Highlighted Activity for the Weekend of May 23-26, 2013

Commercial Burglary – One Suspect Arrested

May 23 at 1:54 p.m., a business in the 1600 block of South Mountain called to report a shoplifter in custody.  Two suspects, a male and a female, entered the store, while a third suspect waited in a vehicle outside.  The male suspect selected merchandise and handed it to the female, who then concealed the property inside her purse.  The female suspect exited the store without paying for the merchandise.  A loss prevention officer detained the female, but the male suspect was not located.  The male suspect and the suspect waiting in the car fled the scene before police arrived.  The female suspect was arrested for burglary and two outstanding warrants.  A computer check revealed she is currently on parole for burglary and has two outstanding drug related warrants.  The investigation is continuing. 

Driving Under the Influence of Drugs / Possession of Marijuana – Suspect Arrested

May 24 at 12:16 a.m., an officer noticed a vehicle traveling north on Peck Road with a broken taillight, following too close to a vehicle, and changing lanes without signaling, so he conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle.  The vehicle struck the curb while pulling over for the officer.  When he approached the vehicle, he noticed the driver appeared to be under the influence of drugs.  The officer conducted a DUI investigation and subsequently arrested the driver for DUI.  During a search of the vehicle, he located a useable amount of marijuana in the vehicle.

Vandalism

May 25 at 12:06 a.m., an officer responded to the report of vandalism in the 700 block of California.  The victim parked his Chevy Tahoe in an alley.  Suspect(s) in a white, two-door vehicle, possibly a Honda, drove by the Tahoe and struck the vehicle with a baseball bat.  The Tahoe was hit two times within a 30 minute period.  The investigation is continuing.

Warrant – Suspect Arrested

May 25 at 10:24 a.m., officers responded to a report of a suspicious vehicle in the area of Primrose and Pomona.  Upon arrival, they located a converted school bus, now being used as a motor home, with several subjects inside.  Officers contacted the subjects and determined one of them had an outstanding warrant for petty theft.  The subject was taken into custody for the warrant.

Resisting and Delaying a Peace Officer by Means of Threats – Suspect Arrested

May 25 at 1:42 p.m., officers were completing a call and, as the last officer drove away, two subjects from the incident began yelling obscenities at the officer.  One of the subjects chased the officer's police vehicle on foot, while yelling and challenging the officer to fight.  The officer approached a stop sign, approximately 300 feet away from the original call, and saw the subject was still chasing and challenging him, and was now approaching his patrol vehicle. 

The officer positioned his vehicle several feet away from the subject, requested backup, and exited his vehicle to deal with the subject.  The subject continued running towards the officer, threatening to fight him.  The officer drew his Taser and the subject stopped.  The suspect was arrested for resisting and delaying a peace officer by means of threats. 

Warrant / Resisting and Delaying a Peace Officer – Suspect Arrested

May 26 at 1:11 a.m., police received a call reporting three subjects acting suspicious around a vehicle in the area of California and Colorado.  Officers arrived and contacted three subjects.  One of the subjects was found to have an outstanding warrant for his arrest.  When the officer attempted to arrest the suspect for the warrant, he tensed up and struggled with the officer, attempting to pull away.  Another officer had to assist in taking him into custody.  The suspect was arrested without further incident. 

Driving Under the Influence / Obstructing and Delaying a Peace Officer – Suspects Arrested

May 26 at 3:10 p.m., an officer on patrol noticed that a vehicle traveling south on Myrtle almost struck a detour sign, so he conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle.  The female driver appeared to be under the influence.  The male passenger exited the vehicle and became argumentative with the officer and removed his t-shirt.  The officer requested backup and removed his Taser.  The suspect told the officer to go ahead and Tase him, but when he saw assisting officers approaching, he placed his hands behind his back.  He was arrested for obstructing and delaying an officer without further incident. 

The officer then completed his investigation on the female driver and determined she was driving under the influence; she was arrested.  The passenger later admitted that he thought if he was arrested, it would distract the officer away from the DUI driver, his girlfriend.

Critical Missing Located

May 26 at 6:40 p.m., officers responded to a business in the 400 block of West Huntington regarding a missing person.  A 65-year-old male was shopping with his family at the business and he became bored and wanted to go home.  His family told him to wait by the door and they would be out soon.  When the family was ready to leave they could not find him.  They looked all over the store and then called police. Officers responded and searched the area, put out a missing person’s flyer, and contacted surrounding agencies.  Just after 8:00 p.m., the family called and said he had returned home.  The man had walked home from the store in Monrovia to his home in Rosemead.

Stolen Vehicle Recovered

May 27 at 2:13 a.m., an officer on patrol in the 3300 block of South Peck Road observed a white van parked on the street.  He ran a computer check on the van and found it was reported stolen out of Pico Rivera.  The van was recovered.

Highlighted Activity for the Weekdays of May 20-22, 2013

Commercial Burglary / Possession of a Controlled Substance for Sales – Suspect Arrested

May 20 at 1:48 p.m., officers were dispatched to a business in the 1600 block of South Mountain on the report of a fraud in progress.  An unknown suspect fraudulently purchased a large generator online for over 1,400 dollars.  The next day, a suspect came to the business to pick up the item; however, while staff was reviewing the purchase, they noticed the suspect was very nervous, and he suddenly left the store.  A loss prevention officer investigated the purchase and discovered the credit account information used was unauthorized.  The account holder was contacted, and it was confirmed that the account was compromised and the purchase was fraudulent.

Several hours later, the suspect returned and attempted to pick up the item again.  The police were immediately notified, and the suspect was quickly detained by the arriving officers.  The suspect claimed he did not purchase the item and was only picking it up to drop it off at a construction jobsite.  However, the suspect's statements were inconsistent and suspicous.  During a consentual search of the suspect, a large plastic baggie with a white crystalline powder was found in the suspect's pocket.  He told officers it was sugar, but it was later tested and determined to be methamphetamine.  As the quantity was much larger than a drug user would be in possession of,  the suspect was also charged with possession of a controlled substance for sales.  Investigation continuing.

Outstanding Warrant – Suspect Arrested

May 21 at 9:49 a.m., a suspicious vehicle was reported in the 100 block of Los Angeles.  An officer responded and observed the vehicle and contacted the occupant.  A computer check revealed the subject had a no-bail warrant for leaving his work release program.  The suspect was arrested for the warrant.  

Battery / Private Person Arrest – Suspect Arrested

May 21 at 12:56 p.m., a battery incident was reported at a business in the 200 block of Kruse Avenue.  A recently terminated employee had returned to the business to confront another employee, who he felt had caused his termination.  The suspect assaulted the employee, although the employee, while defending himself, got the better of the suspect.  The victim made a citizen’s arrest on the suspect for battery.  The suspect was arrested and taken into custody.

Commercial Burglary – Two Suspects Arrested

May 21 at 2:50 p.m., a manager from a business in the 1600 block of South Mountain observed two male suspects concealing merchandise on their person and called police.  The suspects were associated with a red Dodge truck that was involved in an incident at the Glendora business earlier in the day.  Staff from that location had alerted the Monrovia store to be on the look out for the suspects.  The suspects entered the store and pushed a cart with several items in it into the garden area.  They abandoned the cart and walked out of the store with the merchandise without paying.  

Officers arrived and observed the suspects.  The suspects ran south on Mountain and into a commercial property.  The red Dodge was located and officers watched it. The two male suspects were located hiding under vehicles and were arrested without further incident.  One suspect was determined to be a juvenile and was released on citation to his mother.  The adult suspect was held on bail.  There was a third suspect, a female with very short hair, who was the driver of the truck.  She was not located.  The truck was stored as evidence and an investigation is ongoing regarding the true ownership of the vehicle.  Investigation continuing.

Petty Theft / Possession of Drug Paraphernalia – Suspect Arrested

May 22 at 2:23 p.m., a business in the 1600 block of South Mountain reported a male suspect taking merchandise and leaving the store without paying.  He was apprehended by loss prevention and returned one item, then suddenly ran, still in possession of additional items.  Officers responded and located the suspect nearby.  He was arrested for petty theft.  The suspect was also found to be in possession of a used hypodermic needle, which was added to his charges.

Detective Bureau Case Follow-up

On January 6, 2013, at 5:01 a.m., an explosion occurred at a residence in the 200 block of East Walnut Avenue.  When officers arrived, they located three victims with severe burns, and the home was engulfed in flames.

The initial investigation and suspect statements revealed the explosion occurred due to the suspects manufacturing drugs in the home, using Butane, a highly flammable gas.  The home filled with the gas fumes and an unknown ignition source caused an explosion.  The suspects suffered burns over 50 percent of their bodies and were taken to local burn centers.  The home has extensive damage, totaling more than 94,000 dollars, and is uninhabitable.

On May 22, 2013, this case was presented to the Major Narcotics Division of the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.  Multiple felony charges were filed against all three suspects and the case is pending trial.

Tip of the Week

Stay Informed Through Nixle and ALERT LA County Emergency Mass Notification System

The Monrovia Police and Fire Departments are in the process of implementing nixle for emergency alerts, advisories, traffic alerts, and community information sent directly to your cellular phone and/or email.  This service is provided FREE to you.  Nixle is operated in conjunction with NLETS, an international public safety information network, providing secure, authenticated messaging sent directly from your Police or Fire Department. 

Alert LA County is an emergency mass notification system to alert residents and businesses by phone, text, and e-mail of emergencies in their area.  Alert LA County allows the Sheriff's Emergency Communications Center to activate local and regional alerts by drawing the boundaries of the area to be notified on a computer map.  Recorded and written alerts will provide information on the nature of the emergency and necessary actions, such as evacuations.  The County's 7.1 million landline phone numbers are programmed into the mass notification system, but the public must register Voice over IP lines, cell phones and e-mail addresses.    Each telephone number and e-mail can be associated with only one street address.

The Monrovia Police and Fire Departments are encouraging residents to sign up for both nixle and Alert LA County so you can receive critical information during emergencies.  Just click on nixle and Alert LA County to sign up!  It only takes a couple of minutes to complete the forms and there is no cost to you. 

Highlighted Activity for the Weekend of May 16-19, 2013

Grand Theft Auto / Grand Theft

May 16 at 11:00 a.m., a gardener parked his pickup truck in the 300 block of Norumbega and left his vehicle unattended with two lawnmowers, a blower, and a chainsaw in the bed of his truck.  The equipment was secured with a bicycle chain.  He returned to the vehicle just minutes later to discover his vehicle had been taken, and he called police.  Police responded, along with the Foothill Air Support helicopter, which was able to locate the victim's vehicle parked two blocks away from where it was taken from; the gardening equipment was missing.  It appears the suspect(s) cut the chain, as broken chain links were found in the bed of the truck.  The vehicle was recovered and returned to the victim at the scene.  Investigation continuing. 

Armed Robbery

May 16 at 12:50 p.m., a male victim reported an armed robbery incident that occurred the night before.  He reported that he was riding his bicycle at 10:30 p.m., when he observed a female lying on the sidewalk in the 500 block of West Duarte Road.  The victim got off his bike to see if the female needed assistance, when two male suspects suddenly appeared.  One of the suspects took the victim's yellow mountain bike.  The victim approached the suspects, and one of the suspects brandished a handgun.  Both suspects fled without further incident.  It does not appear the suspects knew the female, who said she was okay and only resting.  The victim said he did not report the incident when it occurred because he had to work the following morning. 

Suspect number one is described as a male Hispanic, 40 years old, 5’10”, 250 pounds, medium-length black hair, wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, and blue or black jeans.  Suspect number two is described as a male Hispanic, 40 years old, 5’8”, 180 pounds, medium-length black hair, wearing a brown striped t-shirt, dark pants, and black tennis shoes.  The investigation is continuing.

Warrant Arrest

May 16 at 1:54 p.m., an officer responded to the 100 block of East Evergreen regarding a disturbing subject.  The officer contacted the involved subjects and discovered one of the subjects had a $500,000 warrant issued by Pasadena Police Department for battery.  The subject was arrested for the warrant and held, pending Pasadena Police Department’s arrival to take him into custody.

Assault With a Deadly Weapon

May 16 at 9:27 p.m., an officer responded to a business parking lot in the 300 block of West Huntington regarding an assault with a deadly weapon.  The victim entered a parking lot and parking his vehicle close to another vehicle.  A passenger in the other vehicle pointed out to the victim that he had parked too close.  The victim responded by challenging the passenger to exit the vehicle.  The suspect and victim exchange words, and the victim walked away into a business to make a purchase. 

When the victim returned, the suspect was next to his vehicle and was holding a crowbar.  The victim wrapped his jacket around his arm and the two subjects began to fight.  The suspect struck the victim on the wrapped arm with the crowbar, and the victim struck the suspect back in the face with a clenched fist.  The suspect then struck the victim on the side of the head, causing a two inch laceration.  The victim stumbled back and the suspect fled in his vehicle. 

The victim was extremely uncooperative with officers, refused medical treatment, and refused to provide a detailed description of the suspect.  Monrovia Paramedics were dispatched and managed to wrap the victim's injury.  The victim also refused prosecution and stated that the incident was as much his fault and the suspect’s.  The investigation is continuing.

Possession of Narcotic Paraphernalia – Suspect Arrested

May 17 at 4:12 p.m., suspicious subjects were reported, possibly looking into parked vehicles in the 100 block of South Mountain.  Upon the officer’s arrival, two subjects were detained, a male and female.  The female subject was found to be in possession of a methamphetamine pipe and a small amount of marijuana in her purse.  The female was arrested for possession of the pipe.  The area was searched, but no evidence of any vehicle tampering or burglary was found.  The female also had outstanding warrants issued by the Arcadia Police Department.  The second subject was identified and released.

Under the Influence of a Controlled Substance – Suspect Arrested

May 17 at 12:54 a.m., police received a call reporting a possible drunk driver traveling north on Myrtle from Longden.  An officer responded and located the vehicle on Myrtle at the railroad tracks and conducted a traffic stop.  During the investigation, the driver was determined to be driving under the influence and was arrested.

Possession of Narcotic Paraphernalia – Suspect Arrested

May 19 at 9:52 a.m., an officer on patrol observed a known subject walking on the sidewalk.  He knew from prior contacts with her that she might have outstanding warrants.  A computer check confirmed she had an outstanding warrant and she was detained.  During a pat-down search, two drug pipes were found on her person.  She was arrested and taken into custody.

Assault With a Deadly Weapon / Brandishing a Firearm / Battery / Criminal Threats – Suspect Arrested

May 19 at 2:52 p.m., police were dispatched to a business in the 400 block of East Huntington regarding an assault with a deadly weapon.  A male and female employee argued over a coworker that had been fired.  The male employee blamed the female employee for the firing of his friend.  The female victim alleged the male suspect struck her in the back of the head with his fist.  He then drove his vehicle toward her while she was standing in the parking lot.  The suspect then stopped his vehicle near the victim and pointed a handgun at her and threatened her.  He threw several items from his vehicle at her and then fled the scene.  The victim drove home and called police. 

Police responded and located the suspect.  He was arrested after giving conflicting statements about the incident and witnesses corroborated portions of the victim’s statements.  The officer obtained an emergency protective order for the victim after the suspect arranged to be bailed out of jail.

Highlighted Activity for the Weekdays of May 13-15, 2013

Petty Theft From a Vehicle

May 13 at 6:11 a.m., a petty theft from an unlocked vehicle that occurred in the 100 block of Acacia was reported to police.  The victim parked his vehicle in his driveway at approximately 10:30 p.m. and left it unlocked.  Unknown suspect(s) entered the vehicle overnight and took makeup, an iPad touch, a Garmin GPS, employee identification, miscellaneous tools and clothing.  The investigation is continuing.

Traffic Collision / Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested

May 13 at 9:21 a.m., a traffic collision was reported in the 500 block of West Duarte Road.  An officer responded and found a solo vehicle that had crashed into several parked cars.  Further investigation determined the driver was under the influence of medications, and he was uncooperative with the officer.  The driver was arrested for driving under the influence and taken into custody. 

Traffic Violation / Outstanding Warrant – Suspect Arrested

May 15 at 11:44 a.m., an officer was working special traffic enforcement on the Office of Traffic Safety grant and made a traffic stop in the 2000 block of California on vehicle for a vehicle code violation.  A warrant check revealed the driver had multiple felony warrants for his arrest.  The driver was arrested without incident and taken to the station for booking.

Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested

May 16 at 1:56 a.m., an officer observed a vehicle committing several vehicle code violations. The officer conducted a traffic stop at Palm and Ivy.  After further investigation, the driver was determined to be under the influence and was arrested for DUI.

Detective Bureau Case Follow-Up

In September of 2011, an on going neighbor dispute turned into a violent verbal confrontation in the 2100 block of South Myrtle Avenue.  An arrest was made of a 40-year-old male, who verbally threatened a female and her father, who owns a business in the area.  The case was continued a number of times and finally came to a plea agreement on May 7, 2013.  The suspect pled guilty and was sentenced to 9 years in prison.

Tip of the Week

“Be Bear Aware” – The Weather is Warming Up and the Bears are Back in the Foothills

May is “Be Bear Aware” Month and the Monrovia Police Department and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife want to remind the public to act responsibly when in bear country.  Spring is the time of year when California’s black bears emerge from their winter dens in search of food.  Because bears are attracted to anything edible or smelly, their search often leads them into residential neighborhoods, where trash and food is readily available.  Throughout spring and summer, CDFW receives many calls when bears break into homes and rummage through trash bins.  These bears are often labeled “nuisance” bears, but in reality they are just doing what comes naturally to them, foraging for food.

Tips for Bear-Proofing Your Home:

Bears have keen noses and can smell an easy meal from miles away. They can easily tear a front door off its hinges if they smell food left out on the kitchen counter. To protect your family and property from bear break-ins follow these simple tips:

•   Purchase and properly use a bear-proof garbage container.
•   Wait to put trash out until the morning of collection day.
•   Don’t leave trash, groceries, or animal feed in your car.
•   Keep garbage cans clean and deodorize them with bleach or ammonia.
•   Keep barbecue grills clean and stored in a garage or shed when not in use.
•   Only provide bird feeders during November through March and make them inaccessible to bears.
•   Don’t leave any scented products outside, even non-food items such as suntan lotion, insect repellent, soap or candles.
•   Keep doors and windows closed and locked.
•   Consider installing motion-detector alarms, electric fencing or motion-activated sprinklers.
•   Harvest fruit off trees as soon as it is ripe, and promptly collect fruit that falls.
•   Securely block access to potential hibernation sites such as crawl spaces under decks and buildings.

Following are some informative videos and information from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife to help you “Be Bear Aware!”

The Bear Truth

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tnFrCshN8I&feature=youtu.be&a

Smarter than the Average Bear

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5PXsZFpl2s&feature=youtu.be&a

Bearly Aware

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-RVCCvyGDI&list=UUMyd15DT5hztgPUbO1KyyGw&index=1

Keep Me Wild - More Great Bear Facts from California Department of Fish & Wildlife:
http://www.dfg.ca.gov/keepmewild/bear.html/

Living with California Black Bears (From the California Department of Fish & Wildlife):

http://sagehen.ucnrs.org/Documents/visitors/wildlife/bear.pdf

Follow California Department of Fish and Wildlife on Twitter

https://twitter.com/CaliforniaDFW

Subscribe to Department of Fish and Wildlife News via e-mail or RSS feed.

http://www.dfg.ca.gov/news/

Highlighted Activity for the Weekend of May 9-12, 2013

Telephone Scam Targeting the Elderly

The Monrovia Police Department has recently received several calls from elderly Monrovia citizens reporting the following telephone scam: 

The elderly victim receives a call stating they owe money for an outstanding debt.  The suspect soon states if they don’t pay this debt, a warrant could be issued for their arrest, their bank account will be put on hold, and there is a possibility they will lose their house.  The suspect then tells the victim if they want to resolve the matter, they need to purchase a Greendot prepaid money card with a certain amount, usually not more than $500.00.  Once the victim obtains the card, they are to call back and give the card number so it can be verified.  The suspect then transfers the money from the victim’s card to another card and the money is gone.  If the victim falls for the scam, the suspect sometimes calls back and tries to solicit additional money from the victim. 

Please be aware of this scam and let others know this is going on so we can prevent this crime.  Please inform your loved ones, especially the elderly, as they are the targets of this particular scam.  Let them know to never give out personal information to anyone over the phone.  A legitimate company would not operate by asking for personal information over the phone; they would have your information already. 

Vandalism / Drunk in Public – Suspect Arrested

May 11 at 2:05 a.m., police responded to the report of a disturbing female subject at a business in the 1800 block of Walker that was refusing to leave.  Officers arrived and located the subject.  The female had been drinking and was combative.  She had kicked a male acquaintance’s vehicle, causing a dent in the vehicle.  She was determined to be intoxicated and a danger to herself and others; she was arrested for being drunk in public. 

Hiker Enters Closed Burn Area – Receives Civil Citation

May 11 at 11:30 a.m., a hiker was observed entering the closed burn area at Highland Place by a park ranger.  Signs are posted prohibiting hikers from entering the area for their own safety.  When the park ranger warned the hiker and told him not to enter the area, the hiker ignored him and told the ranger to call the police, and he said he was going to keep walking.  The police department was called and officers responded to the location.  The suspect stopped for the officers; he was issued a civil Administrative Citation for entering the restricted burn area.

Commercial Burglary – Suspect Arrested

May 11 at 11:39 a.m., a suspect entered a business in the 1600 block of South Mountain Avenue, selected an automatic utility pump and put it in a cart.  The suspect walked around the store with the cart for a while and then attempted to exit the store without paying for the merchandise.  He was followed out of the store by loss prevention.  When contacted, the suspect attempted to push the loss prevention officer and a struggle ensued.  He was eventually taken into custody by loss prevention.  Officers responded to the location and the suspect was arrested.

Highlighted Activity for the Weekdays of May 6-8, 2013

Residential Burglary

May 6 at 12:40 p.m., officers responded to an alarm activation at a residence in the 200 block of Bradoaks.  When they arrived, they discovered a back window open and the house had been burglarized.  A resident in the area saw two, male Black suspects fleeing the home in a silver Toyota Camry.  Arcadia Police Department received notification of the robbery and advised of an incident in Arcadia involving a silver Toyota that occurred approximately an hour earlier.  An Arcadia resident had a male and female Black who were driving a silver Toyota Camry knock on the door.  When the resident answered, the subjects appeared surprised someone was home and quickly came up with a request for directions to the 134 Freeway.  The resident reported the suspicious incident to police, who responded, but the vehicle was not located.  The investigation is continuing.

Fraud / Commercial Burglary – Suspect Arrested

May 6 at 3:45 p.m., a female subject entered a business in the 500 block of West Huntington with her 3-year-old daughter.  She attempted to make a purchase using fraudulent credit cards she had in her possession, but was detained by store loss prevention personnel.  She had been in the store 3 days prior and used the same cards to purchase $720 of merchandise.  Officers responded, confirmed the cards in her possession were fraudulent, along with a fraudulent social security card and multiple fake identification cards.  She also had a no-bail warrant for her arrest out of San Bernardino for burglary.  She was arrested and the Department of Children and Family Services was called to take custody of her daughter.

Commercial Burglary – Suspect Arrested

May 6 at 8:24 p.m., an officer was dispatched on the report of a burglary at a business in the 700 block of East Huntington.  An adult female with her 4-year-old child went into the business.  The suspect took a bag and removed the tag, then went throughout the store putting store merchandise inside the bag.  She exited the store without paying and was detained.  Officers spoke with the suspect and found this was not her first arrest for theft.  She was arrested and the Department of Children and Family Services was contacted and responded to take custody of the four-year-old child.

Domestic Violence – Suspect Arrested

May 6 at 11:42 p.m., a male subject who is on house arrest was at home with his girlfriend.  His girlfriend wanted to talk to him, but he wanted to be left alone.  She continued to talk to him and he became angry.  He then grabbed her, shook her, and head butted her.  She ran into the other room and called police.  He saw she was using her phone and grabbed the phone and broke it.  The police dispatcher was still on the line and heard the male subject yell at the female and the phone went dead. Officers arrived and the subject was arrested.

Missing Child / Runaway Juvenile - Located

On May 7 at 6:06 p.m., a 10-year-old male subject was reported missing to police by his family members.  The boy was last seen at a relative’s home in the 200 block of West Walnut in the City of Monrovia.  He has run away several times before and had run away from his family the day before in Pasadena.  An extensive search was conducted by the Monrovia Police Department and neighboring agencies were notified, but the boy was not located.    

The boy was actually located at approximately 4:00 a.m. that next morning by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and was taken into custody by the Department of Children and Family Services.  Sheriff’s deputies contacted him on Rosemead Blvd. in the City of Rosemead and detained him.  The boy had taken his grandmother’s cell phone and debit card, and had withdrawn money with the card.  Due to the fact that the boy was not truthful about his identity with the Sheriff’s Department, he was not determined to be the missing child from Monrovia until later in the day, when his true identity was discovered.

Under the Influence of a Controlled Substance / Vandalism / Mentally Disturbed Subject

May 8 at 6:39 a.m., police received a call reporting a male subject knocking on doors and claiming to be a preacher.  He was reportedly acting very odd.  Officers arrived and located the subject, who is a known drug user with a long history of contacts with the police department.  The subject was determined to be under the influence of a controlled substance, and he was also charged with vandalism of a window he had damaged at the trailer park where he was located.  He was arrested and later released on citation. 

Later that day, at 4:11 p.m., a resident in the 400 block of Bradbury called stating a male subject knocked on his door and was acting strange.  Officers responded and found the same subject who had been arrested earlier, walking in the street in the 1100 block of Lemon; he was making wildly unrealistic statements.  He was detained and was taken to a hospital, where he was held for 72-hour mental evaluation.

Commercial Burglary – Suspect Arrested

May 8 at 3:04 p.m., an officer was dispatched to a business in the 1600 block of South Mountain on the report of a burglary.  Store loss prevention had detained a subject who had attempted to take merchandise by hiding it in his waistband.  The subject is currently on probation for burglary.  He was arrested and taken into to custody.

Grand Theft – Suspect Arrested

May 8 at 9:57 p.m., a female employee of a business in the 1600 block of South Mountain was believed to have been taking money from her cash register over a long period of time.  Employees from the business had been watching her remove money from the register drawer and put it in her pocket.  She was removed from duty at the register and interviewed.  She admitted to the long-term thefts and was arrested by police.

Tip of the Week

Make Prom Safe and Fun – A Message >From the California Office of Traffic Safety and the Monrovia Police Department

Spring is in full swing and for teenagers everywhere, that means preparations for prom are underway. This prom season, the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) and the Monrovia Police Department are reminding all students and parents that safety behind the wheel is especially important on prom night.  Lifelong memories of prom night should be of good times, not tragedy. Young drivers, especially new teen drivers, are particularly susceptible to crashes; based on miles driven, the fatality rate for drivers aged 16 to 19 is four times higher than for older, more experienced drivers. The National Young Driver Survey also states that 20 percent of eleventh grade drivers reported at least one crash over the past year.

“Studies show that most incidents involving young drivers stem from inexperience, rather than deliberately risky behavior. Teens simply don’t have the time behind the wheel to know how to respond quickly to outside dangers,” said OTS Director Christopher J. Murphy.”  Add on prom night with possible underage drinking, lack of using seat belts, cell phones, and a bunch of teens in one car increases these hazards for many and puts them at greater risk.” 

California has a zero-tolerance policy for minors when it comes to impaired driving or cell phone use.  For anyone under 21, there is no legal Blood Alcohol Content limit; any alcohol present in the system is illegal and carries heavy consequences. In addition, drivers under 18 are prohibited from any use of mobile devices.

 

In order to make sure prom is a safe and fun evening, OTS recommends taking the following safety tips into consideration when planning prom night:

•  Never, under any circumstances, let someone who’s been drinking be a driver.

Take the initiative and arrange a sober ride home or have them sleep at a safe place for the night.  Parents, a taxi, or sober friends are all safe alternatives.

•  Always wear a seatbelt and make sure everyone else in the car does, too.

•  When driving, pay attention to the road. Silence cell phones, ask passengers to avoid distracting the driver, and concentrate on getting safely to and from the destination.

•  Bring an extra pair of comfortable shoes to use while driving to avoid driving in heels or bulky dress shoes.

Speeding, reckless driving, driving while intoxicated or under the influence of drugs, while distracted, or without seatbelts are all behaviors that can instantly turn a fun spring celebration into a tragedy.  Following these tips can help to ensure that all prom goers have a safe and memorable prom night.  For more information on all OTS efforts and other safe driving tips, log on to www.ots.ca.gov. 

Highlighted Activity for the Weekend of May 2-5, 2013

Annual Low-Cost Rabies Vaccination & Licensing Clinic for Dogs

On June 12, 2013, the Monrovia Police Department will be hosting its Annual Low-Cost Rabies Vaccination & Licensing Clinic for dogs.  The clinic will be held at Recreation Park in Monrovia, outside the tennis courts, off Olive Avenue; parking is available.  The Clinic will start at 5 p.m. and end at 7 p.m.  For more information, click on Rabies Vaccination & Licensing Clinic.

Residential Burglary

May 2 at 5:53 p.m., officers responded to the 600 block of Maryanna Lane regarding the report of a residential burglary.  The victim’s loss was a gun safe which contained a pistol and cash, as well as two computers, an iPad, an iPhone, and several designer purses.  It appears the suspect(s) entered through a rear door. The investigation is continuing.

Utility Problem

May 2 at 8:25 p.m., a power line was reported down in the 200 block of East Colorado.  Officers arrived and contained the area until Monrovia Fire Department personnel arrived.  The line, for some unknown reason, snapped and struck a parked vehicle, causing minor damage.  Edison responded and repaired the line, which was energized. 

Vehicle Tampering / Attempt Burglary

May 3 at 5:15 p.m., a resident in the 100 block of Mauna Loa came out of his house and discovered a suspect inside his vehicle.  Once the suspect realized he had been discovered, he fled the location.  Officers got into the area quickly, but were unable to locate the suspect.  The investigation is continuing.

Structure Fire

May 3 at 9:39 p.m., a structure fire was reported in the 900 block of West Foothill.  When officers arrived, they saw smoke emitting from a third story window.  Monrovia Fire was dispatched.  Officers spoke with the resident, who stated he was asleep in his bedroom when he was awakened by the automatic sprinkler system.  He sat up and saw the window drapes where on fire, which were apparently ignited by a lamp.  The sprinkler system extinguished most of the fire. 

The Monrovia Fire Department contacted the Red Cross, and they responded to the station and provided a hotel voucher to the victim for temporary shelter for a week, which would be the duration the unit would be uninhabitable.  The fire was determined not suspicious in nature. 

Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested

May 4 at 2:06 a.m., an officer on patrol in the 1500 block of South Myrtle noticed that a vehicle approaching Central almost struck the concrete center median, and then the driver abruptly turned on the roadway.  The officer stopped the driver and noticed he appeared to be under the influence.  After investigation, the driver was determined to be under the influence and was arrested.

Carrying a Concealed Weapon / Possession of Marijuana / Driving Without a License – Suspect Arrested

May 4 at 2:18 a.m., an officer stopped a vehicle that was speeding in the 100 block of South Myrtle.  The officer discovered the driver was unlicensed.  Further investigation revealed the driver had an open container of alcohol and marijuana in the vehicle.  He also had a concealed dagger in his rear pocket.  The driver was arrested for the above listed charges.

Robbery

May 4 at 6:09 a.m., officers responded to the report of a robbery that just occurred in the 1400 block of Alamitas.  Two male victims were approached in front of their friend’s house by a passenger/suspect that got out of a tan, four-door sedan, possibly a Hyundia, occupied by two other male Hispanic suspects.  The victims were loading their duffle bags into a vehicle.  The suspect walked up to the victims and demanded they give him the bags.  He lifted his sweatshirt, revealing a black handgun in his waistband.  The suspect did not brandish the weapon. 

The victims gave the suspect their gear bags, which contained soccer uniforms, soccer gear, and a wallet with identification and a bank debit card.  The suspect is described as a male Hispanic, 5’8” tall, thin build, shaved head, wearing a grey hooded sweatshirt with “Los Angeles” written on the front in black letters.  The suspect had his hood up and a black bandana over his face.  Officers searched the area for the suspects, but they were not located.  The investigation is continuing.  

Warrant / Possession of Narcotics for Sale – Suspect Arrested

May 5 at 10:44 a.m., dispatch received a call reporting a possible male trespasser who was unresponsive at a residence in the 100 block of Oaks Avenue.  When officers arrived, they entered the home with the assistance of the home owner's house sitter.  They located a male subject sleeping, unresponsive on the couch.  Officers had to yell at him to wake him.  He did not have any medical issues, but did have an outstanding warrant for his arrest out of San Bernardino.  He was arrested for the warrant and transported to the Monrovia City Jail with his bicycle and backpack. 

In the jail, a search of his backpack revealed a large quantity of methamphetamine, a large amount of cash in his wallet in multiple denominations, small empty plastic bags, and a digital scale with white residue on top of it.  It was determined he was in possession of the methamphetamine in order to sell it.  He was charged with the additional crime.

Extradition Warrant – Suspect Arrested

May 5 at 10:15 p.m., an officer on patrol stopped a vehicle in the area of Mountain and Huntington for a traffic violation.  A computer check of the driver revealed he is on parole and had an out-of-state felony warrant for narcotics.  The issuing agency was contacted and confirmed they would extradite the suspect.  The suspect was arrested and taken into custody, pending extradition.

Highlighted Activity for the Weekdays of April 29 – May 1, 2013

Parolee at Large – Suspect Arrested

April 29 at 9:15 a.m., an officer stopped a vehicle at Shamrock and Lime for speeding and running a red light.  A computer check revealed the 43-year-old, male driver was a parolee at large on parole for grand theft auto.  After being issued a citation for the traffic violations, he was arrested and taken into custody.

Child Abuse – Suspect Arrested

April 29 at 12:58 p.m., an officer was dispatched to an elementary school in the 200 block of Jasmine regarding a child abuse report.  School staff notified the police after a child reported the abuse to her teacher and said she was afraid to go home.  The 10-year-old girl was whipped and punched several times by her mother, resulting in the child receiving multiple bruises.  Officers investigated and eventually arrested the mother for causing corporal injury to a child.  The Department of Children and Family Services took custody of the child.

Violation of Restraining Order – Suspect Arrested

April 30 at 2:54 a.m., a female subject called police reporting her boyfriend was outside her home at the front door.  She claimed to have a valid restraining order against the subject.  Officers located and detained the subject at a gas station at Foothill and Madison.  A computer check revealed the subject had several outstanding warrants.  He was arrested on the warrants, and a report regarding the restraining order will be sent to the District Attorney for filing consideration.

Residential Burglary

April 30 at 6:57 p.m., a residential burglary was reported in the 200 block of Madeline.  A real estate agent arrived at the home, which is currently for sale, and noticed the front door ajar; she called police.  Officers responded and checked the house for possible suspect(s), but no one was located inside the home.  The property inside the home had all been moved to the center of the living room, including the refrigerator.  The lockbox was missing and there were no signs of forced entry found.  The investigation is continuing.

Resisting and Delaying a Peace Officer / No-Bail Warrant – Suspect Arrested

May 1 at 1:55 p.m., an officer on patrol observed a wanted suspect in the area of Palm and Shamrock.  When the suspect saw the officer, he ran west and into the school yard of Clifton Middle School in the 200 block of South Ivy Avenue; he ran through the school gym.  Responding officers set up containment of the area and advised school staff at Clifton and Tzu Chi Preschool to lock their facilities down.  Clifton students had already gone home for the day.  A search was begun.

A resident in the 200 block of East Foothill called and reported a subject matching the suspect description had run into their garage.  Officers responded and checked the residence, but the suspect had fled the garage out a side door and over a wall.  He fled north onto Foothill and out of sight.  The schools were advised to release their lock down once officers were convinced he was out of the area. 

The suspect eluded officers for several hours, but at 5:36 p.m., he was located in the area of Jasmine and Palm.  A perimeter was set up and the Foothill Air Support helicopter responded to assist in the search.  After several attempts to evade officers, the suspect finally surrendered and was arrested for the no-bail warrant and for resisting and delaying officers.

Residential Burglary

May 1 at 7:45 p.m., police responded to the 100 block of Los Angeles Avenue regarding a residential burglary.  The victim left for work at about 10 a.m. and her home was secured.  She returned home at around 7:45 p.m.  She went inside and noticed her jewelry box was missing and the bedroom window was broken and open; she called police.  No suspect(s) were located and investigation is continuing.

Tip of the Week

Celebrate Cinco de Mayo Responsibly – Stay Safe and Sober

If you are hosting a party for Cinco de Mayo:

·         Remember, you can be held liable and prosecuted if someone you serve is involved in an impaired driving crash.

·         Make sure all your guests designate a sober driver in advance or help arrange ride-sharing with other sober drivers.

·         Serve lots of food and include lots of non-alcoholic beverages at the party.

·         Keep the phone numbers for local cab companies handy and take the keys away from anyone who is thinking of driving impaired.

If you are attending a Cinco de Mayo Celebration Party:

·         Designate a sober driver before the party begins and give that person your car keys.

·         If you do not have a designated driver, call a cab, sober friend, or family member to pick you up.

·         Never let a friend leave your sight if you think they are about to drive drunk.

·         Always buckle up.

Alcohol not only dangerously impairs your driving skills, it impairs your judgment.  If you see a friend under the influence of alcohol - don’t let them get behind the wheel.