Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

IRWINDALE - Three amigos from Los Angeles accused of stealing a catalytic converter were arrested April 11 and caught with the goods, police said.

The trio are accused of cutting the pricey device from a vehicle parked at a business in the 15700 block of Arrow Highway at 10:50 p.m. The victim was able to describe the 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee to officers, who located and stopped the driver, according to the Irwindale Police Department.

“Our officers located a Jeep matching the description provided by the victim in the area of Irwindale Avenue and 4th Street and initiated a traffic stop. After pulling to the curb, the Jeep suddenly fled as the officers approached the vehicle,” according to the Irwindale Police Department in a written statement.

A pursuit led officers south from Irwindale Avenue and into West Covina where the Jeep Grand Cherokee collided with three other vehicles at Sunset Avenue and West Covina Parkway, Irwindale Police said.

Two suspects were detained at the crash scene and a third fled to the West Covina Civic Center where West Covina officers detained him.

“Officers located the victim’s catalytic converter inside the Jeep, along with various hand tools, power saws, saw blades and a rolling car jack,” Irwindale Police said.

Arrested were Alfredo Paredes Ramirez, 35; Herbert Tecero, 38; and Lejoi Louise Mims, 38. The suspects face charges, including grand theft, possession of burglary tools and possession of stolen property. Driver Alfredo Ramirez was additionally charged with felony evading and traffic related violations.

“Due to COVID-19 booking restrictions, all three suspects were later released with citations to appear in court on a future date,” Irwindale Police said in a written statement.

IRWINDALE – A woman died after being struck by a driver who was found in West Covina Saturday morning, Irwindale Police said.

The suspect, Adrian Ortega, a 21-year-old La Puente man, was stopped by West Covina Police at Francisquito Avenue and Sunset Avenue shortly after the deadly crash and linked Ortega’s vehicle to the hit and run, according to the Irwindale Police Department.

Police responded to a reported bicyclist down on eastbound Huntington Drive on the San Gabriel River bridge around 1:40 a.m. March 27. The woman suffered significant traumatic injuries and Los Angeles County Firefighters declared her dead at the scene.

Irwindale officers went to the West Covina traffic stop and took Ortega into custody. He was booke don suspicion of vehicular manslaughter, felony drunk driving and felony hit and run charges. He was held in lieu of $100,000 bail until being released on bond, according to Los Angeles County booking records. 

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

IRWINDALE - Descriptions provided by a burglary victim and witnesses helped police track down and arrest a suspect who attempted to enter a home Wednesday.

Sergio Arturo Ravelo, 38, was found by officers at Ellen Drive and Benbow Street in unincorporated Covina after he fled a burglarized home in the 4000 block of Calle Del Sur December 2.

The victim called officers just before 8 p.m. and said someone ripped a screen to a backyard window to try and get inside, but the suspect fled, according to Sgt. Rudy Gatto of the Irwindale Police Department.

Once detained, Ravelo was positively identified by the victim and witnesses, Gatto said in a written statement.

Ravelo was also wanted by West Covina Police for resisting arrest. He was booked on suspicion of burglarizing an inhabited dwelling and for the West Covina warrant.

He is being held in lieu of $60,000 bail ahead of a scheduled appearance at the West Covina Courthouse December 4, according to Los Angeles County booking records.