 Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor AZUSA - Police are investigating a second shooting this weekend after responding to calls of gunfire early Sunday. Officers found spent shell casings in the 300 block of South Enid Avenue just before 12:30 a.m. June 30. No victims were reported and no homes or vehicles were hit, according to Sgt. Nick Covarrubias of the Azusa Police Department. Spent shell casings were found in the street, Covarrubias said.
No one witnessed a suspect, or possible vehicle involved in the shooting. A shooting occurred just after 5 p.m. in the 900 block of West First Street Saturday near Zacatecas Park. The park was full of people and a little league baseball game was in progress when someone fired five to six shots in the air and sped away in a dark-colored car.  PHOTO/Courtesy photo. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor AZUSA - Police are searching for a suspect who reportedly fired five to six gunshots near Zacatecas Park Saturday. The gunfire was reported around 5:10 p.m. in the 900 block of West First Street June 29. There were no reports of anyone being hit, according to Sgt. Nick Covarrubias of the Azusa Police Department. The suspect may have fired into the air. “So far, that seems to be what is was. [Police] didn’t find anyone hit. It didn’t seem like they shot at any houses, they couldn’t find any damage,” Covarrubias said. Officers are still gathering details, Covarrubias said.
A vehicle was heard or seen speeding south on Jackson Avenue after the gunfire, but Covarrubias could not yet verify the color, make and model. Nearby Zacatecas Park, 924 W. First St., was full of people when the shooting occurred.  PHOTO/Unsplash. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor AZUSA - The Azusa Police Department issued a friendly reminder Sunday of when and where fireworks are allowed within city limits. The city has a long tradition of allowing “safe and sane” fireworks to be enjoyed throughout the city, but fireworks can only be used within designated areas of town and only during certain times, police said. Fireworks can be used in any residential area -- except at schools, city parks, parking lots, alleys and fireworks cannot be used anywhere north of Sierra Madre Avenue. Fireworks can only be used July 4 from Noon to midnight. (Click the map to download.)  Illegal fireworks are not permitted in Azusa.
Additional personnel will deployed during the day and night immediately preceding and on July 4. Officers will be in patrol vehicles, regular vehicles and may be uniformed or in plainclothes, Azusa Police said. Violators of the law will be issued citations. A citation is $1,000. Fines for lighting fireworks north of Sierra Madre Avenue range from $250 to $1,000, Azusa Police said. Email Newsletter! | Advertise! | Donate!  Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor AZUSA - Police detectives are following up on a reported fight and shooting after officers found a crashed car with bullet holes June 22. Officers descended to Fourth Street and Orange Avenue around 8:30 p.m. to reports of gunfire and a fight. Officers found no one in the area upon arrival, but discovered a Honda sedan crashed into a residential brick wall, said Sgt. Nick Covarrubias of the Azusa Police Department. “No suspects were located, no weapons. We found several casings in the street,” Covarrubias said.
Police have yet to find a shooting victim or suspects. Dispatchers were told people involved in the reported fight scattered. Neighboring police agencies assisted with a containment search, Covarrubias said. Anyone with information on any suspects or victims is urged to call the Azusa Police Department at 626-812-3200. Email Newsletter! | Advertise! | Donate!  PHOTO/By Aaron Castrejon. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor AZUSA - Three spike strips and two PIT maneuvers later, an accused DUI driver was taken into custody after kindly pulling into an In N Out parking lot Sunday. Upland Police attempted to stop the driver, 45-year-old Michelle Starkey, for a registration violation near Foothill Boulevard and Central Avenue around 10:26 a.m., according to Sgt. Bill Chani of the Upland Police Department. Starkey refused to stop and casually drove west on Route 66 all the way into Azusa, Chani said. She obeyed the speed limit, stop signs and red lights. Patron Janette Brown-Ortega was eating on the patio at Mr. D’s, 919 Foothill Blvd., in La Verne and witnessed the pursuit.
“We heard several sirens before the car stopped in the intersection with multiple officers from Pomona, Claremont, and La Verne trailing. Officers exited their vehicles and drew their weapons in an attempt to have the suspect come out of the car," Brown-Ortega said. “They stopped for about two minutes, before driver sped away again.” Officers used several spike strips as Starkey drove through Glendora, Chani said. Starkey even dragged a spike strip behind the Dodge Nitro she drove as she continued west at a snails-pace 10 miles per hour, according to police radio traffic. After officers made two attempts at disabling the vehicle with the Pursuit Intervention Technique in Azusa, Starkey allegedly struck an Upland officer’s vehicle, Chani said. The officer was uninjured after his patrol car was hit. Starkey parked the Dodge Nitro at In N Out, 988 E. Alosta Ave she will be facing charges of assault on a peace officer, assault with a deadly weapon, drug possession, driving under the influence of drugs and evading police, Chani said. Email Newsletter! | Advertise! | Donate!  Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor AZUSA - Two people were possibly injured in an undisclosed incident Saturday afternoon. Deputies with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Transit Services Bureau are assisting Azusa Police with a possible search at University Drive near Azusa Pacific University, according to Sheriff’s radio traffic. Dispatch Supervisor Cheryl Sims of the Los Angeles County Fire Department stated the incident began at Jack In the Box, 877 E. Alosta Ave. Firefighters were dispatched at 1:58 p.m.
The nature of the assault was not disclosed. An Azusa Police supervisor was unavailable to provide information.  Google Maps. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor AZUSA - Police located the man who fell in the San Gabriel River and he stated to officers he is fine, Azusa Police reported. The man was located around 9:21 p.m. near the scene. He told officers he and his bicycle were swept down the river. He was able to walk away after falling and is refusing medical help. Firefighters ended their search around 9:11 p.m. after receiving information the victim likely self-extricated before first responders arrived. Azusa Police officers conducted follow-up interviews with transients at several area camps near the riverbed and found the man with help from at least one witness. Firefighters and Azusa Police were called to the San Gabriel River near the Army National Guard around 7:45 p.m. to a possible swiftwater rescue by someone claiming to hav seen a man fall in.
An Urban Search and Rescue Team from Long Beach was even called to assist. Despite the work by police to help remove and provide services for those who live in the riverbed, many still call the San Gabriel River home. This reporter who frequents the San Gabriel River Bike Path in the Santa Fe Dam and north of the 210 freeway on biking excursions has witnessed many elaborate transient camps -- most residing in the narrow stretch of brush and dirt to the east of the bike path. Some of these transient camps are well-protected by tarps, are quite large and one camp featured a plastic tub large enough to potentially bath in. Email Newsletter! | Advertise! | Donate!  Google Maps. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor AZUSA - Firefighters and Azusa Police are searching after receiving a report of a male caught in the San Gabriel River. The victim, only described to first responders as a male wearing a white shirt and blue jeans, was seen in the riverbed near the Army National Guard, 1351 Sierra Madre Ave., around 7:45 p.m.
The victim may have been caught by the water after attempting to cross on a bicycle, according to preliminary information from Azusa Police. The last known location of the victim firefighters and Azusa Police were told was somewhere between the San Gabriel River Bike Path and Foothill Boulevard. A urban search and rescue team from Long Beach is en route to assist Los Angeles County firefighters. Email Newsletter! | Advertise! | Donate!  Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor AZUSA - A quarter-acre brush fire has ignited above Azusa, firefighters reported. The fire is burning in light to medium vegetation on flat terrain in the 2000 block of North San Gabriel Canyon Road, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department. The source of the fire, dispatched to firefighters at 12:13 a.m., was not specified. Initially a full brush fire response complete with helicopters was requested, but just several units are able to extinguish the flames, firefighters said. Email Newsletter! | Advertise! | Donate! |
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