Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - An accused speedster is facing more than just a traffic violation after allegedly leading police on a pursuit and brief standoff.

An officer attempted to stop a high-speed driver in the 200 block of North Cerritos Avenue just after 11 p.m. September 11, but the driver allegedly refused to stop. A pursuit was initiated on surface streets and then to the east 210 freeway, according to the Azusa Police Department.

The pursuit exited onto Grand Avenue in Glendora where the driver stopped and barricaded himself inside the truck. After a few minutes of negotiations, the driver continued the pursuit, according to the Azusa Police Department.

An officer successfully employed the Pursuit Intervention Technique and disabled the truck.

The pursuit ended in Citrus Avenue north of Gladstone Street. A CityWatch reader documented the pursuit aftermath.

“During a search of the vehicle, a loaded handgun with an extended magazine was located inside of the glove compartment,” according to the Azusa Police Department in a written statement.

John West Spradley, 36, was booked on suspicion of felony evading, possession of a high-capacity magazine, possession of an undetectable firearm, carrying a loaded firearm and obstructing or delaying a police officer.

Spradley is being held without bail at the Inmate Reception Center in Los Angeles ahead of a scheduled appearance in appearance Friday, September 13.

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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 - 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 - 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 - 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.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - Detectives traveled to Barstow and arrested a 35-year-old Arizona man accused of sending harmful matter to a minor.

Bryan Jacob Medendorp, 35, was officially charged with three counts contacting a minor for sexual offense, distributing or showing pornography to a minor with intent to seduce, and three counts of lewd and lascivious acts with a child under 14, according to Los Angeles Superior Court records.

The Azusa Police Department was notified of the alleged crimes February 29 of this year and secured enough evidence to support the allegations. Medendorp, a Bullhead City, Arizona resident, was found in Barstow and arrested March 13.

The pictures and texts were allegedly sent from February 26 through February 29, according to Los Angeles Superior Court records.

Medendorp allegedly committed the three counts of lewd and lascivious acts December 1, 2022.

Medendorp is being held in lieu of $100,000 bail in the Men’s Central Jail in Los Angeles ahead of a scheduled appearance in court April 15.

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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 - 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 man was left in serious condition after being stabbed by two suspects during a verbal dispute inside a liquor store Tuesday afternoon.

The stabbing took place at Benny’s Liquor, 208 N. Azusa Ave., April 11. The man fled to a nearby dental office and told people inside that he had been stabbed. First responders were called just after 4 p.m., according to the Azusa Police Department.

The man was stabbed in the left abdomen and left arm. He was taken to a trauma center.

Before he was transported, Azusa officers spoke to the victim who revealed he was stabbed by two suspects during a verbal dispute inside of Benny’s Liquor.

90 minutes after the stabbing, officers located one suspect nearby and arrested him. A second suspect was arrested shortly after. A third suspect was also found and arrested, according to the Azusa Police Department.

Wade Carney, 52, was arrested at 5:42 p.m. He was booked on suspicion of attempted murder. He is being held in lieu of $1 million bail at the Inmate Reception Center in Los Angeles.

Manuel Bracamonte, 55, was arrested at 7:46 p.m. He was also booked on suspicion of attempted murder. He is being held in lieu of $1 million bail at the Azusa Police jail.

Also arrested was Ashley Jean Bracamonte, 36. She was arrested at 5:23 p.m. and booked on suspicion of being an accessory after the fact. She is being held in lieu of $20,000 bail at the Azusa Police jail.

​All three suspects are scheduled to appear at the West Covina courthouse Thursday, April 13.