Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor
WHITTIER - A suspect clad in a hoodie and carrying a semi-automatic handgun robbed a Chevron Gas Station April 7.
The robbery occurred at the gas station, 15735 Leffingwell Road, around 10:30 p.m. The suspect threatened the clerk with the handgun, but the clerk picked up a stick or pipe and tried to scare off the robber. The clerk then laid down the improvised weapon and is seen complying with the robber. It is unclear if the suspect fled with any cash or merchandise. Anyone who may recognize the suspect or have any information regarding this robbery is urged to call Detective Junge at 562-567-9291, or call the Whittier Police crime tip line at 562-567-9299. Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor LOS ANGELES - A man convicted of seven felony counts, including first-degree murder, was sentenced to 91 years and eight months to life in prison for fatally shooting a man two years ago in Duarte.
Luis Santillan Valdes, 42, was convicted of first-degree murder, attempted murder, fleeing a pursuing peace officer’s motor vehicle while driving and four counts of assault with a firearm, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. Jurors also found true special allegations that the defendant personally and intentionally discharged a firearm, which caused great bodily injury and death during the crime, the DA’s office said. Victim Gabriel De La Torre invited Valdes and two other men to his house August 19, 2016 for a night of drinking. At some point during the night, Valdes became offended by a remark and became angry when the group continued laughing at him, said Prosecutor and Deputy District Attorney Vanessa Alfaro. Valdes left and returned with a handgun, which he used to fatally shoot De La Torre, 32. Valdes turned the gun at the two other men, firing at one of them. As Valdes left to the front of the home, he pointed the gun at three other people, Alfaro said. De La Torre’s family called 9-1-1 and provided deputies a description of Valdes’ vehicle, which deputies were able to intercept. Valdes refused to stop and fled west on the 210 freeway before he surrendered on the Azusa Avenue off ramp. Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor REGION - The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office may soon file charges against the Glendale pastor accused of sexually assaulting a preteen girl in a Covina motel.
Douglas Rivera, 40, posted bond after turning himself in at the Covina Police Department February 11. Since Rivera bonded out of jail, the DA’s office was able take more time in filing the case ahead of his scheduled appearance in court April 18, according to Sarah Ardalani of the DA's office. Rivera bonded out of jail, mere hours after surrendering himself February 11. Covina detectives were asked to perform some follow-up investigation before presenting the case to the DA’s office, according to Lt. Ric Walczak of the Covina Police Department. The case was presented to the DA's office in March, Walczak said. Lengthy case filings are a very typical scenario when a suspect bonds out of jail, Walczak said. Rivera, the pastor of a Glendale church, was booked on suspicion of indecent exposure with a prior, oral copulation and burglary after he forced his way into a room where two Chinese preteen girls were staying at the Vanllee Hotel and Suites, 1211 E. Gavey Ave. February 7. The girls were here as part of a school trip from China. Rivera allegedly drove up to the girls’ room around 10:08 p.m., peered through the open drapes from his truck and masturbated, according to Covina Police. Rivera then exited his truck, stood outside the room and pretended to talk on his cellphone for 30 minutes. Rivera allegedly forced his way in when the girls opened the door thinking he was their chaperone, Covina Police said. Surveillance pictures of Rivera and his dark-colored Dodge Ram 4500 truck were shared publicly, helping Covina detectives to quickly identify the Baldwin Park resident after a plethora of tips were phoned in to Covina Police. Covina detectives served a search warrant at Rivera’s home and located the truck parked there two days after the assault occurred. The Dodge Ram 4500 was coated with a truck bed liner spray in an attempt to alter its appearance, Covina Police said. Rivera spent four days on the lam and recorded a video professing his innocence before finally turning himself in. Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor REGION – A woman was arrested by Baldwin Park CHP officers after stealing a Los Angeles Fire Department paramedic ambulance and evading authorities on SoCal freeways Tuesday morning.
The unidentified woman stole the ambulance as it sat vacant outside California Hospital Medical Center in Downtown Los Angeles around 12:31 a.m. The woman led the LAPD and CHP on a pursuit, which travelled along the 60 freeway in the San Gabriel Valley until she was taken into custody along the 71 freeway near Central Avenue and Soquel Canyon Road. A Los Angeles city paramedic crew had just dropped off a seriously-ill patient to the hospital, 1338 S. Hope St. The suspect, a Black woman, then took the 2008 Ford E-Series ambulance, according to Brian Humphrey of the Los Angeles Fire Department. CHP officers took over the pursuit on the eastbound 60 freeway at Santa Anita Avenue around 12:47 p.m. according to Officer Tony Polizzi of the California Highway Patrol. The pursuit ended around 1:16 a.m. on the right shoulder of the 71 freeway near Soquel Canyon Road after the suspect stopped and surrendered. The paramedic ambulance appears to have not sustained damage, Humphrey said. Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor REGION - A motorcyclist from Hacienda Heights was identified as the man who died after striking a minivan March 30.
Roy Anthony Trent, 47, died at the intersection of Hacienda Boulevard and Del Prado Drive when he struck a Toyota Sienna minivan driven by a 37-year-old woman from San Gabriel. Trent was identified by Inspector Rudy Molano of the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner. The collision occurred around 2:15 p.m. Friday. The driver of a Toyota Sienna minivan was turning east onto Del Prado Drive from southbound Hacienda Boulevard. Trent was driving northbound on Hacienda in the No. 2 lane when the crash occurred. The minivan’s driver, a San Gabriel woman, was uninjured. Alcohol and drugs do not appear to be a factor in the crash, the CHP said. |
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