"Ireland's Celtic Songbird," Chloë Agnew, a founding member of Celtic Women, will join special guest Dermot Kiernan to present Chloë's Christmas, a holiday concert, on Friday, Dec. 1, at St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Monrovia. Tickets to the 7:30 p.m. concert may be ordered at ticketleap.com for $20 plus $2 handling.
Chloë Agnew appeared in the PBS special Celtic Woman at fourteen and the US response led to a debut album that remained on the Billboard World Music Chart for 81 weeks. The group's next two albums went on to hold the top three positions on the chart. Agnew was named 2012 Female Vocalist of the Year at the Irish Music Awards. The following year, she moved to Los Angeles to launch a solo career. She has toured internationally with some of America's most distinguished orchestras.
Dermot Kiernan has toured extensively with Dublin's Pro Cathedral and Christchurch Cathedral Choirs, appearing as a soloist for their recordings and concerts worldwide. In 2009, he joined The Celtic Woman Aontas Choir and toured with it across the globe. He was later named its choir leader/director. Now based in Los Angeles, he performs, directs and teaches across the country.
- Brad Haugaard
Mayor Tom Adams: Monrovia Faces a Serious Struggle
The Monrovia City Council tonight approved a series of measures, including a big bond measure, (see here for details: https://goo.gl/Hvp1se) to prevent the city from going bankrupt over the next few years from increases in pension costs.
Mayor Tom Adams said, “Monrovia will be okay, but, boy! it’ll be a struggle.” But neither he or City Manager Oliver Chi was optimistic about the fate of many other cities and government agencies throughout the state, saying there will likely be “a lot of bankruptcies.”
Chi and Adams blamed the state for changes it made during the Gray Davis administration that increased costs for its CalPERS retirement program. Chi added that some cities have already been tracking and dealing with these liabilities and he proposed that Monrovia's city staff be required in the future to inform the council of any new liabilities that will - likely - come along.
Chi is recommending buying a bond to cover the shortfall (total unfunded pension liability is $112 million) because borrowing costs are at an historic low, currently in the 4 percent range.
- Brad Haugaard
Alan Sanvictores Sworn in as Monrovia’s Chief of Police
Tonight, before the city council, Captain Alan Sanvictores got a promotion as he was sworn in as Monrovia’s new chief of police. He promised to do “everything in his being” to serve the city.
- Brad Haugaard
Pension 'Tsunami' Coming to Monrovia; Water Rates Going Up; Smart Trash Cans Installed; Etc.
Bigbelly smart trash cans.
In his weekly update (https://goo.gl/aOqX7O), City Manager Oliver Chi reports that ...
~ A "pension cost tsunami" is coming that "will impact nearly every government agency in the State in the coming years" and "will become unsustainable for Monrovia within the next few years" and will render the city "insolvent in either FY 2021/22 or FY 2022/23." He said the city's plan "will stabilize pension costs and, he said, it is his "most sincere hope and belief" that it will address the immediate and long-term financial challenges "in such a way that we can avoid devastating operational, staffing, and budgetary cuts." More detail here: https://goo.gl/Hvp1se
~ Water rate increases are coming. Based on the proposed rate increase, the typical single-family residential water customer will see a monthly water bill increase of $17.08 in Calendar Year 2018 (effective March 8, 2018) and by fiscal year the increase will be around $37 more per month than it is now. All of these new costs are pass-through costs which will be paid to the San Gabriel Basin Watermaster and the Upper San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District.
~ Monrovia Fire Department will participate in the "Fill the Boot" fundraising campaign to fight muscular dystrophy on Wednesday, Nov. 15, from 9 a.m. to noon, at the corner of Mayflower Avenue and Huntington Drive.
~ Six new Bigbelly solar trash compactors have been installed at Library Park and along Myrtle in Old Town. These smart cans hold five times the capacity of a regular city trash can, they reduce the number of times staff has to empty a trash can, and can automatically notify staff when the can is filled and needs to be emptied.
~ Studio Movie Grill has begun a renovation that will include the installation of a full menu, bar, and in-theater waiters, upgrading its seats so that every patron will have a high-back recliner. To help this happen the city has issued Studio Movie Grill a permit to put up to two dumpsters on Lemon Avenue for no more than a month.
~ Applications for the Holiday Home Decorating Contest will be available beginning Monday, Nov. 20 at the Monrovia Community Center Applications are due by 5 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 11 and judging will take place on Monday, Dec. 18.
~ MADIA Tech Launch will host Randy Heyler, CEO of Ondax Incorporated, who will speak on how to build a start-up. It will focus on the laser industry, and Randy will share the lessons he learned in building the company over the last seven years. On Thursday, Nov. 9, 6:30 - 8 p.m. at
Tanner Research (825 S. Myrtle Ave., CA 91016). Cost: $10 if purchased by Nov. 8 at noon, Or $12 at the door. RSVP here: https://goo.gl/y2UMi5
- Brad Haugaard
Old Monrovia Train Station Taking Shape
Some nice pictures from Gem City Images showing improvements at the old Monrovia train station. https://goo.gl/y6d1M9
- Brad Haugaard
- Brad Haugaard
Hunter Charged With Illegally Killing Deer in Monrovia Neighborhood
A Duarte man was charged today in connection with the fatal shooting of a deer in Monrovia, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office announced.
Michael Jackson Rodriguez (dob 2/5/84) was charged in case GA102229 with one felony count of procuring and offering a false or forged instrument and one misdemeanor count each of discharge of a deadly weapon within 150 yards of an occupied dwelling, possession of wildlife taken unlawfully and shooting a bow and arrow within Monrovia.
He is expected to be arraigned Nov. 30 in Department D of the Los Angeles County Superior Court, Pasadena Branch.
Deputy District Attorney Richard Magleby of the Environmental Crimes Division is prosecuting the case.
Rodriguez is accused of fatally shooting a deer with a bow and arrow in a Monrovia neighborhood on Sept. 14. It is illegal to shoot a deer or discharge a deadly weapon within 150 yards of a home, the prosecutor said.
Two days later, Rodriguez filed false information about the incident with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
If convicted as charged, Rodriguez faces a possible maximum sentence of 3 ½ years in local custody.
The case remains under investigation by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Source: LA District Attorney Press release
- Brad Haugaard
Michael Jackson Rodriguez (dob 2/5/84) was charged in case GA102229 with one felony count of procuring and offering a false or forged instrument and one misdemeanor count each of discharge of a deadly weapon within 150 yards of an occupied dwelling, possession of wildlife taken unlawfully and shooting a bow and arrow within Monrovia.
He is expected to be arraigned Nov. 30 in Department D of the Los Angeles County Superior Court, Pasadena Branch.
Deputy District Attorney Richard Magleby of the Environmental Crimes Division is prosecuting the case.
Rodriguez is accused of fatally shooting a deer with a bow and arrow in a Monrovia neighborhood on Sept. 14. It is illegal to shoot a deer or discharge a deadly weapon within 150 yards of a home, the prosecutor said.
Two days later, Rodriguez filed false information about the incident with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
If convicted as charged, Rodriguez faces a possible maximum sentence of 3 ½ years in local custody.
The case remains under investigation by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Source: LA District Attorney Press release
- Brad Haugaard
Monrovia Police: Lots of Burglaries; Truck Stolen from Dealer; Thief Downstairs Steals Keys, Then Car; Man in Porsche Points Gun at Man; Etc.
[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for October 30 - November 5. - Brad Haugaard]
Following are the weekend’s highlighted issues and events.
Vehicle Vandalism
October 30 at 7:41 a.m., an officer responded to the 300 block of Heliotrope regarding the report of a vehicle vandalism. The vehicle was parked in the alley and sometime during the night, the passenger side window was broken out. Nothing was taken from the vehicle. Police received a second vehicle vandalism report in the 400 block of Greystone, where another vehicle had the driver-side door window broken out sometime during the night. It appears it was shot out with a BB gun or pellet. It is unknown if these two cases are related. The investigations are continuing.
Grand Theft Auto
October 30 at 11:48 a.m., a vehicle was reported stolen from a dealership in the 1400 block of S. Mountain. Employees arrived at work and discovered the vehicle was missing. The vehicle taken was a gray Ford F-150 truck. The investigation is continuing.
Burglary
October 30 at 5:32 p.m., officers responded to a hotel in the 900 block of S. Fifth Avenue regarding a burglary. Employees reported a male white subject, approximately 6 feet tall, large build, with a mustache, broke into the guest washing machines and stole money from them and fled. Officers conducted an area check for the suspect, but he was not located. The investigation is continuing.
Residential Burglary / Grand Theft Auto
October 30 at 10:55 p.m., a residential burglary was reported in the 2100 block of S. Myrtle. The residents at the location were awakened by noises in their home and the sound of the garage door opening. They went to the garage and discovered their 2017 Toyota Camry had been stolen. The suspect gained entry to the residence by breaking a window. The suspect located the car keys in the home and took the vehicle from the garage, all while the residents were upstairs. The residents heard the suspect in the home, but each one thought it was the other making the noise. The investigation is continuing.
Vehicle Burglary
October 31 at 6:50 a.m., a vehicle burglary was reported in the 200 block of E. Central. The victim parked the vehicle in front of her house in the evening. When she returned to the vehicle in the morning, she discovered the window of her car had been broken out and the door was open. The only thing missing was a makeup bag from the center console. The investigation is continuing.
Residential Burglary
October 31 at 6:22 p.m., a residential burglary was reported in the 1800 block of Estrella. The resident returned home and found her bedroom window was cracked open and her sliding door was ajar. The house had been ransacked and jewelry was missing. The investigation is continuing.
Brandishing a Firearm
November 1 at 1:40 a.m., officers responded to the area of Myrtle and Huntington regarding the report of a driver brandishing a firearm at another driver. The victim stated he was driving west on Huntington and stopped at a red light at Myrtle. He saw a Porsche Cayenne SUV pull up next to him. He saw the driver's window roll down and the driver/suspect pointed a gun at the victim. The suspect was talking, but the victim did not understand what he was saying. The suspect drove north on Myrtle and west on Maple. The investigation is continuing.
Commercial Burglaries
November 2 at 4:45 a.m., officers responded to an alarm activation at a business in the 100 block of S. Myrtle. They arrived and discovered the front windows had been shattered at three separate business locations. The investigation revealed all three locations had been burglarized. The businesses were searched, but no suspects were located. The investigations are continuing.
Commercial Burglary
November 2 at 6:43 a.m., a burglary was reported at a business in the 400 block of W. Foothill. The business was closed and had a broken glass window to the front. When officers arrived, they discovered someone had broken into the business. The cash register had been removed from the counter and was on the ground. No suspects were located and the investigation is continuing.
Residential Burglary
November 4 at 12:49 a.m., a residential burglary was reported in the 400 block of E. Olive. The resident returned home and saw that two laptop computers, several pieces of jewelry and two purses were missing. Officers arrived and conducted an investigation. The house was not ransacked and there were no signs of forced entry. The resident said she had made sure the residence was locked prior to leaving in the evening. The investigation is continuing.
Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
November 4 at 2:44 a.m., an officer conducted a traffic stop for a vehicle code violation and contacted the driver, who displayed signs of intoxication. A DUI investigation was completed and the subject was arrested, booked, and held for a sobering period.
Domestic Violence – Suspect Arrested
November 4 at 10:47 a.m., a domestic violence incident that occurred in the 700 block of W. Foothill was reported to police. The victim reported that a few days prior, her boyfriend physically attacked her. She stated that he tried to strangle her and then threatened to kill himself. He was holding a kitchen knife up against his neck. The victim had visible physical injuries. Officers responded and contacted the suspect, who had markings on his body consistent with the victim's statement of the physical altercation. The suspect was arrested for domestic violence and taken into custody. An Emergency Protective Order was issued and a firearm was removed from the residence for safekeeping. The suspect later bonded out of custody and the victim was notified.
Residential Burglary
November 4 at 3:03 p.m., a residential burglary was reported in the 300 block of Terrace View. Officers responded and found that a door window pane had been broken and it appears that the suspects made entry into the home. It is unknown yet if anything was taken. The electrical panel appeared to have been tampered with and the electricity had been shut off. An alarm panel inside of the residence also appeared to have been tampered with. The investigation is continuing.
Commercial Burglary
November 5 at 7:35 a.m., an officer responded to a construction site in the 700 block of E. Huntington regarding a theft of items from a trailer. Unknown suspects cut the padlock to the trailer and stole hand tools and a laptop computer. The investigation is continuing.
Driving Under the Influence / Traffic Collision – Suspect Arrested
November 6 at 12:43 a.m., officers responded to the report of a traffic collision at Magnolia and Lemon. Upon arrival, they discovered a solo vehicle had hit a parked car. The female driver appeared to be extremely intoxicated and had locked herself in her vehicle. After several minutes, she unlocked the doors to her vehicle. The officers determined that she was too impaired to drive a motor vehicle safely. She was arrested for DUI and taken into custody.
Following are the weekend’s highlighted issues and events.
Vehicle Vandalism
October 30 at 7:41 a.m., an officer responded to the 300 block of Heliotrope regarding the report of a vehicle vandalism. The vehicle was parked in the alley and sometime during the night, the passenger side window was broken out. Nothing was taken from the vehicle. Police received a second vehicle vandalism report in the 400 block of Greystone, where another vehicle had the driver-side door window broken out sometime during the night. It appears it was shot out with a BB gun or pellet. It is unknown if these two cases are related. The investigations are continuing.
Grand Theft Auto
October 30 at 11:48 a.m., a vehicle was reported stolen from a dealership in the 1400 block of S. Mountain. Employees arrived at work and discovered the vehicle was missing. The vehicle taken was a gray Ford F-150 truck. The investigation is continuing.
Burglary
October 30 at 5:32 p.m., officers responded to a hotel in the 900 block of S. Fifth Avenue regarding a burglary. Employees reported a male white subject, approximately 6 feet tall, large build, with a mustache, broke into the guest washing machines and stole money from them and fled. Officers conducted an area check for the suspect, but he was not located. The investigation is continuing.
Residential Burglary / Grand Theft Auto
October 30 at 10:55 p.m., a residential burglary was reported in the 2100 block of S. Myrtle. The residents at the location were awakened by noises in their home and the sound of the garage door opening. They went to the garage and discovered their 2017 Toyota Camry had been stolen. The suspect gained entry to the residence by breaking a window. The suspect located the car keys in the home and took the vehicle from the garage, all while the residents were upstairs. The residents heard the suspect in the home, but each one thought it was the other making the noise. The investigation is continuing.
Vehicle Burglary
October 31 at 6:50 a.m., a vehicle burglary was reported in the 200 block of E. Central. The victim parked the vehicle in front of her house in the evening. When she returned to the vehicle in the morning, she discovered the window of her car had been broken out and the door was open. The only thing missing was a makeup bag from the center console. The investigation is continuing.
Residential Burglary
October 31 at 6:22 p.m., a residential burglary was reported in the 1800 block of Estrella. The resident returned home and found her bedroom window was cracked open and her sliding door was ajar. The house had been ransacked and jewelry was missing. The investigation is continuing.
Brandishing a Firearm
November 1 at 1:40 a.m., officers responded to the area of Myrtle and Huntington regarding the report of a driver brandishing a firearm at another driver. The victim stated he was driving west on Huntington and stopped at a red light at Myrtle. He saw a Porsche Cayenne SUV pull up next to him. He saw the driver's window roll down and the driver/suspect pointed a gun at the victim. The suspect was talking, but the victim did not understand what he was saying. The suspect drove north on Myrtle and west on Maple. The investigation is continuing.
Commercial Burglaries
November 2 at 4:45 a.m., officers responded to an alarm activation at a business in the 100 block of S. Myrtle. They arrived and discovered the front windows had been shattered at three separate business locations. The investigation revealed all three locations had been burglarized. The businesses were searched, but no suspects were located. The investigations are continuing.
Commercial Burglary
November 2 at 6:43 a.m., a burglary was reported at a business in the 400 block of W. Foothill. The business was closed and had a broken glass window to the front. When officers arrived, they discovered someone had broken into the business. The cash register had been removed from the counter and was on the ground. No suspects were located and the investigation is continuing.
Residential Burglary
November 4 at 12:49 a.m., a residential burglary was reported in the 400 block of E. Olive. The resident returned home and saw that two laptop computers, several pieces of jewelry and two purses were missing. Officers arrived and conducted an investigation. The house was not ransacked and there were no signs of forced entry. The resident said she had made sure the residence was locked prior to leaving in the evening. The investigation is continuing.
Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
November 4 at 2:44 a.m., an officer conducted a traffic stop for a vehicle code violation and contacted the driver, who displayed signs of intoxication. A DUI investigation was completed and the subject was arrested, booked, and held for a sobering period.
Domestic Violence – Suspect Arrested
November 4 at 10:47 a.m., a domestic violence incident that occurred in the 700 block of W. Foothill was reported to police. The victim reported that a few days prior, her boyfriend physically attacked her. She stated that he tried to strangle her and then threatened to kill himself. He was holding a kitchen knife up against his neck. The victim had visible physical injuries. Officers responded and contacted the suspect, who had markings on his body consistent with the victim's statement of the physical altercation. The suspect was arrested for domestic violence and taken into custody. An Emergency Protective Order was issued and a firearm was removed from the residence for safekeeping. The suspect later bonded out of custody and the victim was notified.
Residential Burglary
November 4 at 3:03 p.m., a residential burglary was reported in the 300 block of Terrace View. Officers responded and found that a door window pane had been broken and it appears that the suspects made entry into the home. It is unknown yet if anything was taken. The electrical panel appeared to have been tampered with and the electricity had been shut off. An alarm panel inside of the residence also appeared to have been tampered with. The investigation is continuing.
Commercial Burglary
November 5 at 7:35 a.m., an officer responded to a construction site in the 700 block of E. Huntington regarding a theft of items from a trailer. Unknown suspects cut the padlock to the trailer and stole hand tools and a laptop computer. The investigation is continuing.
Driving Under the Influence / Traffic Collision – Suspect Arrested
November 6 at 12:43 a.m., officers responded to the report of a traffic collision at Magnolia and Lemon. Upon arrival, they discovered a solo vehicle had hit a parked car. The female driver appeared to be extremely intoxicated and had locked herself in her vehicle. After several minutes, she unlocked the doors to her vehicle. The officers determined that she was too impaired to drive a motor vehicle safely. She was arrested for DUI and taken into custody.
Monrovia Rotary Presents Retiring Police Chief Hunt With Its Highest Award
The Monrovia Rotary Club has presented retiring Monrovia Police Chief Jim Hunt with the highest award a Rotary Club can present, a Paul Harris Fellow Award, in recognition of his 27 years of service to the people of Monrovia. https://goo.gl/JYmtPL
- Brad Haugaard
- Brad Haugaard
City Council: Figuring Out How to Avoid Municipal Bankruptcy; Maybe a BIG Bond? Police Win Community Policing Award; Etc.
At its Nov. 7 meeting (agenda: https://goo.gl/13jymZ), the Monrovia City Council will ...
~ Try to figure out how the city can avoid avoid going broke. According to this report (https://goo.gl/E8qKbe) by City Manager Oliver Chi and Buffy Bullis, Administrative Services Director, "if we do nothing, current financial modeling indicates that the costs associated with the pending CalPERS UAL repayment schedule will strain our General Fund to the point of rendering the City insolvent in either FY 2021/22 or FY 2022/23."
So, how to avoid going broke? City staff proposes:
~ Authorize the issuance of a bond to pay off the unfunded liabilities noted in the previous item for (if my calculations are correct) $112.3 million. Actually, $12.6 million of this amount would not be additional debt since it would go to pay off an earlier bond. Comment: I find it really odd that the staff report (here: https://goo.gl/2o9sSm) recommends issuing the bond but does not give the total amount of the bond, so my calculation of $112.3 million is from the total amount of debt the report mentions.
~ Honor the Monrovia Police Department for winning the International Association of Chiefs of Police/Cisco Community Policing Award.
~ Swear in Alan Sanvictores as the new Monrovia police chief. This will happen at 6 p.m., before the regular meeting. https://goo.gl/5z1Jnf
~ Consider authorizing city staff to set a public hearing to consider water fee adjustments for January 16, 2018. Here's a rather exhaustive (exhausting?) discussion of the issue: https://goo.gl/28yMpK
~ Consider changing the Monrovia municipal election date to March of even-numbered years beginning in 2020. This change is required by the state. https://goo.gl/14xEbG
- Brad Haugaard
~ Try to figure out how the city can avoid avoid going broke. According to this report (https://goo.gl/E8qKbe) by City Manager Oliver Chi and Buffy Bullis, Administrative Services Director, "if we do nothing, current financial modeling indicates that the costs associated with the pending CalPERS UAL repayment schedule will strain our General Fund to the point of rendering the City insolvent in either FY 2021/22 or FY 2022/23."
So, how to avoid going broke? City staff proposes:
- Having employees increase contributions to their pension plans, saving the city about $300,000 a year.
- Issuing a bond to refinance the city's unfunded retirement costs.
- Adopting a policy that (as best I can figure it out) requires city staff to annually present to the city council any unfunded liabilities, along with a proposal of how to pay them off.
- Increasing the city's Transient Occupancy Tax (basically a tax on hotel rooms) from 10% to 12%, which should raise about $400,000 annually.
- Creating Community Facility Districts, basically an additional tax on new residential developments. This could raise about $300,000 annually.
~ Authorize the issuance of a bond to pay off the unfunded liabilities noted in the previous item for (if my calculations are correct) $112.3 million. Actually, $12.6 million of this amount would not be additional debt since it would go to pay off an earlier bond. Comment: I find it really odd that the staff report (here: https://goo.gl/2o9sSm) recommends issuing the bond but does not give the total amount of the bond, so my calculation of $112.3 million is from the total amount of debt the report mentions.
~ Honor the Monrovia Police Department for winning the International Association of Chiefs of Police/Cisco Community Policing Award.
~ Swear in Alan Sanvictores as the new Monrovia police chief. This will happen at 6 p.m., before the regular meeting. https://goo.gl/5z1Jnf
~ Consider authorizing city staff to set a public hearing to consider water fee adjustments for January 16, 2018. Here's a rather exhaustive (exhausting?) discussion of the issue: https://goo.gl/28yMpK
~ Consider changing the Monrovia municipal election date to March of even-numbered years beginning in 2020. This change is required by the state. https://goo.gl/14xEbG
- Brad Haugaard
Annie Van Dyke Named Monrovia Teacher of the Year
The Board of Education and the Personnel Commission will honor Annie Van Dyke as the 2017 Teacher of the Year at a special joint session at 5 p.m. on November 8 at the school district offices.
- Brad Haugaard
- Brad Haugaard
Lunch at Kiku Sushi
- Brad Haugaard
Monrovia Businesses Part of String of 17 Smash-and-Grab Burglaries
Four Monrovia businesses were hit by smash and grab burglaries last night, apparently part of a string of 17 such burglaries the same night. The Monrovia businesses that were victimized were: Coffee Bean, Yogurtland and Noor's Indian Cuisine - all on Myrtle near Foothill -
were hit around 4:30 a.m. Also, Rigo's Mexican Food on Foothill Boulevard. https://goo.gl/tGsnsW
- Brad Haugaard
were hit around 4:30 a.m. Also, Rigo's Mexican Food on Foothill Boulevard. https://goo.gl/tGsnsW
- Brad Haugaard
Construction Underway for New Unity Center Office
Foothill Unity Center reports that construction is underway at its new building - the old World Vision building - on Chestnut. Also, it is "half way to our goal of raising $6.2 million."
- Brad Haugaard
- Brad Haugaard
Monrovia-Led Coalition Prompts Anti-Crime Proposition; Have the Bears Been Faked Out?; Car Show; Etc.
In his weekly update (https://goo.gl/aOqX7O) City Manager Oliver Chi reports that ...
~ The Monrovia-led "Taking Back Our Community" coalition has prompted the development of a proposition for the November 2018 election to modify problems the coalition sees in AB 109, Prop 47, and Prop 57. The initiative was introduced at a press conference in Sacramento on Monday, October 30, and Monrovia, as the lead agency for the Taking Back Our Community Coalition, was invited to participate. The proposition would: change Prop 57 by redefining certain crimes as "violent" felonies, and change Prop 47 so that on the third theft, that theft will become chargeable as a felony. Chi calls this " a terrific development." Here is a summary of what it would do: https://goo.gl/bBtE12
~ The experiment of changing trash pick-up times for residents north of Hillcrest to discourage trash bears may have worked as city staff has seen fewer reports of bear activity, however not a lot of data yet, so the city and Athens plan to continue the test through the end of the year.
~ John Foltz, a member of the City’s Monrovia Renewal Citizens’ Advisory Committee, passed away last Thursday, October 26. He suffered a stroke and a heart attack a few weeks ago.
~ The Monrovia Police Officers' Association will host a fundraising car show (with food booths) as a fundraiser for Men's Health and Cancer Research. It will be held on Dec. 2, 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., at Library Park. For questions email Seth Hermes at shermes@monrovia.laclen.org.
~ Captain Alan Sanvictores will be sworn in as the new Monrovia Chief of Police at 6 p.m., before the Nov. 7 City Council meeting.
- Brad Haugaard
~ The Monrovia-led "Taking Back Our Community" coalition has prompted the development of a proposition for the November 2018 election to modify problems the coalition sees in AB 109, Prop 47, and Prop 57. The initiative was introduced at a press conference in Sacramento on Monday, October 30, and Monrovia, as the lead agency for the Taking Back Our Community Coalition, was invited to participate. The proposition would: change Prop 57 by redefining certain crimes as "violent" felonies, and change Prop 47 so that on the third theft, that theft will become chargeable as a felony. Chi calls this " a terrific development." Here is a summary of what it would do: https://goo.gl/bBtE12
~ The experiment of changing trash pick-up times for residents north of Hillcrest to discourage trash bears may have worked as city staff has seen fewer reports of bear activity, however not a lot of data yet, so the city and Athens plan to continue the test through the end of the year.
~ John Foltz, a member of the City’s Monrovia Renewal Citizens’ Advisory Committee, passed away last Thursday, October 26. He suffered a stroke and a heart attack a few weeks ago.
~ The Monrovia Police Officers' Association will host a fundraising car show (with food booths) as a fundraiser for Men's Health and Cancer Research. It will be held on Dec. 2, 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., at Library Park. For questions email Seth Hermes at shermes@monrovia.laclen.org.
~ Captain Alan Sanvictores will be sworn in as the new Monrovia Chief of Police at 6 p.m., before the Nov. 7 City Council meeting.
- Brad Haugaard
A Tesla Halloween
Monrovian Brad Hori lights up his Tesla coil, with the sparks playing the tune of “Tommy” (aka Pinball Wizard). He might play it some more tonight. His house is on the south side of Maple, a half block west of Hwy Esplanade.
- Brad Haugaard
Get Free Professional Photo for Your Christmas Cards
Get a free family or personal Christmas photo with a "Winter Wonderland" background theme by a professional photographer this Sunday, Nov. 5, following the 10:30 a.m. service at Calvary Baptist Church. A full-resolution digital image will be emailed to you. Donations declined. The church is at 319 W. Olive, just west of Magnolia.
- Brad Haugaard
- Brad Haugaard
Monrovia Police: Elderly Woman Conned; Death Threats; Man Fires Gun to Get Attention; Hikers Found; More
[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for October 26-29. - Brad Haugaard]
Following are the weekend’s highlighted issues and events.
Fraud Incident
October 26 at 1:58 p.m., an elderly female victim was approached by a female suspect outside of a business in the 600 block of W. Huntington. The suspect told the victim if she gave her money she would be able to make more money for her. The victim drove the suspect to various banks, withdrew money and gave it to the suspect. The suspect took the money and fled. The investigation is continuing.
Public Intoxication – Suspect Arrested
October 26 at 8:15 p.m., police dispatch received a call reporting a female subject passed out on the sidewalk in the 200 block of Foothill. When officers arrived, they found an extremely intoxicated female subject and determined she was too intoxicated to care for her own safety. She was arrested for being drunk in public and held for a sobering period.
Warrant / Possession of a Controlled Substance – Suspects Arrested
October 27 at 12:50 a.m., an officer stopped two subjects on bicycles for a traffic code violation. A computer check of the subjects revealed one of them had a warrant and a consent search revealed the other one was in possession of methamphetamine. They were both arrested and taken into custody for the charges.
Commercial Burglary
October 27 at 2:18 a.m., police dispatch received an alarm activation call at a business in the 500 block of W. Huntington. When officers arrived, they found the front door window had been smashed. They cleared the building and saw the cash register had been removed. The investigation is continuing.
Injury Traffic Collision
October 27 at 8:50 a.m. an elderly driver was attempting to park in a parking lot in the 100 block of E. Lime and inadvertently hit the gas pedal instead of the brakes. The vehicle collided into the north wall of the movie theater. The driver was taken to a hospital for treatment of minor injuries.
Critical Missing Adult – Subject Located
October 27 at 10:57 a.m., an elderly male subject with the onset of dementia did not return to a retirement home in the 100 block of S. Myrtle. Officers responded and searched the area, but did not locate the subject. Public notification was made on Twitter and a Silver Alert Notification was made to CHP and broadcast out to the Los Angeles, Orange and San Bernardino Counties. The subject was also entered as a critical missing into the law enforcement missing persons system. On October 28 at approximately 11:00 a.m., the Monrovia Police Department was contacted by the Los Angeles Police Department Central Division, stating they found our missing person.
Injury Traffic Collision
October 27 at 11:31 a.m., a bicyclist was traveling south along the sidewalk at Myrtle and Huntington. As he rode down the apron of the sidewalk into the street, a driver was making a right turn and collided with the bicyclist. The bicyclist was not wearing a helmet and complained of pain to his head and leg. He was taken to a hospital for treatment.
Criminal Threats
October 27 at 11:33 a.m., police dispatch received multiple calls from a subject who was threatening to kill people at a construction site at Primrose and Pomona, as well as at the Metro Station, if officers did not respond within three minutes. During these calls, the suspect also made statements that he was planning to kill police officers. Monrovia officers and Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department deputies responded. The Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department simultaneously had reports of a suspicious package on the train platform. A containment of the area was set up and a search of the construction site and Metro Station platform was conducted. The Sheriff's Special Enforcement Bureau canine officers also responded to assist in the search of the large construction complex. Once officers were on scene at the construction site, no additional calls were received from the suspect. A thorough search was conducted, however, no one was located. The investigation is continuing.
Shots Fired
October 28 at 5:02 a.m., several calls were received reporting shots heard in the 300 block of North Canyon and the 300 block of Prospect. The callers also reported they heard a male subject yelling for help. Officers arrived and narrowed the search to a residence in the 300 block of Prospect. They could still hear a male subject asking for help. They yelled out to him and he said he was on the second floor and needed help. Officers forced entry, cleared the residence and located the subject in his bed upstairs. The subject didn't have a phone and needed medical attention, so he fired 4 to 5 shots into the ground from his balcony off his bedroom to get help to come. He was treated by paramedics and taken to a hospital. His gun was taken for safe keeping.
Vehicle Burglary
October 28 at 8:30 a.m., a vehicle burglary was reported in the 300 block of W. Central. The victim parked his vehicle in his driveway in the evening. When he returned to the vehicle in the morning, he found the rear sliding window on his truck had been forced open. The victim's wallet was taken from the cab of the vehicle.
Lost Hikers Located
October 28 at 6:43 p.m., two hikers were reported lost above Canyon Park. The caller was a friend of the hikers who had been in touch with them on their cell phones. Dispatch attempted to call the lost hikers and to pin point the coordinates of their phone, but were having problems locating them. Los Angeles County Fire and Sierra Madre Search and Rescue were notified. Monrovia park rangers went up on an all-terrain vehicle and eventually located the hikers on the side of the hill. The Los Angeles County Fire helicopter responded and had to hoist the two hikers to safety. They were not injured.
Grand Theft Auto
October 28 at 9:13 p.m., a pizza delivery person was delivering a pizza to a residence in the 500 block of W. Duarte and left his vehicle running with the keys in the ignition. When he came back out to his vehicle, he saw it traveling east on Duarte Road and out of sight. Officers conducted an area check, but were unable to locate the vehicle. The investigation is continuing.
Traffic Collision / Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
October 28 at 11:37 p.m., a solo vehicle traffic collision was reported at the intersection of Myrtle and Duarte. When officers arrived, they saw a vehicle had struck the traffic signal pole on the southwest corner of the intersection. Witnesses reported that the male subject who was driving the vehicle left, walking west from the scene. He was located a short distance from the scene and brought back to the location. The driver displayed signs of being under the influence. After further investigation, he was determined to be driving under the influence and was arrested and taken into custody.
Commercial Burglary / Grand Theft Auto
October 29 at 10:00 a.m., an employee from a car dealership in the 1400 block of S. Mountain called police to report the front locking system on their building had been cut and the front glass was broken out. Officers responded and cleared the interior of the building. A 2018 Mini Cooper Countryman was stolen from the location. The investigation is continuing.
Petty Theft – Suspect Arrested
October 29 at 1:40 p.m., a petty theft was reported at a business in the 400 block of W. Huntington. The theft had just occurred and the suspects were fleeing in a vehicle with the stolen merchandise. An officer in the area responded and stopped the vehicle at Cypress and Primrose. The suspect was positively identified and arrested.
Following are the weekend’s highlighted issues and events.
Fraud Incident
October 26 at 1:58 p.m., an elderly female victim was approached by a female suspect outside of a business in the 600 block of W. Huntington. The suspect told the victim if she gave her money she would be able to make more money for her. The victim drove the suspect to various banks, withdrew money and gave it to the suspect. The suspect took the money and fled. The investigation is continuing.
Public Intoxication – Suspect Arrested
October 26 at 8:15 p.m., police dispatch received a call reporting a female subject passed out on the sidewalk in the 200 block of Foothill. When officers arrived, they found an extremely intoxicated female subject and determined she was too intoxicated to care for her own safety. She was arrested for being drunk in public and held for a sobering period.
Warrant / Possession of a Controlled Substance – Suspects Arrested
October 27 at 12:50 a.m., an officer stopped two subjects on bicycles for a traffic code violation. A computer check of the subjects revealed one of them had a warrant and a consent search revealed the other one was in possession of methamphetamine. They were both arrested and taken into custody for the charges.
Commercial Burglary
October 27 at 2:18 a.m., police dispatch received an alarm activation call at a business in the 500 block of W. Huntington. When officers arrived, they found the front door window had been smashed. They cleared the building and saw the cash register had been removed. The investigation is continuing.
Injury Traffic Collision
October 27 at 8:50 a.m. an elderly driver was attempting to park in a parking lot in the 100 block of E. Lime and inadvertently hit the gas pedal instead of the brakes. The vehicle collided into the north wall of the movie theater. The driver was taken to a hospital for treatment of minor injuries.
Critical Missing Adult – Subject Located
October 27 at 10:57 a.m., an elderly male subject with the onset of dementia did not return to a retirement home in the 100 block of S. Myrtle. Officers responded and searched the area, but did not locate the subject. Public notification was made on Twitter and a Silver Alert Notification was made to CHP and broadcast out to the Los Angeles, Orange and San Bernardino Counties. The subject was also entered as a critical missing into the law enforcement missing persons system. On October 28 at approximately 11:00 a.m., the Monrovia Police Department was contacted by the Los Angeles Police Department Central Division, stating they found our missing person.
Injury Traffic Collision
October 27 at 11:31 a.m., a bicyclist was traveling south along the sidewalk at Myrtle and Huntington. As he rode down the apron of the sidewalk into the street, a driver was making a right turn and collided with the bicyclist. The bicyclist was not wearing a helmet and complained of pain to his head and leg. He was taken to a hospital for treatment.
Criminal Threats
October 27 at 11:33 a.m., police dispatch received multiple calls from a subject who was threatening to kill people at a construction site at Primrose and Pomona, as well as at the Metro Station, if officers did not respond within three minutes. During these calls, the suspect also made statements that he was planning to kill police officers. Monrovia officers and Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department deputies responded. The Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department simultaneously had reports of a suspicious package on the train platform. A containment of the area was set up and a search of the construction site and Metro Station platform was conducted. The Sheriff's Special Enforcement Bureau canine officers also responded to assist in the search of the large construction complex. Once officers were on scene at the construction site, no additional calls were received from the suspect. A thorough search was conducted, however, no one was located. The investigation is continuing.
Shots Fired
October 28 at 5:02 a.m., several calls were received reporting shots heard in the 300 block of North Canyon and the 300 block of Prospect. The callers also reported they heard a male subject yelling for help. Officers arrived and narrowed the search to a residence in the 300 block of Prospect. They could still hear a male subject asking for help. They yelled out to him and he said he was on the second floor and needed help. Officers forced entry, cleared the residence and located the subject in his bed upstairs. The subject didn't have a phone and needed medical attention, so he fired 4 to 5 shots into the ground from his balcony off his bedroom to get help to come. He was treated by paramedics and taken to a hospital. His gun was taken for safe keeping.
Vehicle Burglary
October 28 at 8:30 a.m., a vehicle burglary was reported in the 300 block of W. Central. The victim parked his vehicle in his driveway in the evening. When he returned to the vehicle in the morning, he found the rear sliding window on his truck had been forced open. The victim's wallet was taken from the cab of the vehicle.
Lost Hikers Located
October 28 at 6:43 p.m., two hikers were reported lost above Canyon Park. The caller was a friend of the hikers who had been in touch with them on their cell phones. Dispatch attempted to call the lost hikers and to pin point the coordinates of their phone, but were having problems locating them. Los Angeles County Fire and Sierra Madre Search and Rescue were notified. Monrovia park rangers went up on an all-terrain vehicle and eventually located the hikers on the side of the hill. The Los Angeles County Fire helicopter responded and had to hoist the two hikers to safety. They were not injured.
Grand Theft Auto
October 28 at 9:13 p.m., a pizza delivery person was delivering a pizza to a residence in the 500 block of W. Duarte and left his vehicle running with the keys in the ignition. When he came back out to his vehicle, he saw it traveling east on Duarte Road and out of sight. Officers conducted an area check, but were unable to locate the vehicle. The investigation is continuing.
Traffic Collision / Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
October 28 at 11:37 p.m., a solo vehicle traffic collision was reported at the intersection of Myrtle and Duarte. When officers arrived, they saw a vehicle had struck the traffic signal pole on the southwest corner of the intersection. Witnesses reported that the male subject who was driving the vehicle left, walking west from the scene. He was located a short distance from the scene and brought back to the location. The driver displayed signs of being under the influence. After further investigation, he was determined to be driving under the influence and was arrested and taken into custody.
Commercial Burglary / Grand Theft Auto
October 29 at 10:00 a.m., an employee from a car dealership in the 1400 block of S. Mountain called police to report the front locking system on their building had been cut and the front glass was broken out. Officers responded and cleared the interior of the building. A 2018 Mini Cooper Countryman was stolen from the location. The investigation is continuing.
Petty Theft – Suspect Arrested
October 29 at 1:40 p.m., a petty theft was reported at a business in the 400 block of W. Huntington. The theft had just occurred and the suspects were fleeing in a vehicle with the stolen merchandise. An officer in the area responded and stopped the vehicle at Cypress and Primrose. The suspect was positively identified and arrested.
Veterans’ Thanksgiving Breakfast
Free Thanksgiving Day drop-in breakfast in honor of veterans on November 11, 8-11 a.m. at Monrovia’s Calvary Road Baptist Church, 329 W. Olive Ave. 357-2711
- Brad Haugaard
- Brad Haugaard
Book-y Book Return Boxes
I like the new paint job on the library book return boxes on Lime. - Brad Haugaard
Trump Administration Decision May Mean More Business for Monrovia's AeroVironment
A Trump administration decision to allow local communities to set their own rules for testing drones may result in more business for Monrovia-based drone maker, AeroVironment. https://goo.gl/vLFWqB
- Brad Haugaard
- Brad Haugaard
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