child had been struck by a vehicle in the driveway of a condominium complex. The driver of the car remained on the scene and is cooperating with traffic investigators.

Traffic investigators with the Alhambra Police Department are handling the case.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

ALHAMBRA - A male was hospitalized Saturday night, but later died from his wounds after being found shot, police said.

Police found the wounded male in the 1100 block of N. Garfield Ave. around 10:09 p.m. July 10. Officers performed CPR until Alhambra Fire Department medics arrived to take over care, according to the Alhambra Police Department.

Investigators have yet to reveal the age range of the victim.

Officers were originally dispatched to the 1100 block of N. Garfield Ave. to investigate a report of shots fired, Alhambra Police said.

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

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

ALHAMBRA - A 30-year-old woman was severely injured after an unknown suspect opened fire at her through the front door of her home Monday night.

The shooting took place around 9:48 p.m. May 17 in the 1600 block of South Benito Avenue. The suspect, through the door, asked for a resident by name and then shot several times as a woman approached. When officers arrived, they found a woman wounded near the front door of the residence, according to the Alhambra Police Department.

A description of the suspect was obtained. He appears to be a Hispanic man, between 20 and 30 years old, stands 6 feet 3 inches tall, is heavyset, wore a black sweater and blue jeans and he was armed with a semi-automatic handgun, Alhambra Police Department.

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 - Two women escaped unharmed along with a baby after a South Gate man broke his way into a home while escaping police officers who were chasing him on foot Tuesday.

Ruben Angel Esparza, 24, decided to run from police who tried to speak with him and a woman congregating outside the Midwick Motel, 1901 W. Garvey Ave. Esparza reportedly hopped over several fences in a residential area before entering the occupied home, according to the Alhambra Police Department.

“Officers quickly set up containment. Two women and a baby inside the house were able to escape shortly after, and were taken to safety. After several commands, the suspect exited the house and was taken into custody without incident,” according to the Alhambra Police Department in a written statement.

Esparza was arrested at 1:27 p.m. , according to Los Angeles County booking records.

He is being held without bail and was booked on suspicion of false imprisonment, burglary, resisting a police officer, child endangerment, robbery and kidnapping.

Esparza has a scheduled appearance in Alhambra Municipal Court April 29.

ALHAMBRA – A Santa Ana man was put behind bars March 24 after officers determined he was the driver in a deadly DUI crash.

The Alhambra Police Department accuses Marquez Juan Fuentes Lizardo, 22, of murder and felony DUI after one of his passengers, only identified as a 21-year-old woman, died in a crash Wednesday. Lizardo’s blood alcohol content was twice the legal limit, according to the Alhambra Police Department.

A four-door sedan westbound in the 3000 block of West Valley Boulevard crashed into a concrete light pole around 9:43 p.m. Police arrived and found the woman unresponsive in the vehicle. Two men who identified themselves as passengers were found standing near the vehicle

The woman died at a hospital.

“Although neither party claimed to be the driver at the time of the collision, a witness came forward and identified one of the males … as the driver,” according to the Alhambra Police Department in a written statement.

Lizardo showed signs of being under the influence and a breath test confirmed his intoxication, Alhambra Police said.

Lizardo is being held in lieu of $2 million bail ahead of a scheduled appearance in Alhambra Superior Court Friday, March 26.

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.