Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

SAN MARINO - A suspicious death investigation is under way in the same neighborhood where a house fire ignited Monday.

The suspicious death occurred in the 2000 block of Lorain Road. First responders were sent to the location at 9:45 a.m. January 6. The victim, described as an adult female, died at the scene, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

San Marino police officers and firefighters were also dispatched to a structure fire at 2625 Lorain Road at 9:45 a.m., according to San Marino Fire Department dispatch records.

Lorain Road between Del Mar Avenue and Rubio Drive is expected to be closed until 6 p.m., according to a statement issued by the San Marino Police Department.

Anyone with information on this incident is urged to call the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Homicide Bureau 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 MARINO - A juvenile with a little too much determination was finally caught after repeatedly fleeing authorities after crashing a stolen vehicle January 4.

The juvenile was able to flee officers by running through yards, a flood control channel and inside a garage before finally being taken into custody. The juvenile is accused of driving a reported stolen vehicle, which was located with the help of an automated license plate reader just before 3:30 p.m. Thursday.

Officers located the stolen vehicle in the southbound turn lane of westbound Huntington Drive at Del Mar Avenue. After turning south on Del Mar, the driver made an abrupt turn to try and evade officers through an alley and eventually crashed into a wall and parked vehicle in the 2400 block of Huntington Drive, according to the San Marino Police Department.

The juvenile escaped on foot into a neighborhood on Del Mar Avenue, fled through the Rubio Wash and through the 2500 block of Melville Drive before entering a yard in the 1500 block of Rubio Drive.

Officers working a containment search spotted the juvenile as he ran from yard to yard on Rubio Drive. A police helicopter spotted the juvenile taking refuge inside a detached garage at a residence. A K9 flushed out the suspect through a garage window and he continued to flee until officers subdued him during a short foot pursuit, according to the San Marino Police Department.

The juvenile was cleared at a hospital for a booking and was jailed on suspicion of burglary, hit-and-run, evading, police, and driving a stolen vehicle. The juvenile was issued a citation to later appear in court, according to the San Marino Police Department.

Assisting with the search were Alhambra Police Department drone officers, a Pasadena Police Department helicopter, Pasadena Police Department K9, South Pasadena Police Department and San Gabriel Police Department.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

SAN MARINO - A man reportedly flashed his genitals at a girl as she walked towards San Marino High School May 24, according to the San Marino Police Department.

The incident, reported at 8:23 a.m., occurred near Gainsborough Drive and Huntington Drive. The girl was called over by the suspect sitting in a newer Honda Civic hatchback. He then exposed himself to her, according to the San Marino Police Department.

The girl fled and reported the indecent exposure to an adult.

The suspect was described as a Latino man, 30 years old. He wore clear glasses and has long wavy shoulder-length hair. The color of the Civic hatchback is “sonic gray pearl,” according to the San Marino Police Department.

Anyone with information on the suspect is urged to call the San Marino Police Department at 626-300-0720. 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 MARINO - One suspect was caught, a second is still at-large after eluding San Marino Police in a carjacked vehicle Thursday.

The minutes-long chase ended after the driver gave officers the fade in San Gabriel in the 800 block of Valley Boulevard. The vehicle was located and San Gabriel Police officers ran after a male suspect who tried to elude police again, according to the San Marino Police Department.

An automated license plate reader notified officers of the carjacked vehicle near San Gabriel Boulevard and California Boulevard just after 9 a.m. March 16.

The vehicle, taken from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Temple Station patrol area a day prior, was located and stopped near Hermosa Avenue and San Gabriel Boulevard. The driver took off in the vehicle, according to the San Marino Police Department.

An eye witness saw two suspects run after the chase ended.

“An eyewitness reported seeing a male subject in a white shirt and a female subject in a white shirt exit the vehicle and run west through the rear parking lot and over a wall,” according to the San Marino Police Department in a written statement.

The female suspect is still at-large.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

SAN MARINO - A masked man armed with a handgun fled with cash after robbing a woman at a Chase Bank ATM Tuesday.

The robbery was reported at 8:21 a.m. at Chase Bank, 2270 Huntington Dr. February 14. Minutes before, the woman was withdrawing cash at an ATM near the bank entryway when the suspect approached from behind, according to the San Marino Police Department.

“The suspect stood directly beside the victim while displaying a handgun, and demanded the money the victim withdrew. The victim was in fear for her safety and handed the suspect the money,” according to the San Marino Police Department in a written statement.

The woman was uninjured.

The suspect walked south on Ridgeway Road, east on Roanoke Road and out of sight.

The suspect was described as a male white or Latino in his early 20’s. He stands 5 feet 8 inches tall and has a thin build. He wore a gray baseball cap with a black bill with “DR” on the front, a black mask, a black and white sweatshirt, blue jeans and white shoes. There was no vehicle seen in the area.

Anyone with information on this robbery is urged to call the San Marino Police Department at 626-300-0720. 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 MARINO - A pedestrian was hospitalized Wednesday morning after being struck by a vehicle and the driver sped from the scene.

The 70-year-old woman was struck just after 6 a.m. on Los Robles Avenue and Oak Street February 1. She was crossing Los Robles and was hit by an unknown vehicle, according to the San Marino Police Department.

The driver reportedly did not stop to provide help, or identify themselves, according to the San Marino Police Department.

San Marino Police detectives are canvassing for any evidence or security video.

Anyone with information on this crash is urged to call the San Marino Police Department at 626-300-0720. 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 MARINO - A man and woman were rescued by a neighbor who heard screams for help after they were zip-tied during a home invasion robbery December 30.

The man and woman were left restrained for about three and a half hours before being discovered in the 1700 block of Oak Lane. The masked suspects forced their way into the bedroom around 9 p.m. Friday with an unknown tool and held both the man and woman at gunpoint, according to the San Marino Police Department.

“Upon entering, the suspects zip tied the elderly residents at gunpoint and forced them to lay down near the front door entryway. Fearing for their safety, the victims complied,” according to the San Marino Police Department in a written statement.

After the man and woman were zip-tied, the suspects saw fit to disable all phones, security cameras and Internet connections. They had their way with the house for about an hour and a half before fleeing, according to the San Marino Police Department.

The man, while restrained, crawled to the garage where he began screaming for help. It wasn’t until 12:32 a.m. that a neighbor found the scene, according to the San Marino Police Department.

It is unclear if investigators have suspect descriptions available.

Anyone with information on this home invasion robbery is urged to call San Marino Police Detective Ruiz at 626-300-0726. 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

SAN MARINO - A man found inside a suspicious vehicle just after midnight December 9 was safely disarmed after officers found him with a loaded handgun safely tucked between his legs.

Officers were called to investigate a suspicious vehicle, a 2018 Jeep Cherokee, parked in the 1300 block of Huntington Drive. As officers approach the vehicle they observed the weapon tucked between the legs of man sitting in the driver’s seat, according to the San Marino Police Department.

Officers held the man, 48-year-old Dong Zeng, at gunpoint to safely disarm him from the Heckler and Koch P2000 9mm pistol, which sported a mounted light and a loaded magazine. Additional magazines and ammunition were located inside the Jeep, according to the San Marino Police Department.

Zeng is not licensed to carry a concealed firearm. He also has a misdemeanor warrant for battery from the San Gabriel Police Department, according to the San Marino Police Department.

An officer at a neighboring police department who spoke Zeng’s language was able to translate his reason for carrying a loaded firearm.

“Zeng explained to officers that he purchased of the firearm for protection against suspicious individuals. Zhang believed these individuals had been following him when he leaves his residence,” according to the San Marino Police Department in a written statement.

Zeng was booked on suspicion of carrying a concealed firearm in a vehicle. He was booked at the Pasadena City Jail and issued a citation to return to court, according to Los Angeles County booking records.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

SAN MARINO - Three females were jailed Thursday, the driver still outstanding after officers spotted and chased a stolen vehicle.

Police attempted to stop a stolen vehicle after receiving an alert on westbound Huntington Drive from Oak Knoll Avenue just before 2 p.m. the driver sped away and continued to drive at an unsafe speed when officers ended the chase, according to the San Marino Police Department.

Moments later, a caller reported a similar-looking vehicle crashed on Huntington Drive at Pasqualito Drive. Officers found the vehicle abandoned. Witnesses reported three females and one other suspect running along Pasqualito Drive and took refuge in the rear yard of a home in the 1400 block, according to the San Marino Police Department.

A containment search involving officers from the San Marino, Pasadena, South Pasadena, Alhambra Police departments, including an Arcadia Police K9 and Pasadena Police helicopter helped to locate the three females.

The male, described as being 18-20 years old and wearing a dark hooded sweatshirt, eluded capture.

SAN MARINO – A number of anti-Semitic flyers were found in residential areas of town October 4.

The flyers appeared to be randomly spread. One was found and reported in a resident’s driveway around 10 p.m. and soon, several more flyers were found inside clear plastic bags on multiple residential driveways, according to the San Marino Police Department.

The flyers contained statements, such as “Disney child grooming is Jewish” and referenced that a “Covid agenda,” media and politicians are Jewish, according to the San Marino Police Department.

“Further information was located online that detailed incidenrs of the same nature occurring on the East Coast, in states such as Virginia and Florida. These appear to be randomly distributed as well,” according to the San Marino Police Department in a written statement.

Neighboring police agencies were notified. Those agencies did not report similar incidents, according to the San Marino Police Department.

None of the residents who had flyers placed on their property reported any other suspicious activity or vandalism. Some of these residents have security cameras and detectives are working to see if any evidence can be found.

Anyone with information that can aid the investigation is urged to call San Marino Police Detective Hernandez at 626-300-0728. Remain anonymous by calling LA Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), through the P3Tips mobile app, or lacrimestoppers.org.