Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - One person is dead after reportedly intentionally crashing a car about 300 feet down into the Azusa canyon Thursday.

Just after 1 p.m., officers were called to check on the welfare of a driver by family members concerned for his mental health September 7. Officers were provided a description of the person and the vehicle being driven, which was located in North on Azusa Avenue in the city’s downtown area. The driver refused to stop and a slow-speed pursuit began, according to Lt. Jake Bushey of the Azusa Police Department.

“Approximately a mile up from the entrance of the canyon the vehicle intentionally went over the side and went down a 300-foot embankment,” Bushey said during a press conference.

First responders went down to check on the status of the driver and found the driver deceased, Bushey said.

The drivers name has not yet been released.

​Northbound traffic remains partially closed.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - A parolee accused of attacking his father and keeping police at bay for roughly five hours is facing additional charges stemming from the standoff inside his parents home April 4.

Oscar Galaviz, 32, was finally taken into custody after being smoked out by SWAT team members and was booked on suspicion of elder abuse, residential burglary, violating his court order and resisting arrest.

Galaviz is accused of attacking his father with a walking cane, causing the father some minor injuries. His parents have an active restraining order against him and he should not have been at the house, according to the Azusa Police Department.

First responders were called to the house in the 800 block of West Sixth Street at 11:23 a.m. Tuesday. Galaviz barricaded himself inside a bedroom and armed himself with a baseball bat, according to the Azusa Police Department.

“Officers attempted contact with Galaviz, however he refused to comply and armed himself with a baseball bat asking Officers to shoot him. Galaviz also attempted to burrow through the drywall of the adjoining neighbors residence as he remained hold up,” according to the Azusa Police Department in a written statement.

The Azusa Police Department employed the assistance of the Irwindale Police SWAT team, a West Covina Police Department K9 and a mental health evaluation team in an effort to get Galaviz to surrender.

Telephone calls and announcements over loud speakers were made to try and get Galaviz to surrender.

Azusa police detectives eventually wrote a search warrant to enter the home and take Galaviz into custody.

Current booking information from Los Angeles County was not readily available.

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.