Highlighted Activity - Week of September 29 - October 5, 2011

During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 518 service events, resulting in 114 investigations.  Following are the last week's highlighted issues and events:

Neighborhood Watch Report

Beginning November 1, 2011, the Monrovia Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report will be available on the City of Monrovia website, www.cityofmonrovia.org, under the Police Department section. 

Battery With Serious Bodily Injury / Resisting and Delaying a Peace Officer - Suspect Arrested

On September 29 at 8:41 p.m., callers reported a fight in the 400 block of Hurstview.  Two male subjects were arguing and began to fight.  The suspect moved aggressively toward the victim, and the victim struck the suspect once in the head to defend himself. The suspect then grabbed the victim and viciously bit the victim multiple times causing visible wounds that may require further treatment.  Officers arrived and detained both subjects.  While being detained, the suspect suddenly raised his arms in an attempt to go after the victim again and struck the officer in the face with his arm.  The suspect was arrested and taken into custody without further incident. The officer was not injured. 

Driving Under the Influence - Suspect Arrested

On September 30 at 1:58 a.m., officers observed a vehicle straddling lanes while sitting at the light on Duarte at Myrtle.  They watched as the light cycled three times without the driver moving.  The officers approached the car and observed the driver slumped over in his seat.  They alerted the driver and he jolted awake.  They told him to turn the car off, but he put it in neutral and the car rolled slowly back and bumped the police unit behind it.  No damage was sustained after the slight bump between vehicles.  The driver was determined to be under the influence of alcohol and arrested.

Fight in Progress

On September 30 at 2:37 a.m., callers advised dispatch a fight was in progress in the 300 block of Norumbega.  Officers arrived and detained four subjects.  They determined the subjects were family members and had been involved in a heated discussion, which resulted in one family member getting extremely upset.  As they tried to get him back in the car they had been driving in, he resisted them.  The investigation revealed that no crime had occurred and there were no injuries, and no one desired prosecution.

Commercial Burglary - Suspects Arrested

On September 30 at 8:52 p.m., police responded to a business in the 500 block of West Huntington regarding a burglary.  Store loss prevention observed a male and female subject enter the store.  The male subject selected a pair of shorts and put them on under his pants.  He then left the store without paying.  He went to a car outside the store and waited.  The female concealed about $400 worth of jewelry on her person and entered the dressing room.  Officers arrived and detained the male suspect, locating the stolen property.  The female continued to shop and was seen removing tags and concealing more items.  The female was detained inside the store.  All of the items she had removed tags from were concealed in a bag she was carrying.  Neither subject had money or any means of paying for the items.  After review of the facts and interviews with the suspects, they were both arrested and charged with commercial burglary.

Vandalism

On October 4 at 11:12 a.m., a city employee reported vandalism at a park in the 300 block of East Lime.  An officer responded and found the suspect(s) had written gang graffiti at several locations throughout the park.  Investigation continuing.

Vehicle Tampering

On October 4 at 3:15 p.m., an officer responded to a residence in the 700 block of South California.  The victim reported that her white Honda, which was parked in the rear carport, had been tampered with during the night.

Grand Theft Auto

On October 4 at 3:33 p.m., an officer was dispatched to a residence in the 1400 block of South Shamrock regarding a stolen vehicle.  The reporting party last saw the vehicle on Sunday, October 2.  The vehicle is a Black, Chevy Silverado truck with no license plates on it.

Receiving Stolen Property - Suspect Arrested

On October 5 at 3:30 a.m., an officer conducted a traffic stop on a subject at Foothill and Mountain for a traffic violation.  The officer obtained consent to search the vehicle from the solo occupant.  A Kindle electronic book was found, prompting a suspicious story from the driver.  Evidence indicated the device belonged to a female subject from Duarte.  The female subject was contacted and confirmed her Kindle was reported stolen to the Sheriff's Department a week prior.  The suspect was arrested for receiving stolen property.

Suspicious Circumstances / Possession of Narcotics Paraphernalia - Suspect Arrested

On October 5 at 4:50 a.m., an officer stopped a vehicle for a traffic violation at Foothill and Mountain.  He contacted the two male occupants, who said they were from Covina.  The subjects had no reason to be in the area at that time of the morning.  The driver was driving on a suspended license and was found to be on parole for receiving stolen property.  He had a large butcher knife in the door panel of the driver's side door.  The passenger was found to be in possession of a methamphetamine pipe.  The vehicle was searched and the following suspicious items were found:  A realistic-looking black pellet pistol, bandanas, a baseball bat, and both subjects had latex gloves in their possession.  State parole was contacted.  The passenger was arrested for possession of narcotics paraphernalia and the vehicle was impounded.  Investigation continuing.

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Detective Bureau Case Follow-up

Case Update - Receiving Stolen Property Arrest

On the morning of October 1, an officer and eight police explorers canvassed an area of Monrovia in an attempt to locate the victim of and crime, where two bicycles were stolen and a suspect was arrested.  They covered a large portion of the northeastern part of town handing out flyers and speaking with residents.  The area covered streets east of Canyon and north of Foothill.  At noon, a subject from the 200 block of Valle Vista called to report he had arrived home and found the flyer in his mailbox.  He reported that he had two bicycles stolen from his porch on September 16, 2011.  He stated that the bikes had been secured with a blue cable lock that was cut some time during the night.  He was able to describe the colors of the bicycles from a black and white photograph he was shown.  The cable lock was recovered by the officer and a supplemental report completed.  The bicycles will be returned to the owner.

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Tip of the Week

How to Burglar-Proof Your Windows

Windows are a very common entry point for burglars.  They are often left unlocked or wide open.  Even when closed and latched, windows can easily be shattered with a rock, brick or heavy object.  There are options available to help secure your windows.

One option available is laminated film that can be placed over your windows.  The film bonds with the glass to make them nearly impenetrable.  In addition, the film is clear so the window will remain completely transparent.  A burglar won't even know the glass is protected until they try to break it.  An option for homes that have windows that slide open on a track is to secure them by installing latches that make them difficult to open.  You can also find bolts and locking pins for sliding windows.  

Ensuring your windows are burglar proof is an essential task for every home owner, but it is important to remember that you may need to use the windows as an escape route during a fire or other emergency.  Make sure you still have the ability to get out through a window if it becomes necessary to do so.

Coyotes on the street 10/5/11

Coyotes in a pack of 3 were scavenging and hunting on the street the evening of 10/5/11 between 10:30 and 11:30PM.  MPD was called when they started making noises and it sounded as if something was being killed.

I was just coming home from a concert downtown when I spotted them on my driveway.

In talking with the responding MPD officer it was learned that coyotes are a problem here.  There are a few common sense things to do to prevent them from coming on the street.  First and foremost is to not leave pet food out at night.  Secondly don't allow small animals out at night unless you are with them as that is a potential food source, especially when they are travelling in a pack.

When you do spot a coyote stay safe and call MPD.  Call their Animal Control during the day at (626) 256-8000.  Or call them at night via their Cell Watch line  626-357-2355.

Highlighted Activity - Week of September 22 - 28, 2011

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

Theft from Vehicle

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

Petty Theft from Commercial Business

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

Injury Traffic Collision

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

Missing Person Located

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

Spousal Battery - Suspect Arrested

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

Public Intoxication - Suspect Arrested

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

Commercial Burglary

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

Gang Vandalism

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

Possession of a Controlled Substance / Violation of a Court Order

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

Grand Theft Auto

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

Death Report

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

Theft from Vehicle

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

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Detective Bureau Case Follow-up

Child Molestation - Suspect Sentenced

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

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

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

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

Highlighted Activity - Week of September 15 - 21, 2011

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

Assault with a Deadly Weapon / Possession of a Dangerous Weapon / Criminal Threats - Suspect Arrested

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

Vehicle Burglary

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

Drug Activity - Suspect Arrested

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

Residential Burglary / Hot Prowl

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

Suspicious Circumstances - Suspect Arrested

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

Parolee-at-Large - Suspect Arrested

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

Domestic Violence - Suspect Arrested

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

Residential Burglary

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

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Tip of the Week

Keeping Your Vehicle Safe and Secure

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

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

Highlighted Activity - Week of September 8 -14, 2011

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

Parolee-at-Large - Suspect Arrested

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

Department of Child and Family Services Referral / Resisting and Delaying a Police Officer - Suspect Arrested

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

Fight in Progress / Possession of a Concealed Weapon / Public Intoxication - Suspect Arrested

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

Driving Under the Influence / Traffic Collision - Suspect Arrested

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

Residential Burglary

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

Residential Burglary

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

Residential Burglary

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

Gang Injunction Violation / Brandishing a Weapon - Suspect Arrested

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

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Stop Graffiti Bounty Program

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

Highlighted Activity - August 25 through 31, 2011

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

Disturbing Subjects / Possession of a Controlled Substance - Suspect Arrested

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

Attempt Robbery - Suspect Arrested

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

Hit & Run Incident - Suspect Arrested

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

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

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

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

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

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

Driving Under the Influence - Suspect Arrested

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

Strong-Arm Robbery - Suspect Arrested

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

Burglary

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

Highlighted Activity - August 18 through 24, 2011

During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 579 service events, resulting in 99 investigations. Following are the last week's highlighted issues and events:

Family Disturbance / Mental Evaluation

On August 20 at 7:04 p.m., police responded to a family disturbance in the 900 block of West Olive Avenue. A mother and her 17-year-old son became involved in an argument. During the argument, the son expressed a desire to hurt himself. The son had been drinking alcohol and the mother reported that he has recently been depressed. The son was taken to a hospital and held for mental evaluation.

Driving Under the Influence / Hit and Run Traffic Collision With Injury - Two Suspects Arrested

On August 21 at 1:56 a.m., a male and two female subjects were riding in a Toyota truck in the 700 block of Ridgeside Drive, returning home from a party. The male driver and female front passenger began to argue, and the female grabbed the steering wheel from the driver, causing him to crash into a parked car. The driver fled the area, but was located by an officer. The driver and female passenger were intoxicated. The driver was arrested for driving under the influence and felony hit and run with injury. The front female passenger was arrested for public intoxication and for interfering with the driver of the vehicle. The second female passenger was taken to a hospital for back pain.

Driving Under the Influence - Suspect Arrested

On August 21 at 12:06 a.m., an officer on patrol came across a vehicle parked partially in the street at Walker and El Norte with its engine running and the driver sleeping behind the wheel. The driver was determined to be driving under the influence and was arrested.

Commercial Burglary

On August 22 at 4:11 a.m., officers responded to a business in the 900 block of West Huntington on an alarm activation. Upon arrival, they discovered a smashed window. A responsible party arrived and reported that several cell phones and one computer monitor was taken. Investigation continuing.

Commercial Burglary

On August 22 at 11:39 a.m., an officer responded to a business in the 1500 block of South California regarding a burglary. Unknown suspect(s) cut the chain link fence around an outside yard and made entry into a secured area where merchandise is kept. Investigation continuing.

72-Hour Hold / Mental Evaluation

On August 23 at 8:44 a.m., a resident in the 1600 block of Pilgrim Way reported that her grandson was threatening suicide. When officers arrived, the subject became uncooperative and was combative. He struggled with officers as they attempted to take him into custody for his own safety. One officer sustained a minor injury during the incident. The subject was taken to a hospital, where he was held for 72-hour mental evaluation.

Grand Theft Auto

On August 23 at 2:49 p.m., a resident in the 900 block of South Ivy reported his vehicle had been stolen. He reported he had brought a male subject to his house to put some music together. The suspect told the victim he had left his wallet in the victim's vehicle. The victim handed the subject the keys to his vehicle. The suspect entered the vehicle and drove away, heading west on Huntington toward the freeway. The victim's vehicle is a silver, 2000 BMW 740i. Investigation continuing.

Brandishing a Weapon

On August 23 at 4:40 p.m., a subject/victim was sitting in his vehicle in a business parking lot in the 500 block of West Huntington. Another subject in a vehicle parked next to his displayed an offensive hand gesture after the victim asked him what was wrong. A female passenger in the vehicle brandished a gun and the suspects drove off. The victim followed the suspect vehicle and last saw it heading eastbound on Duarte at Myrtle. The suspect vehicle is described as an older model Izusu Rodeo. The investigation is continuing.

Residential Burglary

On August 24 at 4:52 a.m., an officer on patrol noticed a large hole in a fumigation tent on a residence in the 100 block of Stedman Place. The hole was directly outside a window; the window was wide open and a light was on. An officer watched the location for some time, but no one was located in or around the house. The location was checked for loss after it was safe to enter and it was discovered that a 42-inch television had been stolen from the residence. Investigation continuing.

Highlighted Activity - August 11 through 17, 2011

During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 659 service events, resulting in 103 investigations. Following are the last week's highlighted issues and events:

Driving Under the Influence Traffic Collision - Suspect Arrested

On August 13 at 12:46 a.m., a female driver in an SUV was traveling south on Mayflower when another female driver in a sedan pulled out in front of her in the 1300 block of South Mayflower. The driver of the SUV was unable to stop and struck the sedan. Her SUV drove over the front end of the sedan, she overcorrected, and then struck a wall under the freeway overpass. The SUV was occupied by a 12-year-old female and her mother. The child sustained a broken femur and the mother sustained a broken left foot, both were taken to a hospital for treatment. The driver of the sedan was determined to be under the influence and was arrested. She was also taken to a hospital for evaluation.

Residential Trespassing

On August 14 at 12:15 p.m., the owner of an apartment complex located in the 100 block of Montana discovered that one of the empty units at the complex is being used by what appears to be transients. The transients left evidence of possible identity and the investigation is continuing.

Grand Theft Auto Recovery

August 14 at 7:45 p.m., a stolen 1993 Nissan Altima was located at a hotel in the 700 block of West Huntington. The vehicle had been stolen out of Azusa on July 28. No suspect information is known. The owner responded and recovered the vehicle. Investigation continuing.

Grand Theft Auto

August 14 at 8:25 p.m., a green, 1997 Honda was stolen from a carport area in the 400 block of West Duarte Road. The victim last saw the vehicle at 9:30 p.m. the previous night. Investigation continuing.

Grand Theft Auto Recovery

August 15 at 8:20 a.m., an officer was dispatched to the 1600 block of Radford Place regarding a suspicious vehicle. The officer located the vehicle parked on the street. It was a reported stolen vehicle and it was unlocked and intact. The victim was notified and responded to recover the vehicle. The victim did not find anything missing from the vehicle. A witness reported seeing a male Hispanic subject, 25-30 years old, 5'10", 200 pounds, with short hair and clean shaven. The subject drove the vehicle to the location and parked it. He then left the location in a Chevy Tahoe that had followed the stolen vehicle and was being driven by a female Hispanic, approximately 25-30 years old. The vehicle was returned to the victim and the investigation is continuing.

Vehicle Burglary

October 15 at 1:54 p.m., an officer responded to the 200 block of South California on the report of a vehicle burglary. The victim reported that her locked vehicle was broken into and her property was stolen.

Vehicle Versus Pedestrian Traffic Accident

On August 15 at 4:07 p.m., officers responded to the 100 block of North Mayflower Avenue regarding a traffic accident. The incident involved a vehicle that struck a 77-year-old female pedestrian. The Monrovia Fire Department paramedics were on scene and readying the victim to be taken to a hospital. The driver of the vehicle was apparently backing up his van, using only his mirrors, and did not see the female victim and struck her. The female subject fell backward onto the roadway and hit her head on the street. The victim was taken to the hospital and was in critical care overnight. She passed away the next day.

Criminal Threats - Suspect Arrested

On August 15 at 8:09 p.m., police received a call reporting a disturbing subject at the skate park in the 800 block of East Olive. The caller reported that a male subject was threatening people and said he had a gun, which was not seen, but he repeatedly reached into his waistband. The subject left the area prior to the arrival of officers. The suspect was claiming that the subjects at the skate park had taken his wallet, which he believed he had lost there. A short time after the officers left the area, the subject returned and confronted three people at the skate park. He pointed at them and threatened to shoot them. Officers responded and the suspect was positively identified by the victims, arrested, and charged for criminal threats. The suspect did not have a gun.

Attempt Burglary

On August 17 at 10:00 p.m., a resident in the 400 block of South Mayflower reported an attempt burglary. Sometime between August 16 and 17 an unknown suspect attempted to pry open the front door of the residence. There was no loss and the investigation is continuing.

No-Bail Warrant - Suspect Arrested

On August 17 at 1:04 p.m., an officer on patrol observed two suspicious subjects standing next to a vehicle in a parking lot in the 800 block of West Huntington and a third subject was crouching next to the vehicle. One of the standing subjects nudged the subject who was crouching down as if to alert him of police presence. The officer continued driving, but then went back to watch the three subjects. The officer believed the subjects were tampering with parked vehicles and detained them. Warrant checks revealed one of the subjects had two no-bail warrants for grand theft auto. He was arrested for the warrants. The other two subjects were identified and released.

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Detective Bureau Case Follow-up

Identity Theft

On Tuesday, August 16, 2011, Monrovia detectives served a search warrant in the 200 block of West Palm on an identity theft suspect's apartment. Detectives found evidence linking the suspect to the crime. Monrovia detectives also found evidence of three additional identity theft victims. The suspect was arrested and the handling detective is continuing his investigation by contacting the three additional victims. This case will be presented to the District Attorney's office for filing considerations. The suspect will be facing a minimum of 10 identity theft allegations/charges. The investigation into the additional victims may produce even more allegations/charges of identity theft.

Residential Burglaries Committed While the Residences Were Tented and Being Treated for Termites

On Thursday, August 18, 2011, Monrovia detectives served a search warrant at a public storage facility in Arcadia in connection with two burglaries. The investigation led the handling detective to believe that one of the suspected burglars had a storage space at this storage facility. The search warrant allows the detectives to enter the storage space and to obtain information and records from the office regarding this space. This investigation is still ongoing.

Child Molestation / Suspect Convicted on August 16, 2011

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

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

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

Highlighted Activity - August 4, through August 10, 2011

During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 534 service events, resulting in 79 investigations. Following are the last week's highlighted issues and events:

Robbery

On August 4 at 0:22 a.m., officers responded to the 800 block of West Huntington regarding a male transient reporting, three male suspects took him inside the restroom in the 700 block of East Lemon and beat him up. The suspects then took his shoes and wallet and fled in an unknown direction. The victim walked to the 800 block of West Huntington and called police to report the incident. There were no suspects found. Investigation continuing.

Mail Tampering

On August 5 at 4:02 a.m., an officer responded to a call in the 500 block of Valmont, regarding two male subjects seen tampering with two mailboxes in the area. An area check was conducted but the suspects were not located. Investigation continuing.

Robbery

On August 6 at 9:03 p.m., officers responded to the 200 block of West Huntington regarding a robbery that had just occurred. Officers were advised that a male suspect wearing dark clothing entered the business through the front door and proceeded to the "take out" counter. The suspect pointed a silver revolver at the female employee and demanded the money. The victim handed money to the suspect who fled out the front door and out of sight. Investigation continuing.

Burglary

On August 7 at 3:52 p.m., officers responded to a business in the 1600 block of South Mountain regarding a burglary. On August 5, a male suspect committed an unreported theft, where he stuffed a backpack full of merchandise, then fled prior to being caught. On August 7, the same suspect re-entered the store and immediately began cutting off security sensors from tools using a cutting tool. The property was valued at over $2,000. The suspect began stuffing his backpack and was detained to prevent him from fleeing the store again. The suspect was arrested and taken into custody.

Domestic Violence

On August 8 at 11:52 an officer responded to the 800 Block of West Olive regarding a domestic disturbance. A male suspect became intoxicated and began to argue with his live in girlfriend. The argument escalated and he assaulted her several times causing visible injury. He was arrested for domestic violence and placed in the sobering cell until he could be booked. An emergency protective order was obtained on behalf of the victim.

Vehicle Burglaries

On August 8, dispatch received reports of two window smash auto burglaries. The first occurred in the 400 block of South Alta Vista between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 2:00 a.m., the loss was an empty purse. The second occurred in the 100 block of North Mayflower between the hours of 4:00 p.m. and 5:30 a.m., the loss was a black briefcase with cash, a telescope and a camera. There is no suspect information at this time. Investigation continuing.

Grand Theft Auto

On August 9 at 6:55 a.m., an officer responded to the 500 block of Fano regarding a stolen vehicle report. The victim told the officer he parked his vehicle on the street in front of the location and left the keys on the seat. He did not lock the vehicle and did not have an alarm. The victim went inside the residence and returned an hour later to discover the vehicle missing. The vehicle is a white, 1991 Honda Accord. Investigation continuing.

Stolen Vehicle

On August 9 at 11:45 a.m., an officer responded to the 400 block of West Walnut regarding a stolen vehicle. The victim told him she parked and locked her vehicle on the street in front of the location at 1:00 a.m. She returned to her vehicle at 4:00 a.m., and it was missing. All keys were accounted for and there was no glass on the ground where it was parked. The vehicle is a green, 1991 Honda Accord. Investigation continuing.

Burglary

On August 10 at 7:45 a.m. an officer responded to a business in the 700 block of West Huntington. The reporting party was a contracted electrician who is working at the location. The suspect(s) apparently forced open (by pushing in) a sheet of plywood covering a dock door on the north side of the building. Once inside, the suspect(s) removed approximately 100 feet of 1 inch copper wire and pushed a metal tool box out of the dock door opening. It appears, due to scrapes on the concrete floor, that the suspect(s) backed up a truck and loaded the metal tool box into it, and left undetected. Investigation continuing.

Attempt Vehicle Burglary

On August 10 at 11:40 a.m., an officer responded to 100 block of West Pomona regarding an attempt vehicle burglary. The reporting party reported that someone tried breaking into one of their vehicles, a Ford F-350 Van. The suspect(s) damaged the rear door lock of the van; however, no entry was made. Investigation continuing.

Highlighted Activity - July 28 through August 3, 2011

During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 552 service events, resulting in 80 investigations. Following are the last week's highlighted issues and events:

Battery Thefts

On July 29, two curbside box battery thefts were reported in the early morning hours. The boxes were pried open and the batteries stolen. The thefts occurred on Duarte at Magnolia and the 400 block of East Cherry. The investigation is continuing.

Battery

On July 29 at 9:29 p.m., officers were flagged down by a male subject who was bleeding from the mouth. He told officers he was jumped by two to three male juveniles. No suspects were located. Investigation continuing.

Wanted Robbery Suspect Arrested

On July 30 at 11:09 a.m., officers located a named robbery suspect they had been searching for extensively. The suspect was wanted for the robbery of a business in the 300 block of West Huntington that occurred on July 12. The suspect had approached a cashier with his hand in his jacket pocket and threatened to shoot her if she didn't give him the money from the register. After obtaining the cash, he fled the location. Officers had identified the suspect and had been watching several locations he was known to frequent. He was located working on a vehicle in the city of Duarte and was arrested without incident.

Domestic Violence / Child Abuse - Suspect Arrested

On August 1 at 3:49 p.m., officers responded to the 400 block of East Los Angeles Avenue regarding a male subject hitting another subject with a bat. When officers arrived, they located a male subject that was bleeding from a head injury. The two suspects with the bat had left the location. The investigation revealed that the subject with the head injury had physically abused his girlfriend, with whom he has two children. He had also physically abused one of the children. This subject was taken to a hospital for treatment. The identity of the two suspects that assaulted the domestic violence suspect is unknown at this time. The injured suspect was arrested after he was treated and released from the hospital. Investigation continuing.

Hit and Run Traffic Collision

On August 2 at 12:06 a.m., police received the report of a vehicle striking the Acapulco Restaurant building. The occupants of the vehicle fled the scene. Officers arrived and determined there were no injured patrons in the restaurant and no occupants of the car remained at the scene. A driver's license and an employee badge belonging to a female subject were found at the scene, along with an identification card for another female subject. Further investigation revealed that the driver at the time of the accident was probably the female with the identification card. A location check of her residence was made, but she was not located. The investigation is ongoing and charges for driving without a license and hit and run will be pursued. Investigation continuing.

Felony Vandalism

On August 3 at 7:25 a.m., a resident in the 400 block of East Olive reported her vehicle had been vandalized. The vehicle was parked on the street and had been keyed during the night. At about 12:01 p.m., officers returned to the location, as two other vehicles belonging to the same victim had also been keyed. All of the vehicles had been vandalized sometime between 12:00 p.m. and 7:25 a.m.