Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor

WEST COVINA - A 16-year-old boy was identified and arrested Tuesday after forensic evidence he left behind at the scene of a school burglary led right to him.

West Covina officers were called to Merlinda Elementary School, 1120 S. Valinda Ave., around 6:30 a.m. Monday to investigate a burglary. A computer lab was burglarized and numerous laptops were taken, West Covina Police.

Police declined to state what evidence the teen left behind and how they were able to match the evidence to the teen.

A search warrant was served at the teen’s West Covina home in the 900 block of Francisquito Avenue where all the laptops were discovered and recovered, West Covina Police said.

The teen, whose name will not be released because he is a juvenile, was booked at the West Covina Police Department and was later released to his parents.

A case will be presented to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.

Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor

WEST COVINA - Two men armed with handguns robbed their victim of his personal property around 4:25 a.m., West Covina Police said.
 
The robbery occurred at Farlington Street and WillowAvenue. The victim was on foot when the suspects drove up to him and demanded his property, said Cpl. Rudy Lopez of the West Covina Police Department.
 
The suspects then entered their older-model 4-door Toyota Camry and fled south on Willow Avenue towards Francisquito, Lopez said.
 
The suspects, described as Hispanic men, wore hoodies.
 
No injuries were reported.

Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor

WEST COVINA - Two men who were confronted by a homeowner after they gained access to his backyard escaped arrested during an hour-long search Wednesday.
 
The suspects jumped into a yard in the 3100 block of Sunset Hill Drive just after Noon when no one answered their knocks at the front door. Once in the rear yard, the homeowner confronted them and they fled, according to Cpl. Rudy Lopez of the West Covina Police Department.
 
Nearby Mesa Elementary School and South Hills High School inquired about the hefty police search, aided by a helicopter, and chose to put themselves on lockdown.
 
“They elected to lock down and held students in their classrooms,” Lopez said.
 
The West Covina Police Department notified the schools that their search ended after the suspects could not be found, Lopez said.
 
One suspect is either a white or light-skinned Hispanic man, 18-25 years old with black, curly shoulder-length hair. He is 5-foot 8 to 5 feet 9 inches tall and wore a blue long-sleeve shirt and light blue jeans.
 
The second suspect is a Hispanic man with short black hair and he wore a black shirt and black sweat pants with a star patter on them.

Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor

WEST COVINA - Police are investigating two collisions in the 1100 block of East Merced Avenue.

One victim, described as female, was hit and sent underneath a vehicle. She is not pinned under the vehicle and is breathing, according to West Covina Police radio traffic.

Officers stated a victim may soon die from their injuries.

Officers may close down a large swath of Merced during a traffic investigation.

Mo further information is available.

Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor

WEST COVINA - A man in a blue shirt and possibly a red hat took a wallet from his victim at gunpoint Wednesday evening.

The robbery took place near K-Mart, 730 S. Orange Ave., around 6 p.m. The victim was waiting at the intersection when the suspect approached and produced a black handgun, according to West Covina Police radio traffic.

Initially, it was reported the suspect asked to use the victim’s phone.

The suspect, further described as being 25 to 30 years old, 5 feet 10 inches tall, 180 pounds, with a medium build and a goatee, fled westbound towards Doctors Hospital of West Covina, 725 S. Orange Ave.

A West Covina Police supervisor was unavailable to provide further details.

Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor

WEST COVINA - Officers responding to a reported home burglary uncovered hundreds of marijuana plants Tuesday afternoon.
 
The illegal marijuana grow was operating inside a home in the 200 block of North Hartley Avenue. Officers arrived to the home around 1:30 p.m. after a resident reported possible burglary suspects leaving the residence, said West Covina Police Lt. Travis Tibbetts.
 
A resident witnessed two Hispanic men fleeing the home while carrying trash bags full of property. The men fled in a grey Ford Focus, Tibbetts said.
 
The men were not found by officers who did confirm a ransack burglary did take place in the home.

Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor

WEST COVINA - A pursuit ended minutes ago in the area of Amar Road and Azusa Avenue. One suspect fled the vehicle after crashing.

The suspect was just taken into custody after he fled the suspect vehicle. The suspect was spotted by a police helicopter as he ran around a nearby hillside in and around residential properties, according to West Covina Police radio traffic.

No further information is available.