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 - An unknown number of suspects took off with a trailer full of camping gear that was parked outside a home February 21.

The suspects used the cover of night, having pulled the trailer up and over the chocks after cutting the lock in the area of South Lark Ellen Avenue and East Walnut Creek Parkway, according to owner Kristin Sauceda, whose son is in the Boy Scouts.

The trailer was taken between 10:30 p.m. and 1:30 a.m.

“It had all of the troops camping gear and supplies as well as food since we were getting ready to go on a camping trip this weekend,” Sauceda told SGV CityWatch.

An estimated $20,000 in gear was stolen, which includes tents, custom made patrol boxes which hold all of the scouts cooking supplies, $1000 worth of groceries, tables, easy ups, camp stoves, propane, Dutch ovens, a Dutch oven table, a mini smoker and other miscellaneous supplies, Sauceda told SGV CityWatch.

The trailer was not even parked for 12 hours before it was stolen. Security cameras would normally have captured the theft, but they were temporarily down due to construction and neighbors’ cameras could not capture anything, Sauceda told SGV CityWatch.

Anyone with information on this theft can call the West Covina Police Department at 626-939-8500.

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 - No it’s not Thatherton, but a suspect on a bicycle stole eight propane tanks from a business July 2.

The suspect broke into a locked area at a business in the 500 block of East Vine Avenue around 3:23 a.m., according to the West Covina Police Department.

The suspect was captured on surveillance video is described as a Latino male with a red Phillies hat, green jacket and blue jean pants. He rode a bright purple bicycle.

Anyone with information on this theft is urged to call the West Covina Police Department at 626-939-8500.

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 – Police recovered a vehicle stolen out of San Gabriel November 1 after the driver escaped first during a pursuit and after fleeing on foot.

Officers received a notification from the city’s Flock Safety camera network around 8 p.m. Officers located the stolen Mercedes S58 and attempted a traffic stop, but the suspect refused, according to West Covina Police Community Relations Officer Alexus Napoles.

Much of the suspect search concentrated in the area of North Homerest Avenue and East Workman Avenue.

“A containment was set up and the area was checked, but the suspect was not located,” Napoles told SGV CityWatch.

WEST COVINA – Two men were arrested, accused of attempting to steal a tailgate from a Toyota pickup truck June 8, the West Covina Police Department said.

Arrested were Anthony Yuban Venegas, 26, and James Michael Aguirre, 31. Venegas was arrested and booked on suspicion of felony reckless evading, attempted grand theft and receiving stolen property. Aguirre was booked on suspicion of attempted grand theft and grand theft, according to Los Angeles County Superior Court records.

Two suspects were spotted around 1:44 a.m. in the area of Cameron Avenue and Lark Ellen Avenue by a patrol officer. The men fled into a vehicle and led officers on a brief pursuit along surface streets until crashing into some shrubbery in City of Industry, according to Alexus Napoles, community relations officer with the West Covina Police Department.

Both suspects, later identified as Venegas and Aguirre, fled the crash, but officers found them and arrested them.

Officers discovered a tailgate taken from somewhere else, tucked inside the crashed vehicle, according to the West Covina Police Department.

“Both suspects were also wanted out of Orange County and had felony warrants for their arrest,” according to the West Covina Police Department.

Venegas is being held without bail. His next scheduled appearance in the West Covina courthouse is June 21, according to Los Angeles County booking records.

Aguirre is being held in lieu of $65,000 bail. He is scheduled to be arraigned at the West Covina courthouse September 8, according to Los Angeles County booking records.

WEST COVINA – An active probationer and one other suspect were arrested September 17 after police found reportedly-stolen rims and equipment commonly used in such thefts, police said.

The unidentified suspects were jailed after neither of them could produce evidence of owning four Dodge Charger wheels stored inside the vehicle, according to the West Covina Police Department.

Officers were patrolling a local motel around 2 a.m. September 17 and stopped the driver of a vehicle for allegedly committing multiple vehicle code violations, West Covina Police said.

Also found in the vehicle were wood and cement blocks, a battery-powered impact wrench, gloves and a car jack, West Covina Police said.

“Neither of the occupants could provide proof of ownership or purchase of the tires. Both were arrested for grand theft,” the West Covina Police Department said in a written statement.

WEST COVINA – Two men stole a 5-foot-tall, 200-pound safe from a home July 1, West Covina Police announced.

The safe containing firearms, ammunition and personal documents, was taken after the suspects broke through a rear sliding door at a home around 8:40 p.m., according to the West Covina Police Department.

The safe is a Heritage model. It has a 14-gun capacity, is dark gray or black, features the factory sticker on the door, a number keypad and a five-spoke handle, according to the West Covina Police Department.

The crime was caught on camera.

Both suspects appeared dressed in light-colored clothing, had hoods over their heads and wore dark gloves. One suspect appeared to wear dark-colored shoes.

The suspects fled in what is believed to be a dark-colored, four-door car.

Anyone with information on this burglary is urged to call West Covina Police Detective Loyola at 626-939-8500, or call the West Covina Police watch commander at 626-939-8556.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

WEST COVINA - A stolen vehicle suspect was arrested Friday after fleeing officers during a brief chase.

The suspect stopped outside some stores at Eastland Center, 2753 Eastland Center Dr., setting off a containment and frightening shoppers.

A California Highway Patrol helicopter notified West Covina police of a LoJack signal in the area of Holt Avenue and Grand Avenue around 11:38 a.m. June 21. Officers arrived three minutes later and located the vehicle, according to Sgt. Michelle Figueroa of the West Covina Police Department.

The suspect was found driving at South Barranca Street and East Virginia Avenue. He refused to stop and briefly fled officers to Eastland Center, Figueroa said.

Officers, aided by a helicopter, descended on Eastland where the suspect fled.

The suspect fled near Dick’s Sporting Goods and Target where officers had guns drawn..

People inside Target communicated with family via text that they were prevented from leaving the store.

The suspect was found near Dick’s Sporting Goods and arrested.

No other suspects are outstanding, Figueroa said.

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