Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor REGION - A man accused of scamming eight people out of more than $100,000 after feigning injury in traffic collisions faced a judge Monday. Arcadia man Richard Henry Solis, 57, was charged with two felony counts of grand theft from an elder and six misdemeanor counts of petty theft from an elder, according to Ricardo Santiago of the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. Deputy District Attorney Melanie Drew alleges Solis scammed victims, who range in age from 65 to 91 years old, in the Pasadena area from September 2018 to October 2019.
Solis claimed the victims had injured him with their vehicles and asked for money for medical expenses or that he would steal their belongings, Santiago said. Solis was previously convicted of seven counts of first-degree burglary in 2006 and 2009. If convicted as charged, Solis faces a possible maximum sentence of 16 years in state prison, Santiago said. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor LOS ANGELES - Investigators are still working on positively identifying both men killed in a head-on crash in Pasadena September 2. Two men described as being in their 20s died at the scene of a crash after the driver of a black Toyota Corolla destroyed an LED radar in the 500 block of North Orange Grove Boulevard just before 11 p.m., Pasadena Police said.
The driver and left rear passenger were killed in the crash, which injured two other of the Corolla’s passengers. The injured passengers were hospitalized in stable condition, Pasadena Police said. Evidence at the scene suggested speed played a factor in the crash. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor LOS ANGELES - The motorcyclist who died in a Pasadena crash that involved a large truck was recently identified. Douglas Thatcher, a 58-year-old Riverside man, was named by the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner. Thatcher died from blunt trauma. His death was ruled accidental.
Thatcher was reportedly lane-splitting on the west 210 freeway at Hill Avenue in Pasadena July 16 when he collided with a Volkswagen Beetle in the HOV lane around 12:20 p.m. Thatcher was thrown from his ride and struck by the truck, the California Highway Patrol said. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor LOS ANGELES - Authorities identified the 69-year-old woman who was found dead in a parking lot July 14. Pamela Cross was identified by the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner. The cause of death has been deferred pending additional investigation. Cross was declared dead Sunday afternoon in a medical building parking lot at 50 Alessandro Pl. “She looks to have been the victim of an assault,” said Lt. Mark Goodman of the Pasadena Police Department. “We are investigating as a possible homicide.”
Goodman declined to disclose the nature of the injuries. There is no suspect description at this time. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor LOS ANGELES - A suspect accused of committing 24 robberies across SoCal pleaded guilty to one felony county of second-degree robbery Thursday. Michael Anthony Tapia, 52, also admitted to allegations of two prior felony convictions. He was immediately sentenced to 25 years to life in state prison, according to Paul Eakins of the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. Tapia committed the 24 robberies over a seven-month period from June 2017 to January 2018.
The felony complaint only regarding crimes committed within Los Angeles County. Tapia was accused of a total of 40 cell phone store robberies across SoCal, including cities in Orange County and San Bernardino County. Tapia was convicted of second-degree robbery in 1998 and attempted second-degree robbery in 2001. “Under the terms of a negotiated plea agreement, the defendant waived all credit for time already served in jail and is required to pay restitution to all of the victims named in the case,” Eakins said in a written statement. The West Covina Police Department investigated Tapia, along with surrounding police agencies. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor LOS ANGELES - The alleged armed and armored suspect officers accused of pointing a rifle at them May 17 died by police gunfire, the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner said. Daniel Warren, 36, died as the result of gunshot wounds to the right thigh and left axilla (left underarm), according to public data released by the coroner. Pasadena police encountered Warren in a fenced yard at a home in the 1500 block of Glen Avenue after responding to a man with a gun call at 6:30 p.m. Warren allegedly yelled at officers and pointed the rifle at them. Police opened fire, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau.
Warren retreated to the rear yard of the home after taking gunfire. Officers approached the yard and found him unresponsive. Paramedics later declared him dead, homicide detectives said. A handgun and rifle equipped with a “large capacity drum-style magazine” were found near Warren who fired at least one round, homicide detectives said. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor LOS ANGELES - A Pasadena man accused of murdering an Arcadia woman was arrested April 19 as he was leaving his home Friday morning. Heber Enoc Diaz, 27, was sought in the murder of 76-year-old Chyong Tsai, whose body was found in her Arcadia backyard in the 300 block of East Forest Drive April 9. Diaz was arrested at 10:30 a.m. and booked on suspicion of murder, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Tsai’s stolen white Lexus RX 300 was found abandoned in the 900 block of Colorado Boulevard in Los Angeles the night of April 18, the Sheriff’s Department said.
A motive for the killing has not been revealed. Tsai died from the combined effects of multiple sharp force injuries, multiple blunt trauma and asphyxia, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner. Diaz is being held without bail. The case will be presented to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office Tuesday, April 23. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor REGION - A 41-year-old convicted sex offender will spend the next 28 years to life in prison after being found guilty of kidnaping two women in Pasadena. Anthony Seth McDaniel was sentenced Monday. He was found Guilty October 17, 2018 of two felony counts of kidnapping to commit oral copulation, according to Ricardo Santiago of the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. McDaniel convinced the two women to get in his truck April 30, 2016 after offering them a ride in Pasadena. It is believed he intended to take them to his Compton home, said Deputy District Attorney Fernanda Barreto.
To escape, one woman leapt from his moving truck while on a 210 freeway on ramp in Pasadena, Barreto said. The second woman caused a collision on the 110 freeway in Downton Los Angeles and escaped as well, Barreto said. McDaniel was wearing an ankle monitor during the kidnappings, having been convicted in 2008 for assault with intent to commit rape, Barreto said. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor SAN GABRIEL MOUNTAINS – A 58-year-old man was out with his adult son and the two became separated during a hike Sunday, authorities said. The Montrose Search and Rescue Team, flanked by rescue teams from surrounding communities, is focusing their search near the Strawberry Peak area of the San Gabriel Mountains near Mt. Wilson, according to the Montrose Search and Rescue Team. The hiker has been missing since 4 p.m. January 20. Rescuers resumed their search at daybreak, the Montrose Search and Rescue Team said.
The son wanted to hike higher. The missing father said to meet him back at their parked vehicle. When the son showed up, the father was not there, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Crescenta Valley Station. Rescue efforts were halted around 2 a.m. due to inclement weather. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor LOS ANGELES – A transient has been charged with one count of murder in the strangulation killing of a Pasadena woman, the County DA said Tuesday. Mary Jean O’Connor, 41, was charged in the December 17 death of Jeri Douglas. Pasadena Police discovered Douglas’ dead body in her home, according to Ricardo Santiago of the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.
Officers had to force entry into Douglas’ home in the 200 block of South Madison Avenue around 3:40 p.m. She was found with apparent head trauma to the body, according to the Pasadena Police Department.
O'Connor was identified by investigators, was found in North Hollywood December 26 and arrested, Pasadena Police said. The two women were acquaintences. |
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