Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor AZUSA – A man is expected in court Wednesday after he was arrested on suspicion of battering elderly family members, according to the Azusa Police Department.
John Guce Amoranto, 43, is suspected of bettering his elderly family members in the 200 block of South Virginia Avenue July 18. Officers responded to the scene at 2:48 p.m. He barricaded himself inside the home and reportedly refused to comply with commands to surrender, according to the Azusa Police Department. “After a short time, Officers were able to take suspect John Amoranto into custody,” according to the Azusa Police Department in a written statement. Amoranto was booked on suspicion of elder abuse and obstructing officers. Amoranto is being held in lieu of $115,000 bail at the Inmate Reception Center in Los Angeles ahead of his scheduled court appearance in the West Covina courthouse. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor AZUSA – A 34-year-old woman allegedly behind the wheel of a stolen vehicle was arrested Saturday after attempting to escape Azusa officers.
Andrea Marie Mendez fled Azusa police officers on a chase into East Los Angeles. She attempted to flee on foot, but was caught, according to Sgt. Steven Sears of the Azusa Police Department. A patrol officer attempted to stop the driver of a stolen vehicle, identified as Mendez, in the 700 block of North Azusa Avenue June 25 just after 8 p.m. The driver refused to pull over and fled to the freeways to escape, Sears told SGV CityWatch. The pursuit came to an end at 535 S. Lorena St. in East Los Angeles. Mendez allegedly struck at least one vehicle during the chase. The California Highway Patrol was reportedly investigating the collision, Sears told SGV CityWatch. Mendez was released June 26 and issued a citation and released with a court date scheduled for November 2, according to Los Angeles County booking records. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor AZUSA - A man seen burglarizing two houses in as many days was finally jailed after security video tied him to the first break-in, according to the Azusa Police Department.
Andre Depree Bishop, 43, is accused of a late night break-in June 21 in the 900 block of Chaparral Lane. Officers, called to the burglary at 11:42 p.m., did not find a suspect after clearing the home, but video from the resident’s Ring camera caught the crime in progress, according to the Azusa Police Department. The next day, a burglary suspect walked into an occupied home through an unlocked front door around 8:44 a.m. in the 300 block of North Fenimore Avenue. A resident told the suspect to get out. The suspect fled, but was caught a short distance away by officers, according to the Azusa Police Department. “Based on the resident’s video surveillance, it was confirmed that the suspect identified as Andre Bishop, was also the suspect in the residential burglary call on Chaparral Ln.,” according to the Azusa Police Department. Bishop was transferred to the Twin Towers Correctional Facility in Los Angeles June 24 and is being held in lieu of $10,000 bail ahead of a scheduled appearance in the West Covina courthouse June 27. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor AZUSA – Police located an assault with a deadly weapon and robbery suspect in Pomona three days after he allegedly committed the crimes at an Azusa motel.
Richard Gonzalez, a Covina man, is accused of the mentioned crimes reportedly committed at the Super 8 Motel January 24. Officers were called to the scene around 9:46 a.m., according to the Azusa Police Department. During Gonzalez’s arrest, three other suspects were taken into custody, although police did not elaborate on their potential involvement. Gonzalez was held in lieu of $50,000 ahead of a scheduled appearance in the West Covina courthouse Monday, January 31. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor LOS ANGELES - An Azusa man was sentenced to more than 11 years in state prison Monday after pleading no contest to several charges stemming from a June 6 shooting with police.
Edward Gamino, 35, pleaded no contest to one count of assault with a semi-automatic weapon on a peace officer and two counts of shooting at an inhabited dwelling or vehicle, according to Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office spokesman Ricardo Santiago. Gamino was sentenced to 11 years and four months in prison. The bizarre incident unfolded June 6, 2021 in the 800 block of East Foothill Boulevard near Azusa Pacific University and Citrus College around 11 a.m. A suspect was seen with a firearm. Azusa Police officers initially could not find a suspect, according to Azusa Police Captain Robert Landeros in a previous interview. Around Noon, a suspect was seen reportedly firing a handgun into the air and fired at an Azusa Pacific University employee in a truck. No one was hit by gunfire. During an area search, officers located a suspect, later identified as Gamino. A foot chase ensued inside the Foothill Vista Mobile Home Park, 840 E. Foothill Blvd. Officers exchanged gunfire with Gamino, who took refuge in an occupied mobile home, Landeros said. The 88-year-old mother of Audrey Schmedes was able to escape with the help of neighbors. “I got a message from her neighbor, a voicemail saying that ‘you mom is with me. Her unit was broken into and there’s somebody in there now,” according to Audrey Schmedes in a previous interview. Schmedes called her mother’s home number and a man who was likely Gamino answered the phone. “After he said hello a couple of times I said ‘hello’ back and I said ‘can I like to speak to the lady who lives there’ and he said ‘she’s outside,’” Schmedes said. Gamino was soon taken into custody. He was found wearing a makeshift gunbelt he used to holster the weapon. A handgun was recovered, Landeros said. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor AZUSA – A man from Los Angeles is facing assault with a deadly weapon charges after police identified him as a suspect in a June 28 stabbing.
James Paul Williams, 39, allegedly assaulted a male at the Citrus College/APU Station, 905 N. Citrus Ave., June 28 around 3:53 a.m. The victim suffered neck and face wounds, but is expected to recover, according to the Azusa Police Department. The suspect was gone when police arrived. Azusa officers worked with deputies from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Transit Services Bureau to locate evidence, identify a suspect and locate witnesses. Ultimately, Williams was pegged as a suspect, Azusa Police said. A Transit Services deputy recognized Williams June 30 at the Citrus College/APU Station. Williams was taken into custody by the Azusa Police Department. Williams was arrested at 2:48 a.m., according to Los Angeles County booking records and is scheduled for an appearance in the West Covina courthouse July 2. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor POMONA - The man investigators accuse of fatally beating a victim to death with a baseball bat outside an Azusa Target shopping center is scheduled for a pretrial conference and trial setting Tuesday.
Manuel Banuelos, 24, is scheduled for arraignment at Pomona Superior Court, June 29. He previously pleaded not guilty to one count of murder, according to Los Angeles County Superior Court records. The attack occurred June 10, 2020, outside Target, 809 N. Azusa Ave. Police responded to the scene around 2:15 p.m. and found a victim bleeding from head injuries and unresponsive. After being treated at the scene, the victim was taken to a hospital where he later died, according to the Azusa Police Department. A suspect, who prosecutors allege is Banuelos, was found nearby, chased briefly by police and taken into custody after bystanders helped officers locate him. The victim was identified as Richard Jaimez, Jr., a 37-year-old Azusa man. A motive for the murder remains unclear. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor AZUSA - Police suspect a transient camp cooking fire in the San Gabriel Mountains led to a small spot fire Thursday.
The fire was reported to police at 5 p.m. in the 1900 block of North San Gabriel Canyon Road June 2. Officers used their patrol vehicle fire extinguishers and dirt to knock out the flames, according to the Azusa Police Department. The fire was estimated at 10 feet by 10 feet, according to Los Angeles County Fire Department radio traffic. Investigators detained former San Bernardino resident Daniel Velez, 42, and later booked him on suspicion of unlawfully causing a fire and occupying property without consent, Azusa Police said. The occupying offense is a misdemeanor, Azusa Police said. Velez is being held in lieu of $20,000 ahead of a scheduled appearance in the West Covina courthouse June 7, according to Los Angeles County booking records. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor AZUSA – A driver decided to flee police after they attempted to stop him inside a reported stolen vehicle May 4.
Azusa patrol officers located a silver Dodge Caravan at Citrus Avenue and Gladstone Street just after 7:30 a.m. Tuesday. The driver refused to stop and made his way to Covina, according to the Azusa Police Department. The pursuit ended near Barranca Avenue and Tudor Street. The lone occupant, 23-year-old Thomas Buckner, a Victorville resident, was arrested and a search of the stolen vehicle yielded a firearm inside the Caravan. The gun was also reportedly stolen, Azusa Police said. Buckner was booked on suspicion of vehicle theft, evading police and other charges connected to the stolen firearm, Azusa Police said. Buckner is scheduled for a court appearance today, May 6. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor REGION - The transient who admitted to setting the Ranch 2 Fire that burned above Azusa was sentenced to prison time recently.
Osmin Palencia, 37, pleaded no contest March 16 to one count of arson during an emergency. He was sentenced to five years in state prison. He must also register as an arson offender, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. Palencia surrendered himself at the Azusa Police Department August 16, 2020. The Ranch 2 fire burned more than 4,237 acres of the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument. Investigators from the Los Angeles County Fire Department and Azusa Police quickly learned after the fire erupted that arson was to blame and named Palencia as a suspect. Palencia is a transient who lived In the San Gabriel River near where the fire erupted, Azusa Police said. The Ranch 2 Fire was first reported around 2:45 p.m. August 13, 2020. The fire ignited along Highway 39 and Ranch Road, near homes nestled in the San Gabriel Mountains |
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