Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - Prosecutors accusing an Upland man of bilking people seeking immigration services out of more than $400,000 over a 12-year-period.
 
Augusto “Tito” Gonzalez De La Cruz, 57, faces a total of 36 felony counts of grand theft after 16 additional charges were filed July 10. De La Cruz is accused of running a fraudulent immigration business in which he duped 35 victims into paying for services they never received, according to the Azusa Police Department. 
 
De La Cruz was taken into custody after a warrant for his arrest was made February 6.
 
From January 2006 to February 2018, De La Cruz stole $404,000 from victims and their families.
 
Police and prosecutors were initially informed of the fraud by 15 victims from May 2015 to January 2018, but 20 additional victims came forward through a hotline established by detectives, Azusa Police said.
 
De La Cruz allegedly made false promises to his victims that included expediting the processing of visas, resident alien cards and citizenship petitions, according to Deputy District Attorney Ryann Gerber Jordan of the Consumer Protection Division.
 
De La Cruz faces a maximum of 25 years in state prison.
 
Investigators ask anyone who believes they might have been scammed by Gonzalez De La Cruz to call 626-812-3227.

Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - A man possibly under the influence allegedly punched officers and tried to grab for their gun belts while they tried to subdue him during a domestic outburst late Tuesday.

The suspect, who is still unnamed, was destroying windows at his grandmother’s home in the 700 block of South Vincent Avenue and windows of vehicles parked nearby, Azusa Police said in a written statement.

The suspect was possibly enraged over his cell phone not being fixed.

Azusa officers, called to the home around 10:30 p.m., arrived and found the enraged 22-year-old grandson outside to the front. His shirt was stained with blood, family members attempting to restrain him, Azusa Police said.

The man then aggressively approached the officers and challenged them to fight, Azusa Police said.

After being given numerous chances to surrender, the man began assaulting officers.

“Officers attempted to physically restrain the grandson with defensive tactic techniques as the grandson started to assault the Officers by punching at them. The grandson also attempted to grab at the Officer's gun belts to obtain their safety equipment,” Azusa Police said.

An injured officer was hospitalized with a moderate injury to the upper body. The suspect suffered minor injuries from being hit with the stun gun.

The suspect’s name, which should be publicly available, is not being released yet.

A sergeant must approve the release of the name, according to Officer Martinez of the Azusa Police Department.

The suspect was booked on three felony counts and is being held in lieu of $50,000 bail.

Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - A pedestrian was struck and injured by a Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department patrol vehicle Tuesday night.
 
The collision happened on Arrow Highway at Hollenbeck Avenue around 9:35 p.m. Firefighters arrived four minutes later and transported one patient to an area hospital, according to Vanessa Lozano of the Los Angeles County Fire Department.
 
The patient’s condition was unknown.
 
The collision happened in Azusa Police jurisdiction and is being investigated by Azusa officers, according to Sgt. Michael McGrattan of the San Dimas Sheriff’s Station.
 
The deputy driving the patrol vehicle was uninjured.
 
The on-duty watch commander for the Azusa Police Department was unavailable to answer questions regarding the crash.

Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - Officers arrested a man who fled police on foot after crashing his off-road motorcycle after passersby witnessed him joyriding on a nearby bike path.

Ryan James Zorbas, 32, was taken into custody after trying to ditch Azusa officers in a foot chase after crashing  into a security gate and fleeing into a nearby gated mountain community July 21, Azusa Police said.

Police searched the San Gabriel River Bike Path around 9 a.m. new the numerous gated communities in the northern end of town. Officer could not locate the suspect on the bike path, but discovered him resting near one of the condominium projects on Highway 39, according to the Azusa Police Department in a written statement.

The suspect fled on his motor bike south, fleeing through bushes along the bike path and out of sight, Azusa Police said.

Walkers along the bike path pointed officers in the direction the suspect fled, who was found hiding behind a wall nearby.

“The suspect was waiting for the officer to approach from a different direction, not knowing the officer was slowly approaching behind him,“ Azusa Police said.

The suspect saw the approaching officer and fled again on the motorbike, taking a sidewalk south and cut off the officer eastbound into the Crystal Cove gated community where he crashed into a gate and fled on foot.

The suspect dropped a knife and backpack and fled into Crystal Cove, Azusa Police said.

Officers finally took the suspect into custody after he ducked out from hiding behind several condos and attempted to flee across Ranch Road.

Zorbas was hospitalized for the injuries sustained in the gate crash.

Zorbas is expected to appear in West Covina Superior Court. A date was not available through Los Angeles County booking.

Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - All lanes of the 210 freeway near Azusa Avenue were temporarily closed Monday night after authorities rescued a person threatening to jump onto the freeway.
 
Azusa Police and the California Highway Patrol responded to the Rockvale Avenue pedestrian bridge around 10:50 p.m. to a report of a person dressed in all black on the south side of the bridge, according to CHP traffic logs.
 
Glendora Police helped to shut down all westbound lanes between Sunflower Avenue and Citrus Avenue, while Azusa officers shut down all eastbound lanes.
 
Azusa officers approached the person who then yelled at them to back off, according to the CHP.
 
By 11:11 p.m., the person was taken into custody.
 
All lanes were reopened shortly after.

Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - Police continue to search for the gunman who opened fire on two intended robbery targets almost one week ago.

Police, arriving to reports of a shooting at East Bagnall Street and North Orangecrest Avenue, discovered the shooting resulted from an attempted robbery, according to Lt. Chris Grant of the Azusa Police Department.

The victims exited the vehicle and the suspect fired at least four rounds, some of which struck the vehicle, Grant said.

The suspect fled on foot.

Anyone with information on the suspect, or who witnessed the shooting is urged to call the Azusa Police Department and speak with Lt. Grant at 626-812-3200.