Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - A teen gang banger is facing a slew of charges after attempting to ditch his firearm while running from police March 27.

The teen gangbanger ran from a vehicle which refused to initially stop for police who sought the driver for a vehicle code violation near Arrow Highway and Citrus Avenue around 7:50 p.m. Monday, according to the Azusa Police Department.

The vehicle stopped outside of 717 E. Arrow Hwy. before the teen ran.

“A male passenger fled from the front passenger seat and ran from officers while visibly holding a firearm in his hands. As an Azusa Police Officer gave chase, the suspect threw the firearm nearby and he was safely detained,” according to the Azusa Police Department in a written statement.

The teen was booked on suspicion of firearms related charges, including resisting delaying, or obstructing a peace officer.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - A West Covina man is facing felony charges stemming from an arson fire February 24.

Joe Monge, 41, was arrested Thursday, March 16, through the work of Azusa Police detectives and four Los Angeles County Fire Department arson investigators. A cell phone warrant was obtained to track Monge’s location, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

The fire Monge is accused of setting burned February 24 around 7:10 a.m. in the 600 block of North Angeleno Avenue in a garage. No injuries were reported, according to the Azusa Police Department.

County booking records detailing Monge’s arrest March 16 were not available.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - Six people have been rescued and one person is allegedly missing in the San Gabriel Riverbed.

The Los Angeles County Fire Department has a full rescue operation underway in the riverbed north of the 210 freeway closer to the Puente Largo bridge. Firefighters were called to the scene around 6:09 p.m.

The six people rescued were initially found a standing on an island surrounded by water in the riverbed. There is reportedly one person who was seen going underwater, and has not resurfaced, firefighters were told.

The San Gabriel riverbed is infamous for harboring a large homeless population. In the Azusa area, the riverbed has seen assaults, shooting deaths and most recently a man was found beaten to death.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - Two men and one woman wounded by possibly as many as two suspects are expected to survive their injuries suffered during an early-morning shooting Saturday.

The shooting took place in the 600 block of North Glennfinan Avenue just before 1:30 a.m. Saturday, March 11. Detectives do not believe the shootings were gang related, according to Cpt. Robert Landeros of the Azusa Police Department.

It is believed that the three victims, who are homeless, reside in the area where the shooting occurred, Landeros told SGV CityWatch.

At this time there is no description available of the gunman or gunmen.

Anyone with information on this shooting is urged to call the Azusa Police Department at 626-812-3200. Remain anonymous by calling LA Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), through the P3Tips mobile app, or lacrimestoppers.org.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

LOS ANGELES - Coroner investigators revealed the cause of death of a man found face down and naked off of the side of a mountain road above Azusa February 13.

Christian Peña, 24, died of a gunshot wound to the leg. The death was ruled a homicide, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner.

A passerby saw the naked body face down in the dirt off to the side of the 2000 block of San Gabriel Canyon Road just before 6:30 a.m. February 13.

Detectives believe that Peña was shot elsewhere and dumped along the mountain road after detectives were unable to find any shell casings, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau.

Investigators did not have a California ID for Peña, but noted that he last listed New York as his state of residence.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

CITRUS - Two suspects, one of them armed with a handgun, reportedly harassed a pedestrian near Rockvale Avenue and the 210 freeway in unincorporated Azusa Saturday morning.

The suspects, both described as being 18 years old, came across the victim around 11 a.m., on the Rockvale Avenue pedestrian bridge over the 210 freeway March 4. One suspect reportedly lifted his shirt to brandish a handgun tucked in his waistband, according to Sgt. Berner of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s San Dimas Station.

One of the suspects asked the victim where she was from, according to a Los Angeles County Sheriff’s radio broadcast.

The victim left the area to get away from the suspects. The crime wasn’t reported until later in the afternoon Saturday, Berner told SGV CityWatch.

Both suspects stood around 5 feet 8 inches and appeared to weigh around 100 pounds each, Berner told SGV CityWatch.

The radio broadcast additionally described both suspects as wearing blue jean pants and black shirts. One suspect wore a red hat.

Azusa has been saturated in recent months with much gun violence.

Two Azusa High School students were arrested March 3 and one student was found carrying a handgun.

A juvenile suffered a leg wound after being shot in the 200 block of East Newburgh Street February 27.

A man was found wounded by gunfire inside a home in the 200 block of North Dalton Avenue Saturday February 4.

A man was wounded by gunfire outside a liquor store in the 200 block of North Azusa Avenue December 11.

Two teen brothers were shot, one fatally, in the 600 block of North Donna Beth Avenue December 6.

An 18-year-old driver was shot as he live-streamed his own murder December 5 in the 17700 block of East Newburgh Street.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - An anonymous tipster notified Azusa High School staff and Azusa police about a student armed with a handgun on campus Friday.

The anonymous tipster notified Azusa High School staff to report a student in possession of a handgun on the campus, 240 N. Cerritos Ave., March 3. An investigation by the Azusa Police Department and school administrators led to two students being arrested.

“AUSD policy, and state law, consider the possession of a gun on a school campus to be a serious disciplinary matter as well as a criminal matter, and the situation is being handled as such,” according to the Azusa Unified School District in written statement.

The district is unwilling to share further details due to privacy laws and the ongoing investigation.