Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

ALHAMBRA - Two suspects are facing a long list of charges, accused of recklessly leading police on a chase after allegedly robbing a restaurant at gunpoint.

Just after 11:30 p.m. December 20, officers attempted to stop a high-speed driver in the 2400 block of West Valley Boulevard. Minutes after the pursuit began, Alhambra police dispatchers were told that an armed takeover robbery occurred at a restaurant in the 1700 block of West Valley Boulevard, according to the Alhambra Police Department.

During the pursuit, the driver lost control of his vehicle and spun 180 degrees. The driver allegedly accelerated, rammed an Alhambra Police patrol vehicle and then continued to flee, according to the Alhambra Police Department.

The pursuit ended in Los Angeles in the area of Valley Boulevard and Cavanaugh Road where the driver spun out. Both the driver and passenger fled onto some nearby railroad tracks. With the help of a Los Angeles Police Department helicopter, both suspects were arrested without further incident.

An employee of the restaurant that was robbed told police that two suspects entered, ordered all employees down to the ground at gunpoint. Money was taken from the restaurant and from the employees, according to the Alhambra Police Department.

Property located in the suspect’s vehicle, including a loaded firearm, allegedly tied both driver and passenger to the restaurant robbery.

Lancaster man David Saravia, 23, and Maywood man Tomas Marcos, 22, were arrested. Amongst the charges are robbery, assault with a deadly on a peace officer, kidnapping and undisclosed weapons violations.

Saravia is being held without bail on a California Department of Corrections hold. Marcos is being held in lieu of $100,000 bail. Both men are scheduled for a December 23 appearance in Alhambra Municipal Court.

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

LOS ANGELES - A woman behind the wheel of a reported stolen vehicle was arrested after a quick pursuit and foot chase from Alhambra to El Sereno, police said.
 
The chase began just before 1:40 a.m. after an officer on patrol located the stolen vehicle in the area Main Street and Huntington Drive. The driver refused to stop and led police on a quick pursuit on surface streets, sometimes at speeds around 70 miles per hour, according to Alhambra Police and police radio traffic.
 
The vehicle was reported stolen from the area of Stoneman Avenue and Main Street, Alhambra Police said.
 
The pursuit wound into the El Sereno neighborhood of Los Angeles and into an alleyway where the suspect fled on foot, but she was quickly arrested.
 
Claudia Hernandez, 28, from Los Angeles, was booked on suspicion of grand theft auto, felony evading and a misdemeanor narcotics charge, police said.
 
Hernandez is being held in lieu of $110,000 bail. She is scheduled to appear in Alhambra Superior Court May 21.