 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 [email protected]. 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 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 WHITTIER – A police presence will be felt at Dexter Middle today after a threat of violence surfaced on social media.
A student allegedly threatened to show up to Dexter Middle School, 11532 Floral Dr., with a handgun. Phone calls came into the Whittier Police Department starting at 9 p.m. December 12, according to the Whittier Police Department. Officers located and spoke to the student and his parents. “Upon concluding this in-depth investigation, it was determined that the student did not have access to any firearms. The school has been notified, and we will also have an officer standing by at Dexter School tomorrow,” according to the Whittier Police Department in a written statement.  Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor REGION - Evidence was recovered and a suspect was arrested November 8, accused of pulling the trigger in the shooting that claimed the life of a Monrovia woman.
Sidney Terrence Johnson, a 25-year-old Los Angeles man, was tracked down after a two-month investigation and arrested at his home. He was booked on suspicion of murder and is being held in lieu of $2 million bail. The case has been submitted to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, according to the California Highway Patrol. Bertha Hernandez, 35, was found with a gunshot wound to the head in a crash vehicle on the eastbound 210 freeway east of Baldwin Avenue, September 4. Hernandez was driving a black Mercedes-Benz when the shooting occurred around 9:05 a.m. “Upon arrival, officers observed a solo vehicle that had multiple bullet holes on the driver's side and the solo female occupant inside the vehicle had sustained multiple gunshot wounds,” according to the California Highway Patrol in a written statement. CHP officers responding to calls of gunfire and a traffic collision found the Mercedes-Benz had crashed into a sound wall, multiple bullet holes peppered the driver side. Hernandez was declared dead at the scene, according to the California Highway Patrol. The events leading up to the shooting are either unknown, or have yet to be publicly shared. Johnson is being held at the Inmate Reception Center in Los Angeles. There is no court date information available.  Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor WHITTIER - A mother was arrested May 13, accused of felony evading and child endangerment after officers realized the woman’s 5-year-old son went along during a pursuit. Jazmine Renea Pratcher, 26, was detained by Whittier officers as she ran from the vehicle at the end of the pursuit and pulled her son from the car in an attempt to run into her hotel room. Her 8-year-old son was waiting inside, according to the Whittier Police Department.
Pratcher allegedly refused to stop when officers tried to pull her over after they believed she was driving under the influence around 2 a.m. Monday Pratcher fled recklessly and dove over a residential front lawn and crashed into a parked vehicle, Whittier Police said. The 8-year-old child inside the motel room was left unattended, Whittier Police said. Both children were placed in protective custody. Pratcher was additionally booked on hit and run and has a no-bail warrant for a probation violation.  Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor WHITTIER - A man was found dead by officers responding to a call of victim appearing passed out behind the wheel, police said Thursday. The man, found in the 10100 block of Whittwood Drive around 5:20 a.m., appeared to have died from natural causes inside the parked vehicle, Whittier Police said in a written statement. The man was immediately pronounced dead at the scene. There were no obvious signs of trauma to the body.
The exact cause of death will be determined by coroner investigators. Anyone with information on this incident is urged to call Whittier Police at 562-244-0045.  PHOTO/Stock image. Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor WHITTIER - A Sig Alert remains in effect after a collision killed the driver of a big rig on the 60 freeway Thursday night.
The rig overturned around 10:58 p.m. on the transition from the westbound 60 freeway to the 605 freeway split. The big rig driver was killed in the crash, according to Officer Dion Conley of the California Highway Patrol. The Sig Alert will remain until likely 8:15 a.m. 
This man is caught on surveillance footage robbing a Whittier Chevron gas station Saturday, April 7. PHOTOS/Whittier Police Department.
Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor
WHITTIER - A suspect clad in a hoodie and carrying a semi-automatic handgun robbed a Chevron Gas Station April 7.
The robbery occurred at the gas station, 15735 Leffingwell Road, around 10:30 p.m. The suspect threatened the clerk with the handgun, but the clerk picked up a stick or pipe and tried to scare off the robber. The clerk then laid down the improvised weapon and is seen complying with the robber. It is unclear if the suspect fled with any cash or merchandise. Anyone who may recognize the suspect or have any information regarding this robbery is urged to call Detective Junge at 562-567-9291, or call the Whittier Police crime tip line at 562-567-9299. Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor  Whittier Police arrested a man accused of robbing a Shoe City store at gunpoint March 3. PHOTO/Whittier Police. WHITTIER – Police arrested a man accused of robbing shoes from a store March 3.
Jesse Alvarez, a 21-year-old Whittier man, was taken into custody March 11 after several tips from the public, aided by a surveillance photo, helped identify him, Whittier Police said. Alvarez is accused of robbing a Shoe City, 12560 Whittier Blvd. Armed with a black handgun and wearing a ski mask, Alvarez allegedly stole shoes from the business. Alvarez is also accused of committing domestic violence and assault with a deadly weapon, days after the Shoe City robbery, Whittier Police said. The case against Alvarez was officially filed with Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, which includes two counts of assault with a deadly weapon, one count of domestic violence and one count of robbery. Alvarez’ bail is currently set at $1.3 million. Alvarez is scheduled to appear in Norwalk Superior Court March 20. 
A man darts out of a waiting pickup truck and steals a baby stroller from a front porch February 19. PHOTO/Courtest of the Whittier Police Department.
Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor
WHITTIER – A masked man darted out of a pickup truck and made off with a family’s stroller left out on the front porch February 19.
The burglary was caught on camera, occurring around 2:30 a.m. in the 10800 block of Pounds Avenue. A thin man in a dark t-shirt and dark pants ran up to the front porch and took the stroller. He wore a surgical mask. Anyone with information on this theft, is urged to call Whittier Police Detective Bobadilla at 562-567-9283 or the Whittier Police crime tip line at 562-567-9299. |
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