Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor REGION - Plenty of activities and delicious goodies will be available all day during during a free event that promotes active transportation.
626 Golden Streets comes to the San Gabriel Valley Sunday, April 23. The event stretches six and one half miles along portions of Bonita Avenue, Fulton Road and Arrow Highway to Claremont. The event will run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The people-centric event promotes active transportation: walking, biking, jogging, running, strolling … you name it. Other activities and chances to support local businesses will be available along the route. The event will require the temporary closure of roadways and no vehicle traffic will be allowed. The first 50 attendees will receive a free limited edition t-shirt and raffle tickets. Join the Heart of the Foothills opening ceremony at Palomares Park in Pomona, 499 E. Arrow Hwy., from 8:15 a.m. to 9 a.m. Parking restrictions will go into effect along the route beginning at Midnight prior to the event. Road closures are scheduled to start at 5 a.m. and full closures will be made by 7 a.m. A partial reopening of the route will begin by 4 p.m. with most sections reopening by 5 p.m. Visit the 626 Golden Streets website for frequently asked questions. 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 - The man accused of gunning down an auxiliary bishop for the LA Archdiocese over alleged money issues awaits his day in court.
Carlos Medina, 61, is being held in lieu of $2 million bail. A court date has yet to be set. LA Archdiocese Auxiliary Bishop at David O’Connell was discovered dead from at least one gunshot wound in his bedroom after deputies were called at 1 p.m. to a report of a person not breathing in the 1500 block of Janlu Avenue in Hacienda Heights Saturday, February 18, according to Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna. The Sheriff’s Department was notified Sunday, February 19 at 7 p.m. of a person of interest tied to the murder. Deputies traveled to the city of Torrance where the person of interest lives and after the special enforcement operation, Medina was apprehended. Two firearms and items possibly tying Medina to the murder were confiscated. The firearms will have to be examined to determine if they were used in the Hacienda Heights murder, Luna said at the Monday press conference. A tipster told the Sheriff’s Department that Medina was acting strange, irrational and expressed that O’Connell owed Medina money. Medina is married to O’Connell’s housekeeper, Luna said at the Monday press conference. Investigators did not find any apparent forced entry into the home. Surveillance footage showed a dark-colored compact SUV pull into the bishops driveway and was driven away after a short time. That SUV is driven by Medina’s wife. Before Medina’s arrest, investigators were told that he was possibly in the Central California area. A tipster notified investigators that Medina had returned to his home in Torrance in the 20400 block of Kenwood Avenue. At 2 a.m. on Monday, February 20, deputies arrived to arrest Medina, but he refused to exit. At 8:15 a.m., Medina finally surrendered. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor REGION - A little late for a white Christmas, but a winter storm could bring snow down to the 1000-foot level this week.
Cooler temps and high winds will usher in by Tuesday with winds potentially from 45 to 70 miles per hour in the mountains and foothills and 30 to 50 miles per hour in the coasts and valleys. The biggest chance for snow is Wednesday and during the morning hours from Friday to Saturday, according to the National Weather Service. Forecasters believe 1 to 2 inches of snow is possible at the 1,000-foot to 2,000-foot level Temperatures may be 10 to 20 degrees lower than normal. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor SANTA ANA - A certified nursing assistant was sentenced to life in prison January 13 for committing sex acts on several severely disabled children while filming them.
Steve Jackson Rodriguez, 38, a Pomona resident, previously pleaded guilty September 2022 to two counts of obtaining custody of a minor for purposes of producing child pornography, five counts of production of child pornography and one count of enticement of a minor to engage in criminal sexual activity, according to the Justice Department. Rodriguez was arrested August 21, 2021. Rodriguez committed what US District Judge John Holcomb called “unspeakable acts” from January 2016 to May 2020, producing images and videos with four children at an Inland Empire group home where he was employed at the time. Three of the children are severely disabled, according to the Justice Department. One of his victims was just 6 years old when he started the abuse. He began recording the acts two years later. A restitution hearing is scheduled for March 10. Rodriguez sent the explicit images and video to two of his co-workers. In a separate trial, Azusa man Cyr Dino Banguguilan, 36, and 23-year-old Baldwin Park man Miguel Bocardo were found guilty of one count each of receipt of child pornography and possession of child pornography, according to the Justice Departmentl Both co-workers are scheduled for a February 24 sentencing and face anywhere from five to 20 years in federal prison, according to the Justice Department. The investigation was spearheaded by the Homeland Security Investigations as part of the Los Angeles Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. Assisting were the United States Postal Inspection Service, FBI, Baldwin Park Police Department, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, Los Angeles Police Department, Pomona Police Department and Burbank Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Scott M. Lara and Catharine A. Richmond of the Violent and Organized Crime Section are prosecuting this case. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor NORWALK - The suspect caught by employees as he assaulted a girl in a supermarket restroom pleaded no contest October 17.
Steven Magdaleno, 39, entered his plea, which is the same as a guilty plea, to one count of assault with further intent to commit a serious sex crime, according to Los Angeles County booking records. Magdaleno also faced one count of false imprisonment, escape from home detention and providing false identification to police, according to Los Angeles County booking records. Magdaleno faces eight years in state prison if convicted as charged. The incident unfolded inside a Stater Bros., 14212 Mullberry Dr., around 2 p.m. Sunday, September 18. The suspect followed the girl into a bathroom, locked the door and attempted to sexually assault her. The girl screamed, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. “Store employees accessed the bathroom and subsequently detained the suspect pending the arrival of deputies. The victim was medically treated at a local hospital. The suspect was arrested and booked at Norwalk Sheriff’s Station,” according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. “Based on the nature of the offense, detectives believe there may be additional unidentified victims. Detectives are seeking the public’s help in identifying any such victims,” according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Anyone with information on this incident is urged to call the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, Special Victims Bureau toll free tip line at 877-710-5273 or by email at specialvictimsbureau@lasd.org. Remain anonymous by calling LA Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222 TIPS (8477), through the P3Tips mobile app, or lacrimestoppers.org. Magdaleno is scheduled to appear in court October 28 for sentencing. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor ONTARIO – A second suspected shooter was arrested in connection with a shooting that unfolded in the parking lot of Colony High School, the Ontario Police Department said.
The second suspect, 25-year-old Everett Johnson, was found in Covina and taken into custody October 14. Two days prior, Lawrence Langston was found and arrested in Pasadena, according to the Ontario Police Department. Both suspects are from Pasadena. The victim was treated for life-threatening injuries. A handgun was seized during Johnson’s arrest. Two handguns were seized during Langston’s arrest. Both suspects were booked on suspicion of murder and taken to the West Valley Detention Center, according to the Ontario Police Department. The shooting occurred October 1 just after 10:45 a.m. None of the suspects, nor the victim, have any connection to Ontario or Colony High School, according to the Ontario Police Department. Anyone with information that can help the investigation is urged to call the Ontario Police Department at 909-986-6711, Ontario Police Officer Jordan Bell at 909-408-1019. Remain anonymous by calling We-TIP at 78-CRIME, or online at www.wetip.com. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor WHITTIER - Stater Bros. employees and customers rushed to save a 16-year-old girl after a man locked himself inside a bathroom with her and tried to assault her.
The incident unfolded inside a Stater Bros., 14212 Mullberry Dr., around 2 p.m. Sunday, September 18. The suspect followed the girl into a bathroom, locked the door and attempted to sexually assault her. The girl screamed, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. “Store employees accessed the bathroom and subsequently detained the suspect pending the arrival of deputies. The victim was medically treated at a local hospital. The suspect was arrested and booked at Norwalk Sheriff’s Station,” according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Steven Daniel Magdaleno, 39, is being held without bail, according to Los Angeles County booking records. He is facing one felony count each of assault to commit rape, attempting to escape custody and false imprisonment by violence, as well as a misdemeanor count of providing false identification to a peace officer, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. “Based on the nature of the offense, detectives believe there may be additional unidentified victims. Detectives are seeking the public’s help in identifying any such victims,” according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Anyone with information on this incident is urged to call the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, Special Victims Bureau toll free tip line at 877-710-5273 or by email at specialvictimsbureau@lasd.org. 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 REGION - The National Weather Service has issued a flood advisory effective until 8:45 p.m. Sunday.
Flooding caused by excessive rainfall May likely affect the foothills of the San Gabriel Valley into the eastern mountains of the San Gabriel Valley, according to the NWS. “Heavy rainfall could trigger shallow debris flows in and near the Bobcat, Ranch, and Fish burn scars. Roadway flooding is expected including Highway 210, as well as rises in small streams and normally dry arroyos is expected,” the NWS said in a written statement. A flash flood warning is also in effect for northwestern Los Angeles County until 9:15 p.m. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor MOUNTAINS - A pilot was transported in undisclosed condition by ground ambulance after a helicopter crashed near Mt. Baldy Village Sunday morning.
The aircraft crash was reported around 8 a.m. along Mount Baldy Road near Barrett Stoddard Road according to the California Highway Patrol. There was one person inside the helicopter when it crashed. The pilot was driven to Mount Baldy Village and was transferred to a ground ambulance to be taken to the hospital, according to US Forest Service radio traffic. The Bell helicopter is registered to Air Methods Corporation in Greenwood Village, Colorado and is part of an air medical transport fleet for Mercy Air. Firefighters from the US Forest Service, Los Angeles County Fire Department and San Bernardino County responded to the scene. Northbound lanes of Mt. Baldy Road at Shinn Road remain closed by the CHP. |
Archives
January 2024
Categories
All
|