Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

WEST COVINA - The No. 5 lane and the Pacific Avenue off ramp will be closed until at least 5:30 a.m. after a trailer hauling tomatoes caught fire Saturday morning.

The trailer caught fire and stopped on the westbound I-10 freeway near Pacific Avenue sometime after 2 a.m. March 28. The California Highway Patrol was dispatched to the scene at 2:11 a.m. according to CHP traffic logs.

The trailer was hauling 30,000 pounds of tomatoes. The structural integrity of the trailer is compromised and the tomatoes are being offloaded before the trailer can be moved, the California Highway Patrol said.

No injuries were reported.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

WEST COVINA - In a written message posted to the West Covina Unified School District webpage, someone from West Covina High School has positive for Novel Coronavirus.

In the message dated March 15, the unidentified person is said to be resting comfortably at home. The person is under quarantine and is awaiting further instruction from public health officials.

“Effective immediately, we have moved from dismissal to closure status at all sites until further notice due to an individual at West Covina High School testing positive for the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19),” according to the written statement.

“Per the advisement of the California Department of Public Health and the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, Students should stay home and minimize social contact as much as possible to keep family members safe.

“In particular, we ask students to avoid activities involving large gatherings. Students may not be on campus at anytime for any reason. It is important that social distancing measures take place While school is closed to reduce the spread of the virus.”

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

WEST COVINA - A 9-month-old baby was placed into protective custody, the child’s parents jailed after detectable amounts of methamphetamine and cocaine were found in the baby’s bloodstream Wednesday.

Erin Jill Maloney, 37, and Richard A. Rapp, 34, were arrested after hospital staff became suspicious and alerted officers to a child suffering respiratory illness just after 12:33 a.m. March 11. A search warrant was served in the couple’s home where the drugs that coursed through the baby’s body were found in plain view, according to the West Covina Police Department.

The baby is in stable condition.

The search warrant was served in the 800 block of South Sunset Avenue where cocaine, methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia were located. The same contraband was found in the vehicle used to take the baby to the hospital, West Covina Police said in a written statement.

Maloney and Rapp were booked on suspicion of felony child endangerment and possession of a controlled substance. Bail is set at $100,000 each for the West Covina couple who are scheduled for an appearance in Pomona Superior Court March 13.

WEST COVINA - A man from the San Bernardino area was jailed March 4 after attempting to kidnap a 12-year-old girl on a skateboard, a West Covina Police lieutenant said.

The incident occurred near the intersection of South Glendora Avenue and East Dalewood Street around 5:38 p.m. The suspect grabbed the girl’s arm and pulled her around a vehicle when a Good Samaritan heard the girl’s screams and intervened, according to Lt. Huston Clements of the West Covina Police Department.