Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

UPDATE, 6:26 a.m.: Homicide detectives just revealed that an 81-year-old woman was discovered deceased after San Dimas deputies arrived to a residence in the 100 block of citrus Ranch Road around 5:15 PM Sunday.

The woman appeared to have been dead for several days and her body was in the advanced stages of decomposition, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Information Bureau.

The woman’s cause of death was not immediately identifiable and will have to be determined by the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner.

SAN DIMAS - Homicide detectives are investigating a death discovered in a gated community in San Dimas Sunday afternoon.

The victim, initially described as a female adult, was found in the 100 block of Citrus Ranch Road July 18. The victim died at the scene, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Information Bureau.

Deputies have yet to reveal how the victim may have died.

Firefighters were dispatched to the location at 5:48 p.m. to a report of an unconscious patient, according to Dispatch Supervisor Jeremy Stafford of the Los Angeles County Fire Department. No victims transported.

It is unclear if deputies have any suspect information.

Anyone with information on this incident is urge to call the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500. Information can be provided anonymously 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

POMONA - The upland man accused of stabbing to death a Glendora woman and her dog near a San Dimas park is scheduled to appear in court July 22 after having his arraignment delayed.

Ricardo Saldivar, 23, was previously charged in the March 25 attack and faces one count of murder, animal cruelty, robbery, attempted murder and criminal threats, according to Los Angeles County Superior Court records.

Jeanne Edgar, a 66-year-old Glendora woman, was brutally murdered March 25 while trying to rescue her dog who was being stabbed to death by a man who mere moments earlier was attempting to attack another victim in the 1400 block of Renwick Road.

The suspect initially went after a man near the restrooms at Lone Hill Park. Saldivar had a knife in hand and ran after the man who fled back to his vehicle for safety, according to Sheriff’s homicide investigators.

After chasing the man around his vehicle, the suspect focused his attention on a woman dog-walking in the neighborhood. That woman, identified as Edgar, attempted to save her dog whom the suspect began stabbing after pulling the pet away from her. Saldivar then allegedly began stabbing the woman.

“Our original victim saw what was happening. He grabbed a rock, threw the rock and struck our suspect in the head, rendering him unconscious and our suspect was taken into custody,” according to Lt. Derrick Alfred of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau.

Both Edgar and her dog died at the scene.

A motive remains unclear.

SAN DIMAS – The California Highway Patrol is investigating a freeway fatality after a woman apparently died on the northbound 57 freeway just south of Covina Boulevard June 21.
 
The crash was reported to the CHP around 11:57 p.m. Monday. One victim, described as a 40-year-old woman, was reported down near a stopped vehicle, according to Officer Peter Nicholson of the CHP Traffic Management Center.
 
Firefighters arrived at 12:14 a.m. and discovered a woman down and unresponsive to the rear of a Chevy Suburban. The woman was declared dead on arrival, according to a representative for the Los Angeles County Fire Department.
 
It is unclear if the woman was a motorist, or a pedestrian. A total of four vehicles were stopped on the shoulder near the crash, Nicholson told SGV CityWatch.
 
A two-hour Sig Alert was issued for the No. 2, 3 and 4 lanes at 12:37 a.m., Nicholson told SGV CityWatch.
 
The Sig Alert was cancelled at 3:57 a.m.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

SAN DIMAS – Three people were involved in the defacing of property at San Dimas’ Pioneer Park February 25 and detectives are looking for public help in identifying the suspects.

The vandalism was caught on camera after hours. At least one person, described as a man in a black hoodie, black long shorts and black shoes, used black spray paint to deface property, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s San Dimas Station.

The type of defacing done was not disclosed.

A second suspect was described as a female in all dark clothing. A third female was seen wearing a black blouse and light-colored pants, according to the Sheriff’s San Dimas Station.

Anyone with information on this incident is urged to call Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Detective Sgt. Henry Saenz at 909-450-2734. Information can be provided anonymously by calling L.A. 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 - A man found unresponsive and later declared dead in San Dimas March 30 died accidentally, a coroner report stated.

Sante Dilibero Jr., 56, died from the effects of methamphetamine, according to the Los Angeles Count Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner.

Diliberto also suffered from morbid obesity, the coroner report stated.

Diliberto was experiencing homelessness and died behind the Martin House, 246 E. Bonita Ave., according to San Dimas City Council Member Ryan Vienna in a social media statement dated March 30.

Firefighters from nearby Los Angeles County Fire Department station 64 declared Diliberto dead at the scene, according to Sgt. Gauthier of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s San Dimas Station in a previous interview.

Vienna took to social media to express his concern for the man and the city’s well-being.

“I’m saddened by this incident. I’ve publicly and repeatedly advocated we take action to address homelessness in our city in a meaningful way,” Vienna said in a Twitter statement.

The San Dimas City Council held a special meeting May 13 to address the concerns and issues surrounding quality of life within the city and a handful of public speakers expressing concern about the current population of homeless people.

Prior to the public comment section of the May 13 special meeting, city staff discussed a number of topics including San Dimas’ homeless plan, which was passed by the city council June 12, 2018.

San Dimas, Glendora and La Verne formed a partnership to address homelessness. The three cities and other partnering organizations engage in outreach efforts to hear community concerns, understand the causes and needs of the city’s homeless population, hurdles to family reunification and expand and improve on immediate housing solutions.

The three cities applied for and were awarded a nearly $306,000 grant from Los Angeles County to implement a county-approved homelessness plan to develop a Permanent Housing Availability Study. $120,000 of the funding was allocated for a homelessness liaison to oversee the three cities, a pilot motel voucher program and pilot rapid re-housing program, according to documents from the City of La Verne.

$70,200 of the grant was allocated for a motel voucher program. $85,500 was allocated for a rapid rehousing program to provide rental assistance and case management for up to 15 households. The project funding period lasted from September 1, 2019 to February 28, 2021, according to the city of La Verne.

Regardless of the opportunities available, homeless people oftentimes refuse such help.

It is not immediately clear if Diliberto was ever contacted with, or refused such opportunities for housing or other resources.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

SAN DIMAS - A large collection of stolen IDs, passports, W-2 forms, driver licenses and more were seized during a traffic stop May 20.

Deputies originally stopped a 27-year-old driver for a missing license plate on a vehicle in the 100 block of Village Court around 5 p.m., but the deputy discovered much more.

“What started as only a vehicle code violation resulted in the recovery of a stolen vehicle and over 30 identification items including: ID cards, passports, W-2s and driver's licenses,” according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s San Dimas Station.

Also seized were debit cards, ammunition and a knife, according to photos published by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

Among the stolen items appeared to be a handgun, but Sgt. Wong of the Sheriff’s San Dimas Station said the weapon turned out to be a modified replica firearm.

The suspect was booked on suspicion of identity theft, possession of a controlled substance, driving a vehicle without the owner’s consent and altering a replica firearm, Wong told SGV CityWatch.

Wong declined to identify the suspect, even after being reminded that arrest records are public.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

SAN DIMAS - Firefighters made quick work of a small vegetation fire Tuesday afternoon.

The fire burned above Horsethief Canyon Park, 301 Horsethief Canyon Rd., around 12:45 p.m.

No structures were threatened, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

Firefighters reckoned flames posed a threat to the forest if they reached the top of the mountain ridge.

A full first-alarm brush fire response was sent, including crews from the US Forest Service. At least one helicopter performed water drops.

The nearby San Dimas Dog Park will be closed the remainder of Tuesday, San Dimas City officials said.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

SAN DIMAS – A patrol deputy stopped a skateboarder Sunday after the deputy say a handgun tucked into the skateboarder’s waistband.

A Sheriff’s Temple Station deputy saw the skateboarder pass by him and noticed a semi-automatic handgun attached to his hip May 23, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

The deputy stopped the suspect just before 7:30 p.m. in the area of West Terrace Drive and West Covina Boulevard.

After stopping the skateboarder, deputies allegedly found narcotics in his possession in addition to the handgun, the Sheriff’s Department said in a written statement.

“When asked why he was in possession of it [the handgun], he claimed he was working as a security officer, but he could not provide a guard card or employer information,” the Sheriff’s Department said in a written statement.

Sgt. Wong of the Sheriff’s San Dimas Station identified the skateboarder as Esaul Jimenez.

Los Angeles County booking information was not readily available.

Jimenez was booked on suspicion of a number of crimes, including carrying a loaded handgun and narcotics, the Sheriff’s Department said.

The Temple Station deputy was working overtime in San Dimas, Wong told SGV CityWatch.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

SAN DIMAS – A fire caused what was described as moderate to severe damage inside a building at San Dimas Canyon Golf Course Friday night.

The fire was dispatched at 10:13 p.m. May 8 to the golf course, 2100 Terrabonne Ave. Firefighters observed fire on the roof and also found fire inside the golf clubhouse, according to Los Angeles County Fire Department Inspector Sean Ferguson.

Initially, the cause was possibly mechanical in nature, but Ferguson did not have any possible cause at the time of the interview.

The dollar amount in damage the fire caused was not immediately clear.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

LOS ANGELES - A review of the traffic stop seen through bodycam footage the world over was within department policy and procedures, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department announced.

The stop in question was recorded through a deputy’s bodycam and took place in San Dimas April 23. The driver repeatedly accused the deputy of being a murderer and made racist statements against the deputy.

The driver was stopped for allegedly using her cellphone while driving. She was issued a citation, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

“An investigation was completed wherein the complainant was interviewed, and a thorough review of the incident, including body-worn camera footage, was reviewed. After the investigation, it was determined the traffic stop was conducted within department policy and procedures,” according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department in a written statement.

The incident unfolded on the eastbound side of West Covina Boulevard just west of Lone Hill Avenue outside of Life Pacific University, 1100 W. Covina Blvd.

According to the bodycam timestamp, the incident unfolded April 23 just before 9:30 a.m.

After a San Dimas Sheriff’s Station supervisor arrived to explain the traffic stop to the driver, she proceeded to call the deputy a “Mexican racist.”

“You’re always going to be a Mexican. You’ll never be white. You know that, right?” The woman told the deputy just before being let go after signing a citation.

Apparently, social media sleuths were able to identify the woman.

It is unclear how, but footage of the traffic stop had been leaked to the Internet showing the woman’s face unblurred. The fervor over her actions led to her former place of employment, Los Angeles Southwest College, to issue a statement regarding her identity being ousted.

“An individual, who was the subject of a FOX News media report last night, May 3, was identified as possibly teaching at Los Angeles Southwest College. This individual has not been employed at the college since 2017,” according to a statement from the college.

Until this reporter is able to independently verify the identity of the woman in the video, the name being publicized throughout the Internet will not be used here at this time.