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 - A 71-year-old man remains in critical condition after a possible road rage confrontation led to an assault June 29.

Walter Mauricio Madrid, 29, was arrested the day of the alleged assault, according to Los Angeles County booking records. He was booked on suspicion of battery/aggravated assault, according to the West Covina Police Department.

Just before 6:30 p.m. June 29, the victim, an Avocado Heights resident, and Madrid May have gotten into a road rage incident near Sunset Avenue and Plaza Drive. The incident ended with a physical confrontation at Evanwood Avenue and Merced Avenue where the victim was knocked unconscious, according to the West Covina Police Department.

As of July 7, the victim was still in critical condition.

Madrid posted $30,000 bond the day of the assault, according to Los Angeles County booking records.

Anyone with information that can help this investigation is urged to call West Covina Police Detective Silva at 626-939-8539.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

WEST COVINA - A shooting victim was hospitalized Thursday after he was found wounded in La Puente February 24.

Authorities determined the victim, described as a male adult, was shot in the 1900 block of South Tonopah Avenue, according to the West Covina Police Department.

Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputies responded at 6:18 a.m. to Sunset Avenue and Amar Road and found the victim there after being called to investigate a shooting, according to the West Covina Police Department.

“West Covina Police Officers were notified, arrived to the scene, and took over the investigation. The victim is currently in stable condition,” according to the West Covina Police Department in a written statement.

Anyone with information on this shooting is urged to call the West Covina Police Department at 626-939-8688. Information can be provided anonymously by calling LA Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), through the P3Tips mobile app, or lacrimestoppers.org.

WEST COVINA – Two burglary suspects were arrested and a third suspect is outstanding after the latter attempted to carjack a hospital employee April 13.

Officers, responding to an unspecified location for a burglary investigation, pursued the suspects who refused to stop around 4:35 a.m. Monday, according to the West Covina Police Department.

The suspects abandoned their vehicle and fled on foot in the 14000 block of Donaldale Avenue in La Puente. While officers were setting a containment, one suspect attempted a carjacking, West Covina Police said.

WEST COVINA - An accused reckless driver refused to stop for police and led them on a chase Saturday night.

The suspect rammed a West Covina Police car during the chase into La Puente where the driver crashed through a fence at Baldwin Academy, 1616 Griffith Ave., according to the West Covina Police Department.