Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

​WEST COVINA - A man accused of breaking into a bowling alley Saturday night was caught near the scene of the crime, a West Covina police sergeant said.

The suspect accused of burglarizing Bowlero, 675 S. Glendora Ave., surrendered without further incident after being caught near the business. Officers first responded to the scene around 8:45 p.m., according to Lt. Tony Cortina of the West Covina Police Department.

Cortina did not know the method of entry, but did say that some items were potentially taken from the bowling alley, possibly from the pro shop.

A Los Angeles County Sheriff’s helicopter was called to assist with securing the location due to the business’ size, Cortina told SGV CityWatch.

The suspect was on foot when he was caught.

Officers do not believe that there are any outstanding suspects, Cortina told SGV CityWatch.

6:42 a.m.: The California Highway Patrol has reopened all main line lanes of the eastbound I-10 freeway near Azusa Avenue after a fatal crash. The No. 1 lane of the eastbound off ramp remains closed.

WEST COVINA – One freeway lane has opened after a crash took a life early Thursday morning.

All other lanes remain closed. A body was reported in the No. 1 lane of the eastbound I-10 freeway just west of Azusa Avenue around 4:33 a.m., according to the California Highway Patrol.

All other lanes remain closed for an unknown duration.

It is unclear which vehicle struck and killed the pedestrian. A blue sedan was observed stopped on the right shoulder of the eastbound I-10 near where the pedestrian was discovered. 

An additional two to three vehicles were stopped in traffic lanes and pedestrians were seen running to the body, the CHP reported.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

WEST COVINA - Eyewitnesses helped police track down a man accused of assaulting a woman during a road rage incident May 23.

The incident was caught on camera around 1:30 p.m. Saturday on northbound Azusa Avenue at Workman Avenue by a reader who supplied the footage to SGV CityWatch. The suspect exited his vehicle at the red light, exchanged words with the female driver and reportedly threw what was described as a hammer at her.

The reader said the suspect then punched the woman afterwards:

“He [the suspect] assaulted a woman in a car. Witnesses that were in the area videoed it and we were able to locate that individual later and he was taken into custody,” said Lt. Jeff Munn of the West Covina Police Department.

Munn did not know the extent of the woman’s injuries, but believed they were not severe.

Munn was unclear of a motive for the road rage.

Arrested was Juan Esquivel, a 29-year-old West Covina man. He was booked on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, Munn told SGV CityWatch.

Esquivel is being held in the Twin Towers Correctional Facility in Los Angeles in lieu of $30,000 bail ahead of a scheduled appearance in court Wednesday, May 27.

LOS ANGELES - Coroner investigators identified Wednesday the man found dead along a West Covina Street.

Anthony Zepeda, 28, died from gunshot wounds of the torso. His death was ruled a homicide, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner.

WEST COVINA - Sheriff’s homicide detectives are investigating a fatal stabbing Sunday morning.

A man was found dead from apparent stab wounds in the 2100 block of West Garvey Avenue North before 7 a.m. May 17. There was no description given for the victim or a possible suspect, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Information Bureau.

Anyone with information is urged to call the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500. Information can be provided anonymously by calling L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), through the P3 Tips mobile app or lacrimestoppers.org.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

WEST COVINA - Detectives are asking any possible victims of a man who has been a foster parent to come forward after his March arrest for suspicion of assaulting his foster child.

A 10-year-old girl told West Covina Police March 3 that her foster parent, 68-year-old David Diaz of West Covina, sexually assaulted her. Officers arrived and arrested Diaz, according to the West Covina Police Department.

Detectives learned that Diaz had served as a foster parent for 18 years and believe there may be additional victims.

Anyone who may have been a victim of Diaz, or has any information that can help with the investigation is urged to call the West Covina Police Tip Line at 626-939-8688 to leave a message.

The case was presented to the Los Angeles county district attorneys office, which filed charges of Sex assault by force and sexual perversion with a child under 14 years old. Diaz remains in custody and is being held in lieu of $1.25 million bail.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

WEST COVINA - 11 People were taken into custody Friday after an investigation uncovered an illegal gambling operation filled with games, drugs, guns and cash, police said.

The illegal operation was taking place at the Colony Apartments, 301 S. Glendora Ave. Detectives acted on information given to them about the activity. A search warrant was obtained to investigate the operation, West Covina police said.

West Covina police detectives and investigators with the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office discovered gambling machines, bulk US currency, a large quantity of methamphetamine and four firearms, West Covina police said.

The 11 people arrested were booked for various crimes including illegal narcotics violations, weapons violations and illegal gambling.

Detectives also confiscated multiple items from the apartment.

WEST COVINA - A speeding driver led the California Highway Patrol on a reckless pursuit and briefly took refuge in an occupied home Monday, the CHP said.

Jimmy Anthony Chavez, a 26-year-old Covina man, refused to stop for an officer after allegedly driving 90 miles per hour in a 65 mile per hour zone on the west I-10 freeway at West Covina Parkway.

The officer attempted a traffic stop at 10:51 a.m. April 20. He pursued Chavez onto West Covina surface streets from Vincent Avenue until Chavez abandoned his vehicle in a dead end alley behind Workman Avenue west of Sunset Avenue, according to Rodrigo Jimenez of the California Highway Patrol Baldwin Park Office.

WEST COVINA – Two burglary suspects were arrested and a third suspect is outstanding after the latter attempted to carjack a hospital employee April 13.

Officers, responding to an unspecified location for a burglary investigation, pursued the suspects who refused to stop around 4:35 a.m. Monday, according to the West Covina Police Department.

The suspects abandoned their vehicle and fled on foot in the 14000 block of Donaldale Avenue in La Puente. While officers were setting a containment, one suspect attempted a carjacking, West Covina Police said.

WEST COVINA - An accused reckless driver refused to stop for police and led them on a chase Saturday night.

The suspect rammed a West Covina Police car during the chase into La Puente where the driver crashed through a fence at Baldwin Academy, 1616 Griffith Ave., according to the West Covina Police Department.