Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

BALDWIN PARK - A DUI/driver license checkpoint is scheduled for Friday September 22, the Baldwin Park Police Department announced.

The checkpoint will be operated at an undisclosed location from Friday at 6 p.m. to Midnight.

“The purpose of checkpoints is not necessarily to make arrests, but to promote public safety by deterring drivers from driving impaired,” according to the Baldwin Park Police Department in a written statement.

Funding for this checkpoint was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

BALDWIN PARK - Surveillance video captured a window smash burglary committed by a group of masked suspects July 15.

Detective’s believe the same group of men burglarized Waba Grill, 4138 Maine Ave., El Pollo Loco, 14455 Ramona Blvd. and La Cosecha Mexican Bistro, 4291 Maine Ave.

The burglaries occurred in the early-morning hours.

A black SUV was used, according to the Baldwin Park Police Department.

Anyone who can identify the suspects is urged to call Baldwin Park Police Detective Thomas Ip at 626-960-1955 ext. 256.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

BALDWIN PARK - A full closure of the northbound 605 freeway just south of the I-10 freeway opened after fatal crash investigation Sunday morning.

First responders were called around 2 a.m., July 9 to a report of a sedan that overturned and landed on its roof. A motorcycle and possibly a black Mercedes-Benz were also involved in the crash, according to California Highway Patrol traffic logs.

The California Highway Patrol stopped all northbound lanes south of Valley Boulevard and diverted traffic to the west I-10 freeway. By 2:21 a.m., a request for an evidence tow was made.

Two other people were hospitalized.

By 6:16 a.m. Caltrans ended the full closure and northbound traffic was free to move again, according to the California Highway Patrol.

It is not immediately clear what caused the crash.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

BALDWIN PARK - An attack was caught on camera June 28 when a pedestrian was sucker-punched without provocation.

The victim, an older man, was walking in the area of Lubican Street and Merced Avenue when the suspect, Manuel Alejandro Valenzuela, exited a parked vehicle and punched him.

The man was knocked to the ground. He was struck again once he got back up.

If anyone may have also been attacked by Valenzuela, or who may have information that can help this case, you are urged to call the Baldwin Park Police Department at 626-960-1955, ext. 414.

Valenzuela was arrested the day after the attack and was booked on suspicion of elder abuse. He is being held in lieu of $75,000 bail at the Twin Towers Correctional Facility in Los Angeles ahead of a scheduled appearance in El Monte’s Rio Hondo Municipal Court July 5.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

BALDWIN PARK - The residents of a home escaped serious injury Thursday after an SUV, driven by a suspected drunk driver rolled and crashed into the front of the house.

The crash occurred in the 13700 block of East Ramona Boulevard Just after 7 a.m., Thursday, June 29. The crash also sheared a fire hydrant, according to Los Angeles County Fire Department radio traffic.

According to Johnny Higuera, 56, who resides on the property, his mother was in the kitchen when the SUV struck and heavily damaged the house. His mother, 76-year-old Norma Rodriguez, was thrown several feet, but escaped serious injury.

Apparently, crashes are common at that intersection with Kenmore Avenue. Another home avoided damage after a vehicle crashed and stopped short of hitting the home.

Higuera and a few others had to help the driver out of the crashed SUV. The driver appeared drunk, Higuera told SGV CityWatch.

The driver was apparently arrested, but SGV CityWatch was unable to reach a Baldwin Park Police supervisor for further details on the arrest.

Higuera’s normal ritual is to take the dog out and have a smoke around the time the vehicle crashed, but he overslept Thursday morning and likely avoiding being seriously injured or killed.

“For one reason or another I didn’t do that this time for some reason. I was having a good old dream,” Higuera said.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

BALDWIN PARK - A man wanted for a shooting and attempted murder June 11 was apprehended.

Antonio Rosas, 26, was arrested June 28 at 12:23 p.m. He is being held in lieu of $1 million bail in the Inmate Reception Center in Los Angeles, according to Los Angeles County booking records.

A black handgun was used during the shooting, according to the Baldwin Park Police Department.

It is unclear if the weapon has been recovered.

Assisting with the arrest was the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office Community Violence Reduction Team.

Rosas is scheduled for an appearance in Rio Hondo Courthouse June 30.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

BALDWIN PARK - Two female juveniles and a male juvenile were arrested June 17 during an attempted escape after stealing products from Target.

The juveniles are believed to be part of an organized retail theft crew. $761 in stolen merchandise from Target was recovered, as well as $1,000 in merchandise from a Victoria’s Secret store and merchandise from other unknown stores, according to the Baldwin Park Police Department.

I anyone with information on this arrest, or other possible thefts committed by these suspects is urged to call Baldwin Park Police at 626-960-1955.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

BALDWIN PARK - A man is being accused of fatally stabbing his mother multiple times Wednesday.

Baldwin Park Police officers were called to a home in the 13600 block of Palm Avenue at 8 p.m. to a reported stabbing. The victim suffered wounds to her upper torso. She was declared dead at the scene, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau.

“During the investigation, the victim’s adult son was detained and subsequently placed under arrest,” according to the Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau in a written statement.

The motive is not publicly clear. The suspect’s name has not been released.

Anyone with information on this murder is urged to call the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500. 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

BALDWIN PARK - A semi hauling a 40,000-pound trailer overturned and possibly caused several vehicles to crash into it on the east I-10 freeway just east of the 605 freeway.

The California Highway Patrol is holding all lanes of the eastbound side while firefighters work to treat patients, two of which were pulled after being trapped in a vehicle. The northbound 605 transition to the east I-10 is also being held.

All eastbound traffic is being diverted to the south 605, according to the California Highway Patrol.

The crash was first reported at 4:46 a.m.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

BALDWIN PARK - A driver escaped injury after a suspect in a black SUV opened fire on the 605 freeway Friday morning.

CHP dispatchers were told of shots fired on the north 605 freeway south of the I-10 freeway around 9:40 a.m. Friday, April 7. The driver of the black SUV drove alongside a white Toyota Prius and fired one shot, according to the California Highway Patrol.

The driver of the Prius fled off the freeway at Ramona Boulevard to a Mobil gas station, 12670 Ramona Blvd., and called 9-1-1.

“CHP personnel located a single bullet round in the victim’s vehicle,” according to the California Highway Patrol in a written statement.

The black SUV’s driver, described as a 20 to 30-Year-old Latino man in a black shirt and black hat, fled east on the I-10 freeway.

Anyone with information on this shooting is urged to call CHP Officer D. Lauritzen, or Public Information Officer M. Lizzaraga at 323-980-4600.