Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor REGION – A Whittier man was arrested by FBI agents and detectives from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department August 23 after they identified him as going on a bank robbery spree.
Richard Martinez was caught as he was leaving his home in the 10600 block of Reichling Lane around 2 p.m. Martinez is accused of robbing banks in City of Industry, Santa Fe Springs and Whittier, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. The three robberies occurred over a three-hour period and featured a demand note and similar suspect and vehicle description: a late-model Chevrolet Camaro convertible. “A search warrant was served at Suspect/Martinez’ residence and numerous items of evidence were recovered, including a loaded pistol gripped shotgun, a loaded 9MM handgun with an extended magazine, and a demand note,” according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department in a written statement. Investigators are trying to determine if Martinez is involved in other bank robberies. Martinez was booked on suspicion of robbery and was additionally booked on suspicion of being an ex-felon in possession of two firearms. He is being held in lieu $50,000 bail and is scheduled to appear at the West Covina Court House August 25. 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 DOWNEY – A victim found shot multiple times in a parking lot was identified as a Monterey Park Police officer, authorities said Monday.
Downey Police officers responded to a parking lot at 12070 Lakewood Blvd. August 8 to a reported shooting victim around 3:25 p.m. The victim was found in the Downey Landing shopping center inside a vehicle and paramedics pronounced him dead. “Despite emergency medical treatment, the victim was pronounced deceased from his injuries,” according to the Downey Police Department in a written statement. The officer’s name has not been publicly revealed. Anyone with information on this murder is urged to call Downy Police Detective Ron Gee at 562-904-2331, or Lt. Dwayne Cooper at 562-904-2370. 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. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor SOUTH WHITTIER – A pedestrian died after being struck and killed by a driver who escaped on foot after driving away from the crash, the California Highway Patrol said.
It is unclear if investigators have a description of the suspect who ran from the damaged white Mercedes-Benz C300. The collision occurred around 10:10 p.m. at the intersection of Leffingwell Road and Corley Drive, according to the California Highway Patrol Santa Fe Springs Office. The driver fled west on Leffingwell Road and the abandoned C300 was found on Laurel Avenue. The pedestrian was identified as 53-year-old Lorraine Naranjo, a Whittier resident. Anyone with information on this deadly crash is urged to call CHP Officer J. Contreras, or Public Information Officer E. Torres at 562-868-0503. Information can be provided anonymously by calling LA Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), through the P3Tips mobile app, or lacrimestoppers.org. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor REGION - Law enforcement agencies are scrambling to identify the suspect or suspects involved in a series of 7-Eleven robberies that left a wake of violence across three counties.
The crimes all occurred, strangely enough, on 7/11. A clerk in Brea was shot and killed inside a convenience store, while a man outside a Santa Ana store was shot and killed. An Ontario store was robbed just after midnight Monday at 636 N. Vine Ave. A robbery in Upland occurred around 12:40 a.m. at 2410 W. Arrow Rte. An image taken from surveillance video shows a uncanny similarity to the Brea robbery and murder. A Riverside 7-Eleven, 5102 La Sierra Ave., was robbed around 1:50 a.m. A customer was shot and was last listed in grave condition, according to the Riverside Police Department. Investigators released two images taken from a surveillance camera inside the store, giving the public a clearer view of the outstanding suspect. A man, identified as 24-year-old Matthew Rule, was shot and killed outside a 7-Eleven, 302 E. 17th St., just before 3:30 a.m. Santa Ana Police confirmed Monday afternoon their suspect was the man connected to the other 7-Eleven shootings. Brea police officers and firefighters responded to the 7-Eleven, 109 W. Lambert Rd., around 4:18 a.m. to a report of an employee down, suffering from a gunshot wound. The clerk, identified as 40-year-old Matthre Hirsch, was pronounced dead by firefighters, according to the Brea Police Department. Investigators believe the same suspect wounded two people at a La Habra 7-Eleven, 381 E. Whittier Blvd. La Habra police responded to the scene around 4:55 a.m. Both Victims were treated at a hospital where they were last listed in stable condition. Anyone with information on this shooting is urged to call Brea Police Det. Alfred Rodriguez at 714-671-4438, or email alfredr@cityofbrea.net. It is unclear if a robbery at a 7-Eleven in Vincent July 9 is connected to this string of Monday violence. The suspect. a Black man with a thin build and dressed in dark clothing, took cash while brandishing a handgun. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor REGION - A 21-year-old Glendora man arrested during the U.S. Capitol Breach more than one year ago and accused of destroying windowpanes was sentenced May 13.
Hunter Allen Ehmke was sentenced to four months in prison and 36 months of supervised release. He is also expected to pay $2,821 for destroying five window panes during the breach by protestors at the U.S. Capitol January 6, 2021, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Ehmke was arrested January 13, 2021. He initially pleaded not guilty last year, but changes his plea to guilty January 4, 2022, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Ehmke was part of a large crowd of fringe protestors who breached the Capitol during a joint session of Congress, which was ascertaining and counting electoral votes for the presidential election. Ehmke jumped onto a ledge outside of an office featuring multiple window panes. Ehmke used his right foot to shatter three lower window panes and smashed two more window panes with his right fist, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. The case was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section. Investigating the case was the FBI Los Angeles Field Office and U.S. Capitol Police with assistance from the FBI Washington Field Office and Glendora Police Department. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor LOS ANGELES – A 69-year-old man was jailed April 26, accused by at least two victims of sexual abuse that occurred between 2011 and 2012.
Jesus Ramirez-Ramirez allegedly abused the girls while he was a resident of South El Monte. The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office filed three felony counts of lewd acts with a child against Ramirez April 28, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Ramirez reportedly had access to children and based on the allegations there may be additional victims, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Anyone who may be a victim of Ramirez and who can provide information to aid the investigation is urged to call the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Special Victims Bureau toll-free tip line at 877-710-5273, or email specialvictimsbureau@lasd.org. Information can be provided anonymously by calling LA Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), through the P3Tips mobile app, or lacrimestoppers.org. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor LOS ANGELES - A federal grand jury indicted a 56-year-old Diamond Bar man who faces two counts of bias-motivated interference with federal protected activities.
Steve Lee Dominguez is accused of shouting racial epithets, driving through a crosswalk against a red light as protesters were crossing and allegedly performed an illegal U-turn to cut off the route of several protesters lawfully crossing the street, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. The incident unfolded March 2021 at a Stop Asian Hate rally at Diamond Bar Boulevard and Grand Avenue. The demonstrators were carrying American flags and large signs in support of their cause and were crossing legally in a marked crosswalk, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. “Dominguez allegedly yelled, “Go back to China!” and other racial slurs at the demonstrators,” according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in a written statement. “One of the victims was an Asian woman carrying a sign that read, “Stop Asian Hate.” Another victim was a minor Black female rally participant who carried a sign that read, “End the Violence Against Asians.” Another person who was cut off in the crosswalk was a 9-year-old child, and Dominguez’s car narrowly missed coming into contact with her and other victims, according to the indictment. No injuries were reported,” according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. After the confrontation, Dominguez allegedly stopped his vehicle down the road, exited and continue yelling racial epithets and called law enforcement on the protestors. He identified himself as “John Doe” and claimed protestors were blocking the street and he needed to run a red light because protestors were going to trample his car, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Dominguez was scheduled for arraignment May 12 at the U.S. District Court in Los Angeles. Dominguez faces a statutory maximum of 20 years in federal prison if convicted on the two counts, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in a written statement. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor BARSTOW – A twenty-something couple are accused of murder in the death of their 1-year-old child who was driven all the way to Pomona where family made the grisly discovery in the couple’s vehicle, police said.
Ricardo Mendez, 27, and Antanita Miller, 24, were booked at the West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga after Pomona officers and Barstow detectives began investigating the suspicious circumstances behind the child’s death. Pomona officers were called to Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center just before 8 p.m. April 25. The child was declared dead by hospital staff upon arrival. The child displayed suspicious trauma, including lesions, bruising and burn marks. Some injuries were in various stages of healing, according to the Barstow Police Department. A homicide investigation was launched by Barstow Police after Pomona officers notified them that the death likely occurred in the child’s Barstow residence. Miller was detained as she arrived to Pomona Valley. Mendez was detained in the 2100 block of Spencer Street after leaving the family’s Pomona home, according to the Barstow Police Department. “During the investigation detectives learned that on April 25, 2022, at approximately 7:00 PM, Ricardo Mendez and Antanita Miller arrived unexpectedly at Mendez’s family’s home located in the city of Pomona. Family members located the victim’s lifeless body in the back of Ricardo Mendez’ and Antanita Miller’s vehicle,” according to the Barstow Police Department. “Some of Mendez’s family members immediately drove the victim to the Pomona Valley Hospital for treatment. Ricardo Mendez and Antanita Miller stayed at the family home and did not initially go to the hospital.” A search warrant served at the Barstow home and vehicle occupied by the couple during their grisly journey revealed items believed to be used during the crimes, according to the Barstow Police Department. Anyone with information regarding this investigation is urged to call Barstow Police Detective Matthew Helms at 760-255-5132 or at mhelms@barstowca.org. Information can be provided anonymously by calling the WE-TIP hotline at 1-800-79-CRIME (27469), or at www.wetip.com. |
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