BALDWIN PARK – A 20-year-old athletic coach at Sierra Vista High School was arrested May 6, accused of misconduct.

Jase Puga, a Baldwin Park man, was booked on suspicion of meeting with a minor for lewd purpose, oral copulation with a minor, contacting a minor with intent to commit certain felonies and statutory rape, according to the Baldwin Park Police Department.

It is not quite clear in what capacity Puga served under as a coach.

Staff at Sierra Vista High School, 3600 Frazier St., contacted police after being made aware of misconduct by an athletic coach, later identified as Puga.

“An individual has been arrested, is no longer allowed on or near Baldwin Park Unified campuses and their employment has been terminated,” according to the Baldwin Park Police Department in a written statement.

District protocols were reportedly followed prior to Puga’s hiring as a coach, according to the Baldwin Park Police Department.

Puga was arrested at 9:20 a.m. May 6. He posted $175,000 bail and was released May 6 at 11:06 p.m., according to Los Angeles County booking records.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

BALDWIN PARK - Driver error likely led to an injury crash between two vehicles Friday evening.

One vehicle attempted a left-hand turn from northbound Downing Avenue to westbound Ramona Boulevard when it was struck by a vehicle east on Ramona just after 6 p.m. May 6, according to a preliminary investigation by the Baldwin Park Police Department.

One of the vehicles rolled over and the driver was ejected.

“Additionally, debris from the traffic collision struck an oncoming Foothill Transit bus. No injuries were sustained to the bus driver and passengers,” according to the Baldwin Park Police Department in a written statement.

Video from the scene showed a thoroughly-cracked windshield on the Foothill Transit bus.

Debris from the violent collision was strewn across westbound and eastbound lanes of Ramona Boulevard on both sides of railroad tracks, forcing the delay of several Metrolink trains until the scene could be cleaned enough for train traffic to move through.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

BALDWIN PARK - The offramp at Baldwin Park Boulevard from the eastbound I-10 freeway has been closed an unknown duration after a person died Monday morning.

It is not completely clear if the fatality resulted from a traffic collision. CHP traffic logs indicate that someone was performing chest compressions on the victim described as an elderly woman.

Both the California Highway Patrol and Los Angeles County Firefighters were dispatched to the offramp just after 11 a.m. April 19.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

BALDWIN PARK - A woman died at the scene Wednesday night after a vehicle slammed into a tree, the Baldwin Park Police Department said.

The collision occurred on Badillo Street at Puente Avenue around 10:36 p.m. March 30. The Acura TSX was being driven eastbound when it somehow struck a tree in the center median of Badillo, according to Sgt. Esteban Manjarrez of the Baldwin Park Police Department.

It is not yet publicly clear of what led up to the crash.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

BALDWIN PARK – The 85-year-old woman struck and killed by a motorcyclist March 24 in a crosswalk was identified recently.

Zifeng Lu was identified by the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner. She died from blunt force trauma. The death was ruled accidental.

Drugs and alcohol appeared to not play a factor in the crash, which occurred around 6:28 a.m. at Pacific Avenue and Puente Avenue. The rider, a West Covina man in his mid-60s, was westbound when he struck Lu, according to Sgt. David Leon of the Baldwin Park Police Department.

Lu died at the scene. She was originally identified as 86 years old.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

BALDWIN PARK – Drugs and alcohol appeared to not play a factor in a crash that killed a pedestrian and briefly sent a motorcyclist to the hospital Thursday.

The crash occurred around 6:28 a.m. March 24 at Pacific Avenue and Puente Avenue. The rider, a West Covina man in his mid-60s, was westbound when he struck the 86-year-old woman while she was in a crosswalk, according to Sgt. David Leon of the Baldwin Park Police Department.

The woman died at the scene.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

BALDWIN PARK - Two suspected gang members sought in connection with a Monrovia robbery were jailed last week after fleeing from Baldwin Park police.

Officers with the department’s Gang Activity Prevention unit attempted a traffic stop March 18 in the 3700 block of Baldwin Park Boulevard around 5 p.m. A passenger in the vehicle fled on foot, box in hand, and the driver sped away, according to the Baldwin Park Police Department.

The passenger who fled on foot, 20-year-old Alfonso Maya, was caught and found in possession of two firearms. The brief vehicle pursuit ended in a solo crash at Live Oak Avenue and Baldwin Park Boulevard when the suspect struck a traffic light, according to Sgt. Mike Hemenway of the Baldwin Park Police Department.

​A gun clip and ammunition were reportedly recovered from the crashed vehicle.

The driver, 20-year-old Izaac Velasco, and another passenger were taken to County/USC Medical Center for treatment.

Velasco was eventually taken into custody and booked on suspicion of felony evading causing injury and evading in opposing lanes of traffic, Hemenway told SGV CityWatch.

Maya was booked on suspicion of felony possession of a firearm, Hemenway told SGV CityWatch.

Maya is being held without bail at the Men’s Central Jail ahead of a scheduled appearance in Rio Hondo Municipal Court March 22.

Velasco apparently remains hospitalized. His bail is set at $75,000, according to Los Angeles County booking records.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

UPDATE, 1:50 p.m.: Detectives revealed that a 65-year-old man was found shot multiple times in the upper torso in the rear yard of a home in the 3800 block of Puente Avenue.

​There is apparently no suspect information available yet.

BALDWIN PARK - A man reportedly wounded by gunfire later died after being hospitalized Saturday morning, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

First responders were called around 8:20 a.m. to the 3800 block of Puente Ave., March 19. The victim, described only as a male adult, was taken to an area hospital where he was pronounced dead.

It is not yet clear if a suspect has been identified, or if a suspect is in custody yet.

Anyone with information on the shooting is urged to call the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500. Information can be provided anonymously by calling LA Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), through the P3Tips mobile app, or lacrimestoppers.org.

BALDWIN PARK – A three-alarm fire at a commercial property was extinguished after more than two hours early Sunday morning.

A dumpster fire reportedly spread to the building in the 4100 block of Maine Avenue February 27. Flames were seen through the roof. Three units in all were affected, according to Dispatch Supervisor Imogene McBride of the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

A second-alarm was requested at 2:38 a.m. At 3:25 a.m., a third-alarm was requested. The fire was knocked down at 4:17 a.m., McBride told SGV CityWatch.

The building housed medical offices.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

BALDWIN PARK - No officers were injured January 17 after a speeding, reckless pursuit suspect allegedly rammed several California Highway Patrol vehicles during a chase.

Brandon Nagata , a 31-year-old Glendora man, was booked on suspicion of felony assault with a deadly weapon other than a firearm on a peace officer, felony evading and driving on a suspended license, according to Officer Rodrigo Jimenez of the California Highway Patrol Baldwin Park office.

Nagata was allegedly speeding westbound on the 60 freeway west of Grand Avenue around 1:08 a.m. Nagato refused to stop for officers and invaded police on the freeway, in excess of 120 mph and on surface streets at 80 miles per hour, Jimenez told SGV CityWatch.

The driver, later identified as Nagata, into a dead end on Stimson Avenue north of Valley Boulevard in city of industry. CHP officers use their patrol vehicles to box in Nagata into a chain link fence, Jimenez told SGV CityWatch.

Nagata posted bond, according to Los Angeles County booking records. He is scheduled to appear in court February 4.