Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

EL MONTE - A woman reportedly distraught over the death of her daughter attempted to jump from an upper level at the El Monte Bus Terminal January 19.

Deputies were able to pull the woman to safety, even after she sat down on the ledge, making it more difficult to secure her.

Deputies were called about a possible suicidal person at El Monte Station, 3501 N. Santa Anita Ave., just before 7 a.m. Deputies Elliot Plichta and Rafael Vargas from the Sheriff’s Special Assignment Unit were already patrolling the station and began searching.

The woman was perched on a ledge 30 feet above the bus station’s lower level, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

“As Vargas neared and grabbed her hand, long time Bus Patrol Deputy Bryant Torregano arrived to assist in securing the distraught female. Deputy Duarte immediately went to the lower level to ensure that no one could be injured below,” according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

Transit Mental Evaluation Team deputies interviewed the woman who said she wanted to join her daughter who passed away.

The woman was later hospitalized for an evaluation, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

EL MONTE - A church sustained undisclosed damage in what authorities described as an IED explosion Saturday.

The incident occurred at First Works Baptist Church, 2600 Tyler Ave. around 1:13 a.m.

“The Federal Bureau of Investigation responded overnight with members of the El Monte Police Department and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department to an “IED” attack at the First Works Baptist Church in El Monte, California. Bomb Technicians and an Evidence Response Team are processing the scene which sustained damage. No injuries were reported. A Joint Investigation is underway for the person or group responsible for the attack,” according to Lt. Michael Buckhannon of the El Monte Police Department in a written statement.

Firefighters arrived on scene and observed smoke coming from the attic of a one-story church. Upon entering the church, firefighters found no active flames, according to a dispatch supervisor with the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

Anyone with information on this incident is urged to contact the FBI Los Angeles Field Office at 310-477-6565, or at fbi.tips.gov.