Written by AARON CASTREJON
Citywatch Editor

LOS ANGELES - Investigators announced the arrest of two men accused of robbing a woman of her purse and severely beating her at a Costco.

The robbery occurred at 17500 Castleton Street November 26 around 6:30 p.m. The victim fought back and attempted to take back her purse. She was repeatedly punched in the face. She was dragged by the suspects’ vehicle during the getaway, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

“As a result of the suspects’ actions, the victim suffered facial and head trauma resulting in serious, life-threatening injuries. The victim was transported to the hospital for treatment,” according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department in a written statement.

A search warrant was served in Diamond Bar December 28 and David Morrison, 38, and Andrew Morrison, 34, were arrested.

Evidence from the victim was found during the search.

Both men were booked on suspicion of robbery and are being held in lieu of $500,000 bail. Both men were scheduled for an appearance in the West Covina Courthouse.

Investigators are trying to determine if the pair are involved in any other crimes in the San Gabriel Valley.

Anyone with information on these suspects, or who may have been a victim of similar crimes is urged to call the Sheriff’s Major Crimes Bureau at 562-946-7187.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

REGION - One of two suspects involved in a violent Valinda home invasion robbery was arrested December 19.

Jeremy Rahmelle Dates, 29, was arrested during an Upland traffic stop by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Burglary Robbery Task Force.

The home invasion occurred January 31, 2023 in the 16400 Block of Burtree Street in Valinda.

Dates is accused of beating his elderly victim after entering the home. The bedroom was ransacked. The victim suffered facial and head trauma, according to the Sheriff’s Department.

There was a second suspect, an unknown lookout only described as Black male.

“The investigation is ongoing in order to determine if this robbery suspect is related to other home invasion robberies that have recently occurred in the Southern California Area,” according to the Sheriff’s Department in a written statement.

Dates was transported to Sheriff’s Industry Station where he was booked and held in lieu $200,000 bail and is scheduled to appear at the West Covina Courthouse December 21.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

REGION - Two suspects were recently jailed in connection with the death of a man washed up and stuffed in a barrel in Malibu and the larger of the two has a local crime connection.

Dennis Eugene Vance, 41, and Joshua Lee Simmons, 37, were arrested October 3 and charged in the death of Javonnta Marshann Murphy. Murphy’s body was found stuffed in a metal barrel that washed up at Malibu Lagoon State Beach.

Murphy died of a gunshot wound to his head.

Simmons was infamously caught on cellphone video after being beat back by employees of a jewelry store during an attempted robbery September 2 in El Monte.

Simmons was charged with murder, personal use of a firearm and criminal threats. For the El Monte incident, he was also charged with attempted robbery, criminal threats and personal use of bear spray.

Vance was charged with one count of being an accessory after the fact in Murphy’s death.

Simmons is being held in lieu of nearly $3.3 million bail ahead of a scheduled appearance in Los Angeles Municipal Court November 3.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

LOS ANGELES - Authorities announced Friday the arrest of two suspects in a highly-publicized and violent robbery in Hacienda Heights.

Russell Hardy Jr. and Cameron DeShawne Perry, both 19 years old, were located through a multi-jurisdictional investigation. Russell was arrested August 16 and is being held without bail. Perry is being held in lieu of $400,000 bail, according to Los Angeles County booking records.

Both men were officially charged each with two counts of second-degree robbery, two counts of first-degree automated teller machine robbery and one count of attempted second-degree robbery. Perry also is charged with two counts of elder or dependent adult abuse, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.

Hardy was named as the getaway driver of a blue vehicle, Perry as the suspect who violently took the woman’s purse during the August 14 robbery in Hacienda Heights, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

Both suspects are believed to have operated as a criminal crew the last several months and targeted Asian victims in Hacienda Heights, Rowland Heights and City of Industry, committing similar robberies.

A meeting between the Sheriff’s Major Crimes Bureau-Burglary Robbery Task Force and the Orange County Violent Crimes ATF Task Force was held to investigate the robberies when they were notified of the highly-publicized robbery.

Both suspects are believed to be involved in a robbery May 30 near 1457 Nogales St. in Rowland Heights where a purse containing $150,000 in jewelry was taken. June 9, a woman who withdrew money from a bank at 17801 Colima Rd. in Industry had her wallet stolen. June 14, a woman was in a parking lot at 1611 N. Azusa Ave. when someone approached from behind, stolen the purse and fled. July 2, a man exiting a bank at 18958 Daisetta St. in Rowland Heights fought back after being pistol-whipped, leaving the robber empty-handed, according to the DA’s office.

in all but one of the robberies a blue vehicle was seen fleeing.

Both suspects are scheduled for an appearance in the Pomona Courthouse Monday, August 21.

REGION – A Whittier man was arrested by FBI agents and detectives from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department August 23 after they identified him as going on a bank robbery spree.

Richard Martinez was caught as he was leaving his home in the 10600 block of Reichling Lane around 2 p.m. Martinez is accused of robbing banks in City of Industry, Santa Fe Springs and Whittier, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

The three robberies occurred over a three-hour period and featured a demand note and similar suspect and vehicle description: a late-model Chevrolet Camaro convertible.

“A search warrant was served at Suspect/Martinez’ residence and numerous items of evidence were recovered, including a loaded pistol gripped shotgun, a loaded 9MM handgun with an extended magazine, and a demand note,” according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department in a written statement.

Investigators are trying to determine if Martinez is involved in other bank robberies.

Martinez was booked on suspicion of robbery and was additionally booked on suspicion of being an ex-felon in possession of two firearms. He is being held in lieu $50,000 bail and is scheduled to appear at the West Covina Court House August 25.

REGION - Law enforcement agencies are scrambling to identify the suspect or suspects involved in a series of 7-Eleven robberies that left a wake of violence across three counties.

The crimes all occurred, strangely enough, on 7/11. 

A clerk in Brea was shot and killed inside a convenience store, while a man outside a Santa Ana store was shot and killed.

An Ontario store was robbed just after midnight Monday at 636 N. Vine Ave.

A robbery in Upland occurred around 12:40 a.m. at 2410 W. Arrow Rte. An image taken from surveillance video shows a uncanny similarity to the Brea robbery and murder.

A Riverside 7-Eleven, 5102 La Sierra Ave., was robbed around 1:50 a.m. A customer was shot and was last listed in grave condition, according to the Riverside Police Department.

Investigators released two images taken from a surveillance camera inside the store, giving the public a clearer view of the outstanding suspect.

A man, identified as 24-year-old Matthew Rule, was shot and killed outside a 7-Eleven, 302 E. 17th St., just before 3:30 a.m. Santa Ana Police confirmed Monday afternoon their suspect was the man connected to the other 7-Eleven shootings.

Brea police officers and firefighters responded to the 7-Eleven, 109 W. Lambert Rd., around 4:18 a.m. to a report of an employee down, suffering from a gunshot wound. The clerk, identified as 40-year-old Matthre Hirsch, was pronounced dead by firefighters, according to the Brea Police Department.

Investigators believe the same suspect wounded two people at a La Habra 7-Eleven, 381 E. Whittier Blvd. La Habra police responded to the scene around 4:55 a.m. Both Victims were treated at a hospital where they were last listed in stable condition.

Anyone with information on this shooting is urged to call Brea Police Det. Alfred Rodriguez at 714-671-4438, or email [email protected].

It is unclear if a robbery at a 7-Eleven in Vincent July 9 is connected to this string of Monday violence. The suspect. a Black man with a thin build and dressed in dark clothing, took cash while brandishing a handgun.

LOS ANGELES – Three juveniles were taken into custody recently, accused of terrorizing businesses across six communities from December 12 to December 14.

Deputies accuse the juveniles of hitting gas stations and convenience stores in City of Industry, Bellflower, Norwalk, Pico Rivera, Whittier and Downey, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

The department’s Major Crimes Bureau – Metro Detail deputies began investigating robberies in Norwalk and City of Industry December 14. Detectives learned that as many as two suspects, described as Black males, committed robberies with the use of a handgun, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

A vehicle description and license plate were obtained, allowing deputies to enter the vehicle into a countywide database, listing it as a “felony vehicle – armed and dangerous,” according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

Shortly after an armed robbery in Bellflower, a patrol deputy located the vehicle. A High-risk stop was conducted and three suspects were arrested.

More than $1,000 in cash and evidence linking the juvenile suspects to the crimes was seized. The handgun was not located, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

The suspects remain in custody. The case will be presented to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office for filing consideration.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

LOS ANGELES - The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department will formally announce The arrest of the suspect accused of robbing and assaulting a rideshare driver in South El Monte.

Deputies will announce the arrest and provide the name of the suspect and a press conference scheduled for 2 p.m. Thursday, May 20 at the Sheriff’s Temple Station, 8838 E. Las Tunas Dr., in Temple City.

The brutal assault and armed robbery of a rideshare driver in South El Monte May 10 was caught on the driver’s dash camera and shared far and wide.

The assault and robbery occurred near Rosemead Boulevard and Rush Street around 9:20 p.m. The driver, an older Asian man, was left multiple facial trauma, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

LOS ANGELES - Investigators believe the man who robbed a Glendora Chase Bank January 8 is the same man who robbed a bank in Victorville November 24.

Investigators have dubbed the suspect as the “Cartel Bandit.” In one or both bank robberies, the suspect passed a note to a bank teller. In the note, the suspect demanded cash and detailed how the Mexican cartel would exact revenge if police are called.

The Glendora robbery occurred at the Chase Bank, 1905 E. Route 66. Police responded to the bank at 4:30 p.m., according to Lt. Marty Barrett of the Glendora Police Department.

In the Glendora robbery a gun was threatened, according to Laura Eimiller from FBI Media Relations. She noted that no weapon was actually seen.

It was not specified if the suspect fled with any money. The suspect is still at-large.

Anyone with information on the robbery suspect is urged to call the FBI at 310-477-6565.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

REGION - County officials have ordered a curfew across Los Angeles County effective at 6 p.m. May 31.

The curfew will end at 6 a.m. Monday, June 1. Residents are asked to stay home and only to venture out to seek medical care, or to venture to an essential job, according to Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn.

The curfew affects all incorporated and unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County.

Foothill Transit services will end at 5:30 p.m. Sunday afternoon and resume operation at 7 a.m. Monday, according to Foothill Transit officials.

After receiving very negative feedback on the hasty closure of late-night bus service in Los Angeles May 30, LA Metro will run regular its Sunday schedule until close of service at midnight, according to the Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

For light rail service, LA Metro A Line (Blue) service will run between Del Amo and Grand/LA Trade Tech College with no service to Downtown Long Beach or Downtown Los Angeles. The E Line (Expo) will run between 26th Street/Bergamot and LA Trade Tech College/Ortho with no service to Downtown Santa Monica and Downtown Los Angeles. For the B Line and D Line (Red and Purple Line) trains skip Civic Center/Grand Park, Pershing Square and 7th/Metro.

Sunday brought chaos and looting nearly on par with Saturday night’s events.

Roving bands of looters have continued to attack stores in Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica and more. Looters were seen fleeing with bags and boxes of merchandise into waiting high-end sports cars and luxury cars.

Santa Monica Place and Third Street Promenade were particularly hit hard.

Some looters continue to torch businesses once broken into.

Protests over the May 25 killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota have devolved into looting, assault and outright destruction.