Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

WEST COVINA - Authorities announced the arrest of a man sought in the double slaying of two brothers at the West Covina apartment complex.

Michael Antonio Mariano Junior was arrested Tuesday, March 21 at an apartment complex in Corona. He was arrested days after the arrest of his sister, Lorraine Fisher, who was booked on suspicion of being an accessory after the fact, according to the West Covina Police Department.

Mariano is accused of gunning down Maliki Faust, 22, and Majarion Faust, 19, in the carport of an apartment complex November 2, 2022.

The murdered men are cousins of Mariano.

The men were found shot in the 3400 block of South Sentous Avenue after police were called at 10:45 p.m. One man was declared dead at the scene, the second victim died at a hospital according to Lt. Travis Tibbetts of the West Covina Police Department.

According to Los Angeles county booking records, Mariano was originally arrested November 3, 2022 at 11:52 a.m. and was held in lieu of $4 million bail. He was then released the same day at 9:42 pm. Booking records show that he was held for detention only. It is not publicly clear why investigators originally deemed that he be released.

The March 21 arrest was made with the help of the US Marshal Service Pacific Southwest Regional Fugitive Task Force.

Mariano is currently being held without bail ahead of a scheduled appearance in West Covina court Thursday, March 23.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

WEST COVINA - A 22-year-old gang member was arrested March 19, accused of a number of charges after initially trying to elude authorities in a vehicle stolen from a dealership he allegedly also burglarized, police said.

The vehicle had yet to be reported stolen, taken from a La Puente dealership. Officers pursued the driver, who is also a parolee-at-large, until he crashed into a tree and ran, according to Sgt. Chris Palaganas of the West Covina Police Department.

Authorities attempted to stop the driver at Temple Avenue and Del Valle Avenue for a vehicle code violation March 19 around 2:03 a.m.

The driver disabled the vehicle after striking a tree at South Glendora Avenue and West Spruce Street in West Covina. He fled for a short distance on foot. He received some injuries from the vehicle’s airbags which deployed during the crash, Palaganas told SGV CityWatch.

The suspect was taken into custody and booked on suspicion of providing a fake name to officers, felony evading, driving a stolen vehicle, and possession of drug paraphernalia, Palaganas told SGV CityWatch.

Industry deputies are handling the dealership burglary, Palaganas told SGV CityWatch.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

WEST COVINA - Three occupants of an apartment complex lost their lives in an overnight fire, a West Covina Police Lieutenant said.

The fire burned at Rollingwood Apartments, 1901 E. Amar Rd. The fire potentially also affected two other units, forcing at least two other residents to be displaced, authorities said.

First responders were sent to the apartment complex before 1 a.m., Sunday, March 5.

Some surrounding apartment units were evacuated as a precaution during the fire fight, according to Lt. Nelson of the West Covina Police Department.

Los Angeles county fire department arson investigators were called to assist west Covina firefighters with determining the cause, Nelson told SGV CityWatch.

The American Red Cross has been called to assist those displaced.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

WEST COVINA - At least three people were wounded in a major collision that may have resulted from DUI driving, authorities said Saturday.

The suspected DUI driver’s passenger sustained major injuries and was hospitalized. Occupants in the other vehicle received minor injuries, according to the West Covina Police Department.

The crash occurred just before 1:30 p.m. Friday, March 3, at South Azusa Avenue and East Vine Avenue. A van and a sedan collided, sending the van into a power pole. The sedan landed on the center median.

The memes page westcovina626sgv erroneously reported that fatalities resulted from the crash. There were no fatalities.

The name of the driver who was arrested was not readily available Saturday.