 Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor AZUSA - An Azusa Police motor officer was uninjured after a driver attempted to crash into him on the 210 freeway in Glendora Friday morning. The suspects were arrested at the end of a pursuit initiated by an on-duty West Covina Police officer who witnessed the incident and the officer allegedly targeted by the driver and his passengers, according to the Azusa Police Department. The driver, 27-year-old Alberto Gracida, swerved into the path of the Azusa motor officer on the west 210 freeway near Sunflower Avenue around 5:30 a.m. The officer initially believed the action to be accidental, but the suspects began throwing objects at the officer, Azusa Police said. The motor officer maintained control of his motorcycle, was able to notify his dispatchers and attempted to stop the driver who refused to comply.
The pursuit exited at Azusa Avenue and continued on surface streets until the driver crashed through a residential yard and hit a wall. The driver briefly fled on foot before being arrested, Azusa Police said. The two occupants, Sonya Luevao and Justine Torres, both 28, were arrested at the crash scene, Azusa Police said. The crash occurred at East 3rd Street and North Dominguez Place around 6:06 a.m., according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department. All three suspects were booked on suspicion of attempted homicide of a police officer, Azusa Police said. Gracida is being held in lieu of $1 million bail. County booking information was not readily available for the three suspects. Email Newsletter! | Advertise! | Donate!  Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor AZUSA - A vehicle ignited and caused unspecified damaged to a detached carport Thursday night. The car fire and carport burned in the 700 block of East 5th Street jut after 7 p.m. The carport is located adjacent from the apartment complex and there was no extension of fire into the building, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department. There was no report of injuries. Email Newsletter! | Advertise! | Donate! Three Azusa Pursuit Suspects Released from Custody, Pending Further Investigation, Police Say5/28/2019  Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor AZUSA - Two teenagers and an adult were detained at the end of a pursuit Tuesday morning, but due to undisclosed reasons, the suspects were not booked on charges and were released, an Azusa Police sergeant said. Some details remain hidden from the public due to the ongoing investigation, but officers decided to release all three suspects, according to Sgt. Seth Chapman of the Azusa Police Department. At 12:01 a.m. May 28, officers attempted to stop the driver of a car for a traffic violation at 3rd Street and Azusa Avenue, but the driver refused to stop, eventually leading officers to a dead end in the 500 block of East Duell Street where the suspects surrendered, Chapman said.
During the pursuit, a handgun was tossed from the car, Chapman said. A 21-year-old man, a 13-year-old and 16-year-old were all detained. Officers learned the vehicle was stolen from Baldwin Park. Chapman declined to comment on a possible connection the suspects had to a call of gunfire in unincorporated Azusa minutes before the chase began. Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputies were called to a report of gunfire near North Clydebank Avenue and East Arrow Highway. A blue sedan fled the area after the gunfire was heard and a man in a hoodie was also seen running away. A victim was not located. Email Newsletter! | Advertise! | Donate!  Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor AZUSA - One vehicle rolled over in a three-vehicle crash at North Pasadena Avenue and East Foothill Boulevard Tuesday morning. Firefighters pulled a male driver from the overturned vehicle. He was still restrained by a seatbelt, but was conscious, according to the Azusa Police Department.
The crash was discovered or witnessed by an Azusa Police officer around 9:45 a.m. The driver of the overturned vehicle was taken to an area hospital. Email Newsletter! | Advertise! | Donate!  Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor AZUSA - An 18-year-old Los Angeles man is recovering from a gunshot wound after his gun apparently fired accidentally, police said Sunday. The man has been somewhat uncooperative with investigators, but the accidental discharge may have occurred near the Azusa Intermodal Station, 801 N. Alameda Ave. Police recovered evidence at the scene, said Azusa Police Sgt. Fernando Vasconcelos, but he declined to state what was recovered due to the ongoing investigation. Police are still working to corroborate the claim the man injured himself near the station, despite there being evidence recovered nearby. The man told officers he flagged down a driver after he injured himself and hitched a ride to an area hospital. Hospital staff called Azusa Police at 1:24 a.m. to report the gunshot victim, Vasconcelos said.
Police have yet to identify the person who reportedly gave the victim a ride. The accidental discharge may have occurred on the sidewalk outside the Gold Line Station. Deputies with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Transit Services Bureau, which helps patrol Metro light rail lines, were informed initially that the man may have exited a train at the station and walked north along Azusa Avenue when the gun accidentally fired, according to Sheriff’s radio traffic. Deputies were busy reviewing station footage to determine if the shooting happened in Azusa. Deputies also sought footage from the nearby Target shopping center. The gun has not been found, Vasconcelos said. Get the email Newsletter! | Advertise! | Donate!  Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor AZUSA - A Black woman stabbed in an incident near Azusa Pacific University May 23 May have been targeted because of her skin color. In a Citrus College notice obtained by SGV CityWatch, Campus Safety personnel were told of three male suspects who attacked their victim while calling her racial slurs. One suspect stabbed the woman with a sharp object, according to the Citrus College notice. The attack occurred around 2:18 p.m. outside the Alosta Place Apartments, 1130 E. Alosta Ave.
The victim was transported to a nearby hospital where she was listed in stable condition, according to the Citrus College notice. The three suspects were last seen fleeing in different directions. They are described as Hispanic men between 18 and 25 years old, according to the notice. One of the suspects was arrested and booked on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, said Sgt. Fernando Vasconcelos of the Azusa Police Department. Suspect Trevor Kittridge, 22, was arrested around 7:15 p.m. and booked on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon. He is being held without bail on a probation hold at the Inmate Reception Center in Los Angeles, according to Los Angeles County booking records. It was not stated during a Friday morning interview for the original story of the stabbing if additional arrests were made. The Azusa Police detective sergeant and detective lieutenant were unavailable for additional details. Get the email Newsletter! | Advertise! | Donate!  Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor AZUSA - A suspect is in custody after stabbing a woman in the arm Thursday, police said. The woman was stabbed for, as of yet, unexplained reasons in the 1100 block of East Alosta Avenue around 2:18 p.m. May 23, according to Sgt. Fernando Vasconcelos of the Azusa Police Department. Suspect Trevor Kittridge, 22, was booked on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon. He is being held without bail on a probation hold at the Inmate Reception Center in Los Angeles, according to Los Angeles County booking records.
The extent of injuries to the woman was not immediately known. Get the email Newsletter! | Advertise! | Donate!  PHOTO/Azusa Police. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor AZUSA - A 28-year-old employee of the Azusa Unified School District was arrested May 6, accused of an unlawful sexual relationship with a minor student. Jessica Marie Esparza is accused of engaging in the illicit relationship two years ago when the alleged victim was 16 years old. The alleged acts occurred over the course of a year, according to Lt. Robert Chivas of the Azusa Police Department. Esparza is a part-time Azusa Unified staff member. The alleged victim is a student of the district, according to Azusa Unified Superintendent Linda Kaminski.
The district was made aware of the allegations Friday, May 3. School administrators then notified Azusa Police officers around 2:20 p.m. the same day. “The district has a zero-tolerance policy regarding misconduct of any kind as the safety and security of our students is our chief priority,” Kaminski said in a written statement. “Breaches of trust are disheartening and will not be tolerated. As such, we remain committed to acting swiftly and aggressively to safeguard all of our learning environments.” The district is also conducting its own investigation, Kaminski said, and believes this was an isolated incident and that there are no other victims. Esparza was booked on suspicion of lewd acts on a child. She is being held in lieu of $50,000 bail and awaits a scheduled appearance at Pomona Courthouse Wednesday, May 8. Anyone with information regarding this case is urged to call Azusa Police Detective Beaver at 626-812-3271. 
PHOTO/Aaron Castrejon.
Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor AZUSA - More than four hours after taking refuge in a vehicle, a 31-year-old man was safely taken into custody Friday night. The man, identified by acquaintances as Nathan, allegedly brandished a knife at deputies who tried to contact him on East Arrow Highway east of Azusa Avenue just after 4 p.m. The man fled and took refuge inside the van at the Arrow Inn.
Deputies called in their Mental Evaluation Team and Special Enforcement Bureau to convince the man to surrender peacefully.
Darlene, mother of the barricaded man, waited on pins and needles the entire time and even pleaded over a loud speaker for her son to surrender. Deputies set up a phone in hopes the man would speak to them, but he refused. Deputies set off a tremendous flash bang grenade and peppered the driver side window with pepper ball projectiles to coerce him to comply, which he did around 8:35 p.m. The man was examined by paramedics on scene before being taken away for booking.  Deputies with the Sheriff’s Special Enforcement Bureau are on scene where a man is barricaded in Azusa. PHOTO/Aaron Castrejon. Written by AARON CASTREJON Citywatch Editor AZUSA - Sheriff’s deputies are attempting to get a barricade man armed with a knife to surrender Friday evening. The man brandished a knife at deputies who attempted to make contact with him in the 400 block of East Arrow Highway just After 4 p.m. May 3. The man jumped into a van at the motel, according to Sgt. Roth of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Information Bureau. The man is barricaded in a room at the Arrow Inn, 469 E. Arrow Hwy. The barricaded man’s mother is on scene and spoke to her son, 31, to peacefully surrender. Deputies are being assisted by the Sheriff’s Mental Evaluation Team. The California Highway Patrol is also assisting, Roth said.  The man mother (left) is being consoled while deputies attempt to get her son the peacefully surrender. PHOTO/Aaron Castrejon. |
Archives
January 2024
Categories
All
|
RSS Feed