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Does Monrovia Have a Serial Groper?

Monrovia groper may be the same guy as before: http://goo.gl/jNFIac

- Brad Haugaard

Filming Arco Commercial in Monrovia


Shooting a commercial for Arco today, on Magnolia just north of Foothill. 

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Bear on Roof; Sex Battery; Handgun Robbery; Etc.

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for May 22-25. - Brad Haugaard]

Following are the weekend’s highlighted issues and events.

Bear Incident
On May 22 at 5:30 p.m., a small bear was discovered on the roof of an apartment complex near Foothill and Mountain. The Department of Fish and Wildlife was requested, but prior to their arrival, the bear fled back into the foothills.

Driving Under the Influence / Traffic Collision – Suspect Arrested
On May 22 at 10:20 p.m., a traffic collision was reported at Shamrock and Huntington. A driver was looking at his cellular phone while driving and struck a vehicle in front of him. Officers responded and determined he was also driving under the influence. The driver was arrested.

Driving Under the Influence / Traffic Collision – Suspect Arrested
On May 23 at 2:48 a.m., a traffic collision was reported in the 300 block of West Huntington. A driver was backing out of a parking stall after leaving a bar. In the process, she backed into a vehicle. Officers responded and determined she had been driving while under the influence. The driver was arrested.

Sexual Battery
On May 23, 2014, at 8:00 a.m., a female victim was walking in the area of Huntington and Canyon in the city of Monrovia. A lone male suspect approached the victim from behind. The suspect wrapped his right arm around the victim’s waist and with his left hand, grabbed her buttocks. The suspect said, “Hey baby,” as he assaulted the victim. When the victim screamed for help, the suspect fled north on Canyon out of view. The suspect is described as a male Hispanic, 19 to 21 years of age, 5’06” tall, 140 pounds, with short brown hair and brown eyes. See press release for artist’s sketch of suspect at http://www.cityofmonrovia.org/police/page/sexual-battery-incident.

Commercial Robbery
On May 23 at 9:01 p.m., police responded to a robbery at a business in the 300 block of West Huntington. Two suspects entered the business at closing. One of the suspects approached an employee and displayed a handgun. The suspects ordered the employees into the office. Then they ordered the victims to the ground and tied them up with zip ties. The suspects emptied out a cabinet containing cell phones and fled the location.

Suspect number one is described as a male Hispanic, approximately 6'0" tall, 200 pounds, wearing a black hat, black hooded sweatshirt, black shorts, black socks, and black shoes. Suspect number two is described as a male Hispanic wearing a gray long- sleeved sweater, blue jeans, and a gray hat with a Batman logo. The vehicle was described as a white, 4-door Honda. The investigation is continuing.

Residential Burglary
On May 25 at 12:50 p.m., a resident in the 100 block of West Hillcrest called to report her home had been burglarized. She left her residence for an hour to attend a funeral. When she returned home, she discovered her rear door was forced open. She looked inside and saw the house had been ransacked. The victim called police and officers responded to check the interior of the location. No suspects were located. Jewelry was taken from the location. The investigation is continuing.

Monrovia Assembly Member's Truancy Bill Progresses

A bill by Assembly member Chris Holden to help school districts and counties collect and evaluate information on California's truancy crisis has been approved in the Assembly. Holden represents Monrovia. AB 1672 requires local School Attendance Review Boards to report student enrollment, absence and truancy rates, referrals to the district attorney and whether or not the student is doing better.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police Looking for Sex Assault Suspect

On May 23, 2014, at 8:00 a.m., a female victim was walking in the area of Huntington and Canyon in the city of Monrovia. A lone male suspect approached the victim from behind.

The suspect wrapped his right arm around the victim's waist and with his left hand, grabbed her buttocks. The suspect said, "Hey baby," as he assaulted the victim. When the victim screamed for help, the suspect fled north on Canyon out of view.

The suspect is described as a male Hispanic, 19 to 21 years of age, 5'06" tall, 140 pounds, with short brown hair and brown eyes.

The Monrovia Police Department is seeking help from the public in identifying this suspect. Anyone with information about this incident or the identity of this suspect, please contact the Monrovia Police Department: 256-8000.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia-based Trader Joe's Is Favorite Market

Monrovia-based Trader Joe's is consumer's favorite market, according to a recent survey: http://goo.gl/XVRCrm

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Club Donates for Kids | Assembly Approves Holden Bills

~ Club Cure, of Monrovia High, has donated $150 to Children's Hospital of Los Angeles and $150 to Make a Wish Foundation.

~ Two bills by Monrovia's Assemblyman, Chris Holden, have been approved by the Assembly. AB 1586, approved 52-23, would move unemployed Californians to the front of the hiring line by requiring certain state contractors to give priority to workers who are receiving unemployment benefits or to workers who have exhausted unemployment benefits. AB 1921, approved 55-15, requires contractors doing business with the state in excess of $25,000 to provide records on how that money is being spent.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Fine Arts Awards

At its awards dinner, Monrovia Association of Fine Arts will honor Sal Perez, Monrovia High Art Teacher, Katie Gundersen, MAFA Board Treasurer, and first-grader Troy Hsiao for having his birthday guests contribute to MAFA instead of buying him gifts. Also, the Association will award art scholarships to: Annis Munoz, Canyon Oaks High; Sarah Hickey, Monrovia High; Taylor Figueroa, Monrovia High; Jonathan Walter Bailey, Monrovia High. The dinner is June 6 at the Monrovia Doubletree. Call 605-3148 for details and tickets.

- Brad Haugaard

Memorial Day Flyover over Monrovia


Memorial Day flyover by World War II era airplanes. I was kind of surprised to see German markings on a couple of them, though you can't make it out from this poor photo.

Update: Michael Sheehan has a better photo, and you can see the German markings: http://goo.gl/fbFprJ

- Brad Haugaard

Is This Your Missing Dog?

Whose puppy is this? Found near Bradoaks School in Monrovia. Wonder Dog Ranch is taking care of him: http://goo.gl/lBLY4X

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Reads Kicks Off Mobile Literacy Program

Monrovia Reads is kicking off its mobile literacy and recreation program with a visit to Greater Ambassador Church, 420 Monrovista, Thursday, May 29, 3:30-5 p.m. Reading, tutoring, sports, arts and crafts, board games, health and wellness, character development, guest speakers, etc. (City of Monrovia photo.)

- Brad Haugaard

Trader Joe's Hummus and Dip Recalled

Hummus and 5-layer dip from Monrovia-based Trader Joe's is being recalled. Possible listeria contamination: http://goo.gl/GLv2X1

- Brad Haugaard

Festival of the Foothills Today and Tomorrow at Monrovia's Immaculate Conception Church

Immaculate Conception Church, on Shamrock, is holding its Festival of the Foothills today and Sunday, noon to 11 p.m. Saturday and 1-11 p.m. Sunday. Live bands, rides, games, food and craft beer.

- Brad Haugaard

Myrtle Avenue Sunrise

I saw this sunrise from the Pavilions parking lot a couple months ago and painted it. It is looking east from the Starbucks toward Myrtle.

- Brad Haugaard

Picture of Paint n' Play Burglary Suspect

Picture of the man suspected of ransacking Monrovia's Paint n' Play: http://goo.gl/QqJjtS

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia School District: Add Jobs? AP Classes; Governor's Budget

At its next regular meeting on May 28, 7 p.m. (agenda: http://goo.gl/g6zKre ), the Monrovia School Board will ...

~ Consider adding four new clerical positions to the district's Human Resources department. http://goo.gl/u547UJ

~ Hear reports on Advance Placement U.S. and European history and a K-5 math curriculum.

~ Hear about Governor Jerry Brown's budget proposal, which affects the schools. The report addresses the state's $74 billion unfunded liability for teacher retirement, establishing a rainy day fund, and the expiration of Prop 30 taxes. http://goo.gl/GLGedV

- Brad Haugaard

The Bear Went Over the Mountain

Video of a bear crossing Mountain Avenue. I can't quite place where it is on Mountain, but looks like it may be close to Foothill. http://goo.gl/9el7EC

- Brad Haugaard

Memorial Day Ceremony at Monrovia's Live Oak Memorial Park

There will be a Memorial Day Ceremony on Monday, May 26, 10 a.m. at Live Oak Memorial Park and Mortuary (200 E. Duarte Road) with the Upper San Gabriel Valley Allied Veteran's Council. All are welcome.

The local VFW Post 2070 maintains a Memorial Scholarship Fund to honor all those from the local area who have died while defending our country. Details: http://goo.gl/WPp1Vy

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Budget Study Session | Unity Center Fundraiser | Chu Anti-Hazing Amendment

~ Special City Council study session on the budget, Tuesday, May 27, at 5:00 p.m. http://goo.gl/geJIxN

~ Fundraiser for Foothill Unity Center Auxiliary on Tuesday, May 27, 3-9 p.m. at Paco's Mexican Restaurant on Foothill in Arcadia. Ten percent of all dining proceeds, whether dining in or out, go to help low income families through the Unity Center.

~ An amendment by Congresswoman Judy Chu to the 2015 National Defense Authorization Act would require the Government Accountability Office to report to Congress on anti-hazing efforts of each branch of the military. The amendment also requires updated reports from the service branches on their hazing prevention and response efforts. Her amendment was approved by a voice vote. Chu represents part of Monrovia. http://goo.gl/2BeILS

- Brad Haugaard

The Folks Who Keep Monrovia Clean and Working

As part of National Public Works Week, May 18-24, Monrovia is recognizing the importance of its public works people. These men and women oversee the streets, sidewalks, traffic systems, water system, sewer system, trash pickup, street sweeping, parks and more. City of Monrovia photo.

- Brad Haugaard