 Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor LOS ANGELES - The cause of death for a 26-year-old man discovered in a burned apartment unit October 24 has been deferred, coroner officials said. Alberto Panganiban, an Azusa man, was identified by the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner, which issued the same deferred findings as with Alberto’s 63-year-old father, Angelito. Both men were discovered after a fire burned in their apartment unit at 877 W. Thirteenth St. The fire, dispatched to firefighters at 9:12 p.m., was extinguished at 9:46 p.m.
The fire’s cause has not been publicly shared. Additional investigation is needed to determine the death of both men, coroner officials stated.  Google Maps. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor LOS ANGELES - A coroner investigator named a 63-year-old man found dead amongst the rubble of a burned apartment unit. Angelito Panganiban of Azusa was named by Investigator Kristy McCracken of the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner. Panganiban’s cause of death was deferred, pending additional investigation, according to coroner exam records. Panganiban and his son were found after firefighters extinguished an apartment fire October 24 at 877 W. Thirteenth St. Firefighters were dispatched at 9:12 p.m. and extinguished the flames at 9:46 p.m.
The fire’s cause is either unknown or has not been publicly disclosed.  Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor REGION - The U.S. Forest Service announced that several locations in the San Gabriel Mountains will remain closed until red flag conditions cease. The Switzer Picnic area, Millard Campground, Chantry Flats, Glendora Mountain and Glendora Ridge Roads are the affected areas, according to the U.S. Forest Service. The National Weather Service stated that the Red Flag warning issued October 27 at 6 p.m. is slated to end at 6 p.m. Monday, October 28. The warning affects the San Gabriel Valley, Los Angeles coasts, Ventura County coasts and the Santa Monica Mountains due to gusty Santa Ana winds and low humidity.
Wind gusts of 50 to 60 miles per hour were scheduled overnight into Monday for Los Angeles County mountains. Peak winds between 40 to 50 miles per hour were forecast for other wind-prone areas, the NWS said. Meteorologists believe a stronger Santa Ana wind event may blow across Los Angeles and Ventura County mountains Tuesday night through and into Thursday. A fire weather watch was issued for this potentially stronger wind event, the NWS said.  Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor MOUNTAINS - A one-quarter-acre brush fire is burning in the mountains north of Glendora. The fire was reported just after 2 p.m. along Highway 39 near mile marker 29.36, just north of the Bichota Canyon Trail. The U.S. Forest Service is sending a full brush fire response. The fire is burning in light to medium brush. It is unclear how the fire ignite, but within the last hour, firefighters responded to two calls of a vehicle that crashed in the nearby vicinity. A vehicle crashed around 1:22 p.m. near Crustal Lake Road.  Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor REGION - The man accused of capital murder in the slaying of his estranged girlfriend entered a plea October 10. Robert Anthony Camou, 27, pleaded not guilty in the death of Amanda Custer, 31, who disappeared July 29. She was last seen being placed in the rear hatch of a Toyota Prius outside a Monrovia home. Blood was found inside the home. Custer has not been seen or heard from since. Camou faces a count of murder with a special circumstance allegation of killing a witness and an allegation that he was out on bail when he committed the crime. He is also charged with one felony count each of first-degree burglary, person present; injuring a girlfriend; and assault by means of force likely to produce great bodily injury. The charges also include one misdemeanor count of battery, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.
Deputy District Attorney Melanie Drew alleges while Camou was out on bail for a previous assault, Camou killed Custer on or around July 29. Camou was out on bail connected to an April 22 assault in which Camou allegedly battered his girlfriend, strangled her and threatened her with a stun gun, Drew said. Custer fled to a nearby home where Camou chased her into and battered a male resident who tried to stop him. If convicted as charged, Camou faces life in prison without parole or death.  Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor LOS ANGELES - Homicide detectives are again asking for public assistance in identifying the gunman who killed an 18-year-old in a friend’s garage. Oscar Garcia, 18, was shot and killed in a garage in the 100 block of West Cypress Street April 22, 2017 by a still-unidentified shooter. A 17-year-old boy was also hit by gunfire, but survived. A teen girl escaped injury. The gunman is a Hispanic male 20 to 25 years, stands 6 feet tall, has a medium build, light skin, has black hair and brown eyes. A $20,000 rewards is offered to anyone who provides information leading to the arrest and conviction of the suspect. The three teens were in a detached garage when the gunman approached and stood at the doorway and pointed a gun at the teens. There was a brief verbal exchange and gunfire erupted.
The shooting was reportedly unprovoked. Anyone with information on the gunman is urged to call the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500. Information can be provided anonymously by calling L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).  Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor REGION - With low humidity and predicted strong winds forecast for the next few days, authorities have closed portions of local mountain areas.
The gates to Chantry Flats and Bailey Canyon Park were closed Wednesday night at 8 p.m. and are not scheduled to reopen until Saturday, October 12 at 6 a.m. Glendora Mountain Road and Glendora Ridge Road, which closed at 3 p.m. Wednesday, are scheduled to reopen October 12 at 10 a.m. The National Weather Service issued a red flag warning for the majority of Los Angeles and Ventura counties from 3 a.m. Thursday to 6 p.m. Friday. Critical fire weather conditions will plague the area with humidity in the 3 to 10 percent range and wind gusts from 45 to 55 miles per hour in the valleys and coastal areas, according to the National Weather Service. There is the potential for rapid fire growth and extreme fire behavior, the NWS said. Affected Areas Will Be Closed Until Saturday Morning. CLICK TO READ MORE  Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor LOS ANGELES - The 29-year-old woman accused of molesting a 16-year-old boy beginning three years ago pleaded no contest October 2. Jessica Marie Esparza was sentenced to five years probation and one year in county jail after pleading no contest to unlawful sexual intercourse and oral copulation with a person under 18, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. Esparza was credited with 300 days served while in custody. Esparza is originally charged with one count each of unlawful sexual intercourse, sodomy of a person under 18, sexual penetration of a person under 18 and two counts of oral copulation with a person under 18, authorities said.
The alleged acts are believed to have occurred from March 2016 to October 2017. Esparza was a part-time Azusa Unified staff member and served as an assistant baseball coach. Administrators were made aware of the allegations Friday, May 3. They then notified Azusa Police officers around 2:20 p.m. the same day.  Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor LOS ANGELES - The 27-year-old man caught on security camera allegedly assaulting his estranged girlfriend was officially charged Wednesday. Robert Michael Mendez was charged with one count felony each of criminal threats, kidnapping and three counts of injuring a spouse or girlfriend, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. The charges filed include a special circumstance allegation that Mendez inflicted great bodily harm during domestic violence. Arcadia Police believe the assault on camera occurred Sunday September 29. Officers were sent a link of the assault around 2 p.m. September 30. The video was believed to have taken place in the area of Santa Anita Avenue and Camino Real. Detectives canvassed the area and narrowed the location to the 1500 block of South Santa Anita where the woman and suspect were found, Arcadia Police said.
The victim was hospitalized for her injuries. Mendez was found and arrested within the home in the 1500 block of South Santa Anita Avenue and arrested, Arcadia Police said. “Investigation also revealed that the female victim had been held against her will inside the residence since late last evening,” Arcadia Police said. Mendez was ordered to be held in jail in lieu of $330,000 bail ahead of a scheduled appearance in Pasadena Superior Court October 9.  Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor REGION - The man found guilty of murdering a husband and wife during a burglary in the La Verne foothills was sentenced recently. Luke Fabela, 27, was sentenced to life in prison September 27 without the possibility of parole for the 2014 killing of Shirley Isom, 75, and her husband Armie Isom, 89. In May, jurors found Fabela guilty of two counts of first-degree murder and two counts of first-degree residential burglary. They also found true the special circumstance allegations of multiple murders and murder during the commission of a burglary, according to Greg Risling, assistant chief for the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.
The Isoms were killed in their La Verne foothills home on Roughrider Road December 26, 2014. Both died from blunt force trauma. Shirley Isom additionally suffered sharp force trauma. Fabela also stole a cell phone from the home, prosecutors said. DNA evidence tied Favela to the scene. |
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