Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - A man in a gold pickup truck shot and wounded another driver on the 210 freeway March 9.

The shooting occurred in westbound lanes of the 210 east of Citrus Avenue just after 5 a.m. The victim was driving his 1998 Ford F-150 in the No. 2 lane and saw behind him a gold pickup, possibly a Chevrolet Colorado, in the No. 4 lane with the headlights off.

As the suspect came alongside the victim, the latter rolled down his front passenger window to inform the suspect his headlights were off, according to the California Highway Patrol.

Both vehicles approached Citrus Avenue. The suspect exited and slowed down on the on ramp.

While on the on-ramp, the suspect slowed down. The victim heard a loud noise. When the victim arrived home, he saw damage from two paintball rounds on his vehicle. When he noticed paint on his right forearm, he removed his jacket and saw a large bleeding welt, according to the CHP.

The victim had no details about the suspect driver.

Anyone with information on this shooting is urged to contact CHP Officer L. Del Rosario at 626-517-8500.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - Investigators announced the arrest of a man accused of stabbing to death a 17-year-old girl in Azusa.

The 18-year-old suspect is an Azusa resident and acquaintance of the teen, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

The suspect’s name is not readily available.

Azusa Police officers responded to an assault with a deadly weapon call around 10 p.m. in the 300 block of North Soldano Avenue December 20. The 17-year-old victim was transported to a hospital for treatment where she died.

The circumstances leading to the suspect’s arrest have not been disclosed.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - A woman discovered suffering from stab wounds died after she was taken to a hospital Friday night.

The wounded woman was found in the 300 block of North Soldano Avenue around 10 p.m. December 20. First responders were sent to the location on a reported assault with a deadly weapon, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

It is unclear if homicide detectives have identified a suspect, or a motive for the stabbing.

Anyone with information on this stabbing is urged to call the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500. Remain anonymous 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 woman is facing multiple charges, accused of several burglaries and assaulting a Target employee October 24.

Christin Hill, 38, was booked on suspicion of burglary, attempted burglary and robbery.

Officers were called to a burglary in progress in the 100 block of East Ninth Street around 6:40 p.m. and discovered a door was kicked in at the residence. They then saw a suspect running from the location, according to the Azusa Police Department.

A drone was deployed to track the running suspect who was then found on the second-story balcony at a residence in the 800 block of North Dalton Avenue during a second break-in, according to the Azusa Police Department.

A ladder truck from the Los Angeles County Fire Department helped officers bring the suspect down.

During the burglary response, staff at a nearby Target store, 809 N. Azusa Ave., called to report a female suspect who stole merchandise and injured an employee by striking the employee with a chain, according to the Azusa Police Department.

The employee received minor injuries.

Hill, a Los Angeles woman, is being held in lieu of $100,000 bail at the Century Regional Detention Facility ahead of a scheduled appearance in West Covina Superior Court October 29.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - Four students were arrested Friday, September 6, after a series of fights broke out on the Azusa high school campus.

Law enforcement was called to the high school, 240 N. Cerritos Ave., just before noon. Officers arrived and observed numerous fights occurring simultaneously.

“Officers, with the assistance of campus security and school officials were able to calm the situation and send students back to class,” according to the Azusa Police Department in a written statement.

Charges include resisting/delaying a peace officer, bringing weapons onto school grounds(Brass Knuckles) and battery.

Because the students are minors, their names will not be released.

Anyone with information on this incident is urged to call the Azusa Police Department Detective Bureau at 626-812-3200. Remain anonymous 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 man is facing kidnapping and other charges related to the assault of a female Azusa Pacific University September 6.

The suspect, 32 year old Chima Njoku, who also goes by Jake Christopher, found his victim while she was sitting in her vehicle in the Citrus College parking lot, 1000 W. Foothill Blvd., around 6 p.m. He reportedly asked her about the weather and while she was distracted by her phone, entered through an unlocked passenger door, according to the Azusa Police Department.

The victim ordered the suspect out, but he allegedly refused and told her to drive to nearby Azusa Pacific University. Out of fear for her life, she complied.

The victim was told to stop on Shire Lane at the university, where she once again told the suspect to exit. He allegedly then attacked her and attempted to sexually assault her, according to the Azusa Police Department.

The suspect fled before officers arrived.

The victim then directed officers to Alosta Avenue and Calera Avenue, where the suspect was found hiding under a vehicle. The suspect fled, but was caught after a brief foot chase, according to the Azusa Police Department.

The suspect allegedly attempted to assault officers before his arrest.

Njoku, a View Park resident, was booked on suspicion of kidnapping, false imprisonment, attempted rape by force or violence knowingly resisting an officer by use of force or violence.

Njoku is being held in lieu of $1 million bail ahead of a scheduled appearance in West Covina Superior Court September 10.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - Four people were arrested May 31 after a vehicle check by Azusa Police officers devolved into a physical fight, police said.

Officers were performing a vehicle check in the 500 block of East Sixth Street around 2:23 a.m. Friday. The vehicle had two occupants. During the vehicle, check, the occupants allegedly became verbally aggressive and began fighting with officers, according to the Azusa Police Department.

“As additional Azusa PD Officers arrived on scene, the fighting continued and about 15-20 people exited a residence,” according to the Azusa Police Department in a written statement.

A video has surfaced on social media showing a portion of the brawl. As more occupants from the residence emerged to voice their protest against the arrests, police confronted the group and the fight escalated. Officers could be seen using batons against at least one of the occupants from the residence. Another occupant was cuffed and dragged to the sidewalk.

The Azusa Police Department has yet to provide the names of those arrested, as well as the alleged crimes they were booked on.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - A suspect was arrested June 15 and is facing hate crime and assault with a deadly weapon charges stemming from a seemingly-unprovoked beating during a league basketball game.

Sebastian Espinosa, 27, is accused of assaulting an Asian male playing in a league game at Memorial Park, 340 N. Orange Ave, on December 23, 2022. After being knocked to the ground, the Asian male was continually punched in the head and face and put up no self defense, according to the Azusa Police Department.

“As the suspect was being pulled away from the victim he delivered on final attack by kicking the victim’s head and face before yelling a racially derogatory slur at the victim,” according to the Azusa Police Department in a written statement.

The beating was captured on the park’s court side video system.

Despite being given false identifying information by witnesses, detectives identified Espinosa as a suspect.

Espinosa is being held in lieu of $30,000 bail in the Azusa jail ahead of a scheduled appearance in the West Covina Courthouse Tuesday, June 20.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - A 67-year-old man was booked on suspicion of murder and assault with a deadly weapon after allegedly striking one victim with a baseball bat and fatally stabbing another Sunday morning.

The attacks occurred at a residence in the 200 block of South San Gabriel Avenue. First responders were called to the scene at 8:45 a.m., according to the Azusa Police Department.

“One victim did not sustain any life threatening injuries. However, the stabbing victim was transported to a nearby trauma center where he later succumbed to his injuries,” according to the Azusa Police Department in a written statement.

Jeffrey Nestler was taken into custody. He is being held without bail ahead of scheduled appearance in the West Covina courthouse Tuesday, April 25.

Anyone with information on this incident is urged to call Azusa Police Detective A. Avalos at 626-812-3223. Remain anonymous by calling LA Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS, through the P3Tips mobile app, or lacrimestoppers.org.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - A parolee accused of attacking his father and keeping police at bay for roughly five hours is facing additional charges stemming from the standoff inside his parents home April 4.

Oscar Galaviz, 32, was finally taken into custody after being smoked out by SWAT team members and was booked on suspicion of elder abuse, residential burglary, violating his court order and resisting arrest.

Galaviz is accused of attacking his father with a walking cane, causing the father some minor injuries. His parents have an active restraining order against him and he should not have been at the house, according to the Azusa Police Department.

First responders were called to the house in the 800 block of West Sixth Street at 11:23 a.m. Tuesday. Galaviz barricaded himself inside a bedroom and armed himself with a baseball bat, according to the Azusa Police Department.

“Officers attempted contact with Galaviz, however he refused to comply and armed himself with a baseball bat asking Officers to shoot him. Galaviz also attempted to burrow through the drywall of the adjoining neighbors residence as he remained hold up,” according to the Azusa Police Department in a written statement.

The Azusa Police Department employed the assistance of the Irwindale Police SWAT team, a West Covina Police Department K9 and a mental health evaluation team in an effort to get Galaviz to surrender.

Telephone calls and announcements over loud speakers were made to try and get Galaviz to surrender.

Azusa police detectives eventually wrote a search warrant to enter the home and take Galaviz into custody.

Current booking information from Los Angeles County was not readily available.