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Men With Shotgun Rob Monrovia Verizon Store

A preliminary report says that the Verizon store in the shopping center at the corner of Fifth and Huntington was robbed by two men with a shotgun this evening. The suspects got away with cell phones.

- Brad Haugaard 

Community Meeting About Housing Project on Myrtle

There will be a meeting this Thursday, Feb. 1, at 6 p.m., at the Library Community Room, to discuss AvalonBay, a proposed  mixed-use housing project located at 825  S. Myrtle Ave. (northwest corner of Myrtle and Chestnut) that would have 154 units, 2,900 square feet of retail space, and a 286-space parking structure.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia's AeroVironment Releases Farm Analysis Software

Monrovia's AeroVironment has just released software to analyze and display on an app the information drones gather in flying over farms. Kirk Flittie, vice president and general manager of the Unmanned Aircraft Systems business segment, said, “Farmers can now survey their entire farm more efficiently and accurately, on their schedule, to enable better decision making and farm management." https://goo.gl/AhrbVF

Comment: I've been impressed with AeroVironment's move into commercial uses for drones, which I think may be a much larger and more stable market than just the military, so - full disclosure - I bought some of its stock.

- Brad Haugaard

Number of Homeless in Monrovia Drops to 35

In his weekly report City Manager Oliver Chi reported that, "Based on the preliminary results from the homeless count, it was reported that 35 homeless individuals were counted in Monrovia.  This is a slight decrease from the 39 homeless individuals that were counted in Monrovia in 2017."

- Brad Haugaard

Protecting Legislative Staff From Harassment

SB 429, the Harassment Retaliation Prevention Act, has passed the State Senate with unanimous bi-partisan support. It was co-authored by Senator Anthony J. Portantino, who represents Monrovia. The act "protects victims from all forms of harassment in and around the Legislature. It also serves to protect against retaliation once cases are reported. The bill enhances the anti-retaliation provisions of California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act, which protects legislative employees and lobbyists who report sexual or related harassment."  It is a companion bill with Assembly Bill 403, which Portantino also co-authored.

Source: Portantino press release

- Brad Haugaard

Black History Month Events

Monrovia Duarte Black Alumni Association is sponsoring a series of events for Black History month, including Jazz Brunch, Wealth Building Seminar, Art Festival, and Black History Luncheon. Details: https://goo.gl/8DzLby

- Brad Haugaard

Pavilions Gone, Vons Arriving


It is no longer Pavilions. The sign has come down and workers are about to install the new “Vons” Sign

Netflix Films Episode of Teen Series in Old Town

Netflix filmed part of an episode of a teen series called "Best Worst Weekend Ever" today in Old Town. https://goo.gl/j3GuEh

- Brad Haugaard

Total Eclipse of Moon Early Wednesday, Jan. 31

According to Monrovia's Old Town Sidewalk Astronomers, there will be an eclipse of the moon on Jan. 31 starting at  2:51 a.m. with totality from 4:51 a.m. to 6:07 a.m. "[I]t will be extremely low to the western horizon, so anyone with trees or mountains to their west will need to get to a flat area..... Then the moon sets before the end of the eclipse. Watch from 2:51 a.m. until totality is underway about 5 a.m. if you can."

- Brad Haugaard

Art in the Sky


I snapped this picture of a beautiful cloud from the Pavilions parking lot about 6:30 this morning. That’s the Chase Bank building below. I think it must have something to do with the morning air as I’ve seen several beautiful cloud formations early in the morning. 

- Brad Haugaard 

Breakfast at Mimi’s



Breakfast at Mimi’s, on Huntington. Got the Salmon Benedict for $14.49 and a coffee for $3.49. Was good. 

- Brad Haugaard 

Monrovia Police: Attempted Murder; 800 Marijuana Plants Discovered; Bad Boyfriend; Graffiti Spree; Etc.

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for January 18-24. - Brad Haugaard]

During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 406 service events, resulting in 88 investigations.

Grand Theft Motorcycle
January 18 at 6:39 a.m., a motorcycle was reported stolen from the 400 block of S. Fifth Avenue. The victim reported that his motorcycle was taken sometime during the night from the rear of his apartment complex. The investigation is continuing.

Grand Theft Auto
January 18 at 8:42 a.m., a vehicle was reported stolen from the 300 block of W. Walnut Avenue. The victim reported her gray, 1995 Honda Civic was parked on the street and was taken sometime between January 17 at 3:00 p.m. to January 18 at 8:30 a.m. All keys were accounted for and the investigation is continuing.

Battery – Suspect Arrested
January 19 at 11:30 a.m., officers responded to a business in the 1100 block of S. Mountain regarding an employee who had been fired and was at the business causing a disturbance. Officers arrived and detained the subject. Further investigation revealed the subject had pushed one of the other employees. The suspect was arrested for battery and taken into custody.

Vandalism
January 19 at 11:39 p.m., a vandalism incident was reported in the 300 block of E. Palm. The victim reported that three tires were slashed on her vehicle. The investigation is continuing.

Residential Burglary
January 19 at 4:28 p.m., a residential burglary was reported in the 300 block of N. Grand. The resident came home and discovered that her front door was broken into sometime between 10:15 a.m. and 4:10 p.m. Unknown suspects entered the home, ransacked the house, and took a laptop computer. The investigation is continuing.

Grand Theft – Suspect Arrested
January 19 at 7:39 p.m., a theft was reported at a business in the 900 block of W. Foothill. The suspect entered the location, selected merchandise and left the store without paying. Police were notified and the suspect was located by officers a short distance away. He was arrested and the merchandise was recovered and returned to the business.

Utility Problem / Marijuana Grow Discovered
January 19 at 9:19 p.m., officers responded along with the Fire Department on the report of a utility problem at a building in the 100 block of E. Chestnut. When they arrived, they could see smoke and electrical arc flashing going on inside the building. They made entry and discovered a large marijuana grow inside. The arc flash was caused by the electrical system that was being used to maintain the marijuana grow. Detectives were called in and responded to the incident along with the Special Enforcement Team. Over 800 marijuana plants were impounded from the building. The investigation is continuing.

Grand Theft Auto / Fraud
January 20 at 8:47 a.m., a vehicle was reported stolen from the 500 block of W. Duarte Road. The victim had been out of the country since November and returned to find his vehicle had been stolen. The victim had also left his credit card inside the vehicle and the credit card had been used to make purchases. A computer check revealed the vehicle had been impounded by Monterey Park Police Department. They had pursued a suspect on foot who had fled from the vehicle, however, the suspect was not detained or identified. The investigation is continuing.

Hit and Run Traffic Collision
January 20 at 10:30 a.m., a hit and run traffic collision was reported at the intersection of Peck and Longden. The suspect driver was traveling west on Longden at a high rate of speed and turned north on Peck, colliding into a vehicle that was stopped at the stop sign, facing south on Peck. The suspect continued north on Peck, without stopping. The suspect vehicle was described as a black, Chevrolet pickup truck. The investigation is continuing.

Fraud Report
January 20 at 2:22 p.m., a resident in the 300 block of N. Encinitas reported that he was the victim of fraud. The suspect obtained a loan from a bank using the victim’s information. The suspect then opened a bank account under the victim's name, cashed the check for the loan and closed the account. The victim was notified of the delinquent loan by a collections agency. The investigation is continuing.

Felony Domestic Violence – Suspect Arrested
January 21 at 12:59 a.m., officers responded to a residence in the 100 block of E. Colorado regarding a domestic dispute. The female victim went out with her boyfriend, they began to argue and the argument began to get physical. She made him get out of her car and she went home. A short time later, she received several threatening text messages from him. She then received a text message picture of him standing outside her residence. He began knocking on the door, causing a disturbance, so she opened the door, let him in and went to bed. He then went into her bedroom and attempted to strangle her. She was able to hit him on the head with her cell phone and escape. She called police. The suspect was arrested for felony domestic violence.

Attempt Murder
January 21 at 4:44 a.m., an attempt murder incident was reported in the 100 block of E. Palm. At approximately 2:00 a.m., an adult male subject was sleeping in his vehicle with the windows rolled down. A male Hispanic suspect approached and stabbed him in the lip, which woke up the victim. The victim opened the car door and the suspect stabbed him multiple times in the neck and began punching the victim. The suspect then ordered the victim to lie face down on the ground, but the victim refused. The suspect took $12 dollars and a pack of cigarettes from the victim, and then wanted the vehicle. The victim told the suspect that it was all he had and the suspect fled. The investigation is continuing.

Graffiti Vandalism / Public Intoxication – Suspect Arrested
January 21 at 11:34 a.m., officers responded to California, under the 210 Freeway, regarding a vandalism incident in progress. As officers were conducting an area search for the suspect, another caller reported the suspect was now vandalizing a wall on Myrtle, under the 210 Freeway. Officers responded to the second location, but did not locate the suspect there. He was eventually located at Primrose and Central, where he was seen spray painting another wall. The suspect was detained and positively identified by witnesses. He was also found to be too intoxicated to care for himself. He was arrested and taken into custody for the charges.

Injury Traffic Collision
January 21 at 11:44 a.m., officers responded to an injury traffic accident at Mountain and Lemon. A vehicle was traveling east and entered the intersection of Lemon and Mountain on a green light, where it was broadsided by a vehicle traveling south on Mountain that failed to stop for the red light at Lemon. One subject was taken to the hospital with a complaint of pain.

Shoplifting / Possession of Drug Paraphernalia / Warrant – Suspects Arrested
January 21 at 3:37 p.m., an officer was dispatched to a business in the 1600 block of S. Mountain regarding a theft in progress. They detained the suspect as he was running to his van. He was detained without incident. The suspect was arrested for shoplifting and his girlfriend was arrested for possession of drug paraphernalia and a warrant.

Warrant – Suspect Arrested
January 22 at 6:42 pm., loss prevention at a business in the 1600 block of S. Mountain called police regarding four male subjects causing a disturbance. The subjects were claiming to be affiliated with a gang. Officers arrived and conducted computer checks on all four subjects. One subject had an outstanding warrant for his arrest. He was arrested and taken into custody for the warrant. The other three subjects were released at the scene.

Under the Influence of a Controlled Substance – Suspect Arrested
January 23 at 1:26 a.m., an officer was on patrol in the 300 block of S. Myrtle and saw a subject inside a park after hours, in violation of the local city ordinance. The officer detained the subject and noticed the subject displayed physical signs of being under the influence. The subject said he used methamphetamine about one hour earlier. After further evaluation, the subject was arrested for being under the influence of a controlled substance and was taken into custody.

Vehicle Burglaries
January 23 at 1:47 p.m., two vehicle burglaries were reported in the 900 block of W. Duarte Road. The windows were smashed on both vehicles and the suspects took items that were left in the vehicles, including one laptop. The investigation is continuing.

Vehicle Burglary
January 23 at 2:06 p.m., a vehicle burglary was reported in the 100 block of W. Pomona. A window was smashed on the vehicle and camera equipment that was left in the vehicle was taken. Surveillance video shows two male Black suspects fleeing the scene in a white Nissan Altima. The investigation is continuing.

Injury Traffic Collision
January 23 at 8:20 p.m., an injury traffic collision was reported in the 400 block of W. Duarte Road. A vehicle was traveling west on Duarte, approaching Alta Vista. The driver proceeded to make a left turn into a driveway and inadvertently stepped on the gas pedal instead of the brake. The vehicle collided into a parked car. The driver was treated at the scene by Monrovia paramedics and taken to a local hospital.

Public Intoxication – Suspects Arrested
January 24 at 7:05 p.m., police dispatch received a call reporting two male subjects that appeared intoxicated and were walking into oncoming traffic in the 500 block of W. Huntington. Officers arrived and located the two subjects. Both subjects were determined to be extremely intoxicated and were arrested for being drunk in public.

Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
January 24 at 11:15 p.m., an officer conducted a traffic stop for a vehicle code violation in the area of Mountain and Foothill. The officer noticed that the driver was displaying signs and symptoms of being under influence of drugs. After further investigation, the subject was arrested for driving under the influence and held for a sobering period. The driver was later released with a citation to appear in court on the charge. 

Man Arrested in San Marino in Connection With Monrovia Hillside Fire

On the evening of January 13, 2018 the cities of Pasadena and Arcadia experienced a spree of outside fires along the Foothill Blvd. corridor, between Sierra Madre Villa and the Los Angeles Arboretum. Firefighters from the cities of Pasadena and Arcadia responded and quickly extinguished the fires. Investigation into the fire causes determined that they were intentionally set. Officers from the Pasadena and Arcadia Police Departments, as well as the California Highway Patrol, responded to the area to search for the person(s) responsible, but were unable to identify and locate a suspect.

An ongoing investigation by members of the Verdugo Fire Investigation Task Force yielded a suspect and description, and a "want flyer" was disseminated to local law enforcement entities. On January 21, 2018 at 03:00 a.m., in response to the "want-flyer", suspect Nigel Letren (DOB: 03/10/1973) was arrested in the City of San Marino by the San Marino Police Department.

On January 24, 2018 the suspect was arraigned at Pasadena Superior Court, where he was charged with five counts of arson related to the January 13th fires, and one count of arson related to the December 9th 2017 wildland fire in the City of Monrovia. The suspect is currently being held on $425,000 bail and is scheduled to return to court on February 15, 2018.

The Verdugo Fire Investigation Task Force is a regional group of investigators from the cities of Burbank, Glendale, Pasadena, South-Pasadena, Sierra Madre, Arcadia, Monrovia, San Marino, San Gabriel, Alhambra, Monterey Park, and Montebello.

"This arrest is a great example of exceptional cooperation between multiple agencies and proven results from our regional Verdugo Fire Investigations Task Force," states Pasadena Fire Chief Bertral Washington. "The Regional Fire Chiefs and I are thankful for their relentless work on behalf of the communities we serve."

Source: Pasadena Fire Department press release

- Brad Haugaard

Help Applying for Health Insurance

Chapcare will hold an Open Enrollment Event to help residents apply for health insurance on Jan. 27 at its Monrovia office at 513 E. Lime, #102 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Bring valid ID, Social Security card and proof of income. For details call 486-9639.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovian Convicted in Money Laundering Case; Could Face 30 Years in Prison

The Daily Bulletin reports that 32-year-old Monrovian, Harinder "Sonu" Singh, has been found guilty of conspiracy to commit money laundering, conspiracy to operate an unlicensed money transmitting business, and operating an unlicensed money transmitting business, and faces up to 30 years in prison. https://goo.gl/Fmty3p

- Brad Haugaard

Homelessness in Library Park: Poop Patrols, Hepatitis A, 'No Camping' Ordinance? Police Homeless Patrols, And Lots of Etc.

In his weekly report City Manager Oliver Chi had a detailed report of the homeless situation in Monrovia. I didn't want to summarize it because a) there's a lot of beef here, and b) because it's a hot topic and I figured people would like the details. So here it is, verbatim:

This past week, the City hosted a community conversation to discuss the issue of homelessness in Monrovia, and the meeting highlighted in very real terms the additional work that all of us have to do to try and reach a consensus as to the most effective way we can respond to the overall situation. Given the nature of the identified issues and the passion that so many have regarding the matter, staff has spent time this past week further rethinking and refining the City’s overall approach to addressing homelessness moving forward. We will certainly have more to share in the coming weeks and months, however, we did want everyone to know how seriously we take the issues that have been raised, and some of our initial thoughts include the following:

FIRST… Regular and Consistent Community Outreach
  • Staff plans on coordinating more regular and consistent outreach activities designed to provide regular updates regarding our efforts here at the City.

SECOND… Coordinate a Hepatitis A / Public Health Community Meeting in February 2018
  • One of the legitimate concerns that has been raised is a fear about contracting Hepatitis A and / or another communicable disease, due to the activities of our homeless population.
  • To address this concern, staff is working to coordinate a Hepatitis A / Health Forum to discuss facts and myths in greater detail.
  • We have reached out to some of our partners at LA County, and we plan to have representatives from the LA County Department of Public Health on hand to discuss actual health related risks and prevention strategies.
  • In addition, we will share additional details regarding the concerns that have been raised about human excrement being found in Library Park.
  • During the community meeting this past week, I raised an issue about poop being found in the Library Park playground swing area without providing proper context, and for that mistake and oversight, I do apologize profusely!
  • It is absolutely true that we did find poop at the Library Park playground swing area, however, what I didn’t share was the incident occurred months ago, prior to the installation of a brand new play surface at the playground.
  • In addition, I also failed to mention that we do not know the source of where the poop came from, as the incident was an isolated occurrence, and since that time, we have not seen any reoccurrence at the Library Park playground area. 
  • Furthermore, I also did not outline that in over 3 years (that’s more than 1,095 days), we have found poop outdoors in Library Park on only 2 occasions.
  • However, given the seriousness of the issue, the City had previously established a poop patrol where our team monitors hot spots daily for any reoccurrence of the identified issue.

THIRD… Schedule a Study Session with the City Council in Late February 2018 / Early March 2018 to Discuss Possible Rule Changes
  • Staff has heard impassioned pleas that the City change some of our rules regarding conduct in our public spaces, along with modifying how we impound items left by our homeless population in public spaces.
  • To that end, we plan on coordinating a study session meeting with the City Council to take place in late February / early March 2018 to discuss each of the proposals in greater detail.
  • An overview of the rule changes we plan on reviewing with the City Council includes:
  • Considerations and challenges associated with re-adopting a “No-Camping” ordinance
  • Maintaining our 72 hour notice prior to removing personal property belonging to a homeless individual, vs. transitioning to a 24 hour notice prior to removing that personal property
  • An assessment of park closure times
  • Discussion regarding the possibility of requiring homeless individuals to obtain a permit prior to loitering at Library Park
  • Review of a proposed restriction on overnight on-street RV parking in Monrovia

FOURTH… Press Forward with Proposed Infrastructure Upgrades
  • There are a number of infrastructure projects currently in the design / development process related to addressing issues of homelessness in Library Park, and staff plans to continue to aggressively pursue those initiatives.
  • An overview of the projects currently in the pipeline includes:
  • Comprehensive upgrades to Library Park – study session planned with City Council in February 2018, with construction scheduled to begin at some point in mid- to late-2018
  • Install Real Change Movement signage and meters at Library Park – mid-2018
  • Review possible signage upgrades / modifications at City parks – mid-2018
  • Block off the alley between the Community Center and the bank – early 2018
  • Redesign the patio area in front of the Community Center as a GoMonrovia LimeBike parking location – early 2018

FIFTH… Continue to Coordinate Both a Robust Law Enforcement Response AND Develop Enhanced Social Service Contacts
  • The police department will continue to coordinate a robust law enforcement response to address any and all violations at Library Park, and we continue to maintain our commitment to engaging in those law enforcement activities in a manner which is aligned with all applicable rules and laws
  • The City will continue our special homeless patrols, which occur each week for 5 hours at a time
  • City staff is also working to expand our partnership with social service operators such as LAHSA, and we are working on development of a more robust plan of relentless interface with our homeless population to offer social service / housing related options
  • This initial overview provides just a quick recap of some of our thoughts here at the City, and in the coming weeks, will be certain to coordinate engagement opportunities for the community to further discuss how we should respond to the issue of homelessness in Monrovia.
- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Council: Crime Up, Fire Calls Up, Water Rates Up, and More

In his weekly report (https://goo.gl/aOqX7O) City Manager Oliver Chi reports ...

~ Crime continued to rise in Monrovia during 2017, up 2.8 percent, though that's more slowly than in the prior year.  When compared with 2016, Monrovia experienced a total increase of 2.8% in serious crimes. There were  3 more murder / negligent manslaughter incidents than in  2016 (when there were zero incidents). Still, Chi writes, "[I] t is important to keep in mind that similar and greater increases in Part I crimes are being seen throughout Los Angeles County and in the State of California."

~ Also, more calls for fire services. Up 3 percent, 123 more incidents. The city "is now analyzing how we might reorganize our operations to better respond to changing needs."

~ The City Council has  approved raising water rates. The new cost will be about $16.87 more and will take effect as of March 8, and will first appear on customers' April 2018 bills. If you think you need a discount, here's the application: https://goo.gl/kc2VDU

~ The  State of the City Address is scheduled for Monday, Jan. 29, at Studio Movie Grill in Old Town, at 7 p.m. Details soon.

~ A funeral mass will be held for Monrovia leader, Pat Ostrye, on Saturday, Jan. 27 at 10 a.m. at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, 740 S. Shamrock Avenue, Monrovia.  In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in honor of Pat to the Foothill Unity Center, 358-3486.

~ The proposed  GoMonrovia transportation program should be rolled out in March. Its core features are using subsidized Lyft (like Uber) rides and offering LimeBike's dockless bike-share (You can leave the bike pretty much any old where, rather than in a docking station).

~ Beer. How to make it.  Wednesday, Feb. 7, 6:00 - 8 p.m. at the Monrovia Public Library. Space limited. Sign up by calling 256-8274.

- Brad Haugaard

County Supervisor Barger Will Help Count Homeless in Monrovia

LA County Supervisor Kathryn Barger will join other volunteers at the Monrovia Community Center at 8 p.m. Tuesday as part of the countywide effort to count the homeless population. She said: "Our homeless population has a face and a name. In addition to public safety and mental health, there is no greater emergency or mission than to protect those who are most vulnerable and in need. I count because they count."

Source: Barger press release

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Leader Pat Ostrye Has Died

The first woman to serve on the Monrovia City Council, Mary Patricia "Pat" Ostrye, died on January 13 of this year (not last year, as the obituary says), a day after her 94th birthday. In addition to being the first woman to serve on the Monrovia City Council, in 1978 she also became the first elected mayor of the city. Here is the full obituary: https://goo.gl/vucuaR

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Schools Receives Audit Report


At its next meeting (agenda here) the Monrovia Board of Education will ...

~ Receive an audit report that to my non-accounting eye, looks fairly bleak. See image above. It would be great if someone with accounting skills could look it over. The audit report is here. Any accountants out there want to give a professional opinion on this?

~ Consider approving the rental agreement with Fellowship Monrovia, the church that meets at the Monrovia High auditorium. The church will be spending $167,708 this year to use the facilities. Report here.

~ Consider recruiting international students to attend district schools, and, related to that, will consider updating a US Immigration and Customs Enforcement form to allow Canyon Oaks High School and Monrovia Community Adult School to be added to the list of schools authorized to receive such students.

- Brad Haugaard

Citrus Fourth Best California Community College

Citrus College, which serves Monrovia, has been recognized as California's fourth‐ranked community college in a recent study by Schools.com.

The website reviewed the state's 114 community colleges, scoring them on a 10‐point scale in six areas: percentage of students enrolled in distance education, cost of attendance, student‐to‐faculty ratio, graduation rate, number of transfers to the University of California system, and flexibility.

Citrus College was ranked as the fourth best community college in California and the second best in Los Angeles County.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Scouts Tour Submarines

Monrovia scout troop gets tour of submersible vehicles at SEAmagine Hydrospace Corporation.  https://goo.gl/eXuabW

- Brad Haugaard

Dinner at Cafe LuMar

Dinner at Cafe LuMar, a Croatian restaurant on the south side of Colorado about a half block east of Myrtle. Got the goulash for $18 and a Lasko Croatian beer for $4.75. It came with a crispy bread appetizer with a red pepper eggplant sauce, and a tangy cabbage salad. Food and service were excellent!

- Brad Haugaard 

Monrovia Police: Cell Phone Rescues Hiker Just Before It Goes Dead; Stake Out Catches Suspect; Pedestrian Stopped for Vehicle Code Violation, Arrested; Porch Package Theft; Etc.

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for January 11-17. - Brad Haugaard]

During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 425 service events, resulting in 76 investigations.

Alcohol Offense / Suspended License
January 11 at 8:17 a.m., a caller reported a suspicious vehicle with two males inside parked in the area of Alta Vista and Concord. The subjects left the area but officers were able to locate the vehicle which had expired registration. Further investigation revealed there was an open container of alcohol in the vehicle and the driver had a suspended license. The driver was cited and the vehicle was stored.

Possession of Methamphetamine / Parole Violation – Suspect Arrested
January 11 at 1:31 p.m., an officer was on patrol in the 1600 block of S. Myrtle when he noticed a suspicious subject standing by the men’s bathroom at Station Square. The officer made contact with the subject and during the search of the subject, officers found he was in possession of methamphetamine. The subject was also on active parole. The suspect was detained and taken into custody.

Apprehension of Wanted Felon
January 11 at 7:11 p.m., detectives were conducting surveillance in an attempt to apprehend a wanted felon in the 800 block of S. Magnolia. The subject was eventually seen and as officers moved in to arrest him, he fled. A short foot pursuit ensued until the subject hid in a fenced area in the 200 block of W. Huntington. A containment was set up, outside agencies including K9 Units responded to assist as well as a Police Helicopter. Once secured, a K9 announcement from the helicopter was made and the suspect surrendered. The suspect was arrested and taken into custody without incident.

Domestic Violence – Suspect Arrested
January 12 at 5:42 a.m., officers were dispatched to a business in the 900 block of S. Fifth on the report of a disturbance. The female was visiting her ex-boyfriend, they drank and began to argue. The male subject hit the female, she sustained several visible injuries due to the altercation. The male was arrested for domestic violence.

Non-Injury Traffic Collision / Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol – Suspects Arrested
January 13 at 3:23 a.m., an officer was on patrol in the 100 block of W. Central and noticed a traffic collision that had just occurred. The vehicles had pulled to the side of the road. The officer made contact with them and further investigation revealed both drivers were under the influence of alcohol. Both drivers were arrested and taken into custody.

Theft / Evading a Peace Officer – Suspect Arrested
January 13 at 7:12 p.m., officers were dispatched to a business in the 500 block of W. Huntington regarding a subject stealing merchandise. While the officers were en route, the suspect fled in a vehicle. Officers caught up to the vehicle after a short pursuit on the 210 freeway eastbound when the suspect exited at Myrtle. The suspect was arrested and taken into custody.

Outside Assist (Lost Hiker)
January 14 at 3:47 p.m., a caller reported he was lost in Canyon Park. The hiker left the trail and became disoriented. An air unit checked the area but was unable to locate him. The dispatchers called his cell phone numerous times before they were able to reach him. When they reached him, they explained to the caller step by step how to send his location over the phone. The phone died shortly thereafter. Search & Rescue were contacted for assistance and shortly after the lost hiker was located.

Theft
January 15 at 2:32 p.m., a theft was reported by a resident in the 400 block of Cloverleaf Dr. The victim reported a package was stolen from her porch. There is no suspect information at this time. The investigation is ongoing.

Petty Theft
January 15 at 5:56 p.m., a resident in the 400 block of Cloverleaf Dr. called the police to report a theft. The victim is an elderly female. She reported a bracelet valued at $250 was stolen from inside her home on January 10, 2018. The investigation is continuing.

Warrant – Suspect Arrested
January 17 at 7:46 p.m., officers on patrol in the 100 block of W. Huntington Dr. stopped a pedestrian for a vehicle code violation. A computer check revealed the subject had several warrants for his arrest. The suspect was arrested and taken into custody.

Tattooing in Old Town? Homeless Meeting Tonight; Housing/Retail Complex Planned on Myrtle; Etc.

In his weekly update, City Manager Oliver Chi reports ...

~ Should tattooing be allowed as a secondary service for Old Town businesses? The city is considering allowing such services if it is limited to a small portion of the business. "This is similar to the way Monrovia regulates massage businesses, where in Old Town, massage can be offered as one of the services provided by a business as long as it does not occupy more than 20% of the floor area of the business." Mini four-question survey here: https://goo.gl/rPrK9t

~ There will be a community meeting tonight (Jan. 17) to discuss homeless issues. 6:30 p.m. in the Library Community Room.

~ Public meeting at 6 p.m. on Feb. 1 at the Library to discuss AvalonBay, a proposed 154 unit housing and retail complex that would be located at the northwest corner of Myrtle and Chestnut. It would also have 2,900 square feet of retail space, and a 286-space parking structure.

~ The Monrovia Police Officers' Association's Tip-A-Cop Fundraiser last week raised $500 for Foothill Unity Center.  The event was held during lunch at Copper Still Grill. All tips from Monrovia police officers, along with 25% of all sales, were donated.

~  The Historic Preservation Commission will hold a study session to review the Citywide Historic Context Statement on Jan. 18, at 5 p.m. at the Monrovia Community Center. The statement will be a tool to evaluate potential historic landmarks and districts.

~ Monrovia's State of the City Address will be on Monday, Jan. 29, at Studio Movie Grill at 7 p.m. Details to come.

~ The Chamber of Commerce has named Sari Canales as its new executive director. There will be a welcome reception today (Jan. 17) from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the Chamber. Canales has worked for the Irwindale Chamber of Commerce since 2015 as an Administrative Assistant, Membership Development Coordinator, and Membership Services Director.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Council to Consider Monument to Allen Allensworth


At its next meeting (https://goo.gl/PLSvf4) the Monrovia City Council will consider this 10-foot tall monument to early Monrovian, Allen Allensworth, which would be installed on Shamrock, near Second Baptist Church, which I believe Allensworth helped found. The art piece would be produced by Ron Hubbard, "known for his work at Walt Disney Feature Animation, where he has 24 animation credits associated with Walt Disney related films. Mr. Husband is also a Monrovia resident and has the distinction of serving as the first African American Disney animator." https://goo.gl/B3RyMn

Also, the council will hold a hearing and vote on proposed water rate hikes. https://goo.gl/XDtTKx

- Brad Haugaard

Dinner at at Sakura Sushi House



Dinner at at Sakura Sushi House, at the corner of Foothill and May, a couple blocks east of Myrtle. Got the Bento Dinner A (chicken) for $16.95 and a small beer ($3.95). The meal came with a little salad and a miso soup. Very good!

- Brad Haugaard 

Monrovia Police: Attack With Machete; Massage Therapist Opens Door for Robbery; Threat Against MHS - In Virginia; Peeper; Fake IRS Scam

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for January 4-10. - Brad Haugaard]

During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 408 service events, resulting in 88 investigations.

Fraud Incident
January 4 at 9:52 a.m., a fraud incident was reported at a business in the 100 block of W. Foothill. The victim purchased two gift cards from the business and had a receipt as proof of purchase. When the recipients of the gift cards went to use them, one did not have a value and the other had already been used. The investigation is ongoing.

Warrant – Suspect Arrested
January 4 at 10:59 a.m., a shoplifting incident was reported at a business in the 1600 block of S. Mountain. The shoplifter exited the store and ran into a neighboring business, where he was contacted by officers. The subject was not found to be in possession of any merchandise from the business, but a computer check revealed he had numerous warrants for his arrest. He was arrested for the warrants and taken into custody. A no trespassing order was completed against the subject for the business. 

Assault with a Deadly Weapon – Suspect Arrested
January 4 at 7:14 p.m., officers responded to a fight in progress in the 400 block of Monrovista. The fight involved two adult brothers and one had been cut with a machete. Both subjects were injured, with one having a laceration on his head. After investigation, the brother identified as the suspect was arrested for assault with a deadly weapon and taken to a hospital to be checked out. The brother identified as the victim was also taken to a hospital for treatment.

Suspicious Subject / Warrant – Suspect Arrested
January 4 at 7:28 p.m., a suspicious subject was reported in the 200 block of N. Primrose looking at houses and in vehicles. Officers responded and detained a subject that fit the description. The subject had no valid reason to be loitering in the residential area, and a computer check revealed he had several warrants for his arrest. He was arrested for the warrants and taken into custody.

Vandalism
January 5 at 10:46 a.m., a vandalism incident was reported in the 800 block of W. Duarte. Unknown suspect(s) broke two windows on the victim's vehicle. The investigation is ongoing.

Vandalism
January 5 at 9:49 p.m., a vandalism incident was reported in the 200 block of S. Primrose. The victim reported that the rear window to his Dodge Durango had been smashed. There was a rock laying on the ground near the vehicle. At 7:00 p.m., the victim did hear a loud crash and saw two juveniles running north on Primrose. At the time, the victim did not know the crash sound was the window to his SUV breaking. The investigation is continuing.

Residential Burglary
January 6 at 12:30 a.m., a residential burglary was reported in the 500 block of N. Myrtle. The residents arrived home and discovered an upstairs window was broken. The victims could not determine what was taken at the time of the report. The investigation is continuing.

Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
January 6 at 3:00 a.m., an officer stopped a vehicle for vehicle code violations at Evergreen and California. The investigation revealed the driver was too impaired to drive a motor vehicle safely and the driver was arrested for DUI. The vehicle was stored and the driver was held for a sobering period.

Criminal Threats – Suspect Arrested
January 6 at 9:57 a.m., an incident of criminal threats was reported in the 100 block of S. Mountain. The victim reported that her neighbor’s boyfriend was at the location and he was threatening to kill her. Officers arrived and took statements from the parties involved and a witness. The suspect was ultimately arrested for verbal threats and was taken into custody.

Grand Theft From a Vehicle
January 6 at 4:48 p.m., a grand theft was reported in the 500 block of Fano. The victim reported that her laptop and work identification were taken out of her unlocked vehicle. Her vehicle was parked in her carport when the theft occurred. The investigation is continuing.

Vehicle Burglaries
January 6 at 9:56 p.m., two vehicle burglaries were reported in the area of Parker and Mayflower. The victims parked their cars on Parker, near Mayflower, and went inside their homes for the day. Both victims were not sure if they locked their cars or not, and both returned to their vehicles and discovered items missing. The investigations are continuing.

Residential Robbery
January 6 at 9:56 p.m., a robbery was reported at a residence in the 1000 block of Royal Oaks. The victim hired a massage therapist on Craigslist to come to his residence. Eventually, a female and a male subject came to the door and he let them in. While the victim was talking to them, two more male subjects entered his residence. The four suspects hit the victim with a lamp and robbed him of his wallet and cell phone. The suspects fled in a white SUV. The investigation is continuing.

Warrant – Suspect Arrested
January 7 at 11:54 a.m., officers were dispatched to the 200 block of N. Mayflower regarding two subjects possibly smoking drugs. The subjects were contacted and one subject was found to have a warrant for his arrest. He was arrested for the warrant and taken into custody.

Traffic Collision
January 7 at 4:09 p.m., a traffic collision was reported in the area of Primrose and Linwood. A motorhome struck a parked vehicle and drove away from the scene. Officers arrived and found the motorhome still in the area. The driver had pulled over and was trying to make his way back to the location. The parties exchanged information and the driver was cited for driving on a suspended license.

False Threat Reported at Monrovia High School
January 7 at 9:00 p.m., police dispatch received dozens of calls reporting a photo of rifles and a threat to "MHS" being posted on social media. After investigation, it was determined through Facebook postings that the threat was actually to Monticello High School in Virginia. The post began trending here because it had the hashtag #MHS on it. Nonetheless, there were many upset students and parents, so extra police patrol was provided.

Stolen Vehicle
January 8 at 7:10 a.m., a vehicle was reported stolen from the 700 block of S. Alta Vista. The vehicle was parked on the street and was stolen sometime overnight. The vehicle is a white, 2001 GMC Savanna. The investigation is continuing.

Hit and Run Traffic Collision
January 8 at 11:45 a.m., officers were dispatched to the 200 block of W. Huntington on the report of a hit and run traffic accident. The victim stated his vehicle was struck by a grey Mazda that was traveling east on Huntington. The suspect vehicle fled the area, heading north on Primrose and out of sight. The victim was not injured and the investigation is continuing.

Non-injury Traffic Collision
January 8 at 5:21 p.m., a single vehicle traffic collision occurred on Myrtle at Chestnut. The vehicle overturned as a result of the collision, however, the occupant was not injured. The cause of the collision is under investigation.

Grand Theft
January 8 at 10:20 p.m., a grand theft was reported at a business in the 1600 block of S. Mountain. The suspect placed merchandise into a shopping cart and left the store without paying for the items. The suspect was last seen driving north through the parking lot and east onto Evergreen. The investigation is continuing.

Burglary
January 9 at 6:00 a.m., officers responded to a burglary alarm activation at a business in the 400 block of W. Huntington. When they arrived, they found the front door open. No suspects were at the location and the investigation showed the cash register and some cash had been stolen. The investigation is continuing.

Peeping / Prowling
January 9 at 7:59 a.m., a peeping/prowling incident was reported at a residence in the 300 block of E. Colorado. A female adult subject was inside her bedroom and noticed a male Hispanic subject peeping through a hole in her blinds. She screamed and the suspect fled in a black truck through an alley. The investigation is continuing.

Burglary
January 9 at 11:10 a.m., a burglary was reported in the 1100 block of S. Fifth Avenue. The victim called and reported his parking garage had been burglarized in the early morning hours. There were two suspects that stole tools and equipment from the location. The suspects loaded the stolen property into a tan Jeep SUV, possibly a Commander. The vehicle had black rims, a burned out headlamp and a sticker in the rear window. The investigation is continuing.

Grand Theft
January 9 at 10:09 a.m., a grand theft incident was reported to police. The victim reported that an unknown suspect called and claimed to be from the IRS. The suspect told the victim she needed to pay back taxes and that she could pay them with Apple gift cards. The victim went to two different Apple stores and purchased gift cards. She then provided the PIN numbers to the suspect. The investigation is continuing.

Traffic Collision
January 10 at 6:17 a.m., dispatch received multiple calls reporting an accident at Myrtle and Lime. The collision involved one vehicle that collided with a city bench at the intersection. The driver was found to have a suspended driver's license. He was arrested and later released with a citation to appear in court on the charges. There were no injuries involved.

Stolen Vehicle Recovered
January 10 at 11:37 a.m., the owner of a stolen vehicle called police to report he had located the vehicle in the 600 block of W. Olive. He had received a phone call from a friend of his that had found the vehicle. Officers responded, recovered the vehicle, and it was released to the registered owner.

Warrant / Possession of a Controlled Substance – Suspect Arrested
January 10 at 2:35 p.m., a suspicious person in a vehicle was reported in the 600 block of E. Lime. Officers arrived and contacted the occupant, who was found to be on parole. A computer check revealed the subject had an outstanding warrant for his arrest. He was arrested and a search of his person revealed methamphetamine hidden in his socks. The additional crime was added to his charges.

Shoplifting – Suspect Arrested
January 10 at 5:11 p.m., employees at a business in the 1600 block of S. Mountain called police to advise they were chasing a theft suspect through the parking lot. The suspect was possibly armed with a knife. The suspect went into a nearby business and locked himself in the bathroom. Officers arrived and detained the suspect. He was arrested and booked for shoplifting.

Missing Person
January 10 at 7:25 p.m., a male subject came into the police lobby to report his roommate had been missing for a few days. He was last seen at his residence on Monday, January 8, 2018. He called out sick to work on January 4 and 5. He was a no show to work on January 8, 9 and 10. Local hospitals and jails were checked with negative results. Officers went to the missing person’s residence to see if he showed back up, but he had not returned. The missing person and his vehicle were entered into the law enforcement missing person’s system. The investigation is continuing.

Possession of a Controlled Substance – Suspect Arrested
January 10 at 10:16 p.m., officers stopped a bicyclist for traffic violations. Further investigation revealed she was in possession of an illegal drug. She was arrested and taken into custody. She was later released with a citation to appear in court on the charges. 

Student Acting Workshop; Emergency Training

~ Five-week Readers Theatre Workshop for students grades 4-12.  Combine puppetry, reading, and acting to create mini sketches for a performance at the library. Participants must attend all workshops and the performance.  No experience necessary.​ Thursdays, Jan. 11, 18, 25, and Feb. 1 and 8, 3:30-5 p.m., Library Community Room. Public performance Saturday, Feb. 10, 2 p.m.
 
~ Community Emergency Response Training (CERT) on Feb. 17, 24, and March 3. Email Suzi Dobson at sdobson@ci.monrovia.ca.us to register.

Source: Becky Shevlin’s calendar 

- Brad Haugaard 

Monrovia's Senator's Bill Would Help Protect Legislative Staffers From Sexual Harassment

California's Senate Judiciary Committee unanimously passed SB 419, co-authored by Senator Anthony Portantino, who represents Monrovia. The bill "protects victims of sexual harassment in and around the Legislature against retaliation once cases are reported." It is now headed to the full Senate Floor for a vote.

Source: Portantino press release

Comment: What a novel idea! having our legislators live under the same rules they make us live under. I approve.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia City Sponsored Meeting on Homelessness


On Wednesday, Jan. 17, at the Library Community Room, at 6:30 p.m., the city will host a community meeting. At the meeting, we plan to allow plenty of time for questions and dialogue. In addition, we also plan on sharing with meeting participants the things that we can and can't do in responding to homeless related issues, while also providing some preliminary information about proposed upgrades to Library Park this coming year.


- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia's New Transportation Plan; Train Depot Almost Done; Help Count Homeless

In his weekly update (https://goo.gl/aOqX7O) City Manager Oliver Chi reports that ...

~ The city has been working on a new transportation plan called GoMonrovia! that will include:
  • More parking.
  • A deal with Lyft to provide reduced-fare car rides for Monrovians. (Lyft is like Uber.)
  • A deal with LimeBike to provide bicycles for people to ride around town. This bike-share program doesn't require docking stations, but uses a GPS system so bikes can be picked and dropped off anywhere. Use an app to find a bike, scan bike, ride it, lock it when you're done. http://www.limebike.com/
  • A scaled down version of the current dial-a-ride program.
Comment: Frankly, I'm impressed. This is good, up-to-date, non-bureaucratic thinking!

~ Monrovia’s Historic Santa Fe Depot is almost done. Final inspections will be done within the next few weeks, and then much of construction fencing will come down to allow for partial access of the Station Square Transit Plaza. But there will still need to be tenant improvements for a restaurant.

~ If you are interested in participating in the city's homeless count show up at the Monrovia Community Center (119  W. Palm Ave.) by 8 p.m.  A volunteer training and orientation session will occur at that time, and representatives from the City's Public Services Department and Police Department will be on hand to address any questions / concerns.  The actual count is expected to begin at 9 p.m. You an also register online at  http://www.theycountwillyou.org/

- Brad Haugaard

History of Monrovia Now on Amazon

A second edition of Renaissance Years: A History of Modern Monrovia is now available for purchase from Amazon.com.


The 428-page book by former journalist and city public information officer Richard Singer tells the story of Monrovia’s transformation from a racially troubled and economically failing city in the 1960s and ‘70s to an award-winning, nationally recognized model community. The work covers the entire history of the city, from its beginnings in the late 1880s to events of just a few months ago.


The new Amazon version is a second edition of the book, which was first published in September of last year and sold briskly during the holiday season. A few of the first edition copies are still available locally, with the total purchase price from those sales going to support both the MonroviaHistorical Museum and the historic Anderson House museum. Remaining first edition copies may be purchased at the Historical Museum, at the Dollmakers shop in Old Town, and at the Friends of the Library store inside the Monrovia Public Library.


Online, Renaissance Years may be purchased from Amazon.com.

 

Source: press release 


- Brad Haugaard 

Lunch at Sunday’s Old Town Bistro



Lunch today at Sunday’s Old Town Bistro, on the east side of Myrtle s bit north of Colorado. Got a roast and cheddar panini for for$8.99 and a “Bistro-Aide” (lemonade and bubbly water) for $2.75. Both the sandwich and the Bistro-Aide were very good. 

- Brad Haugaard 

Monrovia's AeroVironment Developing Drone Aerial Satellites

Monrovia-based AeroVironment is establish a joint venture with Japanese telecommunications company SoftBank to develop solar-powered, high-altitude, long-endurance drones for telecommunication. Sort of communications satellites in the air, I guess.  https://goo.gl/4hkG3j

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Beaten and Robbed After New Year's Party; Grand Theft Dog; Man Struggling With Dogs Arrested; Lighting Fires at Intersection; Etc.

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for January 1-3. - Brad Haugaard]

During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 437 service events, resulting in 90 investigations.

Robbery
January 1 at 6:55 p.m., a male and female subject came into the police station and reported they had been assaulted that morning at approximately 1:00 a.m. The victims were walking home from the downtown area and noticed they were being followed by two male Hispanic subjects, wearing hoodies. The two suspects approached the couple, asked them where they were from and demanded their cell phones. The male victim pulled out a knife and one of the suspects pulled a baseball bat out of his pants. The suspect struck the victim multiple times with the bat, causing lacerations to his head and breaking the victim's thumb. The victims were able to escape and sought medical treatment. The investigation is continuing.

Public Intoxication / Warrants – Suspect Arrested
January 1 at 7:39 p.m., an officer was dispatched to the 400 block of E. Lemon regarding an intoxicated male subject that was causing a disturbance. Officers arrived and contacted the subject. A computer check of the subject revealed he had multiple warrants for his arrest and he was determined to be too intoxicated to care for himself. He was arrested and held for a sobering period. He was later released on citations to appear in court on the charges.

Theft From a Vehicle
January 1 at 9:04 p.m., a theft from a vehicle was reported in the 900 block of W. Duarte. The victim reported several items were taken from his unlocked vehicle that was parked at the location. The items included clothing and shoes. The investigation is continuing.

Vehicle Burglary
January 2 at 1:22 p.m., the victim parked his vehicle on the street in the 100 block of N. Lincoln on December 30 and locked it. When he returned to his vehicle on January 2, he found the driver’s door ajar. His glovebox was open and a phone charger was missing. The investigation is continuing.

Residential Burglary
January 2 at 4:53 p.m., a residential burglary was reported in the 800 block of Naples. It appears the suspect removed a window screen and opened a bathroom window to make entry. The suspect took household documents, such as mortgage papers, bank paperwork, etc., and exited the home. The suspect put the screen back on the window and then fled. The investigation is continuing.

Warrants – Suspect Arrested
January 2 at 5:04 p.m., officers responded to the 900 block of Diamond regarding an animal problem. Officers arrived and found a male subject struggling with four leashed dogs. The officers attempted to help the subject, but the subject was acting suspicious. He was evasive as to where he lived and refused help. He was hesitant to answer any questions. Officers finally obtained identification from the subject and ran a computer check, which revealed he had two no-bail warrants for burglary. He was arrested for the warrants.

Warrant – Suspect Arrested
January 3 at 3:46 p.m., officers were dispatched to the area of Mayflower and Chestnut on the report of a subject seen sitting at the intersection, lighting fires. Officers arrived and detained the subject. A computer check revealed he had an outstanding warrant and he was arrested.

Burglary
January 3 at 7:07 p.m., a resident in the 400 block of N. Encinitas returned home to find the front door had been kicked in and the location had been ransacked. The only known loss at the time of the report was credit cards. The investigation is continuing.

Grand Theft
January 3 at 8:10 p.m., a grand theft was reported in the 600 block of W. Huntington. The victims arranged a meeting online with a potential buyer for a French Bulldog puppy. The potential buyer fled with the dog on foot. Officers responded and searched the area, but were unable to locate the suspect. The investigation is continuing. 

Man Injured in Fall at Canyon Park Waterfall

According to a preliminary report from RMG News, a man fell 30 to 40 feet at the waterfall at Monrovia Canyon Park late this afternoon. Monrovia firefighters rescued him and he was taken to hospital with back and leg injuries.

- Brad Haugaard

Anderson House Tour; Historic Context Statement; Burglar Alarm Rebates; Water Rate Hearing

Anderson House

In his weekly report (https://goo.gl/aOqX7O) City Manager Oliver Chi reports ...

~ The George H. Anderson House, one of the oldest homes in town, will be open for a special tour led by City Historian Steve Baker on Friday, Jan. 19, from 10 a.m. to noon. This home housed the Anderson family between 1886 and the death of their son George Anderson in 1974. Now it is home of the Monrovia Historical Society.

~ You can now apply for a rebate from the city when you install a home security system. Up to $250. Details: https://goo.gl/xcXLhP

~ The Historic Preservation Commission will hold a study session to review the Citywide Historic Context Statement on Jan. 18, at 5 p.m. in the Monroe Room of the Monrovia Community Center. This document will be used to evaluate potential historic landmarks and historic districts.

~ Last chance to comment on the planned water rate increase.  Wednesday, Jan. 10, at 7 p.m., in the Library Community Room.

- Brad Haugaard

Suspect Surrenders in Gem City Killing

Jeremiah Moses LaCroix, of Monrovia, has surrendered to police in connection with the fatal shooting at Monrovia’s Gem City Grill. https://goo.gl/vDER7H

- Brad Haugaard 

Monrovia Police: Robbery Suspect Arrested; Computers Stolen Off Porch; Man With Gun, Knives Arrested; Assault With Garden Shears; Counterfeit Money; Reports Crime, Gets Arrested; And Lots More

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for December 21-31. - Brad Haugaard]

Following are the weekend’s highlighted issues and events.

Robbery – Suspect Arrested
December 21 at 1:15 p.m., loss prevention at a business in the 100 block of W. Foothill called police regarding a male subject who took miscellaneous items out of the store without paying. As they tried to detain him, the subject became combative. Officers arrived and contacted the subject. He was arrested for robbery and found to have two outstanding warrants, which were added to his charges.

Stolen Vehicle Recovered
December 21 at 8:06 p.m., a resident of an apartment complex in the 200 block of E. Maple called police to report a vehicle that was parked illegally in his parking stall. A computer check revealed the vehicle had been reported stolen to the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department. An officer was dispatched and the vehicle was recovered.

Fraud
December 22 at 1:54 p.m., a fraud incident was reported at a business in the 700 block of W. Huntington. An unknown male suspect went into the store and attempted to purchase merchandise with a fraudulent check. He fled the location after the check was refused. The investigation is continuing.

Grand Theft
December 22 at 3:32 p.m., a grand theft was reported at a home in the 300 block of E. Hillcrest. The victim reported that FedEx delivered three computers on her side porch on December 21 at 2:20 p.m. Sometime after that, someone stole the computers from the porch. The investigation is continuing.

No-Bail Warrant – Suspect Arrested
December 22 at 6:12 p.m., officers on patrol stopped a vehicle at Foothill and Alta Vista for driving without lights during hours of darkness. The passenger was a known gang member. A computer check revealed a no-bail probation warrant out of San Bernardino County. The passenger was arrested for the warrant and taken into custody.

Shoplifting
December 22 at 7:32 p.m., officers responded to a business in the 1600 block of S. Mountain regarding a theft of electric wire and power tools. The suspect put the merchandise into a shopping cart and fled the location. The investigation is ongoing.

Residential Burglary
December 23 at 11:01 a.m., a residential burglary was reported in the 300 block of S. Alta Vista. The victim had been out of town and when he returned home, he discovered someone had broken into his house. The suspect removed a window screen and gained entry through a side window. An iPhone and some U.S. currency was taken. The investigation is continuing.

Traffic Collision
December 23 at 5:26 p.m., a traffic collision was reported at California and Duarte. A vehicle was stopped at a red light heading west on Duarte, when another vehicle rearended it. The driver who caused the collision claimed his brakes did not work properly. One of the drivers complained of pain.

Domestic Violence – Suspect Arrested
December 24 at 10:58 a.m., officers responded to a residence in the 800 block of Bonita regarding an armed male suspect involved in a domestic dispute. The victim and suspect are married and were visiting the victim’s mother in Monrovia the day before. They became involved in a dispute which resulted in pushing and shoving, and the victim sustaining bruises. The suspect was asked to leave the location and he left. The next day, the victim received a phone call from the suspect’s mother, warning her that her son was on his way and that he was very upset and was armed. The victim and her family fled the home and contacted police. When the officers arrived at the residence, they found the suspect in the backyard of the home. He was armed with a handgun, numerous knives and extra magazines loaded with ammunition. The suspect was arrested and taken into custody.

Battery / Warrant – Suspect Arrested
December 24 at 10:59 p.m., officers were dispatched to a business in the 1500 block of S. Myrtle on the report of several subjects fighting. They arrived and detained three male adults and one female adult. One male was visibly battered, but refused to prosecute. The female was found to have a warrant for her arrest. She was arrested and taken into custody.

Attempted Residential Burglary
December 25 at 4:10 a.m., an attempted residential burglary was reported in the 100 block of E. Foothill. The victim stated that while he was gone during the day, someone climbed over his back fence, grabbed a bird bath and threw it through his back sliding glass door. The door has double pane glass and only one pane broke, so the suspect was not able to gain entry. The investigation is continuing.

Assault With a Deadly Weapon – Suspect Arrested
December 25 at 7:07 a.m., police dispatch received a call from a hospital reporting they had a victim of a stabbing in their emergency room. Officers responded to the hospital to interview the victim. The victim told officers that his brother was up all night drinking alcohol with his cousin's husband, the suspect, in the family garage. At approximately 5:00 a.m., the victim heard his brother yelling outside. He went outside to see what his brother was yelling about, and the intoxicated suspect punched him and they both fell to the ground. While they were struggling on the ground, the suspect stabbed the victim in the chin and chest with a small pair of garden shears. The wounds were non-life-threatening. Officers went to the victim's residence, where they collected evidence and arrested the suspect without incident.

Grand Theft
December 26 at 6:57 a.m., a grand theft was reported at a business in the 700 block of E. Huntington. The reporting party said he left on Friday at 10:00 a.m. and all the storage containers were intact and the gated area was secured with a padlock. When he returned on Tuesday, he found the area open and four storage containers had been forcibly opened. Numerous tools and other equipment was taken. The investigation is continuing.

Stolen Vehicle
December 26 at 6:58 a.m., a vehicle was reported stolen from the 300 block of Lincoln. The victim parked her vehicle in an assigned parking stall on the property on December 23 and left on vacation. When she returned on December 26, she found her vehicle was missing. The vehicle is a white, two-door, 2011 Honda Accord. The investigation is continuing.

Traffic Collision
December 26 at 11:38 p.m., a traffic collision was reported at Magnolia and Evergreen. A driver failed to stop for the stop sign at the intersection and collided with another vehicle. The driver that caused the collision did not have a valid driver's license. He was cited and his vehicle was stored. The driver of the other vehicle complained of pain, but refused treatment.

Stolen Vehicle Recovered
December 27 at 10:50 a.m., an officer was dispatched to the 200 block of W. Central regarding an abandoned vehicle that was possibly stolen. A tall, White, male suspect parked the vehicle in the driveway of the location and fled. Officers arrived and confirmed the vehicle was stolen out of Chino. The vehicle was recovered.

Residential Burglary
December 27 at 10:25 p.m., a residential burglary was reported in the 100 block of Spanner. The residents at the location returned home and found their home had been ransacked. It appears the suspects entered through a bathroom window. The loss was a television, computers and a handgun. The investigation is continuing.

Driving Under the Influence / Injury Traffic Collision
December 27 at 11:17 p.m., officers were dispatched to the 800 block of E. Lemon on the report of a family disturbance. As they arrived, a subject was leaving the location in a vehicle. An officer located the vehicle and saw it run the red light at Foothill and Shamrock. As he followed the vehicle to stop it, the vehicle collided with the curb at Foothill and Poinsettia. The driver was injured and was taken to a hospital for treatment. The driver showed signs of impairment due to alcohol, but was not arrested at the time due to his injuries. The case will be presented to the District Attorney's office at a later date for possible DUI charges.

Vehicle Burglary
December 28 at 5:52 p.m., a vehicle burglary was reported in the 800 block of W. Olive. The victim parked her vehicle inside the garage, but left the garage door open and vehicle unlocked. Someone entered her vehicle and stole her sunglasses and three pairs of shoes. The investigation is continuing.

Weapons Offense / Ex-Felon in Possession of a Firearm / Threatening an Officer – Suspect Arrested
December 29 at 2:25 a.m., an officer was on patrol in the area of Chestnut and Magnolia when he noticed a suspicious vehicle parked against the curb with the turn signal on and the engine running. The officer approached the vehicle and the subject appeared to be sleeping. He woke the subject and could smell the odor of alcohol on the subject. A second officer arrived to assist and they had the subject step out of the vehicle. As one of the officers conducted a search, he felt a gun in the subject's waistband. The subject then became combative and a struggle ensued as both officers tried to subdue the subject as he attempted to pull the gun out of his waistband. Additional officers arrived to assist and the suspect was taken into custody.

Stolen License Plates Recovered / Possession of a Controlled Substance / Possession of Drug Paraphernalia – Suspect Arrested
December 29 at 11:49 a.m., an employee from a business in the 1600 block of S. Mountain called police to report a suspicious subject at the store who has committed thefts in the past. The subject left the store and entered a vehicle in the parking lot. Officers arrived and detained the subject. Further investigation revealed the subject had a recently stolen license plate affixed to his vehicle over his actual license plate. He was also found to have methamphetamine and a drug pipe in his pocket. The suspect was arrested and taken into custody.

Vehicle Burglaries
December 29 at 8:42 p.m., two vehicle burglaries were reported in the 900 block of S. Fifth Avenue. The two vehicles had broken windows. After further investigation and talking to both victims, it appears there were no items taken from the vehicles. The investigation is continuing.

Possession of Drug Paraphernalia – Suspect Arrested
December 29 at 9:26 p.m., an officer saw a suspicious subject loitering in a park in the 600 block of S. Shamrock. He conducted a consensual encounter and the subject stated that he had a methamphetamine pipe in his backpack. A consent search revealed a drug pipe in his possession. The subject was arrested for possession of drug paraphernalia.

Traffic Collision / Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
December 30 at 12:01 a.m., officers responded to a solo traffic collision into a parked vehicle at Lemon and Primrose. After investigation, the officer arrested the driver for driving under the influence.

Hit and Run Traffic Collision
December 30 at 2:20 a.m., a hit and run traffic collision was reported in the 700 block of S. Shamrock. Officers arrived in the area and discovered two parked cars that had been hit by another car that fled the scene. The investigation is ongoing.

Hit and Run Traffic Collision – Suspect Arrested
December 30 at 4:26 a.m., officers responded to the report of a solo, rollover, traffic collision in the 200 block of S. Mountain. After investigation, the officer arrested the driver for DUI.

Parole Hold / Warrants – Suspects Arrested
December 30 at 10:22 a.m., an officer responded to a business in the 1600 block of S. Mountain regarding a subject possibly stealing merchandise. The subject and left the store and was in a vehicle in the parking lot. The officer contacted the subject and a computer check revealed he was on parole. A search of the vehicle revealed he was in possession of drug paraphernalia. While the officer was searching the vehicle, a female approached and identified herself as the registered owner of the vehicle. A computer check of her revealed she had two warrants for her arrest. Parole issued a hold for the male and both subjects were arrested.

Counterfeit Currency
December 30 at 1:59 p.m., an employee at a business in the 300 block of W. Huntington called police to report someone had attempted to pass a counterfeit one hundred dollar bill. The suspect left the bill and left the location prior to the employees calling the police department. The investigation is continuing.

Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
December 30 at 2:37 p.m., a caller reported a male subject in the 800 block of S. Magnolia who appeared drunk. The subject reportedly entered a vehicle and drove away. An officer was in the area and saw the vehicle traveling north on Magnolia, swerving back and forth. A traffic stop was conducted and a DUI investigation began. The subject was determined to be intoxicated and was arrested for DUI.

Possession of Drug Paraphernalia – Suspect Arrested
December 30 at 4:26 p.m., a caller reported a suspicious subject yelling in a parking lot in the 600 block of W. Huntington. Officers arrived and contacted the subject. The subject was found to be in possession of drug paraphernalia and was arrested.

Possession of a Controlled Substance – Suspect Arrested
December 30 at 7:47 p.m., an officer stopped a female and male on bikes for a vehicle code violation. The female threw something on the ground before stopping. The investigation revealed the female threw a container with a needle and some methamphetamine. She was arrested and taken into custody.

Driving Under the Influence / Traffic Collision – Suspect Arrested
December 31 at 2:31 a.m., officers responded to the 100 block of W. Duarte on a solo vehicle traffic collision. Upon arrival, officers saw a light pole down across all lanes of Duarte Road from the collision. The female adult driver was determined to be intoxicated and was arrested for DUI.

Under the Influence of a Controlled Substance – Suspect Arrested
December 31 at 8:10 a.m., a caller reported a female subject in the street yelling at a male subject, who was driving away. Officers responded and spoke with the female, who exhibited symptoms of being under the influence of narcotics. The female admitted to smoking methamphetamine approximately two hours prior. She was arrested for being under the influence of a controlled substance.

Shoplifting – Suspects Arrested
December 31 at 1:06 p.m., loss prevention personnel from a business in the 500 block of W. Huntington Drive called police to report a shoplifting incident. Two subjects had concealed merchandise in the waistbands of their pants and walked out of the store without paying. Officers and loss prevention detained the subjects, and further investigation revealed they had also shoplifted from another store. Both stores desired prosecution. The subjects were arrested and taken into custody.

Warrant – Suspect Arrested
December 31 at 7:43 p.m., a subject who lives in the 1300 block of S. Alta Vista called police to report subjects attempting to enter his residence. The caller sounded somewhat suspicious and while officers were on their way to the location, dispatch advised that the subject had warrants for his arrest. After the officers determined the scene was clear, the subject was arrested for his warrants. He was later released to the custody of the Azusa Police Department on the warrants.

Hit and Run Traffic Collision
December 31 at 10:50 p.m., an officer was on patrol in the 100 block of E. Colorado and was flagged down regarding a hit and run traffic collision. Officers responded and found a fluid trail from the suspect vehicle, but were unable to track it down. The investigation is continuing.