Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

COVINA - Police arrived en mas Thursday night to a neighborhood to quell a group of protestors who reportedly found the home of the deputy who fatally shot an 18-year-old man in Gardena.

The deputy reportedly lives in the area of Hollenbeck Avenue and San Bernardino Road. Protesters stood in the street, on the sidewalk and walked all over the front yard of a home believed to belong to Miguel Vega July 30.

Police from Covina, Glendora, Azusa and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department arrived to push back protestors who left behind signs at the home. Most, if not all, of the signs were removed by police.

In a video posted to social media, law enforcement could be seen going in and out of the home, talking to whoever was inside.

Deputies descended on Andres Guardado, who was employed as a security guard, at a Gardena business June 18.

Deputies claim they saw a gun on Guadardo’s person. Guardado ran from deputies a brief distance into an alley. He was shot and killed by deputy gunfire.

A gun was reportedly found in Guardado’s possession. Deputies allege he reached for his weapon during the foot pursuit.

Guardado’s death has strained the somewhat current tenuous relationship between law enforcement and the public, amidst calls for defunding law enforcement and amidst destructive protests and rioting.

Compounding the investigation is the allegations that shortly after shooting Guardado, deputies ripped surveillance cameras from a nearby business without a search warrant.

A security hold was placed on the autopsy report for Guardado — a standard procedure in police shooting investigations, but the very public family squabble between embattled Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva and County authorities took an unexpected turn.

The Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner defied the Sheriff’s security request and made public the preliminary results. Guardado was shot five times in the back, according to the coroner report.

An independent autopsy confirmed the county coroner’s findings.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

COVINA - No injuries were reported after an alleged DUI driver in an RV drove through an active railroad crossing and struck a westbound Metrolink train after crashing at a nearby business, police said.

The railroad gates were down when the unnamed driver in the RV allegedly drove through them on southbound Grand Avenue. A Metrolink train was already through the intersection, according to Lt. Dan Regan of the Covina Police Department.

The RV struck the back of the train according to Paul Gonzales, public affairs manager for Metrolink.

The collision is considered only a misdemeanor offense. The driver was arrested on suspicion of DUI, issued a citation and released.

The collision happened around 6:41 p.m. July 11.

“The train continued to go westbound, stopping in Covina, Baldwin Park and ultimately El Monte,” Regan told SGV CityWatch.

The train’s engineer apparently did not known a collision happened. Covina Police informed Metrolink of the crash and Metrolink dispatchers ordered the train to stop so the train’s crew could inspect for damage, which was located towards the rear of the train, Gonzales told SGV CityWatch.

During the investigation, Covina officers were told that the RV’s driver collided with some property at a business in the 4700 block of N. Grand Ave., Reagan told SGV CityWatch.

The driver was hauling some sort of trailer behind his RV, but it jackknifed at the business and separated from the RV. It was left at the scene.

The first collision occurred in the county area of Covina. The California Highway Patrol responded to the abandoned trailer to write a report, Reagan told SGV CityWatch.

Metrolink workers repaired the broken gate arms.

The railroad tracks between the Pomona North Metrolink station and the Covina station we are temporarily closed while repairs are made and an investigation was conducted.

The Los Angeles bound train that was struck by the RV was canceled at the El Monte station, while a San Bernardino bound train was canceled, Metrolink said.

The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office could potentially additionally charge the driver with hit-and-run and for a potential issue regarding a suspended license, Reagan told SGV CityWatch.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

COVINA - A man caught on camera assaulting a woman in a coin laundromat was arrested this week and was booked on suspicion of indecent exposure and battery, police said.

Jose Luis Ibarra, 23, was taken into custody by Covina officers after he was arrested by Azusa Police July 6. Community members also helped to identify Ibarra, according to the Covina Police Department.

Ibarra was arrested in Azusa the same day he was accused of masturbating inside Coin Laundry, 314 N. Azusa Ave. Ibarra allegedly ejaculated on a 20-year-old woman’s leg and clothing at the laundromat.

Azusa officers jailed Ibarra after he was accused by another woman of following her in the 900 block of East Galatea Avenue. He allegedly exposing himself and masturbated, Azusa Police said.

In addition to the assault at Coin Laundry, Ibarra is suspected of indecent exposure at Walmart, 1275 N. Azusa Ave., Covina Police said.

Police seek additional victims.

Anyone with information on Ibarra is urged to call Covina Police Detective Ramirez at 626-384-5621.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

COVINA – The man seen in a video instigating a fight with complete strangers and attempting to gun down his victim was taken into custody July 6.

Vincent Ortega, a 31-year-old El Monte resident, was taken into custody, but not before he fled from a traffic stop in the 500 block of South Citrus Avenue while carrying a backpack containing a loaded handgun, ammunition, stolen credit cards, IDs and drugs, Covina Police said.

Ortega was identified by investigators as the gunman in the March 23, 2020 shooting that occurred in the 1900 block of East Cienega Avenue. A fight broke out between two men when an SUV approached.

An occupant of the SUV exited and forcefully took the necklace of an onlooker to the fight. The onlooker and fighting men turned their attention on the robbery suspect and began fighting him.

The robbery suspect, later identified as Ortega, retrieved a handgun while fleeing to the SUV and fired twice, hitting one of the three other men in an arm.

The shooting victim smashed out the rear window to the SUV seconds before it was driven away at high speed. The shooting victim was hospitalized and later released.

Ortega was the passenger in the July 6 traffic stop. After fleeing the vehicle, Ortega ran into an occupied home in the 200 block of West Casad Street. Ortega was taken into custody shortly after fleeing and no one inside the home was harmed, Covina Police said.

Ortega was also arrested by Claremont Police in June on suspicion of grand theft auto, possession of a handgun and ammunition, but Ortega bailed out and failed to show at his court hearing. A warrant was issued for his arrest, Covina Police said.

Ortega was booked on suspicion of burglary, being a felon in possession of a handgun and ammunition, identity theft, resisting arrest, drug offenses and attempted homicide, Covina Police said.

Ortega is scheduled for a court appearance Wednesday, July 8.

COVINA - A man was caught on camera inside a laundromat July 6 as he masturbated and assaulted a woman, police said.

The assault occurred inside Coin Laundry, 314 N. Azusa Ave., at 3:30 p.m. A 20-year-old woman told police the suspect took her by surprise when he appeared behind her and ejaculated on her leg and clothing, Covina Police said in a written statement.