Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

COVINA - The Covina Police Department is asking for donations to aid the family of an officer who remains hospitalized from injuries sustained in a pursuit crash.

While all of the medical costs for Jesse Gutierrez are being covered, there are still financial gaps that need addressing, which is why the Covina Police Department is reaching out to the community for donations, according to Covina Police Chief David Povero.

Gutierrez remains in a medically-induced coma. He has been with the department for more than four years and is a newly-appointed K9 handler. He is married and has a 5-year-old son and 1-year-old son. He obtained the rank of sergeant while serving overseas with the Marine Corps, Povero said.

Officer Jesse Gutierrez was dispatched around 4 a.m. May 6 to investigate a disturbance call in the 500 block of South Eremland Drive. Gutierrez located a vehicle connected to the disturbance and attempted to speak to the driver, but the driver refused to exit the vehicle and fled. Gutierrez gave chase, but crashed and was seriously injured at Rowland Street and Shoppers Lane, according to the Covina Police Department.

Officers providing back up, continued to pursue the driver until the pursuit ended on the I-10 Freeway at Vincent Avenue. Alexis Santiago Avila, 27, was arrested.

“You can tell he’s lived a life of service and has been a great team member here at the Covina Police Department,” Povero said of Gutierrez.

Gutierrez’s K9 partner was in the police vehicle during the crash. The K9 was examined and is doing fine while being cared for by other Covina officers, Povero said.

The Peace Officers Research Association of California, in association with the Covina Police officers Association, is collecting donations to aid Gutierrez’s wife Beverly and his sons. The effort has a $50,000 goal and has raised nearly $40,000 so far.

Donate at the following link: DONATE NOW

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

COVINA - Three people were transported to a trauma center Saturday morning after a shooting occurred at a bar.

The shooting occurred at Katie Jakes Bar and Grill, 750 Terrado Plaza, Saturday, May 11. First responders were sent to the bar around 2 a.m.

The Covina Police Department summoned firefighters to the bar to treat and transport patients, according to Los Angeles County Fire Department Dispatch Supervisor Bernard Peters.

It is unclear how many of the three people transported were wounded by gunfire. The extent of injuries is not immediately known.

A Covina Police supervisor has not yet returned a request for information on the shooting.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

COVINA - Precautionary patrols were performed Friday after authorities received a phoned threat to Gladstone Middle School.

The Azusa Police Department received a phoned threat to the school around 10:15 a.m. The Covina Police Department and school administrators were then notified, according to Sgt. Rodriguez of the Covina Police Department.

The school was locked down as a precaution as well.

The phone number was initially pinged to Gladstone Middle School and further investigation revealed the phone number belonged to a Covina resident reportedly unrelated to the threat, Rodriguez told SGV CityWatch.

Rodriguez was not sure of what exactly the threat was, nor was he sure of what the caller sounded like.

The caller was unidentified and no arrests were made, Rodriguez told SGV CityWatch.

Police patrolled the school until the end of the day.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

COVINA - A police officer and his K9 were transported and evaluated after crashing during an early-morning pursuit.

The officer was pursuing a disturbance suspect who fled from him and other officers in the 500 block of Eremland Drive May 6. The crash occurred at East Rowland Street and Shoppers Lane, according to the Covina Police Department.

Officers were dispatched to investigate a disturbance call on Eremland around 4 a.m.

The pursuit suspect stopped and surrendered on the I-10 Freeway at Vincent Avenue.

Alexis Santiago Avila, 27, was taken into custody. He was booked on suspicion of felony evading, driving under the influence and driving on a suspended license, according to the Covina Police Department.

The condition of the officer and K9 are not publicly known.
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The West Covina Police Department and California Highway Patrol are assisting with the investigation.