 PHOTO/Courtesy of Gary M. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor AZUSA - A person was struck and killed by a Gold Line train Wednesday afternoon.
Trains in both directions have been stopped and bus bridges are provided for passengers, according to the Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation Authority. The pedestrian was hit near the Virginia Avenue crossing around 12:47 p.m. July 31. The pedestrian was not near the roadway when struck, according to Ramon Montenegro, public information officer with the Sheriff’s Transit Services Bureau. The pedestrian was pronounced dead at 12:56 p.m. One person on the train experienced difficulty breathing and required help, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department. Detectives with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau have been called to the scene, which is standard operating procedure for unnatural deaths, Montenegro said.  Google Maps. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor AZUSA - A man is recovering after being found with life-threatening stab wounds Sunday night. SWAT officers identified both suspects after discovering the stabbing victim critically wounded at the Howard Garden Apartments, 530 E. Gladstone St. Officers were called around 11:52 p.m. July 28, according to the Azusa Police Department. The man stabbed was treated at the scene and hospitalized. He is listed in stable condition, Azusa Police said. On Monday, Azusa SWAT officers served a search warrant at the home of a suspect, 40-year-old Oscar Vidrio. Officers found and detained Vidrio along with a second suspect, 22-year-old Joseph Loera.
Vidrio and Loera were booked on suspicion of attempted murder and are being held in lieu of $2 million bail. Both suspects are scheduled for an appearance in the West Covina Courthouse July 31. Anyone with information regarding the stabbing is urged to call Azusa Police Detective Corona at 626-812-3200.  Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor AZUSA - Officers discovered stolen property inside a vehicle during a traffic stop Monday. An observant neighbor witnessed four suspicious subjects near a vehicle in the 300 block of Viewcrest Drive around 2:39 p.m. July 29. Police found the vehicle after it was driven away and conducted a traffic stop and discovered stolen property inside the vehicle, according to Jorge Sandoval of the Azusa Police Department. Miscellaneous stolen items were found, along with items taken in a residential burglary in the immediate area. “It was also determined that the individuals had also burglarized additional residences, however those locations and/or victims have yet to be identified,” Sandoval stated in a press release.
Austrell Williams, 19, from Los Angeles, was booked on suspicion of residential burglary and possessing stolen property. Three teens ranging in age from 15 to 17 years old were also arrested on the same crimes.  Google Maps. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor AZUSA - Officers found bullet holes in a nearby apartment building after residents reported gunfire Wednesday evening. The gunfire was reported just after 5:20 p.m. July 24 in the 600 block of Glenfinnan Avenue. Arriving officers located about eight spent shell casings in the street and bullet holes in a nearby apartment, according to Sgt. Jason Poulos of the Azusa Police Department. No one was injured by gunfire.
One bullet struck a window, another struck a wall at an apartment, Poulos said. One of the residents who reported the sound of gunfire heard a possible suspect vehicle speeding away, Poulos said. There is no suspect or vehicle description. Anyone who can identify a suspect is urged to call Azusa Police at 626-812-3200.  Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor AZUSA - A homicide investigation is underway after the man who was shot on Azusa Avenue died Sunday. The victim was transported to a hospital and pronounced there, according to Deputy Tracy Koerner of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Information Bureau. The shooting occurred around 7:45 p.m. at West Gladstone Street and South Azusa Avenue July 14. Homicide investigators have yet to reveal a suspect description.
The victim may have been at, or near, a bus stop when a black sedan drove up. At least one suspect opened fire, striking the victim. Police arrived and found a victim, only described as a Hispanic male, face down in the street. Anyone with information on the suspect is urged to call the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500. Information can be provided anonymously by calling L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).  Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor AZUSA - One person was shot and transported to a hospital in unknown condition, according to a Los Angeles County Fire Department dispatch supervisor. The shooting occurred in the area Azusa Avenue and Gladstone Street around 7:45 p.m. July 14. A county fire squad transported the gunshot victim, according to Dispatch Supervisor Jeremy Stafford. Sheriff’s deputies responded en force to assist Azusa Police with additional personnel to coordinate a response, according to Lt. Mackenzie of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s San Dimas Station.
An Azusa Police supervisor was unavailable to provide details on the shooting.  PHOTO/By Aaron Castrejon. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor UPDATE, 8:30 p.m.: Gold Line trains resumed normal service after the earlier signal issue in Azusa, Metro announced at 5:14 p.m. AZUSA - Deputies are investigating who may have damaged the railroad signal system in Azusa Saturday after attempting to steal valuable copper wire. Around 7:37 a.m. July 13, a Los Angeles Metropolitan Transit employee witnessed a suspicious man tampering with copper wire nearby the Irwindale Gold Line Station, according to Ramon Montenegro, public information officer with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Transit Services Bureau. Deputies could not yet confirm if the suspicious man was the individual who vandalized the signals. Deputies took his contact information before releasing him, Montenegro said. “Somewhere in the area we did find some wires that had been tampered with and appeared that someone was getting ready to steal it,” Montenegro told SGV CityWatch.
Metro has bus bridges replacing Gold Line service between the Duarte and APU/Citrus College Station while the signal system is repaired. Copter wire theft is a common and lucrative crime. In years past, thieves frequently vandalized the Burlington Northern Santa Fe freight line in Glendora. In on case, more than one mile of copper wire was taken and parking lot lights at the Louie Pompei Memorial Sports Complex were also heavily vandalized.  Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor AZUSA - A containment search was set off July 6 and three teens were arrested after a call of a handgun being brandished led to the discovery of a BB gun. The incident unfolded just after 4 p.m. near Pasadena Avenue and Fourth Street. A concerned citizen reported three juveniles in possession of a handgun. Officers arrived and quickly detained one teen, but two others ran away, said Sgt. Nick Covarrubias of the Azusa Police Department. The two boys and a girl were apparently showing the gun to other teens, Covarrubias said. Nearby Police agencies and a helicopter aided in a search for the teens seen fleeing through residential yards. One teen fled into a home they are familiar with, Covarribuas said.
“What was located was a BB gun on one of the subjects," Covarrubias said. One of the teens had an outstanding warrant. Two teens were booked on suspicion of delaying or obstructing an officer. One of the teens was missing person. The teen with a warrant was taken to an area juvenile hall. The others were released to their parents, Covarrubias said. 
Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor
REGION - Sex assaults. Thefts. 27 tons of garbage collected and nearly 70 brush fires in the riverbed. Just some of the issues related to an ever-increasing homeless population in Azusa.
Azusa Police Sergeant Rocky Wenrick spoke with Dr. Drew Pinsky on the Dr. Drew Midday Live radio program July 1 about how the homeless crisis is rapidly unravelling within the city. Wenrick talked at length about the mental health, environmental impacts on Azusa and how crime continues to rise. “[Crime] has a good deal to do with the population, but I wouldn’t say directly because they’re homeless ... there are other mitigating factors that go along with that,” Wenrick said, adding that the rise in the homeless population has led to a rise in crime. Wenrick cited a strong mental health factor and the decriminalization of certain drug crimes that contribute to an ever-increasing problem. (LISTEN BELOW)
While not providing a specific number, Wenrick said sex assaults of females have occurred within the homeless riverbed population.
Preliminary data revealed a 123 percent increase in Azusa’s homeless population in 2019 -- up to 321 individuals from 168 last year. Treatment for issues related to homelessness is difficult to administer, mostly due to a resistance to police, government in general due to a mental illness component. Not often talked about is the environmental impact homeless populations have in the San Gabriel Riverbed, where human waste can be washed away into the ocean. Cleanup can be impacted due to protected flora and fauna in the area, Wenrick said. During a previous large-scale cleanup of the San Gabriel Riverbed, 27 tons of waste was collected, Wenrick said. A cleanup effort is being planned for the San Gabriel Riverbed in the near future, Wenrick said. The sergeant also noted a high concentration of the homeless populate in the riverbed where over time 66 vegetation fires have been started by those living there. “That is the reality of what we are dealing with here ... the majority of what we are seeing is mental health and the majority of these people will not accept any sort of direction,” Dr. Drew said. “When you hear your elected officials talk about housing, you should tell them to stop the hoax. Stop hoaxing us.” |
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