Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - A man accused of brandishing a handgun at a train operator was located and arrested July 19.

The incident unfolded on the Metro A-Line tracks between Irwindale and Azusa. The train operator saw the suspect and a companion on the tracks. The operator sounded the horn at the duo.

“When the operator activated the train horn to alert the suspect to move, the suspect pulled a handgun from his waistband and pointed it at the operator,” according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Transit Services Bureau.

The suspect fled the area, but was later located, identified and arrested, according to the Transit Services Bureau.

AZUSA – Paramedics and deputies worked to save a man found not breathing on the platform of the APU/Citrus College Station Tuesday, but he was declared dead at the scene.

Deputies performing train and platform inspections around 12:12 a.m. July 14 saw the man, only described as white or Hispanic, and checked to see if he was alright, according to Ramon Montenegro, public information officer with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Transit Services Bureau.

“They saw a man on the train platform that did not appear to be moving. They checked his breathing, his pulse and there was no breathing and pulse,” Montenegro told SGV CityWatch. “They immediately called for fire paramedics. They began CPR right away. Fire paramedics got there and continued, unfortunately the man didn’t make it.”

There are no apparent signs of foul play, Montenegro told SGV CityWatch.

Train service between the Azusa Downtown Station and APU/Citrus College Station was temporarily stopped during the investigation, but has since resumed, according to the Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

The Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner will determine cause of death.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

AZUSA – A man from Los Angeles is facing assault with a deadly weapon charges after police identified him as a suspect in a June 28 stabbing.

James Paul Williams, 39, allegedly assaulted a male at the Citrus College/APU Station, 905 N. Citrus Ave., June 28 around 3:53 a.m. The victim suffered neck and face wounds, but is expected to recover, according to the Azusa Police Department.

The suspect was gone when police arrived.

Azusa officers worked with deputies from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Transit Services Bureau to locate evidence, identify a suspect and locate witnesses. Ultimately, Williams was pegged as a suspect, Azusa Police said.

A Transit Services deputy recognized Williams June 30 at the Citrus College/APU Station. Williams was taken into custody by the Azusa Police Department.

Williams was arrested at 2:48 a.m., according to Los Angeles County booking records and is scheduled for an appearance in the West Covina courthouse July 2.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

AZUSA – Deputies and the Los Angeles County Coroner are investigating the circumstances surrounding a man who was declared dead at the L Line Station Friday.

There does not initially appear to be any foul play behind the death of the male on the station platform. Deputies and medics were called to the station platform at 4:20 a.m. June 26, according to Ramon Montenegro of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Transit Services Bureau.
 
Los Angeles County Paramedics attempted to revive the male who was found unconscious and not breathing. He was declared dead at 5:04 a.m., Montenegro told SGV CityWatch.
 
Surveillance footage is being reviewed as part of the investigation, Montenegro said.
 
Buses are transporting riders to and from the APU/Citrus College Station and the Azusa Downtown Station, according to the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

LOS ANGELES - A 60-year-old man who died at the APU/Citrus College Station in Azusa January 29 was identified.

Brian Wiggs was identified by the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner.

Wiggs was identified as a transient man, according to Sarah Ardalani, public information officer for the coroner.

The cause of death has yet to be determined. An autopsy is pending.

Firefighters were dispatched to an “unconscious person” call at 3:53 a.m. January 29. The response was changed to a “cardiac arrest” call, according to a dispatcher with the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

AZUSA – A man was pronounced dead at the APU/Citrus College Station in Azusa early Wednesday.
 
A train operator noticed an unconscious man on the platform at the station in the 900 block of North Citrus Avenue January 29. Deputies and Los Angeles County Firefighters arrived. The latter agency attempted to revive the man, but were unsuccessful, according to Ramon Montenegro of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Transit Services Bureau.

Firefighters were dispatched to an “unconscious person” call at 3:53 a.m. The response was changed to a “cardiac arrest” call, according to a dispatcher with the Los Angeles County Fire Department.
 
The Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner will be handling the investigation, Montenegro said.

AZUSA - The man found stranded on the Gold Line bridge overlooking Citrus Avenue was provided homeless outreach services after being rescued, said Sgt. Jason Poulos of the Azusa Police Department.

Police and firefighters were dispatched just after 1 p.m. October 5 to the bridge near the APU/Citrus College Station, 905 N. Citrus Ave., to a rescue call. It was initially believed the man was threatening to jump, but the suspicion was quickly denied.

LOS ANGELES - Suicide was the manner of death for the man who was struck and killed by a Gold Line train July 31. 

Joel Alexander Baham, 43, died from multiple blunt force trauma, according to Investigator Nani Cholakians of the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner.

Baham was struck by a Gold Line train between the Irwindale and Azusa Downtown stations around 12:47 p.m. The Gold Line train stopped near Virginia Street and 6th Street. Baham’s body was found nearby.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
​CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - A person was struck and killed by a Gold Line train Wednesday afternoon.

Trains in both directions have been stopped and bus bridges are provided for passengers, according to the Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

The pedestrian was hit near the Virginia Avenue crossing around 12:47 p.m. July 31. The pedestrian was not near the roadway when struck, according to Ramon Montenegro, public information officer with the Sheriff’s Transit Services Bureau.

The pedestrian was pronounced dead at 12:56 p.m.

One person on the train experienced difficulty breathing and required help, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

Detectives with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau have been called to the scene, which is standard operating procedure for unnatural deaths, Montenegro said.

UPDATE, 8:30 p.m.: Gold Line trains resumed normal service after the earlier signal issue in Azusa, Metro announced at 5:14 p.m.

AZUSA - Deputies are investigating who may have damaged the railroad signal system in Azusa Saturday after attempting to steal valuable copper wire.

Around 7:37 a.m. July 13, a Los Angeles Metropolitan Transit employee witnessed a suspicious man tampering with copper wire nearby the Irwindale Gold Line Station, according to Ramon Montenegro, public information officer with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Transit Services Bureau.

Deputies could not yet confirm if the suspicious man was the individual who vandalized the signals. Deputies took his contact information before releasing him, Montenegro said.