AZUSA – The driver of a stolen vehicle was jailed Tuesday after refusing to stop for police and leading them on a pursuit into La Puente.

Azusa officers attempted to stop the driver of a stolen 2015 Hyundai Sonata around 7:49 p.m. in the 800 block of South Cerritos Avenue July 6, but the driver, identified as Gabriel Garcia, fled. He took the pursuit to the 210 freeway, according to Sgt. Bailey of the Azusa Police Department.

The pursuit went west on the 210 freeway, south on the 605 freeway and into El Monte on surface streets. 

Garcia allegedly sideswiped another occupied vehicle, causing mild injuries to the other driver, Bailey told SGV CityWatch.

Police continued to chase Garcia into La Puente where he fled the vehicle, leaving two passengers behind, Bailey told SGV CityWatch.

 The pursuit ended in the area of Valinda Avenue and Doublegrove Street.

Garcia allegedly ran through residential yards and over fences briefly before being caught, Bailey told SGV CityWatch.

Police booked 18-year-old Garcia, a La Mirada man, on suspicion of felony evading, unlawful taking of a vehicle, felony hit and run and resisting arrest, Bailey told SGV CityWatch.

Garcia’s two passengers were briefly detained, but released.

Garcia is being held in lieu of $75,000. He is scheduled to appear in the West Covina courthouse Thursday, July 8.

AZUSA – A man from La Puente and a Rowland Heights man were arrested in recent months for their involvement in a deadly shooting.

La Puente man Emmanuel Marquez, 19, and Rowland Heights man Sebastian Garcia, 18, were both booked on suspicion of murder in the 2019 death of John Medrano who was gunned down in broad daylight.

A documented gang member, Marquez was also booked for the attempted murder of a teen that was with Medrano when bullets began flying in the 400 block of South Azusa Avenue July 14, 2019.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau and Azusa Police Department worked together to make the arrests.

The shooting unfolded near a bus stop on the northeast corner of Azusa Avenue and Gladstone Street near the Sketchers Outlet. Medrano, 24, was wounded multiple times and later died at a hospital. The intended teen victim was uninjured, Azusa Police said.

Marquez was arrested July 21. Garcia was arrested August 20.

In June, police announced the arrest of the driver of a black 2017 Toyota Corolla 4-DR believed to be the vehicle involved in the shooting.

Investigators developed a composite sketch of the trigger man through the help of an eye witness