Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

SAN DIMAS - A man and woman were arrested January 10, both accused of committing grand theft before taking to surface streets and freeways to evade deputies.

The as-of-yet unidentified suspects are accused of committing grand theft in the 600 block of West Covina Boulevard at 9:30 a.m., according to Lt. Melikidse of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s San Dimas Station.

A deputy responding to the grand theft found the suspects fleeing north on the 57 freeway at high speed. A police helicopter began tracking the silver Mercedes-Benz SUV as the driver transitioned to the west 210 freeway at around 100 miles per hour, according to Los Angeles County Sheriff’s radio traffic.

The driver exited onto surface streets in the Glendora area where deputies were instructed to end their search for the suspects, according to Sheriff’s radio traffic.

The helicopter pilot followed the SUV until the driver stopped on Bonnie Cove Avenue near East Calora Street after smoke began emitting from either an overheated engine or overheated brakes.

Deputies arrived and took both the man and woman into custody.

“They had numerous pieces of what looks like stolen property,” Melikidse told SGV CityWatch. What exactly was found was not immediately shared.

Detectives are trying to tie one or both suspects to a burglary from earlier Sunday on Amelia Avenue where a similar vehicle and suspect description was given, Melikidse told SGV CityWatch.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

SAN DIMAS - The Kellogg Drive offramp from the westbound I-10 freeway in San Dimas will remain closed until at least 11 a.m. after a semi and tractor trailer fell off the freeway and landed on the street below, spilling produce across the road.

The crash was reported to the CHP at 4:11 a.m. December 31.

It is not immediately clear if anyone was injured when the semi and tractor trailer fell.

The Los Angeles County Fire Department has hazmat units still on scene assessing the crash.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

SAN DIMAS - A small vegetation fire is burning in what has been described as an abandoned reservoir, firefighters said.

The fire is burning behind 444 E. Bonita Ave. The fire is also affecting nearby trees. There is no threat to any homes or businesses, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

The fire was first dispatched at 6:07 p.m. The reservoir is a concrete structure with no water and only vegetation inside. Access inside to battle the flames is difficult, according to firefighters.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

UPDATE, 8:41 a.m.: Forward progress on the San Dimas Fire has been stopped at 65 acres. The fire is 20 percent contained, according to the Los Angeles county fire department.

UPDATE, 6:41 a.m.: 100 acres have now been burned as the San Dimas fire moves to the north and west in the foothills above San Dimas and La Verne, according to the La Verne Police Department.

​UPDATE, 5:44 a.m.: The San Dimas Fire has reached about 60 acres and has the potential to scorch 100 acres. Los Angeles County firefighters are working in unified command with the U.S. Forest Service.

UPDATE, 4:41 a.m.: The brush fire burning above San Dimas/La Verne is holding at 20 acres. It is burning into Angeles National Forest territory. The U.S. Forest Service is on scene.

​The Los Angeles county fire department has requested a second alarm response, doubling resources at the scene.

SAN DIMAS - An estimated 10-acre brushfire is moving fast and uphill in the San Dimas foothills Friday morning.

The fire is burning in the area of North San Dimas Canyon Road and Golden Hills Road November 6. Three helicopters have been added to the full brushfire response, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

Firefighters do not believe that structures are threatened at the time the story was launched.

The pilot of one Los Angeles County Fire helicopter was able to already see the fire well-established from the helipad at Brackett Field in La Verne at the time it was dispatched just before 4 a.m.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

SAN DIMAS - The grade crossing project expected to last through September 30 is now expected to be completed by November 15.

The grade crossing reconstruction project delay has been blamed on supply chain disruptions across the state, according to the Foothill Gold Line Construction Authority.

A lack of cement across the state is the sticking point. The remainder of the work involves laying new curbs, gutters and sidewalks, the construction authority said.

The construction work being done at the Gladstone Street grade crossing east of Lone Hill Avenue will continue to keep the road closed to vehicle and pedestrian traffic 24 hours per day, seven days per week.

Lone Hill Avenue and Amelia Avenue will remain accessible. Local access to homes, businesses, schools and medical facilities on Gladstone St., east and west of the closure, will be maintained at all times, the construction authority said.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

SAN DIMAS - A man and woman fled with an undisclosed amount of cash during a robbery at Denny’s Thursday.

The robbery occurred around 5 a.m. October 29 at the restaurant, 548 W. Arrow Hwy. The man and woman ate there and as they appeared to be paying for food, one of the suspects reach over the counter, stuck their hand into the cash register and began taking cash, according to Lt. Ed MacKenzie of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s San Dimas Station.

“The waitress attempted to stop them and was struck a couple times on the side of the head,” Mackenzie told SGV CityWatch.

The suspects fled with the money east on Arrow Highway in a black Dodge Charger.

The man was described as white, 20 to 25 years old, stands 6 feet 2 inches tall, weighs 180 pounds, has dark short hair and he wore a navy blue hooded sweatshirt.

The woman was described as white, 20 to 25 years old, stands 5 feet 2 inches tall, weighs 120 pounds, wore dark brown long hair and a green shirt and blue jeans.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

SAN DIMAS - The man who crashed and suffered major injuries Friday was identified as a suspect who allegedly broke into an occupied home where he was stabbed fatally by an occupant.

The break-in occurred in the 400 block of Portola Street just before 4 a.m. October 30. After kicking in the front door, the suspect was confronted by the homeowner who stabbed him during an altercation, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Information Bureau.

The unidentified suspect fled the location only to crash minutes later on East Arrow Highway at South Walnut Ave., a few blocks south of the break in.

The suspect was transported to Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center where he died.

The suspect’s identity has not been made public yet. His body has not yet arrived to the county coroner, according to Lt. David Smith of the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner.

“During the break-in, several adults were inside the house but were not injured during the incident,” according to the Sheriffs Information Bureau.

There is apparently no known relation between the suspect and homeowner and no motive yet exists.

SAN DIMAS – A driver was taken to an area hospital after crashing his vehicle, a Sheriff’s lieutenant said Friday.

Firefighters were dispatched to the crash at East Arrow Highway and South Walnut Avenue at 4 a.m. October 30. One patient was transported to an area hospital, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

The driver is possibly connected to a residential break-in that occurred in San Dimas about 20 minutes prior and deputies are still trying to connect the dots to see if there is a link, according to Lt. Ed Mackenzie of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s San Dimas Station.

"The driver is in bad shape. He was transported over to Pomona Valley," Mackenzie told SGV CityWatch.

SAN DIMAS – Homicide detectives are piecing together what led to a man being fatally stabbed October 30.

The stabbing took place in the 400 block of Portola Street around 4 a.m. The victim was taken to an area hospital where he was pronounced dead, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Information Bureau.

The suspect is unknown.

Anyone with information on this incident is urged 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 P3 Tips mobile app, or at lacrimestoppers.org.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

SAN DIMAS - CHP officers arrested an Azusa man October 18, finding him roughly a mile from the scene of a hit-and-run crash that left another man with moderate to major injuries.

Angel Cruz, 19, allegedly used his white Chevy Camaro to strike a 48-year-old man he had been arguing with at the Via Verde Park and Ride. The two men began fighting with each other after Cruz allegedly became angered for an unknown reason, according to Officer Rodrigo Jimenez of the California Highway Patrol Baldwin Park Office.

The victim was parked and sitting at the park and ride, 21320 Via Verde when Cruz approached his vehicle, knocked on the window and asked for directions to a gas station. The victim exited and the two began talking to each other when, for unknown reasons, Cruz began attacking the victim, Jimenez told SGV CityWatch.

“The victim tried to get away and the suspect drove after him and hit him with his car,” Jimenez told SGV CityWatch.

During the fight, the victim fight back and injured Cruz’s face and hands.

“Sometime later, San Dimas parking enforcement located the Camaro and we contacted the suspect and eventually took him into custody,” Jimenez told SGV CityWatch.

Cruz was found in the 600 block of Avenida Bernardo, sitting injured inside inside the Camaro, according to California Highway Patrol traffic logs.

Cruz was booked on suspicion of attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon, Jimenez told SGV CityWatch.