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Council to Review GoMonrovia and Street Vendors; Consider Honoring Pamela Fitzpatrick; Etc.

At its next meeting (agenda: https://goo.gl/9gBuEn) the Monrovia City Council will ...

~  Hold a study session to review the GoMonrovia transportation plan, and review regulations governing sidewalk sellers (like food trucks, I think). This is a special meeting at 5 p.m. if you want to attend.

~ Consider recognizing Pamela Fitzpatrick, who recently passed away, for her years of service and significant contributions to the community. This would include an Old Town bench with a plaque honoring her, and "a City Council Seat Recognition Plaque mounted on the very seat she sat in for every City Council meeting over the last 25 years." https://goo.gl/sL9K2r

~ Consider awarding a $12.1 million contract to Sully-Miller Contracting Company for the completion of the Monrovia Renewal North Section Infrastructure Improvements Project. The proposal would also set aside $1.8 million in case there are any unforeseen problems, and would also award a $1.4 million contract to Merrell-Johnson Companies to manage the process.  https://goo.gl/rog52H

- Brad Haugaard

Dinner at Basin 141

Dinner at Basin 141, a new sports bar at the southeast corner of Myrtle and Lime. Got the Black Angus Basin Burger for $13 and a happy hour beer for $4. The atmosphere is bright, lively and modern. Nice service and my burger was excellent. 

- Brad Haugaard 

Monrovia Police: Assault with Screwdriver; Credit Card Was Okay, Meth Wasn't; Package Stolen from Porch; Santa Swiped; Ex-Girlfriend Punches Ex-Boyfriend; Etc.

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for Highlighted Activity for November 23–28. - Brad Haugaard]

During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 341 service events, resulting in 69 investigations.

Drug Activity – Suspect Arrested
November 23 at 8:53 a.m., a caller requested a welfare check for a male transient lying on the sidewalk in the 400 block of N. Alta Vista. Officers arrived and located the subject. He admitted to having methamphetamine and a pipe in his possession. He was arrested.

Vandalism
November 23 at 9:44 a.m., a vandalism incident was reported in the 1800 block of California. The door to a business was vandalized with a marker. This investigation is continuing.

Assault with a Deadly Weapon
November 23 at 17:45 p.m., police responded to the report of an assault in the 100 block of W. Walnut. Two subjects were involved in an argument. The argument escalated and one of the subjects was stabbed multiple times with a screwdriver. The victim was transported to a local hospital for non-life-threatening injuries. The suspect fled the scene prior to officers arriving, but has been identified. This Investigation is continuing.

Grand Theft Auto – Suspect Arrested
November 23, at 8:16 p.m., an employee of a business in the 200 block of E. Duarte reported a disturbing subject that was inside a vehicle and would not leave the premises of the business. Officers arrived and located the vehicle and the subject sitting inside. The vehicle was discovered to be stolen, and the subject was found to be in possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. He was arrested and taken into custody.

Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
November 24 at 4:12 a.m., a caller reported an occupied vehicle stopped in lanes of traffic in the 900 block of W. Duarte that had been there for approximately 30 minutes. Officers responded and contacted the driver. The subject showed symptoms of intoxication. After field sobriety tests were conducted, the driver was arrested for driving under the influence.

Drug Activity
November 24 at 4:14 a.m., an employee of a gas station in the 700 block of W. Huntington called to report a customer possibly using a stolen credit card at one of the gas pumps. Officers responded and located the subject. While there was no evidence of credit card fraud, the subject had a warrant for a drug offense and was in possession of a large amount of methamphetamine. The subject was arrested.

Critical Missing – Located
November 24 at 15:34 p.m., officers responded to the report of a missing person. A resident who suffers from dementia walked away from her home in the 100 block of S. Myrtle. An extensive search was conducted, and the woman was located.

Violation of Domestic Court Order – Suspect Arrested
November 25 at 10:34 a.m., a resident in the 1200 block of Sherman reported a disturbing subject that was at the residence in violation of a court order. There was a valid domestic violence restraining order on file and the subject had previously been served. Officers arrived and located the subject in question. She was arrested and transported to the Monrovia Jail for booking.

Vehicle Burglary
November 25 at 3:51 p.m., a victim called to report his vehicle was broken into while it was parked in the parking structure of an apartment complex in the 700 block of W. Duarte. The suspect smashed a window and stole a Garmin GPS. This investigation is continuing.

Petty Theft
November 26 at 1:13 p.m., a victim called to report the registration tab was stolen from his vehicle. The vehicle was parked in the 200 block of W. Lemon. This investigation is continuing.

Petty Theft
November 26 at 4:48 p.m., a victim called to report a package was stolen from the front porch of his residence in the 500 block of Date Court. This investigation is continuing.

Petty Theft
November 26 at 6:18 p.m., a resident in the 1600 block of S. Mayflower reported Christmas decorations were stolen from her front yard. A large inflatable Santa sleigh and snowmen were taken while the victim was at work. This investigation is continuing.

Grand Theft
November 26 at 8:00 p.m., an employee from a cell phone store in the 600 block of W. Huntington called to report two suspects had entered the business and stole two Apple phones. The phones were secured by anti-theft cables that the suspects broke. The suspects fled the area in a black, four-door, Mercedes Benz prior to the police arriving. The suspects were described as male Blacks wearing dark clothing. This investigation is continuing.

Attempt Robbery – Suspect Arrested
November 27 at 8:56 a.m., a victim called to report she was walking in the 1200 block of S. Magnolia when a subject approached her and attempted to grab her cell phone away from her by pushing her. Officers arrived and located the subject. He was positively identified by the victim and arrested.

Grand Theft
November 27 at 9:51 a.m., a grand theft was reported at a business in the 100 block of W. Foothill. A subject entered the establishment and stole several bottles of high-end alcohol, then exited the store without paying for the merchandise. He fled the area prior to the police arriving. This investigation is continuing.

Domestic Battery – Suspect Arrested
November 27 at 3:27 p.m., a victim called to report that while at his residence, which is in the 100 block of N. Primrose, his ex-girlfriend punched him in the chest during an argument. Officers arrived and conducted an investigation. After speaking with all parties involved, it was determined the ex-girlfriend was the primary aggressor and she was arrested.

Driving Under the Influence/Traffic Collision – Suspect Arrested
November 28 at 2:01 a.m., a caller reported a traffic accident in the 200 block of E. Evergreen. Officers arrived and located a subject sitting in a vehicle, which had struck several parked vehicles. The driver showed symptoms of intoxication. After field sobriety tests were conducted, the driver was arrested for driving under the influence.

Grand Theft Auto
November 28 at 7:12 a.m., a victim called to report his vehicle was stolen from his residence in the 300 block of E. Walnut. This investigation is continuing.

Violation of Domestic Court Order – Suspect Arrested
November 28 at 2:15 p.m., an officer saw a subject enter a property in the 200 block of E. Lime. The officer had knowledge that the subject was already served with a domestic court order. Officers contacted the subject, verified the domestic court order and arrested him.

Battery
November 28 at 10:25 p.m., a caller reported a fight between two tenants in the 600 block of W. Olive. Officers arrived and contacted the two subjects. Both parties desired prosecution and signed private person arrest forms. There were no independent witnesses. Both subjects were arrested and issued citations for battery.

Area Police Departments Form Task Force to Combat 'Street Takeovers'

Due to recent street takeover and sideshow events happening in area San Gabriel Valley cities, local police agencies have come together to form the West San Gabriel Valley Traffic Task Force. The WSGV Traffic Task Force consists of members from the Arcadia, El Monte, Alhambra, Sierra Madre, San Marino, and the Monrovia Police Departments. Officers assigned to the Task Force will work proactively to combat street takeover and associated events in and around the West San Gabriel Valley. There will be zero-tolerance for any unlawful activity.

Over the coming days, the Task Force will be deploying resources to monitor events associated with the anniversary of the death of Paul Walker. We encourage anyone attending memorial events to participate in a lawful manner. Any unlawful activity will result in zero-tolerance enforcement. This includes enforcement in public parking lots such as shopping or business lots.

Source: Arcadia Police press release

- Brad Haugaard

Big New Developments Planned Near Train Station; Award for Low Water Landscaping; Park-and-Ride Closing Temporarily; Etc.

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

~  Three large new residential/commercial development projects are in the works for the area around the Monrovia train station. Together they will cover more than 9.8 acres, with 1022 residential units, roughly 1335 parking spaces, and more than 17,000 square feet of commercial space. They are:


  • The Alexan Project, at 1625 S. Magnolia Avenue. Details: https://goo.gl/wfgGbR
  • The Arroyo at Monrovia Station - Pomona Avenue between Magnolia and Primrose Avenues. An information meeting will be held on Dec. 3, at 6 p.m. at the Knights of Columbus Hall (130 W. Pomona Ave.). Details: https://goo.gl/GLsZT6
  • 123 Pomona, at 123 W. Pomona Avenue. There will be an information meeting on Dec. 10, 2018 at 6:30 p.m. at the Monrovia Public Library Community Room. Details: https://goo.gl/oaGBg9

City Manager Oliver Chi has a more detailed discussion which should hopefully be posted here (https://goo.gl/aOqX7O) very shortly.

~ Monrovia has developed a sustainable landscape recognition award. Winners will be recognized by the City and receive a $25 credit on their water utility bill. Details in the coming month. Questions? Contact Caroline Velarde at 303-6601.

~ The Park-and-Ride lot next to Station Square Park at the southwest corner of Myrtle and Pomona Avenue will be closed from Nov. 30 - Jan. 15 for state-mandated environmental groundwater testing.

~ On Dec. 4 the city will unveil the Chief Stevens Memorial Plaque in honor of Chief Harry Alford Stevens. The event will be at Monrovia Fire Station 101 (141  E. Lemon Ave.) on Tuesday, Dec. 4, at 4 p.m. On Dec. 4, 1934, Chief Harry A. Stevens lost his life while patrolling the wind-battered areas of Monrovia when his vehicle was struck by an electric-powered streetcar.

~  To celebrate 20 years of Harry Potter, the Library will hold a Yule Ball with Harry Potter themed music, crafts, games, trivia, a costume contest, and more. Saturday, Dec. 15, noon to 4 p.m.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Man Sentenced to 70 Months Prison in Sinaloa Drug Ring Money Laundering

A Monrovia man who was part of an international drug money laundering organization has been sentenced to 70 months in federal prison for conspiring to move millions of dollars in proceeds for the Sinaloa cartel and other narcotics traffickers.

Harinder Singh, a.k.a. "Sonu," 34, was sentenced late Monday by United States District Judge Christina A. Snyder, who imposed the sentence after noting Singh's "escalating" involvement in the money laundering conspiracy.

Singh was sentenced after being found guilty by a jury last January of conspiracy to commit money laundering, conspiracy to operate an unlicensed money transmitting business and operating an unlicensed money transmitted business.

Singh was the 17th defendant convicted as a result of a 2015 grand jury indictment that was the first major United States criminal case involving "hawala" transfers of drug money.

According to court documents, hawala is an international underground money remittance system based on trust between the participants. The hawala system originated on the Indian subcontinent and relies on long-established connections between brokers, who usually are located in different countries, but sometimes are in different cities in one nation. The trust and long-established connection between brokers typically are based on familial, ethnic, religious, regional and/or cultural grounds. Since traditional banking and financial systems are not involved in hawala, it operates without leaving a paper trail. Under the hawala system, only the value of the money is transferred, not the money itself.

In this case, drug traffickers used a traditional hawala network of brokers in the United States, Canada and India to secretly transfer millions of dollars of drug proceeds to the United States, where brokers such as Singh delivered the money to couriers acting on behalf of Canadian drug traffickers and Mexican drug cartels. Prosecutors said the conspiracy was responsible for transferring at least $4 million in drug proceeds.

The evidence presented at his two-week trial in United States District Court showed that Singh participated in a hawala conspiracy that moved money generated from drug sales in Canada to the United States. The money was used to pay for multi-kilogram drug purchases in Los Angeles, which was then routed to Canada for distribution.

California Highway Patrol officers discovered $274,980 in U.S. currency wrapped in black plastic when Singh was stopped in October 2012. During that traffic stop, Drug Enforcement Administration special agents conducted surveillance and observed Singh's wife exiting the couple's apartment complex carrying a bag, which was later found to contain $388,100 in U.S. currency. That cash also was rubber-banded in stacks and similarly wrapped in black plastic.

Prior to the traffic stop and the seizure at Singh's apartment complex in Monrovia, a federal wiretap intercepted Punjabi-language telephone calls indicating that Singh and co-conspirators communicated over multiple prepaid - or "burner" - telephones to arrange for the pick-up, transport and delivery of large amounts of U.S. currency - in amounts of up to $800,000 - across the Los Angeles area.

Soon after the October 2012 traffic stop, Singh met with law enforcement agents and admitted collecting large sums of bulk cash on a weekly basis and receiving approximately $300 for every $200,000 in shipments, according to court documents.

During the course of a four-year investigation by the DEA's L.A. Strike Force and IRS Criminal Investigation, authorities seized nearly $15.5 million in bulk U.S. currency, 321 kilograms of cocaine, 98 pounds of methamphetamine, 11 kilograms of MDMA and nine kilograms of heroin.

Other individuals convicted in this case include Singh's uncle, Sucha Singh, who received a 63-month sentence for his role as a hawala broker; Bradley John Martin, who similarly received a 63-month sentence for his role as a money courier; and Harmeet Singh, who received a 42-month sentence for his role as a hawala broker.

The investigation in this case was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration and IRS Criminal Investigation. These agencies received assistance and support from the Santa Ana Police Department, the Beverly Hills Police Department and the Pomona Police Department.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Carol Alexis Chen of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force.

Source: U.S. Department of Justice press release

- Brad Haugaard

Nikee, the Squirrel Watcher


Nikee (A466206) is a calm, mellow 7-year-old brindle Pit Bull mix. He’s always happy to see you with his tail wagging and enjoys long walks in the park where he can watch the squirrels. He walks nicely on a loose leash, enjoys singing with the fire engine sirens, and curls into you to be petted and gives kisses. He’s been at the Pasadena Humane Society for 2 months so we thought he might need to be wearing business professional attire to find the right home. What do you think? 

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

December Events at Monrovia Public Library

Here's what's coming up at the Monrovia Library in November: link: link

- Brad Haugaard

Horse Carriage Rides During December

To celebrate the season, horse-drawn wagon rides will be available in Old Town Monrovia on Thursday and Sunday evenings in December. $5 per person on first-come, first serve basis. Sponsored by the Monrovia Old Town Advisory Board.

Sundays, Dec. 2, 9 and 16 from 3-6 p.m.

Thursdays, Dec. 13 and 20 from 5 - 8 p.m.

- Brad Haugaard

Joanne Montgomery Honored by Black Alumni Association

Joanne Montgomery, vice president of the Citrus Community College District Board of Trustees, who represents Monrovia on the board, was recently awarded the Outstanding Educator Award at the 26th annual Monrovia Duarte Black Alumni Association Gala.

MDBAA President Larry Spicer said, "Educators such as Joanne Montgomery influenced thousands of people throughout Monrovia and Duarte,"

Montgomery taught in the Monrovia Unified School District and the Duarte Unified School District for 32 years.

She said, "I really cared about my students. I saw each one as a success and enjoyed providing extra tutoring time or whatever else they needed to achieve their goals. I am truly honored to have received this award from some of my former students, so many years later."

Source: Citrus College press release

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: 14 Businesses Spray Painted; Counterfeiting; Road Rage Rock; Stolen Tailgate; Lots of Catalytic Converters Stolen; Lots More

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for Highlighted Activity for November 15–22. - Brad Haugaard]

During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 412 service events, resulting in 88 investigations.

Vandalism
November 15 at 7:39 a.m., a caller reported seeing new gang graffiti on the front of a school in the 100 block of W. Duarte. This investigation is continuing.

Shoplifting
November 15 at 11:09 a.m., an employee of a store in the 500 block of W. Huntington reported a male subject had just left the store without paying for merchandise. The suspect entered a vehicle and fled the area prior to officers arriving. This investigation is continuing.

Residential Burglary
November 15 at 12:02 p.m., a resident in the 100 block of E. Cherry arrived home and discovered someone had burglarized her home sometime in the morning. The suspects gained entry into the home through an unlocked window and ransacked the home. This investigation is continuing.

Shoplifting
November 15 at 1:57 p.m., an employee of a store in the 500 block of W. Huntington reported shoplifting incident. A male subject had just fled the store with over $800 worth of merchandise and did not pay. He entered a vehicle and fled the area prior to officers arriving. This investigation is continuing.

Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
November 15 at 11:52 p.m., an officer was patrolling the 100 block of W. Duarte 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 for DUI.

Alcohol Offense – Suspect Cited
November 16 at 1:48 p.m., an officer was on patrol in the 300 block of S. Primrose when he saw a subject drinking an alcoholic beverage in Library Park. He stopped the subject and issued a citation for the violation.

Public Intoxication / Warrant – Suspect Arrested
November 16 at 2:01 p.m., a caller reported a male subject in the 1700 block of S. Myrtle who appeared to be intoxicated and in need of assistance. Officers arrived and located the subject. He was heavily intoxicated and unable to care for his own safety, so he was arrested and taken into custody. A computer check revealed he had a warrant for his arrest as well.

Domestic Violence
November 16 at 6:20 p.m., a female subject entered the police lobby to report she had been battered by her boyfriend the day before in the 600 block of E. Huntington. She was offered domestic violence services and an emergency restraining order. This investigation is continuing.

Vehicle Burglaries
November 16 at 7:36 p.m., three callers reported their vehicles had been burglarized in the 900 block of W. Huntington. All three vehicles were burglarized around the same time. This investigation is continuing.

Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
November 17 at 2:12 a.m., an officer was patrolling the 2600 block of S. Myrtle when he saw a motorist commit a driving violation. He stopped the vehicle and approached the driver, who was found to be intoxicated. After field sobriety tests were conducted, the driver was arrested for DUI.

Resisting and Obstructing a Police Officer – Suspect Arrested
November 17 at 6:39 a.m., several callers reported a bicyclist riding on the wrong side of the roadway in the 400 block of W. Foothill, intentionally attempting to hit motorists head-on. Officers arrived and stopped the bicyclist. He immediately took a fighting stance toward officers and refused to cooperate. He was arrested and taken into custody.

Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
November 17 at 1:11 p.m., an officer was on patrol in the 1300 block of S. Mountain when he saw a motorist traveling along the wrong side of the roadway, swerving back and forth. The officer stopped the vehicle and approached the driver, who was found to be heavily intoxicated. After field sobriety tests were conducted, he was arrested for DUI.

Grand Theft
November 17 at 3:25 p.m., an employee of a cell phone store in the 900 block of W. Huntington reported a grand theft. Two male suspects left the store with several new cell phones without paying for them. The cellphones taken were display phones. They fled in a vehicle that was waiting outside the store and was driven by a third male suspect. This investigation is continuing.

Vandalism / Resisting Arrest – Suspect Arrested
November 18 at 1:20 a.m., a caller reported a male subject spray painting graffiti on a wall in the 1600 block of S. Myrtle at the Monrovia Train Station. When officers arrived, the subject had fled the area. While the officers were searching for the suspect, one of the officers saw him spray painting another wall three blocks south of the Train Station. When the officer attempted to stop him, the suspect ran, but he was eventually apprehended. He had vandalized a total of 14 businesses and properties.

Possession of Methamphetamine – Suspect Arrested
November 18 at 8:27 a.m., a resident in the 100 block of Prospect reported a suspicious male subject looking into the windows of parked cars. Officers arrived and detained the subject. No vehicles were found to have been burglarized; however, the subject was found to be in possession of methamphetamine. He was arrested and taken into custody.

Counterfeiting – Suspect Arrested
November 18 at 4:39 p.m., an employee of a store in the 400 block of W. Huntington reported a male subject in the store attempting to purchase merchandise using a fake $100 U.S. bill. Officers arrived and detained the subject. During the investigation, three additional counterfeit bills were located in the subject’s vehicle. He was arrested and taken into custody. The Secret Service were notified.

Grand Theft
November 19 at 7:51 a.m., a resident in the 100 block of Bob Street reported someone had stolen several gardening tools and construction equipment from his backyard sometime during the past couple days. This investigation is continuing.

Grand Theft
November 19 at 9:28 a.m., two residents in the 300 block of Fowler and the 700 block of W. Foothill reported someone had taken the catalytic converters off their vehicles sometime during the night. This investigation is continuing.

Trespassing – Suspect Arrested
November 19 at 3:56 p.m., a resident in the 200 block of E. Lime reported her son was in her garage even though he was told to stay away from the property and has been arrested for trespassing in the past. Officers arrived and located the subject in the garage. He was arrested for trespassing.

Fraud – Suspect Arrested
November 19 at 9:06 p.m., an officer was patrolling the 1600 block of S. Mountain when an employee of a store stopped him. A female subject was inside the store attempting to purchase items with a fraudulent credit card. While the employee was reporting it to the officer, the subject exited the store and was immediately stopped by the officer. After investigation, she was arrested for fraud and taken into custody.

Vehicle Burglary
November 19 at 9:12 p.m., a resident in the 700 block of S. Shamrock reported her vehicle had been burglarized sometime during the day. The right front window had been shattered and the resident’s purse had been stolen. This investigation is continuing.

Residential Burglary
November 20 at 7:36 a.m., a resident in the 300 block of Bradbury arrived home and discovered their house had been burglarized and ransacked sometime during the night. Officers arrived to investigate and found a rear window had been pried open. This investigation is continuing.

Vehicle Vandalism
November 20 at 7:52 a.m., a resident in the 200 block of N. Encinitas walked outside and discovered someone had cut one of the tires on his vehicle letting the air out. This investigation is continuing.

Grand Theft
November 20 at 8:14 a.m., an employee of a business in the 900 block of S. Primrose arrived to work and discovered someone had stolen catalytic converters from six of the company vehicles. All six vehicles were parked in front of the business in an unsecure parking lot. This investigation is continuing.

Petty Theft
November 20 at 9:51 a.m., a resident in the 200 block of E. Los Angeles walked outside his home and discovered someone had stolen the tailgate off his pickup truck sometime during the night. This investigation is continuing.

Hit & Run Traffic Collision
November 20 at 1:48 p.m., a resident in the 300 block of W. Chestnut reported a motorist had just collided into his parked vehicle, then fled the area. Officers searched for the motorist, but were unable to locate him. This investigation is continuing.

Vehicle Burglary
November 20 at 3:39 p.m., a resident in the 600 block of W. Foothill walked outside their home and discovered someone had burglarized their parked vehicle. The window had been shattered to gain entry. This investigation is continuing.

Injury Traffic Collision
November 20 at 4:41 p.m., a caller reported two motorists had just collided into one another in the 500 block of W. Duarte. Officers responded to investigate. One of the motorists complained of pain and was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment. The motorist at fault was issued a citation.

Hit & Run Traffic Collision
November 20 at 5:11 p.m., a caller reported two motorists had collided into one another in the 1400 block of S. Mountain. One of the motorists fled the area after the collision. Officers responded to the area, but were unable to locate the motorist who fled. This investigation is continuing.

Fraud
November 20 at 10:26 p.m., an employee of a store in the 1600 block of S. Mountain reported a customer had presented a fraudulent driver’s license while attempting to purchase an item using store credit. The employee refused to complete the transaction and called the police. The customer ran out of the store. An area search was conducted, but the suspect was not located. This investigation is continuing.

Vehicle Vandalism
November 21 at 11:40 a.m., a resident in the 100 block of W. Cypress walked outside their home and discovered their parked vehicle had a shattered window. It did not appear as if anyone entered the vehicle or took anything from inside. This investigation is continuing.

Petty Theft
November 21 at 3:53 p.m., a resident in the 1200 block of Sherman discovered someone had entered her unlocked vehicle and took her purse, which was inside. The vehicle was parked in front of her house. This investigation is continuing.

Throwing Object at a Moving Vehicle
November 21 at 4:07 p.m., a caller reported a road-rage incident that had just occurred in the 100 block of S. Myrtle. The suspect drove alongside the caller and threw a large rock through her open window, striking her leg. The suspect fled the area and could not be located by officers. This investigation is continuing.

Driving Under the Influence / Hit & Run Traffic Collision
November 21 at 7:06 p.m., a resident in the 600 block of Royal Oaks reported a motorist had just collided into three parked vehicles and then fled the area. Officers responded and located the motorist still in the area. The driver was found to be under the influence of drugs. After field sobriety tests were conducted, she was arrested for DUI.

Hit & Run Traffic Collision
November 22 at 3:50 p.m., a hit and run traffic collision was reported in the 100 block of S. Fifth. The victim parked his rental vehicle on the street, and when he returned to the vehicle, he noticed traffic collision damage to the side of the vehicle, indicating it had been side-swiped sometime during the night.

Warrant – Suspect Arrested
November 23 at 2:59 a.m., an officer observed a traffic violation in the 800 block of W. Foothill and stopped the vehicle. A computer check revealed the female driver was listed as armed and dangerous with a no-bail warrant out of Sacramento. The warrant was confirmed and the female was arrested without incident.

Thanksgiving Dinner from Mimi’s

Had Thanksgiving dinner at home, but the feast was from Mimi’s, at Huntington and Mayflower. We got a meal for 8 to 10 people for $104.99. A whole turkey, gravy, stuffing, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, green bean casserole, cranberry apple relish, two carrot nut loaves and a pumpkin and a pecan pie. Excellent. Turkey nice and moist. 

- Brad Haugaard 

City Facilities Closed for Thanksgiving; Firefighters Help Battle Blazes; Holiday Decorations Going Up; Etc.

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

~  All City facilities will be closed this coming Thursday and Friday, Nov. 22-23. Thanksgiving.

~  Monrovia firefighters have been helping fight the Woolsey Fire in LA / Ventura County, and the Camp Fire in Butte County. Last week, two Monrovia teams returned safely from battling the Woolsey Fire for seven days.  And now - for the Camp Fire - Monrovia has sent Captain Brannigan Scott, Engineer Jake Clemens, and Firefighter/Paramedic John Claypool as part of Urban Search and Rescue Regional Task Force 4. They're working out of a base camp in Paradise.

~  The city is putting up wreaths and holiday banners along Myrtle - if you hadn't noticed, and during the next few weeks will be doing more, including adding tree lights.

~  There will be a retirement celebration in honor of Tina Wells, Senior Administrative Assistant, on Thursday, Nov. 29, after 18 years of service. In the Library Community Room, 4:30-6 p.m. RSVP to hsayers@ci.monrovia.ca.us

~ There will be a fundraiser for the Monrovia Police Department Explorers on Nov. 27, 4-8 p.m., at Cold Stone Creamery to raise money to support the program.

~  Bettie Mae Scott was honored Nov. 17 with a memorial plaque on the 500 block of West Maple as part the Neighborhood Treasures program. In World War II she was among the first women trained to fly American military aircraft. In July 1944, she was killed shortly after take-off while testing a newly repaired airplane.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Winter Events


Old Town Holiday Events:

  • Black Friday, November 23
    • Santa will arrive in Old Town at 10 a.m., so bring your family and friends and shop small this Black Friday!
  • Small Business Saturday, November 24 
    • Small Business Saturday is a day dedicated to supporting small businesses across the country every year on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. There will be drawings, music, and in-store specials all day long!
  • Days of Giving: Toy Drive on Myrtle Ave
    • Spread the joy this holiday season by participating in the Toy Drive on Myrtle Avenue!
    • Starting at 10 a.m. on Black Friday and Small Business Saturday, members of Monrovia's Fire and Rescue will be out on Myrtle Avenue to collect your toys, so stop on by and make a child happy today!
Holiday Sing Along in Old Town
  • We will be holding a Holiday Sing Along for carolers young and old, musically gifted and tone-deaf! All are welcome! Come for the tunes, and stroll along Myrtle afterwards for shopping and dessert!
  • The sing along will be taking place on the 400 block of Myrtle Avenue.
  • Friday, December 14, 8:15 p.m. 
Horse-Drawn Wagon Rides in Old Town on Thursdays & Sundays
  • Thursdays, December 13 & 20, 5:00 - 8:00 p.m.
  • Sundays, December 2, 9, & 16, 3:00 - 6:00 p.m. 
Free Kids' Crafts on Myrtle Avenue
  • Saturdays, December 15 & 22, 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
  • Location: Old Town Monrovia on 400 block of Myrtle Avenue  
Breakfasts with Santa in Old Town Monrovia – Every Saturday in December!
  • December 1
    • 8:00 a.m. - Peach Café
  • December 8
    • 8:00 a.m. - Jake's Roadhouse
    • 10:00 a.m. - Monrovian Restaurant
    • 11:00 a.m. - Oh Mulberry Bush
  • December 15
    • 8:00 a.m. - Peach Café
  • December 22
    • 8:00 a.m. – Jake’s Roadhouse
    • 10:00 a.m. - Oh Mulberry Bush
    • 11:00 a.m. – Rudy’s Mexican Restaurant 
Holiday Events at the Monrovia Public Library
  • Holiday Sounds - Library Lobby (All Ages)
    • Saturday, December 1, 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.
  • Santa Storytime - Library Community Room (All Ages)
    • Monday, December 3, 10:30 a.m.
    • Tuesday, December 4, 6:30 p.m.
  • Gingerbread House Decorating - Library Community Room (All Ages)
    • Saturday, December 15, 2:00 - 3:00 p.m.
  • Monday Movie Night – Library Community Room (All Ages)
    • Monday, December 17, 6:00 p.m.
  • Holiday Dessert Decorating Challenge - Library Community Room (Grades 6-12)
    • Wednesday, December 19, 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. 

Wheelhouse Ceramic Sale

Monrovia Adult Education's The Wheelhouse is having its holiday ceramic sale, at its facility at 1833 Santa Fe Place, behind Troy's Donuts and Burgers on Myrtle.

- Brad Haugaard

New Signs Go Up at Theater

New signs are up at Studio Movie Grill. https://goo.gl/Ro2Hcz

- Brad Haugaard 

City Council: Partnering with Church to Create Community Garden; Sell Cell Tower Leases for More Than a $1 Million

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

~  Consider an agreement with Mountainside Communion Church (corner of Magnolia and Colorado) for up to $30,000 to have the church develop a Monrovia Community Garden Pilot Program on the church's property. https://goo.gl/LKmzgz

~ Consider selling the city's interest in three wireless cell tower sites to TowerPoint Capital, LLC, for $1,075,000. https://goo.gl/8Y4Adn

~ Hold a study session at 6 p.m. to review state and local zoning and permitting regulations for sidewalk vending, micro-Enterprises, and standards for mobile vending  and signage. https://goo.gl/ErnvnS

- Brad Haugaard

A Video Tour of Old Monrovia

Monrovia Boy Scout Marcus Chamberlain has completed a video walking tour of six Monrovia buildings, with narration by Monrovia Historic Preservation Group board members. It's one of the requirements to earn his Eagle Scout award. View the videos here: https://goo.gl/pVw4Ga

- Brad Haugaard

Dinner at Cafe Mundial

Dinner at Cafe Mundial, on the east side of Myrtle about a half block north of Colorado. Got the seared Ahi for $24 and a beer for $7. That was a big Ahi steak!, and nicely cooked. Tasty. Very nice service as well. 

- Brad Haugaard 

Monrovia Police: Car Kills Deer; $5,000 of Cologne Stolen; Drunk Tries Getting in Wrong Car; Police Officer Punched; Etc.

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for Highlighted Activity for November 8-14. - Brad Haugaard]

During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 388 service events, resulting in 83 investigations.

Shoplifting/Warrant – Suspect Arrested
November 8 at 2:14 p.m., an employee of a store in the 500 block of W. Huntington reported a male subject was shoplifting from their store. Officers responded and apprehended the subject outside the store holding the stolen merchandise. The property was returned to the store and the subject was arrested. A computer check revealed he also had a warrant for his arrest.

Public Intoxication – Suspect Arrested
November 9 at 2:22 a.m., an officer was patrolling the 400 block of W. Foothill when he saw a vehicle parked behind a business occupied by a male subject. He contacted the subject and found him to be heavily intoxicated and unable to care for his own safety. The subject was arrested and taken into custody.

Grand Theft
November 9 at 7:38 a.m., a resident in the 200 block of N. Ivy walked outside his home to go to work and discovered someone had stolen the tailgate off his Toyota truck sometime during the night. At 10:55 a.m., another resident in the 300 block of N. Alta Vista discovered his Toyota truck tailgate had also been stolen. These investigations are continuing.

Injury Traffic Collision
November 9 at 12:50 p.m., a caller reported two motorists had collided into one another in the parking lot of a business in the 100 block of W. Foothill. Officers arrived and contacted the drivers. One of the drivers complained of feeling pain, but did not have visible injuries.

Vandalism
November 9 at 7:59 p.m., a resident in the 300 block of W. Palm was inside her house when she heard glass breaking outside. She walked outside and discovered someone had thrown a rock through her car window. This investigation is continuing.

Possession of Methamphetamine – Suspect Arrested
November 9 at 10:58 p.m., an officer was patrolling the 3300 block of S. Peck when he saw a male subject loitering around a closed business. He contacted the subject and found him to be in possession of methamphetamine and a pipe that had been used to smoke the substance. The subject was arrested and taken into custody.

Petty Theft
November 10 at 1:22 a.m., a resident in the 700 block of W. Duarte left their leaf blower on their front lawn while they took other tools to their backyard. When they returned to the front yard, the leaf blower was gone. This investigation is continuing.

Traffic Collision
November 10 at 8:30 a.m., a motorist reported she had just collided with a small deer in the 200 block of W. Hillcrest after it ran in front of her car, unexpectedly. Officers responded, along with the Pasadena Humane Society. The Humane Society was not able to save the deer.

Petty Theft/Fraud
November 10 at 10:33 a.m., a customer of a grocery store in the 600 block of W. Huntington was finished shopping and discovered someone had stolen her wallet from her purse while it was in the shopping cart. She went home, unable to pay for her groceries, and was notified by her credit card company that someone had fraudulently used her card at a nearby store. This investigation is continuing.

Petty Theft
November 10 at 6:51 p.m., a resident in the 200 block of W. Lime walked outside her home and noticed someone had taken her vehicle license plate. The plate was reported as stolen to the DMV. This investigation is continuing.

Violation of Restraining Order – Suspect Arrested
November 10 at 9:32 p.m., a resident in the 200 block of E. Lime reported there was a male subject in her front yard who had a restraining order against him to stay away from the house. Officers arrived and located the male, who was immediately arrested and taken into custody.

Public Intoxication/Warrant – Suspect Arrested
November 11 at 12:51 a.m., a resident in the 800 block of S. Magnolia reported a female subject attempted to enter his parked vehicle. Officers arrived and located the subject. She was found to be heavily intoxicated, did not know where she was and was unable to care for her own safety. A computer check revealed she also had a warrant for her arrest, so she was taken into custody.

Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
November 11 at 1:43 a.m., an officer was patrolling the 300 block of W. Huntington when he saw a motorist in front of him swerving. The vehicle hit the center divider several times, so the officer stopped the vehicle. The driver was found to be heavily intoxicated. After field sobriety tests were conducted, the driver was arrested for DUI.

Attempt Commercial Burglary
November 11 at 2:57 p.m., the owner of a business in the 2600 block of California reported a female subject attempting to break into a neighboring business. As officers were responding, the caller attempted to detain the subject, but she broke away and ran. The caller saw a second suspect in a vehicle, which quickly drove away. Officers searched for the subjects, but were unable to locate them. This investigation is continuing.

Family Disturbance/Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
November 11 at 5:00 p.m., a resident in the 300 block of S. Fifth called for police assistance due to a family disturbance in his house. When officers arrived, one of the subjects, the caller’s wife, had already left the house. While the officers were speaking with the caller, the wife returned home in her car. Officers contacted her and found she was heavily intoxicated. After field sobriety tests were conducted, she was arrested for DUI.

Commercial Burglary
November 12 at 9:15 a.m., an employee of a preschool in the 1200 block of S. Magnolia arrived at work and discovered someone had burglarized the school sometime over the weekend. A laptop and a box containing cash were taken. This investigation is continuing.

Shoplifting/Battering a Police Officer – Suspect Arrested
November 12 at 10:08 a.m., security for a store in the 1600 block of S. Mountain reported a male and female subject left their store without paying for merchandise they had taken. Officers responded and apprehended the male subject near the store still holding the stolen property. The female subject was stopped by store security and an officer, but she refused to cooperate. She punched at the police officer before being handcuffed. Both subjects were taken into custody and the stolen property was returned to the store.

Possession of Methamphetamine – Suspect Arrested
November 12 at 11:48 p.m., an officer was patrolling the 500 block of W. Huntington when he saw a motorist commit a driving violation. The officer stopped the driver and found him to be in possession of methamphetamine, so he was arrested and taken into custody.

Shoplifting
November 13 at 8:20 a.m., security for a store in the 1600 block of S. Mountain reported a male subject had just left with a power tool he did not pay for. As officers responded, the suspect entered a vehicle and drove away. Officers searched for the suspect, but could not locate him. This investigation is continuing.

Commercial Burglary
November 13 at 12:45 p.m., security for a store in the 700 block of E. Huntington reported they had just discovered that three male subjects had entered their store three days prior and had stolen $5,000 worth of men’s cologne. This investigation is continuing.

Trespassing – Suspect Arrested
November 13 at 2:19 p.m., a resident in the 1200 block of Sherman reported their daughter was on the property after having been warned several times to stay off the property. Officers responded and located the subject. She was taken into custody for trespassing.

Shoplifting – Suspect Arrested
November 13 at 4:19 p.m., security for a store in the 1600 block of S. Mountain reported a male subject had exited the store without paying for merchandise he had taken. Officers responded and located the subject outside the store holding the property. He was taken into custody and the property was returned to the store.

Public Intoxication – Suspect Arrested
November 14 at 2:30 a.m., a resident in the 700 block of E. Lime reported a male subject who was not wearing any pants was knocking on his front door. When officers arrived, they located the subject in the front yard of the home. The subject was intoxicated and unable to care for his own safety, so he was arrested and taken into custody.

Traffic Collision
November 14 at 7:42 a.m., a caller reported a solo motorist collided into four mailboxes while reversing in the 100 block of Hidden Valley. There was damage to the vehicle and the mailboxes. A citation was issued for the driving violation.

Petty Theft
November 14 at 4:39 p.m., a resident in the 200 block of E. Colorado discovered a package that had just been delivered was stolen from her front porch. This investigation is continuing.

Petty Theft
November 14 at 5:36 p.m., an employee of a restaurant in the 400 block of W. Huntington reported someone had stolen his bicycle from outside the business sometime during the day while he was inside working. This investigation is continuing.

Attempt Residential Burglary
November 14 at 6:49 p.m., a resident in the 200 block of S. Shamrock reported someone was attempting to break into their home through a bedroom window, which activated the house alarm. Officers arrived and found the bedroom window was forced open, however the suspect did not gain entry. Officers searched the area for the suspect, but could not locate him. This investigation is continuing.

Free Compost and Mulch This Saturday

- Brad Haugaard

Water and Sewer Rates Going Up; Police vs. Fire for Charity; Monrovia Finalist as 'Business Friendly' City; Etc.

Festival of Trees will benefit Boys and Girls Club of the Foothills.

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

~  Monrovia Police Department and Fire Department will face off in a charity basketball game to benefit the American Cancer Society. The game is on Friday, Nov. 30, at 6:30 p.m., at the Monrovia High School Basketball Gym. Tickets are $5 (children 12 and under free) and can be purchased at the Police and Fire Departments. Also, there will be grand prize drawing for a 65-inch TV.

~ Water and sewer rates are going up. If you have a typical single-family house your water rate will increase by $7.57 a month, to $65.28 a month, from $57.71 now. And, your sewer rate will increase by $0.24 a month, to $9.29 a month. from $9.05.

~  While the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation named our neighbor, Azusa as the Most Business Friendly City with a population under 50,000 (congrats, Azusa!), Monrovia was named - for the second year in a row - as one of five finalists.

~  Youth Services has set up a Letter Writing Station at the Library for boys and girls write a letter to Santa, a U.S. soldier, or a favorite book character. If the child includes a return address, Santa - or the book character - will write back (thanks to the postal and Youth Services staff). Letters to soldiers will be included in care packages to them. Letter supplies are at the Youth Reference Desk. For questions, call 256-8274. Letters must be completed and in the mailbox (on the Youth Reference Desk) by Saturday, Dec. 8.

~ During the next few months trees in city parkways north of Foothill will be trimmed, going from west to east. Questions? Call Public Works Division at 932-5575.

~  The Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony and Holiday Parade will take place Thursday, Dec. 6 at 6 p.m. with the Tree Lighting Ceremony in Library Park, followed by the Holiday Parade at 7 p.m. It will travel north on Myrtle from Chestnut to Palm.

~  The eighth Annual Festival of Trees event, to benefit the Boys and Girls Club of the Foothills, will be held on Saturday, Dec. 1, from 6 to 10 p.m. Details: http://foothillsfestivaloftrees.com/

- Brad Haugaard

WWII Vet Gets Replacement Medals at Vets Day Celebration

At the Veterans Day celebration in Library Park World War II Battle of the Bulge veteran Antonio Sanchez, 94, gets replacement medals he lost in a house fire. https://goo.gl/hqgBep

- Brad Haugaard

Veterans Day Celebration at Library Park



Celebrating Veterans Day today in front of the library 

- Brad Haugaard 

Wrought Iron Fence Planned for Bradoaks School

At its next meeting (https://goo.gl/aYBPV9) the Monrovia Board of Education will consider  installing wrought iron fencing at Bradoaks School, installed by Charlie's Fence Company, for $34,500.  https://goo.gl/aJDDcz

- Brad Haugaard

Watch Out for this 'Sextortion' Email Scam

A reader writes to say her household recently received this email extortion scam.

Here's how it works: You receive an email from a person who has somehow obtained the password to your email, possibly through a data breach at some company. The writer claims to have proof that you've been watching pornography (it says the porn site you went to downloaded software that recorded both you and what you were looking at) and demands payment be made using Bitcoin otherwise the images or video will be sent to everyone on your contact list - friends, family, coworkers, etc. Don't be faked out by this. Here is an article about it: https://goo.gl/sVndWr

- Brad Haugaard

Bear, Would Love the Great Outdoors With You


Bear (A468293) loves the great outdoors and just can’t wait to go out and sniff the world. She gets so excited when she sees the leash that her tail starts wagging and begs to go out. Treat motivated and already trained to know sit, shake, down and stay, Bear is a 3-year-old black Labrador Retriever mix who would love to be your outdoorsy partner!

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

Happy Veterans Day

Happy Veterans Day, Monrovia vets. 

- Brad Haugaard 

Production of Messiah at St. Luke

On Saturday, December 15, at 7:30pm,  the San Gabriel Valley Choral Company will perform an “historically informed” production of MessiahGeorge Frideric Handel’s masterpiece, under the baton of Visiting Artistic Director Dr. David Rentz. The performance will be held at Monrovia’s St. Luke’s Episcopal Church and will include excerpts from Messiahfeaturing soloists, and chamber musicians. 


- Brad Haugaard .

Dinner at Mahan Indian Food


Dinner at Mahan Indian Food. This is the former Noor's, near the southeast corner of Foothill and Myrtle. Got the Chicken Tikka Masala for $15, naan bread ($3.50), rice ($3), and a big beer ($9). I liked it ... a LOT. And it was enough for both my wife and me. It was served family style so what you see in the picture is just my first helping. Very friendly service as well. 


- Brad Haugaard 

The Big Country Movie This Saturday at the Library


For Classic Movie Afternoon, The Big Country, Saturday Nov. 10, from 2-4 p.m. in the library Community Room. Details: https://goo.gl/HYxD3U

- Brad Haugaard

Community Prayer Breakfast,

Community Prayer Breakfast, "Finding Inner Peace in a Troubled World" Nov. 16, 8-9:30 a.m. at Courtyard by Marriott. $30 per person. Details: https://goo.gl/4pMRCf

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia's AeroVironment Wins $3.2 Million Drone Contract for 'Allied Nation'

Monrovia's drone-maker, AeroVironment, has won a $3.2 million contract from the U.S. Department of Defense to provide its small, hand-launched Puma drone "to an allied nation in the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command." https://goo.gl/j64eNZ

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Scammer Holds Computer for Ransom; Fake Home Rental Fraud; Car Hits Pedestrian; Etc.

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for Highlighted Activity for November 1–7. - Brad Haugaard]

During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 421 service events, resulting in 97 investigations.

Petty Theft
November 1 at 11:07 a.m., a resident in the 1200 block of S. Alta Vista walked outside her home to go to work and discovered someone had rummaged through her unlocked vehicle sometime during the night. Several items were taken from the glovebox. This investigation is continuing.

Injury Traffic Collisions
November 1 at 12:13 p.m., two traffic collisions were reported to police, one in the 700 block of W. Foothill and the other in the 100 block of W. Duarte. Officers responded to both collisions and found three of the involved parties had sustained minor injuries. The parties at fault were issued citations for the driving violations.

Residential Burglary
November 1 at 5:05 p.m., a resident in the 300 block of N. Primrose arrived home and discovered her front door had been forced open. Officers responded and searched the house, however, no one was found inside. The house had been ransacked, which made it difficult to determine what had been stolen. This investigation is continuing.

Injury Traffic Collision
November 1 at 5:41 p.m., a caller reported two motorists had collided at the intersection of Mayflower and Colorado. Officers arrived and found the drivers were complaining of pain, however, did not sustain visible injuries. The party at fault was issued a citation.

Shoplifting
November 1 at 8:10 p.m., an employee of a store in the 500 block of W. Huntington reported that a male subject had just run out of the store with merchandise without paying. The suspect fled in a vehicle. Officers responded and searched the area for the fleeing vehicle, but did not locate it. This investigation is continuing.

Shoplifting
November 1 at 9:26 p.m., an employee of a grocery store in the 200 block of E. Foothill reported a male subject had just grabbed several bottles of expensive alcohol and ran out of the store without paying. The subject got into a car and drove out of the parking lot. Officers searched the area for the suspect, but were unable to locate him. This investigation is continuing.

Attempt Petty Theft/Trespassing – Suspect Arrested
November 2 at 2:16 p.m., a security guard at a business in the 3300 block of S. Peck called to report a male subject trespassing inside their gated yard, which contains car parts. Officers responded and located the subject hiding in the yard. The subject was arrested.

Vehicle Burglary
November 2 at 9:41 p.m., an employee of a business in the 100 block of E. Chestnut went to their vehicle after getting off work and discovered someone had shattered one of the car windows. A purse was taken from inside the vehicle. This investigation is continuing.

DUI – Suspect Arrested
November 3 at 1:54 a.m., an officer was on patrol in the 100 block of W. Lemon when he saw a motorist commit a driving violation. The officer stopped the vehicle and approached the driver, who was found to be intoxicated. After field sobriety tests were conducted, the driver was arrested for DUI.

Driving Under the Influence/Hit & Run Traffic Collision – Suspect Arrested
November 3 at 2:28 a.m., a caller reported two motorists collided in the 1400 block of S. Magnolia and one of the motorists drove away. Officers responded and located the fleeing vehicle. They contacted the driver and found him to be intoxicated. After field tests were conducted, the driver was arrested for DUI and Hit & Run.

Commercial Burglary
November 3 at 7:17 a.m., the owner of a business in the 200 block of W. Duarte arrived to work and found the front door open and a ladder propped up against an open window. Officers responded and searched the building, but did not find anyone inside. Money had been taken from one of the offices. This investigation is continuing.

Traffic Collision
November 3 at 10:37 a.m., a caller reported a traffic collision in the 600 block of S. Myrtle. Officers responded and found that no one was injured. The party at fault was issued a citation for the driving violation.

Fraud
November 3 at 11:06 a.m., a resident in the 1100 block of E. Royal Oaks sent $1,500 in Apple gift cards to an unknown person she had spoken to over the telephone who advised they would scan her computer for viruses. She allowed this person remote access to her computer. After providing the information to the caller, she was immediately locked from accessing her computer. This investigation is continuing.

Driving Under the Influence/Warrant – Suspect Arrested
November 4 at 3:46 p.m., a caller reported a possible DUI motorist driving erratically in the 400 block of S. Myrtle. Officers responded and located the motorist, who was stopped and found to be intoxicated. After field sobriety tests were conducted, the driver was arrested for DUI. A computer check revealed the subject had a warrant for his arrest, as well.

Public Intoxication/Warrants – Suspect Arrested
November 4 at 5:11 p.m., a caller reported a male subject walking in the middle of the street in the 400 block of W. Duarte that appeared to be drunk. Officers responded and located the subject, who was found to be too intoxicated to care for his own safety. He was arrested and taken into custody. A computer check revealed he also had a warrant for his arrest.

Delaying and Obstructing a Police Officer – Suspect Arrested
November 5 at 2:07 p.m., a caller reported three male subjects fist fighting in the 100 block of W. Foothill. Officers responded and located all three subjects, who had stopped fighting before officers arrived. Two of the subjects were identified, however, the third was dishonest about his identity, delaying and obstructing officers, so he was arrested and taken into custody. The other two were released after refusing to prosecute one another.

Residential Burglary – Suspect Arrested
November 6 at 1:50 a.m., a resident in the 400 block of S. Ivy reported a male subject attempting to break into her apartment through a front window. Officers arrived and located the subject inside the apartment. The caller ran out of her apartment after the subject had gained entry. The subject was arrested.

Vehicle Burglary
November 6 at 8:45 a.m., an employee of a business in the 900 block of S. Primrose arrived to work and discovered several of their company vehicles had been burglarized sometime during the night. Two of the vehicles had their windows shattered and a third had been left unlocked. All three vehicles had been ransacked. This investigation is continuing.

Vehicle Burglary
November 6 at 2:52 p.m., a customer of a business in the 700 block of E. Huntington walked outside to her car and discovered it had been burglarized while she was inside the building. One of the windows had been shattered and her purse was missing from the front seat. This investigation is continuing.

Fraud
November 6 at 8:44 p.m., a caller reported he paid $2,000 to rent a house in the 200 block of E. Atara, but when he went to the house, the owners were inside and said their house was not for rent. The person he paid had been found on a common advertisement website. This investigation is continuing.

Fraud/Warrant – Suspect Arrested
November 7 at 10:00 a.m., an officer was patrolling the 700 block of E. Huntington when he saw a subject he recognized from previous contacts. A computer check revealed the subject had a warrant for his arrest and he was detained. He was found to be in possession of stolen credit cards and merchandise that had just been purchased with cards not belonging to him. The subject was arrested.

Traffic Collision
November 7 at 5:35 p.m., a caller reported two motorists collided into one another in the 600 block of S. Mountain. Officers responded and found no one to be injured. The party at fault was issued a citation.

Injury Traffic Collision
November 7 at 6:54 p.m., a caller reported a pedestrian had just been struck by a vehicle in the 100 block of N. Sunset. Officers responded, along with Monrovia Fire and Paramedics. The pedestrian was crossing the street and the motorist did not see them. The pedestrian was taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Domestic Battery
November 7 at 7:44 p.m., a caller reported two subjects yelling at one another in the 300 block of S. Primrose in Library Park. Officers responded and located one of the subjects, as the other had left the area. The subject who fled had battered the one who stayed. The subjects are in a dating relationship with one another. This investigation is continuing.

Warrants/Resisting and Delaying a Police Officer – Suspect Arrested
November 7 at 11:54 p.m., an officer was on patrol in the 400 block of W. Duarte when he saw a subject he recognized from previous contacts. A computer check revealed he had a warrant for his arrest. When the officer attempted to stop the subject, he ran. The officer ran after the subject and took him into custody, as the subject resisted arrest.

Police to Stop Shaving in November - for Cancer Society

- Brad Haugaard

Guest Column: Honoring Veterans


By Dr. Edward C. Ortell,
Citrus College Governing Board Member

Each year, our nation’s annual observance of Veterans Day pays fitting tribute to the men and women who have served in the United States military. As we honor their service and sacrifice, it is a good time to reflect on the importance of the GI Bill to millions of veterans.

Nearly all Americans have benefited in some way from the GI Bill. My father, a World War II veteran whose brother was killed in action (KIA) in the Philippines, used the education benefits to change the course of his and his family’s future. From his roots as a sharecropper in the Midwest, the GI Bill made it possible for him to ultimately earn a Ph.D. and become a professor of mathematics and astronomy. Over the course of his career, he positively impacted the lives of thousands of students.

Since its inception, the GI Bill has undergone a number of changes, but it remains one of the most important benefits of military service today. According to Military.com, “The Post-9/11 GI Bill, Montgomery GI Bill, and dependent GI Bill programs help service members, veterans, and families reach their education goals.”

In the next few years, the number of veterans that will transition from the military to civilian life is expected to grow. Many of them will enroll in colleges and universities to gain the necessary skills and degrees that will lead to rewarding careers and a good quality of life for themselves and their families. And today’s veterans understand that attending a community college is a good way to stretch their education benefits under the GI Bill.

Community colleges are also well-equipped to provide the important support services veterans need. Those services can include GI Bill processing information and assistance, specialized counseling, peer support groups and many others. Many community colleges have veteran’s centers that provide a “one stop” approach that gives veterans a convenient means of accessing the benefits they have earned and the academic support they need.

As Veterans Day approaches, we are reminded that we owe our nation’s veterans a debt of gratitude. They have made tremendous sacrifices for their country, and they deserve our heartfelt appreciation. They also deserve an opportunity to acquire an education that will result in rewarding careers and will allow them to continue contributing to society as they succeed in life.

About the Author:
Dr. Edward C. Ortell is the senior governing board member at Citrus College and a Professor Emeritus at Pasadena City College. He has served on the California Community College Trustees (CCCT) state board of directors and eight terms as president of the Citrus College Board of Trustees.

Travanti and Lockerbie Win Seats on School Board

The two winners in Monrovia’ School Board election are Maritza C. Travanti and Selene Lockerbie. 

Maritza Travanti - 4,313, 29.63%
Selene Lockerbie - 4,196, 28.83%
Terrence Williams - 3,981, 27.35%
J. Christian Holt - 2,066, 14.19%

- Brad Haugaard 

Noors Becomes Mahan Indian Restaurant

Noors Indian Bistro, at the southeast corner of Foothill and Myrtle, has been bought out and is now Mahan Indian Restaurant, according to a post on Facebook by the purchaser, Sagar “Sage” Sharma.

- Brad Haugaard 

Science for Kids; Pink Patch Raises More than $6,000; MODA Ribbon Cutting; Art Walk in Old Town

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

~ Monrovia's Oak Crest Institute of Science is opening its laboratories for a hands-on, kid-friendly event featuring cutting-edge science activities to show how biomedical and chemical principles affect our lives. The event is part of InnovateLA, a two-week celebration of innovation and creativity in LA County. It will be held on Friday, Nov. 9, 4:30-6 p.m. at Oak Crest Institute, 132 W. Chestnut. Tickets are $12 online (here: https://goo.gl/bpaa8b) or $15 at the door. Kids are free with an adult ticket. Pizza and soda is included with ticket.

~  As part of the Pink Patch Project, more than $6,000 was raised for breast cancer research by the Monrovia Police Officers' Association, Firefighters Association, Municipal Employee Association, and Employee Engagement Team. This is 50% more than last year's $4,000 donation. All funds will be donated to the City of Hope for Breast Cancer Research.

~  MODA, the big, new multi-unit residential complex next to the train station, will host a ribbon cutting tomorrow, Nov. 7, at noon on site (228 Pomona Ave.). Also, the city has been working with MODA on a grand opening on Wednesday, Dec. 5, from 6 to 8 p.m. Details later.

~  MAFA (Monrovia Association of Fine Arts) is hosting its final Art Walk of the season on Nov. 24, from 7 to 10 p.m. in the 400 and 500 blocks of Old Town.

- Brad Haugaard

Chester - It's Easy to Start His Motor


Are you looking for a loving, attentive cat? Look no further than Chester (A467514). This 3-year-old loves to have company and will greet you at the kennel door to lick your hands and head bump you. He loves attention and with a few pets will start purring. Chester is not laying around all day; he’s actively looking for a home. He likes to pop his head around the corner of the kennel at his neighbors and at the visitors walking by. Come walk in to the Pasadena Humane Society’s Neely Cat Center and we’re sure he’ll grab your attention.

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.

Veterans Day Breakfast


- Brad Haugaard 

Arcadia Police Looking for Missing Man

The Arcadia Police Department is seeking the public's assistance in locating Frederick Celistan. Mr. Celistan is described as being 6 feet tall, 170 pounds, 63 years old, with black hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a long sleeve blue fleece shirt, black pants and black shoes. Celistan suffers from medical conditions.

Mr. Celistan was last seen at his residence in the 700 block of West Duarte Road, in the City of Arcadia on November 2, 2018 at approximately 9 PM.

Anyone who sees Mr. Celistan, or has any information on his whereabouts is asked to call the Arcadia Police Department at (626)574-5121.

APD Case #18-5050

Source: Arcadia Police

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Council to Discuss Community Garden, Give Fire Station New Roof, AC; Honor Military Members

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

~ Discuss a Community Garden pilot program at a special study session at 5 p.m. Tuesday in the City Council Chambers. https://goo.gl/HyVaJD

And at its regular 7:30 session:

~  Consider a $138,964 project to replace the roof and air conditioning at Fire Station 102, at 2055 South Myrtle Avenue. It was built  in 1996 and the roof has begun leaking. The council will consider hiring Howard Roofing for $87,182, RYCO Heating and Air Conditioning for $28,622, and Merrell-Johnson Companies, for $11,580, to manage the project. https://goo.gl/4ZFWga

~  Present a salute to the families of service members Jack Ryan Rapagna, Corporal, United States Army; Elizabeth Bufanda, Sergeant, United States Army; and Daniel Ramirez, Corporal, United States Marine Corp.

- Brad Haugaard

Dinner at Hon Sushi

Dinner at Hon Sushi, on the north side of the Vons parking lot. Got the two item dinner bento box with chicken katsu and spicy tuna rolls for $14.50 and a small beer for $4.50. Very good and filling. 

- Brad Haugaard 

Monrovia Police: Robbery Thwarted; Shoplifter Returns Too Many Times; Assault with Rock; Red Light Runner Causes Accident; Etc.

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for Highlighted Activity for October 25–31. - Brad Haugaard]

During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 396 service events, resulting in 70 investigations.

Warrant Arrest – Suspect Arrested
October 25 at 11:13 a.m., a caller reported a suspicious person on their property in the 500 block of S. Myrtle. Officers arrived and located a male subject. A computer check of the subject revealed he had an outstanding warrant. He was arrested for the warrant and taken into custody.

Injury Traffic Collision
October 26 at 12:21 p.m., a driver was traveling south on Fifth to make a left turn onto Huntington. As she was making her turn at approximately 10 miles per hour, she failed to yield to a pedestrian in the crosswalk and collided into him. The pedestrian suffered multiple lacerations and was transported to a hospital for treatment.

Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
October 26 at 6:09 p.m., officers responded to an injury traffic collision at Walnut and Ivy. After investigation, one of the drivers was arrested for driving under the influence.

Shoplifting
October 26 at 7:35 p.m. a shoplifting incident was reported at a business in the 500 block of W. Huntington. Two female suspects took merchandise from the store and fled the location prior to officers arriving. The suspects were not located and the investigation is continuing.

Driving Under the Influence/Traffic Collision – Suspect Arrested
October 26 at 9:09 p.m., officers responded to the report of a non-injury traffic collision at Huntington and Shamrock. After investigation, one of the drivers was arrested for driving under the influence.

Public Intoxication – Suspect Arrested
October 27 at 1:10 a.m., officers on patrol were conducting proactive bar checks in the 400 block of S. Myrtle and were contacted by a male adult at one of the locations. The subject was found to be extremely intoxicated an unable to care for his own safety. He was arrested for being drunk in public and held for a sobering period.

Robbery
October 27 at 3:55 a.m., officers responded to a possible armed robbery that just occurred at a business in the 900 block of W. Duarte. Upon arrival, the suspect had fled the location. An employee stated that the suspect lifted his shirt, showed him the handle of a gun and attempted to rob the store. The employee ran to the back of the store and the suspect fled. After the suspect exited the store, the employee locked the doors until police arrived. Officers conducted an area search, but the suspect was not located. The suspect did not get away with any money or property from the store. The investigation is continuing.

Hit & Run Traffic Collision
October 27 at 11:27 a.m., a hit and run traffic collision was reported in the 600 block of Shady Oaks Drive. The victim reported that sometime during the night, someone crashed into her truck while it was parked on the street. The investigation is continuing.

Possession of Drug Paraphernalia – Suspect Arrested
October 27 at 7:26 p.m., an officer on patrol stopped a bicyclist at Maple and Mayflower for vehicle code violations. The subject reached into his pocket and threw something on the ground as the officer was approaching. The subject was detained and the item he threw was found to be a methamphetamine pipe. The suspect was arrested for possession of drug paraphernalia and given a citation to appear in court on the charges.

Public Intoxication – Suspect Arrested
October 28 at 12:20 a.m., officers responded to the 200 block of E. Olive on the report of a male adult causing a disturbance at a residence. A subject was detained and determined to be too intoxicated to care for his own safety. He was arrested for being drunk in public and held for a sobering period.

Driving Under the Influence/Traffic Collision
October 28 at 3:08 a.m., officers responded to a solo-vehicle traffic accident with a vehicle on its side. Officers arrived and discovered a power pole down and lines broken. The driver was taken to a hospital and was checked for being under the influence. This DUI investigation is ongoing.

Petty Theft/Trespassing – Suspect Arrested
October 28 at 5:35 a.m., officers responded to a business in the 3300 block of S. Peck Road regarding two subjects possibly stealing items. Officers detained one suspect with stolen items in his possession. The owner was contacted and desired prosecution. The suspect was arrested and taken into custody.

Domestic Violence – Suspect Arrested
October 28 at 6:11 p.m., officers responded to a possible domestic battery between a male and female adult at a residence in the 600 block of S. Magnolia. After investigation, the male subject was arrested for domestic violence.

Domestic Violence – Suspect Arrested
October 28 at 10:09 p.m., officers were dispatched to a residence in the 900 block of Hillcrest regarding a possible domestic battery between a male and female adult. After investigation, the male subject was arrested and taken into custody for domestic violence.

Driving Under the Influence/Traffic Collision – Suspect Arrested
October 28 at 11:10 p.m., a solo-vehicle traffic collision was reported in the 900 block of W. Huntington. Officers responded and found the driver had lost control of the vehicle and hit a pole. The driver was determined to be intoxicated, and after field sobriety tests were conducted, she was arrested for DUI.

Assault with a Deadly Weapon/Resisting and Delaying a Peace Officer/Parole Hold – Suspect Arrested
October 29 at 9:05 a.m., officers responded to the 1600 block of Myrtle Avenue regarding a male suspect that punched another male and fled. When officers arrived, the victim was bleeding from the neck. An officer located the suspect, but he fled. A brief foot pursuit ensued and the suspect was detained. It was determined that the suspect struck the victim on the neck with a rock. He was arrested and taken into custody. The suspect was found to be on a parole and a parole hold was obtained.

Non-Injury Traffic Collison
October 29 at 9:54 a.m., a driver was traveling west on Central at California and failed to stop for the red light, colliding into another vehicle, that then collided into a third vehicle. The driver that ran the red light was issued a citation.

Hit & Run Traffic Collision
October 29 at 11:52 a.m., a witness called police to report a truck that struck a parked vehicle at Pomona and Magnolia, and then fled the scene. The parked vehicle sustained damage to the driver’s door. The victim was notified and the investigation is continuing.

Vehicle Burglary
October 29 at 2:03 p.m., a vehicle burglary was reported in the 100 block of W. Colorado. The victim parked her vehicle in a parking structure. When she returned to her vehicle, she discovered her credit cards were stolen, along with documents that had been left in the vehicle. One of the credit cards was used at a nearby store. The investigation is continuing.

Shoplifting – Suspects Arrested
October 29 at 7:28 p.m., loss prevention at a business in the 500 block of W. Huntington called police to report that a group of male suspects stole numerous items from the location. Officers arrived and detained the group inside another business. One male juvenile and three male adults were arrested for shoplifting.

Theft/Possession of Stolen Property – Suspects Arrested
October 29 at 8:49 p.m., a theft was reported at a business in the 100 block of W. Foothill. A male suspect made numerous trips inside the location, stealing bottles of alcohol. Officers arrived and detained the suspect. A second suspect was located inside a vehicle in the parking lot. The vehicle contained over $600 worth of stolen alcohol. Both suspects were arrested.

Recovered Stolen Vehicle
October 30 at 3:01 a.m., officers responded to the area of Huntington and the 210 Freeway regarding a vehicle in the roadway. Upon their arrival, the driver of the vehicle fled on foot. A computer check of the vehicle revealed it was stolen out of San Dimas. Multiple agencies responded to assist with a search for the suspect, but he was not located. The vehicle was recovered and the investigation is continuing.

Commercial Burglary
October 30 at 6:52 a.m., a burglary was reported at a business in the 400 block of W. Maple. The business has been broken into numerous times in recent months. The suspect has entered the business, stole money and fled. The suspect made entry by breaking a window. The investigation is continuing.

Vehicle Burglary
October 31 at 6:38 a.m., a vehicle burglary was reported in the 600 block of N. Canyon. The victim parked her car at the location and went for a walk in Canyon Park. When she returned to her vehicle, she was met by a park ranger, who told her the window on her vehicle had been shattered. The victim checked her vehicle and saw her purse was missing. The investigation is continuing.

Public Intoxication – Suspect Arrested
November 1 at 1:04 a.m., officers responded to a business in the 400 block of S. Myrtle regarding a disturbing subject inside the bar area. Officers arrived and located the man, who was trying to avoid the officers and attempted to run from them. He was eventually detained. The subject was too intoxicated to care for his own safety and the safety of others. He was arrested for being drunk in public.

Commercial Burglary
November 1 at 5:22 a.m., officers were dispatched to a burglary alarm activation at a business in the 700 block of E. Huntington. Upon arrival, officers discovered the front glass door had been broken. They searched the interior of the business, with negative results. The investigation is ongoing.