 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 - A scrawny suspect got bold and shattered the front glass door to the Irwindale Aquatics Center July 14, but the vandalism was caught on camera.
The incident occurred around 11:52 p.m. The suspect used a rock to shatter the door then fled the area, according to the Irwindale Police Department. The suspect is described as a Latino male with a light complexion, thin build and dark hair. He wore a black t-shirt, blue baseball hat with a logo, gray pants with a black belt and white shoes, possibly Nikes. Anyone with information on the identity of the suspect is urged to call Irwindale police detective Leonard Garza at 626-430-2290. 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 - Officers discovered freshly-stolen underground conduit reportedly taken from an industrial yard April 30. The theft took place at a utility yard operated by Henkels & McCoy, 13570 Live Oak Ln., Sunday morning. Arriving officers found a white SUV inside of the property, which is highly restricted. The vehicle failed to yield during an attempted traffic stop and it was driven a short distance before three occupants inside ran away, according to the Irwindale Police Department. The three suspects scaled a perimeter fence and ran onto lanes of the nearby 605 freeway. All three suspects were found and taken into custody. Amongst the stolen conduit were burglary tools likely used in the grand theft. Arrested was West Covina resident Eric Graham, 37, Jesus Soto, 33, and Abraham Saldivar, 39. The latter two are residents of El Monte. All three suspects were booked on suspicion of grand theft, possession of burglary tools and delay/resist a police officer in the course of duty charges. They also had a number of various outstanding warrants, according to the Irwindale Police Department. “This call happened during our shift overlap. Officers who worked the previous shift had already changed out, heard the call go out over the radio, suited back up and responded to assist,” according to the Irwindale Police Department in a written statement. “One officer was already on his way home and returned.”  Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor IRWINDALE – A man accused of using a hammer to cause several thousand dollars in damage to seven vehicles last week, according to the Irwindale Police Department. Ricardo Rangel, 38, allegedly damaged the vehicles near Ramona Boulevard and the southbound 605 freeway off ramp around 12:37 p.m. January 28, according to the Irwindale Police Department. No one was injured. “All of the vehicles he attacked were occupied at the time, some of which had children as passengers,” according to the Irwindale Police Department in a written statement. The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Officefiled seven felony counts of felony vandalism against Rangel who remains in custody in lieu of $30,000 bail ahead of a scheduled appearance in the West Covina courthouse Thursday, February 3.  Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor IRWINDALE – A vigilant resident alerted police to a quartet of taggers marking up Jardin de Roca Park August 3. The vandalism was reported around 1:45 a.m. at the park, 5051 N. Irwindale Ave. Police detained the suspects accused of vandalizing signs, walls, benches, trees and other public areas, according to the Irwindale Police Department. Preliminary estimates of damage caused exceed $2,000, according to the Irwindale Police Department in a written statement. Two juveniles and two 19-year-olds were booked on suspicion of felony vandalism charges. The 19-year-olds were identified as Cristian Magana and Isaiah Joseph Meeker, both Rosemead residents. Both men were issued citations and released the day of their arrest, according to Los Angeles County booking records.  Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor IRWINDALE – An estimated $25,000 in damage was caused after a driver destroyed a security gate, rammed a perimeter wall and other property at the Irwindale Police Department February 27.
A police dispatcher witnessed on camera the suspect, later identified as 57-year-old Anna Maria Guillen of Pomona, as Guillen allegedly used a 2000 Nissan Xterra to destroy a black metal gate leading into a secure police parking lot around 6:13 p.m., according to the Irwindale Police Department. The gate was knocked off the track after being repeatedly hit and Guillen allegedly drove into the parking lot where she began crashing into other property. Officers arrived and detained Guillen. “Thankfully no one was hurt in this incident, including the suspect,” stated Irwindale Police Chief Ty Henshaw. “The quick response by our officers prevented additional damage to city property and our patrol cars.” The Nissan Xterra was impounded. Two small dogs inside the Xterra were taken by the Los Angeles County Department of Animal Control and Care, Irwindale Police said. Guillen was booked on suspicion of felony vandalism and trespassing charges. She was issued a citation and released. She is scheduled to appear in the West Covina Courthouse today, March 2.  Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor IRWINDALE - Police restrained a man who refused to be detained after he allegedly destroyed statues at a seldom-used and historic church. Officers arrived and witnessed Noel Alejandro Rivera, 34, damaging statues outside of Our Lady of Guadalupe Mission Church, 16239 Arrow Hwy. Rivera allegedly fought with officers who tried to detain him. He was eventually arrested without injury, according to the Irwindale Police Department. Police were dispatched at 8:45 p.m. September 4. The statues damaged had adorned the front of the church. At least one of the statues was found on Arrow Highway, Irwindale Police said. Rivera, from Irwindale, was booked on suspicion of vandalism and resisting arrest. He was released pending a future court date, Irwindale Police said. A value of of the damaged done has not been calculated yet. The church, damaged by the 1987 Whittier Narrows earthquake, has stood for 103 years. The Los Angeles Archdiocese closed the church due to earthquake damage. The church is used for functions by religious and secular groups with city permission.   From left to right: David Alexander Perez, Isaac Alcaraz. PHOTOS courtesy of the Irwindale Police Department. 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.  PHOTO/Courtesy of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. 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.  PHOTO/Courtesy of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. 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. |
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