 Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor PASADENA - The suspect accused of trespassing at Crescenta Valley High School February 1 was arraigned on unrelated charges, including possession of child porn.
Brandon Matthew Santora, 41, was arraigned February 7 on one count of possessing child porn and one count of making criminal threats, according to Los Angeles Superior Court records. “The new evidence gave detectives probable cause to arrest the suspect for felony criminal threats,” according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department in a previous written statement. Santora pleaded not guilty to the charges. The campus was locked down after staff witnessed the man carrying a large duffle bag walk through the campus, 2900 Community Ave., without checking in with staff. A search for the man, as well as any items possibly left behind, was conducted by Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputies. The search turned up empty. Students and staff were evacuated and bomb sniffing dogs helped sweep the campus, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Students were evacuated to Christ Armenian Church, 4441 La Crescenta Ave. The suspect was seen and detained at a business in the 3500 block of Foothill Boulevard in Glendale around 3:20 p.m. the same day. He was reportedly identified as the man seen walking through Crescenta Valley High School, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. No weapons or suspicious items were found on Santora.  Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor LA CRESCENTA - A girl was reportedly assaulted by a masked man as she exited a restroom at a La Crescenta park.
The assault occurred December 12 at the Crescenta Valley Skate Park, 3498 Honolulu Ave. The girl was exiting a restroom when the suspect grabbed her and sexually assaulted her, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. The suspect fled on foot west over a pedestrian bridge towards a flood control channel and out of view. The suspect was described as a Hispanic or Middle Eastern man between 25 to 40 years old. He stood 5-foot 6 inches tall to 5 feet 8 inches tall, has a thin build and light complected skin. The suspect wore a blue surgical mask, plain brown hat, sunglasses with green and blue reflective lenses placed on the bill of his hat, a white hooded puffy vest, long-sleeve white shirt underneath with a reflective tape on the left arm, and loose dark colored pants. Anyone with information on this assault is urged to call the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Special Victims Bureau at 877-710-5273, or email at [email protected]. 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.  Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor LA CRESCENTA - A suspect is facing an assault with a deadly weapon charge after being accused of stabbing his victim in a La Crescenta home Monday morning, a Sheriff’s sergeant said.
Deputies found their victim and the suspect inside a home in the 2900 block of Alabama Street after deputies were dispatched at 4:23 a.m. April 12, according to Sgt. Gilbert of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Crescenta Valley Station. The suspect, Gerson Antonio Escobar-Diaz, was arrested at the residence where the stabbing took place. He was booked on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon. Gilbert did not have a current status for the stabbing victim, nor a possible motive for the stabbing. Escobar-Diaz, 21, was arrested at 5:30 a.m. He posted $30,000 bond. He is scheduled to appear in the Pasadena courthouse April 14.  PHOTO provided by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor LA CRESCENTA - Deputies believe a man who exposed himself to someone in La Cañada Flintridge late last year expose himself again this month. A man in a light blue or gray 1989 Plymouth reportedly exposed himself to someone in a 2600 block of foothill Boulevard and La Crescenta, March 18. A similar incident occurred December 13, 2019 in the 2100 block of foothill Boulevard in La Cañada Flintridge, according to the Los Angeles County sheriffs Crescenta Valley station. In the December incident, the victim sat in a parked vehicle when the suspect spoke to the victim to get her attention. She looked over at the suspect who had clearly exposed himself. The victim called the attention of a family member who was shopping nearby. The family member walked towards the suspect who then fled the location, deputies said. In the March incident, a suspect in a similar vehicle reportedly exposed himself, but deputies could not locate the victim after arriving on scene.
The suspect is described as a black man in his 20s with a thin build. The victim in the December incident said the light blue or gray Plymouth sported faded paint and rust spots, deputies said. Detectives are asking any witnesses or victims of the March 18 incident, or any similar incidents to come forward. Anyone with information related to the two incidents, or any similar incident is urged to call Crescenta Valley Station Detective Michael Spears at 818-236-4010.  Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor LA CRESCENTA - A body was discovered amongst the charred remains of a rear home that burned Monday night. Sheriff’s Arson/Explosives investigators are examining the scene. The body was discovered in a rear that that became fully engulfed in the 2000 block of Crescent Avenue, according to Lt. Lopez of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Crescenta Valley station. Although Lopez said the fire occurred in the 2000 block of Crescent Avenue, Los Angeles County Fire Dispatcher Matthew Stafford said firefighters were dispatched to the 4400 block of Rockmere Way — one block over from Crescent.
The cause is under investigation. The fire was dispatched at 1135 p.m.  Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor LA CRESCENTA - A teen with a replica firearm was deemed no threat to the Crescenta Valley High School campus Monday after deputies responded to multiple calls of a person with a weapon.
Deputies were called around 2:30 p.m. to the high school, 2900 Community Avenue. The campus was placed on lockdown and deputies formed a team to search the school, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Deputies eventually learned the person with a weapon was a student in the Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said.  PHOTO/Stock image. Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor LA CRESCENTA - Two teens playing video games were briefly detained after exiting a home where someone reported a shooting Saturday night, but the call was likely a prank.
A caller stated he shot two people inside a home in the 4000 block of La Crescenta Avenue and he threatened to shoot his aunt around 8:52 p.m., according to Lt. Lopez of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Crescenta Valley Station. Deputies surrounded the home and, with the help of a helicopter, ordered the occupants to exit. A 17 and 18-year-old exited the home and were briefly detained while deputies searched their home, but nothing was found, Lopez said. Deputies quickly realized the teens may have been swatted. Swatting is a phenomena where a prankster deceives emergency responders by reporting a false emergency, driving law enforcement to a targeted home. The unknown caller phoned the prank to the Crescenta Valley Sheriff’s business number and not through 9-1-1, making tracing of the call rather difficult, Lopez said.  PHOTO/Stock image. Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor LA CRESCENTA - Deputies are asking residents to evacuate homes around the 5000 block of la Crescenta Avenue after construction workers ruptured a gas line.
Homes within two blocks north, two blocks south of and one block east and west of the ruptured line. 150 homes are being evacuated, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Crescenta Valley Station. The line has ruptured at 5009 La Crescenta Ave., according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department. The estimated time of repair is two to four hours. Gas company workers are on scene, Sheriff’s deputies said. The California Highway Patrol is assisting with evacuations. |
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