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 - A driver seen loitering in a liquor store parking lot October 15 was allegedly caught with a mother lode of contraband.

An officer on patrol saw the suspicious vehicle just after Midnight near Amar Road and Valinda Avenue. As the officer made contact with the driver, the officer spotted a high-capacity firearm and an open container in plain view.

“A search of the vehicle also revealed the driver was in possession of cocaine and methamphetamine. The loaded firearm was also discovered to be unregistered,” according to the West Covina Police Department.

The driver was arrested.

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 39-year-old man was taken into custody after an hours-long barricade, accused of domestic violence against his girlfriend.

Brian Miranda resisted arrested and hunkered down inside a unit at The Colony at the Lakes, 301 S. Glendora Ave. The West Covina Police Special Problems Detail ultimately took Miranda in custody, according to the West Covina Police Department.

Officers were sent to the apartment complex around 3:43 a.m. Thursday, July 6, to a report of a disturbance and a man with a gun. Officers encounter a woman who was the apparent victim of domestic battery.

Many streets surrounding of The Colony were blocked during the entire ordeal.

Miranda was booked on suspicion of being a felon, in possession of a firearm, domestic battery, child endangerment, delaying and resisting a peace officer, trespassing and violating his probation, according to the West Covina Police Department.

Miranda is being held without bail in the Inmate Reception Center in Los Angeles, according to Los Angeles County booking records.

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 - Witnesses helped police jail a group of juveniles seen tagging Wednesday night and helped officers recover an unregistered handgun tossed by one of the teens in a vain attempt to ditch the evidence.

Officers were sent to the 200 block of Vincent Avenue around 7:48 p.m. Wednesday, April 12. A witness told dispatchers that one of the teens had a firearm in his waistband. The teens escaped on foot once officers arrived, according to the West Covina Police Department.

Officers caught the teens who fled towards the plaza mall. A witness later told officers that one of the teens tossed a firearm into some bushes during his escape. The firearm, which was unregistered, was found loaded, according to the West Covina Police Department.

The juvenile who was seen in possession of the firearm was arrested and booked at the West Covina Police Department and later released to a legal guardian. The other teams were simply released to their legal guardians.

WEST COVINA – An Ontario man was put behind bars September 8, accused of attempting to steal merchandise and becoming aggressive with employees.

Darwin Marin, 30, is accused of disturbing a business in the 2700 block of Eastland Center Drive. Officers were dispatched around 6:40 p.m., according to West Covina Police Community Relations Officer Alexus Napoles.

The suspect was found in the Eastland Center parking lot and after a search of his property, officers located two weapons: a knife and small axe.

“No one was injured. The weapons were not discovered until the officers made contact with him and conducted a search,” Napoles told SGV CityWatch.

Marin was booked on suspicion of carrying a concealed dirk or dagger. He was additionally booked on an outstanding arrest warrant.

According to Los Angeles County booking records, Marin appeared to have a court date of September 12. Booking records also show he was released on his own recognizance the same day.

WEST COVINA – An adult and juvenile were arrested after one of the two suspects brandished a firearm at the occupant of another vehicle Monday afternoon.

CHP officers were told of the incident around 2:50 p.m. November 29 on the eastbound I-10 freeway at Vincent Avenue. The victim exited the freeway into West Covina on Vincent Avenue, according to Officer Rodrigo Jimenez of the California Highway Patrol Baldwin Park Office.

The West Covina Police Department was also notified after the occupants of the suspect vehicle, a Ford F-150, entered surface streets, according to the West Covina Police Department.

At 3:15 p.m., the West Covina Police Department notified the CHP that the two suspects were being detained at gunpoint, Jimenez told SGV CityWatch.

CHP officers arrived to take both suspects into custody. The Ford F-150 was reported stolen out of Las Vegas.

The adult was identified as 18-year-old Jason Armando Orellana, a Los Angeles resident.

The juvenile was booked and later released to the custody of his parents or guardian, Jimenez told SGV CityWatch.

Jimenez did not know who brandished the firearm.

Among the crimes being investigated are occupying a stolen vehicle, tampering or altering a Vehicle Identification Number, brandishing a firearm, possession of a loaded firearm and possession of a loaded firearm while not being the registered owner, Jimenez told SGV CityWatch.

WEST COVINA – An officer conducting a pedestrian check September 21 located a cache of items commonly used in burglaries, as well as a weapon, drugs and high-capacity gun clips, police said.

Police contacted the unidentified pedestrian just before 12:30 p.m. Tuesday. The pedestrian was searched after the officer learned the pedestrian was on probation, according to the West Covina Police Department.

“The officer searched the male and located a loaded un-serialized firearm in a holster. The handgun was loaded with a high capacity magazine. A 50 round drum magazine was also located,” the West Covina Police Department said in a written statement. “The male was also carrying a backpack. Inside the backpack was a cordless saw with several blades, crow bar, bolt cutters, mechanic gloves, several pairs of black latex gloves, postal keys, a shaved key, and heroin.”

The suspect was taken into custody.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

WEST COVINA – A man accused by his girlfriend of brandishing a weapon refused to surrender to officers and barricaded himself Tuesday afternoon, finally giving up the following morning.

Paul Przybylla, 57, was booked on suspicion of assault with a firearm, criminal threats, exhibiting a deadly weapon and for a no-bail warrant, according to West Covina Police Public Information Officer Alexus Napoles.

Police responded to a report of a man who brandished his weapon at his girlfriend at the Heritage Park Villas apartments, 1800 W. Badillo St., May 25. Przybylla refused to leave the apartment unit. Residents were evacuated as a precaution, Napoles told SGV CityWatch.

The West Covina Police SWAT team and detectives worked to get Przybylla to surrender, which he did around 1 a.m. or 2 a.m. No one was injured, Napoles told SGV CityWatch.

When Napoles was interviewed Wednesday morning, she said detectives had yet to recover a firearm.

Przybylla is being held without bail in the Inmate Reception Center in Los Angeles ahead of a scheduled appearance in the West Covina courthouse Thursday, May 27.