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. ********** 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. 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 - Police found no evidence of gunfire, but their search did yield a man who was sought since December on a warrant for a number of alleged crimes.
Officers initially descended upon the Sycamore Park Apartments, 1151 W. Arrow Hwy., near Vincent Avenue before 5 p.m. on a report of potential gunfire coming from one of the apartment units April 2. Officers did not locate evidence of gunfire, but did find the suspect they have been seeking for months. Roy M. Garcia, 66, was taken into custody after initially refusing to surrender to officers. After being told gunfire was coming from within the complex, Azusa officers called mutual aid assistance from Glendora Police and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. A Sheriff’s helicopter circled overhead, a deputy’s voice boomed from a loudspeaker, ordering Garcia to surrender. Garcia was sought on suspicion of criminal threats, brandishing a weapon or firearm, committing a hate crime and resisting, delaying, or obstructing an officer, crimes allegedly committed December 27, 2022. Garcia is being held in lieu of $50,000 bail ahead of a scheduled appearance in the Inmate Reception Center in Los Angeles ahead of a scheduled appearance in the West Covina Courthouse April 4. |
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