Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor WEST COVINA - More than 100 mortar fireworks were seized over a few hours during traffic stops June 19, according to the West Covina Police Department.
The illegal fireworks, worth approximately$6,000, were handed to the West Covina Fire Department Arson Investigator for destruction, according to the West Covina Police Department. The drivers in possession of the fireworks were issued citations. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor WEST COVINA - A vandalism suspect was caught destroying a window and spray-painting a restaurant June 19 after he became irate when asked to pay for his meal.
Keoni Smith, 22, was arrested and booked on suspicion of felony vandalism. His tirade was caught on a customer’s cell phone as he destroyed a window at Red Robin, 428 Plaza Dr., and proceeded to paint the outside with blue spray paint. The incident was reported at 11:50 a.m. Monday, June 19. “The suspect … ate at the restaurant and failed to pay for his meal. When he was confronted by management, he became irate and exited the restaurant. After exiting, he began spray painting the restaurant’s wall and shattered one of the windows,” according to the West Covina Police Department in a written statement. Smith is being held in lieu of $20,000 bail in the West Covina jail ahead of a scheduled appearance in the West Covina courthouse Wednesday, June 21. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor WEST COVINA - A man who appeared to be armed robbed the driver of a Brinks armored truck in West Covina Tuesday afternoon.
The robbery took place outside Chase Bank, 455 N. Azusa Ave., just before Noon June 13. The suspect, only described as a Latino man, was decked out in a construction uniform, complete with an orange safety helmet and green neon vest. The FBI did not disclose how much cash the suspect may have escaped with. Anyone with information on the suspect is urged to call the FBI Los Angeles field office 310-477-6565. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor WEST COVINA - Two gangbangers were arrested May 15, during a multi-agency operation while a search warrant was being served.
The operation was carried out by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Organized Crime Task Force. Several people were detained and during the search one pound of heroin for sales was discovered, as well as one pound of methamphetamine for sales, digital scales, packaging for illegal narcotics, handguns and ammunition were seized, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Of the weapons seized, one hand gun was reported stolen, one was deemed a “ghost gun,” one of the firearms had obliterated serial numbers and the others were unregistered weapons, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. The names of the two gang bangers arrested were not immediately available. Assisting the Organized Crime Task Force were the Sheriff’s Special Enforcement Bureau, Sheriff’s Major Crimes Bureau, Sheriff’s Custody Services Division, Industry Sheriff’s Station SAO team and the California Department Correctional Rehabilitation-North Kern State Prison personnel. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor WEST COVINA - A man from Victorville was booked on suspicion of felony DUI and vehicular manslaughter charges after allegedly crashing a vehicle into a flood control channel, killing his passenger, according to the West Covina Police Department.
First responders were sent to the crash at Valinda Avenue and Glendora Avenue just after Midnight April 23. Once first responders descended into the flood control channel, they found a passenger dead at the scene. Driver Jose Felix Tamayo-Juárez, 24, was evaluated for minor injuries and later arrested. He is being held in lieu of $100,000 bail, according to the West Covina Police Department. Roadways near the crash were closed for many hours but have since reopened. Anyone with information on this investigation is urged to call West Covina Police Traffic Corporal Cychner at 626-939-8589. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor WEST COVINA - Witnesses helped police jail a group of juveniles seen tagging Wednesday night and helped officers recover an unregistered handgun tossed by one of the teens in a vain attempt to ditch the evidence.
Officers were sent to the 200 block of Vincent Avenue around 7:48 p.m. Wednesday, April 12. A witness told dispatchers that one of the teens had a firearm in his waistband. The teens escaped on foot once officers arrived, according to the West Covina Police Department. Officers caught the teens who fled towards the plaza mall. A witness later told officers that one of the teens tossed a firearm into some bushes during his escape. The firearm, which was unregistered, was found loaded, according to the West Covina Police Department. The juvenile who was seen in possession of the firearm was arrested and booked at the West Covina Police Department and later released to a legal guardian. The other teams were simply released to their legal guardians. 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 - 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. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor WEST COVINA - There is apparently no evidence a hacker downloaded or exported any data after a breach of a student and staff portal was discovered February 10.
The hacker reportedly sent out a message Friday to users of the Clever learning portal in an attempt to entice registration with the Clever messaging platform. Those who clicked on the message apparently also saw a racial slur, according to West Covina Unified School District Superintendent of Schools Emy Flores. “It is unfortunate and disgraceful that the hacker chose to use a derogatory and racist slur and we are deeply sorry that this happened,” Flores said in a written statement. An investigation by Clever’s security and engineering teams determined there are no repercussions and vulnerabilities since the district uses ParentSquare, not the Clever messaging system, according to a district message. Any changes made after 9 p.m. February 10 were reversed by the Clever engineering The district will implement added security measures, such as multi-factor authentication. |
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