Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor IRWINDALE - Thousands of dollars in damage was done to City and Metro property Monday by two men police accuse of tagging the Gold Line Station and surrounding area. Witnesses helped police identify Isaac Martin Alcaraz, 19, and 20-year-old David Alexander Perez. Police stopped the suspects in a silver Toyota Corolla and discovered spray paint cans, spray tips and gloves, according to Sgt. Rudy Gatto of the Irwindale Police Department. Police were called to 16017 Avenida Padilla around 6:19 p.m. January 27. Alcaraz and Perez allegedly sprayed graffiti at the Gold Line Station, the adjacent parking structure and surrounding area, Gatto said. “City of Irwindale and Metro Goldline staff are still compiling a total cost of the damage done to city and Metro property, however preliminary estimates place the damage in excess of $2,000.00,” Gatto said in a written statement.
Both men, listed as Pasadena residents, were booked on suspicion of felony vandalism and were held in lieu of $20,000 bail. “We remind transit users to report crimes and suspicious activity on Metro transit lines to 9-1-1 or by contacting Transit Watch LA at (888) 950-SAFE,” Gatto said. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor IRWINDALE - A man wanted on suspicion of vandalizing signal equipment along the Gold Line railroad tracks around the Duarte area was arrested after fleeing authorities August 21. The unidentified suspect was recognized from a wanted poster circulated by deputies. A metal recycling center employee recognized the suspect’s face and called authorities, according to Ramon Montenegro, public information officer for the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Transit Services Bureau. TSB detectives, deputies, Irwindale Police and the Sheriff’s Temple Station worked to establish a containment search when the suspect ran from TSB deputies who tried to detain him, Montenegro told SGV CityWatch. The suspect was attempting to sell stolen materials at an Irwindale recycling center in the 2400 block of Buena Vista Street around 11 a.m. Wednesday. The suspect fled over walls and ran through neighboring businesses before being caught a short time later in the 2300 block of Bateman Avenue, according to Irwindale Police. The suspect is possibly behind an incident August 21 around 2:30 a.m. when the Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation Authority became aware of signal and switch issues in Duarte. Officials located damaged equipment by someone who stole wire and attempted to steal cable, Montenegro said.
The Wednesday vandalism caused minor delays during p.m. rush hour service. Bus bridges were required during emergency repairs. Similar crimes have occurred over the past several months, including a wire theft incident that resulted in a days-long closure of Gold Line stations in Azusa July 13. The suspect was booked on suspicion of grand theft, tampering with a railroad system (a federal crime), felony vandalism, and possession of a controlled substance. Detectives may consider adding additional charges, Montenegro said. Since the investigation continues, the suspect’s name will not be released. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor IRWINDALE - Deputies aided by a helicopter and a neighboring agency could not locate a man reportedly armed with a handgun at the Irwindale Gold Line Station early Wednesday.
A deputy observing live security video around 1 a.m. July 10 witnessed a man remove what appeared to be a handgun from a backpack and place it in his waistband, according to Ramon Montenegro, public information officer for the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Transit Services Bureau. The suspect likely fled the station platform quickly. Deputies believed the suspect ran to the Santa Fe Dam Recreational Area, Montenegro said. East and west Gold Line trains were held at the Duarte and Azusa Downtown stations for roughly 30 minutes during the search, Montenegro said. Irwindale Police assisted deputies with a containment. |
Archives
January 2024
Categories
All
|