Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - A stolen vehicle was recovered Friday and its driver was arrested after a destructive pursuit, police said.

Driver Jose Antonio Hernandez Fitoria sideswiped a semi while fleeing officers along the southbound 605 Freeway at Lower Azusa Road in the early morning hours of April 25. The driver crashed while exiting the freeway and try to run down the on-ramp, according to the Azusa Police Department.

Officers received a report of a stolen vehicle and attempted to stop Hernandez while he was driving in the area of Foothill Boulevard and Virginia Avenue just before 2:30 a.m.

The vehicle was reported stolen out of Anaheim, according to the Azusa Police Department.

It is not immediately clear if Hernandez, or anyone else, suffered injuries in the crash.

Hernandez was booked on suspicion of multiple charges, including vehicle theft, felony evading, and driving under the influence, according to the Azusa Police Department.

Hernandez is being held in lieu of $100,000 bail at the Inmate Reception Center in Los Angeles ahead of a scheduled appearance in West Covina Superior Court April 29.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - Police arrested a man November 1 and reportedly discovered a weapon and ammunition tucked into a backpack he allegedly discarded during an attempted escape on foot.

Officers performing gang suppression operations at 1151 W. Arrow Hwy. around 8:18 p.m. attempted to speak with David Daniel Delgado, 36, and three other males. All four fled on foot, according to the Azusa Police Department.

Officers recovered the backpack Delgado allegedly discarded during the foot pursuit.

“Upon recovering the backpack, officers discovered a loaded short-barreled rifle along with three loaded magazines concealed inside,” according to the Azusa Police Department in a written statement.

Delgado, an Azusa man, was arrested and booked on suspicion of multiple gun-related charges, including being a prior felon in possession of a firearm, according to the Azusa Police Department.

He is being held without bail in the Men’s Central Jail in Los Angeles ahead of a scheduled appearance in West Covina Superior Court Tuesday, November 5.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - An Azusa resident was arrested October 18, accused of leading police on a pursuit and allegedly carrying methamphetamine, a gun and loaded gun clip.

The suspect, Anthony Amaya, allegedly refused to stop for police who attempted to pull him over in the 1000 block of North Vernon Avenue around 10:21 p.m. October 17. Amaya reportedly attempted to escape on foot also, but was quickly caught, according to the Azusa Police Department.

“During the arrest, officers found over 21 grams of methamphetamine in the driver’s pocket. Additionally, a firearm and loaded magazine were discovered nearby. The firearm was secured and booked into evidence,” according to the Azusa Police Department in a written statement.

Amaya, 48, made an initial appearance in West Covina Superior Court October 21 and was officially charged with one count each of being a felon in possession of a firearm, being a felon in possession of ammunition and evading a peace officer. He was additionally charge with two counts of prior felony convictions, according to Los Angeles Superior Court records.

Amaya pleaded not guilty. He is scheduled for an early disposition hearing November 8.

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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 - An accused speedster is facing more than just a traffic violation after allegedly leading police on a pursuit and brief standoff.

An officer attempted to stop a high-speed driver in the 200 block of North Cerritos Avenue just after 11 p.m. September 11, but the driver allegedly refused to stop. A pursuit was initiated on surface streets and then to the east 210 freeway, according to the Azusa Police Department.

The pursuit exited onto Grand Avenue in Glendora where the driver stopped and barricaded himself inside the truck. After a few minutes of negotiations, the driver continued the pursuit, according to the Azusa Police Department.

An officer successfully employed the Pursuit Intervention Technique and disabled the truck.

The pursuit ended in Citrus Avenue north of Gladstone Street. A CityWatch reader documented the pursuit aftermath.

“During a search of the vehicle, a loaded handgun with an extended magazine was located inside of the glove compartment,” according to the Azusa Police Department in a written statement.

John West Spradley, 36, was booked on suspicion of felony evading, possession of a high-capacity magazine, possession of an undetectable firearm, carrying a loaded firearm and obstructing or delaying a police officer.

Spradley is being held without bail at the Inmate Reception Center in Los Angeles ahead of a scheduled appearance in appearance Friday, September 13.

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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 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.