Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - An embedded investigator with the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office helped to uncover a gargantuan cache of fireworks at two locations in Azusa June 27.

One person was detained and 14,000 pounds of fireworks were seized during the operation led by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office in conjunction with the Los Angeles County Fire Department, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and the Azusa Police Department.

An illegal firearm and more than $10,000 in cash were also seized, according to Ricardo Santiago of the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.

“By embedding our prosecutors and investigators in the communities that we serve, we were able to secure valuable information that led to the safe removal of thousands of pounds of illegal fireworks from an Azusa neighborhood,” District Attorney Gascón said. “I am grateful that we could assist local law enforcement in protecting this community from the potential dangers posed by illegal fireworks.”

The fireworks seized were being stored at a home and a storage facility in Azusa. Twenty-seven homes were evacuated while the explosives were safely recovered and disposed, Santiago said in a written statement.

The investigator is part of the DA’s new Community Violence Reduction Division.

It is not publicly clear if the detained person will face arrest.

AZUSA – Authorities destroyed nearly one ton of fireworks stashed on a residential property Monday after a search warrant revealed the contraband.

26 homes near the scene in the 900 block of West Hollyvale Street were evacuated as a precaution while tactical bomb techs with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department worked to render the fireworks safe, according to the Azusa Police Department.

Residents one block south from the scene along West Third Street were affected as well.

Investigators located 1,700 pounds of fireworks at the residence, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Special Enforcement Bureau.

A search warrant was served in the 900 block of West Hollyvale Street June 27, the result of an investigation by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office and the Los Angeles County Fire Department Arson Unit.

The Azusa Police Department made a public announcement at 3:20 p.m. about evacuations taking place. By 8:46 p.m., residents on Third Street were finally allowed back home while. By 10:17 p.m., all evacuations were lifted, allowing residents on Hollyvale Street and Virginia Avenue to return home.

SGV CityWatch is trying to confirm with the DA’s office if any arrests were made and to confirm media reports indicating that an additional stash of fireworks was located in nearby Irwindale.

AZUSA – A 34-year-old woman allegedly behind the wheel of a stolen vehicle was arrested Saturday after attempting to escape Azusa officers.

Andrea Marie Mendez fled Azusa police officers on a chase into East Los Angeles. She attempted to flee on foot, but was caught, according to Sgt. Steven Sears of the Azusa Police Department.

A patrol officer attempted to stop the driver of a stolen vehicle, identified as Mendez, in the 700 block of North Azusa Avenue June 25 just after 8 p.m. The driver refused to pull over and fled to the freeways to escape, Sears told SGV CityWatch.

The pursuit came to an end at 535 S. Lorena St. in East Los Angeles. Mendez allegedly struck at least one vehicle during the chase. The California Highway Patrol was reportedly investigating the collision, Sears told SGV CityWatch.

Mendez was released June 26 and issued a citation and released with a court date scheduled for November 2, according to Los Angeles County booking records.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - A man seen burglarizing two houses in as many days was finally jailed after security video tied him to the first break-in, according to the Azusa Police Department.

Andre Depree Bishop, 43, is accused of a late night break-in June 21 in the 900 block of Chaparral Lane. Officers, called to the burglary at 11:42 p.m., did not find a suspect after clearing the home, but video from the resident’s Ring camera caught the crime in progress, according to the Azusa Police Department.

The next day, a burglary suspect walked into an occupied home through an unlocked front door around 8:44 a.m. in the 300 block of North Fenimore Avenue. A resident told the suspect to get out. The suspect fled, but was caught a short distance away by officers, according to the Azusa Police Department.

“Based on the resident’s video surveillance, it was confirmed that the suspect identified as Andre Bishop, was also the suspect in the residential burglary call on Chaparral Ln.,” according to the Azusa Police Department.

Bishop was transferred to the Twin Towers Correctional Facility in Los Angeles June 24 and is being held in lieu of $10,000 bail ahead of a scheduled appearance in the West Covina courthouse June 27.

LOS ANGELES – An 18-year-old man was identified recently, the victim of a shooting in a residential area June 2.

Andrew Hidalgo was identified by the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner. He died from multiple gunshot wounds. His death is listed as a homicide.

Hidalgo was allegedly spray painting graffiti in an Azusa neighborhood Thursday, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

Hidalgo was found by Azusa Police officers in the 200 block of South Noble Place, June 2 around 3:23 p.m. He was transported to a hospital and died the next day, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

Investigators later identified two suspects in the shooting and both are now in custody. Their names have not been publicly released.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

LOS ANGELES – A man found dead in a park June 3 was identified recently and suffered other injuries.

Transient Gerardo Vega, 50, suffered from head trauma, a stab wound of the neck and gunshot wound of the abdomen, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner.

Vega’s death was ruled a homicide.

A passerby en route to work discovered Vega down and un responsive at the Azusa Rockery, 1350 Mountain View Cir., around 7:43 a.m. June 3.

It is not publicly clear if Sheriff’s Homicide investigators identified a suspect.

Azusa Rockery is a half-acre geology interpretive park nestled in an area north of an industrial complex and is adjacent to the San Gabriel River Bike Path.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - A man allegedly spray painting graffiti in an Azusa neighborhood Thursday was the target of gunfire, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

The unidentified victim was found by Azusa Police officers in the 200 block of South Noble Place, June 2 around 3:23 p.m. He was transported to a hospital and died the next day, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

Investigators later identified two suspects in the shooting and both are now in custody. Their names have not been publicly released.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - A passerby en route to work found a man down in a park early Friday morning and officers and firefighters saw that the deceased victim suffered from unknown head trauma.

The victim was found in the 1300 block of Mountain View Circle around 7:43 a.m. Friday, June 3. The passerby called Azusa Police and Los Angeles County firefighters, the latter declared the victim dead at the scene.

The victim was only described as a Hispanic man, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Information Bureau.

The park is the Azusa Rockery, 1350 Mountain View Cir., a half-acre geology interpretive park north of an industrial area and adjacent to the San Gabriel River Bike Path.

The victim has yet to be identified.

AZUSA – A man was struck by gunfire in a neighborhood and later hospitalized, an Azusa Police lieutenant said.

Police and firefighters responded around 3:23 p.m. to the 200 block of Noble Place June 2 after residents in the area reported gunfire, according to Lt. Nick Covarrubias of the Azusa Police Department.

Covarrubias did not know the victim’s condition as of Thursday night. A supervisor with the Azusa Police Department could not be reached Friday morning.

No suspect or vehicle description was available as the investigations continues.​

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

AZUSA – A San Diego man killed himself in an Azusa neighborhood Tuesday, according to coroner investigators.

Daniel Rosas-Lucero, 37, died from a gunshot wound to the head in the 700 block of North Soldano Avenue, according to Sarah Ardalani of the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner.

Officers responded to the neighborhood just before 6 p.m. Wednesday to a call of shots fired and found a man with a self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to Jennifer Wu, community service officer with the Azusa Police Department.

Few other details are available regarding what potentially led up to the shooting, as detectives continue to work the case, Wu told SGV CityWatch.

One reader on the SGV CityWatch Facebook page noted his wife and other attendees of a coffee shop meeting at the corner of Foothill Boulevard and Soldano Avenue reported someone running into the coffee shop. Gunfire was soon heard and patrons were rushed to nearby St. Francis of Rome Church.