Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

DUARTE - A home was reportedly ransacked in an afternoon burglary August 31.

The burglary occurred around 3:42 p.m. in the 1300 block of Highland Avenue. After entering the home, a burglar stole $7,500 in cash from a suitcase, a Gucci purse and a security camera that was disabled, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Temple Station.

Before the camera was disabled and removed, it recorded a Latino man in an orange construction shirt, reflective vest and gardener-style hat inside the home.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

DUARTE - Tracking devices helped deputies locate and apprehend at least two of the four suspects accused of robbing a cellphone store and leading deputies on a pursuit.

The four suspects, described as Black males wearing hooded sweatshirts, sweatpants and ski masks, entered an AT&T store, simulated handguns tucked in their waistbands and ordered an employee to open a safe. Fearing for his life, the employee complied, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

The AT&T store is located at 1243 Huntington Dr. The robbery was reported around 5:48 p.m. June 23.

The suspects stole 50 cell phones and other electronic items. They fled in a silver Chevy sedan.

“The cell phones were equipped with a tracking device, which assisted law enforcement in locating the suspect vehicle a short time later. After a short pursuit two of the suspects were apprehended,” according to the Sheriff’s Department in a written statement.

It is unclear if any other suspects were caught at a later date.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

DUARTE - The person of interest detained after a man died from an altercation in Duarte Wednesday was released pending further investigation, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

The death stemmed from a neighbor intervening in a fight between a man and woman who detectives said were in a prior dating relationship. Deputies from the Sheriff’s Temple Station were called to a house in a 2500 block of Maynard Drive around 6:49 p.m. June 26 to a domestic assault call.

During the intervention, the man grabbed a tire iron from a nearby vehicle. The neighbor and the man got into a struggle. The man was subdued by the neighbor and taken to the ground. Deputies arrived and found the man unconscious. He was taken to a hospital where he later died, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

Everyone involved in this incident know each other. The incident is being handled as a death investigation, the Sheriff’s Department said.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

LOS ANGELES - Homicide detectives are still searching for the suspect or suspects responsible for gunning down a man in a residential driveway last year.

Fidel Padilla, 32, was shot and killed in the driveway at 1018 Kellwil Way in Duarte October 16, 2023, around 1:40 a.m. A vehicle was caught on surveillance camera speeding from the location.

All detectives could release was a blurry still frame of the vehicle fleeing the crime scene.

Anyone with information on this shooting is urged to call the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500. Remain anonymous by calling LA Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), through the P3Tips mobile app, or lacrimestoppers.org.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

DUARTE - Two men entered a waiting Uber vehicle and took it at gunpoint April 18, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

The driver was en route to a customer, Jasmine, in the 500 block of Larkhall Avenue at 5:30 p.m. When the driver arrived, two men entered the vehicle. The driver asked for the whereabouts of Jasmine when one of the suspects revealed a dark colored handgun from his backpack and ordered the victim to get out or he would shoot him, according to the Sheriff’s Department.

“The victim, fearing for his life, exited the vehicle. The suspects fled the area westbound on Royal Oaks Drive and out of view,” according to the Sheriff’s Department in a written statement.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

DUARTE - Three suspects armed with weapons robbed a victim of a cell phone, wallet, and watch, deputies said.

The robbery occurred around 9 p.m. near the El Canton de la Patrona, 1164 E. Huntington Dr., April 4. The victim was walking away when he was approached by three Latino men who pointed what were described as handguns at him, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

“The suspects physically assaulted the victim and forcibly took his cell phone, watch, and wallet. The suspects fled the location and entered a newer black 4 door possible Honda eastbound on Huntington Drive and out of view,” according to the Sheriff’s Department in a written statement.

The loss was $5800.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

DUARTE - Two suspects, one armed with a silver handgun, made off with $2000 in cash during a liquor store robbery March 9.

Two suspects entered Duarte Liquor, 1302 Duarte Rd., just before 8 p.m. March 9. One of the suspects pointed a handgun at the clerk and demanded money from the register. Fearing for his life, the clerk surrendered the money, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Temple Station.

Both suspects escaped on foot east on Duarte Road and out of view.

Both suspects are described as Latino men. One of the suspects wore a white and blue hooded jacket, light, colored pants, dark gloves, and a blue face mask. The second suspect wore a black hooded sweatshirt with a large logo on the front, dark-colored pants and red gloves.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

DUARTE - Two suspects took off with cash after pointing a handgun at a 7-Eleven clerk in Duarte March 2.

The robbery occurred around 8:18 p.m. at the 7-Eleven, 1802 East Huntington Dr. One of the suspects pointed a dark semi-automatic handgun at the clerk and fled once they were given the cash, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Temple Station.

Deputies said $550 was taken.

Both suspects are described as Latino males in their 20s. Both suspects wore dark hooded sweatshirts and blue facemasks. One suspect stands 5 feet 5 inches tall, the other 5 feet 8 inches tall.

Anyone who can help identify the suspects is urged to call Sgt. Lewis at the Sheriff’s Temple Station detective bureau at 626-292-3310, or by email at [email protected]. Remain anonymous by calling LA Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), through the P3Tips mobile app, or lacrimestoppers.org.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

DUARTE - A home owner confronted two men who attempted to break in to their home February 6.

The men failed to break a window after entering the rear yard of the home in the 1900 block of Royal Oaks Drive. The attempted break-in was reported around 12:50 p.m., according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Temple Station.

The homeowner was working remotely when the suspects attempted their break-in.

“According to witnesses, the suspects escaped on foot through the Donald and Bernice Watson Recreation Trail, the same way they got in,” according to the Sheriff’s Temple Station in a written statement.

Additional patrols have been implemented across Duarte neighborhoods after this incident.

Deputies urge residents to remain vigilant and to report any suspicious activity; to record license plate numbers and get suspect and/or vehicle descriptions while prioritizing personal safety.

Call 911, or 626-448-9861 to report all suspicious activity.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

DUARTE - A pedestrian was struck and critically injured by a U-Haul van on Huntington Drive, Wednesday morning.

Deputies do not believe that distracted, driving, drugs, or alcohol played a factor in the crash that took place on East Huntington Drive at Crestfield Drive just after 11 a.m. Wednesday, October 18.

An update on the pedestrian’s condition was not readily available Thursday morning.

Deputies had westbound lanes of Huntington Drive blocked off from Las Lomas Road to Crestfield Drive during the investigation. The U-Haul van remained stopped in the middle of Huntington Drive. A large blood stain was seen on the road in front of the van.

Why the collision happened is still under investigation, according to Lt. Ruiz of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Temple Station.