Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

WEST COVINA - Two Los Angeles men were charged with one count each of murder in the January 17 slaying of a La Puente man.

Sonny Ruiz, 23, and Drygani Gonzalez, 24, were arrested May 2 by West Covina Police detectives in the killing of Michael Varela, 24, according to the West Covina Police Department.

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Varela died at a hospital.

Ruiz and Gonzalez are being held without bail in the Men’s Central Jail in Los Angeles ahead of a scheduled appearance in Pomona Superior Court May 8.

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The arrest records 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 persons named in this article have only been arrested on suspicion of the crime(s) listed and is presumed innocent.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

LOS ANGELES - A man found dead near the South Hills Country Club was recently identified as a West Covina resident.

Robert Valle, 27, was named by the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner. He died by hanging.

The body was found behind chain link fencing near the country club, 2655 S. Citrus Ave., March 24. First responders were sent to the scene around 7:20 a.m., according to Lt. Armas of the West Covina Police Department.

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The death record in this article is being redistributed by SGV CityWatch and is protected by constitutional, publishing and other legal rights. Information about the decedent(s), including cause and manner of death, is public record and was distributed by government sources.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

WEST COVINA - Foul play is not suspected in an apartment fire that killed a pet cat Saturday night.

Firefighters were able to contain flames to one second-story unit at an apartment in the 1600 block of Amar Road. A pet rabbit was rescued and two residents require medical attention. Adjacent apartment units sustained water damage, according to the West Covina Fire Department.

Residence occupying the affected apartment unit had already evacuated and nearby residence were evacuated with help from first responders.

“Arson Investigators from our Fire Investigation Unit are investigating this incident with no foul-play suspected at this time,” according to the West Covina Fire Department in a written statement.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

WEST COVINA - An adult was found deceased near South Hills Country Club Monday morning.

The body was found behind chain link fencing. First responders were sent to the scene at Cameron Avenue and Barranca Avenue around 7:20 a.m., according to Lt. Armas of the West Covina Police Department.

“There’s no foul play, no outstanding suspects. That’s where we’re at with it,” Armas told SGV CityWatch.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

WEST COVINA - One person was killed and three others were hospitalized in a early-morning collision Friday.

Traffic investigators believe the driver of a black Toyota sedan was driving on the wrong side of the road in the 1700 block of Puente Avenue when the sedan crashed head-on into a white Honda sedan February 21, according to the West Covina Police Department.

The crash occurred around 12:16 a.m.

Four people were in the white Honda. A rear passenger died at the scene. The other three occupants were hospitalized, as well as the driver of the black Toyota, according to the West Covina Police Department.

Of the two men and one woman hospitalized, one is listed in critical condition, and one in stable condition. One patient has already been released.

The wrong-way driver is still hospitalized.

The West Covina Police Major Accident Investigation Team is handling the case.

Anyone with information on this crash is urged to call the West Covina Police 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 - A man hospitalized after being shot late Friday night died from his wounds, police said.

The victim was found shot in the 600 block of South Sunset Avenue. First responders were sent to the scene around 9:13 p.m., according to the west Covina Police Department.

It is not immediately clear if the victim was shot at the location or perhaps dropped off there.

No suspects are in custody.

Anyone with information on this shooting 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 - At least one person is dead after a vehicle crashed into the right shoulder wall from the Barranca Avenue on-ramp to the westbound I-10 freeway early Saturday morning.

The westbound on ramp from northbound Barranca Avenue will be closed for up to three hours, according to the California Highway Patrol.

West Covina firefighters were sent to the crash just before 4:30 a.m. Saturday, December 14.

The cause of the collision is under investigation.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

WEST COVINA - Two people died Monday in a major collision on Azusa Avenue.

The crash occurred on South Azusa Avenue at East Greenville Drive. First responders were called to the crash around 7:46 p.m. September 30. one of the vehicles reportedly overturned, according to West Covina Fire Department radio traffic.

One of the vehicles was being driven wrong way at the time of the crash, according to Lt. Travis Tibbetts of the West Covina Police Department.

Both vehicles collided head-on. One victim died at the scene. Another died after being hospitalized.

The West Covina Police Major Accident Investigation Team is determining the circumstances leading up to the crash, Tibbetts told SGV CityWatch.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

UPDATE: As of 7:45 a.m., all lanes are now open.

WEST COVINA - At least one person died in a multi-vehicle crash on the eastbound I-10 freeway just east of Azusa Avenue early Saturday morning.

Only the No. 5 lane is open. All other lanes remain closed until further notice, according to the California Highway Patrol.

It is unclear how the crash led to the fatality, but after the collision involving a blue Toyota Camry, a semi and at least one other car, occupants exited their vehicles and were standing in traffic lanes with other vehicles coming in fast, according to California Highway Patrol traffic logs.

The crash was reported to the CHP around 4 a.m. August 31. Debris apparently was spread across all lanes, necessitating a brief full lane closure of the eastbound side before law enforcement was able to open up one lane.

Details on the person who died at the scene we’re not readily available.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

LOS ANGELES - The Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner revealed the manner of death for a 38-year-old man found in a home July 14.

Felipe de Jesus Rodriguez died from multiple sharp force injuries. The death was deemed a homicide.

An early-morning call of a man down led first responders to a dead body July 14 in a house in the 2300 block of West Havenbrook Street around 5:49 a.m. Firefighters declared the victim dead at the scene.