Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

DUARTE - Grainy security video caught a reported sex assault that occurred in the early morning hours of April 10, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said.

The assault occurred in the 1200 block of Huntington Drive Between 2:45 a.m. and 3:30 a.m., according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

The suspect is described as a black man who stands 6 feet tall, weighs 200 pounds, has black hair and brown eyes. Clothing description was not provided.

The victims condition was also not provided.

Residents who live within a half mile of the 1200 block of Huntington Drive are asked to check security cameras for any video capturing suspicious activity around the time of the assault, according to the Los Angeles County sheriffs department.

Anyone with information on this incident, or who has video of a possible suspect is urged to call the sheriff’s Special Victims Bureau toll-free tip line at 877-710-5273, or email specialvictimsbureau@lasd.org.

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.

DUARTE – Bringing a whole new meaning to “cat burglar,” a feline friend was taken from a Duarte home last month, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said.

The burglary in the 800 block of Beckville Street is believed to have occurred between 9 p.m. November 28 and 6 a.m. November 29.

A window screen was forced open at the residence and access was gained through an unlocked window.

“Suspect(s) unknown stole a cat that the victim had rescued. No other items appeared to have been stolen,” according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department in a written statement.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

DUARTE – A man surrendered and was taken into custody Friday after he allegedly vandalized the exterior of some stores at a strip mall and climbed to the roof.

Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputies and firefighters worked to ensure no one was hurt after the suspect scaled the outside of the 99 Cents Only Store, 1327 E. Huntington Dr. The suspect attempted to enter through a roof hatch as a Sheriff’s helicopter watched. The man armed himself with a pipe and threw objects onto the walkway below, according to Sheriff’s radio traffic.

The incident unfolded around 2:30 p.m. November 26.

When deputies arrived, the man was found behind the strip mall. The man eventually climbed up on some dumpsters and pipes to scale the building, according to Lt. Liu of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Temple Station.

The 99 Cents Only Store was evacuated as a precaution, Liu told SGV CityWatch.

The man vandalized the roof during the incident, but ultimately no one was injured, Lieu told SGV CityWatch.

“The suspect has some mental issues and history of drug use. Ultimately deputies were able to convince him to come down from the roof,” Liu told SGV CityWatch.

It was about two hours before the man came down from the roof. Deputies said the man has had prior contacts with them in Duarte, Liu told SGV CityWatch.

The man was arrested on suspicion of vandalism and taken to a Downtown Los Angeles jail for a mental evaluation, Liu told SGV CityWatch.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

DUARTE - Three suspects robbed a 7-Eleven of cash and later abandoned a stolen Chevy Cavalier they escaped escaped in, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said.

The robbery unfolded at the 7-Eleven, 1802 Huntington Dr., October 14. Three suspects described as Hispanic men ages 20 to 25 in hooded sweatshirts and facial coverings entered the store. Two suspects approached the cashier and ordered him to empty the register.

“The third came from behind and ordered a store customer to empty his pockets. One of the males produced a tan-colored handgun and, fearing for his life, the cashier emptied the register of its contents,” according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department in a written statement.

The three suspects fled in a waiting grey 2005 Chevy Cavalier. The vehicle was found abandoned the next day in the 1900 block Buena Vista Street October 15. The vehicle was reported stolen two days prior in Pasadena, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

DUARTE – A domestic spat led to an injury shooting inside a hotel room, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said.

The shooting took place inside a room at the Days Inn by Wyndham, 1533 E. Huntington Dr., October 9. The male allegedly began acting bizarre and the victim tried to calm him down by hugging him, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Temple Station.

“The suspect began to push the victim off of him, when the victim heard a gunshot and realized she had been shot in the arm.  The victim attempted the run out of the room, when the suspect prevented her from leaving,” according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Temple Station in a written statement.

After several attempts, the victim was able to escape.

The suspect also fled, but was found and arrested. His name was not publicly disclosed.

DUARTE – A driver was hospitalized after a suspect shot at his vehicle on a Duarte street, deputies said.

The shooting occurred September 22 in the 1200 block of Galen Street. The driver was seated in his vehicle when another vehicle, described as a late 90s Hyundai Sonata with tinted windows, stopped alongside him, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Temple Station.

“The victim heard the sound of a gunshot and immediately realized he had been shot. The suspect vehicle driven by unknown persons fled the area,” according to the Sheriff’s Temple Station in a written statement.

Shotgun pellet holes peppered the victim’s vehicle and evidence was recovered at the scene.

DUARTE – A suspect fled in a silver Hyundai four-door sedan September 25 after stabbing his victim in the abdomen during an argument at a 7-Eleven.

Both victim and suspect began arguing at the convenience store, 2705 Huntington Drive. An employee told both victim and suspect to leave, at which point the victim told the suspect “I’ll meet you outside,” according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Temple Station.

“Once both parties were outside, the victim approached the other party, when he produced a knife and was stabbed in the abdomen,” according to the Sheriff’s Temple Station in a written statement.

Surveillance video apparently caught the incident. It is unclear if any arrests were made.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

DUARTE - A gang shooting left a man with a gunshot wound to one of his arms in an early-morning attack, deputies said.

Gunfire erupted in the 1200 block of Highland Avenue around 1:19 a.m. August 16. The victim was inside a home and then heard a man yell the word “blood” at the front of the residence. A surveillance camera caught the suspect firing multiple rounds into the home, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Temple Station.

The victim received a wound to his right forearm considered not life-threatening. Empty shell casings were recovered at the location.

Deputies did not provide a suspect description. It is not clear if the suspect escaped in a vehicle.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

DUARTE - Two suspects made a daring burglary August 15, taking nearly $1,400 from the cash registers after breaking through the drive-through window at El Pollo Loco, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said.

The burglary took place around 5 a.m. at the restaurant, 1212 Huntington Dr. $1,385 was stolen from the location and $2,300 in damage was caused during the break-in, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Temple Station.

The burglary was caught on surveillance cameras.

It is not publicly clear if any arrests have been made in the days since the burglary.

DUARTE – A victim fled after a suspect attempted to rob him of his dog at gunpoint near a 7-Eleven in Duarte July 25, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said.

The attempted robbery occurred around 2:20 p.m. at 2705 Huntington Dr. A gold Nissan 350Z pulled up and the driver brandished a chrome semi-automatic handgun and demanded the victim’s dog, according to the Sheriff’s Temple Station.

“Victim fearing for his safety fled the area. Victim stated suspect followed him a short distance and lost sight of the vehicle as he pulled into the public safety parking lot,” according to the Sheriff’s Temple Station in a written statement.

The suspect was described as a Hispanic man in his 30s. He wore a goatee and his head was bald.