Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

WEST COVINA - A short pursuit ended in La Puente Sunday with the driver escaping custody, a West Covina Police lieutenant said.

Police pursued the driver before midnight December 8 after believing he was behind the wheel of a stolen vehicle. The chase ended in the 1000 block of Sandsprings Drive in La Puente. The passenger was detained, according to Lt. Keith Shishido of the West Covina Police Department.

A containment search was set up with the help of a helicopter and Baldwin Park Police officers after the passenger made mention of a handgun, but no gun was found.

Officers conducted yards searches to find the suspect.

The vehicle was later determined to not be stolen, Shishido said.

The passenger was eventually released.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
​CityWatch Editor

WEST COVINA - Two Covina residents were killed when a vehicle driven by carjacking suspect crashed into another vehicle early Saturday.

The Jeep Patriot driven by a man accused of a carjacking in Baldwin Park was found in West Covina around 2 a.m. near Durness Street and South Sandy Hook Street October 12. The driver refused to stop for police and fled officers until crashing on northbound Glendora Avenue at Cameron Avenue, according to the West Covina Police Department.

Two adults in the eastbound vehicle struck by the suspect were ejected and died at the scene. A child in the vehicle was hospitalized, West Covina Police said.

Gracie Contreras, 53, and Edward Contreras, 55, were identified by the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner. Both were Covina residents.

The 2010 Jeep Patriot was reported carjacked around 1 a.m. in Baldwin Park by a knife-wielding suspect at Hilda Solis Park, Baldwin Park Police said.

West Covina Police began searching for the vehicle once officers were notified the Jeep was last seen entering the city.

The California Highway Patrol Major Accident Investigation Team is investigating the crash.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

WEST COVINA - A stolen vehicle suspect was arrested Friday after fleeing officers during a brief chase.

The suspect stopped outside some stores at Eastland Center, 2753 Eastland Center Dr., setting off a containment and frightening shoppers.

A California Highway Patrol helicopter notified West Covina police of a LoJack signal in the area of Holt Avenue and Grand Avenue around 11:38 a.m. June 21. Officers arrived three minutes later and located the vehicle, according to Sgt. Michelle Figueroa of the West Covina Police Department.

The suspect was found driving at South Barranca Street and East Virginia Avenue. He refused to stop and briefly fled officers to Eastland Center, Figueroa said.

Officers, aided by a helicopter, descended on Eastland where the suspect fled.

The suspect fled near Dick’s Sporting Goods and Target where officers had guns drawn..

People inside Target communicated with family via text that they were prevented from leaving the store.

The suspect was found near Dick’s Sporting Goods and arrested.

No other suspects are outstanding, Figueroa said.

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Written by AARON CASTREJON
​CityWatch Editor

WEST COVINA - A man and woman were jailed Saturday after fleeing their crashed ride during a short pursuit December 15.

The pursuit began outside West Covina jurisdiction when a West Covina officer attempted to stop a vehicle without license plates. The driver sped off and recklessly led police on a chase, according to Sgt. Michelle Figueroa of the West Covina Police Department.

Police attempted to stop the driver along Cypress Street at 5:13 p.m.

The driver fled police at high speed, ran red lights and made unsafe lane changes during the pursuit, Figueroa said.

The pursuit continued northbound on Grand Avenue in Glendora where the driver attempted to turn east on Dawson Avenue, but the driver struck a curb and knocked over a street sign at 5:17 p.m.

Both suspects fled on foot, but vigilant residents helped police find the suspects, Figueroa said.

Arrested were Marina Rosalyn Gonzalez, a 25-year-old West Covina woman, and Jaime Gerardo Rivera, a 34-year-old Covina man.

Among the booking charges are grand theft auto, evading police, possession of methamphetamine, resisting or delaying a peace officer and possession of burglary tools.

Gonzalez is being held in lieu of $75,000 bail. Rivera is being held in lieu of $25,000 bail, according to Los Angeles County booking records.


Both suspects are scheduled to appear in Citrus Municipal Court West Covina Tuesday, December 18.