Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - A Friday morning pursuit born out of a suspected catalytic converter theft ended with one or more suspects evading capture.

A caller told police dispatchers they believed a catalytic converter theft was in progress in the 200 block of North Alameda Avenue around 1:52 a.m. Friday, April 5. The caller described as many as five people standing around a vehicle. Officers found the red Camaro at Fifth Street and Pasadena Avenue and attempted a traffic stop, but the driver fled and a pursuit began, according to the Azusa Police Department.

The pursuit went westbound on the 210 freeway into Pasadena where the driver exited onto surface streets. Officers headed back to Azusa after losing sight of the vehicle, but as they were returning they relocated the red Camaro and the pursuit began again heading west on the 210 freeway, according to the Azusa Police Department.

The pursuit took to the 134 west and the southbound 2 freeway into Los Angeles where officers decided to end the chase for public safety reasons, according to the Azusa Police Department.

Officers were unable to determine if a catalytic converter theft ever did occur. No victims have come forward yet.

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.

AZUSA – A 34-year-old woman allegedly behind the wheel of a stolen vehicle was arrested Saturday after attempting to escape Azusa officers.

Andrea Marie Mendez fled Azusa police officers on a chase into East Los Angeles. She attempted to flee on foot, but was caught, according to Sgt. Steven Sears of the Azusa Police Department.

A patrol officer attempted to stop the driver of a stolen vehicle, identified as Mendez, in the 700 block of North Azusa Avenue June 25 just after 8 p.m. The driver refused to pull over and fled to the freeways to escape, Sears told SGV CityWatch.

The pursuit came to an end at 535 S. Lorena St. in East Los Angeles. Mendez allegedly struck at least one vehicle during the chase. The California Highway Patrol was reportedly investigating the collision, Sears told SGV CityWatch.

Mendez was released June 26 and issued a citation and released with a court date scheduled for November 2, according to Los Angeles County booking records.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - A reported murder suspect and one other person were arrested at the end of a pursuit early Tuesday.

The driver led deputies with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Diamond Bar/Walnut Station and Fountain Valley Police on a high-speed chase beginning in the area of the 60 freeway eastbound just before the 57 interchange. Fountain Valley Police requested the assistance of deputies in the pursuit around 5:50 a.m., according to Sgt. Sarabia of the Sheriff’s Walnut Station.

The pursuit eventually found its way to the 71 freeway where the suspect lead authorities northbound to the 57 freeway close to 100 miles per hour, according to Sheriff’s radio traffic.

The pursuit entered Glendora from the west 210 freeway, north on Glendora Avenue and through residential neighborhoods where, at one point, the driver tried to evade authorities by driving through Finkbiner Park, 160 N. Wabash Ave.

The driver fled westbound along route 66 from Glendora and into Azusa on Alosta Avenue and Foothill Boulevard where the driver then voluntarily stopped in front of a CVS, 101 W. Foothill Blvd.

The female driver and male passenger were arrested without incident by Walnut deputies assisted by the sheriffs Special Enforcement Bureau and K9 unit.

Booking information for both suspects was not readily available at the time the story was posted. Both suspects are still in the process of being booked, Sarabia told SGV CityWatch.

A supervisor with the Fountain Valley Police Department has yet to return a phone call seeking additional details regarding the crimes the primary suspect was wanted for.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - A pursuit suspect was jailed Friday morning after fleeing Azusa officers both in the vehicle and on foot.

Danilo Gonzalez, 36, led officers on a very brief chase after he allegedly committed a vehicle code violation in the area of First Street and Cerritos Avenue around 3:37 a.m. July 16. The driver fled on foot after reportedly crashing into a parked vehicle, according to the Azusa Police Department.

The crash occurred in the area Fondale Street and Cedarglen Drive.

Gonzalez allegedly suffered what is believed to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound, possibly as he discarded the firearm, the Azusa Police Department said in a written statement.

It is not clear Saturday night if he did in fact suffer a gunshot wound. The arrest and booking times, as well as the time Gonzalez was released, does not reflect any hospitalization duration.

Gonzalez was reportedly issued a citation and release at 4:40 a.m. the morning of the pursuit, according to Los Angeles County booking records.

Gonzalez was booked on suspicion of being a felon in possession of a firearm, evading arrest and several other weapons-related charges, the Azusa Police Department said.

AZUSA – The driver of a stolen vehicle was jailed Tuesday after refusing to stop for police and leading them on a pursuit into La Puente.

Azusa officers attempted to stop the driver of a stolen 2015 Hyundai Sonata around 7:49 p.m. in the 800 block of South Cerritos Avenue July 6, but the driver, identified as Gabriel Garcia, fled. He took the pursuit to the 210 freeway, according to Sgt. Bailey of the Azusa Police Department.

The pursuit went west on the 210 freeway, south on the 605 freeway and into El Monte on surface streets. 

Garcia allegedly sideswiped another occupied vehicle, causing mild injuries to the other driver, Bailey told SGV CityWatch.

Police continued to chase Garcia into La Puente where he fled the vehicle, leaving two passengers behind, Bailey told SGV CityWatch.

 The pursuit ended in the area of Valinda Avenue and Doublegrove Street.

Garcia allegedly ran through residential yards and over fences briefly before being caught, Bailey told SGV CityWatch.

Police booked 18-year-old Garcia, a La Mirada man, on suspicion of felony evading, unlawful taking of a vehicle, felony hit and run and resisting arrest, Bailey told SGV CityWatch.

Garcia’s two passengers were briefly detained, but released.

Garcia is being held in lieu of $75,000. He is scheduled to appear in the West Covina courthouse Thursday, July 8.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

AZUSA – A driver decided to flee police after they attempted to stop him inside a reported stolen vehicle May 4.

Azusa patrol officers located a silver Dodge Caravan at Citrus Avenue and Gladstone Street just after 7:30 a.m. Tuesday. The driver refused to stop and made his way to Covina, according to the Azusa Police Department.

The pursuit ended near Barranca Avenue and Tudor Street.

The lone occupant, 23-year-old Thomas Buckner, a Victorville resident, was arrested and a search of the stolen vehicle yielded a firearm inside the Caravan. The gun was also reportedly stolen, Azusa Police said.

Buckner was booked on suspicion of vehicle theft, evading police and other charges connected to the stolen firearm, Azusa Police said.

Buckner is scheduled for a court appearance today, May 6.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - For an hour and 10 minutes, a driver led police on a pursuit all over and outside of the city of Azusa until the suspect could drive no more.

35-year-old David Rico was arrested and booked on suspicion of reckless driving and felony evading. He refused to stop for an officer who tried to pull him over for alleged reckless driving in the area of Virginia Avenue and Sixth Street around 12:30 a.m. April 11, according to the Azusa Police Department.

Police successfully deployed a spike strip, which disabled Rico’s vehicle. He then stopped in the 900 block of North Enid Avenue. Rico, the only person in the vehicle, was arrested without further incident, according to the Azusa Police Department.

Rico was arrested at 1:50 a.m. He was booked at 5:25 a.m. and is being held in lieu of a $75,000 bail, according to Los Angeles County booking records.

Rico is scheduled for an appearance in the West Covina courthouse Tuesday, April 13.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - Charges are pending for two suspects who decided to flee Azusa officers during a pursuit that ended in a chain-reaction crash Monday afternoon.

Azusa police begin pursuing the driver of an Acura Integra after discovering the vehicle had been stolen. The pursuit began in the area of foothill Boulevard and San Gabriel Ave., according to Sgt. Jason Poulos of the Azusa Police Department.

Police pursued the driver to the Covina/Glendora border where the crash occurred in the intersection of Barranca Avenue and Arrow Highway around 5:45 p.m. March 8.

The Acura Integra collided with a Toyota Camry. The Integra then struck three other vehicles.

Both suspects in the stolen Integra suffered major injuries, compounded by the fact that they were not wearing their seatbelts, according to the California Highway Patrol, which is investigating the collision aspect of the chase.

The driver of the Camry suffered only minor injuries. Other people involved in the crash were able to walk away.

Alcohol and or drugs may have played a factor, the California Highway Patrol said.

Azusa Police is considering grand theft auto and felony evading charges.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - Under a pile of officers, a driver wanted for speeding struggled to free himself from the long arm of the law after he was subdued at the end of a pursuit early Monday morning.

The California Highway Patrol attempted to pull over the unidentified, alleged speedster sometime before 5 a.m. The driver allegedly refused to stop and led the California Highway Patrol on a pursuit.

Videographer Randy of Loud Labs News, which documents breaking news around the globe, tailed the pursuit as the driver slithered through neighborhoods in Azusa and Covina.

According to Randy of Loud Labs News, the driver continue to circle neighborhoods around the 210 freeway and the Vernon Avenue where his parents live. The suspect and his mother had called CHP dispatchers during the chase.

CHP officers successfully spiked the tires on the suspect vehicle, causing them to go flat. The pursuit ended outside the suspect’s parent’s house in the area of South Aspan Avenue and West Paramount Street.