 Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor COVINA - Homicide detectives are investigating the circumstances that led to police opening fire on an armed, barricaded suspect Thursday night. Authorities opened fire on the suspect around 12:43 a.m. and the suspect went down with undisclosed injuries. It was roughly 10 minutes before police approached him since they believed he still held a shotgun, according to Sheriff’s radio traffic. Los Angeles County firefighters arrived to the 300 block of Vincent Avenue regarding a grass fire call in a field around 9:21 p.m. and encountered a suspect armed with a shotgun. Law enforcement was called and firefighters retreated. The suspect evaded authorities while fleeing from yard to yard in the 4000 block of Morada Place, and occasionally fired his shotgun. It is unclear if the suspect intentionally fired at authorities.
Nearby residents were evacuated while the suspect roamed the neighborhood. Law enforcement from West Covina and deputies from surrounding Sheriff’s stations assisted Covina Police.  Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor COVINA - A man armed with a shotgun or rifle has taken refuge in the rear yard of a home after firefighters encountered him while fighting a grass fire. The suspect is in a yard at 4126 North Morada Ave. Firefighters had to briefly evacuate after finding the man with the weapon, according to Los Angeles County Fire Department radio traffic. Firefighters were dispatched to the vegetation fire inside a large field at 9:21 p.m. September 19 near the 300 block of North Vincent Avenue. The fire threatened several homes, which firefighters provided structure protection while taking a defensive posture from the suspect.
Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputies are assisting Covina Police with containing the suspect and have K9 units en route. Most of the fire has been knocked down, firefighters said.  Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor COVINA - A man was hospitalized Monday morning after suffering a severe cut to his left ear during a bar fight, police said. The fight occurred just after midnight at The Republic, 148 Shoppers Ln., August 26. Two groups of people started an altercation inside the bar after at least one person began mocking another for reportedly spilling a drink, according to Sgt. Joshua Turner of the Covina Police Department. The victim was then hit with a glass object on the side of his head, resulting in a portion of his ear being torn off. He was taken to a nearby hospital, Turner told SGV CityWatch.
The fight concluded once those involved exited the bar. The suspect accused of assault with a deadly weapon, Aaron Fernando Gonzalez, 27, and public drunkenness suspect Andrew Rafael Ramirez 23, tried to flee the area on foot, but responding officers detained them. Gonzalez is being held in lieu of $30,000 bail. Ramirez was issued a citation and released, according to Los Angeles County booking records.  PHOTO/Courtesy of Thomas Salinas. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor COVINA - An SUV plowed into the front entrance of a Mexican restaurant Wednesday night. The crash occurred at Mar y Tierra Restaurant, 1118 W. San Bernardino Rd., around 10:24 p.m. August 21. The grey Kia Sorento struck the front of the restaurant and caused major structural damage, according to Sgt. Sutherland of the Covina Police Department. Two occupants in the Sorento were taken to Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center for complaints of pain, Sutherland said. At this time there is no suspicion of driving under the influence.
Nearby residents Angelique Juarez and Thomas Salinas walked from their home near the crash and saw the aftermath. “Before the crash, we heard a loud, long screech, then a loud sonic boom,” Juarez said. Sutherland did not know what direction of travel or what speed the driver may have been traveling when the crash occurred. No other vehicles were involved in the crash.  PHOTO/Courtesy of the Covina Police Department. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor COVINA - Covina Police K9 “Atos” will receive a bullet and stab protective vest, donated by a non-profit organization. Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. from East Taunton, Massachusetts will donate the vest, which is expected to be delivered in eight to 10 weeks, according to the Covina Police Department. The decade-old non-profit has reportedly provided more than 3,500 protective vests across the country with private and corporate donations at a value of $5.7 million, Covina Police said. Dogs who receive vests must be at least 20 months old, certified and work with law enforcement or related agencies.
The donation to provide a protective vest for a law enforcement K9 is $950. Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. accepts tax-deductible donations of any denomination at www.vik9s.org. Donations can also be mailed to P.O. Box 9 East Taunton, MA 02718. For more information, call 508-824-6978.  Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor COVINA - Police are looking for at least one gunman, but possibly two, after shots were fired outside a house party August 9. The shooting was reported to officers at 10:56 p.m. on East Farland Street near Henton Avenue. An argument between partygoers spilled into the street where gunfire occurred. No victims have been found yet, according to Sgt. Ryan Davis of the Covina Police Department. “We’re still trying to figure things out at this point. When we arrived, all of the people from the party were fleeing the area at the time,” Davis said. One vehicle was hit by gunfire. A home was struck twice. The damaged vehicle was impounded, Davis said. Potentially as many as 15 rounds were fired in the street, leading Davis to believe that possibly two suspects were shooting at each other.
“It’s unlikely someone unloaded this out of one magazine,” Davis said. A teen possibly publicized the party on social media and garnered more attendees than anticipated, Davis said. Police have no suspect information. Anyone with information on the suspects is urged to call Covina Police Detective Kerns at 626-384-5616, or 626-384-5808.  PHOTOS/Courtesy of the Covina Police Department. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor COVINA - Police announced the arrest of two men who tried, but failed to take a 250-pound bronze statue from a Covina business. The crime was discovered by police called to a report of suspicious men in the 300 block of East Rowland Street around 2:27 a.m. August 5. Police could only find a tipped-over shopping cart and the statue inside, Covina Police said. “Officers recognized the statue as one which had previously been affixed to a pedestal in front of a nearby business,” Covina Police said in a written statement. Officers recognized the two suspects from nearby surveillance footage — suspects who had multiple run-ins with police.
On Tuesday, police located and arrested Robert Johnson, 31, and Dakota McConnel, 23. Both are transients who frequent the Covina area. The suspects were booked on suspicion of grand theft. McConnel is additionally charged with a warrant from a previous case and Johnson was additionally charged with possession of burglary tools, Covina Police.  Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor COVINA - Investigators are awaiting additional information before determining the cause of death for a man found in a swimming pool August 3. Carlos Cervera Jr., 60, was identified by Sarah Ardalani, public information officer for the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner. Cervera was found in the 400 block of East Workman Avenue near South Hollenbeck Avenue. Los Angeles County Firefighters were called around 3:47 p.m. Saturday.
Cervera apparently had heart surgery recently and his medical condition may have played a role. He may have been cleaning his pool when he fell in, according to Sgt. Josh Turner of the Covina Police Department. It is unclear how long Cervera may have been in the pool before being found. His family was away when he fell in.  PHOTO/Unsplash. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor COVINA - Police and the coroner are investigating a drowning August 3. The victim drown in a residential pool near East Workman Avenue and South Hollenbeck Avenue. Los Angeles County Firefighters were called around 3:47 p.m. Lt. Daniel Regan of the Covina Police Department did not have information regarding the age and gender of the victim.
The coroner has yet to arrive on scene. Preliminarily, the drowning may be accidental, Regan said. Police remain on scene.  PHOTO/By Aaron Castrejon. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor COVINA - A suspicious, vintage-looking military canister was found to be empty after it turned up near a Bank of America drive-thru ATM Tuesday. The canister was discovered near the ATM, 212 E. Badillo St., July 16. Los Angeles County Fire hazmat units and Covina Police responded around 3:42 p.m. Officers began warning nearby residents and nearby businesses. Some were evacuated or told to shelter in place. Wording written on top of the canister made authorities believe the object contained some type of explosive material. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Arson/Explosives Detail was called, said Sgt. Joshua Turner of the Covina Police Department. “We set up a perimeter on their suggestion based on how large the actual box was,” Turner said, adding the canister had writing suggesting it could have held 45 pounds of an unknown explosive material. The canister turned up empty after Arson/Explosive technicians x-rayed the item. The technicians took possession of the canister so it could not be used again, Turner said.
Detectives will examine security cameras at the ATMs and from nearby businesses to see if a suspect can be identified. A passerby in the area noticed a suspicious person near the ATMs earlier in the day, Turner said. Anyone who may have suspect information is urged to call the Covina Police Department at 626-384-5808. Roads reopened around 5:40 p.m. |
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