Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

MONROVIA - A man was discovered dead in a wash near Peck Road Water Conservation Park Sunday.

The body is believed to have been in the wash roughly 24 hours. There were no obvious signs of foul play, according to Lt. Chad Harvey of the Monrovia Police Department.

First responders were sent to the 5600 block of Peck Road around 9 a.m. for a rescue May 4.

Deputies from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Temple Station and officers from the Arcadia Police Department responded along with Monrovia officers, the latter took the report, Harvey told SGV CityWatch.

The man was identified as Wilver Orantes Hernandez, 40. The cause of death has been deferred, pending additional investigation, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner.

**********
The Medical Examiner record in this article is being redistributed by SGV CityWatch and is protected by constitutional, publishing and other legal rights. Death records are public information and are distributed by government sources.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

MONROVIA - A barricaded suspect refuses to surrender to officers who responded to a family disturbance and domestic violence report early Tuesday morning.

Monrovia police officers and SWAT officers with the Foothills Special Enforcement Team are focusing on a house on Los Angeles Avenue between South Shamrock Avenue and California Avenue March 18.

There were no serious injuries resulting from the domestic violence, according to Lt. Harvey of the Monrovia Police Department.

There may be weapons stored in the house which required a response from FSET, Harvey told SGV CityWatch.

Officers responded to the call at 6 a.m. Tuesday.

Several houses near the scene have been evacuated as a safety measure, Harvey told SGV CityWatch.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

PASADENA - The suspect accused of murdering his father in a Monrovia residence February 22 is expected back in court mid-April.

Arturo Gonzalez Jr., 29, was charged with one count each of murder and the special allegation of using a dangerous and deadly weapon in the shooting death of father Arturo Ayon Gonzalez, 52.

​Gonzalez was arrested March 5 and booked at the Sheriff’s Lakewood station at 11:05 a.m. by Sheriff’s Fugitive Unit.

The murder happened in the father’s Monrovia apartment in the 100 block of West Olive Avenue. around 10:40 p.m.

It is unclear if detectives identified a motive.

Arturo Gonzalez Sr. died from multiple sharp force injuries, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner.

Gonzalez is being held in lieu of more than $2 million bail ahead of a scheduled April appearance in Pasadena Superior Court April 14, according to Los Angeles County booking records.

**********
The arrest record in this article is being redistributed by SGV CityWatch and is protected by constitutional, publishing and other legal rights. Arrest information is public record and was distributed by government sources. The person named in this article has only been arrested on suspicion of the crime(s) listed and is presumed innocent.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

MONROVIA - Officers responding to a suspicious circumstances call found a dead man Saturday night.

The body was discovered in the 100 block of West Olive Avenue. First responders were sent to the location around 10:40 p.m. February 22.

Investigators did not elaborate Sunday on how the man possibly died, or where he was specifically located. The area is mostly business with some residential properties.

Anyone with information on this incident is urged to call the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500. 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 - A juvenile theft suspect fired a weapon at a store clerk during a shoplifting caper January 31.

Officers responded to a gunfire call in the 400 block of West Foothill Boulevard around 11:17 p.m. They then learned the juvenile suspect stole merchandise from a store and was confronted by an employee.

The juvenile was chased into the parking lot by the employee. The juvenile fired a gun, but missed striking the employee, according to the Monrovia Police Department.

“A vehicle in the lot was struck, but the driver was not injured,” according to the Monrovia Police Department in a written statement.

Police did not provide a description of the suspect who fled the scene.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

MONROVIA - An alleged speeding driver ended January with a bang, reportedly crashing into a Monrovia police squad car during a winding chase through city streets.

Officers attempted to stop the alleged speeding driver, who was behind a stolen vehicle, around 11:52 p.m. January 31. Officers learned the vehicle had just been stolen from a home, according to the Monrovia Police Department.

The chase snaked through northern Monrovia.

“The suspect drove recklessly, colliding with a parked vehicle and continuing to flee. The suspect swerved toward officers and later accelerated head-on into a marked patrol vehicle with an officer inside, causing non-life-threatening injuries,” according to the Monrovia Police Department in a written statement.

Family members of the suspect reportedly physically approached him as he slowly drove by their residence in Monrovia and attempted to convince him to surrender, but he refused, according to Monrovia Police radio traffic.

At times, the suspect drove in opposing lanes, southbound in northbound lanes of Myrtle Avenue, and sometimes driving in a serpentine motion.

Sierra Madre Police assisted with successfully flattening the suspect vehicle tires. Monrovia officers were able to use their squad cars to box the suspect in, preventing him from driving any further at North Myrtle Avenue and West Hillcrest Boulevard, according to Monrovia Police radio traffic.

“The suspect continued fleeing until officers successfully disabled the vehicle. The suspect was taken into custody without further incident,” according to Monrovia Police in a written statement.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

MONROVIA - One person died after a white Chevrolet Camaro crashed into a Ford F-150 while being driven eastbound in westbound lanes of the 210 freeway early Sunday.

The crash occurred in the westbound 210 freeway HOV lane just east of Huntington Drive around 3:17 a.m. December 29. An eyewitness first reported seeing the wrong way driver near Allen Avenue in Pasadena, according to California Highway Patrol traffic logs.

The first call came in around 3:09 a.m. Roughly eight minutes later, the collision occurred.

KTLA 5 reported that the driver of the Camaro died at the scene and that two people in the SUV received undisclosed injuries.

A Sig Alert was issued for lane closures around 3:30 a.m. Lanes were reopened around 7:49 a.m.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

MONROVIA - The driver of a stolen U-Haul truck made a desperate bid for freedom December 21, reportedly taking the truck off roaring before ending up in cuffs.

The pursuit occurred in the early morning hours Sunday. The driver evaded officers up into the foothills of Monrovia, where a dead end didn’t deter him and he took the U-Haul box truck off road and into the hillside.

The driver abandoned the U-Haul, reported stolen in Alhambra, after he struck a tree and left it teetering on the edge of the hillside, according to the Monrovia Police Department.

The driver fled on foot, tumbled down the hillside and continued running on the street with squad cars following close behind. The suspect lazily jumped over a residential wall, only to tumble down a 30-foot hill.

Officers eventually found the suspect hiding near a home and, with the help of a K9, took him into custody.

Alhambra officers ended up arresting the suspect. Booking information was not readily available.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

MONROVIA - The medical examiner is determining the cause of death for a man found in a nearby shed September 19 at the scene of an arson fire.

First responders were notified of the dead body just after 10 p.m., Thursday at 534 E. Colorado Blvd. It is unclear who discovered the dead man.

The body was found roughly two days after a large fire destroyed the home.

Neighbors described the sound of an explosion at the house Tuesday, September 17. First responders were sent to douse the flames around 3:30 p.m. The fire completely destroyed the home and caused some damage to a neighboring residence.

In the hours after the fire, investigators said they were unsure of the whereabouts of at least one person described as a renter and were trying to determine if that person was safe.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

MONROVIA - A man who was shot during a disturbance Sunday evening died from his injuries, investigators said.

The shooting took place in the 700 block of Duarte Road Sunday, June 2. First responders were called around 9:23 p.m. The suspect fled before officers arrived, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau.

The victim was taken to a hospital where he died.

Homicide investigators have not revealed any additional details regarding the shooting.

The Monrovia Police Department called in a large-scale mutual aid response with assistance from Covina, Irwindale, El Monte, Arcadia, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, California Highway Patrol, air support from the Pasadena Police Department and a helicopter that serve the Glendale/Burbank police departments.

According to Monrovia Police radio traffic, a person was spotted in the nearby Santa Anita flood control channel. Sometime after 1 a.m., either a person of interest, or a prime suspect was taken into custody. He allegedly was not complying with officer’s commands and flashing grenades were used to subdue the suspect.

The person in the flood control channel surrendered and was transported to a hospital for a wound sustained to one of his legs.