 Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor LOS ANGELES - The California Highway Patrol announced the arrest of a 32-year-old suspect, accusing him of attempted murder after an argument led to a shooting on a Foothill Transit bus Monday evening. Juan Mario Trejo, a West Covina resident, was located in Los Angeles less than 20 hours after the incident occurred. He was taken into custody and is being held in lieu of $1 million bail at the Inmate Reception Center in Los Angeles, according to the California Highway Patrol. The victim struck by gunfire was taken to Los Angeles General Medical Center to be treated for injuries considered not life-threatening. A reported argument between a suspect, another rider and the bus driver on a Foothill Transit Silver Streak bus broke out on the westbound I-10 Freeway east of Puente Avenue around 6 p.m. June 17. The suspect revealed a firearm and a physical altercation ensued. Several shots were fired, according to the CHP. The double carriage bus on the Silver Streak line was transporting 17 other passengers when the shooting occurred, according to the CHP. The driver stopped the bus on the I-10 freeway at Puente Avenue where the suspect exited and fled on foot. The shooting was investigated by the California Highway Patrol Southern Division Major Crimes detectives in conjunction with the CHP Baldwin Park Office. Trejo is scheduled for an appearance in West Covina Superior Court Thursday, June 20. ********** The arrest record in this article is being redistributed by SGV CityWatch and is protected by constitutional, publishing and other legal rights. Arrest information is public record and was distributed by government sources. The person named in this article has only been arrested on suspicion of the crime(s) listed and is presumed innocent.  Hector Yair Sanchez. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor REGION – Authorities continue to search for six men wanted in connection with a large-scale drug trafficking organization.
The six fugitives are among 13 others named in four separate indictments and charged with various offenses related to drugs and weapons. The crimes were carried out in the Los Angeles Police Department’s Harbor Division, according to the FBI Los Angeles Field Office. Pomona man Hector Yair Sanchez, 25, is among the six fugitives charged in Operation “Wipe Out,” initiated by the Los Angeles Police Department and the Los Angeles Interagency Metropolitan Police Apprehension Crime Task Force in 2020. Four indictments were unsealed November 16. From April to July 2021, undercover officers conducted numerous operations that helped identify the 13 suspects from California and Arizona. Officers seized 250 pounds of methamphetamine, one pound of fentanyl, six handguns and one rifle, according to the FBI. Arrested were: Adrian Abasolo, 26, from San Diego Alejandro Mendoza, 45, from Los Angeles Hector Valentin, 28, from Long Beach Rodolfo Ulyses, 61, from Bullhead City, Arizona Juan Antonio Aguilar-Bravo, 45, from Calexico Gabriela Contreras, 42, from Gardena Marisela Sanchez, 43, from Wilmington Those arrested were scheduled for initial court appearances Tuesday in the nearest federal district court to where the arrests occurred. Still sought are: Hector Yair Sanchez, 25, from Pomona Christian Garcia, 29, from Long Beach Jorge Luis Perez Sandoval, 36, from Victorville Luis Fernando Verdugo, 25, from Pacoima Alexander Guerrero, 42, from Los Angeles Oscar Humberto Gallegos, 35, from San Diego Among the charges are: conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine; possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine; possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; felon in possession of firearm and ammunition; conspiracy; unlawful sale, transport, and transfer of a firearm by an unlicensed dealer; conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine; and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine, according to the FBI. If convicted as charged, the suspects face a range of statutory maximum sentences ranging from five years to life in prison, according to the FBI.  Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor LOS ANGELES - A man accused of driving a truck through a protest in Pasadena May 31 was found with an illegally-obtained weapon, part of a cache of weapons believed to be amassed for acts of civil disorder.
Benjamin Jong Ren Hung, 28, was charged with one count of conspiracy to transport firearms across state lines and to make a false statement in acquisition of firearms. Prosecutors allege Hung, a San Marino resident, acquired a cache of four weapons purchased in Oregon and then transported across the state line into California, according to an affidavit filed with the complaint against Hung. A friend of Hung purchased one handgun in Oregon and allegedly falsely stated that he was the transferee of the weapon, rather than Hung. The weapon was transported to California and kept in Hung’s home prior to the May 31 protest, the affidavit stated. In March, Hung allegedly purchased three additional handguns himself in Oregon and transported them to California. “[Hung] also allegedly amassed other firearms and tactical equipment from suppliers throughout the United States and used his family’s vineyard in Lodi, California as a training camp to prepare to engage in civil disorders,” the affidavit stated. Hung was arrested after attempting to drive through protestors on a street in Old Town Pasadena May 31. Protesters scattered as a truck approached. No one was injured. Pasadena Police searched Hung’s truck and found a loaded semiautomatic handgun, multiple high-capacity magazines loaded with ammunition, an 18-inch machete, $3,200 in cash, a long metal pipe and a megaphone,” the affidavit stated. If convicted as charged, Hung could face a statutory maximum of five years in federal prison, authorities said. This incident was investigated by the FBI’s Los Angeles Joint Terrorism Task Force and Civil Rights squads and the Pasadena Police Department. Hung was ordered detained at an initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles Wednesday. He is scheduled for bail status hearing September 28. He is scheduled to be arraigned October 15.  Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor REGION - Two charges were filed Monday against the man authorities accuse of leading them on a reckless chase in a hearse with a dead body inside. James Juarez, 25, was charged with one count each of fleeing a pursuing peace officer’s motor vehicle while driving recklessly and driving or taking a vehicle without consent, according to Ricardo Santiago of the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. Juarez faces a possible maximum of more than three years in state prison if convicted as charged, Santiago said. A black 2017 Lincoln Navigator was stolen outside St. Anthony Greek Orthodox Church, 778 S. Rosemead Blvd., February 26. The driver arrived to take one body into the church and left the SUV running, authorities said. The SUV was already gone when the driver exited the church. Itwas spotted near 23rd and Figueroa Streets around 7:30 a.m. in Los Angeles February 27. Juarez allegedly fled LAPD officers who attempted to stop him.
Juarez was taken into custody after fleeing Los Angeles Police officers on surface streets and to the southbound 110 freeway where he crashed at Vernon Avenue around 20 minutes later. The body was still in the rear of the SUV inside a casket, authorities said. Juarez crashed into another vehicle. The collision injured one other person and caused major front end damage to the stolen Lincoln Navigator hearse.  Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor REGION - A 25-year-old grand theft auto suspect was arrested Thursday after crashing a hearse with a dead woman inside. James Juarez was taken into custody after fleeing Los Angeles Police officers on surface streets and to the southbound 110 freeway where he crashed the SUV at Vernon Avenue around 7:50 a.m. February 27. The body was still in the rear of the SUV inside a casket, authorities said. The SUV was spotted near 23rd and Figueroa Streets around 7:30 a.m. Juarez allegedly fled LAPD officers who attempted to stop him.
Juarez crashed into another vehicle. The collision injured one other person and caused major front end damage to the stolen Lincoln Navigator hearse. The SUV was stolen outside of Saint Anthony Greek Orthodox Church, 778 South Rosemead Blvd., around 7:45 PM February 26. The driver arrived to drop off one body at the church for a funeral and left the vehicle running. The SUV was gone when the driver exited the church, according to Deputy Tracy Koerner of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Information Bureau.  PHOTO/Courtesy of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor LOS ANGELES - Sheriff’s deputies, Los Angeles Police and crisis negotiators are attempting to have an accused domestic violence and kidnapping suspect peacefully surrender from inside his Prius.
The grey Prius used in the July 29 kidnapping is parked at South Hill Street and West Second Street in Downtown Los Angeles. It was found parked with a sleeping suspect inside since 2:45 a.m., authorities said. 27-year-old Robert Anthony Camou is believed to be barricaded within. “Officers attempted to make contact with the suspect, however he refused to exit the vehicle. Due to the nature of the crimes the suspect is wanted for, LAPD SWAT resources have been deployed to the scene,” according to the Los Angeles Police Department. The LAPD has hard closures along 1st Street, 2nd Street, 3rd Street and Broadway. Camou is Accused of injuring and kidnapping 31-year-old Amanda Custer. Monrovia Police we’re called to the 600 block of Vaquero Drive around 8:15 a.m. Monday and found blood at the scene. Authorities believe a domestic violence incident occurred, but do not yet know whose blood was found. Camou and Custer are or were dating and have a history of domestic violence. Custer was reportedly seen being placed into the rear hatch of the grey Prius. It is unclear if she is in tthe barricaded Prius.  Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor LOS ANGELES - The California Highway Patrol arrested a carjacking and pursuit suspect after he fled across lanes of the 110 freeway south of the 91 freeway Tuesday. A victim called El Monte Police around 11:42 p.m. July 9 to report being carjacked on the I-10 freeway east of the 605 in Baldwin Park. El Monte officers located the vehicle, the driver refused to stop and fled south on the 605 freeway, according to Lt. Michael Buckhannon of the El Monte Police Department. The pursuit was turned over to the CHP. Officers from a handful of CHP stations chased the suspect as he drove through area freeways. The suspect attempted to take the south 110 freeway from the northbound 405, but lost control of the vehicle and crashed.
The suspect ran across north and southbound lanes of the 110 freeway and was caught a short time later, according to a written statement provided by Simeon Yarbrough of the California Highway Patrol South Los Angeles Area office. Arrested was Gabriel Lopez, 33, who was booked on suspicion of carjacking, kidnapping, grand theft and vehicle theft. He is being held in lieu of $100,000 bail, according to the CHP.  PHOTO/Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor LOS ANGELES - Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Homicide detectives released the booking photo of the man believed to have shot and gravely wounded an off-duty Sheriff’s deputy. Detectives believe Rhett McKenzie Nelson, a 30-year-old Utah man, may have committed additional crimes since entering California in the first week of June and seek additional victims to come forward. Nelson may have also shot and killed a man in Central Los Angeles June 10 -- roughly one hour before puling the trigger on Joseph Solano, an off-duty Sheriff’s deputy waiting for an order at an Alhambra Jack In the Box.
Any potential victims or law enforcement agencies with information on Nelson are urged to contact 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). Email Newsletter! | Advertise! | Donate!  Deputy Joseph Gilbert Solano is on life support after being shot Monday, June 10. PHOTO/Courtesy of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor LOS ANGELES - The suspect behind the shooting of an off-duty Sheriff’s deputy in Alhambra was identified as a missing Utah man. Rhett McKenzie Nelson, 30, from St. George, Utah, was detained by Long Beach Police, according to Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva. Nelson apparently went missing in Utah May 27 and disappeared in a white 2012 Kia Sorento with only his cellphone. He has a history of opiate abuse, according to a man identifying himself as Rhett’s father, Bradley. Nelson was taken into custody by Sheriff’s deputies at 1 p.m. Tuesday. “Shortly after 10 a.m., the suspect went into a church in the city of Long Beach on Clark Avenue. From that church, he called his father in St. George, Utah. During that call, he referred to committing murder in Southern California,” according to Kent Wegener of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. The father then called Long Beach Police and after triangulating Nelson’s location through a cellphone number provided by the father, officers found nelson driving away from the church, Wegener said.
Nelson arrived to SoCal during the first week of June, Wegener said.
Los Angeles County Deputy Joseph Gilbert Solano, 50, is in grave condition after being shot in the head while waiting for an order at an Alhambra Jack In the Box, 2531 W. Valley Blvd., June 10. Solano is on life support, Villanueva said. Deputies still believe at this point in the investigation that the shooting was random. Solano was dressed in plain clothes and wore nothing to indicate he was a deputy, Wegener said in a previous interview. Chief Michel Moore of the Los Angeles Police Department said his detectives are investigating Nelson’s possible connection to a fatal shooting that occurred around 4:50 p.m. in the 1900 block of 7th Street -- about one hour before he gravely wounding the deputy. In the Los Angeles shooting, a 30-year-old man was shot and killed after a brief exchange with a suspect who arrived in a vehicle. The suspect and vehicle matched those in the Alhambra shooting, Moore said. Although Nelson told his father about committing murder in Southern California, it is unclear if nelson was referencing the Alhambra and Los Angeles shootings. Solano’s family is awaiting further tests to decide the next course of action. Email Newsletter! | Advertise! | Donate!  PHOTO/Stock image. Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor REGION – A woman was arrested by Baldwin Park CHP officers after stealing a Los Angeles Fire Department paramedic ambulance and evading authorities on SoCal freeways Tuesday morning.
The unidentified woman stole the ambulance as it sat vacant outside California Hospital Medical Center in Downtown Los Angeles around 12:31 a.m. The woman led the LAPD and CHP on a pursuit, which travelled along the 60 freeway in the San Gabriel Valley until she was taken into custody along the 71 freeway near Central Avenue and Soquel Canyon Road. A Los Angeles city paramedic crew had just dropped off a seriously-ill patient to the hospital, 1338 S. Hope St. The suspect, a Black woman, then took the 2008 Ford E-Series ambulance, according to Brian Humphrey of the Los Angeles Fire Department. CHP officers took over the pursuit on the eastbound 60 freeway at Santa Anita Avenue around 12:47 p.m. according to Officer Tony Polizzi of the California Highway Patrol. The pursuit ended around 1:16 a.m. on the right shoulder of the 71 freeway near Soquel Canyon Road after the suspect stopped and surrendered. The paramedic ambulance appears to have not sustained damage, Humphrey said. |
Archives
January 2024
Categories
All
|
RSS Feed