AZUSA – The Los Angeles Times revealed Tuesday that the chief of staff to controversial Los Angeles County District Attorney Gorge Gascón was arrested on suspicion of public intoxication more than one week ago.
 
Joseph Iniguez was arrested at 11:46 p.m. December 11 and booked on suspicion of public intoxication. He was booked at 2:06 a.m. and released at 3:49 a.m. December 12 under penal code section 849(B)(2), according to Los Angeles County booking records.
 
The above-mentioned penal code section states that a person was arrested for intoxication only and that no further proceedings are desirable.
 
The arrest took place in the 900 block of East Alosta Avenue, according to the Azusa Police Department. Officers stopped the vehicle due to a reported vehicle code violation.
 
In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, Iniguez, 36, said he and his fiancé had left a wedding and were stopped by police at a fast food drive-thru. Iniguez, a passenger, said he exited the vehicle and began recording the police interaction out of concern for his fiancé.
 
“I wanted to record to preserve whatever was going to happen between that officer and my fiancé, because he was not DUI,” Iniguez said in the LA Times interview.

Iniguez alleges officers arrested him as retaliation for filming the traffic stop, but has not provided evidence to support the claim.
 
Azusa Police officers do not wear body-worn cameras, but in answering a statement on the Azusa Police Facebook page, the department stated the Azusa city council has approved funding for a body-worn camera project and the department is working to implement the project as quickly as possible.
 
“The incident has been referred to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office for review.
A personnel complaint has been filed regarding this incident. The Azusa Police Department takes all personnel complaints very seriously. An investigation has been initiated and the Azusa Police Department is fully cooperating with the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office,” according to the Azusa Police Department in a written statement.

The president of the Azusa Police Officers’ Association, C.J. Wilkins, pulled no punches in airing out his displeasure with Iniguez and  Azusa Police administration, specifically Police Chief Mike Bertelsen.

“Mr. Iniguez is attempting to abuse his power as a senior member of the LA County District Attorney’s Office, and using it to get him out of trouble. Fortunately for Mr. Iniguez, Azusa PD is currently being led by a Police Chief whom is cowering to Iniguez’ political pressure,” Wilkins said in a written statement. “The Chief will seek to please Mr. Iniguez and investigate a “by the book” arrest, instead of supporting his officer, who is a seasoned field supervisor…”

Bertelsen shot back almost immediately to defend the decision to investigate.

“The union does not speak for the City of Azusa or the Azusa Police Department,” Bertelsen said in a written statement. “The men and women of our police department do an outstanding job every day serving our community with honor and they have my full support. We are committed to accountability and transparency and we are fully cooperating with the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office and Attorney General’s office in this matter.”

The police department is legally obligated to investigate civilian complaints, regardless of who made the complaint, Bertelsen said in a written statement.

“Unfortunately, police unions sometimes engage in bullying tactics and “no confidence votes” when their departments initiate more accountability. Sadly this is the latest example. The union’s leaders have resisted implementation of body-worn cameras and internal affairs investigations into alleged on-duty and off-duty misconduct,” Bertelsen said in a written statement.

AZUSA - One driver involved in a major collision between two vehicles died at the scene early Sunday.

The crash occurred around 2:36 a.m. in the intersection of Arrow Highway and Cerritos Avenue December 19. The driver and passengers of the second vehicle were taken to various hospitals, according to the Azusa Police Department.

The cause of the crash is not publicly clear.

Firefighters summoned four ambulances to the scene, according to Cpt. Norman Queen of the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

Arrow Highway at Cerritos Avenue remains closed during the investigation.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

AZUSA – Detectives are investigating a shooting that may have resulted from a botched residential burglary, an Azusa Police sergeant said.

There was likely only one suspect who burglarized a home in the 200 block of North Barbara Avenue December 8. The suspect was shot in the neck by the homeowner and was hospitalized, according to Sgt. Seth Chapman of the Azusa Police Department.

Police responded at 4:46 p.m. to a call of gunfire and discovered evidence that a burglary suspect was struck, Chapman told SGV CityWatch.

No one inside the home was physically harmed, Chapman told SGV CityWatch.

Firefighters were called to treat a gunshot victim at 4:50 p.m. They waited for officers to secure the area before being allowed in to take the suspect to Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center, according to Cpt. Wafer of the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - Authorities swept and secured a Target shopping center Friday morning.

A non-specific bomb threat was phoned in by a male suspect to Target, 809 N. Azusa Ave., 8:28 a.m. December 3, according to Sgt. Seth Chapman of the Azusa Police Department.

Officers closed off traffic in the 800 block of North Azusa Avenue, 800 block of North San Gabriel Avenue and the 100 block of West Ninth Street, Chapman told SGV CityWatch.

A detection K9 from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department arrived to search the area, but nothing was found, Chapman told SGV CityWatch.

Roadways were opened by 10:09 a.m. Chapman told SGV CityWatch.