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City Council to Study Use of Herbicides; Consider Two Major New Developments

At its Tuesday, Sept. 4, meeting (agenda: https://goo.gl/AW2RoX), the Monrovia City Council will ...

~ Hold a study session at 4:30 p.m. that will be a "Review of herbicide use as part of City landscape maintenance practices". https://goo.gl/btoDT8

~ Then, at its regular 7:30 p.m. meeting, it will:

  • Hold a public hearing on the proposed development of Avalon Bay, a 154-unit mixed use residential development on a 2.06-acre site at 815 and 825 South Myrtle Avenue and 126 West Walnut Avenue and part of an alley. https://goo.gl/Re9sE7
  • Hold a public hearing on the proposed development of a 109-room TownePlace Suites Hotel by Marriot on the vacant lot at the southwest corner of Myrtle and Huntington. https://goo.gl/VGXLPb

- Brad Haugaard

Dinner at La Adelita

Dinner at La Adelita, on the south side of Colorado a half block east of Myrtle. Got the Deluxe Oven Buritto with chicken for $9.95 and an ic d tea for $2.95. Excellent! Burrito was stuffed with chicken and very tasty. 

- Brad Haugaard 

Lyft Ride Price Changes Tomorrow



    If you use the GoMonrovia Lyft service, then starting September 1, tomorrow, you'll need to decide each time you ride if you want a 50-cent "shared" ride, which means the driver may pick someone else up along the way, or if you want a standard ride for $3. If you want the cheaper shared option, be sure to select the "Shared Ride" option on your Lyft app, along with, of course, the GOMONROVIA" promo code.

    - Brad Haugaard

    Conviction of Man Who Murdered Monrovian LaJoya McCoy Is Upheld

    An appellate court has upheld the first degree murder conviction of Pasadenan Jose Roberto Turner for strangling Monrovian LaJoya McCoy, 31. https://goo.gl/QvqQws

    - Brad Haugaard

    Monrovia Senator's Long-Gun Bill Goes to Governor

    A bill to prevent people younger than 21 from - in most cases - buying long guns, such as rifles, has passed both the Senate and Assembly and is headed to the governor’s desk for final approval.

    Senate Bill 1177, authored by Senator Anthony Portantino, who represents Monrovia, extends the law that prohibits those younger than 21 from buying handguns.

    Source: Portantino press release

    - Brad Haugaard

    Monrovia Police: Food Recipient Rips Off Church Worker; Fake Auto Dealer Employee Rips off Tire Buyer; And More...

    [Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for Highlighted Activity for August 23-29. - Brad Haugaard]

    During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 409 service events, resulting in 85 investigations.

    Under the Influence of a Controlled Substance – Suspect Arrested
    August 23 at 9:53 a.m., police dispatch received a call reporting a male subject who was yelling and causing a disturbance in the 1100 block of E. Huntington. Officers contacted the subject and, through investigation, determined he was under the influence of a controlled substance. He was arrested and taken into custody. The subject complained of pain to his stomach. Monrovia Fire Department paramedics responded and transported the subject to a local hospital for treatment.

    Resisting and Delaying a Peace Officer/Warrants – Suspect Arrested
    August 23 at 2:30 p.m., an officer observed a bicyclist commit several traffic code violations in the area of Colorado and Alta Vista. He attempted to stop the subject, but the subject continued riding, trying to evade the officer. A short pursuit ensued and the subject eventually stopped. The subject was arrested and taken into custody. The subject was also found to have several warrants for his arrest.

    Driving Under the Influence / Traffic Collision – Suspect Arrested
    August 24 at 12:50 a.m., a police sergeant on patrol witnessed an accident on Myrtle, at Central. As he contacted the drivers, he noticed one of them had symptoms of being intoxicated. Field sobriety tests were conducted and a female driver was arrested for DUI.

    Fraud Report
    August 24 at 7:26 a.m., a fraud incident was reported by a resident in the 800 block of W. Olive. The victim attempted to purchase tickets on Craigslist for a play. She transferred the suspect $100 online, but she never received the tickets from the advertisement. The investigation is continuing.

    Injury Traffic Collision
    August 24 at 9:07 a.m., police responded to the report of a traffic collision at Mayflower and Olive. A vehicle was traveling north on Mayflower and collided into an Edison pole on the northeast corner. There was evidence on scene suggesting that narcotics may have been a contributing factor. The driver was taken to a hospital for medical treatment for his injuries. The investigation is continuing.

    Grand Theft
    August 24 at 3:57 p.m., an officer was flagged down by construction workers in the 300 block of W. Huntington. The workers reported that over $2,000 worth of power tools had been taken from the construction site while they were up working on the roof. The investigation is continuing.

    Vandalism
    August 24 at 8:53 p.m., a vandalism incident was reported in the 300 block of S. Primrose. The victim went for a walk, and when she returned a short time later, she discovered her vehicle's back window had been smashed in and a large rock was on the ground near the vehicle. The investigation is continuing.

    Possession of a Controlled Substance – Suspect Arrested
    August 24 at 11:58 p.m., an officer stopped an adult, male subject for a traffic violation on his bike at Myrtle and Huntington. A consent search of his person revealed he was in possession of methamphetamine. He was arrested and taken into custody for possession of a controlled substance.

    Warrant – Suspect Arrested
    August 25 at 1:23 a.m., an officer was on patrol in the area of Duarte and Alamitas when he saw a known gang member riding his bicycle that he knew had a warrant for his arrest. He ran a computer check that confirmed an active warrant out of San Bernardino Sheriff’s Department. The officer stopped the subject and arrested him for the warrant.

    Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
    August 25 at 2:15 a.m., a police agent stopped a vehicle at Myrtle and Altern for vehicle code violations. After investigation, the officer determined the driver was too impaired to drive a motor vehicle safely and he was arrested for DUI.

    Domestic Violence – Suspect Arrested
    August 25 at 2:56 a.m., officers responded to a residence in the 200 block of W. Central regarding a suspicious 911 call from the residence. After they contacted both residents of the house, the male adult was arrested for domestic battery. An emergency protective order was completed and given to the victim.

    Receiving Stolen Property/Possession of Drug Paraphernalia – Suspect Arrested
    August 25 at 5:44 a.m., officers responded to a business in the 300 block of W. Huntington regarding the report of two subjects smoking methamphetamine. Officers arrived and detained a male and female adult. The suspects were found to be in possession of stolen property and drug paraphernalia. Both suspects were arrested.

    Fraud
    August 25 at 2:25 p.m., a fraud incident was reported that occurred in the 200 block of S. Myrtle. The victim is a volunteer at a local church. She was approached by a female subject she recognized as someone who comes to their church food distributions. The female asked the victim to cash a check for her for $600. The victim went with the suspect to the bank, cashed the check on her account, and gave the female the money. Several days later, the victim was notified by her bank that the check bounced. The investigation is continuing.

    Public Intoxication
    August 26 at 1:50 a.m., an officer on patrol in the 100 block of E. Colorado contacted a suspicious subject near a closed business. The subject was found to be extremely intoxicated and unable to care for his own safety. He was arrested for being drunk in public.

    Grand Theft
    August 26 at 6:14 a.m., officers responded to a business in the 300 block of W. Huntington regarding a theft of power tools. A construction company currently working on a remodel at the location left their power tools in an enclosed area in front of the location. Someone gained entry by manipulating the fence enclosure and stole the power tools. The investigation is continuing.

    Grand Theft
    August 26 at 1:35 p.m., officers responded to a business in the 100 block of W. Foothill regarding a grand theft report. The suspect entered the store and took approximately $2,000 worth of alcohol, then fled the location. He was last seen traveling south on Myrtle in a black BMW SUV with no plates. The investigation is continuing.

    Residential Burglary
    August 27 at 2:04 p.m., a residential burglary was reported in the 900 block of Ridgeside. During the weekend, someone entered the attached garage and stole tools from the location. The investigation is continuing.

    Domestic Battery – Suspect Arrested
    August 28 at 7:51 a.m., an officer was dispatched to a residence in the 700 block of Mountain View regarding a domestic dispute. The suspect argued with his fiancé over car keys. He became angry and pushed the victim, then kicked her twice. He was arrested for domestic battery.

    Trespassing – Suspect Arrested
    August 28 at 8:33 a.m., officers responded to a residence in the 300 block of W. Evergreen on the report of three subjects trespassing. Officers arrived and found two subjects in the residence. Both were found to have outstanding warrants and were arrested.

    Grand Theft
    August 28 at 12:27 p.m., a grand theft incident was reported in the 700 block of E. Central. The victim attempted to purchase vehicle tires through OfferUp. The suspect met the victim outside of a car dealership, wearing what appeared to be a dealership uniform shirt. The victim gave the suspect $700 to buy the tires and was told to pull into the dealership driveway to load the tires. He pulled in and waited, but the suspect fled the scene. The investigation is continuing.

    Stolen Vehicle
    August 28 at 11:00 p.m., a vehicle was reported stolen from the 400 block of W. Walnut. The vehicle is a white, 1997 Honda Civic. It was stolen sometime between 1:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m. The vehicle was entered into the law enforcement stolen vehicle system. The investigation is continuing.

    Warrant/Parole Violation/Possession of Burglary Tools – Suspect Arrested
    August 29 at 12:11 a.m., day watch officers handled a report toward the end of their shift involving a male and female subject. The male subject was not present and the female subject waited in the police station lobby for a ride home for several hours. The officers discovered that the male subject had an outstanding warrant for his arrest. He called the station to inquire about the female and was told to come pick her up. He responded to the station and was contacted by officers in his vehicle, where he was arrested for the warrant. A search of his vehicle revealed numerous burglary tools, including several sets of lock picks, gloves, two-way radios, head-mounted lights, and tool bags containing cut padlocks and other items. The suspect is currently on parole for burglary. Parole was contacted and a parole hold was issued for the suspect.

    Suspended License/Warrants – Suspect Arrested
    August 29 at 4:46 a.m., an officer on patrol stopped a vehicle for a moving violation in the 3000 block of S. Peck. The driver was found to have a suspended license for previous DUIs. He was also required to have an ignition interlock device on the vehicle, which he did not. The driver was cited for multiple vehicle code violations and arrested for two outstanding warrants.

    Trespassing/Violation of Court Order – Suspect Arrested
    August 29 at 9:24 a.m., officers were dispatched to the 700 block of S. Myrtle regarding two subjects trespassing at the location. Upon arrival, the officer contacted a male and female subject and a computer check revealed the female had a restraining order against the male. The male subject was arrested for violation of the court order.

    Domestic Battery – Suspect Arrested
    August 29 at 11:04 a.m., an officer responded to the report of a battery incident at Magnolia and Walnut. Two female subjects that are involved in a romantic relationship were involved in a physical altercation. After investigation, the subject found to be the aggressor was arrested and taken into custody.

    Shoplifting – Suspect Arrested
    August 29 at 6:58 p.m., a business in the 1600 block of S. Mountain called police to report a subject concealing merchandise in his clothing. While officers were responding, the subject left the location. The subject was located on Evergreen, west of Shamrock, and was positively identified. The merchandise was recovered nearby. The subject was arrested and later released on a citation to appear in court on the charges.

    Domestic Violence
    August 29 at 9:16 p.m., officers responded to the 200 block of Melrose on the report of a husband and wife involved in an altercation. When they arrived, they found both subjects had been drinking and they determined the wife was the primary aggressor. She was arrested for domestic violence.

    Grand Theft Auto – Suspects Arrested
    August 30 at 4:18 a.m., police dispatch received a call reporting a grand theft of a motorcycle in progress in the area of Fifth and Walnut. The caller provided good information and updates as officers responded to the location. The officers arrived quickly and were able to detain two suspects. The suspects had attempted to punch the ignition, and when they were not successful, they tried to physically remove the motorcycle. The witness positively identified both suspects. One of the suspects was found to have a no-bail warrant. Both were arrested and taken into custody.

    Monrovia Marijuana Equipment Company Expanding

    Monrovia's Sugarmade, Inc., apparently plans to buy other as-yet-unnamed hydroponics companies, according to a statement by the company. Sugarmade provides hydroponic growing equipment, particularly for growing marijuana, though it appears to be playing down the cannibis connection in its latest press release. https://goo.gl/dHF4QF

    - Brad Haugaard

    Blazing Speed for Library Internet; Quake Workshop; Fall Brochure; Firefighters Home Safe; Be a Leader; Homeless Man Gets into Permanent Housing

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

    ~ The Library now has high-speed broadband and Wi-Fi internet connections that are ten times faster, thanks to a $24,000 grant from the state and over 18 months of work by city staff.

    ~ A free Earthquake Preparedness Workshop will be held on Saturday, Sept. 22 from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. in the library Community Room. It will feature guest speaker Margaret Vinci from the CalTech.  Enrollment is limited so register today with Monrovia Historic Preservation Group: https://goo.gl/bCtEft

    ~ Monrovia Today Fall Brochure is now online. https://goo.gl/WdsFkn

    ~ Last week, on Aug. 16, Monrovia Fire Engine OES-341 arrived home safely after a 19-day deployment fighting the Carr Fire (near Redding).

    ~ Interested in being a Monrovia leader? MAP, a leadership program, is held for seven consecutive Thursday evenings, and "provides program participants with information about local government, neighborhood level problem solving, leadership dynamics, and more." Sign up here: https://goo.gl/5Wmzan

    ~ Monrovia's  Community Activist Policing Bureau and the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority have gotten one of Monrovia's homeless into permanent housing. "During that time, there were many challenges that Randall [pseudonym] had to overcome, and working together, we were able to connect him with the proper programs and organizations."

    - Brad Haugaard

    Cupcake - Cuddle Bunny Wants a New Home


    If you are looking for a friendly bunny, stop by the Pasadena Humane Society today! Cupcake (A464202) and her friend Cuddles were found abandoned in Glendale a little over 2 weeks ago. Cupcake is eager for attention and head bumps for more pets. She is easy to pick up and is ready to go to a new home. Hop on over and visit her today.

     

    The adoption fee for rabbits is $35.All rabbits are spayed or neutered andmicrochipped 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 Donates Drones to West Point

    Monrovia's AeroVironment's MacCready Works lab has donated drones, spare parts and software to West Point to support the military academy’s Center for Innovation and Engineering and Geography and Environmental Engineering Department. https://goo.gl/6p2pWD

    - Brad Haugaard

    Vaccines, Microchips, and Licences for Dogs and Cats Available this Thursday

    The Pasadena Humane Society & SPCA will hold a mobile vaccine and microchip clinic for dogs and cats on Thursday, August 30 at the Foothill Unity Center in Monrovia,790 West Chestnut Ave., from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

    The following services will be available:
    • Rabies Vaccine $8 Dogs and cats 3 months and older
    • 5-in-1 (DHLPP) Vaccine $15 Dogs 6-8 weeks and older
    • Bordetella Vaccine $15 Dogs 8 weeks and older
    • 4-in-1 (FVRCP) Vaccine $15 Cats 6-8 weeks and older
    • Microchip $20 Dogs and cats of any age
    Dog licenses for Monrovia will also be available for purchase.

    Our goal is to help families keep their pets healthy, says Julie Bank, President & CEO of the Pasadena Humane Society & SPCA. “We hold clinics around the community so people can easily access affordable wellness services for their pets.”

    All dogs must be on leash and cats must be in carriers. The event is open to residents of any city.

    The Pasadena Humane Society offers a low-cost, walk-in wellness clinic every Wednesday and Saturday at its Pasadena facility, located at 361 South Raymond Avenue. Clinic hours are 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.


    - Brad Haugaard

    Monrovia Women Charged With Attempted Murder

    Two Monrovia women have been arrested and charged with attempted murder and kidnapping by Chino police. https://goo.gl/ES4Mmc

    - Brad Haugaard

    Lunch at Peach Cafe

    Had lunch at the Peach Cafe, on the north side of Colorado near Ivy. Always nice and cheerful here. Got the Chicken Pesto salad with a slice of multigrain toast for $11 and an iced tea for $2.75. 

    I was tempted by the 112 pound PC Burger but then I looked a bit more closely ...





    Anyway, the food was fresh and delicious and the atmosphere pleasant. 

    - Brad Haugaard 

    Friends of the Library Book Sale

    - Brad Haugaard

    Monrovia Police: Thief Drops Cell Phone - Turns Himself In; Drugs and Alcohol; Burglars Take a Safe; Etc.

    [Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for Highlighted Activity for August 16-22. - Brad Haugaard]

    During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 390 service events, resulting in 88 investigations.

    Possession of a Controlled Substance / Possession of Drug Paraphernalia / Warrants – Suspect Arrested
    August 16 at 4:02 p.m., an officer observed a bicyclist commit a traffic violation in the 300 block of W. Duarte and stopped her. A computer check of the subject showed she had two warrants for her arrest. A search of the subject revealed drug paraphernalia and methamphetamine in her purse. She was arrested and taken into custody.

    Possession of a Controlled Substance / Warrants – Suspect Arrested
    August 16 at 4:24 p.m., police dispatch received a call reporting a suspicious person loitering in the 700 block of E. Olive. Officers located the subject, who admitted having bench warrants and being in possession of drugs. The suspect was arrested on the charges.

    Possession of Fireworks / Curfew – Suspects Arrested
    August 17 at 1:27 a.m., officers responded to a call reporting shots fired in the 300 block of Hill Street. While responding, an officer saw a vehicle leaving the area with no headlights on, that was occupied by four subjects. He stopped the vehicle in the 400 block of S. Ivy, and the driver was found to be unlicensed. The vehicle was searched and numerous mortar type fireworks and a launcher were found in the vehicle. The subjects admitted to setting off a firework in the area of Hill Street. Three of the subjects were juveniles and the driver was an adult. The driver was arrested for possession of dangerous fireworks and unlicensed driver. The juveniles were arrested and released on a citation to appear in court for the curfew violation and possession of dangerous fireworks.

    Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
    August 17 at 5:44 a.m., police dispatch received a call reporting a drunk driver in the 1400 block of S. California. Officers responded and located the vehicle. Through investigation, the driver was determined to be intoxicated and was arrested for driving under the influence.

    Vehicle Burglary / Vandalism
    August 17 at 7:22 a.m., an officer responded to the 1300 block of S. Alta Vista regarding a vehicle burglary. The victim parked the vehicle in the carport and in the morning discovered the left rear window was smashed. No loss could be confirmed at the time. The investigation is continuing.

    Grand Theft – Suspect Arrested
    August 17 at 12:31 p.m., a grand theft incident that occurred in the 500 block of E. Foothill was reported to police. The victim met with the suspect to sell a cell phone through the OfferUp app. During the meeting, the suspect grabbed the victim's phone and fled in a waiting vehicle, dropping his own cell phone out of his pocket as he was fleeing. The victim collected it and gave it to police. The investigation revealed the suspect's name, and the officer contacted one of his friends on the cell phone. A short time later, the suspect came into the lobby with the victim's cell phone. He admitted to the theft and was arrested for the crime.

    Shoplifting – Suspect Arrested
    August 17 at 8:56 p.m., a shoplifting incident was reported at a business in the 500 block of W. Huntington. A female suspect concealed jewelry and accessories inside her purse and exited the store without paying. She was detained by loss prevention and police were notified. The property was recovered and the suspect was arrested.

    Driving Under the Influence / Traffic Collision – Suspect Arrested
    August 18 at 9:51 a.m., police responded to a traffic collision in the 500 Block E. Lemon. A female adult driver hit a parked car and ended up on the lawn of a residence. Officers arrived, and after investigation, they arrested the driver for suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs.

    Shoplifting / Possession of Drug Paraphernalia / Warrant – Suspect Arrested
    August 18 at 7:23 p.m., a business in the 100 block of W. Foothill reported a shoplifting incident. A female subject stole merchandise from the store without paying and was apprehended by store loss prevention. She was arrested for shoplifting and found to be in possession of drug paraphernalia. She also had a warrant for her arrest, which was added to her charges.

    Warrant / Receiving Stolen Property / Possession of Drug Paraphernalia – Suspect Arrested
    August 19 at 7:38 p.m., two suspicious subjects were stopped in the area of Primrose and Maple. One was found to have a warrant and the other was in possession of stolen merchandise from a nearby business and drug paraphernalia. Both subjects were arrested.

    Possession of Drug Paraphernalia – Suspect Arrested
    August 19 at 11:35 p.m., an officer stopped a vehicle near the intersection of Mayflower and Huntington for vehicle code violations. A consent search revealed drug paraphernalia on his person. The subject was arrested and released in the field with a citation to appear in court on the charges.

    Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
    August 20 at 1:20 a.m., an officer was on patrol in the 600 block of W. Duarte when he saw a subject passed out behind the wheel of his vehicle with the vehicle engine still running. The subject was contacted, and after further investigation, was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs.

    Warrant – Suspect Arrested
    August 20 at 8:35 a.m., officers were dispatched to a residence in the area of Foothill and Norumbega regarding a male subject going through trash cans. The subject was found to have a warrant for his arrest and was taken into custody.

    Grand Theft
    August 20 at 11:38 a.m., a business in the 1600 block of S. Mountain was reviewing their surveillance footage and noticed a theft that occurred on August 18. A male subject stole approximately $1,000 worth of merchandise. The investigation is continuing.

    Theft From a Vehicle
    August 20 at 4:42 p.m., a theft from a vehicle was reported in the 100 block of El Nido. The reporting party stated items were stolen from her unlocked vehicle sometime during the night. The investigation is continuing.

    Speed Contest – Suspects Arrested
    August 21 at 12:18 a.m., officers on patrol in the area of Mountain and Huntington saw two vehicles racing east on Huntington. The vehicles were traveling at approximately 60 miles per hour in a 35 mile per hour zone. Officers stopped the vehicles in the City of Duarte and both drivers were arrested for participating in a speed contest. They were released in the field with citations to appear in court on the charges, and both vehicles were stored for 30 days.

    Burglary
    August 21 at 2:16 a.m., officers responded to an alarm activation at a business in the 900 block of W. Huntington. Upon arrival, they discovered a window had been smashed. Video surveillance footage showed two suspects wearing hoodies breaking the window and entering the location. The suspects removed a safe containing cash and took it to a waiting vehicle, which fled the area. The investigation is continuing.

    Non-Injury Traffic Collision
    August 21 at 4:18 p.m., a traffic collision was reported in the 200 block of W. Central. Two vehicles were stopped at Central and Myrtle, facing westbound. For an unknown reason, the second vehicle’s driver released his foot from the brake and rear-ended the vehicle in front of him. He provided his driver's license and phone number to the other driver, but then stated he had to leave. He admitted that he had been drinking, and he had his children in the vehicle. Officers conducted an area search for the suspect, but did not locate him. The vehicle was found to be registered out of Baldwin Park. Baldwin Park Police Department was notified to check on the welfare of the children and to check if the suspect was under the influence. The investigation is continuing.

    Computer Scam
    August 22 at 3:29 p.m., a computer scam was reported to police by a resident in the 100 block of E. Scenic. The victim received a pop-up message on her computer screen advising her to pay $299 to fix her computer and an additional $299 to install a firewall to prevent viruses. She and her husband were afraid and paid $500. After speaking with their daughter shortly after, they learned this was a scam. Fortunately, they were able to cancel the transaction prior to the money being withdrawn. As a precaution, they cancelled all of their accounts and obtained new ones, and thankfully, there was no monetary loss.

    Public Intoxication – Suspect Arrested
    August 22 at 3:29 p.m., officers were dispatched to the 200 block of E. Foothill regarding a male subject that was passed out in front of a business. The officer determined the subject was too intoxicated to care for his own safety. The subject was arrested and taken into custody for being drunk in public. He was held for a sobering period.

    Grand Theft Auto / Commercial Burglary
    August 22 at 3:39 p.m., a vehicle was reported stolen from a business in the 300 block of W. Foothill. The business buys vehicles from auctions, and then repairs and sells them. When the victim returned to work that afternoon, he discovered a Maserati had been stolen from the parking lot of his business. He last saw the vehicle the day before when he left his business. The investigation is continuing.

    Residential Burglary / Hot Prowl
    August 22 at 7:36 p.m., a resident in the 500 block of Los Angeles called police to report a theft of currency from their home. An upstairs window was used to gain entry to the home by an unknown suspect. The resident was home at the time of the crime. There were workers at the home using a ladder near the window prior to the theft being discovered. The investigation is continuing.

    All OSH Stores to Close

    All Orchard Supply Hardware (OSH) stores are closing. Monrovia has an OSH store on Huntington Drive in the shopping center at the corner of Monterey.

    According to a report in USAToday (https://goo.gl/pDuc2Y), OSH's parent company, Lowe's, has decided to close all the stores by Feb. 1, 2019.

    - Brad Haugaard

    Possible New Logo for Old Town, Theater Will Offer Meals in October, Santa Anita Family Services Closing; Etc.


    Proposed Old Town logo.

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

    ~ Studio Movie Grill will begin offering meal service this October. Plus, there will be changes to the lobby sometime this year "to accommodate guests looking to grab food and drinks, but not necessarily a movie."

    ~ Monrovia Old Town Advisory Board and city staff are trying to get more feedback from Old Town merchants on the new logo shown above.

    ~ Santa Anita Family Services is closing at the end of September. A non-profit called Human Services Association will be taking over the senior services contracts, and maybe the rest of the services SAFS offers.

    ~ The Methodist Church, which owns part of the parking lot located at the northwest corner of Lime and Ivy has been charging people $5 to park at the location. Chi said that "the practice of closing off a portion of the Lime Avenue parking lot has caused some traffic problems, especially given the unique distribution of parking spaces at the lot." So the city is working with the church to try to solve the problems.

    ~ The Planning Commission has approved applications for two large projects - the Marriott TownePlace Suites hotel project (at the southwest intersection of Myrtle and Huntington) and the Avalon Bay multi-family project (at the northwest corner of Myrtle and Chestnut). The City Council will hold public hearings to consider the projects on Sept. 4, at 7:30 p.m.

    - Brad Haugaard

    Anti-Suicide Bill By Monrovia's State Senator Goes to Governor for Signature

    State Senate Bill 972, a suicide prevention bill authored by State Senator Anthony Portantino (who represents Monrovia), has passed the California State Legislature and is headed to the Governor's Desk for his signature.

    SB 972 requires public, charter, and private schools to print the National Suicide Prevention Hotline telephone number on all student identification cards for grades seven through college.

    Source: Portantino press release

    - Brad Haugaard

    Felix the Dog Wants a Jogging Buddy


    Are you looking for a jogging buddy? Look no further than Felix (A463969), an athletic one-year-old terrier mix. Felix is all about fun. He loves to play with toys and enjoys a good dog treat. Felix is also a straight A student. He already knows his sit, down, stay and shake commands. If you are looking for an exuberant young dog, ask for Felix!

    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.

    *** Grab your leashes and your best four-legged friend! The 20th Annual Wiggle Waggle Walk will take place Sunday, September 30 at Brookside Park at the Rose Bowl. Help us raise money to provide food, shelter, medical care and other services to the thousands of animals—domestic, exotic, wildlife and livestock—who come to the Pasadena Humane Society & SPCA each year. Register online at wigglewagglewalk.org.

    - Brad Haugaard

    Sidewalk Astronomers Tonight

    The Sidewalk Astronomers will be at the corner of Myrtle and Lime tonight from about 7:30-9:30. First up, Venus, followed by great views of Jupiter, Saturn and probably Mars by 9 p.m. Stop by to look through some telescopes.

    - Brad Haugaard 

    Early Monrovian - 'Aunt' Kate Wright, Honored




    A monument honoring early Monrovian, Kate Wright, was unveiled today on Cypress, just west of Shamrock and a block south of Huntington. The monument was designed by Dawn Mendelson. 

    Below the monument is a sidewalk poem that says:

    This I believe
    Above all other things 
    A man shall find goodness
    If goodness he brings

    Wright, born a slave, had a religious conversion in 1907 and devoted the rest of her life housing and caring for the sick and indigent. 


    “Aunt” Kate Wright

    By Steve Baker, City Historian

    “Aunt” Kate Wright was born a slave in Clark County, Kentucky in October of 1857. She was able to read and write, something not true for all African-Americans of her generation.

    Little is known of Aunt Kate’s life prior to coming to Monrovia. Some time before l900, she became a domestic servant of the household of the Rev. John Stonestreet Van Meter, a Presbyterian minister in Lexington. She was living with the family in 1900 in Clinton, Missouri, with her son, Lewis Marshall Wright. Due to his wife’s health, The Rev. John Van Meter left his pastorate in Clinton and came to Monrovia in 1901, where he served the First Presbyterian Church for one year. Aunt Kate and her son came with them. In 1902, John Van Meter and his wife moved to New York City, where their son was in medical school. Aunt Kate remained in Monrovia, and spent the rest of her life here. Her mother, Eliza Baker, also came to Monrovia after the death of her husband. She died here in 1918 at the age of ninety-five and is buried at Live Oak Cemetery.

    After the Van Meter family left Monrovia, Aunt Kate supported herself by working for the family of the local superintendent of schools, Nathan F. Smith. She left a lasting impression on his daughter, Lorena Smith Holmes. Even after the Smith family moved from Monrovia, Aunt Kate would visit them in South Pasadena, taking the Pacific Electric Red Car and carrying with her a basket full of her famous beaten biscuits.

    The earliest record of Aunt Kate’s residence in Monrovia is in the 1904 Tax Assessment Roll for the City where she is listed as living at 528 E. Cypress Avenue. She lived on Cypress for the remainder of her life.

    About 1907, Aunt Kate had a religious conversion, and out of that experience came the conviction that she was to devote her life to the care of the sick and indigent. She began her ministry by inviting twelve of Monrovia’s most needy to live at her house. Aunt Kate tended for her guests regardless of race, gender, or religion. Later she asked for donations of lumber and labor to build small cottages on her property. She also asked for donations of food and nursing supplies for her patients. With limited financial resources herself, Aunt Kate believed that “the Lord would provide.” And time after time assistance would come from unexpected sources.

    Aunt Kate carried out her mission for nearly thirty years, until her health failed under the burden of work she had undertaken and she was forced to retire from her ministry.

    For many years, Monrovians donated to a special fund so that Aunt Kate could prepare baskets for the needy at Thanksgiving and Christmas. The local newspaper published an account of the donations to her fund as an encouragement for others to give as well.

    Aunt Kate died October 13, 1937 after a brief illness and was buried in Live Oak Cemetery next to her mother. The editor of the local newspaper wrote the following in his column:

    “News has just come of the passing of Aunt Kate Wright. I can well remember, in the early days of Monrovia, when local physicians gave free treatment and Aunt Kate free board and lodging to sufferers from tuberculosis who were unable to pay for care. I have seen a dozen or more lying in their little one-room cottages on Aunt Kate’s property, mostly whites, but with an occasional Negro or Japanese, and getting the best treatment she could give them. She served all alike, regardless of color, nationality or creed. Aunt Kate, of the Negro race, was a saintly character, and during the past score of years that she labored here she had hundreds of friends among Monrovia’s pioneers who realized and valued her worth. A few days ago when we were informed of her serious illness we found her reading her Bible, and cheerful as ever. The world, to her, was a good place to live in and a grand place to do the work of Her Master.”

    Many years after her death, Lorena Smith Holmes wrote, “If ever there were a saint, it was she.”













    Back to School Nights

    Here’s the back-to-school night schedule:

    Mayflower - August 23
    Bradoaks - August 28
    Monrovia High - August 29
    Monroe - August 30
    Clifton - September 5
    Santa Fe - September 6

    - Brad Haugaard 

    Dinner at Ramen Naruto


    Dinner at Ramen Naruto, a new restaurant about half a block east of Myrtle on the south side of Lemon. They’re still setting up so at the moment it’s cash only. Kinda hip decor. I ordered the Spicy Miso Tori Ramen (chicken) for $11.50 and added an egg for $1.50, plus an iced tea for $2.50. Nice rich broth. Liked it a lot. 


    - Brad Haugaard 

    Monrovia Police: Beware the Kidnap Phone Scam; Slamming the Door on the Cops; Etc.

    [Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for Highlighted Activity for August 9-15. - Brad Haugaard]

    During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 387 service events, During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 387 service events, resulting in 79 investigations.

    Warrant / Possession of a Controlled Substance – Suspect Arrested
    August 9 at 7:06 a.m., an officer on patrol in the 100 block of W. Palm saw a male subject that had a warrant for his arrest. The subject was arrested for the warrant, and during the arrest, methamphetamine was found on his person.

    Shoplifting – Suspect Arrested
    August 9 at 1:24 p.m., officers responded to a theft that just occurred at a business in the 100 block of W. Foothill. An officer arrived and was able to stop the suspect vehicle before it left the parking lot. The suspect was arrested for shoplifting.

    Violation of Court Order / Battery on a Peace Officer / Resisting a Delaying a Peace Officer – Suspect Arrested
    August 9 at 7:01 p.m., officers responded to a residence in the 1200 block of S. California regarding a disturbing subject. There is an active restraining order against the subject and he was refusing to leave the residence. The subject was uncooperative and argumentative with the officers, and slammed the door on one of them. The suspect was subsequently arrested and taken into custody.

    Hit and Run Traffic Collision
    August 9 at 7:18 p.m., a hit and run traffic collision was reported in the 700 block of W. Huntington. The suspect side-swiped a parked vehicle as he was backing out of a parking stall in a business parking lot. When the suspect realized there was someone sitting inside the vehicle, the suspect fled the scene. The investigation is continuing.

    Commercial Burglary
    August 10 at 3:17 a.m., officers responded to an alarm activation at a business in the 900 block of W. Huntington. When officers arrived, they saw one of the north windows had been shattered. The loss is unknown at this time until the owner can inventory. The investigation is continuing.

    Possession of Drug Paraphernalia – Suspect Arrested
    August 10 at 8:05 a.m., an officer was on patrol in the 600 block of Shamrock when he saw two subjects hiding under the bleachers in Recreation Park. He contacted both subjects, and one male adult was arrested for possession of a pipe used for smoking methamphetamine.

    Grand Theft Auto / Possession of a Controlled Substance / Possession of Drug Paraphernalia – Suspect Arrested
    August 10 at 8:19 p.m., officers were dispatched to the area of Mountain and Oceanview regarding a welfare check. The caller reported a male subject had parked in the area and was acting erratically. He then appeared to fall asleep in the truck. When the officers arrived, they found the male subject standing outside of the truck. He admitted to driving the truck and his personal items were inside the vehicle. A computer check revealed the vehicle was stolen. The suspect was arrested, and during the arrest, he was found to be in possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.

    Drunk in Public – Suspect Arrested
    August 10 at 9:55 p.m., a caller reported a man sleeping on the driveway of a residence in the 100 block of N. Myrtle. An officer arrived to check on the welfare of the subject and found he was extremely intoxicated. The subject was too intoxicated to care of his own safety and was arrested for being drunk in public.

    Possession of Drug Paraphernalia – Suspect Arrested
    August 11 at 2:14 a.m., an officer was on patrol in the 1900 block of S. Myrtle when he stopped a bicyclist for failure to stop at a stop sign and riding during the hours of darkness without lighting. During a pat-down search, the subject was found to be in possession of drug paraphernalia. The suspect was arrested.

    Brandishing a Firearm – Suspect Arrested
    August 11 at 8:39 p.m., officers responded to a residence in the 600 block of Linwood regarding a disturbance. The subject who lives at the location became involved in an argument with his nephew, who was visiting. During the argument, the subject brandished a weapon, causing his nephew, who was holding his child, to feel threatened. The suspect was arrested.

    Grand Theft Auto
    August 12 at 9:47 a.m., a vehicle was reported stolen from the 800 block of W. Duarte Road. The victim parked his truck in the parking area for his residence in the evening on August 11. When he returned to his truck the next morning, he found it was missing. The vehicle is a red, 1995 Toyota pickup. The investigation is continuing.

    Vehicle Burglary
    August 12 at 8:29 p.m., an officer was dispatched to a business parking lot in the 800 block of W. Huntington regarding a vehicle burglary. The victim was coming from San Bernardino after being at a marijuana convention. He was selling marijuana wax for a company and was transporting it back. He stopped off at a restaurant to use the restroom and get some food. When he came out approximately 20 minutes later, one of the windows on his vehicle had been broken and the container with the marijuana wax in it was missing. The investigation is continuing.

    Drunk in Public – Suspect Arrested
    August 12 at 8:30 p.m., a disturbance between a male and female subject was reported in the area of Cypress and Sherman. Officers responded and located both subjects. After talking to both of them, it was determined the male half was drunk in public. He was arrested and held for a sobering period.

    Shots Heard
    August 13 at 1:10 a.m., an officer was driving north on Shamrock, near Royal Oaks, when he heard what he thought were shots fired. Other police units arrived in the area to investigate and dispatch received several calls reporting shots fired. The officers checked the area and the surrounding blocks extensively for anyone or anything suspicious, but did not locate anything. One caller reported hearing something on the side of her residence in the 600 block of Royal Oaks. Officers searched the premises of that location and the surrounding residences, but nothing was located. No other calls were received.

    Warrants / Possession of a Controlled Substance – Suspect Arrested
    August 13 at 2:30 a.m., an officer observed a vehicle commit a traffic violation near the intersection of Peck and Longden. He stopped the vehicle, and after receiving information on the driver and passengers, one of the passengers was found to have warrants for his arrest. The passengers were asked to exit the vehicle, and a consent search revealed the female driver was in possession of methamphetamine. The driver and passenger were both arrested and taken into custody for the charges.

    Shoplifting
    August 13 at 11:55 a.m., loss prevention personnel from a business in the 1600 block of S. Mountain called police to report and incident of power tools being taken by a male suspect who fled the location in a burgundy sedan. The investigation is continuing.

    Vehicle Burglary
    August 13 at 2:29 p.m., a vehicle burglary was reported in the 700 block of W. Huntington. The victim reported that sometime between 12:00 and 2:00 p.m., someone smashed the passenger window of her vehicle and took a small amount of cash from inside the vehicle. The investigation is continuing.

    Warrant – Suspect Arrested
    August 13 at 8:56 p.m., an officer on patrol in the 300 block of W. Duarte observed a bicyclist commit a traffic violation and stopped him. A computer check revealed he had an outstanding warrant for his arrest. The subject was arrested for the warrant.

    Commercial Burglary
    August 14 at 5:15 a.m., a police volunteer was notified by a passerby regarding broken glass in front of a business in the 400 block of S. Myrtle. The volunteer notified dispatch and officers responded. They cleared the business and it was obvious things were missing. A responsible party was notified of the burglary and the investigation is continuing.

    Fraud / Kidnapping Scam
    August 14 at 9:43 a.m., a hysterical female subject came into the police department lobby reporting her adult niece had been kidnapped and was being held for ransom. The woman’s brother was in front of the police station on a cell phone, talking with the suspect. The suspect had called the victims and told them he had kidnapped their relative and would not release her until they withdrew money for him. The victims said they heard a female screaming in the background and they believed their relative had been kidnapped. The victims kept the suspects on the phone while detectives tried to help coordinate where to meet him. Eventually, with the assistance of the San Diego Police Department, the female was located safe and sound, and the entire incident was determined to be a phone scam. The suspect had disconnected while the victims were trying to stall him, probably realizing it was taking too long to get his money. The investigation is continuing.

    Mental Evaluation / 72-Hour Hold
    August 14 at 11:27 a.m., officers responded to the 500 block of W. Maple on the report of a man with a gun inside a residence with possible hostages. A second call was made to the police department by the mother of the disturbing subject, who was at the location. She stated her son has mental issues, was in possession of a knife and was threatening them. The mother and two 15-year-old boys had locked themselves in a bedroom. Police personnel were able to get the family members out of the house safely and officers talked the subject out of the house, where he was safely detained without further incident. They detained him for a 72-hour mental evaluation and he was taken to a hospital.

    Drunk in Public / Warrant – Suspect Arrested
    August 15 at 2:12 a.m., an officer was dispatched to the 300 block of W. Foothill on the report of a male subject yelling to the front of his residence. Officers arrived and contacted the subject near the area and determined he was intoxicated. He also had an outstanding warrant for his arrest. He was arrested for the warrant and public intoxication.

    SCE May Cut Off Power in Emergency


    Portion of letter from SCE. 

    Southern California Edison is warning its customers in areas with high fire risk (which apparently includes the foothills of Monrovia) that the company may shut off power to those areas, but only in “the most extreme conditions.”

    - Brad Haugaard 

    Low Cost Pet Wellness Clinic, Two Big Projects Before Planning Commission; Life with Wildlife; Last Art Walk of Summer


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

    ~ The Pasadena Humane Society will offer a low-cost animal wellness clinic on Aug. 30, 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m., at the Foothill Unity Center (790  W. Chestnut Ave.).

    ~ The Planning Commission will consider two big projects, the Marriott TownePlace Suites hotel project, located at the southwest corner of Myrtle and Huntington, and the Avalon Bay multi-family project, at the northwest corner of Myrtle and Chestnut (where the Tanner Research building is now). At the Development Review Committee there was no opposition to either initiative and both items were approved unanimously.

    ~ The Living with Wildlife forum was standing room only. The basic rule, of course, is, "Don't feed the animals,"  but here is some additional information:

    Life with bears: https://goo.gl/o15Fsj

    Mountain Lions: https://goo.gl/CRR7Ey

    Various animals: https://goo.gl/m86YWN

    ~ Last art walk of the summer. The Monrovia Association of Fine Arts will hold its last art walk of the summer on August 25 (Saturday) from 7-10 p.m. on Myrtle in Old Town.

    - Brad Haugaard

    Allie: Spunky 13-Year-Old German Shepherd Needs New Home

    Allie (A462725) is a German Shepherd who is 13 years young and does not act her age. She loves to play with toys and balls and walks on leash with spunk and energy. She spent this past weekend with our Wiggle Waggle Wagon crew and enjoyed meeting small and large dogs and people of all ages. She is a well-behaved dog with a great temperament and is looking for a new home. Come by and visit her today at the Pasadena Humane Society & SPCA.

    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.

    *** The Pasadena Humane Society & SPCA is participating in the 4th annual “NBC4 and Telemundo 52 Clear the Shelters,” a pet adoption campaign spearheaded by both stations. On Saturday, August 18, the adoption fee for all animals will be reduced to $20 and the shelter will hold extended adoption hours from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. View all animals at the shelter at pasadenahumane.org/adopt.

    Block Party This Saturday Honoring Woman Who Dedicated Her Life to Sick and Poor

    The City of Monrovia Neighborhood Services Division invites you to attend the Monrovia Area
    Partnership’s (MAP) Block Party and Neighborhood Treasure Art Reveal. We will be featuring our
    Neighborhood Treasure, Ms. Kate Wright, who was divinely inspired to devote her life to care for
    the sick and the poor. Through donations of supplies and labor she built small cottages on her East
    Cypress property, where she tended for patients suffering from tuberculosis who had no family or
    resources to assist them. Kate received no financial compensation for any of her services and
    served selflessly for over 30 years. She died in 1938 and is buried in Live Oak Cemetery.

    Her devotion and selfless actions are being honored and recognized on August 18th, 2018 with a
    unique piece of artwork that will be installed within the 500 Block of East Cypress Avenue. There
    will also be a block party that will include free activities, free games, raffles, and free food for all of
    our guests.

    TO RSVP:

    Go to the Eventbrite website and type in the search bar for “MAP Block Party and Neighborhood
    Treasure Unveiling” or you can visit our Facebook page at
    www.facebook.com/MonroviaAreaPartnership

    Source: City of Monrovia press release

    - Brad Haugaard

    Lunch at 1776


    Lunch at 1776, on the east side of Myrtle just below Lemon. Got a Cobb salad for $8 with chicken (an extra $4) and a beer for $7. Very good!

    - Brad Haugaard 

    Monrovia Airport Mural Enhanced

    The Monrovia Landing shopping area (the old Alberstons) has enhanced the tile depiction of the Monrovia Airport - which used to be on the shopping center site - with a "flying" airplane, complete with pilot. The artwork is between Aldi and HomeGoods. Gem City Images snapped some pictures of it, which you can see here: https://goo.gl/rX7ra2

    - Brad Haugaard

    Is Caridad Papa the Oldest Monrovian?


    Is Monrovian Caridad Papa the oldest resident of Monrovia?

    That's what her neighbor, Clifford DeCosta, wonders.

    Caridad was born in the Philippines on August 14, 1913, which will make her 105 on the 14th of this month.

    DeCosta said she lives with a daughter, Josette, and a granddaughter, Stephanie, and has been a Monrovia resident since 1981. She is very active, goes to church every Sunday and to the hair dresser every week. She takes out the trash, sweeps the front porch and waters the yard.

    Last year she received a certificate from the City, recognizing her as a centenarian. Councilman Larry Spicer delivered a birthday cake to her home.

    - Brad Haugaard

    Monrovia Police: Lots of Domestic Violence; Motorcyclist vs. Power Pole; Plus Shoplifting, Drugs and Alcohol

    [Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for Highlighted Activity for August 2–8. - Brad Haugaard]

    During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 392 service events, During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 392 service events, resulting in 76 investigations.

    Shoplifting / Possession of Narcotics – Suspect Arrested
    August 2 at 12:39 p.m., security at a store in the 500 block of W. Huntington reported a suspicious male subject in their store who they believed was shoplifting. When the subject left the store, he was detained by Monrovia’s Special Enforcement Team and the stolen property was recovered. The subject was also found to be in possession of methamphetamine.

    Wanted Person – Suspect Arrested
    August 2 at 2:02 p.m., Monrovia’s Special Enforcement Team was patrolling the 500 block of W. Huntington, when they saw a male subject they recognized from previous contacts. A computer check revealed he was wanted by State Parole for violations. He was stopped and arrested.

    Weapon Offense – Suspect Arrested
    August 2 at 2:48 p.m., a caller reported a male subject behaving erratically in the 100 block W. Palm. Officers arrived and contacted the subject. He was found to be in possession of an unsheathed dagger. He was arrested and taken into custody for the weapon offense.

    Fraud
    August 2 at 7:26 p.m., a resident in the 700 block of W. Hillcrest was notified by her credit card company of possible fraud on her card. After being told of the charges made in several different cities that she did not make, she called the police to report the fraud. This investigation is continuing.

    Domestic Violence – Suspect Arrested
    August 3 at 10:41 p.m., a caller reported a male and female subject inside a vehicle yelling in the 100 block of E. Lime. Officers arrived and contacted both subjects. The female subject hit and scratched her boyfriend’s face, causing visible injuries. She was arrested for domestic violence.

    Driving Under the Influence / Traffic Collision – Suspect Arrested
    August 4 at 2:14 a.m., a caller reported a motorcyclist had just collided into an Edison pole in the 200 block of N. Canyon. Officers responded to investigate the collision. The motorcyclist was not injured; however, was heavily intoxicated. Field sobriety tests were conducted and the driver was arrested for DUI.

    Bicycle Theft – Suspect Arrested
    August 4 at 3:50 p.m., a caller reported his bicycle had just been stolen by a male subject in the park in the 300 block of S. Myrtle. Officers responded and located the subject with the bicycle. The bicycle was returned to the owner and the suspect was arrested.

    Hit & Run Traffic Collision
    August 4 at 3:55 p.m., a caller reported a vehicle had collided into another vehicle and a block wall in the 1100 block of E. Royal Oaks. Officers responded and located the suspect’s vehicle; however, the driver had fled from the scene prior to officers arriving. A search was conducted, but the driver was not found. This investigation is continuing.

    Domestic Violence – Suspect Arrested
    August 4 at 10:02 p.m., a caller reported a male and female fighting at a house in the 600 block of W. Palm. Officers responded and contacted both subjects, who were in a dating relationship. After further investigation, it was discovered the female subject had hit the male several times in the face. She was arrested.

    Petty Theft / Vehicle Tampering
    August 4 at 11:00 p.m., a resident in the 100 block of W. Colorado walked outside his apartment to the public parking garage, where his vehicle was parked. He discovered someone had opened his vehicle’s gas cap and removed all the gas. The vehicle had been parked for several days in the lot while the victim was on vacation. This investigation is continuing.

    Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
    August 5 at 4:14 a.m., an officer was patrolling the 400 block of W. Huntington when he saw a motorist stopped in the roadway with the engine running. He stopped and contacted the driver, who was asleep in the driver’s seat. Field sobriety tests were conducted and the driver was arrested for DUI.

    Shoplifting – Suspect Arrested
    August 5 at 11:34 a.m., employees of a business in the 500 block of W. Huntington reported a male subject had just run out of their store with stolen merchandise. Officers responded and located the subject running through the parking lot. The merchandise was returned to the store and the suspect was arrested for shoplifting.

    Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
    August 5 at 9:18 p.m., a caller reported a possible DUI driver in the 800 block of W. Duarte. Officers responded and located the vehicle. Officers stopped the motorist, who was found to be intoxicated. After field sobriety tests were conducted, the driver was arrested for DUI.

    Domestic Violence – Suspect Arrested
    August 6 at 8:46 a.m., a caller reported a male and female subject yelling at one another inside a house in the 2600 block of Doray Circle. Officers arrived and contacted both subjects. It was discovered that the husband had hit his wife multiple times. He was arrested and taken into custody.

    Public Intoxication – Suspect Arrested
    August 6 at 9:12 a.m., a caller reported a male subject that was heavily intoxicated inside a park in the 300 block of S. Myrtle. Officers responded and located the subject, who was too intoxicated to care for his own safety, so he was arrested and taken into custody.

    Domestic Violence
    August 6 at 10:50 p.m., a resident in the 1000 block of Briarcliff reported that a male subject she had allowed to live with her grabbed her neck and pushed her to the ground during an argument. He then left the home. The resident complained of pain and was taken to a nearby hospital. This investigation is continuing.

    Grand Theft Auto – Motorcycle
    August 7 at 8:13 a.m., a resident in the 1100 block of Sesmas walked outside his apartment to where he had parked his motorcycle and discovered someone had taken it sometime during the night. Officers responded and had the vehicle information entered into the DMV stolen vehicle system. This investigation is continuing.

    Possession of Prescription Medication / Counterfeit Bill – Suspect Arrested
    August 7 at 9:00 a.m., employees of a store in the 100 block of S. Myrtle reported two male subjects inside the store exchanging what appeared to be medications. Officers arrived and contacted one of the subjects. He was in possession of medication without a prescription and a counterfeit bill. He was arrested and taken into custody.

    Grand Theft
    August 8 at 8:25 a.m., a resident in the 800 block of Royal Oaks reported she had ordered a computer system, which was to be delivered to her home. On the day the system was to be delivered, she arrived home from work and it was gone. The delivery service confirmed they had delivered it to her front porch. This investigation is continuing.

    Grand Theft Auto
    August 8 at 3:24 p.m., the owner of a vehicle walked to where he had parked his car in the 100 block of S. Canyon and discovered it had been stolen. Officers arrived and entered the vehicle into the DMV stolen vehicle system. The vehicle was located in the City of San Gabriel and the suspect was arrested.

    Petty Theft
    August 8 at 7:13 p.m., a resident in the 700 block of Wildrose ordered merchandise from an online store, which was to be delivered to her home. The delivery was made; however, someone took the merchandise from her front porch. This investigation is continuing.

    Domestic Violence
    August 8 at 10:09 p.m., a resident in the 900 block of W. Walnut reported her husband had just hit her multiple times after an argument, then left the home. Officers responded to investigate. They discovered the couple’s daughter was also pushed by the suspect. The suspect did not cause visible injuries. This investigation is continuing.

    Under the Influence of Narcotics – Suspect Arrested
    August 8 at 11:54 p.m., an officer was patrolling the 500 block of W. Duarte when he saw a male subject hitting a street sign. He stopped and contacted the subject. His erratic behavior indicated he may be under the influence of narcotics, so field tests were conducted. The subject was taken into custody for being under the influence of a controlled substance and taken to a nearby hospital for sobering.

    Monrovia Homeless Population Jumps Up; Lyft Price-Change Details; Memorial for Pam Fitzpatrick; A Police Birthday Party; Library Gets Grant

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

    ~ Monrovia's homeless population has grown. Official stats show there are fewer homeless living on the street in 2018 compared to 2017 (from 14 down to 9). However, there was a big jump in the number of homeless living in vehicles (cars, vans, campers). From 15 in 2017 to 55 in 2018.

    ~ The proposed change to the GoMonrovia Lyft program (which the city council will probably approve tonight) means that: Shared rides will cost 50 cents, and standard rides will cost $3. However, definition time:

    "Shared ride" means the Lyft driver may stop to pick up another passenger nearby who is going in the same direction as you, so you could make an additional stop before getting to your destination. You'll need to select "Shared ride" in the app to keep the 50-cent rate.

    "Standard ride" is basically what happens now: you and up to three additional passengers can be picked up and taken directly to your destination.

    ~ The memorial service for Pam Fitzpatrick, prominent Old Town merchant and advocate, will be held on Aug. 9, at 11 a.m., at Live Oak Cemetery.

    ~ A Monrovia mother, whose son Micah, loves the Monrovia Police and all law enforcement officers, asked if an officer could drop by during her son's police-themed fifth birthday party. An officer did. In fact, the Monrovia Police Officers Association and the officers on the Saturday shift purchased small birthday gifts and the entire shift stopped by Micah's party to wish him a happy birthday.

    ~ Monrovia Public Library received a grant from the State Library for $7,500 to purchase nonfiction materials on community partnership building, life over 50, mental health information, early literacy, and workforce development. Should be on the shelves by fall.

    - Brad Haugaard

    Nash the Purr-Machine Wants a New Best Friend



    Nash (A462807) is a 5-month-old purr-machine! As soon as you open his kennel doors he comes over, curiously, and starts purring. He head bumps for attention and rubs against his kennel. He likes to be petted, especially behind his ears, and likes to play. Nash is looking for a new best friend 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 

    Foothills Parks Closed - Hot Weather



    - Brad Haugaard 

    Meet the Monrovia Police - Tomorrow


    National Night Out will take place tomorrow, Tuesday, Aug. 7, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Library Park. Meet several of Monrovia’s police officers, detectives, bike patrol, community policing, SWAT officers, Special Enforcement Team officers, volunteers, Police Explorers and have some BBQ’d all-American hot dogs.

    Source: Monrovia Police Department

    - Brad Haugaard

    Stock in Monrovia's Staar Surgical Jumps

    Stock of Monrovia's Staar Surgical Company is up dramatically after announcing a 55% net sales jump for its second quarter. The stock was trading at about $32, but has jumped up to about $38. Staar makes implantable contact lenses. https://goo.gl/YC2hYt

    - Brad Haugaard

    Blind Monrovian Starts Company Providing Braille Menus for Restaurants

    Seventeen-year-old Monrovian Mason Fessenden is blind, but has started a new company to provide braille menus for restaurants. Rudy's Mexican Food in Monrovia is one of the first to get the menu. https://goo.gl/4Zwimv

    - Brad Haugaard

    New Lyft Pricing May Go Into Effect Sept. 1

    At its Tuesday, August 7 meeting (agenda: https://goo.gl/AEBco2) the Monrovia City Council will consider a) increasing the price per ride of the "wildly successful" Lyft program (Currently the program generates about a thousand rides per day!) and b) regulating scooters, since LimeBike is beginning to introduce scooters as well as bikes.

    But back to Lyft. The problem with the Lyft program is that the transportation grant money the city uses to pay for it will run out if the program continues at its current pricing.

    So, if the council approves the Lyft price increase, the 50-cent Lyft rides would remain in effect for groups (two or more), so if you and your honey want to go out to dinner it'll still cost you 50 cents each for the ride - each way.

    However, if you want a solo ride, it'll cost $3 - each way.

    New prices would go into effect on the first day of this September.

    Here's the full report: https://goo.gl/mPaJKg

    - Brad Haugaard

    New Artificial Turf at Monrovia High; Improving Recess; More Classes

    At its next meeting (https://goo.gl/Sg3mJp) the Monrovia Board of Education will consider ...

    ~ Paying FieldTurf $150,000 to put down new artificial turf on the Monrovia High School football field. The stuff has an eight-year warranty. https://goo.gl/kNtFrn

    ~ Paying Playworks (https://goo.gl/vP997X) $19,000 for a year to teach Mayflower and Bradoaks elementary school staff "to achieve district and school goals for creating and sustaining safe and healthy play at recess."

    ~ Adding the following classes: Advanced Biology, Chemistry Honors, Physics Honors, Advanced English I, and English II Honors.

    - Brad Haugaard

    Monrovia Rotary Sponsoring Fundraising Luau

    Monrovia Rotary Club Casino Night Luau fundraiser. Tickets here: https://goo.gl/ZJoSu3

    - Brad Haugaard

    Dinner at Saigon Avenue


    Dinner at Saigon Avenue, on the south side of Lemon about a half block east of Myrtle. Got the French-Vietnamese Beef Stew for $12.99 and a beer for $5. Beef was tender and good. 

    - Brad Haugaard 

    No, No New Tenant for the Old Market Grill Site

    With the new fencing around the old Market Grill building at Shamrock and Colorado, it looks as if construction may be going on there.

    Sorry, it isn't.

    I contacted Craig Jimenez, Director of Community Development for Monrovia, and here's what he said:

    "As you probably know, the site has been vacant for quite a while and had become a nuisance for the neighborhood, so the fencing was put up to keep people off the property.  There is no construction activity going on.  Over the past few months, staff has had discussions with several people looking at the site, however, to date no applications have been submitted to the City for any formal review.  We’re hopeful that the building will find new life soon."

    - Brad Haugaard

    Details About AeroVironment's Martian Helicopter

    An interesting article in the LA Times about how Monrovia's AeroVironment plans to design a helicopter that can fly on Mars. https://goo.gl/rgt7R6

    - Brad Haugaard

    Monrovia Police: Copper Stolen; Firefighters Rescue Mom and Baby from Garage Fire; Mom Battles Adult Kids; Husband Hit;; Drunk Whacks Power Pole; Expensive Garden Ornaments Stolen

    [Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for Highlighted Activity for July 26 – August 1. - Brad Haugaard]

    During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 360 service events, resulting in 73 investigations.

    Grand Theft Automobile
    July 26 at 7:00 a.m., officers responded to a call from a resident in the 900 block of Monterey. The victim walked outside her home to go to work and discovered her Toyota RAV4 had been stolen sometime during the night. This investigation is continuing.

    Residential Burglary
    July 26 at 10:18 p.m., a resident in the 200 block of Prospect returned home to find their house had been burglarized. Officers responded to investigate. The suspect forced entry into the home through a bedroom window and took jewelry. This investigation is continuing.

    Warrant – Suspect Arrested
    July 26 at 11:48 p.m., a resident in the 400 block of Genoa reported a suspicious male standing in front of her house. Officers responded and contacted the subject who was in possession of an open beer. A computer check revealed the subject had a warrant for his arrest. The subject was taken into custody.

    Attempt Commercial Burglary
    July 27 at 4:58 a.m., an alarm at a business in the 600 block of W. Huntington was activated. Officers responded and discovered suspects had attempted to shatter the front glass doors with a sledge hammer to gain entry but were unsuccessful. Officers searched the area for the suspects but were unable to locate them. This investigation is continuing.

    Commercial Burglary
    July 27 at 7:43 a.m., the owner of a business in the 200 block of W. Pomona arrived to work and discovered someone had burglarized his building. Officers were called to investigate. The suspects cut the lock on the business’ front gate, entered the building and took copper cables. This investigation is continuing.

    Shoplifting – Suspect Arrested
    July 27 at 2:39 p.m., security for a store in the 500 block of W. Huntington reported a male subject had just ran out of their store with merchandise he did not pay for. After an investigation, the subject was arrested and the stolen property was returned to the store.

    Public Intoxication – Suspect Arrested
    July 27 at 4:29 p.m., a resident in the 400 block of Genoa reported one of her family members was yelling at everyone. Officers responded and found the subject outside and heavily intoxicated. After field tests were conducted, it was determined he was too intoxicated to care for his own safety or that of others. The subject was taken into custody.

    Residential Fire
    July 27 at 10:14 p.m., officers responded to a residential fire in the 500 block of E. Maple. When officers arrived, they were told by neighbors that a mother and her baby usually sleep in the garage which was on fire. The garage door was locked, officers forced entry and found the mother and child asleep. They were quickly evacuated. The Fire Department arrived and extinguished the fire, which was determined to have accidentally started by an outdoor bar-b-que.

    Public Intoxication – Suspect Arrested
    July 28 at 12:34 a.m., a caller reported a male subject was laying in the street in the 1400 block of S. Myrtle. Officers responded and located the subject. He was heavily intoxicated and too drunk to care for his own safety. The subject was arrested and taken into custody.

    Possession of Drug Paraphernalia / Warrant – Suspect Arrested
    July 28 at 1:38 a.m., an officer was patrolling the 200 block of N. Grand when he saw a subject he recognized from previous contacts. A computer check revealed the subject had warrants for his arrest so he was stopped and taken into custody. The subject was in possession of a pipe that had been used to smoke methamphetamine.

    Petty Theft
    July 28 at 11:44 a.m., a resident in the 1200 block of S. Alta Vista walked outside his home and discovered someone had rummaged through his vehicle sometime during the night and took his wallet. The vehicle had been left unlocked throughout the night. This investigation is continuing.

    Warrant – Suspect Arrested
    July 28 at 7:51 p.m., an officer was patrolling the 100 block of S. Shamrock, when he saw a subject he recognized from previous contacts. A computer check revealed the subject had a warrant for his arrest. He was stopped and taken into custody

    Battery
    July 28 at 8:59 p.m., a resident in the 600 block of E. Colorado reported she had just been in a physical fight with her two adult children. Officers responded and after an investigation discovered all three subjects had hit one another and demanded prosecution. This incident will be forwarded to the district attorney for resolution.

    Public Intoxication – Suspect Arrested
    July 29 at 12:38 a.m., an officer was patrolling the 100 block of W. Lemon, when he saw a male subject walking toward the bars on Myrtle holding what appeared to be a cocktail glass. The officer noticed the subject was having a difficult time walking and was stumbling from side to side. The officer contacted the subject and found he was too intoxicated to care for his own safety. The subject was taken into custody.

    Domestic Violence – Suspect Arrested
    July 29 at 1:21 a.m., a caller reported hearing yelling inside a house in the 500 block of W. Lemon. Officers responded and contacted the residents in the home. An investigation revealed the couple living in the home were husband and wife. The wife had hit her husband several times causing visible injuries. She was taken into custody and the officers provided the victim with victim’s assistance information.

    Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
    July 29 at 1:57 a.m., an officer was patrolling the 500 block of W. Huntington when he saw a motorist speeding. The officer stopped the vehicle and contacted the driver who was found to be heavily intoxicated. After field sobriety tests were conducted, the driver was arrested for Driving Under the Influence.

    Driving Under the Influence / Hit & Run Traffic Collision – Suspect Arrested
    July 29 at 2:38 a.m., officers heard a vehicle collision in the 800 block of Monterey. The officers responded to the area and found a car bumper next to an Edison pole that had fresh collision damage. A DMV computer check of the license plate attached to the bumper revealed the owner lived one block away. Officers went to the owner’s home, and located the driver who was heavily intoxicated. After contacting the driver, field tests were conducted and the driver was arrested for DUI and Hit & Run.

    Vehicle Burglary
    July 29 at 4:46 a.m., a resident in the 500 block of W. Duarte walked outside his home to go to work and found his vehicle’s door window had been shattered sometime during the night. The suspect broke the window, unlocked the door and rummaged through the vehicle but nothing was taken. This investigation is continuing.

    Public Intoxication – Suspect Arrested
    July 29 at 9:14 p.m., a resident at an apartment complex in the 700 block of S. Myrtle reported seeing a male subject attempting to gain entry into building. Officers responded and located the subject who was heavily intoxicated. He said he was trying to get into the building to use their pool. The subject was taken into custody for being intoxicated in public.

    Petty Theft
    July 30 at 10:53 a.m., a resident in the 400 block of N. Myrtle walked outside her home to go to work when she discovered someone had entered her vehicle sometime during the night and took money. The victim’s vehicle was left unlocked throughout the night. This investigation is continuing.

    Lost Property / Fraud
    July 30 at 5:02 p.m., a caller reported she had lost her credit card at a store in the 600 block of W. Huntington. Shortly thereafter, she received a call from her credit card company reporting fraudulent use of her card. The suspect had purchased almost $2,000 worth of merchandise at a business in Arcadia. This investigation is continuing.

    Brandishing a Weapon
    July 30 at 8:06 p.m., a caller reported a male subject had just brandished a knife at him and his family in the 300 block of S. Myrtle. Officers arrived and located suspect. However, the victims refused to prosecute him or complete a private person’s arrest. They became uncooperative with officers and left the area.

    Assault with a Deadly Weapon
    July 31 at 4:53 a.m., a caller reported a male subject bleeding in the courtyard to an apartment complex in the 800 block of W. Duarte. Officers and the Paramedics responded and contacted the subject who was intoxicated but able to communicate. He had visible injuries that were not life-threatening. He was transported to a nearby hospital where hospital staff confirmed he had been stabbed two times. This investigation is continuing.

    Fraud
    July 31 at 10:43 a.m., officers responded to a call in the 700 block of W. Huntington regarding a possible fraud. The hotel’s previous customers were contesting $4,000 worth of charges denying they ever stayed in the hotel. The hotel advised officers that after looking further into this customer’s history with them, it was discovered they had been using other people’s reward points to receive free hotel stays. This investigation is continuing.

    Forgery
    July 31 at 4:53 p.m., a resident in the 200 block of W. Lime reported someone had taken checks from her checkbook and cashed them and received over $600. This investigation is continuing.

    Indecent Exposure – Suspect Arrested
    July 31 at 6:08 p.m., officers responded to several calls of indecent exposure of a male in the 700 block of E. Lemon. The callers reported he was nude and performing indecent acts. Officers quickly responded, located the subject and arrested him for public indecent exposure.

    Found Stolen Property
    July 31 at 7:36 p.m., a caller reported finding a bag full of valuable property on the ground next to a business in the 100 block of W. Duarte. Officers responded, and after an investigation discovered the property had previously been reported stolen. The owners were located and the property was returned to them.

    Petty Theft
    August 1 at 9:11 a.m., the owner of a business in the 200 block of E. Pomona arrived at work and discovered several tools had been stolen sometime during the night from his gated and locked storage lot. This investigation is continuing.

    Grand Theft
    August 1 at 3:41 p.m., a resident in the 300 block of S. Mountain reported someone had stolen $2,000 worth of garden decorations from his front yard. This investigation is continuing.

    Grand Theft
    August 1 at 3:48 p.m., a resident in the 700 block of S. Myrtle walked to his Jeep, which was parked in his apartment complex’s parking structure, and discovered someone had stolen the overhead light bar from the vehicle. This investigation is continuing.