Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

AZUSA – A man from Los Angeles is facing assault with a deadly weapon charges after police identified him as a suspect in a June 28 stabbing.

James Paul Williams, 39, allegedly assaulted a male at the Citrus College/APU Station, 905 N. Citrus Ave., June 28 around 3:53 a.m. The victim suffered neck and face wounds, but is expected to recover, according to the Azusa Police Department.

The suspect was gone when police arrived.

Azusa officers worked with deputies from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Transit Services Bureau to locate evidence, identify a suspect and locate witnesses. Ultimately, Williams was pegged as a suspect, Azusa Police said.

A Transit Services deputy recognized Williams June 30 at the Citrus College/APU Station. Williams was taken into custody by the Azusa Police Department.

Williams was arrested at 2:48 a.m., according to Los Angeles County booking records and is scheduled for an appearance in the West Covina courthouse July 2.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

POMONA - The man investigators accuse of fatally beating a victim to death with a baseball bat outside an Azusa Target shopping center is scheduled for a pretrial conference and trial setting Tuesday.

Manuel Banuelos, 24, is scheduled for arraignment at Pomona Superior Court, June 29. He previously pleaded not guilty to one count of murder, according to Los Angeles County Superior Court records.

The attack occurred June 10, 2020, outside Target, 809 N. Azusa Ave. Police responded to the scene around 2:15 p.m. and found a victim bleeding from head injuries and unresponsive. After being treated at the scene, the victim was taken to a hospital where he later died, according to the Azusa Police Department.

A suspect, who prosecutors allege is Banuelos, was found nearby, chased briefly by police and taken into custody after bystanders helped officers locate him.

The victim was identified as Richard Jaimez, Jr., a 37-year-old Azusa man.

A motive for the murder remains unclear.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - Officers used less-lethal rounds to try and subdue an agitated, knife-wielding man in an Azusa neighborhood Sunday, eventually shooting him dead with live rounds.

The incident unfolded in the 900 block of West Sierra Madre Avenue, June 27. Officers found the suspect armed with a large kitchen knife as they arrived to investigate a domestic dispute. Azusa officers gave multiple commands to the suspect to put down the weapon, but he refused, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Information Bureau.

“The suspect walked in and out of his home multiple times looking frustrated and irritated.
The suspect then rushed towards officers and officers deployed less lethal munitions which were ineffective. The suspect then again charged towards officers with the knife and an officer involved shooting occurred,” according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Information Bureau in a written statement.

Officers reportedly attempted lifesaving measures on the suspect until firefighters paramedics arrived, but the suspect died at the scene.

Anyone with information on the shooting is urge to call the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500. Information can be provided anonymously 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 suspect was killed during an Azusa police shooting in an undisclosed incident early Sunday afternoon.

The shooting took place in the 900 block of W. Sierra Madre Ave. around 12:50 p.m. June 27. The suspect died at the scene.

Is not yet clear what led up to the gunfire.

All westbound traffic at Vernon Avenue and Sierra Madre Ave. is closed, according to the Azusa Police Department.

Anyone with information on the shooting is urge to call the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500. Information can be provided anonymously 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 suspect accused of seriously injuring a relative and holding him against his will surrendered after keeping police at bay for hours on end Tuesday.

Police arrived to the Westgate Villa apartment complex, 563 E. Arrow Hwy., around 3:30 p.m. to a disturbance call and learned an injured man was potentially being held against his will, said Cpt. Robert Landeros of the Azusa Police Department.

The suspect was holed up in one of the second-story units.

Los Angeles County mental health evaluators assisted crisis negotiators in attempting to speak with anyone inside the unit. Covina Police and Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputies also assisted.

“As the incident progressed, the suspect inside was able to let the victim go. He was transported to Pomona Valley Hospital for some serious injuries,” Landeros told SGV CityWatch.

At the time of interview Tuesday night, a motive for the incident was not known.

Azusa Police used less lethal rounds, including flash bang grenades and pepper balls to get the suspect to surrender peacefully.

Residents of the apartment complex and neighbors bore witness to the attempts to capture the suspect. The loud booms of the flash bang grenades echoed throughout surrounding neighborhoods.

Smoke occasionally wafted out of the apartment unit targeted by police after they used an armored truck to shatter several windows to gain access to the unit.

No officers or other residents were injured, Landeros said.

Herman Hormel Murphy, 57, was booked on felony-level charges. He is being held in lieu of $135,000 bail ahead of a scheduled appearance in the West Covina courthouse June 24, according to Los Angeles County booking records.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - Police used a stun gun to subdue a man Tuesday afternoon when he allegedly advanced towards officers after assaulting a woman at the Edgewood Center.

Police responded to a report of a domestic argument. The unidentified suspect allegedly refused to allow the woman to move, according to Sgt. Brandon Bailey of the Azusa Police Department.

The incident unfolded around 3:30 p.m. June 15 outside a store at the shopping center in the 400 block of East Gladstone Street.

Police arrived and separated the suspect and woman, but the suspect remained agitated and resistive to the officers’ commands, Bailey told SGV CityWatch.

“There was info that he was armed with a knife,” Bailey said. “Ultimately, he reached into his waistband area and officers could see a sheath.”

The suspect allegedly clenched a fist and advanced towards officers who used a stun gun to stop him, Bailey told SGV CityWatch.

The suspect was transported to an area hospital. The woman did not need hospitalization.

The suspect faced domestic violence, false imprisonment and obstructing an officer charges, Bailey told SGV CityWatch.

The suspect also had an arrest warrant from another police agency.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - Police suspect a transient camp cooking fire in the San Gabriel Mountains led to a small spot fire Thursday.

The fire was reported to police at 5 p.m. in the 1900 block of North San Gabriel Canyon Road June 2. Officers used their patrol vehicle fire extinguishers and dirt to knock out the flames, according to the Azusa Police Department.

The fire was estimated at 10 feet by 10 feet, according to Los Angeles County Fire Department radio traffic.

Investigators detained former San Bernardino resident Daniel Velez, 42, and later booked him on suspicion of unlawfully causing a fire and occupying property without consent, Azusa Police said.

The occupying offense is a misdemeanor, Azusa Police said.

Velez is being held in lieu of $20,000 ahead of a scheduled appearance in the West Covina courthouse June 7, according to Los Angeles County booking records.