[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department’s Neighborhood Watch Report for July 21-27 – Brad Haugaard]
During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 588 service events, resulting in 97 investigations. Following are the last week’s highlighted issues and events:
On July 22 at 1:20 a.m., a resident in the 800 block of East Lemon was sleeping in the living room when she heard her small dog growling at something outside. She went to investigate and saw a male subject wearing dark colored clothing crawling through her bedroom window. The suspect saw the resident and fled. Officers conducted an area search, but were unable to locate the suspect. The investigation is continuing.
On July 22 at 9:17 a.m., an officer was patrolling the 800 block of West Walnut due to recent complaints of drug activity. He observed two subjects walking down the street carrying a duffle bag. When he stopped and talked with the subjects, he learned one of them was on parole for burglary. A search of the duffle bag revealed stolen mail from several residences off Royal Oaks. The suspect was arrested for possession of stolen mail and a parole violation.
On July 24 at 4:00 p.m., officers were dispatched to a motel in the 900 block of West Huntington. A male victim reported that a male occupant staying in a room at the motel had just robbed him of all his property at knife point. The victim went to the motel to trade items he found in the trash for marijuana. The suspect did not want what he was trading and decided to take everything he had, including his backpack and iPod. The suspect was identified and arrested without incident. The stolen property was located and returned to its owner. A female subject inside the room was also arrested for being under the influence of a controlled substance, as well as another male subject that had rented the room. A stolen bicycle was found in the second male subject’s vehicle, so he was also charged with possession of stolen property.
Arcadia Police Department recently circulated a special bulletin regarding a wanted robbery suspect from their city. On July 24 at 10:43 p.m., a Monrovia officer who is familiar with the suspect from prior contacts drove by an area where the suspect was known to frequent. The officer saw the suspect walking near Fifth and Olive with another male subject. The suspect tried to conceal himself behind a bush, but was detained without incident. Arcadia officers arrived and took custody of the suspect.
On July 25 at 4:00 a.m., an officer saw a suspicious person in the area of Foothill and Canyon. The officer contacted the male subject and determined he was under the influence of a controlled substance. Upon further investigation, the officer found the suspect had a flashlight, screwdriver, and box cutter in his possession. The suspect did not have a reasonable explanation for having these tools or being in Monrovia. The suspect was arrested for being under the influence and possession of burglary tools.
On July 25 at 2:34 p.m., officers were dispatched to the 2600 block of South Peck, where a vehicle collided into four parked cars. The suspect’s vehicle lost one of its wheels, but the suspect continued south on Peck into the City of El Monte on three wheels and an axle. A witness followed the driver and led officers to the suspect. He was detained and officers determined he had been driving while under the influence of alcohol. He was arrested and taken into custody.
On July 25 at 6:23 p.m., police received a report of a battery that just occurred in the area of California and Walnut. The reporting party stated a male subject had exited a truck and was seen hitting a female, then dragging her into the bushes. Officers checked the area, but were unable to locate anyone. The reporting party called again and stated he had been incorrect in the location, and that it was Canyon and Walnut. Officers returned and located a trail of blood from Walnut to Maple. After an extensive investigation, it was determined an altercation had occurred between a teenage boyfriend and girlfriend, and the female may have hit the male in the nose, causing him to bleed. Officers were unable to determine exactly what transpired, as the two juveniles were uncooperative and had no visible signs of injury.
On July 26, three curbside box battery thefts were reported. The suspect(s) pried open the box doors and stole several back-up power batteries that are used in case of power outages. The thefts occurred in the 1300 block South Magnolia, the 500 block of Bradbury, and the 1000 block of Royal Oaks. No suspects have been located. Time Warner Cable reported that a few nights ago, the City of Pomona had approximately 60 of these boxes broken into in one night. The same thefts are also occurring in Arcadia and South Pasadena. Investigation continuing.
On July 26 at 10:00 p.m., a subject who was house-sitting in the 100 block of North Madison arrived at the home and found the front door ajar. The point of entry into the home was a kitchen window; no forced entry was apparent. The house appeared to be thoroughly ransacked and the actual loss is unknown, since the owners are away. The loss will be determined when the owners return. Investigation continuing.
July 27 at 12:11 a.m., a caller reported a male subject standing near a blue van in the 900 block of West Walnut that appeared to be smoking marijuana. The caller stated they did not think the person belonged in the area. When the officer arrived, the suspect fled. As he ran, he placed his hands in his sweatshirt. The officer called out commands for the suspect to remove his hands, but the suspect kept running and was able to get into a construction storage yard at the 210 Freeway and Fifth. Containment of the area was set up and the Foothill Air Support Team helicopter assisted in the search. The suspect was not found. He is believed to be associated with a local residence in the area. A methamphetamine pipe was found in the area.
~ More on the kidnapping case with Monrovia defendent Kelvin "Sgt. Mac" McFarland. http://goo.gl/Fjvsb
~ A new book club will meet in the Children's Story Room at the library on July 26 at 6:30 p.m. to discuss Sarah's Key by Taitana de Rosnay. In August the club will read The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein. "Be prepared to shed torrents of tears for that one." [Do people read books to cry? I guess I'm wired differently.] http://goo.gl/zTQRh
- Brad Haugaard
[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department’s Neighborhood Watch Report for July 14-20 – Brad Haugaard]</I
During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 572 service events, resulting in 105 investigations. Following are the last week’s highlighted issues and events:
On July 14 at 10:49 p.m., a driver was traveling east in the 400 block of West Foothill. She reached down to adjust the car stereo, drifted toward the right side of the lane, and collided into a parked vehicle. During the investigation, it was determined the driver was under the influence and she was arrested.
On July 17 at 8:49 p.m., police received a report of a disturbing subject, possibly intoxicated, at a park in the 300 block of South Myrtle, where a summer concert was being held. An officer responded and located the subject in question on Palm Avenue. After assessing the subject, the officer determined that she was unable to adequately care for herself. She was arrested for public drunkenness and later released after sobering.
On July 18 at 2:32 p.m., an officer was dispatched to the 300 block of Parkrose regarding a theft. A gardening crew working in the area left two lawnmowers in two different yards while they took a break in the backyard of a house. When they returned to the front of the house, the lawnmowers were missing. The lawnmowers are valued at approximately $1700.00 each. Investigation continuing.
On July 19 at 9:30 a.m., a white, 1986 Toyota truck was stolen from a parking lot in the 3300 block of South Peck Road. The vehicle was entered into the stolen vehicle system.
On July 19 at 5:27 p.m., a victim discovered his blue, 2004 Chevrolet Silverado truck had been stolen out of a parking lot in the 700 block of East Huntington. An officer viewed surveillance videotape and saw the suspects commit the theft. Two male subjects drove into the lot in a white, Chevrolet Silverado truck, broke into the victim’s truck and drove away. Investigation continuing.
On July 19 at 5:32 p.m., a male subject returned to his home in the 900 block of West Hillcrest and discovered his front door was unlocked and his dog was out. Further investigation revealed forced entry had been made through the rear glass door. The suspect entered through the rear yard gate. The suspect stole jewelry and cash. Investigation continuing.
~ Creative Woman - aka "The Wizard of Bras" - is featured in the LA Times today. (The store has 18,000 bra styles. Who knew?). http://goo.gl/e1FXJ
~ Foothill Unity Center has released a list of the kinds of supplies they need. http://goo.gl/BDbKp - Brad Haugaard
~ Assemblyman Anthony Portantino, who represents part of Monrovia, is charging the Democratic leadership in the Assembly with punishing him for voting against the state budget. http://goo.gl/tI56s
UPDATE: Mayor Mary Ann Lutz responds on her Facebook page: "This is WRONG on so many levels. Assembly Member Portantino supported his cities, voted according to his principles and this type of retaliation has no place in a democracy! Let Assembly Member Portantino know how grateful you are for his courageous stand! Thank him today!"
~ Assemblyman Tim Donnelly, who represents the other part of Monovia, says that California is run by "lawless thugs." http://goo.gl/o01IO
- Brad HaugaardIn his weekly report, Monrovia City Manager Scott Ochoa writes that:
~ The crowd at the Fourth of July event was about 9,000 people, more than double the number who attended last year. Ochoa writes: "There were folks setting up their spots in Library Park at 10 a.m.! The Park and the 300 & 400 blocks of Myrtle were packed."~ When AeroVironment was threatened by terrorists, the city took "appropriate measures," but then, "Unfortunately - or fortunately, depending on your perspective - word about this threat was leaked to the media and a frenzy began." [Opinion: Well, I'll go with "fortunately." This was an important news story that needed to get out, frenzy or not.] ~ Regarding a lawsuit charging city councilmembers shouldn't be on the Gold Line board because it is a conflict, Ochoa says lots of regional agencies are arranged that way as long as it is "expressly allowed by law". So, he writes, if that's a problem, the law can just be changed to allow it. Source: http://goo.gl/nPCtO - Brad Haugaard
~ In an editorial, the Star-News defends America's use of the drones developed by Monrovia's AeroVironment against terrorists, but thinks America needs to "do a better job of explaining [to the world] the philosophical underpinnings of this kind of defense." http://goo.gl/FuoBd
Opinion: Oh, Pish! Nobody hates us because of drones. People who hate us hated us before drones and they'll hate us after drones. So why do they whine about drones? Because they work. ~ A seminar on environmentally friendly construction. At the Monrovia Public Library, July 15 and 22. http://goo.gl/QMR6F ~ Girl testifies in case of Monrovia man accused of sexual abuse. http://goo.gl/p5vkP - Brad Haugaard
~ Swap produce (and "worm tea" and stuff) at the Library Park, July 1 (tomorrow, Saturday) from 9-11 a.m. http://goo.gl/L1Ved
~ State Senator Bob Huff, who represents Monrovia, charges that the quasi-public California School Boards Association wastes money, with at least one "City of Bell-style" salary, association money spent at a casino, and allegations of kickbacks. http://goo.gl/4Uq5I~ Monrovia High's George Frazier, a replacement for Nick Bueno? http://goo.gl/3NdWe
- Brad HaugaardIf you are a Monrovia city council attendee, the July 5 council meeting has been put off until July 6. I assume it will be at 6:30 p.m. Here's the agenda: http://goo.gl/YjS0g
Big item on the agenda appears to be a hearing about the Gold Line property.Also, staff is recommending the council take a stand on three state measures: oppose a bill making it harder for cities to go bankrupt; oppose a bill requiring an election before cities can contract out library services; and (tentatively) support a bill that would reform redevelopment. http://goo.gl/0dtz3 - Brad HaugaardAl-Qaida threatens 11 executives of Monrovia-based AeroVironment. http://goo.gl/xahLN
- Brad Haugaard
