 Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor AZUSA - A convicted felon and gang member was taken into custody without incident March 28, accused of being armed while allegedly igniting a fire inside the Azusa Downtown Metro Station parking structure. Van Nuys resident Mauricio Sanchez, 33, faces one count each of being a felon in possession of a firearm, being a felon in possession of ammunition and two counts of felony prior convictions under the California “Three Strikes Law,” according to Los Angeles Superior Court records. A caller reported a man lighting an unknown object on fire inside the parking structure, 801 N. Alameda Ave., around 1 p.m. After he was detained and searched, a loaded handgun was found in a bag being carried by Sanchez, according to the Azusa Police Department in a written statement. “Further investigation revealed that the firearm was a ghost gun, an untraceable weapon that is often assembled from parts. In addition to the firearm, officers also found narcotics paraphernalia in Sanchez’s possession,” according to the Azusa Police Department in a written statement. Sanchez is being held in lieu of more than $1 million bail ahead of a scheduled appearance in West Covina Superior Court April 2. ********** The arrest record in this article is being redistributed by SGV CityWatch and is protected by constitutional, publishing and other legal rights. Arrest information is public record and was distributed by government sources. The person named in this article has only been arrested on suspicion of the crime(s) listed and is presumed innocent.  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.  Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor 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.  PHOTO by Aaron Castrejon. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor 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. A train operator noticed an unconscious man on the platform at the station in the 900 block of North Citrus Avenue. Deputies and Los Angeles County Firefighters arrived. The latter agency attempted to revive the man, but was unsuccessful, according to Ramon Montenegro of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Transit Services Bureau.
L Line train service was disrupted for several hours during the death investigation, with bus shuttles providing free service to and from the APU/Citrus College and Azusa Downtown Station. L Line trains resumed normal service by 7 a.m.  Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor 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. “They’ll make a determination as to what caused the death. The initial appearance looks due to natural causes,” Montenegro told SGV CityWatch.
Montenegro did not know that man’s age range.  PHOTO/Google Maps. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor 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. Firefighters brought a ladder for the man to climb down from the ledge on the north-facing side of the bridge.
It was not immediately clear why the man was on the ledge. “There was no crime. Nothing rose to that level for us to take any enforcement action,” Poulos said. “We offered homeless outreach.”  PHOTO/Courtesy of Gary M. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor 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. Baham was not near the roadway when he was struck, according to Ramon Montenegro, public information officer with the Sheriff’s Transit Services Bureau.
Medics pronounced Baham dead at 12:56 p.m. One person on the train experienced difficulty breathing and required aid, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department.  PHOTO/Courtesy of Gary M. 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. |
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