Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

WEST COVINA - A man armed with two knives kept police at bay for eight hours after allegedly threatening the resident of a home Monday, police said.

Officers arrived to the home in the 3400 block of Willow Glen Lane at 6:51 a.m. January 7 after a resident called 9-1-1. Officers saw the suspect inside the home carrying knives, waking from room to room, according to Cpl. Rudy Lopez of the West Covina Police Department.

After several hours of being unable to contact the suspect, the West Covina SWAT team responded to the scene at 11:30 a.m.

Surrounding homes were evacuated, Lopez said.

Tear gas was deployed around 2:40 p.m. Officers then observed several small fires being ignited inside the home, Lopez said.

West Covina firefighters were able to extinguish the flames with an escort by SWAT members.

At 3 p.m., Abraham Jin Moon, a 30-year-old Santa Clarita man, emerged from the home and surrender to police, Lopez said.

Moon was booked on suspicion of arson and criminal threats. He was booked at the Twin Towers Correctional Facility in lieu of $250,000 bail.

No one was injured during the barricade.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

WEST COVINA - Traffic was at a standstill for hours overnight after a woman was struck and killed on the I-10 freeway, the CHP said.

The woman, 22 -year-old Grisol Lupita Ramirez, was killed after she exited a stopped 2007 Honda Civic that crashed into the center divider of the westbound I-10 freeway east of Holt Avenue, according to the California Highway Patrol.

The driver of the Civic apparently hydroplaned in the No. 4 lane and crashed into the center divider around 11:25 p.m. January 5. The Civic spun around and stopped in the No. 2 lane, the CHP said.

Ramirez exited the right front passenger door and was struck by a driver who fled the scene, the CHP said.

West Covina firefighters declared Ramirez dead at 11:56 p.m.

All westbound lanes were closed around 12:13 a.m. and were finally reopened around 3:21 a.m.

Anyone who has information on the hit and run driver is urged to call the California Highway Patrol Baldwin Park Office at 626-338-1164.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
​CityWatch Editor

WEST COVINA - A driver died in a crash early Monday after entering the I-10 freeway west of Citrus Street the wrong way.

The driver, 54-year-old Margarita Vargas, died at the scene of the collision. West Covina Firefighters declares her dead at 3:26 a.m., according to the California Highway Patrol.

Vargas was identified by the Los Angeles a County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner.

A preliminary report indicated Vargas died of blunt force trauma, the CHP said.

The CHP responded to a call at 2:56 a.m. of a wrong-way driver westbound in the No. 1 lane of the eastbound I-10 freeway. Four minutes later, callers reported a collision.

It is unknown why Vargas entered the freeway the wrong way.

The 30-year-old driver Vargas slammed into was apparently not injured, the CHP.


All eastbound lanes were shut down during an investigation at 3:17 a.m. Lanes were reopened at 5:18 a.m.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

WEST COVINA - A multi-lane Sig Alert was cleared this morning after a multi-vehicle crash claimed one life on the westbound Interstate 10 freeway in West Covina December 7.
 
The crash between a big rig, an SUV and a sedan black the No. 2, 3 and 4 lanes near Holt Avenue around 1:45 a.m. Friday. All westbound lanes were temporarily blocked while authorities and first responders arrived to treat the wounded, according to the California Highway Patrol.
 
It was unclear how many others were injured in the collision.
 
The Sig Alert, issued at 2:06 a.m., was cancelled at 5:28 a.m.
 
All lanes were cleared of the crash by 6:42 a.m.

Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor

WEST COVINA - A man on a mission to retrieve a bicycle in a wash found himself fighting for life after rain waters rushed in Thursday morning.
 
Police and firefighters received 9-1-1 calls of screams for help in the 3200 block of Pebblebrook Road around 12:19 a.m. After initially being told the screams could not be pinpointed, police discovered the man in the flood control channel, according to Cpl. Rudy Lopez of the West Covina Police Department.
 
The man was found hanging onto a cement wall of the Walnut Creek Wash, standing in two-foot-deep water. A helmet and safety, as well as a 40-foot-long West Covina Police K9 leash, which was used to help hoist the stranded man, Lopez said.
 
“The victim … said he originally climbed down into the wash to retrieve a bicycle he saw there. When he entered, waters from the evening’s rain began rushing through the wash, dragging the victim for a short distance until he grabbed onto the wall,” Lopez said.
 
The man was uninjured and released at the scene.

Written by AARON CASTREJON | Citywatch Editor

WEST COVINA - A woman died on the freeway and two others were hospitalized in a collision on the westbound Interstate 10 freeway at Grand Avenue Thursday morning.
 
The collision occurred around 1:53 a.m. A woman was struck by another vehicle as she stood at the center divider after having gotten into a separate collision, according to the California Highway Patrol.
 
According to an initial report, the CHP was told that two people were ejected in the crash. One victim was possibly in full arrest, the second may have suffered an amputated leg.
 
West Covina paramedics arrived and began CPR around 2:08 a.m., according to CHP radio traffic.
 
The woman was declared dead around 2:18 a.m.
 
All eastbound lanes were closed until just before 5:30 a.m.