Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

COVINA - One person is dead, a second person refused medical attention after a fire ignited inside a home Sunday.

The fire was dispatched at Noon in the 500 block of E. Tudor St., April 19. Firefighters were initially told the two occupants were unable to escape due to flames blocking a bedroom door. Both victims were eventually taken from the home by firefighters, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

An adult male signed out against medical advice. An adult female with critical injuries later died, firefighters said.

It took 25 firefighters to extinguish the flames in 10 minutes, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

Investigators were sent to the scene to determine the cause of the fire.

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 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.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

COVINA - Three fires burned roughly within an hour of each other late Wednesday night, a Los Angeles County Fire Department dispatch supervisor 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 p.m., according to Los Angeles County Fire Department Dispatch Supervisor Michael Pittman.

Investigators were called to determine the fire’s cause. Firefighters finally left at 1:15 a.m., Pittman said.

At 11:34 p.m., firefighters were dispatched to a dumpster fire behind Pupuseria Mi Salvador, 474 E. Arrow Hwy. The fire was extinguished quickly.

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.

It is unclear if the three fires are connected to each other. Repeated calls to a Covina Police supervisor went unanswered.

It is also unclear if the recent fires are connected to a series of fires sparked April 4. A suspect was detained after fires were ignited along the Azusa Avenue corridor in Covina and Azusa.

COVINA - A possible exterior fire spread to the attic at an apartment complex Sunday morning, firefighters said.

The fire spread to the attic above two units in the 1200 block of Wanamaker Drive around 8:11 a.m., March 1. The fire was extinguished roughly 30 minutes later, according to firefighters at the scene.

Firefighters report one patient at the scene.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

COVINA - An older driver was hospitalized with minor injuries after another driver ran a red light and caused a collision, a Covina Police officer said Wednesday.

The crash occurred around 1:45 p.m. outside Covina High School at West Puente Street and South Hollenbeck Avenue January 22.

A driver in a Hyundai westbound on Puente reportedly ran a red light and crashed into a southbound Nissan, according to Officer Manuel Esquivel of the Covina Police Department.

The Nissan overturned.

Some witnesses and passersby assisted the older driver out of the overturned vehicle. The driver was hospitalized for complaints of back pain and stomach pain, Esquivel said.

The injured driver was transported at 2:06 p.m., according to Franklin Lopez of the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

The driver accused of running the red light remained on scene and cooperated with investigators. He was issued a citation on scene, Esquivel said.

COVINA - A man armed with a shotgun or rifle has taken refuge in the rear yard of a home after firefighters encountered him while fighting a grass fire.

The suspect is in a yard at 4126 North Morada Ave. Firefighters had to briefly evacuate after finding the man with the weapon, according to Los Angeles County Fire Department radio traffic.

COVINA - An SUV plowed into the front entrance of a Mexican restaurant Wednesday night.

The crash occurred at Mar y Tierra Restaurant, 1118 W. San Bernardino Rd., around 10:24 p.m. August 21. The grey Kia Sorento struck the front of the restaurant and caused major structural damage, according to Sgt. Sutherland of the Covina Police Department.

Two occupants in the Sorento were taken to Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center for complaints of pain, Sutherland said.

COVINA - Police and the coroner are investigating a drowning August 3.

The victim drown in a residential pool near East Workman Avenue and South Hollenbeck Avenue. Los Angeles County Firefighters were called around 3:47 p.m.

COVINA - A suspicious, vintage-looking military canister was found to be empty after it turned up near a Bank of America drive-thru ATM Tuesday.

The canister was discovered near the ATM, 212 E. Badillo St., July 16. Los Angeles County Fire hazmat units and Covina Police responded around 3:42 p.m. Officers began warning nearby residents and nearby businesses. Some were evacuated or told to shelter in place.

Wording written on top of the canister made authorities believe the object contained some type of explosive material. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Arson/Explosives Detail was called, said Sgt. Joshua Turner of the Covina Police Department.

“We set up a perimeter on their suggestion based on how large the actual box was,” Turner said, adding the canister had writing suggesting it could have held 45 pounds of an unknown explosive material.