Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - Under a pile of officers, a driver wanted for speeding struggled to free himself from the long arm of the law after he was subdued at the end of a pursuit early Monday morning.

The California Highway Patrol attempted to pull over the unidentified, alleged speedster sometime before 5 a.m. The driver allegedly refused to stop and led the California Highway Patrol on a pursuit.

Videographer Randy of Loud Labs News, which documents breaking news around the globe, tailed the pursuit as the driver slithered through neighborhoods in Azusa and Covina.

According to Randy of Loud Labs News, the driver continue to circle neighborhoods around the 210 freeway and the Vernon Avenue where his parents live. The suspect and his mother had called CHP dispatchers during the chase.

CHP officers successfully spiked the tires on the suspect vehicle, causing them to go flat. The pursuit ended outside the suspect’s parent’s house in the area of South Aspan Avenue and West Paramount Street.

AZUSA – A sweep of both east and west APU campuses in Azusa yielded no danger after threatening messages were sent to the university Wednesday.
 
Authorities were also compelled to evacuate and search regional campuses, their residential living areas and other buildings in Monrovia, Orange County, Los Angeles, Inland Empire, the High Desert, Murietta and San Diego. Nothing dangerous was located at the regional campuses, according to a statement from Azusa Pacific University.
 
Azusa Pacific University gave the all clear to concerned students, staff and faculty February 17 at 10:41 p.m.
 
APU students and employees were sent an emergency alert about the suspicious messages and bomb threat at 5:31 p.m.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - A series of threatening messages sent to Azusa Pacific University Wednesday afternoon has forced authorities to recommend evacuations at fellow campuses across Southern California Wednesday.

Evacuations have been ordered for APU regional campuses in Monrovia, Orange County, Los Angeles, the Inland Empire, the High Desert, Murietta and San Diego, according to the Azusa Pacific University Campus Safety department.

Students currently inside on-campus housing are asked to shelter in place. Students who are not on campus are asked to stay away from the area.

Threatening messages were sent to the Azuza Pacific University campus Wednesday afternoon. At least one of those messages contained a possible bomb threat.

Traffic around the Azusa Pacific campuses is being redirected away from the University.

​It is not yet clear if investigators have identified the source of the messages.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - A known gang member was jailed Friday after fleeing a traffic stop and leading police on a chase that ended in multiple collisions with other motorists.

Ricardo Guzman, a 40-year-old Azusa man, allegedly refused to stop for officers just before 7 p.m. near Louise Avenue and Paramount Street February 12. Guzman reportedly struck another vehicle, but was able to still evade officers, according to the Azusa Police Department.

Guzman continued to flee through the neighborhood streets and collided with a second motorist at Arrow Highway and Lark Ellen Avenue where he then fled on foot. He was quickly captured by officers, Azusa Police said.

Police later found and seized narcotics from inside the pursuit vehicle.

Guzman was booked on suspicion of felony evading, felony hit-and-run, misdemeanor hit-and-run and possession of illegal narcotics. He also had an outstanding no-bail parole warrant out for his arrest, Azusa police said.

Guzman is currently being held at the Men’s Central Jail in Los Angeles ahead of a scheduled appearance at the West Covina courthouse February 16, according to Los Angeles County booking records.

AZUSA - Police recovered a loaded handgun and narcotics after a gang member tried to flee Saturday.

21-year-old Alvaro Ruben Gomez was booked on suspicion of being a felon in possession of a loaded firearm, possession of narcotics and delaying, obstructing and resisting an officer, according to the Azusa Police Department.

Gomez allegedly walked across the street against a red light at Soldano Avenue and Foothill Boulevard just after 8 p.m. An officer reportedly witnessed Gomez creating a traffic hazard and recognized him as a gang member, according to the Azusa Police Department.

“During the foot pursuit, the male suspect discarded a loaded firearm from his person, as well as illegal narcotics prior to being detained,” Azusa Police said.

Gomez also had a warrant for a parole violation.

Gomez, a Rancho Cucamonga man, has a history with Azusa Police.

On December 26, 2020 and January 9, 2021, Gomez was arrested by Azusa Police on suspicion of illegally possessing a firearm.

“During that investigation [January 9], suspect Gomez told officers, any time he is in the City of Azusa, he will be armed,” according to the Azusa Police Department.

Gomez is being held without bail ahead of a scheduled appearance in the West Covina courthouse Tuesday, February 9.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - A stolen handgun was recovered after a gang member made a failed attempt at ditching the weapon while fleeing police February 5.

Officers attempted to stop Pomona man Gabriel Triviso in the area of Heathdale Avenue and Kirkwall Road around 9:19 p.m. Triviso reportedly ran on foot and discarded the handgun before hiding behind a vehicle, according to the Azusa Police Department.

Triviso fled again, but was soon caught.

Triviso, 41, was booked on suspicion of being a gang member in possession of a loaded firearm, possession of a stolen firearm and resisting, delaying and obstructing a peace officer, Azusa Police said. He is currently in custody, Azusa Police said.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - A stolen handgun tossed on the roof of a school was recovered after three juveniles tried to escape police Monday.

Police chased the suspects after responding to a reported weapon brandishing in the 300 block of South Azusa Avenue February 1 around 4:16 p.m.

The three juveniles were eventually arrested. Among the charges are delaying an officer and possession of a stolen firearm.

“Officers were able to locate the handgun on the roof of the school using an Azusa PD drone and recovered the stolen handgun,” Azusa Police said.