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

Dinner at Chili's

 
Dinner at Chili's, on Huntington. Got the Santa Fe chicken salad for $10.89 and a beer for $6.09. The salad started life a bit bigger than you see here but I accidentally took a couple bites before snapping a picture. Anyway, nice and spicy and tasty.

- Brad Haugaard 

Elderly Woman Trapped Under Big Rig in Monrovia

An elderly woman was trapped when her car drifted under a big rig on the 210 Freeway in Monrovia. Minor injuries. https://goo.gl/ei0tMy

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Gang Graffiti; Cocaine; Helpful Helicopter; Woman Threatened With Gun; Etc.

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for January 16-18. - Brad Haugaard]

During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 374 service events, resulting in 64 investigations.

Public Intoxication – Suspect Arrested
January 16 at 6:37 p.m., officers responded to a domestic disturbance at a residence in the 500 block of Los Angeles. Upon arrival, they contacted a male adult in front of the house, who was too intoxicated to care for himself. The subject was arrested for being drunk in public and was held for a sobering period.

Petty Theft – Suspect Arrested
January 16 at 7:10 p.m., a petty theft incident was reported at a business in the 400 block of W. Duarte. A witness reported that the suspect fled across Duarte Road. The Foothill Air Support helicopter was in the area overhead and saw the suspect walking north in the wash. Officers detained the suspect near Genoa and the wash. He was arrested for petty theft and received a citation to appear in court on the charges.

Vandalism
January 16 at 7:23 p.m., a vandalism incident was reported in the 600 block of S. Primrose. The victim reported gang graffiti that had been spray painted all over his garage. The investigation is continuing.

Warrant – Suspect Arrested
January 16 at 11:21 p.m., an officer was on patrol in the 300 block of W. Huntington and observed two subjects loitering in the parking lot near a closed business. He contacted the subjects and a computer check revealed one of the subjects had a warrant for his arrest. The subject was arrested for the warrant.

Possession of a Controlled Substance / Warrant – Suspect Arrested
January 1 at 11:54 p.m., an officer stopped a vehicle at Fifth and Huntington for vehicle code violations. A computer check of the driver revealed he had several warrants for his arrest. During a search of his vehicle, officers recovered a bindle of cocaine near the driver's seat. The driver was arrested for the warrants and possession of cocaine. The vehicle was stored.

Residential Burglary – One Suspect Arrested
January 17 at 10:25 a.m., officers responded to a residence in the 200 block of W. Colorado regarding a residential burglary. A witness reported that two suspects entered the victim's garage and took a bicycle. The officers located and arrested one of the suspects. The Foothill Air Support helicopter and additional units searched for the second suspect, who rode off with the bicycle, but officers did not locate him. Through investigation, officers learned the identity of the second suspect and he was positively identified in a photo line-up by the witness. The suspect was entered into the law enforcement computer system as a wanted person for the residential burglary. The investigation is continuing.

Weapon Offense – Suspect Arrested
January 17 at 8:46 p.m., an adult female called police and reported that her ex-boyfriend pointed a handgun at her and threatened her. Officers arrived and detained the suspect. During the investigation, a loaded pistol was recovered from the suspect's house and he was arrested. An Emergency Protective Order against the suspect was issued by the court.

Residential Burglary / Resisting and Delaying a Peace Officer – Suspect Arrested
January 17 at 11:10 p.m., an officer on patrol observed a subject riding a bicycle in the 400 block of W. Huntington that he knew was wanted for a residential burglary. The subject fled when he saw the officer, but was eventually detained on Cypress. The suspect was arrested and taken into custody.

Vehicle Tampering – Suspect Arrested
January 18 at 10:23 p.m., a male adult subject was seen walking along Hillcrest at Alta Vista, attempting to get into locked vehicles. Officers responded and detained the suspect a few blocks away and he was positively identified by the witness as the suspect. He was arrested and taken into custody. The suspect was later released on a citation to appear in court.

How Growing Native Plants is Different

At the Monrovia Garden Club meeting, Barbara Eisentein will discuss how native plant gardening practices differ from those used in traditional or ornamental landscapes, and give tips on how to succeed with natives. The meeting is Jan. 24 at 7 p.m., downstairs at First Presbyterian Church, 101 E Foothill Blvd. It is open to the public.

- Brad Haugaard

Speed Dating at Monrovia Library


Speed Dating at the Library for Adults 40+. Meet someone special in the new year! Join us for refreshments, icebreakers, and fun. Registration is required, register via the library’s event calendar by selecting the speed dating event on the date of February 14.

- Brad Haugaard

Restoration About to Begin on Old Train Station; Election Options; Huntington Median Project Starts Shortly; Cheaper Fire Insurance? Etc.

The red part of Station Square will be blocked off for renovation.

From City Manager Oliver Chi's weekly report ( https://goo.gl/FhVhQF )...

~ Here are your choices in the April 11 city election: For mayor, either incumbent Tom Adams or challenger Mark Harris. For city council you get to choose two of the following: challenger Clifford DeCosta, incumbent Larry J. Spicer, incumbent Alexander C. Blackburn.

~ Restoration begins next week on the Historic Santa Fe Depot. It should be done by this June or July. Public access to the Station Square Promenade will be restricted for the duration of the construction. The area in red in the image will be blocked off.

~ The Huntington Drive median improvement project begins on Jan. 23 and should be done by late March, making the median more drought tolerant. It involves switching to automated drip irrigation, removing 27 dead or diseased trees and replacing them with 60 new ones, and planting more than 7,500 plants.

~ The fire department is being assessed on Jan. 24 by the Insurance Services Office. If it can bring its ISO rating up from class 3 to class 2 or 11, Monrovia property owners could see a 6-8% decrease in fire insurance premiums.

~ Chon Cervantes, the city's Building Official, will retire after 30 years. His last day will be Thursday, Feb. 2. His going away breakfast party, called "Stop Work Notice" will be held Feb. 2 at 9 a.m. in the city's Emergency Operations Center in the Police building. You are welcome to come. Replacing Cervantes will be Evan Knuckles, current Senior Combination Inspector.

~ City sewers are being cleaned and inspected using a Closed Circuit TV system, starting on Jan. 17 in northwest Monrovia. It'll take a bit over six months to do the whole city.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Busy Burglars; Boyfriend Chokes Girlfriend; Car Hits Tree Hits Car; Etc.

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for January 12-15. - Brad Haugaard]

Following are the weekend’s highlighted issues and events.

Commercial Burglaries
January 13 at 3:21 a.m., an alarm activation was reported at business in the 600 block of W. Huntington Drive. Officers arrived and found the front doors had been pried open. Video surveillance of the business revealed the suspects were two male Blacks, one was dressed in all red and was wearing a mask and black gloves. The second suspect was wearing dark clothing with a dark mask and white gloves. The loss was undetermined. The suspects forced entry with a yellow crowbar.

A second burglary alarm activation was reported a few minutes later at 3:28 a.m. in the 900 block of E. Huntington. Officers arrived and found the front doors to this business had also been pried open. Video surveillance revealed the same two suspects committed both burglaries. The loss appeared to be narcotics from the pharmacy at the second location. A green SUV type vehicle was seen leaving the area. The investigations are continuing.

Domestic Violence – Suspect Arrested
January 13 at 8:45 a.m., a female adult phoned from a residence in the 200 block of Terrace View to report she had been beaten up by her boyfriend. Officers responded to the residence and spoke to both parties. The victim reported that her boyfriend strangled and struck her, and she had visible injuries. The male suspect admitted to the allegations and he was arrested. He later bonded out of custody. The victim was notified and provided an Emergency Protective Order.

Injury Traffic Collision
January 13 at 7:56 p.m., a traffic collision was reported at Myrtle and Huntington. A vehicle made a turning movement to maneuver around a bus and lost control. The vehicle jumped the center median and struck a tree. The tree then fell over and struck a passing vehicle. The only injury was to a passenger in the primary vehicle.

Drug Offense – Suspect Arrested
January 14 at 9:10 p.m., a caller reported a possible drunk driver in the 1300 block of S. Fifth Avenue. An officer arrived and located a vehicle that matched the description of the possible drunk driver. The officer made a traffic stop and the investigation revealed the driver was in possession of drug paraphernalia. The suspect was arrested and taken into custody.

Warrant – Suspect Arrested
January 15 at 1:11 a.m., officers were on patrol in the 400 block of S. Myrtle Avenue and recognized a suspect who had an outstanding arrest warrant. They contacted the suspect, confirmed the warrant and took him into custody. The suspect is being held pending his court appearance.

Warrant – Suspect Arrested
January 15 at 1:23 a.m., officers were on patrol in the 100 block of E. Lemon Avenue and recognized another subject who they knew had an outstanding arrest warrant. They contacted the suspect, confirmed the warrant and took him into custody. The suspect is being held pending a court appearance.

Volunteer for Homeless Count in Monrovia

If you'd like to volunteer for the homeless count in Monrovia on Jan. 24, contact the city at ssantos@ci.monrovia.ca.us or at 256-5575. https://goo.gl/fE7z5H

- Brad Haugaard

Stream Full at Monrovia Canyon Park

Stream Full in Monrovia Park The rain has filled the stream at Monrovia Canyon Park. 

- Brad Haugaard 

Monrovia Council to Consider Sharing Officer With Bradbury; Proposed County Tax; Homeless Count; Street-Cutting; Etc.

At the next Monrovia City Council meeting (agenda: https://goo.gl/YyF7uZ ), the council will ...

~ Consider approving a memo of understanding with Bradbury to share the cost of a community services officer, who would investigate "crimes that have already occurred which have little or no workable leads, investigate non-injury traffic collisions, enforce parking restrictions, write crime reports, and handle other public safety related tasks for police officers." https://goo.gl/6fiido

~ Discuss a proposed 1/4-cent sales tax proposed by LA County to fund homeless services, rental subsidies, and housing projects. If passed, the total county sales tax would be 9.5%, the highest county sales tax in the state. https://goo.gl/CMQ0Or

~ Hear a report by City Manager Oliver Chi on the homeless count.

~ Consider - mostly - prohibiting companies from cutting into streets for three to five years following road construction (as is going on now). The idea is that companies should do their under-the-road work before the city fixes the streets rather than just after. https://goo.gl/8h8CVx

~ Consider adding a four-way stop at Scenic and Canyon. https://goo.gl/BQ5Hys (Comment: While you're at it, consider one for the corner of Chestnut and Alta Vista ( https://goo.gl/vMu26I ).

~ Review a report on legislative positions on various water and stormwater topics taken by the San Gabriel Valley Council of Government. Here they are: https://goo.gl/e2QirV

- Brad Haugaard

Dinner at Mikomi Sushi

 
Dinner last night at Mikomi Sushi, on Myrtle just below the theater. Got the spicy pork ($14) and a large beer ($6). The pork came with tempura, salad and rice. Excellent!

- Brad Haugaard 

Monrovia Police: Someone Broke Into Old Monrovia Train Station; Citation for Shoplifting; Stolen Car Arrest; Etc.

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for January 9-11. - Brad Haugaard]

During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 367 service events, resulting in 71 investigations.

Fight in Progress
January 9 at 1:43 p.m., officers responded to a possible fight in progress at an apartment complex in the 500 block of Duarte. The fight involved two male roommates, one of the roommates jumped out the rear apartment window when officers arrived and fled, but officers located him on Duarte Road. Paramedics were called for injuries the subject sustained from the fight with the roommate. Both subjects were uncooperative with the officers, but one agreed to leave the location.

Grand Theft Auto / Violation of Restraining Order / Possession of Access Card – Suspects Arrested
January 9 at 9:59 p.m., an officer ran a computer check on a vehicle and discovered it was a stolen vehicle. The officer followed the vehicle until assisting units could arrive and then a high-risk stop of the vehicle was conducted at Second and California in Arcadia. Two subjects were detained. Computer checks of both subjects revealed they had a domestic violence restraining order in place. The female subject was the protected party and the male was the restrained subject. Both subjects were arrested for the restraining order violation and the female driver was charged with grand theft auto and possession of someone else’s credit card.

Driving Under the Influence / Traffic Collision – Suspect Arrested
January 9 at 5:17 a.m., officers responded to a traffic collision where a vehicle collided at the dead end of Peck, just south of the train station. The driver was not injured and was determined to be driving under the influence. The driver was arrested.

Vehicle Burglary
January 10 at 7:16 a.m., a vehicle burglary was reported in the 200 block of Monroe Place. The victim parked his vehicle on the street around 3:00 a.m. When he returned to his vehicle later in the morning, he found the interior had been ransacked. A laptop computer and cell phone were taken from the trunk. The investigation is continuing.

Shoplifting – Suspect Arrested
January 11 at 12:02 p.m., officers responded to a business in the 1600 block of S. Mountain regarding a subject detained by store loss prevention for shoplifting. The subject concealed merchandise in a tool bag and left the location without paying for the items. The subject was arrested and released on a citation to appear in court on the charges.

Bicycle Theft
January 11 at 1:00 p.m., a bicycle was reported stolen from the 300 block of W. Central. The victim reported that the bicycle was stolen from an unlocked garage. The investigation is continuing.

Bicycle Theft
January 11 at 2:50 p.m., a bicycle was reported stolen from the 600 block of W. Palm. The victim locked his bicycle to a palm tree in his front yard. When he returned, he found his bicycle was gone and the lock was on the grass. The investigation is continuing.

Trespass / Found Property
January 11 at 8:46 p.m., officers were dispatched to a possible trespassing incident at the old Monrovia Train Station. It appears someone pried off a board and possibly made entry into the dwelling. Personal property was located and taken for safe keeping. The investigation is continuing.

Events at Monrovia Library

Friend Speed Dating, story times, homework help, book club, etc. https://goo.gl/Mxsx6S

- Brad Haugaard

Myrtle to Be Closed for Disney Filming | Athens to Take Over Monrovia Graffiti Removal

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

~ Monrovia will close Myrtle between Lemon and Colorado on Jan. 16 - and there will be traffic control on Myrtle on Jan. 17 - so Walt Disney Studios can film a movie called "Magic Camp," about a group of middle-school aged kids who go to a camp to learn magic tricks. Filming should be from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

~ Athens Services will take over graffiti removal for Monrovia, as it has in other local cities, with the coming retirement of Bill Marino, the city's current graffiti abatement contractor. Same process, though. To report graffiti, call Monrovia's Graffiti Hotline at 836-3654 and leave the location, date, and time that you saw the graffiti.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Company Ripped Off On-Line; Returning Products She Hadn't Bought; Man Punches Windshield; Catalytic Converter Sawn Off; Etc.

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for January 5-8. - Brad Haugaard]

Following are the weekend’s highlighted issues and events.

Vehicle Tampering / Under the Influence of a Controlled Substance – Suspect Arrested
January 5 at 7:12 a.m., officers responded to the report of a suspicious male adult pulling on the handles to several parked vehicles in the 100 block of W. Lemon. Officers arrived and located a male subject matching the suspect description. They contacted the subject and noticed he displayed signs of being under the influence of a controlled substance. A witness identified him as the suspect tampering with vehicles. The suspect was not able to convey a reason why he would be looking into vehicles. He was arrested for being under the influence of a controlled substance and vehicle tampering.

Attempt Burglary
January 5 at 2:53 p.m., officers were dispatched to a residence in the 600 block of S. Primrose on the report of an attempt burglary. Officers found that a window pane to the front door of the residence had been shattered, but the door was secure because of a key deadbolt. Officers cleared the residence and the homeowner found that nothing had been disturbed. The investigation is continuing.

Grand Theft
January 5 at 4:30 p.m., a grand theft was reported at a business in the 1300 block of S. Myrtle. The investigation revealed that a large quantity of merchandise had been ordered online from the business. The suspect had the merchandise shipped out of state. When payment was not received, the victim contacted the alleged buyer, who informed the victim they did not order the merchandise and no product was delivered to them or any of their customers. The investigation is continuing.

Shoplifting / Possession of a Controlled Substance / Warrant – Suspect Arrested
January 5 at 11:10 p.m., a female suspect was reported shoplifting from a business in the 1600 block of S. Mountain Avenue. The suspect entered the business and selected merchandise. She approached the return counter and attempted to complete a return of the store merchandise with an altered identification card, which was denied. She fled the store, but was detained by officers outside. The investigation revealed the suspect was in possession of narcotics, a wallet with stolen identification from Palm Springs and she had an outstanding warrant out of San Bernardino County. The suspect was arrested and taken into custody.

Vehicle Burglary
January 6 at 9:34 p.m., a vehicle burglary was reported at a business parking lot in the 800 block of W. Huntington. The victim parked and locked her vehicle in the parking lot of the business and went inside. She returned to find her passenger window had been smashed and items had been taken from the front seat of her vehicle. The investigation is continuing.

Violation of Restraining Order – Suspect Arrested
January 7 at 11:03 a.m., officers responded to a residence in the 200 block of N. Shamrock regarding the violation of a restraining order. The parent of the subject being protected by the restraining order called police and reported that his daughter's ex-boyfriend was at the location with his daughter. Officers arrived and located the subjects inside the residence. They arrested the male subject for violation of the restraining order.

Shoplifting / Fraud – Suspects Arrested
January 7 at 11:29 a.m., loss prevention from a business in the 1600 block of S. Mountain called police to report two male suspects attempting to commit fraud. The suspects selected merchandise from inside the store and were attempting to return the merchandise for credit. After the transaction was completed, one suspect was detained by officers, but the second fled the store on foot. Officers gave chase and eventually detained the suspect near Shamrock and Duarte Road. He was arrested and taken into custody without further incident.

Vandalism – Suspect Arrested
January 7 at 7:08 p.m., a vandalism incident was reported in the area of Magnolia and Huntington. A female and male subject who are boyfriend and girlfriend were involved in a verbal argument that escalated. The boyfriend punched the windshield of the victim’s vehicle, causing damage. The suspect was located driving away from the area and his vehicle was stopped by officers. He was arrested for the vandalism.

Commercial Burglary
January 8 at 10:38 a.m., a commercial burglary was reported at a business in the 900 block of W. Huntington. The manager of the business called police to report the front door of the business was unlocked and the store safe was open. Merchandise was taken from the safe. No suspects were located and the investigation is continuing.

Theft of Vehicle Parts
January 8 at 11:31 a.m., an officer was dispatched to the 300 block E. Walnut regarding a theft of vehicle parts. The victim reported that someone had cut the catalytic converter off her Toyota Camry sometime during the night. The investigation is continuing.

Residential Burglary
January 8 at 6:29 p.m., a residential burglary was reported in the 1400 block of Pilgrim Way. The resident left the location at 6:00 p.m., locking and setting the alarm. The alarm company notified police of an activation to the rear door and interior motion. Officers arrived and discovered the rear door had been forced open. No suspects were located and nothing was found missing. The investigation is continuing.

Residential Burglary
January 8 at 8:08 p.m., officers responded to a residence in the 500 block of E. Foothill regarding a burglary. The victim left the location at 4:30 p.m., securing the doors to the residence. The victim returned to find the kitchen window had been forced open and electronic items were missing. The investigation is continuing.

Emergency Training Course to be Held February

Monrovia Fire and Rescue and Monrovia CERT will hold a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Basic Training in February 2017.

The training will be held from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on: Saturday, Feb. 4; Saturday, Feb. 11; and Saturday, Feb. 18, at Monrovia Fire Station 102, at 2055 S. Myrtle Ave.

In this CERT class you will develop skills to help you be better prepared to take care of yourself and your family when disaster strikes, no matter where you are - home, work or play. The coursework follows the FEMA curriculum and includes the following subjects:

  • Disaster Preparedness
  • Fire Safety/Fire Suppression
  • Light Search & Rescue
  • Disaster Medical Operations
  • Disaster Psychology
  • Terrorism
  • CERT Organization & Incident Command System

The final day of class includes a disaster drill, giving participants an opportunity to put what they have learned into action.

You must be 18 or over and live or work in Monrovia.

Class size is limited. Participants must pre-register and must complete all three class sessions to receive a certificate.

To register, please email: sdobson@ci.monrovia.ca.us with your name, address and phone number. Please put "CERT Course Registration" in the subject line.

A confirmation email with information on parking and other course details will be sent to you once your registration is complete.

Source: Monrovia Fire Department press release

- Brad Haugaard

A Volcanic Speech At Monrovia Rockhounds Meeting

Alfredo Petrov will speak on, "Collecting minerals on active volcanos in Japan" at the Monrovia Rockhounds meeting at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 19 at the Methodist Church, 119 E. Palm Ave. He will show pictures of travel on volcanos, rare minerals - including a few rare gemstones from a volcano - and aspects of Japanese culture, so there should be something for those who like mineralogy and those more interested in cultures and travel. Please enter the basement from the driveway on the west side.

- Brad Haugaard

Dinner at 1776

 
Dinner at the new 1776, a sports bar on the east side of Myrtle just south of Lemon. Got the John Quincy Adams, a buffalo chicken sandwich, for $11 and a beer for $6.  Very good!

- Brad Haugaard 

Monrovia Police: Fence Cutting; Counterfeit; Mail Theft; Son Won't Go Away; Etc.

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for January 2-4. - Brad Haugaard]

During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 264 service events, resulting in 37 investigations.

Vandalism
January 2 at 6:09 p.m., a vandalism was reported in the 500 block of N. Alta Vista. The officer responded to the location regarding a damaged fence at a private lot. No one saw how the damage occurred. After reviewing surveillance video, it appeared a male adult was walking his dog up the hill off Sky Way on a private lot. The subject was unable to exit so he cut the chain link fence to exit the property. It is unknown where he entered from. He was last seen walking east down Sky Way and out of view. The investigation is continuing.

Counterfeit US Currency
January 3 at 3:10 p.m., a business in the 500 block of W. Huntington called police to report a patron attempting to pass a counterfeit bill. The suspect left the store prior to the police arrival. The suspect opened an account with a name, phone and email prior to making his purchase. As the suspect was leaving, the clerk realized the $100 bill was counterfeit. Further investigation revealed that the information the suspect used to open the store account was false. The investigation is continuing.

Grand Theft
January 3 at 5:13 p.m., an officer responded to a business in the 600 block of W. Huntington Dr. regarding the theft of a wallet. The victim told the officer she was approached by a female who distracted the victim by asking her information about store products. The suspect was able to take the victim’s wallet from her purse while she was distracted. The investigation is continuing.

Warrant – Suspect Arrested
January 4 at 4:48 a.m., an officer on patrol stopped a bicyclist for a vehicle code violation in the area of Foothill and Canyon. Further investigation revealed the subject had a $50,000 warrant for his arrest. The suspect was arrested and taken to the Monrovia Police Department where he was booked.

Violation of Court Order – Suspect Arrested
January 4 at 10:36 a.m., an officer responded to a call at a residence in the 200 block of Stedman regarding a violation of a court order. The Victim was a parent who served her son with a restraining order to stay away from the residence. The adult son was served and refused to leave the property. The subject was arrested for the violation of court order.

Mail Theft
January 4 at 4:14 p.m., a resident called the police to report a female subject was stealing mail in the 500 block of Norumbega. The female was seen running with the mail to an awaiting mid-size, silver truck. The vehicle sped off south on Norumbega. The suspect was a female Hispanic between 20-30 years old wearing a white sweatshirt and pants. The officers checked the area for the suspects but were unable to locate them. The investigation is continuing.

Public Intoxication – Suspect Arrested
January 4 at 7:58 p.m., officers were dispatched to a business in the 400 block of S. Myrtle regarding a suspicious subject. Officers contacted the subject and an investigation revealed the subject was too intoxicated and unable to take care of himself. The suspect was arrested.

Profile of Monrovia Street Fair's Pianist

The story of a popular Old Town Monrovia street musician, Dr. Adam Kendall, the man with the piano and the little white dog. Touching. https://goo.gl/TzlgIb

- Brad Haugaard