Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - Three juveniles were taken into custody Friday after a reported shooting incident.

First responders were sent to the 800 block of South Cerritos Avenue at 11:37 a.m. April 28. Patrol officers were able to quickly identify a suspect vehicle which led Azusa police detectives and patrol officers to locate said vehicle and take one suspect into custody, according to the Azusa Police Department.

Two more juvenile suspects were identified and their locations were discovered. With the help of a search warrant, the Azusa Police SWAT team located the suspects.

All three suspects were arrested without incident.

Police have yet to provide details on the shooting itself, including a motive, or if anyone was targeted.

“The Azusa Police Department prioritizes the investigation of gang and juvenile crimes with utmost seriousness. The search for further evidence related to this case is currently in progress,” according to the Azusa Police Department in a written statement.

Anyone with information on this incident 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

AZUSA - A 67-year-old man was booked on suspicion of murder and assault with a deadly weapon after allegedly striking one victim with a baseball bat and fatally stabbing another Sunday morning.

The attacks occurred at a residence in the 200 block of South San Gabriel Avenue. First responders were called to the scene at 8:45 a.m., according to the Azusa Police Department.

“One victim did not sustain any life threatening injuries. However, the stabbing victim was transported to a nearby trauma center where he later succumbed to his injuries,” according to the Azusa Police Department in a written statement.

Jeffrey Nestler was taken into custody. He is being held without bail ahead of scheduled appearance in the West Covina courthouse Tuesday, April 25.

Anyone with information on this incident is urged to call Azusa Police Detective A. Avalos at 626-812-3223. Remain anonymous by calling LA Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS, through the P3Tips mobile app, or lacrimestoppers.org.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - A man was left in serious condition after being stabbed by two suspects during a verbal dispute inside a liquor store Tuesday afternoon.

The stabbing took place at Benny’s Liquor, 208 N. Azusa Ave., April 11. The man fled to a nearby dental office and told people inside that he had been stabbed. First responders were called just after 4 p.m., according to the Azusa Police Department.

The man was stabbed in the left abdomen and left arm. He was taken to a trauma center.

Before he was transported, Azusa officers spoke to the victim who revealed he was stabbed by two suspects during a verbal dispute inside of Benny’s Liquor.

90 minutes after the stabbing, officers located one suspect nearby and arrested him. A second suspect was arrested shortly after. A third suspect was also found and arrested, according to the Azusa Police Department.

Wade Carney, 52, was arrested at 5:42 p.m. He was booked on suspicion of attempted murder. He is being held in lieu of $1 million bail at the Inmate Reception Center in Los Angeles.

Manuel Bracamonte, 55, was arrested at 7:46 p.m. He was also booked on suspicion of attempted murder. He is being held in lieu of $1 million bail at the Azusa Police jail.

Also arrested was Ashley Jean Bracamonte, 36. She was arrested at 5:23 p.m. and booked on suspicion of being an accessory after the fact. She is being held in lieu of $20,000 bail at the Azusa Police jail.

​All three suspects are scheduled to appear at the West Covina courthouse Thursday, April 13.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - A parolee accused of attacking his father and keeping police at bay for roughly five hours is facing additional charges stemming from the standoff inside his parents home April 4.

Oscar Galaviz, 32, was finally taken into custody after being smoked out by SWAT team members and was booked on suspicion of elder abuse, residential burglary, violating his court order and resisting arrest.

Galaviz is accused of attacking his father with a walking cane, causing the father some minor injuries. His parents have an active restraining order against him and he should not have been at the house, according to the Azusa Police Department.

First responders were called to the house in the 800 block of West Sixth Street at 11:23 a.m. Tuesday. Galaviz barricaded himself inside a bedroom and armed himself with a baseball bat, according to the Azusa Police Department.

“Officers attempted contact with Galaviz, however he refused to comply and armed himself with a baseball bat asking Officers to shoot him. Galaviz also attempted to burrow through the drywall of the adjoining neighbors residence as he remained hold up,” according to the Azusa Police Department in a written statement.

The Azusa Police Department employed the assistance of the Irwindale Police SWAT team, a West Covina Police Department K9 and a mental health evaluation team in an effort to get Galaviz to surrender.

Telephone calls and announcements over loud speakers were made to try and get Galaviz to surrender.

Azusa police detectives eventually wrote a search warrant to enter the home and take Galaviz into custody.

Current booking information from Los Angeles County was not readily available.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - Using a minor use of force, SWAT officers took a barricaded man into custody just after 5:30 p.m. after a roughly five-hour standoff.

The suspect is accused of assaulting his father in the 800 block of West Sixth Street near Virginia Avenue. First responders were called to the scene around 11:23 a.m., according to Lt. Jake Bushey of the Azusa Police Department.

“We had probable cause to believe he attacked the father with some kind of object. The suspect then barricaded himself in a rear house,” Bushey told SGV CityWatch.

The father ended up receiving only minor injuries.

Members of the Azusa police swat team use a flash bang grenade and, through a loudspeaker, periodically ordered the suspect to surrender.

Tear gas was deployed inside the home. The suspect exited and was detained by officers, Bushey told SGV CityWatch.

He was treated by firefighters and taken away by an ambulance. No officers were injured, and apparently the suspect was uninjured as well during the use of force, Bushey told SGV CityWatch.

The suspect is expected to be booked on suspicion of elder abuse, Bushey told SGV CityWatch.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - Police found no evidence of gunfire, but their search did yield a man who was sought since December on a warrant for a number of alleged crimes.

Officers initially descended upon the Sycamore Park Apartments, 1151 W. Arrow Hwy., near Vincent Avenue before 5 p.m. on a report of potential gunfire coming from one of the apartment units April 2. Officers did not locate evidence of gunfire, but did find the suspect they have been seeking for months.

Roy M. Garcia, 66, was taken into custody after initially refusing to surrender to officers. After being told gunfire was coming from within the complex, Azusa officers called mutual aid assistance from Glendora Police and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

A Sheriff’s helicopter circled overhead, a deputy’s voice boomed from a loudspeaker, ordering Garcia to surrender.

Garcia was sought on suspicion of criminal threats, brandishing a weapon or firearm, committing a hate crime and resisting, delaying, or obstructing an officer, crimes allegedly committed December 27, 2022.

Garcia is being held in lieu of $50,000 bail ahead of a scheduled appearance in the Inmate Reception Center in Los Angeles ahead of a scheduled appearance in the West Covina Courthouse April 4.