Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

CHARTER OAK - A brawl between teens broke out at Charter Oak Park September 15.

It is unclear exactly why the teenagers began fighting each other at the park, 20261 E. Covina Blvd., but at one point someone brandished what appeared to be a handgun and pointed it at some of the teens. Some of the incident was caught on cell phone video.

The park is across the street from Charter Oak High School.

“Our students' safety is always paramount, and I want to thank those who contacted the school and the Sheriff’s Department to report the incident,” according to Charter Oak High School Principal Matthew Dultz in a written statement sent to parents the day of the brawl.

The San Dimas Sheriff’s Station said the Sheriff’s Parks Bureau is handling the investigation. Several messages were left seeking information on the investigation, but those messages were not returned.

It is unclear if any arrests were made or if a weapon was seized.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

CHARTER OAK - A first amendment auditor was briefly detained Sunday afternoon as he live-streamed himself on YouTube openly harassing parishioners of St. John Church while armed with a stun gun.

A man who identifies himself as Jose Gonzalez, aka SGV News First, approached St. John Coptic Orthodox Church, 21329 E. Cienega Ave., around 12:40 p.m. and began a livestream on YouTube. As parishioners entered and exited the property, Gonzalez would blather odd phrases at them, pretending to be a director.

As the YouTube livestream continued, either parishioners or employees of the church confronted Gonzalez, who would snap back with more nonsensical drivel and occasional physical insults.

Deputies were called to the scene after a weapon, initially believed to be a handgun, was seen holstered on the YouTuber.

Gonzalez, who might possibly live in La Puente, was detained and searched. He was found to be in lawful possession of the weapon. Deputies found no other reason to arrest or further detain him, so he was released, according to Lt. Fillpot of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s San Dimas Station.

“He did not do anything illegal, otherwise we would have taken appropriate enforcement action,” Fillpot told SGV CityWatch.

First Amendment auditors push the boundaries of civil behavior, standing just outside businesses to use flash photography and record their harassment of workers, customers and others. Auditors have recorded themselves many times inside businesses, such as post offices, to record people to get a reaction as the auditors hurl insults and expletives.

Auditors operate across the country and receive income from fans and through YouTube, the latter seemingly complacent in the harassment.

On occasion, assaults have taken place, with either the auditor or the victim being arrested.

Gonzalez and his ragtag group of other auditors have been documented harassing other churches, including three Santa Clarita churches in 2021.

What exactly can the public do to counter this behavior?

“Knowledge is the key point to this. In our society people have the right to video you when you are in public. I wouldn’t confront them, I wouldn’t try to take their camera away,” Fillpot told SGV CityWatch.

Fillpot said erecting walls and “no trespassing” signs might be a more extreme approach, but effective.

“Unfortunately when it comes to these instances the people we encounter are unpleasant, not just to us, but to the public. They’re trying get a reaction, which will get more people to view their YouTube videos. The more views, the more money they get,” Fillpot surmised.

Fillpot suggested ignoring the auditors and pretending they are not even there. “If they don’t get a rise out of people, no one is going to want to watch a bunch of people coming to and leaving church.”

As he left the scene, Gonzalez mentioned that he originally intended to hit One & All church, 1404 W. Covina Blvd., and plans to strike the church at an unknown future date.

Although he does have a Twitter and Facebook page, both receiving a little content in the last year, he primarily live streams to YouTube. Monitoring that channel will help alert people, should he hit your business or church.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

UNINCORP. COVINA - A house party turned deadly Sunday morning just before 12:30 a.m.

A suspect unloaded a firearm at the house party in the 17000 block of East Bellbrook Street October 30. Deputies from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s San Dimas Station found the four wounded Latino men. One victim was already dead at the scene, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

The three remaining victims were transported to a hospital where one of them was pronounced dead. The two other victims’ conditions are apparently not publicly known.

Anyone with information on this shooting 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.

CHARTER OAK – A driver is scheduled to be arraigned on a felony hit and run charge today as the man she allegedly hit continues to fight for his life.

The collision occurred January 27 between 5:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. The injured man was found behind USA Gasoline, 20354 E. Arrow Hwy. in Charter Oak.

Victoria Wright Fisher, a 73-year-old Glendora woman, was identified as a suspect after the investigation was transferred from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department to the California Highway Patrol Baldwin Park Office.

Fisher was found and arrested in Covina February 4 at 10:50 a.m. She drove a 2000 Nissan Pathfinder when the collision occurred, according to Officer Rodrigo Jimenez of the California Highway Patrol Baldwin Park Office.

The circumstances that led to the collision are not immediately known. It is unclear if alcohol led to the crash.

The victim, identified as Oliver, was left with countless injuries: a broken pelvis, 17 broken ribs, a broken ankle, collapsed lungs, a broken leg, a broken clavicle and more. He recently began battling pneumonia, for which he underwent surgery to clear his lungs, according to his sister, Maggie Bunten.

Security footage from USA Gasoline reportedly showed the collision.

The driver entered the gas station lot from Arrow Highway, drove behind the gas station and struck Oliver. The driver exited the vehicle after the crash, reentered the SUV and drove out to Bonnie Cove Avenue, Bunten told SGV CityWatch.

The arrest was made one day after the case files were delivered to the CHP Baldwin Park Office, Jimenez told SGV CityWatch.

Fisher was issued a citation and released the same day of her arrest. She is expected to appear in the West Covina Courthouse, according to Los Angeles County booking records.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

LOS ANGELES – More information was revealed Tuesday in the investigation into an Azusa Police motorcycle crash that killed a pedestrian January 31.

“Our officer is currently recovering from injuries caused by the collision. The officer was headed home after working his shift as a Motor Officer at Azusa PD,” according to the Azusa Police Department in an updated social media post.

The pedestrian killed has yet to be identified, but he is described as a 50-year-old Asian man. He was crossing the street when the officer eastbound on Cienega Avenue at Asherton Avenue collided with him, according to a California Highway Patrol press release.

The collision occurred around 9 p.m.

Earlier reports indicated the man killed was a bicyclist.

The injured 63-year-old officer, a Covina resident, was given a police escort to Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center. The CHP stopped traffic on the southbound 57 freeway to allow an unobstructed path to the level 1 trauma center.

The pedestrian was also taken to Pomona Valley where he was pronounced dead.

Alcohol and drugs are not suspect factors in the crash.

Anyone with information on this crash is urged to call the CHP Southern Division Investigative Services Unit at 323-644-9550.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

CHARTER OAK - A motorcycle officer reportedly with the Azusa Police Department is awake after striking a bicyclist on Cienega Avenue near Sunflower Avenue Monday night.

At 9:45 p.m., CHP officers at the scene were notified by dispatch that the bicyclist hit by the motor officer is dead. Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputies, Azusa Police, Glendora Police and the California Highway Patrol all responded to the scene just after 9 p.m.

A call to the California Highway Patrol Traffic Management Center did not yield very much information. The CHP is trying to confirm if the collision happened in their jurisdiction, according to Officer Elizabeth Kravig.

The intersection of Cienega Avenue and Sunflower Avenue is within the county jurisdiction, which would put all traffic collisions under the jurisdiction of the CHP.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

COVINA - Alcohol, drugs and speeding may have led to a fatal crash late Monday night, the California Highway Patrol said.

A 57-year-old Covina man died at the scene in the 4200 block of Sunflower Avenue August 2 after crashing head on into a cinder block wall and metal gate, according to the California Highway Patrol in a written statement.

The crash occurred around 11:05 p.m. The unidentified driver was southbound on Sunflower and crashed at the dead end.

The CHP had southbound and northbound lanes of Sunflower Avenue closed until 3:40 a.m.

The driver was pronounced dead at 11:26 p.m. A pending examination will determine cause of death, according to Sarah Ardalani, public information officer for the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner.

Anyone with information on this crash is urged to call CHP Officer Xavier Becerra at 626-338-1164.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

CHARTER OAK - Sheriff’s homicide detectives are investigating what led to a woman’s death after she was discovered at a car wash Thursday morning.

Los Angeles County firefighters responded to a report of an unconscious person at Cypress Street and North Grand Avenue at 1:14 a.m. and found the woman inside a vehicle. They declared her dead on arrival, according to a representative with the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

The woman’s vehicle was parked at a car wash in the 19500 block of East Cypress Street, according to Lt. Ed Mackenzie of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s San Dimas Station.

Investigators do not suspect foul play, Mackenzie told SGV CityWatch.

Identification for the woman is still pending. She was only described as a Caucasian in her 50s, according to Sarah Ardalani, public information officer for the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner.

CHARTER OAK - Deputies are investigating what led to a stabbing Sunday night.

A passerby called deputies after finding a man with leg wounds near 20230 E. Arrow Hwy around 7:37 p.m. September 20, according to Sgt. Neill of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s San Dimas Station.

The victim was treated for multiple stab wounds at the scene and later hospitalized, Neill told SGV CityWatch.

The victim was hesitant on providing too many details, Neil told SGV CityWatch, but deputies believe three men and one woman were involved.

A motive was not known.

CHARTER OAK - Detectives are searching for a motive in a shooting that left a man hospitalized Sunday.

One of two people inside a vehicle parked at Charter Oak Liquor, 20040 Arrow Hwy., shot at the man who received a wound to the mid torso area. He walked inside the liquor store where he collapsed, according to Lt. Elisabeth Sachs of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s San Dimas Station.