Dear Governor Brown,
The devastation in the San Gabriel Valley and the 44th Assembly District has been significant and dramatic. There continue to be homes without power nearly one week after the winds began.
I respectfully request that you declare a "state of emergency." Residents of small and large cities need assistance and the towns and counties warrant the state's help in meeting the demand placed on them from this horrendous natural disaster.
Please consider touring the affected communities and I again urge you to quickly declare so that emergency resources can be made available.
Respectfully,
Anthony J. Portantino
[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department’s Neighborhood Watch Report for December 1-4 – Brad Haugaard]
Following are the weekend’s highlighted issues and events. To see a complete listing of crimes reported, go to the City of Monrovia website at www.cityofmonrovia.org and click on the crime mapping link.
On December 1 at 4:24 a.m., the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) for the City of Monrovia was activated due to the amount of damage created by windstorms. All available personnel were assigned to specific tasks to meet the demands on the calls for service regarding power outages, downed power lines and downed trees. The windstorms began the night before at approximately 11:00 p.m., but calls reporting property damage began after midnight. The police department received over 500 calls for service in a 24-hour period. The calls ranged from residents trapped due to downed trees or power lines, preventing them from leaving their residences, to broken water lines. The appropriate departments were notified through the EOC. The entire day was spent answering calls for service due to the wind related incidents. While there were over 500 calls for service, only two calls involved criminal investigations. The calls for service did not let up until after 9:00 p.m. The EOC was scaled down after midnight.
On December 1 at 8:36 a.m., a resident in the 400 block of West Colorado reported an attempt burglary. Suspect(s) tampered with the deadbolt on the detached garage and cut the lock off a toolbox on a nearby trailer. The incident occurred sometime between 2:45 and 6:30 a.m. No suspects were seen or heard. Investigation continuing.
On December 1 at 5:31 p.m., the owner of a business in the 400 block of West Foothill called to report that a female suspect had entered her business on November 19, 2011, and purchased several items using a check from a closed account. The female was identified through computer checks. The investigation is continuing.
On December 2 at 1:26 p.m., a resident in the 500 block of Falling Leaf called to report someone had stolen his laptop from his unlocked vehicle, which was parked in front of his residence during the night. No suspect(s) seen or heard. Investigation continuing.
On December 2 at 3:46 p.m., a business in the 500 block of West Huntington called to report two female juveniles who had walked into the business, selected merchandise, and stole several items from the location. The juveniles fled the location when approached by the loss prevention officer. They had dropped their purses as they were trying to get away. One of the juveniles eventually came back to the location and turned herself in to police. A computer check revealed she had an outstanding warrant for her arrest. The juvenile was taken into custody.
The subject was found to be a ward of the court and was later released to a worker from the Department of Child and Family Services (DCFS). As the female and the DCFS worker exited the police department, the female ran southbound on Ivy and out of sight. Officers responded and conducted a search, but she was not located. A missing person’s report was completed for the runaway.
On December 2 at 6:54 p.m., a female resident in the 1000 block of Royal Oaks parked her vehicle in the parking lot of her apartment complex, leaving her purse inside the vehicle. The female was inside for about hour, and when she returned, she discovered the passenger window had been smashed and her purse was taken. No suspect(s) were seen or heard. Investigation continuing.
On December 2 at 8:37 p.m., a female subject called to report a vehicle burglary that occurred in the 1300 block of South Magnolia. She parked and locked her vehicle in a carport of an apartment complex. When she returned to her vehicle, she discovered her rear window smashed and her computer case and accessories missing. A citizen recovered some of the victim’s property in the roadway at Canyon and Chestnut. The citizen called police and turned in the victim’s property. The crime occurred sometime between 6:40 and 8:30 p.m. Investigation continuing.
On December 4 at 3:20 a.m., a vehicle collided with two parked vehicles in the 800 block of West Foothill. Officers responded and determined the driver to be driving under the influence of alcohol. The driver was arrested.
