St. Luke Church Will Bless Animals

On Sunday, October 8, St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Monrovia will celebrate the Blessing of the Animals on the Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi. The church invites everyone to bring their pets to the 10 a.m. service.

Attendees are also invited to bring a stuffed animal to donate to the Martin Luther King Jr. Pediatric Hub, an LA County center that provides medical and mental health care to children exposed to violence.

- Brad Haugaard

Dinner at Copper Still Grill

Dinner at the new Copper Still Grill, on the east side of Myrtle just south of Colorado.  They're still on their "soft opening" menu, but that will be expanded soon. It's a sports bar with a large open area with a large, square bar overhung with TV sets in the middle and minimalist metal artwork on the walls. Got the Hickory BBQ Burger for $11 with garlic fries for $1.50,  and a beer for $4.50, Tasty and filling. 

- Brad Haugaard 

Monrovia Police: Escapee Child - Sitter Arrested; Bad Dog; Spare Tires Swiped; Packages Stolen; Etc.

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for September 25-27. - Brad Haugaard]

During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 432 service events, resulting in 90 investigations.

Grand Theft
September 25 at 10:55 a.m., a grand theft was reported in the 1100 block of S. Fifth Avenue. Electronics and building materials were taken from a construction site. The theft occurred sometime after 12:00 noon on September 22. The investigation is continuing.

Residential Burglary
September 25 at 7:07 p.m., an officer was dispatched to a residence in the 500 block of Parker. The victims returned home from work and found their home had been ransacked. Entry was made through a rear sliding door. The total loss is unknown until inventory can be taken by the homeowner. The investigation is continuing.

Warrant – Suspect Arrested
September 26 at 3:35 a.m., an officer contacted two suspicious subjects in the 1100 block of Alta Vista. A computer check revealed one of the subjects had two warrants for his arrest. A search incident to the arrest was conducted and evidence from a recent grand theft auto case was discovered. The subject was arrested for the warrants and the grand theft auto case is continuing.

Vehicle Burglary
September 26 at 8:20 a.m., a vehicle burglary was reported in the 700 block of W. Foothill. The suspect broke the driver-side window of the vehicle and took a backpack and headphones that were left inside. The investigation is continuing.

Theft From a Vehicle
September 26 at 12:42 p.m., an employee at a business in the 3300 block of S. Peck Road called police to report a theft from his vehicle. The vehicle was left unlocked and the suspect reached in through an open window and stole a wallet containing the victim’s driver’s license, ATM card and a backpack containing books. The investigation is continuing.

Critical Missing Located / Felony Child Endangerment – Suspect Arrested
September 26 at 1:38 p.m., a 20-month-old child was reported missing to police. An adult female subject was babysitting the child. She drove to the 100 block of N. Mayflower and parked her vehicle on the street. She left the child inside the vehicle with the ignition running, air-conditioning on and the windows rolled up. She proceeded to a back house on the property and spoke to the property manager for several minutes before returning to her vehicle to find the child was gone. She then drove to the police department to inquire if someone had found the child. Officers immediately began a search for the child and within a couple of minutes, police dispatch received a call from the property manager, reporting she had found the child. The child had unbuckled the child safety seat, exited the vehicle and walked to the property, where she was eventually found. The child’s mother was notified and she responded to take custody of the child. The babysitter was arrested for felony child endangerment.

Vehicle Burglary
September 26 at 8:05 p.m., three vehicles were reported broken into in the 800 block of W. Foothill. Miscellaneous items were taken. The investigation is continuing. 

Traffic Collision / Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested 

September 27 at 2:06 a.m., an officer responded to a traffic collision at Mountain and Foothill. A vehicle was traveling north on Mountain, failed to stop at the stop sign at Foothill and collided with several parked cars. The driver was not injured and through further investigation was determined to be driving under the influence of alcohol. The driver was arrested and taken into custody.

Aggressive Dog Impounded
September 27 at 7:43 a.m., police responded to the report of an aggressive dog attacking another dog and a female subject in the 300 block of W. Palm. The female subject was passing by and attempted to separate the dogs. She was bit on the arm by the aggressive dog. The Pasadena Humane Society was notified and the dog was impounded. The dog that was attacked was taken to a veterinarian for treatment. The passerby was not injured badly and refused medical treatment.

Shoplifting – Suspect Arrested
September 27 at 12:21 p.m., loss prevention from a business in the 1600 block of S. Mountain called police to report a suspect that had stolen merchandise from the store earlier that day and was now back in the store. The suspect was now attempting to return the stolen merchandise for a cash refund. An officer responded and the suspect was arrested. He was brought to the station, where he was booked and later released with a citation to appear in court on the charges.

Theft
September 27 at 4:11 p.m., a theft was reported at a business in the 1600 block of Magnolia. The business houses vehicles at the location and unknown suspect(s) stole four spare tires from the vehicles sometime during the evening hours. The investigation is continuing.

Warrant – Suspect Arrested
September 27 at 4:13 p.m., police dispatch received a call reporting a female subject yelling and causing a disturbance at the intersection of Greystone and Shamrock. Officers arrived and located the subject. A computer check revealed she had an outstanding warrants for her arrest and she was arrested without incident.

Theft of Packages
September 27 at approximately 8:00 p.m., two separate victims reported packages that were stolen from their porches. The two incidents occurred in the 400 block of Concord and the 400 block of Bradbury. The possible suspect vehicle in both cases is described as a gold color sedan. The investigations are continuing. 

Sidewalk Art from Monrovia Public Works

As sort of an art project, the Monrovia Public Works Department has begun stamping messages into new sections of sidewalk, such as the one above - next to the Monrovia Historical Museum in Recreation Park - but is trying to think of a cool name for this art project. If you have any ideas, send them to  planning@ci.monrovia.ca.us. https://goo.gl/Rb8xqX

- Brad Haugaard

Athens Will Try to Foil Trash-Eating Bears; Monrovia's Ticked-Off Cities Coalition Growing; Hayrides in Old Town; Etc.

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

~ Athens will be experimenting with a way of picking up trash that should hopefully foil garbage scavenging bears.  Currently, residents living north of Hillcrest Boulevard have their trash picked up in the afternoon, which means  trash cans being left outside for the better part of the day, giving bears more time to access them. So, for October, Athens will be picking up the trash for everyone living north of Foothill Boulevard first thing in the morning, targeting the time between 7 to 9 a.m. If it works it may be permanent. Questions: contact Alex Tachiki at 932-5553 or atachiki@ci.monrovia.ca.us.

~ Monrovia's fast-growing Taking Back Our Community coalition now has a website (https://goo.gl/2sL3YG) with a video. The coalition "is quickly growing to include many cities in our region, as the response to the initiative 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." Basically, this is a coalition of ticked off cities that want Sacramento to change recent laws that they believe have contributed to a big jump in crime.

~ There will be  horse-drawn hayrides in Old Town in conjunction with the Annual Celebrate the Arts Show and Chalkfest on Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 7-8, in Library Park. Rides begin on Myrtle Avenue (east side of Library Park) from 2-6 p.m. Cost is $2 per person on a first-come, first-served basis, and is sponsored by the Monrovia Old Town Merchants.

~ LA County has completed synchronizing the traffic signals along Foothill Boulevard from the western edge of Pasadena to Shamrock Avenue in Monrovia. If you discover problems, let the city know.

~  A Taste of Old Town Monrovia is set for October 15, 5-8 p.m. The event showcases Old Town merchants and restaurants, and allows you to sample a variety of foods and beverages. Tickets here: https://goo.gl/qj9125

~ There will be a Community Meeting on Thursday, Oct. 5, at 7 p.m., at the Monrovia Community Center to discuss the current Monrovia Renewal construction west of Myrtle Avenue to the city limits and between Colorado and Hillcrest.

- Brad Haugaard

'All Souls' Eve' Concert Set for October 28

The San Gabriel Valley Choral Company will present "All Souls' Eve," a concert with soloists and full choir with selections from Mozart's Requiem, Lauridsen's Lux Aeterna, and more. Tickets are now available for $5 to $20. The concert will be at The Parish of Saint Luke the Physician, 122  S. California Ave., on Saturday, October 28, at 7:30 p.m. More information at www.sgvccsingers.org or by calling 818-802-9602.

This will be the first full performance conducted by Artistic Director, Dr. Alexandra Grabarchuk. Dr. Grabarchuk is a Ukrainian-born musicologist and conductor with a PhD from the UCLA Department of Musicology. She also conducts and organizes the Contemporary Choral Collective of Los Angeles, and is a mezzo-soprano soloist with a wide variety of musical interests ranging from Renaissance polyphony to traditional Balkan singing. She teaches at Scripps College, Chaffey College, and Chapman University, and works as a score reader for the Metropolitan Opera.

- Brad Haugaard

Meeting on Homelessness, Upcoming Laws, Water Rate Increase, Etc.

On Saturday, Oct. 14, from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m., in the Library Community Room there will be a report on Monrovia's homeless situation, an update on new laws that are going into effect in January and will affect Monrovia, information about the pending water rate increase, and what 2018 holds for the Monrovia Area Partnership (MAP). For any questions and to RSVP, call Ariel Tolefree-Williams at 932-5563 or email at atolefree@ci.monrovia.ca.us. https://goo.gl/dXkRHD

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Thefts From Cars; Thefts of Cars; Punching Car Window; Thief Steals Wrong Truck; Etc.

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for September 21-24. - Brad Haugaard]

Following are the weekend’s highlighted issues and events.

Vehicle Burglary
September 21 at 10:08 p.m., a vehicle burglary was reported in the 1600 of S. Mountain. The victim reported the passenger side window was shattered and an iMac Laptop Computer along with two backpacks were stolen. The investigation is continuing.

Warrant – Suspect Arrested
September 21 at 11:18 p.m., an officer on patrol in the 700 block of E. Huntington conducted a traffic stop for a vehicle code violation. A computer check revealed the subject had an outstanding warrant. The suspect was arrested and taken into custody.

Burglary
September 22 at 7:16 a.m., a vehicle burglary was reported in the 700 block of E. Huntington. The victim parked and locked his vehicle and when he returned, he realized his vehicle had been broken into and his briefcase was taken. Both rear windows were shattered. The investigation is continuing.

Grand Theft Auto
September 22 at 11:12 a.m., a vehicle was reported stolen in the 600 block of W. Lime. The victim’s light green Vespa LX150 was taken from her driveway. All keys are accounted for and an investigation is continuing.

Warrant – Suspect Arrested
September 22 at 1:19 p.m., officers were dispatched to the 900 block of S. Fifth on the report of a male and female arguing. A caller advised the male subject was hitting a vehicle in the parking lot. Officers arrived and spoke with both parties who are in a romantic relationship and were having a verbal argument. The male subject became frustrated and punched the window to the girlfriend's vehicle. The female did not desire prosecution. Further investigation revealed the male subject had warrants. The male subject was arrested for the warrants.

Burglary
September 22 at 5:32 p.m., a vehicle burglary was reported in the 200 block of Fowler Dr. The victim parked and locked his vehicle. When he returned, he noticed his backpack containing his camera and other miscellaneous items was taken. There were no signs of forced entry. The investigation is continuing.

Warrant Arrest – Suspect Arrested
September 22 at 7:40 p.m., an officer was on patrol in the 500 block of S. Bradbury and recognized a subject who had an outstanding warrant. The officer made contact with the subject, confirmed the warrant, and took her into custody.

Domestic Violence – Suspect Arrested
September 23 at 12:40 a.m., a domestic violence incident was reported in the 100 block of W. Colorado. The victim reported he was battered by his spouse. Further investigation revealed a physical altercation between the couple took place and the victim sustained a visible injury to his neck. The suspect was arrested for domestic violence.

Warrant Arrest – Suspect Arrested
September 23 at 12:52 a.m., an officer on patrol in the 200 block of W. Huntington recognized the suspect who had an outstanding warrant for her arrest. The officer contacted the subject and confirmed the warrant. The subject was arrested and taken into custody.

Warrant Arrest- Suspect Arrested
September 23 at 1:03 a.m., an officer on patrol in the 700 block of S. Primrose conducted a traffic stop on a subject on a bicycle known to have an outstanding warrant. The officer contacted the suspect, confirmed the warrant and took him into custody.

Warrant Arrest – Suspect Arrested
September 23 at 1:52 a.m., an officer noticed a suspicious subject in the 700 block of W. Huntington under the 210 freeway overpass. The officer made contact with the subject and a computer check revealed the subject had two outstanding warrants for his arrest. He was arrested and taken into custody.

Possession of a Controlled Substance / Possession of Drug Paraphernalia – Suspect Arrested
September 23 at 3:19 a.m., an officer conducted a traffic stop for a vehicle code violation in the 500 block of S. Ivy. Further investigation revealed the driver was in possession of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia. The suspect was arrested and taken into custody.

Warrant – Suspect Arrested
September 23 at 10:05 a.m., officers responded to the report of a suspicious subject in the area of Myrtle and Lemon. When the officers arrived the subject began swearing at the officers and acting erratically. The subject ran and the officers pursued the subject on foot thinking he was possibly on a controlled substance, or a danger to himself or others. The subject was detained and further investigation revealed the subject had several warrants. The subject was arrested.

Petty Theft – Suspect Arrested
September 23 at 1:45 p.m., a loss prevention employee at a business in the 100 block of W. Foothill called to report a male subject was seen placing items inside a bag inside the store. The male subject had left the store without paying for the items in the bag. The employee told us about a vehicle that was waiting in the parking lot and that the subject was now in the vehicle. Officers located the vehicle and the subjects were arrested and taken into custody.

Grand Theft Auto – Suspect Arrested
September 23 at 8:28 p.m., a vehicle was reported stolen in the 1400 block of S. Shamrock. A car salesman was showing a vehicle to a male subject who posed as being interested in purchasing a truck. The suspect asked to hear the engine and suddenly got behind the wheel and fled in the vehicle. An anti-theft device was activated and the vehicle was tracked. With the assistance of other police departments the vehicle was located and the suspect was taken into custody.

Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol / Traffic Collision – Suspect Arrested
September 23 at 10:21 p.m., officers responded to a report of a traffic collision in the 1600 block of S. Myrtle. Two vehicles were involved in a non-injury traffic collision. Officers arrived and further investigation revealed the driver was too intoxicated to drive a motor vehicle. The suspect was arrested and taken into custody.

Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol – Suspect Arrested
September 24 at 8:55 p.m., officers responded to the report of a vehicle striking a pole in the area of Mayflower and Hillcrest. The vehicle left the area but was located a short distance away. The investigation revealed the driver was under the influence of alcohol. The suspect was arrested and taken into custody. 

Monrovia Sidewalk Astronomers on Saturday Night

Monrovia's Old Town Sidewalk Astronomers will be out at Monrovia's Library Park on Saturday, Sept. 30 from about 7:30 - 9:30 p.m., weather permitting. The members set up telescopes and let people look at the moon or whatever is visible. Fun!

- Brad Haugaard

Lunch at Panera Bread

Lunch at Panera Bread, on Huntington. Got the Pick Two, Half a Chipotle Chicken Avocado Sandwich for $5.69 and a cup of Autumn Squash soup for $4.39 and a small coffee for $1.99. Tasty.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Pavillions Is Re-Becoming Vons

If you have lived in Monrovia for a while this image may look familiar, and you will see it again. The Pavillions at Myrtle and Foothill is re-becoming Vons. The city Community Development department says "you'll probably see some lower prices." https://goo.gl/U5gSge

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Three Attempts to Steal Auto Fail; Suspect Arrested at Police Station; Officer Prevents Suicide; Etc.

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for September 18-20. - Brad Haugaard]

During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 476 service events, resulting in 92 investigations.

Attempt Grand Theft Auto
September 18 at 7:07 a.m., an attempt grand theft auto was reported in the 800 block of W. Duarte. The victim parked his 1994 Honda Accord overnight in his carport. In the morning, he found the driver’s door ajar and the wiring under the driver-side dash hanging loose. There was a shaved key on the floorboard and the vehicles hood was open. It appears someone attempted to steal his vehicle by using a shaved key, which did not work. The suspect then attempted to hot wire the vehicle, but was unsuccessful. He then tried to hot wire the vehicle directly from the engine, but did not succeed. The victim had installed a kill switch when one of his neighbors had his Honda stolen a few weeks prior. The investigation is continuing.

Under the Influence of a Controlled Substance / Possession of a Controlled Substance / Possession of Drug Paraphernalia – Suspects Arrested
September 18 at 12:41 p.m., a parking control officer was on patrol in the 1900 block of S. Peck Road when she saw a vehicle parked in a no-parking area. She saw a female exit the car wearing a t-shirt and underwear. She called for an officer to respond and the investigation resulted in both the male and female being arrested. The suspects were found to be in possession of drugs and drug paraphernalia. The female was found to be under the influence of a controlled substance and was in possession of stolen property.

Armed Robbery – Suspects Arrested
September 18 at 10:43 p.m., the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department called to advise that one of their patrol units had contacted two subjects that stated they had been robbed in Monrovia. An officer was dispatched and contacted the victims. The victims stated they heard about a party in the 200 block of E. Cherry through social media. They arrived at the location and entered the driveway of the residence, where they were confronted by two suspects, one of them armed, and were robbed of their belongings. At 2:50 a.m., an officer conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle that was driving recklessly in the area of Gladys and Colorado. A computer check revealed the driver had a suspended driver’s license. Officers recovered a small Airsoft handgun and a sweatshirt from the vehicle. These items fit the description of items used in the robbery on Cherry that occurred earlier in the evening. Through a photo line-up, the victim identified the suspect as one of the persons who robbed him. While the suspect was being interviewed, the victim came to the police lobby to inquire about the progress of the investigation. While in the lobby, the victim saw the second suspect who was involved in the robbery. The victim immediately informed a police employee and the second suspect was detained in the lobby. The second suspect had come to the station because he heard his friend was arrested. Both suspects were arrested.

Stolen Vehicle Recovered
September 19 at 2:17 a.m., an officer was on patrol in the 600 block of W. Huntington and discovered an abandoned vehicle in a business parking lot. A computer check revealed the vehicle had been reported stolen to the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department. The vehicle was recovered and the agency was notified.

Warrant – Suspect Arrested
September 19 at 7:58 a.m., officers were dispatched to the 500 block of N. Alta Vista on the report of a suspicious vehicle in the area. The officer arrived and located the vehicle. The officer made contact with driver and a computer check revealed an outstanding warrant. The driver was arrested for the warrant.

Residential Burglary
September 19 at 8:00 a.m., a burglary was reported at a residence in the 100 block of N. Garfield. The house is under construction and the suspect entered the house through a window. Numerous tools were stolen from the residence. The investigation is continuing.

Shoplifting
September 19 at 9:42 a.m., a business in the 1600 block of S. Mountain called police to report a theft in progress at the location. The suspect took numerous tools and other merchandise to the garden department of the store and pushed the items under the fence. Loss prevention officers were following him inside the store. Officers arrived at the location and when the suspect went outside the store to retrieve the items, he was arrested.

Outside Assist – California Highway Patrol
September 20 at 2:27 a.m., a caller reported a subject standing on the freeway overpass that appeared as if he was going to jump. Officers arrived and saw the subject standing on the outside of the railing. One of the officers tried talking the subject off the overpass. The subject said he wanted to kill himself and then closed his eyes. The officer saw an opportunity and quickly pulled the subject to safety. The California Highway Patrol arrived on scene and took over the investigation.

Attempt Burglary
September 20 at 8:49 a.m., officers responded to a residence in the 500 block of N. Alta Vista regarding the report of glass found on the ground under a window. It appears someone attempted to enter the home through the window, but was not successful. An interior check was done and it appears the suspects did not enter the residence. The investigation is continuing.

Domestic Violence – Suspect Arrested
September 20 at 7:35 p.m., officers were dispatched to a residence in the 500 block of E. Olive on the report of a domestic violence incident. The suspect had fled the location on foot. The victim reported that her husband had hit her head into a wall several times. Officers located the suspect in the area and he was arrested without incident.

Warrant – Suspect Arrested
September 20 at 11:08 p.m., security at a business in the 500 block of W. Huntington called police to report a subject sleeping in a vehicle at the location. Officers made contact with the subject and it was discovered he had a no-bail felony warrant for his arrest. He was arrested and taken into custody.

Grand Theft
September 21 at 1:11 a.m., a grand theft was reported at a hotel in the 900 block of S. Fifth Avenue. The victim called and reported two computers were stolen from his hotel room. The investigation is continuing. 

Friends of Monrovia Library Book Sale Oct. 7-8

The Friends of the Monrovia Public Library will hold a sale of donated books and media on Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 7-8, at the Monrovia Library. "Come early if you're interested in children's books. They go quickly. On Saturday there will be a "close out sale" - $5 for your selections that fit in a grocery-sized bag. We'll have bags for you to purchase." https://goo.gl/orgVCA

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Historical Museum Invites Community to Celebrate Its 25th Anniversary

Celebrate "bringing Monrovia's history to life" at the Monrovia Historical Museum as the community celebrates the opening of the Museum 25 years ago. The event will take place on Sunday, Oct. 1, with an open house from 1 to 4 p.m., which will include tours of the Museum; and a recognition program at 2 p.m., to highlight the Museum's founding. The event is free and open to the public.

The Museum is located at 742 E. Lemon, Monrovia.

In 1986, three years after the closure of the Monrovia Municipal Plunge, the City of Monrovia celebrated its centennial anniversary.  As an outgrowth of this celebration, a group of residents established The Monrovia Historical Museum Foundation (MHM) and worked with the City to occupy the Municipal Plunge building with plans for an historic museum.  The MHM qualified for a $50,000 California State Grant that enabled the Foundation to renovate of the building, while retaining important architectural features of the original building.

The Museum has 8,000 square feet of indoor space includes displays that depict the founding of Monrovia and what life was like in the growing city, as well as a exhibits covering the local Native American groups, natural history, Monrovia's part through the World Wars and much more.

The Monrovia Historical Museum is a place for all people of all ages to experience history as both a spectator and as a participant in our goal of "bringing Monrovia's history to life".

Source: Monrovia Historical Museum press release

- Brad Haugaard

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