BALDWIN PARK – Three robbery suspects were arrested July 14, accused of committing multiple armed robberies across three cities the night before.

The suspects were mobile in a dark-colored SUV. At least one suspect used a handgun to threaten victims in all the crimes, authorities said.

The as-of-yet unidentified suspects robbed at least three victims in Baldwin Park along Francisquito Avenue around Baldwin Park Boulevard, according to Sgt. Balzano of the Baldwin Park Police Department.

In Baldwin Park, one robbery was reported at 9:14 p.m., a second at 9:43 p.m. and a third at 11:07 p.m. A handgun was used during the robberies. The suspects were able to get away with some stolen property, Balzano told SGV CityWatch, adding that he did not immediately know how many of the Baldwin Park robberies were successful.

Investigators believe the same suspects attempted and failed to take a wallet from one victim at East Badillo Street and South First Avenue around 10:16 p.m., according to Sgt. Keith Sutherland of the Covina Police Department.

At least one robbery attempt occurred in West Covina the same night. Multiple attempts to speak with a West Covina supervisor Thursday morning were unsuccessful.

Baldwin Park officers located the suspects in the 3100 block of Syracuse Avenue and set a containment search with the help of a Los Angeles County Sheriff’s helicopter. After roughly two hours, the suspects were arrested, Balzano told SGV CityWatch.

No victims in the Baldwin Park and Covina robberies were wounded.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

BALDWIN PARK - A Covina man is accused of selling crucial face masks at $300 a box, Baldwin Park Police said Tuesday.

Officers received a tip that suspect Johnwill Baldonado, 30, was selling the masks at a grossly-inflated price online in Baldwin Park. Investigators worked under cover, purchased a mask from Baldonado and then took him into custody, according to the Baldwin Park Police department.

An initial online ad by Baldonado has been taken down, but two more ads were subsequently posted. All the ads were very similar to each other and appeared to have been written by the same person, Baldwin park police said.

21 boxes containing a total of 420 N95 masks were confiscated by police.

“During a state of emergency the law prohibits charging a price that is more than 10% what an item cost before the state declaration of emergency,” Walden Park police said in a written statement.

Baldonado was booked on suspicion of price gouging during a declared emergency. He was issued a citation and released on a written promise to appear in court.