Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

ROWLAND HEIGHTS - Detectives are asking for the publics help and identifying three suspects wanted in the burglary of cash and credit cards March 8.

The stolen credit cards, taken after a locked vehicle was broken into, were used to purchase nine gift cards at $200 each. The burglary occurred in the 17000 block of East Colima Road, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

The purchases were made between 3:05 p.m. and 4:30 p.m., according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

One suspect is described as a male Hispanic adult. He wore a green zip-up jacket, black pant and gray shoes.

A second suspect is described as a male Hispanic adult. He wore a gray shirt with the NBA logo on it, gray sweatpants and black shoes.

The third suspect is described as male Hispanic adult. He wore a navy blue sweater, ribbed jeans and gray shoes.

Anyone with information is urged to call Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Parks Bureau Detective E. Mohler at 310-965-8659.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

UPDATE, Jan. 4, 5:40 p.m.: Investigators for now have deferred the cause of death for a 23-year-old woman found deceased in a parked vehicle in Rowland Heights December 28.

​ The cause of death has been deferred, pending additional investigation, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner.

LOS ANGELES - An exam awaits six days after a 23-year-old woman was found dead in a vehicle parked on a Rowland Heights street December 28.

Desteny Curtis was identified by the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner.

Social media posts claim Curtis went missing and was last seen in Hacienda Heights/Rowland Heights area Christmas Day.

Curtis was found after first responders were called to a report of a person not breathing in the 18400 block of Santar Street, according to Sgt. Davis of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Diamond Bar/Walnut Station.

Firefighters received the call around 8:42 p.m.

Curtis was officially pronounced dead at 8:45 p.m., according to coroner Public Information Officer Sarah Ardalani.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

UPDATE, 10:29 p.m.: As of 10:26 p.m. the roadway was cleared.

ROWLAND HEIGHTS - One person died Monday evening in a vehicle on the eastbound 60 freeway west of Fullerton Road.

First responders located a red Dodge minivan in the center divider just after 7:30 p.m. January 2. Los Angeles County firefighters had to remove the person from the Dodge minivan to perform CPR, but the person died at the scene, according to California Highway Patrol traffic logs.

First Responders were told a possible seizure led to the death.

It is unclear if the person who died was a passenger, or was a driver. It is also unclear if the minivan crashed into the center divider or merely had stopped.

As of 8:50 p.m., the HOV, No. 1 and 2 lanes were blocked as first responders waited for investigators from the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

ROWLAND HEIGHTS - Homicide detectives have taken over the investigation into the death of a woman who was found in a neighborhood Wednesday night.

The body of an adult female was found after first responders were called to a report of a person not breathing in the 18400 block of Santar Street, Wednesday, December 28, according to Sgt. Davis of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Diamond Bar/Walnut Station.

First responders were called to the scene around 8:42 p.m.

The woman was reportedly found inside a vehicle.

Identification for the woman is pending. She was only described as a female in her 20s, according to Public Information Officer Sarah Ardalani of the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

ROWLAND HEIGHTS - Two people reported being robbed in possibly two unconnected incidents Saturday morning.

Deputies first responded to the 1900 block of Sierra Leone Avenue December 17 around 5:30 a.m. and were told that two Black men dressed in all black used a semi-automatic handgun to take the victim’s wallet, which contained cash and a driver license. Both suspects fled towards Jellick Avenue and then to Colima Avenue, according to a Los Angeles County Sheriff’s crime broadcast.

A second robbery occurred around a 6 a.m. in the area of Ybarra Drive and Carreta Drive. Three suspects described as Latino men in dark clothing took the victim’s wallet by force. The suspects fled in a vehicle possibly followed by a second vehicle, according to a Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department crime broadcast.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

ROWLAND HEIGHTS - A gunshot victim reportedly wound up at a Chevron gas station just after 6 p.m. October 25.

Deputies at the scene preliminarily stated that the victim, a man, was shot in the chest. The shooting reportedly occurred in the area of Fullerton Road and Palacios Drive, according to a Los Angeles County Sheriff’s crime broadcast.

Deputies and firefighters are still at the gas station, 19004 Colima Rd. The victim was transported to a trauma center. His condition was not publicly available.

An SGV CityWatch reader who was at the gas station believes that the victim was a passenger in the vehicle.

LOS ANGELES – One suspect was arrested August 12 and another is sought in a shocking daytime robbery in which a $60,000 Rolex watch was violently taken from a man and woman.

Two armed suspects clad in hooded sweatshirts approached a man and woman loading groceries into a vehicle outside a 99 Ranch Market, 1015 Nogales St., just after Noon July 9. The suspects demanded the $60,000 Rolex watch from the man, but before the man and woman could comply the suspects pistol-whipped both victims, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

The watch was forcibly removed and the suspects fled in a white Dodge Challenger.

Sheriff’s Major Crimes Bureau investigators, assisted by the department’s Special Enforcement Bureau, served a multi-location search warrant four days ago in Los Angeles and Lancaster. 

Demoryie Watts, 21, was identified and arrested in the 45000 block of Spearmen Avenue in Lancaster. Investigators found the Challenger believed to be used in the robbery, as well as a handgun. Other evidence was taken from the residence, but the Rolex watch has yet to be recovered, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

“We believe suspect Watts is also involved in several other crimes along with his suspect partner who is still outstanding,” according to Cpt. Steven Ruiz of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Major Crimes Bureau.

Ruiz declined to reveal the second suspect’s name.

Watts was booked on suspicion of robbery, being a felon in possession of a firearm and violation of parole. He was also on parole for a prior carjacking arrest.

“The question that’s going to be in everyone’s mind: what is our district attorney going to do in this case,” pondered Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva. “Our concern is will this be prosecuted as a simple robbery with the lowest sentence possible, or will the gun enhancement and other enhancements that could be applied also be used in this case for a proper sentence that puts this person incapacitated and out of business harming our community.”

Watts is scheduled for an appearance in Pomona Superior Court August 16.

Anyone who can identify additional suspects is urged to call Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Sgt. Mileski at 562-946-7010. Provide information anonymously by calling LA Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (84770, through the P3Tips mobile app, or lacrimestoppers.org.

LOS ANGELES – Investigators will discuss efforts seeking additional suspects involved in the shocking daytime robbery in which a $60,000 Rolex was violently taken from a man and woman.

Two suspects approached a man and woman who were loading groceries into their vehicle outside a 99 Ranch Market, 1015 Nogales St., just after Noon July 9. The suspects demanded the $60,000 Rolex watch from the man. The suspects pistol-whipped both victims.

Sheriff’s Major Crimes Bureau investigators, assisted by the department’s Special Enforcement Bureau, served a multi-location search warrant August 12 in Los Angeles and Lancaster. 

One suspect, currently only identified as “Demoryie” was arrested in the 45000 block of Spearmen Avenue in Lancaster.

A press conference is scheduled for 11 a.m. August 15 to discuss details of the case the search for more suspects.

Anyone who can identify additional suspects is urged to call Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Sgt. Mileski at 562-946-7010. Provide information anonymously by calling LA Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (84770, through the P3Tips mobile app, or lacrimestoppers.org.

ROWLAND HEIGHTS – Three vehicles burned and caused minor damage to an apartment building early Wednesday morning, the Los Angeles County Fire Department said.

The fire burned in the 2000 block of Batson Avenue. Firefighters were dispatched at 4:48 a.m. After the fire was knocked down, building and safety inspectors from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works were called to examine the apartment.

Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputies aided in evacuating residents from the apartment complex. There were no injuries reported and residents have been allowed back, according to Sgt. Estrada of the Sheriff’s Walnut/Diamond Bar Station.

Estrada did not immediately know if some or all of the building’s residents were allowed back.

The cause is under investigation.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

ROWLAND HEIGHTS - An assault with a deadly weapon suspect was arrested Saturday after he and his victim were hospitalized for knife wounds suffered during a domestic fight, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said.

The attack occurred in the 1800 block of Batson Avenue around 5:50 a.m. June 12. At the time of the interview Saturday evening, the victim was not providing many details regarding the assault, but the evidence deputies had at that time suggested that it was domestic related, according to Sgt. Tinoco of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Walnut/Diamond Bar station.

“The stabbing victim is a male, the suspect is an ex-boyfriend,” Tinoco told SGV CityWatch.

After the assault, the suspect fled the location and was found nearby and detained.

Both suspect and victim were hospitalized, treated and released, Tinoco told SGV CityWatch.

Tinoco declined to provide the suspect’s name, but the Hispanic man faced assault with a deadly weapon charges.