Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

EL MONTE - Police have identified the rather large suspect who attempted to rob an El Monte jewelry store September 2.

Joshua Lee Simmons, 36, is being sought for the failed smash-and-grab robbery at Meza Jewelry, 10909 Main St.

In a now infamous video shared on social media, a suspect believed to be Simmons was beat back by two employees of the jewelry store. The suspect maced one or more employees, but they were undeterred in doling out a beatdown.

The suspect lost his shirt to one of the employees. As he fled, his back revealed a deliciously poetic “GO” tattoo inked in large letters. He fled in a dark gray 2019 Dodge Charger GT.

Simmons remains at-large, no pun intended, as of Friday.

Anyone with information on this case is urged to call the El Monte Police watch commander or detective bureau at 626-580-2100, or 626-580-2109. 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

EL MONTE - Two victims are in stable condition, one is in serious condition after a group of suspects broke into at least three homes in an El Monte neighborhood Sunday morning.

An extensive perimeter search yielded the arrest of two suspects. There may have been as many as four suspects committing the crimes, according to Lt. Pete Rasic of the El Monte Police Department.

Officers responded to multiple calls of the home invasion robberies occurring in the 2700 block of Potrero Avenue, November 27. All the homes were close to each other.

Rasic was unsure of exactly what type of weapon was used during the home invasion robberies, only describing it as a blunt force style weapon. He also was unsure how the suspects entered.

Detectives do not believe at this time that any property was taken, Rasic told SGV CityWatch.

The suspects were described as Black males, all young adults.

Identifying information for the suspects that were arrested is not yet available. The suspects are still being processed, Rasic told SGV CityWatch.

Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor

EL MONTE - Two suspected police impersonators took a woman’s purse and more than $600 in cash and property during a robbery August 15.

One of the suspects pulled what looked like a black semi-automatic handgun on the woman who protested the faked traffic stop at Valley Boulevard and Garvey Avenue, believing one of the “officers” was too young-looking, El Monte Police said in a written statement.

The suspects initiated a traffic stop, reported at 1:10 a.m., in a newer-model, white Toyota Tundra, El Monte Police said.

The victim told El Monte officers that the suspects pulled up alongside of her and motioned for her to stop, but she refused. The suspects then drove in front of her and stopped, preventing her from driven off.

Both suspects exited the Tundra. One demanded the victim’s license, while the second suspect used a radio to complete radio transmissions, El Monte Police said.

One of the suspects tried to open the victims locked driver-side door, then reached in and stole her purse.

The suspects fled east on Valley Boulevard in the Tundra.

The victim was uninjured.

The driver was described as a Hispanic man, 20 years old, 5 feet 6 inches tall, weighs 160 pounds, has black hair, a dark complexion, acne scars on his cheeks and he wore a long-sleeve black shirt and blue jeans.

The second suspect is a Hispanic man, appeared to be 16 years old, 5 feet 6 inches tall, weighs 110 pounds, has black hair, a light complexion, is clean-shaven and wore a black t-shirt and black jeans.

Anyone with information on the robbery or suspects is urged to call the El Monte Police Department at 626-258-8635, or email tips at [email protected].

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.