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Monrovia Police: Violent Argument; Catalytic Converters Stolen; Shoes In Their Pants; Marijuana Makes You Barf; Etc.

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for February 20-22. - Brad Haugaard]

During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 390 service events, resulting in 58 investigations.

Domestic Violence – Suspect Arrested
February 20 at 7:16 a.m., officers responded to a residence in the 200 block of W. Central regarding a domestic violence incident. The victim reported that her husband battered her during an argument. Officers interviewed both subjects involved and arrested the husband for domestic violence.

Grand Theft
February 20 at 5:00 p.m., a grand theft was reported in the 200 block of N. Encinitas. Sometime during the early morning hours, someone stole the catalytic converter from the victim’s Honda Accord that was parked on the street in front of her home. The investigation is continuing.

Petty Theft – Suspect Arrested
February 20 at 8:10 p.m., officers were dispatched to a business in the 500 block of W. Huntington on the report of a theft that just occurred. Two male suspects entered the store and went to the shoe department, where they removed price tags from shoes, concealed them in their pants and left the location without paying. Store security saw the suspects enter a vehicle and drive east on Huntington. Officers located and stopped the vehicle. The suspects were positively identified by store security and arrested.

Grand Theft
February 21 at 7:21 a.m., a resident in the 200 block of Poppy Avenue called police to report a grand theft. The victim parked his vehicle in front of his home in the evening. When he returned to his vehicle in the morning, he found the catalytic converter had been stolen off the vehicle. The investigation is continuing.

Grand Theft
February 21 at 8:06 a.m., a grand theft was reported at a residence in the 200 block of W. Pomona Avenue. A dirt compactor was stolen from a construction site sometime during the evening or early morning hours. The investigation is continuing.

Medical Assist / Drug Offense
February 22 at 11:29 a.m., staff at the high school called police to report three juveniles were complaining of stomach pain and were throwing up. Officers arrived and determined the juveniles had ingested edible marijuana. The paramedics and parents were summoned. The juveniles were taken to the hospital for treatment. The investigation is continuing.

Public Intoxication – Suspects Arrested
February 23 at 3:13 a.m., officers were dispatched to the 200 block of W. Colorado regarding two subjects causing a disturbance. They contacted the subjects and determined they were intoxicated and unable to provide care for themselves. They were arrested for being drunk in public and held for a sobering period.

Monrovia Candidate Forum Set

The Monrovia Chamber of Commerce and the League of Women Voters are sponsoring a City Council candidate forum on Monday, March 6 at 6 p.m. in the Council chambers at City Hall. The forum will be broadcast on KGEM and viewers at home can submit questions by calling 932-5550

- Brad Haugaard 

How to Support 1917 Fire Engine Restoration Project

Mayor Tom Adams has set up a GoFundMe page to help pay for the restoration of Monrovia's 1917 Seagrave fire engine. If you would like to donate, click here: https://goo.gl/C107vS

- Brad Haugaard 

Monrovia Police: Burglaries; Mom vs. Daughter; Robbery; Boyfriend Hit With Broom; Hit and Run; Etc.

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for February 16-19. - Brad Haugaard]

Following are the weekend’s highlighted issues and events.

Stolen Vehicle Recovered
February 16 at 10:56 a.m., officers responded to the report of a suspicious vehicle parked in a business parking lot in the 1600 block of S. Mountain Avenue. Officers located the vehicle and determined it was stolen. The vehicle was processed and returned to the owner. No suspects were located.

Residential Burglary
February 16 at 8:59 p.m., a residential burglary was reported in the 200 block of N. Encinitas. An unknown suspect entered the residence through an unlocked back door and took a backpack belonging to a juvenile. The suspect then fled. The investigation is continuing.

Battery
February 17 at 11:03 a.m., officers were dispatched to a residence in the 1400 block of S. Magnolia to investigate a physical altercation between a mother and her adult daughter, which has been an ongoing problem. The mother has signed a no trespass order against her daughter, who has returned to the residence on multiple occasions for a variety of reasons, and has been arrested for violation of the order. The mother allowed the daughter to stay at the home overnight, but then asked her to leave because DCFS was coming to the house and the daughter was not supposed to be there. The two began to argue and the argument turned physical. A report will be filed with the District Attorney’s office for battery charges.

Possession of Methamphetamine / Warrants – Suspect Arrested
February 17 at 2:27 p.m., a suspicious vehicle was reported in the 200 block of N. Ivy Avenue. An officer arrived and located the vehicle and a person in the driver's seat who appeared to be hiding from the officer. During the course of the investigation, the officer discovered the driver had several warrants, no license, and methamphetamine on his person. The suspect was arrested.

Residential Burglary
February 17 at 11:09 p.m., a residential burglary was reported in the 300 block of Bradbury. The victim left his residence for several hours. When he returned, he found the back sliding door shattered and his home had been ransacked. The resident is determining the loss. The investigation is continuing.

Stolen Vehicle
February 18 at 8:15 a.m., the victim parked their vehicle in their apartment complex parking lot in the 900 block of W. Walnut in the evening. They returned to the lot in the morning and the vehicle had been stolen. The keys were in the vehicle. The vehicle is a 2015 Lexus IS 250. The investigation is continuing.

Domestic Violence
February 18 at 12:54 p.m., a victim of domestic violence went to her friend’s home and told the friend that her boyfriend had beaten her. The incident occurred in the 200 block of W. Colorado and the victim had visible injuries; she was taken to a hospital for medical treatment. Officers went to the boyfriend's residence and interviewed him. He was then arrested for domestic violence.

Vehicle Burglary
February 18 at 3:44 p.m., employees at a business in the 1100 block of E. Huntington witnessed a male Hispanic suspect with a tattoo on his neck enter a locked vehicle in the business parking lot. The suspect fled in a gold, 4-door sedan, possibly a Honda or Toyota. The investigation is continuing.

Stolen Vehicle Recovered
February 18 at 3:50 p.m., two suspicious vehicles were reported in the 700 block of E. Royal Oaks, possibly involved in drug activity. Officers arrived and located the two vehicles. One vehicle was found to be a reported stolen vehicle from Upland. The vehicle was recovered and the investigation is continuing.

Stolen Vehicle
February 18 at 5:11 p.m., a vehicle was reported stolen from the 1200 block of Sherman. The victim reported his green, 2000 Honda Civic had been stolen sometime between 12:00 and 5:10 p.m. The investigation is continuing.

Commercial Robbery
February 18 at 6:25 p.m., officers responded to a robbery at a business in the 100 block of W. Huntington. A male suspect entered the location wearing a grey and green hooded sweatshirt and revealed a black handgun in his waistband. He demanded money from the cash register, which the employee gave to him, placing it in a Walmart bag. The suspect then fled the location. The investigation is continuing.

Shoplifting – Suspect Arrested
February 18 at 8:11 p.m., a business in the 500 block of W. Huntington reported a theft that had just occurred. The suspect concealed items on his person and exited the store. An officer responded and detained the suspect nearby. The stolen property was recovered and the suspect was arrested.

Stolen Vehicle Recovered
February 18 at 10:51 p.m., a vehicle that was reported stolen earlier in the day from the 900 block of W. Walnut was recovered in Upland by the Upland Police Department. A Monrovia officer responded to Upland to process the vehicle for fingerprints. The investigation is continuing.

Domestic Battery
February 19 at 7:46 a.m., a battery incident was reported in the 500 block of Cloverleaf Drive. The investigation revealed that a boyfriend and girlfriend were in a verbal argument that turned physical. The female struck her live-in boyfriend with a broom. The male complained of pain to his hand. The female was arrested for domestic battery.

Felony Hit & Run Traffic Collision
February 19 at 3:51 p.m., the victim driver was traveling west on Huntington and came to a stop at Mayflower. The suspect rear-ended the victim's vehicle and then fled the area. The victim and a passenger complained of neck pain. The investigation is continuing.

The Monrovia Shooting That Could Have Been Prevented; Flags at Myrtle Crosswalk; Historic City House Sold; Etc.

In his weekly report ( https://goo.gl/nsSjOl ), City Manager Oliver Chi reports ...

~ That the police department did some "tremendous work" in arresting suspects in an attempted murder case, but said that it should never have happened. The suspect, he said, served a nine months in prison for attempted murder and  assault with a deadly weapon, "then, just a few months after he was released from prison, he attempted to kill another individual here in Monrovia." Chi said, "This overall situation illustrates how the new set of laws in California have resulted in criminals - and even violent criminals - being allowed to repeat their crimes over and over, and in that process, the end result is that more individuals are becoming victims of crime."

~ The city will conduct a 3-month trial placement of flag stands at the mid-block crosswalk on Myrtle Avenue between Lemon and Colorado. The idea is that pedestrians pick up a flag on one side of the street, walk across the street with it, then leave the flag in a stand on the other side of the street. Hopefully this increases their visibility.

~ Monrovia has installed a new pedestrian crosswalk on Mountain Avenue between Monrovia's auto dealerships on the west side of the street and the Best Buy shopping center on the east side of the street.

~ The city has sold the former City Annex building, also known as the Tillapaugh House, an historic residence at the corner of Ivy and Lime. The buyer plans to fix it up.

~ Monrovia Library Foundation's third annual literacy fundraiser, Team Up Dream Up for Literacy, will take place on Sunday, Feb. 26, from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Library.  Based loosely on the game show "Family Feud." Tickets are $50 and all proceeds benefit the Library's literacy services program.  You can purchase tickets at the Monrovia Library.

Pinwheels In The Garden at Monrovia Garden Club Meeting

Jeralyn Crute Sackman will speak on "Pinwheels in the Garden," about her handcrafted garden pinwheels inspired by nature at the annual tea of the Monrovia Garden Club on Tuesday, Feb. 28, 7 p.m. in Fellowship Hall at First Presbyterian Church, on the northeast corner of Myrtle and Foothill. She will have pinwheels available for purchase. Social hour with light refreshments at 6:30 p.m. Visitors welcome.

- Brad Haugaard

Husband Shares Disney Experiences | Park Closed | Free Driving Lesson

~ Monrovia High 1968 grad, Ron Husband, the first African-American animator to work for Disney Studios, shared his experience with current Monrovia High students. https://goo.gl/0ZUmJP

~ Monrovia Canyon Park closed through Feb. 20 because of the storm. https://goo.gl/R7P8KG

~ Ford Motor Company Fund is holding Driving Skills For Life, a free driver training program coming to Arcadia this March. This program is geared toward helping younger drivers become safe and cautious drivers. Drivers will receive advanced training on hazard recognition, vehicle handling, braking and stopping distance, speed management, reaction time, avoiding the dangers of distracted and impaired driving and more. There will be two sessions on March 4 and 5 at the Santa Anita Park, one from 7:30 am to noon and the afternoon session from 1 pm to 5:30 pm on both March 4 and 5. Sign up at http://www.drivingskillsforlife.com .

- Brad Haugaard 

Dinner at 38 Degrees

 
Dinner at 38 Degrees, on the south side of Colorado just east of Myrtle. Got the Thirty Eight burger for $14 and a beer for $7. Nice burger. 

- Brad Haugaard 

Coping With World Events Workshop at Monrovia Library

The local Jewish Federation is coordinating a workshop entitled, How Global Events Impact Our Lives - Tools for Coping, on Sunday, March 5, at 2:30 p.m. at the Community Room of the Monrovia Public Library. The workshop will be co-led by Dr. Jennifer R. Levin, MFT, PhD who specializes in illness, grief and growth after trauma, Jason Moss, MSW, Executive Director of the Jewish Federation, and Rabbi Noam Raucher, Pasadena Jewish Temple & Center. For more information contact the Jewish Federation at 445-0810 or federation@jewishsgpv.org.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Bad Meds; Drug Praphernalia; Ignoring Restraining Order

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for February 13-15. - Brad Haugaard]

During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 383 service events, resulting in 65 investigations.

Disturbing Subject / Possession of a Prescription Drug Without a Prescription – Suspect Arrested
February 14 at 6:02 a.m., a subject was reported to police that was yelling and swinging a piece of 2x4 wood while walking down the street in the 600 block of E. Lemon. Officers arrived and located the subject, who was determined to be a juvenile. The subject was found to be in possession of prescription medication without a prescription. He was arrested and later released to his parent with a citation to appear in court on the charges.

Drug Paraphernalia – Suspect Arrested
February 15 at 10:46 a.m., an officer on patrol in the 300 block of W. Huntington Dr. noticed a subject that appeared suspicious. The officer made contact with the subject and during the investigation located drug paraphernalia. The suspect was arrested and taken into custody. The subject was issued a citation to appear in court on the charges.

Violation of Court Order – Suspect Arrested
February 15 at 10:49 a.m., officers were dispatched to a residence in the 800 block of Norumbega Dr. on the report of a restraining order violation. The caller stated her exboyfriend was at the residence in violation of a Domestic Violence Restraining Order. When officers arrived they located the subject and further investigation revealed the subject was in violation of a court order. The suspect was arrested and taken into custody.

Monrovia's Senator Wants to Ban Pain-Killer Oxycondone to People Under 21

State Senator Anthony Portantino, who represents Monrovia, has introduced a bill, SB 419, which would prohibit doctors from proscribing oxycodone, used to treat moderate to severe pain, to individuals under the age of 21.

Portantino's press release says Oxycodone, more commonly known by its brand name OxyContin, has become abused, often ending in addiction, tragedy and overdose.

- Brad Haugaard

Black History Month | 626 Golden Streets

~ A list of Monrovia events for Black History Month: hhttps://goo.gl/iMTPjw

~ Sunday, March 5, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. 626 Golden Streets Event, a free 17-plus mile long San Gabriel Valley open streets festival that will temporarily open stretches of roadway from South Pasadena to Azusa for walking, jogging, skating, biking and more. More here: https://goo.gl/bCJJk3

- Brad Haugaard

$15-a-Month Water Tax Possible | Monrovia May Contract Out Bill Collecting | Office Vacancy Rate Healthier

In his weekly report ( https://goo.gl/1XIzs4 ), City Manager Oliver Chi reports that ...

~ If a proposed tax to buy water to replenish our supply is approved, "the estimated customer cost impact for everyone located in the Main San Gabriel Basin will eventually reach around $15 / month." Chi said we need another "130.3 billion gallons of water" to get back to normal water levels. Yes, even taking the rain into account.

~ Monrovia is thinking of contracting out its utility bill collecting and processing to a private company.

~ Monrovia's office space vacancy rate was over 17% in 2015 but is now below 10%, and the city has added about 1,900 jobs, which means more people shopping and dining in town. Chi said the city has been working to attract science and biotech companies. Some companies that have moved to - or are consolidating in - Monrovia are:

Beckman Research Institute, ~600 jobs;
Aerovironment, ~250 jobs;
City of Hope, ~150 jobs;
Oak Crest Institute of Science, ~45 jobs;
Southern California News Group, ~200 jobs;
Cacique - 28,000 square feet, ~250 jobs;
Yang Ming Shipping - 25,000 square feet, ~150 jobs;
Worley Parsons - 300+ jobs.

- Brad Haugaard

Suspects Arrested in Restaurant Break-Ins | State of the City Address

~ Three suspects have been arrested for break-ins at two Monrovia restaurants, Smashburger and Menchie's Frozen Yogurt, on Huntington: https://goo.gl/HU8una

~ Comments by Mayor and City Council members at the State of the City Address: https://goo.gl/ZqBhxD

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Man Shot At, Suspects Arrested; Multiple Vehicle Burglaries; Boyfriend Shoves Girlfriend; Burglary Pursuit - Two Arrested; Etc.

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for February 9-12. - Brad Haugaard]

Following are the weekend’s highlighted issues and events.

Shooting Incident – Suspects Arrested
February 9 at 6:50 p.m., officers responded to the report of shots fired in the 100 block of Los Angeles. The victim was sitting in his vehicle waiting on a family member who was inside a residence when two suspects approached him and brandished a firearm. When the victim tried to flee in his vehicle, one of the suspects began firing rounds toward him. The victim was not hit. Responding officers searched the area and located both suspects. The victim positively identified the suspects and both were arrested and taken into custody.

Vehicle Burglaries
On February 9 in the evening, multiple vehicle burglaries were reported to police. Four vehicles were burglarized in the 800 to 900 blocks of W. Huntington and two in the 1100 block of E. Huntington. In all but one of the incidents, the windows were smashed and items left in the vehicles were taken. In the one incident, it appears that someone attempted to use a window punch and damaged the window, but it did not shatter. The investigations are continuing.

Theft of Mail
February 10 at 8:58 a.m., a theft of mail from a residence in the 900 block of Norumbega was reported to police. The mail was taken from the mailbox the day prior. The investigation is continuing.

Petty Theft
February 10 at 6:30 p.m., a petty theft was reported in the 1800 block of S. Tenth Avenue. A package was taken from the mailbox on the porch of the residence. The investigation is continuing.

Domestic Battery
February 10 at 9:15 a.m., a female and male subject were involved in an argument in a business parking lot in the 700 block of E. Huntington in a vehicle. The subjects are boyfriend and girlfriend. The male suspect pulled the female out of the vehicle by her arms and pushed her in the chest. The female victim fell to the ground and hit her head. The suspect fled the area in the vehicle. Officers attempted to contact the suspect, but he was not located. A wanted person’s entry was made into the law enforcement database for the suspect. The investigation is continuing.

Trespassing – Suspect Arrested
February 11 at 10:39 a.m., a resident in the 1400 block of S. Magnolia called to report her daughter had broken into her residence. The resident had previously completed a no trespassing order for her daughter. Officers arrived at the location and contacted the daughter inside the home. She was arrested for trespassing.

Warrant – Suspect Arrested
February 11 at 11:48 a.m., an officer conducted a traffic stop for vehicle code violations on Myrtle at Railroad. The occupants of the vehicle were identified and field interview cards were completed as two of the occupants were documented gang members. One of them was found to have a bench warrant for his arrest. He was arrested for the warrant and taken into custody.

Warrant Arrest / Possession of Drug Paraphernalia – Suspect Arrested
February 11 at 2:50 p.m., officers on patrol saw a subject they knew had an outstanding warrant for his arrest. The subject was detained and the warrant was confirmed. The subject was also found to be in possession of drug paraphernalia. He was arrested and taken into custody.

Residential Burglary
February 11 at 4:15 p.m., a residential burglary was reported in the 800 block of E. Foothill that had occurred on February 9. The victim reported that the rear door to her home had been pried open. There was no loss. The investigation is continuing.

Hit and Run Traffic Collision / Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
February 11 at 5:00 p.m., an injury traffic collision occurred at Colorado and Magnolia. Officers responded and conducted an investigation. One party failed to stop for the stop sign at Colorado and Magnolia, causing the collision. The vehicle then fled the scene and was followed by the victim. The suspect eventually stopped several blocks away. The victim suffered minor complaint of pain injuries. Officers determined the suspect was under the influence of alcohol. He was arrested and taken into custody.

Medical Assist / Negligent Discharge of a Firearm
February 11 at 8:28 p.m., an officer responded to a medical assist in the 200 block of E. Olive. A male adult was teaching his adult daughter gun safety and discharged the weapon, shooting himself in the hand. A verified complaint will be forwarded to the District Attorney’s office for negligent discharge of a firearm.

Speeding / Warrant – Suspects Arrested
February 11 at 10:13 p.m., the Foothill Air Support Team helicopter observed two vehicles racing at a high rate of speed and contacted police. Officers responded and were able to locate one of the vehicles involved. The driver was cited for speeding and a passenger was arrested for an outstanding warrant.

Assault / Suspicious Circumstances
February 11 at 11:21 p.m., officers responded to the 200 block of E. Pomona Avenue regarding subjects causing a disturbance. When officers arrived, they saw several vehicles leaving the area. An ambulance driver pointed out one vehicle and it was stopped for investigation. The driver was found to have a laceration on his head. One of the passengers was passed out and had a head injury and a second passenger possibly had a broken leg. The subjects stated they were assaulted on Pomona Avenue by a group of people, but would not provide any other information and were uncooperative with the officers. The subjects were taken to the hospital for treatment. Through further investigation, it was learned that the subjects were involved in a fight. They said they were assaulted by multiple subjects outside of a party at a residence on Pomona that they were attending. They said they did not know who the suspects were or why they assaulted them.

An officer made contact with the residents at the location of the party. The residents told the officers the three victims were not invited to the party and were asked to leave. They said the subjects left the location, but were confronted outside on the street by unknown subjects, who were also not invited to the party, and an altercation occurred. The residents did not know who any of the subjects were and were not able to provide any possible suspect information. The investigation is continuing.

Domestic Violence – Suspect Arrested
February 11 at 12:40 a.m., officers were dispatched to the area of Canyon and Palm regarding a female victim who was thrown on the ground by a male suspect. Officers arrived and located a female with visible injuries. The male suspect was arrested and taken into custody for domestic violence.

Warrants – Suspect Arrested
February 12 at 4:05 p.m., two suspicious subjects were reported in a business parking lot in the 1600 block of S. Mountain. An officer arrived and contacted the subjects. One of the subjects was found to have outstanding warrants for his arrest. The subject was arrested and taken into custody for the warrants.

Warrant – Suspect Arrested
February 12 at 8:34 p.m., officers responded to the 800 block of Wildrose regarding a subject walking in and out of traffic and yelling at people. An officer arrived and located the subject in the 200 block of S. Mountain. The subject had a bloody lip and appeared intoxicated. Further investigation revealed he was fighting with family members and a computer check revealed he was wanted by San Dimas Sheriff’s Department for felony battery. The subject was arrested and San Dimas Sheriff’s deputies responded to take custody of the suspect.

Burglary Pursuit – Suspects Arrested
February 13 at 3:55 a.m., an officer responded to an alarm activation at a business in the 600 block of W. Huntington. As he entered the parking lot, he saw a silver Toyota Camry with paper plates attempting to flee the location at a high rate of speed. The officer attempted to stop the vehicle, but the suspects failed to yield and the officer went in pursuit. The vehicle headed east on Huntington, left onto Mayflower, and turned right onto Chestnut, where the suspects jumped out and ran from the vehicle in the 400 block of W. Chestnut. Neighboring agencies responded to assist in the search for the suspects. Two suspects were located and arrested, the third was not located. Further Investigation revealed that two businesses in the 600 block of W. Huntington were broken into and the vehicle used by the suspects was stolen from the city of Colton.

Senator's Bill Would Require Monrovia Schools to Start Later In the Day

State Senator Anthony Portantino, who represents Monrovia, has introduced Senate Bill 328, which would apparently affect Monrovia schools. It would require California school districts to start their middle and high school days no earlier than 8:30 a.m. A press release from Portantino's office says the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that time and says that the time change would increase attendance rates, raise grades, scores, student attention, and reduce car accidents, disciplinary actions, and cut down on students sleeping through lectures. I checked and it appears Monrovia High School begins its Period 0 at 7 a.m. and its Period 1 at 8 a.m. https://goo.gl/3SO6t1

- Brad Haugaard

Oke Poke Restaurant Now Open

 
Now open in the Pavilion shopping center at Foothill and Myrtle. Poke is raw fish with sauce and toppings on rice or noodles. 

- Brad Haugaard 

Monrovia's Clifton Middle School is a State 'Model' School

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson announced today that 11 high-performing California middle schools have been designated as model middle grades schools. One of these is Monrovia's Clifton Middle School. https://goo.gl/Ya0Hkw

- Brad Haugaard

Dinner at Jim's Burger

 
Dinner at Jim's Burger, on Duarte Road at Sixth. Got the combo burrito for $6.45 and medium iced tea for $1.15. Quite filling. 

- Brad Haugaard 

Monrovia Train Station Rehab Groundbreaking

Photos of the groundbreaking ceremony for rehabilitation of the old Monrovia train station: https://goo.gl/qxrwnf

- Brad Haugaard