Monrovia Police: Stealing SUV Seats; Waiting for a Theft; Drugs; Etc.

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for April 10-13. - Brad Haugaard]

Following are the weekend’s highlighted issues and events.

Disturbing Subjects / Drunk in Public – Suspect Arrested
On April 10 at 4:39 p.m., an officer responded to a park in the 300 block of South Myrtle regarding disturbing subjects. The officer observed two subjects in a verbal argument. One of the subjects removed his shirt and took a fighting stance with the second subject. The officer confronted the subjects and after investigation, arrested one of them for being drunk in public.

Vehicle Burglaries
On April 10 in the late evening, three vehicle burglaries were reported to police. The burglaries occurred in business parking lots located in the 700 to 900 blocks of West Huntington. In two of the burglaries, the third row seats had been taken from two SUV’s. In the third incident, a vehicle window was shattered and an iPad that was visible through the window was taken. The investigations are continuing.

Possession of Drug Paraphernalia – Suspect Arrested
On April 11 at 2:36 a.m., an officer observed two subjects in a business parking lot near Chestnut and Magnolia. One of the subjects appeared to be hiding something near a bucket. The officer stopped and spoke with the subjects. When the officer searched the area he had just seen the subject near, he located a used glass smoking pipe. The suspect was arrested for possession of drug paraphernalia.

Grand Theft Auto – Suspect Arrested
On April 11 at 8:15 a.m., an officer on patrol located an unoccupied stolen vehicle in the 600 block of West Huntington. Officers watched the vehicle until a male subject approached and entered the vehicle. The suspect was stopped and arrested. The stolen vehicle was recovered and returned to the registered owner.

Theft From an Unlocked Vehicle
On April 11 at 11:23 p.m., a theft from a vehicle was reported in the 400 block of Wildrose Avenue. The victim went to his vehicle in the evening and saw the passenger door was not secure. He discovered several items missing from the interior of his vehicle. The vehicle had been left unlocked. The investigation is continuing.

Petty Theft – Suspects Arrested
On April 13 at 2:31 p.m., an officer was on patrol in the 500 block of West Huntington when he observed three suspicious subjects in a business parking lot. Two of the suspects had entered the business, a male and a female, and the third male suspect appeared to be acting as a lookout in front of the store. Officers watched the store and waited to see if they were going to commit a theft. Several minutes later, the suspects exited the store carrying a large shopping bag full of store merchandise. When they saw officers approaching, the female abruptly removed a bottle of cologne from the bag and tried to conceal it. After investigation, the male suspect was arrested and charged with petty theft and stolen credit card information. The female was arrested and charged with possession of stolen property.

Driving Under the Influence / Hit and Run Traffic Accident – Suspect Arrested
On April 13 at 9:58 p.m., a caller phoned police to report a vehicle had just struck a parked car at Olive and Alta Vista and then drove away. When police arrived, they conducted an area search and located the vehicle that had fled the scene. The driver of the vehicle was determined to be under the influence of alcohol, was unlicensed, and uninsured. The driver was arrested and taken into custody.

Meeting on Planned Closure of Mountain and Magnolia in Monrovia for Railroad Work

There will be a meeting held by the Gold Line construction folks this Wednesday, April 16, at 6:30 p.m. at Santa Fe Middle School (148 W. Duarte Rd.) to discuss the planned full closure of Mountain Avenue (at Duarte Rd.) and Magnolia Avenue (at the railroad crossing). The closures are required to allow crews to complete grade crossing improvements.

- Brad Haugaard

Citrus Team Will Compete in Auto-Mileage Contest

An automotive team from Citrus College, which serves Monrovia, will be one of 125 student teams from across the Western Hemisphere competing at the eighth annual Shell Eco-marathon Competition to determine which student-built vehicle can travel the farthest distance using the least amount of energy.

The Citrus Automotive and Physics Eco-marathon (CAPE) Owls - an interdisciplinary research group composed of seven physics and automotive technology students - was selected to compete in the global event taking place April 24-27 at the Discovery Green Park in Houston. This is the Owls' first time in the event.

- Brad Haugaard

Classic Cars at Unity Center Awards Dinner

Foothill Unity Center Fabulous ‘50s Golden Plate Awards dinner will feature classic '50s cars, many from the group, Street Rods Forever. Among the classics will be a purple 1958 Chevy Impala, a black 1956 Chevy Bel Air from Street Rods co-founder Joe Eddy, a red 1957 Chevy convertible and a white 1955 Chevy Corvette babied by owner Robert Green, plus a cream 1956 Ford T-Bird on loan from Brad and Vicky Balmot of Arcadia. As many as 400 guests are expected for the April 26 fundraising event at Pasadena’s Trinity Ballroom. Tickets are $150 each and may be ordered online. For more information, visit http://www.foothillunitycenter.org.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia On the Home Front During World War Two

"On The Home Front" is an upcoming exhibit about Monrovia during World War Two at the Monrovia Historical Museum (742 E. Lemon). The grand opening on April 22, 1-4 p.m. will feature WWII WASP pilot Beverley Beesemyer, The Patriot Guard Motorcycle Group, the Monrovia VFW and American Legion.

- Brad Haugaard

Automation at the Monrovia Chili's

My wife and I had dinner at the Monrovia Chili's tonight, and this device was on the table. It lets you re-order (not your initial order) drinks, order dessert, play games (for $.99), read USA Today, and pay your bill. You cannot order appetizers or main dishes (you can preview some dishes), though it is easy to see that day coming. I suspect this will result in fewer servers in the long run.

- Brad Haugaard

Fellowship Monrovia Books Hollywood Bowl for Easter | Clifton Yard Sale | Free Pass to the Y

~ Fellowship Monrovia is booking the Hollywood Bowl for its Easter service, along with Christian Assembly Church of Eagle Rock and Bel Air Presbyterian Church. http://goo.gl/c2WZ7c

~ Remember, Clifton Middle School yard sale tomorrow, Saturday, 7 a.m.-2 p.m. http://goo.gl/pZMJdP

~ Get a free 7-day pass to the Santa Anita Family YMCA. http://goo.gl/AESP4H

- Brad Haugaard

Lunch at the Monrovian

Lunch at the Monrovian, at the corner of Myrtle and Colorado. I heard a rumor the hamburgers are good. Got a half-pound classic cheeseburger for $8.69, and a lemonade for $2.39. Big, fat beef patty even after cooking. Very good.

- Brad Haugaard

Rails to Monrovia | Despicable Bee | Hypertension | Newcomers

~ 800-foot segments of rail being transported to Monrovia for installation. http://goo.gl/2FTcSJ

~ Despicable Bee spelling bee, 1 p.m. Saturday, April 12, at the Monrovia Community Center. Students from Plymouth, Mayflower, Bradoaks, Monroe, Clifton and Santa Fe schools will compete.  http://goo.gl/kzdNxn

~ Pulmonary Hypertension Association has launched the Race of Our Lives campaign to rally the PH community members behind Team PHenomenal Hop, creating opportunities for patients, families and medical professionals to raise funds and awareness in their own communities. Saturday, April 12, at Monrovia's Recreation Park band shell at noon. Details: http://goo.gl/kzdNxn

~ Newcomers and Friends of San Gabriel Valley Club announces is adding gardening to its activities. Tips and advice on gardening, vegetables, annuals, perennials, seeds as well as trips to botanical gardens and more. New residents in the San Gabriel Valley area are welcome to attend the club's monthly "Meet and Greet" Coffee, May 7 at 10 a.m. in San Gabriel. Write for details: sgvnewcomers@yahoo.com

- Brad Haugaard

Merk Pays Monrovia's Xencor | School Bill Progresses

~ Xencor, Inc., of Monrovia, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, has received a payment from Merck, through a subsidiary, for beginning a Phase 1 clinical trial for a biologic drug candidate that uses Xencor's XmAb antibody engineering. http://goo.gl/z8fZZK

~ Assembly Bill AB 1970, by Monrovia's assembly member, Chris Holden, to establish a grant program encouraging school districts to provide more Advanced Placement classes in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math, has been approved in the Assembly Education Committee. Source: press release

- Brad Haugaard

Palm Pancakes at First Pres. | La Canada Over Monrovia in Softball :-(

~ Monrovia First Presbyterian Church will have a Palm Sunday Pancake Breakfast this Sunday from 9-10 a.m. http://goo.gl/LZyA3f

~ La Canada over Monrovia in softball. http://goo.gl/0rO0wb

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Council: Labor Negotiations; City Manager; Honor Gloria Crudgington

At its April 15 meeting (agenda: http://goo.gl/qEMORL ), the Monrovia City Council will ...

- Discuss labor negotiations and a new city manager at a 6:30 p.m. closed session meeting. http://goo.gl/xadEIN

- Honor Gloria Crudgington, Community Services Chair and Recipient of the California Park and Recreation Society, District 13 Community Service Award at its regular 7:30 p.m. meeting.

- Brad Haugaard

Trail Into Monrovia's Hillside Recreation Area May Open in July

If all goes well, the Cloverleaf entry point to the city's Hillside Preserve in the foothills above Monrovia could be open this July.

Monrovia City Council Member Becky Shevlin writes that Recreation Supervisor Kerri Zessau updated the Community Services Commission during last night's meeting on Cloverleaf access and said she and new Community Services Director, Tina Cherry, "will be meeting with the City Attorney next week to discuss progress with the access issue; that they have finally now been able to meet with [a Cloverleaf property owner] but that she believes the City is still on track to, if necessary, bring this issue back to City Council in June and if all goes well, to have it open in July."

Map showing Hillside Preserve access points: http://goo.gl/q6U3q5

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia's Congresswoman Denounces Syria Attacks

Congress member Judy Chu (D), who represents the top sliver of Monrovia (kinda north of Hillcrest), denounced attacks on the Armenian Community in Syria. She said "we cannot allow such atrocities to stand." http://goo.gl/b7IoGZ

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: 'Zero Tolerance' for Driving-While-Phoning

As part of April's Distracted Driving Awareness Month campaign, the Monrovia Police Department will be joining with over 200 local law enforcement agencies and the California Highway Patrol in a month long "zero tolerance" enforcement and education campaign to curb those texting or operating hand-held cell phones while driving. Officers will be on alert throughout the month for those who break the cell phone laws and place themselves and others in danger. Special high-visibility enforcement operations to cite cell phone violators will take place throughout the month of April.

The increased enforcement and education aims to persuade drivers to recognize the dangers of distracted driving and reduce the number of people impacted by this perilous behavior. The "It's Not Worth It!" theme emphasizes that a phone call or text isn't worth a hefty fine or a collision. The current minimum ticket cost is $161, with subsequent tickets costing at least $281.

"We take the issue of distracted driving very seriously," said Monrovia Police Sergeant Daniel Verna, "because we see the aftermath of these totally preventable crashes. Is that text message or cell phone call really worth $161, or worse, someone's life?"

Drivers who use hand-held devices are four times as likely to get into crashes serious enough to injure themselves. In addition, studies show that texting while driving can delay a driver's reaction time just as severely as having a blood alcohol content of a legally drunk driver. According to research, sending or receiving a text takes a driver's eyes from the road for an average of 4.6 seconds. Even a three second glance at freeway speeds means a driver has traveled the distance of a football field.

Research shows that there is no difference in the risks between hands-free and hand-held cell phone conversations, both of which can result in "inattention blindness" which occurs when the brain isn't seeing what is clearly visible because the driver's focus is on the phone conversation and not on the road. When over one third of your brain's function that should be on your driving moves over to cell phone talking, you can become a cell phone "zombie."

Source: Monrovia Police press release

- Brad Haugaard

Veterans Benefits Seminar Thursday Night at Monrovia VFW

A Veterans Benefits Seminar is set for tomorrow night, April 10, from 5:30 p.m.-close at VFW Post 2070, 825 S. Magnolia in Monrovia. All veterans (regardless of combat experience) and their families may attend. Source: VFW press release

- Brad Haugaard

Former Monrovia Representative Making Strong Showing in Field Poll

In his race to become governor, Tim Donnelly, who represented Monrovia in the State Assembly before redistricting, is leading other Republican candidates - by far. A Field Poll indicates Donnelly is favored by Republicans by 34% as opposed to the other main Republican candidate, Neel Kashkari, with 3%. However, more broadly, incumbent Jerry Brown has a strong lead overall. http://goo.gl/HFf1tT

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia's Assemblymember Urges Defense Department to Recognize Sailors Who Died

State Assemblymember Chris Holden, who represents Monrovia, has asked fellow lawmakers to support a resolution urging the Department of Defense to include on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. the names of 74 sailors killed when the destroyer USS Frank E. Evans sank during Vietnam War exercises in the South China Sea. Source: Holden press release

- Brad Haugaard

Save Energy, Water | Easter Carnival in Library Park | Art Alas Campaign Gathering

~ With the weather getting warmer, the City of Monrovia has a list of energy and water saving resources that might interest you: http://goo.gl/w13kS4

~ Life Church of Pasadena and Monrovia is having an Easter Carnival at Library Park on Easter Sunday, 1-4 p.m. Lunch, face painting, balloon drop, bunny petting zoo, cotton candy, sack races, ring toss. http://goo.gl/IQDMh4

~ On Saturday, April 5, more than a hundred people gathered at Republican Headquarters in Covina to meet Art Alas, candidate for Congress in the 32nd district, which includes Monrovia. His emphasis: That people would "be safe from undue government meddling in their lives and to be free to pursue their own interests in enterprising ways that in turn serve the community." His website: http://www.electalas.com/ Source: press release

- Brad Haugaard

Any Monrovia Authors Out There?

When I posted here about my book, The Outlander, that I recently published on Amazon, I heard from another Monrovia writer who also has books on Amazon and I began to wonder if there are even more Monrovia authors out there.

With that in mind, I'd like to publish a list of the most recent books by current Monrovia residents.

So, if you have a book available on Amazon (only your most recent one), send me its title, blurb, and link to the Amazon page by Wednesday, April 23, AND convince me you live in Monrovia (No offense to Duarteans, Arcadians and others, but it could get out of hand if I open it to everyone).

Then, if I get at least a few entries, I'll post a list with links.

- Brad Haugaard (brad@bradhaugaard.com)