Monrovia Police: Brandishing a Pistol; Sexual Battery; Six Year Sentence for Stabbing; Etc.

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for March 31-April 2. - Brad Haugaard]

During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 416 service events, resulting in 84 investigations.

Brandishing a Firearm
March 31 at 5:17 p.m., an officer responded to Duarte and Mayflower on the report of a suspect brandishing a firearm. The victim said he was in his vehicle at the intersection of Duarte and Mayflower when he saw the suspects in the turn lane, heading eastbound Duarte. As the suspect vehicle started to turn, the front passenger was holding a small, dark, semi-automatic handgun up against his chest as if he was displaying it to the victim. The suspect racked the slide on the gun as they passed. The suspect never pointed the gun at the victim. The vehicle is described as a late model, light blue Monte Carlo or cutlass style vehicle with 20-inch chrome rims. The driver was described as male Hispanic, early 20's, wearing a white T-shirt and a blue Dodger hat. The passenger was described as a male Hispanic in his early 20's. A teletype was sent out to all agencies regarding the incident. The investigation is continuing.

Suspicious Persons / Vehicle Burglary / Receiving Stolen Property
April 2 at 10:00 a.m., officers on patrol contacted two local homeless persons in the 200 block of West Palm. One of the subjects was in possession of a garage door opener, which he claimed belonged to a relative. The garage door opener was collected by officers for observation. Later that day at 2:27 p.m., an officer was dispatched to a residence in the 500 block of Fano on the report of a vehicle burglary. The victim reported that her garage door opener and other miscellaneous property had been stolen from her locked vehicle. The officer tested the garage door opener recovered from the above incident and it worked. The victim also identified the garage door opener as one of the items stolen from her vehicle during the burglary. A suspect was entered as a wanted person into the law enforcement database for receiving stolen property. The investigation is continuing.

Two Instances of Sexual Battery Reported
April 2 at 8:02 a.m., an adult female victim reported that she had been sexually assaulted the prior evening at about 9:00 p.m. She was walking in the area of Fifth Avenue and Walnut when she was approached by the suspect. He approached her from the front and hugged her tightly by wrapping his arms around her body. The suspect then slapped the victim's buttocks and left the scene on his skateboard. No injuries were reported.

April 2 at 5:02 p.m., an adult female victim reported she was sexually assaulted at approximately 4:50 p.m. as she was walking near the area of Monterey and Chestnut. The second victim reported that the suspect approached her from behind and reached around her body grabbing both of her breasts with his hands. The suspect commented on the victim's breast size and kicked her in the leg before leaving the scene with his skateboard in hand. No injuries were reported. Both victims described the suspect as a male Hispanic, 16-20 years old, 5'06" - 5'07", thin build, wearing a red "Hoodie" sweatshirt and dark pants. The suspect was in possession of a skateboard during both incidents. The investigation is continuing.

Commercial Burglary – Suspect Arrested
April 2 at 7:03 p.m., an officer responded to a business in the 500 block of West Huntington regarding a shoplifter in custody. The investigation revealed the suspect entered the location with the intent to take store merchandise in an effort to return it for store credit. The suspect was arrested and charged for Burglary.

Possession of a Controlled Substance – Suspect Arrested
April 3 at 12:51 a.m., an officer responded to a burglary alarm in the 300 block of West Huntington. As the officer arrived in the area of the alarm call, he observed a local homeless person walking in the area of Magnolia and Huntington. The subject looked in the officer’s direction, quickly tossed an object on the ground, and walked away from it. The officer, believing the subject was associated with the alarm call and possibly tossing stolen property from the business, detained the subject and recovered the property. The property turned out to be two clear plastic baggies containing methamphetamine. The officer arrested the subject for the drug charge, in addition to an outstanding warrant he had for his arrest. This same subject is also suspected of receiving stolen property in an incident that occurred on April 2.

Detective Bureau Case Follow-Up - Assault with a Deadly Weapon – Suspect Sentenced
On March 18, 2014, the suspect in an assault case was convicted on charges of Assault with a Deadly Weapon and Stalking. The crime occurred on January 22, 2012, at 5:53 p.m., when dispatch received a call reporting a stabbing victim at a residence in the 1200 block of Encino. Officers responded to the location and discovered a male adult with a puncture wound to his chest. The suspect violated a restraining order and entered the home of his estranged wife with a hunting type knife and stabbed her male companion one time in the chest. The suspect then left the location. The investigation led officers to a hotel in the 900 block of West Huntington Drive. Officers immediately contained the hotel room. Officers directed the clerk to make a telephone call into the suspect's room to tell him that his credit card was declined. Approximately 15 minutes later, the suspect exited his room and was taken into custody without further incident. The victim was taken to a hospital, where he was admitted in critical, but stable, condition. The victim recovered from his injuries. The suspect was sentenced to 6 years in state prison, full restitution, and a 10 year protective order was issued for the victims. The victim of the stabbing was very appreciative for the professional demeanor and tenacity of our department in handling this case.