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 LOS ANGELES -The man accused of beating to death a 76-year-old woman during a burglary in her home April 9 pleaded not guilty Wednesday. Heber Enoc Diaz, from Pasadena, is charged with one count of murder with special circumstance allegations that the crime was committed during a robbery and a burglary. He also is charged with two felony counts of second-degree burglary and one felony count each of first-degree residential burglary, second-degree robbery and elder abuse, said Los Angeles County District Attorney’s public information officer Paul Eakins. Diaz, 27, is accused of causing great bodily harm when he used a hammer, a jab saw and a box cutter to kill Chyong Jen Tsai, according to the complaint. Diaz was previously employed by Tsai to renovate her home, but was not employed at the time Tsai stumbled upon the suspect burglarizing her garage. Diaz is also accused of burglarizing Tsai’s home March 19 while he was employed. Also charged in the case are Luis Alonso Cruz Gaitan, 33, of Altadena, who faces one felony count each of accessory after the fact and receiving stolen property exceeding $950 in value, and Isis Ondina Villalobos, 26, of Pasadena. She faces one felony count of accessory after the fact, Eakins said.
If convicted as charged, Diaz faces life in prison without the possibility of parole or death. Gaitan and Villalobos each face up to three years in county jail if convicted as charged. Diaz was scheduled to be arraigned in the Foltz Criminal Justice Center in Los Angeles. Gaitan and Villalobos are scheduled for a hearing June 28. Written by AARON CASTREJON City Watch Editor LOS ANGELES - Questions remain unanswered after a coroner investigation could not reveal how a missing Arcadia woman died. The cause and manner of death for Wenna Chen, 54, was listed as undetermined. Her coroner case has been closed, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner. Detectives believed at the time that Chen’s death was possibly a suicide. Chen was last seen November 21 around 8:30 a.m. and failed to show for work the following day. Her family reported her missing November 22, Arcadia Police said. Chen’s silver 2007 Mercedes C280 was found parked at the Arcadia Gold Line Station, 73 E. Santa Clara St., November 25, according to Arcadia Police Sgt. Brett Bourgeous in a previous interview.
The car was towed as evidence and taken to an Azusa tow yard in the 1000 block of West Kirkwall Road where her body was discovered inside the car, according to Lt. Tom Cullen of the Arcadia Police Department in a previous interview. A call to the detective handling the case at the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau was not returned. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor REGION - A construction worker who previously was hired at an Arcadia woman’s home is accused of capital murder in her death, prosecutors said. Heber Enoc Diaz, 27, allegedly used a hammer, a jab, a saw and box cutter in the murder of Chyong Jen Tsai at her Arcadia residence April 9, 2019. He was no longer working on Tsai’s home when he burglarized her garage. Tsai stumbled upon Diaz who then allegedly beat her to death, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. Tsai, 76, was found dead in the rear yard of her home in the 300 block of East Forest Avenue by construction workers hired to renovate the home, investigators said. Diaz is also accused of burglarizing Tsai’s home March 19 while working there, according to Deputy District Attorney Miriam Avalos. Diaz was additionally charged with two felony counts of second-degree burglary and one felony count each of first-degree residential burglary, second-degree robbery and elder abuse. The charges include allegations of causing great bodily injury to a victim over age 70 and using deadly and dangerous weapons, the DA said. Tsai’s white 2005 Lexus RX 300 was missing from the home. It was later found abandoned in the 900 block of Colorado Boulevard in Los Angeles April 28. He was arrested a day later, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Homicide Bureau.
Diaz was was scheduled for arraignment June 26. Two other suspects were additionally charged: 33-year-old Luis Alonso Cruz Gaitan of Altadena, who faces one felony count each of being an accessory after the fact and receiving stolen property exceeding $950 in value. Also charged was 26-year-old Isis Ondina Villalobos of Pasadena, who faces one felony count of accessory after the fact, the DA said. If convicted as charged, Diaz faces a possible maximum sentence of life in state prison without the possibility of parole or death. A decision on whether to seek the death penalty will be made at a later date, the DA’s office said. Gaitan and Villalobos each face up to three years in county jail if convicted as charged. Bail was denied for Diaz. Bail for both Gaitan and Villalobos was set at $1 million. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Gaitan and Villalobos June 28. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor ARCADIA - The county coroner released details on the cause of death for a 76-year-old woman found dead in the rear yard of her Arcadia home. Chyong Tsai died from the combined effects of multiple sharp force injuries, multiple blunt trauma and asphyxia, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner. Tsai was found unresponsive in the rear yard of her home in the 300 block of East Forest Avenue just before 7 a.m. April 9.
The woman’s white 2005 Lexus RX 300 is missing from the location, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Homicide Bureau. The Lexus sports license plate number 5LOG473. No suspect description or motive is known at this time. Anyone with information on the stolen vehicle’s whereabouts or on the death 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 - A missing Baldwin Park man who fled a family member in Arcadia was seen in Alhambra recently.
Matthew Munoz, 22, was spotted in December 17. His photo was taken by a resident and was confirmed to be Munoz, according to his family. He may still be in the greater San Gabriel Valley area, Acadia Police said in a written statement. Munoz was last seen at Westfield Santa Anita Mall, 400 S. Baldwin Ave., Tuesday, December 11 in the late afternoon. Munoz suffers from a mental condition that causes him to revert to a “child-like” state, according to the Arcadia Police Department. Munoz is known to frequent County Park, LA Fitness, and Santa Anita Mall. Munoz’s condition is short-lived and he reverts back to normal, Arcadia Police said. Munoz is a non-dependent adult. He carries no cell phone or cash with him. Munoz is 5 feet 9 inches tall, weighs 160 pounds, has black hair, a mustache and beard and brown eyes. Anyone with information on Munoz's whereabouts is urged to contact the Arcadia Police Department at 626-574-5156. Information can be provided anonymously by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). |
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