Written by AARON CASTREJON
​CityWatch Editor

IRWINDALE - A rider on a reported stolen Suzuki motorcycle decided to play hide & seek with police Sunday after fleeing on foot.

The motorcyclist was found on the extension of the San Gabriel River Trail bike path just east of City of Hope January 21. Officers attempted to stop the motorcyclist around 1:49 a.m., but he refused, according to the Irwindale Police Department.

The pursuit reached speeds of 79 miles an hour. The rider, identified as 33-year-old El Monte man Sergio Alejandro Tejada Perez, bailed from the stolen motorcycle and tried to hide in some bushes near the 605 freeway and 210 freeway interchange.

Perez was booked on suspicion of evading, possession of a stolen vehicle and drug paraphernalia charges.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

IRWINDALE - A Los Angeles man was reportedly caught red-handed carrying the white stuff in the trunk of a car December 7.

Nearly 50 pounds of suspected methamphetamine was discovered in the suspect’s vehicle, according to the Irwindale Police Department.

The traffic stop was conducted in the 100 block of West Sierra Madre Avenue in Azusa as part of an ongoing investigation, according to Sgt. Cornejo of the Irwindale Police Department.

Jose Carrillo Galaviz, a 52-year-old Los Angeles man, was arrested on suspicion of various drug sales and drug transportation charges. He was transported to jail, booked, issued a citation and released due to zero bail provisions, according to the Irwindale Police Department.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

IRWINDALE - The destructive warehouse fire that burned near Arrow Highway and the 605 freeway October 9 killed four people, the Irwindale Police Department said.

Investigators believe an illegal butane honey oil extraction lab was being operated inside the warehouse At 1418 E. Arrow Highway. Witnesses reported that at least one individual fully-engulfed in flames was seen running from the building. After the fire was extinguished, the charred remains of three males were found, according to the Irwindale Police Department.

The person seen running from the building was found nearby. He was taken to a hospital for treatment, but later died.

“Due to the suspicious nature of the fire, an outside law enforcement task force was requested, responded to the scene and took over the investigation. The investigation as to the cause of the fire is ongoing,” according to the Irwindale Police Department in a written statement.

Anyone with information on this incident is urged to call Irwindale Police Detective Nicholas Lopez at 626-430-2239, or by email at [email protected]. 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

IRWINDALE – Two men in a stolen vehicle were caught after trying, but failing, to escape police December 6.

Officers attempted to detain both suspects after it was discovered the men were cruising in a stolen vehicle in the 4800 block of Sabre Lane, according to the Irwindale Police Department.

Both suspects ran during the traffic stop. One of the suspects made an abysmal attempt at scaling a wall, but when he realized he had no spider powers, he surrendered.

“During their investigation, officers also found the suspects were in possession of Fentanyl and Methamphetamine,” according to the Irwindale Police Department in a written statement.

The vehicle was returned to the owner.

The driver, 23-year-old Hector Manuel Cesena of El Monte, and La Puente man Enso Manuel Naranjo, 40, were both booked on a combination of grand theft auto and drug-related charges. Both men are being held without bail due to Post Release Community Supervision violation holds, according to the Irwindale Police Department.

Both men are scheduled to appear in the West Covina courthouse Thursday, December 8.

IRWINDALE – An Adelanto man was arrested after allegedly running a red light and officers discovered cocaine and an unregistered ghost gun in the driver’s possession.

Miguel Beltran Aranda, 30, was stopped in the 5200 block of Vincent Avenue October 22.

In addition to the cocaine and loaded 9mm handgun, officers discovered Aranda’s license was expired, according to the Irwindale Police Department.

Aranda was booked on suspicion of drug-related offenses and for carrying a loaded handgun in the vehicle. He later posted $35,000 bond and was released, according to the Irwindale Police Department.

IRWINDALE – An Azusa man is facing felony evading charges and more after leading police on a pursuit into Baldwin Park August 25.

Esteban Steven Valenciano, 27, is accused of operating his ride without a license and is on Post Release Community Supervision. He was also found with an undisclosed amount of cocaine, according to the Irwindale Police Department.

Officers attempted to stop Valenciano for a traffic violation at Irwindale Avenue and Arrow Highway around 5:30 p.m. but he refused to yield. The chase tore its way into Baldwin Park when Valenciano lost control of his green Honda motorcycle and ate pavement at Badillo Street and Ramona Boulevard in Baldwin Park.

Valenciano was hospitalized for injuries considered not life-threatening and was released pending charges of felony evading, possession of a controlled substance, a probation violation and driving without a motorcycle license, according to the Irwindale Police Department.

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 – Nearly 10 ounces of cocaine, methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia were discovered during a traffic stop, according to the Irwindale Police Department.

Officers searched the vehicle after discovering neither occupant had a valid driver license. Officers initially stopped the driver of the 2003 Lexus for a vehicle code violation, according to the Irwindale Police Department.

“The vehicle was impounded and the officers subsequently found the drugs and paraphernalia inside the vehicle. Both subjects were arrested and booked at the jail,” according to the Irwindale Police Department in a written statement.

Lancaster resident David Rene Galindo, 46, was booked suspicion of narcotics offenses and was released on a citation. 

Erika Valadez, a 27-year-old Pasadena resident, was also booked on suspicion of narcotics offenses, according to the Irwindale Police Department.

Valadez is being held without bail at the Century Regional Detention Facility ahead of a scheduled appearance in Los Angeles Municipal Court November 9.

IRWINDALE – A Duarte man led officers on a brief pursuit before surrendering Saturday, Irwindale Police said.

Officers attempted to stop Lewis Rayshur Searles, 31, for a vehicle code violation early Saturday morning, but he fled into Duarte where he was taken into custody, according to the Irwindale Police Department.

Searles was arrested around 5:11 a.m. June 19, according to Los Angeles County booking records.

A leaded handgun, narcotics and drug paraphernalia were discovered in the vehicle Searles drove, according to the Irwindale Police Department.

Searles is being held in lieu of $35,000 bail. He was scheduled for an appearance in the West Covina Courthouse June 22, according to Los Angeles County booking records.

IRWINDALE - A large amounts of drugs, paraphernalia and some airsoft guns were seized from two men April 4, police said.

The suspects, both from Azusa, were stopped by a patrol officer in the 15700 block of Gladstone Street. More than 330 grams of marijuana, several grams of methamphetamine, multiple vials of liquid narcotics, several items of drug paraphernalia and 82 hypodermic needles were discovered, according to the Irwindale Police Department.

Also seized were brass knuckles and realistic airsoft guns.

Arrested were Royer Ruiz, 22, and Clemente Bentura Mariano, 38, booked on various drug and weapons charges, including outstanding arrest warrants. Both men were later released in citations due to the COVID-19 jail housing restrictions, Irwindale police said.