Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

MONROVIA - Police jailed a man September 4 accused of recklessly evading them as he fled a Monrovia cemetery.

Monrovia police officers were called to Live Oak Memorial Park around 1:41 p.m. August 26 to multiple calls of gunfire. Police located a suspect in a gray truck who refused to pull over and he recklessly drove around the cemetery, according to the Monrovia Police Department.

The pursuit led to surface streets and officers ended the pursuit due to safety reasons, according to Lt. Donchig of the Monrovia Police Department in a written statement.

Issac Guevara, 47, was located by the California Highway Patrol and detained in the area of the 60 freeway and Santa Anita Avenue September 4. Guevara was then arrested by Monrovia detectives and booked on suspicion of felony evading and violating a domestic violence restraining order, according to Sergeant Anaya of the Monrovia Police Department.

During their investigation, detectives could not prove that Guevara fired the shots heard by patrons at the cemetery, Anaya told SGV CityWatch.

Guevara is being held in lieu of $75,000 bail at the Twin Towers Correctional Facility and is next scheduled for an appearance in Pasadena Superior Court September 27.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

MONROVIA - A child died after a vehicle collided with several parked vehicles and a tree Friday night.

The crash occurred at Duarte Road and Fifth Avenue just after 7:30 p.m. September 8. First responders said the vehicle was fully engulfed with flames when they arrived, according to the Monrovia Police Department.

First responders extricated burn victims from the vehicle. One of those victims was a child who suffered life-threatening injuries. The child died after being treated at Los Angeles General Medical Center, according to the Monrovia Police Department.

It is not publicly clear what may have caused of the crash. The condition of any other surviving victims is not publicly known.

The Arcadia Police Department’s Major Accident Investigation Team assisted with this collision investigation.

Any witnesses to the crash who can help the investigation are urged to call Monrovia Police Department Investigation Detective Travis Ortega at 626-256-8049. 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

MONROVIA - No one was struck by gunfire after citizens reported a shooting at Live Oak Cemetery Saturday afternoon.

The Monrovia Police Department received several 911 calls about shots fired at the cemetery, 200 East Duarte Rd., at 1:41 p.m. Saturday, August 26. Responding officers located a suspect vehicle, the driver of which refused to pull over, according to Monrovia Police Lt. John Donchig.

According to Monrovia Police Department radio traffic, the high-speed pursuit went southbound on California Avenue from the cemetery and reached speeds of around 60 miles per hour.

“Eventually the pursuit was terminated for safety reasons,” Donchig told SGV CityWatch.

Donchig declined to provide more details as the investigation continues.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

MONROVIA - A driver allegedly barricaded himself inside a semi after police were sent to help recover the stolen vehicle Tuesday evening.

The driver kept authorities at bay for roughly 45 minutes before surrendering outside 640 West Foothill Blvd. August 15. The issue stemmed from some legal battle over the lease of the semi between the driver and truck company, according to Sgt. Coleman of the Monrovia Police Department.

The company called authorities and reported the semi as stolen after providing the location of the semi at 5:44 p.m., Coleman told SGV CityWatch.

During the barricade, the driver insisted police talk with his attorney before his surrender, Coleman told SGV CityWatch.

The driver had paperwork sorted out at the scene. He was released from custody.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

MONROVIA - Firefighters quickly extinguished a fire at an aerospace manufacturing facility storing hazardous chemicals Saturday night.

The fire burned at Ducommun Aerostructures Incorporated, 801 Royal Oaks Dr., an aviation and aerospace components manufacturer, just before 7:30 p.m. Mutual aid was called in from the Arcadia Fire Department, Los Angeles County Fire Department and its hazmat team, as well as hazmat teams from the Glendale and Burbank Fire Departments.

“Crews made quick knock down of the fire, and Hazmat teams from Burbank and Glendale Fire Departments responded to isolate and control the hazardous materials,” according to the Monrovia Fire Department in a written statement.

There was no threat to the community, according to the Monrovia Fire Department.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

MONROVIA - A student was hospitalized after suffering a severe injury when a 60-pound weight was dropped on the student’s hand.

First responders were called to the Monrovia High School gym, 845 W. Colorado Blvd., at 1:01 p.m. April 20. One of the student’s fingers was partially severed when the weight fell, according to Lt. Oberon of the Monrovia Police Department.

The student was taken to a hospital for further treatment.

Oberon did not know the age, or gender of the student.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

MONROVIA - Five people were wounded, including a suspected drunk driver, after he crashed into a parked vehicle and destroyed a taco stand on Peck Road early Saturday morning.

Two taco stand employees, two patrons and the suspected DUI driver were hospitalized. Everyone suffered injuries considered not life-threatening, according to the Monrovia Police Department.

First responders were called to the 3300 block of Peck Road around 12:15 p.m. Saturday, March 4. The suspected DUI driver crashed into a parked vehicle, which was then sent into the taco stand, according to the Monrovia Police Department.

It appears at least three vehicles were damaged in the crash.

MONROVIA – A resident detained a strange woman after he arrived to find her inside his home.

Police were called to the 500 block of West Olive Avenue around 10:41 a.m. November 14. The resident found the woman rummaging through drawers and cupboards, according to the Monrovia Police Department.

“The resident came home and detained the female who claimed she lived there,” according to the Monrovia Police Department in a written statement.

Officers arrived and found the resident had detained the woman. She was soon arrested.

MONROVIA - Two adults sleeping in a home where uninjured after a suspect in a neighboring home saw fit to open fire into their residence Wednesday morning.

Investigators are still trying to learn what possessed the man to fire his weapon from inside his residence into the neighboring home. The suspect was found about a block away from the scene and was taken into custody without further incident, according to Sgt. Harvey of the Monrovia Police Department.

Police received multiple calls of gunfire in the 1400 block of South Alta Vista Avenue around 3:28 a.m.

“There were shots fired from within one house and into another house, so the rounds went through the door and into another location where people were living,” Harvey told SGV CityWatch.

The victims were asleep when the shots were fired.

The weapon was recovered, Harvey told SGV CityWatch.

William Patrick James O’Brien, a 37-year-old Monrovia man was booked on suspicion of shooting in a grossly negligent manner.

He is being held in lieu of $250,000 bail ahead of a scheduled appearance in Pasadena Municipal Court November 18.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

MONROVIA – A suspect was arrested Monday in connection with a two-alarm commercial fire that forced the evacuation of surrounding businesses.

First responders were dispatched to the 1100 block of South Mountain Avenue around 5:09 p.m. and discovered pallets and boxes burning to the rear of a warehouse, which was also fully engulfed, according to the Monrovia Police Department.

Witnesses alerted police to a suspicious person seen leaving the scene and a description and direction of travel was provided. The suspect was spotted several blocks away in Duarte, according to the Monrovia Police Department.

“When officers attempted contact, the suspect immediately fled into a large business park,” according to the Monrovia Police Department in a written statement.

A perimeter search conducted by Monrovia officers, as well as officers from nearby cities, revealed the hiding suspect. Witnesses identified the suspect.

“He hasn’t officially been charged yet. They’re still working on things,” according to Sgt. Chad Harvey of the Monrovia Police Department.

The suspect, who Harvey declined to identify at this time, would likely be facing charges including arson and obstructing an officer.

The search lasted roughly 20 to 30 minutes before the suspect was found.