Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch

IRWINDALE - Two armed teens, with the help of a woman, robbed a victim of a Rolex watch during an OfferUp transaction in Irwindale New Year’s Eve.

The robbery occurred in the 15800 block of Arrow Highway around 1:57 p.m. December 31. The victim met with the woman, identified as Anabella Scott, 18. During the transaction, Scott allegedly motioned to two males in masks who approached with handguns, according to the Irwindale Police Department.

“Both suspects pointed a handgun and demanded the Rolex. The victim surrendered the Rolex,” according to the Irwindale Police Department in a written statement.

The trio fled in a black Kia sedan.

Irwindale detectives were able to identify Scott as a suspect and located her residence in Desert Hot Springs.

With the assistance of Desert Hot Springs police detectives, a search warrant was served at the home where the stolen Rolex watch and two handguns were recovered. Scott and two teens at the home were arrested.

Scott and the teens were booked on suspicion of robbery and assault with a deadly weapon. The teens were issued a citation and released to their parents with a court date pending.

Scott is being held in the West Covina jail in lieu of $100,000 bail. She is scheduled to appear in the West Covina courthouse Wednesday January 4.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

IRWINDALE - A robbery suspect who led authorities on a wild chase through Irwindale and multiple other cities December 22 was arrested in Baldwin Park.

The pursuit was televised and showed the suspect fleeing as fast as 95 miles per hour, refusing to stop for stop signs, red lights and traveling on the wrong side of the road as he evaded Irwindale officers who attempted to stop him for allegedly trying to rob at least seven different victims, including children, according to the Irwindale Police Department.

One of the armed robberies was reported around 4:37 p.m. in the 6600 block of Irwindale Avenue Thursday. The suspect, Hector Damian Silvaruiz, was located in a black Honda Accord on Gladstone Street and Dugan Avenue in Azusa.

At least two of the seven victims were children, as young as 7 and 8 years old. A hammer was used during the attempted robberies. No one was injured, but a number of vehicles were vandalized. A hammer was recovered by officers, according to the Irwindale Police Department.

Silvaruiz led officers on a 40-minute, 28-mile pursuit through multiple cities: Irwindale, Azusa, Duarte, Bradbury, Monrovia, Arcadia, Sierra Madre, Pasadena and Altadena using the 210 freeway and surface streets, according to the Irwindale Police Department.

The pursuit was canceled due to the dangerous driving of Silvaruiz, according to the Irwindale Police Department.

Officers locate Silvaruiz in Baldwin Park. He was placed into custody at 1:17 a.m. Friday.

The Glendora man was booked on suspicion of robbery, assault with a deadly weapon, evading arrest, vandalism, and a number of vehicle code violations. He is being held at the West Covina City Jail in lieu $75,000.00 bail, according to the Irwindale Police Department.

Silvaruiz is scheduled to appear in the West Covina courthouse Wednesday, December 28.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

IRWINDALE - A victim was robbed of a backpack and was shot in the face near the border with Duarte Monday morning.

The victim was attacked walking east along the 3000 block of Huntington Drive over the San Gabriel riverbed around 2:30 a.m. June 22.

Two men in a dark-colored four-door sedan approached the victim. A passenger exited and tried to pull away the victim’s backpack, according to Sgt. Rudy Gatto of the Irwindale Police Department.

The victim and suspect fell to the ground and struggled for the backpack. They both rose to their feet and continued struggling.

“At that point, the driver of the vehicle, also a male adult, pointed a black revolver out of the passenger window and fired one gunshot at the victim, striking him in the face/cheek,” Gatto said in a written statement.

The victim gave up his backpack and both suspects fled in the sedan east on Huntington Drive to Foothill Boulevard and disappeared from view, Gatto said.

The victim was treated for his injuries and was later released.

Both suspects were described as black males in their mid-20s. Both wore dark clothing.

Anyone with information on the shooting is urged to call Detective M. Campos at 626-430-2239, or email [email protected]. Information can be provided anonymously by calling LA Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS, through the P3 Tips mobile app or at lacrimestoppers.org.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

IRWINDALE - Police tracked down and arrested a man who is accused of robbing two people at gunpoint and assaulting one of the victims.

Hugo Wilfredo Portillo, 41, was located and arrested with the help of Barstow Police June 16. The 2002 Honda Accord he drove, as well as additional evidence in the incident were found, according to the Irwindale Police Department.

Portillo is accused of robbing two victims of gasoline at gunpoint at a business in the 200 block of Live Oak Avenue June 9. He allegedly attacked one of the victims, pistol whipping him, kicking, hitting and threatening him, Irwindale Police said.

Irwindale police detectives also believe Portillo set an arson fire that ignited at a structure at the same location the night of the assault.

“Detectives from the Barstow Police Department, using information provided by detectives from the Irwindale Police Department, served the arrest warrant at Portillo’s home in the city of Barstow, where Portillo was arrested without incident. The 2002 Honda Accord, as well as other relevant evidence, was seized during the course of the investigation,” Irwindale Police said in a written statement.

Irwindale detectives transported Portillo back to Los Angeles County and booked him at the Irwindale Police Department for attempted homicide, armed robbery, criminal threats and arson related charges, as well as violation of the terms of his probation, Irwindale Police said.

Portillo is being held at the Twin Towers Correctional Facility in Los Angeles on $2 million bail ahead of a scheduled court appearance.