GoMonrovia Launch Party Tomorrow

The GoMonrovia launch party will be held tomorrow, Saturday, March 17 at 9 a.m., at Library Park. Representatives from Lyft and LimeBike will be on-hand, and after remarks from the City Council, we'll be inviting everyone to jump on a LimeBike to take part in a community bike ride. Free rides throughout the day. (GoMonrovia features 50 cent Lyft car rides to anywhere in the Monrovia service area, and $1-per-half-hour LimeBike rentals.)

- Brad Haugaard

Help Mayflower and Plymouth Win Grant Money

Two Monrovia elementary schools, Mayflower and Plymouth, are competing for grant money, with the winners based on the number of people who vote for them.

The rules say: "The public may submit votes for Entrants during the Voting Period. Voters must be at least 18 years of age and provide all required information. No more than one vote per email address per day will be accepted."

To vote, go to this web page (http://www.myscholardollars.com/vote/) and type "monrovia" in the search field. Both schools should appear. Click on the school name to see what the school would do with the grant money if it wins. Click "Vote for This School" to vote.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Robotics Team Succeeds at Super Regionals, Advances to World Championship

SuitBots in Spokane.

Monrovia High's SuitBots robotics team did well at the Super Regionals in Spokane, Washington, according to Miriam Childers, Monrovia Robotics Volunteer Coordinator, and has won a spot in a World Championship match to take place in Houston on April 18-21, where teams will be greeted by Mayor Sylverster Turner, Dean Kamen, Founder of FIRST, Jim Crane, President of the Houston Astros and many other dignitaries.

Out of 5,900 registered teams around the world (representing 59,000 participants, ages 12-18, grades 7-12), 128 teams are advancing to the Houston competition, and 128 teams to the Detroit competition.

If you would like to help the team advance to the World Championship, click here: https://www.gofundme.com/suit-bots-2018.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Thief Swaps Old Bike For New; Thief Takes Recyclables - Caught at Recycle Center; Drunken Fight on Myrtle; Drunk Disrupts Church Service; Lesson: Don't Annoy People With Baseball Bats

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for March 8-14. - Brad Haugaard]

During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 384 service events, resulting in 79 investigations.

Warrant – Suspect Arrested
March 8 at 2:15 p.m., two male subjects were arguing loudly with one another at a business in the 3300 block of S. Peck. Officers were called, and when they arrived, they contacted the two subjects. A computer check revealed one of the subjects had a warrant for his arrest, so he was taken into custody.

Bicycle Theft
March 8 at 2:40 p.m., a resident in the 900 block of Genoa arrived home and discovered her child’s bicycle had been stolen from their yard. The investigation is continuing.

Warrant – Suspect Arrested
March 8 at 9:15 p.m., a resident in the 1200 block of S. California reported a female subject in his front yard for no apparent reason, and he didn’t know who she was. Officers responded and located the subject. A computer check revealed she had a no-bail warrant for her arrest, so she was arrested and taken into custody.

DUI – Suspect Arrested
March 9 at 12:47 a.m., an officer was on patrol in the 2600 block of S. Peck when he saw a vehicle in front of him traveling at a high rate of speed. The officer stopped the vehicle for the vehicle code violation and contacted the driver. The officer noticed signs of intoxication, so field sobriety tests were conducted. The driver was arrested for DUI.

Petty Theft
March 9 at 6:22 a.m., a petty theft was reported in the 1600 block of S. Myrtle. The victim left his van parked in a carpooling parking lot overnight while he was at work. He returned to discover two wheels had been stolen off of his van. This investigation is continuing.

Bicycle Theft
March 9 at 7:58 a.m., a resident walked outside his apartment and discovered his mountain bike, which he had locked up, had been stolen. The suspect left an older bicycle in its place. This investigation is continuing.

Fraud
March 9 at 10:23 a.m., a resident in the 200 block of Oaks discovered fraudulent charges on his January bank account statement. He reported that he had been the victim of fraud in the past. This investigation is continuing.

Warrant – Suspect Arrested
March 9 at 3:06 p.m., the Special Enforcement Team was patrolling the 300 block of E. Lime, when they saw a male subject who they recognized from previous contacts. A computer check revealed he had a no-bail warrant for his arrest. He was stopped and arrested for the warrant.

Warrant – Suspect Arrested
March 9 at 4:52 pm., an officer was on the 210 Freeway returning to Monrovia when he saw a vehicle in front of him traveling at a high rate of speed. The vehicle began weaving in and out of lanes, so the officer stopped the vehicle in Glendora and was assisted by Glendora Police Department. A computer check revealed the driver had multiple felony no-bail warrants for her arrest, so she was arrested and taken into custody.

Petty Theft
March 9 at 4:31 p.m., a resident was home in the 200 block of W. Cypress when she heard someone on her porch. She looked outside and saw a male subject taking her recyclables. The subject fled the area with the recyclables. The resident drove to a nearby recycling center and located the subject. Officers responded and the resident placed the subject under private person’s arrest. Officers took him into custody for petty theft.

Vandalism
March 9 at 7:15 p.m., the victim had parked his vehicle in front of his house in the 200 block of W. Palm. He walked outside his home and discovered someone had thrown a rock through one of his car windows. Several similar incidents were investigated within the past few weeks in a two block radius. This investigation is continuing.

Drug Activity / Warrant – Suspect Arrested
March 9 at 8:25 p.m., Special Enforcement Team officers stopped a vehicle in the 400 block of W. Huntington for a vehicle code violation. A computer check revealed the driver had several warrants and he was arrested. When officers searched the vehicle incident to arrest, they discovered methamphetamine.

Fight in Progress / Public Intoxication
March 9 at 10:36 p.m., officers responded to the report of a fight in progress at a bar in the 400 block of S. Myrtle. When they arrived, the fight had ended, but they located the two subjects involved. The two were heavily intoxicated. They refused to prosecute one another for battery. Officers located friends of the two, who were sober, and they took responsibility for the subjects, who then left the area.

Public Intoxication – Suspect Arrested
March 10 at 1:48 a.m., a disturbing male subject was reported at a gas station in the 1500 block of S. Myrtle. The subject was refusing to leave. Officers responded and located the subject, who they found to be heavily intoxicated. He was arrested for being drunk in public.

Possession of a Controlled Substance / Possess of Drug Paraphernalia – Suspect Arrested
March 10 at 8:04 a.m., an officer was patrolling the 700 block of E. Foothill when he saw a subject looking into vehicles. The officer stopped the male, and during a pat-down search for weapons, discovered the subject was in possession of methamphetamine and a smoking pipe. The subject was arrested.

DMV Fraud / Warrant – Suspect Arrested
March 10 at 11:26 p.m., a sergeant observed a driver in the 3000 block of S. Myrtle that appeared to be DUI. He stopped the vehicle and discovered the problem was only mechanical issues, but a computer check of the subject revealed the driver had multiple warrants for his arrest and the registration sticker on the license plate did not belong to the vehicle. The driver was arrested.

Drug Activity / Warrant – Suspect Arrested
March 10 at 11:59 p.m., a sergeant was on patrol in the 500 block of S. Myrtle when he saw a vehicle traveling in front of him that he recognized. A license plate check revealed the name of the driver, and also showed the driver had multiple warrants for his arrest. The vehicle was stopped and the driver arrested. The vehicle was searched incident to arrest and cocaine was located. The driver admitted the cocaine was his.

Traffic Offense / Resisting & Delaying a Peace Officer – Suspect Arrested
March 11 at 3:16 a.m., an officer was patrolling the 1000 block of S. Magnolia when he saw a subject riding a bicycle with no headlight during darkness. He attempted to stop the bicyclist, however, the rider refused to stop for the officer. Additional officers responded to assist and the cyclist was stopped in a parking lot at 1000 block of S. Mayflower. The subject was arrested and taken into custody.

Grand Theft Auto
March 11 at 10:58 a.m., a guest at a hotel in the 900 block of S. Fifth walked outside the hotel to the parking lot and noticed someone had stolen his vehicle. The vehicle taken was a yellow, 2015 Chevrolet Camaro. Officers responded and had the vehicle entered into the DMV stolen vehicle system. This investigation is continuing.

Possession of Stolen Property – Suspect Arrested
March 11 at 11:22 a.m., a detective saw two suspicious persons loitering near the train station in the 1300 block of S. Myrtle. When the subjects saw the detective, who was in a marked police car, they fled the area. He watched them walk to Pomona and Ivy, where he stopped to talk to them. One of the subjects was in possession of a purse containing car keys, a cellphone and the identification of an Arcadia resident. He claimed he found the purse near the train station and was going to turn it in to the police; however, he had seen the police car at the train station and did not turn it in, but instead, fled the area. The purse had been reported stolen from inside a vehicle in Arcadia. The detective arrested the subject.

Public Intoxication – Suspect Arrested
March 11 at 12:28 a.m., a church service was being held at Monrovia High School in the 800 block of W. Colorado when a female subject entered the service, walked onto the stage and began causing a loud disturbance. Church members escorted her out, then called the police. Officers responded and contacted the subject, who they found to be heavily intoxicated. She was arrested for being drunk in public.

Grand Theft Auto
March 12 at 6:49 a.m., a resident in the 1800 block of S. Peck walked outside his home to go to work and discovered that someone had stolen his car sometime during the night. Officers responded and entered the vehicle into the DMV stolen vehicle system. The vehicle taken was a white, 2007, Chevrolet Express van.

Graffiti Vandalism
March 12 at 8:26 a.m., an officer was on patrol in the 1600 block of S. California when he saw a large amount of fresh graffiti on a building in the area. This investigation is continuing.

Stolen Vehicle Recovered
March 12 at 11:25 a.m., a parking control officer was patrolling the 1200 block of Encino when she saw what appeared to be an abandoned vehicle parked on the street. A DMV computer check of the license plate revealed the vehicle had been reported stolen. An officer responded to investigate, and the owner of the vehicle was notified their vehicle had been found.

Fraud
March 12 at 2:32 p.m., a resident in the 400 block of Royal Oaks discovered some of her personal checks missing from her checkbooks. She called her bank and found out that someone had cashed them already. This investigation is continuing.

Vehicle Burglary
March 12 at 6:37 p.m., a resident in the 700 block of Valley View walked outside his home and discovered someone had entered two of his vehicles and stole one of his car stereos. The vehicles were locked and parked in his driveway. This investigation is continuing.

Petty Theft
March 12 at 7:17 p.m., a resident in the 400 block of Sierra Vista discovered someone had entered her unlocked vehicle, ransacked it and stole her cellphone. The vehicle was parked on the street in front of her house. The investigation is continuing.

Grand Theft
March 12 at 7:38 p.m., a resident in the 800 block of E. Foothill called the police to report a theft that had occurred earlier in the day. She had ordered a computer, which was to be delivered by Fed Ex. She was notified that the package was delivered at 12:20 p.m.; however, when she went to retrieve the package at 1:02 p.m., it was gone. This investigation is continuing.

Resisting & Delaying a Peace Officer – Suspect Arrested
March 12 at 8:36 p.m., officers responded to a report of residents hearing possible fireworks or gunshots in the 300 block of S. Primrose. When they arrived, they located one subject, who made eye contact with the officers, then ran. Officers chased after the subject, who they believed to be possibly involved. When they were finally able to stop the subject, he was not cooperative with officers’ commands and he began to fight them. The officers were able to take him into custody without injury to anyone.

Domestic Violence – Suspect Arrested
March 12 at 9:56 p.m., officers responded to a house in the 800 block of W. Colorado because neighbors heard the residents, a husband and wife, yelling at one another. Officers contacted the two subject and found the male subject had a large scratch across his face. After investigation, the female subject was arrested for domestic violence.

Public Intoxication – Suspect Arrested
March 13 at 12:02 a.m., an officer was on patrol in the 300 block of E. Foothill when he saw a subject walking along the sidewalk, stumbling and almost falling to the ground. The officer stopped the subject to see if he needed assistance. The officer immediately found the subject to be heavily intoxicated and unable to care for himself. The officer took the subject into custody for being drunk in public.

Attempt Commercial Burglary
March 13 at 12:26 p.m., the owner of a business in the 100 block of W. Foothill reported that someone had attempted to burglarize his business sometime during the night by trying to break his front window with a large rock. This investigation is continuing.

Warrant – Suspects Arrest
March 13 at 1:15 p.m., a hotel in the 1100 block of E. Huntington reported two subjects were refusing to leave the business. Officers arrived and contacted the two subjects. A computer check revealed both had warrants for their arrest, so they were arrested and taken into custody.

Shoplifting
March 13 at 2:16 p.m., a shoplifting incident was reported at a grocery store in the 400 block of W. Huntington. A female subject had just fled the store without paying for merchandise she took from the store. Officers responded and searched for the suspect, but did not locate her. This investigation is continuing.

Graffiti Vandalism
March 14 at 10:17 a.m., the owner of a business in the 100 block of W. Pomona discovered someone had spray painted graffiti all over the side of his business sometime during the night. This investigation is continuing.

Possession of a Controlled Substance – Suspect Arrested
March 14 at 6:40 p.m., the Special Enforcement Team stopped a vehicle for a violation in the 1500 block of S. Myrtle. As they approached the vehicle, they saw the driver tear open a plastic bag of methamphetamine and dump it onto the floor board carpet in an attempt to destroy it. The officers arrested the driver and recovered the drugs.

Assault / Vandalism
March 14 at 7:28 p.m., a male subject was sitting in his vehicle parked on the street in front of a house in the 200 block of N. Canyon. As the subject sat in his car drinking alcohol, a male subject walked by the car. The victim in the car began heckling and belittling the person walking by, who happened to have a baseball bat. The subject with the bat began hitting the vehicle with the bat. The victim exited the car and told the suspect to stop damaging his car. The suspect began hitting the victim with the bat, then fled the area. Officers responded along with paramedics. The victim was transported to a nearby hospital for minor injuries. This investigation is continuing.

Public Intoxication
March 14 at 11:02 p.m., security for a business in the 100 block of W. Foothill reported a male subject in their parking lot drinking alcohol in public and refusing to leave. Officers responded and contacted the subject, who was found to be too intoxicated to care for his own safety. He was arrested for being drunk in public.

Drug Sales / Warrant – Suspect Arrested
March 14 at 11:10 p.m., two subjects were reported to be smoking methamphetamine inside a vehicle that was parked on the street in front of a business in the 100 block of W. Walnut. Officers arrived and contacted the two subjects. One had multiple no-bail felony drug warrants and was found to be in possession of methamphetamine. The other subject was found to be in possession of a large quantity of methamphetamine. They were in possession of a large amount of cash, scales for weighing the drugs and 

GoMonrovia Launch Event on Saturday, March 17

In response to the evolving transportation needs of suburban communities, the City of Monrovia, in partnership with Lyft and LimeBike, will be launching the GoMonrovia program on Saturday, March 17, at 9 a.m. at Monrovia's Library Park (321  S. Myrtle Ave.).  Through the GoMonrovia program, the public will be able to access a Lyft ride anywhere in the GoMonrovia service area for just $0.50.  In addition, LimeBike will be deploying more than 200 bikes throughout Monrovia, each of which can be accessed by the public for $1.00 for a 30-minute ride.

This unique and innovative public-private partnership was designed to provide the community with enhanced and affordable public transportation options that leverage the strengths of Lyft and LimeBike.  "As the Southern California population continues to grow, suburban communities are becoming denser and more congested," said City Manager Oliver Chi.  "Through the GoMonrovia program, we have worked to develop a new transportation program that will provide greatly improved mobility options for the suburban user."

Unlike urban environments, residents living in suburban communities rely primarily on private automobile use for their transportation needs, even though most trips are under five miles.  While this paradigm exists for a multitude of reasons, one contributing factor is that suburban transportation programs have been, by and large, slow and inconvenient.  "The City of Monrovia, like most suburban communities, has historically relied on a dial-a-ride shuttle bus program as our primary method of providing public transportation," said Mr. Chi.  "Unfortunately, the program serves only a very narrow range of public transportation users, is inconvenient for general everyday use, and is an incredibly costly way to move people around.  In fact, each ride on our dial-a-ride system costs the City around $19.70 per person.  We kept thinking, there has to be a better way," Mr. Chi continued.

More recently, in response to local housing growth, an expanding job base, and regional population trends, the City of Monrovia started to rethink its role as it relates to the provision of public transportation.  "The challenge we were trying to solve in developing the GoMonrovia initiative was to see if we could create an affordable transportation program that was so easy to use that the broader community might seriously consider public transit in Monrovia as a real option," said Mr. Chi.

Given the extensive public use of ride sharing services, the City worked to identify possible private sector transportation program partners.  "As we assessed the situation, we realized early on that widely adopted technology platforms could facilitate a new public transportation model for our suburban community," said Mr. Chi.  "Private sector firms such as Lyft and LimeBike have created technologies that enable them to provide a personalized and on-demand transportation service.  We knew that from a user perspective, existing public transit options just can't compete with the speed and convenience offered by these new tech platforms.  And so instead of fighting, we looked to see how we could leverage what these companies do best in order for us to better serve the community."

"In addition, Lyft and LimeBike immediately stood out as our preferred transportation partners," said Mr. Chi.  "The team at Lyft operates with the civic-minded ethos that their ride-sharing platform should exist to complement existing public transportation services, not replace them.  And the LimeBike team has not only been aly valued partner, they were also the only legitimate private dockless bikesharing company we could identify that maintains all of its data securely in the US."

"We are excited to be part of GoMonrovia's community mobility program," said Paul Davis, Lyft's Transit Partnership Manager.  "The City of Monrovia is launching a bold program that is a creative and thoughtful approach to rethinking suburban mobility.  Lyft is excited to be part of this initiative, which could serve as a blueprint for how to decouple suburban mobility from auto ownership."

"LimeBike applauds the City of Monrovia for taking a forward-thinking and thoughtful approach in solving the first and last mile transportation challenge," said Jack Song, spokesperson for LimeBike.  "As the largest dockfree smart mobility solution provider in the US, LimeBike is excited about giving the Monrovia community access to a new transportation option that is affordable, accessible, and green for the environment."

As part of the March 17, GoMonrovia launch event, representatives from Lyft and LimeBike will be on hand as the new mobility program is kicked-off with a community bike ride.  Once the program goes live, in addition to being able to access Lyft rides anywhere in the GoMonrovia service area for just $0.50 / ride, LimeBike will be deploying bikes throughout the community, including at new bike rack stations located at the Community Center, Library Park, Old Town Monrovia, and Station Square.

For more information on the GoMonrovia program, including instruction on how to use the Lyft and LimeBike apps, and additional information on the launch event, please visit www.gomonrovia.com.

Source: City of Monrovia press release

- Brad Haugaard

Anti-Suicide Bill by Monrovia Representative Advances in State Senate

SB 972, the Student Suicide Prevention Bill sponsored by Monrovia's representative, Sen. Anthony Portantino, has passed the State Senate Education Committee with bipartisan support. SB 972 which would require public, charter, and private schools to print a suicide prevention hotline number and/or text crisis lines on the back of student's identification cards. The measure would be required for grades seven through twelve and all higher education institutions.

Source: Portantino press release

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Deerslayer Gets Probation, Community Service

The man who shot a deer with a bow and arrow in a Monrovia residential area gets probation and community service. https://goo.gl/r7XjLp

- Brad Haugaard

King: a Stellar Dog

King (A451811) is one stellar dog. This 8-year-old Shepherd mix is an easy going, calm guy. He enjoys attention from everyone he meets. He walks well on leash and already knows training commands including "sit" and "shake." Plus, he got along great with both small and large dogs on a shelter field trip. King is looking for an owner who can help him lose weight under the guidance of a veterinarian. He came to Pasadena Humane via Redlands Animals Shelter where he had been waiting for a new home since October of last year. Let's hope he finds one real soon.

The adoption fee for dogs is $130. All dogs are spayed or neutered, microchipped, and vaccinated before going to their new home. King qualifies for our Seniors for Seniors program, waiving his adoption fee for adopters age 60 and over.

New adopters will receive a complimentary health-and-wellness exam from VCA Animal Hospitals, as well as a goody bag filled with information about how to care for your pet.

View photos of adoptable pets at pasadenahumane.org. Adoption hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday; and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.

Pets may not be available for adoption and cannot be held for potential adopters by phone calls or email.


**Beginning March 22, the Pasadena Humane Society & SPCA is hosting a fee-waived "Sweet 16" adoption event to celebrate the 2018 NCAA March Madness Tournament. Learn more about adopting a pet or sponsoring a pet adoption at pasadenahumane.org/marchmadness.

Source: Pasadena Humane Society, which serves Monrovia.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Gets Better Bond Rating; One-Stop Building Permits Planned; Science Lab; Fountain to the Falls

In his weekly update, City Manager Oliver Chi reported ...

~ S&P Global Ratings Agency has boosted Monrovia up a notch on its bond-rating schedule, from AA- to AA, S&P's third highest rating (first is AAA and second is AA+). This means Monrovia can borrow money at cheaper rates.

~ The city is trying to make getting a building permit into one stop at City Hall. "Currently," Chi writes, "individuals who are seeking a development permit  who are seeking a development permit usually have to travel to the City Hall complex to visit both the Community Development Department and the Fire Department.  In addition, individuals have to visit the Public Works facility offsite located on Mountain Avenue for other permit related matters." The plan is to roll out the process sometime in October to December of this year.

~ Monrovia and  Oak Crest Institute of Science will host a Spring Break Science Lab Program for kids in grades k-8 from Monday, April 2 - Friday, April 6.  The program was made possible through an Innovation Station grant the Monrovia Library obtained.

~ If you plan to participate in the 2018 Fountain to the Falls Run/Walk & Health Fair, you can save money by registering now. Early registration is $35 and event day registration is $45. Maximum of 325 participants. This event is a 6.38 mile out-and-back race from the Library Park Fountain to the Canyon Park Waterfall. The eighth annual race will be held on Saturday, May 12, at 7 a.m.  Medals will be awarded to the best finishing times for male and female participants. Details: https://goo.gl/JfrpHu

- Brad Haugaard

Retired Admiral to Speak to Women Veterans at Monrovia Library

The Monrovia Library's Veterans' Resource Center will hold a special evening for women veterans on Friday, March 23, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. in the Library Community Room.

Guest speaker will be retired Rear Admiral Sandra Adams, who served as commanding officer of five units, and as a senior adviser to an Afghan Minister of Defense Lieutenant General, held several Flag Officer Assignments. She has served as deputy commander for the Naval Expeditionary Combat Command, which is responsible for 19,000 active and reserve Sailors including Seabees and Coastal Warfare professionals. She was among the first women to serve officially at sea as a surface warfare officer from 1981 - 2015.

Adams will speak about the many roles of women in the military, how their roles have evolved, and their significant contributions.

Register at monroviapubliclibrary.org. Child care available. Refreshments. For more information contact Mabel Cross at mcross@ci.monrovia.ca.us or 256-8294.

Source: Library press release

- Brad Haugaard

Duarte Elks Honors Monrovia Student

The Duarte Elks Lodge has awarded Monrovia resident and Bosco Tech senior Grayson Wade its "Most Valuable Student Scholarship."

Grayson annually organizes a community-wide drive to gather gift-filled shoeboxes for the Samaritan's Purse global Operation Christmas Child efforts. To date, he has been instrumental in contributing more than 3,700 fully-stocked boxes and raising more than $38,000 in shipping costs since he began his efforts eight years ago.

Grayson has also served as president of Bosco Tech's National Honor Society chapter, is a Bosco Tech Ambassador, and has earned the Boy Scouts of America Eagle Scout ranking. https://goo.gl/jzom2z

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia School District to Consider Anti-Bullying Program

At its March 14 meeting (agenda) the Monrovia Board of Education will, among other things, consider a Memorandum of Understanding between the LA County Department of Mental Health and Monrovia School District for the implementation of the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program.

Olweus says that, "The Olweus Bullying Prevention Program (OBPP) is the most researched and best-known bullying prevention program available today. With over thirty-five years of research and successful implementation all over the world, OBPP is a whole-school program that has been proven to prevent or reduce bullying throughout a school setting." Staff report.

- Brad Haugaard

Dinner at Mooyah Burgers

Dinner at Mooyah Butgers, in the Vons shopping center at Myrtle and Foothill. Got a Cheddar Bacon Burger ($6.99), fries ($2.49) and an iced tea ($1.99). Tasted fine. 

- Brad Haugaard 

Block Party and Unveiling of First 'Neighborhood Treasure'

Monrovia Area Partnership (MAP) will host a block party this Saturday, March 10, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Second Baptist Church (925  S. Shamrock) with family fun, games, and prizes, and to teach people about city services. Also, MAP, with the Art in Public Places program, will debut Neighborhood Treasures, a new program designed to highlight unsung Monrovia heroes. The first art treasure will honor Lieutenant Colonel Allen Allensworth. Contact Ariel Tolefree-Williams at 932-5563 for party details.

- Brad Haugaard

Annual Women's Evensong Invitational at St. Luke's Church

St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Monrovia will present its 11th Annual Women's Evensong Invitational on Sunday, March 18, at 4 p.m. at the church, 122  S. California Ave. and Foothill Boulevard in Monrovia. The free performance will spotlight the women of the choir along with invited guest singers. Music will include the Monrovia Preces and Responses by St. Luke's Music Director Kent Bennett Jones and a new anthem, Nunc tempus acceptabile, by Paul M. French.  The Rev. Nathan Biornstad will officiate, and a freewill offering will be taken. Guests are invited to a post-concert wine and cheese reception in Guild Hall, where choir member Lyn Walsh will be selling her homemade English chutneys, jams and marmalades to benefit the church organ fund.

- Brad Haugaard

Arcadia Police Looking for Witnesses to Lewd Act at Mall

Arcadia Police are looking for any Monrovians who may have been witnesses to a lewd act on a minor child at Westfield Shopping Center.

Incident: P.C. 288(a) – Lewd/Lascivious Acts with a Child Under 14

On 09/08/17, officers from the Arcadia Police Department responded to the Westfield Shopping Center regarding the investigation of a lewd or lascivious act on a minor child. Joel Arturo Suria Gonzalez, a 43 year-old Los Angeles resident was arrested as a result of the investigation and charged with two Felony counts of P.C. 288(a) Lewd or Lascivious Acts on a Child Under 14.

Two unknown teenagers, one male and one female, witnessed the incident and spoke to mall security officers on the date of the incident. Investigators from the Arcadia Police Department and the District Attorney’s Office would like to speak to the teenagers who witnessed the incident.

Anyone with information on this incident is encouraged to contact the Arcadia Police Department at (626) 574-5151, reference: Case # 17-4605.

If you prefer to provide information anonymously, you mall call “Crime Stoppers” by dialing (800) 222-TIPS (8477), use your smartphone by downloading the “P3 Tips” Mobile APP on Google Play or the Apple App Store, or by using the website http://lacrimestoppers.org.

Source: Arcadia Police Department

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Drunk Red Light Runner Busted; Throwing Chairs in a Bar; Boy Hits Mom in Face; Another Tire Thief; Etc

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for March 1-7. - Brad Haugaard]

During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 431 service events, resulting in 90 investigations.

Vehicle Burglary
March 1 at 1:49 a.m., an officer was extra patrolling a parking structure in the 100 block of W. Colorado, when he saw a vehicle with a shattered window. The officer was able to locate the owner, who advised a remote control was stolen from inside the vehicle that opens the gate to the parking structure. This investigation is continuing. Traffic Collision with Injuries March 1 at 6:57 a.m., a vehicle collided into the back of another vehicle during morning rush hour traffic at the intersection of Monterey and Huntington. One of the drivers alleged they had pain from the collision, but no injuries were visible. The driver who was at fault was issued a citation for the driving violation.

Residential Burglary
March 1 at 13:46 p.m., a residential burglary was reported in the 100 block of N. Sutter Creek. While the resident was away, someone shattered the rear balcony glass door and gained entry to the home. Nothing was taken. This investigation is continuing.

Hit & Run Traffic Collision
March 1 at 2:15 p.m., a driver called police to report a hit and run collision in the 300 block of E. Huntington. The driver was traveling west on Huntington and a light blue vehicle collided into their vehicle. The caller pulled over to the right in a safe location as required by law; however, the other vehicle continued driving and did not stop. This investigation is continuing.

Grand Theft Auto
March 1 at 2:34 p.m., the owner of a vehicle reported his gray Honda Accord had been stolen from a business parking lot in the 300 block of W. Huntington while he was inside shopping. Officers searched the area for the vehicle, but were unable to locate it. This investigation is continuing.

DUI – Suspect Arrested
March 1 at 4:43 p.m., an officer was on patrol the 1800 block of S. Peck, when she saw a vehicle travel through an intersection against a red light signal. The officer stopped the vehicle and approached the driver. She could smell alcohol coming from the driver’s breath, so field sobriety tests were conducted. The driver was arrested for DUI.

Battery
March 1 at 9:24 p.m., two brothers were fist fighting in the 300 block of E. Lemon, when one of them picked up a stick and began hitting the other with it. The one who had been hit with the stick ran to the police department to report the battery. This investigation is continuing.

Public Intoxication – Suspect Arrested
March 1 at 2:23 a.m., an officer was patrolling the 100 block of S. Ivy when he saw a female stumbling in the middle of Foothill Blvd. He stopped the female and determined she was too intoxicated to care for her own safety. She was arrested for public intoxication.

Warrant – Suspect Arrested
March 2 at 10:12 a.m., an officer was patrolling the 1300 block of S. Myrtle when he saw a male subject who he recognized from previous contacts. A computer check revealed the subject had a warrant for his arrest. The officer stopped the subject and arrested him for the warrant.

Wanted Person – Suspect Arrested
March 2 at 3:55 p.m., Special Enforcement Team officers were patrolling the 200 block of Oaks when they saw a male subject who they knew to be wanted by the Monrovia Police Department for felony fraud. The subject was stopped and taken into custody.

Residential Burglary
March 2 at 4:37 pm., a resident in the 1800 block of Estrella returned home from work and discovered their house had been burglarized. Officers responded and found a rear window to the home had been shattered, which is how the suspects gained entry. This investigation is continuing.

Warrant – Suspect Arrested
March 2 at 10:52 p.m., Special Enforcement Team officers were patrolling the 1600 block of S. Primrose, when they saw a male subject they recognized. A computer check revealed the subject had a warrant for his arrest. The officers stopped the subject and took him into custody.

Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
March 3 at 12:01 a.m., an officer was on patrol in the 2600 block of S. Myrtle when he saw a vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed. The vehicle was stopped for the vehicle code violation and when the officer approached, he could smell alcohol on the driver’s breath. Field sobriety tests were conducted, and the driver was arrested for DUI.

Battery / Vandalism – Suspect Arrested
March 3 at 1:35 a.m., officers responded to a call from a bar in the 400 block of S. Myrtle because one of their patrons was intoxicated and throwing chairs. One of the chairs was thrown at the bartender and another struck a customer, damaging the chair. The suspect was arrested and taken into custody.

Grand Theft Auto
March 3 at 7:27 a.m., the owner of a silver Toyota RAV reported his vehicle had been stolen from the 600 block of W. Colorado. He had parked it on the street in front of his house the night before. This investigation is continuing.

Battery
March 3 at 4:35 p.m., a motorist was driving through a business parking lot in the 1600 block of S. Mountain and stopped for a female subject crossing in front of him, walking at a slow pace. As soon as she cleared the car, the motorist began to drive forward. The female subject began yelling at him. The motorist found a parking space and exited his vehicle, at which time a friend of the female’s approached and hit him in the face. The suspect fled the area. This investigation is continuing.

Warrant – Suspect Arrested
March 3 at 9:23 p.m., Special Enforcement Team officers were patrolling the 2000 block of S. California when they saw a male subject who they recognized from previous contacts. A computer check revealed the subject had a warrant for his arrest. The officers stopped the subject and took him into custody.

Petty Theft
March 3 at 10:52 p.m., the owner of a vehicle discovered someone had entered his vehicle, rummaged through it and took his guitar from inside. He had parked his vehicle on the street in the 800 block of W. Walnut earlier that day and left it unlocked. This investigation is continuing.

Warrant – Suspect Arrested
March 4 at 3:02 a.m., an officer was on patrol in the 400 block of W. Duarte when he saw a suspicious parked vehicle. As he approached to investigate, he discovered it was occupied. A computer check revealed the occupant had a warrant for his arrest, so he was arrested and taken into custody.

Warrant – Suspect Arrested
March 4 at 3:42 a.m., an officer was on patrol in the 1700 block of S. Magnolia when he saw a male subject lying on the ground. The officer stopped to see if the subject needed medical assistance and found he was just sleeping. A computer check revealed the subject had a warrant for his arrest, so he was taken into custody for the warrant.

Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
March 4 at 10:31 p.m., an officer was on patrol in the 600 block of E. Huntington when he saw a vehicle in front of him accelerating at a high rate of speed. The officer paced the vehicle to confirm the speed, then conducted a traffic stop for the driving violation. When the officer approached the driver, he could smell alcohol coming from his breath. The officer conducted field sobriety tests, then arrested the driver for DUI.

Shoplifting
March 5 at 12:49 p.m., a subject took several boxes of power tools from a store in the 700 block of W. Huntington, then fled the store without paying for the merchandise. Officers responded and searched the area for the suspect, but were unable to locate him. This investigation is continuing.

Shoplifting
March 5 at 1:43 p.m., a male subject entered a store in the 1600 block of S. Mountain, took a motorized leaf blower and ran out of the store without paying for the merchandise. He entered a vehicle that was waiting for him outside the store and fled the area. Officers searched for the vehicle, but were unable to locate it. This investigation is continuing.

Petty Theft
March 5 at 2:52 p.m., a petty theft was reported in the 200 block of N. Magnolia. The victim walked outside to his car and discovered someone had entered and ransacked the vehicle. He had parked and left his car unlocked the night before. The suspect took an iPhone from the vehicle. This investigation is continuing.

Battery
March 5 at 7:03 p.m., the mother of a twenty-year-old male subject reported that her son had just hit her in the face and then fled their home in the 1700 block of S. Mayflower. Officers responded and searched the area for the suspect; however, were unable to locate him. The victim was offered medical assistance. This investigation is continuing.

Possession of Drugs – Suspect Arrested
March 5 at 10:26 p.m., officers responded to a hotel in the1100 block of E. Huntington regarding one of the guests screaming inside his hotel room. When the officers arrived, they contacted the subject and saw methamphetamine in plain sight inside the room, which the guest admitted was his. The subject was arrested for possession of the drugs.

Vehicle Burglary
March 6 at 8:29 a.m., a vehicle burglary was reported in the 900 block of Genoa. The victim walked outside his home to his truck and discovered someone had shattered one of the truck windows during the night. Several tool boxes full of plumbing tools were taken. This investigation is continuing.

Petty Theft
March 6 at 12:08 p.m., the owner of a business in the 200 block of S. Myrtle arrived at work and discovered someone had stolen their exterior video surveillance cameras and damaged the electrical box to the business. When officers reviewed the video recording from inside the store, they saw that a male subject, who appeared to be homeless, stole the cameras.

Traffic Collision / Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
March 6 at 4:20 p.m., a vehicle collided into another vehicle in the intersection of Magnolia and Lemon. When officers arrived, they discovered one of the drivers appeared intoxicated. Field sobriety tests were conducted, and the subject was arrested for DUI.

Elder Abuse – Suspect Arrested
March 6 at 9:24 p.m., a 77-year-old female resident living in the 600 block of E. Walnut reported her 43-year-old son had just pushed her to the ground and slapped her face. She said this was not the first time he had hit her. Officers arrived and, after further investigation, arrested the suspect.

Traffic Collision / Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
March 6 at 10:44 p.m., a vehicle collided into a light pole at the corner of Duarte and Pilgrim. Officers responded and located the driver standing next to his car. The officers noticed the driver had signs of intoxication, so field sobriety tests were conducted. The driver was arrested for DUI.

Commercial Burglary / Warrant – Suspect Arrested
March 7 at 2:37 a.m., a caller reported seeing a male subject inside the property of a car dealership in the 1400 block of S. Shamrock. The caller saw the subject throwing tires from the dealership over a wall. Officers arrived, located the subject and, after investigating, arrested him for commercial burglary. The subject also had a warrant for his arrest.

Trespassing – Suspect Arrested
March 7 at 4:27 p.m., a subject who had a no-trespassing authorization form signed against him from the owner of a property in the 900 block of W. Duarte was found to be on the property again in violation of the order. The subject had been previously warned to stay off the property, so he was taken into custody for trespassing. 

GoMonrovia Party March 17; Wine Walk in Old Town

In his weekly update, City Manager Oliver Chi reports ...

~ A GoMonrovia launch party will be held on Saturday, March 17, at Library Park at 9 a.m. Representatives from Lyft and LimeBike will be on-hand, and after remarks from the City Council, we'll be inviting everyone to jump on a LimeBike to take part in a community bike ride. Free rides throughout the day. (GoMonrovia features 50 cent Lyft car rides to anywhere in the Monrovia service area, and $1-per-half-hour LimeBike rentals.)

~ Monrovia Old Town Advisory Board's second Annual Wine Walk in Old Town is scheduled for April 21, from 6 to 9 p.m. Stroll through Old Town, explore businesses, sample wines and enjoy the music. The event is designed to highlight and support Old Town businesses. For the $40 ticket price, participants will receive 12 one-ounce wine samples. Event proceeds will help pay for the event and benefit the community.

~ The Spring edition of Monrovia Today should arrive in your mailbox soon. The digital version is already available: https://goo.gl/WdsFkn

- Brad Haugaard

AeroVironment Reports Third Quarter Loss

Monrovia's AeroVironment has reported a $828,000 loss in its fiscal third quarter, or four cents a share, and it's stock took a tumble, falling almost 15 percent today, down to $43.01. https://goo.gl/qdCyXi

- Brad Haugaard

AeroVironment Gets $44.5 Million Contract With 'Major" Middle East Country

AeroVironment's Puma II AE drone.

Monrovia's drone company, AeroVironment, Inc. has been given a $44.5 million contract to provide its Puma II AE drone to the ground forces of a "major country in the Middle East." The company reports this is its largest international order to date.  https://goo.gl/1BfzCq

- Brad Haugaard