BALDWIN PARK – The California Highway Patrol has scheduled a DUI/Driver License checkpoint for the unincorporated area near Azusa to begin at 8 p.m. Friday, August 27.

The checkpoint, staffed by CHP officers trained in the detection of impaired driving, will take place at an undisclosed location.

“The sobriety checkpoint is part of the CHP’s effort to curb drinking and driving. Traffic volume permitting, all vehicles will be checked. If volume becomes too heavy, vehicles to be checked will be selected by a pre-set standard (such as every 3rd or 5th vehicle) to assure objectivity,” according to CHP Baldwin Park Captain Susan Estrem.

Funding for this checkpoint was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

LOS ANGELES – The name of the man slain in an Azusa shooting August 21 was identified recently.

Ryan Serna, 28, was identified by the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner. His place of death was a sidewalk.

The shooting occurred around 8:30 p.m. in the 300 block of North San Gabriel Avenue near West 3rd Street. Azusa Police officers responded to a report of gunfire and found Serna wounded from multiple gunshot wounds to the upper torso, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Information Bureau.

Serna died at the scene.

It is not publicly clear if Sheriff’s Homicide investigators have identified a suspect, or if a suspect is in custody.

A coroner exam for Serna has yet to be scheduled.

AZUSA – One arrest was made during a DUI/driver license checkpoint in Azusa August 21.

Out of all the drivers to be screened, one was arrested, but for a no-bail warrant for first-degree murder charges, according to the Azusa Police Department.

During the checkpoint, 797 vehicles were screened. Officers impounded two vehicles, issued three citations, conducted three field sobriety tests and arrested one driver, according to the Azusa Police Department.

The checkpoint took place in the 1400 block of North San Gabriel Avenue.

​Officer Jesse Landa Of the Azusa Police Department did not have any arrest details for the suspect taken for the first-degree murder, no-bail warrant.

It was a federal warrant issued for the suspect and no details were provided to the Azusa Police Department due to the significance of the investigation, Landa told SGV CityWatch.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - One person is dead, the reported victim of a shooting Saturday night, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said.

The incident occurred near North San Gabriel Boulevard and West Third Street. The victim died at the scene, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Information Bureau.

Firefighters were called to the scene around 8:30 p.m. to the 200 block of North San Gabriel Avenue by the Azusa Police Department. Firefighters were cleared in after the scene was secured at 8:35 p.m., according to Dispatch Supervisor Michael Pittman of the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

Preliminarily, there is no suspect information at this time.

Anyone with information on the shooting is urged 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 reported murder suspect and one other person were arrested at the end of a pursuit early Tuesday.

The driver led deputies with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Diamond Bar/Walnut Station and Fountain Valley Police on a high-speed chase beginning in the area of the 60 freeway eastbound just before the 57 interchange. Fountain Valley Police requested the assistance of deputies in the pursuit around 5:50 a.m., according to Sgt. Sarabia of the Sheriff’s Walnut Station.

The pursuit eventually found its way to the 71 freeway where the suspect lead authorities northbound to the 57 freeway close to 100 miles per hour, according to Sheriff’s radio traffic.

The pursuit entered Glendora from the west 210 freeway, north on Glendora Avenue and through residential neighborhoods where, at one point, the driver tried to evade authorities by driving through Finkbiner Park, 160 N. Wabash Ave.

The driver fled westbound along route 66 from Glendora and into Azusa on Alosta Avenue and Foothill Boulevard where the driver then voluntarily stopped in front of a CVS, 101 W. Foothill Blvd.

The female driver and male passenger were arrested without incident by Walnut deputies assisted by the sheriffs Special Enforcement Bureau and K9 unit.

Booking information for both suspects was not readily available at the time the story was posted. Both suspects are still in the process of being booked, Sarabia told SGV CityWatch.

A supervisor with the Fountain Valley Police Department has yet to return a phone call seeking additional details regarding the crimes the primary suspect was wanted for.