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Monrovia Police: Fork-Lifting Car Stops Car-Jacking; Biting; Cutting Torch Theft; Shirt Theft; Etc.

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for December 8-10. - Brad Haugaard]

During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 359 service events, resulting in 68 investigations. 

Commercial Burglary
December 8 at 6:17 a.m., an officer responded to a construction site in the 1800 block of South Mountain regarding a burglary investigation. Unknown Suspect(s) entered the property by cutting through a lock at a neighboring business. Once inside the lot, the suspect(s) used a blow torch to cut open the steel tool crib and stole the construction company’s tools. The tools from this company were for building the Gold Line yard. 

Battery / Child Endangerment – Suspect Arrested
On December 9 at 9:37 a.m., an officer was dispatched to a residence in the 300 block of California. A male and female who have a small child together were involved in a dispute with other family members at the location. As the father was leaving with the child in his arms, he kicked a piece of wood and it struck one of the family members. Officers arrived and detained the father. After investigation, the father was arrested for battery and for child endangerment. Additional factors regarding the care and health of the child have also surfaced that need to be addressed and the Department of Children and Family Services was contacted. 

Receiving Stolen Property / Suspicion of Auto Burglary – Suspect Arrested
On December 9 at 2:23 p.m., while officers were on a follow-up response for the above battery and child endangerment incident in the 300 block of California, they were approached by a male victim of an auto burglary. The victim reported that a subject at the location the officers were at was wearing a shirt that had been stolen from his vehicle in the 300 block of East Palm earlier in the day. The officers detained the subject and checked his vehicle. A burglary tool was located and prints taken. Other items were also stolen. The suspect was wearing the victim’s shirt; he was arrested and charged with receiving stolen property. 

Hazardous Fuel Spill
On December 9 at 5:50 p.m., a fuel truck was leaking a trail of diesel fuel, causing several vehicles to lose traction in the area of Central and Myrtle. The truck had exited from the 210 Freeway and had trailed fuel from the freeway down the off ramp. An absorbent material was applied and a street sweeper removed the remaining material from the street. 

Attempt Grand Theft Auto / Car-Jacking / Criminal Threats / Possible Gang Enhancement – Suspect Arrested
December 10 at 12:54 p.m., dispatch received a call reporting a male subject attempting to steal a car at a business in the 3000 block of South Peck. Officers responded, assisted by the Foothill Air Support Team helicopter, and located the suspect hiding in a portable office. The suspect had entered the victim's vehicle and was successful in starting the vehicle. When he began to move the vehicle, the owner of the vehicle utilized a commercial fork lift to raise the vehicle so the suspect could no longer move it. Angered, the suspect threatened the victim. He claimed a local gang and threatened they would come back and kill him. The suspect has numerous gang tattoos on his head, neck and body. The suspect was arrested and a bail enhancement is being sought, due to the nature of the threat and the gang association. 

Domestic Violence
December 10 at 1:20 p.m., a male and female who have a child in common were riding on a bus, heading east toward Azusa. The male was angry at the female for leaving the welfare office before they could accomplish what they went in for, and he bit her several times and began choking her. Other passengers on the bus intervened, and the male suspect then assaulted an older Good Samaritan who was trying to help the victim. The suspect exited the bus and fled. The suspect’s identity is known and a wanted person’s entry was made into the law enforcement system. The investigation is continuing. 

Flash Flood Preparation Tips from Monrovia Fire Department

The National Weather Service has issued a Flash Flood Watch for all LA County burn areas for tonight through Friday evening for Los Angeles County. The storm has the potential to produce 2 to 4 inches of rain in the Foothills with the possibility of hourly rainfall between one half and one inch. Additionally, L.A. County Public Works issued a Phase 1 Alert (the first of the three levels that can be issued) for the Madison Fire Area.

Gravel bags are available to Monrovia residents impacted by the Madison Fire. Residents are encouraged to pick-up gravel bags at the Public Works Office at 600 S. Mountain Avenue, Monday - Thursday 7:00 am until 5:30 pm (please note - Thursday 12/11 the Public Works office will be closed at noon) however the Monrovia Fire Station 101 at 141 E. Lemon Avenue will be open after hours and Friday-Saturday-Sunday. Gravel to fill the bags is available at two locations, 443 Highland Place and 839 Crescent Drive in Monrovia. Residents will need eye protection, gloves and a shovel to scoop gravel into the bags.

Due to the Flash Flood warning for the Madison Fire Area, Athens has rescheduled the Friday solid waste collection to Saturday, December 13. Please remember to keep your streets cleared which includes removing vehicles, trash bins and any other obstructions from the public streets in preparation. Athens will be contacting each customer to notify them. Athens can be reached at (888) 336-6100.

For more information and tips on how to prepare go to our website at http://www.cityofmonrovia.org or contact Public Works at (626) 932-5575 or email pwcomments@ci.monrovia.ca.us

Source: Monrovia Fire Department press release

- Brad Haugaard

Christmas Eve Service at St. Luke's Episcopal Church

Christmas Eve service at St. Luke's Episcopal Church features the choir performing a 7:30 p.m. program of Anthems and Carols, including "Fantasia on Christmas Carols" by Ralph Vaughan Williams with baritone David Kress, who also performs with the Los Angeles Master Chorale. At 8 p.m. a Holy Eucharist featuring a lighthearted yuletide play about the keeper of the inn where Christ was born. 122 S. California at Foothill. Source: Press release

Citrus Ranks High in Preparing Students in Tech Jobs

Citrus College, which serves Monrovia, has been ranked among the top 125 of 1,600 participating U.S. colleges and universities in preparing students for technology jobs. Victory Media, specializing in higher education and employment recruitment, named the school a STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) Jobs Approved College for 2015. Citrus is the only California community college on the list. The company ranked institutions based on public data and responses to questions concerning three indicators of success: STEM job alignment, STEM job placement, and diversity in STEM programs.

Source: Citrus press release

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Rain Report: Possible Flash Floods

The National Weather Service is again warning of possible flash floods below burn areas, such as in Monrovia: http://goo.gl/O7DeFZ . Also, the NWS says: Rainfall totals with this system from Thursday afternoon through Friday night are expected to range from 1 to 2 inches for coastal and valley locations and 2 to 4 inches across the foothills and mountains." http://goo.gl/YIYyjb

The prediction (at the moment) is 10% chance of rain this Thursday, Dec. 11, and 90% Friday. http://goo.gl/qHZq84

- Brad Haugaard

Christmas Lights in Monrovia


I saw this beautiful tree on Lemon just west of Magnolia.

- Brad Haugaard

Gold Line 80% Done; Art Tiles About Ready to Install at Monrovia Station


Cha-Rie Tang discusses the tiles that will be installed at the Monrovia station.

The Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension Construction Authority reports that the historically-inspired tiles for the Monrovia Metro station should be ready to be installed at the Monrovia station in early 2015, as will the art for all the new Gold Line stations.

The 11.5-mile Foothill Gold Line from Pasadena to Azusa is now more than 80% complete. All 28 miles of light rail track are now installed; all 14 at-grade crossings are complete; and the project’s 24 bridge structures are finished. Last month, the final traction power substation was installed and all ten substations are being prepared for service. These substations convert the electricity provided by the local utility company into the type needed to power the Overhead Catenary System, which then delivers power to the trains.

Source: Press release

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Public Works Director Out - Is It About Halloween Costumes?

Public Works Director Carl Hassel is no longer working for Monrovia.

Yesterday I got an email from an anonymous and quite upset person who said he (or she - I don't know which) is a city employee. This person said Hassel has been let go because he "did not encourage Public Works Staff to compete in the City staff Halloween Costume Contest".

This is a personnel issue and by law the city is very limited in what it can say, but still I checked and confirmed that Hassel is no longer working for the city and Community Services Director Tina Cherry is now, as my anonymous source said, the acting public works director.

Here is what Human Resources and Risk Management Division Manager Danielle Tellez wrote back:
Mr. Hassel is no longer employed by the City of Monrovia as the Public Works Director effective Monday, December 8, 2014.

Ms. Tina Cherry was appointed to an interim position of Acting Public Works Director effective Tuesday, December 9, 2014. In the interim, all public works projects are proceeding without interruption. There will be no disruption in public services.

City staff was notified first thing the morning of Tuesday, December 9, 2014 of the staffing change. As you acknowledged below [in my email], this is a personnel matter and the City cannot comment on the reasons for separation.
UPDATE: City Manager Oliver Chi denies that a Halloween party had anything to do with it: http://goo.gl/Tvbytt

- Brad Haugaard

Gold Line Construction Authority Now Testing Track

The test train that rolled in to Monrovia yesterday will continue on today from California Avenue in Monrovia to the San Gabriel River Bridge in Irwindale.

Over the next two weeks, the test train will be used to test clearances at stations and with the Overhead Catenary System (OCS), wheel/rail interface, rail switches, and more. This phase of testing will also include live wire testing of the OCS system within the segment of the line where power is now energized.

"This is just the beginning of several months of testing ahead that will ultimately test every aspect of the light rail line and its safety and communications systems," said Foothill Gold Line Construction Authority CEO Habib Balian. "We will continue testing from now until substantial completion next September, when we will be turning the line over to Metro for pre-revenue service."

Source: press release

- Brad Haugaard

100% Chance of Rain | Robot Competition at Monrovia High | Brush Clearing Scam

~ Rain coming! 20% chance on Thursday; 100% chance of heavy rain on Friday; 20% chance on Saturday: http://goo.gl/12GO8M

Also, From National Weather Service: 2 to 4 inches across the Foothills and mountains between Thursday and Friday night. "Since this storm system has the potential for greater dynamics and instability...as compared to last week's system...rainfall rates around one half inch per hour will be possible with the front." Also, "Isolated thunderstorms...potentially producing localized rainfall rates in excess of one half inch per hour. Rainfall rates of this intensity could bring a threat of flash flooding along with mud and debris flows in and near recent burn areas. http://goo.gl/mlnquf

~ Robot competition at Monrovia High. http://goo.gl/vKZkJG

~ If a company comes to your door saying it is working on behalf of the Monrovia Fire Department to clear brush around your house, that's not true. Details: http://goo.gl/BMZE5Q

- Brad Haugaard

First Train Comes into Monrovia on Gold Line Tracks


Gold Line CEO Habib Balian reports:

"At dawn, a light rail vehicle from Metro’s fleet entered into the Foothill Gold Line project jurisdiction for the first time. The vehicle, a $4 million AnsaldoBreda P2250 weighing over 100,000 pounds, was outfitted with specialized gear to test clearances, wheel/rail interface, rail switches, and the Overhead Catenary System. The testing will take place over the next two weeks between Arcadia and Irwindale and include live wire testing between California Ave in Monrovia and the San Gabriel River Bridge in Irwindale, where power is now energized."

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Door-Busting Burglary; Victim Recovers Stolen Bike; Fake ID; Etc.

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for December 4-7. - Brad Haugaard]

Following are the weekend’s highlighted issues and events.

Residential Burglary – Suspect Arrested
December 4 at 6:30 a.m., officers responded to a residence in the 400 block of West Duarte Road on the report of a burglary in progress. The suspect forced entry into the victim's home by kicking the front door open. The victim locked his bedroom door and went out to his balcony, where he immediately called the police from his cell phone. The suspect then kicked open the bedroom door and entered the bedroom closet to search through it, as the victim watched through the sliding glass door. Officers arrived and found the suspect in the victim's kitchen. The suspect was arrested for burglary and taken into custody.

Traffic Collision
December 4 at 11:59 p.m., a traffic collision was reported in the 400 block of South Magnolia. A driver crashed into a parked car and then fled the scene. The driver was found several blocks away and taken to a hospital for treatment. A blood sample was drawn to support a DUI investigation. No arrests were made pending the results of the blood test.

Warrant – Suspect Arrested
December 5 at 8:15 a.m., an officer was on patrol in the 400 block of West Duarte Road when he observed a male subject he knew had an outstanding warrant for his arrest. A warrant check confirmed the subject had a $50,000.00 warrant for his arrest. The officer contacted the subject, confirmed the warrant and the subject was arrested.

Commercial Burglary – Suspect Arrested
December 6 at 2:47 p.m., a business in the 600 block of West Huntington called police to report a male subject attempting to make a purchase using a fake California driver's license with one of their customer's names on it. Officers arrived and detained the suspect. He was positively identified by his true California driver's license. The suspect was arrested for fraud and commercial burglary.

Grand Theft
December 8 at 3:30 a.m., a resident in the 100 block of Oaks called police to report a grand theft. The resident woke to a loud noise coming from outside his residence. He went outside and found his garage door open. He looked in and saw his mountain bike was missing. He ran down his driveway and saw a male suspect riding away on his bike. The victim went after the suspect in his vehicle. The suspect saw he was being chased, jumped off the bike and fled through side yards. The victim recovered his property, returned home and called police. Officers responded and searched the area on foot and by vehicle, but the suspect was not located.

Citrus College Fined for Violating Student's Free Speech

Citrus College, which serves Monrovia, will have to pay $110,000 to a student for violating his First Amendment right to free speech by telling him he could not collect signatures outside of the college's designated "free speech" zone. This is the second time Citrus has lost a free-speech zone lawsuit. The previous time it had to pay $24,500. http://goo.gl/1EH51K

Comment: Twice, Citrus? Are citizens' constitutional rights so dangerous that you are willing to repeatedly pay fines to restrict them?

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Schools: New Stagecraft Class; Finances Okay

At its Dec. 10 meeting (agenda: http://goo.gl/zvf8qA ) the Monrovia School Board will, among other things, consider ...

- offering a course in Stagecraft and Design to high school students. http://goo.gl/mp6z4X

- certifying, according to state law, that the district can meet its financial obligations for the current year and following two years. And, yup, the staff report says it can. http://goo.gl/7YJldA

- Brad Haugaard

French Market Saturday

Dec. 6, the Monrovia French Market's Winter Wonderland Holiday Show - nearly 50 specialty vendors. 122 S. California Ave. http://goo.gl/rN3sBX

21 Bistro Being Acquired by Mooncat


Apparently the little restaurant, 21 Bistro, on the south side of Lime just east of Myrtle, is being acquired by the Japanese restaurant, Mooncat, which is right next-door. This sign is in the window. Comment: Too bad, I always liked 21 Bistro.

- Brad Haugaard

Lunch at Mooncat


Lunch at Mooncat, south side of Lime just east of Myrtle. Japanese food. Got the sushi and tempura bento box ($12) and an iced oolong tea ($3.50). Came with miso soup and rice. Very nice. 

- Brad Haugaard

Ridgeside Entrance to Monrovia Hillside Preserve Reopened


The Ridgeside Drive entry point to the Monrovia Hillside Wilderness Preserve, which was locked briefly, has been reopened.

Opinion: Thank you very much to Director of Community Services Tina Cherry, City Manager Oliver Chi and anybody else who was involved in reconsidering this decision (which I fussed about here: http://goo.gl/jZf1b2 ).

- Brad Haugaard 

Roof Added to Historic Monrovia Fountain



The roof has just been replaced on the historic drinking fountain that had to be rebuilt after a car accident destroyed it. The fountain is at the southeast corner of Library Park. The roof tiles, however, still need to be replaced. 

Jim Wigton, of the Monrovia Historic Preservation Group, writes: "The replacement Spanish tiles have not yet been delivered to Public Works (we are getting them from Architectural Detail in Pasadena)..  When they are, we will be re-installing them on the roof so that the fountain will look almost exactly the same as before the accident."
 
- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Christmas Parade

Nice crowd tonight at the Monrovia Christmas parade.

- Brad Haugaard