Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor MOUNTAINS - Firefighters have reassessed the burn area left behind by the fork fire that scorched wild land and steep terrain above La Verne and San Dimas. The Fork Fire has burned 301 acres and is now 70 percent contained, according to the US Forest Service. Highway 39 (San Gabriel Canyon Road) has reopened up to the Crystal Lake Campground. Both the Crystal Lake Campground and Coldbrook Campground are now open. East Fork Road remains closed from Highway 39 to Glendora Mountain Road and Glendora Ridge Road. The Fork Fire was first reported around 3:20 p.m. Friday, July 19 in the vicinity of the Bridge to Nowhere near Camp Bonita Prairie Forks Road. The fire burned chaparral in steep terrain in a north east direction towards the Sheep Mountain Wilderness area. Recreationists were evacuated shortly after the fire started, according to the U.S. Forest Service. More than 350 personnel worked to extinguish the fire, personnel from the Angeles National Forest, Los Angeles County Fire Department, Ventura County Fire Department, CalFire, the California Highway Patrol and Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor MOUNTAINS - A 48-year-old man last seen hiking July 14 was discovered dead five days later. Alexander Fernando Archila, a San Dimas man, was discovered somewhere along Bear Creek Trail, which is northwest of the San Gabriel Reservoir, in the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. The cause of death has yet to be determined. Crews focused their search in the West Fork area where Archila was last seen. He was hiking with friends when he became separated. SAN GABRIEL MOUNTAINS - Crews continue to battle the Fork Fire burning well north of San Dimas and La Verne Saturday. The fire has scorched 330 acres. The fire remains at zero percent containment, according to the US Forest Service. East Fork Road is closed at Highway 39. Glendora Mountain Road is closed at Glendora Ridge Road. Glendora Mountain Road is closed at Big Dalton Canyon Road in Glendora. Authorities have also closed off Highway 39 at Old San Gabriel Canyon Road in Azusa. The Fork Fire was first reported around 3:20 p.m. Friday, July 19 in the vicinity of the Bridge to Nowhere near Camp Bonita Prairie Forks Road. The fire is burning chaparral in steep terrain in a north east direction towards the Sheep Mountain Wilderness area. Recreationists were evacuated shortly after the fire started. Residents have not been evacuated, according to the U.S. Forest Service. More than 350 personnel are working to extinguish the fire, personnel from the Angeles National Forest, Los Angeles County Fire Department, Ventura County Fire Department, CalFire, the California Highway Patrol and Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor REGION - A man has apparently been missing for four days after last being seen in the San Gabriel Mountains. Alexander Fernando Archila, 48, was last seen around 3 p.m. July 14. Investigators did not describe exactly where in the mountains Archila was last seen. Archila stands 5 feet 8 inches tall, weighs 170 pounds, has black hair and green eyes. He was last seen wearing a purple shirt, blue jeans, black shoes, and a green cap. Anyone with information on Archila’s whereabouts is urged to call Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, Homicide Bureau Missing Persons Detail, Detective M. Perez at 323-890-5500. 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 SAN GABRIEL MOUNTAINS - A brushfire that ignited above Azusa was aggressively and quickly extinguished Sunday afternoon. The Burro Incident, named due to its proximity to the Burro Canyon Shooting Park, was held to less than 5 acres. Firefighters were dispatched around 2:16 p.m. Sunday, June 16, according to the US Forest Service. Burro Canyon is northeast of San Gabriel Canyon Road and East Fork Road. Crews on the ground and in the air from the US Forest Service and the Los Angeles County Fire Department worked to keep the fire from spreading. It is not immediately clear if firefighters have determined a cause. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor LOS ANGELES - An accused rapist was identified Wednesday in the hopes that additional victims can come forward and help bring the suspect to justice.
Eduardo Sarabia, 40, was officially charged with one count of forcible rape, one count of oral copulation by force or injury, and two counts of special allegations of sex crimes with aggravated circumstances, according to Los Angeles County Superior Court data. Investigators believe sex crimes with female victims occurred on May 12 and May 13 between 9:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. A deputy patrolling Highway 39 at mile marker 21 above Azusa and Glendora came upon the van May 13. The deputy called for assistance after hearing a woman screaming inside of the van, which was parked on a turnout along the winding mountain road. A suspect, whom investigators identified as Sarabia, emerged and initially complied with the deputy’s commands. At one point, the suspect ran back into the van where the woman was still screaming. The suspect then re-emerged and complied with the deputy’s commands, according to Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department radio traffic. It took between 5 and 10 minutes until backup was able to arrive and help the deputy take the suspect into custody and clear the van of anyone inside. Based on the allegations, investigators believe there may be additional victims. Anyone who is a possible victim of the suspect, or who may have additional information that can aid the investigation is urged to call the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Special Victims Bureau toll-free tip line at 877-710-5273, or email [email protected]. Remain anonymous by calling LA Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), through the P3Tips mobile app, or lacrimestoppers.org. Sarabia is being held in lieu of $100,000 bail in the San Dimas Sheriff’s Station jail. He appeared in Pomona Superior Court May 15. He is scheduled for an arraignment and plea on June 27. ********** The arrest record in this article is being redistributed by SGV CityWatch and is protected by constitutional, publishing and other legal rights. Arrest information is public record and was distributed by government sources. The person named in this article has only been arrested on suspicion of the crime(s) listed and is presumed innocent. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor MOUNTAINS - Searches are continuing their efforts Wednesday in locating a 59-year-old Northern California woman who was swept away in the San Gabriel River March 9.
Terrain and the swiftness of the river in certain locations makes the effort more difficult for searchers. Tuesday was spent with searchers traversing the river to inspect areas obscured by debris, according to deputy Bommarito, search and rescue coordinator with the San Dimas Mountain Rescue Team. “We haven’t stopped yet. We’re not going to stop. We’re going to keep pushing through with different missions,” Bommarito told SGV CityWatch. Searchers are continuing to focus on an area from the point last seen, which is the Bridge to Nowhere, south to San Gabriel Reservoir. However, Bommarito doesn’t believe at this time that the hiker traveled as far as the reservoir. If she did make it to the reservoir, the hiker would have to travel in one to two miles of shallow water: anywhere from 6 inches to one foot deep, Bommarito told SGV CityWatch. Depending on availability, search teams may range from as few as six to as many as 30 per day, with teams from San Dimas, Sierra Madre, Altadena, Malibu and Avalon, Bommarito said. From the air, the Sheriff’s Department has deployed their Air Rescue 5 helicopter and have had drones from the Sheriff’s Special Enforcement Bureau searching the river. The trail leading to the Bridge to Nowhere is a roughly 10-mile hike with as many as four to five river crossings. Some crossings take hikers through ankle-deep water in late spring or early summer. Where the missing hiker tried to cross features water that can be waist deep or chest high, Bommarito told SGV CityWatch. Eyewitnesses who crossed before and after the missing hiker and her friends told searchers that the water was waist high for them Saturday, Bommarito told SGV CityWatch. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor SAN GABRIEL MOUNTAINS - Search and rescue teams will continue looking for a female hiker Sunday who reportedly slipped and fell into the San Gabriel River March 9.
The search was paused Saturday due to diminishing sunlight. Crews will be back at sunrise March 10, according to Lt. Elisabeth Sachs of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s San Dimas station. First responders were sent to Camp Bonita Road and Heaton Flats near the Bridge to Nowhere around 10 a.m. March 9. The victim, only described as a female, may have attempted a river crossing and slipped. Deputies spent Saturday attempting to notify the victim’s family, Sachs told SGV CityWatch. Search and rescue crews will once again search by foot and will have more air support Sunday. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor MOUNTAINS - The driver of a Ford Ranger had little choice but to wait for help to somehow find her as she lay injured after crashing down 250 over Mt. Baldy Road one week ago.
Authorities said the driver, only described as a middle-aged woman, swerved to avoid striking a deer. She suffered a fractured ankle and was unable to call for help due to a lack of cellphone reception. The twisted Ford Ranger could not be seen from the roadway. “In this person’s case, she had enough supplies to survive in her pickup for four nights before help arrived,” according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s San Dimas Station in a social media statement. A passing hiker set on finding new fishing spots heard the woman’s cries for help and contacted first responders. The San Dimas Mountain Rescue Team rappelled down to the twisted wreck, pulled the woman free and helped package her for air transport to Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center. “We can’t stress this enough: if you plan on traveling on a mountain road this winter, bring extra supplies. It never hurts to have food, water, a sleeping bag, and extra layers on hand in the event of an emergency,” according to the Sheriff’s San Dimas Station. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor MOUNTAINS - Hikers reportedly stumbled upon a crash scene and a driver was saved after spending three frigid days inside the twisted wreck along Mt. Baldy Road Sunday.
The driver, only described as a middle-aged woman, was apparently alert enough to tell first responders that she had crashed and remained in her vehicle since Wednesday. She was taken by helicopter to Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center for further treatment, according to Lt. Philpot of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s San Dimas Station. The Ford Ranger crash happen along about Mt. Baldy Road north of Shinn Road. First responders were called to the scene around 12:30 p.m. A Los Angeles County fire engine was in the general area when the call was made, and firefighters were very quickly on scene, Philpot told SGV CityWatch. The driver was pulled from the vehicle, which was estimated to be 100 feet down from the roadway, according to the California Highway Patrol. The extent of injuries to the driver is unclear. |
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