Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

HACIENDA HEIGHTS - An alleged stabbing suspect was shot and killed by deputies at a Hacienda Heights home early Monday morning.

The incident unfolded just after 5:30 a.m. in the 16700 block of Dawn Haven Road Monday, September 4. The suspect, only described as an adult male, was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

Investigators have yet to release additional details regarding the incident.

Anyone with information on this stabbing is urged to call the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500. 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

HACIENDA HEIGHTS - Investigators are still searching for the suspect who violently took a woman’s purse from her, an incident caught on cellphone video August 14.

The video shows a male and a woman in a tug of war over the woman’s purse. She held onto her property for dear life, even being dragged across hot pavement as the robbery suspect tried to take her property. He yanked the purse and ran as Good Samaritans rushed in.

The violent robbery occurred near a Bank of America, 1605 S. Azusa Ave. The suspect approached the 75-year-old woman at an ATM and grabbed her purse, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

The investigation soon turned over to the Sheriff’s Major Crimes Bureau, according to the Sheriff’s Industry Station.

The video was supplied to former Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva who published the video on social media where he highly criticized current prosecutorial standards and called out Los Angeles County Board Supervisors Hilda Solis and Janice Hahn.

“This is scary folks. A robbery yesterday at the B of A parking lot on Azusa Ave in Hacienda Heights, interrupted by good samaritans! Hey @HildaSolis, @SupJaniceHahn and all the social justice warriors, how’s that “reimagining” working out?” Villanueva wrote on his X profile.

Hahn issued a statement:

“The brutality and heartlessness of the perpetrator in the video is shocking. I spoke with Sheriff Robert Luna this morning and am confident that he and his department are doing everything they can to bring this person into custody. When I represented the area, I ordered the installation of 44 license plate reading cameras across Hacienda Heights and Rowland Heights and I am hopeful that those cameras can assist our Sheriff's Department in solving this crime."

Solis fired back at Villanueva:

“Outside noise that does nothing, but create fear, is an ineffective attempt to distract those who are involved—those whom the voters supported to be in office—from doing their jobs. Additionally, criticizing local public safety measures that were overwhelmingly approved by LA County voters and recently backed by the Court—the same voters who replaced the former sheriff with our current one—is a show of poor judgment and leadership."

This incident is one of many high-profile robberies caught on video that have plagued Los Angeles County.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

HACIENDA HEIGHTS - One person died in a collision that damaged a traffic light early Monday morning.

The crash occurred at Colima Road and Camino Del Sur, first reported at 1:45 a.m., according to Los Angeles County Fire Department dispatch logs.

One vehicle became fully engulfed with flames.

A victim died at the scene. The Los Angeles County County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner arrived on scene about 40 minutes ago, according to Officer Michael Nasir of the California Highway Patrol.

The cause of the crash is under investigation.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

HACIENDA HEIGHTS - Deputies and school police, with the assistance of a gun dog, are in the stages of wrapping up a search of Glen A. Wilson High School Friday after authorities are confident a prank caller issued a threat of violence.

The prank caller, who had a British voice, told deputies that he was the victim of bullying and wanted to shoot up the school. It sounded as if the caller was reading from a piece of paper, according to Sgt. Mesa of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Industry Station.

The call was made to the Sheriff’s Industry Station just before 10 a.m.

“He couldn’t tell the city the school was in. He just gave us the name of the school. He said ‘Wilson A. High School’,” Mesa told SGV CityWatch.

Deputies attempted to trace the source of the call, but were unable to.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

HACIENDA HEIGHTS - The California Highway Patrol is asking for the public’s help in identifying and locating a driver seen running from a crash that killed a child and severely injured an adult.

The suspect is described as a white, or Latino man with a fair complexion, medium length hair parted to the side and is in his mid-30s. He wore light colored pants and a shirt. He was reportedly barefoot and ran eastbound on the 60 freeway from the collision, according to the California Highway Patrol.

The crash occurred on the westbound 60 freeway east of Crossroads Parkway Wednesday, March 22 around 4:08 a.m. Prior to that, a collision spun around a Hyundai Sonata, which then continued east in westbound lanes, according to the California Highway Patrol.

The Sonata then crashed into several other vehicles, including a jackknifed big rig.

Angelique Zarate, 11, died at the scene. Rafael Zarate, 50, was hospitalized with major injuries.

Anyone with information on this fatal crash is urged to call the California Highway Patrol Santa Fe Springs Office at 562-868-0503.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

HACIENDA HEIGHTS - Investigators revealed a man found shot in Hacienda Heights Monday afternoon passed away from his injuries after being hospitalized.

Deputies with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Industry Station responded to a report of a gunshot victim just after 5:30 p.m. in the 1400 block of Hinnen Avenue March 13. They found the victim, only described as a male adult, suffering from an apparent gunshot wound to the upper torso.

It is not publicly clear if investigators know of a suspect, a possible motive, or if the gunshot wound is self-inflicted.

Anyone with information on this shooting is urged to call the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500. 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

HACIENDA HEIGHTS - Homicide detectives are on scene of a shooting that occurred in a Hacienda Heights neighborhood Monday afternoon.

First responders were to the 1400 block of Hinnen Avenue just after 5:30 p.m. Monday, March 13. Detectives have yet to share any other details about a victim and whether a death occurred.

Los Angeles County Fire Department dispatch records show that firefighters were called to the scene and remained there for an hour and 27 minutes.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

LOS ANGELES - L.A.-area news stations are reporting an L.A. Archdiocese auxiliary bishop was the victim found shot to death in Hacienda Heights Saturday.

David O’Connell, 69, was reportedly found in a home in the 1500 block of Janlu Avenue just before 1 p.m.

According to reporter Christina Pascucci of Fox 11 News, a colleague discovered O’Connell’s body after O’Connell failed to show for a 10 a.m. meeting.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

HACIENDA HEIGHTS - A man was found dead, the apparent victim of fatal gunfire Saturday.

First responders were called to the 1500 block of Janlu Avenue just before 1 p.m. February 18.

Paramedics declared the man dead at the scene, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

It is not publicly clear if homicide detectives have identified a motive, or suspect description.

Anyone with information on this incident is urged to call the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500. 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

HACIENDA HEIGHTS - An accused stolen vehicle suspect left a trail of destruction in his wake across The OC and LA County during a wild pursuit.

The suspect was originally stopped for a traffic violation and was discovered to be behind the wheel of a stolen vehicle. The suspect fled officers and during the chase took a parked van, rammed patrol vehicles, carjacked a resident while fleeing on foot in Whittier and ultimately crashed at a gas station in Hacienda Heights where a police shooting occurred.

During the police shooting at the pursuit termination, the suspect was struck, not by bullets, but by two 40-millimeter non-lethal rounds, according to Los Angeles County Sheriff’s radio traffic.

At least one deputy was injured at the scene of the shooting, but the mechanism and extent of injuries is not publicly known.

The pursuit snaked across freeways and surface streets across Orange County and Los Angeles County.

In the Whittier area, The white van the suspect stole became disabled after striking a parked vehicle. Despite putting the pedal to the metal, the van would not move.

The suspect finally escaped on foot, ran through businesses and ran into a residential area and it was confronted by a group of people.

During the confrontation, the suspect somehow gained access to a parked white work truck, started it and escaped. One of the people confronting the suspect fired a handgun into the ground, possibly in an attempt to scare the suspect off.

The suspect was pulled from the stolen white work truck after being struck and taken into custody.

Deputies have a wide portion of streets and businesses around Hacienda Boulevard and Gale Avenue closed during the investigation.