Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

ALTADENA - The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department recently released recordings of the response to and aftermath of a suspect attacking citizens in Altadena and the resulting police shooting that took the suspect’s life.

The suspect, 47-year-old Charles Towns, was walking along city streets attempting to stab multiple people and eventually did attack and injure a woman and one other person before being shot dead.

Deputies from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Altadena Station were told a knife-wielding man was attempting to stab people at a gas station near Fair Oaks Avenue and Woodbury Road around 5:14 p.m. January 22. The weapon turned out to be a pair of scissors.

Deputies found Towns during his tirade and followed him to the 2100 block of El Sereno Avenue. Along the way, Towns attempted to stab a man who was casually leaning up against the truck while using a cellphone.

As deputies continued to follow Towns while in their patrol vehicles, he came upon a group of pedestrians who attempted to leave the area. He advanced towards the pedestrians and stabbed a woman in the face, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

One deputy rushed in to help the wounded woman. Towns attempted to stab another man. One deputy shot Towns who then fell to the ground, but he got back up and advanced towards deputies. He was shot again multiple times.

Los Angeles County Fire Department paramedics attempted to revive the man, but he died at the scene.

The California Department of Justice Law Enforcement Division assumed investigation of this fatal shooting to determined justification for the use of force, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

ALTADENA - A woman was hospitalized after being stabbed, her possible assailant killed by a deputy at an Altadena intersection Sunday.

The incident occurred around 4:08 p.m. January 10 at the intersection of Figueroa Drive and Lincoln Avenue. A deputy patrolling in a vehicle was flagged down by a woman who was apparently the victim of a stabbing. An unknown male then approached the deputy and a shooting occurred, according to Deputy Arteaga of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Information Bureau.

It is unclear to Arteaga why use of force was necessary against the man.

The woman was taken to a trauma center, according to Dispatch Supervisor of the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

The suspect was pronounced dead at the scene, Arteaga told SGV CityWatch. The woman’s condition was not readily available at the time of the story was posted.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

ALTADENA - Detectives have identified three vehicles seen immediately after the attempted murder of a deputy from December 4.

Detectives identified a newer-model silver Audi four-door sedan with a sunroof, an older-model burgundy four-door sedan with right front end traffic collision damage and a newer-model silver four-door sedan, all seen in the immediate area after the shooting, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

The newer-model silver four-door sedan was last seen in the area of Figueroa Avenue and Navarro Street.

The shooting occurred at 12:33 p.m. as the deputy was driving northbound in the 2500 block of Fair Oaks Avenue. One of the two suspects pointed a firearm in the deputy’s direction and fired several gunshots, detectives said.

The deputy was uninjured.

The deputy reportedly witnessed a crime in progress at the scene where the two suspects were at with a group of people. It is not yet clear publicly what crime may have been occurring before the gunfire erupted.

Both suspects are believed to be Hispanic.

One suspect removed a black jacket and shoes well fleeing the shooting. The second suspect’s white jacket was also found discarded nearby, detectives said.

Anyone with information on either suspect is urged to call the Sheriff’s Department Operation Safe Streets Bureau Detective C. Gutierrez at 626-798-1131.

Information can be provided anonymously by calling LA Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), through the P3Tips mobile app, or through lacrimestoppers.org.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

ALTADENA - The search continues for two suspects who reportedly ambushed a deputy in her marked patrol car and opened fire at her Friday.

The incident occurred around 12:33 p.m. in the area of Fair Oaks Avenue and Calaveras Street December 4, according to Deputy Eric Ortiz of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Information Bureau.

“Multiple gunshots were fired at her, but luckily she was not struck,” Ortiz said in a written statement.

Both suspects were described as Black men in their 20s. There was no clothing description.

Anyone with information on this shooting is urged to call the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Altadena Station at 626-798-1131. 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.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

ALTADENA - Detectives are investigating what led to the fatal stabbing of a man August 2.

A man was stabbed in the 600 block of Devirian Place. Firefighters were called around 9:19 p.m. Sunday.

The victim was taken to an area hospital where he was pronounced dead, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Information Bureau.

There is no suspect description available.

Anyone with information on this stabbing is urged to call the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500. Information can be provided anonymously by calling LA Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), through the P3Tips mobile app, or at lacrimestoppers.org​

ALTADENA - The suspect accused of stabbing a hiker multiple times in Eaton Canyon was finally jailed Thursday.

The still-unidentified suspect was taken to the Crescenta Valley Sheriff's Station and booked on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon and is being held in lieu of $250,000 bail, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Information Bureau.

The suspect’s name is being withheld due to the ongoing investigation, according to the Crescenta Valley Sheriff's Station.

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ALTADENA - The hiker stabbed in a seemingly-unprovoked knife attack on an Altadena hiking trail is in stable condition, a Sheriff’s lieutenant said.

The suspect accused of attacking the hiker is still hospitalized with his own injuries and has yet to be booked, according to Lt. David Holwager of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Altadena Station.

The still-unidentified suspect appeared to be a transient, but deputies have not definitively learned the suspect’s residency, Holwager said. He was earlier described by a Sheriff’s sergeant as a transient.

The hiker was attacked before 8 p.m. on a trail in Eaton Canyon. The suspect reportedly jumped from some bushes and stabbed the hiker in the chest multiple times, according to Sgt. Brooks of the Sheriff’s Crescenta Valley Station.

The hiker ran back to his home near Eaton Canyon, the suspect gave chase and reportedly continued to attack, Brooks said.

Deputies found the suspect standing in a residential yard and the hiker who collapsed from his injuries, Brooks said.

The suspect was arrested without incident.

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NOTE: The story has been updated to reflect that deputies are not certain of the suspect's residency status after he was initially identified as a transient.

ALTADENA - A hiker in his 30s or 40s is expected to undergo surgery after being stabbed multiple times in the chest and arms after a man attacked him Wednesday.

The man allegedly stabbed the hiker after leaping out of some brush and used what was described as a six-inch tactical knife just before 8 p.m. May 29. The hiker, an Altadena resident, ran down the trail as the man followed him, according to Sgt. Brooks of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Crescenta Valley Station.

The hiker is in critical condition at Huntington Memorial Hospital, Brooks said.

The man, who is also in his 30s or 40s, apparently uttered gibberish before attacking the hiker unprovoked, Brooks said.

The hiker made it back to his home at Altadena Drive near Midwick Avenue after being stabbed some more by the man.

“The victim collapsed in his yard on Altadena Drive at Midwick and the suspect was found in the guy’s yard standing there holding the knife. Deputies arrested him,” Brooks said.

Brooks did note that transients tend to take root in the canyon, but did not have a specific number.

The man is hospitalized and is being treated for a cut, possibly accidentally self-inflicted during his attack, Brooks said.

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UPDATE, 1:30 a.m.: The barricaded suspect was taken into custody.

ALTADENA - A suspect accused of pointing a gun at someone may be barricaded inside an Altadena home Saturday night.

Deputies have asked residents and drivers to avoid the 300 block of Laun Street. Deputies believe the suspect may be inside a home, but are unsure if the suspect is still in the area, according to Lt. Smeltzer of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Crescenta Valley Station.