Lunch at Le Roy’s

Lunch today at Le Roy’s Restaurant, on the north side of Huntington just west of Mayflower. Got the Cold Plate for $10.75 and an iced tea for $3.20. A lot! and good. 

- Brad Haugaard 

Monrovia Police: First Defrauds Him, Then Hits His Car; Packages Stolen from Homes; Suspect Punches Date, Steals Phone; Assault With Broom Handle; Man Attacks Bus With Fists; Etc.

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for August 20-26. - Brad Haugaard]

During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 361 service events, resulting in 89 investigations. 

Non-Injury Hit & Run Traffic Collision
August 20 at 2:21 p.m., a hit and run traffic collision was reported in the 600 block of W. Huntington. The victim confronted a male suspect, in a vehicle, that had previously defrauded him. When confronted, the suspect collided into the victim's vehicle in an attempt to escape. He then drove away without exchanging information for the collision. Officers searched the area for the suspect, but were unable to locate him. This investigation is continuing. 

Vehicle Burglaries
August 20 at 2:40 p.m., a caller reported her vehicle had been burglarized while she was shopping inside a hardware store in the 1600 block of S. Mountain. Officers arrived and discovered that another customer's vehicle had also been rummaged through while the owner was shopping. Several personal items were taken. This investigation is continuing. 

Stolen Vehicle Recovered
August 20 at 9:41 p.m., the manager of a moving truck center called police to report seeing a truck she had reported stolen earlier in the week. The truck was currently parked at a hotel in the 700 block of W. Huntington. Officers responded and located the truck parked in a stall. The vehicle was recovered and removed from the stolen vehicle system. This investigation is continuing. 

Theft From a Vehicle
August 21 at 1:43 p.m., a resident in the 200 block of S. Mayflower reported someone entered her unlocked vehicle sometime during the night and took her purse. Officers arrived and conducted an investigation. This investigation is continuing. 

Theft of a Package
August 21 at 1:53 p.m., a resident in the 500 block of W. Duarte reported a male suspect took an Amazon package from his neighbor's porch, then fled the area with it. Officers responded to the area, but were unable to locate the suspect. They found the empty Amazon box nearby. This investigation is continuing. 

Public Intoxication – Suspect Arrested
August 22 at 3:49 p.m., a caller requested a welfare check on a male subject lying on the sidewalk near the intersection of Myrtle and Central. Officers arrived and recognized the subject from previous encounters. After speaking with him, they determined he did not need medical assistance, but was unable to care for himself due to heavy intoxication. He was arrested and held for a sobering period. 

Mail Theft
August 22 at 9:20 p.m., a resident in the 200 block of N. Encinitas reported that a package had been stolen off his porch. Officers arrived and were able to view surveillance footage of the suspect. The subject was male, in his early 20's, wearing a black hooded sweatshirt and black sweat pants. As the officer was conducting his theft investigation, he learned that packages were stolen from two other homes in the same block. This investigation is continuing. 

Robbery
August 23 at 2:53 a.m., a robbery incident was reported in the 700 block of W. Lemon. The victim met the suspect on a dating website and they agreed to meet at the location. Before leaving, the suspect claimed he could not find his cell phone. The victim attempted to call the suspect’s cell phone to locate it. The suspect then punched the victim in the face, stole the victim’s cell phone and fled the location. Officers arrived and conducted an investigation, which is continuing. 

Domestic Violence – Suspect Arrested
August 23 at 9:29 a.m., a possible domestic violence incident was reported in the 200 block of W. Pomona. Officers arrived and located a male and female subject at the Station Square platform. It was determined the female subject had struck the male subject with a broom handle. The female was arrested for domestic violence. 

False Report / Fire Alarm
August 23 at 11:11 a.m., the Monrovia Fire Department responded to a fire alarm at a hotel in the 700 block of W. Huntington. Monrovia police were requested after an employee reported she witnessed a female subject pull the fire alarm without a fire being present. Officers arrived and retrieved surveillance footage of the suspect. This investigation is continuing. 

Injury Traffic Collision
August 23 at 9:34 p.m., two vehicles struck each other at the intersection of Alta Vista and Chestnut. Officers arrived and found one of the parties was complaining of pain. Paramedics from the Monrovia Fire Department were requested, but the subject refused any treatment. 

Grand Theft Auto
August 24 at 5:06 a.m., officers responded to the 100 block of E. Cypress regarding the report of a stolen vehicle. The owner parked his vehicle in front of his residence at approximately 9:00 p.m. the night before. He returned to the area at 5:00 a.m. the next morning and saw his vehicle was no longer there. Officers conducted an investigation and entered the vehicle into the stolen vehicle system. 

Injury Traffic Collision
August 24 at 10:51 a.m., a trash service truck was traveling in the 800 block of W. Walnut, when a vehicle backed out of a private driveway and collided into it. Officers arrived and conducted an investigation. The driver of the vehicle backing up complained of pain. The driver was transported to a local hospital for treatment. 

Grand Theft
August 24 at 1:47 p.m., officers responded to a business in the 600 block of W. Huntington. Employees reported that a male subject walked into the location and took two iPhones and two Apple Watches, then left the location on foot. Officers checked the area, but were unable to locate the suspect. This investigation is continuing. 

Injury Traffic Collision
August 24 at 4:15 p.m., officers responded to the intersection of Shamrock and Huntington regarding a traffic collision between a vehicle and a motorcycle. Officers arrived and found the motorcycle under a pickup truck. An investigation was conducted, and it was determined that the motorcyclist had run a red light and hit the front of a separate vehicle. The rider was thrown from the bike, and the bike slid on the roadway and struck the truck, which was driving in the opposite direction. The motorcyclist was transported to a local hospital by ambulance with non-life-threatening injuries. 

Vandalism
August 25 at 9:21 p.m., a subject near the intersection of Myrtle and Duarte approached a Foothill Transit bus and hit it with his fists. He caused some damage to the bus and fled the area. Officers arrived and checked the area, but did not locate the suspect. This investigation is continuing. 

Burglary
August 26 at 5:54 a.m., officers responded to the 200 block of W. Duarte regarding a possible break-in. Employees at the location had arrived in the morning and noticed the business was not secure. This investigation is continuing. 

Monrovia Travel Switches to Online

Monrovia Travel Service, at the corner of Myrtle and Lime, is closing its storefront and switching to online and telephone. On request, agents will meet with clients in person. https://is.gd/iD629M

- Brad Haugaard

Could Reach 103 Degrees Today

Heat warning today. Temperatures up to between 95-103 degrees is expected.  From 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. today. https://is.gd/o9vWdH

- Brad Haugaard

Free Youth and Adult Leadership Programs for Monrovians

Monrovia Area Partnership (MAP) will be holding free leadership programs for both youth and adults this fall.

The purpose of MAP is to use "education, training, networking, and activism" to "make Monrovia a fun, safe, and vibrant place to live."

Youth Leadership

The 8-week Youth Leadership Academy starts on September 9 and goes until October 28. Classes held on Wednesday's from 3:30-5 p.m. Participants must be in grades 6-12.

Sept. 9 - Get to Know MAP & Each Other

Sept. 16 - Caring for Yourself & Others

Sept. 23 - How to be a Leader

Sept. 30 - Virtual Tour of Monrovia

Oct. 7 - Virtual Ride Along with Monrovia PD

Oct. 14 - Public Speaking Do's & Don'ts

Oct. 21 - Career Day

Oct. 28 - Action!

Nov. 17 - Virtual Graduation @ City Council Zoom Meeting

Details: https://is.gd/RTym4k

Adult Leadership

The 8-week Adult Leadership Academy starts on September 10 and goes until October 29. Classes held on Thursday's from 7-9 p.m.

Sept. 10 - Get to Know MAP & Each Other

Sept. 17 - History of Monrovia

Sept. 24 - How to be a Leader

Oct. 1 - Local Government 101

Oct. 8 - Achieving Community Trust (ACT) Program

Oct. 15 - Community Tools & Resources

Oct. 22 - Public Speaking in Local Government

Oct. 29 - Action!

Virtual Graduation Nov. 17 during live City Council Meeting

Details: https://is.gd/3GrxrH

- Brad Haugaard

Russian Arrested in Monrovia for Allegedly Conspiring to Install Malicious Software on Nevada Company's Computer

A Russian has been arrested in Monrovia after allegedly trying to work a deal with an employee of a Nevada company to install malicious software on his company's computer system. The FBI arrested Egor Igorevich Kriuchkov, 27, with assistance by the Monrovia police. https://is.gd/Z3dvvm and https://is.gd/mwubld

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Coronavirus Count: 663, Up 7

Coronavirus cases from LA Department of Public Health as of 8 p.m., 8/24/2020. Changes since 8/22/2020.

City of Monrovia: 663 cases (up 7), 35 deaths (unchanged)
Unincorporated Monrovia: 74 cases (up 2), no deaths
Glen Park at Monrovia: 2 cases (unchanged), no deaths

Note: I'm planning to switch this from a daily to a weekly report that would appear on Thursday. Anybody really anxious that it remain daily?

- Brad Haugaard

Caramela: Bright Eyed, Alert, and Friendly

One-year-old Caramela was found as a stray, injured, and in need of emergency surgery – but now she’s all healed up and eager to be adopted! Despite all she’s been through, Caramela is bright-eyed, alert, and friendly. Even when she was in a fashionable cone after her surgery, she still leaned into people’s hands for head rubs while making biscuits. In her foster home, Caramela revealed that she’s an excellent toy hunter. This well-rounded gal would be a wonderful addition to any home!

The adoption fee for cats is $90. 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 at pasadenahumane.org and fill out an online adoption application. Adoptions are by appointment only.

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

- Brad Haugaard

Father of New Washington Football Team President Says Education and Faith Helped Put Jason Wright Where He is Today

Jason Wright, recently appointed as the first black president of an NFL team (https://is.gd/7DVCVg), the Washington Football Team, formerly the Washington Redskins, is the son of Monrovia State Farm Insurance agent, Sam Wright.

In an email, Sam Wright said, "My wife and I are obviously very proud of him. We tried to provide role modeling for him much the same way our parents did for us. We stressed education and faith. Both these things played a role in where he is today."

- Brad Haugaard

Mosquito Warning and Win

The San Gabriel Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District is hanging these alerts on front doors in Monrovia (we just got one). Mosquitoes carrying the West Nile Virus were recently discovered in the San Gabriel Valley, Pomona to be exact.

While warning of the dangers and urging people to dump any containers of standing water, the district is actually celebrating its success against the mosquitoes. Coming up on World Mosquito Day, the district reports on its "Short Bites" blog, that, "it appears we've got the upper hand. Through the work of our stealthiest mosquito-fighting crew (A.K.A. You), mosquito numbers were down by 67% last week compared to 2019! A true win for World Mosquito Day."

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Coronavvirus Count: 656, Up 4; No New Deaths

Coronavirus cases from LA Department of Public Health as of 8 p.m., 8/22/2020. Changes since 8/21/2020.

City of Monrovia: 656 cases (up 4), 35 deaths (unchanged)
Unincorporated Monrovia: 72 cases (unchanged), no deaths
Glen Park at Monrovia: 2 cases (unchanged), no deaths

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Coronavirus Count: 652 - Up 8

Coronavirus cases from LA Department of Public Health as of 8 p.m., 8/21/2020. Changes since 8/19/2020.

City of Monrovia: 652 cases (up 8), 35 deaths (unchanged)
Unincorporated Monrovia: 72 cases (up 1), no deaths
Glen Park at Monrovia: 2 cases (unchanged), no deaths

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Coronavirus Count: 644 - Up 8; One More Death

Coronavirus cases from LA Department of Public Health as of 8 p.m., 8/19/2020. Changes since 8/18/2020.

City of Monrovia: 644 cases (up 8), 35 deaths up 1
Unincorporated Monrovia: 71 cases (up 1), no deaths
Glen Park at Monrovia: 2 cases (unchanged), no deaths

- Brad Haugaard

Rent a Garden Spot for $60 a Year

If you're a Monrovian - or have family in Monrovia schools - and you'd like to rent a garden spot in the Monrovia Community Garden (at Mountainside Communion Church, at the corner of Magnolia and Colorado), they're available for $60 a year. Scholarships available. Deadline for applications is August 28 and the program runs from October to October 2021. About the program here (https://is.gd/sgWR97), and application here (https://is.gd/6sjAJT).

- Brad Haugaard

Mountain Avenue to Be Re-Repaved

In response to a complaint about a poor job of resurfacing Mountain Avenue, Council Member Becky Shevlin responded on the Nextdoor social media network that, "There were several application issues with the contractor and the work did not perform as desired. The contractor tried a couple of means of fixing it, and, ultimately, the City never paid the contractor for the work."

So, after all of the Monrovia Renewal phases are complete the city is going to "perform a 2-inch Grind and Overlay of Mountain Avenue," which I believe means that they'll grind off the top two inches of paving and repave it.

The idea of doing it after all the other phases are complete is because Monrovia "is pursuing Highway Safety Improvement Funds to overhaul traffic signals, including two signals on Mountain Avenue. If we successfully receive funding for the project, the two signaled intersections on Mountain (Lemon and Royal Oaks) will be cut up pretty extensively, which will destroy any new pavement put in place.

"Practically speaking," Shevlin writes "we should hold off on any major pavement work until we do any other improvements around the intersections."

- Brad Haugaard