Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor LA HABRA - Detectives from La Habra Police and the Sheriff’s Industry Station are investigating three suspects accused of being involved in a Hacienda Heights home invasion robbery Tuesday. After Industry detectives identified a stolen vehicle they believe was used in the home invasion robbery, they learned La Habra officers had the vehicle and were searching for the suspects, according to Lt. James Long of the Sheriff’s Industry Station. La Habra officers found a stolen gold 2008 Acura at a Chevron ExtraMile, 110 S. Harbor Blvd., before Noon. It is believed to be the same car seen fleeing the area of the home invasion, according to Sgt. Jose Rocha of the La Habra Police Department. Three suspects fled the Acura when La Habra officers attempted to contact them, setting off a containment search, Rocha said.
Two 17-year-olds and an 18-year-old were found and taken into custody without further incident, Rocha said. There was property inside the Acura that detectives are working to link to the Hacienda Heights home invasion, Rocha said. The home invasion occurred around 10:30 a.m. in the 16000 block of Santa Bianca Drive Tuesday. Three suspects, one of them reported armed, entered a window and took $300 in cash, according to Sgt. David Cortinas of the Sheriff’s Industry Station. Email Newsletter! | Advertise! | Donate! Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor LOS ANGELES - Homicide detectives are preparing to submit a criminal case against Taquesta Graham, the mother of slain 9-year-old Trinity Love Jones and a suspect in the girl’s death. Graham was being held in Texas on an unrelated warrant after she and fellow suspect Emiel Lamar Hunt, Graham’s boyfriend, were stopped attempting to cross a border patrol checkpoint in Hudspeth County, Texas Friday, March 8 at 6 a.m., according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau. Graham was extradited from Texas the morning of March 14 and was booked at the Sheriff’s Norwalk Station on the outstanding warrant and she continues to be held in jail. She was then questioned in Jones' death, homicide detectives said.
The criminal case will be filed with the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office at a later date, homicide detectives said. “During the past week, Investigators learned Graham, Hunt and victim Trinity Jones moved from a family member’s home in Long Beach in May of 2018. During the past ten months the extended family had only seen or heard from the couple and Trinity on a few occasions,” Homicide detectives said. “Investigators have learned Hunt, Graham and Trinity were homeless just prior to her death and were residing in a Santa Fe Springs motel or in their vehicle.” A break in the case came March 6 after Jones’ sketch was released publicly, a tipster came forward to detectives and expressed concern the girl in the sketch was Jones, but did not know the whereabouts of the girl or Graham. Investigators explored Taquesta Graham’s history and learned Hunt, her boyfriend, has a criminal history, which includes a prison sentence for a previous child abuse conviction, homicide detectives said. Once detained in Texas, Hunt drove back to California. He was eventually found sleeping in his black Nissan Armada in a parking lot near San Diego International Airport and arrested, homicide detectives said. Homicide detectives began focusing on the whereabouts of Hunt and Graham after comparing a photo of Jones to the girl found dead and realized the similarities between the two. Jones’s body was likely dumped over the side of Hacienda Boulevard in he afternoon hours of Friday, March 1, homicide detectives said. When Jones was actually killed remains either unknown or undisclosed. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor LOS ANGELES - One charge of murder has been filed against a suspect in the death of 9-year-old Trinity Love Jones, Sheriff’s officials announced. 38-year-old Emiel Lamar Hunt was sought after being identified as a person of interest in Jones’ death. He was found sleeping in his vehicle in a parking lot near San Diego International Airport and was arrested without incident Saturday, March 9. Hunt was officially charged Tuesday morning after a case was submitted to the County DA, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Information Bureau.
Hunt is scheduled to be arraigned in Pomona Superior Court Tuesday afternoon. Sheriff’s detectives confirmed Hunt is the boyfriend of Trinity’s mother and recently became a Los Angeles County resident. Information on the second person of interest is being withheld pending further investigation, the Sheriff’s Information Bureau said. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor LOS ANGELES - A case in the homicide of 9-year-old Trinity Love Jones was presented to the DA’s office Monday. The case is under review, according to Greg Risling of the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. It is unclear when charges are expected to be formally filed. Risling did not confirm the name of a possible suspect, Emiel Lamar Hunt, 38. Hunt was taken into custody March 9 and booked at the Sheriff’s Norwalk Station. He is being held in lieu of $2 million bail. Hunt is reportedly in a relationship with Trinity’s birth mother Trinity’s father, Antonio Jones, posted on his Facebook page an image of Hunt and stated “This is the boyfriend of my baby momma who murdered my youngest princess.” The identity of the second suspect detained has also not been officially released. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor LOS ANGELES - Sheriff’s homicide investigators have positively identified the girl found dead in Hacienda Heights as 9-year-old Trinity Love Jones of Los Angeles County. Jones’ name was released due to overwhelming media interest and news tips from the public. While the girl’s death was ruled a homicide, the manner in which she died is being withheld, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Two people have been detained, but their names have not been released. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor LOS ANGELES - Detectives released a composite sketch of the girl found partially stuffed in a duffle bag and dumped near the edge of Hacienda Boulevard in Hacienda Heights Tuesday. The girl is now estimated to be between 8 to 13 years old, stood 4 feet 5 inches tall and weighs 55 pounds. Detectives with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau also publicized photos of the actual clothing the girl was wearing when she was discovered. No one has come forward with any information regarding the child’s parents, or if anyone saw suspicious activity in the days before the child was discovered.
The upper portion of the girl’s body was partially exposed when she was discovered before 10 a.m. Tuesday, March 5.
“These are the hardest cases to handle -- anything involving a child. This is very sad,” Hoglund said. Detectives are reviewing surveillance footage from the nearby area to see any suspicious persons or vehicles nearby. It is unclear if the girl’s disappearance is tied to any missing children cases, either in the county, in the state or outside California. Anyone with information on this 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 LA PUENTE, HACIENDA HEIGHTS - One man was hospitalized after being shot, an event that led deputies on reports of gun violence across La Puente and Hacienda Heights early Saturday. Deputies responded to three separate calls within a 50-minute span, according to Lt. James Long of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Industry Station. Industry deputies first responded to a call of a shooting occurring at City Lights Cocktail Lounge, 1257 S. Hacienda Blvd., at 1:16 a.m. The man was hospitalized and refused to give deputies information, Long said.
Industry deputies then responded to a report of shots fired towards a home in the 600 block of Unruh Street at 2:05 a.m. in La Puente. An occupant in a black sedan allegedly opened fire. Deputies searched, but could not find any physical evidence of a shooting, Long said. A resident reported a prowler in the 15000 block of Amar Road in West Valinda around 1:46 a.m. The suspect was seen pointing a handgun at the resident, Long said. No one was arrested from any of the incidents, Long said. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor REGION - Sheriff’s deputies arrested a man January 18 after he allegedly robbed five 7-Eleven convenience stores across the San Gabriel Valley. Julian Larsuel, 19, was arrested early Friday morning after a deputy anticipated his next target, a 7-Eleven in Hacienda Heights. Larsuel is accused of robbing at gunpoint stores in Baldwin Park, West Covina, Covina, City of Industry and La Puente, authorities said. Larsuel allegedly robbed a Covina 7-Eleven, 105 N. Vincent Ave., at 1:10 a.m., where he stole several hundred dollars. In roughly more than one hour, Larsuel is accused of additionally robbing stores in Baldwin Park, 3705 Puente Ave.; West Covina 7-Eleven, 235 N. Azusa Ave..; La Puente, 15211 Amar Rd.; and City of Industry, 16107 Gale Ave., authorities said.
Deputies with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Industry Station were aware of the robberies and began checking stores not yet robbed. A deputy at a Hacienda Heights 7-Eleven, 15780 Tetley St., saw a man arrive matching the robbery suspect some time before 3 a.m. The deputy detained the suspect at gunpoint and he was arrested without incident. The suspect apparently tossed a handgun into a trashcan after seeing the deputy arrive, authorities said. The handgun, an airsoft or pellet gun, was recovered at the scene. Larsuel was arrested at 2:50 a.m. He is being held in lieu of $165,000 bail and is scheduled to appear in Rio Hondo Municipal Court Wednesday, January 23. Feds’ Investigation in Drugs, Fraud, Identity Theft Leads to Arrests Across San Gabriel Valley8/17/2018 Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor REGION - Federal authorities arrested 12 people tied to a local street gang in a widespread investigation into narcotics, fraud and identity theft. A total of 17 tied to the Puente 13 gang were named in a series of indictments returned by a federal grand jury. The investigation was a collaboration between the United States Secret Service and the Drug Enforcement Administration, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. The investigation involved wiretaps that revealed to investigators criminal activity by gang members, gang associates and others, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said. The 12 arrests were made over Tuesday, August 14 and Wednesday, August 15. Crimes allegedly committed include possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and heroin, conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, felon in possession of a firearm, bank fraud, conspiracy to commit bank fraud, aggravated identity theft, illegal possession of access devices (credit cards), possession of access device making equipment, and possession of stolen mail, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said. The investigation is five months in the making, having begun when authorities learned that Puente 13 gang member Victor Ponce De Leon, 26, was involved in drug trafficking after communications were intercepted, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said. In an indictment, Ponce De Leon, also known as “Dopey,” alleged he was involved in selling an ounce of methamphetamine while armed with a 9-millimeter handgun. A scheme to smuggle narcotics into the Pitchess Detention Center in Castaic was also uncovered, according to an indictment naming 39-year-old Glendora man Ricky Lee Thornburg, also known as “Shorty.” Thornburg is currently incarcerated at Pitchess. Thornburg planned to receive the methamphetamine and heroin, hidden in plastic drinking straws, from a woman who was to visit, but the shipment was intercepted in May, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said. An identity theft ring was also uncovered during the investigation, with stolen credit cards and personal identifying information from numerous common victims were found in the possession of multiple defendants, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said. Arrested were:
>>CLICK TO READ THE CHARGES AGAINST EACH DEFENDANT
Most of the defendants were arraigned in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles. Thornburg, Basye, Arroyave, Maribel Gomez and Jimenezare expected to soon be brought into court. The Glendora Police Department and Culver City Police Department assisted in the investigation. Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor LOS ANGELES - Sheriff’s homicide detectives and the sister of a slain Hacienda Heights man asked for the public’s help in solving a 13-year-old murder case Tuesday. Edward Berber, 27, was found shot to death December 6, 2005 in his Hacienda Heights home in the 1800 block of Charlemont Avenue. Berber’s mother made the gruesome discovery after she went to check on him after she had not heard from him in a few days. Berber, a father of two, was shot dead in his bed. Investigators working the case back then exhausted all leads in finding a suspect. Those detectives have since retired, according to Cpt. Chris Bergner of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau. Detectives presented a sketch of what the suspect would have looked like 13 years ago, Bergner said. There is no known connection between the suspect and Bergner, said Sgt. Robert Martindale of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau, adding that the sketch was created with witness statements from 2005-06 and from fresh interviews of the same witnesses. There was nothing about Berber’s history found that would incite such violence against him, Martindale said. Berber was a family man who loved his children, according to sister Alejandra Johnson. “He worked hard his whole life to be accomplished. A professional with a Master’s degree from Notre Dame. He was about to take his CPA test,” Johnson said. “He had dreams and goals. Not just for him, but for his family … his children, his parents.”
There were no signs of forced entry into Berber’s home and he appeared to be alone at the time of the murder, Martindale said. Investigators are confident that new advances in forensic technology in the last 13 years can lead to a suspect, said Los Angeles County Sheriff Jim McDonnell. “We believe we are very, very close to a breakthrough in this case,” McDonnell said. Berber and his then wife, Tonya, were estranged in 2005 and were in the process of divorce. The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved a $10,000 reward for information leading to a suspect. Anyone with information on the murder is urged to call the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500. Information can be provided anonymously by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). |
Archives
January 2024
Categories
All
|