Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor

EL MONTE - A man looking to sell his Apple laptop was robbed by two men who took the computer from him and attacked him when he tried to get it back Saturday night.

The victim and suspects met at McDonald’s, 4851 Santa Anita Avenue around 8:15 p.m. April 14. At some point, the suspects fled with the $3,000 laptop to a waiting vehicle and were chased by the victim, said Lt. Michael Buckhannon of the El Monte Police Department.

“As they approached the waiting vehicle, suspect one and suspect two exited and struck the victim several times with sticks, Buckhannon said.

A witness approached and told the victim the computer was not worth the fight. The suspects fled northbound towards Arcadia, Buckhannon said.

The victim was not hospitalized.

The suspect vehicle is described as a black, newer-model four-door Hyundai.

One suspect is a Black man in his 20s, 5 feet 10 inches tall, clean shaven, has short hair and wore a track suit.

The second suspect is a Black man in his 20s with short hair and he wore dark clothing.

Although he commends the victim to find a public place to conduct the transaction, Buckhannon highly suggests conducting such transactions in front of a local police or Sheriff’s station to deter robbery or theft.

“Suspects with nefarious thoughts would think twice about going to a local law enforcement agency to commit that transaction,” Buckhannon said.

Anyone with information on the suspects is urged to call the El Monte Police Department at 626-580-2110.

Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor

EL MONTE - A 28-year-old driver died in a tremendous crash on Lower Azusa Road and Peck Road Sunday afternoon.
 
The collision occurred around 12:05 p.m. Two patients, one with minor injuries, the other critical, were extracted from the twisted wreck and taken to County/USC Medical Center, according to Dispatch Supervisor Bernard Peters of the Los Angeles County Fire Department.
 
Distracted driving and speeding are believed to be factors in the crash, according to the El Monte Police Department.
 
The crash is still under investigation.
 
The man has yet to be identified. Next of kin has not been notified, according to Investigator Rudy Molano of the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner.
 
El Monte Police reminds its residents that April is distracted driving month and officers will be out in full force writing cell phone tickets.

Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor

EL MONTE - A fire destroyed 10 vehicles inside an apartment carport early Sunday morning.
 
It was determined that a faulty cellphone charger inside one of the vehicles sparked the blaze inside the carport at 4128 Tyler Avenue, said Lt. Eric Stanley of the El Monte Police Department.
 
The fire was reported just after 3:30 a.m.
 
It was unclear how much damage was caused to the structure itself.
 
No injuries were reported, Stanley said.

Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor

EL MONTE – A man was found shot to death inside a vehicle after crashing into a security gate on Valley Boulevard Tuesday morning.
 
The victim, only described as a Hispanic adult male, crashed his vehicle into the gate at a business in the 12300 block of Valley Boulevard. Officers were dispatched to a traffic collision and flagged down by a passerby who pointed out the crashed vehicle, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
 
The driver, suffering from at least one gunshot wound to the upper torso, was declared dead at the scene.
 
There is no suspect description available.

Valley Boulevard between Durfee Road and the 605 freeway remains closed during an investigation, El Monte Police said.
 
Anyone with information on the shooting is urged to call the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500. Information can be provided anonymously by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).