Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

LOS ANGELES - A man died from blunt force trauma to the head in a likely homicide, coroner investigators ruled.

Jose Mejia Argueta, 40, was found near the San Gabriel Riverbed after Azusa Police responded around 10 a.m. January 10, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

A passerby reportedly discovered the body.

Argueta’s body was found on the opposite side of a chain link fence along Encanto Parkway and Hacienda Drive.

The San Gabriel Riverbed has become the living space to a number of homeless people who populate the mostly-dry riverbed almost as fast as they are removed,

The riverbed is the frequent victim of man made brush fires and has been the scene of assaults and at least one other murder.

AZUSA – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, assisted by Azusa Police officers, worked to remove an impressive amount of debris and property from 60 acres the San Gabriel Riverbed in late February.

The weeklong project occurred from February 22 through February 28 and resulted in 128 tons of floatable debris being removed, which filled 16 40-cubic-yard dumpsters, according to William Reese of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles District.

The work was necessary, Reese said, to abate runoff blockage risks that could cause flooding of populated areas during heavy rains.

Debris consisted of wood pallets, empty propane and gas canisters, tarps, furniture, old tires, electronics, water cans and even a vintage arcade game that long since stopped working, Reese said.

Reese noted a large amount of a giant invasive reed, the Arundo Donax, was removed after having been used to construct encampment walls and huts.

“The work was done by hand, so as not to disturb bird nesting and other wildlife habitats, with debris gathered directly to dumpsters or at collection points along a hardtop pedestrian/bicycle path,” Reese said in a written statement.

A crew of 15 contracted personnel worked to remove the debris and were slightly hampered by intermittent and light rain as they had to traverse soggy terrain while hauling the trash up steep cement embankments to the dumpsters, Reese said.

Another important aspect of the cleanup was to not disturb the wildlife habitat and nesting birds.

“Camping in the San Gabriel River is illegal and inherently dangerous, as flash flooding can occur from heavy rains further upstream,” Reese said in a written statement.

Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority and Veterans Affairs personnel assisted an undisclosed number of homeless people with offers of services prior to the cleanup, Reese said.

The Irwindale Police Department, Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, Los Angeles County Department of Animal Control, Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority and City of Duarte also assisted, Reese said. 

AZUSA - Police located the man who fell in the San Gabriel River and he stated to officers he is fine, Azusa Police reported.

The man was located around 9:21 p.m. near the scene. He told officers he and his bicycle were swept down the river. He was able to walk away after falling and is refusing medical help.

Firefighters ended their search around 9:11 p.m. after receiving information the victim likely self-extricated before first responders arrived.

Azusa Police officers conducted follow-up interviews with transients at several area camps near the riverbed and found the man with help from at least one witness.

Firefighters and Azusa Police were called to the San Gabriel River near the Army National Guard around 7:45 p.m. to a possible swiftwater rescue by someone claiming to hav seen a man fall in.

An Urban Search and Rescue Team from Long Beach was even called to assist.

Despite the work by police to help remove and provide services for those who live in the riverbed, many still call the San Gabriel River home.

This reporter who frequents the San Gabriel River Bike Path in the Santa Fe Dam and north of the 210 freeway on biking excursions has witnessed many elaborate transient camps -- most residing in the narrow stretch of brush and dirt to the east of the bike path.

Some of these transient camps are well-protected by tarps, are quite large and one camp featured a plastic tub large enough to potentially bath in.

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AZUSA - Firefighters and Azusa Police are searching after receiving a report of a male caught in the San Gabriel River.

The victim, only described to first responders as a male wearing a white shirt and blue jeans, was seen in the riverbed near the Army National Guard, 1351 Sierra Madre Ave., around 7:45 p.m.

The victim may have been caught by the water after attempting to cross on a bicycle, according to preliminary information from Azusa Police.

The last known location of the victim firefighters and Azusa Police were told was somewhere between the San Gabriel River  Bike Path and Foothill Boulevard.

A urban search and rescue team from Long Beach is en route to assist Los Angeles County firefighters.

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