Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor AZUSA - One person is dead after reportedly intentionally crashing a car about 300 feet down into the Azusa canyon Thursday.
Just after 1 p.m., officers were called to check on the welfare of a driver by family members concerned for his mental health September 7. Officers were provided a description of the person and the vehicle being driven, which was located in North on Azusa Avenue in the city’s downtown area. The driver refused to stop and a slow-speed pursuit began, according to Lt. Jake Bushey of the Azusa Police Department. “Approximately a mile up from the entrance of the canyon the vehicle intentionally went over the side and went down a 300-foot embankment,” Bushey said during a press conference. First responders went down to check on the status of the driver and found the driver deceased, Bushey said. The drivers name has not yet been released. Northbound traffic remains partially closed. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor AZUSA - A 17-year-old student was arrested, booked on suspicion of battery Friday after a fight broke out on campus between a group of students.
Further arrests are possible as officers and the Azusa Unified School District continue an investigation, according to the Azusa Police Department. It is not readily known how many students were involved, or what level of injuries were sustained. “Due to student privacy laws, we are unable to provide further information regarding disciplinary action that may have occurred as a result of the fight,” according to the Azusa Unified School District in a written statement. A school resource officer was on campus when the fight occurred. The incident was quickly resolved with a rapid and massive police response, according to the Azusa Police Department. “The Azusa Police Department has zero tolerance for any physical violence on any school campus within our jurisdiction. It is our goal to maintain a safe learning environment for our students at all times. To that end, we will continue to assign a full-time School Resource Officer to the AHS campus and will be providing increased patrols at the school throughout the school year,” according to the Azusa Police Department in a written statement. The district outline security measures undertaken at the school, including increased security staffing, a full-time Azusa Police Student Resource Officer, additional security cameras and contracting with a security company for additional resources. Anyone with additional information on this fight 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 - Police made quick work of an armed robbery suspect who was caught hours after a hold up at an Arco gas station.
Greg Dwayne Wright, 46, is accused of armed robbery the Arco station, 100 N. Azusa Ave., at midnight August 8. He fled in a vehicle in an unknown direction, according to the Azusa Police Department. Patrol officers were able to identify Wright’s getaway vehicle. Later that day, he was located in Monrovia driving the same vehicle. Wright was found armed with a handgun believed to be the same one used in the Arco station robbery, according to the Azusa police department. Authorities later learned that Wright is accused of a similar robbery in Barstow. Wright is being held in lieu of nearly $1.3 million bail. His next appearance in the West Covina courthouse is scheduled for Monday, August 14. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor AZUSA - A driver from Colton was arrested Thursday after crashing a vehicle that narrowly missed a man watering a lawn on Sierra Madre Avenue.
The vehicle being driven at a high rate of speed blew past a stop sign at North Dalton Avenue and Sierra Madre Avenue, struck a curb, two parked vehicles and ultimately came to rest after destroying a backyard fence. First responders were called to the crash at 7:20 p.m. Thursday, August 10. The driver and two passengers of the crashed vehicle fled, but were all found. The driver was arrested and cited in the field for misdemeanor hit and run, according to the Azusa Police Department. Security camera video showed the resident’s fancy footwork dodging the collision and flying debris until the car came to a rest on the front lawn. Jan’s Towing was called to lift the car off the property. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor AZUSA - Two male teens were arrested July 12 and were booked on suspicion of attempted murder and witness intimidation, according to the Azusa Police Department.
The arrests were made as part of an ongoing investigation and effort to curb a persistent spike in deadly gang violence in the city. The department’s gang units and detectives recently gathered information leading them to a home in the 400 block of West Duell Street, according to the Azusa Police Department. With the help of the Azusa police SWAT team, a search warrant was conducted on the Duell Street house around 11:30 p.m. July 12. Evidence was also recovered from the home. Anyone with information on illegal gang activity in the city is urged to call the Azusa Police Department's Detective Bureau or Gang Unit 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 in his 60s was declared dead at the scene at a gas station Monday evening.
First responders were called to the Shell gas station, 106 S. Azusa Ave., just after 7:20 p.m., Monday, July 10. The man, who has not yet been identified, was in a vehicle parked in a stall, according to the Azusa Police Department. Preliminarily, it is believed that the death was natural. There were no apparent signs of foul play. It is not yet readily known how long the man may have been in the vehicle before being discovered. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor AZUSA - A man shot through the abdomen called for help from a gas station Friday night.
First responders were called by the gunshot victim to an Arco gas station, 100 N. Azusa Ave., just after 9:30 p.m., Friday, July 7. The man reportedly was shot through the abdomen, but alert and seemingly unphased. Officers attempted to get more details on the shooting, but the victim was apparently uncooperative, according to the Azusa Police Department. Officers searched the area, but could not find any evidence of a shooting occurring there. It is unclear exactly where the victim was shot, why he was shot, and if he was dropped off near the gas station in a vehicle, or perhaps fled on foot. 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 man was shot and found dead in a neighborhood that has become a hotbed of shootings and murders within the last year.
First responders arrived to the 200 block of East Newburgh Street around 11 p.m. Friday, June 9 and found three victims. The two surviving victims were taken to a hospital, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. It is unclear if investigators have determined a suspect, or motive. 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 - A man and woman are being sought after vandalizing machines at a laundromat recently, taking coins and causing roughly $1,000 in damage. The crimes occurred May 12 and May 16 and were caught on camera. In one video, a woman is seen opening two coin boxes and quickly taking money. In all, $200 was stolen. The locked coin boxes on six machines were damaged, according to one of the owners. The laundromat sits in the Edgewood Shopping Center, 251 E. Gladstone St. “We had to replace the locks because they had broken them. It was costly and unfortunate,” according to one of the owners. “They actually only got into two of the boxes but damaged many while trying to get into the locked boxes. Six machines were damaged.” The husband and wife team who have run the laundromat for 27 years have not had too many problems, except for some graffiti and homeless issues. The Azusa Police Department is investigating. Anyone who can recognize the man and woman are urged to call the Azusa Police Department at 626-812-3200. |
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