Coronavirus cases from LA Department of Public Health as of 8 p.m.,
08/18/2021. Changes since
08/11/2021.
City of Monrovia: 3,561 cases (up 82), 79 deaths (unchanged)
Unincorporated Monrovia: 411 cases (up 7), no deaths
- Brad Haugaard
Monrovia Schools Back In Session - In Person!
Students at Plymouth School.
Monrovia schools are back in session. Drive carefully!
- Brad Haugaard
Monrovia Police: Intoxicated Drivers; More Intoxicated Drivers; Drunk Mom Bites Dad's Arm; Drunk Driver Loses a Wheel - Keeps Going; Gunshots; and More...
Possession of Drug Paraphernalia / Possession of a Controlled Substance – Suspect Arrested
August 13 at 12:34 a.m., an officer on patrol in the 1600 block of S. Myrtle saw a suspicious male subject sitting in a vehicle parked in the area. The officer contacted the subject and saw he had drug paraphernalia out in plain sight. The subject was detained and a search of the vehicle revealed multiple controlled substances. The subject was arrested and taken into custody.
Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
August 13 at 1:17 a.m., an officer on patrol observed a vehicle commit a traffic violation near the intersection of Foothill and Mayflower. A traffic stop was conducted and the driver displayed signs of being under the influence of alcohol. After a DUI investigation was conducted, the driver was arrested for DUI and held for a sobering period.
Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
August 13 at 2:09 a.m., an officer patrolling the 300 block of Laurel stopped a vehicle for a traffic violation. The driver was exhibiting signs and symptoms of being under the influence of a controlled substance. After a drug evaluation was conducted, the driver was arrested for DUI and held for a sobering period.
Domestic Violence / Child Endangerment – Suspect Wanted
August 13 at 8:00 p.m., officers responded to an apartment building in the 800 block of S. Myrtle regarding reports of a female screaming. Officers contacted the female, who was heavily intoxicated. She stated her ex-boyfriend, whom she has a child with, tried to kill her by putting his hand over her mouth and neck. The male subject already left the location with the child prior to officers arriving. The female was transported to a local hospital for further treatment because she stated she possibly lost consciousness. The male subject, who is the appointed foster parent, met with the officer at the station with the child. Further investigation revealed the father arrived at the apartment and found the mother was heavily intoxicated while caring for their daughter. They argued about her being intoxicated and the female started hitting the male on his head. When he raised his left arm up to block her, she bit his left wrist, causing it to bleed. The female subject was determined to be the primary aggressor in the incident. She is now wanted for further questioning regarding this case. The Department of Children and Family Services was also notified.
Non-Injury Traffic Collision / Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
August 13 at 9:39 p.m., two vehicles collided in the intersection of Peck and Armijo. Upon arrival, officers determined the party most at fault was intoxicated. A DUI investigation was conducted, and the driver was ultimately found to have been driving under the influence of alcohol. He was arrested and held for a sobering period.
Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
August 13 at 11:19 p.m., officers responded to the area of Colorado and Ivy regarding a possible DUI driver. The caller stated the driver was driving erratically. An officer located the vehicle and saw it was weaving back and forth on the roadway. A traffic stop was conducted, and after a DUI investigation, the driver was arrested and held for and a sobering period.
Weapons Offense / Public Intoxication – Suspect Arrested
August 14 at 11:03 p.m., officers were dispatched to the 500 block of W. Foothill regarding a subject knocking on various doors in the area. Upon arrival, they made contact with the subject, who was heavily intoxicated. Further investigation revealed he was in possession of a double edged knife and a replica firearm. He was arrested and held for a sobering period.
Vehicle Pursuit / Non-Injury Traffic Collision / DUI – Suspect Arrested
August 15 at 3:49 a.m., officers on patrol near the intersection of Foothill and Magnolia were handling a call and observed a speeding vehicle. After finishing their call for service, they observed the same vehicle driving by, now missing a wheel. The officers tried to stop the vehicle, but it sped away. After a short pursuit, the vehicle tried to make a turn and lost control, colliding into a parked vehicle. The driver was determined to be under the influence. He was arrested and held for a sobering period.
Commercial Burglary
August 15 at 6:19 a.m., an alarm company for a restaurant in the 400 block of W. Huntington reported an alarm activation had just occurred. Officers responded and found the backdoor had been forced open and two safes were stolen. The safes contained cash. There were no suspects located in the building. This investigation is continuing.
Possession of Stolen Mail – Suspect Arrested
August 15 at 8:31 a.m., security for an apartment complex in the 200 block of W. Pomona reported a male subject sleeping in the building's stairwell. Officers arrived and located the subject, who was found to be in possession of mail and UPS packages belonging to residents of the building. The mail and packages were opened and some of the contents were found in the subject's backpack. He was arrested and taken into custody.
Vandalism
August 15 at 10:31 a.m., a resident in the 1100 block of Sesmas walked outside her apartment and discovered someone had slashed two of her vehicle tires sometime during the night. This investigation is continuing.
Mental Evaluation
August 15 at 11:17 a.m., a male subject walked into the Monrovia Police Department lobby and said he was depressed and wanted to kill himself. He let officers know he has a history of mental illness that requires medication, but he hasn't taken medication for an unknown length of time. The subject was transported to a nearby mental health hospital for care.
Injury Traffic Collision
August 16 at 3:28 a.m., officers were dispatched to the intersection of S. Lincoln and Colorado regarding an injury traffic collision. Upon arrival, they discovered a vehicle in the middle of the street with major damage. During the investigation, officers discovered the driver was traveling east on Colorado at a high rate of speed, when he struck the dip at Colorado and Fifth. The driver lost control and struck several parked vehicles and damaged an Edison pole. This collision is still under investigation.
Commercial Burglary
August 16 at 8:05 a.m., employees of a business in the 900 block of W. Duarte arrived to work and discovered someone had forced entry into the building sometime during the night. The suspects rummaged through the cash registers and stole money and merchandise. This investigation is continuing.
Injury Traffic Collision
August 16 at 12:37 p.m., a driver reported that he collided with another vehicle at the intersection of Myrtle and Los Angeles, but the other vehicle fled. Paramedics responded because the caller said he was injured, but had no visible injuries. While officers were speaking with the driver, the other motorist returned to inquire why the police had responded, stating that both parties had already exchanged information. After further investigation, the driver that called police admitted they had exchanged information, and he was found to be at fault. He was also found to be driving with a suspended license and was issued a citation at the scene.
Attempted Grand Theft
August 17 at 2:40 a.m., officers were dispatched to the 500 block of E. Colorado on the report of an attempted grand theft. The victim reported that someone tried to take his catalytic converter. He heard noises outside his residence and scared off the suspects. The suspects were last seen leaving eastbound on Colorado, out of sight. This investigation is continuing.
Injury Traffic Collision
August 17 at 4:08 p.m., a traffic collision involving three motorists was reported in the 400 block of E. Duarte. One of the drivers was complaining of pain, so paramedics responded. The injured driver was not taken to a hospital. The party found to be at fault was issued a citation.
Possession of Drug Paraphernalia / Warrant
August 18 at 11:59 a.m., suspicious male subjects were reported in front of a restaurant in the 100 block of W. Foothill. An officer arrived and contacted both male subjects. The officer could see used drug paraphernalia in the hand of one of the subjects. As the officer was waiting for additional officers to arrive, the subject with the drug paraphernalia suddenly ran. The subject was not located. This subject is known to police and also has a warrant for his arrest.
Vehicle Burglary
August 18 at 8:04 p.m., a vehicle burglary was reported in the 1100 block of E. Huntington. The victim reported that she parked her vehicle to the rear of a restaurant. When she returned after dinner, she found the window to her vehicle had been smashed. A laptop and her wallet were taken from inside. Investigation continuing.
Hit & Run Traffic Collision
August 18 at 10:02 p.m., a caller reported a semi-truck tried to make a turn at California and Duarte and clipped the drop arm at the tracks. The drop arm was damaged and the driver fled the scene. Investigation continuing.
Shots Fired
August 18 at 11:11 p.m., a caller reported hearing multiple gunshots in the area of Alta Vista and Duarte Rd. Officers responded and located four spent casings in the roadway. The area was searched for victims, witnesses, and impact strikes, but none were located. Investigation continuing.
Dinner at Luscious Dumplings
Dinner at Luscious Dumplings, in the shopping area at Duarte and Sixth. Got the Steamed Soup Dumplings for $11 and a Diet Coke for $1.50. Very tasty! (By the way, the name is being changed to Mason’s Dumpling Shop.)- Brad Haugaard
Academic Elsa Loves Learning!
When three-year-old Elsa was found as a stray, she was very calm and friendly, giving licks and tail wags. Although she’s been more shy at the shelter, our behavior staff has started to see her come out of her shell. Elsa loves learning new things, such as sit and down, and gets so much more relaxed and happy when she’s learning! She also loves treats, and is very treat-motivated. Elsa would do best in a home without other dogs, with a patient adopter who can let her go at her own pace. She has lots of love to give!
The adoption fee for dogs is $150. All dog 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 and schedule an adoption appointment at pasadenahumane.org. Adoptions are by appointment only, and new adoption appointments are available every Sunday and Wednesday at 10:00 a.m.
Pets may not be available for adoption and cannot be held for potential adopters by phone calls or email.
- Brad Haugaard
A Moment in Monrovia History: Monrovia's Solar Heater Company
1923 advertisement for Day & Night Solar Heater Co., William J. Bailey owner. One of Monrovia's largest employers.. See full details here. From the Myron Hotchkiss collection.
Free Concert Tonight: Night Owl Top 40 Band
- Brad Haugaard
Free Concert Tonight - The Answer Classic Rock
- Brad Haugaard
Broadway Under the Stars - Saturday, Aug. 28
Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. for those who wish to bring a picnic dinner. Both VIP and General Admission tickets are available.
Details and tickets: https://is.gd/xz6KQ5
- Brad Haugaard
Monrovia Coronavirus Count: 81 More Cases; Minus One On Death Count
Coronavirus cases from LA Department of Public Health as of 8 p.m.,
08/11/2021. Changes since
08/04/2021.
City of Monrovia: 3,479 cases (up 81), 79 deaths (Last week I listed 1 new death, for 80 total - obviously a mistake.)
Unincorporated Monrovia: 404 cases (up 11), no deaths.
- Brad Haugaard
City of Monrovia: 3,479 cases (up 81), 79 deaths (Last week I listed 1 new death, for 80 total - obviously a mistake.)
Unincorporated Monrovia: 404 cases (up 11), no deaths.
- Brad Haugaard
Monrovia Police: Lots of DUIs; Multiple Mental Evaluations; Cursing at Police on 911 Line; Gardener Tools Stolen; Etc.
During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 333 service events, resulting in 70 investigations.
Petty Theft
August 5 at 2:24 p.m., officers responded to the 200 block of Highland regarding a theft investigation. The victim was doing yard work at the location when two suspects in a silver Chevrolet Silverado took the lawn mower out of his unlocked van. This investigation is continuing.
Vehicle Burglary
August 5 at 2:52 p.m., a vehicle burglary was reported in the 100 block of Cedar. The victim left his van parked at the location with all door and windows locked and secured. When the victim returned, he saw the lock on the rear doors had been broken and two leaf blowers had been stolen from inside. This investigation is continuing.
Non-Injury Traffic Collision / Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
August 5 at 9:27 p.m., an officer responded to the area of Mountain and Wildrose regarding a traffic collision. One of the involved parties was displaying signs of being intoxicated. A DUI investigation was conducted and he was found to have been driving under the influence of alcohol. He was arrested and held for a sobering period.
Vandalism
August 6 at 4:49 a.m., an officer patrolling the area around Lime and Myrtle saw fresh gang graffiti on the north east corner of the intersection. A report was taken and the graffiti will be removed. This investigation is continuing.
Violation of Court Order – Suspect Arrested
August 6 at 6:22 p.m., officers responded to the 200 block of E. Lime regarding a report of a court order violation. The victim called to report her adult son was on the property after being served with a restraining order. The subject was contacted and the restraining order was confirmed. He was arrested for violation of the court order.
Mental Evaluation
August 6 at 7:27 p.m., officers responded to the 500 block of W. Lime regarding a male subject that was reporting hallucinations. It was determined the subject may be a danger to himself and needed to be evaluated by a mental health professional. He was transported to a local facility for treatment.
Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
August 6 at 11:50 p.m., an officer was on patrol in the area of Peck and Longden and observed a vehicle commit a traffic violation. The vehicle was stopped and the driver was found to be displaying signs of being under the influence of alcohol. A DUI investigation was conducted. The driver was arrested for DUI and held for a sobering period.
Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
August 7 at 2:47 a.m., an officer patrolling the area of Myrtle and Colorado stopped a vehicle for a traffic violation. An investigation revealed the driver was on parole and had been driving under the influence of a controlled substance. The driver was arrested for DUI and held for and a sobering period.
Mental Evaluation
August 7 at 1:52 p.m., an employee from a business in the 500 block of W. Huntington called to report a male subject had just attempted to steal merchandise and pushed a customer. Officers responded and located the subject nearby. After a detailed investigation, it was determined the subject was a danger to himself and others, and needed to be evaluated by a mental health professional. He was transported to a local facility for treatment. The customer was not injured and she declined to press charges.
Domestic Violence – Suspect Arrested
August 7 at 8:51 p.m., officers responded to a hotel in the 1100 block of E. Huntington regarding a male and female fighting in the parking lot. When officers arrived, both suspects fled into one of the hotel rooms. Further investigation revealed the female started punching the male and chased him into traffic on Huntington. The female suspect was arrested for domestic violence.
Misuse of 911 – Suspect Arrested
August 7 at 11:09 p.m., a caller known to officers from previous encounters began calling 911 multiple times. She was yelling and cursing at police dispatchers. She refused to stop calling, even after being advised that her phone calls were a misuse of the emergency line. Officers conducted an area check and located the subject near the intersection of Magnolia and Huntington. She was arrested.
Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
August 7 at 11:33 p.m., an officer was on patrol in the area of Mountain and Lemon observed a vehicle commit a traffic violation. A traffic stop was initiated and the driver displayed symptoms of being under the influence of alcohol. A DUI investigation was then conducted. The driver was arrested and held for a sobering period.
Possession of Drug Paraphernalia – Suspect Arrested
August 8 at 7:12 p.m., an officer on patrol in the 900 block of W. Foothill saw a vehicle traveling on the road without license plates. He conducted a traffic stop and discovered the driver did not have a valid driver’s license and was on probation. The vehicle was searched and drug paraphernalia was found. The driver was arrested and the vehicle was impounded.
Fraud
August 9 at 9:35 a.m., a resident in the 1000 block of E. Huntington reported he was tricked into sending money to someone using a money phone app. After sending the money, he realized it was a fraud scam. This investigation is continuing.
Vandalism
August 9 at 10:08 a.m., a resident in the 500 block of E. Olive walked outside his home and discovered someone had vandalized his parked car by spray painting profanities on it and denting it. This investigation is continuing.
Grand Theft Auto
August 10 at 5:09 p.m., a vehicle was reported stolen from the 400 block of Huntington. The victim reported her vehicle had been stolen by the acquaintance of a friend. The victim does not know the person, nor did she give permission for them to take her vehicle. This investigation is continuing.
Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
August 10 at 11:09 p.m., an officer on patrol in the area of Maple and Mayflower saw a vehicle commit a traffic violation. The vehicle was stopped and the driver displayed symptoms of being under the influence of alcohol. A DUI investigation was conducted and it was determined the driver was intoxicated. He was arrested and held for a sobering period.
Vandalism
August 11 at 9:09 a.m., a vandalism incident was reported in the 800 block of W. Duarte. The victim went out to his parked car and discovered someone had shattered the passenger window sometime during the night. It did not appear the suspect entered the vehicle or took anything from inside. This investigation is continuing.
Shoplifting
August 11 at 8:40 p.m., a male adult suspect entered a business in the 400 block of W. Foothill and selected merchandise. The suspect then ran out the doors without purchasing the items and fled in a waiting vehicle before officers could arrive. The vehicle is a white Toyota sedan. This investigation is continuing.
Mental Evaluation
August 11 at 9:08 p.m., a father called to report his mentally ill son was at their residence in the 200 block of S. Madison and was refusing to leave. Officers arrived and located a distraught and emotionally charged subject who was threatening to harm his father. The subject then turned his attention to the officers and stated he wanted the officers to shoot and kill him. Officers were able to deescalate the situation and calmed the subject enough to peacefully detain him. They determined he needed to speak with a mental health professional and transported him to a facility for mental evaluation
Opinion: Why I'm Disappointed in the Monrovia Public Library
I love libraries but am quite disappointed in changes at the Monrovia Public Library.Why? Because I think the library has been far, Far, FAR too aggressive in clearing out old books.
I recently went to the Monrovia Library looking for a novel. I had read one by Nevil Shute that I enjoyed so I thought I’d try something else by him from the nice collection of his books on the shelf. But there was nothing by him. All gone. Oh well! The library also had a nice collection of adventure novels by Hammond Innes. But they're all gone, too. All of them.
I realize there needs to be space for new books, and it makes sense to replace old books that are seldom checked out with more popular works.
But that is not the case here. While the teen and children's sections are reasonably full of books, the adult section -- fiction and non-fiction -- has been whacked down to being less than 30% full. The stacks all have seven shelves; the top shelf and bottom two shelves are now empty and the middle four rows are only about half full. So there is only the equivalent of two full rows, 2/7ths, or 29%. Plenty of room.
I asked Librarian Carey Vance what is going on.
She wrote:
"Over the past few years we have been in the process of weeding the collection of damaged, out of date, and inaccurate materials which has freed up some shelf space. This aligns with the library's strategic plan goal of providing an up to date and relevant collection for our community. This also means we have room to grow the collection moving forward."
Removing damaged or inaccurate [*see footnote] materials I can understand but I am baffled how offering people so many fewer books enhances anybody's experience.
Nor do I understand why old, seldom-checked-out books can't be removed AS the library needs space for the new books. Why get rid of them while you have room and somebody might want to check them out?
Back to Vance's comments:
"In addition, we have been able to shift the collections to create a more user-friendly experience. All of the nonfiction titles have been moved to one side of the room, lessening confusion for browsers. And we've been able to move books from the top and bottom shelves, which could create accessibility issues for some of our patrons, to the middle shelves for easier access. We are still in the process of moving some of the more specialized collections so you may see some empty shelves right now but overall, we’re hopeful the changes we’ve made will make finding items so much easier."
So... It's better not to carry a book than to make a limited-mobility patron ask a librarian to reach it for him? I'm sorry, that makes absolutely no sense to me.
Regarding my inability to find the books I was looking for, Vance writes:
"As to the titles you mentioned, we are very lucky to live in an area with multiple library systems so whenever you are unable to find a book you are looking for, please ask the Reference Staff at the Front Desk. If we don’t have the book, we can find it for you from a local library and have it sent over. Or we are happy to call the library and have it held for pickup. This allows us to maximize the City funds we have for purchasing materials while still providing access to titles we may not own."
The library HAD the books I wanted. I don't see how getting rid of books the library already owned saved the city a penny.
Okay, you may say, but the world is going digital, and the library provides access to a vast array of digital books, right?
Wrong.
I installed the Libby app, which the Monrovia Library and the rest of the Southern California Digital Library consortium use to let users check out digital books from across the consortium. If you want to read current popular books, the Libby app is great. However, if your tastes lean towards anything a bit dated, the pickings are pathetic. I won't beat this to death, but suppose you want to read Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. Search on her name and all you'll get is Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, not, incidentally, by Jane Austen. This, though tens of thousands of out-of-copyright books have been digitized and are available for free.
Vance responds:
"I completely understand, unfortunately the various publishers for ebooks have very strict and sometimes odd rules on what can be used where. As a public library consortium, the platform is limited on what titles can be purchased and used since they will be accessed by the public (vs. private copies of ebooks meant for use by one person). So even some public domain titles don’t qualify for public library use. The world of ebooks is a very strange one to be sure."
I grew up haunting libraries. I loved pulling down oddball books and flipping through them. It was kind of an adventure of discovery. Old books give you a different perspective on the world because views change over the decades and if all you read/hear/watch is contemporary, that's pretty much the only perspective you'll ever have. And if the old books that the library has discarded are replaced with new books to make the library's collection "up to date and relevant," as Vance says, all that does is reinforce group-think.
[* I was concerned about the library discarding "inaccurate" books. Vance explains: "When we say 'inaccurate' we are referring to particular subjects within the nonfiction collection such as medical or legal information that could seriously impact or even harm someone if the information wasn't up to date and factually accurate. This also pertains to technology subjects since computers and software are continually being updated. For other topics that may have more than one opinion, we ensure we have a balanced collection that provides titles from multiple viewpoints. Our weeding guidelines are based on national guidelines used by public libraries across the country and the librarians take great care to ensure the books in the collection meet these standards."]
- Brad Haugaard
Dinner at Los Gueros
Dinner at Los Gueros, on the north side of Huntington just west of Magnolia. Got the chicken enchilada for $10.98 and an iced tea for $3.25. Very good!- Brad Haugaard
Laid-Back Missy the Kitten Ready for a Cozy Indoor Life
The adoption fee for kittens 6 months and under is $150. All kitten 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 and schedule an adoption appointment at pasadenahumane.org. Adoptions are by appointment only, and new adoption appointments are available every Sunday and Wednesday at 10:00 a.m.
Pets may not be available for adoption and cannot be held for potential adopters by phone calls or email.
- Brad Haugaard
Insurance Pool Sues Edison to Recover Its Payment to Monrovia Schools
An insurance pool Monrovia School District belongs to is suing Southern California Edison Co. in hopes of being repaid the $803,730 the pool paid to the district after several MUSD buildings were damaged during the 2020 Bobcat fire. The Alliance of Schools for Cooperative Insurance Programs alleges "negligence and trespass" on Edison's part.
- Brad Haugaard
- Brad Haugaard
A Moment in Monrovia History: Carriage and Agricultural Implements
W.A. Crandall & Co. Carriage and Agricultural Implements at 620 S Myrtle. c. 1887.. See full details here. From the Myron Hotchkiss collection.
Mountain Park School Answers Questions About Independent Study
- Brad Haugaard
Monrovian Kyle Li Wins $10,000 Scholarship From Carl's Jr.
Carl's Jr.® has selected Kyle Li of Monrovia, Calif., as one of 10 recipients for the 2021 Carl N. and Margaret Karcher Founder's Scholarship. Li, an aspiring public policy major at Princeton University, will receive $10,000 towards his tuition.
Kyle is pursuing a career in public policy and hopes to be California’s first Chinese-American senator.
This year, in honor of the company's founders, Carl's Jr. awarded $100,000 to outstanding high school students who exhibit impeccable academic performance, have demonstrated leadership and participation in their school and community, and who have financial need in pursuing a college degree. Since 1998, Carl's Jr. has granted more than one million dollars to 1,000-plus deserving students.
"This year's recipients shared compelling stories that made it easy for our judging panel to make their selection," said Ned Lyerly, CEO of CKE Restaurants. "Among our recipients, three are Carl's Jr. crew members, two were valedictorians of their graduating class, and eight had a 4.0 GPA. Thank you to our Carl's Jr. franchisees for embracing future generations and making special moments like this possible for these stellar students."
The Carl N. and Margaret Karcher Founder's Scholarship is available to graduating high school seniors in states where Carl's Jr. operates. Scholarships are offered each year for full-time study at an accredited institution of the student's choice. The application program for the next round of scholarships will be available in early 2022. Students interested in next year's scholarship should complete an application through Scholarship America.
Source: Carl's Jr. press release
- Brad Haugaard
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