BREAKING NEWS: Suspect Accused of Stealing Prius After Social Media Setup Arrested in Azusa2/7/2019  Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor AZUSA - The man accused of shoving his social media date into the San Gabriel River and taking er car was found and arrested, a Sheriff’s lieutenant said Thursday. Detectives identified the man through the Facebook name the suspect gave the victim and located him in the 200 block of North Vernon Avenue, according to Lt. mark Skaggs of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s San Dimas Station. Detectives arrived to the neighborhood around 10:20 a.m. and arrested the suspect after obtaining his address, Skaggs said.
Mountain View Elementary School, across the street from the arrest, was briefly placed on lockdown. The stolen Prius was found at the suspect’s residence and recovered, Skaggs said. The suspect has yet to be booked, His name, age and city of residence are not yet available.  Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor AZUSA - A man clad in a yellow rain coat attempted to break his way into a building at the Azusa Unified School District yard Sunday night, police said. The suspect fled from officers attempting to contact him outside the district building, 546 S. Citrus Ave., around 11:12 p.m. February 3, according to Lt. Robert Chivas of the Azusa Police Department. Police reported a padlock appeared as if someone attempted to force it open at one of the buildings on site, Chivas said.
“We were able to determine that nothing was taken,” Chivas said. Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputies from the San Dimas Station were called to assist with a search after a suspect reportedly fled across Citrus Avenue and into a nearby nursery in an unincorporated portion of town, according to Sheriff’s radio traffic. The suspect also appeared have a medium build and was average in height.  Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor AZUSA - A transient camp fire ignited a small 10-foot by 30-foot vegetation fire in the San Gabriel Riverbed, firefighters reported. Firefighters were initially dispatched to a medical emergency call at Fish Canyon Road and Van Tassel Motorway at 12:10 a.m. The fire got out of control at the transient camp in the riverbed, but its small size and the rain beginning to fall are helping to extinguish it, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department.  Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor AZUSA - Three people were arrested after authorities searched nine locations, police announced Friday. The 4 a.m. raids February 1 were part of a gang search warrant operation conducted by Azusa Police as part of a multi-faceted effort to curb recent deadly violence. While the exact locations were not publicized, police were out in force at the Atlantis Gardens area near Rockvale Avenue and 6th Street, considered the heart of gun and gang violence in Azusa. A resident nearby told SGV CityWatch of SWAT vehicles, lots of police and commands to surrender made through a loud speaker.
The booking information for those arrested was not yet made public. Assisting Azusa Police were the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, Los Angeles County District Attorney's Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Marshal Service, California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, and police departments from Covina, West Covina, Upland, Baldwin Park, Pomona and El Monte.  Google Maps. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor AZUSA - The City of Azusa has announced several changes made to improve public safety in one of the most violent neighborhoods in town. Colloquially referred to as “Little TJ” and “The Projects,” the Atlantis Gardens area near Rockvale Avenue and 6th Street has seen additional officers patrolling the streets and improved lighting, the latter is said to positively influence human behavior, according to Steve Hunt, Azusa Police Chief. Surrounding police agencies have provided increased staffing to Azusa Police, agencies such as Baldwin Park, Claremont, Covina, El Monte, Glendora, Irwindale, West Covina, Los Angeles County District Attorney investigators and the U.S. Marshal Service, Hunt said. Friday morning, local, state and federal law enforcement agencies assisted Azusa Police with a multi-location search warrant, resulting in evidence seized that was linked to recent gun violence, according to Cpt. Mike Berteslsen of the Azusa Police Department. "Investigators located evidence related to recent violent crimes that have occurred in our community and made several arrests," Bertelsen said. “Working closely with the Azusa City Council, City Manager Sergio Gonzalez and other City Staff we identified an urgent need to improve the lighting conditions in the area of Atlantis Gardens,” Hunt said in a written statement. Azusa Light and Water staff have enhanced conditions in the above neighborhoods with state-of-the-art LED street lighting as a means of creating psychological and physical barriers to crime. The practice known as Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) was established to influence criminal behavior before the crime can occur. By increasing the perceived risk of being caught (in this case with lighting), CPTED can aid in crime reduction. “This improvement will increase visibility around Atlantis Gardens and further assist law enforcement in patrolling the area,” Hunt said. While continuing work with state and federal law enforcement partners, Azusa Police will seek to build stronger relationships with non-profit and faith-based organizations to dialogue about youth programs, Hunt said. A presentation on the city’s public safety will be delivered at the next Azusa City Council meeting Monday, February 4, scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m.  Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor AZUSA - A burglary suspect is still hospitalized after crashing during a pursuit and his two accomplices are still outstanding, a police sergeant said. The collision occurred at North San Gabriel Avenue at West Ninth Street around 9:25 p.m. January 28. The three suspects were sought after apparently burglarizing a home, according to Sgt. Jorge Sandoval of the Azusa Police Department. Police responded to the Rosedale community and the 1300 block of Macneil Drive around 9:13 p.m. on a report of suspicious circumstances. Arriving officers saw two people fleeing the rear yard of a home, Sandoval said.
A vehicle fled the area at high speed as additional officers arrived and a pursuit was initiated, Sandoval said. The suspect crashed into an occupied vehicle, injuring the other vehicle’s occupants. The suspect driver, a 23-year-old Los Angeles man, was detained by Azusa Police and later transported to a hospital for his injuries. The driver, Zuberi Tajamal Williams, was booked on suspicion of evading police, residential burglary and felony hit and run. Williams was booked in the field and later hospitalized for non-life-threatening injuries, Azusa Police said in a written statement. Firefighters arrived on scene at 9:29 p.m. and extricated one person from the crash. The two other people injured in the crash were also hospitalized, according to a representative with the Los Angeles County Fire Department. Williams was released Tuesday morning at 2:45 a.m. after being officially booked at 2:42 a.m., according to Los Angeles County booking records. After being booked, Williams was hospitalized. Williams is under Post Release Community Supervision. A search for the two suspects at the Macneil address were not located after a search, Sandoval said. Court appearance information for Williams was not yet available.  PHOTO/Google Maps. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor AZUSA - A Sun City resident was arrested January 22 after attempting to hide from patrolling officers, police said. Isaac Henry De La Torre, 21, a convicted felon on active probation, was found carrying multiple 12 gauge shotgun shells after fleeing from officers patrolling 6th Street and Cedarglen Drive, according to the Azusa Police Department. Officers were conducting enforcement operations around 9:15 p.m. when De La Torre ran, Azusa Police said.
De La Torre was booked on suspicion of being a felon in possession of ammunition for a probation violation. Azusa Police have increased their presence in the neighborhoods northeast of Charles H. Lee Elementary School after shootings and the deaths of three people have shaken a community to its core. A teen boy and man were gunned down in a gang-related shooting January 9. An additional man was injured by gunfire. A resident of one of the crime-plagued apartment complexes was shot to death November 21. A man survived serious injury after being shot in the 600 block of East Foothill Boulevard November 6. A man was critically wounded September 24 in a shooting in the 200 block of North Azusa Avenue. A man was found shot once in the lower body outside a hotel in the 100 block of North Azusa Avenue September 6. A man was found shot and rushed in critical condition to a hospital after gunfire broke out in the 600 block of North Cerritos Avenue September 1. Two victims of a would-be robber escaped injury after the suspect opened fire June 27 at East Bagnall Street and North Orangecrest Avenue. Pomona Police and Azusa police officers came under gunfire during a warrant service in the 5500 block of North Lark Ellen Avenue May 24. A teen boy was killed in a hail of gunfire May 1 in the 300 block of South Enid Avenue. A man was shot to death in an apartment complex in the 600 block of North Glenfinnan Avenue April 28.  PHOTO/Google Maps. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor AZUSA - Police conducting enforcement operations in a violence-plagued neighborhood arrested three boys and a Riverside man on various drugs and weapons charges. Two 16-year-old boys were arrested on suspicion on conspiracy to sell illegal narcotics. A 15-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of being a gang members carrying a loaded firearm, according to the Azusa Police Department. Officers were conducting an enforcement operation at 6th Street and Cedarglen Drive around 7:15 p.m. January 20 Officers discovered concealed weapons on two suspects, Azusa Police said.
Officers also discovered the two other males detained were on probation for gang activity. Also discovered was cocaine and marijuana, Azusa Police said. Abraham Garcia, 18, was booked on suspicion of being a gang member in possession of a firearm. Garcia was arrested earlier that day at the same location and booked on suspicion of contributing to the delinquency of a minor, Azusa Police said. One of the arrested boys was arrested twice previously, both incidents he was found in possession of a handgun, Azusa Police said. Garcia is being held in lieu of $30,000 bail. The three boys are being held at Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall.  Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor AZUSA – A man was found dead above Azusa January 13 after he had not been seen for three days. Juan Carreon, 35, was reported missing on January 10 in Azusa. His body was found about one and one-half miles north of where his vehicle was parked at Highway 39, according to San Dimas Sheriff’s Station Sgt. Pete Shupe. Carreon shot himself and his death was ruled a suicide, according to Los Angeles County Coroner Lt. David Smith. San Dimas deputies located Carreon’s vehicle legally parked in a turnout on Highway 39 at mile marker 28 and it was parked in the same spot days before deputies returned to identify the owner, Shupe said.
Deputies learned Carreon was a critical missing person after arriving to his Azusa residence to find Azusa Police taking a missing persons report, Shupe said. San Dimas Mountain Rescue, and rescue teams from surrounding communities, searched for Carreon. His body was found at 10:32 a.m. January 13.  Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor AZUSA - Two documented gang bangers were arrested Wednesday after a lengthy pursuit ended with a crash in Rancho Cucamonga Wednesday. Dennis Robert Ayon, 38, and Rudy Raymond Abasta, 18, were booked on suspicion of felony evading, felony possession of a handgun, transportation of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance while armed, Azusa Police said. The suspects fled officers who attempted a traffic stop for a traffic violation at sixth Street and Angeleno Avenue just before 5 p.m. January 15. |
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