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.

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 – 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.

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.