Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

IRWINDALE - Surveillance video helped the police identify and arrest a Baldwin Park men accused of breaking in to a business and tunneling his way into a neighboring restaurant.

Officers discovered an unlocked door to a business in the 15600 block of Arrow Highway December 17 while responding to a burglary alarm around 3:30 a.m. Once inside, officers found a long-gone suspect had tunneled through a wall into neighboring Marino’s Tacos, according to the Irwindale Police Department.

Surveillance video gave officers a suspect description and a search started.

A man matching the description was found in the 5100 block of Azusa Canyon Road. That man, Jose Zavala, 35, was taken into custody.

As the investigation progressed detectives suspected Zavala was responsible for an additional burglary in the 15500 block of Arrow Highway, according to the Irwindale Police Department.

On December 20, the case against Zavala was presented to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office and multiple burglary counts were filed against him, according to the Irwindale Police Department.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

IRWINDALE - A witness’s suspicions paid off after a vandalism suspect was caught at a historic church November 22.

A suspicious person was seen outside Our Lady of Guadalupe Mission church, 16239 Arrow Hwy., last Wednesday. Officers were dispatched to the church and detained the suspect. Once inside, police determined the suspect shattered a stained glass window to get in, according to the Irwindale Police Department.

“While inside, the suspect ransacked the inside of the historic mission,” according to the Irwindale Police Department in a written statement.

Martin Garcia, 25, was booked on suspicion of vandalism and second-degree burglary. He has
since had an arraignment at the West Covina Courthouse November 28. He is being held in the Men’s Central Jail ahead of a scheduled mental competency hearing in Hollywood Superior Court December 12, according to Los Angeles County booking records.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

IRWINDALE - Investigators have a nice clear shot of one suspect who stole several bikes from a bicycle shop August 28.

At least two suspects were caught on surveillance video taking bikes from Irwindale Cycles, 15708 Arrow Hwy., around 1:12 a.m. The suspects entered after prying open a rear door, according to the Irwindale Police Department.

Both suspects were masked up to hide their faces, but one criminal slipped up and got his face photographed after slipping away to the L Line train. A passenger thought the presence of new expensive bikes on the train suspicious and took a photo.

Both suspects are described as Latino men standing 5 feet 6 inches to 5 feet 8 inches tall, weighing 165 to 185 pounds and have dark hair.

One suspect wore a gray raiders hat, gray polo shirt, dark jeans and black and white tennis shoes.

The second suspect wore a plaid button-down shirt, gray pants and black tennis shoes.

Anyone with information on this burglary is urged to call Irwindale Police Detective L. Garza at 626-430-2290, or email [email protected].

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.

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.

IRWINDALE – It is said that lightning strikes twice, but the adage also applies to crime as well.

A woman arrested previously for burglary at an Irwindale business was caught in the act by an officer on patrol May 3. Crystal Renee Herrell, 23, was seen breaking into a business in the 15700 block of Arrow Highway. Herrell fled when she saw the officer, according to the Irwindale Police Department.

Herrell, a Cave Junction, Oregon resident, was caught a short distance from where the fled. She is described as a known serial burglar, Irwindale Police said.

She was last arrested by Irwindale Police April 24.

Herrell was booked on suspicion of possessing burglary tools, burglary, and possessing drug paraphernalia. After being booked for the alleged crimes, she was once again released due to COVID-19 “zero bail” policies, according to the Irwindale Police Department.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

IRWINDALE – A woman was arrested April 24 after the owner of an RV witnessed the suspect’s break-in at his business, police said.

The RV owner watched remotely as the suspect, later identified as 23-year-old Crystal Herrell, broke into his recreational vehicle just before 10 p.m. The RV was parked at the owner’s business in the 15700 block of Ornelas Street, according to the Irwindale Police Department.

Through the business’ security camera, the owner was able to obtain the suspect description, which was provided to responding officers. Police found the RV was forced open, but the suspect was nowhere to be found.

“Other officers checked the surrounding area and located a subject at Ornelas Street and Irwindale Avenue who matched the description of the suspect as provided by the caller,” Irwindale Police said in a written statement. “The RV’s owner arrived at the scene and positively identified the subject as the one he saw on the security camera breaking into his RV.”

Herrell was found with stolen property, Irwindale Police said.

Herrell, a resident of Cave Junction, Oregon, was booked on suspicion of felony burglary and possession of stolen property. She was issued a citation and released due to Covid-19 jail restrictions, Irwindale Police said.

Officers also discovered Herrell is connected to one other burglary in the area and she is being investigated for possible involvement other burglaries and vandalisms, Irwindale Police said.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

IRWINDALE - Descriptions provided by a burglary victim and witnesses helped police track down and arrest a suspect who attempted to enter a home Wednesday.

Sergio Arturo Ravelo, 38, was found by officers at Ellen Drive and Benbow Street in unincorporated Covina after he fled a burglarized home in the 4000 block of Calle Del Sur December 2.

The victim called officers just before 8 p.m. and said someone ripped a screen to a backyard window to try and get inside, but the suspect fled, according to Sgt. Rudy Gatto of the Irwindale Police Department.

Once detained, Ravelo was positively identified by the victim and witnesses, Gatto said in a written statement.

Ravelo was also wanted by West Covina Police for resisting arrest. He was booked on suspicion of burglarizing an inhabited dwelling and for the West Covina warrant.

He is being held in lieu of $60,000 bail ahead of a scheduled appearance at the West Covina Courthouse December 4, according to Los Angeles County booking records.

IRWINDALE - Police arrested a man August 6 accused of stealing more than $20,000 in equipment from an Irwindale business.

The suspect, 28-year-old Juan Antonio Garcia Hernandez of Duarte, is accused of repeatedly burglarizing a refrigerant recycling business in the 5200 block of Fourth Street since May 27.

IRWINDALE - A call of a burglary in progress April 24 led to the arrest of an armed suspect, police said.

Joseph Edward Butkiewicz, a 30-year-old San Bernardino transient, was taken into custody after officers detained him at a self-storage facility on Central Avenue Friday. A storage unit was discovered broken and Butkiewicz was removing property within, according to Sgt. Rudy Gatto of the Irwindale Police Department.