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 - Charges are pending for two suspects who decided to flee Azusa officers during a pursuit that ended in a chain-reaction crash Monday afternoon.

Azusa police begin pursuing the driver of an Acura Integra after discovering the vehicle had been stolen. The pursuit began in the area of foothill Boulevard and San Gabriel Ave., according to Sgt. Jason Poulos of the Azusa Police Department.

Police pursued the driver to the Covina/Glendora border where the crash occurred in the intersection of Barranca Avenue and Arrow Highway around 5:45 p.m. March 8.

The Acura Integra collided with a Toyota Camry. The Integra then struck three other vehicles.

Both suspects in the stolen Integra suffered major injuries, compounded by the fact that they were not wearing their seatbelts, according to the California Highway Patrol, which is investigating the collision aspect of the chase.

The driver of the Camry suffered only minor injuries. Other people involved in the crash were able to walk away.

Alcohol and or drugs may have played a factor, the California Highway Patrol said.

Azusa Police is considering grand theft auto and felony evading charges.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - A Police K9 sniffed out a stolen vehicle suspect hiding in a Glendora neighborhood on the border with Azusa January 15.

The suspect fled after spotting an Azusa patrol car behind him in the area of Barranca Avenue and Baseline Road Friday. He wound up at a dead end and escaped on foot briefly, according to Sgt. Bailey of the Azusa Police Department.

Officers located the stolen vehicle the suspect drove earlier that day, but the vehicle and driver somehow disappeared and officers could not locate either of them, Bailey told SGV CityWatch.

An Azusa police detective relocated the stolen vehicle on the road hours later around 7:10 p.m. around Citrus Avenue and Baseline Road, Bailey told SGV CityWatch.

“The guy knew officers were behind him and actually turned down a dead end,” Bailey told SGV CityWatch.

The driver ran through Stanton Elementary School from the dead end at East Hollyvale Street.

Glendora and Pomona officers, aided by a Pomona Police helicopter, Sheriff’s helicopter and a Pomona Police K9, assisted Azusa Police in finding the suspect, who was located around 8:32 p.m.

Manuel Urquidez, 27, was booked on suspicion of stealing a vehicle.

Urquidez was issued a citation and released the following morning, according to Los Angeles County booking records.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

GLENDORA - An Azusa man was jailed Wednesday after running from police at the end of a pursuit, Glendora Police said.

Officers accuse Azusa man Jacob Black, 36, of felony evading, being a felon in possession of a firearm, possession of a short barrel shotgun, possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number, obstructing an officer, driving with a suspended license and possession of drug paraphernalia, according to the Glendora Police Department.

Glendora Police allege they attempted to perform a traffic stop on Black who allegedly committed a series of traffic violations around 6 a.m. September 16.

Black accelerated and led officers on a high-speed chase that ended with a foot pursuit in Azusa, Glendora Police said.

Black was stopped and arrested quickly.

“While he was being taken into custody, officers found a fully loaded, sawed off shotgun concealed underneath his clothing,” Glendora Police said in a written statement.

AZUSA – Glendora Police jailed a theft suspect and took him into custody after he escaped on foot into an Azusa neighborhood.
 
The suspect, wanted for a theft from a vehicle, fled into a neighborhood near Angeleno Avenue and Paramount Street, setting off a multi-agency containment and search, according to Cpl. Tim Crawford of the Glendora Police Department.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
​CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - No injuries were reported after officers struggled with an armed burglary suspect and opened fire on him Friday morning.

The struggle and officer-involved shooting occurred at Irwindale Avenue and McKinley Avenue around 12:40 a.m. December 21. Officers were searching for a burglary suspect in the 1500 block of McKinley Avenue when they encountered an armed man, according to Lt. Robert Landeros of the Azusa Police Department.

The suspect armed himself with a handgun. The officers began struggling with him to get the gun away, Azusa Police said.

At least one officer fired upon the suspect as he fled, but is unclear if he was hit.

Officers are concentrating their search in an area near Motor Avenue and Paramount Street, according to Paul Arrasmith, who works in the area.

Police vehicles, fire trucks and a SWAT truck are at the scene.

Employees and trucks nearby the search are being prevented from entering their buildings.

A large warehouse about two blocks north of the scene reported an unknown subject was trying to buzz someone through the front door intercom around 11:30 p.m. — about an hour before the shooting. No employees were inside the building at the time. An alert was received about the mysterious person.


Irwindale, Glendora, Covina and Baldwin Park Police Officers are assisting with traffic control.


Irwindale Avenue from First Street to Gladstone Street remain closed

Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - An attempted carjacking suspect was subdued with a stun gun after barricading himself in a garage September 13.
 
The suspect used a knife to carjack a driver in the 100 block of East Fifth Street sometime before 8 a.m. The suspect failed and fled to a neighborhood in the 400 block of North Alameda Avenue, according to the Azusa Police Department.
 
Fernando Jaimes, 21, fled into a garage and barricaded himself inside. The homeowner called police and notified them of the hiding suspect, according to Sgt. Fernan Vasconcelos of the Azusa Police Department.
 
Jaimes was eventually shocked with a stun gun and taken into custody. The knife was recovered, Vasconcelos said.
 
Jaimes was reportedly non-complaint and refused to drop the knife as he exited the garage after nearly three hours of hiding from police.
 
Jaimes was later hospitalized and booked on suspicion of attempted carjacking.
 
Police departments from Glendora, Irwindale, West Covina and Baldwin Park assisted Azusa in setting up a perimeter.
 
Jaimes is scheduled to appear in the West Covina Courthouse September 17. He is being held without bail, according to Los Angeles County booking records.

Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - A driver was hospitalized Wednesday after failing to yield for officers and leading them on a slow one-mile drive into Glendora.
 
The driver was observed swerving and driving erratically around 6:46 p.m. in the area of San Gabriel Avenue and Foothill Boulevard by fellow motorists. Officers located and attempted to stop the driver at Calera Avenue and Alosta Avenue, but he did not comply, according to Jorge Sandoval of the Azusa Police Department.
 
Once the driver stopped in a driveway near BurgerIm, 604 W. Route 66, the driver refused to exit, Sandoval said.

Glendora Police assisted Azusa officers with the brief standoff, according to Lt. Marty Barrett of the Glendora Police Department.
 
Officers used the vehicle’s registration information, obtained contact information and ultimately spoke with the driver’s wife who told officers her husband suffered a medical condition.
 
“Based on the circumstances and believing the driver may be suffering from a medical emergency, the officers made the decision to approach the vehicle,” Sandoval said.
 
Upon contacting the driver, officers determined the driver needed medical assistance and paramedics were called.
 
The driver was taken to an area hospital for treatment.