Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - A parolee accused of attacking his father and keeping police at bay for roughly five hours is facing additional charges stemming from the standoff inside his parents home April 4.

Oscar Galaviz, 32, was finally taken into custody after being smoked out by SWAT team members and was booked on suspicion of elder abuse, residential burglary, violating his court order and resisting arrest.

Galaviz is accused of attacking his father with a walking cane, causing the father some minor injuries. His parents have an active restraining order against him and he should not have been at the house, according to the Azusa Police Department.

First responders were called to the house in the 800 block of West Sixth Street at 11:23 a.m. Tuesday. Galaviz barricaded himself inside a bedroom and armed himself with a baseball bat, according to the Azusa Police Department.

“Officers attempted contact with Galaviz, however he refused to comply and armed himself with a baseball bat asking Officers to shoot him. Galaviz also attempted to burrow through the drywall of the adjoining neighbors residence as he remained hold up,” according to the Azusa Police Department in a written statement.

The Azusa Police Department employed the assistance of the Irwindale Police SWAT team, a West Covina Police Department K9 and a mental health evaluation team in an effort to get Galaviz to surrender.

Telephone calls and announcements over loud speakers were made to try and get Galaviz to surrender.

Azusa police detectives eventually wrote a search warrant to enter the home and take Galaviz into custody.

Current booking information from Los Angeles County was not readily available.

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 - Police announced the October 30 arrest of a sex offender for allegedly failing to register.

West Covina man Santiago Acuna, 43, was taken into custody with the assistance of West Covina police officers. He was booked on suspicion of failing to register as a sex offender, according to the Azusa Police Department.

Acuna was arrested just before 9:30 a.m., but was issued a citation and released just before Noon the same day, according to Los Angeles County booking records.

“He was subsequently cited and released from custody due to the State’s “zero-bail” requirement,” according to the Azusa Police Department.

There is no court date information available publicly.

AZUSA - An Azusa Police motor officer was uninjured after a driver attempted to crash into him on the 210 freeway in Glendora Friday morning.

The suspects were arrested at the end of a pursuit initiated by an on-duty West Covina Police officer who witnessed the incident and the officer allegedly targeted by the driver and his passengers, according to the Azusa Police Department.

The driver, 27-year-old Alberto Gracida, swerved into the path of the Azusa motor officer on the west 210 freeway near Sunflower Avenue around 5:30 a.m. The officer initially believed the action to be accidental, but the suspects began throwing objects at the officer, Azusa Police said.

The motor officer maintained control of his motorcycle, was able to notify his dispatchers and attempted to stop the driver who refused to comply.

The pursuit exited at Azusa Avenue and continued on surface streets until the driver crashed through a residential yard and hit a wall. The driver briefly fled on foot before being arrested, Azusa Police said.

The two occupants, Sonya Luevao and Justine Torres, both 28, were arrested at the crash scene, Azusa Police said.

The crash occurred at East 3rd Street and North Dominguez Place around 6:06 a.m., according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

All three suspects were booked on suspicion of attempted homicide of a police officer, Azusa Police said.

Gracida is being held in lieu of $1 million bail.

County booking information was not readily available for the three suspects.

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