Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor REGION - County officials have ordered a curfew across Los Angeles County effective at 6 p.m. May 31.
The curfew will end at 6 a.m. Monday, June 1. Residents are asked to stay home and only to venture out to seek medical care, or to venture to an essential job, according to Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn. The curfew affects all incorporated and unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County. Foothill Transit services will end at 5:30 p.m. Sunday afternoon and resume operation at 7 a.m. Monday, according to Foothill Transit officials. After receiving very negative feedback on the hasty closure of late-night bus service in Los Angeles May 30, LA Metro will run regular its Sunday schedule until close of service at midnight, according to the Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation Authority. For light rail service, LA Metro A Line (Blue) service will run between Del Amo and Grand/LA Trade Tech College with no service to Downtown Long Beach or Downtown Los Angeles. The E Line (Expo) will run between 26th Street/Bergamot and LA Trade Tech College/Ortho with no service to Downtown Santa Monica and Downtown Los Angeles. For the B Line and D Line (Red and Purple Line) trains skip Civic Center/Grand Park, Pershing Square and 7th/Metro. Sunday brought chaos and looting nearly on par with Saturday night’s events. Roving bands of looters have continued to attack stores in Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica and more. Looters were seen fleeing with bags and boxes of merchandise into waiting high-end sports cars and luxury cars. Santa Monica Place and Third Street Promenade were particularly hit hard. Some looters continue to torch businesses once broken into. Protests over the May 25 killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota have devolved into looting, assault and outright destruction. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor POMONA - City councilmember Rubio Ramiro Gonzalez was arrested Thursday on accusations of child annoyance or molestation and possession of child porn, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.
Gonzalez, the 45-year-old who has served the city as District 1 councilmember since his election in 2016, was arrested at 11 a.m. May 21. He was booked at the San Dimas Sheriff’s Station and held in lieu of $100,000 bail until posting bond, according to Los Angeles County booking records. The County DA was the arresting agency, according to Los Angeles County booking records. Charges have yet to be filed against Gonzalez, according to DA spokesman Greg Risling in a Los Angeles Times interview. According to Gonzalez’s city council bio, he is completing a teacher credential program and Master’s in Education at the University of La Verne. While earning his Bachelor of Arts in English at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, Gonzalez worked as a Pomona Unified School District tutor. He reportedly was still employed at Pomona Unified at the time of his arrest. Gonzalez has also worked for the Los Angeles Unified School District, Chaffey Joint Unified School District, Montebello Unified School District, El Monte Union High School District, School of Arts and Enterprise in Pomona and districts in Texas. Gonzalez has also served community organizations, such as the Pony United Baseball League, Ganesha High School Site Council and Arroyo Elementary School Site Council. Gonzalez is scheduled to appear in Los Angeles Municipal Court May 26. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor REGION - A man was rescued in April, but two others weren’t so lucky in a kidnapping and ransom plot involving a former Colton resident and her boyfriend. Leslie Briana Matla, 20, and Juan Carlos Montoya Sanchez, 25, were arrested last week on a federal criminal complaint alleging the couple collected ransom money in a kidnapping conspiracy where US citizens were held captive in Mexico, according to the Justice Department. The criminal complaint charges Matla and Sanchez with one count of money laundering and conspiracy. On March 28, April 13 and April 22, three men – residents of San Diego, Norwalk and Pasadena – were kidnapped in Tijuana while on business or visiting family. A suspect using a Mexican telephone number called the victims’ families and were told to deposit ransom money at a specific location, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Matla, a current Mexican resident, Would venture into the US to pick up ransom payments placed by the kidnapped victims’ family members at locations chosen by her co-conspirators, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said. Mexican authorities found the San Diego victim’s body March 29 after the victim’s adult son placed a bag containing $25,000 inside the women’s restroom of a McDonald’s restaurant in San Ysidro, The U.S. Attorney’s Office said. The Norwalk victim’s body was found in Mexico April 14 after the victim’s family tried, but failed to pay a $25,000 ransom to a woman whom law enforcement believes was Matla, at a Lowe’s parking lot in Norwalk, according to court documents. A Pasadena woman alerted authorities April 22 that her family member was being held captive in Mexico and that a suspect demanded a ransom of $20,000 be left in a Food 4 Less parking lot in Lynnwood. A pregnant woman was to pick up the cash.
The relative of the Pasadena woman was rescued that day from a Tijuana hotel - the same hotel where the two other victims met their fate, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said. Cell phone records helped authorities to discover that all three victims have been held at the same motel. Nine suspects were arrested at the hotel. US border crossing records, surveillance footage from the ransom drop off points and social media messages helped identify Matla. Sanchez also received Wire transfers from two of the kidnapping victims, according US Attorney’s Office said. Both suspects face a possible maximum sentence of life in prison if convicted as charged. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor MOUNTAINS - Three men in their mid-20s emerged safe May 17 after spending the night stranded in the San Gabriel Mountains, a Sheriff’s sergeant said. The three men set out for a day hike Saturday around 10:30 a.m. in the area of Islip Saddle near Angeles Crest Highway and Highway 39. One of the men was able to make a cell phone call to a family member at 9:30 p.m. to say they were lost, according to Sgt. Pete Shupe of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s San Dimas Station. Around 1 a.m. Sunday, deputies were notified of the stranded hikers.
The Sierra Madre Search and Rescue Team and San Dimas Mountain Rescue Team responded to search for the men, Shupe said. Along with a Sheriff’s rescue helicopter, deputies were prepared to search when the three hikers emerged on their own near Islip Saddle around 7:40 a.m., Shupe said. One of the hiker suffered a sprained ankle overnight, but walked out on his own Sunday, according to Sheriff’s radio traffic. The three hikers drove back down on their own, Shupe said. The Men Did Not Need Medical Assistance. CLICK TO READ MORE Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor RANCHO CUCAMONGA - Vehicles were shot at, crashed into, one person was shot and two people were stabbed by a man who slashed at a deputy with a knife during an attack May 13.
Deputies accuse 46-year-old Sergio Rodriguez of attempted murder with a knife, attempted murder with a firearm, assault with a deadly weapon while using a knife, assault with a deadly weapon while using a firearm, carjacking and possession of a controlled substance. Nine victims were identified, the Rancho Cucamonga Sheriff’s Station said in a written statement. Rancho Cucamonga deputies responded to the area of Milliken Avenue and the 210 freeway at 1:17 a.m. Wednesday to a report of someone who shot at a vehicle, damaging one of the tires. The suspect fled in a red 1993 Honda Accord southbound on Milliken Avenue until he crashed into an occupied vehicle at Milliken and baseline Road. The suspect is accused of attempting to carjack the victim after the latter pulled over in the wake of the crash. Rodriguez allegedly stabbed the victim multiple times, the Rancho Cucamonga Sheriff’s Station said in a written statement. The suspect fled again in the Honda Accord, drove into an apartment complex where he rammed another vehicle as the driver waited for a security gate to open. The suspect walked to the damaged vehicle, opened the driver side door and stabbed the driver several times, the Rancho Cucamonga Sheriff’s Station said. The suspect fled to Milliken and Foothill Boulevard where deputies located the suspect, identified as Rodriguez, as he attempted to abandon his Honda Accord. “Deputies saw Rodriguez and attempted to detain him. He was uncooperative and slashed at a deputy with a box cutter, striking him in the abdominal and groin area. The box cutter did not penetrate the deputy’s vest but sliced his uniform shirt and pants,” according to the Rancho Cucamonga Sheriff’s Station in a written statement. Detectives soon learned that Rodriguez is connected to multiple other shooting incidents along the 210 freeway, with one victim receiving a gunshot wound to the leg. Rodriguez is being held in lieu of $4 million bail at the West Valley Detention Center. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor REGION - A Monterey Park man was official charged May 7 with one count of murder in the stabbing death of his mother. 34-year-old Alexander Joshua Escobar is accused of stabbing to death 65-year-old Josephine Reyes, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. The murder count includes an allegation of using a knife, according to Deputy District Attorney Melanie Buccat. Escobar is accused of stabbing his mother multiple times in the home they shared in the 1700 block of Alisar Avenue May 5.
Escobar allegedly called police and admitted to dealing the fatal blows. Monterey Park Police officers found the suspect with his hands up. He was detained without incident, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau. “When officers entered the residence, they found a female Hispanic in her 60’s with multiple stab wounds to the upper torso. She was pronounced dead at the scene,” Sheriff’s investigators said. Two knives were recovered at the scene. Bail is set at more than $2 million. If convicted as charged, the defendant faces a possible maximum sentence of 26 years to life in state prison, the county DA said. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor REGION - A man accused of setting arson fires in around Azusa and Covina pleaded not guilty Thursday. Jose Javier Salgado, 39, faces 12 counts of arson during a state of emergency, nine counts of arson of property and three counts of arson of a structure or forest, according to Ricardo Santiago of the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. Santiago was arraigned Thursday. Prosecutor Arthur Leahy of the DA’s Arson Explosives Section said Santiago set nine fires April 4 and set three more April 15 near mini-malls in and around the border between Azusa and Covina. Three fires burned roughly within an hour of each other late April 15, a Los Angeles County Fire Department dispatch supervisor said.
A particularly large fire was set behind the Covina Walmart Supercenter, 1275 N. Azusa Ave., at 10:36 p.m. April 15. Firefighters finally knocked down the blaze at 11 p.m., according to Los Angeles County Fire Department Dispatch Supervisor Michael Pittman. The fire destroyed pallets, a forklift and forced people to evacuate the store. Bail is set at $4.87 million. Salgado faces a possible maximum sentence of 27 years in state prison if convicted as charged, Santiago said. Glendora, El Monte, Rosemead, Altadena Elder Care Facilities among Those Affected by COVID-195/6/2020 Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor REGION - County health officials have added two Glendora elder care facilities to the slowly-expanding list of institutional settings affected by COVID-19. Arbor Glen Care Center, 1033 E. Arrow Hwy., and Glendora Grand, 805 W. Arrow Hwy., We’re both identified by the Los Angeles County Health Department. Arbor Glen Care Center has three staff members and seven residents confirmed to be suffering from COVID-19. Glendora Grand has one staff member and one resident each suffering from the illness, county health officials said. Also affected are Elmcrest Care Center, Ramona Nursing and Rehabilitation Center and Idle Acre Sanitarium & Convalescent Hospital in El Monte; Green Acres Healthcare Center in Rosemead; Landmark Medical Center in Pomona; and Monte Cedro Retirement Comm in Altadena. County health officials are hopeful that a noticeable trend in decreasing hospitalizations is a sign of a flattening curve.
The County has had four straight days of decreasing hospitalizations involving COVID-19, according to County Health Director Barbara Ferrer. A backlog of tests from the weekend contributed to the 1,638 confirmed cases reported Monday, County health officials said. There are 27,866 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Los Angeles County and 1,315 deaths. Nearly half of all deaths have occurred in institutional settings. Investigations at 19 other institutional settings have closed due to no new cases being reported in the last two weeks. California Governor Gavin Newsom announced plans to slowly reopen some businesses Friday as part of a gradual release of safer-at-home restrictions. Some retail businesses may be allowed to reopen, but restricted to possible curbside pickup. INSTITUTIONAL SETTINGS AFFECTED Alhambra Healthcare and Wellness Centre, LP - Alhambra Confirmed Staff: 3 Confirmed Residents: 2 Total Deaths: 0 Arbor Glen Care Center - Glendora Confirmed Staff: 3 Confirmed Residents: 7 Total Deaths: 0 Arcadia Gardens Retirement Hotel - Arcadia Confirmed Staff: 2 Confirmed Residents: 1 Total Deaths: 0 Baldwin Gardens Nursing Center - Temple City Confirmed Staff: 4 Confirmed Residents: 5 Total Deaths: 0 Community Care Center Incorporated, Inc. - Duarte Confirmed Staff: 0 Confirmed Residents: 1 Total Deaths: 0 Covina Rehabilitation Center - Covina Confirmed Staff: 20 Confirmed Residents: 16 Total Deaths: 3 Elmcrest Care Center – El Monte Confirmed Staff: 1 Confirmed Residents: 1 Total Deaths: 0 Glendora Grand Convalescent Hospital - Glendora Confirmed Staff: 1 Confirmed Residents: 1 Total Deaths: 0 Green Acres Healthcare Center - Rosemead Confirmed Staff: 4 Confirmed Residents: 1 Total Deaths: 0 Idle Acre Sanitarium & Convalescent Hospital – El Monte Confirmed Staff: 3 Confirmed Residents: 10 Total Deaths: 0 La Crescenta Healthcare Center - La Crescenta Confirmed Staff: 10 Confirmed Residents: 4 Total Deaths: 1 Landmark Medical Center - Pomona Confirmed Staff: 1 Confirmed Residents: 3 Total Deaths: 0 Monrovia Gardens Healthcare Center - Monrovia Confirmed Staff: 15 Confirmed Residents: 14 Total Deaths: 1 Monte Vista Healthcare Center - Duarte Confirmed Staff: 22 Confirmed Residents: 39 Total Deaths: 6 Montebello Care Center - Montebello Confirmed Staff: 0 Confirmed Residents: 4 Total Deaths: 1 Monte Cedro Retirement Comm - Altadena Confirmed Staff: 2 Confirmed Residents: 1 Total Deaths: 1 Pasadena Park Healthcare and Wellness Center - Pasadena Confirmed Staff: 4 Confirmed Residents: 6 Total Deaths: 0 Ramona Nursing and Rehabilitation Center - El Monte Confirmed Staff: 0 Confirmed Residents: 2 Total Deaths: 0 Rio Hondo Subacute and Nursing Center - Montebello Confirmed Staff: 15 Confirmed Residents: 15 Total Deaths: 2 Santa Teresita Manor - Duarte Confirmed Staff: 12 Confirmed Residents: 16 Total Deaths: 1 Santa Anita Convalescent Hospital - Temple City Confirmed Staff: 15 Confirmed Residents: 30 Total Deaths: 7 South Pasadena Care Center - South Pasadena Confirmed Staff: 28 Confirmed Residents: 78 Total Deaths: 11 |
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