News: brad.haugaard@gmail.com   •  Restaurants   •  Library Catalog   •  Library Activities  •  History   •  Facebook / X/Twitter / RSS

Monrovia Police: Masked Men Rob Business; Shoplifting Power Tools; Robbery With Stroller; Lots of Meth; Etc.

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for May 24-30. - Brad Haugaard]

During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 441 service events, resulting in 90 investigations.

Grand Theft Auto – Suspect Arrested
May 24 at 10:02 a.m., officers responded to the report of a stolen vehicle traveling north in the 1500 block of N. Myrtle. They located and stopped the vehicle, which was occupied by two male subjects. The vehicle had been reported stolen in San Bernardino. The driver was arrested and the vehicle returned to its owner.

Robbery
May 24 at 8:45 p.m., two male subjects entered a business in the 900 block of E. Huntington, both wearing masks covering their faces. They jumped over the checkout counter and ordered all employees to the back of the store, then they forced one of the employees to empty the cash registers. The suspects fled with cash and medications. Officers were called to the scene after the suspects fled. They conducted a search of the area, but were unable to locate the suspects. This investigation is continuing.

Warrants – Suspects Arrested
May 25 between 1:42 a.m. and 3:07 a.m., officers located four subjects in the early morning hours, all were found to have warrants for their arrest. All were arrested for the warrants and taken into custody. The subjects were located in the 300 block of W. Huntington, 1700 block of S. Magnolia, 1600 block of S. Primrose and the 900 block of S. Primrose.

Vandalism
May 25 at 7:40 a.m., a caller reported seeing fresh graffiti on a wall in the 700 block of W. Duarte. The graffiti happened sometime during the night. This investigation is continuing.

Petty Theft of Bicycle
May 25 at 7:41 a.m., a resident in the 500 block of S. Myrtle walked outside his home and discovered someone had stolen his locked bicycle from his building sometime during the night. Officers responded to investigate the theft. The investigation is continuing.

Shoplifting / Warrant – Suspect Arrested
May 25 at 1:41 p.m., an employee of a store in the 1600 block of S. Mountain reported two male subjects seen running out of the store carrying power tools without paying. Officers responded and located both subjects. The tools were returned to the store and the suspects were both arrested. One of them had an outstanding felony warrant for his arrest from a previous criminal case.

Drug Offense – Suspect Arrested
May 25 at 7:58 p.m., residents in the 200 block of N. Mountain reported a male subject in the street yelling. Officers located the subject and found him to be in possession of a pipe that had been used to smoke methamphetamine; the suspect was arrested.

Grand Theft Auto / Possession of a Loaded Gun – Suspects Arrested
May 25 at 8:28 p.m., employees of a business in the 1600 block of S. Mountain reported a suspicious vehicle in their parking lot that was occupied by two male subjects. Officers arrived and a computer check of the license plate revealed the vehicle had been reported stolen. Officers contacted the occupants and found them to be in possession of a loaded gun, as well as stolen property and documents used to commit fraud. The subjects were both arrested and the vehicle was returned to its owner. During the investigation, it was discovered that there were three female suspects who went to the store with the male suspects. They were arrested in the parking lot after shoplifting from the store. Computer checks revealed they also had warrants for their arrest.

Robbery
May 25 at 8:57 p.m., a male and female subject entered a store in the 600 block of W. Huntington and concealed several clothing items inside an unoccupied baby stroller. When they attempted to leave the store without paying, an employee stood in front of them and told them to stop. They hit the employee with the stroller and forced their way out of the store with the stolen merchandise. This investigation is continuing.

Public Intoxication
May 26 at 1:02 a.m., a sergeant was on patrol in the 1800 block of S. California when he saw a male subject who appeared to need assistance. He stopped to help the subject and found him to be heavily intoxicated. Field sobriety tests were conducted and it was determined that the subject was too drunk to care for his own safety; he was arrested and taken into custody.

Drug Offense – Suspect Arrested
May 26 at 4:05 a.m., a sergeant was patrolling the 700 block of S. Myrtle when he saw a bicyclist commit a violation of the rules of the road. He stopped the subject and found he was holding a pipe that had been used to smoke methamphetamine; he was arrested. A search incident to arrest revealed he was also in possession of methamphetamine.

Traffic Collision
May 26 at 5:04 a.m., a resident in the 700 block of E. Foothill reported a collision on the street outside their home. Officers responded and found a single motorist had fallen asleep while driving and struck a parked vehicle. The driver was not injured.

Petty Theft
May 26 at 6:52 a.m., a resident in the 200 block of E. Maple walked outside his home to go to work and found his truck doors open and several items stolen from inside the truck. He remembered he had left his doors unlocked the night before. This investigation is continuing.

Drug Offense / Parole Violation – Suspect Arrested
May 26 at 12:44 p.m., a sergeant was on patrol in the 2600 block of S. Peck when he saw a motorist commit a vehicle code violation. When the driver was contacted, he provided false information to the officer and the passenger was found to be in possession of methamphetamine. Both subjects were arrested. A computer check revealed the driver was also in violation of his parole conditions by providing false information to a peace officer.

Vandalism
May 26 at 7:26 p.m., a customer at a restaurant in the 900 block of W. Huntington finished eating and walked outside to discover someone had shattered one the windows on his vehicle. The doors to the vehicle were still locked and nothing had been taken from inside the car. This investigation is continuing.

Drug Offense / False Registration Tabs – Suspects Arrested
May 26 at 7:54 p.m., a sergeant was patrolling the 700 block of S. Mayflower when he saw a motorist commit a vehicle code violation. He stopped the driver for the violation and a computer check revealed the vehicle had false registration tabs attached to it. The driver was contacted and after being searched incident to arrest, she was also found to be in possession of methamphetamine. The passenger in the vehicle was found to have a warrant for his arrest, so he was taken into custody, as well.

Drug Offense / Warrant / Parole Violation – Suspects Arrested
May 26 at 9:25 p.m., the Special Enforcement Team stopped a bicyclist for committing a violation of the vehicle code. A computer check revealed he had a warrant for his arrest and was on parole; he was arrested and taken into custody. A search incident to arrest revealed he was in possession of a pipe that had been used to smoke methamphetamine, which is a violation of his parole.

Vandalism
May 26 at 9:27 p.m., a customer of a restaurant in the 900 block of W. Duarte finished eating and walked outside to his car. He found one of the windows had been shattered, but nothing was taken from inside the vehicle. This investigation is continuing.

Prowling / Attempt Burglary
May 26 at 11:42 p.m., a resident in the 500 block of N. Alta Vista heard her house telephone ringing, so she walked downstairs to answer it. As she was going down the stairs, she saw someone shining a flashlight through her front window, then heard one of her back windows break. Officers responded, but did not locate the suspects. This investigation is continuing.

Vehicle Tampering
May 27 at 11:12 a.m., a resident in the 400 block of Stedman walked outside his home and discovered that sometime during the night someone had entered his unlocked vehicle and ransacked the interior. Nothing was stolen. This investigation is continuing.

Recovered Stolen Vehicle
May 29 at 3:44 a.m., an officer was patrolling the 1600 block of S. Mountain when he saw an unoccupied vehicle parked suspiciously in the parking lot. A computer check revealed it had been reported stolen in Los Angeles. The vehicle was recovered and returned to its owner.

Petty Theft
May 29 at 11:08 a.m., a resident in the 200 block of E. Maple walked outside his home to go to work and found that someone had stolen the license plates off his vehicle sometime during the night. The plates were entered into the DMV system as stolen. This investigation is continuing.

Hit & Run Traffic Collision
May 29 at 11:59 a.m., a motorist parked his vehicle at a shopping center in the 600 block of W. Huntington. After parking, another motorist backed into his vehicle, causing damage, then fled the scene without stopping. Officers responded and searched for the suspect vehicle, but did not locate it. This investigation is continuing.

Warrant – Suspect Arrested
May 30 at 9:27 p.m., a resident in the 200 block of N. Mountain called the police to report a female subject in the middle of the street, behaving suspiciously. Officers arrived and located the subject. A computer check revealed she had a warrant for her arrest, issued out of Orange County, so she was arrested and taken into custody.

Public Intoxication – Suspect Arrested
May 30 at 9:29 p.m., a resident in the 500 block of W. Duarte reported a female subject lying on the ground, possibly in need of help. Officers arrived and contacted the subject. They found her to be heavily intoxicated and unable to care for her own safety; she was arrested and taken into custody.

Free Movie, Popcorn, BBQ at Monrovia Area Partnership Celebration

Monrovia Area Partnership will host a summer night with a free movie showing, free popcorn, free BBQ, free root beer floats, and other free activities to celebrate its 12-year anniversary. Saturday, June 16 from 5-10 p.m. at Julian Fisher Park (915 S. California Ave.). Sign up here: https://goo.gl/cvh1bA

- Brad Haugaard

Hiker Lost and Found

Note from Monrovia Fire Department: Last night at approximately 10 p.m. Monrovia Fire and Rescue received a call for a missing hiker in Canyon Park/USFS. Monrovia Fire and Rescue along with Sierra Madre Search and Rescue. The search continued throughout the night and today. At approximately 10:30 a.m. the hiker was found in good health.

- Brad Haugaard

New System Helps Save Heart Attack Victim; Legacy Project; Hotel Tax on Ballot; City Hall Phone Problems


Monrovia Union High School, from Monrovia Legacy project

In his weekly report City Manager Oliver Chi reports ...

~ The new heart attack protocols instituted by the Fire Department have paid off and last week "the prehospital care coordinator at Arcadia Methodist Hospital took the time to send along a thank-you note to our team at the Monrovia Fire Department for the excellent work our staff engaged in to save a life." Chi said between the Fire Department's efforts and the staff at Arcadia Methodist, "the heart attack patient was operated on, stabilized, and discharged 3 days after the initial incident occurred."

~ In the June 5 election Monrovians will consider Measure TT, which would bump up the city's hotel bed tax - charged to travelers who rent rooms - from 10% to 12%, still cheaper than that charged by cities to our west. If I recall correctly, this tax was proposed to help pay for unfunded retirement liabilities. Needless to say, city officials would like you to approve the measure.

~ Through Monrovia's Legacy Project you can browse more than 5,000 historic photos and nearly 1,000 documents on our city’s history, including: city directories from the 1900s, house histories, out of print Monrovia history books. Check it out here: http://cityofmonrovia.pastperfectonline.com/

~ Callers to the city have experienced audio delays, echoes, dead air, and dropped calls. The city is "working with our telephone company, Frontier Communications, and our telephone system provider, Protel Communications, to try to resolve these issues."

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Baseball to Divisional Fiinal

Monrovia baseball comes from behind - again - to defeat Hemet and advance to its first divisional final since 2007. https://goo.gl/vP4CV8

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia's Senator's Firearms Control Bill Progresses

The California State Senate has voted to pass Senate Bill 1100, authored by Senator Anthony Portantino, who represents Monrovia. The bill "proposes to prohibit a person from making more than one firearm purchase within a 30-day period in California and increases the age requirement for purchasing all firearms to 21 years." The bill is now headed to the Assembly.

Source: Portantino press release

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police Blood Drive Tomorrow

Monrovia Police Department is coordinating a blood drive with the American Red Cross tomorrow, May 30, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Community Center at 119 W Palm.

- Brad Haugaard

Pet of the Week: Teddy, the Cutie Pie Kitty


Teddy (A456663) is a 2-month-old cutie pie. He is a very playful, affectionate cat who reaches his tiny paw out of the kennel for attention. He loves being petted all over his body, especially behind his ears, and starts purring and head bumping for more. He would be a great companion for someone who is looking for a long-term best friend. Come by and visit him at the Pasadena Humane Society today.
 
The adoption fee for cats is $75. All cats are spayed or neutered, microchipped, and vaccinated before being adopted.
 
New adopters will receive a complimentary health-and-wellness exam from VCA Animal Hospitals, as well as a goody bag filled with information about how to care for your pet.

View photos of adoptable pets at pasadenahumane.org. Adoption hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday; and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.

Pets may not be available for adoption and cannot be held for potential adopters by phone calls or email.

- Brad Haugaard 

Monrovia Baseball Comes Back From Trailing 6-0 to Win!

An account of the Monrovia Wildcat baseball team's thrilling comeback from being behind 6 to zero to defeat the Northview Vikings 9-6. https://goo.gl/aUJuDj

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia's Le Roy's Restaurant Named a 'Route 66 Roadside Gem'

TripAdvisor and Lipton Tea have created a list of "must-visit Route 66 Roadside Gems," which includes Monrovia's Le Roy's Restaurant: https://goo.gl/MZMtaQ

- Brad Haugaard

Blood Drive in Support of Monrovia High Athlete

There will be a Childhood Leukemia Blood Drive at Clifton Middle School on June 2, frin 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. in support of  Monrovia High School student-athlete James Speranta, who is facing an unexpected battle against leukemia.

Speranta is a member of Monrovia High's swim and water polo teams and San Gabriel Men's Water Polo Club, and regularly trains at the local Fitness Factor gym. All of his sports and physical activities came to a halt on March 16 when he was diagnosed with leukemia.

He underwent intensive 28-day chemotherapy treatments at Miller Children's Hospital, where he stayed in the hematology/oncology ward so doctors can monitor his progress in a sterile environment. Monrovia High students, teachers, and staff recorded encouraging messages, which they sent to James to view and listen to while he was hospitalized.

He was recently sent home to continue with follow-up treatments at City of Hope for another year or more, depending on how well he recovers. He will be home schooled during this time.

If you would like to give blood you can preregister at RedCrossBlood.org. Enter keyword "James". Walk-ins are welcome.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Baseball Advances to Semi Dinals

Monrovia Baseball advances to semi-finals: https://goo.gl/ErCTFd

- Brad Haugaard 

Dinner at Chili’s




Dinner recently at Chili’s, on Huntington. Got the Boneless Buffalo Chicken Salad for $10.39 and a beer. All very nice. 

- Brad Haugaard 

Monrovia Police: Threatening With Rifle; Drunkenness; Stealing; General Rowdiness; Etc.

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for May 17-23. - Brad Haugaard]

During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 377 service events, resulting in 68 investigations.

Vandalism
May 17 at 10:30 a.m., a caller reported seeing fresh graffiti next to the train tracks in the 1100 block of S. Fifth. Officers arrived and graffiti removal was notified. This investigation is continuing.

Criminal Threats / Brandishing a Firearm
May 17 at 4:12 p.m., a resident in the 200 block of Highland called the police after a family member had made criminal threats toward them and pointed a rifle at them. The family member fled the home after the police were called. Detectives obtained a search warrant to search the private bedroom of the suspect to look for additional weapons. This investigation is continuing.

Injury Traffic Collision
May 17 at 8:13 p.m., two vehicles collided in the 800 block of W. Colorado, causing one of the vehicles to collide into two parked vehicles. One of the drivers complained of pain and was transported to a nearby hospital. After an investigation was conducted, the party at fault was issued a citation.

Public Intoxication – Suspect Arrested
May 18 at 6:53 p.m., an officer was patrolling the 100 block of E. Olive when he saw a male subject lying on the sidewalk in front of a bar. He stopped to see if the subject needed assistance and found him to be heavily intoxicated. After field sobriety tests were conducted, it was determined the subject was too drunk to care for his own safety. He was arrested and held for a sobering period.

Fraud
May 18 at 7:31 p.m., a patron of a hotel in Monrovia realized he had lost his wallet, so he called his credit card company to cancel his card. He was notified that someone had already used it to purchase items at a store in the 300 block of W. Huntington. He immediately called the police. This investigation is continuing.

Public Intoxication
May 18 at 11:44 p.m., residents in the 100 block of W. Cypress called the police to report a male subject in their front yard who was yelling and causing a disturbance. Officers arrived and contacted the subject, who they found to be heavily intoxicated. After field sobriety tests were conducted, the subject was determined to be too drunk to care for his own safety, so he was arrested and held for a sobering period.

Grand Theft Auto
May 19 at 12:08 p.m., a resident in the 1700 block of Encino walked outside his home and discovered his Nissan had been stolen from his driveway sometime during the night. Officers responded and searched the area for the vehicle, but could not locate it. The vehicle was entered into the DMV stolen vehicle system. This investigation is continuing.

Injury Traffic Collision
May 19 at 12:22 p.m., two motorists collided into one another at the intersection of California and Central. Officers responded to investigate. One of the occupants complained of pain and was transported to a nearby hospital. After the investigation was completed, the motorist who was found to be at fault was issued a citation.

Violation of a Court Order – Suspect Arrested
May 20 at 4:34 a.m., a resident in the 500 block of E. Almond reported a former roommate was in her front yard causing a disturbance. She advised she had obtained a restraining order against him and he had been served. When officers arrived, the restrained person fled the front yard, but was found a short distance away. He was arrested and taken into custody.

Attempt Grand Theft – Suspect Arrested
May 20 at 6:41 p.m., two male subjects entered a store in the 1600 block of S. Mountain and began filling an empty box with several power tools. They were stopped by store security as they attempted to flee the store with the merchandise. Officers arrived and took custody of both subjects.

Warrant – Suspect Arrest
May 20 at 7:24 p.m., an officer was patrolling the 300 block of W. Huntington when he saw a male subject whom he recognized. A computer check revealed the subject had five warrants for his arrest. He was arrested and taken into custody.

DUI – Suspect Arrested
May 21 at 12:12 a.m., an officer was patrolling the 2600 block of S. Myrtle when he saw a vehicle traveling south at a high rate of speed. He stopped the vehicle and contacted the driver, who he found to be intoxicated. Field sobriety tests were conducted and the driver was arrested for DUI.

Battery
May 21 at 4:10 p.m., a resident in the 300 block of E. Palm reported his 25-year-old son had just hit him in the face, and then ran out of the house. Officers responded and searched for the suspect, but could not locate him. An emergency protection order was granted to the father. This investigation is continuing.

Warrant / Possession of Drug Paraphernalia – Suspect Arrested
May 21 at 5:05 p.m., a resident in the 600 block of E. Foothill reported a female subject was in her front yard and did not have permission to be on the private property. Officers responded and located the subject. A computer check revealed she had a warrant for her arrest. She was arrested and taken into custody. A search incident to arrest revealed she was in possession of drug paraphernalia.

Drug Activity – Suspect Arrested
May 21 at 9:39 p.m., a caller reported a male subject in the 1300 block of S. Mayflower sitting on a couch on the side of the road who was breathing in toxic fumes from paint cans. Officers responded and found the subject to be heavily intoxicated under the influence of the fumes. He was not able to care for his own safety. He was arrested and taken into custody.

Grand Theft
May 22 at 7:51 a.m., an employee of a business in the 700 block of E. Huntington arrived to work and found that someone had entered their gated property sometime over the weekend and stole several large batteries. This investigation is continuing.

Stolen Vehicle Located
May 22 at 12:51 p.m., a parking control officer was checking for illegally parked vehicles in the 1800 block of Sixth when he saw a vehicle in violation of street sweeping. A computer check revealed the vehicle had been stolen. Officers arrived to investigate and found a shaved key inside the vehicle’s ignition. The owners of the vehicle responded and recovered their car. This investigation is continuing.

Public Intoxication – Suspect Arrested
May 23 at 12:19 a.m., employees of a restaurant in the 600 block of W. Huntington reported a female subject walking around in their parking lot, yelling and causing a disturbance. Officers arrived and located the subject. She was found to be heavily intoxicated and unable to care for her own safety. She was arrested and taken into custody.

Warrant / Suspended License – Suspect Arrested
May 23 at 12:53 a.m., a sergeant was patrolling the 1400 block of S. Myrtle when he saw a motorist violate a driving law. He stopped the vehicle and approached the driver. A computer check revealed she was driving with a suspended license and had a warrant for her arrest. She was arrested and taken into custody.

Residential Burglary
May 23 at 3:54 p.m., the property management company for an apartment complex in the 500 block of W. Colorado reported a possible burglary had occurred at one of the units. Officers responded and found the apartment’s front window had been removed. It appeared the inside of the house was ransacked and a television was possibly stolen. This investigation is continuing.

Domestic Violence – Suspect Arrested
May 23 at 5:46 p.m., a resident in the 200 block of W. Palm heard his female neighbor screaming for help and called police. He said he saw her try to run out the front of her house, but her boyfriend grabbed her and pulled her back inside the house. Officers responded and contacted both subjects. After investigation, it was discovered that the male subject hit the female subject and threw her to the ground, causing physical pain. The male subject was arrested for domestic violence.

Traffic Collision / DUI – Suspect Arrested
May 23 at 11:24 p.m., a caller reported a vehicle had just collided with a parked vehicle and overturned in the 200 block of W. Foothill. Officers arrived and found the driver had exited the overturned car and was standing next to it. She did not have any injuries, but the officers found her to be heavily intoxicated. Field sobriety tests were conducted and it was determined she was drunk driving; she was arrested and taken into custody. 

Rosenlippenmädchen Und Monrovia

I saw these roses recently in a city park in Vienna, Austria, and I’m posting the picture on a Monrovia blog not because it is Monrovia-related but because it seems like a clever idea that might be used locally. 

Notice the placards on the stems of the rose bushes. One says, “Für’s Rosenlippenmädchen Annemarie - Deine Lieben” and the other says, “Für Claudia, die Liebe meine’s Lebens” (“For the Rose-lipped young woman, Annemarie, your lover“ and “For Claudia, the love of my life,” if my sub-par German is correct). 

These little plaques cost, I was told, 300 Euros (about $350) for five years, and the money goes for the maintenance of the garden.

So anyway, I wonder if there might be situations around Monrovia where something like that might work. 

Just a thought. 

- Brad Haugaard 

Support Monrovia Baseball in Playoffs

Support the Monrovia High Boys baseball team as it competes in the third round CIF playoff game, May 25 at 3:15 p.m. at Northview High School, 1016 Cypress Street, in Covina. 

- Brad Haugaard 

Monrovia Music Fest Coming Up


The free Monrovia Music Festival will take place Sunday, June 3 at Library Park under the Morton Bay Fig tree. Live bands all day, craft beer, food trucks, artisan market, giant bubbles, kids activities, SPCA adoption van and more. Pets are welcome. Performances by “a world-renown musical whistler, who will be performing alongside headliner Roger Espinosa (virtuoso Latin guitarist), The Travelling Fools, and other indie, folk, and rock musicians.”

- Brad Haugaard 

Monrovia Days Success; 296-Unit Housing Project Moves Forward



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

~ Monrovia Days was a huge success. Chi writes, “The crowds were bigger this year than ever. The fun and festivities were more impressive.” And, he said, an extra day was added to the event, bringing it to three days, and the city was hoping to sell $40,000 in tickets but ended up selling $76,000. A big improvement from what started “three years ago as a modest effort to bring the Monrovia Days parade back in a joint City – School District effort.” Oh, and the city team successfully defended its pie-eating contest title.  

~ Students in grades 8-10 can participate in one of three summer sessions of the Junior Research Summer Academy for $40. Participants Will be introduced to a variety of scientific fields through hands-on experiments with real research scientists. Hosted by the City and Oak Crest Institute of Science. Session 1: June 25 - July 6; Session 2: July 9-20; Session 3: July 23 - August 3. 

~ The City’s Development Review Committee  approved an application for a 296-unit multi-family housing project located just south of our Gold Line stop at Station Square (located at the NE corner of Duarte and Magnolia).  The Planning Commission will now consider the project on June 1, and if approvals are granted at that meeting, the City Council will be considering the matter this July.

- Brad Haugaard 

Pet of the Week: Max


Max (A448137) is a 2-year-old miniature pinscher who arrived to the Pasadena Humane Society last week and has bonded very quickly with our volunteers and staff here. He likes attention and especially enjoys treats. He will follow commands without much prompting in an attempt to get to the treats quickly. He is energetic and friendly, and has enjoyed playing with other dogs and toys on Wiggle Waggle Wagon field trips. Find out more about him by visiting pasadenahumane.org.
 
The adoption fee for dogs is $130. All dogs are spayed or neutered, microchipped, and vaccinated before going to their new home.
 
New adopters will receive a complimentary health-and-wellness exam from VCA Animal Hospitals, as well as a goody bag filled with information about how to care for your pet.

View photos of adoptable pets at pasadenahumane.org. Adoption hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday; and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.

Pets may not be available for adoption and cannot be held for potential adopters by phone calls or email.
 
- Brad Haugaard 
 
 

Monrovia’s AeroVironment Sells Switchblades to Army, Marines

Monrovia’s AeroVironment was awarded a contract in April from the US Army for the company’s Switchblade Lethal Miniature Aerial Missile System and support services for the drone system. Also, it got its first Switchblade order from the United States Marine Corps. This brings the total value of Switchblade contracts to $111 million since August 2017. 

- Brad Haugaard

Ribbon Cutting at New Unity Center Facility



Members of the Foothill Unity Center staff and board surround Center Executive Director Betty McWilliams (center, blue shirt), longtime Center supporter Betty Sandford, Board of Directors President Mary Ann Lutz and Director Emeritus Joan Whitenack (all to her left) at the ribbon cutting for the organization’s new location at 790 W. Chestnut Ave. in Monrovia. 

- Brad Haugaard 

Broadway Hits Concert on June 9

The San Gabriel Valley Choral Company will present a concert of hits from Broadway musicals on Saturday, June 9, at 7:30 p.m. at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, 122 S. California Avenue at Foothill. Works will include selections from Les Miserables, Porgy and Bess and The Sound of Music; a medley of Andrew Lloyd Webber hits; and more. Tickets at $20 ($15 students/seniors, $5 children under 12) may be ordered at eventbrite.com for a small handling fee. The ensemble, under the direction of Dr. Alexandra Grabarchuk, includes singers from the San Gabriel Valley, Inland Empire and other local communities. Their repertoire includes music from the Renaissance to the late 20th century. 

- Brad Haugaard 

Spring Carnival at Calvary Road Church


Carnival, Saturday, June 9, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Calvary Road Baptist Church, 319 W. Olive. 

- Brad Haugaard 

Monrovia Days

Photos of Monrovia Days: https://goo.gl/4c94bR

- Brad Haugaard 

GoMonrovia Famous as Far Away as Utah

Monrovia’s new GoMonrovia transit program is getting press coverage from as far away as Utah. https://goo.gl/toSj9H

- Brad Haugaard 

Lunch at Panda Expres


Lunch recently at Panda Express, in the Huntington Oaks Shopping Center. Got the two-item plate with Kung Pao Chicken and Pepper Chicken for $7.60 and a small iced tea for $1.70. Good, as always. 

- Brad Haugaard 

Art Sale Weekends at Monrovia’s Historic Train Station



Works by local artists on display and for sale at the historic Santa Fe Depot every Saturday and Sunday in May and June from 1-4 p.m. Sponsored by Monrovia Association of Fine Arts. 

- Brad Haugaard 

Monrovia’s AeroVironment Denies Carrying Explosive Drone on Commercial Flight

Monrovia’s AeroVironment Inc. denies as “baseless” a claim that employees carried a drone containing explosives on a commercial flight and then retaliated against a manager who reported the incident to the government. https://goo.gl/QMM775

- Brad Haugaard 

Monrovia Police: Man Buys Tires, Seller Disappears With Money; Lots of Drunk Driving

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for May 10-16. - Brad Haugaard]

During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 410 service events, resulting in 80 investigations.

Vandalism
May 10 at 6:32 a.m., a resident in the 500 block of E. Olive walked outside her home and discovered someone had slashed two of her vehicle tires sometime during the night. This investigation is continuing.

Attempt Residential Burglary
May 10 at 12:55 p.m., a resident in the 1700 block of Venice was at home when he saw two male subjects attempting to break into the house through the back door. When the suspects saw the resident was home, they both ran. Officers responded, but were unable to locate the suspects. This investigation is continuing.

Under the Influence of Narcotics – Suspect Arrested
May 10 at 4:33 p.m., a caller reported a male subject in the 300 block of W. Huntington behaving suspiciously. Officers arrived and contacted the subject. They found he was under the influence of a controlled substance. After field tests were conducted, he was arrested.

Grand Theft Auto
May 10 at 7:41 p.m., officers were alerted to a possible stolen vehicle traveling north in the 700 block of S. Myrtle. The vehicle was located and stopped by officers. The female driver was not the owner of the vehicle, nor did she have permission to possess it, so she was arrested for grand theft auto.

Warrant – Suspect Arrested
May 11 at 11:48 a.m., officers responded to a house in the 1000 block of Royal Oaks to check on the welfare of an elderly female subject who had possibly been battered by her grandson. Officers arrived and investigated the allegations; however, the crime was not substantiated. A computer check revealed the grandson had two warrants for his arrest, so he was taken into custody.

Commercial Burglary
May 11 at 12:25 p.m., the owner of a business in the 1800 block of S. Myrtle arrived to work and discovered several items had been stolen. The last time he saw the items was a week prior. Officers arrived to investigate the theft. This investigation is continuing.

Petty Theft
May 11 at 1:12 p.m., a caller reported he was at a gas station in the 800 block of E. Huntington when he was approached by a male subject selling vehicle wheels. The caller gave the subject money for the wheels. After receiving the money, the subject fled with the money and the wheels. Officers responded, but were unable to locate the subject. This investigation is continuing.

Commercial Burglary
May 11 at 6:15 p.m., two female subjects entered a store in the 100 block of W. Foothill, carrying empty bags. They proceeded to fill the bags with approximately cosmetics, then fled the store without paying. Officers responded, apprehended one of the suspects and arrested her. The investigation is continuing to identify the second suspect.

Petty Theft
May 11 at 6:30 p.m., a resident in the 600 block of W. Duarte arrived home and discovered an Amazon package, which had been delivered earlier in the day, had been stolen from his front porch. This investigation is continuing.

Providing False Information to Peace Officers – Suspect Arrested
May 11 at 8:38 p.m., the Special Enforcement Team was patrolling the 100 block of W. Duarte, when they saw a male subject who was behaving suspiciously. They stopped the subject, who provided them with false information. He was arrested and taken into custody.

Domestic Violence – Suspect Arrest
May 12 at 12:26 a.m., a caller reported two subjects yelling at one another and causing a disturbance in the 100 block of W. Palm. Officers responded and located the male and female subject, who are married to one another. Officers discovered the male subject had hit the female in the face, causing visible injuries. A domestic violence restraining order had been issued against the male for previously battering his wife. The male subject was arrested.

Injury Traffic Collision
May 12 at 7:52 a.m., officers responded to the 1500 block of S. Myrtle, where two vehicles had collided into one another. One of the occupants had complained of pain due to the collision. Officers investigated the collision and issued a citation to the driver who was at fault.

Petty Theft / Fraud
May 12 at 1:29 p.m., an elderly female was shopping at a store in the 1600 block of S. Mountain, when she discovered someone had stolen her wallet from her shopping cart. While officers were investigating the theft, she received a call from her credit card company advising her that someone had already used her card at a nearby store. This investigation is continuing.

Mail Theft
May 12 at 2:57 p.m., a resident in the 700 block of Ocean View walked outside his home and found a pile of opened mail in his front yard. He looked at the addresses and saw the mail belonged to several of his neighbors. This investigation is continuing.

Public Intoxication – Suspect Arrested
May 12 at 7:21 p.m., a resident in the 100 block of N. Alta Vista reported a male subject was in her backyard refusing to leave. Officers arrived and contacted the subject. They found him to the front of the property and he was too intoxicated to care for his own safety. He was arrested and taken into custody.

Public Intoxication – Suspect Arrested
May 12 at 9:40 p.m., a caller reported seeing a male subject in the 1500 block of S. Myrtle who appeared heavily intoxicated. Officers arrived and located the subject. Field tests were conducted and it was determined that the subject was too intoxicated to care for his own safety; he was arrested and taken into custody.

Warrant – Suspect Arrested
May 12 at 10:35 p.m., several residents in the 400 block of Heliotrope reported a noise disturbance at one of the houses in their neighborhood. Officers arrived and located the party and the owner of the property. A computer check revealed she had several warrants for her arrest; she was arrested and taken into custody.

Domestic Violence – Suspect Arrested
May 13 at 4:15 a.m., a female resident of a hotel in the 900 block of W. Huntington reported that her boyfriend had just hit her after an argument and he was attempting to leave. Officers arrived and contacted both subjects. After further investigation, officers arrested the male subject for domestic violence.

Injury Hit & Run Collision / DUI / Child Endangerment – Suspect Arrested
May 13 at 11:42 p.m., several callers reported a collision where a vehicle had just run a red light at the intersection of Mountain and Huntington that caused injuries to the other driver. The suspect vehicle then fled the area. Officers responded and located the suspect vehicle. The driver was heavily intoxicated, and after field sobriety tests were conducted, he was arrested. His wife and two-year-old child were also in the vehicle with him.

Injury Traffic Collision
May 14 at 5:51 p.m., officers responded to a collision that occurred in the intersection of California and Central between two vehicles. One of the drivers complained of pain to her leg, so she was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment. Both drivers claimed to have a green light. This investigation is continuing.

Warrant – Suspect Arrested
May 14 at 7:53 p.m., a sergeant saw a male subject loitering by a door to the rear of a business in the 600 block of W. Huntington. He stopped the subject to investigate the suspicious behavior. A computer check revealed the subject had a warrant for his arrest; he was arrested and taken into custody.

Petty Theft
May 15 at 7:19 a.m., a resident in the 200 block of W. Lime walked outside her home and discovered someone had entered her unlocked vehicle sometime during the night. Two credit cards were taken from the vehicle. This investigation is continuing.

Warrant – Suspect Arrested
May 16 at 2:01 a.m., an officer was patrolling the 1800 block of S. Shamrock when he saw a male subject he recognized from previous contacts. A computer check revealed the subject had a warrant for his arrest, so he was stopped and taken into custody.

DUI / Traffic Collision – Suspect Arrested
May 16 at 4:04 p.m., a caller reported that a female subject had just collided into a vehicle parked in the 100 block of S. Mayflower. She exited her vehicle and was walking away from the scene. Officers arrived and located the subject attempting to flee the scene of the collision. When they contacted her, they found she was heavily intoxicated. After field sobriety tests were conducted she was arrested.

Warrant – Suspect Arrested
May 16 at 7:46 p.m., an officer was patrolling the 300 block of W. Huntington, when he saw a person behaving suspiciously. He stopped the subject, and a computer check revealed the subject had a warrant for his arrest. He was arrested and taken into custody.

DUI – Suspect Arrested
May 16 at 11:29 p.m., an officer was patrolling the 600 block of S. Canyon when he saw a motorist commit a driving violation. He stopped the vehicle and found the driver to be intoxicated. After field sobriety tests were conducted, the driver was arrested. 

Garden Club to Select Beautification Awards

Monrovia Garden Club will be hosting the Annual  2018 Home Beautification Awards for the City of Monrovia.  Front yard gardens of eight Monrovia residents are chosen by the Garden Club.  The yards are judged on the outstanding appearance of the garden, how it enhances the home and the neighborhood and on its own merit as a planted work of landscape art.

An award sign will be put in the front yard announcing the resident as a winner.  The Mayor and city council will present each resident with a "Certificate of Recognition".   A slideshow of the winning yards will be shown.

The next Monrovia Garden Club meeting will be held on Tuesday May 22 at the First Presbyterian Church in its Fireside Room, at the corner of Myrtle and Foothill. The meeting will start at 7:00 p.m.  Social time at 6:30 p.m. Light refreshments will be served.

- Brad Haugaard 

Monrovia Days Starts Tomorrow

Monrovia Days starts tomorrow, May 18-20. Carnival, music, book sale, performances by Center Stage, and a pie eating contest. Details here: https://goo.gl/Pxdrg3

- Brad Haugaard 

Fellowship Monrovia Family Night This Evening

Fellowship Monrovia will hold its first Family Night of the summer today, from 6-8 p.m. at its Huntington Drive Campus at the corner of Huntington and California Ave. Dinner, bounce houses, DJ, lawn games, and more. No registration needed. $10 for the family, $5 per individual. Cost includes dinner. Parking will be off site.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Legacy Project Now Online

Gem City Images (https://goo.gl/GWx44a) reports that the Monrovia Legacy Project is now online here: http://cityofmonrovia.pastperfectonline.com/

- Brad Haugaard 


Rob Hammond Completes Cross-Country Bicycle ride


With toes in the Atlantic Ocean, Monrovia School Board Member Rob Hammond celebrates his Pacific to Atlantic bicycle ride. 

He writes on Facebook: “I cannot begin to understand all the emotions I have inside me. All I can say now is thank you to everyone that prayed for my safety, supported our fundraising, and followed along on this incredible journey. 

“Love to all. I can't wait to get home.”

- Brad Haugaard 

Artsy Utility Boxes; Where a Samson’s Gone; Mayor Pro Tem Top Racer in Her Class




More from the City Manager’s report:

~ A utility box on Myrtle Avenue, just north of Foothill, was recently artified by a young local artist named Ms. Timothea Karipides, who is part of a group called the Monrovia Sketchers that meets weekly to draw around town.  She painted the box, along with her parents, with recognizable sights in town – the “M” in the foothills, the “Flying A” gas pumps on Shamrock Avenue, the First Presbyterian Church on the corner of Myrtle Avenue / Foothill Boulevard (where the box is located), and Beans the surfing whippet canine. 

~ Speaking of public art, the “Samson Bear” in front of T-Phillips has been temporarily removed to be repainted.  

~ In the Fountain to the Falls race the fastest time overall for the seven-mile race belonged to Ruben Hernandez from Los Angeles, who ran the course in 40 minutes, 36 seconds. Mayor Pro Tem Becky Shevlin clocked in at 1 hour, 25 minutes, 50 seconds, meaning that she placed first in her group. 

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Housing Expected to Increase by 15 Percent - 2,200 Units - In Months Ahead


In his weekly report (https://goo.gl/aOqX7O) City Manager Oliver Chi reported that the supply of housing in Monrovia is set to jump dramatically. 

He writes that, “All told, there are currently around 2,200 housing units / rooms in the development pipeline, which constitutes a 15% increase in our total housing supply. “

He adds that “from June 2018 - September 2018 the City will be considering three major projects that will feature close to 600 units / hotel rooms (highlighted in blue in the map above – Richman Development, Marriott TownePlace Suites, and AvalonBay).

He says that “without proper context, these eye-popping numbers can be somewhat startling.”

He said there are two issues involved, the environment on one side and Southern California’s need for more housing on the other. 

He writes that “while we do have to make sure that we have strong environmental policies, and while we need to develop premier mobility / transportation options for our residents… we also have to find a way to do our part to address the severe housing crisis we are confronted with today.”

There is more to this and it deserves s full reading. See it here: https://goo.gl/aOqX7O

And here’s one of these projects:


The Richman Residential Project (known as Station Square South) is going before the Development Review Committee (DRC) for consideration on today at 4 p.m., in the City Council Chambers.  The project is a 296-unit housing initiative located at the NE corner of Duarte Avenue / Magnolia Avenue just south of the City’s Gold Line Station. 

The city has set up a web page to address all development issues: https://goo.gl/RZQnpn

- Brad Haugaard 

Monrovia Swimmers Finish Strong Under New Coach

Monrovia High swimmers do well at Rio Hondo League Finals under new coach Julie Burns. https://goo.gl/PMejyr

- Brad Haugaard 

Pet of the Week: Paloma, the Cat Who Plays Fetch

Paloma (A451821) is a 2-year-old playful cat who knows how to fetch! Yes, you read that right; if you throw toys for her she will bring them back to you over and over again. She is also a very talkative cat who loves to have long conversations. She is a friendly cat who likes to greet you with a kiss on the nose and would enjoy sitting next to you on the couch while you read a book or watch TV. Check out more about Paloma today!
 
The adoption fee for cats is $75. All cats are spayed or neutered, microchipped, and vaccinated before being adopted.
 
New adopters will receive a complimentary health-and-wellness exam from VCA Animal Hospitals, as well as a goody bag filled with information about how to care for your pet.

View photos of adoptable pets at pasadenahumane.org. Adoption hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday; and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.

Pets may not be available for adoption and cannot be held for potential adopters by phone calls or email.
 
- Brad Haugaard 

Upcoming Classical Opera and Baroque Concerts at St. Luke’s


A free opera concert by mezzo-soprano Trisha Rivera and bass-baritone Raed Saade on May 26 and a June 3 performance by the Jouyssance Early Music Ensemble and Los Angeles Baroque are scheduled for St. Luke’s Church, at 122 S. California Ave. at Foothill Boulevard.

- Free classical opera concert Saturday, May 26, 5 p.m. Mezzo-soprano Trisha Rivera and bass-baritone Raed Saade will perform comedy, drama, spirituals, coloratura, opera favorites and more. They will be joined by guest artist, mezzo-soprano Megan Gillespie. Admission is free, and donations welcome.

- Purcell and more by Jouyssance Early Music Ensemble Sunday, June 3, 4 p.m. The singers of the Jouyssance Early Music Ensemble with join the instrumentalists of Los Angeles Baroque in a concert of works by  Henry Purcell and other baroque composers. Tickets are $25, $20 for seniors and Southern California Early Music Society  members, and $15 for students. They may be purchased at the door or ordered in advance at brownpapertickets.com.

- Brad Haugaard 

Coffee at New Pari Passu

Got a cup of coffee today at the new Pari Passu coffee shop at the northwest corner of Myrtle and Foothill. Nice interior. Kind of a minimalist industrial vibe with ceiling fans and art on the walls, and the coffee was good. In addition to various coffee-based drinks, it also serves pastries, flat bread pizzas, quiches and a croque sandwich. (I looked it up; it’s a fried or baked ham and cheese sandwich.) I hope parking won’t be a problem. 

- Brad Haugaard 

Blood Drive June 2 at Clifton Middle School





A Soggy Fountain to the Falls Run


Runners coming in to the finish line after a rainy run from the Library Park fountain to the falls in Monrovia Canyon Park and back. And my weather app still says zero percent chance of rain. 

- Brad Haugaard 

Monrovia Council: Historic House? Property Sales; Etc.

Historic Designation for this house?

At its next meeting (agenda: https://goo.gl/ybq28a) the Monrovia City Council will consider...

~ Designating the House at 921 East Greystone Avenue an historic landmark and approving a Mills Act contract for it. The historic designation costs the city nothing but the Mills Act contract gives the homeowner a tax break and will cost the city around $1,808 a year in lost property tax. https://goo.gl/gMCdnq

~ Selling the property at 1528 and 1532 South Primrose Avenue to 123 West Pomona, LLC for  an “above-market sales price of $1,695,000, or around $183 / square foot.” The property is intended for a mixed use development. https://goo.gl/awRzPa

~ Modifying a contract with West Coast Arborists for the period ending June 30, 2019, to add brush clearance and hazardous vegetation management service. That will cost up to $30,000 for the fiscal year. 

- Brad Haugaard 

Dinner at Domenico’s

Dinner recently at Domenico’s, on the south side of Huntington just east of Magnolia. Traditional style Italian. Got the ravioli for $15.99 and a beer for $5.75. Meal came with a dinner salad and basket of bread. Good and very filling. 

- Brad Haugaard 

Firefighters Pancake Breakfast Tomorrow

Tomorrow, May 12, is the annual pancake breakfast at fire station 101, 141 E Lemon, sponsored by the Monrovia Firefighters Association.. From 7-11 a.m. there will be a bounce house, live demonstrations, a Jr. Firefighter challenge and pancakes.  $5, kids 3 and under eat free. Proceeds benefit Monrovia charities. 

- Brad Haugaard 

Monrovia Baseball Wins Championship

Monrovia baseball wins Rio Hondo League championship. https://goo.gl/3WkyAF

- Brad Haugaard 

Monrovia Police: Bather Being Sent Back to Nebraska; Mom Gets Child to Steal; Drunks; Etc.

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for May 3-9. - Brad Haugaard]

During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 448 service events, resulting in 96 investigations.

Warrant – Suspect Arrested
May 3 at 9:26 a.m., an officer was patrolling the 1600 block of S. Myrtle when he saw a male subject bathing in the decorative fountain at Station Square Park. The officer contacted the subject, and a computer check revealed he was wanted by the State of Nebraska for crimes committed there. The officer arrested and took custody of the subject, who will be transported back to Nebraska by authorities from that State.

Grand Theft
May 3 at 2:33 p.m., a resident in the 600 block of E. Olive walked outside her home and discovered someone had stolen the catalytic converter from her vehicle, which had been parked in front of her house. She believes it was stolen sometime during the night. This investigation is continuing.

Grand Theft
May 3 at 5:01 p.m., a resident in the 1500 block of S. Fifth reported that someone had stolen the catalytic converter from his vehicle sometime during the night. This investigation is continuing.

Warrant – Suspect Arrested
May 3 at 6:46 p.m., the Special Enforcement Team saw a male subject in the 400 block Hurstview whom they recognized from previous contacts. A computer check revealed the subject had a warrant for his arrest. He was arrested and taken into custody. In the jail, he admitted to being involved in a local gang and was responsible for several vandalisms around the city.

DUI – Suspects Arrested
May 3 at 11:16 p.m., officers stopped a motorist in the 800 block of E. Huntington after he was reported to be possibly driving under the influence. Officers contacted the driver and found him to be intoxicated. After field sobriety tests were conducted, the driver was arrested for DUI.

Domestic Violence – Suspect Arrested
May 4 at 12:44 a.m., a female resident in the 700 block of W. Foothill reported her husband had just hit her after an argument. Officers arrived, and after an investigation, they arrested and took the male subject into custody for domestic violence.

Injury Traffic Collision
May 4 at 8:12 a.m., a motorist inadvertently turned his vehicle abruptly at the intersection of California and Huntington, causing the vehicle to overturn. Officers arrived and found the driver had sustained injuries requiring medical attention. The driver was transported to a nearby hospital.

Drunk in Public – Suspect Arrested
May 4 at 8:31 a.m., several callers reported a male subject lying on the ground in the 300 block of W. Duarte. Officers arrived to offer assistance. They found the subject was too intoxicated to care for his own safety. He was arrested and taken into custody.

Warrant – Suspect Arrested
May 4 at 10:20 a.m., callers reported a male subject behaving suspiciously in the 600 block of E. Olive. Officers arrived and contacted the subject. A computer check revealed he had two warrants for his arrest. He was arrested and taken into custody.

Injury Traffic Collision
May 4 at 12:32 p.m., two vehicles collided into one another in the 1800 block of S. Myrtle. Officers arrived to investigate the cause of the collision. Occupants in the vehicles complained of pain, but did not have visible injuries.

Injury Traffic Collision
May 4 at 4:39 p.m., callers reported two vehicles had collided into one another in the 800 block of W. Foothill. Officers arrived to investigate the collision. Occupants in the vehicles complained of pain, but did not have visible injuries.

DUI Traffic Collision – Suspect Arrest
May 4 at 10:03 p.m., callers reported a motorist had just collided into a parked car in the 400 block of Wildrose. Officers arrived and contacted the driver. He was found to be intoxicated. Field sobriety tests were conducted and the subject was arrested for DUI.

Attempt Grand Theft / Parole Violation – Suspect Arrested
May 5 at 7:12 a.m., callers reported seeing a male subject attempting to pry off the lock of a Lime Bike in the 300 block of W. Huntington. Officers arrived and located the subject, and after he was identified by witnesses, he was arrested. A computer check revealed he was also on active parole.

Possession of Stolen Property – Suspect Arrested
May 5 at 7:50 a.m., an employee of a restaurant in the 600 block of W. Huntington reported a male subject inside their business was causing a disturbance. Officers arrived and contacted the subject. The subject was found to be in possession of property and identification belonging to someone else. The owner was contacted and informed officers that their property had been stolen from their car the previous night. The subject was arrested.

Drunk in Public – Suspect Arrested
May 5 at 10:36 a.m., a caller reported a male subject lying on the ground in the 100 block of W. Duarte. Officers arrived and found the subject to be intoxicated. He was too drunk to care for his own safety. He was arrested and taken into custody.

Shoplifting – Suspect Arrested
May 5 at 6:27 p.m., the employee of a store in the 1600 block of S. Mountain reported a male subject had just entered their store, removed merchandise and concealed it in his clothing before leaving the store. Officers arrived and apprehended the suspect. The stolen property was returned to the store and the suspect was arrested and taken into custody.

Drunk in Public – Suspects Arrested
May 6 between 1:41 and 2:06 a.m., officers detained two subjects in the 100 block of W. Lime and the 1500 block of S. Myrtle for appearing intoxicated. Both subjects were found to be too drunk to care for their own safety. They were both arrested and taken into custody. 


Assault with a Deadly Weapon 
May 6 at 1:58 a.m., the owner of a business in the 800 block of S. Myrtle was at work when he saw two subjects at a neighboring business removing parts from a parked car. One of the two subjects pointed a gun at the business owner. Officers arrived, but the subjects were gone. A search was conducted for the suspects, but they were not located. This investigation is continuing.

Drunk in Public – Suspect Arrested
May 6 at 9:12 a.m., a caller reported a male subject stumbling in the 100 block of W. Duarte who may need assistance. Officers arrived and contacted the subject. He was found to be too drunk to care for his own safety, so he was arrested and taken into custody.

Shoplifting
May 6 at 10:40 a.m., an employee at a store in the 500 block of W. Duarte detained a female subject and her child outside the store for shoplifting. Officers arrived to investigate and found the mother had told her child to take toys before leaving the store without paying. The Department of Child and Family Services was notified and charges will be filed against the mother.

Grand Theft – Suspect Arrested
May 6 at 2:37 p.m., an employee of a store in the 1600 block of S. Mountain reported that they had detained a male subject for leaving the store with power tools that he did not pay for. Officers arrived, and after an investigation, arrested and took the subject into custody.

Possession of Narcotics – Suspect Cited
May 6 at 10:17 p.m., a caller reported a male subject behaving suspiciously in the 900 block of W. Huntington. Officers arrived and contacted the subject, who was found to be in possession of illegal narcotics. The subject was issued a citation to appear in court on the charges.

Possession of Narcotics – Suspect Cited
May 6 at 11:05 p.m., a sergeant was patrolling the 1500 block of S. California when he saw a male subject riding a bicycle at night without lighting equipment. The subject was stopped and found to be in possession of illegal narcotics. The subject was issued a citation to appear in court on the charges.

Vandalism
May 7 at 6:47 a.m., an employee at a school in the 200 block of N. Mayflower found someone had broken one of the school’s cafeteria windows sometime over the weekend. Officers were called to investigate, and they found that no one had entered the building. This investigation is continuing.

Injury Traffic Collision
May 7 at 4:08 p.m., callers reported a vehicle had just ran a red light, causing a collision with a bicyclist. Officers responded along with paramedics and provided medical attention to the bicyclist, who was then transported to a nearby hospital. The party at fault was issued a citation for the violation.

Injury Traffic Collision
May 8 at 3:24 p.m., callers reported a vehicle failed to stop for a red light and caused a collision with another vehicle in the 200 block of W. Duarte. Officers arrived to investigate. Both drivers complained of pain, but did not have visible injuries. The party at fault was issued a citation for the violation.

Residential Burglary
May 8 at 4:55 p.m., a resident in the 1200 block of S. Alta Vista walked into her garage to get her purse, which she had left inside the garage with the garage door open. She discovered someone had entered the garage and taken her purse. This investigation is continuing.

Residential Burglary
May 8 at 9:15 p.m., a resident in the 500 block of Hacienda returned home and discovered someone had entered an unlocked door to the house and stole a shotgun. This investigation is continuing.

Drunk in Public – Suspect Arrested
May 9 at 1:16 a.m., an officer was patrolling the 1800 block of S. California when he saw a male subject stumbling. He contacted the subject to see if he needed help and found him to be heavily intoxicated. Sobriety tests were conducted and the officer determined the subject was too drunk to care for his own safety. He was arrested and taken into custody.

DUI – Suspect Arrested
May 9 at 2:19 a.m., an officer was patrolling the 2600 block of S. Peck when he saw a motorist commit a driving violation. The officer stopped the vehicle and contacted the driver, who was found to be intoxicated. Field sobriety tests were conducted and the driver was taken into custody for DUI.

Commercial Burglary
May 9 at 3:16 a.m., officers responded to a burglary alarm at a business in the 500 block of S. Myrtle. When they arrived, they found the front glass window to the business had been shattered and the inside of the building appeared ransacked. The owners of the business arrived and told officers that a large quantity of eyeglasses had been stolen. This investigation is continuing.

Vandalism
May 9 at 3:56 a.m., a resident in the 800 block of W. Foothill was awakened by the sound of glass breaking. He went outside his home and discovered someone had shattered his car window, but nothing appeared to be missing from inside. This investigation is continuing.

Warrant – Suspect Arrested
May 9 at 8:21 a.m., a caller reported a male subject in the 900 block of W. Duarte causing a disturbance. Officers arrived and contacted the subject. A computer check revealed he had a warrant for his arrest, so he was taken into custody.

Shoplifting / Identity Theft – Suspect Arrested
May 9 at 3:17 p.m., an employee at a store in the 1600 block of S. Mountain saw a male subject enter the store, remove an air conditioner from a shelf, then leave the store without paying. The subject then walked back into the store through another door and attempted to return the stolen merchandise for cash, using someone else’s identification. The employee detained the subject and called the police. Officers arrived and investigated the incident. The subject was arrested and taken into custody. 

Summer Family Fun Night

Fellowship Monrovia will hold its first Family Night of the summer on Thursday May 17, from 6-8 p.m. at its Huntington Drive Campus at the corner of  Huntington and California Ave. Dinner, bounce houses, DJ, lawn games, and more. No registration needed. $10 for the family, $5 per individual. Cost includes dinner. Parking will be off site.

- Brad Haugaard

Tribute to Monrovian Julius Parker

A tribute to Monrovia’s “unsung hero,” Julius Parker, who received his high school diploma a little late - at age 91. https://goo.gl/Ybi8dR

- Brad Haugaard 

First Presbyterian Church Turns 130

First Presbyterian Church of Monrovia, at the corner of Foothill and Myrtle, will celebrate its 130th birthday on Sunday, May 20, from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. 

- Brad Haugaard 

St. Luke - Final Evensong of Season

St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Monrovia will present the final Evensong of the choir season on Sunday, May 20, at 4 p.m. at the church, 122 South California Avenue at Foothill Boulevard. It will feature Mendelssohn’s Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis featuring soloists Caitlin Stave, Trisha Rivera, Eric Werner, and David Conley. The most popular work by composer Randall Thompson, Alleluia, will also be performed. A wine and cheese reception will follow the performance.

- Brad Haugaard 

Hammond Enters Florida

Bicyclist and Monrovia School Board member, Rob Hammond, has crossed into Florida on his San Diego to Florida bike ride. He dipped his rear wheel in the Pacific and will dip his front wheel into the Atlantic to end the ride. 

- Brad Haugaard 

Monrovia Water Usage 'Skyrockets'; Shevlin Mayor Pro Tem; GoMonrovia a Hit; Etc.

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

~ The Monrovia City Council has unanimously selected Becky Shevlin as our next Mayor Pro Tem. 

~ Monrovia has dramatically increased its water usage. Chi writes: “Since Governor Brown announced that the drought in California was over on April 4, 2017, water usage in Monrovia has skyrocketed. In the 11 months following Governor Brown’s announcement (May 2017 – March 2018), water usage has increased an average of 23% on a year-over-year basis!

“In March 2017, Monrovians consumed just 288 acre feet of water, having done a tremendous job conserving and reducing their consumption 25% from March 2016’s level of 384 acre feet. But in March 2018, usage jumped up to a whopping 408 acre feet!” Monrovia is still way low in its water supply. To get to normal levels, Chi said, “the San Gabriel Valley needs 36 inches of rain.”

~ Monrovia Police Department is coordinating a blood drive with the American Red Cross in May 30, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Community Center at 119 W Palm.

~ City staff discussed the GoMonrovia! program on a panel discussion titled, “At a Crossroads: Our Transportation Future,” at the 2018 SCAG Regional Conference. Chi writes: “I am pleased to share that our program was a hit with those that attended the session, and numerous people and agencies asked to follow-up with us to review the ins-and-outs of how we established the GoMonrovia! initiative.” Here’s the report: https://goo.gl/CpEFmf

~ Local community member, Liam Kennedy, invented ISS-Above, which lets one see a live stream from the International Space Station. He has donated an ISS-Above device and TV screen to the library after visiting with his grandson and learning about our science programming and circulating telescopes. The ISS-Above Display is in the Library Lobby. 

~The Monrovia Fire Department will be doing brush inspections of all properties in  high-fire danger areas of town beginning on or after Monday, May 15.

~ The LA County Assessor’s Office will host a seminar on May 12, 2-4 p.m. to provide information on the transfer real property, how to take your current property tax base to a new home, and how to save on property taxes.  

- Brad Haugaard 

Pet of the Week: Dexter Dog


Dexter (A455155) is a 9-year-old Puggle who is as friendly as can be. This Pug/Beagle mix is a loving and happy dog, according to his former owner. Sadly, Dexter made his way to the Pasadena Humane Society & SPCA when his owner could no longer care for him. They wrote that he gets along well with people of all ages and other pets. If you are looking for a happy-go-lucky dog, ask for Dexter. 

 

The adoption fee for dogs is $130. All dogs are spayed or neutered, microchipped, and vaccinated before going to their new home. Dexter qualifies for our Seniors for Seniors program, making his adoption fee free for adopters age 60 and over. 

 

New adopters will receive a complimentary health-and-wellness exam from VCA Animal Hospitals, as well as a goody bag filled with information about how to care for your pet.

View photos of adoptable pets at pasadenahumane.org. Adoption hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday; and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.

Pets may not be available for adoption and cannot be held for potential adopters by phone calls or email.


- Brad Haugaard 

Hammond Crosses Into Alabama


Country-crossing Monrovia bicycle rider, Rob Hammond, crosses into Alabama on his Pacific to Atlantic bike ride. He's also using the ride to raise money for the Monrovia PTA. See here: http://www.irideforyou.com/

- Brad Haugaard

German Navy Acquires AeroVironment's Puma Drones; Xencor Reports Loss

~ The German Navy has acquired the Puma maritime unmanned aircraft system, built by Monrovia-based AeroVironment. https://goo.gl/uKqjnQ

~ Monrovia's Xencor Inc. reported a $29.5 million loss for its first quarter, or 62 cents per share. The company develops antibody drugs. https://goo.gl/sgy6QA

- Brad Haugaard

School Board Considers ‘Cognitive Guided Instruction’

At its Wednesday, May 9 meeting (agenda:  https://goo.gl/FvawBS) the Monrovia School Board will decide, among other things, whether to do a deal with the Cotson Foundation for Cognitive Guided Instruction, which seems to do some sort of math training as best I can figure out, for $18,384 for May 2018 - July 2018, and $12,800 for August 2018 - June 2019.

- Brad Haugaard 

Plymouth School Wins $10,000 Grant

Monrovia’s Plymouth Elementary School has won $10,000 to upgrade its library with resources geared toward technology and Mandarin. https://goo.gl/wxRyzh

- Brad Haugaard 
Tomorrow morning (May 5) there will probably be a Vandenberg Air Force Base rocket launch visible from Monrovia, as long as you can see north to south 1/3 up from the horizon at 4 a.m.

InSight, NASA's next lander on Mars, will launch May 5 at 4:05 a.m. (3 hour window), then several minutes later each day for about a month if the launch is no-go on the 5th. 

Source: Jane Houston Jones of the Old Town Sidewalk Astronomers

- Brad Haugaard 

Lunch at Nano Cafe




Lunch at Nano Cafe, on the north side of Duarte Road just east of Mayflower. A very pleasant, homey place. Got the Chef Salad for $11.98 and an iced tea for $2.79. Very nice. 

- Brad Haugaard 

Monrovia Police: Assault With Glass Mug; Drunks and Drugs and Lots of Arrests

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for April 26 – May 2. - Brad Haugaard]

During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 404 service events, resulting in 67 investigations.

Warrant – Suspects Arrested
April 26 at 9:23 a.m., a resident in the 800 block of W. Duarte reported a male subject in front of her house who was yelling and causing a disturbance. Officers arrived and contacted the subject. A computer check revealed he had a warrant for his arrest, so he was arrested and taken into custody. 


Assault with a Deadly Weapon
April 26 at 4:08 p.m., two male subjects had been drinking at a bar in the 1100 block of E. Huntington and an argument started between the two subjects. One of the subjects hit the other in the head with a glass mug, then fled the bar. Officers and paramedics arrived, but the victim refused medical treatment. This investigation is continuing.

Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
April 26 at 9:58 p.m., the Special Enforcement Team was on patrol in the 700 block of S. Primrose when they saw a motorist in front of them violate a driving law. They stopped the vehicle and contacted the driver, who they found to be intoxicated. Field sobriety tests were conducted, and the driver was arrested for DUI.

Warrant – Suspect Arrested
April 27 at 3:04 a.m., an officer was patrolling the 100 block of E. Huntington when he saw two subjects near the intersection who appeared to be intoxicated. He stopped to speak with them. A computer check revealed one of the subjects had multiple warrants for his arrest; he was arrested and taken into custody. The second subject was intoxicated, but was capable of caring for their own safety.

Traffic Collision
April 27 at 6:33 a.m., a motorist was traveling along the 300 block of W. Foothill when another motorist made a left turn in front of the first vehicle from a side street and caused a collision. No one was injured in the collision. The party at fault was issued a citation for the driving violation.

Possession of a Controlled Substance / Possession of Drug Paraphernalia / Warrant – Suspect Arrested
April 27 at 8:42 a.m., residents in the 100 block of N. Highland reported a female subject going through people’s trashcans on the street. Officers arrived and located the subject. A computer check revealed she had several warrants for her arrest, so she was arrested and taken into custody. A search incident to arrest revealed she was in possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia, which were added to her charges.

Warrants – Suspects Arrested
April 27 between 7:51 and 9:29 p.m., the Special Enforcement Team detained two subjects, one in the 700 block of Valley View and the other in the 1900 block of S. Myrtle. Computer checks revealed both subjects had warrants for their arrest, so they were arrested and taken into custody.

Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
April 28 at 12:56 a.m., an officer was on patrol in the 1400 block of S. Myrtle when he saw a motorist in front of him commit a vehicle code violation. The officer stopped the vehicle and approached the driver, who appeared to be intoxicated. Field sobriety tests were conducted and the driver was arrested for DUI.

Warrant – Suspect Arrested
April 28 at 10:33 a.m., the employee of a business in the 200 block of W. Huntington arrived to work and found a male subject sleeping on the front lawn of the business. Officers arrived and contacted the subject. A computer check revealed he had a felony warrant for his arrest and was on mandatory probation supervision, so he was arrested and taken into custody.

Petty Theft
April 28 at 5:29 p.m., a resident in the 600 block of Anita arrived home and discovered someone had taken a package from their front porch that had been delivered earlier in the day by UPS. This investigation is continuing.

Domestic Violence
April 30 at 4:21 p.m., officers responded to a home in the 500 block of W. Duarte regarding a possible family argument. When they arrived, they discovered a male subject in the home had hit his wife, but did not cause any visible injuries. He was arrested for domestic battery.

Under the Influence of Narcotics – Suspect Arrested
April 30 at 8:40 p.m., the employee of a convenience store in the 900 block of W. Duarte reported a male subject walking back and forth in the business parking lot. The subject was yelling and causing a disturbance. Officers arrived and contacted the subject. They found him to be under the influence of a controlled substance, so he was arrested and taken into custody. He was later issued a citation to appear in court on the charge.

Trespassing / Warrant – Suspect Arrested
May 1 at 8:47 a.m., the manager at an apartment complex in the 1200 block of S. Alta Vista saw a female subject sleeping inside one of the vacant apartments. Officers arrived and contacted the subject. A computer check revealed she had a warrant for her arrest, so she was arrested and taken into custody. She was also charged with trespassing.

Warrant – Suspect Arrest
May 1 at 4:31 p.m., an officer was patrolling the 100 block of W. Foothill when she saw a motorist talking on their cellphone while driving. She stopped the vehicle and contacted the driver. A computer check revealed the driver had a warrant for his arrest, so he was arrested and taken into custody.

Warrant – Suspect Arrested
May 2 at 5:38 p.m., officers were alerted to a vehicle traveling north in the 2000 block of S. Myrtle that was wanted in connection with a felony that had previously occurred in San Bernardino County. Officers located the vehicle and contacted the driver. A computer check revealed the driver had a warrant for her arrest, so she was arrested and taken into custody.

Residential Burglary
May 2 at 8:16 p.m., a resident in the 100 block of El Nido arrived home and discovered someone had forced entry into her home through a sliding glass door. She entered the home and saw that it had been ransacked. This investigation is continuing. 

Monrovia’s Staar Surgical Reports Profit

Monrovia’s Staar Surgical, maker of replacement eye lenses, reports earnings of one cent per share for its first quarter. It had a loss for the same period last year. https://goo.gl/KcRBJ3

- Brad Haugaard 

Monrovia Rotary Awards Scholarships

Monrovia Rotary Club has awarded scholarships to 19 local students: https://goo.gl/7KjhPx

- Brad Haugaard 

Funny Video: German Coast Guard

This has absolutely nothing to do with Monrovia, except that I think it is the funniest video I've seen in a year and, well, I live in Monrovia, so that's the Monrovia connection. And besides, I run this site so I figure I can take liberties. Although it is several years old, it's the first time I've seen it. Hope you enjoy it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0MUsVcYhERY

- Brad Haugaard

Fire Protection Seminar This Saturday

This Saturday, May 5,  11 a.m.-2 p.m., at the Monrovia Community Center, the Monrovia Fire Department will teach a class on how to assess the fire vulnerability of your home.  To RSVP, or for questions, call 256-8109.

- Brad Haugaard

TV Show ‘Restored’ Needs Monrovia Home; Goodbye Liquidambar Trees; Super Senior; capturing Stormwater; Etc.


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

~ The HGTV series Restored is planning an episode of a home restoration in Monrovia this year, and they need to find a home to restore. It’s got to be a pre-55 home and you’ll need to put up at least $55,000. Details: https://goo.gl/aOqX7O
 
~ in South Monrovia, along Myrtle Avenue and Peck Road, “there are liquidambar trees that are notorious for causing damage to the infrastructure and are in failing health.” So, the city is going to take some of the trees out, but will leave the holes for new trees. 

~ Also, the city is going to drill dry wells to divert storm water underground, where, presumably, we can reuse it. Chi writes: “Water will be collected in new catch basins that will be installed on the streets and connected by pipeline to these drywells.” The drywells will be installed on: Atara Street, Diamond Street between Alamitas Avenue and Mayflower Avenue, El Dorado Street between 5th Avenue and Encino Avenue.

~ Ms. Joyce Leeman was been selected as Monrovia’s Older American of the Year  She recently celebrated her 10th year as a driver for the Foothill Unity Center, she is active in her church (foreign missionary board member, led youth ministries, founded the food pantry Loaves and Fishes), organized food drives that fed several Monrovia families, housed foreign exchange students, assisted with outreach programs, is
on the board of directors of Children of the Shepard Los Wise Compassionate Center (which assists the homeless), provided care packages overseas, assists seniors get around to meetings and voting polls, assisted in hospice care of two neighbors. Comment: I’m tired just reading this. 

~ Early-bird pricing still available for the 2018 Fountain to the Falls Run/Walk & Health Fair, the 6.38 mile out-and-back race from the Library Park Fountain to the Canyon Park waterfall.  The race will be held on Saturday, May 12, at 7 a.m. Early registration fee is $35 and event day registration is $45. Details: https://goo.gl/JfrpHu

- Brad Haugaard