Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - The cavalry was called in Friday as officers from nearby agencies assisted the Azusa Police Department in serving a multi-location search warrant.

The operation netted 13 arrests and the seizure of illegal handguns and other evidence related to various gang crimes. Those arrested face charges ranging from probation violations to conspiracy to commit murder, according to the Azusa Police Department.

“Names, locations, and evidence found are withheld due to an ongoing investigation by this department,” according to the Azusa Police Department in a written statement.

The Azusa Police Department’s Detective Bureau and Crime Suppression Team served the search warrant.

Assisting were police departments from El Monte, West Covina, Glendora, Pomona, La Verne, Covina, Glendale, Irwindale, Beverly Hills, Foothills Special Enforcement Team and County of Los Angeles Probation Department.

Anyone with information regarding illegal gang activity is urged to call the Azusa Police Department’s Detective Bureau or Crime Suppression Team at 626-812-3200.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - Nine law enforcement organizations, led by the Azusa Police Department, targeted eight homes in an ongoing investigation into a shooting that left a teen injured March 17.

Several people ended up arrested after the 5 a.m. raid April 16 and multiple firearms were seized. The eight homes targeted in the search warrant reportedly housed a number of Sentinel Boys gang members and their associates, according to the Azusa Police Department.

The shooting occurred St. Patrick’s Day in the 500 block of North Dalton Avenue just before 10 p.m. A juvenile was injured and required extensive medical treatment, according to the Azusa Police Department.

A resident was nearby and heard the gun fire erupt on Dalton Avenue. The suspect or suspects fled west in a vehicle towards Alameda Avenue from the 500 block of North Dalton, then additional gun fire was heard.

The huge multi-agency response included the Glendale Police Department, Arcadia Police, Pomona Police, El Monte Police, West Covina Police, Irwindale Police, Covina Police, Glendora Police and the Foothills Special Enforcement Team.

A 17-year-old Azusa resident was arrested. He was booked on suspicion of unlawful possession of a firearm, resisting or deterring police, possession of a high-capacity magazine, possession of an undetectable firearm, resisting, delaying, or obstructing an officer and vandalism. A weapon seized at the juvenile’s location was an unregistered ghost gun, Azusa Police said.

21-year-old Abraham Garcia, from Riverside, was arrested and booked on suspicion of being a felon in possession of a firearm and a probation violation. Officers seized a Smith and Wesson model 34 22-caliber revolver, Azusa Police said.

Another ghost gun was also seized, located at a third home known to house Sentinel Boys gang members, Azusa police said.

“This investigation reemphasizes the Azusa Police Department’s commitment to curbing violent crime and reducing gang crime in the City of Azusa,” Azusa Police said in a written statement.

Anyone with information on these crimes is urged to call the Azusa Police Department at 626-812-3200.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - A Police K9 sniffed out a stolen vehicle suspect hiding in a Glendora neighborhood on the border with Azusa January 15.

The suspect fled after spotting an Azusa patrol car behind him in the area of Barranca Avenue and Baseline Road Friday. He wound up at a dead end and escaped on foot briefly, according to Sgt. Bailey of the Azusa Police Department.

Officers located the stolen vehicle the suspect drove earlier that day, but the vehicle and driver somehow disappeared and officers could not locate either of them, Bailey told SGV CityWatch.

An Azusa police detective relocated the stolen vehicle on the road hours later around 7:10 p.m. around Citrus Avenue and Baseline Road, Bailey told SGV CityWatch.

“The guy knew officers were behind him and actually turned down a dead end,” Bailey told SGV CityWatch.

The driver ran through Stanton Elementary School from the dead end at East Hollyvale Street.

Glendora and Pomona officers, aided by a Pomona Police helicopter, Sheriff’s helicopter and a Pomona Police K9, assisted Azusa Police in finding the suspect, who was located around 8:32 p.m.

Manuel Urquidez, 27, was booked on suspicion of stealing a vehicle.

Urquidez was issued a citation and released the following morning, according to Los Angeles County booking records.

AZUSA - Friday brought the arrests of an undisclosed number of suspects at nine different locations; suspects tied to recent gang violence in Azusa over a two-year period, police announced Friday.

Azusa detectives and Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputies investigated crimes of murder, suspicion of murder, conspiracy to commit murder, attempted murder, drug sales, shootings, illegal gun possession and vandalism. Multiple illegal firearms were recovered from Sentinel Boys 13 gang members, the Azusa Police Department said.

Suspects were arrested on suspicion of murder, conspiracy to commit murder and other gang-related crimes in Azusa and the greater Los Angeles County area, Azusa Police said in a written statement.

A call to Azusa Police Lt. Robert Chivas seeking more information was not returned Friday. What is not clear are the names of the suspects arrested and locations police targeted.

Suspects were possibly targeted in Glendora Friday.

Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - Police have taken suspects into custody after one or more of them opened fire during a warrant service near Gladstone Street and Lark Ellen Avenue.
 
Azusa officers were being assisted by Pomona Police SWAT while serving a gang warrant near Gladstone Street and Lark Ellen Avenue early Thursday when they were met with gunfire, according to Michael Olivieri, Pomona Police chief.
 
It is unclear what specific investigation this gang warrant was tied to.
 
Surrounding homes were evacuated after gunfire rang out.
 
SWAT officers were seen on live television preparing to enter the home to take the suspects into custody.
 
More information to come…