Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

BALDWIN PARK - A known gang member was jailed with the help of the U.S. Marshal Service, accused of brandishing a firearm.

Two victims reported a man brandished a handgun at them near the Puente Avenue off ramp at the westbound I-10 freeway, according to the California Highway Patrol Baldwin Park Office.

Investigators with the CHP Baldwin Park Special Enforcement Team and U.S. Marshals identified and tracked down the suspect to West Covina.

“During the arrest, officers recovered a loaded, unregistered firearm. The suspect, a self-admitted gang member, now faces multiple felony charges, according to the CHP Baldwin Park Office.

Authorities have yet to publicly identify the suspect.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

BALDWIN PARK - Two victims were assaulted and severely injured during a July 3 carjacking.

Four suspects were involved in the carjacking of a 2024 Lucid Air in the Raising Cane’s parking lot, 13602 Francisquito Ave. around 7:14 a.m., according to the Baldwin Park Police Department.

Through witness statements and security video, investigators developed leads. The stolen Lucid Air was recovered in Beverly Hills, while two additional suspects were located and detained by Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputies in the Hollywood area.

All suspects were taken into custody, according to the Baldwin Park Police Department.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

BALDWIN PARK - A suspect accused of attacking teen girls in Baldwin Park was arrested, the Baldwin Park Police Department announced.

Moses Saul Vallecillo, 18, was charged with one count of attempted second-degree robbery, two counts of touching a person intimately against their will for sexual arousal, two counts of using a deadly weapon, and assault with a deadly weapon by force causing great bodily injury, according to Los Angeles Superior Court records.

Vallecillo was arrested December 14 and arraigned in Pomona Superior Court four days later.

Vallecillo allegedly grabbed his first victim from behind in an attempt to take her cellphone around 9 a.m. December 8. Four days later, he allegedly attacked a teen in the afternoon hours in the areas of the 3600 block of Vineland Avenue and the 3500 block of Ahern Drive. No other details about the second attack are publicly known.

Baldwin Park Police Detectives, working with the department’s gang detectives and Baldwin Park Unified School District staff, arrested the suspect. A search warrant served at his home led to the seizure of evidence related the the attacks, according to the Baldwin Park Police Department.

Vallecillo is scheduled for an court appearance January 17, 2023.

Anyone with information, or who may be a victim is urged to call Detective I. Rodas at 626-960-1955 ext. 425 or Detective S. Trinidad at 626-960-1955 ext. 457.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

BALDWIN PARK - Police are still asking for public help and identifying a suspect who attacked two teen girls in broad daylight this month.

The first attack occurred Friday, December 8 around 9 a.m. in the 3900 block of Big Dalton Avenue. Police revealed Thursday that a second assault occurred Tuesday, December 12 around 4:30 p.m. in the areas of the 3600 block of Vineland Avenue and the 3500 block of Ahern Drive, according to the Baldwin Park Police Department.

Investigators have yet to reveal details regarding the second attack.

A short surveillance video was released showing the suspect walking through neighborhoods while hiding his face behind a black surgical mask and wearing a hooded sweatshirt.

​In the first reported attack, the suspect grabbed the girl from behind and attempted to take her cellphone.

Anyone with information that can help identify or locate the suspect is urged to call Baldwin Park Police Detective I. Rodas at 626-960-1955 extension 425, or Detective S. Trinidad at 626-960-1955, extension 457.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

BALDWIN PARK - A 16-year-old girl fought her way free Friday after a suspect grabbed her in an effort to get her cellphone.

The attack occurred in the 3900 block of Big Dalton Avenue around 9 a.m. as the girl walked north from Central Avenue. The suspect grabbed the girl from behind and a struggle ensued, according to the Baldwin Park Police Department.

During the struggle, the suspect pushed the girl up against a fence and then dragged her across the street, according to the Baldwin Park Police Department.

“The victim broke free from the suspect and ran to a safe location. The suspect was seen on surveillance fleeing the location on foot,” according to the Baldwin Park Police Department in a written statement.

The suspect was described as a male in his late teens. He stands about 5 feet 7 inches tall. He was seen in a gray hooded sweatshirt, dark gray sweatpants and black and white shoes.

Anyone with information on this suspect is urged to call Baldwin Park Police Department detectives D. Newton, or T. Le at 626-960-1955.

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 - A weapon was recovered after a man allegedly threatened family members before fleeing to a school Monday afternoon, according to the Baldwin Park Police Department.

Officers were called to the 3700 block of Maine Avenue to a family disturbance around 1:45 p.m.January 30. The suspect allegedly had a weapon and threatened his family.

Officers evacuated the family. The suspect fled on foot, followed by police, and eventually to St. John the Baptist School, 3870 Stewart Ave., which was already locked down, according to the Baldwin Park Police Department.

The suspect was taken into custody and a weapon was recovered, although police did not describe what the weapon was.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

BALDWIN PARK - A hit and run suspect was arrested by police Tuesday afternoon, accused of fatal stabbing a family member of two teens who the suspect struck in a Baldwin Park neighborhood.

A 15-year-old girl and a 16-year-old boy were struck by a hit-and-run driver in the 3400 block of Cosbey Avenue. The driver fled the scene and crashed into a nearby parked vehicle. Family members chased after the suspect who fled on foot, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Information Bureau.

“Family members attempted to detain the suspect short distance away, at which time the suspect stabbed the victim, a male Hispanic 35 years old,” according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Information Bureau in a written statement.

The man who was stabbed was taken to a nearby hospital and later died. The teens struck in the collision suffered injuries considered not life-threatening.

Anyone with information on this incident 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 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 - A reported drive-by shooting Thursday night sent a man to a hospital where he was listed in stable condition, authorities said.

The drive-by erupted in the 13600 block of Olive Street October 21. The shooting caused damage to two vehicles. Gunfire also damaged the wrought iron gate at a residence, according to Sgt. Berumen of the Baldwin Park Police Department.

A black vehicle was seen fleeing east on Olive Street after the shooting.

The motive for the shooting is unclear. The victim was not cooperative with investigators, Berumen told SGV CityWatch.