Police To Get Training On Mental Illness; Grand Opening of Train Station; Music in Old Town; Sidewalk Survey

In his weekly update, Monrovia City Manager Oliver Chi said ...

- Police Chief Hunt has developed a new four-hour training program for police officers to help them deal with those suffering from a mental illness.

- Another celebration at the train station. At around 11:30 a.m. on March 5 the Metro train will arrive at Monrovia's Station Square, and the city will officially cut the ribbon to open the Monrovia Gold Line Station to the public.

- BMW of Monrovia is paying to extend the Saturday evening music in Old Town through this July.

- There will be a sidewalk condition survey this week in the area bordered on the north by Colorado Boulevard, the south by the 210 Freeway, and on the the east and west by the city boundaries. You'll be able to tell the workers because a lot of 'em will be riding Segways.

- Brad Haugaard

Robotics Championship Coming to Monrovia High

The Regional Robotics Championships are coming to Monrovia High School on on Feb. 27. Top teams from the Los Angeles area, including from Monrovia High, which has one of the best programs in the region, will begin competitions at 10 a.m. in the Event Center. The event is free and all are welcome.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Garden Club Hosting Water Management Speaker

Monrovia Garden Club will hold its monthly meeting on February 23, at 7 p.m., with social time and refreshments at 6:30 p.m. in Fellowship Hall at First Presbyterian Church, 101 E. Foothill Blvd. The speaker will be Wendy Wert from the Los Angeles Sanitation District, who will speak on water management, waste water, water conservation and composting.

- Brad Haugaard

Cell Phone Tracks Suspects | Showers Tonight?

~ Monrovia victim's stolen phone helps track down suspects. http://goo.gl/QO2yaL

~ 70% chance of showers tonight. https://goo.gl/0qMTb8

- Brad Haugaard

Bombing Closes Hospital Supported by Monrovia-Based World Vision

Monrovia-based Christian relief agency, World Vision, reports that bombing in northern Syria has closed a hospital it supports that specializes in maternal, newborn and children's health. Windows were shattered and the structure damaged, though no patients were hurt. http://goo.gl/rZjlAk

- Brad Haugaard

Unity Celebration Sponsored by Monrovia's Bethel AME Church

On Saturday, February 27, Bethel AME Church, Monrovia will host its second Annual Unity Celebration at the Monrovian Restaurant Banquet Room at 534 S. Myrtle Ave. Residents of Monrovia and surrounding areas are invited. Dinner tickets are $45 per person.

This event will showcase civic unity as well as honor a great embodiment of this theme, Former Mayor of Duarte, Lois Gaston, the First African American Woman to hold the position. She was named the 44th Assembly District Woman of the Year in March 2009 by Assemblyman Anthony Portantino. She has been a crisis mediator and strong community supporter for Monrovia and Duarte.

The special guest speaker will be Rev. Mark E. Whitlock, Jr. the pastor of Christ Our Redeemer AME Church in Irvine. The "Unity Celebration" will conclude with a Sunday worship service at Bethel AME Church, Monrovia with guest speaker Bishop C. Garnett Henning, the 112th Elected Bishop of the AME Church (Retired), on February 28, 2016 at 3 p.m.

For more information, sponsorship opportunities, or to purchase dinner tickets, visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2nd-annual-unity-celebration-tickets-20532512297. This link is also accessible online at www.bethelmonrovia.com. Guests may also call the office to RSVP. If you have any questions or to purchase an ad, contact Bethel AME Church, Monrovia, at 930-1120 or at bethelchurchmonrovia@gmail.com.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Domestic Violence; Stolen Mail and Stolen Mail Arrests; Bicycle Stopped for Vehicle Code Violations; Etc.

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for February 11-14. - Brad Haugaard]

Following are the weekend’s highlighted issues and events.

Domestic Violence
February 11 at 1:04 p.m., a female subject came into the police department lobby to report a domestic violence incident. The father of her two children had come to her residence in the 300 block of West Walnut earlier. While there, they began to argue and he pushed and slapped her repeatedly. He left the location and she came to the police department to report the incident. The victim had visible injuries. The assigned officer contacted the male subject by telephone, but he was uncooperative and would not come to the police department or speak about the incident. The subject was entered into the law enforcement wanted person system as a possible suspect in the domestic violence incident. The investigation is continuing.

Residential Burglary
February 12 at 6:20 p.m., a resident in the 400 block of Bradbury called police to report her home had been burglarized. She left the home at 8:00 a.m. and returned at 5:30 p.m. to find the house ransacked and jewelry missing. The suspects broke a window next to the front door to gain entry. The investigation is continuing.

Missing Juvenile Located/No-Bail Warrant – Suspect Arrested
February 12 at 9:19 p.m., an officer conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle at Myrtle and Longden for a vehicle code violation. A computer check of the driver revealed he was a juvenile runaway, unlicensed, and he had a no-bail warrant for his arrest. He was arrested and taken into custody.

Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
February 12 at 9:23 p.m., a caller reported a possible drunk driver in the area of Foothill and Alta Vista. The driver was reportedly driving down the center of the two lane roadway. An officer on patrol located the vehicle making a slow wide turn and stopped the vehicle at Fifth and Foothill for vehicle code violations. The driver was determined to be driving under the influence and was arrested and taken into custody.

Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
February 13 at 2:04 a.m., an officer on patrol observed a vehicle traveling south in the 800 block of South Myrtle. The vehicle approached the intersection of Myrtle and Chestnut and entered the left turn bay. The vehicle continued through the left turn bay and onto the wrong side of the road. The vehicle swerved to the right and into the number one lane of south bound Myrtle. The officer conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle at Myrtle and Huntington for the vehicle code violations. The driver was determined to be intoxicated. He was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol.

Transportation and Possession of a Controlled Substance for Sales/No-Bail Warrant – Suspect Arrested
February 13 at 4:15 a.m., officers responded to the area of California and Lime on the report of a motorcycle racing around the area. The officer arrived and saw the motorcycle traveling at a high rate of speed on Shamrock. The driver then pulled into a gas station. The officer conducted a traffic stop for the vehicle code violation. The subject told the officer that he had warrants for his arrest. A computer check revealed two no-bail warrants. The subject then told the officer he had methamphetamine in his pocket. The subject was arrested for his warrant and for transportation and possession of narcotics for sales.

Domestic Violence – Suspect Arrested
February 13 at 4:20 p.m., officers responded to a home in the 1800 block of South Alta Vista regarding a physical altercation between a male and female subject. During an argument, the female scratched the male on his neck and body, causing visible injuries. The female suspect was arrested for domestic violence and taken into custody.

Vandalism
February 13 at 10:16 p.m., a resident in the 400 block of East Walnut reported an incident of vandalism. The victim is in the process of moving into the residence and discovered several windows and some furniture that was damaged. The investigation is continuing.

Warrant – Suspect Arrested
February 13 at 11:14 p.m., an officer stopped a bicyclist at Olive and Canyon for a vehicle code violation. A computer check of the subject revealed he had an oustanding warrant. He was arrested for the warrant.

Public Intoxication – Suspect Arrest
February 14 at 3:20 a.m., officers on patrol discovered a subject passed out inside a vehicle at Violet and Palm. The officers contacted the subject and determined he was too intoxicated to care for himself. He was arrested for public intoxication and held for sobering.

Vehicle Burglary
February 15 at 7:46 a.m., a vehicle burglary was reported in the 600 block of Norumbega. The victim parked their vehicle on the street. Sometime overnight, the suspect broke the driver side window and took a faucet and some coins from inside the vehicle.

Vehicle Burglary
February 15 at 11:02 a.m., a vehicle burglary was reported in the 300 block of West Scenic. The victim’s vehicle was parked on the street. The suspect forced open a rear window to gain entry into the Cadillac Escalade and stole the two rear seats from the vehicle. The investigation is continuing.

Mail Tampering
February 15 at 11:10 a.m., a resident in the 00 block of Hidden Valley put three checks in his mailbox for outgoing mail and went for a walk. When he returned approximately one hour later, he found the mail missing. He knew the mailman had not picked up the mail, because it is a holiday. The investigation is continuing.

Mail Tampering
February 15 at 2:02 p.m., a resident in the 00 block of Hidden Valley reported an incident of mail tampering. The victim was expecting something in the mail that never arrived. She checked online and the package should have been delivered at an earlier date. The investigation is continuing.

Burglary/Receiving Stolen Property/Resisting Arrest/Parole Hold – Suspects Arrested
February 15 at 3:10 p.m., officers were dispatched to the 900 block of West Walnut on the report of a burglary that had just occurred. One of the victims was following the suspects in a vehicle. When officers arrived on scene, the suspects fled into nearby yards. Containment of the area was set up and the Foothill Air Support helicopter was requested. An officer looking for the suspects saw them hiding and they took off running again, jumping over fences and through yards with officers in pursuit. The helicopter arrived on scene and both suspects were apprehended without further incident. Based on property found with the suspects, they have been linked to the two mail tampering incidents listed above, as well as several other theft cases. The suspects were also found to be on parole and a parole hold was obtained.

Monrovia Boys Soccer Number 2 Seed

Monrovia High School boys soccer team gets number 2 seed in playoffs. http://goo.gl/G3Qn9w

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Area Partnership Conference

The 7th Annual Monrovia Area Partnership Neighborhood Conference is coming up on April 23, 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Monrovia Community Center. It's free. For more information contact Ariel Tolefree-Williams at atolefree@ci.monrovia.ca.us or at 932-5563. http://goo.gl/WUZ5Fa

- Brad Haugaard

Jake's Roadhouse Expanding

Jake's Roadhouse, on Myrtle, is planning to expand into the space currently occupied by the Army-Navy store on its south side. I heard a rumor about that and a server who brought me a very nice breakfast said that is the case.

- Brad Haugaard

Hot in Monrovia, But Possible Rain Thursday | Cage-Free Chickens

~ Could get up to 90 degrees today and tomorrow, with a 70 percent chance of rain Thursday. https://goo.gl/0qMTb8

~ Monrovia-based Trader Joe's has announced it is transitioning to selling only eggs from cage-free hens. Transition should be complete by 2025. http://goo.gl/amNcYW

- Brad Haugaard

Sidewalk Astronomers in Monrovia Old Town Tonight

Members of Monrovia's Old Town Sidewalk Astronomers will be in Library Park, at the corner of Myrtle and Lime Streets tonight from about 6:30 until about 9 p.m. The sidewalk astronomers let you look at the moon and planets through their telescopes.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Council to Study Neighborhood Report

Before its regular meeting on Feb. 16 (agenda: http://goo.gl/dvamt6 ), the City Council will hold a study session to discuss the recently completed neighborhood study. At 5:30 p.m.

- Brad Haugaard

Dinner at Café Jimenez

Dinner recently at Café Jimenez, on Mountain just east of the Home Depot. Got the Camarones a la Diabla (spicy shrimp) for $12.95 and an iced tea for $1.95. I asked for "hot" and they took me at my word. My nose is running a bit but it was good and filling. 

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Champs! | Rain Barrels | State of the City Speech

~ There was a brief mention on Facebook that the Monrovia girl's soccer team is the Rio Hondo league champion. Congrats, Ladycats!

~ Free rain barrels this Saturday at Monrovia High. Details: http://goo.gl/fWEnR5

~ Mayor Tom Adams' State of the City address is now on line if you'd like to watch: https://goo.gl/cwZhBM

- Brad Haugaard