Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor REGION - A father and his young boys who spent the night in the San Gabriel Mountains after failing to return from a hike were found safe and unharmed Sunday morning.
The three hikers were found in the area of Allison Mine, several miles off a nearby trail. The three were located around 9:20 a.m. Sunday, were hoisted out by a Los Angeles county sheriffs helicopter and were taken to a command post where they have since been reunited with their family, according to Lieutenant Ed Mackenzie of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s San Dimas Station. The father and his 12 and 13-year-old sons required no medical attention, McKenzie said. Allison Mine was apparently the hikers’ intended destination. Mackenzie was unclear of the exact circumstances of how the hikers were found and what they did to stave off the cold. Industry Sheriff’s Station deputies were called by a family member around 11 p.m. Saturday, November 23, when the father and his children failed to return from a hike. Search and rescue teams began looking for the hikers Saturday night but the severe lack of light prevented them from being found. A Los Angeles County Fire Department helicopter arrived to the scene just after first light to help with a search. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor REGION - The search continues Sunday morning for a missing father and his 12-and-13-year-old sons who failed to return from a day hike in the mountains above Azusa and the Glendora.
About 12 members of the San Dimas Mountain Rescue Team are being joined by the Montrose Search and Rescue Team and Santa Clarita Valley Search and Rescue Team area in hopes of finding the father and his children according to Lt. Ed Mackenzie of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s San Dimas Station. Industry Sheriff’s Station deputies were called by a family member around 11 p.m. Saturday, November 23, when the father and his children failed to return from a hike. The father’s vehicle was found parked in the East Fork area of the San Gabriel Mountains. Searchers are concentrating in the Heaton Flats area by the Bridge to Nowhere, Mackenzie told SGV CityWatch. “It’s supposed to be a day hike. Apparently the father is an experienced hiker and is familiar with the area, according to family members,” Mackenzie said. In addition to the cold, searchers are wading through very thick, overgrown brush and rugged terrain, Mackenzie said. A Los Angeles County Fire Department helicopter assistant early Sunday with a search at first light, but has since departed to refuel, according to Sheriff’s radio traffic. The Father and His Sons Were Missing Since Saturday. CLICK TO READ MORE Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor REGION - Two men charged with capital murder in the stabbing death of a West Covina man pleaded not guilty Thursday. La Verne man Elijah Thomas Rouse, 18, and 37-year-old Shaun Cardarelli, of San Gabriel, are of accused of killing John Aguila during the commission of a robbery. The murder charge includes that both men used a knife during the commission of a crime, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. Both suspects are also accused of conspiracy to commit arson. Whether or not to seek the death penalty will be determined at a later date, the district attorney’s office said.
Prosecutors accuse the suspects of killing Aguila in his West Covina apartment in late August 2019. Aguila was wrapped in a blanket along with cellophane, his body bound with duct tape. The suspects used his 2017 Honda Civic to take his body to San Bernardino county where it was dumped off a road in Upland, doused in gasoline and set on fire. A third man Davone Anthony Smith, 26, Also faces a conspiracy charge to commit arson, and a felony count of being an accessory after the fact. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor MOJAVE - The remains of a man kidnapped by two Chinese nationals in San Gabriel were identified recently. Rouchen “Tony” Liao, 29, was identified by the Kern County Sheriff’s Office - Coroner Section. Liao’s remains were discovered by a hiker near Mojave in the area of Cache Creek Road and Highway 58 June 12. The manner of death is undetermined. Liao, a Santa Ana resident, was kidnapped July 16, 2018 in San Gabriel by three men and forced into a dark-colored Toyota Sienna minivan, which was followed by two suspects in a Range Rover SUV. The kidnapping occurred around 7:30 p.m. at San Gabriel Square, 140 W. Valley Blvd. Liao was possibly coaxed to the area on the premise of conducted a business deal, the FBI said. One of the three suspects was seen by witnesses to the kidnapping and was referred to as “David,” the FBI said. The U.S. Department of Justice announced in February 2019 that two Chinese nationals were indicted in Liao’s kidnapping. Guangyao Yang, 25, and Peicheng Shen, 33, were charged with kidnapping, conspiracy to kidnap, attempted extortion in violation of the Hobbs Act and threat by foreign communication, the DOJ said. After Liao was kidnapped and taken to a Corona home, demands were made to deposit $2 million within three hours to several Chinese accounts. Lio’s father also received photos of his son physically retained in a closet: his arms bound behind him, his legs bound together and his eyes taped shut, investigators said. No more demands were made and nothing was ever heard from the captors again. Investigators learned Yang and Shen drove to the Mojave Desert to possibly dispose of Liao’s body two days after the kidnapping. An internet search connected to Yang revealed efforts to learn how fast a body decomposes in soil. Shen apparently had the closet where Liao was held re-carpeted, investigators said. Yang and Shen possibly fled to China. Anyone with information leading to the suspects is urged to call the FBI Los Angeles Field Office at 310-477-6565. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor MOUNTAINS – A dead man was found with a single gunshot wound and seated in the passenger seat of a BMW on Highway 39 Friday morning. The body was found near East Fork Road on a turnout along mile marker 24.68. An employee with the U.S. Forest Service discovered the vehicle, according to Lt. Mark Skaggs of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s San Dimas Station. There wasn’t enough evidence yet to confirm how the man received the gunshot wound, Skaggs said.
Only one victim was found, according to a representative with the Los Angeles County Fire Department, which sent multiple units, including a battalion chief to the scene. Firefighters were ordered to stage and wait for deputies to clear them in to the scene. The exterior of the BMW showed damage from gunfire, the Los Angeles County Fire Department said. The Sheriff’s Special Enforcement Bureau also responded to the scene. Sheriff’s Homicide detectives are investigating. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor MOUNTAINS - A one-acre brush fire is burning a long Glendora Mountain Road near mile marker 9.3, firefighters said Sunday evening.
The fire is burning in what is described as a mixed fuels and is slowly creeping uphill. There are no structures threatened at this time, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department. County firefighters will be working along with firefighters with the US Forest Service. Fog and a low cloud ceiling is making it difficult for helicopters to respond, firefighters said. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor MOUNTAINS - A dead body was discovered on Angeles Crest Highway early Wednesday. The body was discovered along the mountain road near mile marker 26.87. Deputies responded after receiving a 9-1-1 call of a possible person down near what was described as the first turnount. Deputies were called around 1:13 a.m. November 6. The body is apparently within Pasadena Police jurisdiction, according to Lt. Ryan Vienna of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Crescenta Valley Station. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor UPDATE: The Fire, dubbed the Burro Fire, is holding steady at six acres burned and is 30 percent contained, the U.S. Forest Service said.
The fire was caused by a traffic collision that sent two people to Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center. MOUNTAINS - A brush fire burning in the San Gabriel Mountains is holding at five to seven acres, a battalion chief said Tuesday morning. The fire is burning near Highway 39 and Coldbrook Campground. Deputies with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s San Dimas Station are en route to conduct evacuations of people in the area, according to Sheriff’s radio traffic. Los Angeles County Firefighters are working with U.S. Forest Service firefighters to extinguish the flames. County firefighters have a full brush assignment assigned, which includes up to three helicopters. |
Archives
January 2024
Categories
All
|