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

West Nile Mosquitoes in Monrovia; Multiple Houses on Single-Family Lots; Book Locker; Etc.

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

~ Mosquitoes carrying West Nile Virus have been discovered in Monrovia by the San Gabriel Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District. Empty stagnant water weekly, toss unused containers (which can collect water), and use mosquito repellent containing oil of lemon, eucalyptus (or PMD), picaridin, IR3535, or DEET.

~ Monrovia's Community Development team will discuss new law regarding Accessory Dwelling Units (independent residential unit on the same lot as a single-family home), SB9 Dwellings (two principal dwellings on a single-family zoned lot), and Urban Lot Splits (the subdivision of a single-family zoned lot into two lots that can be built with up to two dwelling units on each lot) on Tuesday, August 30, 6:30-7:30 p.m. https://tny.im/CkRxj

~ the library will install a book locker at the Mary Wilcox Youth Center (at the corner of Olive and Mountain). "This new service will allow you to place a hold on a library item and pick it up at your convenience." Launch party August 24 at 5 p.m. at Youth Center.

~ While Metropolitan Water District has asked users to refrain from heavy water usage for 15 days so they can make emergency repairs, this does not affect Monrovians ... although we should continue water conservation.

~ Monrovia is offering residents and businesses free tree watering bags, which help prevent over- or under-watering newly planted trees, but can also be used on mature trees. Residents can receive up to two bags, and businesses up to four. Call Public Works at 932-5575 to request bags.

~ SoCalGas will replace pipe on Myrtle between Walnut and Chestnut beginning August 22 and lasting about 11 weeks. Construction will also occur on Ivy and the alley between Walnut and Chestnut. There will be occasional lane closures. For questions call SoCalGas Project Information Line at (844) 765-9385.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police Chief Parachutes With Army's Golden Knights

Monrovia Police Chief Alan Sanvictores took a break from enforcing the law to jump out of a perfectly good airplane with the Army's Golden Knights. Sanvictores served in the U.S. Army and has served Monrovia for over 26 years as a law enforcement officer.

- Brad Haugaard

Weekly Monrovia Coronavirus Count: 92 More Cases, Zero New Deaths

Coronavirus cases from LA Department of Public Health as of 12 p.m., 08/17/2022. Changes since 08/10/2022.

City of Monrovia: 10,249 cases (up 92), 107 deaths (unchanged)
Unincorporated Monrovia: 1,083 cases (up 20), 4 deaths (unchanged)

- Brad Haugaard

Art in the Park and Chalkfest Return October 1

After a two-year hiatus, Monrovia Association of Fine Arts’ 60th Art in the Park Show and Chalkfest will return on Saturday, October 1, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Library Park. The event will feature displays by more than 50 of the most accomplished local fine artists (adults and students) and renowned chalk artists. Artists will present paintings, sculpture, photography, jewelry, digital arts, pottery and chalk art representing the area’s wide-ranging cultural diversity.

Presented in the beautiful, shady park surrounding the Monrovia Public Library, this free event will also feature day-long musical entertainment. Various local bands will perform, and the students of Centre Stage Productions in Monrovia will perform a live musical revue. And a silent auction will provide opportunities to support MAFA’s art education initiatives.

Parents can bring their kids to the kids art activity area, where professional art teachers will engage children in crafts and creative projects throughout the day. And MAFA’s Artist Alley Gallery across the street at the Monrovia Community Center, 119 W. Palm Ave., will be open to Art in the Park visitors.

Several community groups will also have booths at the event, including Monrovia Historical Preservation Group, Monrovia Latino Heritage Society and Monrovia/Duarte Black Alumni Association. The City of Monrovia Public Works Department will present water conservation tips and information and the Duarte Elks Lodge will present bicycle safety information, do bike repairs and give away free bike helmets.

For more information and to register as an exhibitor, visit monroviafinearts.org or contact Christine Geltz at christine@monroviafinearts.org.

Source: MAFA press release

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Getting High and Running Naked; A Bear In Her Kitchen; Lots of Drugs and Alcohol; Etc.

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for August 11 – 17. - Brad Haugaard]

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

Domestic Violence – Suspect Arrested
August 11 at 1:30 a.m., officers responded to a disturbance in the 300 block of E. Palm. A couple had been arguing. The male subject kicked the female several times. He was arrested and taken into custody.

Missing Person Located
August 12 at 2:44 a.m., a caller reported a strange female was on his doorstep in the 900 block of W. Colorado asking if her child was inside. The home owner had never seen the female before. Officers arrived and discovered the female was reported missing from the City of Carson. The son of the female was located and he responded to the scene.

Vandalism
August 12 at 12:28 p.m., a vandalism was reported in the 900 block of W. Olive. The caller reported someone shot a BB gun at a window causing it to shatter. This investigation is continuing.

Drug Activity / Warrant Arrest – Suspect Arrested
August 12 at 2:37 p.m., while on patrol an officer contacted a subject in the 1600 block of S. Primrose. An investigation revealed that the subject had an outstanding arrest warrant, and was in possession of drug paraphernalia. The subject was arrested.

Death Report
August 12 at 3:40 p.m., an elderly female with a history of medical problems was found deceased with no signs of foul play in the 100 block of S. Madison. The decedent's doctor signed off on the death certificate.

Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
August 12 at 5:54 p.m., callers reported a male subject running naked along the streets in the area of Ivy and Chestnut. The subject was found naked and an investigation revealed he was under the influence of narcotics. The subject was arrested and transported to the MPD jail to be held for a sobering period.

Threatening
August 12 at 5:55 p.m., a female in the 200 block of E. Walnut reported someone from her school made threats to kill her via social media. The officers determined a crime occurred. This investigation is continuing.

Drug Activity – Suspect Arrested
August 12 at 7:48 p.m., an officer saw a bicyclist commit a traffic violation in the area of Peck and Armijo. The subject consented to a search. Drug paraphernalia and narcotics were located. The subject was arrested, cited and released at the scene.

Drug Activity – Suspect Arrested
August 12 at 11:19 p.m., an officer saw a bicyclist commit several traffic violations in the area of Myrtle and Los Angeles. The rider was stopped and found to be in possession of narcotics. The subject was arrested, cited and released at the scene.

Municipal Code Violation / Drugs / Missing Located – Suspect Arrested
August 13 at 2:10 a.m., an officer saw subjects in a park in the 1600 block of S. Myrtle after hours. One subject was a reported missing adult and the other had narcotics in his possession. The subjects were arrested, cited and released at the scene. The adult missing was removed from the missing person's database.

Missing Located
August 13 at 3:17 a.m., an officer located a juvenile at a park in the 1600 block of S. Myrtle after hours. The juvenile was a missing runaway from Los Angeles. The juvenile was taken into protective custody and transported to MPD. The juvenile was later released to DCFS.

Animal Problem
August 13 at 9:22 a.m., a resident in the 800 block of Wildrose called and reported a bear was inside her home. Officers responded and saw the bear in the kitchen eating food. The officer opened all the doors to the home to give the bear an easy way out. Moments later the bear left. The bear had ripped through a window screen to gain access.

Vehicle Burglary
August 13 at 2:05 p.m., a caller reported her vehicle was broken into while she was at a business in the 700 block of E. Huntington. This investigation is continuing.

Warrant Arrest – Suspect Arrested
August 13 at 2:20 p.m., an officer was patrolling the 1500 block of S. Magnolia when he saw an individual he recognized from previous contacts. The subject had several warrants for his arrest. He was arrested and taken into custody.

Non-injury Collision
August 13 at 6:28 p.m., a resident in the 200 block of Melrose reported a male adult motorist collided with a fire hydrant. MPD and Public Works responded. The driver was not injured or impaired. He was issued a citation for the collision and PW repaired the hydrant.

Driving Under the Influence / Felon with a gun – Suspect Arrested
August 14 at 12:14 a.m., a driver in the 100 block of W. Duarte was pulled over for multiple traffic violations. His objective symptoms indicated the use of alcohol. A DUI investigation revealed he was driving under the influence. During the inventory search of his vehicle, a loaded handgun was located. The driver was a convicted felon. The subject was arrested and taken into custody.

Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
August 14 at 12:51 a.m., a vehicle was pulled over for a traffic violation in the 2000 block of S. Myrtle. The driver was suspected of being under the influence of alcohol. A DUI investigation revealed he was under the influence of alcohol. The driver was arrested and transported to the MPD jail to be held for a sobering period.

Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
August 14 at 1:49 a.m., as officers were leaving the DUI investigation a vehicle passed officers at a high rate of speed. Officers conducted a traffic stop and contacted the driver who shows signs of alcohol use. A DUI investigation revealed the driver was under the influence of alcohol. The driver was arrested and transported to the MPD jail to be held for a sobering period.

Resist Delay Officer – Suspect Arrested
August 14 at 9:21 a.m., a caller reported a male and female subject with a dog were locked inside a restroom. When officers arrived, the male subject was standing outside with the dog. The male subject released the dog and pedaled away from officers, but was captured shortly after. He was arrested and taken into custody.

Death Report
August 14 at 11:31 a.m., the R/P called to request we go check on her elderly friend in the 600 block of W. Duarte who hadn't been feeling well. Officers went by and gained entry into the location and realized she was deceased. Coroner was notified and came to pick her up.

Mental Evaluation
August 14 at 12:35 p.m., a mother called from the 700 block of S. Myrtle to report her son was acting strange and thinks he might need to be evaluated for mental illness. Officers arrived and determined he met the criteria for a mental evaluation hold. He was transported to a facility where he will receive help.

Violation of Court Order
August 14 at 4:50 p.m., a caller reported there was a restraining order against a male subject who was currently at the restrained location, in the 2100 block of S. Peck. Officers arrived but the subject was gone. This investigation is continuing.

Public Intoxication:
August 14 at 7:51 p.m., callers reported an intoxicated female subject in the 300 block of S. Myrtle. Officers arrived and located a female intoxicated and unable to care for herself. She was arrested and transported to the MPD jail to be held for a sobering period.

Vandalism
August 15 at 9:50 a.m., a vandalism was reported in the 1400 block of S. Myrtle. When officers arrived, they saw the area had been vandalized with spray paint. The suspect(s) also painted over the security cameras. This investigation is continuing.

Injury Traffic Collision
August 15 at 1:08 p.m., an injury traffic collision was reported in the area of Shamrock and Huntington. When officers arrived they contacted the drivers. One driver had complaint of pain but refused medical treatment. The driver at fault was cited.

Missing Person
August 15 at 7:57 p.m., the caller requested a welfare check in the 100 block of W. Cherry on her son. The reporting party said her son never arrived at her house as expected. He was entered into the Missing Persons System.

Grand Theft Auto
August 15 at 11:20 p.m., the victim called and reported his vehicle had been stolen from the 1500 block of S. Myrtle. This investigation is continuing.

Fire
August 16 at 1:04 a.m., a fire was reported in the area of Magnolia and Evergreen. Officers arrived and found a pile of debris had been set on fire. There was no suspect in the area and the fire was put out. This investigation is continuing.

Warrant Arrest
August 16 at 9:42 a.m., officers were dispatched to the 1800 block of S. Alta Vista on a report of a male subject sleeping on a picnic table. Officers arrived and located the subject. A computer check revealed the subject had an outstanding warrant for his arrest. He was arrested and taken into custody.

Grand Theft Auto Recovery
August 16 at 10:14 a.m., a caller in the 1800 block of Enterprise reported a vehicle parked in the lot that didn't belong there. An investigation received it was a stolen vehicle and the owner was notified. This investigation is continuing.

Shoplifting
August 16 at 11:51 a.m., the manager from a business in the 100 block of W. Foothill called to report a male subject had stolen items and left the location. Officers located him a short distance away. The property was recovered. He was arrested, cited and released.

Warrant
August 16 at 10:21 p.m., an officer patrolling a park in the 1600 block of S. Primrose saw a subject in the park after hours. The subject was contacted and a computer check revealed he had a felony warrant. He was arrested and taken into custody.

Drugs / Burglary Tools
August 17 at 12:26 a.m., an officer patrolling the 700 block of W. Huntington saw a parked vehicle with several subjects inside. A vehicle check revealed the license plate did not belong to the vehicle. Officers contacted the occupants who were in possession of methamphetamine, mushrooms, and burglary tools. They were arrested.

Driving Under the Influence
August 17 at 2:59 a.m., an officer stopped a vehicle for a vehicle code violation in the area of Duarte and 6th. The driver appeared to be under the influence. A DUI investigation revealed he was driving under the influence. He was arrested and transported to the MPD jail to be held for a sobering period.

Shoplifting
August 17 at 10:09 a.m., the manager from a store in the 100 block of W. Foothill called to report a male subject stole items and left the location. Officers arrived and located the subject. He was positively identified. He was arrested and taken into custody.

Grand Theft
August 17 at 3:38 p.m., a grand theft was reported in a business in the 700 block of E. Huntington. Three female subjects entered a business and stole merchandise. The female subjects were gone prior to officers’ arrival. This investigation is continuing.

Dinner at Blaze Pizza

Dinner today at Blaze Pizza, in the Vons shopping center at Foothill and Myrtle. I got the Hot Link pizza for $11.95 and a beer for $5.95. Very good and very quick. 

- Brad Haugaard 

Playful Teddy Has a Wagging Tail and a Dog Kiss For You


Three-year-old Teddy is a friendly, playful dog who often greets people with a wagging tail and a wiggly butt! Teddy loves squeaky toys and prancing in our play yard, but also has a calm side. He enjoys getting affection, and will give kisses or even put his head in your lap to ask for full-body petting.

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

Protect Your Trees Webinar August 30

Registration here

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia High Senior Katelyn Robles Creates Fresh Mural at Bradoaks Elementary School


Bradoaks Elementary Science Academy's outdoor garden has a new mural thanks to the efforts of a Monrovia High School student.

MHS Senior Katelyn Robles interned with the City of Monrovia and Food ED over the summer break and while installing the new outdoor garden section at Bradoaks, her supervisor asked if she wanted to repaint the wall behind it.

“She wanted me to redo it because she knew that I liked drawing,” said Robles. “I want to go into a career in art. So she said I could have my own project painting this wall. I thought that was cool.”

The mural shows a large sun shining on lush vegetation filled with butterflies, snails, and garden wildlife. The previous mural had faded over the years, and it was time to refresh.

“I wanted to keep some elements the same from what was there before,” she said. “It kind of reminds me of a children’s drawing and I think that fits for an elementary school.”

Food ED will use this new area for outdoor lessons during the 2022-23 school year and beyond.

“It shows that we are a community filled with caring and talented individuals,” Bradoaks Principal Dr. Jayne Nickles said. “There is a sense of pride knowing that our MUSD students are willing to share their passion and strengths with our Bobcat community.”

“I am excited to see students in our new garden,” said Dr. Nickles. “Food Ed and the volunteers have done a beautiful job creating an outdoor learning space that will encourage student curiosity and enthusiasm for the environment.”

Despite creating a wonderful painting on the wall, Robles said she’s not looking to be a painter after high school. She’s more interested in digital design.

“I want to be a character designer for shows, cartoons, or maybe even video games,” Robles said. “I really like drawing my own characters and giving them stories. I just want to share that with everyone.”

Thank you, Katelyn Robles, the City of Monrovia, and Food ED, for putting this mural together for our students!

Source: from Monrovia Schools press release

- Brad Haugaard

A Moment in Monrovia History: Early Clover Leaf Canyon

A view of Clover Leaf Canyon. . From the Myron Hotchkiss 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

Flashing Pedestrian Signals Installed in Old Town; Free Public Service Announcements

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

~ Rapid flashing solar-powered pedestrian crosswalk signals have been installed at three mid-block crosswalks in Old Town to warn drivers when a pedestrian is entering a crosswalk. This increases the rate drivers yield to pedestrians by as much as 80 percent. The city will assess the effectiveness of the signals and may install them at other crosswalks. To share your thoughts take the Pedestrian Signal Survey here: https://tny.im/uQ1bJ

~ If you want to create a public service announcement for your organization, KGemTV will be hosting PSA Day on August 18 to offer organizations an opportunity to create a free 30-second announcement. For details contact KGemTv at 357-4974 or KGemTV@gmail.com.

- Brad Haugaard

Weekly Monrovia Coronavirus Count: 79 More Cases, No More Deaths

Coronavirus cases from LA Department of Public Health as of 12 p.m., 08/10/2022. Changes since 08/03/2022.

City of Monrovia: 10,157 cases (up 79), 107 deaths (unchanged)
Unincorporated Monrovia: 1,063 cases (up 9), 4 deaths (unchanged)

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia High to Get Low-Water Landscaping

The greenery in front of Monrovia High School will change in the coming months!

 In Partnership with Amigos De Los Rios, Monrovia High School will add more native plants in front of the school to make the area more sustainable. You’ll likely see patches of grass dying as the transition takes place.

Crews will start working on this project on September 30 and it's scheduled to be completed March 2023.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: AirTag Recovers Car; Woman Leaves Car Running With Friend Inside, Returns to No Car, No Friend; Robbery With Knife; Charging Station Plug Stolen; Man Chases Victim With Machete; Bank Fraud, EBT Fraud; MPD Assists Arcadia in Greenfield Shootings; Etc.

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for August 4 – 10. - Brad Haugaard]

During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 402 service events, resulting in 69 investigations.

Burglary
August 4 at 1:22 a.m., officers responded to the 400 block of W. Huntington regarding an alarm. They arrived and found the front windows smashed. The investigation revealed two male subjects entered the location by using a crow bar to smash the windows. The suspects stole the cash register and safe before fleeing. This investigation is continuing.

Grand Theft Auto
August 4 at 6:29 a.m., the victim in the 400 block of Heather Heights reported he last saw his vehicle the night prior. The victim had an air tag inside the car and it plotted to an area in Arcadia. Arcadia PD was notified and responded to the area. They located the vehicle occupied by one subject. Arcadia PD took the subject into custody and MPD responded to recover evidence. This investigation is continuing.

Vehicle Burglary / Attempt Grand Theft Auto
August 4 at 8:50 a.m., the victim in the 1800 block of S. Myrtle stated that sometime at night someone broke into his vehicle. Drills were stolen and the ignition was tampered with and damaged. This investigation is continuing.

Grand Theft Auto Recovery
August 4 at 9:05 a.m., an employee in the 3300 block of S. Peck stated that they received notification that one of the vehicles they purchased was stolen. This investigation is continuing.

Fraud
August 4 at 9:07 a.m., a reporting party in the 3300 block of S. Peck stated two checks were altered and forged. This investigation is continuing.

Grand Theft Auto
August 4 at 9:58 a.m., the victim in the 400 block of W. Huntington reported that the night prior she parked her car and entered a store. She left the vehicle running, with her friend inside of the vehicle while she used the restroom. When she returned, her vehicle had been stolen and her friend was no longer there. This investigation is continuing.

Mental Evaluation
August 4 at 10:16 a.m., a reporting party in the area of Shamrock and Huntington reported a female subject walking in and out of traffic. Officers located and made contact with the subject. She told officers she wanted to hurt herself and she had visible self-inflicted injuries to her arms. Monrovia Fire Department responded to the scene and the subject was subsequently transported to a local hospital for a mental evaluation.

Fraud
August 4 at 2:49 p.m., a resident in the 600 block of E. Olive stated someone gained access to her EBT account and made fraudulent purchases. This investigation is continuing.

Robbery
August 4 at 4:43 p.m., officers responded to a business in the 3300 block of S. Peck regarding a robbery. The suspect walked out of the business after concealing a vehicle part and failing to pay for it. An armed security guard confronted the suspect and told him he needed to pay for the part. The suspect retrieved a pocket knife and pointed it at the security guard. The security, who feared for his life, backed away and the suspect got into the passenger side of a vehicle and fled the scene. This investigation is continuing.

Commercial Burglary
August 5 at 7:31 a.m., a commercial burglary was reported in the 100 block of W. Lemon. The victim stated that someone entered their secured parking structure and cut wires from their charging stations and stole a charging plug. The value loss is approximately $4,000- $5,000. This investigation is continuing.

Death Report
August 5 at 8:07 a.m., officers responded to a residence in the 400 block of Foothill regarding a welfare check. When officers arrived, they could see the female face down in her bed. The female subject was pronounced deceased by fire. The investigation revealed that the female at the location had passed away from what appeared to be natural causes. The coroner responded.

Petty Theft
August 5 at 3:04 p.m., an employee in the 400 block of W. Huntington called to report that two females concealed items and fled the location without paying. The subjects were gone when officers arrived. This investigation is continuing.

Drug Activity – Suspect Arrested
August 5 at 5:34 p.m., officers responded to the 1600 block of S. Primrose regarding the welfare check of a subject on the ground with glass around him. Officers contacted the subject who was fine. The subject was found to be in possession of a controlled substance. He was arrested, cited and released in the field.

Injury Traffic Collision
August 5 at 6:19 p.m., callers in the area of Mayflower and Huntington reported a two vehicle traffic collision. Officers arrived and determined one vehicle ran a red light and collided into the other vehicle. That driver was transported to a local hospital for complaint of pain. The driver at fault was cited.

Outside Assist / Robbery
August 5 at 6:30 p.m., El Monte PD called and advised they were on a felony traffic stop in the 3800 block of Peck regarding a possible robbery suspect. Upon arrival, one of the occupants in the vehicle was identified as the suspect from a recent robbery in El Monte. The suspect was arrested and taken into custody. The vehicle was impounded for being used in a crime. The subject was arrested and taken into custody.

Residential Burglary
August 5 at 6:31 p.m., a residential burglary was reported in the 700 block of California. No items were reported missing from inside the house, but several outdoor figurines were taken. This investigation is continuing.

Hit and Run Traffic Collision / Assault with a Deadly Weapon – Suspect Arrested
August 5 at 7:19 p.m., LASD advised they were detaining a suspect in the 2600 block of Peck who was chasing people with a machete. Officers arrived and determined the suspect had been involved in a hit-n-run with the victim. The victim caught up to the suspect. The suspect pulled out a machete and started swing it at the victim. An innocent bystander was filming the incident. The suspect then went after the bystander and chased him into his backyard. The suspect was located. The weapon was collected and the suspect was identified by the victims. The suspect was arrested and taken into custody.

Assault / Battery
August 5 at 8:24 p.m., a caller reported a female adult who he had a recent brief encounter with showed up at his residence in the 1000 block of E. Lemon. Once he answered the door she began assaulting him. When the victim said he was calling the police she fled in her vehicle. This investigation is continuing.

Petty Theft
August 5 at 9:01 p.m., a caller in the 100 block of W. Foothill reported someone had stolen his backpack. Officers searched the area and could not locate anyone with a backpack. This investigation is continuing.

Commercial Burglary
August 6 at 12:20 a.m., an alarm company reported a glass break activation at a business in the 1600 block of S. Mountain. Officer arrived and found the front glass of the business had been broke. It was determined someone had entered the business and ransacked the place. There was nothing reported missing at the time of the report. This investigation is continuing.

Public Intoxication
August 6 at 3:27 a.m., an officer found a male adult passed out in a business parking lot in the 700 block of E. Huntington. The subject was arrested for public intoxication and transported to the Monrovia Police Department jail to be held for a sobering period.

Warrant Arrest
August 6 at 4:52 a.m., a caller reported a male subject walking the hallways of a complex in the 200 block of W. Pomona twisting doorknobs. Officers arrived and detained the subject who had a no bail warrant for his arrest. The subject was arrested and taken into custody.

Suspicious Person
August 6 at 7:45 p.m., a Monrovia park ranger saw an adult male parked in his car in the 1200 block of N. Canyon. She looked into the car and saw what she thought was a possible rifle. She walked back to the ranger station and told a coworker who called MPD. Officers arrived at the gate, but the vehicle was gone and there was no one in the area.

Mental Evaluation
August 6 at 8:10 p.m., a caller reported several people in the street fighting. Officers arrived and determined a mental ill female became upset and began assaulting her family members. The female had to be physically restrained by officers and ultimately transported to hospital for a mental evaluation.

Drug Activity – Suspect Arrested
August 7 at 2:56 a.m., an officer was patrolling the area of Mountain and Huntington when he saw a vehicle commit a traffic violation. The officer conducted a traffic stop and contacted the driver who appeared to be extremely nervous. The officer saw a glass smoking pipe in the vehicle. Two occupants were removed from the vehicle and the vehicle was searched. Additional paraphernalia was located and collected as evidence. Both the driver and passenger were arrested, cited and released

Fraud
August 7 at 6:46 p.m., a caller in the 400 block of Monrovista reported someone had taken money out of her EBT account. The officer arrived and asked the victim to check and see if her card was missing. The victim could not find her card and had no idea where it went. This investigation is continuing.

Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
August 8 at 4:08 a.m., an officer saw a driver make several moving violations in the area of Myrtle and Huntington. The officer conducted a traffic stop and contacted the driver. The driver displayed objective symptoms of intoxication. The officer conducted a DUI investigation and determined the driver was driving under the influence. The driver was arrested and transported to the Monrovia Police Department jail to be held for a sobering period.

Fraud
August 8 at 12:31 p.m., an employee from a business in the 3300 block of S. Peck said they were contacted by the bank and someone attempted to deposit forged checks. This investigation is continuing.

Fraud
August 8 at 2:37 p.m., the victim in the 1600 block of S. Myrtle checked her EBT account and noticed there was money missing. It is unknown how someone got the information. The victim still has her card. This investigation is continuing.

Injury Traffic Collision
August 8 at 2:49 p.m., officers were dispatched to the intersection of Myrtle and Longden on reports of an injury traffic accident. When officers arrived they saw the involved parties and determined one vehicle rear ended the other. There was complaint of pain from one of the parties being rear ended.

Petty Theft
August 8 at 4:00 p.m., an employee from a business in the 500 block of W. Duarte reported a male subject entered the business and left with merchandise he did not pay This investigation is continuing.

Theft
August 8 at 8:07 p.m., the reporting party parked his vehicle in the 100 block of Mauna Loa. He returned to his vehicle and noticed the catalytic converter had been stolen. This investigation is continuing.

Grand Theft Auto
August 8 at 8:25 p.m., an employee from a business in the 800 block of E. Central at the reported a vehicle was stolen from the lot. Employees saw the vehicle driving away from the location. This investigation is continuing.

Driving Under the Influence / Traffic Collision – Suspect Arrested
August 8 at 10:56 p.m., a solo roll over vehicle traffic collision was reported in the 1600 block of California. Officers arrived and determined the driver was not injured but was under the influence of alcohol. He was arrested and transported to the Monrovia Police Department to be held for a sobering period.

Burglary
August 9 at 5:48 a.m., officers were dispatched to reports of a broken window in the 400 block of W. Duarte. Officers arrived and confirmed a burglary had occurred. This investigation is continuing.

Commercial Burglary
August 9 at 5:48 a.m., a passerby reported the front window smashed of a business in the 400 block of W. Duarte. Officers arrived and determined the glass to the front door was shattered. The security gate lock had been cut. This investigation is continuing.

Grand Theft
August 9 at 8:45 a.m., the manager of a business in the 100 block of W. Foothill called to report two subjects were in the store last night and took merchandise. This investigation is continuing.

Fraud
August 9 at 11:53 a.m., a resident in the 600 block of S. Magnolia reported someone had gained access to his bank account and was taking money out. This investigation is continuing.

Warrant Arrest
August 9 at 12:28 p.m., officers were dispatched to a park in the 300 block of S. Myrtle on a report of a female subject throwing trash. When they arrived, they recognized her from prior contacts and knew she had a warrant for her arrest. She was arrested and taken into custody.

Theft
August 9 at 1:42 p.m., a resident in the 400 block of Monrovista reported the victim called to report his electric bike was taken from his front yard by an unknown suspect. This investigation is continuing.

Fraud
August 9 at 2:24 p.m., an employee in the 1100 block of E. Huntington called to report another employee has been using a stolen or fraudulent credit card to charge customers. The employee was arrested and taken into custody.

Robbery
August 9 at 4:30 p.m., the victim called to report he had just pulled into the garage of his residence in the 400 block of S. Fifth when he was approached by two male suspects holding handguns. They pointed the handguns at them and demanded their watches, wallets, and took their Louis Vuitton luggage. This investigation is continuing.

Mental Evaluation
August 9 at 9:00 p.m., Officers were dispatched to the 1000 block of S. Mountain regarding a male subject swinging a large stick or bat at vehicles and people. They arrived and contacted the subject. Officers determined he needed to be further evaluated by a mental health professional. He was transported to a local facility for treatment.

Mental Evaluation
August 10 at 5:23 a.m., officers were dispatched to the 1400 block of S. Magnolia regarding a disturbance inside a home. The officers arrived and determined there was no crime and the subject did not meet the criteria for a mental evaluation. Minutes later the caller reported the son had assaulted his father. Personnel on scene attempted to communicate with the suspect but he was not receptive. Officers forced entry into the room and took the suspect into custody after a brief struggle, resulting in no injuries to the involved parties. The suspect was placed on a hold for a mental evaluation and the criminal case will be sent to the DAs office for filing consideration.

Fraud
August 10 at 10:39 a.m., an employee from a business in the 3300 block of S. Peck called to report a fraudulent check was deposited. It was caught before it cleared. This has been an ongoing issue for a couple of weeks now. This investigation is continuing.

Warrant Arrest – Suspect Arrested
August 10 at 11:57 a.m., an officer was conducting a separate investigation when he discovered the suspect in his investigation had an outstanding warrant. He was arrested, booked, and released with a citation.

Fraud
August 10 at 12:46 p.m., an employee from a business in the 2100 block of S. Myrtle reported that someone contacted her and said they were from their bank. They said there was possible fraud on the account and needed the login and password to access the account and check it. She did and the subject withdrew approximately $16,000. This investigation is continuing.

Death Report
August 10 at 12:49 p.m., a neighbor in the 500 block of Parkrose called to report a tenant appeared to be deceased in his apartment. Officers and Paramedics arrived and the subject was pronounced deceased. His primary doctor was notified and agreed to sign the death certificate.

Missing Person
August 10 at 5:22 p.m., a family member in the 800 block of El Dorado reported their elderly relative missing. The elderly has the beginning stages of Alzheimer’s. He was entered as missing.

Outside Assist
August 10 at 5:59 p.m., Arcadia PD responded to a call of shots fired in the 2500 block of Greenfield. As officers approached a male suspect fired on the officers, striking one officer in the face. Several other victims suffered gunshot wounds and another Arcadia officer suffered a leg injury. MPD personnel responded to assist. The suspect barricaded himself and multiple tactical teams responded from the area. The suspect surrendered hours later. The suspect was arrested and taken into custody.

School Board Votes to Ask Voters to Approve $75 Million Bond


The Monrovia Board of Education voted unanimously at its Tuesday meeting to put a measure on the November ballot asking residents to approve a $75 million bond to "to repair/upgrade classrooms, science labs, career-training facilities, and instructional technology to support student achievement and college/career readiness in math, science, technology, engineering, arts and skilled trades; fix deteriorating roofs, plumbing, electrical systems; and improve school safety/security systems..."

The bond will cost property owners approximately $30 per year per $100,000 of assessed valuation (not market price). Video of the board discussion and vote here: https://tny.im/tsy1V

- Brad Haugaard

Dinner at Chicken King Express

Dinner at Chicken King Express, at the northeast corner of Foothill and Mayflower. Got the chicken kebab plate for $14.95 and a soda for $1.50. Very yummy. 

- Brad Haugaard 

Boo Radley, A Little Shy at First, But a Sweet Cat


Two-year-old Boo Radley is a sweet cat in search of a loving forever home where she can feel comfortable coming out of her shell. Boo Radley can be a little shy with new people at first, but she’s been enjoying cheek and neck scratches from our staff and volunteers, and even rolls onto her back to show her belly!

Join us at Pasadena Humane (361 S. Raymond Ave., Pasadena) on Saturday, August 20 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. for our NBC4 Clear The Shelters adoption event sponsored by Subaru. Adoption fees will be waived for all available dogs, cats, and critters. 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. 

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: Class of 1889 Orange Avenue School

Class of 1889 Orange Avenue School. Monrovia's first school building, built in 1887 for $18,000 at Orange (now Colorado) Avenue. Elementary grades on the ground floor, high School on the second floor from 1893 on.. From the Myron Hotchkiss 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

Schools Superintendent Explains About Proposed Bond Measure

Letter from Monrovia Schools Superintendent Ryan Smith. 

Dear Monrovia Unified School District Community:

I hope you are enjoying the last days of summer!  We are excited to welcome our students back to our schools on Wednesday, August 17, and I know this will be a fantastic school year.  As you may have heard, the Board of Education has been exploring the idea of placing a school facilities improvement measure on the November ballot, having reviewed informational presentations on the subject at meetings on July 20 and July 27.  I would like to take this opportunity to provide you with some background information.

In 2019, the Board of Education hired an architecture firm to analyze the condition of our schools and facilities, some of which are nearly 100 years old.  The report identified several “priority projects” that must be addressed.  These projects include improving upon critical infrastructure like roofs and HVAC units, interiors and exteriors of buildings and classrooms, as well as other areas such as field spaces, parking lots, and walkways.  The report also highlighted additional modernization projects beyond these priorities that would cost hundreds of millions of dollars.

The Board of Education is also interested in addressing a number of other areas meant to improve our schools and the quality of education that our students receive.  With the safety of our students being of paramount importance, it is crucial that we maintain the level of safety and security that is called for in today’s world.  It is also vital that our classrooms and facilities ensure that we continue providing students with a learning experience that will prepare them for college and their careers.  A strong education in science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics is more important now than ever.  We also want to ensure that all of our facilities are fully accessible to everyone as we improve upon them.

For these reasons, the Board of Education is considering placing a facilities improvement measure on the November ballot.  The measure being considered would seek voter approval for the issuance of $75 million in general obligation bonds, based on a projected tax rate of 3 cents per $100 ($30 per $100,000) of a property’s assessed valuation, not the market value of the property.  To the median homeowner in our community, this would cost approximately $130 to $135 per year for as long as bonds are outstanding.

The Board of Education will discuss this at its next regular meeting on Wednesday, August 10, at 6:30 pm.  The meeting is open to the public, and there will be an opportunity for those attending to comment.  The meeting will be available to view at the Board’s YouTube channel for those who cannot attend but wish to watch it live or on demand.

Sincerely, 

Ryan D. Smith, Ed.D.

Superintendent

School Board to Vote on Putting $75 Million Bond Measure on November Ballot; App for Monrovia High Students; Etc.

At its next meeting the Monrovia Board of Education will consider ...

~ Ordering that a bond measure to raise $75 million be put on the ballot for this November 8. Details here: https://tny.im/aDJxr. The wording of the ballot statement, which calls for a yes or no vote, would be that the money would be used ...

"To repair/upgrade classrooms, science labs, career-training facilities, and instructional technology to support student achievement and college/career readiness in math, science, technology, engineering, arts and skilled trades; fix deteriorating roofs, plumbing, electrical systems; and improve school safety/security systems, shall Monrovia Unified School District's measure be adopted authorizing $75,000,000 in bonds at legal rates, levying 3 cents per $100 assessed value ($4,700,000 annually) while bonds are outstanding, with independent citizen oversight and all money locally-controlled?"

~ Contract with Minga.io to provide a cellphone app with a tracking module, community module, ID module and hall pass module for the 2,500 students at Monrovia High. Cost $5,100. https://tny.im/a4uE

~ Enter into an agreement with the Boys and Girls Club of the Foothills to allow the club to use Mayflower Elementary School facilities during non-school hours. https://tny.im/6VgZg

Photo by Mackenzie Marco on Unsplash

- Brad Haugaard