 Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor LOS ANGELES - The Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner confirmed that a man found dead in some spreading grounds in Irwindale was shot to death. Manuel Sepulveda Jr. was the victim of a homicide. He is listed as a transient. Irwindale police officers responded to the spreading grounds southwest of the 605 freeway and the 210 freeway around 10:30 a.m. May 26. Sepulveda, 49, was declared dead at the scene, according to the Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau. The exact circumstances surrounding the homicide are not publicly known. The California Highway Patrol intermittently shut down the transition roads from the east 210 and west 210 freeway to the southbound 605, as well as the Arrow Highway on ramp to the north 605 freeway and Mt. Olive on ramp to the southbound 605 freeway during the operation. The Azusa Police Department assisted Irwindale police with the tactical operation. SGV CityWatch readers who traversed the freeway closures witnessed police in tactical gear, guns trained on an unspecified target in a homeless encampment. Homicide investigators said a suspect remains at-large.  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 - The ex-LAPD cop Sheriff’s investigators accused of molesting children for more than a decade died while in custody and the cause of his death was revealed.
Paul Jack Razo, 46, died May 20 from sequelae of B-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner. As many as four boys ranging in age from 9 to 13 were abused from 2006 to 2017 in Razo’s Covina home in the 4800 block of Brightview Drive, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Sheriff’s investigators are searching for additional victims. Razo was arrested May 10 and booked at the San Dimas Sheriff’s Station. Five days prior, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office filed eight counts of lewd acts with a child. “Based on the nature of the allegations and Mr. Razo’s access to children, detectives believe there may be additional unidentified victims,” according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department in a written statement. Anyone with information on this case is urged to call the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Special Victims Bureau toll-free at 877-710-5273, or by email at [email protected]. Remain anonymous 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 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 LOS ANGELES - A woman from China was identified as the victim who reportedly fell into the San Gabriel River near the Bridge to Nowhere April 8 and later drowned.
Huanjing Zheng, 27, was identified by the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner. She was declared deceased at the scene. Her death was ruled accidental. She also suffered from blunt head trauma. First responders were called to the area on a report of a hiker having fallen in the river. A large mutual aid response was initiated involving the Los Angeles County Fire Department, Sheriff’s Special Enforcement Bureau, Montrose Search and Rescue Team and the San Dimas Mountain Rescue Team. The rescue operation was coordinated at Camp Williams RV Resort, 24210 E. Fork Rd. Hikers reported initially seeing what appeared to be a person wearing a red jacket floating down the river, according to Los Angeles County Fire Department radio traffic. Rescuers located Zheng’s body near Camp Williams and recovered her. Zheng’s body was kept in an ambulance until coroner investigators arrived to take possession.  Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor LOS ANGELES - A 74-year-old cyclist died of natural causes while riding a bicycle on Highway 39 above Azusa July 28.
Initially, the California Highway Patrol reported a collision with a vehicle resulted in the death of Stephen Naftilan. The Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner revealed he died from acute cardian dysfunction. Naftilan crashed while cycling at 10 a.m. at mile marker 24.10. In a follow-up inquiry, Rodrigo Jimenez of the CHP Baldwin Park Office reported Naftilan "was unable to keep his bicycle upright and the right side of Mr. Doe's bicycle crashed into the asphalt roadway. A passerby and another bicyclist who observed the crash, responded to Mr. Doe and observed he was unresponsive." CPR was administered until Los Angeles County Firefighters arrived. CPR was continued until Naftilan was pronounced dead at 10:52 a.m. Highway 39 from East Fork Road to Roxspring Way was closed until 5:43 p.m. for the investigation. Alcohol and drugs are not considered factors in Naftilan's death, Jimenez said.  Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor MOUNTAINS – The county coroner identified recently the driver found in a crashed vehicle that was reportedly discovered by a hiker March 17.
Manhattan Beach resident Thomas Katsky, 31, was found in a 2015 Toyota Corolla along Mt. Baldy Road near Shinn Road. Los Angeles County firefighters were called around 7 p.m. A firefighter pronounced Katsky’s death at 7:23 p.m. The cause of death was listed as multiple blunt force injuries. The death was ruled accidental, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner. It is unknown how long the crash occurred before being discovered.  Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor LOS ANGELES – Investigators have identified the woman and man found dead New Year’s Day from apparent gunshot wounds in Temple City.
Jeanette Gallegos, 27, and Justin Joseph, 28, were identified by the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner. Deputies responded to the 9200 block of Pentland Street on a report of domestic violence with a gunshot victim. Deputies discovered a 27-year-old woman suffering multiple gunshot wounds and 28-year-old man suffer a likely self-inflicted wound. Both died at the scene, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. “Three juveniles, ranging in age from 5 to 11, were removed from the home unharmed upon the deputies’ arrival. The three lived in the home and are believed to be the children of the deceased female victim,” according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department in a written statement. A handgun was recovered at the scene.  Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor AZUSA - US Forest Service personnel notified deputies of a dead body discovered along Highway 39 in the San Gabriel Mountains Thursday morning, a Los Angeles County Sheriff’s sergeant said.
The body was found off the side of the road along mile marker 21. The body is listed as a John Doe, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner. Law enforcement was called to the scene around 9:30 a.m. Homicide detectives were called to investigate. Initially, detectives believe this to be a natural death, according to Sgt. Patrick Gadut of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s San Dimas Station. The coroner will determine cause of death.  Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor SAN GABRIEL MOUNTAINS - A burned body was discovered after firefighters extinguished a destructive mobile home fire in the mountains above Azusa early Wednesday morning.
The fire claimed one life, destroyed three mobile home trailers and burned a 10-foot x 10-foot spot of vegetation at Camp Williams Resort, 24210 East Fork Road., November 17. Firefighters were dispatched at 1:04 a.m. and arrived by 1:22 a.m., according to Dispatch Supervisor Martin Rangel of the Los Angeles County Fire Department. The fire was knocked down at 2:09 a.m. Firefighters made a request for the coroner at 2:24 a.m., Rangel told SGV CityWatch. There is no identification yet for the victim. “No ID yet. It’s probably going to be a while. We don’t even have a gender yet,” according to Lt. David Smith of the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner. |
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