Highlighted Activity for the Weekdays of January 27-29, 2014

Grand Opening of Pasadena Humane Society’s New Facility

On January 30, 2014, Mayor Mary Ann Lutz and Councilmember Larry Spicer attended the grand opening of Pasadena Humane Society's new facility.  The City of Monrovia has contracted with the Pasadena Humane Society for animal control services beginning January 1, 2014.  The new facility has greatly increased parking facilities and state of the art medical facilities to provide additional services to Monrovia residents.  There is a pet store located on the campus along with facilities to provide training for pets and their owners.   The Monrovia Police Department encourages Monrovia residents to visit the new facility and take advantage of the services they provide.  Residents are also encouraged to consider adopting one of the many wonderful animals available for adoption there.  You can find out more at www.pasadenahumane.org

Grand Theft / Conspiracy to Commit a Crime – Suspect Arrested

On January 29 at 2:05 p.m., officers responded to the 100 block of West Colorado regarding a possible robbery in progress.  The victim a long time resident of Monrovia was approached by a male suspect who talked the victim into matching his funds and making a donation to a charity. The suspect had two other suspects help convince the victim to take $9,000.00 from his bank account. The money was taken out and the suspects were able to switch the bags where the monies were. Two of the suspects that had the money jumped into their lay-off vehicle and fled, leaving the 3^rd suspect behind. He was detained by the victim’s son in law. The suspect was charged with grand theft and conspiracy to commit a crime.

Brandishing a Weapon

On January 29 at 7:53 p.m., a mother and her daughter were in a shopping center parking lot in the 600 block of West Huntington, when an angry female began yelling at them from her vehicle over an apparent parking issue.  The suspect brandished a knife toward the victims and began yelling at them, then drove away quickly out of the parking lot out of sight.  Investigation is continuing.

Grand Theft Auto / Possession of Burglary Tools – Suspects Arrested

On January 29 at 11:14 p.m., an officer observed a silver Honda Civic traveling west on Olive, commit a vehicle code violation.  A computer check revealed the vehicle had been a reported stolen in the city of El Monte, where it had been parked for sale.  The officer waited for assistance and the vehicle was stopped.  The male driver admitted that he knew the vehicle was stolen.  The female passenger was in possession of burglary tools.  Both occupants were arrested and the vehicle was released to its owner.  The driver was charged with grand theft auto, and the passenger was charged with possession of burglary tools.

Detective Bureau Case Follow-up

Possession of Methamphetamine / Possession of Narcotics Paraphernalia / Suspended Driver’s License - Suspects Arrested and Cited

On January 23, Special Enforcement Officers stopped a suspicious vehicle parked in the north end where a residential alarm had gone off.  The passenger was arrested for possession of methamphetamine and possession of a smoking pipe.  The driver was cited for driving on a suspended driver’s license and his vehicle was stored.

Possession of Narcotics / Probation Violation – Suspect Arrested

On January 28, officers from West San Gabriel Valley Anti-Crime Task Force (WSGVACTF) assigned to monitor the early release population (AB 109) conducted probation compliance checks in Monrovia. A recent check resulted in the apprehension of one suspect who attempted to hide narcotics from the officers. Charges for violation of probation and felony possession of narcotics will be filed with the District Attorney.

AB109 Compliance Team arrests Monrovia Probationer for Suspected Burglary at Cal Tech

Members of the West San Gabriel Valley Anti-Crime Task Force (WSGVACTF) located and arrested a burglary suspect earlier today after an approximate 2-hour search. Team members were conducting an unrelated probation investigation in Pasadena when Caltech Security personnel notified Pasadena PD of an auto burglary in progress in the 1100 block of Blanche St.  The WSGVACTF members were in the area of Caltech and responded to assist on the call.  The suspect fled from Caltech Security and hid inside the large, 4-building apartment complex.  Pasadena PD officers contained the area while the WSGVACTF conducted a sweep of the complex.  The suspect was eventually found hiding in a 3rd floor laundry chute. The suspect maneuvered his way to the lower floor at the direction of officers and was taken into custody.  Joseph A. Naylor, 34-year-old resident of Monrovia, was arrested and booked at the Pasadena City Jail on a felony burglary charge with his bail set at $50,000.00.  Naylor is currently on probation for property related crime and is believed to be an AB 109 early release subject.  The West San Gabriel Valley Anti-Crime Task Force is based out of the Arcadia Police Department and the primary focus of the team is AB 109 compliance. The team is led by a Pasadena PD Sergeant and has assigned Detectives from Arcadia PD, El Monte PD, Monrovia PD, Monterey Park PD, Pasadena PD, and South Pasadena PD. Other participating agencies include the Alhambra PD, Montebello PD, and San Gabriel PD. Costs associated for the team are offset by contributions from the State for an AB 109 enforcement program approved in the State budget.

Fraud Suspects Identified 

In September, a fraud case was assigned to a Detective regarding a victim who had purchased a car on Craig’s List using “money packs”. The car was determined to belong to another person and was not actually for sale. The thieves took the money and disappeared. The suspects were determined to be from the state of Georgia. The detective assigned the case contacted a detective in the jurisdiction of Georgia and they provided assistance on the case. The suspects were identified and were known to have a history of similar crimes. A case was generated in Georgia and the two suspects, a male and a female, are now wanted in Georgia. This case is a great example of collaborative effort by two hard working detectives who work at opposite ends of our country.

  

Tip of the Week

Living With Wildlife in Monrovia

The foothills above Monrovia are occupied by wildlife:  bears, coyotes, deer, mountain lions, and bobcats.  Sometimes these wild animals venture out of the foothills and into residential neighborhoods.  Most of the time, the wildlife comes and goes without notice.  Occasionally, wildlife ventures down into the city and becomes a potential danger to humans.  Police will respond when called to a wildlife sighting, and in most incidents, the primary goal is to allow the animal to leave the area and return back to the foothills.  In most incidents, the officer’s presence, use of vehicles, horns, beanbag rounds, is sufficient to encourage the animal to leave the area.  To discourage wildlife from coming down into Monrovia neighborhoods, residents need to keep food, trash and water sources out of reach of wildlife.   

The Department of Fish and Game offers tips on dealing with wildlife.  They also offer good information on how to respond when faced with an actual encounter with wildlife.  Click on the links to the brochures provided by the Department of Fish and Game that deal specifically with mountain lions, black bears, and other wildlife.  More and more, people and wildlife are occupying the same geographical areas; learn how to live responsibly with the wildlife around your neighborhood. 

Highlighted Activity for the Weekend of January 23-26, 2014

Grand Theft – Suspects Arrested

January 23 at 9:54 a.m., a resident from the 300 block of Genoa called police to report someone had cut his copper pipes and stolen his backflow valve.  An officer responding to the location observed a suspicious vehicle on Magnolia with two male subjects in it.  He could see copper pipe sticking out of the bed of the truck.  He pulled over and ran the license plate as the vehicle passed him.  The registration was expired.  He stopped the vehicle for the expired registration at Evergreen and Myrtle.  

The officer approached the vehicle and observed freshly cut copper pipes, valves, and cutting tools in the bed of the truck.  The passenger admitted to cutting the pipes and taking the valves at two locations and said the driver took pipes from two other locations.  The suspects were arrested and taken into custody for grand theft and conspiracy.  The officer located the three additional victims, two were businesses in the 400 block of West Huntington, and the third victim was located in the 1100 block of South Magnolia.  

Receiving and Disposal of Mortar Munition

January 23 at 2:50 p.m., an elderly male subject was helping his 92-year-old female neighbor clean up her garage.  He found a Japanese mortar munition in a cigar box and brought it to the police station.  The Los Angeles Sheriff’s Arson and Explosive Team was requested.  They responded and safely transported the mortar to a park in the 600 block of South Shamrock, where they dug a hole in the ground and safely detonated it, rendering it safe.    

Grand Theft

January 23 at 3:12 p.m., a theft was reported in the 300 block of North Primrose.  The victim called to report his gardening equipment stolen out of the bed of his truck.  The victim saw an older, white Jeep Cherokee occupied by two subjects pull up next to his truck 15-20 minutes before he discovered the theft, but is not sure they were involved in the theft.  The investigation is continuing.

Robbery

January 23 at 4:16 p.m., a male subject called police and reported he had been robbed at a fast food restaurant in the 700 block of East Huntington.  The suspect approached the victim and asked for money, while pointing a gun at him.  The victim gave the suspect his money.  The suspect is described as a male Hispanic with a shaved head, black shirt, black pants and black shoes, wearing a stocking over his face.  The victim reported that a second suspect was involved.  The second suspect is described as a male Hispanic with a moustache, wearing a white shirt and blue pants.  Both suspects are in their 30’s.  The investigation is continuing.

Attempt Robbery

January 23 at 9:05 p.m., police responded to the report of an attempt robbery.  A 12-year-old male was skateboarding in the 200 block of West Colorado when he was approached by the suspect.  The suspect asked the victim if he could look at his skateboard.  The victim, initially, thought he knew the suspect.  As he approached, he realized he did not know the suspect, and the victim refused to let the suspect have the skateboard.  The suspect took out a knife and demanded the skateboard.  The victim struck the suspect with the skateboard and ran home.  His mother called the police.  Patrol officers searched the area, along with the Foothill Air Support Team helicopter, but were unable to locate a suspect.  The investigation is continuing. 

Assault With a Deadly Weapon / Possession of a Controlled Substance for Sales – Suspect Arrested

January 24 at 7:15 p.m., police responded to the 900 block of West Huntington on the report of an assault.  The suspect was reportedly sitting in his car in the parking lot with his vehicle door open and the victim was parked next to him.  The victim asked the suspect to close his door so his passenger could get in the car.  After helping his passenger get in, the victim passed the door again and the suspect, intentionally, opened the door, striking the victim.  The victim told the suspect he was going to call the police.  

As victim walked to the rear of the suspect's vehicle to take a picture of the suspect's license plate, the suspect backed up and struck the victim, knocking him to the ground.  The suspect fled, but was located by police and arrested.  During the inventory search, prior to towing the vehicle, a large quantity of methamphetamine, several hundred pills and a scale were found in the vehicle.  The suspect was charged with assault with a deadly weapon and possession of a controlled substance for sales.

Vehicle Pursuit / Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested

January 24 at 8:10 p.m., an officer on patrol saw a vehicle following at an unsafe distance to the vehicle next to him at Highway Esplande and Huntington.  The suspect was honking the horn and flashing its lights at the other vehicle.  When the officer tried to stop the vehicle, the suspect fled and drove to the 1200 block of Alta Vista and into a carport area.  The officer went in pursuit of the vehicle.  The suspect was taken into custody and arrested.  The suspect was determined to be driving under the influence.  

Grand Theft Auto / Vehicle Recovery

January 25 at 7:50 a.m., a vehicle was reported stolen from a business in the 1600 block of South Mountain.  The victim parked and locked his 1996 Nissan truck in the parking lot, and when he returned the truck, it was gone.  During this report, the officers recovered a stolen vehicle from the same parking lot.  The vehicle had been stolen from Baldwin Park.  This vehicle was the same type as the one just stolen.  The investigation is continuing.

Grand Theft Auto

January 26 at 8:04 a.m., an officer on patrol in the 300 block of West Lemon was flagged down by the victim of a grand theft auto.  The victim reported his vehicle had been stolen sometime overnight.  It had been parked and secured in the alley behind the residence.  There were no signs of forced entry.  The investigation is continuing.

Vehicle Burglary

January 26 at 11:11 a.m., a vehicle burglary was reported in the 400 block of East Duarte Road.  The victim parked and secured his vehicle the evening before.  When he returned the next morning, he saw the vehicle had a broken window and had been burglarized.  The investigation is continuing.

Highlighted Activity for the Weekdays of January 20-22, 2014

Commercial Burglary – Suspect Arrested

January 20 at 2:04 p.m., loss prevention personnel from a business in the 500 block of West Huntington called police to advise they had a male suspect in custody for theft.  Officers arrived and discovered the subject had no identification and would not provide his name.  He was arrested for the theft and for establishing his identity.  At the police department he provided a name and was eventually identified and found to be on parole.

Petty Theft / Warrant – Suspect Arrested

January 20 at 8:13 p.m., loss prevention from a business in the 1600 block of South Mountain called police to report a subject had taken merchandise and left the store without paying for it.  The same subject was seen in the parking lot looking into vehicles.  Officers responded and detained the subject.  The male subject attempted to discard an item as the officers were detaining him.  The object was found to be a Garmin GPS device. 

As the officers were detaining the suspect, a customer of the business approached the officers and said someone had entered his unlocked vehicle and took his Garmin GPS.  The victim saw the Garmin device the suspect had discarded and said it belonged to him.  The suspect admitted he had stolen the GPS and it was returned to the victim.  The suspect was also found to have an outstanding warrant for his arrest.  He was arrested and taken into custody.

Elder Abuse / Criminal Threats / Barricaded Suspect – Suspect Arrested

On January 21 at 1:13 a.m., a 71-year-old female called police for help because her mentally ill, 51-year-old son had physically abused her the day before, causing injuries, and he was currently yelling, incoherently, and banging on the walls of their home.  She was afraid he was going to hurt her or himself.  When officers arrived, the male subject barricaded himself inside his bedroom, blocking the door.  Officers could see him through his bedroom window, pacing back and forth, holding a large ice pick, and he had a knife holstered to his belt.  The subject yelled at officers and told them to enter the bedroom so he could kill them with the ice pick.  He also said he had a gun in the bedroom and was going to shoot the officers.  The subject has a prior history of physical violence, physical violence toward officers, and weapons violations, so the regional Foothills Special Enforcement Team was requested to assist in apprehending him.

The Foothill Special Enforcement Team responded to the location.  The suspect tried to exit a bedroom window to accost officers outside and was quickly taken into custody by Special Enforcement Team officers.  No one was injured in the incident and the suspect was arrested.

Vehicle Burglary

January 21 at 6:50 a.m., a vehicle burglary was reported in the 700 block of East Huntington Drive.  The victim parked and went into a business at the location.  When she returned to her vehicle, she found the passenger window shattered and her purse and cell phone were missing.  The items were visible from outside of the locked vehicle.  The investigation is continuing.

Theft of Batteries From Cable Relay Boxes

January 21, in the afternoon, two cable service providers called police to report their cable relay boxes had been broken into and the batteries had been taken.  The thefts occurred in the 300 block of East Walnut and the 100 block of E. Greystone.  The investigation is continuing.  The Monrovia Police Department is seeking the publics help and requesting that anyone who sees any suspicious persons or activity near this type of cable relay box in your neighborhoods please call police and report it right away.

Resisting and Delaying a Peace Officer / Warrants – Suspects Arrested

January 21 at 4:50 p.m., police received a call reporting a subject with an outstanding warrant for his arrest was in the area of Fifth and Huntington.  The caller provided a vehicle description and the location of the suspect.  Officers responded and located the vehicle.  The suspect was seen at a nearby business and fled on foot when he saw the officers.  An officer went in foot pursuit of the suspect, who fled across Huntington drive through four lanes of traffic.  As officers attempted to detain him, the suspect resisted, but was eventually taken into custody without further incident.  The suspect’s girlfriend was located in the same parking lot and was also found to have an outstanding no-bail warrant for her arrest.  Both suspects were arrested and taken into custody.

Vandalism / Graffiti in Progress – Suspect Arrested & Graffiti Bounty Rewarded On January 22 at 2:48 a.m., a caller reported a female subject spray painting something on a wall.  Police responded and located the suspect and the spray paint can.  The suspect had sprayed graffiti on the wall.  The suspect was positively identified.  She was arrested and taken into custody.  The caller was given the $100 Graffiti Bounty cash reward for reporting the graffiti, which led to the arrest of the suspect.

Tip of the Week

Living With Wildlife in Monrovia

The foothills above Monrovia are occupied by wildlife:  bears, coyotes, deer, mountain lions, and bobcats.  Sometimes these wild animals venture out of the foothills and into residential neighborhoods.  Most of the time, the wildlife comes and goes without notice.  Occasionally, wildlife ventures down into the city and becomes a potential danger to humans.  Police will respond when called to a wildlife sighting, and in most incidents, the primary goal is to allow the animal to leave the area and return back to the foothills.  In most incidents, the officer’s presence, use of vehicles, horns, beanbag rounds, is sufficient to encourage the animal to leave the area.  To discourage wildlife from coming down into Monrovia neighborhoods, residents need to keep food, trash and water sources out of reach of wildlife.   

The Department of Fish and Game offers tips on dealing with wildlife.  They also offer good information on how to respond when faced with an actual encounter with wildlife.  Click on the links to the brochures provided by the Department of Fish and Game that deal specifically with mountain lions, black bears, and other wildlife.  More and more, people and wildlife are occupying the same geographical areas; learn how to live responsibly with the wildlife around your neighborhood.  

Highlighted Activity for the Weekend of January 16-19, 2014

Injury Traffic Collision

January 16 at 8:23 a.m., an injury traffic collision involving a vehicle rollover was reported in the 600 block of East Foothill.  Officers arrived and determined two vehicles were involved. The first vehicle was headed southbound on Poppy and the second was headed westbound on Foothill.  The first vehicle did not stop for the stop sign and broadsided the second vehicle, causing it to spin, roll onto one side, and then right itself.  The two drivers were taken to a hospital for minor injuries.

Criminal Threats – Suspect Arrested

January 16 at 11:50 p.m., officers responded to a residence in the 800 block of El Dorado regarding a family disturbance.  When they arrived, they learned two brothers were involved in a fight inside their apartment.  The suspect armed himself with three knives from the kitchen and threatened to kill his brother.  The suspect was arrested and taken into custody.  

Vehicle Fire

January 17 at 3:27 p.m., officers were dispatched to the 300 block of Highland Place along with Monrovia Fire Department personnel regarding a vehicle fire.  Upon the officer’s arrived, the fire had been extinguished by the owner of the vehicle.  It appeared that electrical wires touching the exhaust had caused the fire.

Residential Burglary

January 17 at 4:14 p.m., a residential burglary was reported in the 200 block of North Madison.  The resident secured the home prior to leaving her house at 7:00 a.m. that morning.  She returned around 4:00 p.m. and found the backdoor had been kicked open and someone had attempted to pry open the sliding door.  The home was ransacked, so the loss will be reported after the resident takes inventory of the home.  The investigation is continuing.

Possession of a Controlled Substance / Possession of Drug Paraphernalia – Suspect Arrested

January 18 at 11:28 a.m., police received a call reporting a male subject possibly urinating or defecating in a park in the 300 block of South Myrtle.  Officers arrived and detained three subjects.  The caller also reported seeing the subject discard something by a tree.  Officers checked the area by the tree and located a methamphetamine pipe and a small rubber duck that contained methamphetamine that the suspect had discarded.  The suspect was arrested for the above listed charges.

Assault With a Deadly Weapon – Suspect Arrested

January 18 at 9:59 p.m., officers were dispatched to a residence in the 500 block of South Alta Vista regarding the welfare check of a male subject who was possibly stabbed.  The victim had reportedly been stabbed by his girlfriend at her residence in Monrovia.  The caller, who was in Pasadena, did not have an address, but identified the subjects and police were able to locate an address for the girlfriend.  The victim had called his friend in Pasadena and told him he had been stabbed by his girlfriend.   

Officers located the victim and suspect at the girlfriend’s residence in the 500 block of South Alta Vista.  The victim had been stabbed three times in the abdomen, had slash marks on his arms and chest, and a puncture wound on his back.  The victim was taken to a hospital for treatment of his wounds, which do not appear to be life threatening.  The suspect and victim were both uncooperative with officers and gave conflicting information.  The suspect was arrested and taken into custody.

Commercial Burglary – Suspects Arrested

January 19 at 5:23 p.m., police received a call from loss prevention personnel at a store in the 500 block of West Huntington reporting a female subject preparing to leave the store with merchandise without paying.  The suspect left the store and walked to a nearby business.  The loss prevention officer followed the suspect and saw her conceal merchandise from that store.  The loss prevention officer also saw the suspect make contact with two subjects in a vehicle in the parking lot, which he reported to police with a description of the vehicle. 

Officers arrived, located the vehicle and detained two suspects. The officers then heard the security alarm of the second store go off, indicating someone had gone out the emergency doors to the south of the store.  They located the female suspect in the service alley and she was detained.  All subjects were arrested for burglary.

Grand Theft

January 19 at 6:40 p.m., a suspicious white van was reported in front of a residence in the 300 block of East Walnut.  The driver of the van was seen tampering with the electrical box for the residence.  The electrical box contained six backup batteries for the cable and telephone service.  The suspect left in the van prior to the officer’s arrival.  The officer determined the suspect bent back the sheet metal on the box and removed all six batteries.  The investigation is continuing.

Residential Burglary

January 20 at 12:15 a.m., a residential burglary was reported in the 900 block of East Lemon.  The victim arrived home and discovered his house had been burglarized.  The suspect used a patio chair to stand on and gain access through a small bathroom window.  The suspect took jewelry, money, and then exited through the sliding door.  The investigation is continuing.

Fund Raiser to benefit the community seniors citizens.

The Monrovia Providers Group is sponsoring its first major fundraiser of 2014 - proceeds going toward grants to help to respond to needs of our local seniors who may have severe needs that we might be able to fill (ex: providing a bed to a senior who could not afford to buy one after her home was fumigated when a relative brought lice into the home.)

BUBBLES & TRUFFLES - a wine tasting along with imported chocolates - and a networking and fun evening opportunity.  Feb. 7  5-8 pm.  at Westminster Gardens in Duarte.  $40 per person,  $70 per couple.  It will include at least 3 sparkling wines, imported chocolates and food.   See the MPG web site for further details re: acquiring tickets.  www.monroviaproviders.org.

Enjoy.

Highlighted Activity for the Weekdays of January 13-15, 2014

Grand Theft Auto / Vehicle Recovered

January 13 at 6:17 a.m., a vehicle was reported stolen from the 400 block of East Greystone.  The victim parked her vehicle, a 2006 BMW, in front of her residence in the evening.  When she returned to her vehicle the following morning, she discovered the vehicle was missing and called police.   Later that day, El Monte Police Department advised that they had recovered the vehicle in their city.  The vehicle was partially stripped.  The investigation is continuing.

Petty Theft – Suspect Arrested

January 13 at 10:11 a.m., loss prevention from a business in the 500 block of West Huntington called police to report a theft.  A male adult subject walked into the business and selected a pair of desktop speakers and jeans.  He took the items into the dressing room and removed the tags.  The subject left the store without paying for the merchandise and fled on a bicycle.  Loss Prevention followed the suspect, called police, and waited for officers to arrive.  The officers recovered the property and arrested the suspect. 

Family Disturbance / Under the Influence of Drugs – Suspect Arrested

January 13 at 6:26 p.m., officers were dispatched to a house in the 800 block of West Olive regarding a family disturbance.  When they arrived, they discovered the 28-year- old male resident was causing the disturbance.  He was determined to be under the influence of a controlled substance and was in possession of methamphetamine and a smoking pipe, as well.  He was arrested and taken into custody.

Domestic Battery – Suspects Arrested

January 14 at 7:19 p.m., a male and female were reported to be fist fighting and yelling at each other in the middle of the street in the 500 block of East Cherry.  When officers arrived, they detained both subjects.  The two had been in a relationship for 15 years and it was determined they had been fighting each other equally.  A computer check revealed the female also had a no-bail warrant for her arrest.  Both suspects were arrested and held for court.

Vehicle Burglary

January 14 at 11:00 p.m., a subject staying at a local hotel in the 700 block of West Huntington went to their locked truck and discovered the left rear window shattered.  The doors were still locked, but the victim’s black leather briefcase had been taken from the rear floorboard.  The victim had parked his truck earlier that night and went into the hotel.  The investigation is continuing.

An officer checked the hotel parking lot discovered a second vehicle with a shattered rear window and the doors still locked.  Officers attempted to contact the owner, but were not successful.  At 12:31 a.m., the owner contacted the police to report the vehicle burglary.  The victims said they parked their vehicle at 8:15 p.m. and then went shopping.  Three men's suits were taken from the rear hatch area of the vehicle, below the shattered window.

Outstanding Warrant / Under the Influence of Narcotics – Suspects Arrested

January 15 at 8:08 p.m., officers were dispatched on the report of subjects trespassing inside a vacant house in the 100 block of East Cypress.  When they arrived, they located a male and female subject.  The female was found to have an outstanding warrant for her arrest and the male was determined to be under the influence of a controlled substance.  Both subjects were arrested and taken into custody.

Violation of Domestic Violence Restraining Order – Suspect Arrested

January 15 at 10:23 p.m., an officer stopped a vehicle at Peck and Camino Real.  A computer check of the male driver had a domestic violence restraining order to stay away from the female who was sitting in the passenger seat.  The male was arrested for violation of the restraining order and taken into custody, where he was held until court the next morning.

No-Bail Felony Burglary Warrant – Suspect Arrested

January 16 at 1:53 a.m., an officer observed a male subject he recognized walking into a convenience store at Huntington and Mountain.  He knew a no-bail warrant had been issued for the subject for felony burglary.  The officer confirmed the outstanding warrant and waited for assisting officers to arrive.  The suspect was arrested and taken into custody without incident. 

Gold Line Construction closure on Myrtle Ave

The city worked with the Gold Line Authority to get the time Myrtle has to be closed shortened, not that any of us have much reason to go south of the Freeway, but if you do look at the rerouting for the closure.

It starts this Saturday 1/18 and runs through sometime in May 2014.

Highlighted Activity for the Weekend of January 9-12, 2014

Possession of Burglary Tools – Suspect Arrested

January 9 at 8:20 p.m., dispatch received a call of a suspicious person on a curb in the corner of Beechworth and Prospect, wearing a dark hooded sweatshirt.  This area was subject to an attempt hot prowl burglary the week prior.  The suspicious person was located and found with components to a slide hammer in his pocket and gloves in his sock.  A slide hammer is a mechanic’s tool commonly use in vehicle burglaries.  The suspect was arrested for possession of burglary tools.

Drunk in Public – Suspects Arrested

January 9 at 11:30 p.m., officers responded to the 400 block of South Myrtle regarding the report of two intoxicated subjects.  The two subjects were located.  Officers determined them to be drunk in public and they were arrested and taken into custody.

Under the Influence of a Controlled Substance – Suspect Arrested

January 12 at 1:19 p.m., an officer was checking an area known for drug activity in the 600 block of West Lemon when he observed two subjects walking, nearby.  He recognized one of the subjects as an active gang member.  The officer stopped and spoke with both subjects.  The officer determined that one of the subjects was displaying symptoms of being under the influence of drugs.  The subject was arrested and taken into custody.

Highlighted Activity for the Weekdays of January 6-8, 2014

Transition of Monrovia Animal Control to Pasadena Humane Society & SPCA

Effective January 1, 2014, animal control services for the City of Monrovia are now being handled by the Pasadena Humane Society & SPCA (PHS).  Monrovia Police Department Staff have met with PHS Staff to familiarize them with the City and to help prepare for the transition.  The PHS has been publicizing and reaching out to Monrovia residents to inform them of the change. 

Grand Theft Auto

January 6 at 12:23 p.m., a vehicle was reported stolen from the 500 block of East Olive. The victim parked her vehicle in front of her residence the night before.  When she returned to her vehicle the following day, she discovered the vehicle was missing.  The vehicle is a white, 1995 Toyota Camry.  The investigation is continuing.

Residential Burglary

January 6 at 4:18 p.m., police dispatch received an alarm activation at the residence in the 300 block of Melrose.  When officers arrived, they discovered a rear bedroom window open with footprints at the base of the window.  It did not appear that the suspect(s) made entry, but the resident will inspect the home and notify police if a loss is discovered.  The investigation is continuing. 

Warrant Arrest – Suspect Arrested

January 6 at 7:35 p.m., an officer stopped a driver at Myrtle and Lemon for committing a vehicle code violation.  A computer check revealed the driver had a warrant for his arrest with a bail set at $30,000 out of Irwindale.  The driver was arrested, booked and then released to Irwindale Police Department.

Strong-arm Robbery

January 6 at 8:23 p.m., police responded to a strong-arm robbery at the Monrovia High School gym.  During a basketball game in the gym, a male adult was attempting to charge his iPad in the lobby area of the gym.  As he was plugging it in, he was pushed by another male adult from behind, causing him to fall.  The suspect then took the iPad from the victim and ran out of the gym.  He fled in a dark colored vehicle, similar to a Honda Accord, occupied by three other male subjects.  The suspect appeared to be 18 to 20 years old, 5’10”, with a thin build.  The investigation is continuing.

Altering a Firearm Replica

January 7 at 8:42 a.m., police received a call reporting a man with a gun at the cemetery in the 200 block of East Duarte.  Apparently, the suspect saw his ex-girlfriend at the cemetery with her new boyfriend.  The suspect approached the victims, who were sitting in a vehicle, and the new boyfriend began to exit the vehicle.  The suspect lifted his shirt and displayed the firearm, telling the boyfriend, "Don't think about it."  The female told the suspect they were calling the police and the suspect fled on foot.  Officers arrived as the suspect was jumping over a fence.  He was detained, but the firearm was not in his possession.  The suspect claimed he needed paramedics and was taken to a hospital. 

An area check was conducted and the firearm was located.  The firearm was found to be an Airsoft replica firearm with the colored orange tip removed.  The suspect was interviewed, and he denied having the firearm with him, but admitted it did belong to him.  The officers will be submitting the report to the District Attorney’s Office.

Warrant Arrest – Suspect Arrested

January 7 at 6:26 p.m., a female resident in the 200 block of North Mountain called police to report her adult son was yelling in the house and was out of control.  Officers arrived and calmed the son down.  A computer check revealed he had a warrant for his arrest with a bail set at $50,000.  Officers arrested the suspect and he was taken to Los Angeles County Jail, where he was held until his court appearance.

Residential Burglary

January 8 at 6:00 p.m., a resident in the 900 block of Norumbega called police to report his home had been burglarized.  He left for work in the morning and returned at 5:45 p.m.  Upon his return, he discovered his front door unlocked, which he remembered locking that morning.  He entered and discovered his house had been ransacked and burglarized.  The suspects had entered the home by breaking a backdoor window.  The loss was primarily jewelry.  The investigation is continuing.

Vehicle Burglary

January 8 at 10:14 p.m., a vehicle burglary was reported in the 700 block of West Huntington.  The driver parked his vehicle in a hotel parking lot and went into the hotel.  At 9:30 p.m., he returned to his vehicle and discovered the window had been shattered and his empty laptop bag had been taken.  The investigation is continuing.

Vehicle Burglary

January 8 at 11:04 p.m., a vehicle burglary was reported in the 900 block of West Huntington.  The driver parked his vehicle in a hotel parking lot and went inside the hotel.  When he returned to his vehicle at 10:45 p.m., he discovered his vehicle's window was shattered and his laptop bag containing his computer had been stolen.  The investigation is continuing.

Traffic Collision / Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested

January 9 at 5:35 a.m., a traffic collision was reported in the 900 block of West Walnut.  Officers arrived and found that a solo male driver had crashed his vehicle into a parked car, but was not injured.  Field sobriety tests were conducted, and the male driver was determined to be intoxicated and was arrested for DUI.

Highlighted Activity for the Weekend of January 2-5, 2014

Grand Theft 
January 2 at 8:16 a.m., an officer was dispatched to a construction site in the 700 block
of West Duarte Road. The foreman at the site reported that someone had cut the chain
link fence off of the wash, entered a house under construction, cut the steel chain
securing the property, and left the location with an air compressor and three hoses. The
investigation is continuing.

Felony Vandalism
January 2 at 8:54 a.m., an officer responded to the corner of Olive and Myrtle on a
report of vandalism to city property. A city employee reported a toy soldier holiday
decoration had been forcefully removed from its base and thrown among the plants.
It’s unknown if it can be repaired. The investigation is continuing.

Theft from a Vehicle
January 2 at 2:26 p.m., the victim parked his vehicle on the street in front of his
residence in the 200 block of Highland in the evening. He returned to the vehicle the
next day at about 11:00 a.m. As he entered the vehicle, he realized his backpack was
missing from the rear sear. The backpack contained an iPad and a laptop. The vehicle
is equipped with a self-locking system that secures the vehicle after being unattended
for longer than three minutes. There were no signs of forced entry. The investigation is
continuing.

Felony Hit and Run Traffic Collision - Vehicle vs. Bicyclist
January 2 at 4:05 p.m., officers responded to the 300 block of Hillcrest regarding a hit
and run collision. A bicyclist reported that he was struck by a tan or gray Toyota and
was complaining of pain to his side. The male driver of the vehicle left the scene,
eastbound. The vehicle has damage to the front driver's side. The bicyclist was taken
to a hospital for treatment. The investigation is continuing.

Prowling on Private Property / Violation of Court Ordered Gang Injunction – 
Suspects Arrested 
January 3 at 4:20 a.m., an officer on patrol in the 900 block of South Magnolia observed
a suspicious suspect who appeared to be looking into a vehicle at Chestnut and
Magnolia. Containment of the area was set up and an additional suspect was
discovered. Both suspects are known gang members. One of the suspects has been served with the gang injunction notice and the other was served by the officer. Both
suspects were arrested for prowling on private property and one of them was charged
with violation of the gang injunction.

Theft from a Vehicle
January 4 at 7:06 a.m., a theft from a vehicle was reported in the 400 block of North
Magnolia. The victim parked his vehicle the night before at 9:00 p.m. and left it
unlocked. When his wife went out to the vehicle the next morning, she found the glove
box and center console were open. The victim checked the vehicle and found property
was missing from the center console. The investigation is continuing.

Residential Burglary 
January 4 at 8:00 p.m., a burglary alarm was activated in the 00 block of Hidden Valley
Road. Officers responded to investigate and found property on the front lawn of the
residence. A perimeter was established and the Foothill Air Support helicopter checked
the area for suspects, but none were located. It appears the residence was ransacked.
The owners responded and were doing an inventory of the loss. The investigation is
continuing.

Possible Hot Prowl in Progress / Drunk in Public – Suspect Arrested 
January 5 at 2:30 a.m., a resident in the 500 Block of South Mayflower called police and
reported a suspect trying the handle of the back door of their home. They watched the
suspect light a cigarette and start smoking. Once the officers arrived, they determined
the suspect believed he was at a friend’s house and he was waiting for the friend to get
home. The suspect was determined to be intoxicated and was arrested for being drunk
in public.

Vehicle Burglaries 
On January 5 in the early morning hours, four vehicle burglaries were reported to police.
The burglaries occurred in the 100 block of Spanner, 400 block of West Hillcrest, and
the 700 block of West Foothill. The vehicles were all broken into overnight and items of
value that were left in the vehicles were taken. The investigation is continuing.