County Considering Stormwater Tax, But Monrovia's Costs May Be a Bit Less; And More

The City of Monrovia's new web site.

In his weekly update, City Manager Oliver Chi writes that ...

~ A recent test shows that stormwater runoff in Monrovia contains less lead than previously thought, which will reduce the clean-up costs for the city. Chi writes that, "the Regional Water Board correspondence provides us with formal notification that we will not have to capture / treat as much stormwater as we once thought."

~ Meanwhile, the LA County Board of Supervisors is considering a parcel tax increase, to be decided upon over the next nine months, to do stormwater cleanup.

~ Parking Company of America will begin operating the Monrovia Transit system on June 1.

~ Here is the summer edition of the activity guide Monrovia Today: https://goo.gl/Bdg3Vt

~ The Fourth of July Concert and Fireworks Show at Library Park will begin at 7 p.m. with a performance by Night Owl, then a free 20 minute fireworks show at 9 p.m.

- Brad Haugaard

State May Require Schools to Start No Earlier Than 8:30 A.M.

A bill by State Senator Anthony Portantino, who represents Monrovia, to require middle and high schools to start their days no earlier than 8:30 a.m. has passed the Senate and now goes to the Assembly. Portantino's office says 8:30 is the "optimal time to start school for improved public health of teenage students" and that, "This is believed to be the first time a school start time bill of this nature has passed any legislative house in the country."

Source: Portantino press release

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Drunk Driving; Drunk Sleeping at the Wheel; Drunk Yelling; Woman Dragged by Hair; Etc.

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for May 25-28. - Brad Haugaard]

Following are the weekend’s highlighted issues and events.

Warrant – Suspect Arrested
May 25 at 8:03 a.m., an officer was on patrol in the 1100 block of S. Ivy when he recognized a male subject near the intersection of Cherry and Ivy. The subject was a wanted suspect in a fraud incident that occurred a week prior. The suspect was arrested and held pending his court appearance.

Injury Traffic Collision
May 25 at 7:01 p.m., officers responded to the intersection of Mayflower and Diamond regarding a traffic collision involving a vehicle and a pedestrian. Monrovia paramedics arrived on scene and treated the injured party. Both parties were identified and a traffic collision report was completed.

Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
May 26 at 12:05 a.m., an officer observed a vehicle commit a vehicle code violation near Mountain and Huntington. The driver was stopped and the investigation revealed the driver was intoxicated and too impaired to drive a motor vehicle. He was arrested and held for a sobering period. He was later released with a citation to appear in court.

Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
May 26 at 4:09 a.m., police dispatch was notified of a vehicle that was stopped in the middle of the street in the 100 block of E. Central and the driver appeared to be slumped over the steering wheel. Officers arrived and determined the driver was intoxicated. The subject was too impaired to drive a motor vehicle and he was arrested for driving under the influence. The subject was held for a sobering period and later released with a citation to appear in court.

Shoplifting
May 26 at 2:40 p.m., a shoplifting incident was reported by a business in the 500 block of W. Huntington. A male suspect stole merchandise and ran out the emergency exit. As he exited the store, he dropped the merchandise and fled the area. Officers conducted an area check, but the suspect was not located. The investigation is continuing.

Warrant – Suspect Arrested
May 26 at 2:58 p.m., an officer stopped a vehicle in the 400 block of W. Hillcrest for a traffic violation. The driver was found to have an outstanding warrant for his arrest. He was arrested per the authority of the warrant.

Domestic Violence / Warrant – Suspect Arrested
May 27 at 12:34 a.m., officers responded to a residence in the 700 block of W. Foothill on the report of domestic battery. The female victim reported that her boyfriend pulled her hair. Officers spoke to both parties and learned the male suspect pulled his girlfriend’s hair and dragged her from the bedroom to the living room by her hair. The suspect also had a warrant for his arrest. He was arrested and taken into custody for domestic violence and the warrant.

Warrant / Possession of a Controlled Substance – Suspect Arrested
May 27 at 2:42 p.m., loss prevention at a business in the 300 block of W. Huntington called police to report a male and female inside the store acting suspicious. Officers arrived and contacted the two subjects in the store. A computer check revealed the female had an outstanding warrant for her arrest. She was arrested for the warrant and while being searched, methamphetamine was found in her possession. The additional charge was added.

Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
May 27 at 5:08 p.m., a possible drunk driver was reported to police at Duarte and Myrtle. An officer located the vehicle in the 700 block of E. Huntington in a business parking lot. The officer contacted the driver, who was behind the wheel with the engine running. Through investigation, the driver was determined to be driving under the influence. The driver was arrested for DUI and also had a suspended license.

Injury Traffic Collision / Driving Under the Influence
May 28 at 12:04 a.m., officers responded to the area of Myrtle and Central regarding a multi-vehicle traffic collision. Four vehicles were involved in the accident and three people were injured. The investigation showed a vehicle was traveling south on Myrtle and it collided at a high rate of speed with three other vehicles that were stopped at the intersection. The driver appeared to be intoxicated and was injured. He was taken to a hospital for treatment. Two other occupants from the other vehicles were also taken to the hospital for minor head and facial injuries. The case will be brought to the District Attorney to file charges.

Wanted – Suspect Arrested
May 28 at 8:48 a.m., officers on patrol in the 400 block of W. Huntington located a vehicle affiliated with a male subject wanted for questioning by the El Monte Police Department. The vehicle was stopped and the wanted subject was located. He was later released to the El Monte Police Department. The vehicle was returned to the registered owner.

Disturbing Subject / Public Intoxication – Suspect Arrested
May 28 at 10:04 a.m., officers responded to the 100 block of W. Palm regarding a disturbing subject yelling in the area. They arrived and located a male subject who was yelling at a second subject and being disruptive. The male subject was extremely intoxicated and was arrested for being drunk in public. He was held for a period of sobering.

Grand Theft Auto – Suspects Arrested
May 28 at 11:00 a.m., a vehicle was reported stolen from the 1100 block of Royal Oaks sometime between 6:30 and 11:00 a.m. The vehicle was equipped with LoJack. The vehicle was located in the Arcadia Mall parking lot and two suspects were arrested.

Threatening
May 28 at 2:47 p.m., a resident in the 1700 block of S. Mayflower called police to report her ex-husband had returned and demanded for her to let him into the residence. She told him no and that she was going to phone the police. He then threatened her, telling her he was going to kill her when she left the house. The victim indicated that the suspect was homeless and was unstable. Police conducted and area check for the suspect, but were unable to locate him. He was entered into the law enforcement database as a wanted person.

Injury Traffic Collision
May 28 at 8:28 p.m., an injury traffic collision was reported in the 1800 block of S. Mountain. The vehicle was witnessed colliding into a parked vehicle. Officers arrived and found the driver collided into a parked truck and trailer. The driver sustained injuries from the collision and was taken to the hospital for treatment.

Permanent Sign Posts Go In For Hillside Preserve

 

The city has begun installing the permanent trail sign posts for the Hillside Wilderness Preserve. You can see the temporary sign in the lower right. 

- Brad Haugaard 

Monrovia Church Offers Community Development Grants

Visited the Fellowship Monrovia church this morning, the church that meets at Monrovia High, and saw this item in the church bulletin:

 

Kinda cool idea, providing seed money for projects to benefit the community. I hope other churches pick up on the idea.

- Brad Haugaard 

Route 66 Concert - Jazz and 40s Music Exploring America's Great Highway

The San Gabriel Valley Choral Company will present "Route 66 - Music and the All-American Highway," a concert with soloists and instrumentalists featuring American music from the 1940s, jazz, show tunes and songs that explore our relationship with this historic highway and tell stories of life's journey on Saturday, June 24, with a silent auction and refreshments at 6 p.m., and concert at 7 p.m.  Tickets are $5 for children, $15 for students and seniors, and $20 for the general public. The concert will be held at Saint Luke Episcopal Church at 122 S. California Ave. in Monrovia. More information at www.choralcompany.org or by calling 818-802-9620.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Council to Study 2017-19 Budget

The Monrovia City Council will study the 2017-19 fiscal budget at a special meeting on Tuesday, May 30, at 5 p.m. At City Hall if you'd like to join them.

- Brad Haugaard

Dinner at T Phillip's

  

Dinner at T Phillip's, at Myrtle and Colorado. Got the Buffalo Chicken Salad for $14 and a small beer for $6.50. Fresh and spicy.   

- Brad Haugaard 

Monrovia Police: Drugs and Alcohol; Another Catalytic Converter Stolen

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for May 22-24. - Brad Haugaard]
During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 430 service events, resulting in 86 investigations.

Violation of Restraining Order
May 22 at 10:03 a.m., a resident in the 1400 block of S. Magnolia called police to report her adult daughter was at her home in violation of a restraining order on file against her. Officers responded and located the daughter near the residence. The daughter would not comply with officers orders to stop and speak with them. She was detained by the officers. She complained of pain and was eventually taken to a hospital for treatment. A verified complaint will be filed with the District Attorney’s office for filing consideration of the restraining order violation charges.

Under the Influence of a Controlled Substance – Suspect Arrested
May 22 at 7:32 p.m., a resident in the 200 block of E. Central called police to report a male subject in her rear yard, hunched over and possibly drunk. Officers located the subject, who told them he was under the influence of heroin and alcohol. The suspect was determined to be under the influence of a controlled substance and was arrested and taken into custody.

Vandalism
May 22 at 10:04 p.m., an officer was on patrol in the 1000 block of S. Canyon when he observed what appeared to be gang graffiti on the north wall of a building off of Almond. The graffiti was written in black spray paint. The graffiti was photographed and graffiti removal was notified. The investigation is continuing.

Warrant – Suspect Arrested
May 23 at 2:00 a.m., an officer was on patrol in the 800 block of E. Olive when she saw a male subject in the park digging through a trash dumpster. The officers contacted the subject and a computer check revealed he had a warrant for his arrest. The suspect was arrested and taken into custody for the warrant.

Possession of a Controlled Substance / Possession of Drug Paraphernalia – Suspect Arrested
May 23 at 8:35 a.m., officers were dispatched to Magnolia and Oaks regarding a suspicious vehicle reported in the area. Officers located a vehicle matching the description provided by the caller and contacted a male subject inside the vehicle. During a consent search, officers located heroin, other drugs and drug paraphernalia inside the vehicle. The suspect was arrested and the vehicle was stored.

Public Intoxication – Suspect Arrested
May 23 at 9:43 p.m., a suspicious female subject who was trying to get into several vehicles in a parking lot in the 300 block of W. Huntington was reported to police. The caller told police the subject appeared to be under the influence or intoxicated. Officers located the female and determined she was too intoxicated to care for her own safety. She was arrested for public intoxication.

Grand Theft
May 23 at 10:05 p.m., a grand theft from a vehicle was reported in the 1300 block of S. Alta Vista. The victim reported that the catalytic converter was removed from his 1998 Honda Accord sometime between May 20 and 22. The vehicle was parked on the street on Alta Vista. The investigation is continuing.

Vandalism
May 24 at 3:00 a.m., officers were on patrol in the 100 block of E. Duarte Road when they observed graffiti written on the wall of a business. The graffiti was written in black spray paint. The investigation is continuing.

No, Sheriff's Department Not Dumping Homeless in Monrovia; Utility Billing Error; Etc.

Proposed bike roads.

In his weekly report (https://goo.gl/x5Ghqs), City Manager Oliver Chi reports that ...

~ No, the Sheriff's Department is not dropping off homeless people at the Monrovia train station. Chi writes that, "what actually occurred was that several deputies who are part of the Sheriff’s Department Mental Health Evaluation Team were riding on the Gold Line headed toward Los Angeles when they heard a call for service regarding an individual bothering a train patron at the Monrovia station." They got off the train at Monrovia and "attempted to provide the individual with services" but he declined and walked away.

~ Oops! There was a utility billing error for May for customers who (mostly) live in the north part of town. The batch of payments was "inadvertently not posted." The $5 late fee notices have been reversed.

~ The water and sewer tax rate is going up starting July 1. "For the typical residential customer, a 0.4% CPI rate adjustment will result in a $0.22 / month water bill increase, and a $0.04 / month sewer bill increase."

~ A household hazardous waste and e-wast disposal event is set for Saturday, June 3 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Huntington Millennium Center at 181 W. Huntington Drive, at the northwest corner of Huntington and Myrtle.

~ California American Water Company (Cal-Am) is undertaking a pipeline replacement project along Mountain Avenue between Huntington Drive and Bloomdale Street. Should be done by the end of the month.

~ Precision Concrete Cutting has made 7,000 sidewalk repairs in Monrovia so far, grinding down uneven spots, and will begin working on the area between Colorado Boulevard and Hillcrest and west of Myrtle.

~ Work on water lines under Foothill Blvd is set to begin on Monday, May 30. Expect some closed lanes and parking restrictions.

~ The city has identified some streets to be "Class III" bike routes, which means roads identified as being for both cars and bicycles. This means signs and striping on the roads.

~ Monrovia Council Member Becky Shevlin has been elected by her peers at the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments to serve on its Executive Board as the Third Vice President.

~ Santa Fe Middle School will now be called Santa Fe Computer Science Magnet School.

~ You can now print documents through the Monrovia Library. Just go here: https://goo.gl/oGGqFt

- Brad Haugaard

Brush Fire Breaks Out In Bradbury, Situation Now Under Control With No Threat To Monrovia

Earlier this afternoon, the Los Angeles County Fire Department responded to a brush fire that broke out above Crestview Court in Bradbury.  Utilizing a combination of ground and air resources, firefighting personnel were able to keep the fire contained to only 1.5 acres.  There are some remaining firefighters that are still on the scene responding to a few minor spot fires, and crews are beginning to clean-up the burned area.

It is important to note that there is no threat to Monrovia as a result of this fire!  Crestview Court is located east of the I-605 Freeway, however, as a precaution, the City has closed both Canyon Park and the Hillside Wilderness Preserve for the remainder of today.

Moving forward, there may be some lingering smoke for the next few hours, however, please rest assured that the fire has been successfully contained.  The Monrovia Fire Department will continue to monitor this situation, and if anything changes that may impact the safety of our community, the City will be certain to provide notification immediately at that time.  For additional information about this matter, please visit the City’s website at www.cityofmonrovia.org.

Source: City of Monrovia press release

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Race Car Stolen; Driver With Sun in Eyes Hits Pedestrian; Etc.

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for May 18-21. - Brad Haugaard]

Following are the weekend’s highlighted issues and events.

Stolen Vehicles

May 18 in the early morning hours, three vehicles were reported stolen to police. The vehicles were stolen from the 100 block of W. Walnut, the 400 block of W. Walnut and the 300 block of N. Encinitas. Two of the vehicles stolen were 1999 Honda CRVs and the third was a race car and trailer. All three vehicles were stolen sometime overnight. The investigations are continuing.

Theft From a Vehicle

May 18 at 12:15 p.m., a resident in the 400 block of E. Walnut called police to report a theft from his vehicle. Sometime during the night, someone entered his vehicle and stole his wallet and miscellaneous property. The vehicle was left unlocked. The investigation is continuing.

Grand Theft

May 18 at 9:09 p.m., a grand theft was reported in the 1200 block of S. Alta Vista. The victim parked his vehicle on the street in front of the location. While he was away from the vehicle, the catalytic converter was stolen. The investigation is continuing.

Possession of Drug Paraphernalia – Suspect Arrested

May 18 at 9:52 p.m., an officer on patrol conducted a traffic stop for a vehicle code violation at Shamrock and Royal Oaks. During a consent search, the passenger of the vehicle was found to be in possession of drug paraphernalia. She was arrested and taken into custody.

Warrant – Suspect Arrested

May 18 at 12:36 a.m., officers responded to the 700 block of W. Huntington regarding a possible theft of a bicycle. During the investigation, they ran a computer check on one of the subjects at the location and discovered he had an outstanding warrant. He was arrested for the warrant.

Traffic Collision – Vehicle vs. Pedestrian

May 19 at 6:45 a.m., police responded to a traffic collision in the 100 block of E. Pomona where a pedestrian was struck by a vehicle. Officers arrived and determined the pedestrian was walking south across Pomona toward a gas station. The vehicle was traveling east on Pomona and the driver had the sun in his eyes. He did not see the pedestrian and struck him at a low rate of speed. The pedestrian suffered minor injuries and refused medical treatment. The driver was cited for failing to yield to a pedestrian.

Vehicle Burglary

May 19 at 8:15 a.m., a vehicle burglary was reported in the 400 block of W. Duarte Road. The victim parked and locked his vehicle in his assigned carport. Sometime during the early morning hours, the vehicle was entered and ransacked. There was no sign of forced entry and no loss occurred. The investigation is continuing.

Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested

May 19 at 6:55 p.m., officers were dispatched to the area of Myrtle and the 210 Freeway regarding a possible drunk driver. The officers checked the area and located the vehicle on Duarte and Myrtle. A traffic stop was conducted and the driver was determined to be too intoxicated to operate a motor vehicle safely. The driver was arrested for DUI and later released after a sobering period, with a citation to appear in court on the charges.

Assault With a Deadly Weapon / Ex-Felon in Possession of a Firearm – Suspect Arrested

May 19 at 8:29 p.m., dispatch received a call reporting a family disturbance at a residence in the 500 block of E. Walnut. While officers were responding, calls were received stating a gunshot had been fired. Officers arrived, secured the scene and conducted an investigation. The investigation revealed an adult male suspect at the location pulled a 9mm handgun on his girlfriend's sister and pointed it at her. He discharged the gun, missing the victim and striking the ground. The weapon was recovered at the scene and the suspect was arrested for assault with a deadly weapon and ex-felon in possession of a firearm.

Theft From a Vehicle

May 20 at 10:28 a.m., a theft from an unlocked vehicle was reported in the 300 block of Meadow Lane. The victim called to report that sometime during the early morning hours, someone entered his vehicle and took a drill that had been left inside. The investigation is continuing.

Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested

May 21 at 6:10 a.m., officers were dispatched to the area of Myrtle and the 210 Freeway regarding a vehicle blocking the roadway. The officers arrived and located a vehicle blocking the northbound lanes of travel. A female subject was asleep behind the wheel and the engine was running. A passenger was in the front seat, also asleep. The investigation revealed both subjects were extremely intoxicated. The driver was arrested for DUI and the passenger was arrested for being drunk in public. Both subjects were held for a sobering period.

Monrovia Police Ticket Campaign Against Non-Bucklers Through June 4

As summer kicks off and families hit the road for vacations, the Monrovia Police Department and the California Office of Traffic Safety is reminding motorists to Click It or Ticket. Aimed at enforcing seat belt use to help keep you and your family safe, the national seat belt campaign will take place May 22 through June 4, concurrent with one of the busiest travel and holiday weekends of the year.

Monrovia Officers will conduct 28 seat belt enforcement operations during the two week Click It or Ticket mobilization to help lower California's traffic deaths. In addition to these special patrols, officers on routine patrol will also be looking for unrestrained drivers and passengers to stop and cite.

"Our law enforcement personnel see firsthand the loss of life when people refuse to buckle up," said Chief Jim Hunt. "It's such a simple thing, and it should be an automatic next step after sitting down in a vehicle. As the Memorial Day weekend approaches and the summer vacation season ramps up, we want to keep our community members safe and make sure people are doing the one thing that can save them in a crash: buckling up. If the campaign wakes up the hundreds of thousands of Californians who still don't heed the dangers of unrestrained driving and gets them to buckle up, we'll consider it a success."

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), nearly half of the 22,441 passenger vehicle occupants killed in crashes in 2015 were unrestrained. During nighttime hours, that number soared to 57 percent of those killed. That's why one focus of the Click It or Ticket campaign is nighttime enforcement. Participating law enforcement agencies will be taking a no-excuses approach to seat belt law enforcement, writing citations day and night. In Monrovia, the ticket cost for an adult seat belt violation is $162, with penalties for not restraining a child at $465.

In 2015, 545 Californians where killed because they did not buckle their seat belts according to NHTSA. Nationally, almost twice as many males were killed in crashes as compared to females, with lower belt use rates, too. Of the males killed in crashes in 2015, more than half (52%) were unrestrained. For females killed in crashes, 42 percent were not buckled up.

"Please, help us spread this life-saving message before one more friend or family member is killed as a result of this senseless inaction," said Chief Hunt. "Seat belts save lives, and everyone needs to remember to buckle up, every trip, every time."

Funding for these operations is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

For more information on the Click It or Ticket mobilization, please visit www.nhtsa.gov/ciot

Source: Monrovia Police press release

- Brad Haugaard

Clifton Middle School Representatives Going to Washington DC to Accept 'School to Watch' Award

At its May 24 meeting (this Wednesday) the Monrovia School Board will discuss Clifton Middle School's upcoming trip to Washington D.C. on June 21-24 to receive an award for being named a "2017 School to Watch," as well as the Board of Education's support and attendance at the banquet in Washington D.C., as requested by the California League of Middle Schools. The "School to Watch" award is an honor bestowed upon only 11 schools in California, and highlights "high-performing model schools that demonstrate academic excellence, responsiveness to the needs of young adolescents, and social equity." Details at item K5

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Days Begins

 

The parade gets started. Lots more through the day. 

- Brad Haugaard 

Monrovia Days Today at Library Park

Today is Monrovia Days! All day at Library Park. Here's the schedule:

8 a.m. - Pancake Breakfast at fire station
9 a.m. - Opening ceremony
10 a.m. - Parade on Myrtle in Old Town
11 a.m.-9 p.m. - Carnival, Performances & Beer Garden
3 and 7 p.m. - Band Performances
5 p.m. - Pie Eating Contest

- Brad Haugaard

Teens in Progress Youth Conference at Second Baptist Church

Second Baptist Church​ Teens in Progress Ministry is hosting its first annual youth conference​ on July 8, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Second Baptist Church, 925 S. Shamrock Ave. in Monrovia. For youth ages 11-18. "Join us as we come together for a day of unashamed praise, worship, and learning about God and his goodness. Build faith in Jesus Christ, strengthen testimonies, develop talents, make new friends, and have fun with teens who share similar beliefs and standards."

The conference begins at 9 a.m. with registration and breakfast; 10 a.m., speakers; 11 a.m., lunch and fellowship; noon, lunch and fellowship, 1 p.m. teen show case (show your talents).

Register here: https://goo.gl/odcPyQ

For more information, contact Erika Collins, TIP President: (909) 568-5440; Jason Jenkins, Associate Elder - Ministry to Youth: 230-3944; or Ariel Tolefree, TIP Advisor: 487-9070.

- Brad Haugaard

Dinner at Oto-Oto

 

Dinner  at Oto-Oto Izakaya Japonaise restaurant in the shopping center at Fifth and Huntington. Got the Tuna Bowl for $14.95 and a beer at the happy hour price of $3.50. Very nice but I was still hungry so I ordered a Philly Roll. 

- Brad Haugaard 

Monrovia Police: He Takes The Rap for Her; Battle Over Parking; Oops! Suspect Runs To Police; Etc.

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for May 15-17. - Brad Haugaard]

During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 402 service events, resulting in 82 investigations.

Shoplifting – Suspect Arrested
May 15 at 11:56 a.m., loss prevention personnel at a business in the 300 block of W. Huntington called police to report subjects shoplifting. A male and female adult had concealed merchandise while inside the store and left without paying for the items. The suspects split up outside of the store and went in different directions. Officers responded and located the female suspect. The female phoned the male suspect and told him she was being detained by officers. The male suspect returned with the stolen property and admitted to the crime. He was arrested and the female was released, as she did not have property and was not seen taking the property.

Shoplifting – Suspect Arrested
May 15 at 4:03 p.m., a shoplifting incident was reported at a business in the 300 block of W. Huntington. A male adult left the store without paying for merchandise he had concealed. Officers arrived and located the suspect sitting on the front porch of a residence nearby. The homeowner appeared puzzled and said he did not know the suspect. The homeowner told officers that the suspect ran onto his porch and sat down next to him. The suspect was arrested for the crime and taken into custody.

Vehicle Burglary
May 15 at 7:10 p.m., the victim of a vehicle burglary called police to report that sometime between 5:00 and 7:00 p.m. someone broke into his vehicle in the 100 block of S. Mayflower. The rear passenger side window was shattered and his backpack was taken. The investigation is continuing.

Grand Theft
May 15 at 7:22 p.m., a grand theft was reported in the 400 block of S. Alta Vista. The victim parked his vehicle on the street and went inside for the night. The following morning he returned to his vehicle at 6:00 a.m. and started the ignition. There was a loud sound coming from under the vehicle. He looked underneath and saw the catalytic converter had been stolen. The investigation is continuing.

Grand Theft Auto
May 16 at 9:25 a.m., a vehicle was reported stolen in the 1000 block of S. Mountain Avenue. The victim parked her vehicle on the street on May 14. When she returned to her vehicle on May 16, she discovered it had been stolen. There were no signs of forced entry. The vehicle is a grey, 2000 Honda CRV. The investigation is continuing.

Possession of a Controlled Substance / Possession of Drug Paraphernalia – Suspects Arrested
May 16 at 4:29 p.m., a caller reported several subjects using drugs near a silver vehicle parked in a business parking lot in the 200 block of E. Lime Avenue. Officers responded and located the vehicle and several subjects. During the investigation, two subjects were found to be in possession of narcotics and drug paraphernalia. They were arrested and taken into custody.

Fight in Progress / Assault with a Deadly Weapon – Suspect Arrested
May 16 at 6:50 p.m., officers responded to a business parking lot in the 400 block of S. Myrtle regarding a large fight in progress. When officers arrived, the fighting had stopped. The fight was over a parking situation involving employees and patrons from another business location. During the altercation, the victim fell to the ground and was kicked in the head multiple times by the suspect. The suspect was arrested and taken into custody for the assault.

Grand Theft / Warrant – Suspects Arrested
May 17 at 11:21 a.m., police received a call reporting a suspicious vehicle in a business parking lot in the 500 block of W. Huntington. The vehicle’s engine was running and a male adult was behind the wheel with the trunk was open. The rear license plate was missing and the front plate had been covered. Officers responded and contacted the driver. As the officer was speaking with the driver, a second male adult ran out of the business carrying two large mesh bags filled with stolen merchandise. The suspect saw the officer and dropped the bags. The officer detained both subjects. Both subjects were arrested for grand theft. At that time, a third subject exited the store followed by a store employee, who informed officers that he might have been involved in the theft. The third subject was detained and it was discovered that he had an outstanding warrant for his arrest. It was determined that he was not involved with the other suspects, but he was arrested for the warrant.

Domestic Violence – Suspect Arrested
May 17 at 6:11 p.m., officers were dispatched to a residence in the 900 block of W. Olive regarding a family disturbance. Officers discovered there had been an ongoing argument at the location for the majority of the day. The male suspect had made threats to his girlfriend, telling her that he would kill her. He had punched, slapped, and strangled the victim. The victim sustained minor injuries. The suspect was arrested without incident and taken into custody.

Traffic Collision / Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
May 17 at 8:59 p.m., a traffic collision was reported in the 1200 block of S. Magnolia. A vehicle collided with a parked vehicle. The investigation revealed the driver of the vehicle had been drinking and was too intoxicated to operate a vehicle safely. She was arrested for driving under the influence and held for a sobering period.

You May Soon Be Driving on the Obama Freeway

Senator Anthony Portantino's proposal, SCR 8, to name the segment of the CA-134 Freeway between the Glendale CA-2 and the Interstate 210 Freeway the "President Barack H. Obama Freeway," passed the State Senate with overwhelming bi-partisan support with a 34 to 1 vote.  The resolution now heads to the State Assembly. Portantino represents Monrovia.

Source: Portantino press release

- Brad Haugaard