 Google Maps. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor PICO RIVERA - A sedan slammed into a semi, killing the car’s driver on Rosemead Boulevard early Sunday morning. The sedan crashed into the semi on southbound Rosemead Boulevard south of San Gabriel Boulevard around 12:21 a.m. February 23. According to early CHP reports, the sedan went over and embankment and crashed, according to California Highway Patrol traffic logs. The victim died at the scene.
A Sig Alert was issued for nearly four hours for north and southbound lanes of Rosemead Boulevard between San Gabriel Boulevard and Gallatin Avenue. Northbound lanes were open sometime before 5 a.m. The Sig Alert was canceled just before 5:30 a.m.  Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor LONG BEACH - San Bernardino County Sheriff’s deputies arrested a suspect January 31 believed to have robbed banks in Pasadena, Ontario and Rancho Cucamonga. San Bernardino County man Steven Ray Simmons, 48, was located by San Bernardino County deputies at a Long Beach motel. Evidence found in Simmons’ motel room linked him to a Pasadena bank robbery, according to the Pasadena Police Department. A Chase Bank, 132 E. Colorado Blvd., was robbed January 30 at 2:14 p.m. A demand note was handed to the bank teller. The suspect fled before officers arrived and escaped with $3,200, Pasadena police said. The FBI responded to investigate the Pasadena robbery and believed the suspect also previously committed bank robberies in Ontario and Rancho Cucamonga.
“Pasadena police detectives collaborated with Ontario Police Department and the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department to determine if, in fact, it was the same suspect. All available evidence suggests the same suspect is responsible for the three robberies,” Pasadena Police said in a written statement. Anyone with information about this case is urged to call the Pasadena Police Department at 626-744-4241. Information can be provided anonymously by calling L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477); through the P3 Tips mobile app, or at lacrimestoppers.org.  Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor REGION - 70 federal, state and local agencies across the Golden State worked to put a dent in the human trafficking world, rescuing nearly 100 victims and making hundreds of arrests. Operation Reclaim and Rebuild, the annual operation targeting those who work in sex trafficking and their customers, netted 518 arrests, which included 266 sex buyers, 27 traffickers and 190 commercial sex workers. 87 victims were rescued, including 11 minors, according to the Pomona Police Department. The operation took place from Sunday, January 26 to Sunday, February 1, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
Azusa Police, Pomona Police officers from the Sexual Exploitation & Trafficking Team and SETT liaisons arrested four women and three men during enforcement along the infamous Holt Avenue corridor February 1. The operation was coordinated during Human Trafficking Awareness Month.  PHOTO courtesy of the U.S. Forest Service. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor REGION - 20 U.S. Forest Service firefighters who spent nearly one month suppressing the devastating wildfires alongside the Victoria Rural Fire Service will return home Wednesday. The 20 local firefighters deployed as part of an effort to assist in extinguishing the Australian wildfires, which to date have killed an estimated 1 billion animals, killed more than 30 people and burned more than 27 million acres. “All of us on the forest, and I know their families are proud of the hard work our dedicated firefighters have accomplished while in Australia,” said Angeles Fire Chief Robert Garcia. “We look forward to hearing and learning from their experiences abroad.”
After arriving at Los Angeles International Airport, the firefighters will be taken to Los Angeles Fire Department Station 5 where they will be reunited with loved ones.  Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor REGION - A father and his young boys who spent the night in the San Gabriel Mountains after failing to return from a hike were found safe and unharmed Sunday morning.
The three hikers were found in the area of Allison Mine, several miles off a nearby trail. The three were located around 9:20 a.m. Sunday, were hoisted out by a Los Angeles county sheriffs helicopter and were taken to a command post where they have since been reunited with their family, according to Lieutenant Ed Mackenzie of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s San Dimas Station. The father and his 12 and 13-year-old sons required no medical attention, McKenzie said. Allison Mine was apparently the hikers’ intended destination. Mackenzie was unclear of the exact circumstances of how the hikers were found and what they did to stave off the cold. Industry Sheriff’s Station deputies were called by a family member around 11 p.m. Saturday, November 23, when the father and his children failed to return from a hike. Search and rescue teams began looking for the hikers Saturday night but the severe lack of light prevented them from being found. A Los Angeles County Fire Department helicopter arrived to the scene just after first light to help with a search.  Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor REGION - The search continues Sunday morning for a missing father and his 12-and-13-year-old sons who failed to return from a day hike in the mountains above Azusa and the Glendora.
About 12 members of the San Dimas Mountain Rescue Team are being joined by the Montrose Search and Rescue Team and Santa Clarita Valley Search and Rescue Team area in hopes of finding the father and his children according to Lt. Ed Mackenzie of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s San Dimas Station. Industry Sheriff’s Station deputies were called by a family member around 11 p.m. Saturday, November 23, when the father and his children failed to return from a hike. The father’s vehicle was found parked in the East Fork area of the San Gabriel Mountains. Searchers are concentrating in the Heaton Flats area by the Bridge to Nowhere, Mackenzie told SGV CityWatch. “It’s supposed to be a day hike. Apparently the father is an experienced hiker and is familiar with the area, according to family members,” Mackenzie said. In addition to the cold, searchers are wading through very thick, overgrown brush and rugged terrain, Mackenzie said. A Los Angeles County Fire Department helicopter assistant early Sunday with a search at first light, but has since departed to refuel, according to Sheriff’s radio traffic. The Father and His Sons Were Missing Since Saturday. CLICK TO READ MORE  From left to Right: A Forensic sketch of the suspect identified as David, victim "Tony" Rouchen Liao and the minivan used in the kidnapping. PHOTOS/Courtesy of the FBI. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor MOJAVE - The remains of a man kidnapped by two Chinese nationals in San Gabriel were identified recently. Rouchen “Tony” Liao, 29, was identified by the Kern County Sheriff’s Office - Coroner Section. Liao’s remains were discovered by a hiker near Mojave in the area of Cache Creek Road and Highway 58 June 12. The manner of death is undetermined. Liao, a Santa Ana resident, was kidnapped July 16, 2018 in San Gabriel by three men and forced into a dark-colored Toyota Sienna minivan, which was followed by two suspects in a Range Rover SUV. The kidnapping occurred around 7:30 p.m. at San Gabriel Square, 140 W. Valley Blvd. Liao was possibly coaxed to the area on the premise of conducted a business deal, the FBI said. One of the three suspects was seen by witnesses to the kidnapping and was referred to as “David,” the FBI said. The U.S. Department of Justice announced in February 2019 that two Chinese nationals were indicted in Liao’s kidnapping.  From left to right: Peicheng Shen, 33, and Guangyao Yang, 25. PHOTOS/Courtesy of the FBI. Guangyao Yang, 25, and Peicheng Shen, 33, were charged with kidnapping, conspiracy to kidnap, attempted extortion in violation of the Hobbs Act and threat by foreign communication, the DOJ said. After Liao was kidnapped and taken to a Corona home, demands were made to deposit $2 million within three hours to several Chinese accounts. Lio’s father also received photos of his son physically retained in a closet: his arms bound behind him, his legs bound together and his eyes taped shut, investigators said. No more demands were made and nothing was ever heard from the captors again. Investigators learned Yang and Shen drove to the Mojave Desert to possibly dispose of Liao’s body two days after the kidnapping. An internet search connected to Yang revealed efforts to learn how fast a body decomposes in soil. Shen apparently had the closet where Liao was held re-carpeted, investigators said. Yang and Shen possibly fled to China. Anyone with information leading to the suspects is urged to call the FBI Los Angeles Field Office at 310-477-6565.  Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor REGION - The man accused of capital murder in the slaying of his estranged girlfriend entered a plea October 10. Robert Anthony Camou, 27, pleaded not guilty in the death of Amanda Custer, 31, who disappeared July 29. She was last seen being placed in the rear hatch of a Toyota Prius outside a Monrovia home. Blood was found inside the home. Custer has not been seen or heard from since. Camou faces a count of murder with a special circumstance allegation of killing a witness and an allegation that he was out on bail when he committed the crime. He is also charged with one felony count each of first-degree burglary, person present; injuring a girlfriend; and assault by means of force likely to produce great bodily injury. The charges also include one misdemeanor count of battery, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.
Deputy District Attorney Melanie Drew alleges while Camou was out on bail for a previous assault, Camou killed Custer on or around July 29. Camou was out on bail connected to an April 22 assault in which Camou allegedly battered his girlfriend, strangled her and threatened her with a stun gun, Drew said. Custer fled to a nearby home where Camou chased her into and battered a male resident who tried to stop him. If convicted as charged, Camou faces life in prison without parole or death.  Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor REGION - With low humidity and predicted strong winds forecast for the next few days, authorities have closed portions of local mountain areas.
The gates to Chantry Flats and Bailey Canyon Park were closed Wednesday night at 8 p.m. and are not scheduled to reopen until Saturday, October 12 at 6 a.m. Glendora Mountain Road and Glendora Ridge Road, which closed at 3 p.m. Wednesday, are scheduled to reopen October 12 at 10 a.m. The National Weather Service issued a red flag warning for the majority of Los Angeles and Ventura counties from 3 a.m. Thursday to 6 p.m. Friday. Critical fire weather conditions will plague the area with humidity in the 3 to 10 percent range and wind gusts from 45 to 55 miles per hour in the valleys and coastal areas, according to the National Weather Service. There is the potential for rapid fire growth and extreme fire behavior, the NWS said. Affected Areas Will Be Closed Until Saturday Morning. CLICK TO READ MORE  PHOTO/Courtesy of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor REGION - Homicide detectives have expanded their search for a woman not seen since July 29. Detectives are searching the Lytle Creek area, where suspect Robert Anthony Camou apparently has great knowledge of. His girlfriend Amanda Custer has been missing since she was taken against her will, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. “We are asking the community to remain vigilant and keep an eye out for Amanda Custer,” deputies said in a written statement. Deputies are also searching the San Gabriel Mountains in the Glendora Ridge Road and Mt. Baldy Road areas. Camou was apparently witnessed placing Custer into his grey Prius after an assault occurred in a Monrovia home. Police entered the home after Camou drove away with Custer and found blood inside. Camou was found sleeping in his Prius in Los Angeles July 30 and was arrested after a lengthy standoff. Camou is being held on an unrelated, no-bail domestic violence warrant.
Camou infamously was recorded rapping about killing a woman and burying her in the dirt. The video was recorded hours before his arrest. If anyone has information on Amanda Custer’s whereabouts or any information about her disappearance, call 323-890-5500. Information can be provided anonymously by calling L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). |
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