Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

WEST COVINA - Less than a day after a victim was critically wounded in a drive-by shooting, a suspect was identified and taken into custody.

West Covina man Anthony Henry Harris, 30, was arrested after officers served a warrant at his residence in the 900 block of East Service Avenue around 7:38 a.m. Sunday, September 1. Harris was booked on suspicion of attempted murder and is being held without bail, according to the West Covina Police Department.

The victim, a 28-year-old man, was walking on Lark Ellen Avenue near Fairgrove Avenue when a vehicle drove by. An occupant shot at the victim several times. The victim was shot in the face. He remains hospitalized, according to the West Covina Police Department.

No other suspects are being sought.

Harris is scheduled for an appearance in West Covina Superior Court Thursday, September 5.

Anyone with additional information on this shooting is urged to call the West Covina Police Department at 626-939-8688, reference case 24-05258. Remain anonymous by calling LA Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), through the P3Tips mobile app, or lacrimestoppers.org.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

WEST COVINA - An arson suspect was arrested Thursday, accused of igniting a fire at a street side electrical conduit box.

Firefighters were sent to East Vine Street and Hollenbeck Avenue just before 3 p.m. Thursday, August 29. An investigation led firefighters to a suspicion of arson, according to the West Covina Fire Department.

West Covina arson investigators and police officers arrived and a suspect was soon identified, located and arrested.

Arrested was 34-year-old Christopher Delon Fleytas. He was booked on suspicion of arson, possession of an incendiary device and possession of methamphetamine. He also had an outstanding warrant for inflicting corporal injury on a spouse, according to the West Covina police department.

Fleytas is being held in lieu of $80,000 bail in the Inmate Reception Center in Los Angeles ahead of a scheduled appearance in West Covina Superior Court September 4.

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The arrest record in this article is being redistributed by SGV CityWatch and is protected by constitutional, publishing and other legal rights. Arrest information is public record and was distributed by government sources. The person named in this article has only been arrested on suspicion of the crime(s) listed and is presumed innocent.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

WEST COVINA - A child has come forward with claims of sexual abuse against a man already accused of possessing hundreds of images of child porn.

A federal warrant was issued for Matthew Peter Mullen, 39. He was arrested August 8 and initially booked on suspicion of possessing child pornography and possession of obscene images of minors in a sexual manner, according to the West Covina Police Department.

“Later on August 08, 2024, a victim who is a minor was identified. West Covina Police Detectives and Special Agents from HSI contacted the victim and their family. This criminal investigation led to additional allegations of sex acts with a child under 10 years of age against S-Mullen,” according to the West Covina Police Department in a written statement.

The alleged acts were said to have occurred January 1, 2021.

The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office filed multiple felony counts for sex acts with a child under 10 years of age. Mullen was arraigned in West Covina Superior Court August 12 and is being held without bail.

It appears none of the original porn charges were included when Mullen was charged, according to Los Angeles County Superior Court records.

Mullen pleaded not guilty August 12. He is scheduled for an early disposition hearing September 9, according to Los Angeles County Superior Court records.

Assisting with the investigation are the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and Department of Homeland Security.

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​The arrest record in this article is being redistributed by SGV CityWatch and is protected by constitutional, publishing and other legal rights. Arrest information is public record and was distributed by government sources. The person named in this article has only been arrested on suspicion of the crime(s) listed and is presumed innocent.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

WEST COVINA - A weeks-long investigation involving the West Covina Police Department, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and Department of Homeland Security resulted in the arrest of a 39-year-old man accused of possessing hundreds of images of child porn.

Matthew Peter Mullen was arrested August 8. He was booked on suspicion of possessing child pornography and possession of obscene images of minors in a sexual manner, according to the West Covina Police Department.

A federal warrant was issued for Mullen’s arrest. Mullen was allegedly found in possession of more than 600 obscene images, according to the West Covina Police Department.

He was taken into custody at 9 a.m., August 8, according to Los Angeles County booking records.

Mullen has apparently performed work as a volunteer and local organizations.

His LinkedIn and Facebook profiles list extensive work in quality assurance for a variety of video game developers, most recently with Infinity Ward, Elodie Games and Disney Interactive.

“Due to Mullen’s volunteer efforts in local organizations, Investigators believe there may be additional victims. HSI Los Angeles and the West Covina Police Department are asking for assistance from the public,” according to the West Covina Police Department in a written statement.

Anyone with information on this investigation is urged to call West Covina Police Detective Iside at 626-939-8520 or contact the HSI TIP Line at 877-447-4847 and reference the Matthew Mullen investigation.

Mullen is scheduled to appear in West Covina Superior Court August 12.

********** The arrest record in this article is being redistributed by SGV CityWatch and is protected by constitutional, publishing and other legal rights. Arrest information is public record and was distributed by government sources. The person named in this article has only been arrested on suspicion of the crime(s) listed and is presumed innocent.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

WEST COVINA - One week after a brutal homicide was reported at a bus stop, detectives arrested a suspect.

Kevin Davis, 64, a North Hollywood resident, was found with a stab wound to the chest at a bus stop at California Avenue and West Covina Parkway around 3:47 a.m. Sunday, July 7. Despite efforts to save Davis, he was pronounced deceased at the scene.

Detectives somehow identified Rodney Chapman Jr., 34, as a suspect. He was located in the city of Pomona where he was arrested.

Chapman was charged with first-degree murder along with enhancements for using a weapon during the murder and for having been convicted of five previous felonies dating back to 2010, according to the West Covina Police Department in a written statement.

Chapman is being held without bail at the Twin Towers Correctional Facility in Los Angeles. He is next scheduled for an appearance in West Covina Superior Court, July 29.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

WEST COVINA - A driver allegedly wanted for equipment violations led police on a pursuit and barricaded himself for several hours inside of his vehicle, police said.

Officers originally attempted to stop the driver, Marcelo Patricio Carrillo, 38, for allegedly driving without headlights in the area of Azusa Avenue and Vine Street February 6 just before 11:30 p.m.

The pursuit took surface streets north into the city of Azusa.

Carrillo allegedly struck a parked vehicle at the end of the pursuit and refused to exit his vehicle. West Covina officers, with assistance from the Covina and Azusa Police Departments, surrounded Carrillo’s vehicle and negotiated with him to surrender.

Carrillo allegedly kept a firearm on his lap throughout the standoff, Rodgers told SGV CityWatch.

Officers even used Carrillo’s mother who pleaded with him over a bull horn to surrender peacefully, but the suspect did not listen.

Flash bang grenades and tear gas were used and Carrillo was flushed out and arrested. He was booked on suspicion of evading a peace officer, reckless evading and carrying a loaded firearm in public, Rodgers told SGV CityWatch.

Carrillo was finally removed from the vehicle around 2:30 a.m.

Carrillo is scheduled to appear in the West Covina courthouse February 8.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

WEST COVINA - An accused convenience store robber is probably a little red in the face after a West Covina sergeant walks in on the robbery in progress January 17.

The suspect, Ramon Gonzales, a 48-year-old La Puente man, allegedly walked in to a 7-Eleven around 8:30 p.m. Wednesday to purchase cigarettes. Gonzales allegedly brandished a handgun tucked in his waistband while the cashier bagged his smokes, according to the West Covina Police Department.

Gonzales allegedly demanded money from the register. After all the money was bagged, West Covina Police Sgt. Hernandez walked in during the crime in progress. The employee alerted Hernandez to the suspect as the latter fled the store.

Hernandez gave chase and apprehended the suspect. Hernandez confiscated a loaded handgun and $400 in cash which was returned to the store, according to the West Covina Police Department.

Gonzales was booked on suspicion of robbery, being a felon, in possession of a firearm and carrying a concealed weapon.

​Gonzales is being held in the Inmate Reception Center in Los Angeles ahead of a scheduled appearance in the West Covina courthouse January 19.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

WEST COVINA - Detectives announced the arrest of a 17-year-old from East Los Angeles who is accused of being the gunman they killed a liquor store clerk in West Covina, October 8.

The teen is being held at a juvenile detention facility ahead of a scheduled court appearance at the Pomona Courthouse Friday, October 13.

The teen, who is unnamed because of his age, is facing one count of first-degree murder in the shooting of 34-year-old Karanvir Singh, a charge filed by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.

Singh was gunned down outside Big Bob’s Liquor & Market. The teen and an accomplice are accused of stealing merchandise before the shooting.

Detectives still seek help in identifying the second person of interest. Anyone with information his whereabouts is urged to call the West Covina Police Department tip line at 626-939-8688. Remain anonymous by calling LA Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), through the P3Tips mobile app, or lacrimestoppers.org.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

WEST COVINA - An attempted murder and carjacking suspect is being held without bail after a brief chase October 6.

Quentin Marcus Barringer, a 19-year-old Los Angeles man, was caught after escaping police on foot.

Officers initially tried to stop Barringer for reported vehicle code violations around 12:41 p.m. Friday at Valley Boulevard and South Nogales Street, according to Lt.

After a brief vehicle chase, Barringer fled on foot into a neighborhood in the 2600 block of East Highcastle Street. Some residents were evacuated during a search, according to the West Covina Police Department.

Barringer is being held without bail at the Inmate Reception Center in Los Angeles ahead of a scheduled appearance in the West Covina Courthouse October 10.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

WEST COVINA - The US Marshal Service went to Jurupa Valley and arrested a man Friday accused of lewd and lascivious acts with a child or children.

José de Jesus Barraza, 47, was arrested and is being held in a lieu of $900,000 bail. Barraza was a gymnastics coach and operated out of the community centers in West Covina, according to the West Covina Police Department.

Authorities did not elaborate when the alleged assaults took place, or with how many potential victims.

Barraza is being held in the West Covina jail ahead of scheduled appearance at the West Covina Courthouse August 8.

West Covina detectives believe there may be additional victims that have yet to come forward. Anyone who knows a victim or anyone who may be a victim of Barraza is urged to call the West Covina police Department at 626-939-8500.