Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

COVINA - A driver described as a felon was arrested Wednesday afternoon after he fled from a traffic stop, took refuge in a home and escaped to a roof before being taken into custody, the Covina Police Department said.

Police stopped the driver of a green Geo Prism for expired registration and Azusa Avenue and Covina Boulevard around 3:15 p.m. May 18. As officers approached the stopped vehicle, the driver sped away. The chase ended at the dead end of the 1200 block of West Masline Street where the suspect decided to flee on foot, according to Lt. Robison of the Covina Police Department.

A P80 Glock ghost gun was recovered from the vehicle, Robison told SGV CityWatch.

A search of the neighborhood did not turn off the suspect.

As a resident was returning to her home, the suspect fled the residence and took refuge on the roof, Robison told SGV CityWatch.

“He ran and jumped on the roof and then finally got down,” Robison told SGV CityWatch.

James Richard Gutierrez, 27, was booked on suspicion of being a felon in possession of a firearm, carrying a concealed weapon in a vehicle, being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm and ammunition and burglary, Robison told SGV CityWatch.

Gutierrez is being held in lieu of $75,000 bail ahead of a scheduled appearance in the West Covina courthouse May 20.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

COVINA - Six days after a police shooting left a young man dead, Covina Police department release details of what led up to the deadly encounter.

Officers responded to country liquor, 124 E. Arrow Hwy., April 9 at 10:10 p.m. to several 9-1-1 calls reporting a man with a gun. The suspect, who the callers described, was drinking a beer outside of the liquor store and was allegedly arguing with customers, according to the Covina Police Department.

After locating three a man outside of the liquor store, Police noticed one man who fit the description of the suspect.

“The officers identified a man who fit the description of the call and gave lawful commands not to reach for anything [“Don’t reach for anything.”] The individual did not comply with these commands and begin to remove what officers reasonably believed to be a gun from his waistband,” according to the Covina Police Department in a written statement.

Officers then shot 25-year-old Daniel Valdivia, a Covina resident. He was given medical aid and transported to a hospital where he died.

Recovered was a BB gun which resembles a Glock handgun, the Covina Police Department said.

Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Homicide detectives were initially called to investigate. The investigation has since been handed over to the California Department of Justice.

COVINA – Detectives are investigating the death of a man in his 20s who was found near a wash Monday afternoon.

Few details are available, but firefighters were called by Covina Police officers to the 400 block of South Barranca Avenue south of East Puente Street at 2:54 p.m. April 11, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department. 

Video provided to SGV CityWatch shows a lifeless body of a shirtless man laying on what appears to be an access road near the wash behind apartments in the neighborhood.

The man has yet to be identified. Next of kin have yet to be notified, according to Sarah Ardalani, public information officer with the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner.

While the coroner has not yet identified the man, a memorial honoring him identified him as Daniel Matthew Diaz, 25.

It is unclear how Diaz died. He reportedly suffered head trauma.

A 10-year resident of the neighborhood described the day the body was found.

“I had passed by and noticed that cops were blocking off the area and within 30 minutes it had yellow tape. Ambulance and paramedics were dispatched but left right away and Covina police officers stayed looking around for evidence,” according to the resident who asked that her name not be used.

“When I was driving by there I had seen a young man digging in trash bins. I have a feeling it might be the same one. Because I drove by there again 40 mins after seeing him and there was already police blocking off the area,” the resident told SGV CityWatch. “We never see anything like this around these streets. It’s quiet around here but have been seeing a lot of homelessness lately. It’s sad.”

The coroner will determine cause of death.

OAKLAND – The California Department of Justice announced Monday that it is investigating the Covina Police shooting that killed a man April 9.

The shooting took place in the 100 block of East Arrow Highway around 10:10 p.m. Covina officers were reportedly responding to a call for assistance, according to Office of the Attorney General.

The man killed was identified by the county coroner as 24-year-old Daniel Valdivia, a Covina resident.

No other details are available.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau initially responded and began investigating.

The California Department of Justice’s California Police Shooting Investigation Team for Southern California responded to the scene to investigate after being notified by local authorities.

The state-level investigation is being conducted pursuant to AB 1506 and requires a state prosecutor from the attorney general’s office to investigate police shootings involving a questionable use of force, or a shooting resulting in the death of an unarmed civilian.

AB 1506, which was signed into law September 30, 2020, went into effect July 1, 2021.

For more information, visit the Office of the Attorney General website.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

COVINA - A man was hospitalized and later died from wounds suffered in a police shooting, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said.

The police shooting occurred around 10:10 p.m. in the 100 block of East Arrow Highway. No officers were injured during the shooting, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

It is not yet publicly clear what led to the police shooting.

COVINA – Police are searching for the armed suspect who assaulted the female employee of a business early Wednesday.

The assault occurred in the 1400 block of North Hollenbeck Avenue April 6. The suspect entered through an unlocked door, grabbed the employee by the throat and forced her to a restroom, according to the Covina Police Department.

The business was described as a pet grooming business.

“A coworker interrupted the assault after he heard the victim screaming and confronted the suspect. The suspect brandished a black semi-automatic handgun and fled on foot,” according to the Covina Police Department in a written statement.

The suspect was described as a Black or Hispanic light-skinned man in his 30s. He stood 5 feet 9 inches tall. He wore a black hooded sweatshirt, faded blue jeans and brown shoes.

Anyone with information that can identify the suspect is urged to call Covina Police Detective M. Esquivel at 626-384-5621. Reference case 22-9499.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

COVINA - A man was found hanging from a tree at a public park early Saturday morning.

Officers and Los Angeles County firefighters were called to Cougar Park, 150 W. Puente St.., around 4:20 a.m. March 19, according to Sgt. Joshua Turner of the Covina Police Department.

The man was identified as 26-year-old Covina resident. His death was ruled a suicide, according to Sarah Ardalani, public information officer for the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner.

It is unclear who called police to report the body and it is unclear how long he may have been there before authorities arrived on scene.

COVINA – Police seized and destroyed 1,000 marijuana plants after serving a search warrant at a home February 16.

The marijuana was being cultivated in the 300 block of East Grovecenter Street, according to Sgt. Josh Turner of the Covina Police Department.

It is not yet clear if any arrests were made.

The plants were taken to an incinerator at the Port of Long Beach where they were destroyed, Turner told SGV CityWatch.

“If you notice a house in your neighborhood that looks unoccupied, see people coming and going at random hours, and has multiple new AC units installed; could be signs of marijuana cultivation operation,” according to the Covina Police Department in a written statement.

Anyone who suspects a similar operation in a residential or business area can call the Covina Police non-emergency line at 626-384-5808. 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.

COVINA - Investigators are seeking additional victims of a man who they allege extorted illicit images and video from teen victims and threatened violence if they didn’t comply.

Joel Villegas, 34, allegedly posed as a 17-year-old on Instagram under the name Jay Gomez and username “jay_the_big_beast.” Villegas allegedly asked to exchange phone numbers and GPS locations with the teens and threatened them afterwards, according to the Covina Police Department.

“Once Villegas obtains the minor’s home GPS location, he will demand explicit images and videos from the minor. If the minor refuses, Villegas sends the victim images of firearms, and threatens violence up to murder against his victims and their families,” according to the Covina Police Department in a written statement.

A search warrant was served at Villegas’ home where he was arrested February 9. 

Villegas was booked on suspicion of possessing child porn, criminal threats and extortion, according to the Covina Police Department.

Villegas posted $50,000 bond.

If you or your child have been contacted by this Instagram account or have additional information, you are urged to call Covina Police Detective Seok Lee 626-384-5615. Reference incident #21-25484.

LOS ANGELES – Investigators publicly identified a man who was found dead at a park in Covina recently.

Jwan Clinton, 42, was identified by the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner. His cause of death was deferred, pending additional investigation.

The body was located in a parking lot on the Grand Avenue side of the park. 

Officers were called to the parking lot of Wingate Park, 735 N. Glendora Ave., around 8:51 p.m. December 18 to a man down and bleeding from the head. Covina officers arrived and located the victim. Los Angeles County Firefighters arrived and declared the man dead at 9:09 p.m., according to Lt. Tony Zavala of the Covina Police Department in a previous interview.

“There was some head trauma, but we don’t know if that’s a result from a fall, or if he was the victim of some type of crime,” Zavala told SGV CityWatch.