Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - Police are touting the early success rate of a pilot license plate reader program in locating stolen vehicles and jailing offenders.

The Azusa Police Department reports 16 stolen vehicles were recovered, as well as one vehicle tied to a reported murder. Three handguns were seized and multiple felons were arrested, according to the Azusa Police Department.

In almost all cases, the suspects were involved in some form of crime, or wanted for another crime, the Azusa Police Department said.

The city has partnered with Flock Safety, an Atlanta-based tech company, to utilize license plate readers strategically placed citywide in an effort to reduce crime, the Azusa Police Department said.

“The footage is securely stored in the cloud and automatically deletes every 30 days on a rolling basis. The cameras are not used for traffic enforcement, immigration enforcement, and contain no facial recognition technology,” according to the Azusa Police Department.

In August of 2020, the Azusa City Council approved a two-year lease for 21 automated license plate readers at a cost not exceeding $110,250. The annual flat rate lease is $2,500 per camera, according to public documents from the City of Azusa.

“Flock’s cameras capture date, time, location, license plate (state, partial, paper, and no plate), vehicle details (type and color), as well as objects (bicycle, animals, and people),” according to the City of Azusa.

When a stolen, or wanted vehicle is identified, a notification is sent to dispatchers and officers.

The cameras are wireless, free of infrastructure setup and can even use solar power.

Local agencies reportedly already using Flock cameras include the San Marino Police Department and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Temple and Walnut/Diamond Bar Stations.

City staff will assess the effectiveness of the program at the end of the two-year lease and either recommend to continue or discontinue it.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

AZUSA – A 9-millimeter handgun, a 9-millimeter “ghost” clone handgun and ammunition were recovered after a driver and his passenger briefly fled from police January 19.

The driver, Louie Cruz Dominguez, fled when an officer attempted a traffic stop around 8:46 p.m. near First Street and Azusa Avenue. Both Dominguez and his 23-year-old passenger, Leonardo Alcala, threw items out of the vehicle during their brief escape, according to the Azusa Police Department.

Both men were arrested after stopping.

Police located and seized the two handguns tossed from the vehicle. Ammunition was found inside the vehicle, Azusa Police said.

Dominguez, a Hacienda Heights gang member, is on parole for murder, according to the Azusa Police Department.

Dominguez, a Hacienda Heights resident, and Alcala, a La Puente resident, were booked on suspicion of numerous felony and misdemeanor weapon-related charges, Azusa Police said.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - A Police K9 sniffed out a stolen vehicle suspect hiding in a Glendora neighborhood on the border with Azusa January 15.

The suspect fled after spotting an Azusa patrol car behind him in the area of Barranca Avenue and Baseline Road Friday. He wound up at a dead end and escaped on foot briefly, according to Sgt. Bailey of the Azusa Police Department.

Officers located the stolen vehicle the suspect drove earlier that day, but the vehicle and driver somehow disappeared and officers could not locate either of them, Bailey told SGV CityWatch.

An Azusa police detective relocated the stolen vehicle on the road hours later around 7:10 p.m. around Citrus Avenue and Baseline Road, Bailey told SGV CityWatch.

“The guy knew officers were behind him and actually turned down a dead end,” Bailey told SGV CityWatch.

The driver ran through Stanton Elementary School from the dead end at East Hollyvale Street.

Glendora and Pomona officers, aided by a Pomona Police helicopter, Sheriff’s helicopter and a Pomona Police K9, assisted Azusa Police in finding the suspect, who was located around 8:32 p.m.

Manuel Urquidez, 27, was booked on suspicion of stealing a vehicle.

Urquidez was issued a citation and released the following morning, according to Los Angeles County booking records.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - No one was injured after an attempted kidnapping suspect fired a handgun during an altercation at an Azusa apartment complex.

Kidnapping suspect Ignacio Christopher Inda, 25, approached a lone mother and her child at her apartment unit at 222 S. Azusa Ave. January 6. Inda, armed with a semi-automatic handgun loaded with an extended clip tucked into his sweatshirt pocket, picked up the child, Azusa Police said.

A second man, 26-year-old Brandon Kirk, confronted and fought Inda, who fired one shot from his gun during the altercation. No one was injured, Azusa Police said.

Both men, who live in the same complex, fled to their apartment units and barricades themselves.

“Upon attempting to negotiate with Inda, he attempted to flee out the rear second story apartment window. Inda leapt from the window with an unregistered “ghost” semi-automatic handgun in his hand,” according to the Azusa Police Department in a written statement.

Officers were able to take Inda into custody. The handgun taken from his person was loaded, Azusa Police said.

Kirk was taken into custody after briefly stepping outside his apartment. Officers located an AR-15 short barrel rifle and a semi-automatic handgun; both weapons are considered as “ghost guns,” Azusa Police said.

Inda was booked on suspicion of a weapons violation, kidnapping and assault with a deadly weapon.

The child was not injured and was released to the mother once the suspect was confronted, Azusa Police said.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - Police tracked down an irate ex-boyfriend after he allegedly brandished a handgun at his former beau, pistol whipped her new man and allegedly took off with his ex’s 3-year-old son, police said.

25-year-old Robert Brown was sought by officers after he allegedly committed the assault around 6:40 p.m. January 1 in the 500 block of East Third Street, according to the Azusa Police Department.

Azusa Police detectives immediately began searching for Brown, a Carson resident.

Detectives learned Brown was in Muscoy and he was detained during a traffic stop at 12:45 a.m. January 2. The child was recovered unharmed, Azusa Police said.

Brown was arrested and booked on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, domestic battery and burglary.

Anyone with information regarding this case is urged the call the Azusa Police Department at 626-812-3200.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - A driver was dead after his vehicle slammed into a parked vehicle occupied by two people on Azusa Avenue Friday afternoon.

The crash occurred around 3:37 p.m. January 1 near 142 N. Azusa Ave.

It appears the driver was northbound on Azusa Avenue and crashed into the occupied vehicle that was parked along the west curb line, according to Sgt. Brandon Bailey of the Azusa Police Department.

“The other two people in a parked car have a minor injuries,” Bailey told SGV CityWatch.

It is too early to tell what led to the crash, Bailey told SGV CityWatch.