Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor

COVINA - “So shines a good deed in a weary world.”

William Shakespeare wrote the above words in the 16th century’s “A Merchant in Venice” and they certainly apply to one Covina Police Chaplain who saw fit to help a homeless couple get on their feet.

Chaplain Dave Truax, who has served Covina Police for 29 years, purchased bus tickets for the man and woman, who was in her second trimester of pregnancy, to go live with the woman’s sister in Georgia.

Truax and the local multi-agency Homeless Assistance Liaison Officer team met the couple at Covina Park, right outside the Covina Police Department this month.

The HALO team consists of Covina, West Covina, Azusa and Glendora Police officers, whose sole purpose is to  provide local homeless people a plethora of helpful resources.

Truax listened in to the couple’s conversation with Los Angeles County social workers and heard of the offer to move to Georgia, but the couple could not save enough money to purchase tickets. Some of their money had even been stolen, Covina Police said.

The HALO team agreed that moving to Georgia was the best option.

“Chaplain Truax again offered the couple ... two options. Accept local housing and job placement help from the county, or relocate to Georgia and the care of family members,” Covina Police said.

The couple chose Georgia.

Truax met the couple the following afternoon outside the Covina Police Department, packed and ready to leave. After saying goodbye to their Covina Park family, Truax drove them to a nearby bus station and purchased tickets and some travel essentials, Covina Police said.

Two days later, the sister reported the couple arrived safely in Georgia and were in her care, Covina Police said.

“Finding smart and creative ways to solve these issues on a local level is challenging and that’s why we invest in not only the HALO program, but also the Mental Evaluation Team,” Covina Police said, referring to the local multi-agency program, which features a County Department of mental Health clinician.

“This act of kindness, compassion and generosity are what we see daily by the men and women of law enforcement,” Covina Police said. “It’s what we do. Chaplain Dave Truax is an extension of the law enforcement community and we are fortunate to have his skills and abilities.”

Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor

LOS ANGELES - Two counts of murder and one count of attempted murder were filed April 19 against a man who is accused of killing his ex-wife and possibly killing another woman and wounding a man in Azusa.
 
Miguel Angel Prieto, 43, was found in a Long Beach McDonald’s hours after allegedly pulling the trigger in the killing of his ex-wife in an apartment in the 1300 block of West San Bernardino Road April 11. During a subsequent investigation after Prieto’s arrest, Covina detectives established a connection to the February 9 double shooting in Azusa, Covina Police said in a written statement.
 
Rocio Sandoval, a 38-year-old Rancho Cucamonga woman, was shot along with a male companion while they sat in a vehicle in the 1500 block of West McKinley Avenue Friday, February 9.
 
The male victim was hospitalized in serious condition, but has since left the hospital, according to Lt. Joe Mendoza of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau.
 
Sandoval died from a gunshot wound to the head, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner.

The victim, 42-year-old Maria Perez, was found by responding Covina officers inside her apartment, 1300 block of West San Bernardino Road around 2:45 p.m. April 11, suffering from a gunshot wound. Paramedics attempted to resuscitate her, but she was pronounced dead at the scene, Covina Police said.

Prieto was on probation from an assault with a deadly weapon arrest in 2015 at the same apartment unit where his ex-wife was found shot to death, Covina Police said.

Task force detectives from the Azusa Police Department, as well as members of the Task Force for Regional Auto Theft and Prevention aided Covina detectives in locating and apprehending Prieto.
 
Prieto is being held without bail in the Los Angeles County Men’s Jail.

Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor

COVINA - It might be smaller, but it has so much more meaning.

An unidentified woman donated an American flag Saturday to replace the one recently stolen from the Covina Police Department. The woman walked into the Covina Police lobby around 10:30 a.m.April 14 and offered her grandfather’s flag, said Sgt. David Rodriguez of Covina Police.

“She heard that ours was stolen and she wanted to give us her flag. She insisted. She wanted us to have it,” Rodriguez said.

The woman acquired the flag in 1973 after writing to the Speaker of the House that December, seeking to gift the flag, which flew over the U.S. capitol, to her grandfather for his 100th birthday, Rodriguez said.

“It was tough to accept, hearing how much it meant to her,” Rodriguez said.

Officers discovered the American flag affixed to the flagpole outside their own police department was taken during the night April 11.
 
In addition to the stolen stars and stripes, the California flag had been removed, affixed upside down and left draped at the base of the pole, said Sgt. Dan Regan of the Covina Police Department.
 
The flag was last seen between 8:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Wednesday, Regan said.
 
Closed circuit television cameras are stationed outside the police department, but nothing conclusive was gathered.
  
The woman wanted no recognition for her act and declined to take photos with Covina Police for social media.

Rodriguez accepted the flag and within minutes of the woman’s arrival and offer, the flag was hoisted to its new location.

The new flag is more of a standard size flown on smaller poles. The previous flag was much bigger, Rodriguez said.

“It’s a smaller flag, but a larger meaning,” Rodriguez said.

Anyone with information on a suspect is urged to call the Covina Police Department at 626-384-5808.

Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor

COVINA - Officers discovered the American flag affixed to the flagpole outside their own police department was taken during the night April 11.
 
In addition to the stolen stars and stripes, the California flag had been removed, affixed upside down and left draped at the base of the pole, said Sgt. Dan Regan of the Covina Police Department.
 
The flag was last seen between 8:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Wednesday, Regan said.
 
Closed circuit television cameras are stationed outside the police department, but nothing conclusive was gathered.
 
“No subject was seen,” Regan said.
 
The flag formerly waving outside the station cannot be purchased where flags are normally sold and must be special ordered, Regan said.

"Our flag...has flown proudly over Covina, flown at half staff out of respect for fallen heroes, flown to honor Veterans. We are deeply saddened," said Covina Police Captain David Povero.
 
Anyone with information on a suspect is urged to call the Covina Police Department at 626-384-5808.

Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor

COVINA - No injuries were reported after a fire burned at an automotive repair shop early Thursday.
 
The Fire burned in a detached carport at Harrell’s Transmission, 19060 E. Arrow Hwy. Firefighters were dispatched at 5:18 a.m. and reported a vehicle fire spread to a portion of the carport at the residential home converted into a commercial building, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department.
 
Investigators were called to determine the source of the fire.

Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor

COVINA - Covina Police led a multi-agency response in locating and arresting a Long beach man in connection with the shooting death of his ex-wife Wednesday.

Miguel Angel Prieto, 43, was found at a Long Beach fast food restaurant and arrested without incident at 7:59 p.m. after being identified by several witnesses and family members as a suspect, Covina Police said.

A revolver was recovered in his black work truck, Covina Police said.

The victim, a 42-year-old woman, was found by responding Covina officers inside her apartment, 1300 block of West San Bernardino Road, suffering from a gunshot wound. Paramedics attempted to resuscitate her, but she was pronounced dead at the scene, Covina Police said.

Prieto was on probation from an assault with a deadly weapon arrest in 2015 at the same apartment unit where his ex-wife was found shot to death, Covina Police said.

Task force detectives from the Azusa Police Department, as well as members of the Task Force for Regional  Auto Theft and Prevention aided Covina detectives in locating and apprehending Prieto.

Prieto was booked at the Covina Police Station on suspicion of murder and is being held in lieu of $2 million bail.

Covina detectives are seeking additional witnesses, or anyone who may have additional information on the case to call Covina Police Detective Statler at 626-384-5622, the Covina Police watch commander at 626-384-5665 or L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor

COVINA - Deputies are still working to determine if two men detained are the masked burglary suspect witnessed jumping into a residential yard Monday morning.
 
Two men were detained about 40 minutes ago after deputies began searching for them near the 3600 block of Grand Avenue, according to Lit. Elisabeth Sachs of the San Dimas Sheriff’s Station.
 
It is unclear if the detained men are the suspects.
 
At least one nearby Covina Unified School District campus went on lockdown during the containment search.

Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor

COVINA - A 14-year-old girl is being sought after going missing near the Covina and Azusa border.

The girl went missing in the area of Azusa Avenue and Covina Boulevard. She is 5 feet 2 inches tall, 70 pounds, has brown hair, brown eyes and is wearing a black Northview High School hoodie, shorts and grey Vans shoes.

Police did not disclose what makes the girl a critical missing case.

Anyone who may know the girl’s whereabouts is urged to call the Covina Police Department at 626-384-5808.

Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor

COVINA - Heads up, Covina! Police are planning a DUI and driver license checkpoint for Saturday, April 14.

The checkpoint will take place at an undisclosed location from 6 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. Sunday, April 15. Police want to remind drivers that DUI just doesn’t mean booze, that marijuana and prescription drugs impair driving.

Police also tout the deterrent effect that well-publicized DU checkpoints have at preventing DUI crashes, reducing such collisions by as much as 20 percent.

Checkpoints are chosen when taking collision statistics and the frequency of DUI arrests into consideration, Covina Police said.

Funding for this checkpoint is provided to the Covina Police Department by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.