Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor REGION - An internal Montebello Police investigation is underway after one of the department’s lieutenants crashed while allegedly driving under the influence in Montclair. Christopher Cervantes, 47, reportedly crashed into the rear of another vehicle August 21 at San Bernardino Street an Monte Vista Avenue around 8:10 a.m., according to the Montclair Police Department. No one was injured. The lieutenant was placed on administrative leave. Cervantes, who is no stranger to run-ins with law enforcement, was booked on suspicion of driving under the influence of drugs. He was released later that Wednesday.
In 2015, Cervantes was investigated for crashing into a tree in Diamond Bar. An investigation revealed acetaminophen/butalbital/codeine and morphine in his system. Cervantes reportedly had valid reasons for the prescriptions. The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office declined to file charges in the Diamond Bar crash, later stating that the office lacked the expertise to prosecute the specifics of the case. Cervantes was arrested by San Diego Police, accused of public drunkenness and resisting arrest in 2011. The incident resulted in Cervantes not being charged. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor MONTEBELLO - Two Montebello men and a man from Commerce were arrested August 12 and 13 after a lengthy investigation identified them as suspects in the theft of a police SUV. The suspects were identified by detectives and were believed to possess stolen police weapons and other equipment. Montebello men Hunter Crist, 21, Eddy Saldivar, 22, and Commerce man Matthew Moran, 21, were booked on suspicion of grand theft auto and possession of stolen property. Each man allegedly had police-type equipment installed in their personal vehicles, including property stripped from the stolen police SUV, Montebello Police said. The investigation took a leap forward June 18 after detectives received a tip to the location of the Montebello police SUV. It was found dumped over an access road from Angeles Crest Highway in an area not visible from the road, Montebello police said. “The vehicle was stripped of various vehicle parts and police equipment. A portion of the police rifle that was taken with the vehicle was recovered with the vehicle. The vehicle was badly damaged as a result of being pushed over the embankment,” Montebello Police said in a written statement. Search warrants were obtained for the suspects’ homes and vehicles. Wit the help of the Task Force for Regional Auto Theft and Prevention and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, detectives recovered a stolen Montebello Police Remington shotgun, the red and blue lightbar and parts of a rifle believed to be stolen from the SUV, Montebello Police said. Also found was one radio taken from a decommissioned Montebello Unified School District Police vehicle. It was one of approximately $26,000 in police radios stolen from other district police vehicles February 2019, Montebello Police said. The Montebello Police SUV was taken from the parking lot of the Montebello Police Station May 17. The SUV was caught on camera as it was driven away, but a suspect could not be identified at the time. Crist posted bail August 13, according to Los Angeles County booking records. Saldivar is being held in lieu of $25,000 bail ahead of a scheduled August 15 court appearance. Moran is also being held in lieu of $25,000 bail ahead of a scheduled August 14 court appearance. PHOTOS/Courtesy of Montebello Police. The Suspect Had Other Stolen Police Items. CLICK TO READ MORE Search warrants were obtained for the suspects’ homes and vehicles.
Wit the help of the Task Force for Regional Auto Theft and Prevention and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, detectives recovered a stolen Montebello Police Remington shotgun, the red and blue lightbar and parts of a rifle believed to be stolen from the SUV, Montebello Police said. Also found was one radio taken from a decommissioned Montebello Unified School District Police vehicle. It was one of approximately $26,000 in police radios stolen from other district police vehicles February 2019, Montebello Police said. The Montebello Police SUV was taken from the parking lot of the Montebello Police Station May 17. The SUV was caught on camera as it was driven away, but a suspect could not be identified at the time. Crist posted bail August 13, according to Los Angeles County booking records. Saldivar is being held in lieu of $25,000 bail ahead of a scheduled August 15 court appearance. Moran is also being held in lieu of $25,000 bail ahead of a scheduled August 14 court appearance. |
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