Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - The cavalry was called in Friday as officers from nearby agencies assisted the Azusa Police Department in serving a multi-location search warrant.

The operation netted 13 arrests and the seizure of illegal handguns and other evidence related to various gang crimes. Those arrested face charges ranging from probation violations to conspiracy to commit murder, according to the Azusa Police Department.

“Names, locations, and evidence found are withheld due to an ongoing investigation by this department,” according to the Azusa Police Department in a written statement.

The Azusa Police Department’s Detective Bureau and Crime Suppression Team served the search warrant.

Assisting were police departments from El Monte, West Covina, Glendora, Pomona, La Verne, Covina, Glendale, Irwindale, Beverly Hills, Foothills Special Enforcement Team and County of Los Angeles Probation Department.

Anyone with information regarding illegal gang activity is urged to call the Azusa Police Department’s Detective Bureau or Crime Suppression Team at 626-812-3200.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - A suspect accused of seriously injuring a relative and holding him against his will surrendered after keeping police at bay for hours on end Tuesday.

Police arrived to the Westgate Villa apartment complex, 563 E. Arrow Hwy., around 3:30 p.m. to a disturbance call and learned an injured man was potentially being held against his will, said Cpt. Robert Landeros of the Azusa Police Department.

The suspect was holed up in one of the second-story units.

Los Angeles County mental health evaluators assisted crisis negotiators in attempting to speak with anyone inside the unit. Covina Police and Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputies also assisted.

“As the incident progressed, the suspect inside was able to let the victim go. He was transported to Pomona Valley Hospital for some serious injuries,” Landeros told SGV CityWatch.

At the time of interview Tuesday night, a motive for the incident was not known.

Azusa Police used less lethal rounds, including flash bang grenades and pepper balls to get the suspect to surrender peacefully.

Residents of the apartment complex and neighbors bore witness to the attempts to capture the suspect. The loud booms of the flash bang grenades echoed throughout surrounding neighborhoods.

Smoke occasionally wafted out of the apartment unit targeted by police after they used an armored truck to shatter several windows to gain access to the unit.

No officers or other residents were injured, Landeros said.

Herman Hormel Murphy, 57, was booked on felony-level charges. He is being held in lieu of $135,000 bail ahead of a scheduled appearance in the West Covina courthouse June 24, according to Los Angeles County booking records.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - Nine law enforcement organizations, led by the Azusa Police Department, targeted eight homes in an ongoing investigation into a shooting that left a teen injured March 17.

Several people ended up arrested after the 5 a.m. raid April 16 and multiple firearms were seized. The eight homes targeted in the search warrant reportedly housed a number of Sentinel Boys gang members and their associates, according to the Azusa Police Department.

The shooting occurred St. Patrick’s Day in the 500 block of North Dalton Avenue just before 10 p.m. A juvenile was injured and required extensive medical treatment, according to the Azusa Police Department.

A resident was nearby and heard the gun fire erupt on Dalton Avenue. The suspect or suspects fled west in a vehicle towards Alameda Avenue from the 500 block of North Dalton, then additional gun fire was heard.

The huge multi-agency response included the Glendale Police Department, Arcadia Police, Pomona Police, El Monte Police, West Covina Police, Irwindale Police, Covina Police, Glendora Police and the Foothills Special Enforcement Team.

A 17-year-old Azusa resident was arrested. He was booked on suspicion of unlawful possession of a firearm, resisting or deterring police, possession of a high-capacity magazine, possession of an undetectable firearm, resisting, delaying, or obstructing an officer and vandalism. A weapon seized at the juvenile’s location was an unregistered ghost gun, Azusa Police said.

21-year-old Abraham Garcia, from Riverside, was arrested and booked on suspicion of being a felon in possession of a firearm and a probation violation. Officers seized a Smith and Wesson model 34 22-caliber revolver, Azusa Police said.

Another ghost gun was also seized, located at a third home known to house Sentinel Boys gang members, Azusa police said.

“This investigation reemphasizes the Azusa Police Department’s commitment to curbing violent crime and reducing gang crime in the City of Azusa,” Azusa Police said in a written statement.

Anyone with information on these crimes is urged to call the Azusa Police Department at 626-812-3200.

AZUSA - A man accused of setting a series of fires throughout Azusa and Covina was detained Saturday after allegedly setting two dumpster fires in Azusa, police said.

A lot of what burned included trash, bulk property and dumpster contents throughout the two cities. No injuries were reported.

The incidents begin in Covina the afternoon of April 4, where police and firefighters investigated two outside fires in the area of Azusa Avenue and Covina Boulevard, two fires in an abandoned building At 1060 W. San Bernardino Rd., one incident near a Walmart and two more incidents in the 1400 block of N. Azusa Ave., according to Lieutenant Daniel Reagan of the Covina Police Department.

AZUSA - Friday brought the arrests of an undisclosed number of suspects at nine different locations; suspects tied to recent gang violence in Azusa over a two-year period, police announced Friday.

Azusa detectives and Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputies investigated crimes of murder, suspicion of murder, conspiracy to commit murder, attempted murder, drug sales, shootings, illegal gun possession and vandalism. Multiple illegal firearms were recovered from Sentinel Boys 13 gang members, the Azusa Police Department said.

Suspects were arrested on suspicion of murder, conspiracy to commit murder and other gang-related crimes in Azusa and the greater Los Angeles County area, Azusa Police said in a written statement.

A call to Azusa Police Lt. Robert Chivas seeking more information was not returned Friday. What is not clear are the names of the suspects arrested and locations police targeted.

Suspects were possibly targeted in Glendora Friday.

Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - A 29-year-old transient was caught by Azusa and Covina Police September 25, accused of setting several fires on the Azusa/Covina border.
 
Manuel Cruz Garcia was booked on suspicion of felony arson and on an outstanding warrant. Garcia allegedly set fire to several dumpsters at businesses in the area of Arrow Highway and Azusa Avenue, according to Sgt. Tommy Avila of the Azusa Police Department.
 
Police were alerted by eyewitnesses to a dumpster fire burning behind Just Tires, 877 S. Azusa Ave., at 10:30 p.m. Garcia was then seen setting another fire in a dumpster at Covina’s El Pollo Loco, 1405 N. Azusa Ave., and Wal Mart, 1275 N. Azusa Ave.
 
The fires were only contained to the dumpsters, causing only minimal damage, Avila said.
 
As Azusa and Covina officers spotted him starting the fire near Wal Mart, the suspect fled on foot and a brief foot chase began, but Garcia was detained.
 
A transient who witnessed Garcia set the fire at Just Tires was able to positively identify Garcia as the suspect, according to Azusa Police radio traffic.
 
Garcia is being held in lieu of $310,000 bail. He is being housed in the Inmate Reception Center in Los Angeles and is scheduled to appear in West Covina Superior Court Thursday, September 27.