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Monrovia PD: Rumor that there are More Residential Burglaries by Gangs is False

Information currently circulating around town that specific neighborhoods are experiencing an increase in residential burglaries perpetrated
by criminal street gangs is false.
 
Monrovia city officials recently received emails from residents alleging a presumed epidemic of burglaries in a specific region of the city. The rumors further highlighted that these crimes were being perpetrated by an organized band of roving street gang members.
 
Police officials said this information is not true.
 
In fact, residential burglaries in Monrovia and in the region have dropped in the past year, said Monrovia Police Capt. Alan Sanvictores. Though burglaries
and crimes of opportunity may never be fully stamped out in a metropolitan community, residential burglaries that have occurred do not appear to be gang related or focused upon a specific area or neighborhood.
 
“Burglaries that have occurred in Monrovia, unfortunate though they are, show no signs or patterns of a specific area in Monrovia being targeted by a specific group of people,” Capt. Sanvictores said.
 
Over the past year, the Monrovia Police Department has made arrests for residential burglaries. Throughout the Monrovia Police Department’s investigative process, none of the apprehended suspects have been found to have any gang affiliations.
 
If residents see something suspicious in their neighborhood, they are encouraged to call 911, the Monrovia Police Department main line at (626)256-8000 or the mobile hotline at (626) 357-CELL (2355).
 
To find out whether any criminal activity has occurred in your neighborhood, view the police reports online at www.cityofmonrovia.org. These reports are updated
weekly.
  
- Brad Haugaard (from city press release)

Monrovia PD: Assaults, DUIs, Peeper, Shots Fired, Purse Snatch, Fire Extinguisher Sprayer, Etc.

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for Oct. 6 -12. - Brad Haugaard]

During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 534 service events, resulting in 111 investigations.  Following are the last week's highlighted issues and events:
 
Theft / Receiving Stolen Property - Suspect Arrested
On October 6 at 11:39 a.m., an officer was dispatched to a business in the 2000 block of South Myrtle regarding the theft of an iron grate from a sewer drain at the location.  The officer went to the recycling center in the 100 block of West Duarte to see if anyone had tried to get money for the grate, but did not find the grate there.  While walking back to his patrol unit, he observed a male subject pushing a cart with an iron grate on it.  The grate weighed 125 pounds.  During the investigation, the suspect admitted to stealing the grate.  He was arrested and brought to the police station for booking.
 
Warrant Arrest - Suspect Arrested
On October 6 at 9:09 p.m., officers noticed a suspicious subject trying to hide from them as they were driving their patrol unit in the area of Alta Vista and Maple.  The subject was contacted, identified, and found to have an outstanding narcotics warrant.  He was arrested and taken into custody.
 
Driving Under the Influence - Suspect Arrested
On October 6 at 10:08 p.m., officers responded to a gas station in the 800 block of East Huntington on the report of a male subject sleeping in his car.  The officers arrived and found the vehicle sitting at one of the gas station pumps.  The subject was passed out behind the wheel and the engine of his vehicle was running.  The officers could smell the strong odor of alcohol emitting from the subject's breath.  The suspect was determined to be under the influence and was arrested. 
 
Non-Injury Traffic Collision / Driving Under the Influence
On October 7 at 2:14 a.m., a traffic collision was reported in the 2100 block of South Peck Road.  An officer responded and determined the driver was under the influence of alcohol.  The driver was arrested and taken into custody. 
 
Non-Injury Traffic Collision / Driving Under the Influence
On October 7 at 3:05 a.m., an officer responded to the scene of a traffic collision and found the driver to be under the influence of alcohol.  The reporting party had followed the driver from Hollywood.  The driver was arrested.
 
Disorderly Conduct / Peeping
On October 7 at 6:27 a.m., a female subject was taking a shower at a residence in the 100 block of West Cypress.  She observed a shadow across the street that appeared to be the silhouette of a male subject.  She yelled out that she could see him and saw a male subject jump out from the darkness.  She described the subject as a male Hispanic, unknown age, last seen getting into a smaller, white compact car.  Officers conducted an area search, but could not locate the suspect.  The investigation is continuing.
 
Shots Fired
On October 8 at 1:30 a.m., an officer reported hearing several shots fired east of his location at Ivy and Chestnut.  He started in that direction immediately.  Calls came in from the area of 200 East Colorado reporting shots fired, but no victim or suspect information was given.  Officers were in the area very fast and the Foothill Air Support Team airship arrived quickly and began checking the area.  No victims or suspects were located and no bullet impacts could be found.  Area hospitals were also checked, but not victims had reported for treatment.   
 
Weapons Offense - Suspect Arrested
On October 8 at 9:46 p.m., Special Enforcement Team officers were working an area regarding gang enforcement when they observed several subjects who appeared to be gang members walking in the area of the Monrovia/Duarte border, at California and Euclid.  They turned their police unit around to contact the subjects, and as they did, they observed a white Chevy Lumina occupied by four young male subjects and people in the area were running away.  Because of the suspicious circumstances, they decided to stop the car and investigate.  
 
Upon contact, the occupants acted very strange.  They were nervous and making statements about a friend who was stabbed at a location on California.  During a pat-down search of one of the occupants, the officer located a loaded revolver. The suspect was arrested for possessing a concealed weapon and was taken into custody.  The gun was determined to have belonged to a deceased person.  The suspect was later transported to Eastlake Juvenile Hall. 
 
Monrovia police were informed shortly after the stop that the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department was investigating the stabbing of a young male subject by several other males at a party in the 2100 block of South California.  
 
Strong-Arm Robbery
On October 8 at 7:17 p.m., an employee of a business in the 400 block of West Huntington was leaving for a break when a male subject grabbed her purse and pushed her to the ground, causing minor injury to her elbow.  The suspect is described as a male Hispanic, wearing blue jeans, a dark hat, a Pendleton-type shirt, and white shoes.  The victim did not require medical attention.  Officers responded and made an area check, but were unable to locate the suspect or the stolen purse.  Investigation continuing.
 
Vandalism
On October 9 at 1:56 p.m., officers located several locations in the City of Monrovia that had been vandalized with graffiti.  Maroon, black, and green paint was found at each location.  At the end of shift that same day, several other locations were discovered. Investigation continuing.
 
Assault With a Deadly Weapon
On October 9 at 11:55 p.m., an officer responded to Arcadia Methodist Hospital regarding a victim that checked himself in with a stab wound to his right thigh.  An officer contacted the victim, who stated that he was standing in front of his house in the 200 block of West Cypress at about 11:00 p.m. and was drinking a beer.  He was approached by two male subjects.  One of the subjects asked the victim to share his beer.  When the victim refused, one subject punched him in the face and the other stabbed the victim in his right thigh with an unknown sharp object.  Both suspects ran westbound on Cypress. 
 
The victim reported that he does not know the suspects.  They are described as two male blacks in their twenties; one suspect was wearing a dark baseball cap with the letter "D" on it and the other was wearing a dark hooded sweatshirt.  The victim's injury was minor and he was treated and released from the hospital.
 
Vehicle Burglary
On October 10 at 6:20 p.m., a vehicle burglary was reported at a business parking lot located in the 500 block of South Mountain.  One of the vehicle windows was smashed and cash and a GPS unit were stolen. 
 
Assault With a Deadly Weapon - Suspect Arrested
On October 10 at 7:58 p.m., police received a call from Arcadia Methodist Hospital.  They had a stabbing victim in the emergency room.  The victim said he was drinking and playing cards with family members at a residence in the 800 block of West Olive.  He began to argue with his cousin/suspect, which escalated into a physical fight.  Family members broke up the fight and they separated.
 
A short time later, the suspect returned and began threatening everyone by brandishing a knife.  The victim and suspect became involved in another physical altercation, after which, the victim noticed a deep laceration on his left wrist.  The suspect's brother also suffered a cut on his finger as a result of his efforts to break up the fight.  Officers went to the location and arrested the suspect without incident.
 
Theft
On October 10 at 8:16 p.m., police received a call reporting a victim chasing a suspect on foot in the area of Primrose and Lemon.  The victim exited a building and saw the suspect stripping parts from his bicycle, which was locked in a bicycle rack.  The suspect stole the front wheel, forks, handle bars, and seat.  He ran southbound through a park and out of site.  He was described as a male white, 20 years old, 6'4", thin build, dark curly hair, wearing a gray beanie, dark blue windbreaker, dark shorts, and he had a black backpack.  Officers responded, but the suspect was not located. 
 
Grand Theft Auto
October 11 at 6:25 a.m., an officer was dispatched to the 100 block of South Violet regarding a stolen vehicle.  The victim parked his vehicle on Linwood at Violet in the evening and secured it.  He returned to his vehicle in the morning and found it missing.  There was no broken glass on the ground where the vehicle was parked, all keys were accounted for, and no one had permission to take his vehicle.  The vehicle is a white, 4-door Honda Accord.
 
Grand Theft
On October 11 at 9:13 a.m., a victim reported the theft of a water-tank trailer from a construction site at the corner of Magnolia and Chestnut.  The reporting party told the officer the trailer was stolen from the location during the night.
 
Suspicious Circumstances / HazMat Incident
On October 11 at 6:27 p.m., a caller reported a release of some type of chemical at a market located in the 300 block of West Huntington.  The Monrovia Fire Department responded and advised they would be handling the incident as a bomb threat/HazMat incident.  When officers arrived, they learned a male suspect, for unknown reasons, ran into the store and discharged a dry-chemical fire extinguisher.  The building was evacuated.  None of the occupants became ill or showed any sign of exposure to anything dangerous.  The suspect was described as a male white, 25 yeas old, 5'10", with a thin build.  He drove away in a peach colored, 2-door vehicle.  The HazMat unit from the Los Angeles County Fire Department responded and determined the substance was non-toxic and the scene was cleared.  Investigation continuing.
 
Possession of a Controlled Substance / Possession of Drug Paraphernalia / Warrant - Suspect Arrested
On October 12 at 8:14 a.m., an officer was dispatched to a residence in the 300 block of West Colorado regarding suspicious subjects living in a shed.  The officer arrived and contacted the subjects.  He conducted a computer check on them and found the female subject had a warrant for possession of a controlled substance.  A search of her property revealed she had a baggie of methamphetamine and a drug smoking pipe in a small pouch.  She was arrested for the above listed charges.
 
Residential Burglary
On October 12 at 10:22 a.m., a resident in the 400 block of North Encinitas was called by his alarm company to report an alarm activation at his home.  He responded to his home and saw the garage door and the rear door of his home were open.  He then called police.  Officers arrived, cleared the house and did not find anyone inside.  The victim did a walk through with the officers, but could only determine an Ipad and a watch missing at this time.

Monrovia Mayor vs Mayor | Football vs. La Canada Tonight | School Board Candidates | Video Rental Store Still Around

~ Former Mayor Bob Bartlett withdraws his endorsement of Rob Hammond (also a former mayor) in Hammond's school board run. http://goo.gl/dZzS9
 
~ Preview of tonight's football game against La Canada. http://goo.gl/MWOdn
 
~ Overview of candidates in Monrovia School Board race. http://goo.gl/OkZEd
 
~ Monrovia's Video House, still standing despite market changes. http://goo.gl/wRnYt
 
- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Patch Owner, AOL, Wants to Sell Out to Yahoo


AOL's stock price has slipped from the $19-20 range to around $13.

AOL, the owner of the Patch local-news websites - including the Monrovia Patch - is asking Yahoo to buy AOL. AOL CEO Tim Armstrong says combining some of AOL and Yahoo's operations could save money. AOL's stock price, as you can see above, has not been doing well the last few months. http://goo.gl/sDx85
- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia's McCarthy Selected for All-American Bowl | Meth Arrest | Bear Pool Party | Bradoaks Car Wash

~ U.S. Army All-American Bowl selects Monrovia football player, Ellis McCarthy. http://goo.gl/HnjpV
 
~ Monrovia woman jailed on meth charge. http://goo.gl/paQRn
 
~ I understand this bear pool party video was shot in Monrovia, though it doesn't say so. Cute. http://goo.gl/dqxp1
 
~ Car wash to benefit Bradoaks School. http://goo.gl/MmCfS
 
- Brad Haugaard

Cheaper Charger from Monrovia's AeroVironment

Nissan is offering a lower-cost electric car charging station (made by Monrovia-based AeroVironment) for charging its LEAF car at home. http://goo.gl/H0RT5
 
- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Water Polo | Pictures of Plymouth Award

~ South Pas water polo team over Monrovia. :-( http://goo.gl/HL4sH
 
~ Pictures of Plymouth School receiving its award for fitness. http://goo.gl/691IS
 
- Brad Haugaard

Another Monrovia Bear - Yawn | Plymouth Wins Award | Folk-Pop Music

~ Another Monrovia bear report, this time on KCAL9. More like slides than film. http://goo.gl/0Sn6J
 
~ Good fitness wins Plymouth School $6,000. http://goo.gl/b32CW
 
~ Faith Hefty's folk-pop music first Friday of the month at Monrovia Coffee Co. http://goo.gl/3z7E9
 
- Brad Haugaard

New Monrovia Dentist Office | Green Dot Expands Biz | Search and Rescue

~ Monrovia Modern Dentistry office opening at Huntington Plaza Nov. 15. http://goo.gl/ZX9ex
 
~ Monrovia's Green Dot has joined with Blackhawk Network to sell Green Dot's prepaid credit cards through Blackhawk's many retail outlets. http://goo.gl/9M4K4
 
~ Monrovian Susan McCreary, volunteer with Sierra Madre Search and Rescue. http://goo.gl/WCFFI
 
- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Hummingbird Wins Award | College Fair

~ Hummingbird drone by Monrovia's AeroVironment wins Popular Mechanics breakthrough technology award. http://goo.gl/ANxYM
 
~ Monrovia High will be having its college fair tonight (Oct. 11) at 7 p.m. for students in its event center. http://goo.gl/bDyrm
 
- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Employment Seminar | Sacramento Stuff | Girls' Tennis | Art in Park | UPS Store | Halloween

~ Steps to Employment seminar at the library Oct. 18. http://goo.gl/9Zgx9
 
~ Governor Brown signs a bill by Senator Bob Huff, who represents Monrovia. It allows door-to-door household hazardous waste collection programs. http://goo.gl/j8lse
 
~ Assemblyman Tim Donnelly, who represents part of Monrovia, is unhappy that Governor Brown approved the DREAM Act. "California is billions of dollars in the hole ... Yet, he has found a slush fund of $42 million to hand to illegal aliens?"
 
~ You can support the Monrovia High Girls' Tennis team by printing this coupon and having a meal at Panda Express on Oct. 13. http://goo.gl/tIDgL 
 
~ Community art in the park. http://goo.gl/DYwNK
 
~ A UPS Store has opened in the Paragon building on Myrtle. http://goo.gl/t8ZeV
 
~ Jack-O-Lantern Jubilee, Library Park, on Halloween. The first 50 registrants will receive a free pumpkin. Details: http://goo.gl/45IFX
 
- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Grad Wins Nobel Prize

1961 Monrovia High grad, Thomas Sargent, has won a Nobel Prize in economics. http://goo.gl/V2o4i

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Money for Energy Upgrades | Health Screenings | Fire and Deer Plants | Kid's Book Club | Philippines

~ If you are "income qualified," you may be eligible for money to upgrade your house with "residential energy saving devices" and to create jobs of low-income youths, who will - I take it - be installing the devices. Call Dan McConnell at City Hall - (626) 932-5504 - and ask about the GREEN (Green Residential Energy Efficiency Neighborhoods) grants.
 
~ Life Line health screenings on Friday, Oct. 14, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Single screenings from $35 to $60 and packages from $129 to $159, which include four screenings of the carotid artery, abdominal aortic aneurysm, peripheral arterial disease and atria fibrillation. To register, contact Life Line Screening at (888) 653-6441.
 
~ Information from Monrovia Fire Department on deer and fire resistant plants (scroll down after clicking here): http://goo.gl/AXbz9
 
~ A Kid's Book Club will be held on Monday, Oct. 10, at 3:30 p.m. The program, titled Animals, Animals, Animals, is for Kindergarten through first grade children. Register at www.monroviapubliclibrary.org or call the Library at (626) 256-8274.
 
~ There will be a free cultural Library program about the Philippines, with story, song, craft and film, on Saturday, Oct. 15, at 2 p.m. Treats, too.

 
- Brad Haugaard

Governor Approves and Vetoes Portantino Bills

Governor Jerry Brown has signed one bill by Anthony Portantino - who represents part of Monrovia - and vetoed another. Brown signed the bill criminalizing openly carrying an unloaded handgun in public ( http://goo.gl/IsWCV ) and vetoed a bill designed to encourage college students to get federal loans ( http://goo.gl/XcCeV ). Brown said that could be left to the colleges.
 
- Brad Haugaard

Nominate a Great Monrovian | Football

~ Know some high-quality Monrovians? Nominate them for one of these three awards: Monroe Award, Iris Award, and Dick Lord Award. Details here: http://goo.gl/LR8b0
 
~ A look at Monrovia's (and other teams') chances in football. http://goo.gl/MrkKi
 
- Brad Haugaard

Change in Monrovia School Start Date for 2012

For the 2012 year, Monrovia schools will begin on August 13, pending ratification by the Monrovia Teachers Association. According to the report ( http://goo.gl/HROnG ), "The earlier start date is being recommended in order to accommodate the needs of secondary students to complete the first semester before winter break." [Thanks to Vicke Thrower and Alex Zucco for pointing that out to me. I had missed it.]
- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia School Board Candidate Forum


There are quite a few Monrovia school board candidates this election (more than I've ever seen). Here's a good opportunity to get to hear them.
- Brad Haugaard

Shots Fired | Monrovia Over Paramount :-) | Governor Signs Gold Line Exception Bill

~ Shots fired on 200 block of E. Colorado Blvd. early Saturday morning. http://goo.gl/Gnz6v
 
~ Monrovia Wildcats beat Paramount in football. http://goo.gl/f3xUS
 
~ Governor Jerry Brown has signed into law a measure that will allow elected officials along the Gold Line to serve on its board. That had been challenged by a property owner fighting against having his property taken by eminent domain. http://goo.gl/v4sTT 
 
- Brad Haugaard

Monday Freeway Closures | New Monrovia Church | School Board | Epilepsy Law Signed | Lawsuits

~ Monday, Oct. 10, there will be more lane closures for the 210 Freeway bridge so the construction crew can remove the big crane in the center divider. Up to three lanes will be closed on the 210 eastbound from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. Oct. 11.


~ Here is what will apparently be the web page  ( http://goo.gl/yhy9t ) of a new Monrovia church - Fellowship Monrovia - that will be founded by Albert Tate (currently a pastor at Lake Avenue Church in Pasadena). Website is clearly not quite ready for prime time, but these three videos by Tate are: http://goo.gl/BnknW


~ The next school board meeting is Oct. 12. I checked the agenda and there do not appear to be any killer items that will be discussed, but here's the agenda if you are interested: http://goo.gl/6vkHz


~ Senator Bob Huff's law permitting trained school employees to give emergency aid to epileptic students has been signed into law. http://goo.gl/LoIUG


~ More lawsuits filed against city to prevent eminent domain being used to take private property for a Gold Line maintenance yard. http://goo.gl/aLXIp 



UPDATE on schools from Vickie Thrower:



Wanted to let you know that Alex Zucco emailed to let me know that there will be an announcement at the 10/12 School Board Meeting – the 2012/2013 School year will start on August 13, 2012.  The end date of that school year will not be decided until this coming January.

Also, wanted to let you know that there is a School Board Candidate Forum scheduled for Oct 19th.  I am the President of the Monrovia PTA Council and we are one of the Co-Sponsors of this event, being moderated by the League of Women Voters.



- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia's Senator: Is California Neglecting the Trades?

State Senator Bob Huff, who represents Monrovia, thinks the idea that college is for everybody is mistaken and that California education has neglected the trades (wood shop and auto mechanics), apprenticeships, "and other hands on learning opportunities with actual businesses and industries." For the whole thing, scroll down to "Preparing students for an ever-shifting world" - http://goo.gl/PGNGi

- Brad Haugaard