Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

IRWINDALE - Another motorcyclist died Tuesday on a local freeway after colliding with a vehicle, the California Highway Patrol said.

The collision was reported around 7:34 a.m. on the westbound 210 freeway at the southbound 605 freeway. A motorcyclist died in the HOV lane after apparently colliding with a black BMW SUV, according to California Highway Patrol traffic logs.

An off-duty firefighter reportedly stopped to assist with the crash and preliminarily determined that the rider was deceased at the scene, according to California Highway Patrol traffic logs.

The HOV and No. 1 lane remain blocked for westbound lanes of the 210 freeway at the 605.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

IRWINDALE - There is no threat to the community after a small brush fire ignited at Santa Fe Dam Recreational Area Thursday afternoon.

The fire is holding at two-acres. The fire was nestled between the San Gabriel River Bikepath and the San Gabriel River. Firefighters were first dispatched at 5:22 p.m., according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

Firefighters announced that they have hose lines completely around the fire and forward progress has been stopped at 6:18 p.m.

A water-dropping helicopter from the Los Angeles County Fire Department is using Encanto Park as a staging area, according to the City of Duarte.

Firefighters were getting into contact with the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority to provide assistance to those living in the riverbed.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

IRWINDALE - Two men were stopped in the process of cutting a catalytic converter from a van parked at a business complex April 24, the Irwindale Police Department said.

Jeffrey Michael Divers, 44, and Charles Todd Lucas, 45, both from City of Industry, were arrested on suspicion of attempted grand theft, vehicle tampering and possession of burglary tools. An officer on patrol at the closed business complex saw one man standing suspiciously near a van belonging to one of the businesses at 4:30 a.m., according to the Irwindale Police Department.

“As he [the officer] approached the van, a second gentleman suddenly popped up from the underside of the vehicle,” according to the Irwindale Police Department in a written statement.

Officers confiscated a reciprocating saw, a floor jack and other hand and power tools, according to the Irwindale Police Department.

Both suspects were booked at the West Covina jail and later released on citations due to LA counties “zero bail” policy, according to the Irwindale Police Department.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

IRWINDALE - At least two vehicles were broken into over the past weekend and the burglar attempted to get into multiple other vehicles, according to the Irwindale Police Department.

The crimes occurred between 12:10 a.m. and 12:15 a.m. April 23. Security video showed the suspect attempting to open multiple other vehicles at various residences in the 16000 block of Calle Breceda, according to the Irwindale Police Department.

Anyone who may have been a victim of this suspect or who can identify the suspect is urged to call the Irwindale Police Department at 626-430-2239. 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

IRWINDALE – An officer used the pursuit intervention technique to disable a vehicle driven by a man who took off during a traffic stop early Tuesday morning.

The pursuit last 17 miles as it sped through freeways and surface streets in Irwindale, Azusa, San Dimas, Glendora and back to Irwindale, ending right where it all started at the Arco gas station, 16000 E. Foothill Blvd., according to Sgt. Rudy Gatto of the Irwindale Police Department.

An officer witnessed the driver, identified as Ruben Escobedo, commit an illegal u-turn at Foothill Boulevard and Irwindale Avenue around 12:15 a.m. April 26. While a citation was being written, Escobedo sped off during the traffic stop in his white 1994 Honda Accord, Gatto told SGV CityWatch.

The pursuit went south on Irwindale Avenue to the east 210 freeway. Escobedo exited onto Citrus Avenue in Azusa briefly before re-entering the east 210 freeway. Escobedo exited onto westbound West Covina Boulevard from the south 57 freeway. The pursuit entered the west 210 freeway from northbound Barranca Avenue, Gatto told SGV CityWatch.

The pursuit intervention technique was used to stop the pursuit at Irwindale Avenue and Foothill Boulevard. Escobedo was arrested without further incident and booked on suspicion of felony evading and possession of a controlled substance, Gatto told SGV CityWatch.

Escobedo is being held in lieu of $75,000 bail ahead of a scheduled appearance in the West Covina Courthouse April 28, according to Los Angeles County booking records.

IRWINDALE – A man with an impressive rap sheet is still behind bars Wednesday after breaking into a residence Easter Sunday.

27-year-old Jacob Ray Degolyer was caught as he fled on foot from the 15800 block of Hidalgo Street. Degolyer is accused of forcing open a side window to a residence by removing a window screen, according to the Irwindale Police Department.

The adult daughter of the homeowner was inside the room Degolyer allegedly climbed into. Her screams alerted the homeowner who confronted the burglar who eventually ran from the home, according to the Irwindale Police Department.

Officers arriving to the home found and arrested Degolyer.

“Mr. Degolyer has an extensive criminal history that includes prior theft, weapons and robbery convictions,” according to the Irwindale Police Department.

March 23, 2016, Degolyer led Glendora Police on a pursuit after he was caught driving erratically in the 800 block of West Arrow Highway. Degolyer fled officers through surface streets and two freeways, passenger in tow, to La Puente where both ran from the stolen vehicle.

The California Highway Patrol and Glendora officers could not track both suspects in the dark streets of La Puente, but after developing a connection between the vehicle owner and Degolyer, the suspect was tracked to a San Dimas home where he was arrested.

Irwindale Detectives presented the case to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office April 19. Two felony burglary counts were filed against Degolyer. He is being held without bail ahead of a scheduled appearance in the West Covina Courthouse May 2.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

IRWINDALE - A stubborn driver was finally caught while running through a flood control channel March 18 after crashing a vehicle into the cement structure.

Los Angeles man Talsa Garron Walker, 39, allegedly refused for 30 minutes to provide identification to verify his driving status during a traffic stop in the 2000 block of Buena Vista Street around 11:07 p.m. Walker allegedly resisted arrest and fled, according to the Irwindale Police Department.

“He broke away from the officers and then sped away from the scene in the Honda, leading the officers on an approximate 1.5 mile high speed pursuit through the city of Irwindale,” according to the Irwindale Police Department in a written statement.

Walker crashed through a chain link fence at Alpha Street west of Avenida Barbosa, launched the Honda into the flood control channel and crashed.

Walker allegedly continued to flee, on foot this time, for about one mile before being hit with a stun gun while resisting in the 200 block of Longden Avenue, according to the Irwindale Police Department.

Walker was treated at the scene by Los Angeles County Firefighters and later hospitalized before being booked on suspicion of felony evading, resisting arrest with violence, a number of vehicle code violations and an outstanding warrant, according to the Irwindale Police Department.

Walker is being held in lieu of $135,000 bail in the Twin Towers Correctional Facility ahead of a scheduled appearance in the West Covina Courthouse March 22, according to Los Angeles County booking information.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

IRWINDALE - Homicide investigators are determining what led to the death of a woman who was found deceased near Azusa Canyon Road and Cypress Street Wednesday night.

The death was reported to authorities at 10:50 p.m. March 2, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau.

It is not yet publicly clear how the victim, described by Homicide detectives as a Black female adult, died.

At 10:45 p.m., firefighters were called to extinguish a 10-foot-square grass fire at the same location. Callers reported a possible body at or near the scene of the fire, according to a dispatch supervisor with the Los Angeles County Fire Department, who seemed unsure if firefighters on scene confirmed a body was found.

A fatal crash occurred there February 20 after a westbound vehicle on Cypress jumped the curb at Azusa Canyon Road, broke through a chain link fence and plunged roughly 180 feet into the Olive Pit mine.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

IRWINDALE - A passerby’s curiosity led to the discovery of a fatal crash last week and the rescue of the driver, police said.

Investigators are still determining the cause of the crash after a vehicle sped through the intersection of Cypress Street and Azusa Canyon Road February 20. The westbound vehicle hopped the sidewalk, crashed through a metal barrier, chain link fence and into a mine.

The vehicle descended about 180 feet into the mine after flying across an access road and landing on a berm. The passenger was ejected from the vehicle and died at the scene. The driver extricated himself and attempted to climb to the bottom of the quarry, according to Sgt. Rudy Gatto of the Irwindale Police Department.

The passenger killed, 25-year-old Ontario man Isaac Lefebre, was identified by Sarah Ardalani, public information officer with the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner

A driver happened to see a gaping hole in the chain-link fence around 2:30 a.m. and found the crash. Surveillance footage from a nearby business showed the collision actually occurred around 1:16 a.m., Gatto told SGV CityWatch.

The Olive Pit Mine, where the crash occurred, was closed at the time of the crash. Other Irwindale quarries do run 24 hours a day, seven days a week, Gatto told SGV CityWatch.

The day after the crash, the Irwindale Police Department requested the assistance of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s San Dimas Station Mountain Rescue Team with repelling down the side of the mine to recover evidence.

It is not yet clear if alcohol, drugs, or street racing contributed to the crash.

IRWINDALE – Authorities named the man found dead near Rivergrade Road February 17.

Jeric Wauford, 26, was identified by the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner. He died of a gunshot wound of the abdomen. His death is listed as a homicide.

Wauford was found dead around 11:30 a.m. along Rivergrade Road near Brooks Drive, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau, which is leading the investigation.

It is not publicly clear how authorities were alerted to the shooting, or even when the shooting may have occurred.

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 lacrimestoopers.org.