Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor MOUNTAINS - Firefighters have reassessed the burn area left behind by the fork fire that scorched wild land and steep terrain above La Verne and San Dimas. The Fork Fire has burned 301 acres and is now 70 percent contained, according to the US Forest Service. Highway 39 (San Gabriel Canyon Road) has reopened up to the Crystal Lake Campground. Both the Crystal Lake Campground and Coldbrook Campground are now open. East Fork Road remains closed from Highway 39 to Glendora Mountain Road and Glendora Ridge Road. The Fork Fire was first reported around 3:20 p.m. Friday, July 19 in the vicinity of the Bridge to Nowhere near Camp Bonita Prairie Forks Road. The fire burned chaparral in steep terrain in a north east direction towards the Sheep Mountain Wilderness area. Recreationists were evacuated shortly after the fire started, according to the U.S. Forest Service. More than 350 personnel worked to extinguish the fire, personnel from the Angeles National Forest, Los Angeles County Fire Department, Ventura County Fire Department, CalFire, the California Highway Patrol and Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor MOUNTAINS - A 48-year-old man last seen hiking July 14 was discovered dead five days later. Alexander Fernando Archila, a San Dimas man, was discovered somewhere along Bear Creek Trail, which is northwest of the San Gabriel Reservoir, in the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. The cause of death has yet to be determined. Crews focused their search in the West Fork area where Archila was last seen. He was hiking with friends when he became separated. SAN GABRIEL MOUNTAINS - Crews continue to battle the Fork Fire burning well north of San Dimas and La Verne Saturday. The fire has scorched 330 acres. The fire remains at zero percent containment, according to the US Forest Service. East Fork Road is closed at Highway 39. Glendora Mountain Road is closed at Glendora Ridge Road. Glendora Mountain Road is closed at Big Dalton Canyon Road in Glendora. Authorities have also closed off Highway 39 at Old San Gabriel Canyon Road in Azusa. The Fork Fire was first reported around 3:20 p.m. Friday, July 19 in the vicinity of the Bridge to Nowhere near Camp Bonita Prairie Forks Road. The fire is burning chaparral in steep terrain in a north east direction towards the Sheep Mountain Wilderness area. Recreationists were evacuated shortly after the fire started. Residents have not been evacuated, according to the U.S. Forest Service. More than 350 personnel are working to extinguish the fire, personnel from the Angeles National Forest, Los Angeles County Fire Department, Ventura County Fire Department, CalFire, the California Highway Patrol and Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor REGION - A man has apparently been missing for four days after last being seen in the San Gabriel Mountains. Alexander Fernando Archila, 48, was last seen around 3 p.m. July 14. Investigators did not describe exactly where in the mountains Archila was last seen. Archila stands 5 feet 8 inches tall, weighs 170 pounds, has black hair and green eyes. He was last seen wearing a purple shirt, blue jeans, black shoes, and a green cap. Anyone with information on Archila’s whereabouts is urged to call Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, Homicide Bureau Missing Persons Detail, Detective M. Perez 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 LOS ANGELES - The California Highway Patrol announced the arrest of a 32-year-old suspect, accusing him of attempted murder after an argument led to a shooting on a Foothill Transit bus Monday evening. Juan Mario Trejo, a West Covina resident, was located in Los Angeles less than 20 hours after the incident occurred. He was taken into custody and is being held in lieu of $1 million bail at the Inmate Reception Center in Los Angeles, according to the California Highway Patrol. The victim struck by gunfire was taken to Los Angeles General Medical Center to be treated for injuries considered not life-threatening. A reported argument between a suspect, another rider and the bus driver on a Foothill Transit Silver Streak bus broke out on the westbound I-10 Freeway east of Puente Avenue around 6 p.m. June 17. The suspect revealed a firearm and a physical altercation ensued. Several shots were fired, according to the CHP. The double carriage bus on the Silver Streak line was transporting 17 other passengers when the shooting occurred, according to the CHP. The driver stopped the bus on the I-10 freeway at Puente Avenue where the suspect exited and fled on foot. The shooting was investigated by the California Highway Patrol Southern Division Major Crimes detectives in conjunction with the CHP Baldwin Park Office. Trejo is scheduled for an appearance in West Covina Superior Court Thursday, June 20. ********** 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 SAN GABRIEL MOUNTAINS - A brushfire that ignited above Azusa was aggressively and quickly extinguished Sunday afternoon. The Burro Incident, named due to its proximity to the Burro Canyon Shooting Park, was held to less than 5 acres. Firefighters were dispatched around 2:16 p.m. Sunday, June 16, according to the US Forest Service. Burro Canyon is northeast of San Gabriel Canyon Road and East Fork Road. Crews on the ground and in the air from the US Forest Service and the Los Angeles County Fire Department worked to keep the fire from spreading. It is not immediately clear if firefighters have determined a cause. Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor REGION - San Bernardino County Sheriff’s detectives took three people into custody in the San Gabriel Valley May 30, accusing them of being involved in a home invasion robbery and assault in Bloomington. Two simultaneous search warrants were executed, resulting in the arrest of suspects Marcos Guerrero and Cynthia Leal at an apartment complex in Glendora. One other suspect, Elijah Gafare, was arrested in West Covina, according to the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department. Two residents in the 18000 block of Valley Boulevard in Bloomington were awaken at 3 a.m. at gunpoint by three suspects March 12. A man was pistol-whipped, while a woman was allegedly held against her will, according to the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department. The three suspects made off with about $12,500, the video surveillance hard drive and the victims’ vehicle. The male victim was able to call for help. The search warrants were served around 11:45 a.m. May 30. Guerrero, a 48-year-old Glendora resident, and Leal, a 38-year-old Ontario resident, were arrested in the 1000 block of East Foothill Boulevard in Glendora. Gafare, a 35-year-old West Covina resident, was arrested in the 700 block of South Manzanita Drive in West Covina. All three suspects were transported to and booked at the West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga. ********** 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 LOS ANGELES - The Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner confirmed that a man found dead in some spreading grounds in Irwindale was shot to death. Manuel Sepulveda Jr. was the victim of a homicide. He is listed as a transient. Irwindale police officers responded to the spreading grounds southwest of the 605 freeway and the 210 freeway around 10:30 a.m. May 26. Sepulveda, 49, was declared dead at the scene, according to the Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau. The exact circumstances surrounding the homicide are not publicly known. The California Highway Patrol intermittently shut down the transition roads from the east 210 and west 210 freeway to the southbound 605, as well as the Arrow Highway on ramp to the north 605 freeway and Mt. Olive on ramp to the southbound 605 freeway during the operation. The Azusa Police Department assisted Irwindale police with the tactical operation. SGV CityWatch readers who traversed the freeway closures witnessed police in tactical gear, guns trained on an unspecified target in a homeless encampment. Homicide investigators said a suspect remains at-large. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor LOS ANGELES - An accused rapist was identified Wednesday in the hopes that additional victims can come forward and help bring the suspect to justice.
Eduardo Sarabia, 40, was officially charged with one count of forcible rape, one count of oral copulation by force or injury, and two counts of special allegations of sex crimes with aggravated circumstances, according to Los Angeles County Superior Court data. Investigators believe sex crimes with female victims occurred on May 12 and May 13 between 9:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. A deputy patrolling Highway 39 at mile marker 21 above Azusa and Glendora came upon the van May 13. The deputy called for assistance after hearing a woman screaming inside of the van, which was parked on a turnout along the winding mountain road. A suspect, whom investigators identified as Sarabia, emerged and initially complied with the deputy’s commands. At one point, the suspect ran back into the van where the woman was still screaming. The suspect then re-emerged and complied with the deputy’s commands, according to Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department radio traffic. It took between 5 and 10 minutes until backup was able to arrive and help the deputy take the suspect into custody and clear the van of anyone inside. Based on the allegations, investigators believe there may be additional victims. Anyone who is a possible victim of the suspect, or who may have additional information that can aid the investigation is urged to call the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Special Victims Bureau toll-free tip line at 877-710-5273, or email [email protected]. Remain anonymous by calling LA Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), through the P3Tips mobile app, or lacrimestoppers.org. Sarabia is being held in lieu of $100,000 bail in the San Dimas Sheriff’s Station jail. He appeared in Pomona Superior Court May 15. He is scheduled for an arraignment and plea on June 27. ********** 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 REGION - A man described as a career criminal with a violent past was slapped with a slew of charges Wednesday in the shooting of a uniformed deputy.
Raymundo Duran, 47, was charged with one count of attempted murder on a peace officer. He also was charged with one count of using a semiautomatic weapon to assault a peace officer and being a felon in possession of a firearm, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. Statements made by Duran during interrogation, combined with surveillance video at the crime scene, witness accounts and the gun seized from his vehicle lead investigators to strongly believe he is the suspect in Monday’s shooting. Duran was detained and eventually arrested by California Highway Patrol officers who booked him on suspicion of DUI and weapons possession. He was found parked at an undisclosed location by CHP officers from the San Onofre inspection facility. A firearm was recovered from the 2008 silver four-door Toyota Camry Duran was seated in. Duran did two stints in prison: in 2019 and 2022. Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna also described his as a current gang member. Investigators do not believe that there are additional suspects involved in the shooting of Deputy Samuel Aispuro, a nearly 20-year veteran of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. The case is being filed for warrant as Duran remains in the custody of San Diego authorities, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. The DA will recommend that Duran be held without bail. If convicted as charged, he faces life in prison. |
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