Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor REGION - A man described as a career criminal with a violent past was slapped with a slew of charges Wednesday in the shooting of a uniformed deputy.
Raymundo Duran, 47, was charged with one count of attempted murder on a peace officer. He also was charged with one count of using a semiautomatic weapon to assault a peace officer and being a felon in possession of a firearm, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. Statements made by Duran during interrogation, combined with surveillance video at the crime scene, witness accounts and the gun seized from his vehicle lead investigators to strongly believe he is the suspect in Monday’s shooting. Duran was detained and eventually arrested by California Highway Patrol officers who booked him on suspicion of DUI and weapons possession. He was found parked at an undisclosed location by CHP officers from the San Onofre inspection facility. A firearm was recovered from the 2008 silver four-door Toyota Camry Duran was seated in. Duran did two stints in prison: in 2019 and 2022. Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna also described his as a current gang member. Investigators do not believe that there are additional suspects involved in the shooting of Deputy Samuel Aispuro, a nearly 20-year veteran of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. The case is being filed for warrant as Duran remains in the custody of San Diego authorities, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. The DA will recommend that Duran be held without bail. If convicted as charged, he faces life in prison. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor REGION - A suspect accused of shooting at another driver in January is behind bars after being found by California Highway Patrol investigators.
The suspect, who was not identified publicly by the CHP, fired a weapon multiple times at the intended victim while northbound on the 605 freeway at the 60 freeway January 14. “During the incident the suspect ultimately deliberately fired multiple rounds at the victim, with a clear disregard for anyone in that vehicle,” according to the CHP in a written statement. The suspect was arrested February 27. It is not immediately known if anyone was wounded during the shooting. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor MOUNTAINS - Hikers reportedly stumbled upon a crash scene and a driver was saved after spending three frigid days inside the twisted wreck along Mt. Baldy Road Sunday.
The driver, only described as a middle-aged woman, was apparently alert enough to tell first responders that she had crashed and remained in her vehicle since Wednesday. She was taken by helicopter to Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center for further treatment, according to Lt. Philpot of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s San Dimas Station. The Ford Ranger crash happen along about Mt. Baldy Road north of Shinn Road. First responders were called to the scene around 12:30 p.m. A Los Angeles County fire engine was in the general area when the call was made, and firefighters were very quickly on scene, Philpot told SGV CityWatch. The driver was pulled from the vehicle, which was estimated to be 100 feet down from the roadway, according to the California Highway Patrol. The extent of injuries to the driver is unclear. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor REGION - CHP investigators arrested a man August 24 who they said shot at a motorist during a road rage incident in Glendora.
The shooting occurred July 28 on the east 210 freeway at Sunflower Avenue. Investigators believe 46-year-old Hector Belmonte Cuevas fired one shot at his victim, striking the driver-side door, according to the California Highway Patrol. Cuevas shattered his front passenger window during the shooting. He reportedly exited the freeway and drove in an unknown direction, according to the California Highway Patrol. “On Thursday, August 24, intelligence regarding the location of Belmonte Cuevas was obtained. At approximately 5:40 pm, CHP Southern Division ISU detectives, accompanied by a CHP canine team, arrested Belmonte Cuevas at a residence in Hesperia, CA,” according to the California Highway Patrol in a written statement. Cuevas was booked on suspicion of attempted murder, discharging a firearm at an occupied vehicle, assault with a firearm and other charges, according to the California Highway Patrol. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor REGION - A $20,000 reward will go to the person who provides information leading to the arrest and conviction of the hit and run driver who killed an Azusa father nearly seven years ago.
Dwayne Armenta, 36, was struck and killed by a motorist in the early-morning hours of November 23, 2016 on the east I-10 freeway near Kellogg Drive. It was Thanksgiving and Armenta’s Ford F-150 ran out of gas, so he began walking to find the nearest gas station. Armenta, an Azusa man, attempted to cross traffic lanes and was struck. The suspect driver in a dark-colored SUV stopped, but fled when another driver stopped to help. Construction contractors were taken to court over conditions on the freeway during a project. A judge agreed that poor lighting conditions created by construction contractors Guy F. Atkinson Construction LLC and High-Light Electric Inc. contributed to Armenta’s death. Each of Armenta’s children, who were 4 and 14 years old at the time, received a settlement. Anyone who can help identify the driver is urged to call the California Highway Patrol Baldwin Park Office at 626-338-1164. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor MOUNTAINS - Investigators are still trying to determine why a driver in a 2015 Chevy Cruz went over the side of Angeles Crest Highway late Tuesday night.
The Chevy Cruz went over the side of Angeles Crest Highway while traveling westbound at mile marker 32.18, June 13. California Highway Patrol officers were dispatched at 8:30 p.m., according to Jonathan Boyd, public information officer for the CHP Altadena station. An investigator believes that the crash happened seven minutes prior to CHP being dispatched. It was not immediately clear how far over the side the Cruz fell, but initially Los Angeles County firefighters believe the vehicle fell more than 300 feet over Angeles Crest. Rescuers traveled down the mountainside to the vehicle and determined that the driver, only described as a Long Beach man, died at the scene, Boyd told SGV CityWatch. It is unclear if alcohol, drugs, or any other factors led to the crash. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor LOS ANGELES - A 57-year-old died after his vehicle overturned on a road in the San Gabriel Mountains Saturday.
Elias Perez Santiago, from Pico Rivera, died from blunt traumatic injuries in an accidental crash on East Fork Road, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner. The crash was reported to the California Highway Patrol at 8:47 p.m. East of the Monroe Truck Trail. Santiago died at the scene. Moderate rain was falling in the mountains at the time first responders were dispatched. The cause of the crash is under investigation. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor MOUNTAINS - A pilot was transported in undisclosed condition by ground ambulance after a helicopter crashed near Mt. Baldy Village Sunday morning.
The aircraft crash was reported around 8 a.m. along Mount Baldy Road near Barrett Stoddard Road according to the California Highway Patrol. There was one person inside the helicopter when it crashed. The pilot was driven to Mount Baldy Village and was transferred to a ground ambulance to be taken to the hospital, according to US Forest Service radio traffic. The Bell helicopter is registered to Air Methods Corporation in Greenwood Village, Colorado and is part of an air medical transport fleet for Mercy Air. Firefighters from the US Forest Service, Los Angeles County Fire Department and San Bernardino County responded to the scene. Northbound lanes of Mt. Baldy Road at Shinn Road remain closed by the CHP. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor CHINO – A man accused of shooting at a fellow motorist on the 60 freeway August 10 was identified and arrested at his Chino residence, according to the California Highway Patrol.
Abel Rodriguez, 20, was booked at the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Walnut/Diamond Bar Station on suspicion of attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon and shooting at an inhabited vehicle. CHP officers were called to the 60 freeway near Reservoir Street around 5:08 p.m. to a report of gunfire and later spoke with the victims at their Chino residence. Neither victim was wounded, according to the California Highway Patrol. Investigators were told the suspect fled in a 2021 Toyota Corolla and with help from the Chino Police Department, the suspect was found in his home in the 5200 block of Washington Avenue. Rodriguez was held in lieu of $250,000 bail, but posted bond and was released the day of his arrest, according to Los Angeles County booking records. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor BALDWIN PARK – California Highway Patrol investigators served search warrants on multiple social media sites, which opened a virtual treasure trove into prosecuting participants of a dangerous “sideshow” event in the San Gabriel Mountains.
Investigators ultimately recommended 77 felony and misdemeanor charges against numerous suspects, including organizers, drivers, photographers and spectators. Arrest warrants were filed against them, according to the CHP Baldwin Park Office. The “sideshow” event took place in mid-2021 in the mountains above Azusa. Investigators pored over 19,000 pages of conversations for 11 months after serving five search warrants on various social media sites, according to the CHP. “Sideshow activities are dangerous, illegal, and will not be tolerated! Instead of risking it all by participating in illegal activities, make the safer choice and visit a local race track,” the CHP said in a written statement. |
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