Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - Citizens are being asked to remain vigilant and report suspicious activity after multiple fire hydrants were stolen in Azusa recently.

While police failed to specify where, when and how many hydrants were stolen, as many as five hydrants were reported stolen by a resident in the Rosedale planned community in the north end of the city.

The thefts occurred at the end of July on Monrovia Place between Palm Drive and Citrus Avenue, a neighborhood just north of the APU/Citrus College A Line Station. Residents reportedly heard the commotion of the hydrants being removed, only to see a black pickup truck fleeing down Palm Drive.

This reporter walked along that stretch of Monrovia Place August 4. Gaping holes in the ground where hydrants were once anchored only remained, flanked by Azusa Light and Water signs.

Calls for additional details were made to Azusa Police watch commanders, the property crimes detective phone line and detective lieutenant in the last two weeks, but the calls have gone unreturned.

The department issued a statement August 2:

“The Azusa Light & Water Department would like to remind residents that only Azusa Light & Water employees in uniform work on fire hydrants throughout the city. If you see any suspicious activity near a fire hydrant, please call the Azusa Police Department at (626) 812-3200.”

The statement went on to add that each fire hydrant costs approximately $4000 to replace.

Anyone with information on fire hydrant thefts in the city is urged to call the Azusa Police Department Detective Bureau at 626-812-3200. Remain anonymous by calling LA Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), through the P3Tips mobile app, or lacrimestoppers.org.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - A white work van reported stolen out of Los Angeles in March was recovered July 7 by Azusa police after following the suspect to Monrovia.

A patrol officer located the stolen vehicle in the area of North Cerritos Avenue and East First Street around 5:26 p.m. July 7 in Azusa. The van entered the westbound 210 freeway and exited in Monrovia, according to Cpl. Ferrari of the Azusa Police Department.

The van was reported stolen out of the Los Angeles Police Department’s Devonshire Division, Ferrari told SGV CityWatch.

Jose Marin, 32, was arrested and booked on suspicion of taking a vehicle without the owner’s consent. He posted $25,000 bond and was released the day of his arrest. He is scheduled for an appearance in the West Covina courthouse July 11, according to Los Angeles County booking records.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - A vigilant resident scared off a would-be burglar April 23 as he was being watched through a surveillance camera.

The suspect scoped out a parked vehicle and tried to take a child’s scooter before the resident yelled at him in the 100 block of North Barbara Avenue just before 1:30 a.m.

The suspect scared off in Azusa bears a striking resemblance to the suspect sought by Irwindale Police for at least two vehicle burglaries and attempting multiple other vehicle break-ins in the 16000 block of Calle Breceda April 23 between 12:10 a.m. and 12:15 a.m.

AZUSA – A multi-agency investigation involving Azusa and Glendora detectives into catalytic converter thefts last year led to the discovery of the stolen items being stored and sold in Pomona.

Eight suspects were arrested April 2 after a search warrant was served. Numerous catalytic converters were found, as well as nearly $40,000 in cash, firearms, narcotics, items taken during railroad cargo thefts and other metal theft-related items, according to the Azusa Police Department.

Additional warrants were served with help from the task force comprised of the California Highway Patrol and Union Pacific Railroad Police. The value of the stolen cargo is estimated at $100,000, according to the Azusa Police Department.

Azusa Police property crimes detectives began investigating the catalytic converter theft and learned stolen converters from Azusa, several other local cities and converters from San Bernardino County were being stored and sold in the San Gabriel Valley prior to being transported for recycling, according to the Azusa Police Department.

The eight suspects face charges including possession of stolen property, felony vandalism, vehicle theft, firearms violations, narcotics violations, probation and parole violations, according to the Azusa Police Department.

“This investigation continues to be ongoing. The Azusa Police Department is committed to curbing thefts related to catalytic converters within the City of Azusa, as well as working with other local agencies to combat this issue within the San Gabriel Valley and other parts of Southern California,” according to the Azusa Police Department in a written statement.

Assisting Azusa and Glendora detectives were the Taskforce for Regional Autotheft Prevention, Foothill Special Enforcement Team, San Bernardino County Auto Theft Task Force, Chino Hills Station Multiple Enforcement Team, Chino Police Department, Los Angeles County Probation and Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Metal Theft Investigator.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - A woman behind the wheel of a stolen vehicle was arrested Monday after allegedly barricading herself inside the automobile, Azusa Police said.

Officers discovered the Range Rover was stolen at Irwindale and Foothill Boulevard around 4 p.m. January 17. The driver eventually stopped in a shopping center in the 200 block of West Foothill Boulevard, but refused to surrender, according to Cpl. Beaver of the Azusa Police Department.

The driver of the vehicle, reported stolen in Rancho Cucamonga, kept officers at bay for roughly 40 minutes and allegedly told officers to shoot her. She occasionally reached around through the Range Rover, Beaver told SGV CityWatch.

Eventually, Vanessa Monique Yslava, a Rancho Cucamonga resident, was removed from the vehicle by force.

The Range Rover was reportedly stolen after a home burglary in Rancho Cucamonga, Beaver told SGV CityWatch.

Yslava, 32, was transferred to the custody of the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Office. She was booked on suspicion of vehicle theft and residential burglary. She is being held in lieu of $125,000 bail at the West Valley Detention Center ahead of a scheduled appearance in Rancho Cucamonga Superior Court January 19.

Assisting with traffic control were the Irwindale and Glendora Police departments.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - The 25-year-old driver of a reported stolen vehicle was listed in critical condition late Friday night after being shot by police and crashing a black SUV into a flood control channel.

The unidentified suspect, in his attempt to escape police, collided into several patrol vehicles and accelerated towards Azusa officers who opened fire on him, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau.

Around 4:50 p.m. October 22, Azusa officers were notified of a stolen vehicle in the 200 block of South Azusa Avenue. Officers located the reported stolen vehicle and attempted to detain the driver and a female occupant. The driver decided to flee.

“The suspect vehicle continued eastbound on Azusa Lane as it lost control and collided into a chain link fence and entered a drainage wash. The vehicle came to rest on its side at the bottom of the wash as Azusa PD officers contained the area. With the assistance of their SWAT team, they were able to take the suspect into custody,” according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau.

The SUV landed in a twisted wreck at the bottom of the wet and filthy flood control channel.

The 28-year-old woman had emerged from the wreck and was first detained by authorities who arrived in a Bearcat into the channel. The suspect appeared to have been ejected in the crash and was very severely injured as officers approached and detained him.

A handgun was found near the crashed vehicle, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau.

Both the woman and the suspect, who sustained a gunshot wound, were hospitalized.

No officers were injured.

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 - 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.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - Two Azusa men were arrested Wednesday after a vigilant passerby witnessed the suspects burglarize a business.

Paul Medina, 35, and Cornelio Barrios, 33, were stopped by officers after the duo fled the closed business in the vehicle they arrived in. Officers found several dismantled catalytic converters after their vehicle was searched, according to the Azusa Police Department.

Police responded around 7:45 p.m. June 24 to the 900 block of West Fifth Street to a possible burglary in progress. Once the men escaped in a vehicle, a traffic stop was made in the 400 block of North Zachary Padilla Avenue, according to the Azusa Police Department.

Medina and Barrios were booked on suspicion of various charges related the the catalytic converter thefts. Exact charges will be determined at the conclusion of the investigation, Azusa Police said.

Azusa Police detectives were sent to the scene to further investigate the theft.