Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

WEST COVINA - Two suspects fled with a stolen Rolex watch during an armed robbery at Plaza West Covina Wednesday evening.

The victim reportedly followed the suspects who escaped to the I-10 freeway westbound where one of the suspects allegedly fired a handgun near Pacific Avenue and scared off the victim, according to Lt. Matt Nelson of the West Covina Police Department.

Police were called to the mall, 112 Plaza Dr., around 5:48 p.m. July 17.

California Highway Patrol officers assisted West Covina police by shutting down westbound lanes of the I-10 freeway to canvas the pavement for spent shell casings to corroborate the shooting aspect, according to Officer Sean Lough of the CHP Traffic Management Center.

The westbound side was shut down near Pacific Avenue just after 5:55 p.m. and remained closed for about an hour, Lough told SGV CityWatch.

It is not immediately clear if any evidence was located on the freeway.

Both suspects are described as a black males. They each wore a surgical mask, black hooded sweatshirt, black pants and have thin builds. Both suspects occupied a blue Jeep.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

WEST COVINA - An adult from Hesperia and a juvenile were arrested January 30, accused of two armed robberies at Eastland Center, police said.

A description of the suspect vehicle, an older-model red sedan, led police to make a traffic stop during increased patrols Tuesday around 9:20 p.m. and they found evidence connecting both driver and passenger to the crimes, according to Alexus Napoles of the West Covina Police Department.

In the most recent robbery, an armed suspect took off with a Louie Vuitton satchel after he yanked it from his victim outside Hobby Lobby January 29. Police were called to the store, 2753 E. Eastland Center Dr., around 12:08 p.m. The victim told officers the suspect fled in a vehicle after taking the satchel, Napoles told SGV CityWatch.

A robbery with similar circumstances occurred at Eastland Center closer to Target January 16.

During the traffic stop, officers located a ski mask and replica firearm, as well as items officers said were taken during both armed robberies, Napoles told SGV CityWatch.

Isaac Anderson, 18, was booked on suspicion of robbery, conspiracy to commit a crime and possession of stolen property. He is being held in lieu of $50,000.

The juvenile was booked at a juvenile detention center.

If anyone believes they are victims of the same duo seen driving an older-model red sedan, you are urged to call the West Covina Police Department at 626-939-8500.

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 tracked down and arrested two additional suspects tied to the murder of a West Covina convenience, store clerk.

19-year-old Arturo Ornelas, a Monterey Park resident, and 18-year-old Ivan Ventura Vanegas, an Alhambra resident, were taken into custody and booked on suspicion of murder, robbery, being an accessory to a crime and conspiracy to commit a crime, according to the West Covina Police Department.

Ornelas was arrested November 16. Vanegas was arrested December 7.

Ornelas was released on bond. Vanegas remain behind bars and is being held without bail.

All three suspects are believed to be members of the same criminal street gang, which detectives will not disclose, according to the West Covina Police Department.

A 17-year-old suspect was the first to be arrested, taken into custody October 10

Karanvir Singh, a 34-year-old clerk of Big Bob’s Liquor was gunned down October 8.

First responders found the clerk was wounded in the upper torso. He was hospitalized and later died, according to the West Covina Police department.

“It appears two males entered the store and stole merchandise. The victim confronted the men at which time a shooting occurred,” according to the West Covina Police Department in a written statement.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

WEST COVINA - A convenience store clerk trying to do the right thing ended up on the wrong side of a gun October 8 and was shot and killed during a robbery.

The shooting occurred around 8:45 p.m. Sunday at big Bob’s Liquors & Market, 1413 W. Puente Ave. First responders found a 34-year-old clerk wounded in the upper torso. He was hospitalized and later died, according to the West Covina Police department.

“It appears two males entered the store and stole merchandise. The victim confronted the men at which time a shooting occurred,” according to the West Covina Police Department in a written statement.

Both persons of interest were described as male Hispanics in their late teens to early twenties. The suspects fled the area in an unknown model light-colored SUV, according to the West Covina Police Department.

Anyone with information on this murder is urged to call the West Covina Police Department 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 - Three suspects were caught in West Covina August 18, allegedly found with a handgun, cutting tools and seven catalytic converters.

A resident confronted three men who were reportedly taking his catalytic converter in the early morning hours in the 1100 block of East Foothill Boulevard in Upland. One of the suspects allegedly brandished a firearm and threatened to kill the resident, according to the Upland Police Department.

The suspects fled in a Dodge Charger Hellcat, but were located by responding officers at Foothill Boulevard and Vineyard Avenue. The driver refused to stop and fled westbound on the I-10 freeway.

The suspects fled into West Covina where the driver lost control while exiting the freeway and crashed. The suspects briefly fled on foot, but were captured. One suspect even climbed a tree to elude capture, but an Upland PD K9 convinced him otherwise.

“The vehicle turned out to be stolen, had battery powered saws, and 7 catalytic converters inside. All three were booked on multiple felonies with bail enhancements,” according to the Upland Police Department in a written statement.

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.

WEST COVINA – A suspect simulated a firearm and took off with an undisclosed amount of cash from a dairy June 10.

The robbery occurred at Royal Crest Dairy, 1818 E. Rowland Ave. The crime was reported at 9:31 p.m. The suspect approached the employee, simulated the firearm and demanded money, according to the West Covina Police Department.

“Once the money was obtained, the suspect fled the location prior to officers being contacted,” according to the West Covina Police Department in a written statement.

The suspect was not found after a search.

The suspect was only described as a Black male.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

WEST COVINA - Three masked hoodlums robbed a convenience store of cash and merch March 29.

The robbery, estimated at $500, was reported around 10:15 p.m. at the unidentified store in the 1300 block of South Azusa Avenue.

“One of the suspects immediately brandished a handgun from his waistband and told the employee to give him the money from within the cash register. The other two suspects grabbed other store merchandise before fleeing the location,” according to the West Covina Police Department in a written statement.

The store employee was not harmed.

Detectives believe the suspects fled in a vehicle, but have no description.

Anyone who can identify these suspects is urged to call the West Covina Police Department at 626-939-8688; you may remain anonymous. Information can also 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 – Police announced Wednesday the arrests of two men accused of a committing multiple robberies and burglaries in the San Gabriel Valley.

Brandon Cerda, a 35-year-old El Monte man, and Rolando Perez, a 39-year-old Covina man, were arrested and booked on suspicion of robbery, according to the West Covina Police Department.

Perez was arrested January 5, Cerda was arrested January 4, according to Los Angeles County booking records.

“Detectives believe the two were committing these crimes together using two different vehicles, a white Porsche Cayenne and a white Chevrolet Silverado. The vehicles have already been located by detectives and processed for evidence,” according to the West Covina Police Department in a written statement.

Cerda pleaded not guilty to two counts of robbery and two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm, according to a Los Angeles County Superior Court case summary. He is scheduled for another appearance at the West Covina courthouse February 24.

Perez pleaded no contest January 6 to one charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm. He faced others charges, including receiving stolen property and being a felon in possession of ammunition and has since been sentenced to state prison, according to a Los Angeles County Superior Court case summary.

Anyone who may have been a victim of this duo is urged to call the West Covina Police Department at 626-939-8688.