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LA County Offering $20,000 Reward for Person Who Killed Monrovia Student Oscar Garcia

LA County is offering $20,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person who shot and killed Monrovia high school student Oscar Garcia on April 22. https://goo.gl/ZsnJw3

- Brad Haugaard

Cities Join Monrovia's Anti Crime Coalition; Replacement Reservoir; Vet Video; Bike Plan

In his weekly report (https://goo.gl/aOqX7O), City Manager Oliver Chi reports:

~ Monrovia's Taking Back Our Community coalition is taking off. Council members Becky Shevlin and Larry Spicer, along with city staff, attended the League of California Cities Annual Conference to promote the coalition with a video (https://goo.gl/NfWYn1). The coalition seeks to modify elements of Assembly Bill 109, Proposition 47, and Proposition 57, which have resulted in public safety problems. Such problems include: Defining rape, battery, assault with a deadly weapon, and solicitation to commit murder as "non-violent." Chi says response to the coalition has "been overwhelming and positive.  We currently have approximately 25 cities that have formally joined the group, with another 15 cities in various stages of joining our efforts."

~ Construction on a replacement Oakglade Reservoir should begin in late December or early January 2018. The current 900,000 gallon reservoir, at 733 Oakglade Drive, way up Canyon Boulevard, was built in the late 1800s and was one of the original water reservoirs for Monrovia, but it has developed excessive leaks and cracks. The new one should hold  1.5 million gallons.

~  The Veterans Resource Center at the Monrovia Public Library has submitted its second interview to the Library of Congress's Veterans History Project, which collects first-hand accounts of vet who served in conflicts. This video (https://goo.gl/w9oyqQ) features Joseph Callahan, a Vietnam Veteran, who served in the US Navy.

~  Monrovia, and other local cities, are developing Pedestrian and Bicycle Master Plans to identify opportunities to improve conditions for walking and bicycling. Share your thoughts on this online survey: https://goo.gl/Ss83nm

- Brad Haugaard

Foothill Unity Center Picks Its 'Heart in Hand Humanitarian'

Foothill Unity Center will honor Lois Gaston as this year's "Heart in Hand Humanitarian." S he is the former Mayor and Councilmember for Duarte and has been a Board of Directors Member for the Foothill Unity Center since 2002. She is involved in several community organizations such as; the Community Mediation Team, the Duarte Education Foundation and the Duarte Community Coordinating Council as well as with the NAACP Afro-Academic, Cultural, Technological, and Scientific Olympics. The awards will be presented at the Golden Plate dinner on Sept. 28.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Finalist for 'Business Friendly' City Award

Monrovia is a finalist as the most business friendly city in the county for cities with fewer than 68,000 people. The award is given by the  Los Angeles County Economic Development Corp. https://goo.gl/DREXaz

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Carjacking; Lots of Drunk Driving; 'Multiple Charges' May be Filed In Deer Shooting; Bad License Plates; Threatening With Pistol; Etc.

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for September 14-17. - Brad Haugaard]

Following are the weekend’s highlighted issues and events.

Petty Theft
September 14 at 12:32 p.m., a petty theft was reported at a park in the 900 block of California. Sometime overnight, a metal spring mounted on the playground equipment was removed and taken. This is the second spring that has been taken. The investigation is continuing.

No-Bail Warrant – Suspect Arrested
September 14 at 4:03 p.m., an officer was on patrol in the area of Mayflower and Chestnut when he was flagged down regarding a possible domestic dispute inside a vehicle. The officer located and stopped the vehicle, but the occupants denied a domestic dispute. The driver had a suspended driver's license, the vehicle registration was expired for approximately two years, and the passenger had a no-bail warrant for his arrest. The suspects were arrested.

Warrant Arrest – Suspect Arrested
September 14 at 9:21 p.m., an officer on patrol in the area of Huntington and the 210 Freeway observed a traffic violation and stopped the vehicle. After getting identification from both the driver and passenger, the passenger was found to have several warrants for his arrest. He was arrested without incident.

Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
September 15 at 1:41 a.m., an officer observed a traffic violation from a vehicle at Live Oak and Myrtle. The officer conducted a traffic stop and made contact with the driver, who displayed signs of being intoxicated. After further investigation, the driver was determined to be driving under the influence and she was arrested. She was taken into custody and held for a sobering period. She was later released with a citation to appear in court.

Carjacking
September 15 at 3:01 p.m., a carjacking incident was reported in the 900 block of E. Royal Oaks. The victim drove to her ex-boyfriend's residence to drop off some of his property. When she arrived, the ex-boyfriend/suspect demanded the victim drive him to Pasadena. The victim was afraid of the suspect and attempted to drive away, but the suspect opened her driver's door and threatened her with a large rock. The victim feared for her safety and exited the vehicle. The suspect jumped into the vehicle and drove away without consent. The investigation is continuing.

Public Intoxication / Challenge to fight – Suspect Arrested
September 15 at 4:14 p.m., an officer was flagged down in the 300 block of S. Myrtle regarding a disturbing subject in the park. The officer saw the subject and heard him yelling obscenities. The officer contacted the subject, who was intoxicated and took a fighting stance towards the first officer on scene. The subject was arrested for public intoxication and challenging to fight.

Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
September 16 at 1:17 a.m., an officer observed a vehicle commit a moving vehicle code violation in the 600 block of S. Myrtle. The officer conducted a traffic stop and contacted the driver, who demonstrated signs of intoxication. The investigation revealed the driver was too intoxicated to drive a motor vehicle. He was arrested, booked, and held for a sobering period. He was later released with a citation to appear in court.

Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
September 16 at 1:19 a.m., a resident in the 800 block of S. Mayflower called police to report her ex-boyfriend was at her front door and was refusing to leave. When officers arrived, the subject was driving away in his vehicle. The officer made a traffic stop and contacted the driver, who demonstrated signs of intoxication. The investigation revealed there was no crime committed at the residence, but the driver was too intoxicated to drive a motor vehicle. He was arrested, booked, and held for a sobering period. He was later released with a citation to appear in court.

Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
September 16 at 2:39 a.m., an officer observed a vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed on Peck Road, approaching Live Oak Avenue. The officer made a traffic stop and contacted the driver. Through investigation it was determined that the driver was too intoxicated to drive a motor vehicle. He was arrested and taken into custody. He was held for a sobering period and later released with a citation to appear in court.

Department of Fish and Wildlife Assist
September 16 at 7:41 a.m., police received a call reporting a suspect that had shot a deer with a bow and arrow in the 400 block of Patrician Way. The reporting party noticed a blood trail outside of his house, so he checked his surveillance camera and saw a subject exit a vehicle with a bow and arrow, hide in nearby bushes and shoot a deer. The Department of Fish and Wildlife was advised and they responded along with Monrovia officers. Through investigation, the suspect was identified and located. Multiple criminal charges will be sought against the suspect.

Possession of Sawed-off Shotgun / Possession of a Controlled Substance – Suspects Arrested
September 16 at 12:07 a.m., police responded to a call reporting drug activity in the 200 block of E. Duarte. Officers located the reported vehicle that was occupied by two subjects. Officers were familiar with both subjects and one of them admitted to being in possession of narcotics. A search of the vehicle revealed narcotics, live ammunition, drug paraphernalia, and a sawed-off shotgun. Both suspects were arrested and a parole hold was issued for one of the suspects.

Possession of a Controlled Substance – Suspect Arrested
September 16 at 10:39 p.m., officers conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle for a traffic violation in the 2100 block of Parkrose in Duarte. The driver had a suspended driver’s license and a consent search revealed approximately 51 grams of methamphetamine, 22 grams of powder cocaine, a weight scale, cash, and dozens of empty baggies for drug packaging. The driver was arrested and charged with possession of a controlled substance for sales. The vehicle was stored.

Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
September 17 at 2:20 a.m., an officer on patrol observed a vehicle commit a vehicle code violation in the area of Shamrock and Huntington. He conducted a traffic stop and upon contacting the driver, the officer noticed obvious signs of intoxication. The investigation revealed the driver was too intoxicated to drive a motor vehicle. He was arrested, booked, and after a sobering period, he was released with a citation to appear in court.

Possible Grand Theft Auto / Stolen Plates Recovered
September 17 at 7:30 a.m., dispatch informed officers of a possible stolen vehicle heading north on Myrtle. Officers located the vehicle matching the description and license plate. A high-risk stop was conducted. The driver of the vehicle turned out to be the owner. Someone had stolen her license plate and replaced it with the license plate from a stolen vehicle that was reported to La Verne Police Department.

Brandishing a Weapon
September 17 at 7:45 p.m., the victim called police to report that he was driving in the area of Olive and Mayflower, and nearly collided into another vehicle. That vehicle followed him and when they reached the intersection of Olive and Alta Vista, the victim exited his vehicle to speak to the other driver. That driver pulled out a black, semi- automatic handgun, held it outside his driver’s door with the barrel pointed down and slowly drove past the victim. Fearing for his safety, the victim did not say anything and drove home to report the incident to police. The suspect is described as a male Hispanic, driving a blue, early 2000 Honda Accord with tinted windows. The investigation is continuing.

Threatening / Vehicle Pursuit – Suspect Arrested
September 18 at 1:13 a.m., employees of a fast food restaurant in the 100 block of W. Duarte reported a male suspect at their drive-thru window making criminal threats. Officers arrived in the area and located a vehicle matching the description heading west on Duarte on the wrong side of the roadway. As an officer attempted to make a traffic stop, the vehicle fled and a pursuit ensued. The suspect vehicle collided with another motorist in the area of Huntington and Alta Vista, and then fled without exchanging information. The hit and run victim was not injured, but his vehicle sustained moderate damage. The pursuit terminated near Los Angeles and Ivy Avenues, where the driver fled from the vehicle, but a passenger was taken into custody. A lengthy search of a contained area was completed, but the suspect was not located. The passenger was arrested for making criminal threats. The investigation is continuing. 

Man Who Reportedly Shot Deer May Be Prosecuted

Man who allegedly shot deer in upper Monrovia may be prosecuted. https://goo.gl/DMLQ7F

- Brad Haugaard

Man Says He Shot Deer in Monrovia Neighborhood to Put It Out of Its Misery

The man who allegedly shot a deer with an arrow in a Monrovia neighborhood says he had shot the deer earlier in a hunting-approved area but just wounded it. He said it was suffering so he tracked it into a Monrovia neighborhood and took another shot at it to put it out of its misery. https://goo.gl/BFyFgM

- Brad Haugaard

Man Identified Who Allegedly Shot Deer With Arrow in North Monrovia

Man shoots deer with arrow in north Monrovia. Suspect contacted. https://goo.gl/FvZVf5

- Brad Haugaard

How Monrovia-Based Trader Joe's Came to Be

A bit of history about how Monrovia-based Trader Joe's came to be. https://goo.gl/hibNSe

- Brad Haugaard

Sex Offenders May Soon Be Able to Live Anywhere in Monrovia

At its Sept. 19 meeting (agenda: https://goo.gl/vPtko3) the Monrovia City Council will ...

~ Consider repealing restrictions on where sex offenders may live in the City. The staff report indicates that a State Supreme Court decision in 2015 has "created a significant doubt regarding the validity of any residency restrictions on sex offenders." Also, there are at least 20 pending lawsuits challenging such restrictions, including one filed earlier this year against Monrovia. The staff report recommends repealing the restrictions or "face potential litigation." https://goo.gl/8YhMEX

~ Consider appointing Ted Goldbeck as the Old Town Merchant Film Liaison until Sept. 30, 2018. Goldbeck is employed by Movie Studio Grill, the new owner of the Krikorian Theater and his task would be "representing the interest of all Old Town merchants during filming. It is an unpaid position. https://goo.gl/rD78kU

- Brad Haugaard

Lunch at Chipotle

Lunch at Chipotle, on Huntington next to Chili's. Though I'm not a vegetarian I got the sofritas (tofu) burrito ($6.70) with guacamole ($1.99 extra) and an iced tea for $1.90. Despite being vegetarian it was yummy (I took a couple bites so you can see).  And all the packaging has entertaining nonsense written on it: "With great tofu comes great responsibility."


- Brad Haugaard 

KGEM Executive Director Resigns 'Effective Immediately'

In a letter, KGEM board member Rena Delgado writes: "[B]e advised that our executive director Lance Mungia tendered his resignation on Sept. 12, 2017 effective immediately." 

No reason for the resignation was given. https://goo.gl/yEFEKb

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Persistent Burglar; Quick Recovery of Truck, But It Crashed; Four Tires Stolen From Truck; Etc.

Link to Blogger

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for September 11-13. - Brad Haugaard]

During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 407 service events, resulting in 85 investigations.

Burglary
September 12 at 10:32 a.m., a burglary was reported at a business in the 100 block of Melrose. An employee that was recently fired had entered the location on two occasions and had stolen petty cash. The suspect was able to enter the business because he knew the combination to the lock on the door. On September 7, he attempted to enter the business again, but the combination had been changed. The suspect then used a hammer to break the lock to gain entry to the business and stole cash. The investigation is continuing.

Petty Theft – Suspect Arrested
September 12 at 12:04 p.m., an officer was dispatched to a business in the 400 block of W. Huntington. The suspect was in the business around closing time and took an employee’s purse from a chair, undetected. He was seen on video surveillance stealing the purse. The following day, he returned to the business and was recognized by employees, who then called police. An officer responded and detained the suspect. He was arrested for the petty theft.

Fraudulent Use of Access Cards / Possession of Stolen Property / Identity Theft / Possession of Forged Identification Card / Unlicensed Driver – Suspect Arrested
September 12 at 1:48 p.m., officers responded to a business in the 600 block of W. Huntington regarding the theft of credit cards. The suspect had just stolen the credit cards at a restaurant. He then went directly into a business nearby and purchased expensive electronics. Officers arrived, detained the suspect, and located the merchandise in the suspect’s vehicle. He was still in possession of the victim’s credit cards and was found to be unlicensed. He also had a fraudulent social security card in his possession. The suspect was arrested and taken into custody.

Grand Theft Auto – Suspect Arrested
September 12 at 6:22 p.m., a resident from the 100 block of W. Central came to the police station to report his Toyota pickup had been stolen from in front of his residence. While the officer was speaking to the victim, police dispatch received a call from the California Highway Patrol advising they had located the vehicle. They had attempted a traffic stop on the vehicle and a pursuit ensued which ended in a traffic collision in San Bernardino. The driver was arrested after the collision.

Vehicle Burglary
September 13 at 9:24 a.m., a vehicle burglary was reported in the 500 block of W. Walnut. The victim parked her vehicle overnight in front of her residence. Sometime during the night, an unknown suspect used a pry tool to gain entry and stole money and medicine from the vehicle. The investigation is continuing.

Grand Theft
September 13 at 9:41 a.m., an officer was dispatched to a business in the 1600 block of S. Magnolia. The suspect entered a secured lot and stole four tires and rims from a truck, and eight hub caps from several vans. The investigation is continuing.

Possession of Drug Paraphernalia – Suspect Arrested
September 14 at 1:02 a.m., a suspicious vehicle was reported in the 100 block of W. Walnut. The occupants were reportedly involved in drug activity. Officers were dispatched to the location and contacted the subjects. After investigation, one of the subjects was arrested for possession of drug paraphernalia. 

Legislature to Require Community Colleges to Grant Degrees to Qualified Students, Notify Students, Keep Records

Senate Bill 478, authored by State Senator Anthony  Portantino, who represents Monrovia, has passed the State Legislature and is heading to the governor's desk.

According to the Legislative Council, "This bill would require the governing board of each community college district to direct the appropriate officials at their respective campuses to (1) identify those students who have completed an associate degree for transfer, (2) notify those students of their completion of the degree requirements, (3) automatically award the student with the degree, and (4) add the student to an identification system at the end of each academic year that the Office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges shall maintain and that can be accessed electronically by the California State University and the University of California." https://goo.gl/9WKZW4

Comment: I certainly approve of this, but as I've commented before, it is a really annoying to find that it takes an act of the legislature, signed by the governor, to get government agencies to perform what should be their core functions.

Source: Portantino press release, California Legislative Information

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Looking for Youth Commissioner; Film Liaison; Youth Sports; Library Activities

In his weekly update (https://goo.gl/aOqX7O), City Manager Oliver Chi reports ...

~ Monrovia Public Services Department is accepting applications for the Youth Commission for the 2017-2018 school year from teens between grades 6 and 12. For information contact the Monrovia Community Center at 256-8246. Register here: https://goo.gl/sKt6U2

~ The Monrovia Old Town Advisory Board is recommending Ted Goldbeck, General Manager of the new Movie Studio Grill theater in Old Town, as the Old Town Merchant Film Liaison.

~ Monrovia's Youth Sports Program is offering flag football and cheerleading for youth in the fourth and fifth grade who attend Bradoaks, Mayflower, Monroe, Plymouth, and Wild Rose elementary schools. The fee is $35 per participant with a maximum of 25 participates per team. https://goo.gl/rRC8Hn

~ Pro-Active Tutoring will provide free, pre-screened tutors to assist students from Kindergarten to eighth grade in subjects such as reading, language arts, and math in the Library's Storytime Room starting Sept. 18 - Every Monday and Tuesday during the school year from 4-5 p.m.

~ Kids can learn how a 3D printer works, how to create simple designs on the computer and get them ready for the printer during Maker Day in the Story Room at the Library on Saturday, Sept. 23, 12:30 - 2:30 p.m. Register here:  https://goo.gl/R3H9Yf

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police Report on Driver Checkpoint

On Friday, Sept. 8, the Monrovia Police Department conducted a DUI/Driver's License Checkpoint in the 200 block of east Huntington Drive, from 8:30 p.m. to 3 a.m. 459 vehicles entered the checkpoint and drivers were evaluated for alcohol/drug impairment and driver's license checks.

Two suspects were arrested for driving under the influence, five drivers were issued citations for driving unlicensed, and one driver was issued a citation for driving on a suspended license.

The Monrovia Police Department reminds everyone how dangerous and prevalent drunk driving is. Be safe, plan ahead, and designate a sober driver.

These enforcement efforts were funded by a grant from the State of California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Remember, everyone is encouraged to do your part to keep our roadways safe; Report Drunk Drivers - CALL 911.

Source: Monrovia Police press release

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police Prevent Possible Suicide; 459 Drivers Inspected at Checkpoint; Lots of Drunks; Domestic Violence

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

Following are the weekend’s highlighted issues and events.

Possible Suicide Attempt / Mental Evaluation
September 7 at 5:31 p.m., officers responded to a hotel in the 900 block of W. Huntington Drive on the report of a male adult hanging off the roof top. Several calls were received reporting the incident. When officers arrived, they located the subject on the roof. He had moved away from the ledge and he was detained by the officers. He made statements that were consistent with suicide and he was under the influence of a controlled substance. He was placed on a mental hold and taken to a local hospital for treatment.

Public Intoxication – Suspect Arrested
September 7 at 10:20 p.m., an officer was dispatched to a business parking lot in the 400 block of W. Foothill. A subject was parked in front of the business and was unresponsive. Officers arrived and discovered the subject was intoxicated and had passed out. Officers woke the subject and determined he was too intoxicated to care for his own safety. The vehicle he was seated in was not running and he was not seen driving the vehicle to the location. He was arrested for public intoxication and held or a sobering period.

DUI/Driver’s License Checkpoint
On September 8, the Monrovia Police Department conducted a DUI/driver’s license checkpoint in the 200 block of E. Huntington Drive. A total of 459 vehicles entered the checkpoint and the drivers were evaluated. 25 drivers were sent to secondary inspection. After secondary inspection, five drivers were issued citations for being unlicensed or having an expired license, one driver was cited for having a suspended license, three standardized field sobriety tests were completed, and two drivers were arrested for DUI/Drugs. This detail was a great success and was funded by a grant from the State of California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
September 8 at 7:46 p.m., a possible drunk driver was reported swerving on the eastbound 210 Freeway and exiting at Myrtle Avenue. An officer responded and located the vehicle. The officer observed the vehicle commit a vehicle code violation and conducted a traffic stop and contacted the driver. The investigation revealed the driver was too intoxicated to operate a motor vehicle. He was arrested, held for a sobering period, and later released with a citation to appear in court.

Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
September 8 at 11:04 p.m., an officer observed a driver make an unsafe turning movement in an attempt to avoid a DUI Checkpoint in the 300 block of E. Huntington. The officer made a traffic stop and contacted the driver, who displayed symptoms of intoxication. The investigation revealed the driver was in fact intoxicated. The suspect was arrested for DUI and held for a sobering period. The suspect was later released with a citation to appear in court on the charges.

Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
September 9 at 2:47 a.m., an officer observed a vehicle in the 3300 block of Peck Road driving with no headlights. The vehicle was stopped and the investigation revealed the driver was intoxicated. The suspect was arrested and held for a sobering period. He was later released with a citation to appear in court on the charges.

Domestic Violence – Suspect Arrested
September 9 at 12:57 p.m., officers responded to a residence in the 900 block of W. Olive Avenue on the report of a domestic violence incident. A male subject was heard yelling at his spouse that he was going to kill her. Officers arrived on scene and spoke to a married couple. Both subjects admitted to a verbal argument that ended with the male subject pulling the female off of a sofa and onto the floor. The female did not want prosecution, but because of the statements heard by an independent witness reporting the male suspect had threatened to kill the female victim, the male suspect was arrested for the domestic violence.

Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
September 10 at 2:51 a.m., police dispatch received a call reporting two subjects passed out in a vehicle in the drive-thru of a fast food restaurant in the 100 block of W. Foothill. Officers responded and contacted the occupants, who both displayed symptoms of intoxication. The investigation revealed the driver had been driving under the influence. He was arrested and held for a sobering period. He was later released with a citation to appear in court.

Rollover Traffic Collision
September 10 at 11:20 a.m., a traffic collision was reported at Palm and Primrose. A vehicle heading west on Palm ran the stop sign and collided into a vehicle that was traveling south on Primrose. The vehicle traveling on Primrose overturned, however the solo occupant did not suffer any injuries. 

Monrovia Area Partnership Helps Fix a Front Yard

Monrovia Area Partnership (MAP) stepped in to fix the front yard of a Monrovia home. https://goo.gl/bWKP52

- Brad Haugaard

Got An Idea How to Repaint an Electrical Box?

You may have noticed many of the electrical boxes around Monrovia have been painted with murals. However, there are still boxes painted the old gray color. If you have an idea for what could be painted on one of these boxes, contact Diane Delmatoff at the city. She's at 932-5531.

- Brad Haugaard

Immigration Workshop at Monrovia High

There will be a workshop Wednesday, Sept. 13 at 6 p.m. in room 210 at Monrovia High School to provide information about the decision to rescind the federal immigration policy called DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals). Information about deadlines, free clinics, renewal costs, attorneys. For more information call 494-0409 or email sram12611@gmail.com.

- Brad Haugaard