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.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - Using a minor use of force, SWAT officers took a barricaded man into custody just after 5:30 p.m. after a roughly five-hour standoff.

The suspect is accused of assaulting his father in the 800 block of West Sixth Street near Virginia Avenue. First responders were called to the scene around 11:23 a.m., according to Lt. Jake Bushey of the Azusa Police Department.

“We had probable cause to believe he attacked the father with some kind of object. The suspect then barricaded himself in a rear house,” Bushey told SGV CityWatch.

The father ended up receiving only minor injuries.

Members of the Azusa police swat team use a flash bang grenade and, through a loudspeaker, periodically ordered the suspect to surrender.

Tear gas was deployed inside the home. The suspect exited and was detained by officers, Bushey told SGV CityWatch.

He was treated by firefighters and taken away by an ambulance. No officers were injured, and apparently the suspect was uninjured as well during the use of force, Bushey told SGV CityWatch.

The suspect is expected to be booked on suspicion of elder abuse, Bushey told SGV CityWatch.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - A 61-year-old man accused of sexually assaulting a girl in Azusa August 1 was found and arrested in Simi Valley the day of the alleged crime.

Carl Eugene Kracher faces one count each of lewd and lascivious acts with a 14-year-old child and oral copulation with a minor. Kracher appeared in court August 3 and has pleaded not guilty, according Los Angeles County Superior Court records.

The girl called police to her location in the 100 block of North Azusa Avenue August 1 to report a crime.

Investigators somehow identified Kracher and located and arrested him in Simi Valley.

“The investigation led Azusa Police Department’s detectives to believe there may be other victims that Kracher assaulted,” according to the Azusa Police Department in a written statement.

The Azusa Police Department is asking members of the community and surrounding police agencies in locating and identifying additional victims. Anyone with information is urged to call Azusa Police Detective Avalos at 626-812-3223, or Detective Johnson at 626-812-3252. Remain anonymous by calling 626-812-3272.

Kracher is being held in lieu of $75,000 bail at the Pitchess Detention Center in Castaic ahead of a scheduled appearance in Pomona Superior Court September 16.

AZUSA – A man is expected in court Wednesday after he was arrested on suspicion of battering elderly family members, according to the Azusa Police Department.

John Guce Amoranto, 43, is suspected of bettering his elderly family members in the 200 block of South Virginia Avenue July 18. Officers responded to the scene at 2:48 p.m. He barricaded himself inside the home and reportedly refused to comply with commands to surrender, according to the Azusa Police Department.

“After a short time, Officers were able to take suspect John Amoranto into custody,” according to the Azusa Police Department in a written statement.

Amoranto was booked on suspicion of elder abuse and obstructing officers.

Amoranto is being held in lieu of $115,000 bail at the Inmate Reception Center in Los Angeles ahead of his scheduled court appearance in the West Covina courthouse.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - A man in his 20s was hospitalized with injuries considered not life-threatening after being shot in a homeless encampment Monday night.

The shooting occurred along the 210 freeway on ramp from northbound Azusa Avenue to the east 210 freeway May 30. The California Highway Patrol was called by the victim who escaped after being shot. CHP officers were dispatched around 11:35 p.m., according to the CHP.

“The victim was approached by two Hispanic adults wearing face masks and a verbal confrontation ensued. The confrontation escalated and one of the two Hispanic male adults wearing the face masks produced a handgun and fired several rounds at the victim,” according to the California Highway Patrol in a written statement.

Both suspects remain at-large. Anyone with information on this shooting is urged to call California Highway Patrol Investigator A. Campos of the CHP Baldwin Park Office at 626-338-1164.