Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

IRWINDALE - A Palmdale man is facing grand theft charges, accused of attempting to steal diesel fuel from a Arco fuel pump Wednesday morning.

Officers responded to Arco, 15875 E. Arrow Hwy., just after 9:30 a.m. September 4 to investigate suspicious activity involving a white cargo van. After detaining a suspect, officers determine he was attempting to steal diesel fuel from a pump and was arrested, according to the Irwindale Police Department.

An investigation of the scene led officers to believe that the van posed a threat to public safety. The gas station and convenience store were taped off and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Arson/Explosives Detail was called to render the van safe.

A bomb squad robot inspected the van.

The area was determined safe. The gas station reopened around 1:15 p.m., according to the Irwindale Police Department.

Sargis Kocharyan, a 30-year-old Palmdale man, was arrested and booked at the West Covina Police Department jail.

Kocharyan is being held without bail ahead of a scheduled appearance in West Covina Superior Court Friday, September 6.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

IRWINDALE - Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Homicide Detectives are assisting the Irwindale Police Department with a shooting death Sunday.

The incident unfolded near the 605 freeway south of the 210 freeway around 10:30 a.m. May 26. The victim, only described as a male adult, was declared dead at the scene, according to the Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau.

The exact circumstances surrounding the homicide are not publicly known.

The California Highway Patrol has intermittently shut down the transition roads from the east 210 and west 210 freeway to the southbound 605, as well as the Arrow Highway on ramp to the north 605 freeway and Mt. Olive on ramp to the southbound 605 freeway during the operation.

SGV CityWatch readers who traversed the freeway closures witnessed police in tactical gear, guns trained on an unspecified target. A vehicle may also be involved off the side of the freeway.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

IRWINDALE - Deputies are investigating a death at Santa Fe Dam Recreational Area Sunday afternoon.

First responders were called around 3:18 p.m. to dam, 15501 Arrow Hwy, Sunday, February 26.

Santa Fe Dam personnel called firefighters to report a person hanging from a tree, according to dispatch supervisor Melanie Flores of the Los Angeles county fire department.

The body was located in or near a tree by the southwest portion of the dam away from an area normally occupied by park goers.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

REGION - Authorities announced a multi-location search warrant served Thursday led to a number of arrests related to illegal gambling.

Seized during this operation at two units in an Irwindale business complex were 11 gaming tables and an undisclosed amount of money. Two people were arrested and more were detained, according to Sgt. Rudy Gatto of the Irwindale Police Department.

“This was a cooperative investigation with the LA County Sheriff’s Department that resulted in search warrants at two different locations,” Gatto told SGV CityWatch.

The Irwindale portion of the operation took place in the 15800 block of Edna Place around 6:11 p.m. August 4.

The second location, a home, was targeted in county portion by Sheriff’s deputies.

The Sheriff’s Department has yet to comment on their portion of the operation.

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 - 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.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

IRWINDALE - Southbound Rivergrade Road from Brooks Drive to Lower Azusa Road is closed after a man was found dead from apparent gunshot wounds.

The male was found dead in the area of Brooks Drive and Rivergrade around 11:30 a.m. February 17, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Information Bureau.

It is not yet publicly clear how long the victim was there and if the wounds were self-inflicted or not.

Anyone with information on this victim in the 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 lacrimestoppers.org.

IRWINDALE – A man accused of stealing his girlfriend’s vehicle after assaulting her was arrested after evading Industry Station deputies into Irwindale Tuesday.

The suspect, identified as Anthony Cole, alleged shoved and punched his girlfriend of several years and her juvenile daughter. He fled in the girlfriend’s vehicle, which was located on Baldwin Park Boulevard in the City of Industry area. Deputies attempted to stop the driver, according to Lt. David Petrocelli of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Industry Station.

The incident occurred around 1:30 p.m.

A pursuit began at eastbound Live Oak Avenue at Arrow Highway in Irwindale.

“As the suspect entered the intersection of Azusa Canyon Road and Los Angeles Street in the City of Irwindale the suspect collided with another driver turning left in the intersection,” Petrocelli told SGV CityWatch.

A chain reaction collision occurred. Three other vehicles were struck and the stolen vehicle rolled over. The suspect, identified by deputies as Cole extricated himself from the wreck and briefly fled on foot before being arrested, Petrocelli told SGV CityWatch.

Los Angeles County Firefighters were dispatched at 1:36 p.m.

The collision left a mess of twisted vehicles strewn across railroad tracks used by Metrolink and Union Pacific Railroad, necessitating train traffic to hault, according to the Irwindale Police Department.

Cole submitted to a mandatory medical clearance prior to being booked, according to Sgt. Fitch of the Sheriff’s Industry Station.

There were no serious injuries. Irwindale Police traffic investigators are handling the collision investigation, according to the Irwindale Police Department.

The roadway was reopened at 3:15 p.m.