Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

WEST COVINA - A West Covina cop was officially charged with multiple felony counts and misdemeanor counts, accused of looting cash from motorists dating back to last year.

Jose Antonio Garcia, 37, was charged with one felony count each of misappropriation of public funds and grand theft by embezzlement and two misdemeanor counts of petty theft, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.

Garcia, a Long Beach resident, was arrested November 24 by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Internal Criminal investigations Bureau.

During a September 21, 2024 traffic stop, Garcia allegedly stole $600 in cash from the victim’s wallet during a search of the victim’s vehicle. The victim was also arrested at the conclusion of the traffic stop. November 23 of that year, Garcia allegedly store $100 from a passenger’s backpack during a separate traffic stop. Both driver and passenger were released with a verbal warning.

During a February 8, 2025 traffic stop, Garcia allegedly stole $300 from the driver’s center console.

“While we fully support due process, any criminal conduct by an officer, particularly involving theft or abuse of public trust, is unacceptable and undermines our mission. We are deeply concerned that an officer may have violated the public trust and the fundamental principles of policing. We are committed to ensuring accountability,” according to West Covina Police Chief Antonio Cortina.

If convicted as charged, Garcia faces up to four years in state prison and an additional consecutive one-year jail term. He was issued a citation and released. He is expected to appear for an arraignment on Jan. 28 in Department 4 of the West Covina Courthouse.

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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.


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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 - Police officers called to investigate a suspicious vehicle discovered a dead body inside Wednesday.

The body was found in a Toyota Camry parked on the street at Fairgrove Ave and Aroma Drive July 24. Detectives said there is likely nothing criminal in the death, according to Lt. Tim Rodgers of the West Covina Police Department.

First responders were sent to the scene around 7 p.m.

Rodgers declined to visually identify the victim, but stated the vehicle was entered into law enforcement databases regarding a missing persons case from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau, Missing Persons Detail. Which case specifically, Rodgers declined to say.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

WEST COVINA - A deputy shy of 20 years with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department survived a shooting while waiting at a red light Monday afternoon.

A suspect believed to be driving a white sedan with tinted windows shot the uniformed 43-year-old deputy who sat on an LA County Sheriff’s motorcycle while perched at a red light on South Barranca Street at East Garvey Avenue North. The deputy remains hospitalized in stable condition, according to Sheriff Robert Luna.

The shooting happened around 2:45 p.m. Monday, April 22. The white sedan fled westbound on the I-10 freeway.

“He was sitting on a marked black and white police motorcycle in full uniform and he was shot in the back,” according to Sheriff Luna in an evening press conference.

An examination of the deputy’s vest shows that he was struck once. The bulletproof vest saved the deputy’s life, Sheriff Luna said.

It is not yet clear if this was a crime of opportunity, or if the suspect followed the deputy and waited for a time to strike, Sheriff Luna said.

A license plate was obtained regarding a vehicle possibly tied to the shooting. Within the hour or so after the incident, deputies and California Highway Patrol officers surrounded a house in La Puente where several people were detained. These persons of interest will be released, if they haven’t already been released, since investigators cannot link them to this crime, Sheriff Luna said.

“Right now there is somebody out there armed with a firearm who shot one of our deputies in the back and if he’s willing to do that, he’s willing to shoot at anybody,” Sheriff Luna said.

Anyone who witnessed this shooting, or who may have information leading to a suspect, or suspects, is urged to call Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Homicide detectives at 323-890-5500. Remain anonymous by calling LA Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), through the P3Tips mobile app, or lacrimestoppers.org.

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 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.

WEST COVINA - Technicians with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Arson/Explosives detail removed a suspicious item from a resident’s garage Friday.

An older resident had an item stored in a garage in the 1000 block of South Craig Avenue. The item caused enough concern to call out bomb squad technicians, according to Lt. Tim Rodgers of the West Covina Police Department.

A small section of the neighborhood was blocked while bomb squad technicians removed the item. Rodgers did not see the item himself and was unable to describe it to SGV CityWatch.

“The bomb squad took the device. Basically, they don’t know what it is, if it’s a live round or not. They’ll x-ray it and determine that later and dispose of it at some point,” Rodgers said in a Sunday-evening interview.

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.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

WEST COVINA - A U-Haul truck was recovered after the driver finally surrendered at the end of a pursuit and crash at Dodger Stadium Thursday.

Officers attempted to stop the driver of a U-Haul truck after locating at Workman Avenue and Azusa Avenue around 1:40 a.m. December 23. Officers were notified of the stolen vehicle through the city’s flock camera system, according to the West Covina Police Department.

The driver refused to stop and led police on a chase to Dodger Stadium where the driver crashed.

“The suspect barricaded himself inside of the vehicle and refused to comply with officers' commands. However, after a substantial amount of time the officers were able to get the driver into custody without incident,” according to the West Covina Police Department in a written statement.

The suspect’s name was not given.