COVINA – Police seized and destroyed 1,000 marijuana plants after serving a search warrant at a home February 16.

The marijuana was being cultivated in the 300 block of East Grovecenter Street, according to Sgt. Josh Turner of the Covina Police Department.

It is not yet clear if any arrests were made.

The plants were taken to an incinerator at the Port of Long Beach where they were destroyed, Turner told SGV CityWatch.

“If you notice a house in your neighborhood that looks unoccupied, see people coming and going at random hours, and has multiple new AC units installed; could be signs of marijuana cultivation operation,” according to the Covina Police Department in a written statement.

Anyone who suspects a similar operation in a residential or business area can call the Covina Police non-emergency line at 626-384-5808. Information can be provided anonymously by calling LA Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), through the P3Tips mobile app, or lacrimestoppers.org.

COVINA – A bullet that fell from the lap of a Hesperia man led to the discovery of weapons, ammunition and narcotics during a traffic stop July 14.

Mario Navarette, a 32-year-old Hesperia man, was stopped as he drove away from the Vanllee Hotel and Suites, 1211 E. Garvey St., around 12:08 a.m. The officer believed Navarrete displayed signs of driving under the influence, according to the Covina Police Department.

“As Navarrete stepped out of the vehicle, a live round of ammunition fell from his lap. A firearm was later located in his backpack inside the vehicle,” according to the Covina Police Department in a written statement.

A records check of 33-year-old passenger Salvador Ramirez revealed he was released July 8 following a conviction for being a felon in possession of a firearm. He served four days in jail and was sentenced to one year of probation, according to the Covina Police Department.

Ramirez, a Baldwin Park man, has five previous convictions for weapons possession while being a felon, according to the Covina Police Department.

Police searched Ramirez and allegedly found a methamphetamine pipe and a semi-automatic handgun strapped with a hook and loop band around his waist, according to the Covina Police Department.

A spent shell casing was found in the vehicle.

Navarrete was booked on suspicion of carrying a loaded firearm in a public place and possessing a concealed firearm, Ramirez was booked on suspicion of being a felon in possession of a firearm, possession of a controlled substance while armed, possession of a concealed firearm and unlawful possession of ammunition, according to the Covina Police Department.

Anyone with information on these suspects possibly being involved in a shooting is urged to call Covina Police Detective Preciado at 626-384-5622, reference case #21-19391.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

COVINA - A man and two women in a stolen vehicle were arrested March 18, their cache of burglary tools, drugs and a gun seized after an officer suspected their intentions for crime.

An officer on patrol saw the suspicious trio in the 500 block of South Rancho Simi Drive. A license plate check revealed the rear plate was stolen, as well as the vehicle itself, according to the Covina Police Department.

“While searching the vehicle, the officer located a loaded P80 “ghost gun,” a pry bar, black latex gloves, rope, a small amount of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia,” according to the Covina Police Department in a written statement.

All three were arrested and charged accordingly, Covina Police said.

The male suspect, 29-year-old Christopher Severson, admitted responsibility for the stolen vehicle and handgun. He is wanted in connection to crimes in surrounding cities, the Covina Police Department said.

“During his interview, he admitted to Law Enforcement personnel that he was in Covina to commit another burglary, or home invasion robbery,” according to the Covina Police Department.

The names of the female accomplices were not revealed.

Severson was arrested at 11:15 a.m. March 19. He was booked at 12:26 p.m. On March 26, a DCLR parole release was applied, according to Los Angeles County booking records.

It appears Severson was then arrested March 30 by deputies from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Temple Station for a felony-level crime allegedly committed March 17. He is being held without bail on a California Department of Corrections hold.

In the alleged March 17 crimes, Severson and a female accomplice are accused of robbery, burglary and assault with a firearm, according to county booking records.

COVINA - 29 grams of heroin, 10 grams of methamphetamine and a “ghost gun” were found stashed in a closet inside a hotel room occupied by a woman wanted for smuggling narcotics across the border.

Chino woman Kelly Branham, 29, was sought by the U.S. Marshal Service for drug running to and from Mexico. 

The Covina Police Crime Impact Team was investigating Branham who is on probation. She was located at the Vanllee Hotel and Suites, 1211 E. Garvey St., at 11a.m. March 9.

“CIT Detectives located an unserialized and loaded firearm or “ghost glock” in her closet. They also located approximately 29 grams of heroin and approximately 10 grams of methamphetamine in the room,” the Covina Police Department said in a written statement.

Branham was arrested on felony charges. The U.S. Marshal Service later took custody of her.

COVINA – Three people were arrested after a probation search uncovered drugs and a weapon.

Officers searched an occupied room at Vanlee Hotel, 1211 E. Garvey Ave., at 9 a.m. November 17. The probation search was conducted on a convicted felon who is also a parolee, according to the Covina Police Department.

COVINA - A woman arrested April 27, along with two men, on prostitution and narcotics charges was re-arrested April 28, Police said.

Teri Burress, 33, was arrested April 28, caught in the same hotel, the Vanllee Hotel and Suites at 1211 E. Garvey St., around 2:15 p.m. where she was arrested one day prior. She was arrested Tuesday during a followup investigation, Covina Police said.

Burress, a transient, is accused of offering prostitution to Freddy Jesus Sanguino, 44, Covina Police said.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

COVINA - One person died and another was sent to a hospital after officers believed the two were mixing dangerous amounts of drugs and alcohol, a Covina Police Lieutenant said Saturday.

Firefighters responded to a medical emergency call at a residence on East Badillo Street just west of Glendora Avenue around 10:08 a.m. April 18. Both Victims were reportedly in full arrest, according to Los Angeles County Fire Department radio traffic.

Both victims are in their 20s, Zavala told SGV CityWatch.

Someone inside the residence called 9-1-1. Zavala wouldn’t say who made the call.

Zavala said that investigators were still determining what drug was taken by the victims.

Juan Interiano, a 28-year-old Inglewood man, was identified by Lt. Kristy McCracken of the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner. An autopsy is scheduled in the next two days.

The condition of the hospitalized victim was not given, but Zavala said the victim survived the overdose.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

COVINA - Police seized ammunition, body armor and drugs after arresting a man accused of burglarizing his former workplace in Covina while armed.

Keith Laurent, 42, was arrested just after 10:30 a.m. December 2 by officers responding to a burglary in progress at NPI Enterprises, 1174 East Edna Pl. Laurent was discovered with a manufactured handgun, multiple suppressors and ammunition, according to the Covina Police Department.

“Laurent is a convicted felon for a violent crime and is prohibited from possessing any weapons,” according to the Covina Police Department in a written statement.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms was notified and along with Covina police, served a search warrant at Laurent’s home in the city of Orange.

Ammunition, drugs and body armor were found in the home.

Laurent was booked on suspicion of burglary, being a felon in possession of a firearm, ammunition, body armor, and possessing narcotics for sales.

Laurent posted $20,000 bond, according to Los Angeles County booking records.

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.

COVINA - Police arrested a West Covina gang member July 9 and found drugs, a gun and fake money during a search warrant.

Marco Villaneda, 38, was arrested early Tuesday morning by the Covina Special Response Team in the 1200 block of Bridger Street. The arrest was part of a domestic battery case from June, Covina Police said.

Villaneda is accused of striking his girlfriend 10 times at the suspect’s Bridger Street home June 9, Covina Police said.

During the search warrant, police confiscated 18 grams of methamphetamine, a loaded .38-caliber revolver and counterfeit cash, Covina Police said.