Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

ALHAMBRA - A pursuit ended in a major crash that killed one person being pursued in an SUV and a police officer Thursday.

It is not immediately clear why police were pursuing an SUV, but the collision at West Valley Boulevard and Edgewood Drive caused major damage to the SUV and an Alhambra Police patrol SUV.

The crash occurred around 3:07 a.m. November 20.

Officer Alec Saunders, 28, was just eight months in to his service with the Alhambra Police Department.

Saunders was reportedly found not breathing when fellow officers reached him in the damaged police SUV.

There were three people in the suspect SUV. One occupant was ejected and died at the scene. One other suspect was seriously injured, while a third suspect was not seriously injured.

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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 - Detectives on a stakeout caught a driver who eluded South Pasadena and Alhambra officers multiple times.

Lawrence White, a 28-year-old Pasadena resident, was caught in that city March 13 after detectives learned his location and waited for the suspect to reveal himself, according to the Alhambra Police Department.

White is accused of evading South Pasadena Police officers who attempted to perform a traffic stop on him March 1, according to Los Angeles County Superior Court records.

During the South Pasadena pursuit, White is accused of striking another vehicle at Huntington Drive in Fremont Avenue. He continued to flee and allegedly ran a red light, according to the Alhambra Police department.

Alhambra Police officers located the suspect on three separate occasions and also attempted to stop him, but he continued to flee at high rates of speed, failing to stop at multiple stop signs and deliberately disregarded the safety of others through his reckless driving, according to the Alhambra Police Department.

Once White was detained, officers searched his vehicle and found a loaded firearm in the glove compartment, according to the Alhambra Police Department.

White was officially charged in court with two counts of felony evading a police officer, one count of misdemeanor hit and run causing property damage and carrying a concealed weapon in a vehicle, according to Superior Court records.

White is being held in Lou of $150,000 bail at the twin towers correctional facility in Los Angeles. He made an initial appearance on March 15 and is scheduled to reappear in Alhambra, Superior Court April 2.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

ALHAMBRA - Two Burglary suspects were arrested January 9, all because one suspect decided to play chicken and run.

The driver of a truck was stopped, accused of running a red light in the area of Commonwealth Avenue and Date Avenue some time around 10:15 p.m. As an officer approached the truck, the passenger bailed, according to the Alhambra Police Department.

The officer gave chase and eventually the suspect was subdued.

Jesse Ramos, 36, and Juan Ramon Alvarez, 57, were arrested.

“Further investigation revealed that the suspects had just committed a burglary at Target moments before the stop,” according to the Alhambra Police Department in a written statement.

At least one of the suspects was in possession of methamphetamine, according to the Alhambra Police Department.

Both suspects were booked and released. They are scheduled to appear in the Alhambra Courthouse March 8.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

ALHAMBRA - Narcotics and stolen items were reportedly found inside a stolen vehicle allegedly driven by a man who led officers on a pursuit October 18.

Los Angeles resident Jose Luis Vargas refused to stop for officers in the area of Garfield Avenue and Glendon way. Officers pursued the suspect and located the abandoned vehicle in a cul-de-sac at Irving Street and Sixth Street. The suspect was seen running towards the Atherton senior living complex, according to the Alhambra Police Department.

During a perimeter search, Vargas was found hiding next to a water heater and was taken into custody.

“During a vehicle search, several baggies of methamphetamine, oxycodone, and heroin were found along with several checks payable and ID cards belonging to different individuals. Additionally, the vehicle Vargas was driving was discovered to be stolen,” according to the Alhambra Police Department in a written statement.

Vargas, 37, was charged in Alhambra Superior Court with misdemeanor hit and run, driving a stolen vehicle and felony reckless evading. He pleaded not guilty to all three charges, according to Los Angeles County Superior Court records.

ALHAMBRA - A high-speed chase and foot pursuit yielded stolen catalytic converters and burglary tools August 31, according to the Alhambra Police Department.

Officers attempted to stop a vehicle traveling at high speed near Valley Boulevard and Grandview Drive, but the driver refused to stop, according to the Alhambra Police Department.

Once the driver stopped, the suspects fled on foot on Walnut Grove Avenue when officers approached the vehicle, but were soon caught.

“During a vehicle search, several catalytic converters, cordless saws, saw blades, and other burglary tools were discovered inside,” according to the Alhambra Police Department in a written statement.

Jonathan Rosas, a Fontana resident, and a juvenile passenger were arrested.

ALHAMBRA - A man and woman escaped into the night after abandoning a vehicle reported stolen in Santa Ana Tuesday night.

Deputies near the I-10 freeway and Fremont Avenue attempted to stop the vehicle around 7:44 p.m. after learning it was stolen. The driver led police on a chase along surface streets into Alhambra, according to Lt. Hernandez of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Temple Station.

Deputies ended the chase after losing sight of the vehicle. Deputies were soon notified that a man and woman were seen running in the area of North Bushnell Avenue and Larch Street, but a perimeter search was fruitless.

The stolen vehicle information revealed whoever took the ride was considered armed and dangerous, Hernandez told SGV CityWatch.

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.

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 – 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.