Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - Investigators are trying to determine the cause of death of a man found near a footbridge and the 210 freeway Tuesday.

First responders were sent to the footbridge in the 5900 block of Rockvale Avenue around 4:22 p.m. Tuesday, August 27. The body appears to be away from the actual footbridge walkway and amongst the trees and bushes.

A Los Angeles County fire department paramedic declared the man dead at 4:34 p.m. The man is only described as being white, and between 50 to 60 years old, according to the California Highway Patrol.

The man was found laying on what was described as a makeshift mattress. Preliminarily, there does not appear to be any foul play, according to the CHP.

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.

MOUNTAINS – A motorcyclist died Tuesday after a crash in the mountains far above Azusa, the CHP said.
 
The rider crashed on Highway 39 March 8 and was airlifted to a hospital where he was pronounced dead, according to Officer Kendricks of the California Highway Patrol.

The crash occurred around 4:30 p.m. The rider was southbound on Highway 39 at mile marker 25.16 when the 2014 Yamaha WR250 left the roadway at a curve at an unknown speed. The rider was ejected when the motorcycle overturned, according to the CHP in a written statement.
 
The U.S. Forest Service, Los Angeles County firefighters and a helicopter responded to Highway 39 near Morris Dam March 8 around 4:52 p.m.
 
The rider has yet to be identified.

BALDWIN PARK – The California Highway Patrol has scheduled a DUI/Driver License checkpoint for the unincorporated area near Azusa to begin at 8 p.m. Friday, August 27.

The checkpoint, staffed by CHP officers trained in the detection of impaired driving, will take place at an undisclosed location.

“The sobriety checkpoint is part of the CHP’s effort to curb drinking and driving. Traffic volume permitting, all vehicles will be checked. If volume becomes too heavy, vehicles to be checked will be selected by a pre-set standard (such as every 3rd or 5th vehicle) to assure objectivity,” according to CHP Baldwin Park Captain Susan Estrem.

Funding for this checkpoint was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

AZUSA – Police are searching for the shooter who fired at a driver who escaped uninjured to San Dimas Tuesday.

The driver was shot at in the area of Vernon Avenue and the 210 freeway at 11:15 p.m. The driver fled onto the freeway, according to Sgt. Seth Chapman of the Azusa Police Department.

The shooting is believed to be random. The driver doesn’t know who fired upon his vehicle, which suffered minimal damage, Chapman told SGV CityWatch.

The victim stopped on San Dimas Avenue north of the 210 freeway April 20. The California Highway Patrol responded to take a report, summoned a supervisor and a camera for documentation. The Azusa Police Department was notified after the CHP learned the shooting occurred in Azusa, according to CHP radio traffic.

The driver provided details of the possible shooter, but Chapman declined to provide details to protect the ongoing investigation.

Anyone with information on this shooting is urged to call Azusa Police Detective Jon Rush at 626-812-3200.

AZUSA - The California Highway Patrol will be hosting a DUI checkpoint in the unincorporated portion of Azusa Friday, April 9, the CHP said.

The checkpoint is scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. Friday.

“The officers will be equipped with state of the art hand-held breath testing devices, which provide an accurate measure of blood alcohol concentrations of suspected drunk drivers.  Motorists approaching the sobriety checkpoint will see informational signs advising them that a checkpoint is ahead,” according to Public Information Officer Rodrigo Jimenez of the California Highway Patrol Baldwin Park Office. 

“Once diverted into the lane, motorists will be detained for a few moments while an officer explains the purpose of the checkpoint,” Jimenez said.

The CHP intends to check the driver of every vehicle, but if traffic volume becomes too great then every third or fifth vehicle will be checked to maintain objectivity.

According to CHP Baldwin Park Office Captain Susan Estrem, checkpoints “reduce the number of drinking drivers on the road, even though arrest totals do not rise dramatically.” 

A major value of checkpoints is their psychological influence. “We advise the news media well in advance whenever a checkpoint is planned, since extensive publicity also is viewed as a legal safeguard,” Estrem said.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - Charges are pending for two suspects who decided to flee Azusa officers during a pursuit that ended in a chain-reaction crash Monday afternoon.

Azusa police begin pursuing the driver of an Acura Integra after discovering the vehicle had been stolen. The pursuit began in the area of foothill Boulevard and San Gabriel Ave., according to Sgt. Jason Poulos of the Azusa Police Department.

Police pursued the driver to the Covina/Glendora border where the crash occurred in the intersection of Barranca Avenue and Arrow Highway around 5:45 p.m. March 8.

The Acura Integra collided with a Toyota Camry. The Integra then struck three other vehicles.

Both suspects in the stolen Integra suffered major injuries, compounded by the fact that they were not wearing their seatbelts, according to the California Highway Patrol, which is investigating the collision aspect of the chase.

The driver of the Camry suffered only minor injuries. Other people involved in the crash were able to walk away.

Alcohol and or drugs may have played a factor, the California Highway Patrol said.

Azusa Police is considering grand theft auto and felony evading charges.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - A joint operation between the Azusa Police Department, Irwindale Police Department and California Highway Patrol yielded nearly 100 citations all in an effort to curb dangerous speeding in the canyon area.

The enforcement operation, organized by the Azusa Police Department traffic division, ended the day March 7 with 107 traffic stops for various vehicle code violations, Including speeding and equipment violations. 97 citations were issued and two vehicles were impounded, according to the Azusa Police Department.

The unfortunate operation came as a result from numerous community complaints of speeding vehicles and motorcycles within the city racing to and from the canyon area, Azusa police said.

“The Azusa Police Department Traffic Division continues to work diligently in addressing traffic violations within the city of Azusa. More traffic operations to come with funding from a grant by the Office of Traffic Safety & NHTSA,” according to the Azusa Police Department.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - Under a pile of officers, a driver wanted for speeding struggled to free himself from the long arm of the law after he was subdued at the end of a pursuit early Monday morning.

The California Highway Patrol attempted to pull over the unidentified, alleged speedster sometime before 5 a.m. The driver allegedly refused to stop and led the California Highway Patrol on a pursuit.

Videographer Randy of Loud Labs News, which documents breaking news around the globe, tailed the pursuit as the driver slithered through neighborhoods in Azusa and Covina.

According to Randy of Loud Labs News, the driver continue to circle neighborhoods around the 210 freeway and the Vernon Avenue where his parents live. The suspect and his mother had called CHP dispatchers during the chase.

CHP officers successfully spiked the tires on the suspect vehicle, causing them to go flat. The pursuit ended outside the suspect’s parent’s house in the area of South Aspan Avenue and West Paramount Street.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - A man in a reported stolen vehicle led Azusa officers on a chase into Ontario where the suspect barricaded himself briefly on the 15 freeway, police said.

Daniel Phillip Cruz, 39, whose last known address was in Azusa, allegedly attempted to strike officers while fleeing a traffic stop at Target, 809 N. Azusa Ave., around 12:20 p.m. December 24, according to the Azusa Police Department.

Officers pursued Cruz through several neighboring cities, Azusa Police said.

Cruz at one point fled eastbound on Arrow Highway with a helicopter and officers on the ground trailing him into the La Verne and Pomona areas. He eventually made his way into Ontario.

Cruz eventually stopped on the 15 freeway near Fourth Street.

“The suspect refused to comply with officers demands to exit the stolen vehicle, causing a traffic hazard for motorists,” according to Sgt. Brandon Bailey of the Azusa Police Department in written statement.

A K9 was deployed and famously was seen on television leaping into the driver side window of the stolen vehicle. The K9 bit down on Cruz’s left arm and the suspect struck the K9 multiple times before officers forcefully removed from the vehicle.

Assisting were the California Highway Patrol and the Ontario Police Department.

“The suspect sustained injuries during the arrest and he was transported to a local hospital for further treatment, prior to booking,” Bailey said.

Cruz will be charged with felony evading, assault on a peace officer and willful injury to a peace officer’s animal, Bailey said.