Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

IRWINDALE - A 29-year-old stolen vehicle suspect was booked on suspicion of murder July 9, accused of crashing into and killing a bicyclist on Arrow Highway near Santa Fe Dam Recreational Area.

Jonathan Del Carmen Calixto, a Hanford resident, was allegedly driving the stolen white Land Rover eastbound on Arrow Highway when he collided with the bicyclist near the spillway to Santa Fe Dam around 8:31 p.m. Tuesday, according to the Irwindale Police Department.

after crashing, Calixto fled the vehicle, but was caught and taken into custody.

The bicyclist was identified as 50-year-old Raul Castaneda, a San Gabriel resident.

Castaneda was in the marked pedestrian crosswalk when struck, according to the Irwindale Police Department.

The marked crosswalk is controlled with traffic signals and further marked by flashing yellow lights warning drivers of the approaching crosswalk.

The Land Rover was originally pursued by El Monte Police after the El Monte Police Department received a call of a vehicle theft in progress at a dealership on nearby Peck Road. Officers stopped their pursuit due to the high-speed danger.

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 – 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 - A LoJack signal helped officers locate a stolen black 1994 Ford Mustang, which was tracked from Irwindale to unincorporated Covina October 4.

El Monte man Enrique Leon, 43, was found behind the wheel of the stolen Ford Mustang in the 16300 block of Bellbrook Street. Officers originally were alerted to the LoJack signal in the area of Arrow Highway and Morada Street, in Irwindale, according to the Irwindale Police Department.

The 1994 Ford Mustang was reported stolen out of the Los Angeles county Sheriff’s Department Temple Station area.

“Further inspection revealed the ignition switch on the Mustang had been "punched" and there were no keys to the vehicle.  Mr. Leon was also found to be in possession of suspected narcotics paraphernalia as well,” according to the Irwindale Police Department.

The Ford Mustang was recovered at the scene to be released to the rightful owner, according to the Irwindale Police Department.

Leon was released on a citation and had a scheduled appearance at the West Covina Courthouse October 6.

IRWINDALE – One person was arrested after a business check at an auto dismantling location revealed seven stolen vehicles being taken apart.

The owner of All California Auto Wrecking, 867 Alpha St., was taken into custody and booked on suspicion of auto theft charges. The seven stolen vehicles being dismantled were towed from the business, according to the Irwindale Police Department.

Arrested was Maria Sanchez Diaz, 54, of Monrovia. She was booked on suspicion of operating a chop shop. She posted $50,000 bail, according to Sgt. Rudy Gatto of the Irwindale Police Department.

The owner also faces potential business license and code enforcement violations after an inspection by City of Irwindale code enforcement staff.

The investigation was jointly conducted by Irwindale Police detectives, patrol officers and investigators from the Los Angeles County Taskforce for Regional Auto-Theft Prevention.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

IRWINDALE - Los Angeles County Fire Department arson investigators and Irwindale police officers identified a stolen vehicle suspect after a Jeep SUV was found in flames in the San Gabriel River south of Huntington Drive Friday.

Matthew Thomas Dyer, 46, was arrested and booker on suspicion of felony arson. Tips from the community also helped lead to Dyer’s arrest, according to the Irwindale Police Department.

After the Jeep SUV Fire was extinguished Friday morning, officers learned the vehicle was stolen in Azusa September 24, according to the Irwindale Police Department.

Dyer was released on a citation due to Los Angeles County’s “zero bail” policy, according to the Irwindale Police Department.

The destroyed Jeep was towed away and returned to the owner.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

IRWINDALE - Two men accused of taking a truck didn’t get too far after officers quickly located the duo chilling inside the stolen ride.

Officers were called to investigate a stolen truck at 1 a.m. February 12. A white Ford F-150 was taken from the 13500 block of Live Oak Lane. One officer searched the surrounding area and saw the stolen truck parked in the 1400 block of Arrow Highway, according to the Irwindale Police Department.

Suspects Luis Angel Barcelo, 25, and Frankie Ramirez, 34, were promptly arrested. the Baldwin Park men were booked on suspicion of grand theft auto. Ramirez was later issued a citation and released.  Barcelo was held in custody with no bail on an open warrant, Irwindale Police said.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - A man and woman were arrested Monday After law Enforcement located a stolen truck seen leaving an Azusa motel.

The suspects were found in a truck reported stolen from Huntington Park February 16, according to Rudy Gatto, Sergeant with the Irwindale Police Department. Arrested were George Albert Sandoval, A 41-year-old Norwalk resident, and Jacqueline Gabrielle Osegueda, A 37-year-old Baldwin Park woman.

And Irwindale police detective and detectives from the Task Force for Regional Auto Theft Prevention , a Task force made up of regional law-enforcement personnel, located the stolen truck in the parking lot of the Super 8 Motel, 117 N. Azusa Ave.

Both Sandoval, the driver, and Osegueda Left the motel. Irwindale officers assisted by Azusa police and a Pasadena police helicopter stopped the truck and the suspects were arrested without further incident.

Both suspects were booked on suspicion of occupying a stolen vehicle. Osegueda Was additionally charged with possession of narcotics And possession of narcotics paraphernalia, Gatto said.

Sandoval also had a no-bail warrant.

IRWINDALE - Search warrants were served in Pasadena December 19, leading to the arrest of two men accused of burglarizing an Irwindale home and stealing the victim’s vehicle.

Robert Mendoza, a 19-year-old Pasadena man and Edward Virgen, a 19-year-old Altadena man, were arrested on suspicion of burglary, taking a motor vehicle without the owner’s consent and possession of stolen property, Irwindale Police said in a written statement.