Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

EL MONTE - Bus lanes leading to the westbound I-10 from Santa Anita Avenue May 3.

The body was discovered amongst some bushes near the bus lanes just before 4:30 p.m., according to Officer Curtiss of the California Highway Patrol.

“It was not a collision and it does not look like foul play is involved,” according to Officer Curtiss.

Los Angeles County firefighters declared the man dead at the scene at 4:45 p.m.

The Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner identified the man as 54-year-old Juan Ruiz Jr. His cause of death has been deferred.

​Bus lanes were temporarily shut down, but reopened at 7:11 p.m., Curtiss told SGV CityWatch.

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The death record in this article is being redistributed by SGV CityWatch and is protected by constitutional, publishing and other legal rights. Information about the decedent(s), including cause and manner of death, is public record and was distributed by government sources.

2025-07400

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

EL MONTE - A pedestrian was struck and killed on the I-10 freeway early Saturday morning.

The pedestrian was struck and killed by a black Hyundai on the Peck Road on ramp to the eastbound I-10 freeway around 4:12 p.m. November 23.

Caltrans assisted the California Highway Patrol with lane closures, including closing the Peck Road and Valley Boulevard on ramps until the medical examiner took possession of the body.

The identity of the pedestrian is not publicly known.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

LOS ANGELES - Authorities named the 58-year-old man found dead on or near a bike path November 14.

Charles Dewire was identified by the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner. His cause of death was deferred, pending additional investigation.

First responders were sent to the bike path near the southbound 605 freeway and the I-10 freeway around 3:18 p.m., according to Officer Garcia with the California Highway Patrol.

A quick Internet search revealed an eye-opening photo essay by Los Angeles Times photographer Francine Orr. The essay captured life in what is referred to as “The Cave,” a series of cement vaults underneath the I-10 at the San Gabriel River.

Many transients make their life in The Cave, including a man identified in the photo essay as Charles Dewire. His sister, Jamie Dewire, also lived in The Cave and died May 14, 2009 of heroin and morphine intoxication underneath Ramona Avenue, according to Medical Examiner records.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

EL MONTE - Authorities are investigating after a dead man was reportedly found on or near the San Gabriel River Bikepath Thursday afternoon.

First responders were sent to the bikepath near the southbound 605 freeway and the I-10 freeway around 3:18 p.m. November 14, according to Officer Garcia with the California Highway Patrol.

The call from a witness was originally sent to the Baldwin Park Police Department. The call was then transferred to the CHP. Investigators were unable to determine jurisdiction, so the CHP took the investigation as a courtesy, Garcia told SGV CityWatch.

The victim was only described as a white man in his 50s. Legal next of kin have yet to be notified, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

EL MONTE - A Sig Alert has been issued on the I-10 freeway near Durfee Avenue in El Monte after a pedestrian was struck and killed Thursday morning.

First responders were sent to the location just before 5:30 a.m. Thursday, November 9. The No. 5, 6 and 7 Lanes are shut down until at least 7 a.m. until the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner arrives, according to the California Highway Patrol.

Prior to the crash, there were numerous reports of a man with a backpack nearly being struck while walking near the slow lane of the west I-10 freeway. The pedestrian was finally struck and went down in the No. 4 lane, according to CHP traffic logs.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

EL MONTE - One person was found dead and 25 residents were displaced after firefighters extinguished an apartment complex blaze early Monday morning.

The fire burned at a two-story apartment complex in the 11400 block of Magnolia Street in El Monte just after 3 a.m. Monday, March 27. First responders arrived to find one unit at the complex well involved with flames, according to Dispatch Supervisor Martin Rangel of the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

“When the fire was extinguished, it was discovered that a decedent was found in one of the apartments,” according to El Monte Police Lt. Peter Rasic.

El Monte Police detectives are assisting county fire investigators and the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner in determining the cause.

The American Red Cross is assisting displaced residents.

LOS ANGELES – A 31-year-old man shot and who later died at a hospital was identified recently.

Andrew Valencia, 31, was identified by the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner. He died of a gunshot wound to the chest. His death was ruled a homicide.

Valencia was found wounded, but still alive in the 3000 block of Allgeyer Avenue May 5. Firefighters and El Monte Police officers were called around 4:50 a.m. He was taken to a hospital and later declared dead.

Valencia was found laying to the side of a road near a business.

Surveillance footage apparently revealed a dark-colored sedan was driven to the location and Valencia was pushed out of the vehicle, leading investigators to believe he was shot elsewhere. The sedan was driven south from the scene.

Anyone with information on this shooting 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.