Monrovia Police: Car vs. Tree; Stolen Vehicles; Stolen Vehicles Recovered; Girlfriend Hit With Cell Phone; Drugs and Such

 [Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for September 3-9. - Brad Haugaard]

During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 357 service events, resulting in 73 investigations. 

Traffic Collision / Driving Under the Influence / Weapons Violation – Suspect Arrested
September 3 at 12:27 a.m., a vehicle traveling in the 100 block of S. Mountain collided with a tree. Officers arrived and found the driver to be under the influence of narcotics. The suspect is currently on parole for robbery and was arrested for driving under the influence. His vehicle was searched and a magazine loaded with 9mm ammunition was found, which was added to his charges. 

Theft
September 3 at 8:17 a.m., an employee of a business in the 1400 block of S. Shamrock attempted to start a company vehicle and discovered someone had taken the battery. Officers arrived and conducted an investigation. This investigation is continuing. 

Vehicle Burglary
September 3 at 12:03 p.m., a resident in the 100 block of Hidden Valley reported their vehicle had been burglarized sometime over the past weekend. When she discovered the theft Monday morning, she noticed personal items had been stolen from inside her vehicle. This investigation is continuing. 

Grand Theft Auto
September 3 at 4:54 p.m., the owner of a business in the 400 block of W. Foothill called police to report someone had stolen his vehicle sometime after he parked it at 3:45 p.m. The vehicle is a white, 1994, Toyota pickup truck. The vehicle was entered into the stolen vehicle system. This investigation is continuing. 

Theft From a Vehicle
September 4 at 7:32 a.m., a resident in the 1200 block of Encino walked outside his home and discovered someone had rummaged through his unlocked vehicle sometime during the night. Several items were taken, including his wallet and credit cards. This investigation is continuing. 

Domestic Violence – Suspect Arrested
September 4 at 8:20 a.m., a domestic violence incident was reported at a parking lot in the 700 block of E. Huntington. The victim reported that his boyfriend of three years had just hit him multiple times causing injuries. Officers and paramedics responded and after an investigation, the suspect was arrested for domestic violence. The victim was treated by paramedics for his injuries. 

Stolen Vehicle Recovered
September 4 at 12:30 p.m., a subject called police to report seeing his friend's stolen pickup truck parked in the Los Angeles County area of Monrovia at Brisbane and Myrtle. Officers responded and recovered the pickup truck. The owner was notified and the truck was returned to him. This investigation is continuing. 

Grand Theft Auto / Stolen Vehicle Recovered
September 4 at 8:04 p.m., a vehicle was reported stolen from a business parking lot in the 400 block of W. Huntington. The victim reported his vehicle was stolen while he was inside a business. Officers arrived and conducted an investigation. A possible suspect was seen on security camera video. About 30 minutes later, officers on patrol saw the vehicle in the 100 block of W. Lemon. A traffic stop was conducted, and the driver fled from the vehicle and ran through nearby residences. A search was conducted, but the suspect was not located. This investigation is continuing. 

Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
September 4 at 11:51 p.m., an officer patrolling the 100 block of E. Olive saw a vehicle drive through a stop sign. He conducted a traffic stop and noticed the driver showed symptoms of intoxication. A DUI investigation was conducted and confirmed the driver was intoxicated. The driver was arrested and held for a sobering period. 

Shoplifting
September 5 at 3:45 p.m., a security officer for a hardware store in the 1600 block of S. Mountain reported a male subject just left the store with merchandise without paying. Officers responded and searched for the subject, but could not locate him. This investigation is continuing. 

Possession of Drug Paraphernalia / Warrant – Suspect Arrested
September 5 at 10:58 p.m., officers responded to a grocery store in the 100 block of W. Foothill regarding a shoplifting incident in progress. When contacted by officers, the suspect returned the concealed items and the grocery store declined prosecution for the theft. During the investigation, the suspect was found to have an active warrant for his arrest, and he was also found to be in possession of drug paraphernalia. The suspect was arrested. 

Evading / Driving Without a License – Suspect Arrested
September 7 at 12:30 a.m., an officer on patrol near the intersection of Foothill and Canyon saw a vehicle traveling south on California with no lights. The officer initiated a traffic stop and the vehicle fled, running through several stop signs and a red light at a high rate of speed. The vehicle lost control and came to a stop on Foothill at Canyon. The driver was arrested for evading and driving without a license. 

Theft
September 7 at 7:29 p.m., a resident called police to report two bicycles had been stolen from the front porch of her home in the 200 block of W. Lime. Officers arrived and determined the theft occurred at 2:30 a.m. The victims Ring camera captured video footage of the suspect. This investigation is continuing. 

Trespassing – Suspect Arrested
September 8 at 1:04 a.m., a resident in the 100 block of Highland called police to report her ex-boyfriend was on her property, knocking on her back door. Officers arrived and were unable to locate him. Several hours later he returned to the home. The resident had the suspect on video. The investigation revealed he had been advised he was not welcome at the location and was issued a no trespass notification. Officers contacted the suspect and arrested him for the trespassing violation. 

Domestic Violence – Suspect Arrested
September 8 at 10:43 a.m., officers responded to a motel in the 900 block of E. Huntington regarding a male and female arguing in one of the rooms. When officers arrived, the female claimed her boyfriend hit her with his cell phone and kicked her during an argument. She also told officers he beat her up in Riverside the week before. She had visible injuries from being hit with the cell phone. Officers arrested the boyfriend for domestic violence and he was taken into custody. 

Trespassing / Possession of a Controlled Substance – Suspect Arrested
September 8 at 10:34 p.m., a subject was seen on surveillance cameras trespassing inside a business property in the 1400 block of S. Mountain. Officers arrived and detained the suspect, who was also found to be in possession of multiple controlled substances. The suspect was arrested. 

Grand Theft Auto / Burglary
September 9 at 7:37 a.m., officers responded to the 1800 block of Eighth Avenue regarding the report of a stolen vehicle. The victim parked his vehicle in the secure underground garage for his apartment the day prior. An investigation revealed the suspects also pried open eight garage storage cabinets and stole a computer. This investigation is continuing. 

Vandalism
September 9 at 9:43 a.m., a bank in the 100 block of W. Foothill reported a broken window on the east side of their building. The break was not large enough for anyone to gain entry. Officers arrived and saw there was a piece of broken clay pottery on the ground, which appeared to have been used to damage the window. This investigation is continuing. 

Wind Is Cooperating

The wind, shown by the little green stripes, is behaving nicely, flowing towards the north/northeast at 10 mph or less. This is from CalTopo. If you'd like to track this yourself, go here: https://is.gd/nIZPxe

- Brad Haugaard

Lunch from La Noria

Got lunch today from La Noria, formerly Los Victors, a Mexican food stand at the corner of Foothill and May. I got two mini chicken tacos for 99 cents each. They came with a pepper (very hot) and some nice crisp chips. Good tacos and very good price. 

- Brad Haugaard 

Firefighters Build Defensive Lines on Western and Southern Edges of Bobcat Fire - Emphasis Shifts East to Highway 39

From City Manager Dylan Feik:

"Overnight, the Bobcat Fire continues to grow, moving in a northeasterly direction but is also slowly burning towards the west. As the foothill area above Monrovia has not seen a fire in over 60 years, residents will notice that at certain times the fire will be more visible, especially when brush catches fire for the first time in 60 years or more. The fire will continue to be visible from the City with plumes of smoke during the day. Firefighting crews have spent considerable time building defensive lines on the western and southern edges of the fire. Now, efforts are being focused on the east and northeastern edges of the fire. The goal is to keep the fire from jumping Highway 39. 

"Please note...the fire is burning at a high elevation, with fuels that historically have not burned, and is surrounded by defensible space, dozer lines, and even recently burned areas from fires in the past 3-4 years. The area will likely burn for several weeks until it is fully extinguished by crews."

- Brad Haugaard

City Manager: Today's Air Support; Northward Winds (Hopefully) Coming Up

Notice the fire break is red. I think the planes are enhancing the fire breaks' fire-stopping ability.

 Notice the plane is following white smoke lines put down (I think) by the smaller guide plane.

Great photos courtesy of Sam Kurutz.

City Manager Dylan Feik reports that "two air tankers were able to make several drops of fire retardant (which we call "Phos-Chek" and is pronounced "fozz-check") on the southwest portion of the fire, which is right above Monrovia, to reinforce and strengthen previously applied fire lines. Additionally, several more resources arrived at the fire late in the day, including a sky crane helicopter and two more hotshot crews."

"Overnight, fire personnel will continue to monitor the fire's behavior and growth. One important term I learned today is that we have planned for a wind-driven fire, but we are observing a terrain-driven fire. For example, last night, the Santa Ana winds were forecast to push the fire southwest toward Monrovia. The fire moved east and northeast. As we wrap up the Red Flag Warning which ended at 8:00 p.m. this evening, winds are forecast to begin blowing northward which is a positive for us."

- Brad Haugaard

Painting the Mountains Red

Many thanks to Shane Nichols for sharing these photographs of a jet dropping red fire retardant along a firebreak in the mountains above Monrovia. The plane is flying downhill.

- Brad Haugaard

Dropping Fire Retardant

Aircraft dropping fire retardant late Wednesday afternoon. 

- Brad Haugaard 

Monrovia Coronavirus Count: 709, Up 9 For Week; No New Deaths

Coronavirus cases from LA Department of Public Health as of 8 p.m., 9/8/2020. Changes since 9/2/2020.

City of Monrovia: 709 cases (up 9), 37 deaths (unchanged)
Unincorporated Monrovia: 77 cases (unchanged), no deaths
Glen Park at Monrovia: 2 cases (unchanged), no deaths

- Brad Haugaard

Air Support

Planes are now dumping fire retardant on the south face of the Bobcat Fire. I have observed propeller and jet aircraft, and an LA County Fire helicopter. 

- Brad Haugaard 

BLM Helps Fight Bobcat Fire

Photo taken at the top of Ridgeside Drive, near the entrance to the Wilderness Preserve. 

Monrovia is getting out-of-state help, the Aravaipa Hotshots, a BLM (Bureau of Land Managemeent) team based near Fort Huachuca, Arizona. It is made up mostly of military veterans and provides "a highly skilled, safe, mobile, and professional handcrew for all phases of wildland fire suppression, and all risk assignments." https://is.gd/gJ2rVy

- Brad Haaugaard

Fire Slow, Wind May Shift to Northward, Possible That Airplanes May Assist

Report from City Manager Dylan Feik:

Throughout the night, the fire slowly burned on Rankin Peak. It moved south a bit but also east and north from the foothill communities of Monrovia, Arcadia and Duarte. The San Gabriel region continues to be on high alert for Santa Ana winds since noon yesterday and the red flag warning will continue to 8 p.m. tonight. By late tonight, the weather forecast is that wind will push north in our favor. That is a good thing. 

We want to remind everyone that fire can spread quickly and residents should be cognizant that the fire will continue to burn throughout the day and large plumes of smoke will be visible from across the region.

If conditions are good, flyovers will occur regularly to assess the situation. Fixed wing aircraft will engage the fire and perform fire extinguishing procedures including laying down fire retardant. 

- Brad Haugaard

Opinion: Goats as Firefighting Equipment

Let me be optimistic for a moment. Let's assume that the Bobcat Fire is stopped well above Monrovia. That would be wonderful. But what about the future?

I understand that large swaths of brush above Monrovia haven't burned since 1957. That's an awful lot of dry brush, and if it doesn't burn now it'll burn later, and more intensely because there'll be even more of it. I understand that if it burns too hot it destroys the plants and their seeds.

What could we do about that? Well, there are controlled burns, but I'm sure they are very expensive and there is always the possibility they will get out of control and we could cause the disaster we want to prevent.

Here's another idea. I was talking with City Historian Steve Baker about the fire and he mentioned that long ago goats were used to control the underbrush. Add goats, they eat underbrush, and the amount of fuel is reduced. Then round up the fat goats and send them off elsewhere.

He said this was stopped for environmental reasons, but I imagine things have changed since then and perhaps now the environmental concerns can be more effectively addressed.

I'm no expert on goats and underbrush and fires but it seems goats should at least be considered. And if not goats then something else, because the more the brush builds up the bigger a disaster it could be in the future. 

- Brad Haugaard

City Spreading Fire Retardant, Bulldozing Fire Breaks

City Manager Dylan Feik reports that Monrovia and neighboring city agencies spent all of Tuesday laying down fire retardant at Canyon Park and the Camp Trask Boy Scout, in the mountains above Canyon Park. He said they have also been cutting bulldozer lines as defensive measures. 

- Brad Haugaard

City Manager Advice on How to Get Fire and Evacuation Information

City Manager Dylan Feik writes that, “I am urging residents living in the evacuation area to assist your emergency responders by making sure you do the following: 

• Sign up for Nixle by texting your zip code to 888777  
• Subscribe to Alert LA 
• Keep cellphone ringers on with volumes loud

"Lastly, the Monrovia Community Center will continue to be an Information Center, taking calls overnight for residents seeking information. Residents can contact the Monrovia Community Center at 256-8246, anytime."

- Brad Haugaard

Distance Learning With Lions

A Monrovia Schools Tweet: Monroe Elementary students have received a stuffed lion (Monroe is the Mighty Lions) to join them in distance learning. Students will do challenges and activities with their lions and document the process. The first task is to name their lion and work with them during distance learning.

- Brad Haugaard

Grand Opening of Monrovia High's Renovated Weight Room

Monrovia School District will celebrate the grand re-opening of the Monrovia High Weight Room with an open house on Wednesday, Sept. 9 from 2 to 7 p.m. in the newly renovated Weight Room.

The idea to renovate the Weight Room came from Monrovia High Football Coach Christian Williams, and Monrovia City Council Member Larry Spicer, a Monrovia High School Class of 1973 alum, raised more than $24,000 to support the renovation.

School Board President Rob Hammond said, "Mr. Spicer is an outstanding community leader who is been very supportive of our schools. He specifically enjoys supporting Wildcat athletics."

Other contributors include Athens Disposal, Baja Ranch Market, Bowden Construction, Darrell Brooke Law Firm, Gary Schaeffler, Mountjoy Construction, Gina Willard, Larry Spicer, Marvin Holmes, Paul Kalemkiarian (Wine of the Month Club), Sierra Auto Cars, and Mr. & Mrs. Victor Hoskins.

Source: https://is.gd/w0umRi

- Brad Haugaard

Milo and Luna - House Panthers Who Just Need a Little Patience

Seven-month-old Milo and his sister, Luna (also a sleek house panther), came to Pasadena Humane as strays. At first, they were a little shy, but with some yummy food and play time, they came out of their shells. Now Milo and his sister are having fun exploring their foster home. Milo loves to follow Luna around everywhere and copy everything she does. He also loves playing with toys and being petted! Milo is the purrfect example of a kitty who just needed a little patience to trust people, and he’ll make a wonderful cat for a patient and loving owner. And if you wanted to adopt Luna too, he’d love that!

The adoption fee for cats is $90. All cat adoptions include spay or neuter, microchip, and age-appropriate vaccines.

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 and fill out an online adoption application. Adoptions are by appointment only.

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

- Brad Haugaard

Fighting in the Hills, Prepping in the Town

The City of Monrovia reports:

"If you haven't seen them already, helicopters and air support are on scene and fighting the fire from the air. In addition, there are many teams of firefighters on the ground working the fire, building fire breaks and making every attempt to fight the fire up in the hills. These crews will continue to work on slowing the progress of fire movement towards the foothill communities.

"Within the City of Monrovia, multiple fire engines are performing work in advance of the fire, should it arrive. This includes pre-treating areas, cleaning hazardous vegetation and improving access points. This is all done to provide additional structure defense in the event the fire reaches Monrovia." https://is.gd/GwXK8k

- Brad Haugaard

Bobcat Fire as Seen by Air Quality

Air quality, according to BreezoMeter. That Monrovia has good air quality indicates the wind must be away from us and toward the fire. The purple-red indicates super bad air quality. Not surprisingly, that’s where the fire is. 

- Brad Haugaard 

Bobcat Fire Moving Slow But Winds Expected This Afternoon

(Photo from yesterday)

Bobcat Fire update from City Manager Dylan Feik:

The fire has continued to burn southward toward Monrovia at a slow rate. Around midnight, the marine layer arrived and helped slow the fire activity. There has been low to no spread since last night and is 10% relative humidity.

For Tuesday, September 8, teams will be working to build dozer lines and prepare for Santa Ana winds forecast to begin at noon thru Wednesday. These winds will be from 10-20 mph, with gusts up to 40 mph. The fire is expected to be active today and will become more active once the winds begins this afternoon.

Firefighting crews will be building additional dozer lines around the fire, focusing on the western and southern edges of the fire. Air support had been requested and they expect 4 - 5 helicopters and tankers to be operational today, weather permitting. Crews will also be roving in the community and making advance plans for structural defense in the event it is needed. 

We have been told to plan for the fire to get worse and we are asking all residents to be prepared and ready if an Evacuation Order is issued. Even when we don't see flames on the hill, the Santa Ana winds can change the fire conditions incredibly quickly. We are trying to give as much advance notice as possible and we will provide updates as frequently as we can.

- Brad Haugaard