Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

MONROVIA – A woman gave birth inside a vacant building early Sunday morning, police said.

Monrovia firefighters and Monrovia police officers were called to the building in the 100 block of Pomona Street around 5 a.m. April 3. When officers arrived to the scene, one officer announced that the baby was delivered, according to Monrovia Police radio traffic.

Both the mother, described as being in her 20s, and new baby were transported for treatment to Arcadia Methodist Hospital, according to Cpt. Shawn Morton of the Monrovia Fire Department.

There was at least one other person accompanying the woman in the building and was talking with fire department dispatchers, Morton told SGV CityWatch.

It was not clear to Lt. Kevin Oberon of the Monrovia Police Department if the mother or the caller were living inside the vacant building.

The conditions of the mother and baby were not immediately known.

MONROVIA – Two armed, would-be carjackers decided to flee after the homeowner decided to brandish his own weapon March 26.

The incident unfolded in the 400 block of Genoa around 10:22 p.m. The owner was working in his garage on his vehicle when a suspect approached and began conversing with him. The suspect then brandished a handgun. A second suspect appeared and also had a weapon, according to the Monrovia Police Department.

“One of the suspects asked for the keys to the vehicle and the victim stated he did not have the keys. The two suspects looked at each other and began speaking with each other. The victim went into his residence and retrieved a firearm and pointed it at the suspects,” according to the Monrovia Police Department in a written statement.

The homeowner told the suspects to leave and they did.

Monrovia officers searched for the suspects, but they were not found.

MONROVIA – Three suspects stole a gargantuan amount of cigarettes from a business before the products could even be loaded into the store, police said.

The theft took place around 10:52 a.m. in the 1600 block of South Myrtle Avenue March 24. The victim drove to the business with the cigarettes to replenish his stock. Three suspects then arrived in a vehicle, according to the Monrovia Police Department.

“Within a few seconds a vehicle drives up and three males exit and unload $5,000 worth of cigarettes from the victim's vehicle. This investigation is continuing,” according to the Monrovia Police Department in a written statement.

No suspect description was publicly provided.

MONROVIA – Authorities are investigating a death that occurred in a parking lot early Tuesday.

The person, described as an adult male, was found in the parking lot south of the Monrovia Public Library south of West Lime Avenue around 5:21 a.m. March 1. Initially, the death is described as a suicide, according to Lt. Daniel Verna of the Monrovia Police Department.

Verna said the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner was on scene as of 7:40 a.m. and the area would be opened shortly.

Written by AARON CASTREJON 
CityWatch Editor 

MONROVIA - The county coroner is determining cause of death of a female who was found outside of a vehicle parked behind a Monrovia business early Sunday morning.

Officers were called to Trader Joe’s, 604 W. Huntington Dr., around 1:18 a.m. February 27 to a report of a woman down on the ground near a vehicle behind the business, according to Lt. Daniel Verna of the Monrovia Police Department.

The Monrovia Fire Department also responded.

According to a police log, officers on scene reported vomit and feces surrounded the female. The same was found inside the open vehicle, Verna told SGV CityWatch.

“There did not appear to be any signs of foul play,” according to the police log. 

There was no information indicating the age of the female and it is not known how long the female may have been there. Although, in the police log, officers reportedly said the female was there “for a long time,” Verna told SGV CityWatch.

LOS ANGELES – A $10,000 reward is being offered for information leading to an arrest and conviction for the two gunmen who shot and killed a man in Monrovia more than one year ago.

Terry Alford, 46, was shot and killed by two gunmen who hopped a fence and snuck up from behind January 29, 2021. Alford died at the scene. The two gunmen were accompanied by two others. All four suspects remain at-large, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau.

Alford was shot and killed on the front porch of a residence in the 100 block of Los Angeles Avenue just after 5 p.m.

Previously, homicide detectives believed the shooting to be gang related.

Anyone with information on the gunmen is urged to call the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500. 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

UPDATE, 9:36 a.m.: All lanes have reopened, according to the California Highway Patrol.

​MONROVIA - At least one person was taken to a hospital after a multi-vehicle crash involving a big rig occurred Friday.

Lanes 3 through 5 of the east 210 freeway just east of Buena Vista Street will be closed for an unknown duration. The HOV lane remains open, according to the California Highway Patrol.

Officers first responded to the multi vehicle collision at 5:47 a.m. January 14 for a motorcyclist down in the slow lane. A big rig involved reportedly began catching fire as officers were dispatched and possibly one other vehicle was already fully engulfed, according to CHP traffic logs.

A motorcycle became lodged underneath the trailer the semi was hauling. Officers called for a heavy duty tow truck to lift the trailer off of the motorcycle.

The extent of injuries is not publicly clear.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

MONROVIA - Residents in the area of Ridgeside Drive and Oakglade Drive are under an evacuation warning ahead of potentially powerful storm.

“An Evacuation Warning means that there is potential threat to life and/or property, and those who require additional time to evacuate and those with pets and livestock should leave now,” according to the City of Monrovia in a written statement.

A flash flood watch was issued by the National Weather Service for areas affected by the Bobcat Fire, effective from 3 a.m. Tuesday, December 14, to 6 p.m., according to the City of Monrovia.

Cities and county authorities are preparing for possible debris flows in areas affected by recent brush fires.

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Works issued a Phase II Debris and Mudflow Forecast for the above-mentioned areas, according to the City of Monrovia.

The National Weather Service has forecast a strong storm expected to bring heavy rainfall over Monday night after 10 p.m., December 13 and through Tuesday, December 14. A wind advisory is set to begin at 12 a.m. December 14 and will last until 3 p.m.

Tuesday, rain is expected before 10 a.m. with more rain and possibly a thunderstorm lasting through the day, according to the National Weather Service.

Sandbags and gravel are available for Monrovia residents at Recreation Park, 620 S. Shamrock Ave., in the lot off East Olive Avenue. Residents must shovel their own gravel and are encouraged to bring a shovel and wear gloves and eye protection, according to the City of Monrovia.

The Hillside Wilderness Preserve and Monrovia Canyon Park will be closed until further notice, according to the City of Monrovia.

A 50 percent chance of showers is possible before 10 p.m. Tuesday.

Wednesday is expected to be mostly sunny.

MONROVIA – A motorcyclist evaded officers attempting to stop him for a traffic violation by speeding along surface streets October 12.

The suspect in a red helmet and black jacket sped from officers and ran through red lights and stop signs, sometimes traveling at speeds topping 100 miles per hour, according to the Monrovia Police Department.

The rider also used a portion of the 210 freeway to escape police.

The rider is wanted for felony evasion and reckless driving, according to the Monrovia Police Department.

Anyone who can identify the rider is urged to call the Monrovia Police Department at 626-256-8000. 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

UPDATE, 7:12 p.m.: Arson/Explosives technicians inspected the suspicious item on the L Line train and rendered it safe.

Normal train service has resumed, according to LA Metro.

MONROVIA - A suspicious item on an L Line train has forced authorities to temporarily stop service the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said Saturday.

Deputies with the Sheriff’s Transit Services Bureau were alerted to the item at 4:15 p.m. September 25. We approach the item to inspect it and deemed suspicious enough to hold train service, according to the Transit Services Bureau.

It was not immediately clear if the suspicious item was found on a northbound or southbound L Line train.

The Sheriff’s Arson/Explosives Detail was called to the scene.

The 210 freeway off ramps to Myrtle Avenue have been closed for at least the next three hours due to the investigation, according to the California Highway Patrol.

The Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation Authority announced that there is no train service between Arcadia Station and Duarte/City of Hope Station. Bus shuttles have been requested to transport passengers.