ALHAMBRA – Two men burglarized a business April 9 and the suspects were caught on camera.

The burglary was recorded in the early morning hours of April 9 at an undisclosed business in the 400 block of South Palm Avenue. The timestamp on the surveillance video showed the crime occurring around 1:37 a.m.

Both men occupied a older maroon or red Honda CRV.

Both suspects are men, possibly Hispanic, sporting goatees and are possibly between 25 and 30 years old. One suspect has a light complexion. The second suspect has a dark complexion and one tattoo each on his left and right calves.

Anyone with information on this burglary is urged to call Alhambra Police Detective Alvarez at (626) 570-5187. Information can be provided anonymously by calling LA Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), through the P3Tips mobile app, or lacrimestoppers.org. Reference report number 22-12503.

ALHAMBRA – A suspect sought for a February 26 shooting was arrested after fleeing deputies while armed Monday.

Alhambra officers were called to a reported shooting at Edgewood Avenue and Valley Boulevard around 7:30 a.m. Saturday and found evidence a vehicle-to-vehicle shooting occurred. An unoccupied vehicle struck by gunfire was found at Marengo Avenue and Valley Boulevard, according to the Alhambra Police Department.

“Subsequently, a victim was located at a nearby residence. The victim was not struck by the gunfire. After reviewing video surveillance in the area of both shootings, a suspect vehicle was identified. APD Detectives placed a ‘want’ on the suspect vehicle while the investigation continued,” according to the Alhambra Police Department in a written statement.

Around Noon February 28, Deputies with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Lakewood Station pursued the suspect after he was found in Bellflower. 

The pursuit ended in Costa Mesa near Victoria Street and Newport Boulevard with a brief foot chase with the armed suspect who allegedly attempted to carjack a driver before being arrested.

Alhambra detectives continue to investigate the shootings. Anyone with information is urged to call the Alhambra Police Department Investigations Division at 626-570-5157.

ALHAMBRA - A man whom police said was undressed fled a home early Thursday after residents fought him off, according to the Alhambra Police Department.

John Anthony Patterson is accused of breaking into the home in the 200 block of North Olive Avenue February 24. Officers were called around 2:40 a.m., according to the Alhambra Police Department.

“The homeowners reported that a male subject entered the residence, undressed, and entered their bedroom. The victims physically warded off the suspect by kicking him in the groin. The suspect fled the location on foot,” according to the Alhambra Police Department in a written statement.

The female victims in the home were uninjured. 

Officers identified Patterson as the suspect.

About eight hours later, officers were called to a home in the 300 block of North Curtis Avenue after a resident spotted a suspect in her rear yard.

Officers allegedly recognized Patterson as they arrived and he ran.

Multiple agencies assisted with finding Patterson: police departments from Monterey Park, San Gabriel, San Marino, an El Monte K9, Pasadena K9, Glendale K9, Pasadena Police helicopter and multiple unmanned aircraft systems, according to the Alhambra Police Department.

Patterson could not be found during the multi-agency search, but Alhambra detectives remained to search the area and Patterson eventually emerged. He was arrested without further incident, according to the Alhambra Police Department.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is urged to call the Alhambra Police Department Investigations Division at 626-570-5157.

ALHAMBRA – Theft suspects from an Alhambra Target store could not outrun a helicopter tracking them as they fled on the I-10 freeway and as they fled on foot Monday.

The unnamed trio are accused of thieving $1,000 in goods from Target, 2120 W. Main St. January 4. Police were called at 9:30 p.m. to find the thieves who were already fleeing in a vehicle, according to the Alhambra Police Department.

Patrol officers located the fleeing vehicle at Fremont Street and Poplar Boulevard. The driver refused to stop, according to the Alhambra Police Department.

A pursuit took to Los Angeles and nearby freeways. Alhambra officers pursued the suspects on the I-10 freeway as far as Santa Anita Avenue until they decided to allow a Los Angeles County Sheriff’s helicopter to safely track the suspects from the air.

The suspects fled east at high speed as far as Hacienda Heights after merging onto the 60 freeway. They quickly fled back west.

The driver stopped after exiting the westbound 60 freeway at Potrero Grande Drive in Monterey Park. All three suspects began their escape on foot, but surrendered as the helicopter and Monterey Park Police officers descended on them.

A 21-year-old man from Los Angeles, a 24-year-old man from Long Beach and a 22-year-old woman from Los Angeles were booked on suspicion of robbery, felony evading and for outstanding warrants on previous crimes committed, according to the Alhambra Police Department.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

ALHAMBRA - Six patrons inside an Alhambra restaurant were injured after a driver crashed through the front of a restaurant Thursday.

Police and firefighters responded to Chengu Taste, 828 W. Valley Blvd., around 1:26 p.m. November 18. Three victims were transported to a local trauma center with serious injuries and three other victims were transported to local hospitals with minor injuries, according to the Alhambra Police Department.

The driver, who remained at the scene and is speaking to investigators, allegedly attempted a left turn onto eastbound Valley Boulevard and mistook the gas pedal for the breaks, according to the Alhambra Police Department.

Valley Boulevard between Atlantic Boulevard and South Seventh Street will be closed for several hours, according to the Alhambra Police Department.

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.