Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor AZUSA - A West Covina man is facing felony charges stemming from an arson fire February 24.
Joe Monge, 41, was arrested Thursday, March 16, through the work of Azusa Police detectives and four Los Angeles County Fire Department arson investigators. A cell phone warrant was obtained to track Monge’s location, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department. The fire Monge is accused of setting burned February 24 around 7:10 a.m. in the 600 block of North Angeleno Avenue in a garage. No injuries were reported, according to the Azusa Police Department. County booking records detailing Monge’s arrest March 16 were not available. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor AZUSA - At least one victim was wounded Monday in a shooting in an area that was recently plagued by gun violence.
First responders were dispatched to the 200 block of East Newburgh Street near Donna Bath Avenue around 5:36 p.m. Monday, February 27. The trauma patient was taken to a hospital for a treatment, according to Dispatch Supervisor Michael Pickett of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Information from the Azusa Police Department was limited at the time this story was launched. It is believed that police will be out at the scene investigating for at least a few hours. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor AZUSA - A man reportedly found unclothed and face down in the dirt was declared dead at the scene, homicide investigators said.
A passerby reported the body just before 6:30 a.m. in the 2000 block of San Gabriel Canyon Road. There are no obvious signs of death, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. There is reportedly no suspect or weapon information. Anyone with information on this death is urged to call the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500. Remain anonymous by calling LA Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), through the P3Tips mobile app, or lacrimestoppers.org. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor AZUSA - A male juvenile was shot and later died Tuesday, the most recent victim in ongoing violence in an Azusa neighborhood.
First responders were sent to North Donna Beth Avenue south of East Renwick Avenue just before 3:30 p.m. December 6. At least two victims were found. It is unclear if anyone else was wounded, according to dispatch supervisor Bernard Peters of the Los Angeles County Fire Department. A unidentified male juvenile died after being taken to a hospital, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Information Bureau. It is unclear if a suspect is in custody, or if investigators have identified any suspects. The shooting is the latest in continuing violence in a neighborhood that saw a young driver shot while eastbound on Newburgh Street from North Donna Beth Avenue just two days prior. That driver, who still remains unidentified, was shot at least once and crashed while fleeing at high speed through the neighborhood. Strangely enough, this December 6 shooting occurred likely in the same area where the driver was shot December 5. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor AZUSA - An embedded investigator with the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office helped to uncover a gargantuan cache of fireworks at two locations in Azusa June 27.
One person was detained and 14,000 pounds of fireworks were seized during the operation led by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office in conjunction with the Los Angeles County Fire Department, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and the Azusa Police Department. An illegal firearm and more than $10,000 in cash were also seized, according to Ricardo Santiago of the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. “By embedding our prosecutors and investigators in the communities that we serve, we were able to secure valuable information that led to the safe removal of thousands of pounds of illegal fireworks from an Azusa neighborhood,” District Attorney Gascón said. “I am grateful that we could assist local law enforcement in protecting this community from the potential dangers posed by illegal fireworks.” The fireworks seized were being stored at a home and a storage facility in Azusa. Twenty-seven homes were evacuated while the explosives were safely recovered and disposed, Santiago said in a written statement. The investigator is part of the DA’s new Community Violence Reduction Division. It is not publicly clear if the detained person will face arrest. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor AZUSA – Authorities destroyed nearly one ton of fireworks stashed on a residential property Monday after a search warrant revealed the contraband. 26 homes near the scene in the 900 block of West Hollyvale Street were evacuated as a precaution while tactical bomb techs with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department worked to render the fireworks safe, according to the Azusa Police Department. Residents one block south from the scene along West Third Street were affected as well. Investigators located 1,700 pounds of fireworks at the residence, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Special Enforcement Bureau. A search warrant was served in the 900 block of West Hollyvale Street June 27, the result of an investigation by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office and the Los Angeles County Fire Department Arson Unit. The Azusa Police Department made a public announcement at 3:20 p.m. about evacuations taking place. By 8:46 p.m., residents on Third Street were finally allowed back home while. By 10:17 p.m., all evacuations were lifted, allowing residents on Hollyvale Street and Virginia Avenue to return home. SGV CityWatch is trying to confirm with the DA’s office if any arrests were made and to confirm media reports indicating that an additional stash of fireworks was located in nearby Irwindale. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor AZUSA - A man allegedly spray painting graffiti in an Azusa neighborhood Thursday was the target of gunfire, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
The unidentified victim was found by Azusa Police officers in the 200 block of South Noble Place, June 2 around 3:23 p.m. He was transported to a hospital and died the next day, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Investigators later identified two suspects in the shooting and both are now in custody. Their names have not been publicly released. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor AZUSA - A passerby en route to work found a man down in a park early Friday morning and officers and firefighters saw that the deceased victim suffered from unknown head trauma.
The victim was found in the 1300 block of Mountain View Circle around 7:43 a.m. Friday, June 3. The passerby called Azusa Police and Los Angeles County firefighters, the latter declared the victim dead at the scene. The victim was only described as a Hispanic man, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Information Bureau. The park is the Azusa Rockery, 1350 Mountain View Cir., a half-acre geology interpretive park north of an industrial area and adjacent to the San Gabriel River Bike Path. The victim has yet to be identified. Preliminary Report Indicates Dust Hazard Contributed to Crash of Sheriff Copter Above Azusa4/7/2022 Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor AZUSA - The National Transportation Safety Board released a preliminary report recently indicating the causes that contributed to a crash that injured six of water Los Angeles County sheriffs rescue helicopter.
The Eurocopter AS332L1 that was being flown March 19 to treat and transport a crash victim along Highway 39 north of Azusa became engulfed in dust as it descended to about five feet above a dirt turnout. The main rotors struck a nearby tree. The helicopter crashed and rolled over in the landing zone, according to the NTSB. Of the six people on board, four suffered serious injuries. Two received minor injuries. The crash occurred around 5:07 p.m. As the pilot in command, who was behind the controls, the other pilot and crew chief coordinated a landing, the trio discussed a potential dust hazard known as a “brownout” and tree hazard, according to the NTSB. As the Sheriff’s Air Rescue 5 helicopter descended on the landing zone, the pilot in command heard the crew chief say “hold.” As the descent slowed, a dust cloud overcame the helicopter, according to the NTSB. The six on board had to be extricated from the crashed helicopter. Brackets securing the pilot in command’s lap belt also fractured from their position, according to the NTSB. The main rotor system and fuselage sustained major damage. The wreckage was taken to a secure location for further investigation, according to the NTSB. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor MOUNTAINS – A motorcyclist died Tuesday after a crash in the mountains far above Azusa, the CHP said.
The rider crashed on Highway 39 March 8 and was airlifted to a hospital where he was pronounced dead, according to Officer Kendricks of the California Highway Patrol. The crash occurred around 4:30 p.m. The rider was southbound on Highway 39 at mile marker 25.16 when the 2014 Yamaha WR250 left the roadway at a curve at an unknown speed. The rider was ejected when the motorcycle overturned, according to the CHP in a written statement. The U.S. Forest Service, Los Angeles County firefighters and a helicopter responded to Highway 39 near Morris Dam March 8 around 4:52 p.m. The rider has yet to be identified. |
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