Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor HACIENDA HEIGHTS - A man was reportedly stabbed under one of his arms during an unspecified altercation near a gas station Christmas Eve.
First responders were called to an Arco gas station, 17175 Colima Rd., around 11:16 p.m. Sunday, December 24. Deputies attempted to get better details regarding the incident, but the victim was uncooperative, according to Sgt. Torres of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Industry Station. Deputies were only able to obtain a basic description of the suspect: an adult white male wearing a ski mask. The victim would not provide a potential motive for the attack, Torres told SGV CityWatch. 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 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. Suspect Hunt Continues After Man Reportedly Breaks In, Sexually Assaults Hacienda Heights Woman5/6/2021 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 LOS ANGELES – The man accused of beating his mother and stepfather to death with a baseball bat was arrested last week, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department has just announced.
Nelson Fermin Garibay, 44, was found and arrested in Otay January 21. He was transported to the Sheriff’s Industry Station for booking, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office filed two counts of murder and one count of attempted murder. Garibay is being held without bail, Sheriff’s deputies said. Deputies responded to a report of an assault with a deadly weapon January 11 in the 14400 block of Marwood Street in Hacienda Heights. They found a wounded man claiming his brother assaulted him. Deputies entered the home and found a deceased 73-year-old man and 65-year-old woman, Sheriff’s deputies said. Suspect’s mother and stepfather died at the scene. The wounded brother was hospitalized for injuries considered not life-threatening. The attack occurred around 12:30 p.m. Garibay had a scheduled appearance in the Pomona Courthouse Monday. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor LOS ANGELES - Detectives are asking for public assistance in finding the man accused of using a baseball bat to attack his family members, killing two of them and injuring one Monday.
44-year-old Nelson Fermin Garibay fled after the attack in the 14400 block of Marwood Street January 11. Deputies arriving to a reported assault with a deadly weapon encountered Garibay’s wounded brother who fingered his sibling as the suspect, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Information Bureau. The brother led deputies to the wounded 73-year-old stepfather and 65-year-old mother, both of whom suffered significant head trauma, the Information Bureau said. Both stepfather and mother were declared dead at the scene. The 37-year-old brother was hospitalized for injuries considered not life-threatening. Garibay fled in a green 2001 Toyota 4Runner featuring license plate 4RHH063. Garibay is 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighs 180 pounds. He is considered armed and dangerous. Anyone with information on Garibay 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 youth pastor will have to answer to allegations that he sexually assaulted an underage acquaintance, investigators said.
Jonathan Tsai was arrested July 21 — a little more than six months after the allegations came forward. The victim alleged Tsai sexually assaulted when she was 12 years old and the abuse continued until she was 18, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. The abuse happened while Tsai was pastor at Home of Christians Eastern Los Angeles Church in Hacienda Heights. He is currently head pastor at the church, now called Abundant Life Ministries. “Her family became close with the suspect and his family. During visits to the victim’s home, the suspect sexually assaulted the victim,” according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Information Bureau. Two additional victims were identified and reported being assaulted by Tsai while they were youths, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said. The West Covina Police Department announced Thursday, August 6 that detectives are also investigating Tsai for alleged assaults in West Covina. Tsai was booked at the Walnut Sheriff’s Station. He was held in lieu of $1.4 million bail before posting bond. The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office filed four charges of lewd acts on a child under 14 years old, one count of oral copulation of a person under 16 and one count of sexual penetration of a person under 16. Tsai’s next court date is scheduled for August 26. Anyone who may have been a victim of Tsai is urged to call the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Special Victims Bureau tip line at 877-710-5273, or call the West Covina Police tip line at 626-939-8688. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor HACIENDA HEIGHTS - A parolee and three women were taken into custody Sunday night after they threatened and attacked a couple as part of ongoing drama, a Sheriff’s lieutenant said. The four suspects tracked down the victim and her boyfriend to Glenthorne Street. The parolee, identified as 19-year-old Leonardo Castro-Verdugo and brandished a handgun. The victim and her boyfriend were chased after escaping, according to Lt. James Long of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Industry Station. Castro-Verdugo also allegedly pointed the gun at the victims and threatened to shoot them. The butt of the gun was used to break a window on the victims vehicle. One of the victims, in turn, damaged the suspect vehicle, long told SGV CityWatch. Deputies were first called around 11:09 p.m. March 22 from the victim and her boyfriend in the area of Azusa Avenue and Colima Road.
“The male and girl flee. They call police and our front desk tells them to drive to the station. Deputies were waiting right here and the suspect drove right by,” long told SGV CityWatch. Deputies followed the suspects and performed a traffic stop at Prichard Street and Perth Avenue in La Puente. Castro-Verdugo fled deputies on foot and ditched his gun before surrendering on Beckner Street, Long told SGV CityWatch. Castro-Verdugo, a La Puente man, was recently released from prison, having served time for an attempted armed robbery, Long told SGV CityWatch. Also arrest were 24-year-old Samantha Carillo, from La Puente, Bianca Mendoza, a 19-year-old La Puente woman, and Irene Anguiano, a 21-year-old El Monte woman. |
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