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.

AZUSA – A multi-county operation targeting child sex offenders led to multiple arrests, including two arrests in Azusa.

Operation Protect the Innocent, which took place September 6 through September 12, netted 141 arrests across Los Angeles, Orange, Santa Barbara and Ventura counties. According to statistics provided by the Azusa Police Department.

12 probation compliance checks and parole compliance checks were made in Azusa. A residential search warrant was conducted and two men were arrested.

“A paroled sex offender was arrested for violating the conditions of his parole by having children’s undergarments and other clothing in his bedroom, as well as photographs of his prior victim,” according to the Azusa Police Department in a written statement.

A second arrest was made. A 25-year-old Azusa man is accused of contacting a female juvenile online with the intent of meeting her to commit sex offenses, according to the Azusa Police Department.

Working with county and state partners, Azusa police detectives focused on investigating those suspected of victimizing children online and making sure registered sex offenders were complaint with their court terms.

The operation was spearheaded by the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - The Azusa Police Department recently revealed department computers were targeted in what was described as a sophisticated ransomware attack in March.

Police personnel discovered March 9 that certain aspects of the department’s computer system were inaccessible and that an unauthorized individual was able to infiltrate personal information, according to the Azusa Police Department.

An investigation by Azusa Police, law enforcement partners and third-party specialists determined April 27 that the personal information was compromised.

“Azusa Police refused to cooperate with the cybercriminal and did not pay any ransom,” according to the Azusa Police Department in a written statement.

On May 20, the investigation determined that possibly Social Security numbers, driver license numbers, California identification numbers, passport numbers, military identification numbers, financial account information, medical information, health insurance information and/or information or data collected through the use or operation of an automated license plate recognition system was accessed, according to the Azusa Police Department.

“Azusa Police continues to review its network security polices and take additional steps to further enhance its security, as it takes the privacy and security of all information very seriously,” according to the Azusa Police Department in a written statement.

Investigators have no evidence yet of actual or attempted misuse of information.

Those worried their personal information was compromised can call a dedicated assistance line to address questions individuals may have and to provide credit monitoring services to potentially impacted individuals: 855-535-1860. Calls can be made Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Pacific Time.