City response about gang violence creeping into the city from other areas

An Open Letter to the Monrovia Community

April 25, 2017

As you may have heard by now, on the evening of Saturday, April 22, 2017, there was a violent and tragic shooting at 134 West Cypress Street in Monrovia.  The incident left one 18-year-old Monrovia resident dead, and another 17-year-old resident of unincorporated Monrovia in critical condition.  Additionally, we are aware at this time that both of the shooting victims were Monrovia Unified School District students, and our thoughts and prayers are with their families at this time.

Given the active investigation that is ongoing, there are few details about the shooting that the City can share.  However, we are aware that this violent incident has inspired a great deal of speculation, which has resulted in the spread of inaccurate information being distributed in the news and across social media about gang crimes occurring in our City and region.  To that end, we wanted to provide some factual information about the context for this incident and details about the City’s substantial and continuing efforts to curb gang violence in our community.

Regarding the most recent shooting, we do know that a Hispanic male in his early to mid-20s is the suspected shooter that law enforcement authorities are currently looking for.  It appears that the shooter entered the rear garage located at 134 West Cypress Street through a back alley on the evening of April 22, 2017, at around 11:30 p.m.  Upon his entrance, the suspected shooter encountered three individuals gathered in the garage, including the two Hispanic males and one Hispanic female.  It is unknown at this time what the suspected shooter’s motivations were.  However, after a brief verbal exchange, the suspect proceeded to open fire and shot the two male victims, killing one individual and injuring the other.  After opening fire, the suspected shooter fled the scene on foot into the alley located at the rear of the residence.  Homicide investigators from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department are now investigating the case, which is the standard protocol for most murder investigations in our region because of the sophisticated tools and resources available at the County.

We recognize that any shooting causes real and legitimate fear in the community.  However, as news of this recent incident has been shared, unrestrained speculation has resulted in reports that Monrovia has a significant gang problem.  Such accounts are simply inaccurate.  In reality, our community has very little gang activity, due primarily to proactive gang violence reduction efforts that the City has instituted during the past 10 years.  As a result, there are virtually no gang members living in Monrovia today.

Back in 2007, Monrovia, Duarte, and the surrounding unincorporated Los Angeles County areas did experience a significant spike in gang violence and hundreds of gang members lived in the region.  Much of the gang activity at that time was race-based, with significant conflicts between African American and Hispanic gangs.  When confronted with this issue, Monrovia began working to remove criminal street gang members from our community.  One of the City’s most effective measures was implementation of a preliminary gang injunction in 2009, which was eventually expanded to serve as a permanent injunction against the gangs in 2010.  The injunction is still in place today and serves as a critical tool in the City’s efforts to identify and remove gang members from our community.

In addition to the gang injunction, the City has also worked for years alongside our neighborhood leaders to develop strategies to eliminate gang elements from Monrovia.  For example, our Police Department has coordinated with community members to put pressure on landlords who rent to criminals, and in every case we have pursued, that pressure from residents and the City resulted in landlords evicting criminal tenants.  Our Police Department staff have also assisted landlords in their efforts to evict criminal tenants by appearing in court to testify in contested evictions, while also providing landlords with information about ways to rent to responsible individuals.

After years of hard work, we have seen results here in Monrovia.  Today, there are less than 10 gang members who live in our community, and because of our efforts, we have seen a major drop in both violent crime and gang crime in Monrovia during the past decade.

Unfortunately, the rest of our region has not been as proactive in working to remove gang members from their communities.  For example, Duarte did not participate in the gang injunction.  This means that the Hispanic gang and the Crip gang in Duarte have been unaffected by our injunction. 

Also, while Los Angeles County did participate in the injunction (which applies to gang members living in the unincorporated areas surrounding Monrovia and Duarte), the County does not have the same type of focused community policing programs that we have in Monrovia, and they have not had the same success that we have had in removing gang members from the unincorporated areas surrounding our City.

These regional factors have resulted in many gang members still living in the areas to the south and to the east of Monrovia.  And beginning in 2016, similar to the violence we saw in 2007, gang activity has erupted in our region.  The gang violence has primarily been between the Crip gang in the unincorporated areas surrounding Duarte / Monrovia, the Hispanic gang in Duarte, and a Blood gang in Pasadena.  And there have been multiple gang related shootings and homicides in Duarte, Pasadena, and the unincorporated Los Angeles County areas.

Throughout this recent surge in gang activity, Monrovia has avoided most of the violence because we have so few gang members living in our community.  In fact, the City experienced very little gang crime in 2016.  However, the reality is that gang members living in the region drive through Monrovia, visit friends / family in our City, and shop at our businesses.  These factors, coupled with the few gang members who still live in town, leaves open the possibility that gang violence may occur here in Monrovia.

To that end, in addition to the most recent shooting we experienced on April 22, 2017, there have been three other recent instances of violent activity in Monrovia, which include:

1. On February 9, 2017, a male Hispanic gang member shot at a subject who was not a gang member in the 100 block of Los Angeles Street.  Fortunately, the victim was not hit and Monrovia Police Officers quickly apprehended the shooter, along with two accomplices.  In addition, City investigators were able to locate the gun that was used in the shooting, and the suspect is now awaiting trial.  It is important to note that the shooter had been convicted of assault with a deadly weapon in Ontario, California in 2015.  Because of California’s early prisoner release policies, he was out of prison in 9 months and had come to visit a friend in Monrovia when he committed another assault, this time with a handgun.
2. On March 29, 2017, a subject was at a store in the 400 block of East Duarte road when he was shot at by a gang member while sitting in his vehicle.  The victim, who was hit, fled the scene to his residence in the unincorporated area of Duarte, where his family then called for help.  This was a case where rival gang members from areas outside the City were involved in a shooting at a business in Monrovia.  The victim will survive his injuries and the investigation is ongoing.
3. On April 7, 2017, a drive by shooting occurred in the 100 block of East Los Angeles Street.  During the incident, no one was hit and no one was injured.  The shooting took place at a residence where Crip gang members associate, and the investigation is continuing.  At this time, it has not yet been determined if the shooting was gang related or if the incident was provoked because of a drug related deal.  Furthermore, while the Monrovia Police Department has been aware of the issues at this location, we have been unable to evict the residents because they own the home.  However, the City has taken proactive measures in an attempt to resolve the issues at this problem address, including the installation of high definition surveillance cameras that monitor the entire street on a 24/7 basis.

It is always unacceptable when a shooting occurs in town, and last weekend’s shooting that resulted in the death of a Monrovia resident is a tragedy that will be thoroughly investigated.  As we move forward, additional public information will be released when possible.  However, as the process unfolds, we did want to make the community aware that there is a lot of inaccurate information about the shooting incident that is being spread on social media, including statements made that the second victim had died, which is not true. 

There are also many inaccurate sentiments being shared that Monrovia is centrally involved in the regional gang violence that has been occurring since 2016.  We have outlined in this correspondence all of the possible recent gang-related shooting incidents that have occurred in Monrovia.  While it is true that gang activity spills into our City at times, the facts illustrate that gang violence is primarily originating from other areas where Monrovia has no jurisdiction.  Furthermore, with regard to the latest April 22, 2017, shooting incident, it has yet to be determined if the matter is even gang related.  While social media can be a helpful way to share accurate information, it also frequently causes the spread of false information, as has been the case recently.

Here in our Monrovia, we have taken, and we continue to take, great efforts to reduce gang violence.  And our efforts have produced real results.  As the chart below illustrates, violent gang crime in Monrovia has been significantly reduced over the years. 

As we have worked together over the past ten years, Monrovia was able to reduce the number of gang members living in our community to make our City a safer place. 

As we continue working together as a community, all of us here at the City are confident that we will be able to solve the real public safety issues that Monrovia faces today.

If you have any questions regarding this matter, please feel free to contact City Manager Oliver Chi (626-932-5501, ochi@ci.monrovia.ca.us(link sends e-mail)) or Police Chief Jim Hunt (626-256-8095, jhunt@monrovia.laclen.org(link sends e-mail)).

Tom Adams, Mayor

Alexander Blackburn, Mayor Pro Tempore

Gloria Crudgington, City Council Member

Becky Shevlin, City Council Member

Larry Spicer, City Council Member

Oliver Chi, City Manager

James Hunt, Police Chief

Highlighted Activity for July 7-10, 2016

Commercial Burglary
July 7 at 8:22 a.m., officers were dispatched to a business in the 800 block of W. Foothill regarding the activation of a commercial burglary alarm. When the officers arrived, they found the glass door to the business had been smashed and the cash register had been stolen. No suspects were located inside the property. The investigation is continuing.
Grand Theft
July 7 at 9:00 a.m., a resident in the 300 block of N. Myrtle called police to report a theft. The resident had just returned from vacation and she noticed a package that had been delivered was missing. The empty box was found around the corner from the victim’s residence. The investigation is continuing.
Possession of a Controlled Substance – Suspect Arrested
July 7 at 4:00 p.m., a suspicious person was reported in the 500 block of E. Cypress. When officers arrived at the location, they located a person who matched the description of the suspicious person. While talking to the subject, she admitted to being on probation. A search of the subject revealed she was in possession of narcotics. She was arrested and taken into custody. The subject was later released with a citation to appear in court.
Domestic Violence
July 8 at 12:02 a.m., officers responded to the 300 block of E. Colorado regarding a domestic violence incident. A couple was involved in an argument, and the male subject pushed the female subject down a small flight of stairs and into bushes. The female subject sustained abrasions to her back and scratches on her arms. The male suspect left the location prior to police arrival. A wanted person entry was made into the law enforcement computer database for the suspect and the investigation is continuing.
Grand Theft Auto Recovery / Warrant – Suspects Arrested
July 8 at 2:36 p.m., an officer on patrol in the 900 block of W. Colorado located a stolen vehicle that was occupied by three individuals. The officer followed the vehicle and conducted a traffic stop at Baldwin and Foothill. The three suspects were detained and
taken into custody. The driver admitted to borrowing the vehicle from her friend and failing to return the car, as agreed. She also had an outstanding warrant for her arrest. She was arrested for grand theft auto and the warrant. The other two occupants were released from custody, as they were determined not to be involved in the theft.
Shoplifting – Suspect Arrested
July 9 at 12:15 a.m., officers were dispatched to a business in the 1600 block of S. Mountain regarding a shoplifter in custody. The female suspect entered the store, selected merchandise and fled without paying. The suspect was detained outside the store by loss prevention agents and police were called. The suspect was arrested and taken into custody. She was later released with a citation to appear in court on the charges.
Injury Traffic Collision
July 9 at 3:06 p.m., officers responded to the report of an injury traffic collision in the 200 block of E. Foothill. A vehicle was stopped on Foothill at May, waiting to make a left turn onto May Avenue. Two vehicles came to a stop behind the first vehicle, and a fourth vehicle failed to stop, causing a chain reaction traffic collision. Two occupants complained of pain, but did not wish to be taken to the hospital.
Possession of Stolen Property – Suspect Arrested
July 9 at 8:51 p.m., an officer stopped a driver for a vehicle code violation in the 500 block of E. Olive. The driver consented to a vehicle search, and stolen property and ammunition was found in the vehicle. The driver was arrested and taken into custody for possession of the stolen property.
Assault with a Deadly Weapon
July 9 at 9:19 p.m., officers were dispatched to an alley in the 200 block of W. Huntington regarding a person that had been assaulted and was bleeding. Officers located the victim, who had been beaten and had sustained numerous injuries and cuts to his body and head. The victim was intoxicated and was unable to give information regarding the suspects, but it appears one or more suspects used a hard object to strike the victim. It appears the assault may not have occurred at the location and it is unclear how the victim got to the location where he was found. The victim was taken to a hospital for treatment of his injuries and the investigation is continuing.
Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol – Suspect Arrested
July 10 at 12:43 a.m., an officer was on patrol in the 900 block of E. Huntington when he observed a driver commit a vehicle code violation. The officer stopped the driver and through investigation, determined he was under the influence of alcohol. The driver was arrested and taken into custody. The passenger in the vehicle was also extremely intoxicated and unable to care for himself. He was arrested for being drunk in public.
Hit and Run Traffic Collision
July 10 at 2:00 p.m., an officer responded to a hit and run traffic collision that occurred in the 600 block of S. Ivy. The victim parked her vehicle across from her home. When she returned to her vehicle a short time later, she found damage on the passenger side. It appears a truck or some type of SUV sideswiped the parked vehicle and fled without leaving any information. The investigation is continuing.
Under the Influence of a Controlled Substance – Suspect Arrested
July 10 at 2:25 p.m., officers were dispatched to a business in the 400 block of W. Foothill. The caller reported a female suspect had stolen merchandise from the store. Officers arrived and located the female hiding in some bushes adjacent to the business. Further investigation revealed the female was under the influence of a controlled substance and unable to care for herself. The caller did not want to press charges for the theft. The female was arrested for being under the influence of a controlled substance and held for a sobering period. She was later released on a citation to appear in court on the charges.
Possession of Drug Paraphernalia – Suspect Arrested
July 10 at 11:39 p.m., officers responded to the area of Fifth and Huntington regarding an alarm activation at a construction site. The officers arrived and located a person sleeping on the property, who was in possession of drug paraphernalia. He was arrested and taken into custody.
Public Intoxication / Violation of Gang Injunction – Suspect Arrested
July 10 at 11:09 p.m., officers responded to the 400 block of S. Myrtle regarding a suspicious subject approaching people and demanding money. As officers arrived, the suspect observed them and ran. He was caught after a short foot chase. The suspect, a known gang member, was found to be intoxicated and in violation of the gang injunction. He was arrested and taken into custody for the charges.

Highlighted Activity for February 18-21, 2016

Attempted Arson

February 18 at 2:25 p.m., officers responded to the 400 block of South Violet regarding an attempted arson. The victim reported he saw a former female roommate outside his residence. He watched her exit her vehicle and walk over to his vehicle. She opened the driver’s door to his vehicle and began pouring gasoline throughout the interior of his vehicle from a red gas can she was carrying. He ran outside and confronted her.

As he approached, it appeared she was preparing to toss a lit cigarette into the vehicle, but she saw him and fled to her vehicle. She left the area without lighting the vehicle on fire. The investigation is continuing.

Hit & Run Traffic Collision

February 18 at 6:35 p.m., officers were dispatched to the 400 block of South Violet regarding a traffic collision. The victim was unloading her vehicle, which was parked on the street. An unknown vehicle traveling south on Violet struck the left rear door of the parked vehicle and fled the scene. The investigation is continuing.

Pursuit/Stolen Vehicle Recovered – Suspect Arrested

February 19 at 3:41 p.m., an officer located a stolen vehicle in the area of Myrtle and Duarte. A pursuit ensued that went from Myrtle to Huntington, east on Huntington, then south on Mountain. The suspect sideswiped a vehicle at the 210 Freeway underpass on Mountain and continued south. The suspect vehicle became blocked by traffic on Mountain at the railroad tracks. Officers blocked the suspect in and approached the vehicle. The suspect would not follow verbal commands and resisted the officers, but was eventually removed from the vehicle and taken into custody.

Warrant/Possession of a Controlled Substance – Suspect Arrested

February 19 at 8:45 p.m., an officer stopped a vehicle for a vehicle code violation at Primrose and Chestnut. The driver was found to have an outstanding warrant. During an inventory search of the vehicle prior to storing it, methamphetamine was found inside.

Traffic Stop/Evading a Police Officer

February 19 at 11:21 p.m., an officer attempted to stop a vehicle in the area of Euclid and Shamrock for a vehicle code violation. The driver fled in the vehicle, heading south on Flagstone, where the vehicle came to an abrupt stop. Both occupants then jumped out of the vehicle and fled on foot. The passenger appeared to be holding something in his waistband as he ran. A search for the suspects was conducted, but they were not found. The Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department helicopter assisted at the scene. The vehicle was impounded as it matched the description of a vehicle involved in a recent crime that occurred in Duarte. The investigation is continuing.

Petty Theft/Violation of Court Order – Suspect Arrested

February 21 at 12:08 p.m., an officer responded to a business in the 100 block of west Foothill regarding a shoplifter in custody. The suspect entered the store, concealed bottles of beer on his person, and left the store without paying. The suspect is an active gang member and was in violation of Monrovia’s gang injunction. He was arrested for shoplifting and violation of the court order.

Fraud/Scam – Suspect Arrested

February 21 at 2:15 p.m., the victim of fraud called police to report the scam. He reported an ad on Craigslist regarding tickets for sale for Disneyland. The victim said he met with the suspect and bought the tickets, only to find out that they were fraudulent. He had a friend call the suspect requesting to buy additional tickets and they agreed to meet in Monrovia. The victim asked if police could help him recover his money.

Although the first incident did not occur in Monrovia, it was similar to a Monrovia case that occurred earlier that week. An officer was dispatched to the location at the time they agreed to meet and the suspect was detained. The suspect admitted he had taken gift cards from a local grocery store and advertised on Craigslist. He admitted selling three gift cards that were never activated. Two incidents possibly occurred in Monrovia. The first incident occurred in Arcadia, and the victim was advised to file a police report with Arcadia. The suspect also had four outstanding warrants. He was arrested and taken into custody.

Vandalism – Suspect Arrested

February 21 at 7:05 p.m., dispatch received a call reporting suspects vandalizing a school in the 100 block of West Duarte Road. Two young male subjects were seen by witnesses spray painting a wall at the school. Officers arrived and detained two juveniles near the school. A field show up was conducted with three witnesses. All three witnesses positively identified the suspects. Both suspects were arrested for vandalism and taken into custody. They were booked and released to their parents with a citation to appear in court on the charges.

Highlighted Activity for February 8-10, 2016

Grand Theft Auto

February 8 at 9:17 a.m., a vehicle was reported stolen from the 300 block of Genoa. The vehicle is a green, 2-door, 1997 Honda Accord. The investigation is continuing.

Hit & Run Traffic Collision

February 8 at 11:50 p.m., officers responded to the report of a hit and run traffic collision in the 300 block of South Shamrock. A vehicle traveling north on Shamrock struck a parked vehicle and fled the area. The suspect vehicle was possibly red or burgandy in color. The investigation is continuing.

Grand Theft Auto

February 9 at 2:16 a.m., the victim of a grand theft auto reported her vehicle was taken by her grandaughter, who resides with her. The suspect told her grandmother over the phone that she was in Los Angeles. The vehicle is a silver, 2011 Buick Regal. The vehicle was entered into the law enforcement stolen vehicle system and the juvenile suspect was entered as a missing/runaway. The investigation is continuing.

Possession of Drug Paraphernalia/Warrant – Suspect Arrested

February 9 at 2:51 a.m., a suspicous person, possibly involved in drug activity, was reported in the area of a business in the 100 block of West Foothill. Officers responded, contacted the subject, and a computer check revealed he had two misdemeanor warrants for his arrest. He was arrested for the warrants and was also found to be in possession of drug paraphernaila.

Commercial Burglary

February 9 at 4:35 a.m., police received numerous calls reporting a burglary in progress at a business in the 100 block of East Huntington. The reporting parties were employees at the business location. They reported that a male suspect broke the glass to the front doors and entered the building, triggering the alarm. Officers arrived on

scene and removed the employees from the location. A search of the building was conducted, but the suspect was not located. The investigation is continuing.

Grand Theft Auto

February 9 at 6:48 p.m., a vehicle was reported stolen from the 1000 block of Orange Avenue. The victim was on vacation and had left her vehicle parked at her residence. When she returned, she noticed her vehicle had been stolen. The vehicle is a white, 4-door, 2011 Honda Accord. The investigation is continuing.

Defrauding the DMV – Suspect Arrested

February 9 at 9:48 p.m., an officer on patrol noticed a vehicle traveling west with its emergency flashers on in the 700 block of West Huntington. The officer completed a computer check of the vehicle, which revealed the registration had been expired since 2009, but there was a 2016 registration sticker on the license plate. The officer stopped the vehicle and contacted the driver, who admitted to defrauding the DMV. The registration tab was from another vehicle he owned. The driver received a citation to appear in court on the charges and was released in the field. The vehicle was impounded for expired registration.

Trespassing/Under the Influence of a Controlled Substance/Violation of Gang Injunction Court Order – Suspect Arrested

February 9 at 11:51 p.m., police responded to a business in the 100 block of West Foothill regarding a subject observed by security personnel climbing to the roof of the location. Officers arrived and, with the assistance of a police helicopter, located the subject on the roof. The officers climbed the fire access ladder and detained the subject. A Monrovia Fire Department ladder truck was called to assist in lowering the suspect and officers from the rooftop. The subject was arrested for trespassing. He was also determined to be under the influence of a controlled substance and in violation of the gang injunction court order, which were added to his charges.

Possession of Stolen Property – Suspect Arrested

February 10 at 4:03 a.m., an officer was on patrol in the 900 block of South Mountain and recognized a subject riding a bicycle that was very similar to one that had been stolen the previous day. The officer stopped the bicyclist and confirmed the bike was in fact stolen. The suspect was arrested for being in possession of stolen property and taken into custody. The suspect was later released with a citation to appear in court on the charges.

Warrants – Suspect Arrested

February 10 at 4:12 p.m., an officer responded to a residence in the 400 block of Hurstview regarding a subject causing a disturbance. The subject was banging on his neighbor’s door. The subject could not give a reason why he was causing the disturbance. He was found to have several outstanding warrants. He was arrested for the warrants and taken into custody.

Weapons Offense

February 10 at 9:50 p.m., a victim used the ATM at a bank in the 100 block of West Foothill. He then drove west in the parking lot, toward Primrose. He stopped at a stop sign in the parking lot and a vehicle traveling east abruptly turned left in front of the victim. The suspect in other vehicle started yelling at the victim through the open passenger window. The victim could not hear what was being said, so he exited his car and approached the suspect’s vehicle. The suspect pointed a black semi-automatic firearm and threatened to shoot the victim. The suspect then fled east on Foothill out of sight.

The suspect is described as a male Hispanic in his 20's, wearing a white, short-sleeved t-shirt, dark pants, with short hair and was unshaven. He also had several tattoos on one or both of his arms. The suspect vehicle is described as a silver or gold sedan, possibly a Chevy Malibu. The victim wrote down a license plate, but it returned to a salvaged vehicle. The investigation is continuing.

Highlighted Activity for January 28-31, 2016

Grand Theft Auto – Motorcycle

January 28 at 3:53 p.m., a motorcycle was reported stolen from the 200 block of East Maple. The victim phoned the police to report someone had cut the lock to the door on his garage and stole his 2013 Harley Davidson. The motorcycle was entered into the law enforcement stolen vehicle system and the investigation is continuing.

Vehicle Burglary

January 29 at 8:08 a.m., an officer was dispatched to the 200 block of West Cypress on the report of a vehicle burglary. The victim parked and secured her vehicle in front of her residence in the evening. When she returned to it the next morning, she saw the passenger window had been shattered and her purse was gone. She had left her purse inside the vehicle on the front seat. The investigation is continuing.

Unlicensed Driver/Possession of Drug Paraphernalia – Suspect Arrested

January 29 at 3:27 p.m., an officer observed a female subject driving a vehicle, and he knew from previous contact that she did not have a valid driver’s license. He stopped the driver in the 600 block of West Lemon. The female admitted to having drug paraphernalia on her person. She was arrested and taken into custody.

Grand Theft Auto Recovery/Possession of a Controlled Substance – Suspects Arrested

January 30 at 3:48 a.m., police received notification of a stolen vehicle in the 100 block of West Duarte. Police located the unoccupied vehicle parked in a business parking lot. Officers noticed two female subjects inside a fast food restaurant. The officers waited, and the two subjects eventually exited the business and walked over to the vehicle. Once the driver's door was open, the officers approached and took the subjects into custody. Both subjects accused the other of taking the vehicle, but one had an altered key in her possession. Both suspects were also found to be in possession of a controlled substance. The suspects were arrested and taken into custody.

Prowling/Peeking/Gang Injunction Violation/Resisting a Peace Officer – Suspect Arrested

January 30 at 6:30 p.m., officers responded to the 800 block of Bonita regarding a subject seen prowling in several yards. When officers arrived, the subject was gone. Police received several more calls reporting the subject in yards, and he was eventually located after a female resident called to report the subject peeking into her bedroom. The subject resisted officers, but was eventually taken into custody. During the investigation, officers discovered the subject was also listed on the Gang Injunction and was in violation of the court order. He was arrested and taken into custody. The subject is on probation and a hold was obtained. He was later taken to the Los Angeles County Jail.

Shoplifting/Trespassing – Suspect Arrested

January 30 at 9:28 p.m., a business in the 100 block of West Foothill called to report a subject who has been constantly trespassing in the store after being told not to return. The subject entered the store again, took various items, and left the location without paying. The subject matched the description of a person police had involvement with several times during that same week. Officers responded to his residence to determine if he was involved. When officers arrived at the residence, they spoke with the in-home caretaker who stated the subject had recently returned home with groceries. Officers detained the subject and he was positively identified. The reporting party made a citizen’s arrest for shoplifting and trespassing. The subject was arrested and taken into custody.

Vehicle Burglary

January 31 at 12:57 p.m., an officer responded to a business parking lot in the 200 block of West Huntington regarding a vehicle burglary that had just occurred. The victim parked and locked her vehicle, but she left her purse inside the vehicle in plain view. The victim went into the business for approximately 5 minutes and returned to discover her car window smashed and her purse missing. The investigation is continuing.

Highlighted Activity for December 10-13, 2015

Vehicle Pursuit

December 10 at 10:36 a.m., an officer on patrol in the area of Myrtle and Longden observed a motorist commit a vehicle code violation and conducted a traffic stop. As the officer walked up to the vehicle, the driver abruptly drove away. The vehicle drove east onto Longden on the wrong side of the divider. The officer went in pursuit of the motorist east on Longden and then south on the 605 Freeway. The vehicle drove on the shoulder of the freeway and pulled away from the patrol vehicle at a high rate of speed. The pursuit was terminated at the 605 and 10 Freeway interchange. The California Highway Patrol was notified of the pursuit and were responding to the area. The license plate of the vehicle was obtained and returned to a rental car company. The investigation is continuing.

Stolen Vehicle Recovered/Pursuit – Four Suspects Arrested

December 10 at 11:29 a.m., an officer located a stolen vehicle near the intersection of Colorado and Mayflower. The vehicle had been stolen in a carjacking that occurred in another jurisdiction the day before. The vehicle was headed east on Colorado. As the officer attempted to stop the vehicle by activating his lights and siren, the suspect fled in the vehicle. A short pursuit ensued through city streets and alleys. The suspect stopped at Mayflower and Colorado in an alley, four suspects exited the vehicle and ran in all directions.

Officers responded and set up containment of the area. The Foothill Air Support Team helicopter and additional resources were requested to assist. The Monrovia Detective Bureau also responded to assist with the search. Three of the suspects were located and taken into custody within several minutes. The fourth female suspect had walked onto the Monroe Elementary School campus and into their cafeteria, where students were currently eating lunch.

Police immediately redirected resources to the school. The female subject was located on campus and identified as the fourth suspect. She was taken into custody without

further incident. One of the other suspects taken into custody was found to be a fugitive wanted by the San Bernardino Sheriff’s Department for escaping from one of their facilities.

Vehicle Burglary

December 10 at 4:29 p.m., officers responded to a business in the 100 block of South Myrtle to investigate a theft from a vehicle. It was determined that a 2007 Toyota Camry had been broken into and several items were taken while the owner of the vehicle was inside the business. The investigation continuing.

Wanted Suspect

December 11 at 1:41 a.m., a resident in the 900 block of South Fifth Avenue who was the victim of domestic violence called police to report the wanted suspect was on his way to the location in a taxi. Officers responded to the area, but the suspect fled on foot when officers attempted to detain him. He was apprehended after a short foot chase. He was arrested and taken into custody.

Vehicle Burglary

December 11 at 10:50 a.m., a resident in the 1000 block of Maurice called police to report their vehicle had been burglarized. The victim parked and secured the vehicle in the early evening on December 10. Upon returning to the vehicle the next morning, they discovered someone had broken into it. The investigation is continuing.

Theft of Package

December 11 at 11:25 a.m., the theft of a package was reported in the 400 block of West Foothill. The package was left by UPS at the front door of the residence. A male Hispanic with facial hair, in his late 30's, wearing a black jogging suit, was seen running by the location. He ran up to the front door and took the package. Officers searched the area, but did not locate the suspect.

Vehicle Burglary

December 11 at 11:55 a.m., an officer responded to a residence in the 300 block of Madison to the report of a vehicle burglary. Change was missing from the center console and the vehicle appeared ransacked. There was no sign of forced entry, but the owner believed the vehicle was locked. The investigation is continuing.

Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol – Suspect Arrested

December 12 at 1:45 a.m., an officer in the area of Brisbane and Myrtle observed a motorist commit a vehicle code violation. During the stop, it was determined that the driver was under the influence of alcohol. Field sobriety tests were conducted and the driver was arrested for driving under the influence. The driver was held for sobering.

Assault with a Deadly Weapon/Vehicle

December 12 at 2:10 p.m., dispatch received a call reporting that a vehicle had just run over a pedestrian in the area of Linwood and Violet. When officers arrived, they located a male subject suffering from a possible broken leg. The victim reported that he and his

adult sister were in an argument. She got into a vehicle and started to leave. He asked her not to take the vehicle and stood in front of it. She then hit him with the vehicle.

The victim was thrown onto the windshield and then rolled off the side and onto the ground. He sustained injuries to his leg and soreness to his upper body. Officers arrived and searched the area for the suspect, but did not locate her. A wanted person entry was made into the law enforcement database for the suspect and the vehicle.

Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol – Suspect Arrested

December 12 at 7:03 p.m., a citizen called to report that the driver next to her was consuming an alcoholic drink while stopped at Shamrock and Foothill. The citizen followed the driver while officers responded to the area. The officers located the vehicle traveling south on the 605 Freeway. Officers conducted a traffic stop and during the investigation, they determined the driver was under the influence. The driver was arrested and booked.

Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol – Suspect Arrested

December 12 at 9:57 p.m., a driver was stopped when he almost collided into a patrol unit as he failed to stop at a stop sign. The driver was stopped and determined to be under the influence of alcohol. The driver was arrested.

Robbery

December 12 at 11:00 p.m., officers responded to a business in the 700 block of West Huntington. The victim reported that he parked behind the business to purchase cigarettes. While walking back to his vehicle, he was approached by two or three male Black subjects. They asked for a cigarette and then asked for money. When the victim refused to give them either, he was punched and kicked, and he fell to the ground. The victim did not call police after the incident. He drove himself to the hospital. No further description was provided on the suspects. The investigation is continuing.

Public Intoxication – Suspect Arrested

December 12 at 12:02 a.m., officers were dispatched to the 100 block of Montana regarding subjects drinking in public. Officers arrived and determined one of the subjects was so intoxicated that he was unable to care for himself. He was arrested for public intoxication and held for sobering.

Public Intoxication – Suspect Arrested

December 13 at 1:43 a.m., officers were notified of a possible fight in progress in the 300 block of South Myrtle between a male and female subject. When the officers arrived, the male subject had fled on foot. He was quickly detained and determined to be intoxicated to the point he could not care for himself. He was arrested for public intoxication.

Gang Injunction Violation – Suspect Arrested

December 13 at 1:47 a.m., officers were dispatched to the 800 block of West Walnut regarding a subject seen trespassing. The caller had reported that the subject had a

knife and was last seen entering another nearby property. The Foothill Air Support helicopter heard the call and responded. The subject was spotted by the helicopter attempting to hide from officers. The officers were directed to the subject's location by the air unit and he was detained. During the investigation, it was determined that the subject was listed on the gang injunction and was in violation of the curfew section. He was arrested and taken into custody.

Stolen Vehicle

December 13 at 9:34 a.m., a vehicle was reported stolen from the 400 block of East Lemon. The victim parked his vehicle in front of his residence in the evening. He returned to his vehicle the next morning and discovered it missing. The vehicle is described as a black, 1993, Nissan King Cab truck. The investigation is continuing.

Vehicle Burglary

December 13 at 10:30 a.m., an officer responded to the 300 block of Lincoln regarding a vehicle burglary. Unknown suspects pried open the passenger door of the victim’s vehicle with some type of pry tool. The suspects then took new windshield wiper blades that were still in the box and placed on the passenger seat in plain view. The investigation is continuing.

Highlighted Activity for August 24-26, 2015

Recovered Stolen Vehicle
On August 24 at 7:53 a.m., an officer responded to the parking lot of a business in the 2100 block of South Myrtle regarding a suspicious vehicle. The officer located the unoccupied vehicle. A computer check revealed the vehicle was a reported stolen from Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department. The workers at the business said the vehicle has been parked there, undisturbed, for several days. The registered owner was contacted and the vehicle was turned over to him.
Vehicle Vandalism
On August 24 at 12:02 p.m., a vehicle burglary was reported in the 700 block of West Huntington regarding a subject kicking a vehicle. The reporting party observed the subject throw a rock through one of the vehicle’s windows. Officers responded and spoke with the reporting party. The subject was gone when officers arrived. The reporting party said the subject appeared to have been recently released from a hospital and was rambling while disturbing the vehicle. It was later discovered a subject matching this person's description had walked away from a hospital. We were unable to locate the owner of the vehicle and have not been able to identify the suspect. The investigation is continuing.
Violation of Gang Injunction Court Order – Suspect Arrested
On August 24 at 12:04 a.m., a traffic stop was conducted in the 300 block of West Maple. The driver and passenger were found to be on probation for drugs and the driver had previously been served with a gang injunction court order prohibiting him from being out on the streets of Monrovia past 10:00 pm. The driver was arrested for violating the court order.
Attempt Robbery
On August 25 at 3:34 a.m., officer responded to the 800 block of West Duarte regarding an attempted robbery that had occurred 30 minutes prior. The victim said while standing outside his apartment complex smoking, he was approached by two males, who requested a cigarette. Both subjects then started patting down the victim’s pockets. The suspects both punched the victim and one suspect pulled out a knife and cut the victim three times across his forearms. The victim fled into his apartment complex and the suspects did not pursue him. The victim did not require medical attention due to the injuries only being superficial scratches. The investigation is continuing.
Assault - Suspect Arrested
On August 25 at 8:39 a.m., an officer responded to the 100 block of East Fig regarding an assault. The parent of two adult children (son and daughter) were fighting inside their home. She reported the argument had become physical. Officers responded and discovered the female had sustained a laceration on her head when her brother struck her with a wooden tray. The mother confirmed the incident and the suspect admitted to striking his sister. He was arrested for assault and taken into custody.
Commercial Burglary
On August 25 at 12:38 p.m., dispatch received a call from a business owner in the 100 block of South Myrtle reporting a burglary that occurred between the hours of 10:00 p.m., to 10:00 a.m. today. There were pry marks on the front doors and the loss was extensive. The business has no cameras or alarm system. Neighboring businesses were contacted and video was reviewed. The investigation is continuing.
Petty Theft
On August 25 at 1:10 p.m., an officer responded to the 100 block of South Myrtle regarding a theft. A suspect had just walked out of a business carrying the victim’s purse. The victim contacted the subject and he gave her the purse back. He did not have a legitimate or plausible reason for having the purse. The suspect was gone when officers arrived. Through investigation, the officers created a photo lineup that identified the suspect.
Receiving Stolen Property – Suspect Arrest
On August 26 at 10:49 p.m., officers observed a suspicious occupied vehicle in the 100 block of West Walnut. As the officers watched from a distance, they saw the subjects drive to the 100 block east Walnut and enter a condominium complex’s parking lot, where thefts have occurred recently. After a few minutes, one of the vehicles, a U-Hall truck exited the structure and the officer stopped the vehicle to investigate. The driver was on probation for theft, which allowed for a search of the vehicle. During the search the officer found mail not belonging to the driver, but instead to victim of a burglary in the city of Covina and La Puente. The mail had been stolen out of the victim’s vehicles. The driver was arrested for being in possession of stolen property and taken into custody.
Possession of Methamphetamine and a Smoking Pipe – Suspect Arrested
On August 26 at 11:25 p.m., an officer observed a suspicious vehicle in the 100 block of west Walnut. He saw the vehicle commit a traffic violation, so he stopped it at Chestnut and Primrose. The male driver did not have any driver’s license or identification. A misdemeanor in California. The officer found the driver to be in possession of methamphetamine and a smoking pipe. The driver was arrested for the violations and taken into custody.

Highlighted Activity for August 6-9, 2015

Gang Injunction – Suspect Arrested

August 6 at 11:04 p.m., officers responded to the report of a possible burglary in progress in the 200 block of West Cypress. The caller reported that someone was on the roof of the complex. The complex is three stories high. Officers observed a male subject climbing down the emergency ladder from the roof. The subject is a known gang member and has been placed on the Gang Injunction list. The subject was arrested for violation of the Gang Injunction court order.

Theft – Suspects Arrested

August 7 at 9:19 p.m., loss prevention from a business in the 500 block of West Huntington called police to report three suspects in custody for burglary. The suspects switched the price tags on merchandise, putting clearance tags with a much lower price on the items. Loss prevention observed the suspect removing and replacing the tags. The suspects then paid for the items and were stopped by loss prevention as they exited the checkout. The suspects were arrested for theft and received a citation to appear in court.

Stolen Vehicle

August 8 at 3:13 p.m., a stolen vehicle was reported in the 800 block of West Walnut.  The victim parked and locked her car in her driveway at 10:00 a.m. When she returned, the car was gone. No one had permission to take the vehicle. The investigation is continuing.

Warrant – Suspect Arrested

August 9 at 10:19 a.m., dispatch received a call reporting a male subject, possibly passed out, near an elementary school building in the 900 block of East Lemon. Officers responded and located the subject. After contacting him, officers discovered he had several outstanding warrants for his arrest; he was arrested and taken into custody for the warrants.

Disturbance/Wanted Person – Suspect Arrested

August 9 at 12:18 p.m., a local bus line called police to report a patron on a bus in the 200 block of East Huntington that was causing a disturbance and would not exit the bus. Officers responded and located the subject as he was exiting the bus. The officers determined the subject had been drinking and had an outstanding wanted person entry out of the San Bernardino Sheriff’s Department. The subject was arrested and taken into custody. San Bernardino deputies responded and took custody of the suspect.

Warrant – Suspect Arrested

August 9 at 12:39 p.m., officers responded to the 600 block of Montana regarding a suspicious person. The caller reported a male subject in their backyard and gave a description. Officers located a subject matching the description a short distance away. Officers contacted the subject and determined he had a no-bail warrant for his arrest. He was arrested and taken into custody.

Stolen Scooter

August 9 at 3:45 p.m., police dispatch received a call reporting a stolen Vespa scooter from the 100 block of West Foothill. The victim said she was late for work and left the keys in the ignition. She returned to her scooter at 3:00 p.m. and found the scooter was missing. An area check was made, but the scooter was not located. The investigation is continuing.

Stolen Vehicle

August 9 at 4:47 p.m., a vehicle was reported stolen from the 300 block of West Olive. The vehicle was taken sometime between August 7 and 9. All keys are accounted for and the doors were locked. The area was searched, but the vehicle was not located. The investigation is continuing.

Drunk in Public/Medical Assist 

August 10 at 1:00 a.m., officers responded to the 100 block of East Olive regarding a female who was lying on the sidewalk, unresponsive. They arrived and were able to revive the subject. She was determined to be heavily intoxicated and unable to care for herself. She was arrested for being drunk in public and taken into custody. Monrovia Fire Department paramedics responded and determined she needed to be taken to a local hospital and she was taken for treatment.