Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

HACIENDA HEIGHTS - A West Covina police pursuit which snaked its way through the City of Industry and Rowland Heights areas has come to an end with a standoff at an elementary school in Hacienda Heights.

Industry deputies are assisting with a containment around Los Altos Elementary School, 15565 Los Altos Dr., after the driver stopped in the parking lot there. The vehicle was reportedly taken without the owner’s consent, according to initial information from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Industry Station.

Spike strips were used to help disable the vehicle, which lost its right front tire, but the suspect continued to flee, sometimes moving at 50 miles per hour and sometimes in opposing lanes.

It is not yet clear exactly when the pursuit began, but this reporter became aware of the chase just after 3 a.m.

West Covina officers are continually giving commands for the driver to exit the vehicle, but he is not complying.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

LOS ANGELES - Authorities identified the driver who was shot during a road rage incident in Hacienda Heights Saturday afternoon and who later died from his wounds.

La Puente man Luis Mendoza, 35, was identified by the California Highway Patrol.

Mendoza was driving a white Chevrolet Avalanche east on the 60 freeway east of Crossroads Parkway just before 12:30 p.m. July 3.

According to witnesses, the right front passenger of a silver or gray compact apparently opened fire, striking Mendoza and his truck. Mendoza lost control of his Chevrolet Avalanche, hit a white Kia and then crashed into the right shoulder retaining wall, the CHP said.

Mendoza and the two teenagers, 13 and 16 years old, were taken to County USC/Medical Center for treatment. Mendoza died there, the CHP said.

The 13-year-old suffered major head injuries. The 16-year-old suffered injuries considered not life-threatening. The mechanism of their injuries was not immediately known, the CHP said.

The Kia’s driver was uninjured.

Anyone with information on the shooting is urged to call the California Highway Patrol at 323-259-3200. You may also call the California Highway Patrol Major Crimes Bureau at 323-644-9550.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

UPDATE, 8:36 p.m.: One of the three victims hospitalized after a freeway shooting and crash died Saturday, the CHP said.

Officer Elizabeth Kravig of the CHP could not immediately confirm if any of the three victims injured in this incident were struck by gunfire.

According to CBS2 news, a man died, while two teenage sons remain hospitalized.

​The suspect fled in either a gray Toyota Corolla or Toyota Camry, the CHP said.

HACIENDA HEIGHTS - A Sig Alert continues for an unknown duration on the eastbound 60 freeway at 7th Avenue and on the transition roads from the 605 freeway after reports of gunfire erupted either before or after a collision Saturday.

Three people were transported to an area trauma center for treatment, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

It is not quite clear if those three people were injured in the collision or if they were injured by gunfire.

CHP officers were first called to the multi-vehicle collision on the eastbound 60 freeway at 12:28 p.m., according to Officer Elizabeth Kravig of the California Highway Patrol.

The above mentioned lanes and transition roads to the East 60 freeway from the north and south 605 remain closed while officers canvassed the freeway looking for evidence of a shooting, Kravig told SGV CityWatch.

The crossroads Parkway on ramp to the eastbound 60 freeway is also closed to traffic.

HACIENDA HEIGHTS - Violence continues after one person was found fatally shot and another later died at the hospital from gunshot wounds, homicide detectives said.

Deputies responded to the 3300 block of Turnbull Canyon Road just before 1 a.m. Thursday, May 20. They found one victim dead and another still alive, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Information Bureau.

No other details are available.

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 LA Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), through the P3Tips mobile app, or lacrimestoppers.org.

HACIENDA HEIGHTS - A victim is recovering from wounds considered superficial after being stabbed by an assailant Tuesday night.

Deputies were told of the stabbing around 8:10 p.m. and responded to South Ninth Avenue and Walbrook Drive, According to Lt. Baker of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Industry Station.

Deputies had established a crime scene and put up crime scene tape to preserve the area during the investigation, because the deputies did not know if the victim would survive, Baker told SGV CityWatch.

“I got word from the deputy at the hospital that they are superficial wounds,” Baker told SGV CityWatch.

Baker had yet to hear back from the investigating deputies as to the reason behind the stabbing.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

HACIENDA HEIGHTS - A man died at the scene after being shot at least once late Sunday night.

Deputies responded to the fatal shooting around 11:42 p.m. May 16 in the 17100 block of Colima Road. The victim died at the scene.

Deputies learned that at least two suspects were seen fleeing west on Colima, possibly in a blue Hyundai Sonata, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

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.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

POMONA - The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department has announced the arrest and arraignment of the man they say broke into a 79-year-old woman’s residence in Hacienda Heights, assaulted her, raped her and robbed her.

Manuel Soto, 22 was arrested Saturday, May 8 for an unrelated robbery.

Soto was eventually accused of additional crimes including assault to commit a felony during the commission of a first-degree burglary in the Hacienda Heights assault, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

Soto was taken before a judge at Pomona Superior Court Tuesday and was arraigned on charges officially filed by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. Charges include assault commit a felony during the commission of a first-degree burglary, forcible oral copulation, forcible rape, first-degree residential burglary with a person present, elder or dependent abuse, two counts of second-degree burglary and one count of second-degree robbery, the Sheriff’s Department said.

A suspect entered the woman’s residence through a window, woke the victim from her sleep in the early morning hours and then proceeded to physically and sexually assault her. He fled by unknown means after the attack, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

The assault occurred in the 1300 block of Kwis Avenue.

The victim notified a family member of the attack and that family member then called 9-1-1.

The victim was treated at a local hospital for her injuries.

Soto remains in custody and is being held in lieu of $1.5 million bail. He is scheduled to appear May 24 in Department F of Pomona Superior Court.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

HACIENDA HEIGHTS - A 79-year-old woman was sexually assaulted by a man May 2 who reportedly entered her residence through a window, Sheriff’s investigators said.

The suspect, described as a Hispanic man, 19 to 25 years old, is unknown to the victim. He woke the victim from her sleep in the early morning hours and then proceeded to physically and sexually assault her. He fled by unknown means after the attack, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

The attack occurred in the 1300 block of Kwis Avenue.

The victim notified a family member of the attack and that family member then called 9-1-1.

The 79-year-old victim was treated at a local hospital for her injuries.

The suspect was additionally described as having short dark hair, standing at 5 feet 6 to 5 feet 7 inches tall and weighing 140 to 160 pounds. He was last seen wearing a black T-shirt with some unknown white printed letters on the front, blue jeans and a black hat.

Detectives with Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Special Victim’s Bureau are asking for anyone who witnessed this incident, or any suspicious activity in and around the 1300 block of Kwis Avenue between 2 a.m. and 5 a.m., Or anyone within a half mile where are the attack occurred who may have security footage to call 877-710-5273.

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.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

HACIENDA HEIGHTS - Two men were wounded by gunfire Sunday night and one of the men succumbed to his wounds.

Both men were found wounded to the front of a home in the 16000 block of East Sigman Street. One man was declared dead at the scene, the second was hospitalized and last listed in stable condition, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Information Bureau.

Deputies were called to the scene at 7:07 p.m. April 25.

Without providing details, homicide investigators believe the shooting to be gang related.

It is unclear if investigators have identified a suspect or suspects.

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.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

HACIENDA HEIGHTS - A 24-year-old La Puente woman died after her Hyundai Elantra slammed into a wall early Monday, the California Highway Patrol said.

The CHP identified the woman as Adriana Lisette Barajas. Preliminary information provided in a press release obtained by SGV CityWatch indicated Barajas, the only person in the Elantra, was not wearing safety equipment.

The California Highway patrol responded to the intersection at Turnbull Canyon Road and Vallecito Drive at 12:40 a.m. April 12. Investigators believe that Barajas was southbound on Turnbull Canyon Road in excess of the posted 35 mile per hour speed limit.

“A collision occurred when the Hyundai impacted the south roadway edge of Vallecito Drive at Turnbull Canyon Road. As a result of the collision, Barajas sustained fatal injuries,” according to the California Highway Patrol.

Investigators are trying to determine if alcohol and/or drugs played a factor in this crash.