Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

ALHAMBRA - A teller’s intuition led to the arrest of a man accused of stealing $25,000 from his victim’s bank account.

Curtis Graham, a 51-year-old New Jersey man, allegedly used fraudulent identification and ATM card to withdraw the cash from a Bank of America, 444 E. Valley Blvd. Graham then allegedly attempted to withdraw even more money from a savings account June 28, according to the Alhambra Police Department.

“The teller grew suspicious of the unusually large withdrawal and asked some questions to verify the account. The suspect became nervous and left in a panic,” according to the Alhambra Police Department in a written statement.

Things allegedly got physical between the teller and Graham when the suspect was followed outside the bank. Officers arrived and took Graham into custody.

Graham was officially charged with second-degree robbery, assault with a deadly weapon, theft from an elder/dependent adult, identity theft, false personation and possessing a false or altered driver license.

Graham pleaded not guilty July 7.

He is being held in the North County Correctional Facility in Castaic and is scheduled to return to Alhambra Superior Court July 29.

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The arrest record in this article is being redistributed by SGV CityWatch and is protected by constitutional, publishing and other legal rights. Arrest information is public record and was distributed by government sources. The person named in this article has only been arrested on suspicion of the crime(s) listed and is presumed innocent.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

ALHAMBRA - Two men from Los Angeles were caught in a stolen vehicle through the help of an Apple AirTag.

Officers tracked the AirTag signal to an alley in Los Angeles June 19 and two suspects were found chillin’ inside, allegedly found with keys used to start the car, methamphetamine, non-prescribed Adderall, pepper spray and a meth pipe, according to the Alhambra Police Department.

The owner of a black sedan parked her vehicle and locked it, but discovered it was stolen sometime later that same day, according to the Alhambra Police Department.

Arrested were Mario Alfredo Huitron and Honorio De La Torre.

Huitron, 31, was charged June 23 with receiving a stolen vehicle and additionally charged for having a prior auto theft conviction. He pleaded not guilty, according to Los Angeles Superior Court records.

De La Torre, 36, was issued a citation and released, according to Los Angeles County booking records.

Huitron is scheduled for an early disposition hearing July 3.

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The arrest records in this article are being redistributed by SGV CityWatch and are protected by constitutional, publishing and other legal rights. Arrest information is public record and was distributed by government sources. The persons named in this article have only been arrested on suspicion of the crime(s) listed and are presumed innocent.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

ALHAMBRA - A Long Beach teen was arrested recently with the help of a police drone.

Officers located the stolen vehicle while patrolling Westmont Drive and West Valley Boulevard. After a drone was deployed, the vehicle was located near Alhambra Road and Huntington Drive, but the driver refused commands to stop, according to the Alhambra Police Department.

The suspect fled at high speed and eventually abandoned the vehicle, attempting to blend in by casually walking in plain sight somewhere along Palm Avenue, but the drone pointed officers to the suspect who was then cuffed and hauled away.

The suspect’s identity was not released because he is a minor.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

ALHAMBRA - Three suspects were arrested, accused of residential burglary using an interesting story to gain access to homes April 21.

Officers were called to the 3300 block of Balzac Street on a suspicious person at a home.

One of the alleged burglars approached a home and rang the door bell. She called out, pretending to deliver for Uber Eats. Once she confirmed the home was unoccupied, her accomplices forced entry and stole property, according to the Alhambra Police Department.

“Once she confirmed no one was home, she gave the green light to her crew while she waited outside as a lookout,” according to the Alhambra Police Department. “The suspects jumped a fence and forced entry. Just as they started grabbing stuff, they noticed APD outside and decided to play hide and seek.”

The Uber Eats girl allegedly attempted to warn her accomplices about the police presence, but officers caught her, according to the Alhambra Police Department.

Through a perimeter search, formed with the help of a Alhambra Police K9 and Pasadena Police K9s, all suspects were arrested.

Officers arrested Kennisha Powell, 20, a Lake Elsinore resident, Dejon Brown, 18, a Baldwin Park resident, and Jerry Mullens, 18, a Los Angeles resident.

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The arrest record in this article is being redistributed by SGV CityWatch and is protected by constitutional, publishing and other legal rights. Arrest information is public record and was distributed by government sources. The person named in this article has only been arrested on suspicion of the crime(s) listed and is presumed innocent.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

ALHAMBRA - Two juveniles were arrested, a replica gun seized and stolen items were recovered during a traffic stop, police announced.

Officers were in the area of Atlantic Avenue and the I-10 freeway and intercepted a vehicle that was stolen in Victorville.

“During a vehicle search, a black replica handgun, black gloves, a ski mask, and a wallet with various cards belonging to the victim were found,” according to the Alhambra Police Department in a written statement.

The juveniles were booked on multiple charges.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

ALHAMBRA - A fake funeral and pleas for donations led to the arrest of a father and his child February 18.

Patrol officers spotted the juvenile flashing a funeral donation sign at Valley Boulevard and Fremont Avenue. When pressed with questions from the officers, the juvenile cracked.

“When questioned, he admitted to collecting money and said his dad had dropped him off with the sign, making this a family affair,” according to the Alhambra Police Department in a written statement.

Police located the father, 40-year-old Gheorghe Romana Gilica, a La Habra resident, and took him into custody, along with the juvenile.

Gilica was booked on suspicion of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. He was issued a citation and released the same day, according to Los Angeles County booking records.

The child’s fate is not immediately known, although the child was likely released to a parent or guardian.

Gilica is no stranger to this type of grift, according to arrest records obtained by SGV CityWatch. He was arrested November 18, 2024 in Oak Hills along Highway 395 and Main Street by the San Bernardino Sheriff’s Office. He was booked on suspicion of theft by false pretenses.

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The arrest record in this article is being redistributed by SGV CityWatch and is protected by constitutional, publishing and other legal rights. Arrest information is public record and was distributed by government sources. The person named in this article has only been arrested on suspicion of the crime(s) listed and is presumed innocent.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

ALHAMBRA - Police shot and killed a reported suicidal man who allegedly charged at them with a knife Saturday.

The shooting occurred in the 1200 block of South Almansor Avenue January 18. Police originally responded around 11:18 a.m. to a call of a suicidal man, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

The man emerged from nearby, a knife in hand and advanced toward Alhambra Police officers.

“Officers gave commands for the suspect to drop the knife. The suspect did not comply with the officers commands and continued to advance toward the officers in an aggressive manner when an officer-involved shooting occurred,” according to the Sheriff’s Department in a written statement.

The man was struck multiple times. He was taken to a hospital where he died.

Investigators recovered a large knife at the scene.

Anyone with information on this incident is urged to call the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500. 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

ALHAMBRA - Detectives are investigating the circumstances behind a fatal stabbing after a man was found wounded early Sunday morning.

First responders were sent to the 100 block of South First Street, around 1:08 a.m. after multiple witnesses reported a man who was stabbed December 22. A 30-year-old man was found wounded and taken to a trauma center where he later died, according to the Alhambra Police Department.

“This homicide is believed to be an isolated incident and there is no ongoing threat to the public,” according to the Alhambra Police Department in a written statement.

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

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

ALHAMBRA - Is that a machete in your pocket, or are you happy to see me? A man was arrested November 19, allegedly caught with a sweet blade tucked into his trousers.

Officers responded to a call of a man laying on the ground near 25 N. Stoneman Ave. They discovered the man, 33-year-old Anthony Roderick Bell, is on probation for auto theft with search and seizure terms, according to the Alhambra Police Department.

“Officers searched the suspect, they found a large machete concealed inside his front waistband,” according to the Alhambra Police Department in a written statement.

Bell claimed the machete is his sports weapon, according to the Alhambra Police Department.

Bell was arrested, then issued a citation and released. He is expected to appear in Alhambra Superior Court January 17, 2025, according to Los Angeles County booking records.

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The arrest record in this article is being redistributed by SGV CityWatch and is protected by constitutional, publishing and other legal rights. Arrest information is public record and was distributed by government sources. The person named in this article has only been arrested on suspicion of the crime(s) listed and is presumed innocent.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

ALHAMBRA - A man and woman were arrested October 22, allegedly found occupying a stolen ride.

Deshawn Lamar Dafney and Mary Johnson were stopped in the area of Mission Road and Meridian Avenue. During a search after a high-risk traffic stop, officers reportedly discovered narcotics and stolen identification in Dafney’s possession.

Dafney, a Lancaster man, was booked on suspicion of possessing narcotics, possessing stolen identification and had a warrant for a parole violation.

Johnson, a Long Beach woman, was arrested for two outstanding warrants, according to the Alhambra Police Department.

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The arrest record in this article is being redistributed by SGV CityWatch and is protected by constitutional, publishing and other legal rights. Arrest information is public record and was distributed by government sources. The person named in this article has only been arrested on suspicion of the crime(s) listed and is presumed innocent.