Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - A 29-year-old transient was caught by Azusa and Covina Police September 25, accused of setting several fires on the Azusa/Covina border.
 
Manuel Cruz Garcia was booked on suspicion of felony arson and on an outstanding warrant. Garcia allegedly set fire to several dumpsters at businesses in the area of Arrow Highway and Azusa Avenue, according to Sgt. Tommy Avila of the Azusa Police Department.
 
Police were alerted by eyewitnesses to a dumpster fire burning behind Just Tires, 877 S. Azusa Ave., at 10:30 p.m. Garcia was then seen setting another fire in a dumpster at Covina’s El Pollo Loco, 1405 N. Azusa Ave., and Wal Mart, 1275 N. Azusa Ave.
 
The fires were only contained to the dumpsters, causing only minimal damage, Avila said.
 
As Azusa and Covina officers spotted him starting the fire near Wal Mart, the suspect fled on foot and a brief foot chase began, but Garcia was detained.
 
A transient who witnessed Garcia set the fire at Just Tires was able to positively identify Garcia as the suspect, according to Azusa Police radio traffic.
 
Garcia is being held in lieu of $310,000 bail. He is being housed in the Inmate Reception Center in Los Angeles and is scheduled to appear in West Covina Superior Court Thursday, September 27.

Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - Reports of gunfire led to the discovery of a shooting victim in the 200 block of North Azusa Avenue Monday morning.

The shooting was reported around 12:10 a.m. The victim, an Azusa resident in his 30s, was found and rendered aid by Los Angeles County Firefighters, according to the Azusa Police Department in a written statement.

The victim was taken to a trauma center and is listed in critical, but stable condition. Anyone with information on a suspect or who witnessed the shooting is urged to speak with Azusa Police Detective Mario Corona at 626-812-3200. Reference case 18-34454.

Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - Two women were injured in what police describe as a domestic violence incident when they were stabbed Wednesday night.

Police found two women suffering from stab wounds after responding to a residence in the 500 block of East Arrow Highway September 19 around 8:25 p.m. Police determined a domestic violence incident occurred and searched for an outstanding suspect, according to Azusa Police in a written statement.

Firefighters first received a call at 8:22 p.m. and arrived five minutes later. Firefighters were told of a woman bleeding from the face and an additional patient. Firefighters learned the attacker fled, according to Inspector Joey Marron of the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

The women were transported to Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center, Marron said.

The injuries are non-life-threatening.

The suspect, 27-year-old Frank Perez, was located at a Covina Park and arrested.

Perez was booked on suspicion of domestic violence, assault with a deadly weapon and attempted murder.

He is scheduled to appear in Citrus Municipal Court Monday, September 24.

Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - A man was arrested Monday night after he attempted to force a woman into a secluded area to sexually assault her.

Juan Cucul-Caal, 20, from Azusa, was arrested and booked on suspicion of kidnapping and attempted sexual assault after being located by officers responding to the area of Gladstone Park Monday, September 17.

Cucul-Caal was found September 19 and arrested, according to Los Angeles County booking records.

Cucul-Caal approached his victim from behind, forced her into a secluded and knocked her down in attempt to assault her, according to the Azusa Police Department.

“She was able to fend off the suspect with the help of two citizens who were in the area. The suspect was located by Azusa Police Detectives and subsequently arrested,” Azusa Police said in a written statement.

Cucul-Caal is scheduled to appear in Citrus Municipal Court September 21.

Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - An attempted carjacking suspect was subdued with a stun gun after barricading himself in a garage September 13.
 
The suspect used a knife to carjack a driver in the 100 block of East Fifth Street sometime before 8 a.m. The suspect failed and fled to a neighborhood in the 400 block of North Alameda Avenue, according to the Azusa Police Department.
 
Fernando Jaimes, 21, fled into a garage and barricaded himself inside. The homeowner called police and notified them of the hiding suspect, according to Sgt. Fernan Vasconcelos of the Azusa Police Department.
 
Jaimes was eventually shocked with a stun gun and taken into custody. The knife was recovered, Vasconcelos said.
 
Jaimes was reportedly non-complaint and refused to drop the knife as he exited the garage after nearly three hours of hiding from police.
 
Jaimes was later hospitalized and booked on suspicion of attempted carjacking.
 
Police departments from Glendora, Irwindale, West Covina and Baldwin Park assisted Azusa in setting up a perimeter.
 
Jaimes is scheduled to appear in the West Covina Courthouse September 17. He is being held without bail, according to Los Angeles County booking records.

Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - Police have a perimeter setup as they try to bring a peaceful end to a barricade situation Thursday.
 
The armed suspect is holed up in a garage in the 400 block of North Alameda Avenue. Police responded to the area after the victim of a failed carjacking flagged down patrolling officers, according to the Azusa Police Department.
 
Officer searched and somehow located the suspect who barricaded himself in the garage.

​Police responded at 7:15 a.m.
 
It is unclear how officers found the suspect and it is unclear if the suspect lives on the property where he is holed up.

Baldwin Park Police and Glendora Police are on scene providing mutual aid assistance.

Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - Los Angeles County Firefighters and Azusa Police rescued a man who climbed down from the Arrow Highway overpass into the flood control channel near Azusa Avenue about 40 minutes ago.

The man was detained by Azusa officers around 11:30 p.m. after being rescued by firefighters.

Firefighters initially responded to a call at 11:06 p.m. of a man who jumped from Arrow Highway into the wash, according to Dispatch Supervisor Ed Pickett of the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

The man simply climbed down and required assistance getting out, according to Sgt. John Madaloni of the Azusa Police Department.

The man received minor injuries, Pickett said.

Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - A man was shot and injured outside an Azusa motel late Thursday night.

The man was shot outside the Super 8 by Wyndham, 117 N. Azusa Ave., around 11:26 p.m. September 6 The victim was taken by ground to an area hospital, according to Dispatch Supervisor Ed Pickett of the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

The man was shot once in the lower body, according to Lt. Robert Landeros of the Azusa Police Department.

A motive, as well as a suspect and vehicle description, was not known.

This shooting comes on the heels of another that left a man shot multiple times in the 600 block of North Cerritos Avenue September 1. The man shot on Cerritos is expected to survive his wounds.

Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - A man in his 20s was shot and rushed to an area hospital Saturday night.

A man in his 20s was shot in the 600 block of North Cerritos Avenue. Police have a containment established as they investigate the crime scene, according to Sgt. Seth Chapman of the Azusa Police Department.

“The fire department scooped him up and we got him off to the hospital,” Chapman said.

Azusa detectives have yet to arrive on scene, Chapman said.

Residents are being escorted in and out of the area.

How the victim was shot is not immediately known and a suspect description is not available.

Firefighters were called by the Azusa Police Department at 8:36 p.m. to treat the victim. He was taken to an area hospital, according to Dispatch Supervisor Miguel Ornelas of the Los Angeles County Fire Department.