Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

POMONA - The man who admitted to killing an innocent woman, his estranged wife and attempting to shoot and kill two others will be spending decades behind bars.

Miguel Angel Prieto, who previously pleaded guilty to the above-mentioned crimes, was sentenced to 40 years to life in state prison, authorities announced recently.

In a blood-thirsty hunt for his estranged wife, Prieto shot a man and woman inside a vehicle parked on an industrial side street in the 1500 block of West McKinley Avenue in Azusa February 9, 2018. Prieto apparently believed the woman to be his estranged wife, Maria Perez. The man survived his wounds, the woman did not.

The woman was identified as Rocio Sandoval, 38.

April 7, 2018, Prieto ventured to the restaurant of Perez’s uncle in Long Beach and shot at a woman inside the restaurant he believed to be Perez’s aunt.

Prieto went to Perez’s Covina apartment April 11 and it was there that she was shot multiple times and killed, prosecutors previously said.

Witnesses and neighbors were able to identify Prieto as the gunman. He was located in Long Beach hours after his estranged wife’s slaying and arrested.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

COVINA - A man and woman were jailed Friday after investigators discovered that two more suspects involved in a kidnapping and attempted murder from February were hiding out in Los Angeles.

Kristine Mina, 33, and Dominic Garcia, 49, were located at a residence in the 6200 block of La Mirada Avenue in Los Angeles March 5 and arrested at the home.

With the aid of Monrovia Police and Baldwin Park Police, Covina investigators identified three suspects.

The first suspect to be locked up, Sammy Wilson, was jailed March 2 and eventually charged with one count each of attempted murder, assault with a semiautomatic firearm, kidnapping, and street terrorism, according to Public Information Officer Pamela Johnson with the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.

After dual search warrants were served at a Covina residence in the 100 block of North Vecino Drive and an Azusa residence in the 500 block of North San Gabriel Avenue March 4, investigators believed the two remaining suspects were in Los Angeles.

Mina, a Covina resident, was arrested after she was seen during a surveillance operation on the Los Angeles home. Covina detectives, with the assistance of the Los Angeles Police Department, Hollywood Division, contained the home after developing a hunch that the final suspect, Montclair man Dominic Garcia, was still inside, Covina Police said.

Garcia eventually exited the home and was taken into custody. A search warrant for the Los Angeles home was then safely executed, Covina Police said.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

COVINA – One arrest was made and additional suspects are sought in an ongoing kidnapping and shooting investigation, Covina Police announced Thursday.

A search warrant was served by Covina officers at a residence in the 100 block of North Vecino Drive at 3 a.m. March 4. Azusa Police were busy serving a related search warrant in the 500 block of North San Gabriel Avenue, according to the Covina Police Department.

The only arrest so far in this investigation came in the form of 20-year-old Baldwin Park man Sammy Wilson, who was arrested March 2 by Covina officers at 9:58 a.m., according to Los Angeles County booking records.

Wilson was charged with one count each of attempted murder, assault with a semiautomatic firearm, kidnapping, and street terrorism, according to Pamela Johnson, Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office public information officer.

The shooting incident occurred on or around February 20. No other details were available.

“Our Detective Bureau personnel are attempting to locate additional suspects involved in this matter,” Covina Police said in a written statement.

Wilson’s arraignment was continued to April 20 in Department N of the Pomona Courthouse.

POMONA – A Long Beach man pleaded guilty to killing a random woman in the vengeful search for his 
estranged wife, whom he also shot to death nearly three years ago.

Miguel Angel Prieto, 46, pleaded guilty to one count each of first-degree murder, second-degree murder and two counts of attempted murder, crimes that spanned three months.

“Given the senseless and brazen crimes committed by Miguel Angel Prieto, he will be sentenced to two consecutive life sentences,” said Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón.

Prieto shot a man and woman inside a vehicle parked on an industrial side street in the 1500 block of West McKinley Avenue in Azusa February 9, 2018. Prieto apparently believed the woman to be his estranged wife, Maria Perez. The man survived his wounds, the woman did not, prosecutors previously said.

The woman was identified as Rocio Sandoval, 38.

>>READ THE FULL STORY: Man Charged in Ex-Wife’s Slaying Likely Connected to Attempted Double Murder in Azusa

April 7, 2018, Prieto ventured to the restaurant of Perez’s uncle in Long Beach and shot at a woman inside the restaurant he believed to be Perez’s aunt.

Prieto went to Perez’s Covina apartment April 11 and it was there that she was shot multiple times and killed, prosecutors previously said.

Witnesses and neighbors were able to identify Prieto as the gunman. He was located in Long Beach hours after his estranged wife’s slaying and arrested.

>>READ THE FULL STORY: Long Beach man Arrested, Accused of Murdering Ex-Wife in Covina Apt.

Sentencing is scheduled on March 3 in Department T of Pomona Superior Court.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

COVINA - A pursuit suspect disabled his vehicle while driving through an Azusa neighborhood early Saturday morning and eventually escaped on foot, a police lieutenant said.

Officers attempted a traffic stop on the driver for excessive window tint in the area of Azusa Avenue and Arrow Highway around 1:13 a.m. October 17. The suspect led officers on a chase, running a red light and a stop sign during his getaway, according to Lt. Josh Turner of the Covina Police Department.

Officers ultimately located a Glock hand gun loaded with an extended gun clip inside the suspect vehicle, Turner told SGV CityWatch.

The pursuit quickly entered Azusa where the chase took the side streets before the driver disabled the vehicle he was in.

The driver struck a dip in the road at high speed at South Louise Ave south of West Paramount Street, Turner told SGV CityWatch.

“The suspect popped two of his vehicle’s tires after hitting a ditch. He then foot bailed from his vehicle into a residential neighborhood,” Turner told SGV CityWatch.

A Covina police K9 and a police helicopter helped officers on the ground search for the suspect, but no suspect was found.

Officers impounded the silver sedan the suspect was driving, Turner told SGV CityWatch.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

COVINA - Azusa officers abruptly ended a pursuit of a reckless Hyundai Elantra that found its way into San Gabriel Valley surface streets.

The white Elantra was abruptly stopped by Azusa officers on Hollenbeck Avenue north of Covina Boulevard. One suspect was taken into custody. It is unclear if a second suspect seen earlier in the chase, was found and arrested.

The driver and his passenger were sought for possibly reckless driving by East Los Angeles CHP officers on the eastbound 60 freeway west of Peck Road. The driver bypassed traffic by using the right shoulder.

Officers attempted to stop the driver on the north 605 freeway near Ramona, but driver kept going into Duarte on surface streets. The chase went onto the East 210 freeway where officers could not keep up while the driver used the shoulder, according to California Highway Patrol radio traffic.

After exiting onto Citrus Avenue, the suspect took numerous side streets and stopped at an Azusa apartment complex near Azusa Avenue and Gladstone Street where the suspects ran on foot.

One or more of the suspects got back in the car and took off again.

San Dimas Sheriff’s deputies joined the chase along with Azusa police officers who used the Pursuit Intervention Technique to stop the driver.

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 - Police announced the capture of a man who admitted to most recently igniting a destructive fire behind a Walmart.

Jose Javier Salgado, 39, was located at Azusa Avenue and Arrow Highway after three suspicious fires were set. He reportedly admitted to setting the fire at Walmart, according to the Covina Police Department.

Salgado was placed on a psychiatric hold, Covina Police said.

Firefighters were sent to the first blaze behind the Covina Walmart, 1275 N. Azusa Ave., at 10:36 p.m. April 15. Firefighters finally knocked down the blaze at 11 PM, according to Los Angeles County Fire Department Dispatch Supervisor Michael Pittman.

Cardboard, wood pallets and a forklift burned in the Walmart fire which forced the evacuation of those within, but no injuries were reported, Covina Police said.

At 11:34 PM, firefighters were dispatched to a dumpster fire behind Pupuseria Mi Salvador, 474 E. Arrow Hwy. A third fire was ignited at Hollenbeck Park, 1250 N. Hollenbeck Ave. Firefighters were dispatched at 11:48 p.m. to a dumpster fire, Pitman told SGV CityWatch.

Salgado is suspected in setting fires April 4 at Covina’s Guitar Center, the Covina Bowl, Walmart, Ross and Loan Max, Covina Police said. Salgado is also accused of igniting a fire in the area of Newburgh Street and Azusa Avenue.

Azusa Police captures Salgado after the Newburgh fire, was arrested and placed on a psychiatric hold, Covina Police said.

Anyone with information on these fires is urged to call Covina Police Department Detective K. Hulsey 626-384-5616, or LA Regional Crime Stoppers 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). Refer to Covina PD Incident #20-10369, 20- 10375, and 20-10376.

Covina Police Chief John Curley issued a scathing statement via social media Thursday detailing the failure of the California justice system to keep criminals behind bars:

“10 arson fires in less than 2 weeks and unfortunately in California, “serial arson” is not considered “VIOLENT”....just like human trafficking of a child, rape by intoxication, and many others. Disgraceful to our community,” Curley said.

AZUSA - 25 pounds of marijuana, 12,000 Xanax pills and 7.5 ounces of cocaine were located after Covina detectives served a search warrant at an Azusa apartment complex Thursday.

The search warrant was served as part of an investigation stemming from the arrest of a teen at a Covina high school recently where a student was caught carrying Xanax, according to Sgt. Zavala of the Covina Police Department.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

COVINA - A vigilant resident is credited with providing police with surveillance footage of a suspect attempting to break into parked vehicles -- footage that led to the discovery of stolen property.

Area transient Dominic Stonerheuark, 20, was caught on Ring security footage trying to open the doors to vehicles parked in a driveway January 5. The footage was taken to Covina Police where an officer recognized the suspect, according to the Covina Police Department.

Sunday, January 6, the investigating officer located Stonerheuark at a laundromat in the 100 block of East Arrow Highway around 10 a.m.

Stonerheuark was found with various pieces of property surrounding him, including methamphetamine paraphernalia and a black gym bag, Covina Police said.

Stonerheuark denied ownership of the gym bag, but claimed the paraphernalia was his, Covina Police said.

Stonerheuark was placed in custody. A search of the gym bag revealed 60 pieces of evidence, including government identification, passports, credit cards, debit cards, vehicle registration, a garage door opener, medication and sunglasses, Covina Police said.

“Based on the names connected with these evidence items, there were nine victims located in the cities of Covina, Glendora and Azusa,” Covina Police said.

Investigators are still attempting to locate some of those nine victims.

“Two Covina victims reported they knew property was stolen from them prior to being contacted by Covina Police,” Covina Police said. “One victim in Covina and another victim in Azusa reported not being aware of the theft of their property until after being contacted by Covina Police.”

None of the nine victims reported forced entry into their vehicles.

Anyone who may be a victim of similar burglaries or who may have information that can aid the investigation is urged to call Covina Police Detective Jason Kerns at 626-384-5616, the Covina Police watch commander at 626-384-5665, or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).