First Presbyterian Church Preschool Reportedly Closing

Shannan Davis, who said she works at the First Presbyterian Church Preschool at the corner of Myrtle and Foothill, has reported on Facebook that the preschool will be closing, apparently at the end of this school year, according to discussion on the post.

- Brad Haugaard

Equity Committee Doesn't Find Unfairness in City Government; Budget Update; Asia/Pacific Heritage Month

At its next meeting (agenda: https://is.gd/jAMBm6) the Monrovia City Council will ...

~ Receive a report from the Ad Hoc Committee on Equity and Inclusion that basically says Monrovia does not have any unjust or unfair policies, practices, and procedures. 

The staff report says: "The Committee's sole function was to review with the community to determine whether any policies, practices, and procedures of the City of Monrovia are unjust or unfair; create structural barriers to diversity, equity, and inclusion in City governance, employment, or enforcement; or perpetuate systemic racism in City government and provide a report back to the City Council with any recommendations for change the Committee deems advisable for consideration."

The committee, formed after the killing of George Floyd, not only didn't report any such flaws, but was complimentary of city departments. It made 44 recommendations . The report is here: https://is.gd/BpgJho

~ Receive a mid-year budget update. Basically, property tax is fine. Sales tax is "better than originally expected." Hotel bed tax (TOT) has been "the most impacted," but city staff is hopeful it will improve as travel picks up. Plus, some small increases and decreases in expenditures. https://is.gd/M2igYq

~ Proclaim May as Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month. https://is.gd/a683S9

- Brad Haugaard

Chick-fil-A Review Coming Up; Fake SWAT Team Was Just Acting for Film; EV Chargers in Old Town; Equity Committee to Report

Proposed Chick-fil-A at former Claim Jumper site.

In his latest report (https://goo.gl/aOqX7O) City Manager Dylan Feik reports: 

~ On May 3 Chick-fil-A and Starbucks will begin the environmental public review and comment period for their proposal to construct and operate two new drive-thru restaurants at the southwest corner of Huntington and Encino Avenue (former Claim Jumper restaurant site).

~ The reason the city requires filming permits is because of incidents like this: A resident without a  permit filmed a fictitious SWAT team breaking into a house, complete with the sound of guns and the use of tear gas. Neighbors were - ahem - concerned. Even charitable and student films must obtain a permit so neighbors can be notified and concerns addressed.

~ Electric vehicle charging stations will soon be installed in Old Town and should be available by summer. The public ones will be at Public Parking Lot #4, in the 100 block of E. Lemon.

~ The ad hoc Committee on Equity & Inclusion will present its recommendations to the City Council at its Tuesday, May 4, meeting.  The five-member committee was formed to determine if any city policies, practices, or procedures are unjust or unfair.

- Brad Haugaard

Weekly Coronavirus Count: Just 1 New Case, No New Deaths

Coronavirus cases from LA Department of Public Health as of 8 p.m., 04/28/2021. Changes since 04/21/2021.

City of Monrovia: 3,164 cases (up 1), 76 deaths (unchanged)
Unincorporated Monrovia: 372 cases (unchanged), no deaths

- Brad Haugaard

Arbor Day in Library Park - April 30, 3-7 p.m.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Suspects Fire Shots at Gas Station, Arrested; Police Help Two Suicidal Men; Stolen Tailgate; Police Find Missing Person; Shoplifting; Etc.

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for April 22-28. - Brad Haugaard]

During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 311 service events, resulting in 56 investigations.

Grand Theft
April 22 at 9:24 p.m., a grand theft incident was reported in the 600 block of W. Huntington. While a construction worker was working at a business in the area, someone entered the tool boxes on his truck and took a large amount of tools within a twenty minute time frame. The investigation is continuing.

Weapons Offence – Suspect Arrested
April 23 at 12:21 p.m., an officer was providing traffic enforcement in the 2000 block of S. Myrtle when he saw a vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed. Before the officer was able to conduct a traffic stop, the vehicle stopped and a passenger exited holding a handgun. The passenger fired five shots toward a local gas station in the City of Irwindale. The passenger then reentered the vehicle and began heading south. Additional units responded and initiated a traffic stop in the City of El Monte. The suspects were detained until Irwindale Police Department arrived to conduct an investigation.

Mental Evaluation – Mental Health Treatment Provided
April 23 at 1:54 p.m., a caller on S. Magnolia reported that her best friend’s husband was suicidal at his house. The caller informed dispatch the suicidal subject had a rifle within arms reach. Officers arrived and were able to communicate with the suicidal subject. They were able to deescalate the situation and talked the subject into coming out of the house with his hands up. He was safely cared for and transported to a local facility for mental health treatment.

Shoplifting
April 23 at 7:08 p.m., an employee of a business in the 1600 block of S. Mountain advised that a suspect had just stolen merchandise and fled in a vehicle. Officers searched the area for the suspect vehicle, but were unable to locate it. This investigation is continuing.

Theft
April 23 at 7:55 p.m., a resident in the 200 block of El Nido called police to report the tailgate had been stolen from his 2011 Chevrolet Silverado truck. He last saw his vehicle the day prior. This investigation is continuing.

Shoplifting
April 23 at 9:19 p.m., an employee of a business in the 1600 block of S. Mountain called police to report a shoplifter. The suspect stole hand tools and fled the store on foot. Officers arrived and checked the area, but the suspect was not located. This investigation is continuing.

Missing Person Located
April 24 at 4:03 a.m., officers on patrol in the 200 block of W. Huntington saw a subject walking down the street who appeared disoriented. They contacted him, and further investigation revealed he had been reported missing out of Mentone California. A family member was contacted and was able to respond to pick up the subject.

Injury Traffic Collision
April 25 at 6:52 a.m., officers responded to a traffic collision in the 1800 block of S. Mayflower. A driver had been traveling north on Mayflower and made an unsafe turning movement, causing him to collide into a parked vehicle. It was determined that the driver was not under the influence of any substances. Both the driver and passenger were treated for minor injuries by paramedics.

Theft – Suspect Arrested
April 25 at 2:34 p.m., an employee of a business in the 1600 block of S. Mountain advised that a male suspect was concealing merchandise inside his clothing. The suspect fled the area after being confronted by loss prevention personnel. Officers located the suspect and detained him. An investigation was conducted and the suspect was arrested.

Trespassing – Suspect Arrested
April 26 at 10:03 p.m., officers responded to the 1000 block of E. Huntington regarding a loitering subject. The owner of the property authorized a no-trespass order against the subject and officers stood by while he left the location. The property owner called back at 2:13 a.m. and advised the subject was back. Officers responded again and arrested the suspect for trespassing.

Trespassing / Vandalism
April 27 at 12:04 a.m., officers responded to the 800 block of W. Olive regarding a trespassing violation. An investigation revealed the suspect was the reporting party’s ex-boyfriend and that he had vandalized her vehicle. Officers searched the area, but the suspect had left. This investigation is continuing.

Mental Evaluation – Mental Health Treatment Provided
April 27 at 7:14 a.m., a resident in the 1000 block of E. Huntington reported her neighbor was yelling and throwing items outside of the mobile home he was living in. Officers arrived and found the subject locked inside his mobile home, refusing to open the door. The subject saw the officers and pointed a knife to his neck, stating he was going to kill himself. After placing the knife down, he continued yelling and throwing items throughout the mobile home. Officers established communication, however, this did not immediately control the situation. A clinician from the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health arrived, however, the subject would not communicate. Additional officers arrived, and once they distracted the subject, officers entered the home with a key provided by his family. They detained the subject without incident and he was transported to a nearby hospital by ambulance for mental health treatment.

Shoplifting
April 27 at 11:32 a.m., an employee of a hardware store in the 1600 block of S. Mountain reported a male subject had just walked outside the store without paying for merchandise he had taken. Officers arrived and searched the area for the subject, but were unable to locate him. This investigation is continuing.

Fight in Progress
April 28 at 2:03 a.m., officers responded to the 500 block of Date regarding a fight in progress between two male subjects. Officers arrived and detained a subject they recognized from previous encounters. He had minor injuries that were treated by paramedics. He refused to cooperate and would not say who else was involved in the fight.

Vandalism
April 28 at 10:24 a.m., a resident in the 800 block of W. Colorado walked outside his home and discovered his mailbox, along with several of his neighbors’ mailboxes, had been vandalized sometime during the night. It is unknown if any mail was taken from the boxes. This investigation is continuing.

Injury Traffic Collision
April 28 at 2:30 p.m., a traffic collision was reported at the intersection of Huntington and Mountain. Officers responded and found one of the passengers was complaining of pain. Paramedics responded to offer treatment. The driver found to be most at fault was issued a citation.

Domestic Violence
April 28 at 4:59 p.m., a resident in the 800 block of W. Walnut called police to report her ex-boyfriend had just slapped her and then broke her cellphone during an argument. When officers arrived, the suspect had already fled the area and could not be located. The victim did not sustain any injuries. An emergency restraining order was obtained and the case is being forwarded to the District Attorney’s office for prosecution.

Monrovia Through The Eyes of Artist Rob Sato

This poster by artist Rob Sato, which depicts Monrovia as seen through his eyes, can be seen on Metro buses and trains from now through end of May. Here's more: https://is.gd/1vWHAI

- Brad Haugaard

Preview Rotary Club Items for Auction

You can now preview the items Rotary Club of Monrovia will have on auction.  See the items here: https://trellis.org/monrovia-rotary There are currently 60 items to bid on and more are expected, so check back for updates. The fundraiser for the club's service projects will be held from May 1-16. Bidding starts 9 a.m. on May 1 and closes at 6 p.m. on May 16. You can also follow Rotary on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/MonroviaRotary or Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/monroviarotaryclub.

- Brad Haugaard

Shabba Is Camera Ready, Smart, and Even Housebroken

They say smiles are contagious and Shabba couldn’t agree more. This five-year-old pup is full of big grins, bringing joy and laughter to those closest to him. Shabba is not only camera-ready, he’s super smart. He’ll happily show off his “sit” or “down” commands and his loose-leash walking skills. He’s even housebroken! Shabba is looking for a new home with an experienced owner and no small children. If you’re ready to bring some smiles to your life, adopt Shabba!

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 a virtual adoption appointment at pasadenahumane.org. Adoptions are by appointment only, and new adoption appointments are available every day at 5:00 p.m. for the following day.

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

- Brad Haugaard

Lunch at Mimi’s

Lunch today at Mimi’s, at Huntington and Mayflower. Got the Quiche Lorraine for $13.99 and a cup of coffee for $2.99. It was delicious and filling - took some home for dinner. 

- Brad Haugaard 

A Moment in Monrovia History: Myrtle Avenue in the 1920s

Myrtle Avenue in the 1920s looking north at Lemon. The Candy Shop at left. Baxter Building at right. Photo by William Ward.. See full details here. From the William Ward collection. Identifying information from Kim Ward Anderson.

For more historic photos and papers, see the Monrovia Historical Society’s complete Legacy Project collection here. Learn more about the Monrovia Historical Society here.

- Brad Haugaard

School Board to Honor People, Declare Days, Weeks and Month, and Condemn Violence

At its next meeting (agenda: https://is.gd/9MfEFe) the Monrovia Board of Education will ...

~ Consider adopting a board policy regarding English language learners, as recommended by the California School Boards Association.

~ Congratulate:

• MHS Teacher Nate Overby & MHS students Sara Avalos, Ethan Clark, Jor'Denay Collier, Joey Hansen, and Nathan Lujan on winning at theVirtual Fullerton College High School Theatre Festival.
• Director of Special Education, Jennifer Johnson, on being named the Association of California School Administrators "Special Education Administrator of the Year", for Region 15.
• MHS Assistant Principal, Felicia Limbrick, on being named the Association of California School Administrators, State and Region 15 "Co-Administrator of the Year."

~ Declare: 

• May 4, as National Day of the Teacher, and May 3-7, as National Teacher Appreciation Week.
• May 16 through May 22 as Classified School Employee Week.
• May 10-14 as School Health Services Appreciation Week and May 12, as National School Nurse Day to honor school nurses and health clerks.
• The month of May 2021, as Mental Health Awareness Month.

~ Condemn:

"The Armenian Genocide, the Rohingya in Myanmar, Darfuris in Sudan, the Holocaust, the Rwandan Genocide, and the atrocities perpetrated by ISIL against religious and ethnic minorities in Iraq and Syria are part of a growing list in recent history that depict the atrocities committed by man."

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Planning to Withdraw From Local Board - Cites Bad Service

The decline of funds going to serve Monrovia residents.

Monrovia is hoping to withdraw from something called the Foothill Workforce Development Board (FWDB), which distributes federal money "for job skills assessment, basic education, job training, job placement, and community workforce development."

Except the Monrovia City Council says it has been doing very little of that for Monrovia, and has actually been doing less and less of it over the past four years. So now the council wants the city to join a similar program administered by LA County, where it believes it will get a better deal.

"The City of Monrovia believes our community, as well as those of Duarte and Arcadia, have been underserved by FWDB administration and operations, particularly in terms of job training for MAD residents and the equitable sharing of WIOA [federal] funds."

Arcadia and Duarte, by the way, are also thinking of pulling out of the Joint Powers Agreement, which is made up of Arcadia, Duarte, Monrovia, Pasadena, Sierra Madre and South Pasadena.

The city says that Monrovia, Arcadia, and Duarte (MAD) make up 39.2 percent of the population of the FWDB, but are only getting 26.5 percent of the money, while Pasadena, with 48.3 percent of the population, gets 66.3 percent of the money. Also, it says FWDB uses nearly 60% of its total budget for administrative expenditures and only 40% for its services. [Comment: 60% admin costs seems extremely high.]

For the city to withdraw and join the county's program involves a public comment period, which ends May 9. You may comment by email to PIO@ci.monrovia.ca.us.

If the county is cool with Monrovia joining, the switch will also need to be approved by Sacramento.

This motion to withdraw was approved by the City Council: https://is.gd/1vYlJK

This is the application to join LA County's program: https://is.gd/Q3vlEr

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Days Activities: Picnic in Library Park; Donate a Rock; Adventure at Home

Monrovia Days will be semi-in-person this year. There will be no annual parade or carnival, but here's what will happen:

~ On May 14 through May 16, people can grab a meal from a restaurant in Old Town and join the Picnic Pavilion Celebration at Library Park. Throughout the day, Monrovia students and Centre Stage will provide entertainment. Participants must sit at a table or in a designated park pod, and are encouraged to bring their own seating. There will also be free horse drawn carriage rides through Old Town and a free photo booth.

~ To celebrate Monrovia's 135th birthday residents can paint a rock and donate it as part of a permanent installation at Library Park. Paint a rock that is no more than 3 inches long. When dry, drop it off at the Monrovia Community Center (119 W. Palm Ave.). Rocks must be received no later than 4 p.m. on May 7. Before the Monrovia Days weekend they will be installed in the north-east portion of the park. 

~  Monrovia Days Family Adventure at Home, a three-day challenge. Registered participants will receive special activity kits that includes arts and crafts, special games, challenges and activities. Upon completion of each challenge, participants will earn limited edition birthday badges. Registration is required and limited and is now open here: https://is.gd/lmCKbT (click on Special Event > Monrovia Days Family Adventure at Home)

- Brad Haugaard

Library Opening, Community Center and City Hall Opening; Canyon Park Hopefully Opening in Summer; Yard Sales Now Okay

In his latest report (https://goo.gl/aOqX7O) City Manager Dylan Feik reports: 

~ The Library, Community Center and City Hall should be open in the coming weeks. On Monday, May 3, the Monrovia Public Library will open for limited, in-person services by appointment only, Monday-Wednesday, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., and Thursday-Saturday, 12 p.m. - 5 p.m. Call, text, email, or drop by to make an appointment to use a computer or get personalized support from a librarian. Curbside service will still be available. Initially, browsing will be unavailable.

~ Feik said contractors will make emergency repairs in Canyon Park, reevaluate Canyon Park conditions, and hopefully open this summer.

~ Yard sales are now permitted, but you must obtain a permit. To obtain a permit, please submit a Yard Sale Permit Application (here: https://is.gd/JmQHMo). For questions, contact the Neighborhood & Business Services Division at 932-5582.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Home Decorating Contest

- Brad Haugaard

School District to Offer Grief Counseling, Why Variations in Back-To-School Experiences; Vaping Seminar; Free Tutoring; End-of-Year Celebration

Highlights from a report from Monrovia Schools Superintendent Katherine Thorossian. 

Monrovia Schools will offer grief counseling and host a Zoom meeting for parents on suicide awareness in light of the death of a district student on April 17. Students may contact their counselors directly for immediate counseling and support. Please contact your school’s office if you feel your child is in need of additional assistance. The Zoom meeting will be run by professionals and will begin at 7 p.m. on Monday, May 3. A special presentation will be held for students on Wednesday, April 28, 2021 at 10:15 am. Additional information will be sent through ParentSquare.

The goal of bringing back to the classrooms as many students as possible while adhering to LA County Department of Public Health recommendations has resulted in variations across the district. Classrooms with very few students might not provide hoped for social interaction, so some cohorts have been combined. The variables involved include the number of students opting into the hybrid program and the size of the classroom.

There will be a webinar on the dangers of vaping available in English and Spanish at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, April 27. Sign up here: https://is.gd/eqhdLP

There is free, virtual, after-school tutoring for students K-12. Contact your school site for details.

The district has begun to explore options for end-of-the-year celebrations, which will include in-person commencement ceremonies. "As of now, we are confident that in-person celebrations will be allowed, with the recommended health and safety measures in place." More information will be made available from school sites in the coming weeks.

For Superintendent Thorossian's full report, see here: https://is.gd/PDEHZn

- Brad Haugaard

Weekly Coronavirus Count: 11 More Cases, 1 More Death

Coronavirus cases from LA Department of Public Health as of 8 p.m., 04/21/2021. Changes since 04/14/2021.

City of Monrovia: 3,163 cases (up 11), 76 deaths (up 1)
Unincorporated Monrovia: 372 cases (up 2), no deaths

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Tailgate Stolen; Customer Punches Fast-Food Worker; Car Hits Bicyclist; Catalytic Converters Stolen; Grand Theft of Plants; Etc.

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for April 15-21. - Brad Haugaard]

During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 380 service events, resulting in 80 investigations.

Theft
April 15 at 8:32 a.m., a resident in the 300 block of W. Lemon called to report the tailgate to his truck had been stolen sometime during the night. Officers responded and reviewed video surveillance footage. This investigation is continuing.

Battery – Suspect Arrested
April 16 at 2:12 a.m., an employee at a fast food restaurant in the 200 block of W. Huntington called police to report a battery incident. A male adult walked into the drive-thru and tried to order food. A female employee refused service and the suspect became upset. He then leaned into the drive-thru window and punched the female worker in the face. Officers arrived, but the suspect had fled the area. An search was conducted and the suspect was located a short distance away. He was taken into custody and positively identified by the victim. The suspect was arrested.

Residential Burglary
April 16 at 9:13 a.m., a resident in the 200 block of E. Cherry called police to report a burglary. She returned home and discovered someone had broken into her residence while she was out. Officers checked the interior of the home and no one was found inside. This investigation is continuing.

Injury Traffic Collision
April 16 at 10:23 a.m., a caller reported a traffic collision at the intersection of Evergreen and Myrtle. Officers and paramedics arrived on scene and checked on the well-being of the occupants. Two subjects were transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. This investigation is continuing.

Grand Theft
April 16 at 8:00 p.m., a grand theft was reported in the 400 block of Pearl. The victim reported that his catalytic converter had been stolen sometime during the night. Officers arrived and checked the vehicle. This investigation is continuing.

Under the Influence of a Controlled Substance – Suspect Arrested
April 17 at 1:49 a.m., officers were dispatched to the 700 block of Montana regarding a suspicious person in a residential backyard. Upon arrival, the subject was located and detained. The investigation revealed the subject had been kicked out of a local sober living home because he was under the influence of a controlled substance. Officers conducted an evaluation and determined he was, in fact, under the influence. He was arrested and held for a sobering period.

Injury Traffic Collision
April 17 at 7:58 a.m., a caller reported an injury traffic collision that just occurred in the 400 block of E. Duarte. Officers arrived and found the collision was between a vehicle and a bicyclist. The vehicle was traveling west and made a left turn into a parking lot, failing to yield to a bicyclist traveling east. The vehicle struck the bicyclist, ejecting him from the bike and causing visible injuries. The driver of the vehicle was cited.

Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
April 17 at 9:42 a.m., an officer was on patrol in the area of Magnolia and Huntington when he stopped a vehicle for a vehicle code violation. When the officer contacted the driver, the driver exhibited signs of being under the influence of narcotics. The driver was given standard field sobriety tests and it was determined he had been driving under the influence. He was arrested and held for a sobering period.

Battery – Suspect Arrested
April 17 at 11:20 p.m., a battery incident was reported at a residence in the 1200 block of Magnolia. The victim reported that his roommate had pushed him after they had gotten into an argument. Both parties had been drinking alcohol at the time of the argument. The victim desired prosecution and conducted a citizen’s arrest. The roommate was arrested and taken into custody.

Grand Theft
April 18 at 1:44 p.m., a resident in the 1300 block of S. Mayflower called police to report the catalytic converter was stolen off his vehicle sometime during the night. This investigation is continuing.

Medical Assist
April 18 at 3:04 p.m., a subject in the 300 block of E. Lime called 9-1-1 to report his girlfriend had taken too much pain medication and was now unresponsive. Officers arrived and noticed she was experiencing signs and symptoms of an opiate overdose. Officers administered two doses of Narcan and the subject responded. Paramedics arrived on scene and took over care. She was transported to a local hospital for treatment.

Domestic Violence – Suspect Arrested
April 18 at 10:22 p.m., a female subject at the intersection of Duarte and Tenth called police to report she was just involved in an altercation with her boyfriend. Officers contacted the victim, who reported that the suspect had smashed her face into the window of his vehicle. The suspect was located and arrested for domestic violence.

Grand Theft
April 20 at 12:08 a.m., an employee at a business in the 1600 block of S. Mountain reported a suspect was taking plants from outside in the garden area. The suspect loaded the plants into a truck and fled the area before officers arrived. This investigation is continuing.

Medical Assist
April 20 at 1:21 a.m., officers responded to the 600 block of E. Olive regarding an unresponsive female subject who had overdosed on opiates. Officers arrived and administered two doses of Narcan, which revived the subject. Paramedics arrived, took over care of the subject, and she was transported to a hospital for further treatment.

Trespassing – Suspect Arrested
April 20 at 6:54 a.m., employees of a coffee shop in the 200 block of W. Huntington reported a male subject was trespassing on their private property and causing a disturbance. This same subject was previously warned to stay off the property. Officers arrived, contacted the subject, and he was arrested for trespassing and released on a citation to appear in court on the charges.

Vehicle Burglary
April 20 at 7:57 a.m., a customer of a hardware store in the 1600 block of S. Mountain returned to his vehicle after shopping and discovered someone had forced entry, taking all his tools. This investigation is continuing.

Under the Influence of a Controlled Substance / Possession of a Controlled Substance – Suspect Arrested
April 20 at 9:22 p.m., officers responded to the 900 block of W. Huntington regarding a suspect using a needle to administer a controlled substance. Officers arrived and contacted the subject, who showed signs of being under the influence. Further investigation revealed he was also in possession of a controlled substance. The suspect was arrested and held for a sobering period.

Theft From a Vehicle
April 21 at 7:58 a.m., a resident in the 800 block of W. Walnut walked outside his home and discovered his unlocked vehicle had been rummaged through sometime during the night. Personal items inside were stolen. This investigation is continuing.

Non-Injury Traffic Collision
April 21 at 10:45 a.m., a traffic collision was reported at the intersection of Foothill and Heliotrope. Officers responded and found no one was injured from the collision. The party found at fault was issued a citation.

Weapon Offense
April 21 at 3:16 p.m., a resident in the 2100 block of S. Peck called police to report a male subject that shot a BB gun at their house. A male subject, approximately 16 years old, rode by their house on a bicycle and shot several BB's at the house with a BB air gun. Officers searched the area for the suspect, but were unable to locate him. Three BB's were found next to the house. This investigation is continuing.

Shoplifting / Trespassing – Suspect Arrested
April 21 at 8:42 p.m., an employee at a business in the 1600 block of S. Mountain observed a subject stealing merchandise from the store. Officers arrived and contacted the suspect, who was in possession of stolen property. An investigation revealed the suspect had also been advised of a no-trespass authorization at that business. He was arrested for both shoplifting and trespassing. He was released with a citation to appear in court on the charges.

Virtual Walk to Waterfalls in Monrovia Canyon Park

Here's another virtual tour of the trail leading to the waterfall in the still-closed Monrovia Canyon Park.

- Brad Haugaard

Clifton Middle School's Heidi Reed Finalist in Winter Guard International

Clifton Middle School's Heidi Reed has made it to the finals of the Winter Guard International 2021 virtual season. Winter Guard International is an organization that produces regional championship events for color guard, percussion ensembles, and small marching bands.

- Brad Haugaard

Lunch at Cafe on Lemon

Lunch today at Cafe on Lemon, on the south side of Lemon (well, yeah) about a half block east of Myrtle. Got the Grilled Chicken Pesto sandwich for $11.95 and an iced tea for $2.95. I was going to be good and only eat half, but, well, it was so good I ate it all. 

- Brad Haugaard 

Video of Monrovia Fire Department's New Ladder Truck

A video introducing Monrovia Fire Department's new ladder truck, which should make firefighting at some of the city's new tall buildings easier.

- Brad Haugaard

60s Concert in Cloverleaf Canyon May 1

On May 1 there will be an outdoors 60s concert at 5 p.m. at 521 Cloverleaf Drive, in Cloverleaf Canyon (north on Alta Vista, left on Cloverleaf).  "Come and sing along to all your favorite 60s tunes, pack a picnic, bring a lawn chair and wear your love beads and flowers in your hair.  We will have a shuttle for those that cannot park nearby.  Just look for the old hippie in a van and hitch a ride. There is no parking allowed directly in front of the residence on the street so you must park up the street or below Lotone and heed the parking restrictions.  This is an outdoor event however social distancing/masks will be requested."

- Brad Haugaard

Squirt and Her Mom Looking For Forever Home

Squirt is ten years old and was surrendered to the shelter with her twelve-year old mom, Eve. Squirt and her mom are bonded and hoping to find a forever home together! Although Squirt is a little more reserved than her mom, in her foster home she’s actually started meowing for attention. While Eve head butts when she wants to be pet, Squirt will lay with her paw on your arm or your face if you’re not paying enough attention to her. Squirt is definitely coming out of her shell in foster care, and can’t wait for a forever home for her and her mom!

The adoption fee for cats is $100. 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 and schedule a virtual adoption appointment at pasadenahumane.org. Adoptions are by appointment only, and new adoption appointments are available every day at 5:00 p.m. for the following day.

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: Ward's Photo Shop

Ward's Photo Shops. William Ward was the unofficial city photographer in the 1920s-1940s.. See full details here. From the William Ward collection. Identifying information from Kim Ward Anderson.

For more historic photos and papers, see the Monrovia Historical Society’s complete Legacy Project collection here. Learn more about the Monrovia Historical Society here.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Secondary Schools to Reopen Monday, April 19

Letter from Superintendent Katherine Thorossian regarding the reopening of Monrovia's secondary schools.

The Reopening of Secondary Schools begins Monday, April 19 and we are so excited for the return of our secondary students for in-person instruction. Monrovia Unified is working hard to ensure a welcoming environment for our students, as their return to school will feel vastly different to years past.

Throughout the week, our secondary schools have provided communications to families regarding cohort assignments and have been conducting campus tours for sixth- and ninth-grade students, as well as students who are new to Monrovia Unified.

To prepare our students and families for their return, our school sites have also hosted seminar classes, with instructional videos and virtual assemblies.

Students will be asked to submit a daily health screening prior to arriving on campus and their temperature will be checked before entering campus. Within campuses, directional signs and floor markers have been placed to ensure social distancing and proper movement through hallways.

Arrival and dismissal procedures vary by school and those plans have been communicated to families. Should you have any questions, please contact your individual school site.

As we move forward with the reopening of our secondary schools, the health and safety of our entire school community remains our priority. We are hopeful that as Los Angeles County continues moving toward the minimal risk yellow tier, Monrovia Unified can begin exploring options for end-of-the-year, in-person student activities, and commencement ceremonies.

Though we do not have information on these events yet, we will share plans as soon as they become available.

Please continue to practice health and safety protocols, and we will see some of you on Monday for the Reopening of Secondary Schools!

Sincerely,

Dr. Katherine Thorossian

Superintendent

City Seeks Residents Thoughts on Environmental Justice

Monrovia is looking for feedback on what concerns residents regarding the new environmental justice element for its general plan.

Here's an online survey:  https://is.gd/cmS0rk

And a Zoom workshop on Environmental Justice on April 29, at 6 p.m. https://is.gd/xUrnIK

- Brad Haugaard

Small Businesses Can Sign Up to Get Free Personal Protective Equipment on April 27

Monrovia businesses (and other county businesses) with fewer than 100 employees can get a free 30-day supply of personal protective equipment (PPE) for employees on April 27, from 11-4 at Santa Anita Park.

But businesses have to sign up in advance. Do that here: ppeunite.org/sign-up

PPE Unite is a joint public/private effort to give small businesses and organizations access to needed personal protective gear to keep their staff and employees safe. The program gives access to PPE, promotes PPE use, and provides additional resources for businesses.

- Brad Haugaard

City to Post 'No Parking - Residents Only' Signs Near Clamshell Trail

Ridgeside near Clamshell trail.

City Manager Dylan Feik reports that the city will add nine more signs in the Ridgeside/Oakglade area to persuade people not to park near the entry point of Lower Clamshell Trail. The signs will say, "No Parking - Residents Only."

If you want to know why people are being forbidden to park in a location that appears perfect for people to park without disturbing the neighbors, it is because it was a condition the city had to meet to get an easement to allow the trail to be opened. See here for details: https://is.gd/T5hUX2. 

- Brad Haugaard

John Watson and Hal Leavens Win Community Champions Award

Monrovians John Watson and Hal Leavens have won the Community Champions Award from the California Parks and Recreation Society.

 For 18 years, John and Hal have spent one Saturday a month going door to door to welcome new residents to Monrovia. They have visited well over 10,000 families, spending about 30 minutes with the new families reviewing a packet of information highlighting the programs, events, services, and clubs in town.

- Brad Haugaard

City Council to Consider Electric Vehicle Charging Stations for Old Town

Photo by CHUTTERSNAP on Unsplash

At its next meeting (agenda: https://is.gd/LQjQRt) the Monrovia City Council will consider installing 12 electric vehicle charging stations around town for both city and public use. The equipment and installation will cost up to $112,600, paid for by the AQMD Motor Vehicle Subvention Fund.

The equipment will be installed at the City Corporate Yard, 600 S. Mountain; City Hall, 415 S. Ivy; City Police Department, 140 E. Lime; and City Parking Lot #4, 100 block of E. Lemon. https://is.gd/0rZmL2

- Brad Haugaard

MODA Apartments Sells for $100 Million

The MODA apartment complex next to the Monrovia train station has been sold for $100 million. https://is.gd/BtBjtR

- Brad Haugaard

Trader Joe's Recalls Tortilla Chips for Undeclared Milk

Monrovia-based Trader Joe's is recalling its Restaurant Style White Corn Tortilla Chips (SKU# 58073) that product with Sell By date codes of 08/09/21,  08/10/21, and 08/11/21 as the chips may contain undeclared milk. https://is.gd/e8yPH6

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovian to Head Cal State LA Project to Overhaul STEM Education

 Gustavo Menezes, the grant's lead principal investigator, teaching students in a civil engineering class at Cal State LA. (Photo by J. Emilio Flores/Cal State LA)

Monrovia resident Gustavo Menezes, professor of civil engineering at Cal State LA, will coordinate a $2 million  project designed to transform STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) education.

The college has been awarded a $2 million grant by the National Science Foundationto improve undergraduate education in STEM through a new model of teaching and learning.

The four-year grant will enable the university's College of Engineering, Computer Science, and Technology to create Eco-STEM, a healthy education "ecosystem" designed to facilitate learning for all students regardless of their backgrounds.

The new model aims to shift the mental model of faculty, develop the capacity of department chairs and program coordinators, and reform the teaching evaluation system to promote a culture of reflection and self-improvement.

Source: Cal State LA press release

- Brad Haugaard

Weekly Monrovia Coronavirus Count: 12 New Cases, 1 New Death

Coronavirus cases from LA Department of Public Health as of 8 p.m., 04/14/2021. Changes since 04/07/2021.

City of Monrovia: 3,152 cases (up 12), 75 deaths (up 1)
Unincorporated Monrovia: 370 cases (up 4), no deaths

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Homeowner Catches Burglar; Attack-Girlfriend Arrested; Blowing Leaves While Intoxicated; Etc.

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

During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 354 service events, resulting in 69 investigations.

Residential Burglary – Suspect Arrested
April 8 at 7:00 p.m., a resident in the 2100 block of S. Myrtle was returning home and saw a female adult crawling out the homeowner’s bedroom window. The suspect had personal property in her arms belonging to the resident. The suspect fled on foot with the property, and the resident called police. Officers arrived and detained the suspect a short distance away from the residence. The suspect was positively identified by the victim and was arrested.

Hit and Run Traffic Collision
April 8 at 7:41 p.m., a traffic collision was reported at the intersection of Central and Myrtle. The victim said she was stopped for the red light, when a vehicle directly behind her changed lanes and hit the back of her vehicle. The suspect driver fled. Officers checked the area, but were unable to locate the suspect vehicle. This investigation is continuing.

Domestic Violence – Suspect Arrested
April 9 at 3:16 a.m., a male subject who lives in the 500 block of E. Lemon called police to report a domestic violence incident. He reported that his live-in girlfriend started hitting and kicking him while he was asleep. The victim managed to lock the suspect outside and called the police. Officers arrived and found the suspect beating on the front door. The victim sustained minor injuries, and the suspect was arrested and taken into custody.

Stolen Vehicle Recovered
April 9 at 6:45 p.m., a resident from the 200 block of E. Chestnut called police to report an abandoned vehicle parked near his home. Officers arrived and found the vehicle had been reported stolen out of Granada Hills. The vehicle was recovered and removed from the stolen vehicle system. This investigation is continuing.

Commercial Burglary
April 10 at 3:26 a.m., police responded to an alarm activation at a business in the 700 block of E. Huntington. Officers arrived and found the front window of the business had been shattered and the suspects were already gone. The investigation revealed the suspects tried to open a safe, but were unsuccessful. Nothing else was reported stolen. This investigation is continuing.

Vandalism
April 10 at 8:23 a.m., a resident in the 200 block of E. Chestnut called to report that his vehicle was vandalized sometime during the night. The driver-side front and rear windows were shattered. This investigation is continuing.

Vehicle Burglary
April 10 at 8:49 a.m., a resident in the 400 block of N. Canyon called to report that his vehicle was broken into and money was missing from the center console. This investigation is continuing.

Vehicle Tampering – Suspect Arrested
April 10 at 10:21 a.m., a resident in the 100 block of W. Colorado called to report a suspicious subject checking vehicle door handles in a nearby parking lot. Officers arrived and located the suspect, who was positively identified by the witness. He was placed under arrest and released on a citation. Prior to the officers leaving, the suspect began sweating profusely and his face turned red. Paramedics were summoned, and he was transported to a local hospital for treatment.

Theft / Warrants / Wanted Person – Suspect Arrested
April 10 at 6:49 p.m., officers responded to a business in the 100 block of W. Foothill regarding a theft that just occurred. They located the suspect, who was positively identified by witnesses. During the investigation, it was discovered that the suspect also had outstanding warrants and was wanted by Monrovia Police Department for violating a court order. He was subsequently arrested and taken into custody.

Grand Theft Auto
April 11 at 3:24 a.m., a resident in the 600 block of S. Fifth heard his car alarm go off. He looked outside and discovered his vehicle was missing. Officers arrived and checked the area, but the vehicle was not located. It was entered into the stolen vehicle system. This investigation is continuing.

Theft Attempt
April 11 at 6:18 p.m., officers responded to the 1100 block of S. Fifth regarding an attempted theft of rims and tires at an apartment garage. Two male suspects in a gray Honda Accord were attempting to remove the tires, when they were confronted by a witness. The suspects fled the scene. Officers responded, but were unable to locate the suspects. This investigation is continuing.

Vandalism
April 12 at 3:09 a.m., officers responded to a burglary alarm in the 1500 block of S. Myrtle. Upon arrival they saw the north window of the store was broken. The window was broken with a rock, but no suspects had made entry into the building. This investigation is continuing.

Vehicle Tampering
April 12 at 4:06 a.m., a resident in the 500 block of W. Palm heard an alarm sounding on his vehicle. When he went outside, he saw the door on his vehicle was open and a male suspect was walking away. Officers arrived, but the suspect had fled the area. The vehicle had been left unlocked and nothing was taken. This investigation is continuing.

Violation of Court Order
April 12 at 4:12 p.m., a resident in the 100 block of Highland reported that her ex-boyfriend, whom she has a restraining order against, has been unlawfully sending her text messages. Officers conducted an investigation, and this case is being forwarded to the District Attorney’s office for prosecution.

Vehicle Burglary
April 12 at 6:33 p.m., officers responded to the 500 block of Linwood regarding a vehicle burglary. The victim said his vehicle had been broken into sometime during the night. An investigation revealed the suspects had taken his key fob and clothing items. This investigation is continuing.

Commercial Burglary
April 12 at 7:48 p.m., officers responded to the 600 block of W. Huntington regarding a theft that had just occurred. A male suspect entered a business and ripped the phone and display rack from the counter. The suspect then exited the store and ran from the area. Officers were unable to locate the suspect. This investigation is continuing.

Public Intoxication – Suspect Arrested
April 13 at 12:32 a.m., officers responded to the 200 block of W. Pomona regarding an intoxicated subject running a leaf blower. Officers contacted the subject and determined he was too intoxicated to care for himself. He was arrested and held for a sobering period.

Possession of Drug Paraphernalia / Possession of a Controlled Substance / Warrants – Suspect Arrested
April 13 at 3:46 a.m., officers were on patrol in the 1800 block of Santa Fe when they located a subject sleeping inside a vehicle with a drug needle sitting in his lap. He woke up when contacted by officers, and the investigation revealed the subject was also in possession of multiple controlled substances. Further investigation showed he had multiple warrants for his arrest. He was arrested and taken into custody.

Graffiti Vandalism
April 13 at 7:55 a.m., the manager of a school for boys in the 100 block of E. Palm arrived at work and discovered fresh graffiti on the building wall. The graffiti occurred sometime during the night. Athens graffiti removal was notified. This investigation is continuing.

Grand Theft Auto / Motorcycle
April 13 at 7:52 p.m., officers responded to the 500 block of E. Cherry regarding a theft of a Harley Davidson motorcycle. The victim parked his motorcycle on the street in front of his residence on April 8. He returned back from a business trip on April 13 and discovered his motorcycle was missing. The motorcycle was entered into the stolen vehicle system. This investigation is continuing.

Injury Traffic Collision / DUI
April 14 at 1:12 a.m., officers responded to the 800 block of E. Huntington regarding a traffic collision. A witness stopped to check on the driver's welfare and reported smelling alcohol. Further investigation revealed the intoxicated driver was driving east on Huntington and crashed into the back of a parked truck. Officers arrived and the driver was transported to a hospital for a head injury and possible broken ribs.

Theft – Suspect Arrested
April 14 at 1:07 p.m., an employee of a convenience store in the 400 block of W. Foothill reported a male subject had just stolen from the store and fled south on Alta Vista. He advised this subject continuously steals from the store. Officers quickly arrived and located the suspect. He was positively identified and was arrested. The stolen property was returned to the store.

Public Intoxication – Suspect Arrested
April 14 at 8:51 p.m., officers responded to the 400 block of W. Foothill regarding a subject disturbing customers. Upon arrival, it was determined the subject was too intoxicated to care for himself. He was arrested for public intoxication and held for a sobering period.

City Wants Volunteers for Boards and Commissions

Monrovia is now accepting applications for volunteers to serve on several city boards and commissions for terms beginning July 2021. The deadline to apply is Monday, May 10.  https://is.gd/sxg8FY

Openings on: Planning Commission, Historic Preservation Commission, Community Services Commission, Library Board, Monrovia Old Town Advisory Board (MOTAB).

- Brad Haugaard

Lunch at Chicken King Express

Lunch at Chicken King Express, in the mini shopping center on the north side of Foothill just east of Mayflower. Got the Chicken Kebob Plate for $12.50 and a Coke for $1.50. Very nice. 

- Brad Haugaard 

Monrovia Police Department: No Poison In Meat Found on Norumbega

The Monrovia Police Department has announced that the suspicious meat packages found on Norumbega have been analyzed and there was no evidence of poisoning. 

The police department released this statement:

There has recently been concern about meat and other food items being discarded in the area of the Norumbega Loop. These concerns were shared with the Monrovia Police Department (MPD) and other City of Monrovia departments, including our contracted animal control partners, the Pasadena Humane Society (PHS). As a result, over the past month the Monrovia Police Department has responded to numerous calls for service and taken the suspicious meat packages and other food items as evidence. With the help of PHS, samples of the recovered meat were submitted for chemical testing at the California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory at U.C. Davis. In addition a sample was sent by a private citizen to the same laboratory. We have now received all of these reports completed by the laboratory, which confirmed that there was no evidence of poison or other tampering in any of the submitted samples.

We hope that this news will assuage any fears that any person(s) is/are deliberately attempting to poison or harm any animals, either domestic or wild. It appears the person(s) is/are simply attempting to feed wildlife in the area. Feeding or attempting to feed wildlife is a violation of Monrovia Municipal Code section 6.30.010 , which states that "No person shall feed or in any manner provide food for one or more non-domesticated mammalian wildlife, including but not limited to bears, deer, mountain lions, coyotes, raccoons, opossum, mice, rats, skunks, squirrels or feral cats." 

We will continue to monitor the situation and work with our partners at PHS as needed to abate the problem. If anyone sees someone leaving meat or other food out for wildlife in violation of MMC 6.30.010, please contact our MPD Communications Center at 256-8088 for a police response. With regards to any meat or other food items found by citizens, at this point we believe it would be safe to treat it as garbage and dispose of it accordingly. Should any citizen not feel comfortable doing this, MPD will respond and collect the meat or other food item as provided for under our policy manual. As always, contact the us with any questions or concerns about this issue.

- Brad Haugaard

Papa Has Two Sides - Excited Around Other Dogs, But Mellow Indoors

Nine-year-old Papa is multi-faceted – he loves people and gets so excited around other dogs, but he also has a mellow side. He enjoys being outdoors, but his calm demeanor is well-suited for an apartment. This well-rounded pup has been described by his foster parent as “sweet and well-behaved”. He’s also extremely photogenic – Papa has it all!

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 a virtual adoption appointment at pasadenahumane.org. Adoptions are by appointment only, and new adoption appointments are available every day at 5:00 p.m. for the following day.

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

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Family Fears for Daughter's Life if Experimental Drug Discontinued

Photo by Sam Moqadam on Unsplash

Marian McGlocklin, the five-year-old daughter of Monrovians Sara and Paul McGlocklin, has a rare genetic disease called Niemann Pick Type C, which can be fatal.

An experimental drug called Adrabetadex seems to have made a dramatic improvement for Marian, but the drug's manufacturer has announced that after October Adrabetadex will no longer be available, saying that clinical trials give no clear evidence that the drug helps.

Ten doctors have written the company urging it to continue making it, and Marian's parents fear she will die if the drug is discontinued. https://is.gd/k3eCuE

- Brad Haugaard

A Moment in Monrovia History: An Early Film Studio Near Station Square

Early Monrovia film studio located by the current Station Square with Ben Webster, Director. Photo by William Ward. See full details here. From the William Ward collection. Identifying information from Kim Ward Anderson.

For more historic photos and papers, see the Monrovia Historical Society’s complete Legacy Project collection here. Learn more about the Monrovia Historical Society here.

- Brad Haugaard

Rotary Club Online Auction

- Brad Haugaard 

School Board to Consider New Rules for Student Board Members; District Honorees; Monrovia Days

At its next meeting (agenda: https://is.gd/I3VSMg) the Monrovia Board of Education will ...

~ Consider modifying the board's policy on student board members (they only have a vote that expresses their opinion). Here are a couple substantive changes: "Student Board member(s) may make motions that may be acted upon by the Board, except on matters dealing with employer-employee relations," and, "Student Board members are expected to attend Board meetings in their entirety, read agenda documents provided to them, and ask questions of the Superintendent when agenda items are not understood prior to the meeting." https://is.gd/j5H5fW

~ Recognize:

- District staff being honored as  "Employee of the Month" for April: Hermann Goss, Cafeteria Manager and  Shirley Conde, Intervention Teacher (Monroe Elementary); and Hector Flores, Custodian and Rob Cady, Teacher, (Santa Fe Computer Science Middle School).

- The  Food Services Department for serving 1,000,000 meals during the COVID-19 pandemic.

- The Elementary Task Force for ensuring a safe return to school for elementary students and staff.

~ Consider adopting a memo of understanding between the City of Monrovia, Monrovia Unified School District, and Centre Stage Productions for the 2021 Monrovia Days Program. https://is.gd/bgs1pn

- Brad Haugaard

Planning Commission to Consider 5 a.m.-11 p.m. Hours for Foothill Gym

Foothill Gym, at its new location at the corner of Foothill and Primrose, is requesting permission from the Monrovia Planning Commission to be open from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. (https://is.gd/t78WKl).

The application has several letters supporting the proposed new hours, but several residents of Linwood Avenue, just south of the gym, have indicated their opposition, mostly citing noise as their objection. https://is.gd/WGzWwf

- Brad Haugaard

Free Veggie and Wise Watering Workshop

- Brad Haugaard 

Weekly Monrovia Coronavirus Count: 18 More Cases, No More Deaths

Coronavirus cases from LA Department of Public Health as of 8 p.m., 04/07/2021. Changes since 03/31/2021.

City of Monrovia: 3,140 cases (up 18), 74 deaths (unchanged)
Unincorporated Monrovia: 366 cases (unchanged), no deaths

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Occupant Sets Fire to Hotel Room; Toyota Tailgates Stolen; Another Gunshot on Los Angeles Ave.; Catalytic Converters Stolen; Etc.

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

During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 345 service events, resulting in 65 investigations.

Possession of a Controlled Substance – Suspect Arrested
April 1 at 1:14 p.m., an officer was patrolling the 300 block of W. Huntington when he observed a driver commit a vehicle code violation. A traffic stop was conducted and the driver was contacted. Investigation revealed the passenger was in possession of a controlled substance. The passenger was arrested.

Arson – Suspect Arrested
April 1 at 8:06 p.m., a fire was reported at a local motel in the 900 block of E. Huntington. An occupant set fire to the inside of one of the rooms. Officers arrived and detained the suspect, who admitted to lighting the fire. There was minor fire damage to the curtains in the room and to the personal clothing of the suspect. The suspect was arrested for arson and was taken into custody.

Thefts of Truck Tailgates
April 2 at 8:46 a.m., a resident in the 500 block of Linwood called to report the tailgate was stolen from his Toyota Tacoma. His truck was parked in front of his residence. An officer responded and took a police report. At 2:26 p.m. that same day, a resident in the 800 block of S. Magnolia reported that the tailgate to his Toyota Tacoma had also been stolen. These investigations are continuing.

Stolen Vehicle Recovered
April 2 at 4:23 p.m., an OnStar representative called police to report a stolen vehicle was possibly in the 500 block of Fano. Officers responded and located the vehicle, which was parked and unoccupied. Officers conducted surveillance of the vehicle, and a short time later, a male subject entered the vehicle and drove away. A traffic stop was conducted, and the driver complied with verbal commands. The vehicle was a rental and the named suspect was the driver's brother. The driver was positively identified and released at the scene. The vehicle was recovered and removed from the stolen vehicle system.

Vehicle Burglary
April 3 at 7:38 a.m., a resident in the 100 block of W. Olive called to report his truck was broken into sometime during the night. The suspect gained entry to the truck by forcing open the driver-side door. This investigation is continuing.

Weapon Offence / Mental Evaluation – Suspect Arrested & Evaluated
April 3 at 9:04 a.m., officers observed a suspicious male subject standing along the wall of the Police Department in the 100 block of E Lime. The subject was detained and found to be in possession of a concealed knife. The subject was making bizarre statements and said he could hear voices. He was arrested for possession of the knife and issued a citation. It was then determined he needed to be evaluated by a mental health professional. He was placed on a mental evaluation hold and transported to a local facility.

Injury Traffic Collision
April 3 at 12:47 p.m., a caller reported an injury traffic collision between a motorist and bicyclist in the 400 block of W. Huntington. Officers arrived on scene and spoke with the bicyclist, who was the only party still at the scene. He sustained a head injury and was treated by paramedics. The bicyclist said a vehicle pulled in front of him and caused him to fall off his bicycle. The driver stopped and checked on the bicyclist. He told the driver he was okay and he could leave. A police report was taken.

Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
April 3 at 6:49 p.m., a resident in the 500 block of W. Walnut reported a suspicious male subject knocking on doors in the area, and he was now driving away. Officers arrived and located the vehicle described, which they observed committing several traffic violations. They conducted a traffic stop and contacted the driver. Officers determined the driver had been drinking alcohol and was too impaired to operate a motor vehicle. A DUI investigation was conducted, and the driver was arrested and held for a sobering period.

Driving Under the Influence / Possession of a Controlled Substance – Suspect Arrested
April 4 at 12:02 p.m., an officer was patrolling the 500 block of W. Huntington when he saw a motorist commit a vehicle code violation. A traffic stop was made and the driver was contacted. The driver displayed signs of being under the influence of a controlled substance. A DUI investigation was conducted and it was determined the driver was too impaired to operate a motor vehicle. He was arrested for DUI and held for a sobering period. During an inventory search, the vehicle was also found to contain a large amount of controlled substances. The driver was also charged for possession of those substances.

Injury Traffic Collision
April 5 at 1:36 p.m., a traffic collision involving three motorists was reported at the intersection of Walnut and Shamrock. Officers responded and found one of the drivers had minor injuries and another driver did not possess a license. The party at fault and the unlicensed driver were issued citations. Paramedics responded and treated the minor injury.

Hit & Run Traffic Collision
April 5 at 5:16 p.m., a motorist called police to report a hit and run traffic collision. The collision occurred at the intersection of Olive and Myrtle, and the other vehicle fled the scene. No one was injured and there was minor damage to the reporting motorist’s vehicle. This investigation is continuing.

Traffic Collision / Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
April 6 at 12:15 a.m., an officer on patrol witnessed a vehicle run the stop sign at Foothill and Mountain. The vehicle attempted to make a turn at the intersection and crashed into a pole on the east side of the street. The driver was evaluated and arrested for DUI. The passenger complained of minor pain to his leg, but refused medical treatment. The driver was held for a sobering period. Assault with a Deadly Weapon April 6 at 9:01 a.m., officers responded to the 200 block of E. Los Angeles regarding a man with a gun to the front of the location. The suspect fired at a vehicle parked in front of the residence. The vehicle had been occupied by a female subject. Both the suspect and the victim fled the scene prior to officers arriving. This investigation is continuing.

Commercial Burglary
April 6 at 9:59 a.m., an employee at a business in the 300 block of W. Huntington reported a suspect that entered the business that morning and stole a laptop and phone. This investigation is continuing.

Vehicle Burglary / Fraud
April 6 at 11:45 a.m., a vehicle burglary was reported in the 2000 block of S. Myrtle. The victim said his wallet was stolen from his work truck sometime in the early morning. Items belonging to the victim were found discarded nearby. One of the victim’s credit cards had already been used. This investigation is continuing.

Vehicle Burglary
April 6 at 5:49 p.m., a vehicle burglary was reported in the 900 block of Genoa. The victim reported that someone broke into his vehicle sometime during the night. This investigation is continuing.

Theft – Suspect Arrested
April 6 at 7:19 p.m., an employee at a business in the 900 block of W. Foothill called police to report a male suspect that was attempting to steal items from inside the business. Officers arrived and detained the suspect. He was arrested and released on a citation to appear in court on the charges.

Grand Theft
April 7 at 12:20 a.m., a resident in the 600 block of Maryanna called police to report three suspects were attempting to steal the catalytic converter from his neighbor’s Toyota Prius. The suspects left the area in a white sedan prior to officers arriving. This investigation is continuing.

Injury Traffic Collision
April 7 at 7:22 a.m., a traffic collision was reported in the 600 block of S. Mountain. When officers arrived, one of the parties complained of pain to her back. She was treated at the scene by paramedics. Both parties exchanged insurance information.

Vandalism
April 7 at 7:52 a.m., an employee at a business in the 600 block of W. Huntington reported that sometime during the night a suspect smashed the front window to the business. No entry was made. This investigation is continuing.

Hit & Run Traffic Collision
April 7 at 8:39 a.m., a hit and run traffic collision was reported in the 100 block of W. Cypress. Sometime during the night, the victim’s vehicle, which was parked on the street, was struck. Officers arrived and confirmed damage to the front end of the vehicle. This investigation is continuing.

Possession of a Controlled Substance – Suspect Arrested
April 7 at 9:28 a.m., officers responded to the 1100 block of S. Fifth regarding subjects inside an apartment that was supposed to be vacant. Officers made contact with two of the subjects in the parking structure. One of them was in possession of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia. She was arrested and released on citation to appear in court on the charges. Both subjects were advised not to return to the apartment. A third subject was contacted inside the apartment, and he was also advised. No-trespass forms were signed by the apartment manager.

Vehicle Burglary
April 7 at 10:50 a.m., a caller reported seeing a suspect steal a tool from a trailer parked on the street in the 400 block of N. Mayflower. Officers arrived, but the suspect had already left the area. The owner of the trailer was located and confirmed that a crime had occurred. This investigation is continuing.

Mail Theft
April 7 at 11:15 a.m., residents in the 300 block of W. Duarte called police to report numerous mailboxes had been pried open. Officers arrived and determined that mail had also been stolen. This investigation is continuing.

Fraud
April 7 at 11:58 a.m., a resident in the 500 block of S. Lincoln called police to report he had been receiving letters from an unemployment office in Virginia. The letters contained his personal information and stated that he had signed up for unemployment. He told officers that he had never signed up for unemployment and advised that he had also received twelve debit cards he had not requested. This investigation is continuing.

Shoplifting – Suspects Arrested
April 7 at 1:13 p.m., loss prevention officers from a business in the 500 block of W. Huntington reported that three female suspects had just stolen merchandise from the store. Officers responded and located the suspect vehicle driving in the area. They conducted a traffic stop, and all three suspects were detained and identified. They confessed to stealing the merchandise and all of the merchandise was recovered. They were arrested and released with citations to appear in court on the charges. These suspects were also found to have committed similar thefts in neighboring cities.

Grand Theft
April 7 at 3:27 p.m., a resident in the 700 block of E. Huntington reported that sometime during the night the catalytic converter was stolen from their vehicle. Officers responded and took a report. This investigation is continuing.

Grand Theft
April 7 at 7:30 p.m., an officer patrolling the 700 block of E. Los Angeles was flagged down by a resident. The resident advised that the catalytic converter had been stolen from their vehicle while it was parked. This investigation is continuing.

Reckless Driving – Suspect Arrested
April 7 at 9:16 p.m., a subject called police and reported they had been the victim of a road rage incident that just occurred near the intersection of Duarte and Peck. Officers responded and located the suspect vehicle still in the area. An investigation revealed the suspect had committed a crime, and he was placed under private person’s arrest by the victim. The suspect was arrested.

Dinner at Stinkin Crawfish

Dinner tonight at Stinkin Crawfish, on the north side of Colorado a half block east of Myrtle. Got the three fish tacos for $8.99 and a beer  for $3.50 (happy hour price).  Nice. 

- Brad Haugaard