ARCADIA – A man from Montclair is accused of selling fake gold bars to the owner of a jewelry store, police said.
 
The owner of Dorano Jewelry, 30 E. Huntington Dr., reportedly spent $10,836 for the fake gold bars, according to the Arcadia Police Department.
 
The suspect was outstanding as of January 14, when the Arcadia Police Weekly Activity Report was published.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

ARCADIA - A man visiting from China told police he was robbed at gunpoint by four men who electronically took $90,000 from him after he was lured by a woman.

Police were called to a home December 5 in the 300 block of West Woodruff Avenue. Officers learned the man used www.chineseinla.com to arrange a money transfer. A few days later, the man received WeChat messages.

“The victim received WeChat messages from a female asking if he would like to meet her at a house in Arcadia,” according to the Arcadia Police Department.

The man arrived to the home and encountered four men. He was held at gunpoint and his phone was taken to issue the $90,000 transfer, Arcadia Police said.

Investigators did not elaborate if the victim knew any of the suspects.

ARCADIA - Officers chased the driver and passengers of a stolen vehicle November 30 and the chase ultimately ended in an injury crash.

The driver of a vehicle stolen from the LAPD’s Van Nuys Division refused to yield for an enforcement stop near Colorado Boulevard and Old Ranch Road around 10 p.m. Saturday. according to the Arcadia Police Department.

ARCADIA - Detectives are investigating a recent scam in which a resident was duped out of $52,000.

The resident claimed a person identifying themselves as an FBI agent reported the resident’s identity as stolen and in order to obtain a new Social Security Number, she needed to pay to resolve the issue, according to the Arcadia Police Department.

ARCADIA - Officers arriving to a vehicle collision into a house Monday night found no traffic collision, but rather an explosion from a concentrated cannabis lab, Arcadia police said.

Police were dispatched at 10:50 p.m. November 18 to a home in the 2500 block of South Second Ave. A wounded man was found inside the house. He was transported by Arcadia firefighters to a nearby hospital. Hazardous materials were found within the house, according to the Arcadia Police Department.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

ARCADIA - Detectives are still investigating who placed five credit card skimming devices at the pumps at World Gas.

Officers were called to World Gas, 3 E. Duarte Rd., November 7, just before 9:53 a.m. The gas station supervisor noticed five compromised gas pumps, according to the Arcadia Police Department.

It is unknown how the suspect gained access to the pumps, or for how long the skimming devices were installed, Arcadia police said.

ARCADIA - A suspect, sought in an aggravated assault, is accused of hurting and imprisoning his ex girlfriend.

Police were called to a home in the 1000 block of West Huntington Drive October 11 around 2:47 p.m. The victim alleged her ex falsely imprisoned her for six days, pushed her, threw a glass bottle at her and prevented her from calling 9-1-1, according to Arcadia Police in a written statement.

The suspect, only identified as a 30-year-old Sierra Madre man, was still outstanding as of October 15, Arcadia Police said.

ARCADIA - A 43-year-old man is accused of destroying the inside of a church October 5 after climbing a hose to the second story of the building.

Police discovered the scene after responding to a burglary call around 7:30 a.m. at Arcadia Community Church, 121 Alice St. After the suspect climbed to the second story, he 
shattered the windows of several doors, ransacked multiple rooms, and set a fire, Arcadia Police said.

After the suspect was located, he was found with methamphetamine, Arcadia Police said.

ARCADIA - An El Monte driver was jailed September 28 for speeding and was found with a very high blood alcohol content, police said.

The driver was stopped for speeding at Santa Anita Avenue and Longden Avenue just before midnight. After contacting the driver, the officer detected a strong scent of alcohol, according to the Arcadia Police Department.

Through a series of tests, the 26-year-old driver was determined to have a .224 percent blood alcohol content. He was jailed and booked on suspicion of DUI, Arcadia Police said.

The suspect was also on probation for DUI, Arcadia Police said.

ARCADIA - A doorbell camera video showing a victim being dragged and assaulted Monday led police to a severely beaten woman inside a home.

The victim was hospitalized for her injuries. Her estranged boyfriend, 27-year-old Robert Michael Mendez, was found and arrested within the home in the 1500 block of South Santa Anita Avenue and arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, kidnapping, false imprisonment and other charges, Arcadia Police said.

Officers were sent a link of the assault around 2 p.m. September 30. The video was believed to have taken place in the area of Santa Anita Avenue and Camino Real. Detectives canvassed the area and narrowed the location to the 1500 block of South Santa Anita where the woman and suspect were found, Arcadia Police said.