Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

COVINA - Two men armed with weapons and suited in tactical gear were arrested Tuesday after they allegedly forced their way into a Covina home to try and take back $6,000 stolen by the resident who allegedly took it from the dispensary he was fired from, police said.

Shannon Hunter and James Harper were located in a vehicle as they fled scene. The men were allegedly hired by the owner of a Rowland Heights marijuana dispensary who sought to take back the stolen cash, according to the Covina Police Department.

The home invasion robbery occurred in the 600 block of South Calvados Street around 11:38 p.m. The suspects fled before police arrived.

The suspects were found during an area search. After detaining the suspects, officers saw Hunter and Harper had marked “security” clothing, badges, tactical vests and weapons, both real and replica, Covina Police said.

“The victim went to the dispensary to collect their final paycheck, and also stole approximately $6,000 from the business while there. The business owner sent Harper and Hunter, posing as security guards, to recover the stolen money,” Covina Police said in a written statement.

Hunter is a prior convicted felon and was also charged for being a felon in possession of a firearm.

COVINA - A man on probation for vehicle theft was caught with stolen property — some of which he attempted to sell to undercover detectives, Covina Police said.

Josue Oliva, a Pomona man, is accused of attempting to sell items through OfferUp — items taken in a recent theft case, according to the Covina Police Department.

COVINA - Three people were arrested Friday morning, accused of burglarizing a church near Charter Oak High School.

Two suspects caught in the act of burglarizing the church fled towards Charter Oak High School after deputies investigated a potential third burglary suspect found with stolen property, according to Lt. Mark Skaggs of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Station.

A resident near Charter Oak High School, 1430 E. Covina Blvd., called San Dimas deputies at 6:15 a.m. March 29 after discovering discarded musical instruments and a suspicious person in their driveway. When a deputy arrived, the suspicious person was gone, but he returned and was soon detained.

“Those instruments we recovered were stolen,” Skaggs said, adding that additional stolen paperwork was found.

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).

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 - 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.