Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

DUARTE - A 15-year-old frozen hiker was saved from a sopping wet mountainside after getting stranded on a ridge November 20.

The teen was able to call 9-1-1 and told dispatchers of his location in the foothills above Bradbury Canyon. First responders were sent around 6:33 p.m., according to the City of Duarte.

Inclement weather prevented the teen from setting back home.

Deputies from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Temple Station, the Sierra Madre Search and Rescue Team converged on the teen. He was located with the help of thermal imaging and with the use of a drone about two hours later a half mile east of Bliss Canyon Road.

The teen was medically assessed and was determined to be mildly hypothermic. He was given extra clothing and warming methods were applied while he was taken to an extraction point where a Los Angeles County Fire Department helicopter airlifted him to safety and for further medical assessment, according to the City of Duarte.

“This rescue showed the strength of coordinated public safety response,” said Larry Breceda, Director of Public Safety for the City of Duarte. “Our new drone program proved essential in quickly locating the hiker and giving ground crews the information they needed. I’m proud of the teamwork between our Public Safety staff, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, Sierra Madre Search and Rescue, and LA County Fire. Their quick actions ensured this young man received the help he needed.”

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Copyright 2025. All stories and original images published here are the exclusive property of SGV CityWatch and may not be republished in any form without the permission of this organization.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

DUARTE - A gunman opened fire on two people standing outside a home and fled on foot May 1.

Deputies responded to the 2200 block of Wesleygrove Avenue on an initial report of gunfire heard in the area around 3:36 p.m. They then discovered two Black men had been shot, according to Lt. Kearney of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Temple Station.

Both shooting victims were hit in the abdomen area and their injuries were considered graze wounds. The victims were treated at the scene by Los Angeles County Fire Department paramedics and refused to be hospitalized, Kearney told SGV CityWatch.

The suspect, only described as a male Latino adult, was walking northbound on Wesleygrove Avenue when he saw the two men standing on the front yard of a home and fired roughly 10 rounds from a 9mm handgun, Kearney told SGV CityWatch.

The suspect ran southbound on Wesleygrove and eastbound on Pamela Road towards Pamela County Park.

Detectives from the Sheriff’s Operation Safe Streets Bureau are investigating a potential gang connection, Kearney told SGV CityWatch.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

DUARTE - Two suspects pressed handguns up against their victim’s face and took off with his wallet, cell phone, keys and Jeep Liberty outside a Walmart July 7.

The robbery and carjacking was reported at 5:12 a.m. outside the Walmart, 1600 Mountain Ave. Victim was waiting for the arrival of his carpool partner when one suspect approached and ordered him out of the vehicle while pointing a black semi-automatic handgun at him, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

Fearing for his life, the victim exited the vehicle and then was met by second suspect, also armed with a firearm.

“Both suspects place the muzzles of their weapons on the victim’s face and ordered him to look down and away from them. The victim was ordered to hand over the vehicle’s keys, his wallet and his phone, to which he complied,” according to the Sheriff’s Temple Station in a written statement.

Both suspects, described as Black men, had the hoods of their hooded sweatshirts cinched tightly over their faces.

After surrendering his vehicle, the victim heard his Jeep Liberty speeding away. Moments later, he heard a collision and saw a secondary vehicle tied to the car jacking that collided with the rear of his Jeep. Both vehicles then sped away from the Walmart west on Central Avenue.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

DUARTE - Deputies searched two schools in Duarte Tuesday morning and soon determined that a call of an active shooter turned out to be a hoax.

Deputies searched and secured Duarte High School, 1565 Central Avenue, and California School of the Arts, 1401 Highland Avenue, February 7.

A call was received at 9:29 a.m. of an active shooter at the Duarte High School address, but the caller mentioned California School of the Arts, according to Sgt. Robert Leyba of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Temple Station.

“We’ve been informed just a little while ago that there were several hoaxes in different counties with an active shooter and students,” Leyba told SGV CityWatch.

Both schools were searched, and nothing was found.

Detectives are trying to determine the source of the call and if the call in Duarte was related to any of the hoax calls in surrounding counties.

DUARTE - Detectives are investigating an argument that led two men to pull handguns on an adversary in a Duarte neighborhood April 15.

The weapon brandishing unfolded near Starhaven Street at Buena Vista Street at 6:30 p.m. The victim told deputies he got into an argument with his neighbor about the neighbor’s speeding on the street. During the argument, two of the neighbor’s friends approach the victim and brandished black handguns at him, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Temple Station.

“The victim ran to his home, and the suspects and his neighbor entered a gold-colored BMW and drove northbound Buena Vista Street and out of view,” Deputies said in a written statement.

The victim was uninjured.

It is not yet clear if investigators have located any of the gunmen, or if any arrests were made.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

DUARTE – A suspect took cell phones from two security guards in a nighttime robbery March 7.

The robbery occurred around 1:47 a.m. in the 1800 block of Duarte Road. The suspect approached the security guards and demanded their phones. The guards refused and were then punched by the suspect, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Temple Station.

After punching the guards, the suspect brandished a knife.

“Seeing the knife and in fear for their lives, both victims gave their phones to the suspect. During the investigation, one of the victims identified the suspect walking past the crime scene,” according to the Sheriff’s Temple Station.

The suspect was eventually identified, arrested and booked on suspicion of robbery.

​The suspect's name and city of residence were not readily available.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

UNINCORPORATED MONROVIA - Two people were found wounded after gunfire rang out in an unincorporated neighborhood near Duarte Valentine’s Day.

The shooting occurred on South Felberg Avenue north of Maydee Street around 2:43 p.m. February 14.

Two people were shot. The victims, described as having critical injuries, were transported to two different hospitals, according to Dispatch Supervisor Cheryl Sims of the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

Deputies are searching for possibly as many as four suspects in the shooting. A black handgun and possibly a black rifle were used in the shooting, according to Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department radio traffic.

The suspects reportedly entered a gray older-model four-door sedan which was driven south towards Maydee Street and out of view.

Hey sheriffs supervisor did not answer a phone call by this reporter seeking additional information. A motive for the shooting is not yet publicly clear.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

DUARTE - A man died Thursday night, the apparent victim of a stabbing that investigators believe occurred in Duarte.

Investigators do not yet have a motive or a suspect description in the stabbing, which they believe occurred in the 2500 block of Millbrae Avenue, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Information Bureau.

Deputies from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Temple Station were notified around 8:45 p.m. of a stabbing victim admitted to a local hospital February 4. The preliminary investigation led deputies to an address on Millbrae Avenue, the Sheriff’s Information Bureau said.

The stabbing victim, only described as an adult Hispanic man, died at the hospital.

Anyone with information on this stabbing is urged to call the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500. 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 – An estimated $5,000 was taken during a robbery after the victim met with two men in hopes of purchasing iPhones, deputies said.

The robbery occurred at 2 p.m. in the 700 block of Encanto Parkway January 23. The victim met with the suspects previously and purchased iPhones. He hoped to purchase two additional phones, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Temple Station.

“Upon meeting, one of the suspects pointed a black handgun at the victim and demanded his money. The victim attempted to run from the incident and was knocked to the ground by the suspects,” deputies said.

The victim’s cash and jacket were taken.

The suspects fled in a Honda Accord.

DUARTE - A woman received unspecified injuries Sunday after being beaten with a metal bat, deputies said.

The attack occurred around 10:20 a.m. in the 2200 block of Felberg Avenue January 17.