Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

ARCADIA - A Los Angeles man was arrested August 27, accused of an expensive copper wire theft that left 9-1-1 phones lines in the dark.

Jose Alberto Gante-Gomez, 44, was originally booked on suspicion of grand theft and resisting an officer. He was since been officially charged in Pasadena Superior Court with receiving stolen property, according to Los Angeles Superior Court records.

The 9-1-1 outage affected the Arcadia Police Department at 2:30 a.m. August 7. Measures were implemented to reroute emergency calls, according to Arcadia Police.

The investigation was pinpointed to the 200 block of South Santa Anita Avenue where the copper theft occurred.

“Approximately 60 feet of copper wiring had been severed and stolen, causing the outage. The estimated cost of the stolen materials and necessary repairs was approximately $10,000,” according to the Arcadia Police Department.

Gante was tracked to Los Angeles, where plainclothes detectives and additional Arcadia officers found him in the 1700 block of Olympic Boulevard. Gante initially complied during a traffic stop, but he fled on foot.

Gante was caught in the 600 block of Rampart Boulevard.

Gante is scheduled to appear in court October 23.

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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.

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Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

ARCADIA - A man described as having a 20-year career as a girls soccer coach and teacher was arrested December 11, accused of possessing child porn.

Justin Akio Yasutake, 39, was arrested without further incident outside his Pasadena home. A social media user told Arcadia Police officers that an unknown user sent messages inquiring about underage females. The unknown user also allegedly sent videos of a male masturbating to images of underage females, according to the Arcadia Police Department.

Yasutake was officially charged with one count of possession of child pornography December 13. The criminal complaint alleges he possessed more than 600 images of child sex abuse material, including 10 or more images of a prepubescent minor, or a minor under 12, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.

Police were contacted November 11. Detectives allege that Yasutake was involved in the messing. A search warrant was written and executed for Yasutake’s electronic devices. Detectives discovered numerous videos and images of underage girls engaging in sexual activity, according to the Arcadia Police Department.

An arrest warrant was obtained, leading to Yasutake being taken into custody.

A quick Internet search reveals Yasutake having coached a number of teams, including F.C. Golden State, a youth soccer club based in Pasadena. As recently as 2018, he coached a G2008 team, which is composed of girls born in 2008.

Yasutake also boasted having been certified with a U.S. National “C” license granted by U.S. Soccer.

Yasutake posted $40,000 bond December 11, according to Los Angeles County booking records.

Arraignment is scheduled December 23 in Dept. 30 of the Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center.

Additional victims or anyone with information is urged to call Arcadia Police detectives at 626-574-5188, case number 2404863. Information may also be provided anonymously by calling 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), through the P3 Tips mobile app, or lacrimestoppers.org.

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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.

ARCADIA – The suspect booked on suspicion of attempted murder after reportedly driving his vehicle through a 7-Eleven November 24 made headlines in Monrovia for extensive vandalism.

Sterling Williamson, 23, was arrested April 19, accused of slashing the tires on as many as 25 vehicles in Monrovia over a three-day period. Black and white security video showed a suspect in a hooded sweatshirt casually slicing tires on a variety of vehicles.

Williamson allegedly caused a disturbance at an Arcadia 7-Eleven November 24 just before 7 a.m., throwing merchandise at employees. He left the store, entered a vehicle and drove the vehicle through the front doors of the convenience store where employees and customers were standing, according to the Arcadia Police Department.

“The driver attempted to flee but was detained by store employees and customers until officers arrived,” according to the Arcadia Police Department in a written statement.

Williamson is being held in lieu of $2 million bail ahead of a scheduled appearance at the Pasadena courthouse November 29.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

ARCADIA - A 36-year-old man is facing an assault with a deadly weapon charge and possibly other charges after a feud with a neighbor ended in gunfire that sent a teen to the hospital.

Lian Hui Yang was found standing in a driveway in the 900 block of Sunset Boulevard after police responded to a gunfire call around 10:06 p.m. February 17. A 17-year-old male was found wounded in one of his feet, according to the Arcadia Police Department.

Yang and his 19-year-old neighbor allegedly began feuding earlier Thursday, but the fight was no reported to police. The feud continued that night.

During the nighttime fight, the neighbor was helped by two friends: a 17-year-old and 19-year-old; the latter was not injured. The neighbor was allegedly punched in the head and complained of pain, according to the Arcadia Police Department.

After being booked, Yang was transferred to the Inmate Reception Center in Los Angeles ahead of a scheduled appearance in Pasadena Superior Court February 22.

ARCADIA - A domestic battery suspect was sentenced to four years in the slammer in the beating of the mother of his two children from 2019, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office said Tuesday.

Robert Michael Mendez, 28, pleaded no contest in September of this year to one felony count of injuring a girlfriend or child’s parent, according to Deputy District Attormey Lisa Daruty.

The beating took place in Mendez’s Arcadia Home September 29, 2019.

When the victim attempted an escape, Mendez dragged her back to the home while beating her, Daruty said in a written statement.

The incident was caught on security camera footage as the victim fled Mendez.