WEST COVINA – Two men were arrested, accused of attempting to steal a tailgate from a Toyota pickup truck June 8, the West Covina Police Department said.

Arrested were Anthony Yuban Venegas, 26, and James Michael Aguirre, 31. Venegas was arrested and booked on suspicion of felony reckless evading, attempted grand theft and receiving stolen property. Aguirre was booked on suspicion of attempted grand theft and grand theft, according to Los Angeles County Superior Court records.

Two suspects were spotted around 1:44 a.m. in the area of Cameron Avenue and Lark Ellen Avenue by a patrol officer. The men fled into a vehicle and led officers on a brief pursuit along surface streets until crashing into some shrubbery in City of Industry, according to Alexus Napoles, community relations officer with the West Covina Police Department.

Both suspects, later identified as Venegas and Aguirre, fled the crash, but officers found them and arrested them.

Officers discovered a tailgate taken from somewhere else, tucked inside the crashed vehicle, according to the West Covina Police Department.

“Both suspects were also wanted out of Orange County and had felony warrants for their arrest,” according to the West Covina Police Department.

Venegas is being held without bail. His next scheduled appearance in the West Covina courthouse is June 21, according to Los Angeles County booking records.

Aguirre is being held in lieu of $65,000 bail. He is scheduled to be arraigned at the West Covina courthouse September 8, according to Los Angeles County booking records.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

BALDWIN PARK - The California Highway Patrol will conduct a DUI/driver license checkpoint tonight scheduled for 7 p.m. at an undisclosed area in the unincorporated City of Industry and West Covina areas.

CHP officers trained in detecting impaired drivers will be equipped with hand-held breath testing devices to measure the blood alcohol concentration of suspected drunk drivers. All vehicles will be checked, traffic volume permitting. If the volume becomes too heavy, every third or fifth vehicle will be checked to assure objectivity, according to the California Highway Patrol.

Funding for this checkpoint was possible through a grant provided by the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.