Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor REGION - An inmate has escaped the Pitchess Detention Facility in Castaic, prompting a search and facility lockdown, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said Sunday. The Sheriff’s Information Bureau has identified the suspect as 43-year-old David Luis Bustamonte, described as a Hispanic man with short black hair and brown eyes. He weighs 155 pounds and stands 5 feet 6 inches. Bustamonte was arrested by the Azusa Police Department July 9, 2018 at 3:27 p.m. for a felony-level offense, according to Los Angeles County booking records. Bustamonte was being held in Pitchess Detention Center awaiting trial when he was found missing this morning. He was not present during the inmate count Sunday, Sheriff's officials said. SGV CityWatch reached out to the Azusa Police Department for additional information regarding Bustamonte’s arrest. Sgt. Fernando Vasconcelos stated his department did not know of Bustamonte’s escape until SGV CityWatch informed him of the circumstances.
The Sheriff’s Information Bureau was not told what time Bustamonte was declared missing, but the California Highway Patrol issued a broadcast at 9 a.m. regarding the circumstances nd stated the escaped inmate was arrested in Azusa. Bustamonte apparently was missing from his cell at the prison, 29320 The Old Road in Castaic. Because the Sheriff’s Department is handling the search, the Azusa Police Department is deferring all questions to Sheriff’s officials, Vasconselos said. The facility was placed on immediate lockdown when Bustamonte was not found. The Sheriff's Major Crimes Bureau is utilizing scent dogs and other resources to search the compound. Bustamonte is being held in lieu of $1.16 million bail and is scheduled to appear in Pomona Superior Court March 6, according to Los Angeles County booking records. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor LOS ANGELES – The manner of death for the armed suspect found dead after hiding from Azusa Police at the end of a brief struggle and officer gunfire December 21 remains hidden. A security hold was placed on the publication of information related to the coroner investigation for Azusa man Jose Javier Lemus, 57, who was found dead in an Azusa warehouse, according to Lt. David Smith of the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau placed the security hold, Smith said. A call to the detective handling the investigation was not returned. It is unclear if Lemus died from officer gunfire, or if he took his own life. At least three Azusa Police officers arrived to a warehouse around 12:40 a.m. December 21 on a reported suspicious person, or possible burglary in progress. Upon contacting Lemus, he produced a handgun and a struggle for the weapon ensued, Azusa Police said.
As Lemus fled police, at least one officer opened fire, but it has not been disclosed if the suspect was struck. The disappearance of Lemus sparked a nearly 10-hour search in the area. A portion of Irwindale Avenue from West 1st Street to Gladstone Street was blocked. Glendora, Covina, Irwindale, Baldwin Park Police and a helicopter aided in a search. The suspect was found dead jut before 11:30 a.m. inside the same warehouse in the 1500 block of McKinley Avenue where officers initially contacted him, according to the Azusa Police Department. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor LOS ANGELES – Both victims killed in an Azusa triple shooting January 8 were named Thursday. Mario Ramirez, 28, and Daniel Isaac Zeledon, 15, both from Azusa, were identified by Sarah Ardalani, public information officer with the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner. Although both struck by gunfire, autopsies have yet to be scheduled for Zeledon and Ramirez to determine the exact cause of death. Azusa Police officers found Zeledon and Ramirez dead after responding to a call of a gunshot victim in the 600 block of East 6th Street at 10:12 p.m. Tuesday. An additional victim was also found near the scene. He was later hospitalized and is expected to survive his injuries, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Information Bureau. Homicide detectives initially believed that Zeledon was an intended target.
“We believed the individual initially shot was the intended target, but we haven’t confirmed that yet,” according to Lt. Charles Calderaro of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau.
A motive for the shooting is either unknown or was not disclosed. The surviving suspect has not been charged with a crime yet, Calderaro said. An unknown subject shot at the fleeing suspects after they opened fire. Detectives have yet to identify the unknown subject, Calderaro said Anyone with information on the shooting is urged to call the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500. Information can be provided anonymously by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor LOS ANGELES - A 57-year-old man believed to be the suspect in an officer-involved shooting was identified Saturday.
Jose Javier Lemus, an Azusa resident, was identified by Investigator Nani Cholakians of the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner. A cause of death has not been publicly released yet. An autopsy has yet to be scheduled, Cholakians said. Lemus was found inside the warehouse in the 1500 block of McKinley Avenue where officers initially contacted, struggled with and fired upon him December 21, according to the Azusa Police Department. At least three Azusa Police officers arrived to the warehouse around 12:40 a.m. Friday on a reported suspicious person, or possible burglary in progress. Lemus allegedly produced a handgun and a struggle for the weapon ensued. As Lemus fled police, at least one officer opened fire. It is unclear if Lemus was struck. Officers searched the area for Lemus for nearly 10 hours. A portion of Irwindale Avenue from West 1st Street to Gladstone Street was blocked during the search. Glendora, Covina, and Baldwin Park Police Departments along with a helicopter aided in a search. It is unclear if the affected warehouse was occupied during the burglary call. Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor LOS ANGELES - The man who bilked more than $400,000 from his clients over a 12-year period was sentenced Tuesday.
Augusto “Tito” Gonzalez De La Cruz, 58, pleaded no contest to seven felony counts of grand theft and admitted an allegation of a loss of property valued at more than $200,000, according to Deputy District Attorney Ryann Jordan of the Consumer Protection Division. Gonzalez De La Cruz was immediately sentenced to jail, which will be followed by four years of mandatory supervision as part of the negotiated plea agreement, according to Paul Eakins of the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. Gonzalez De La Cruz was ordered to pay $404,000 in restitution to the 35 victims listed in the amended criminal complaint. De La Cruz was taken into custody after a warrant for his arrest was made February 6. De La Cruz is accused of running a fraudulent immigration business in which he duped 35 victims into paying for services they never received, according to the Azusa Police Department. From January 2006 to February 2018, De La Cruz stole $404,000 from victims and their families. Police and prosecutors were initially informed of the fraud by 15 victims from May 2015 to January 2018, but 20 additional victims came forward through a hotline established by detectives, Azusa Police said. De La Cruz allegedly made false promises to his victims that included expediting the processing of visas, resident alien cards and citizenship petitions, Jordan said. Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor LOS ANGELES - A 33-year-old man was identified as the victim hit and killed as he crossed Arrow Highway August 30.
Christopher Michael Cortez was identified by Rudy Milano of the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner. A city of residence for Cortez was not available. Cortez was reportedly jaywalking in the 800 block of East Arrow Highway west of Citrus Avenue when he was hit by a vehicle around 9:50 a.m., according to Sgt. Seth Chapman of the Azusa Police Department. Azusa Police, Covina Police and Los Angeles County Firefighters arrived to the scene and despite efforts to treat Cortez, he died at the scene, according to an Azusa Police written statement. Cortez died of multiple blunt traumatic injuries, Milano said. The driver remained at the scene and is cooperating with traffic investigators, Chapman said. 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 - 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 LOS ANGELES - Six counts of attempted murder and assault with a firearm on a peace officer were filed against a man wanted in connection with gang-related shootings and possibly killings in Azusa.
Jorge Galvez, 20, had the above charges filed against him Tuesday. A judge ordered him to be held in lieu of $6.2 million bail, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. Pomona Police SWAT officers were assisting Azusa detectives in serving a gang search warrant at a home in the 5500 block of South Lark Ellen Avenue Thursday, May 24 in the unincorporated area near Azusa. Galvez is accused of shooting at SWAT officers as they approached the home. Pomona SWAT officers returned fire, Pomona Police said. No one was hit by gunfire. Galvez surrendered without further incident. Azusa Police Detectives were serving eight search warrants at the home, in an ongoing investigation into multiple gang-related shootings. Azusa has been rocked by the shootings, which left a 14-year-old boy and 21-year-old man dead in two incidents. Another man was injured in the leg by gunfire in the same area where Galvez was arrested. The search warrants were a multiagency effort between Azusa Police, Pomona Police, Covina Police, Baldwin Park Police, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and U.S. Marshals. Galvez is scheduled to appear in court June 6. Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor VINCENT - A 20-year-old man is scheduled to appear in court May 29, accused of firing upon Pomona SWAT officers during a warrant search.
Jorge Galvez was taken into custody Thursday. Pomona SWAT officers assisted Azusa Police in serving a search warrant at a home in the 5500 block of South Lark Ellen Avenue in an ongoing destructive series of gang-related shootings. Galvez opened fire on SWAT officers preparing to enter the home. Officers returned fire. No one was injured in the exchange of bullets. Within minutes of the gunfire, SWAT officers ordered the home’s occupants to exit the residence and surrender. The occupants complied, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said. Detectives spent the majority of the day investigating the officer-involved shooting, and processing the crime scene. The weapon used in the officer-involved shooting was found and recovered, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said. Galvez was booked on suspicion of attempted murder. He was booked at the Industry Sheriff’s Station where he is being held in lieu of $1 million bail. Galvez will appear at Pomona Superior Court Tuesday. |
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