Thursday, September 29, 2011

Highlighted Activity - Week of September 22 - 28, 2011


During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 546 service events, resulting in 94 investigations.  Following are the last week's highlighted issues and events:

Theft from Vehicle
On September 22 at 9:08 a.m., a resident in the 600 block of Vaquero reported a theft from his vehicle.  The victim had parked his vehicle during the late night, leaving the vehicle unlocked.  The resident returned to his vehicle in the morning and discovered his vehicle had been ransacked and his wallet was missing.  The wallet contained credit cards and cash.  No suspect(s) were seen or heard.

Petty Theft from Commercial Business
On September 22 at 10:47 a.m., a business in the 1500 block of California reported three pressure washers stolen from the property.  The pressure washers were being stored outside the building in the parking lot adjacent to Evergreen.  The equipment was last seen at the close of business.  When they opened in the morning, employees discovered the loss. 

Injury Traffic Collision
On September 22 at 3:36 p.m., a Honda Civic was traveling west on Duarte Road. The driver fell asleep and collided head-on into a pickup truck, which was traveling east.  Both drivers sustained injuries.  The driver of the pickup truck had to be extracted from the vehicle by cutting the driver's door with the "Jaws of Life."  Both drivers were taken to a hospital with moderate injuries.

Missing Person Located
On September 24 at 4:55 p.m., an officer on patrol in the area of Foothill and Canyon observed a vehicle impeding traffic.  The officer stopped the driver.  A check on the license plates returned a hit for a missing person, a 78-year-old female out of Cathedral City, last seen two days prior.  The female appeared disoriented and was brought to the police station.  The woman had no family in the area.  Cathedral City Police Department was contacted and took custody of the woman.

Spousal Battery - Suspect Arrested
On September 25 at 1:00 a.m., officers responded to a family disturbance in the 400 block of Genoa.  When the officers knocked on the door, it was answered by the 14- year-old son, who appeared nervous.  The son directed the officers to his parents' bedroom, where they found the father hiding under the bed.  A subsequent investigation revealed the father had battered his wife.  He was arrested.  When the suspect was placed in the backseat of the patrol vehicle, he began to bang his forehead against the Plexiglas divider.  Officers had to restrict his movement to prevent him from harming himself.  He was then taken to Monrovia Police Department without further incident.  The suspect did not sustain any injuries.

Public Intoxication - Suspect Arrested
On September 25 at 2:15 a.m., officers were contacted by a citizen who reported three male subjects causing a disturbance in the 100 block of West Lemon.  One of the subjects was punching street signs.  Officers located and contacted the subjects.  Two of the subjects were found to be intoxicated and unable to care for themselves, and they were arrested.  The third subject had been drinking, but was not found to be intoxicated.  He was identified and released at the scene. 

Commercial Burglary
On September 26 at 7:20 a.m., an officer went to a church in the 100 block of East Foothill regarding a burglary.  The reporting party showed the officer a hinge louver window that had been left unlocked.  This is where the suspects made entry.  The suspect(s) then used a screwdriver or similar type of pry tool to force a number of interior doors open; however, according to the reporting party, nothing appears to have been taken.

Gang Vandalism
On September 26 at 8:30 a.m., an officer went to a business in the 900 block of South Myrtle regarding a vandalism report.  The reporting party showed him the north wall of the building, which had gang graffiti written with green spray paint.  The vandalism seems to have occurred between September 24 and 26.

Possession of a Controlled Substance / Violation of a Court Order
On September 26 at 5:10 p.m., officers saw a female subject sitting on the curb in front of a residence in the 200 block of East Cherry in violation of a court order.  She was arrested.  A pat down search revealed a small rock of "crack" cocaine in her pant's coin pocket.  She was arrested and taken into custody.

Grand Theft Auto
On September 27 at 1:16 p.m., an officer was dispatched to the 1300 block of South Fifth regarding a stolen vehicle.  The victim reported that her vehicle was stolen from the street sometime overnight.  The vehicle was locked, but does not have an alarm.  There was no broken glass on the ground where it was parked.  The vehicle is a white, 4-door, 1994 Honda Civic.

Death Report
On September 28 at 6:25 a.m., police responded to a residence in the 00 block of Hidden Valley.  The caller reported her 61-year-old sister in the bathtub and not breathing.  Monrovia Fire Department paramedics responded and pronounced the woman.  Los Angeles County Coroner's Office was contacted and responded to the scene. 

Theft from Vehicle
On September 28 at 12:10 p.m., an officer was dispatched to a residence in the 100 block of North Mayflower.  The reporting party had parked his vehicle off the alley by his garage in the evening, but left it unlocked.  He returned to his vehicle at about 11:00 a.m. the next day and found his prescription glasses and GPS missing from the center console.  Investigation continuing.
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Detective Bureau Case Follow-up

Child Molestation - Suspect Sentenced
The suspect was arrested on December 15, 2009, for child molestation.  The suspect, a registered sex offender, allegedly, had repeatedly molested his live-in stepdaughter over an 8-year period, beginning when she was only 4 years of age.

The case was assigned to a detective for further investigation and the District Attorney's review.  During the course of the detective's investigation, he was able to locate a previous victim of the suspect, an ex-girlfriend's daughter.  She, too, was the victim of repeated sexual molestation by the suspect, which began when she was 6 years old.  This case occurred in West Covina in 1995, while the suspect lived with the victim's mother. .

Three felony charges were filed against the suspect for the Monrovia case by the Pasadena Superior Court and a jury trial began on August 10, 2011.  On August 16, 2011, the case went to the jury, and in a short 60 minutes, they returned with a verdict: GUILTY on all counts.  Each of the three counts holds a 25-year-to-life sentence, due to his prior felony sexual assault conviction.

On September 23, the suspect was sentenced to 155 years to life for molesting his stepdaughter.  This case is a result of detailed investigative work by Monrovia Police Department detectives

Thursday, September 22, 2011

Highlighted Activity - Week of September 15 - 21, 2011


During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 548 service events, resulting in 98 investigations.  Following are the last week's highlighted issues and events:

Assault with a Deadly Weapon / Possession of a Dangerous Weapon / Criminal Threats - Suspect Arrested
On September 15 at 3:10 p.m., an officer on patrol heard a commotion in the area of the 700 block of West Colorado.  The officer observed two subjects who appeared to be fighting.  As the officer approached, he saw that one of the subjects was bleeding from the face, and the second subject had fled on foot.  During the investigation, it was learned that the subject who fled struck the other subject in the face with a nunchaku.  The suspect was later located down the street at his residence and was arrested without incident.  The weapon was recovered at the suspect's residence.  The victim was seen by Monrovia paramedics, but declined further medical treatment.

Vehicle Burglary
On September 16 at 6:15 a.m., police received a call reporting a suspect smashing the window of a vehicle on the street in the 400 block of Stedman.  The possible suspect was last seen in a gold Nissan driving east.  The incident appears to be an attempted burglary to the vehicle, but there was no loss.  The suspect was not located.

Drug Activity - Suspect Arrested
On September 16 at 5:20 p.m., an officer stopped a vehicle at Foothill and Fifth.  The female occupant was not wearing her seatbelt and claimed she had no way to identify herself.  A pat-down search revealed she was in possession of a used glass methamphetamine pipe.  No narcotics were found.  She was arrested for being in possession of drug paraphernalia, a misdemeanor, and was taken to the Monrovia City Jail, where she was booked, identified, and then released with a citation to appear in court.

Residential Burglary / Hot Prowl
On September 17 at 2:45 a.m., officers responded to a residence in the 300 block of North Mountain regarding a burglary that occurred while one of the residents was inside the home.  The wife had left at approximately 11:00 a.m.  Her husband, who is hard of hearing, remained at home.  The wife returned home at 2:00 a.m. and found the rooms on the second story of the house ransacked and a starter pistol had been taken.  After the initial investigation, it was determined that the suspect had jumped a wall to get into the yard.  The suspect then stacked a plastic tub and plastic chairs so he could reach the roof of the home.  He then climbed onto the roof, pried a screen off a window, and entered the home.  The suspect ransacked the upstairs rooms only, and then fled through the same open window.  The husband did not hear anything other than a loud bang at approximately 3:00 p.m.  The investigation is continuing.

Suspicious Circumstances - Suspect Arrested
On September 18 at 2:21 a.m., an officer on patrol in the area east of Myrtle and south of Huntington heard what sounded like shots fired.  Several other people heard the sounds, as well.  An area search was conducted, but no victims were found.  Two male subjects were observed by the officer walking in the middle of the street in the 200 block of East Cypress.  When the officer attempted to contact them regarding the possible shots, one of the two subjects refused to stop.  Assisting officers confronted the subject, but he still would not comply with their demands and began cursing at them.  The subject was detained and arrested for resisting and delaying a peace officer.  He was identified as a documented gang member.  Ultimately, no evidence of shots having been fired was found.

Parolee-at-Large - Suspect Arrested
On September 19 at 9:05 a.m., officers responded to the 100 block of North El Norte regarding a subject taking recyclables from the trash.  When they arrived, the reporting party told them the subject had taken recyclables and went to the recycling center on Duarte Road.  An officer contacted the subject at the recycling yard.  A computer check revealed he was wanted by state parole.  The subject was arrested and taken into custody.

Domestic Violence - Suspect Arrested
On September 19 at 9:29 p.m., police received a call reporting domestic violence at a residence in the 1700 block of South Fifth.  A man was arguing with his live-in girlfriend. She attempted to leave the location in her car.  He stood in front of the car as she drove down the driveway.  He was hit by the car, causing an injury to his leg.  The female subject was arrested for domestic violence.

Residential Burglary
September 20 at 8:05 p.m., a resident who lives in the 200 block of East Olive reported a burglary to his residence.  He left his residence at 5:00 p.m. and returned at 8:00 p.m. to discover his television, DVD's, and CD's had been stolen.  It appears the suspect used the victim's ladder to access an unlocked second-story window to gain entry to the home.  Investigation continuing.
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Tip of the Week

Keeping Your Vehicle Safe and Secure

The most important rule of securing your vehicle is to always keep it locked.  Many thieves have admitted that they look for cars that are unlocked or have the windows rolled down.  Criminals will be more likely to steal a vehicle they can get without trouble over a more expensive car they would have to break into.  Never leave anything a criminal might want in a visible area, such as the back seat or floor.  You don't want to draw attention to your vehicle and make it seem more appealing.  A thief who notices valuables in a vehicle may choose to steal it over other nearby cars, or they may break in to take the valuables.  Personal belongings should always be placed in the trunk.

A car alarm is one of the best ways to protect your vehicle.  Even a sticker that notifies people that the car has an active security system may be a deterrent to someone who is looking for a car they can steal quickly.  However, modern alarm systems have led to thieves developing high-tech methods of disarming the vehicles, so you may choose to invest in a tracking device, such as Lojack or OnStar.  These systems allow police officers to track down and recover vehicles quickly.

Thursday, September 15, 2011

Highlighted Activity - Week of September 8 -14, 2011


During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 550 service events, resulting in 93 investigations.  Following are the last week's highlighted issues and events:

Parolee-at-Large - Suspect Arrested
On September 9 at 3:50 p.m., Monrovia's Special Enforcement Team officers, augmented by Monrovia, Arcadia, and Baldwin Park police officers, and Los Angeles County Sheriff's deputies, went to the 200 block of Los Angeles to search for a parolee-at-large.  The parolee was found in the attic trying to hide from the officers. He was taken into custody without further incident.

Department of Child and Family Services Referral / Resisting and Delaying a Police Officer - Suspect Arrested
On September 10 at 7:30 a.m., officers went to a residence in the 200 block of Madeline to investigate a referral from the Department of Child and Family Services.  Upon their arrival, they found the mother of a minor child under the influence of alcohol.  She was so intoxicated she was unable to care for the child.  There were six additional adults in the residence who were all at varying stages of intoxication. The officers took the minor into protective custody.  The mother tried to prevent the officers from leaving with the child, and she was subsequently arrested for resisting and delaying a police officer.  After a caseworker from Department of Child and Family Services interviewed the child, she was released to her father.

Fight in Progress / Possession of a Concealed Weapon / Public Intoxication - Suspect Arrested
On September 11 at 1:52 a.m., officers were dispatched to the 600 block of South Primrose regarding a fight in progress.  When Officers arrived, they detained five subjects and conducted pat-down searches on them.  During the investigation, a female subject was found to be in possession of a dagger.  She was arrested for the weapons violation and for being drunk in public.  The other subjects were released in the field.

Driving Under the Influence / Traffic Collision - Suspect Arrested
On September 11 at 3:04 a.m., officers on patrol in the 100 block of West Huntington heard the sound of a traffic collision.  The officers observed a vehicle leaving the area westbound on Foothill at a high rate of speed.  An officer followed the vehicle and eventually caught up to it as it entered into the city of Arcadia.  The driver was detained and was determined to be driving under the influence and was arrested.  The investigation revealed the driver had fled the scene of a traffic collision.  It was discovered that the suspect struck an unoccupied parked vehicle in the 100 block of Stedman.   The suspect was arrested for driving under the influence and hit and run.

Residential Burglary
On September 12 at 3:43 p.m., a resident in the 200 block of Bradoaks heard noises in her home.  When she went to check, she found two male subjects, approximately 19 years old, one was wearing a baseball style hat.  The two suspects ran from the residence and a white Chrysler 300 was seen speeding away from the location.  Investigation continuing.

Residential Burglary
On September 12 at 5:06 p.m., a resident in the 400 block of Oakcliff returned home from work at about 5:10 p.m. and found the inside of his home ransacked.  He looked around his home and found the kitchen screen had been taken off and a window was open.   Investigation continuing.

Residential Burglary
On September 13 at 1:09 p.m., a burglary was reported in the 500 block of West Maple.  The resident left for work at 8:00 a.m. and returned home at 1:11 p.m.  The victim found the backdoor of the residence open.  The victim called police and did not go inside. Officers responded and checked home to ensure no suspects were inside.  No suspects were located.  Jewelry and a computer hard drive were taken.  Investigation continuing.

Gang Injunction Violation / Brandishing a Weapon - Suspect Arrested
On September 15 at 2:45 a.m., police received a call from a female subject in the 100 block of Montana stating her ex-boyfriend, a gang member, was in front of her house and was playing music loudly.  When she asked him to turn down the volume, he responded by brandishing a pistol in a threatening manner.  Officers responded and detained the suspect without incident.  The pistol turned out to be a realistic-looking toy.  The suspect was arrested for violating the curfew of the gang injunction and brandishing a replica firearm.  Because the suspect was arrested two days ago for violating the injunction's curfew, he was held for bail on the likelihood or recurrence.
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Stop Graffiti Bounty Program

One of the methods the Monrovia Police Department is using to combat graffiti in the community of Monrovia is the Stop Graffiti Bounty Program.  If a citizen reports an incident of graffiti in the City of Monrovia that leads to the arrest of the suspect, the citizen will receive a $100 bill.  Help keep Monrovia looking great!

Thursday, September 1, 2011

Highlighted Activity - August 25 through 31, 2011


During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 517 service events, resulting in 98 investigations. Following are the last week's highlighted issues and events:

Disturbing Subjects / Possession of a Controlled Substance - Suspect Arrested

On August 26 at 8:47 p.m., officers responded to the area of Magnolia and Duarte regarding a female subject following a male subject who allegedly took something of hers while at the street fair. Officers located both parties and determined that no theft had occurred. The subjects are boyfriend/girlfriend and were arguing over drugs. Both subjects were patted down and checked for warrants. The male subject was found to be in possession of cocaine and was arrested.

Attempt Robbery - Suspect Arrested

On August 27 at 1:58 a.m., a suspect in the 300 block of West Lemon reportedly simulated a gun under his shirt and demanded money from a male victim. The victim did not believe the suspect had a gun and fought with the suspect. The suspect fled south on Alta Vista empty handed. Officers arrived and met with the victim and a witness, and also began an area check for the suspect. A male subject matching the suspects description was seen running south on Magnolia and was detained. The victim positively identified the suspect and he was arrested and taken into custody.

Hit & Run Incident - Suspect Arrested

On August 28 at 2:20 p.m., a male subject driving his vehicle east on Primrose drove through the cones blocking the roadway at Lime for the Sunday Farmer's Market event. The coordinator for the event stopped the vehicle inside the event and told the driver the street was closed to vehicle traffic. The male subject became angry and yelled that he lived that way, pointing east. He was told one more time that the street was closed. The driver proceeded through, striking the event coordinator and running over his foot. He sustained a broken ankle. A witness followed the suspect into a parking lot nearby, where officers apprehended him. He was arrested without further incident.

Domestic Violence / Reckless Driving / Possession of Methamphetamine / Possession of Drug Paraphernalia / Child Endangerment - Suspects Arrested

On August 29 at 5:04 p.m., a caller reported a male subject battering a female subject inside a vehicle in the area of Colorado and Alta Vista. The caller followed the suspect vehicle as it drove away wrecklessly on the wrong side of the road, nearly colliding into numerous vehicles along the way. As an officer drove up behind the suspect vehicle, the driver looked back and discarded a small bag into the roadway and continued driving. The suspect then stopped for the officers a distance away from the area where he discarded the bag. The officers conducted a high-risk traffic stop and detained the male subject without further incident.

The female did not have any injuries and denied being a victim of domestic violence. The subjects are husband and wife, and they had their two small children, ages one and two, in the backseat of the vehicle. The female was under the influence of a controlled substance and there was drug paraphernalia concealed where she had been sitting inside the vehicle. She was arrested for being under the influence of a controlled substance, possession of narcotics paraphernalia, and child endangerment.

The bag discarded by the male suspect was recovered and found to contain methamphetamine and a drug smoking pipe. He was arrested for possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, domestic battery, child endangerment, and wreckless driving. He was later found to have lied about his identity and was found to be on parole; a parole hold was obtained.

The two small children were not harmed during the incident and were taken into protective custody. They were later released to a grandparent after being interviewed by the Department of Child and Family Services.

Driving Under the Influence - Suspect Arrested

On August 31 at 4:51 p.m., a fast food restaurant in the 100 block of West Duarte Road reported a female in their drive-thru that was driving drunk. Officers responded and detained the female. An investigation was conducted and the female was subsequently arrested for driving under the influence.

Strong-Arm Robbery - Suspect Arrested

On August 31 at 5:07 p.m., a business in the 300 block of West Huntington reported a female subject had just taken merchandise out of the store without paying for it. An employee attempted to stop the female, and the female fought with the employee to try and get away with the merchandise. Officers responded quickly and apprehended the suspect. She was arrested for strong-arm robbery and taken into custody.

Burglary

On August 31 at 9:33 a.m., an officer was dispatched to the 500 block of West Duarte Road on the report of a burglary. The victim reported that he locked his garage the night before at about 5:30 p.m. and went in for the evening. When he walked out to the garage in the morning at 8:20 a.m., he saw one of the two doors open. He checked his garage and discovered a miter saw and some of his tools were missing. The garage doors had been secured with padlocks. It appears the suspect(s) cut the locks and took them, as they were not located at the scene. Investigation continuing.