A Moment in Monrovia History: A Patient at Pottenger's Sanatorium

A patient at Pottenger's Sanatorium?  From the Kim Anderson collection. See full details here.

For more historic photos and papers, see the Monrovia Historical Society’s complete Legacy Project collection here. Learn more about the Monrovia Historical Society here.

- Brad Haugaard

City to Seek Company to Make Improvements at Lucinda Garcia Park


At its next meeting (agenda: https://tny.im/tApmZ) the Monrovia City Council will consider ...

~ Getting bids from companies to make improvements at Lucinda Garcia Park (https://tny.im/tStS3). These improvements are:

  • Expanding the park to the open space area located at the west end of the facility
  • Replacing and upgrading the play equipment
  • Adding fall safety surfacing for the entire playground area
  • Installing exercise circuit equipment along the pathway at the park
  • Replacing the pathway and enhancing the park lighting
  • Upgrading the landscaping at the park
  • Installing interpretive signage on the history of Lucinda Garcia and the park
  • Installing a demonstration garden with drought tolerate and native species

~ Proclaim March as March 4 Balance: Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Awareness Month (https://tny.im/uuas), and American Red Cross Month (https://tny.im/SyRWR).

- Brad Haugaard

Online Gardening Classes Through Water District


The Upper San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District, based in Monrovia, is offering these online classes. Click through for more information or to sign up:

Drought Resilient Lawn Care, March 10, 2022, 6-7 p.m.

Drought Resilient Lawn Care, March 22, 2022, 12-1 p.m.

Herb Gardening: Beyond Basil, April 7, 2022, 6-7 p.m.

Herb Gardening: Beyond Basil, April 26, 2022, 12-1 p.m.

Firescaping: Reducing the Vulnerability, May 12, 2022, 12-1 p.m.

Compost: Building the Soil Sponge, June 9, 2022, 12-1 p.m.

- Brad Haugaard

Adrian Ayala Appointed New Principal at Monrovia High


The Monrovia Unified School District has announced that the Board of Education has appointed Adrian Ayala to be the new principal at Monrovia High School.  Ayala joins Monrovia from Hueneme High School in Oxnard, where he has been the principal since 2017.

Ayala grew up in the San Gabriel Valley and has more than 30 years of experience in education, having served in a variety of leadership roles at both the site and district level. He has an extensive background in curriculum, instruction, and student support, and has developed a reputation for improving outcomes for all students through his collaborative leadership style.  Ayala also has significant experience with leading and supporting athletic programs and extracurricular activities, things that are an essential part of the student experience at Monrovia High School. He is bilingual in both English and Spanish.

Upon accepting the position, Adrian Ayala said, “I am honored and excited to serve the Monrovia Unified School District community. I am grateful to the Board of Education for their confidence, and I look forward to building upon the successes and rich traditions of Monrovia High School.”

Dr. Ryan Smith, Superintendent, commented, “We are extremely proud to announce Adrian Ayala as the new Principal of Monrovia High School. With his background, experience, and track record of success, I have no doubt that achievement will rise to new heights under his leadership. I would like to thank Interim-Principal Flint Fertig for stepping in to lead the school as we conducted our search.”

Ayala is expected to officially start his new role on April 11, however, his transition to Monrovia High School will begin before then. Opportunities for students, families, teachers, and staff to meet him will be announced at a later date.

Source: Monrovia Schools press release

- Brad Haugaard

First Presbyterian Church To Install New Senior Pastor

First Presbyterian Church of Monrovia has announced that it will install and ordain Pastor Joel Larson on Sunday, March 6 at 3 p.m. as its senior pastor and head of staff.

Larson has been serving in church ministry for 25 years in Northwest Ohio, the Los Angeles area, and most recently served as Associate Pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood for 8-1/2 years.

He has a communications degree from Bowling Green State University and an MDiv from Fuller Seminary. He is  working on a Doctor of Ministry in Leading Congregational and Organizational Change at Fuller Seminary. 

Joel is married to Elisha, and they have three children, Claire, Will, and Finn. Joel enjoys surfing, cycling, mountain biking, and hiking. https://tny.im/VA0tr

- Brad Haugaard

Students Recognize Black History Month With Art Work

In partnership with the Monrovia Duarte Black Alumni Association, students recognized Black and African American icons throughout history by covering every wall in the Monrovia Community Center room with art pieces for the 9th Annual Black History Month Arts Festival.

- Brad Haugaard

New Water Bill To Show: Water Consumption, Penalties, Targets; Recycling Guide; Monrovia Buildings Painted On Rocks


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

~ Your next utility bill will have a different look. (Numbers correspond to image above.)

  1. Consumption Details. Additional information about about consumption, and your water target.
  2. Excess Usage Penalty Amount. What you owe if you fail to meet your water target.
  3. Water Conservation Targets. The maximum amount of water you are allowed each month.

~ If you are interested in how to recycle specific trash items (plastic bags and films, for instance), here's a guide from Athens: https://tny.im/5hAf6

~ EK (Connie) Noll is a Monrovia freelance artist who has created a painted rock collection being displayed at the Library through May 16. See rocks painted with the Library (including fountain), City Hall, Merengue, Copper Still Grill, the Fire Station, Jake's Roadhouse, LOOK Cinemas, and others.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia's Xencor Reports a Financially Successful 2021

Monrovia's Xencor, which develops drugs for the treatment of cancer and autoimmune diseases, reported a 2021 net income of  $82.6 million, or $1.37 per share, compared to a net loss of $69.3 million, or $(1.21) per share for the previous year. The company attributes the higher income primarily "to increased royalties and revenue recognized from collaborations."

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Coronavirus Count: 33 More Cases, One Death in Unincorporated Monrovia

Coronavirus cases from LA Department of Public Health as of 8 p.m., 02/23/2022. Changes since 02/16/2022.

City of Monrovia: 8,093 cases (up 33), 99 deaths (unchanged)
Unincorporated Monrovia: 839 cases (up 5), 4 deaths (up 1)

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Today Magazine Not Quite Ready ...

You may have received a postcard today advertising the availability of the spring Monrovia Today magazine. However, if you go to the website (https://tny.im/WDXQi) and click on the picture of the magazine cover, you will get the winter edition of the magazine, not the spring edition. The spring edition will be available Tuesday, March 1. Director of Community Services Tina Cherry said the postcard arrived at residents' homes "sooner than we expected."

- Brad Haugaard

Wild Rose School Celebrates Its 110th Birthday


On the 110th day of school of its 110 year, Wild Rose School of Creative Arts celebrated its birthday. The campus was built in 1912.

In honor of the day staff and students did their best impressions of what they would look like if they were 110 years old.  There was an assembly on the front porch of the school and people from the Monrovia Historical Museum shared fun facts from 1912 to today.

School staff performed “When I’m Sixty Four” by The Beatles, but changed some of the words to “When I’m 110,” with Mr. Bogdon on guitar accompanied by Mrs. Jaramillo and Ms. Naugle singing vocals.

And since Oreos were invented in 1912, participants enjoyed Oreo cookies donated by the PTA.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: 200 Pounds of Processed Marijuana Discovered; Naked Man Bangs on Doors; Motorcyclist Rear-Ended; RV Owner Threatens With Axe; DUIs and More DUIs; Etc.

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


During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 366 service events, resulting in 69 investigations.

Grand Theft Auto Recovery
February 17 at 10:04 a.m., an officer was patrolling the area of Melrose and Hillcrest when he discovered a stolen vehicle parked in the area. The vehicle was recovered and removed from the stolen vehicle system. This investigation is continuing.

Injury Traffic Collision
February 17 at 10:32 a.m., a motorcyclist was rear-ended by a vehicle in the 400 block of E. Foothill. Officers and paramedics responded to the accident. Both parties were transported to a local hospital for treatment. This investigation is continuing.

Residential Burglary
February 17 at 10:50 a.m., an alarm company advised that there was an activation at a residence in the 1200 block of Orange. Officers arrived and found the rear slider glass had been smashed with a large rock. It is unknown what was taken. Officers were able to retrieve video surveillance of a female suspect breaking into the house. This investigation is continuing.

Fraud
February 17 at 11:42 a.m., a victim in the 1000 block of E. Royal Oaks reported that one of her debit account cards had been compromised. This investigation is continuing.

Trespass / Wanted Person – Suspect Arrested
February 17 at 12:34 p.m., officers responded to the 600 block of W. Colorado regarding a possible trespass report. Officers located a subject who was wanted for sales of a controlled substance. The subject was arrested and taken into custody.

Found Contraband
February 17 at 2:00 p.m., the owners of a rental property in the 400 block of E. Almond called advising that there was a large amount of marijuana and growing equipment at their property. They had responded to the location regarding a water leak inside the property. Officers responded and recovered over 200lbs of processed marijuana. The renters were nowhere to be found. This investigation is continuing.

Fraud
February 17 at 4:21 p.m., a victim in the 1700 block of Rosewood reported her identity had been stolen and sold on the internet. Several bank accounts were opened in her name. This investigation is continuing.

Grand Theft Auto Recovery
February 17 at 5:10 p.m., a caller reported that a vehicle had been parked in front of her house in the 400 block of Monrovista for several days. Officers arrived and discovered the vehicle was stolen out of Covina. The vehicle was recovered and returned to the owner and removed from the stolen vehicle system. This investigation is continuing.

Battery / Pursuit
February 17 at 6:02 p.m., an employee at a local business in the 1600 block of S. Mountain reported a subject became aggressive toward him because he had asked the subject to move his RV. When the employee took out his phone to call 9-1-1, the subject produced a small axe and swung it at the employee while making verbal threats. The employee ran and the suspect got into his RV and fled. Officers located the RV nearby and attempted to stop it. The suspect entered the 210 freeway and officers were in pursuit. Once officers entered the area of Glendale they released the pursuit to the California Highway Patrol. CHP continued the pursuit into Los Angeles until the pursuit was terminated by CHP. The RV was later located without the driver in it and the vehicle was impounded. This investigation is continuing.

Drug Activity – Suspect Arrested
February 17 at 9:23 p.m., an officer patrolling the intersection of Lime and Mayflower conducted a stop on a vehicle for a traffic violation. The vehicle failed to stop at a stop sign. An investigation revealed that the driver was driving with an expired license and was in possession of a controlled substance. The driver was arrested and released with a citation.

Domestic Violence – Suspect Arrested
February 17 at 10:21 p.m., officers responded to the 100 block of W. Olive regarding a domestic disturbance. An investigation revealed that a boyfriend and girlfriend were involved in an altercation. The female pushed the male against a wall in the kitchen and when he tried to get away, she scratched him on the face and head with her nails, leaving abrasions. The female was subsequently arrested and taken into custody.

Grand Theft Auto Recovery
February 18 at 2:56 a.m., an officer was providing extra patrol in the 600 block of W. Huntington when he noticed a vehicle parked near a closed business. An investigation revealed that the vehicle had been reported stolen. The owner of the vehicle was notified and made arrangements to get his vehicle towed from the location. The vehicle was removed from the stolen vehicle system. This investigation is continuing.

Non-Injury Traffic Collision
February 18 at 12:11 p.m., a caller reported that a traffic collision occurred in the area of Myrtle and Pomona. Officers arrived and checked on the well-being of the occupants. The driver at fault was issued a citation.

Injury Traffic Collision
February 18 at 3:14 p.m., an officer was patrolling the area of Fifth and Foothill when he witnessed a traffic collision. The officer checked on the well-being of the occupants, and no one was injured. The driver at fault was issued a citation.

Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
February 19 at 12:31 a.m., officers observed a vehicle commit a vehicle code violation near the intersection of Montana and Myrtle and stopped the driver. Officers made contact with the driver and noticed she displayed symptoms of being under the influence. After a DUI investigation, the driver was arrested and transported to the Monrovia Police Department jail for a sobering period.

Traffic Collision / Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
February 19 at 12:58 a.m., while on patrol officers observed a vehicle driving with on its rims in the intersection of Montana and Myrtle. Officers tried to stop the driver, but he continued driving and failed to immediately stop. The vehicle eventually collided with a parked vehicle during a turn movement. Officers contacted the driver who displayed symptoms of being under the influence. The driver was arrested for DUI after an investigation. He provided a blood sample at a local hospital before being transported to the Monrovia Police Department jail for a sobering period.

Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
February 19 at 3:24 a.m., officers patrolling near the intersection of Myrtle and California observed a vehicle make several turns against red lights. They conducted a traffic stop and saw that the driver displayed symptoms of being under the influence. The driver indicated he was lost and did not know where he was going, so he made several turns against the red light. Officers conducted a DUI investigation. He was arrested and transported to the Monrovia Police Department jail for a sobering period.

Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
February 19 at 8:48 a.m., an officer was patrolling the 900 block of S. Mountain when he saw a vehicle stopped in a lane of traffic, causing a safety hazard. He approached the vehicle and saw an individual sitting in the driver's seat. The officer spoke with the driver and saw he displayed symptoms of being under the influence of alcohol. A DUI investigation was conducted and it was determined the driver was DUI. He was arrested and transported to the Monrovia Police Department jail for a sobering period.

Injury Traffic Collision
February 19 at 1:50 p.m., a traffic collision was reported in the intersection of Lemon and Mountain. Officers arrived and checked on the well-being of the occupants. One of the drivers was transported to a local hospital for his injuries. This investigation is continuing.

Brandishing a Firearm
February 19 at 7:36 p.m., officers responded to the 400 block of E. Duarte regarding a male subject that brandished a firearm. The victim stated he was walking along the south side of Duarte when a green Jeep Cherokee stopped in front of the victim, and the driver, while seated in the driver's seat, pulled out a firearm and pointed it at the victim. The suspect fled east on Duarte and out of sight. This investigation is continuing.

Warrant – Suspect Arrested
February 20 at 1:30 a.m., a traffic stop for an equipment violation was conducted near the intersection of Myrtle and Foothill. An investigation revealed that the driver had an outstanding warrant for her arrest. She was arrested per the authority of the warrant.

Drug Activity – Suspect Arrested
February 20 at 2:19 a.m., an officer was providing extra patrol in the 700 block of W. Huntington. The officer contacted a subject sitting on the curb in the parking lot. Further investigation revealed the subject was in possession of drug paraphernalia. He was arrested and taken into custody.

Commercial Burglary
February 20 at 2:36 a.m., an employee at a business in the 900 block of S. Fifth called stating someone had stolen coins from one of the coin machines. An investigation revealed that an unknown suspect gained entry into the resident locked laundry room. The suspect opened the coin box to one of the washing machines, causing damage to it, and stole approximately $100 in coins. This investigation is continuing.

Residential Burglary
February 20 at 11:36 a.m., a resident in the 200 block of W. Pomona called to report that his residence was broken into while he was out of town. He left a couple days prior and returned to find his home ransacked. This investigation is continuing.

Residential Burglary
February 20 at 12:36 p.m., a resident in the 1700 block of Rosewood called to report his residence was broken into while he was out of town. He left a couple days prior and returned only to find his home ransacked. This investigation is continuing.

Grand Theft
February 20 at 4:29 p.m., an employee from a business in the 700 block of E. Huntington called to report that a male suspect stole approximately $2,000 worth of merchandise earlier in the day. This investigation is continuing.

Vandalism
February 20 at 7:04 p.m., officers responded to a vandalism in progress near the intersection of Myrtle and the 210 Freeway. They did not locate the suspect, but did locate more than ten fresh vandalisms in the area. This investigation is continuing.

Prowling
February 20 at 11:21 p.m., residents in the 1100 block of Teresita called and reported a prowler in their back yard. The suspect was seen on surveillance cameras climbing their fence prior to the officers’ arrival. The suspect is a repeat prowler at the location and is known. The case will be submitted to the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office for filing consideration.

Commercial Burglary
February 21 at 10:55 a.m., the owner of a business in the 600 block of W. Huntington called to report a burglary had occurred over the weekend. Officers arrived and determined that the door to the location had been forced and the suspect(s) stole the cash register. It is unknown what the exact loss is. This investigation is continuing.

Grand Theft
February 21 at 3:55 p.m., a victim called stating she parked her vehicle in a parking lot in the 400 block of W. Huntington while she went to work. When she came out, she heard a loud sound coming from her vehicle when she started it. She discovered her catalytic converter had been stolen from her vehicle. Officers arrived and took the report. This investigation is continuing.

Grand Theft Auto
February 21 at 4:06 p.m., a victim called to report a commercial trailer had been stolen from the back lot of a business in the 400 block of E. Huntington. The gate was locked with a pad lock and the victim discovered that the lock had been cut prior to calling us. It was stolen sometime during the evening and early morning hours. Report was taken and trailer was entered into the stolen vehicle system.

Registration Violation – Suspect Arrested
February 22 at 3:21 a.m., officers patrolling the 600 block of S. Mountain conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle that did not have registration tags displayed on their license plate. An investigation revealed that the plates did not belong to the vehicle. The driver was arrested for false evidence of registration.

Warrant – Suspect Arrested
February 22 at 9:17 a.m., an officer contacted a known subject in the 100 block of W. Palm. When the officer went to speak to him, he began running. A short foot pursuit ensued and he was located lying behind a bush in the park. The subject had warrants for his arrest. He was arrested per the authority of the warrants and taken into custody.

Warrant – Suspect Arrested
February 22 at 11:46 a.m., an employee from a hotel in the 900 block of S. Fifth called to report a guest staying in one of the rooms was refusing to give them his name. Officers arrived and the female guest renting the room had an outstanding warrant for her arrest. The male had left the location. The female was arrested per the authority of the warrant and transported to the Monrovia Police Department jail.

Suspicious Person / Drug Activity – Suspects Arrested
February 22 at 12:46 p.m., loss prevention from a business in the 1600 block of S. Mountain stated there was a subject who had tried to walk out of an emergency exit while holding merchandise. He was unable to open that door and walked out of the main doors after putting the merchandise down. He was seen getting into a vehicle and an officer stopped the vehicle. An investigation revealed the driver was unlicensed and the passenger was in possession of drug paraphernalia. They were both arrested and released with citations.

Grand Theft
February 22 at 4:45 p.m., a victim called to report someone stole cash from his vehicle while it was parked in the 500 block of E. Lemon. He had just gone to the bank in Pasadena to withdraw the money and then came to a job site in Monrovia. He had left the cash in an envelope in the inside of his unlocked truck. While loading tools into the truck bed, he saw the passenger door slightly ajar. He looked and money was gone. Officers were able to retrieve surveillance footage of a suspect vehicle. This investigation is continuing.

Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
February 22 at 9:21 p.m., an officer saw a vehicle commit a traffic violation near the intersection of California and Myrtle. A traffic stop was conducted and the driver displayed symptoms of being under the influence of alcohol. After an investigation, the driver was arrested and taken into custody.

Vehicle Tampering – Suspect Arrested
February 22 at 9:38 p.m., a business owner in the 2600 block of S. Myrtle advised there was a male suspect inside his vehicle in the parking lot. The victim confronted the suspect, who fled on foot. Officers arrived and detained the suspect. Nothing was taken from the vehicle, but the suspect was arrested for vehicle tampering.

Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
February 23 at 1:34 a.m., officers responded to the 100 block of south Mayflower regarding a partially clothed male subject banging on residential doors. When officers arrived, they couldn't locate the subject. Several minutes later, a resident from Shamrock called to report a naked male subject banging on his front door. Officers responded and found the subject seated in his parked vehicle with the engine running. He had no clothes on and was intoxicated. He refused to take SFST's and was arrested for DUI. Officers completed a warrant for a blood draw and he transported him to the hospital. The suspect was then transported to the Monrovia Police Department jail for a sobering period.

Non-Injury Traffic Collision
February 23 at 9:02 a.m., officers responded to the 500 block of W. Lemon regarding a traffic collision. An investigation revealed that one of the vehicles had backed into another. A citation was issued to the driver at fault.

Fraud
February 23 at 9:59 a.m., a victim from the 200 block of W. Olive came into the station to report that one of her debit accounts had been compromised. It is unknown how the suspect(s) gained access to her account. She had paperwork supporting her claim and a report was taken. This investigation is continuing.

Public Intoxication – Suspect Arrested
February 23 at 11:00 a.m., a subject went into the Community Center and claimed he was being followed. He also thought people were going to harm his family. Officers arrived and determined he was too intoxicated to care for himself. He was arrested for public intoxication and taken into custody.

Dinner at Monrovia Ramen & Roll

Dinner at Monrovia Ramen & Roll, on the east side of Myrtle just north of Olive, in the former Sushi Kuni. Got the Noho Spicy Miso for $15.95 and a beer for $7.  Very good!

- Brad Haugaard 

Frost Warning Tonight

Frost warning for the San Gabriel Valley from midnight tonight (Feb. 23) until 9 a.m. tomorrow. Be sure to bring your pets and sensitive plants inside. https://shrtm.nu/43Jm

- Brad Haugaard

Mediterranean Restaurant to Replace Hon Sushi

A restaurant called DVine Mediterranean Express will replace the now closed Hon Sushi in the Vons shopping center at Myrtle and Foothill. 

- Brad Haugaard 

Jenny Would Like a Patient Adopter - She's a Bit Shy But Loving


Nine-year-old Jenny is a beautiful orange tabby looking for a calm and quiet forever home. Jenny is a little bit shy, but has been slowly and steadily making progress and coming out of her shell while in our care. Now, she enjoys getting scratches from volunteers, and also really loves catnip and silvervine. Jenny needs a patient adopter who can let her get used to her new home at her own pace. She has lots of love to give!

The adoption fee for cats is $100. All cat adoptions include spay or neuter, microchip, and age-appropriate vaccines.

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 and schedule an adoption appointment at pasadenahumane.org. Adoptions are by appointment only, and new adoption appointments are available every Sunday and Wednesday at 10:00 a.m.

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

- Brad Haugaard

A Moment in Monrovia History: A View of City Park

A Scene in City Park, Monrovia.  City Historian Steve Baker said he believes Library Park was first known as City Park, and then the name changed because people just kept calling it Library Park. From the Steve Baker collection. See full details here.

For more historic photos and papers, see the Monrovia Historical Society’s complete Legacy Project collection here. Learn more about the Monrovia Historical Society here.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Robot Teams Do Well in Competition

Monrovia High hosted a FIRST Robotics Competition this weekend and four of its five teams will advance to championship competition in Marcch. Here's a video Superintendent Ryan Smith posted: https://tny.im/HK8iC

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia School Enrollment Continues Down


At its next meeting (agenda: https://tny.im/ZTDmt) the Monrovia Board of Education will ...

~ Receive a report on the district's declining enrollment. Down 2.15 percent this year compared to last year. From the report:

In 2017-18, enrollment declined by 53 students. In 2018-19, enrollment declined 121 students to 5,442 more than 2%. In 2019-20 enrollment declined by an additional 38 students to 5,404. In 2020-21 in a distance learning environment, enrollment declined by 157 students, nearly 3%. This year, enrollment declined by 113 students, over 2%, to 5,134. ... For 2022-23 student enrollment is projected to decline by an additional 115 students to 5,019.

As a consequence the district will need 8.76 fewer teachers. It would need even fewer except Canyon Oaks/Mountain Park will actually need 4.9 more teachers. https://tny.im/cywb2

~ Consider buying a subscription to SchoolSite Locator for $2,900 a year. It gives you a map and you click where you live and it shows you the school your children will attend. (Here's an example for Duarte: https://tny.im/sneP6) https://tny.im/s2gKi

~ Consider a sexual harassment policy. Here https://tny.im/B0x1Z and here https://tny.im/fbLSd

~ Consider a policy on hate motivated behavior. https://tny.im/xKGmL

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Honored for Youth Employment Program, Open Seat on MOTAB; Driest in 1,200 Years

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

~ The California Park & Recreation Society (CPRS) has awarded Monrovia its 2021 Creating Community Award of Excellence for the city's Youth Employment Services (YES) Program, an eight-week summer internship program aimed at providing meaningful work experiences for youth.

~ Old Town merchants can apply for a position on the Monrovia Old Town Advisory Board (MOTAB) to fill an unscheduled vacancy. Applications accepted through 6 p.m. March 1. Details: https://tny.im/vkbBG

~ Super drought. The southwestern US is now the driest it has been in "at least 1,200 years" according to the Journal of Nature Climate Change. Here's what Monrovia is doing: https://tny.im/KwTL

- Brad Haugaard

Video Showing Devastation of Canyon Park

A video showing the current state of Canyon Park after the recent flooding.

- Brad Haugaard

Deadline March 7 for Scholarships for Monrovia High School Seniors

Deadline is March 7 for Monrovia high school seniors who are planning to go on to college to apply for a scholarship. Last year more than $100,000 was given away to students. Details: https://tny.im/4MUAg

- Brad Haugaard

Person Threatens With Axe, Escapes in RV

An axe-wielding person who allegedly threatened a manager and customers at The Home Depot in Monrovia drove away in an RV, was pursued along the 210 and 2 freeways, then escaped on foot and - at least for now - got away. https://tny.im/FfJqp

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Weekly Coronavirus Count: 96 More Cases, 3 More Deaths

Coronavirus cases from LA Department of Public Health as of 8 p.m., 02/16/2022. Changes since 02/09/2022.

City of Monrovia: 8,060 cases (up 96), 99 deaths (up 3)
Unincorporated Monrovia: 834 cases (up 4), 3 deaths (unchanged)

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Bad Timing - Cops Are at Store While Theft in Progress; Five EBT Accounts Compromised; Drunk in the Middle of Foothill; Keys Left in Car, Car Stolen; Hoodie Burglars Scared by Scream; Etc.

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

During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 460 service events, resulting in 56 investigations.

Grand Theft Auto – Suspect Arrested
February 10 at 7:16 a.m., an officer on patrol observed a vehicle commit a traffic violation near the intersection of Mayflower and Huntington and a traffic stop was conducted. During the traffic stop, the officer discovered the vehicle was in the process of being reported stolen by the owner. The driver was arrested and taken into custody.

Public Intoxication – Suspect Arrested
February 10 at 12:10 p.m., an employee from a business in the 100 block of W. Pomona called to report a subject was laying on the driveway of the business. Officers contacted the individual and discovered he was intoxicated and unable to care for himself. He was arrested and taken into custody.

Injury Traffic Collision
February 10 at 8:33 p.m., officers in the 1300 block of S. Mayflower were flagged down regarding a traffic collision involving a motorcycle. They located the accident and conducted an investigation. A vehicle exited the parking lot from Huntington Oaks and failed to yield the right of way to the motorcyclist that was traveling on Mayflower, causing him to crash.

Shoplifting / Drug Activity – Suspects Arrested
February 10 at 11:05 p.m., officers were at a business in the 1600 block of S. Mountain investigating a possible vandalism when the store reported a theft in progress. The officers detained two subjects and arrested them for shoplifting and being under the influence of a controlled substance. They were arrested and taken into custody.

Public Intoxication – Suspect Arrested
February 10 at 11:23 p.m., a disturbance was reported in the 200 block of W. Foothill. Officers arrived and located the subject in the middle of Foothill. The subject was intoxicated and unable to care for himself. He was arrested and taken into custody.

Driving Under the Influence of Drugs – Suspect Arrested
February 11 at 2:17 a.m., an officer patrolling the area of Ivy and Colorado saw a vehicle commit a traffic violation. The officer was stopped and the officers noticed he displayed symptoms of being under the influence. It was determined the driver as under the influence of marijuana. He was arrested and taken into custody.

Warrant Arrest – Suspect Arrested
February 11 at 9:26 a.m., a caller reported that a subject in the 100 block of E. Duarte started to undo his pants in front of her. The subject then walked away. Officers detained the subject and learned he had a felony warrant for his arrest. He was arrested and taken into custody.

Traffic Collision
February 11 at 3:55 p.m., a traffic collision was reported in the area of Royal Oaks and Mountain. Officers arrived and discovered four vehicles were involved in a traffic collision. The well-being of the occupants were checked and no one was injured. The driver at fault was issued a citation.

Driving Under the Influence / Traffic Collision – Suspect Arrested
February 11 at 11:15 p.m., officers responded to a solo vehicle traffic collision in the area of Huntington and Encino in which the driver struck the curb. Officers responded and contacted the driver and discovered he displayed symptoms of being under the influence. The driver was arrested and taken into custody.

Vehicle Burglary
February 12 at 1:53 a.m., a vehicle burglary was reported in the 1100 block of S. Fifth. The victim parked her vehicle in the parking structure earlier in the evening. She returned to her vehicle at about 1:45 a.m. and discovered the passenger window was smashed. She was unable to determine a loss at the time. This investigation is continuing.

Commercial Burglary
February 12 at 4:50 a.m., officers responded to a business in the 300 block of W. Duarte regarding an alarm activation. When officers arrived they discovered the rear door appeared to be pried open. The responsible party was notified, but the loss is unknown. This investigation is continuing.

Possession of Drugs for Sale – Suspect Arrested
February 12 at 5:26 a.m., while officers were investigating a commercial burglary in the 300 block of W. Duarte, they observed a subject on a bicycle who appeared suspicious. The subject was contacted and during a search of the subject's property, they located numerous small baggies sealed with crystal like substance and a scale. The subject was arrested and taken into custody.

Warrant Arrest – Suspect Arrested
February 12 at 8:02 a.m., a resident in the 100 block of E. Pomona called to report that a subject was trespassing on his property. Officers arrived and contacted the subject. It was discovered the subject had an outstanding felony warrant for his arrest. He was arrested and taken into custody.

Vehicle Burglary
February 12 at 11:36 a.m., a resident in the 1300 block of S. Magnolia called to report that sometime during the night his vehicle was broken into and items were taken. This investigation is continuing.

Injury Traffic Collision
February 12 at 12:07 p.m., a caller reported that a traffic collision occurred in the area of Mayflower and Walnut. Officers arrived and checked on the well-being of the occupants. One of the driver's was transported to a local hospital for his injuries. This investigation is continuing.

Petty Theft
February 12 at 12:20 p.m., a caller stated she was eating at a business in the 600 block of W. Huntington with a friend. She concealed her wallet in her backpack, which she placed on the back of the chair she was sitting on. Sometime during the course of her lunch someone unzipped her backpack and took her wallet. Shortly after she was notified of fraudulent activity on her credit cards. This investigation is continuing.

Vandalism / Mail Tampering
February 13 at 8:40 a.m., a resident of a condo complex in the 1800 block of S. Tenth called to report that the bank of mailboxes at the complex had been damaged. It is unknown if this was a vandalism or an attempted mail theft at this time. This investigation is continuing.

Warrant Pick Up
February 13 at 8:55 a.m., an officer responded to the Long Beach Police Department to pick up a subject being held on a felony firearms warrant. The subject was arrested and transported to the Monrovia Police Department jail, where he was held pending his court appearance.

Warrant Arrest – Suspect Arrested
February 13 at 2:13 p.m., an employee at a pharmacy in the 900 block of W. Foothill reported a man behaving erratically in and around the vaccination center. Officers responded and contacted the subject. A check for wants/warrants showed the subject had multiple warrants from several jurisdictions. He was arrested and issued citations to appear in court.

Warrant Arrest – Suspect Arrested
February 13 at 4:35 p.m., a subject entered the Monrovia Police Department lobby to turn himself in for a bench warrant he knew he had. Due to the small amount of the warrant per court protocol, he was cited and released.

Grand Theft Auto
February 13 at 6:18 p.m., a victim borrowed a friend's vehicle to pick up some food from a restaurant in the 600 block of W. Huntington. The victim parked the vehicle in the parking lot, left the keys inside, and entered the restaurant for the food. When she returned to the parking lot, the vehicle was missing. The vehicle was entered into the stolen vehicle system. This investigation is continuing.

Attempted Residential Burglary
February 13 at 6:51 p.m., a victim in the 700 block of Monterey called to report an attempt burglary at her residence. The victim was inside the residence when she heard a loud knock at her front door. She opened the door and looked outside, but no one was there. As she walked towards the back room of the house, she saw a male suspect attempting to crawl through her open window. There were two additional suspects outside wearing black and white hoodies. The victim screamed and all three suspects ran to a gray, 4 door vehicle and fled. This investigation is continuing.

Residential Robbery
February 13 at 9:44 p.m., a resident in the 300 block of W. Olive called 911 stating she was just robbed at gunpoint inside her residence. The victim was in her room watching television when a male suspect wearing a ski mask and holding a gun kicked in her back door and ordered her to lay face down on the bed. The victim heard two suspects talking. The suspect was asking where the money was. The suspect kicked in her roommate’s bedroom door looking for items. Both suspects fled out the back door. The victim heard a vehicle drive away, but never saw it. It's unknown at this time if this call is related to the earlier call for service in the 700 block of S. Monterey. This investigation is continuing.

Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
February 13 at 11:53 p.m., an officer stopped a vehicle for a traffic violation in the area of California and Camino Real. The driver displayed symptoms of being under the influence of alcohol. After a DUI investigation, the driver was arrested and held for a sobering period.

Petty Theft – Suspect Arrested
February 14 at 8:55 a.m., a clerk at a business in the 1500 block of S. Myrtle phoned stating a female subject took items from the store without paying for them. A description was given and she was located near the platform at the train station. The items were recovered and she was issued a citation for theft and released in the field.

Fraud
February 14 at 11:11 a.m., a resident in the 300 block of Valley Circle reported her EBT card had been compromised and was used without her permission. She still had her card in her possession and has no idea how someone got the information. This investigation is continuing.

Public Intoxication
February 14 at 2:00 p.m., an employee at a business in the 200 block of W. Foothill said a male subject came into their lobby and requested a cab. They asked him to step outside and they would call him a cab, but as he was walking out, he urinated in his pants and it came out onto their lobby floor. The subject went outside and passed out. Paramedics were summoned when officers arrived and he was transported to the hospital.

Fraud
February 14 at 4:45 p.m., a resident in the 400 block of W. Walnut came in to report her EBT account had been compromised. She is still in possession of her card and didn't give anyone permission to use it. This investigation is continuing.

Fire Assist
February 14 at 5:22 p.m., a fire was reported in the 100 block of W. Colorado. Officers arrived and found flames inside the oven. A fire extinguisher was used to put out the fire. Monrovia Fire and Rescue arrived and assumed control of the situation.

Fraud
February 14 at 5:34 p.m., a resident in the 100 block of Montana reported his EBT account had been compromised. It's unknown how it was compromised since he still has his card. Nobody had permission to use his card. This investigation is continuing.

Recovered Stolen Bicycle
February 14 at 10:52 p.m., while patrolling the area of 100 S. Myrtle an officer observed a subject in possession of a bicycle that had been reported stolen in the 400 block of W. Huntington. The subject told officers he traded his own bicycle for the stolen bicycle with one of our local transients. The bicycle was returned to the owner.

Domestic Violence – Suspect Arrested
February 14 at 11:26 p.m., a victim in the 1300 block of S. Alta Vista called to report her husband had choked and threatened to kill her during an argument. The victim said she was at work while the husband watched their kids. When she arrived home, she discovered he was asleep and none of the kids had been fed. When she awakened him, he assaulted her and threatened to kill her. The husband was arrested for domestic violence. He was arrested and taken into custody.

Grand Theft Auto Recovery
February 15 at 8:53 a.m., an employee from an auto processing yard in the 3300 block of S. Peck phoned to report a vehicle they have on their lot as scrap, came back reported stolen. An officer arrived recovered the vehicle.

Grand Theft Auto
February 15 at 9:53 a.m., an employee at a rental car business in the 1100 block of E. Huntington phoned to report one of their rental cars that has been gone since September 2021 has not yet been returned. A report for GTA by embezzlement was taken and the vehicle was listed as stolen.

Possession of Drug Paraphernalia – Suspect Arrested
February 15 at 2:25 p.m., a resident in the 100 block of N. Madison saw a female transient walking through front yards with what looked like an open container of alcohol in her hand. Another resident called to say the female went into a backyard. Officers arrived and saw the female sitting in the backyard eating. While speaking with her, they got consent to pat search her. The officer located a glass pipe commonly used to smoke methamphetamine. The female was not under the influence of a narcotic. She was arrested and issued a citation for possession of drug paraphernalia.

Petty Theft – Suspect Arrested
February 15 at 8:04 p.m., officers responded to a business in the 1600 block of S. Mountain regarding a female suspect placing merchandise inside bags and entering the bathroom. The suspect left the store and was detained by officers nearby. A no trespassing form was completed by employees.

Warrant Arrest
February 16 at 2:49 p.m., an officer observed a vehicle commit a traffic violation in the area of Myrtle and Olive. A traffic stop was made on the vehicle. A computer check on the driver revealed he had an outstanding warrant for his arrest. He was arrested and taken into custody.

Fraud
February 16 at 3:21 p.m., a victim came in to the Monrovia Police Department lobby to report her EBT account was compromised. It's unknown how the suspect(s) gained access to her account.

Fraud
February 16 at 4:34 p.m., the victim came in to the Monrovia Police Department lobby to report her EBT account was compromised. It's unknown how the suspect(s) gained access to her account.

Battery 232 W. Colorado
February 16 at 5:47 p.m., the victim in the 200 block of Colorado phoned and said her son hit her in the face with a keychain. Officers arrived and made contact with both parties. The victim desired prosecution and completed a private persons arrest for battery. He was arrested and taken into custody.

Dinner at Sushi Nakata

Dinner at Sushi Nakata, on the south side of Lime just east of Myrtle. Got two orders of yellowtail sushi (four pieces total) for $17 and I ordered an Asahi beer but through the mask it came out “hot sake” ($10). The restaurant was happy to exchange it but I decided to give it a try. All very  tasty. 

- Brad Haugaard 

Safe Routes to and from Schools

The Monrovia School District has released a series of maps showing the safest paths for students walking to and from schools. https://tny.im/Pjrmm

- Brad Haugaard

Hide a Hot Dog and Sergeant Will Find It


Two-year-old Sergeant is an intelligent, active dog who loves playing games! Sergeant is a big fan of puzzles – everything from treats in egg cartons, to snuffle mats, to searching for hidden hot dogs around the room. This smart pup will do best in a home where he has lots of enrichment and games to keep him busy. When Sergeant isn’t solving puzzles, he loves getting attention from his favorite people and getting lots of pets!

The adoption fee for dogs is $150. All dog adoptions include spay or neuter, microchip, and age-appropriate vaccines.

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 and schedule an adoption appointment at pasadenahumane.org. Adoptions are by appointment only, and new adoption appointments are available every Sunday and Wednesday at 10:00 a.m.

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

- Brad Haugaard

A Moment in Monrovia History: Oranges and Snow Capped Mountains

A California anomaly - snow and oranges. . From the Gary Boen collection. See full details here.

For more historic photos and papers, see the Monrovia Historical Society’s complete Legacy Project collection here. Learn more about the Monrovia Historical Society here.

- Brad Haugaard

A Tour of the Canyon Park Mess

Canyon Park is a mess. It is going to cost approximately $10.3 million dollars - maybe a bit less - to fix it up, paid for by federal, state, county, and insurance company money, and - of course - by Monrovia money.

City Manager Dylan Feik gave me a tour of the park (though it'll be closed for a long time) and outlined what the city has planned for restoring it.

The road inside the park is a one car-width lane scraped through the debris. While the road is badly damaged in some places it is not much damaged at all in others. However, Feik said that by the time the heavy equipment clears out all the debris even the parts of the road that appear to be okay will be a mess. Because of that the city plans to redo the road from the concrete sign on Canyon Boulevard to the top of the park. Although there is no real damage to the road above the public rest rooms, he said the pavement is old and with the paving equipment on site the additional cost to do that section should be minimal.

Here the county is busy cleaning out the Sawpit Debris Basin.



Fortunately, none of the buildings in the park were damaged, though the flooding came fairly close. However, Camp Trask, above the park, was badly damaged, with its swimming pool filled to several feet over its top with mud, and the floor of the dining area also covered in mud.

There are three bridges, or "box culverts," in the park as well as the bridge on the road that goes up to Camp Trask Boy Scout Camp. Before the storm you could walk through the culverts under the road, now the lower two of the culverts are filled to the top with mud, and the top culvert has a wad of trees clogging the upper side. The bridge to Camp Trask seems to have survived nicely. 

Here is the lower box culvert. You used to be able to walk through that area below the gray pipe you see in the picture.


Here is the upper box culvert, looking at it from the lower side...


... and here it is from the upper side, clogged with trees.


In places the road has been badly undercut.



Some trees that still look okay for the moment have had their trunks and roots damaged by the debris flow, and will probably die, so they will have to be removed.

- Brad Haugaard

YMCA Grand Opening Today


The Y is reopening today. They’re celebrating with a pancake breakfast. 

- Brad Haugaard 

Monrovia To Conduct Foot Traffic Study - Particularly Around Schools; City's Financial State

At its next meeting (agenda: https://tny.im/Ij8sp) the Monrovia Board of Education will ...

~ Consider hiring Gibson Transportation Consulting for up to $46,270.00 to do a pedestrian safety study. The company would analyze existing pedestrian data and do studies of foot traffic in the city, and particularly around the schools. Details: https://tny.im/91WN

~ Receive the  Annual Comprehensive Financial Report for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021. Despite a global pandemic, an economic recession, and the Bobcat Fire, the General Fund closed the year with an increase of $4,634,647 due to cost cuts and unexpectedly higher revenues. On the negative side, there were increases in the city's pension liability and the city has $165,210,000 in bond debt. Details: https://tny.im/DITpr

~ Receive a mid-fiscal-year financial report that recommends setting aside $1,690,000 in addition to the $1,077,000 the City Council already planned to set aside for a reserve. (The additional amount is from the city's sale of two properties on Primrose near the train station.) Also, the report recommends rehiring  for some positions that were frozen during COVID. Details: https://tny.im/NQvyf

- Brad Haugaard

Homeless Count; City's Draft Housing Element Available; Biking for Bucks Extended; Library Job; Job Fair

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

~ If you want to help in the annual homeless count on  February 22 show up at the Monrovia Community Center (119 West Palm Avenue) at 8 p.m. The count will be recorded on participants' smart phones using a mobile app. For questions email Heather Gibson at hgibson@ci.monrovia.ca.us. 

~  The revised draft housing element of the city's general plan is online, here: https://tny.im/oKOp1. If you have any thoughts about it, submit them before 5 p.m. Tuesday, February 15, to Sheri Bermejo by email at planning@ci.monrovia.ca.us or in person or by mail to City of Monrovia Planning Division, 415 S Ivy Ave, Monrovia, CA 91016. 

~ The city's Biking for Bucks rebate program has been extended to February 28. Through it the City offers to those who live or work in Monrovia a reimbursement for purchases related to bicycle transportation and accessories. Up to $350. Details: https://tny.im/iej9H

~ Monrovia has a job opening for a full time Library Supervisor $76,835-$102,966 per year. Details: https://tny.im/OJDQS

~ Monrovia Chamber of Commerce is putting on its 2022 Career Expo and Job Fair March 10 from 2-7 p.m. at Sierra Auto Group, 1450 S. Shamrock.

- Brad Haugaard

Water Usage and Penalties For Overuse

This graph shows the level of water in the Baldwin Park Key Well. The area between the green line and red line indicates the safe amount of water that can be pumped out of the ground. The black line shows how much actually is being drawn out of the wells.

Because too much is being pumped out now the city has instituted Phase II of its Water Conservation Plan, which means that "customers who fail to reduce their water usage by the required 10% will be billed a penalty of two times the cost of a water billing unit (748 gallons of water) for each unit in excess of what is permitted. For a typical residential unit, the standard penalty is $4.88 per unit in excess."

- Brad Haugaard

Ceremony Honoring Almera Romney as 6th Neighborhood Treasure March 19


On March 19 Monrovia will honor its 6th Neighborhood Treasure honoree, civil rights activist, and former teacher and principle of Huntington School, Almera Romney. There will be an art unveiling and a block party celebration to follow. Free and open to the public. For questions, email map@ci.monrovia.ca.us or call (626) 932-5525.

- Brad Haugaard

Weekly Monrovia Coronavirus Count: 4 Deaths, 160 New Cases

Coronavirus cases from LA Department of Public Health as of 8 p.m., 02/09/2022. Changes since 02/02/2022.

City of Monrovia: 7,964 cases (up 160), 96 deaths (up 4)
Unincorporated Monrovia: 830 cases (up 18), 3 deaths (unchanged)

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Five Thefts from Debit Card Accounts; Man Lying in Parking Lot Won’t Leave; Girlfriend Removal; Cyclist Broadsides Car; Woman Fails to Break Store Window - Arrested; Etc.

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


During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 358 service events, resulting in 59 investigations.

Grand Theft Auto
February 3 at 6:55 a.m., a resident in the 100 block of W. Cypress called to report that his vehicle was stolen sometime during the early morning hours. A report was taken and the vehicle was entered into the stolen vehicle system. This investigation is continuing.

Warrant – Suspect Arrested
February 3 at 2:07 p.m., an officer was patrolling the area of Mayflower and Huntington when he recognized a subject loitering in the area. An investigation revealed she had an outstanding warrant for her arrest. She was arrested and taken into custody.

Warrant – Suspect Arrested
February 3 at 3:57 p.m., while on patrol in the area of California and Duarte an officer noticed a vehicle commit a vehicle code violation and initiated a traffic stop. Further investigation revealed the driver had an outstanding warrant for her arrest. She was arrested and taken into custody.

Missing Located
February 3 at 4:23 p.m., a caller reported an elderly gentlemen was lost and confused while walking in the 200 block of W. Huntington. Officers responded and located the person in question. He wasn't able to answer many questions and appeared to be in need of medical attention. An investigation revealed he had been reported missing out of Palm Springs. He was treated by paramedics and transported to a local hospital. His care taker was notified of his location.

Fraud
February 3 at 6:09 p.m., a victim in the 100 block of E. Cypress called and stated that an unknown suspect withdrew money from her debit account. The victim was still in possession of her access card. This investigation is continuing.

Drug Activity – Suspect Arrested
February 3 at 8:46 p.m., an officer conducted a traffic stop on a bicyclist for a traffic violation near the intersection of Primrose and Cypress. Further investigation revealed the subject was in possession of drug paraphernalia and a controlled substance. He was arrested and taken into custody.

Vandalism
February 4 at 4:03 a.m., an officer patrolling the 300 block of W. Duarte noticed graffiti spray painted on a business wall that had not been there earlier in the night. This investigation is continuing.

Residential Burglary / Battery on a Peace Officer – Suspect Arrested
February 4 at 4:28 a.m., officers responded to a residence in the 300 block of S. Fifth regarding a male subject knocking on the front door. While officers were on the way, the resident advised that the suspect was now inside the house. Upon arrival officers saw the suspect who then began to run. He was detained after trying to break into a neighbor’s house. One of the officers was struck by the suspect while trying to make a detention. The suspect was arrested and taken into custody.

Trespassing
February 4 at 12:04 p.m., an employee from a business in the 400 block of W. Huntington called to report that a subject was lying in the parking lot of the business and refused to leave. An officer arrived and contacted the subject who immediately started yelling at the officer and refused to leave the property. The subject then complained of pain and was transported by paramedics to a local hospital for treatment.

Injury Traffic Collision
February 4 at 5:41 p.m., a caller reported a traffic collision at the intersection of Foothill and Garfield. Officers and paramedics arrived and checked on the wellbeing of the occupants. One of the occupants was transported to a local hospital for treatment. This investigation is continuing.

Trespass / Mental Evaluation – Subject Evaluated
February 5 at 7:34 a.m., a resident in the 900 block of E. Greystone called to report that a suspicious male adult was banging on her back door and refusing to leave. The home owners did not know the subject and had never seen him before. Officers arrived and contacted the subject in the backyard of the property. The subject said he was there to speak with his girlfriend. He then changed his story and said he was waiting for his boss. The subject was not making sense and was confused as to why he was there. The subject's behavior was indicative of a mental health issue. It was determined he needed to be evaluated by a mental health professional and was transported to a local facility for treatment.

Domestic Violence – Suspect Arrested
February 5 at 7:59 p.m., a domestic dispute was reported in the 500 block of E. Colorado. A male caller requested officers remove his girlfriend from the apartment. Officers arrived and discovered a male and female had been involved in an altercation. An investigation was conducted and the female subject was ultimately arrested and taken into custody.

Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
February 6 at 1:00 a.m., an officer was patrolling the area around Olive and Ivy when he saw a driver commit several traffic violations. A traffic stop was initiated and the driver displayed symptoms of being under the influence of alcohol. An investigation was conducted and the driver was arrested for DUI. He was transported to a local hospital for a blood draw before being transported to the Monrovia Police Department jail.

Warrant – Suspect Arrested
February 6 at 8:19 p.m., an officer saw a subject near the intersection of Primrose and Huntington he recognized from previous encounters. An investigation revealed he had an outstanding warrant for his arrest. The suspect was arrested and taken into custody.

Warrant – Suspect Arrested
February 6 at 9:24 p.m., an officer responded to the Redondo Beach Police Department regarding a suspect in their custody who had an outstanding warrant for his arrest out of our city. The officer confirmed the suspect’s identity and took custody of him. He was transported to the Monrovia Police Department jail.

Resist / Delaying a Peace Officer
February 7 at 1:20 a.m., a traffic stop was conducted near the intersection of Duarte and Alamitas for a traffic violation. During the stop, the driver lied about his identity and provided a false name to the officer. He had been cited an hour prior by another agency using the same false name. The officer was able to locate documents that showed the subject's true identity. He was arrested and taken into custody.

Injury Traffic Collision
February 7 at 12:58 p.m., a bicycle traveling west through the alley between Lime and Palm did not look before crossing the street and didn't see the vehicle traveling north on Alta Vista. The bicyclist tried to swerve but struck the side view mirror of the vehicle. Officers arrived and conducted an investigation. He had suffered a minor injury to his nose and was treated by paramedics. The driver of the vehicle was unlicensed and he subsequently received a citation before his vehicle was impounded.

Fraud
February 7 at 2:47 p.m., a victim from the 800 block of W. Duarte came in to report a financial account had been compromised. She had no idea how anyone got into the account because she still has her debit card in possession. This investigation is continuing.

Fraud
February 7 at 2:53 p.m., the victim residing in the 200 block of W. Cypress came in to report her financial account had been compromised. This investigation is continuing.

Theft
February 7 at 4:30 p.m., a theft was reported in the 700 block of W. Huntington. The victim was fueling up her vehicle at a gas station when a male subject got into her vehicle, stole her purse, and other belongings. He ran and got into a silver Honda Accord which fled west on Huntington with a female driver. Officers reviewed surveillance footage and were able to get a license plate on the suspect vehicle. It appears the suspect vehicle was waiting in the parking lot just west of the gas station. This investigation is continuing

Residential Burglary
February 7 at 5:07 p.m., a victim called to report her residence in the 100 block of W. Hillcrest had been burglarized. The officer arrived and conducted an investigation. The point of entry appears to have been a laundry room window. The suspect(s) took a camera and some keys. This investigation is continuing.

Shoplifting
February 7 at 5:51 p.m., an employee at a business in the 700 block of E. Huntington called to report that a male subject came into the location and took merchandise. They have surveillance footage of the suspect in the store and leaving with stolen merchandise. This investigation is continuing.

Fire Assist
February 7 at 8:02 p.m., Monrovia Fire Fighters responded to a brush fire near the intersection of California and Evergreen along the outside of the Gold Line landscaping. Upon arrival they saw a male subject wearing a white shirt walking away from the fire. It’s unknown if the subject was involved in setting the fire or if the fire was intentionally set. Officers were unable to locate the subject. This investigation is continuing.

Attempt Commercial Burglary – Suspect Arrested
February 8 at 5:01 a.m., officers responded to a burglary alarm at a business in the 700 block of E. Huntington. The alarm company advised a suspect was seen on camera attempting to break through the store's front window. Officers arrived and detained a female suspect. It appears she was trying to ram the glass windows with a shopping cart. She was arrested and taken into custody.

Grand Theft Auto
February 8 at 6:40 a.m., a caller stated that his vehicle had been stolen from an apartment building in the 200 block of W. Pomona. He parked it the night before and realized in the morning that he no longer had his keys. He believes he had dropped them upon arriving to the complex. Officers reviewed surveillance footage and were able to see the suspect take the vehicle. This investigation is continuing.

Injury Traffic Collision
February 8 at 11:34 a.m., a traffic accident was reported in the intersection of Magnolia and Olive with one of the vehicles rolled onto its side. Officers arrived and all the occupants of the vehicle had exited safely. After speaking with the involved parties they concluded the collision occurred when one of the vehicles failed to stop at a posted stop sign. The injured parties were treated by paramedics and transported to a local hospital. The driver at fault was issued a citation.

Indecent Exposure – Suspect Arrested
February 8 at 11:53 a.m., an employee from a business in the 200 block of W. Huntington called to report a transient inside with his hands down his pants. After being told to leave he exposed himself as he was walking out of the store. Officers located him a short distance away. He was arrested.

Vandalism
February 8 at 4:13 p.m., a victim called to report his vehicle had been vandalized while parked in the 600 block of E. Foothill. He had parked his vehicle in a rear parking lot of a business. The officer arrived and saw the front passenger window was shattered. Nothing was missing from the vehicle. This investigation is continuing.

Warrants – Suspects Arrested
February 8 at 8:04 p.m., officers responded to a gas station in the 1500 block of S. Myrtle regarding two male suspects who had stolen some items. Both suspects fled on foot towards the Gold Line and were detained by officers on the platform. Further investigation revealed that both suspects had no bail felony warrants for their arrests. Both suspects were arrested and taken into custody.

Fraud
February 9 at 8:36 a.m., victims residing in the 400 block of W. Walnut came in to report fraudulent activity on their debit account. It is unknown how someone got their information and they did not give anyone else permission to use their account. This investigation is continuing.

Fraud
February 9 at 10:51 a.m., a female came into the Monrovia Police Department lobby to report her debit account had been compromised and used without her permission. She had paperwork showing several transactions that she said she did not do. It is unknown how someone got her information. This investigation is continuing

Failure to Yield – Suspect Arrested
February 9 at 1:31 p.m., an officer observed a vehicle commit a traffic violation near the intersection of Myrtle and Duarte. He attempted to catch up to the vehicle and when he did, he initiated a traffic stop. The vehicle failed to yield and continued westbound on Duarte. After a couple of blocks, the vehicle turned into a gas station in Arcadia and the driver put his hands out of the window immediately. A high risk stop was performed and the driver was detained without incident. He was arrested and released with a citation at the scene for evading and the other traffic violations. His vehicle was also impounded.

Warrant – Suspect Arrested
February 9 at 4:05 p.m., a citizen phoned in regarding a suspicious person near the intersection of Mayflower and Evergreen. When officers arrived, they recognized the male subject as being the same subject that ran from them the week prior. He took off running when he saw the officers. A foot pursuit ensued and they eventually detained the subject without incident. He had warrants and a parole hold. He was arrested and taken into custody.

Dinner at Viet Phomula

Dinner at Viet Phomula, on the north side of Lemon just east of Myrtle. Got the BBQ Pork Pho for $14 and a Vietnamese Coffee for $5. Pho was good and the coffee delicious. 

- Brad Haugaard 

Buttercup Ready to Live a Cozy Indoor Life


Four-year-old Buttercup came to us as a stray cat with a litter of kittens. Now, she’s ready to live a cozy indoor life! Buttercup is a little shy at first and needs some time to adjust to new people and surroundings, but once she does, her affectionate side starts to show. Buttercup enjoys head scratches and petting, and purrs a lot when she gets attention. She even gives a gentle head butt when she wants more pets, and is learning to play with toys!

The adoption fee for cats is $100. All cat adoptions include spay or neuter, microchip, and age-appropriate vaccines.

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 and schedule an adoption appointment at pasadenahumane.org. Adoptions are by appointment only, and new adoption appointments are available every Sunday and Wednesday at 10:00 a.m.

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

- Brad Haugaard

A Moment in Monrovia History: Banana Avenue, Now Hillcrest

Postcard showing 115 E. Hillcrest at right. Left is Bynum at 101 E. Hillcrest. Looking west from east of Myrtle Ave. From the Monrovia Legacy Project collection. See full details here.

For more historic photos and papers, see the Monrovia Historical Society’s complete Legacy Project collection here. Learn more about the Monrovia Historical Society here.

- Brad Haugaard

School Board: Average Daily Attendance for Monrovia Schools; February to be Named Black History Month

At its next meeting (agenda: https://tny.im/IYZwx) the Monrovia Board of Education will ...

~ Receive a report on the Average Daily Attendance for Monrovia Schools for the 2021-22 school year. It's 4,741.68. https://tny.im/ezFYe

~ Recognize February 2022 as Black History Month. https://tny.im/1XnhG

~ Honor February Employees of the Month:

  • Kristine Gomez-Brenes, clerical assistant at Clifton
  • Raul Ochoa, teacher at Clifton
  • Araceli Briones, secretary at Monrovia High
  • Peter Davis, teacher at Monrovia High

~ Congratulate the Monrovia High 2021 Boys Varsity Football team on a championship season.

- Brad Haugaard