Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - Citizens are being asked to remain vigilant and report suspicious activity after multiple fire hydrants were stolen in Azusa recently.

While police failed to specify where, when and how many hydrants were stolen, as many as five hydrants were reported stolen by a resident in the Rosedale planned community in the north end of the city.

The thefts occurred at the end of July on Monrovia Place between Palm Drive and Citrus Avenue, a neighborhood just north of the APU/Citrus College A Line Station. Residents reportedly heard the commotion of the hydrants being removed, only to see a black pickup truck fleeing down Palm Drive.

This reporter walked along that stretch of Monrovia Place August 4. Gaping holes in the ground where hydrants were once anchored only remained, flanked by Azusa Light and Water signs.

Calls for additional details were made to Azusa Police watch commanders, the property crimes detective phone line and detective lieutenant in the last two weeks, but the calls have gone unreturned.

The department issued a statement August 2:

“The Azusa Light & Water Department would like to remind residents that only Azusa Light & Water employees in uniform work on fire hydrants throughout the city. If you see any suspicious activity near a fire hydrant, please call the Azusa Police Department at (626) 812-3200.”

The statement went on to add that each fire hydrant costs approximately $4000 to replace.

Anyone with information on fire hydrant thefts in the city 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 - Homicide detectives are on scene of a fatal shooting Friday.

First responders were sent to the 200 block of North San Gabriel Avenue around 5:30 a.m. August 9. The victim was taken to a hospital where they later died, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

It is unclear if investigators identified a suspect or motive.

San Gabriel Avenue between West Third Street and West Second Street remains closed.

Anyone with information on this shooting 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 - Two burglary suspects were taken into custody July 16, allegedly found with iPads and random construction equipment taken from Duarte High School.

Both suspects were tracked through the stolen iPads to a vacant business in Azusa, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Temple Station.

Entry was forced into a storage container at Duarte High School, 1565 Central Ave., between 4 p.m. July 15 and 6 a.m. July 16, according to the Sheriff’s Temple Station.

The Azusa Police Department was notified at 6:44 a.m. July 16 that the signal from the stolen iPads was tracked to a vacant business in the city.

“The suspects refused to allow Officers entry into the business and a search warrant was served. Azusa PD Officers recovered the stolen property,” according to the Azusa Police Department in a written statement.

Talia Martinez and William Avetyan of North Hollywood were both arrested.

Los Angeles county booking information is not available for either suspect.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - Two juveniles and an adult were arrested, accused of being involved in the shooting death of a 62-year-old man January 31.

Jiovanni Ruiz, a 21-year-old Covina man, and one of the juveniles were officially charged by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office with one count each of murder.

Ruiz was arrested May 9. It is not publicly clear when the other juveniles, a resident of Covina and the other, a resident of Azusa, were arrested.

First responders were sent to a mobile gas station, 145 N. Azusa Ave., on a report of a shooting victim around 9 PM January 31.

The 62-year-old victim was found down and unconscious. He was treated by paramedics at the scene and transported to a hospital, where he later died, according to the Azusa Police Department.

It is not publicly clear if detectives have determined a motive for the shooting.

Anyone with information on this shooting is urged to call the Azusa Police Department 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 19-year-old Tijuana man accused of attempting to kill a rival gang member during a shooting in a Stater Bros. shopping center was caught July 3.

José de Jesus Martinez was detained at the same Ysidro border crossing and was held until Azusa Police detectives arrived to place him under arrest. He was booked on suspicion of attempted murder and discharging a firearm at an occupied vehicle. He is being held in lieu of $2 million bail, according to the Azusa Police Department.

The Shooting Took place April 1 in the Stater Bros. shopping center in the 1100 block of East Alosta Avenue. Officers responded around 5:39 p.m. Detectives were able to determine the suspect’s identity the night of the shooting and then learned he allegedly fled to Tijuana, Mexico. Detectives sought a warrant for Martinez’s arrest and federal border authorities were notified of the armed and dangerous fugitive’s identity, according to the Azusa Police Department.

It is not publicly clear if detectives identified any other gang member involved in the shooting and what their status is in the investigation.

Martinez is scheduled for an appearance in West Covina Superior Court Monday, July 8.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - Investigators are asking for public assistance in providing information regarding a fire that gutted the cafeteria of a shuttered elementary school Friday.

Investigators ultimately deemed the fire at Mountain View Elementary school, 201 N. Vernon Ave., as arson. Beyond that, the Azusa Police Department has not provided any details regarding a possible suspect description, if one exists.

District employees were on campus at the time, but it is unclear if any of those employees witnessed the start of the fire.

The cafeteria was being used to store furniture, according to radio traffic from the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

Firefighters were dispatched to the school at 7:16 p.m. Friday, June 7. They discovered heavy smoke and flames coming from the cafeteria and initiated an aggressive fire attack to limit the damage. Knockdown was called at 8:06 p.m., according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

Mountain View was one of two campuses closed for the 2019-20 school year as a cost-saving measure to grapple with declining enrollment district wide.

Anyone with information on this fire 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 - Is that a rifle in your pocket or are you just happy to see me? A parole was caught with his pants down, so to speak, and arrested on suspicion of weapons possession Tuesday.

Police were called to the 200 block of South Murray Avenue around 6:50 p.m. June 3 to investigate a report of a man concealing a rifle in his pants, according to the Azusa Police Department.

Officers spoke to three people at nearby Gladstone Park, 340 S. Pasadena Ave. Two of those people were determined to be on parole.

“During the investigation, Officers located the rifle in the restroom at Gladstone Park and the magazine for the rifle was in one of the subject’s possession,” according to the Azusa Police Department in a written statement.

Joseph Lucero, a 24-year-old El Monte man, was booked on suspicion of being a felon in possession of a firearm among other firearm related violations.

Arturo Esquivel, a 29-year-old West Covina man, was arrested for violation of his parole.

Anyone with additional information is urged to call the Azusa Police Department at 626-812-3200. Remain anonymous by calling LA Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-888-222-TIPS (8477), through the P3Tips mobile app, or lacrimestoppers.org.

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​The arrest record in this article is being redistributed by SGV CityWatch and is protected by constitutional, publishing and other legal rights. Arrest information is public record and was distributed by government sources. The person named in this article has only been arrested on suspicion of the crime(s) listed and is presumed innocent.

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 - The 81-year-old suspect accused of causing felony vandalism in an Azusa neighborhood for roughly a decade has died, authorities said.

Prince Raymond King died Wednesday, May 29. The Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner has yet to either defer, or list a cause of death.

Officers were sent to a home in the 500 block of North Soldano Avenue around 7:30 a.m. for a death investigation. First responders found King unresponsive, according to Sgt. Johnson of the Azusa Police Department.

“There were no signs of any trauma or foul play,” Johnson told SGV CityWatch.

King made a May 28 appearance in court where he was charged with five felony counts of vandalism and two misdemeanor counts of vandalism. He pleaded not guilty, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.

Investigators with the Azusa Police Department Directed Enforcement Unit conducted a lengthy investigation and learned that for nearly 10 years dozens of citizens were being victimized by a serial slingshotter who broke windows, windshields and almost struck people with ball bearings, according to the Azusa Police Department.

During a search warrant served May 23 in the 900 block of North Enid Avenue, detectives located and arrested Prince Raymond King. Ball bearings and a slingshot were seized from his home.

King was held without bail at the Twin Towers Correctional Facility in Los Angeles ahead of a scheduled appearance in West Covina Superior Court May 28. He was released on his own recognizance. He was scheduled for an early disposition hearing June 17.

King was charged with crimes committed October 10, 2021, according to Los Angeles Superior Court records.

If convicted as charged, King faced a possible sentence of nearly eight years in prison.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - An 81-year-old man is accused of causing felony vandalism in a neighborhood during the course of roughly 10 years, the Azusa Police Department said.

Investigators with the Azusa Police Department Directed Enforcement Unit conducted a lengthy investigation and learned that during that decade, dozens of citizens were being victimized by a serial slingshotter who broke windows, broke windshields and almost struck people with ball bearings, according to the Azusa Police Department.

During a search warrant in the 900 block of North Enid Avenue, detectives located and arrested Prince Raymond King. Ball bearings and a slingshot were seized from his home.

King is being held without bail at the Twin Towers Correctional Facility in Los Angeles ahead of a scheduled appearance in West Covina Superior Court May 28.

********** The arrest record in this article is being redistributed by SGV CityWatch and is protected by constitutional, publishing and other legal rights. Arrest information is public record and was distributed by government sources. The person named in this article has only been arrested on suspicion of the crime(s) listed and is presumed innocent.