Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

WEST COVINA - After several hours of negotiations, a man was smoked out of a home November 12, after he attempted to blow up the residence.

During negotiations, the suspect allegedly pointed a handgun at officers from within the home, according to the West Covina Police Department.

First responders were called to the 700 block of North Broadmoor Avenue to a reported fire alarm call just before 1:30 a.m. The suspect within stated he wanted to burn his home down.

“When officers arrived, the male subject, who was outside, quickly entered the residence. As officers approached the location they smelled an odor of gas and something burning. When officers attempted to make contact with the male, officers observed the subject walk up to a window and point a firearm at them,” according to the West Covina Police Department in a written statement.

The West Covina SWAT Team responded, as well as a crisis negotiation team. Officers determined the suspect was alone in the residence, according to the West Covina Police Department.

A search warrant was written. As negotiations continued to go nowhere, tear gas was propelled into the home. Suspect Michael Samaniego, 40, was arrested and booked on suspicion of assault on a peace officer with a firearm and resisting an officer by use of force, according to the West Covina Police Department.

Samaniego is being held without bail ahead of a scheduled appearance in West Covina Superior Court November 14.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

WEST COVINA - A reported argument led to a shooting at a popular bar late Saturday night.

The shooting unfolded at Tina’s Tavern, 328 S. Glendora Ave., around 11:30 p.m. November 9. First responders arrived to one victim wounded in a parking lot, another was found inside the bar.

Both men who were shot were conscious while being loaded into ambulances.

​Both victims were hospitalized with injuries deemed not life-threatening.

A white sedan was towed from the scene as evidence. No suspects have been arrested, according to the West Covina Police Department.

Investigators broke down the scene around 1:40 a.m.

Multiple attempts to speak with a West Covina Police supervisor were unsuccessful.

It is not publicly clear if a suspect is in custody.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

WEST COVINA - A neighborhood was on locked down Tuesday as officers searched for as many as two burglary suspects, police said.

Search focused on the 1600 block of East Doublegrove Street October 1. A confirmed burglary took place at a residence on the corner of East Autumn Drive and Doublegrove, according to Lt. Tim Rodgers of the West Covina Police Department.

Officers were first called to the home at 4:30 p.m. Officers reported seeing two people fleeing the area. Officers were unable to find any suspects, Rodgers told SGV CityWatch.

It was not immediately clear what was taken from the home.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

WEST COVINA - Two people died Monday in a major collision on Azusa Avenue.

The crash occurred on South Azusa Avenue at East Greenville Drive. First responders were called to the crash around 7:46 p.m. September 30. one of the vehicles reportedly overturned, according to West Covina Fire Department radio traffic.

One of the vehicles was being driven wrong way at the time of the crash, according to Lt. Travis Tibbetts of the West Covina Police Department.

Both vehicles collided head-on. One victim died at the scene. Another died after being hospitalized.

The West Covina Police Major Accident Investigation Team is determining the circumstances leading up to the crash, Tibbetts told SGV CityWatch.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

WEST COVINA - A 16-year-old male from Rialto was identified as a suspect in a social media bomb threat targeting the West Covina Police Department.

The teen was arrested September 19, one month after the threat was reported.

Police did not provide details on the specifics of the threat.

The department has a message for parents and guardians:

“Due to several local incidents involving juveniles making threats via social media throughout Southern California, the West Covina Police Department is asking for parents and guardians to have discussions with their children explaining the consequences of making threats online. All threats are taken seriously and will be investigated thoroughly.”

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

WEST COVINA - Less than a day after a victim was critically wounded in a drive-by shooting, a suspect was identified and taken into custody.

West Covina man Anthony Henry Harris, 30, was arrested after officers served a warrant at his residence in the 900 block of East Service Avenue around 7:38 a.m. Sunday, September 1. Harris was booked on suspicion of attempted murder and is being held without bail, according to the West Covina Police Department.

The victim, a 28-year-old man, was walking on Lark Ellen Avenue near Fairgrove Avenue when a vehicle drove by. An occupant shot at the victim several times. The victim was shot in the face. He remains hospitalized, according to the West Covina Police Department.

No other suspects are being sought.

Harris is scheduled for an appearance in West Covina Superior Court Thursday, September 5.

Anyone with additional information on this shooting is urged to call the West Covina Police Department at 626-939-8688, reference case 24-05258. 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 - An arson suspect was arrested Thursday, accused of igniting a fire at a street side electrical conduit box.

Firefighters were sent to East Vine Street and Hollenbeck Avenue just before 3 p.m. Thursday, August 29. An investigation led firefighters to a suspicion of arson, according to the West Covina Fire Department.

West Covina arson investigators and police officers arrived and a suspect was soon identified, located and arrested.

Arrested was 34-year-old Christopher Delon Fleytas. He was booked on suspicion of arson, possession of an incendiary device and possession of methamphetamine. He also had an outstanding warrant for inflicting corporal injury on a spouse, according to the West Covina police department.

Fleytas is being held in lieu of $80,000 bail in the Inmate Reception Center in Los Angeles ahead of a scheduled appearance in West Covina Superior Court September 4.

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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 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

LOS ANGELES - The Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner revealed the manner of death for a 38-year-old man found in a home July 14.

Felipe de Jesus Rodriguez died from multiple sharp force injuries. The death was deemed a homicide.

An early-morning call of a man down led first responders to a dead body July 14 in a house in the 2300 block of West Havenbrook Street around 5:49 a.m. Firefighters declared the victim dead at the scene.