Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - A DUI checkpoint will be held in the unincorporated area of Azusa Saturday, May 26.
 
The California Highway Patrol Checkpoint will begin at 6:30 p.m. in an undisclosed area near Azusa, the CHP said.
 
“The sobriety checkpoint is part of the CHP’s effort to curb drinking and driving. Traffic volume permitting, all vehicles will be checked. If volume becomes too heavy, vehicles to be checked will be selected by a pre-set standard (such as every 3rd or 5th vehicle) to assure objectivity,” said Lt. Susan Estrem, acting commander of the CHP.
 
Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - Police have taken suspects into custody after one or more of them opened fire during a warrant service near Gladstone Street and Lark Ellen Avenue.
 
Azusa officers were being assisted by Pomona Police SWAT while serving a gang warrant near Gladstone Street and Lark Ellen Avenue early Thursday when they were met with gunfire, according to Michael Olivieri, Pomona Police chief.
 
It is unclear what specific investigation this gang warrant was tied to.
 
Surrounding homes were evacuated after gunfire rang out.
 
SWAT officers were seen on live television preparing to enter the home to take the suspects into custody.
 
More information to come…

Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - A La Puente man was hospitalized with serious injuries after crashing head-on into a support pillar under the 210 freeway in Azusa Monday night.
 
The Nissan Altima crashed into the pillar near First Street and Angeleno Avenue around 10:35 p.m., May 21. The 49-year-old male driver suffered internal injuries and was bleeding from the face when Azusa officers and medics found him, said Xavier Torres of the Azusa Police Department.
 
No other vehicles are believed to be involved, Torres said.
 
Officers could not administer a field sobriety test due to the man’s injuries. He was taken to Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center for treatment.
 
His vehicle is likely a total loss, Torres said.
 
Anyone who may have witnessed the crash is urged to call the Azusa Police Department at 626-812-3200.

Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - Two underage males were taken into custody Monday after hiding from officers searching for a reported man with a gun.
 
A loaded handgun was recovered after one of the suspects ditched the weapon in some bushes in the 500 block of Rockvale Avenue sometime before 3 p.m., said Azusa Police Detective Lieutenant Chris Grant.
 
A vigilant citizen flagged down two officers patrolling the 500 block of Rockvale to report seeing two males standing on a sidewalk when one of the them was seen with a handgun.
 
As the two-man unit made a u-turn to detain the two suspects, they began to flee. The armed suspect removed a handgun from his waistband and discarded it in some nearby bushes, Grant said.
 
Nearby Azusa High School, Foothill Middle School and Charles H. Lee Elementary School were all placed on lockdown during the search, Azusa Unified School District officials said.
 
One suspect was detained after initially fleeing. The second suspect took refuge amongst some apartment buildings in the 500 block of North Rockvale. The hiding suspect was later located during a containment search, Grant said.
 
The teens, who remain unidentified because of their age, face charges including resisting arrest and possession of a loaded handgun.

Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - The man hit in a likely accidental collision died three days after being hit on Irwindale Avenue.
 
Michael Joseph Brizuela, 50, a Baldwin Park man, died at Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center May 7. Brizuela was struck by a southbound vehicle in the 100 block of South Irwindale Avenue around 1:56 a.m. near First street in the far west end of Azusa.
 
Brizuela reportedly was crossing Irwindale Avenue outside of the crosswalk, Azusa Police said.
 
The driver of a sedan that struck Brizuela remained at the scene.

Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - A man struck and injured in an early-morning collision continues to be hospitalized, police said.
 
The man was reportedly crossing Irwindale Avenue from First Street outside of a marked crosswalk around 1:56 a.m. The driver of a small sedan was southbound when he hit him, Azusa Police said in a written statement.
 
The man suffered major injuries.
 
The man was taken to Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center and is currently listed in critical condition, Azusa Police said.

​In an earlier article published the day of the crash, a Los Angeles County Fire dispatchers errantly reported to SGV CityWatch that two people were hit by a vehicle. Only one was struck.
 
The collision is being investigated by the Azusa Police Traffic Bureau.

Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor

THIS STORY HAS BEEN UPDATED TO REFLECT THAT ONLY ONE PEDESTRIAN WAS INJURED

AZUSA - A man was hit by a vehicle in the 100 block of South Irwindale Avenue Friday morning.
 
The man was struck around 2 a.m. He met trauma center criteria and were taken by ambulance to an area trauma center for treatment, according to Dispatch Supervisor Ed Pickett of the Los Angeles County Fire Department.
 
It was unclear if the man was in a crosswalk when they were hit.
 
The Azusa Police Department continues to conduct a traffic investigation. Traffic is impacted in the area of Irwindale Avenue between First Street and McKinley.

​The driver remained at the scene.

Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - Firefighters made quick work of an outdoor fire that sent one person to the hospital Thursday afternoon.
 
The fire burned on the property of the apartments, 540 E. Gladstone St. around 3 p.m. Firefighters immediately reported smoke billowing from the rear of a unit at the 1-story apartment complex, according to Los Angeles County Firefighter radio traffic.
 
The fire extended to the roof, causing unspecified damage.
 
The fire was knocked down about three minutes later.
 
One person suffered smoke inhalation, firefighters said.
 
Arson investigators have been requested to the scene.

Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - The 14-year-old boy killed in a hail of gunfire on an Azusa sidewalk May 1 was identified.
 
Jaime Butanda, an Azusa boy, was killed after being shot multiple times while he rode his bike in the 300 block of South Enid Avenue Tuesday.
 
Butanda was identified by the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner.
 
Butanda was administered CPR by arriving Azusa Police officers. He was further treated at the scene by Los Angeles County Firefighters before being taken to an area hospital where he was declared dead.
 
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau is investigating the shooting. A motive and suspect have not yet been identified.

Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - Azusa detectives and the police department’s SWAT team worked to arrest five men in an ongoing investigation April 26.
 
The search warrant was served at Canyon City Barber Shop, 448 N. Azusa Ave. in the evening. The search warrant, executed by Azusa detectives, was served with mutual aid assistance by surrounding police agencies, according to Lt. Chris Grant of the Azusa Police Department.
 
Unspecified weapons and narcotics were seized at the business. What type of weapons and drugs were seized was not disclosed.
 
The five men exited the business after police issued verbal commands. Their names were not disclosed.
 
A second location in Glendora was also search, but Grant did not immediately know where in Glendora.
 
The search warrant was served after a weeks-long investigation.