BIG BUST: Los Angeles, Pasadena, Covina Men Taken Down During Burglary Ring Investigation8/29/2018 Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor REGION - Eight men linked to a local burglary crew were arrested as part of a multi-jurisdictional investigation into “knock knock” burglaries across Los Angeles and Ventura counties. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Burglary/Robbery Task Force and the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office, along with local police agencies, worked to apprehend the men who belong to Pasadena and L.A. County-based street gangs accused of committing more than 20 burglaries across the two counties.
Authorities uncovered five more individuals linked to the burglaries in Los Angeles and Ventura counties, including seven more tied to the burglary crew.
“Additional arrests are anticipated over the next few weeks as those investigations are completed,” authorities said in a written statement. The burglary crew was likely tipped off by a cable provider employee, who revealed homeowner activities, items of high value located within the homes and where residential surveillance systems were located, authorities said. Multiple search warrants were served at location in Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties August 16 and evidence was seized, including six rifles, three handguns, a large quantity of ammunition, undisclosed stolen property, 1 pound of marijuana, several hundred Xanax pills and a large quantity of U.S. currency, authorities said. Arrested and booked at the Ventura County Jail were:
Smith was wanted for a 2016 burglary in Simi Valley. Brown is on probation for drug sales. Travers is on parole for robbery. Lee is on parole for robbery. World is on probation for burglary, authorities said. Leslie Hall was arrested for being a felon in possession of firearm after investigators found two firearms and ammunition in a vehicle he owned. Leslie Hall is a convicted felon and prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition, authorities said. Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor REGION - There have yet to be any reports of moderate to heavy damage after a 4.4 magnitude hit the La Verne foothills Tuesday night.
The quake was quickly followed by a smaller 3.4 preliminary magnitude quake, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Surrounding police and fire departments conducted safety checks of critical structures within their jurisdictions and have reported no damage. Los Angeles County Firefighters report multiple small rock slides along Highway 39 above Azusa and Glendora, a likely result of the quake, causing traffic hazards for drivers. San Dimas Sheriff’s Station Captain Andy Berg was sent a message of pictures falling off a wall by a resident on the San Dimas and La Verne border, according to Sgt. Pete Shupe of the San Dimas Sheriff’s Station. Contrary to television news reports of damage in La Verne, officers report no damage was found, according to the La Verne Police Department. The 4.4 earthquake was centered at a depth of six kilometers just north of La Verne, having shook near the Sierra Madre fault, according to Lucy Jones, seismologist at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena. The San Gabriel Valley received the most intense shaking, whereas the West Side and South Bay felt it the least. Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor REGION - A moderate temblor struck Tuesday evening, rattling nerves and shaking homes across the Southland.
The earthquake was a preliminary magnitude of 4.4 centered nearly three miles north of La Verne. SGV CityWatch readers reported feeling the shaking as far east as Palm Springs and as far north as the San Fernando Valley. It is not yet clear if any damage was caused. Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor LOS ANGELES - The Azusa Man police said assaulted a victim he was not scheduled to drive appeared in court Tuesday.
Luis Geraldo Peña pleaded not guilty to one count of misdemeanor sexual battery, according to Ricardo Santiago of the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. A woman summoned an Uber ride August 23 in the 800 block of North Azusa Avenue. The vehicle that arrived did not match the description she was given, but the woman entered the vehicle anyway believing it to be a simple mistake, Azusa Police said. “Once inside the vehicle the female victim realized something was wrong when the driver began asking her inappropriate questions. The driver then reached over and began inappropriately touching the victim,” Azusa Police said in a written statement. The woman fought Peña off and called police. Peña sped off after making a u-turn. Police identified Peña as an Uber driver. He was located and arrested the following day. Peña, initially identified as Luis Gerardo Peña-Ayala is scheduled to appear in West Covina Superior Court September 26. Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor LOS ANGELES - An autopsy is still pending for a man found dead 100 feet over the side of Mt. Baldy Road Sunday.
Andre Marcel Wiggins, 23, from Upland, was identified by Sarah Ardalani, spokeswoman for the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner. Claremont Police received a 9-1-1 call transferred from the California Highway Patrol regarding the body, which was discovered around 9:48 a.m. on Mt. Baldy Road near Potato Mountain Trailhead, according to Lt. Mike Ciszek of the Claremont Police Department. A vehicle was parked near where the body was located, but Ciszek did not know if the vehicle was connected to Wiggins. It is unclear if any foul play is suspected. An autopsy is still pending, Ardalani said. Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor TRAFFIC - A Sig Alert is affecting multiple lanes neat the I-10 freeway and 605 interchange and may last until 9 p.m., the CHP said.
The Sig Alert is affecting eastbound lanes of the I-10 freeway east of the 605 and northbound lanes of the 605 freeway to the eastbound I-10, according to Officer Elizabeth Kravig of the California Highway Patrol. A big rig overturned around 4:07 p.m. and initially blocked all lanes of the eastbound I-10 just east of the 605 freeway Sunday. The CHP requested a large tow truck to upright the overturned big rig. It’s unclear if anyone was injured. Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor MONROVIA - Two women are in custody, accused of attempted murder and kidnapping after a woman was found unconscious in their vehicle.
Kyanna Patterson, 23, and Brittney Patterson, 21, were arrested after leading Chino Police officers on a pursuit Tuesday. The unidentified victim, an acquaintance of the suspects, reported got into a disagreement with both women, causing them to attack her, police said. Officers were called to a report of a woman in distress and calling for help in a vehicle in a Circle K lot, 12895 Mountain Ave., at 7:22 a.m. Tuesday. Officers located the suspects’ silver Kia Sonata on Benson Avenue, but the suspects refused to stop and sped away. The Sonata crashed into two vehicles at the intersection of Riverside Drive and 10th Street. Officers discovered the 28-year-old victim unconscious in a rear passenger seat, a cord around her neck, Ontario Police said. The victim was hospitalized in stable condition. The women were en route to Indio from Los Angeles when the attack occurred, Ontario Police said. Both suspects were booked on suspicion of attempted murder at the West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga. Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor LOS ANGELES - The suspect accused of brandishing replica weapons and threatening a group of runners last November spent time behind bars.
Joseph Key Fierro, 52, pleaded no contest to one count of criminal threats in January. Fierro was sentenced to 180 days in jail and was placed on formal probation for five years, according to Greg Risling of the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. Fierro drove up to a group of runners prepping for the Revel Canyon City Marathon at Citrus and Alosta avenues around 4:45 a.m. November 17, 2017. He aimed a rifle at the runners while circling them in his truck. Fierro then exited his vehicle and pointed the rifle at the group of 10 to 15 runners and made threats, according to the Azusa Police Department. Fierro fled in his truck. Azusa Police, aided by multiple other law enforcement agencies providing mutual aid at the race, quickly developed information and led to Fierro’s Rancho Cucamonga home. Fierro was safely detained near his truck. A cache of replica weapons was recovered. Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor MOUNTAINS - Coroner officials are working to identify a man found dead along Angeles Crest Highway Monday afternoon.
Hikers reportedly discovered the body near mile marker 61 around 1 p.m. August 20. The body was found near a truck registered to a man missing from Arcadia, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Crescenta Valley Station. The truck’s registered owner was listed as missing since August 12. Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor LOS ANGELES - A Santa Ana man was reportedly kidnapped last month in San Gabriel and the FBI is looking for him and his captors.
“Tony” Rouchen Liao, 28, was abducted by three men who fled with their victim in a dark-colored Toyota Sienna minivan July 16. The minivan was followed by two suspects in a Range Rover SUV. The captors demanded $2 million for Liao’s exchange, according to the FBI Los Angeles Field Office. The kidnapping occurred around 7:30 p.m. at San Gabriel Square, 140 W. Valley Blvd., potentially being coaxed to the area on the premise of conducted a business deal, the FBI said. Liao, a Santa Ana resident and Chinese national, works at a Costa Mesa luxury car dealership. FBI agents believe Liao is unharmed and may know his general location. One of the three suspects was seen by witnesses to the kidnapping and was referred to as “David,” the FBI said. An attorney for the Liao family has offered a $150,000 reward for information leading to Liao’s safe return, on top of a $25,000 reward offered by the FBI. The relationship between Liao and his captors is unknown. Liao is 5 feet 6 inches tall, has black hair, and weighs 130 pounds. Suspect “David” is Chinese, 35 to 40 years old, is 6 feet tall and speaks Mandarin. Anyone with information on Liao’s whereabouts is urged to call the FBI Los Angeles Field Office at 310-477-6565. Anonymous tips can be sent to tips.fbi.gov Information can also be provided at the nearest American Embassy or Consulate. |
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