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Summer Concerts Begin at Library Park and Station Square



- Brad Haugaard

Monrovians Support City's Police


City Manager Oliver Chi includes this photo in his weekly report of Monrovians supporting our police in the wake of the murder of the five Dallas police officers. Chi said that Monrovia Police will be wearing a mourning band, a solid black band around the police badge, until all of the fallen Dallas Police officers have been buried.

- Brad Haugaard

'Clear the Shelters' Day Seeks to Adopt Out Pets


On Saturday, July 23, the Pasadena Humane Society & SPCA, which serves Monrovia, will participate in the second annual "Clear the Shelters" campaign, a day-long adoption event during which the adoption fee for all animals will be reduced to $20 and the shelter will hold extended adoption hours from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. The event is spearheaded by NBC4 Southern California and Telemundo 52 Los Angeles. Last year 57 Pasadena Humane Society animals found new homes. The shelter is at 361 S. Raymond Ave. in Pasadena and the event is open to anyone looking to adopt a pet; not just residents of our service cities. Regular adoption policies and screening apply. To expedite the process, print an adoption application from the Humane Society website. If you rent, bring proof you are allowed to have a pet at your residence. Parking is available. View all animals at the shelter at pasadenahumane.org/adopt .

- Brad Haugaard

Rally to Support Monrovia Police

Amber Martin, posting on Facebook, reports that she saw a large group of people gathered outside the Monrovia Police Department demonstrating their support for the police. She reported that "those signs they were carrying said love>fear. The cops were mingling and people were giving out water." Comment: That's really nice to hear. Would have been nice to hear about it before it happened. I'll bet the crowd would have been triple the size.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Home Invasion Robbery - Four Men Take Guns

Four men invaded a home in the 1000 block of East Lemon Avenue in Monrovia Tuesday, forcing a family of four that had been asleep inside to lie face down, then they took guns. http://goo.gl/WG3Tmu

- Brad Haugaard

Art Walk in Old Town Monrovia on July 30

Summer Art Walk, Saturday, July 30 from 7-10 p.m. on the 400 and 500 blocks of S. Myrtle Ave., in Monrovia. There will be local painters, sculptors, photographers, jewelry designers, ceramic artists, as well as: live art demonstrations; making get well cards at ChapCare booth; canvas painting (with beer); local musical talent. Presented by Monrovia Association of Fine Arts and sponsored by ChapCare.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Woman Shoved Down Stairs; Long-Borrowed Car; Ticket for Shoplifting; Assault; Thefts and Burglaries, Drugs and Alcohol

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for July 7-10. - Brad Haugaard]

Following are the weekend’s highlighted issues and events.

Commercial Burglary
July 7 at 8:22 a.m., officers were dispatched to a business in the 800 block of W. Foothill regarding the activation of a commercial burglary alarm. When the officers arrived, they found the glass door to the business had been smashed and the cash register had been stolen. No suspects were located inside the property. The investigation is continuing.

Grand Theft
July 7 at 9:00 a.m., a resident in the 300 block of N. Myrtle called police to report a theft. The resident had just returned from vacation and she noticed a package that had been delivered was missing. The empty box was found around the corner from the victim’s residence. The investigation is continuing.

Possession of a Controlled Substance – Suspect Arrested
July 7 at 4:00 p.m., a suspicious person was reported in the 500 block of E. Cypress. When officers arrived at the location, they located a person who matched the description of the suspicious person. While talking to the subject, she admitted to being on probation. A search of the subject revealed she was in possession of narcotics. She was arrested and taken into custody. The subject was later released with a citation to appear in court.

Domestic Violence
July 8 at 12:02 a.m., officers responded to the 300 block of E. Colorado regarding a domestic violence incident. A couple was involved in an argument, and the male subject pushed the female subject down a small flight of stairs and into bushes. The female subject sustained abrasions to her back and scratches on her arms. The male suspect left the location prior to police arrival. A wanted person entry was made into the law enforcement computer database for the suspect and the investigation is continuing.

Grand Theft Auto Recovery / Warrant – Suspects Arrested
July 8 at 2:36 p.m., an officer on patrol in the 900 block of W. Colorado located a stolen vehicle that was occupied by three individuals. The officer followed the vehicle and conducted a traffic stop at Baldwin and Foothill. The three suspects were detained and taken into custody. The driver admitted to borrowing the vehicle from her friend and failing to return the car, as agreed. She also had an outstanding warrant for her arrest. She was arrested for grand theft auto and the warrant. The other two occupants were released from custody, as they were determined not to be involved in the theft.

Shoplifting – Suspect Arrested
July 9 at 12:15 a.m., officers were dispatched to a business in the 1600 block of S. Mountain regarding a shoplifter in custody. The female suspect entered the store, selected merchandise and fled without paying. The suspect was detained outside the store by loss prevention agents and police were called. The suspect was arrested and taken into custody. She was later released with a citation to appear in court on the charges.

Injury Traffic Collision
July 9 at 3:06 p.m., officers responded to the report of an injury traffic collision in the 200 block of E. Foothill. A vehicle was stopped on Foothill at May, waiting to make a left turn onto May Avenue. Two vehicles came to a stop behind the first vehicle, and a fourth vehicle failed to stop, causing a chain reaction traffic collision. Two occupants complained of pain, but did not wish to be taken to the hospital.

Possession of Stolen Property – Suspect Arrested
July 9 at 8:51 p.m., an officer stopped a driver for a vehicle code violation in the 500 block of E. Olive. The driver consented to a vehicle search, and stolen property and ammunition was found in the vehicle. The driver was arrested and taken into custody for possession of the stolen property.

Assault with a Deadly Weapon
July 9 at 9:19 p.m., officers were dispatched to an alley in the 200 block of W. Huntington regarding a person that had been assaulted and was bleeding. Officers located the victim, who had been beaten and had sustained numerous injuries and cuts to his body and head. The victim was intoxicated and was unable to give information regarding the suspects, but it appears one or more suspects used a hard object to strike the victim. It appears the assault may not have occurred at the location and it is unclear how the victim got to the location where he was found. The victim was taken to a hospital for treatment of his injuries and the investigation is continuing.

Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol – Suspect Arrested
July 10 at 12:43 a.m., an officer was on patrol in the 900 block of E. Huntington when he observed a driver commit a vehicle code violation. The officer stopped the driver and through investigation, determined he was under the influence of alcohol. The driver was arrested and taken into custody. The passenger in the vehicle was also extremely intoxicated and unable to care for himself. He was arrested for being drunk in public.

Hit and Run Traffic Collision
July 10 at 2:00 p.m., an officer responded to a hit and run traffic collision that occurred in the 600 block of S. Ivy. The victim parked her vehicle across from her home. When she returned to her vehicle a short time later, she found damage on the passenger side. It appears a truck or some type of SUV sideswiped the parked vehicle and fled without leaving any information. The investigation is continuing.

Under the Influence of a Controlled Substance – Suspect Arrested
July 10 at 2:25 p.m., officers were dispatched to a business in the 400 block of W. Foothill. The caller reported a female suspect had stolen merchandise from the store. Officers arrived and located the female hiding in some bushes adjacent to the business. Further investigation revealed the female was under the influence of a controlled substance and unable to care for herself. The caller did not want to press charges for the theft. The female was arrested for being under the influence of a controlled substance and held for a sobering period. She was later released on a citation to appear in court on the charges.

Possession of Drug Paraphernalia – Suspect Arrested
July 10 at 11:39 p.m., officers responded to the area of Fifth and Huntington regarding an alarm activation at a construction site. The officers arrived and located a person sleeping on the property, who was in possession of drug paraphernalia. He was arrested and taken into custody.

Public Intoxication / Violation of Gang Injunction – Suspect Arrested
July 10 at 11:09 p.m., officers responded to the 400 block of S. Myrtle regarding a suspicious subject approaching people and demanding money. As officers arrived, the suspect observed them and ran. He was caught after a short foot chase. The suspect, a known gang member, was found to be intoxicated and in violation of the gang injunction. He was arrested and taken into custody for the charges.

Monrovia Evening of Art, Music

A Summer Evening of Art, Music, and Friends, Saturday, July 30, from 7 to 10 p.m. on the 400 and 500 blocks of S. Myrtle Avenue (Old Town). There will be art for sale, art demonstrations, live music and an adult canvas art workshop.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Schools to Consider Extending Cop On Campus Program

At its July 13 meeting, the Monrovia School board will consider - among other things - extending an agreement with the city that provides a School Resources Officer until at least June 30, 2018. Source Info on page 125.

- Brad Haugaard

Lunch at Press Cafe


I was busy so my wife had lunch at Press Cafe, at the southeast corner of Olive and Myrtle, in the Paragon building. She got the Rustico chicken panini for $8.50 and a chamomile and lavender iced tea for $3. She liked it.

- Brad Haugaard

How to Contribute to Funeral Expenses of Four-Year-Old Monrovian Killed in Shooting

If you would like to contribute to the funeral expenses of four-year-old Salvador Esparza III of Monrovia, who was killed in a drive-by shooting in Altadena, you can contribute here: https://www.gofundme.com/BabyChavita

- Brad Haugaard

Bear Dissuading Tips from Monrovia Police

It's springtime and the thoughts of Monrovia's black bears turn toward food as they emerge from their winter dens. The Monrovia Police have some bear-dissuading tips.

Bears have keen noses and can smell an easy meal from miles away. They can easily tear a front door off its hinges if they smell food left out on the kitchen counter. To protect your family and property from bear break-ins follow these simple tips:

• Purchase and properly use a bear-proof garbage container.
• Wait to put trash out until the morning of collection day.
• Don’t leave trash, groceries, or animal feed in your car.
• Keep garbage cans clean and deodorize them with bleach or ammonia.
• Keep barbecue grills clean and stored in a garage or shed when not in use.
• Only provide bird feeders during November through March and make them
inaccessible to bears.
• Don’t leave any scented products outside, even non-food items such as suntan
lotion, insect repellent, soap or candles.
• Keep doors and windows closed and locked.
• Consider installing motion-detector alarms, electric fencing or motion-activated
sprinklers.
• Harvest fruit off trees as soon as it is ripe, and promptly collect fruit that falls.
• Securely block access to potential hibernation sites such as crawl spaces under
decks and buildings.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Officer Draws Gun on Suspect; Burglarizing Storage Facility; Man Throws Bottle at Woman

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for July 4-6. - Brad Haugaard]

During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 470 service events, During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 470 service events, resulting in 67 investigations.

Weapon Offense – Suspect Arrested
July 4 at 10:46 p.m., officers were on patrol in the area of Lime and California when they saw three male subjects walking south on California. One of the subjects was attempting to conceal something under his clothing near his waistband. As the male adjusted his clothing, the officer could see a hard unknown object under his shirt. The officer asked the subject what he had concealed, but the subject did not respond and continued to walk towards them. Fearing the subject had a weapon, the officer drew his duty weapon and ordered the subject to stop. The subject put his arms in the air and said he had a knife. The subject was found to have a 14-inch knife concealed under his clothing. The suspect was taken into custody for felony possession of a weapon.

Burglary – Suspects Arrested
July 5 at 1:41 a.m., officers were dispatched to a storage facility in the 2100 block of S. Myrtle regarding a burglary in progress. The caller reported hearing what sounded like someone drilling and breaking into the storage units. When the officers arrived, they discovered one of the suspects sitting in a parked vehicle and another was located hiding on the property. The suspect was wearing gloves and was in possession of a drill and additional burglary tools. Further investigation revealed the suspect inside the property was using a drill and burglary tools to open storage shed locks. The suspects had cut the vehicle gate lock to enter the property. They were arrested and taken into custody.

Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol – Suspect Arrested
July 6 at 12:09 a.m., an officer was on patrol in the 400 block of W. Hillcrest when he noticed a red Toyota traveling west on Colorado approaching Fifth Avenue. The Toyota was following too close behind the vehicle in front of it, weaving back and forth. The officer followed and stopped the driver of the Toyota. He approached the female, adult driver and, after further investigation, he determined she was intoxicated. The driver was arrested for DUI.

Domestic Violence – Suspect Arrested
July 7 at 12:38 a.m., officers were dispatched to a nearby hospital regarding a domestic violence incident that occurred in the 1000 block of Winding Oak Lane. A male and female adult who are in a dating relationship were at the male subject’s home when they began to argue. The male picked up a broken glass bottle and threw it at the female. The bottle struck the female, causing a cut. The female went to a nearby hospital to have her injury treated and the hospital called the police. After further investigation, the male suspect was located and arrested for domestic violence.

Four-Year-Old Monrovia Boy Killed in Drive-By Shooting

Four-year-old Salvador Esparza III of Monrovia was killed in a drive-by shooting in Altadena today. http://goo.gl/910FmN

- Brad Haugaard

Move 4th of July Fireworks to Monrovia High; Gas Co Office Closing; Specialty Foods at Street Fair; Teen Scene; Etc.

In his weekly report ( http://goo.gl/cq4Ixs ), City Manager Oliver Chi reports that ...

- The city has been talking with the Monrovia School District about moving the 4th of July Fireworks Show to Monrovia High School.

- Southern California Gas Company plans to shut its Monrovia branch office at 141 S. Myrtle Ave. sometime after September 1.

- Raw Inspiration will take over the Street Fair on August 19 as kind of a soft opening, then on September 2 will roll out with all the planned improvements, including specialty foods (fresh meats, fish, eggs, etc.), flower, and crafts. Also, there'll be a special Kids Day event on the first Friday of every month.

- Friday Night Live Teen Scene program will kick off this Friday, July 8, at Library Park, and will run each Friday through August 26. Regular activities will begin at 7 p.m., with dinner provided. Youth bands will provide music from 7 to 8 p.m. Plus, foosball, billiards, ping pong, basketball, air hockey, arts & crafts, board games, and a dance competition with prizes. The program's Leadership Academy will be at 5:30 p.m. It'll include volunteer opportunities, food, prizes, and activities. Plus, participants will receive $100 at the end of the 8 week series, thanks to the generosity of the City of Duarte.

- Every Thursday evening through July 28 the Library will host a family dance party at 6 p.m. Families can jump, hop, and sing their way throughout Station Square Park to enjoy stories, songs, and movement.

- Monrovia Area Partnership will celebrate its 10th Anniversary where it all began, with a block party at Julian Fisher Park on Saturday, July 9, at 6 p.m. It will include free beef hot dogs, pork hot links, popcorn, activities for kids and families, and a movie, Hotel Transylvania 2.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Not My Meth!; Punching Holes in Tires; Nervous and Suspicious; Speeding Past Police; Drugs and Alcohol;

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for June 27 - July 3. - Brad Haugaard]

Following are the weekend’s highlighted issues and events.

Violation of Court Order / Possession of Drug Paraphernalia – Suspect Arrested
June 27 at 1:12 p.m., an officer stopped a driver for a vehicle code violation in the area of Grand and Foothill. The officer recognized the male and female subject in the vehicle from prior contacts and knew the female had a restraining order against the male. The male subject was arrested for violation of the court order. An inventory search of his property revealed drug paraphernalia, which was added to his charges.

Warrant – Suspect Arrested
June 27 at 4:06 p.m., an officer on patrol in the area of Chestnut and Magnolia ran a computer check on a vehicle, which revealed a warrant for the registered owner, a male adult. The officer stopped the vehicle and arrested the driver for the warrant.

Vehicle Burglary
June 27 at 5:15 p.m., a vehicle burglary was reported in the 800 block of Alta Street. The victim locked his vehicle, and sometime during the early morning hours, someone broke into his vehicle by unknown means and stole several small items. The investigation is continuing.

Possession of a Controlled Substance – Suspect Arrested
June 27 at 6:42 p.m., officers responded to the area of Mayflower and Huntington regarding a male and female having a dispute in a vehicle. The caller was following the vehicle and reported that the female attempted to jump out of the vehicle, but the male pulled her back inside. Officers arrived and stopped the vehicle in the 100 block of E. Lime. The female claimed they were having a verbal dispute. A search of the vehicle revealed controlled substances. The male driver was taken into custody for drug possession.

Possession of a Controlled Substance – Suspect Arrested
June 28 at 1:46 a.m., an officer stopped a vehicle for a traffic violation. The female driver did not have any means of identification, and both driver and passenger denied ownership of a backpack that was between the passenger's feet. Further investigation revealed methamphetamine in the backpack. The female driver was taken into custody for no means of identification and the passenger was arrested for possession of the methamphetamine.

Warrant – Suspect Arrested
June 28 at 6:00 a.m., officers responded to the 300 block of Norumbega regarding the report of a suspicious male adult loitering near a property. Officers responded and contacted the male suspect, who was found to have a no-bail, parole warrant for his arrest. The suspect was arrested for the warrant.

Vehicle Vandalisms
June 28 at 7:36 a.m., officers were dispatched to the report of two separate vehicle vandalism incidents. One incident occurred in the 400 block of N. Encinitas and the other in the 1600 block of Venice. Unknown suspect(s) punched holes in the tires of the two vehicles sometime during the night. The investigation is continuing.

Under the Influence of a Controlled Substance – Suspect Arrested
June 28 at 10:15 a.m., officers responded to the 600 block of S. Shamrock on the report of a subject crawling on the ground acting bizarre. Officers contacted the male adult and determined he was under the influence of drugs. He was arrested and taken into custody.

Vehicle Burglary
June 28 at 3:37 p.m., a vehicle burglary was reported in the 100 block of N. Grand. The victim stated he parked and locked his work van across the street from his house. In the morning the victim discovered tools missing out of the back of the van. The investigation is continuing.

Possession of Drug Paraphernalia – Suspect Arrested
June 29 at 4:08 a.m., officers were on patrol in the area of Myrtle and Duarte when they saw a male subject jump off his bicycle and run into a fast food restaurant, where he attempted to hide a methamphetamine pipe. The suspect was arrested for possession of the pipe and released on a citation to appear in court.

Warrant – Suspect Arrested
June 30 at 5:30 p.m., officers were dispatched to a business in the 500 block of W. Huntington regarding a suspicious person inside the store who employees believed was attempting to shoplift merchandise. Officers located the suspect and a computer check revealed an outstanding warrant for her arrest. She was arrested for the warrant and held pending her court appearance. The shoplifting incident could not be substantiated.

Possession of Drug Paraphernalia / Warrant – Suspect Arrested
June 30 at 10:52 p.m., an officer was on patrol in the 600 block of S. Shamrock when he noticed a group of male adults in a park who appeared nervous and suspicious. He contacted the subjects and a computer check of one of the males revealed he had a warrant for his arrest. During a search of his bags, a methamphetamine pipe was discovered. The male was arrested and taken into custody.

Public Intoxication – Suspect Arrested
July 1 at 2:42 a.m., an officer was on patrol in the area of Myrtle and Pomona when he saw an adult male and female standing in the middle of the street in traffic, arguing with each other. The female was upset because her boyfriend was too intoxicated to care for himself. The officer conducted field sobriety tests and arrested the male for being drunk in public.

Vehicle Burglary
July 1 at 7:40 a.m., a vehicle burglary was reported in the 700 block of W. Colorado. The victim parked and locked his work truck in front of his home and went in for the evening. When the victim returned to his vehicle in the morning, he found his door lock punched and tools stolen from his truck. The investigation is continuing.

Possession of Drug Paraphernalia – Suspect Arrested
July 1 at 4:30 p.m., officers were dispatched to the 900 block of S. Mayflower. A resident called to report his son and the son's girlfriend were smoking drugs in the bathroom of his home. Officers arrived and contacted the male and female. The investigation revealed the female had drug paraphernalia in her possession. She was arrested and taken into custody.

Driving Under the Influence / Non-Injury Traffic Collision – Suspect Arrested
July 2 at 3:12 a.m., an officer was on patrol in the 800 block of W. Duarte when a vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed with no headlights passed him. The officer attempted to catch up to the vehicle to stop it, however, he saw the vehicle crash into a light pole at Duarte Road and First Avenue in Arcadia. The male driver and female passenger were not injured. Arcadia police officers responded to investigate the collision, while Monrovia police officers conducted field sobriety tests on the driver. It was determined that the driver was too intoxicated to operate a motor vehicle safely and he was arrested for DUI.

Vandalism – Suspect Arrested
July 2 at 8:44 a.m., officers were dispatched to the 1600 block of Venice regarding a vandalism incident. The victim called to report their tires had been slashed. Further investigation revealed additional victims and one suspect was identified. The suspect was later arrested for the vandalism. He admitted to committing additional vandalisms in the area. The investigation is continuing.

Welfare Check
July 2 at 10:49 a.m., officers responded to the 900 block of Orange regarding a welfare check. The caller had not heard from his 80-year-old brother in a week. When officers arrived at the location, they were able to see a male subject on the floor inside the house. Officers forced entry into the residence and discovered the victim was alive, but disoriented. It appeared the victim had suffered a medical emergency and had been down on the floor for several days. The subject was taken to a hospital for treatment.

Hit and Run Traffic Collision
July 2 at 1:32 p.m., officers were dispatched to the area of California and Lime regarding a hit and run traffic collision. The driver struck a parked vehicle and fled the scene. The area was checked, but the suspect was not located. The investigation is continuing.

Hit and Run Traffic Collision
July 2 at 5:20 p.m., an officer responded to a hit and run traffic collision that occurred in the 500 block of W. Huntington. The driver of the suspect vehicle struck a parked vehicle in a shopping center parking lot and fled the scene. The investigation is continuing.

Under the Influence of a Controlled Substance /Possession of Drug Paraphernalia – Suspect Arrested
July 2 at 9:14 p.m., an officer was on patrol in the area of Huntington and Magnolia when he observed a female subject walk across the street against a red light. The subject was detained and determined to be under the influence of narcotics. While the officer was talking with the female, she dropped a methamphetamine pipe on the ground. She was arrested and taken into custody.

Under the Influence of a Controlled Substance – Suspect Arrested
July 3 at 12:56 a.m., officers were dispatched to the 400 block of Hurstview regarding a male subject that was standing in an alley screaming. Officers arrived and detained the subject. He was determined to be under the influence of narcotics and was arrested and taken into custody.

Happy Fourth of July, Monrovia!


Fireworks at Library Park. 
 
- Brad Haugaard

July at Monrovia Library

July events at the Monrovia Library (kids - create a 3d object using design software, or Zombie Laser Tag?): http://goo.gl/Mxsx6S

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Council: Master Bike Plan; New Website; Hippie Bots; Monrovia Transit

At its Tuesday, July 5, 7:30 p.m. meeting (agenda: http://goo.gl/N1y50T ), the Monrovia City Council will ...

- Consider adopting the City of Monrovia Bicycle Master Plan ( http://goo.gl/OwQzuJ ). I reviewed it earlier here: http://goo.gl/s6fV95

- Consider contracting with Vision Technology Solutions, LLC, to develop and host and maintain a new city website. Cost: $44,975, then $7,000 maintenance fee starting the second year, increasing 5% annually. http://goo.gl/8NOhLi

- Recognize the Clifton Middle School Hippie Bots robotics team for placing 13th at the FIRST Tech Challenge in Shanghai, China; recognize Ashley Sanchez and Kate Weisner for their accomplishments on the United National Soccer Team; proclaim July as Parks and Recreation Month.

- Consider extending a contract with Keolis Transit American to run the City's Monrovia Transit system through May 31, 2017.

- Brad Haugaard

Quilt Store | Vacation Bible School

~ A reader sent me a note saying a new quilt store opened today at 505 S Myrtle, unit A. The store's name is Cat's Quilting Corner.

~ Children 4-10 are invited to attend a free Vacation Bible School at St. Luke's Episcopal Church, Monday-Friday, Aug. 8-12, 7 to 8:25 p.m. Lessons will feature crafts and children will learn how Jesus is the light of the world and about church rituals. Parents may drop their children off at the church, 122, S. California Ave. at Foothill Blvd., or stay for the program. For questions: 357-7071 or stlukesmonrovia@gmail.com.

- Brad Haugaard