Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor LA VERNE - A helicopter search is underway for any suspicious activity in the Unincorporated La Verne foothills after deputies believe a volley of gunfire rang out in the darkness Thursday night.
The deputies were likely en route to a call when they reported hearing around 3 to 4 shots that they believe were aimed in their direction in the 6300 block of Stephens Ranch Road in the La Verne foothills, according to Los Angeles County Sheriff’s radio traffic. The deputies took refuge behind the patrol vehicle and the estimate the gunfire was heard about 50 yards from their location. Fellow deputies arrived and with the assistance of a helicopter they devise an evacuation plan to have the initial deputies retreat to safety. Police Warn Residents after Mountain Lion Reportedly Attacks Dog in La Verne Neighborhood11/4/2021 Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor LA VERNE – The La Verne Police Department alerted residents about a reported mountain lion attack after a dog was injured October 28.
The incident occurred in the 4700 block of Valle Verde Court around 7:17 p.m. In an interview with CBS2/KCAL9 news, resident Mary Padres alleges she came face to face with a large mountain lion. The smaller of the Padres family’s three dogs, a pit bull named Rocky, went after the mountain lion. Rocky chased the mountain lion up the hill behind the Padres’ home. The Padres family, armed with flashlights, traversed the immediate hillside to get Rocky back and when they found him, he had suffered eight large puncture wounds requiring 30 stitches. The La Verne Police Department contacted the Inland Valley Human Society and the California Department of Fish & Wildlife. “It is not typical for California Department of Fish and Wildlife to receive reports of mountain lions attacking dogs,” according to the CDFW. “It does occur occasionally when dogs are left outdoors/unprotected at night. If a dog is aggressive toward a mountain lion, it is normal and expected behavior for the mountain lion to defend itself.” The La Verne Police Department wants to remind residents to be aware that mountain lions traverse the area and to take in pets and their water and food bowls at night when mountain lions prey. “Deer are mountain lions’ primary prey item, so if residents commonly observe deer in their neighborhood, we recommend deterring deer from properties as well,” according to the La Verne Police Department in a written statement. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor LA VERNE – A threat of violence overheard by several students was found to be not credible Monday, a La Verne middle school principal said.
The threat by a student was overheard by several other students of Ramona Middle School, 3490 Ramona Ave., after school ended August 30. School administration was made aware and the La Verne Police Department began investigating, according to Ramona Middle School Principal James Ellis. “The LVPD went to the student’s home to ensure there was no means to act on the threat and investigate the allegation. The threat was found to be non-credible,” Ellis said is a written statement. Ramona Middle School will be open today, August 31, and classes will be held as normal. La Verne Police officers will be present on campus before and after school out of an abundance of caution, Ellis said in a written statement. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor LA VERNE - Two Pomona men were arrested recently and charged in the shooting of a worker at a La Verne construction site during a robbery.
Jose Alfredo Padilla, 24, and Angel Valenzuela, 41, were both identified after a lengthy investigation, according to the La Verne Police Department. Police responded about 3:30 p.m. to the 2300 block of Arrow Highway July 21. When they arrived, officers were told that two men in a gray, older-model Chevy Suburban drove onto the construction site and entered a work truck. Three workers confronted the suspects and one of the suspects brandished a firearm, according to the La Verne Police Department. “One suspect pulled out a gun and the workers attempted to run. The suspect fired one shot striking the victim in the left foot,” according to the La Verne Police Department. The suspects fled eastbound in the Suburban. The shooting victim was hospitalized, treated and released that same day. Valenzuela was already in custody, arrested by the Pomona Police Department July 31 on an unrelated crime. He is also serving time on an unrelated case, according to the La Verne Police Department. Padilla was arrested August 6 by La Verne detectives at a Pomona residence. The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office filed charges against Padilla and Valenzuela, including attempted murder, robbery and assault with a deadly weapon. Padilla was additionally charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm, according to Los Angeles Superior Court records. Padilla is being held at the North County Correctional Facility in lieu of more than $3.1 million bail. Valenzuela is being held in lieu of nearly $2.2 million bail at the Pomona City Jail. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor LA VERNE - Police are searching for suspects who attempted to take a construction vehicle from a work site Wednesday, an incident that left a worker with a gunshot wound.
Police responded about 3:30 p.m. to the 2300 block of Arrow Highway July 21. When they arrived, officers were told that two men in a gray, older-model Chevy Suburban drove onto the construction site and entered a work truck. Three workers confronted the two men and one of the suspects brandished a firearm, according to the La Verne Police Department. “One suspect pulled out a gun and the workers attempted to run. The suspect fired one shot striking the victim in the left foot,” according to the La Verne Police Department. The suspects fled eastbound in the Suburban. The suspects were only described as two Hispanic men about 25 to 30 years old, according to the La Verne Police Department. Anyone with information on this incident is urged to call the La Verne Police Department detective bureau at 909-596-1913. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor LA VERNE – Natural causes may be behind the death of a sanitation worker pronounced dead near his garbage truck Monday morning.
Police and firefighters were sent to investigate a reported medical emergency and a man down near a Waste Management truck along Wheeler Avenue around 10:15 a.m. July 12, according to Sgt. Wells of the La Verne Police Department. The man died in the 6300 block of Wheeler Avenue. He was pronounced deceased at 10:51 a.m., according to Sarah Ardalani, public information officer for the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner. Los Angeles County Firefighters treated the man, but he could not be saved, Wells told SGV CityWatch. The man is only described as being in his 60s. His name has not yet been revealed, pending notification of next of kin, Ardalani told SGV CityWatch. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor LA VERNE – Police recovered 528 Covid-19 vaccination cards from a Las Vegas man accused of stealing them from the Pomona Fairplex vaccination site.
Investigators were notified of the potential theft April 27. Detectives determined that Las Vegas man Muhammad Rauf Ahmed, 45, stored some of the blank cards in his vehicle. A search of Ahmed’s hotel room yielded more blank cards, according to the La Verne Police Department. Ahmed was charged with one felony count of grand theft, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. “Selling fraudulent and stolen vaccine cards is illegal, immoral and puts the public at risk of exposure to a deadly virus,” District Attorney George Gascón said in a written statement. Ahmed was a non-clinical contracted employee hired to support the vaccination site, La Verne Police said. “Ahmed, who worked at the center, allegedly stole more than 500 cards, which have a value of at least $15 apiece if illegally sold,” prosecutors said. A criminal investigation was conducted with assistance from the Los Angeles County Fire Department and Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. Ahmed’s arraignment is scheduled for August 25 in Department F of Pomona Superior Court. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor LA VERNE - A potentially-large brushfire was averted early Sunday after firefighters handled a small spot fire along San Dimas Canyon Road near Golden Hills Road.
Firefighters were dispatched to location at 2:56 a.m. May 23. Firefighters ultimately got control of the flames at 3:12 a.m., according to Dispatch Supervisor Cheryl Sims of the Los Angeles County Fire Department. It is not immediately clear how large the fire grew before flames were under control. The La Verne Fire Department assisted county resources with extinguishing the fire. “The cause appeared to be illegal fireworks but is still under investigation,” According to the La Verne Fire Department in a written statement. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor LA VERNE - Two victims apparently escaped injury after police say at least one of four young males in a white sedan fired at them with a BB gun May 19.
The first reported attack occurred around 6:40 p.m. A man was shot at while walking in the area of Esperanza Drive and Golden Hills Road, according to the La Verne Police Department. Moments later, a woman walking in the area of Wheeler Avenue and Ruggles Street one mile away from the first attack reported she was also shot at, La Verne police said. Investigators are searching for the four suspects who may have been occupying a white four-door car, possibly a BMW or Lexus. Pellet gun attacks seem to be en vogue after a series of high profile shootings along freeways in Orange, Los Angeles and Riverside counties have been happening at an alarmingly-frequent basis. The California Highway Patrol is investigating at least four more attacks Thursday that occurred along the 91 freeway and 22 freeway in Garden Grove and Corona. Three of the four attacks occurred before 6 a.m. along the westbound and 91 freeway near the 71 freeway. One shooting occurred Monday, May 17 on the southbound 57 freeway transition to the 91 freeway around 5 p.m. when a woman’s Toyota 4Runner was struck by a pellet. The window did not shatter, authorities said. Three other shootings occurred along the 91 freeway Monday in Santa Ana, Westminster and Santa Fe Springs. In the last few weeks, authorities believe as many as 60 pellet gun attacks have occurred. Victims have described seeing a white vehicle during the shootings, but a more concrete description of suspects and a vehicle have not been obtained, reportedly. Anyone with information on the suspects in the La Verne shootings is urged to call the La Verne Police Department at 909-596-1913. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor LA VERNE – A Los Angeles man was allegedly found with cutting tools and a freshly-cut catalytic converter tucked in a suitcase after being stopped by La Verne Police May 12.
A La Verne resident saw a strange man under his neighbor’s van and called police. The suspect fled the scene, but officers were able to find and stop the suspect with the help of the resident’s detailed description of the suspect’s vehicle, according to the La Verne Police Department. “Tools commonly used in the theft of catalytic converters were identified and found in plain view. Officers searched the vehicle and discovered a suitcase containing a freshly cut catalytic converter along with additional power tools and extra batteries.,” La Verne Police said in a written statement. Tony Contreras Farias, 37, was arrested and booked on felony charges. Farias was issued a citation and released, according to Los Angeles County booking records. |
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