New Year Wishes

The APOA wishes everyone the best for the upcoming New Year. New Years is a time for celebrating with friends and family. Please remember to party and drink responsibly throughout the holiday. Don’t drink and drive!

Jan’s Towing offers a program called “Tipsy Tow” throughout the San Gabriel Valley. If you have been drinking and are unable to drive, Jan’s will dispatch a driver to take both you and your car home for free. Call Jan’s Towing at (626) 334-1383 for details.

Remember to report drunk drivers to your local police or dial 911 if you suspect someone of driving under the influence.

Massage Parlor Monitoring Continues

Investigators from the State of California Employment Development Department (EDD) joined Arcadia Police Detectives in conducting follow-up investigations at a number of massage parlors back on December 19th. These visits were conducted as part of the on-going monitoring of the massage parlors in the City of Arcadia. State Investigators were tasked with verifying compliance with State labor laws, workers compensation insurance, taxes and hourly wage standards for employees. Five locations were found to not comply with certain State regulations and were issued fines and immediate shut down orders.

The five locations that were not in compliance were:

Ocean Health Center, 556 W. Las Tunas Dr. #201
CH Health Center, 178 W. Live Oak Ave.
New Life Acupuncture, 610 E. live Oak Ave.
Arcadia Spa, 28 E.. Duarte Rd.
Best Health Center, 25 N. Santa Anita Ave. #C

Inquiries regarding Arcadia Police involvement can be directed to the APD Detective Bureau at (626) 574-5160. For questions pertaining to the EDD aspect of the investigation can be made to the State Department of Media Relations at (916) 654-9029.

Tuesday Tip - New Laws for 2009

Two new laws that go in to effect January 1, 2009 may impact the way you do business while driving. The first new law prohibits texting while driving. Previously, texting was unlawful for drivers under 18 years old. Starting in 2009, anyone texting, reading or sending communication via an electronic wireless communication device while driving, such as a cellular phone, is guilty of an infraction.

The other new law that will apply to many drivers pertains to the use of portable GPS devices. There are now only two locations that you can lawfully mount your portable GPS device while driving: either the lowermost 5” corner of the driver’s side windshield or the lowermost 7” corner of the passenger side windshield. This section is meant to keep your forward view through the windshield from being obscured in any way.

Refer to the CHP website, HERE, for a brief on other new laws for 2009.

Man Down Call Leads to Death Investigation

An elderly man was found slumped over in a center median along Huntington Drive near Holly Avenue this morning at about 11:54 AM. There were no signs of foul play and it appears that the death is natural or medical related.

Opening Day and the Day After Combine for Heavy Traffic

There was no shortage of traffic converging on the Santa Anita Race Track this morning for opening day of the regular race meet for 2008-2009. Combine the shoppers headed to Westfield Shoppingtown for after Christmas sales and there was quite the amount of traffic in town today. No major traffic related incidents were reported throughout the day.

Residential Robbery

This morning at about 10:30 AM, Officers were called to a residence in the 700 blk. of West Lemon regarding a residential "home invasion" style robbery that had just occurred. Four residents were corralled into an upstairs bedroom by one masked suspect while a second suspect ransacked the home. The suspects used handguns during the incident and wore something covering their faces throughout the robbery. The suspects made off in a late model, dark colored pick-up truck.

The SGV Tribune has a fairly detailed story on the robbery HERE.

Merry Christmas to All!

On behalf of the APOA, we would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy Holiday Season! And along with that, a "Thank You" to all of our members who are working today. Thanks for your service and dedication to the City and APD.

East-West Bank Robbed

Shortly after 10:00 AM this morning, a lone male Asian robbed the East-West Bank located in the 99 Ranch Market in West Arcadia. The market and bank are located in the 1300 blk of South Golden West. The suspect stated that he had a weapon and made off with an unknown amount of currency. The suspect was described only as about 30 years old with short dark hair wearing a dark windbreaker and dark pants.

2008 Officer and Civilian Employee of the Year Awards

The Arcadia Police Officers' Association is proud to announce that Detective Troy Hernandez was named 2008 Officer of the Year and that John Lo was named 2008 Civilian Employee of the Year. The recipients were named at the APOA annual Christmas party held on Saturday, December 20th. Troy (left) and John (right) are pictured above with Chief Robert Sanderson (center).


Troy is the APOA President and has been with APD for five years, currently assigned as a property crimes investigator in the Detective Bureau. Troy was honored by his peers and supervisors for his dedication and efforts throughout this last year with the APOA as well as his quality investigations resulting in many follow-up arrests in the Detective Bureau. Troy has about 11 years experience as a police officer having lateraled to APD some years ago.


John is two-time recipient of the Civilian Employee of the Year award, being honored previously in 2004. John is a contract maintenance employee who works tirelessly for our Department. John handles just about any task at hand and makes himself available to all of our staff. Not only does he work at APD, but he also volunteers his time as a VIP and translator.


Both of these awards are well deserved and the members of the APOA congratulate both Troy Hernandez and John Lo.

Tuesday Tip - Watch Out for Your Children

As a parent, the safety of my children is something that is constantly on my mind. I am sure that any mom or dad will echo that sentiment. With the recent attempted abduction in Arcadia, it seems appropriate to offer a link to some child safety tips from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. Their website offers a great deal of information to parents.

HERE is also a link to the Wireless Amber Alert website. Enter your cell number on the website and you will be notified in the event of a local Amber Alert.

Watch out for your kids and don’t wait to talk with them about safety. In this holiday season, stores and malls are packed with patrons making your job even more difficult. Stay alert to your children. Never assume that they are just around the corner or hiding behind a clothing rack. Keep them in your sight and don’t hesitate to report suspicious activity to your local police.

Annual Christmas Toy Drive

As part of our annual Christmas toy drive, the APOA delivered toys to hospitalized children and kids living in area group homes and treatment centers today. The toys were collected at our station from generous donations from the community and members of the APOA. Toys were brought to McKinley Children's Center in San Dimas, Maryvale Girls Home in Rosemead and the City of Hope, Pediatric Oncology Ward, in Duarte. Pictured above is APOA President Troy Hernandez (right), Vice-President Mike Hale (left), and Records Technician Judy Cook. Judy spearheaded the event for the APOA this year.

Water Main Break

About 1:00 AM this morning, a water main break caused street flooding and damage to the roadway on Orange Grove at Hyland in North Arcadia. The water flow caused a sink hole to develop in the westbound lanes of the roadway. Arcadia Public Works responded and began immediate repair. Water service was disrupted for the immediate area and morning traffic was diverted. City crews hope to have Orange Grove opened to traffic late this afternoon.

Tuesday Tip - Package Thefts

Have you ordered Christmas presents over the phone, via the Internet, or by mail? Chances are that those packages will be delivered straight to your front porch. The majority of deliveries do not require a signature and are generally left at your door, even if no one is home to accept them. This time of year brings out those looking for a crime of opportunity as well as those thieves that actually target your delivery. Thieves will follow or watch for the UPS, Fed Ex or other delivery trucks and then target a home after a delivery is made.

Here are some suggestions for helping to prevent a theft of your packages: Use your workplace as the shipping address, track your shipments by phone or on-line so that you know what day they should arrive, ask you neighbor to watch for your delivery and then hold the items until you arrive home, keep an eye on your neighborhood and report suspicious persons and vehicles sitting or cruising the area, request a signature delivery option if available, or request the shipment be held at the shipping facility such as a UPS office. Check with "mailbox" businesses in your town and see if they will accept shipment of your item for a fee. If you do not recieve your shipment on time, check with the company of origin and confirm the delivery. If the item was delivered and you did not receive it, then report the theft or loss to the original company, the shipping company and your local police.

CHP Mourns Officer

The California Highway Patrol is mourning the loss of Officer Joseph Sanders of the Santa Fe Springs Office. Officer Sanders was killed on the 60 freeway early this morning while directing traffic at a collision scene. According to news reports, Officer Sanders, age 29, leaves behind his pregnant wife and three children, ages 7, 3, and 10 months. The members of the APOA send our prayers and condolences to the family of Officer Sanders and all members of the CHP. The SGV Tribune has a nice article related to the collision and tragic death of Officer Sanders. A second article can be viewed HERE.

Operation Polar Wind

Members of the Foothill Air Support Team (FAST) conducted their annual toy delivery to local pediatric wards at Huntington Memorial and Arcadia Methodist Hospitals yesterday. The mission is known as Operation Polar Wind and delivers toys to children currently staying in our hospitals. Captain Gene Gioia and Sergeant Mike Castro from APD participated in the event. Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz of the SGVN.

Parking Lot Robbery Near 99 Cent Store

This from CA Live Breaking News;

Thursday, December 11, 2008

Armed Robbery-12/11/08
*Armed Robbery* 140 E Duarte Rd (Parking Lot) Arcadia; PD onscene, 2 male blacks armed w/ handguns robbed 2 subjects in 99 cents store parking lot, Suspects last seen fleeing in dark colored 70's El Camino vehicle, Taken was cell phones, PD searching area; 507.0625@1819 CABN01 ###
Posted by CA Breaking News Support at 6:20 PM

Purse Snatch

Shortly after noon yesterday, an elderly couple was walking in the area of Golden West Avenue and Arcadia Avenue. A suspect approached the woman and grabbed her purse. After a brief struggle for the purse, the suspect made off with it and was last seen running toward Arcadia Avenue. The suspect was described as a male Hispanic in his 20's wearing a black sweatshirt with a hood and dark pants.

Attempted Child Abduction

On November 26, 2008 at approximately 11:50 AM, a local pre-school visited the Westfield Mall in the City of Arcadia for a field trip. As the schoolchildren were exiting the mall, an unknown male suspect walked up to a 5-year-old child and placed his arm around the child. The suspect then led the child away from the school group and was observed by one of the school staff. The staff member ran over to the suspect and child, removed the suspect’s arm from the child, and returned with the child to the rest of the group. The suspect then walked away and out of sight. Approximately one hour later, the school reported the incident to the Arcadia Police Department. Officers checked the mall and surrounding area for the suspect, but he was not located.

Suspect Description:
Male Asian, 50-60 yrs, 5’08”, 170 lbs, grey hair with a bald spot on top of his head, yellow teeth, blue sweat pants, white sneakers, clean shaven, and he was carrying an umbrella with a circular design.

If anyone has information regarding this incident or suspect, please contact the Arcadia Police Department Detective Bureau at 626-574-5160.

Ref: Case #08-6068

UPDATE, 12/11/08 - Here are a couple of media links to news stories on the incident;

• KABC7
• KCAL9/KCBS2

Tuesday Tip - Rain, Fog, Mist = Headlights

"Headlights are on for safety." Ever see that statement on the back of a big rig? Headlights improve the visibility that other drivers have of your car. That is one reason California adopted a Vehicle Code section(24400) that requires you to drive with lights on when driving in the rain. The section also includes driving conditions that require you to have your windshield wipers on continuously, such as rain, fog, mist, snow or other atmospheric moisture. So, if you are using your windshield wipers, use your headlights as well!

Reports of Shots Fired

Early this morning, at approximately 1:00 AM, Officers responded to the 100 blk. of Fano Street after receiving reports from several residents of a woman screaming and gunshots being fired. Responding officers were unable to locate any suspect(s) or victim(s), but did discover three (3) 9mm shell casings in the street.

No damage was discovered to any surrounding buildings or vehicles and no eye witnesses were located. A check with area hospitals reported no gunshot victims.

Once again, anyone with information is asked to call APD Detectives at (626)574-5160.

Armed Robbery at Papa John's

About 9:14 PM last night, Officers were called to the Papa John's Pizza in the 1300 blk South Baldwin Avenue regarding a robbery having just occurred. The suspects corralled employees into a restroom and at one point, one suspect possibly fired a gunshot into the ceiling. The suspects stole cash from the register and an office before fleeing the location.

The suspects were described as two (2) male Hispanics in their 20’s. Both suspects were approximately 6 ft. tall, wore dark pants and covered their faces with black bandannas. Suspect # 1 wore a white hoodie with a “G-Unit” logo and Suspect # 2 wore a black hoodie. The weapon was described as a small, silver colored handgun, resembling a starter’s pistol.

Please refer any information to APD Detectives at (626)574-5160. Photo by LA Times.

Get to Know Your Neighbors

Officers were called to a home in the 200 block of West Palm drive last night about 8:00 PM on a reported robbery in progress. The caller also said that shots had been fired at the house. Officers from Monrovia PD assisted on the call and the location was contained. The event was carried virtually live on the CrimeScene Blog with comments detailing some of the police activity. After some tense minutes, phone calls and public address announcements, Officers detained several people at the location. Investigation at the scene revealed that there had been no robbery and the original call was actually a false report of an emergency.

However, observations of the location and interviews lead to the discovery of the residence being used as a "House of Prostitution". An Asian male adult and an Asian female adult were both arrested and booked at APD for maintaining the house.

This is a good example of the importance of getting to know your neighborhood. Be aware of who your neighbors are and who belongs in the area. If an unusual amount of activity is observed at a particular home, call your local police. Record license numbers and descriptions of vehicles. If this residence was being used for any amount of time in this manner, there was sure to have been a high amount of foot and vehicle traffic. Be it prostitution, drug sales, or other illegal activity, we depend on your eyes to help us out!

UPDATE 12/05/08: KABC7 ran a story on the brothel discovery HERE.

Residential Burglary Thwarted

About 12:20 PM today, three male juveniles attempted to force entry into a residence in the 300 blk of Laurel in northeast Arcadia. The resident was home at the time and fled out the rear of the house. The juveniles fled on foot and the resident was able to follow them in her vehicle as she called APD. Officers detained the three males who were ultimately arrested for attempted residential burglary. All three juveniles were residents of Monrovia.

Fatal Collision on Lower Azusa

At about noon time today, Officers were dispatched to the 12300 block of Lower Azusa Road on report of a solo vehicle collision. El Monte PD and LA Co. FD were first on scene and found that a vehicle being driven E/B had lost control and collided with a tree. A male was found to be the solo occupant and driver of the vehicle. The male driver was pronounced dead on arrival. This primarily commercial and industrial stretch of Lower Azusa, in Arcadia, is just west of the 605 freeway on the City of El Monte border.

UPDATE, 12/03/08: The LA Co. Coroner has identified the deceased as 25 year old Daniel Delgado of Duarte. Witness accounts and preliminary investigation show that speed was a contributing factor in the collision. Our condolences go out to the family and friends of Mr. Delgado.

Tuesday Tip - Driving in the Fog

With winter comes adverse driving conditions. The roadways were damp and fog had settled in this morning throughout the San Gabriel Valley. In conditions like this it is important to slow down and increase your following distance. When driving in the fog, make sure that your low beams remain on as use of high beams will only decrease your visibility. Allow your vehicle to warm up before leaving and use window defrosters. Open your windows slightly and listen for other traffic on the roadway. Visit the CHP website for other winter driving tips.

Attempted Parking Lot Robbery

A woman walking through the Albertson’s parking lot in the 200 blk of East Live Oak was victimized by a male who tried to steal her purse last Saturday. The incident happened around 10:40AM and the male fled without the purse when the woman struggled with him. The victim was not injured. The suspect was described as a male Hispanic, 16 yrs, short black hair, dark complexion, 5-00/130, wearing a brown sweater and white baggy jeans.

Body Found Floating in Conservation Park

According to a report from the LA Daily News, fisherman discovered a body floating in the Peck Road Water Conservation Park early yesterday morning. Officers responded and found the body of a male just off shore. Although there were no obvious signs of foul play, the death is suspicious and will be investigated by both APD Detectives and the LA Co. Coroner. The LASD Dive Team assisted with the removal of the body. The Conservation Park is located on the boarder of Arcadia, El Monte and unincorporated portions of the County, on Peck Road, south of Live Oak.

As noted by Brian Day in the CrimeScene blog, this is indeed the second suspicious death reported at the Park in less than a year. The Park has a large body of water with minimal improved shore line. Although open during the day, the Park is fenced and closed at night. The Park attracts all sorts of folks including fisherman, picnickers, walkers, transients, trespassers, and those looking for a little quiet. Like any other body of water, one has to be careful around the shore with footing, especially at night. Stay on the trails, use only the improved shoreline and visit the Park during the posted hours.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving is a time to share with family and friends. Give thanks, be safe, and enjoy the day! HERE is a brief look at the History Channel's account of the first Thanksgiving.

Tuesday Tip - Residential Burglary Prevention

Residential burglary prevention continues to be a focus of the Arcadia Police Department. Increased patrol presence, Investigators working surveillance, follow-up on leads/tips and recovered stolen property, all are pieces to a much larger puzzle when it comes to preventing residential burglaries and property crime. The most important puzzle piece is the resident. It is very important to discourage the would be thief and make their job as difficult, time consuming and noisy as possible. The Department posted a short article on burglary prevention on the APD website. Take a look HERE.

Here are a few quick tips to help keep your home safe:

• Close and lock your windows and doors! Thieves look for an easy target.
• Lock your garage door. Thefts from garages are common and it offers ready access to pry tools.
• Keep bushes and shrubs trimmed so that windows and doors are visible.
• Maintain your home and make it looked lived in. Arrange for care if you leave on vacation.
• Don't leave newspapers, mail and door hanger material in place. Put a stop on mail and paper delivery, even if only gone for a few days.
• Know your neighbors! Be familiar with cars, faces and who belongs in your neighborhood.
• Leave different lights on when you leave. Use timers when gone overnight.
• How about a radio with a talk show station tuned in when you are gone?
• Use window stops/pins to prevent windows and sliding doors from being opened.
• Maintain lists of account numbers, valuable item serial numbers and important phone numbers. Duplicate the list and maintain a copy elsewhere. Video or photo your belongings. This aids in property recovery as well as insurance replacement.
• Get an ALARM. Even simple alarms that are not connected to a central system are a deterrent.
• Ask and look for helpful tips. Your local police agency will usually offer home inspections and there are plenty of websites that offer prevention tips and ideas.
• Watch for and REPORT suspicious persons and activity. Most arrests that are made for burglary are not from a report by an alarm company, but rather from a local resident. If you see someone that does not belong in your neighborhood or on a neighbor's property, call the police.

If you return home and believe that your home has been burglarized, do not enter the home. Call the police and wait out front. Tell the Dispatcher of your observations and that you have not searched your home. Chances are that the burglar is gone, but you don't want to confront them if avoidable. Entering the home may also destroy certain types of evidence that Officers will be looking for.

Here are some previous related posts: Tuesday Tips - Burglary Prevention, Auto Burglary Prevention, and Being Safe at Home.

Arcadia Festival of Bands 2008

APD Motor Officers lead off the 2008 Festival of Bands. Over 40 bands from Southern California schools came to Arcadia yesterday to participate in the 55th Annual Festival of Bands. The bands marched from the parking lot of the Santa Anita Race Track, south on Baldwin

and then east on Duarte. Judges from both the Festival and the Rose Parade were on hand for the event. The participating bands provided a great morning of music and performances.

CraigsList Leads to Arrests

Twice in the last couple of days, arrests were made for solicitation of prostitution where the arrestees used CraigsList to advertise their services on the Internet.

Early Friday morning at about 12:30AM, Officers arrested a female adult at the Santa Anita Inn, 130 West Huntington Drive for solicitation. The woman was contacted by phone and later arrived at the motel. After entering the room and offering sexual services for money, she was taken into custody.

At about 9:30PM last night, Officers placed a call to a female subject who also offered to perform sexual services for money. This subject was actually staying in a room at the Santa Anita Inn and when Officers arrived, the female was found to be a juvenile. She was taken into custody along with two additional female adults. The adults were booked for pimping and child endangerment as well.

The computer age and the Internet allow access to almost any information these days. Activity such as this is no exception. These two cases should serve as a warning to anyone who solicits prostitution in this manner, using the Internet and a cell phone. Customer or provider, you will be arrested.

Saturday Road Closures

The Arcadia Festival of Bands returns to West Arcadia this Saturday, November 22nd. Traffic will be diverted at several intersections during the morning and early afternoon hours. Baldwin Avenue will be closed to all traffic between Huntington Drive and Camino Real. Duarte Road will be closed from Baldwin Avenue through El Monte Avenue. Campus Drive will be closed between Santa Anita Avenue and Holly Avenue. And finally, El Monte Avenue will be closed on the extension road between Duarte and Campus. Each of these closures will be in effect from about 8:00AM through 2:00PM. Campus Drive may remain closed throughout the afternoon based on activity at Arcadia High School.

Traffic in the area will be heavy. Please be patient and use alternate routes to reach your destination. Medical offices on Duarte Road and businesses on South Baldwin can be accessed from streets south of Duarte, such as Camino Real and Naomi, from Golden West, Holly and Lovell. Businesses on Balwin between Huntington and Duarte must be accessed from either Golden West, Holly or La Cadena. Cross traffic will not be allowed Baldwin Avenue or Duarte Road within the closure. Westfield Shoppingtown will be accessed as normal with the exception of traffic from the south. Use Golden West, Sunset or Santa Anita to Huntington Drive to access the mall.

Residential Burglary, Stolen Car and a Carjacking

About 1:50PM today, Officers were dispatched to a residence in the 1000 blk of Panorama on report of a residential burglary having just occurred. Panorama is located south of Colorado and east of Michillinda. The resident had returned home and observed a suspect and suspect vehicle in her driveway. The initial suspect fled in the vehicle before Officers arrived. A short time later, a vehicle matching the suspect vehicle description was spotted in the area and followed by an unmarked APD unit. This vehicle was a reported stolen vehicle. The stolen vehicle came to a stop in the area of Madre and the IS 210 freeway, Pasadena, and five males fled from the car, abandoning it in the roadway. Minutes later, it is believed that one of the suspects fleeing the stolen car then carjacked a driver at gunpoint, in the parking lot of the OSH Hardware at Madre and Colorado. Officers from Arcadia PD, Pasadena PD and LASD Temple conducted an area search but were unable to locate the suspects.

The recovered stolen vehicle that the suspects had been driving was found to contain property from the Panorama burglary and possibly other area residential burglaries. The investigation is continuing. The carjacked vehicle was later recovered, abandoned in Duarte.

Tuesday Tip - Wildlife Sightings

Bears, coyotes, deer, mountain lions, bobcats, all roam the foothills above our town and will sometimes venture into residential neighborhoods. Most of the time, the wildlife comes and goes without notice. In recent years, it seems that calls of bear and lion sightings have been on the rise. The topic of handling these types of incidents is widely discussed in the media and on the Internet. Our Officers will respond when called to a wildlife sighting and our primary goal is to allow the animal to leave the area back to the foothills. Under most conditions, the Officers presence, use of vehicles, horns, stun bag rounds, all are sufficient to encourage the animal to leave the area. If life is threatened, use of deadly force is an option. Our Officers are not equipped with tranquilizers and State Wardens may not be readily available to respond.

There are sources, such as the Department of Fish and Game, who offer tips in dealing with wildlife. The majority of tips are common sense. Here are two sites that deal specifically with mountain lions and with black bear. Both sites offer tips for encounters of these animals.

Methodist Hospital and the City Survive the Great Shake-Out

The City of Arcadia participated in the "Great Shake-Out" on Thursday of last week opening the Emergency Operations Center at the Police Department. Personnel from all City Departments participated in the event. The Arcadia Weekly offers a photo piece on Methodist Hospital's participation in the event HERE. Photos by Terry Miller.

Morning Mail Thefts

A log entry from last Thursday morning, 11/13/08, reveals information on mail theft suspects from the 300 blk East Longden. Two female Hispanics were seen rummaging through several residential mail boxes and taking out mail at about 6:40 AM. The pair made off in a newer model brown mini-van after they were confronted by a witness. No additional information was offered on the suspects.

Arcadia Named Best City for Kids 2009

Congratulations to the City of Arcadia and its residents! BusinessWeek named Arcadia as California’s top City to raise your family for 2009. Diamond Bar and Monterey Park were runners up in the survey. Qualifications for consideration included population of at least 50,000 people and median family income between $40K-$100K.

“We then narrowed the list of towns using the following weighted criteria: school performance; number of schools; household expenditures; crime rates; air quality; job growth; family income; museums, parks, theaters, and other amenities; and diversity. We weighted school performance and safety most heavily, but also gave strong weight to amenities and affordability.”

You can link to media stories on the announcement at KABC7 and KCAL9.

All of our residents, students, business owners, AUSD staff and City Employees should take pride in this announcement. “Making a Difference” is the motto of the Arcadia Police Department. Our Officers see this motto each day, posted prominently on the walls of APD. Putting that motto into action helps to make our City a better and safer place. It is pleasing to see that our actions do indeed contribute to a positive impact on the community.

Tuesday Tip - Parking Lot Survival

With the holidays approaching, the malls, local shops and stores will be more crowded with not only patrons, but the cars that take them there. Parking lot madness can strike anywhere, so don't fall victim to its clutches. Private property accidents contribute to a good number of our overall crash stats for any given year. Most are avoidable to say the least. Here are some ideas to help avoid collisions and other vehicle related incidents on private property:

• Slow down, don't be in such a rush. The sale will still be going on in five or ten minutes.
• Obey the stop signs, yield signs, speed limit signs. They are there for a reason.
• Drive in marked isles. Avoid driving across the parking lot and watch out for those that are using parking stalls as a short cut.
• Park a little further away. It is probably quicker than driving up and down looking for that perfect spot.
• Look all around before backing out and back SLOWLY out of your stall.
• Watch for pedestrians and watch out for yourself when walking in the lot.
• Avoid the urge to "beat" the other driver to that one last spot.
• Practice common sense and courtesy. Everyone can be on edge in a crowded parking lot. Give each other a break.
• Leave valuables at home or at least out of sight in your car.
• Park only in marked stalls.
• Always be aware of your surroundings. Park in well lighted areas. Alert store security to suspicious persons or vehicles.

Salute to our Veterans

November 11th is Veterans Day. Take a moment to celebrate this day and say thank you to those that have served and currently serve our great Country! When remembering Veterans Day, think of the original purpose: A celebration to honor America's veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good. The US Department of Veterans Affairs has a website dedicated to the history and celebration of this well honored holiday.

Attempted Robbery

Late Saturday night, November 8th, a woman was knocked to the ground and a suspect tried to steal her purse in the Ralph's Grocery parking lot at Live Oak and Santa Anita. The incident occurred shortly before 11:00 PM and the suspect was described as a male Hispanic, dark hair and mustache, about 5'08" wearing dark clothing. The victim suffered minor injuries and the suspect made off with nothing.

Mountain Lion Kills Family Dog

About 7:49 PM last evening, Officers were called to a residence in the 2200 blk of Canyon in north Arcadia regarding a mountain lion in the yard. The resident told Officers that they could no longer hear their family dog after seeing the large cat. When Officers entered the rear yard, they saw a large mountain lion standing over the dog. The mountain lion charged the Officers who shot and killed the large animal in self defense. Officers confirmed that the family dog, an Australian Shepard, had been killed by the lion. The Pasadena Humane Society assisted and took custody of the mountain lion pending retrieval by the Department of Fish and Game. The lion was estimated to weigh about 140 lbs.

An interesting array of comments can be read on the Topix website HERE. Topix has a link to the story posted in the Pasadena Star News.

Simulated Weapon Robbery

About 10:30 AM yesterday, two male subjects entered the D&M Store in the 100 blk East Live Oak. One of the suspects simulated a handgun through his sweatshirt and demanded that clerk hand over lottery tickets. When the clerk refused, the suspect lunged over the counter and tried to grab the tickets. During the scuffle between the clerk and suspect, the second male grabbed several boxes of lottery tickets and then the two fled the store. Officers did not locate the suspects and there was minimal information on their descriptions.

Early Morning Arson

About 5:23 AM this morning, Officers responded to the 00 blk of Alice on report of a structure fire. Arcadia Fire Department quickly extinguished the fire which was isolated to the outside of two, unoccupied residential units in a multi-use complex. AFD Arson Investigators were on scene to conduct the investigation as the fires were suspicious in nature.

Tuesday Tip - Motorcycle Safety

With gas prices being what they are, many people have turned to a motorcycle for their daily commute. Motorcycles can save time and fuel cost, but without proper training and practice, the rider can be much more prone to becoming involved in a collision compared to driving a car. California law requires that a motorcycle rider obtain a Class M1 endorsement on their license. The test is fairly simple and with a minimum of studying and practice, a rider can pass the tests. However, that is NOT enough.


Prior to straddling a motor and hitting the streets or freeways, motorcycle riders need to understand their bikes, know their capabilities as a rider and what to look for and expect while riding. To accomplish this, the rider needs to practice, study and hopefully take a safety course. Learning from other's mistakes and taking advantage of the advice from an experienced rider can save your life.

Here are some links to information resources and rider classes;

• California Motorcycle Safety Program (Classes)


• National Highway Traffic Safety Administration


• Motorcycle Safety Info.com


• Web Bike World


• Mt. San Antonio College (Mt. Sac - Classes)

Armed Robbery

At about 1:15 PM yesterday, a female was confronted in her residential underground parking garage in the 600 blk Fairview Avenue by two armed suspects. The suspects were armed with a hand gun and demanded the victim hand over her money and property. The victim complied and was not injured. Both suspects fled on foot. The suspects are described as male Hispanics in their 20’s, shaved heads, one tall and one shorter, both wearing white t-shirts and jeans.

Halloween Party Leads to Assault

Early Saturday morning November 1st, at about 1:3O AM, Officers responded to the Patio Restaurant on Huntington Drive near Santa Anita Avenue in regards to a fight between patrons. A Halloween party gave way to a fight between several patrons during which one victim was struck in the head with a beer bottle. A second subject was injured by broken glass after falling to the ground. When the dust settled, Officers arrested a 34 year old Montebello man for assault with a deadly weapon. Another male was arrested for battery and four others were arrested for drunk in public. The victims were treated at the scene by paramedics.

Lock Your Car!

Thieves entered at least 8 vehicles that were left unlocked sometime during the evening hours on Thursday, October 30th. Officers took theft reports from each of the victims who reported finding their unlocked vehicles rummaged through with various losses. All the incidents occurred in residential areas of south-east Arcadia. Please remember to close windows and lock your vehicles, even when parked in your driveway. These are crimes of opportunity. Don’t be a victim!

Suspicious Person Call Leads to Arrest

A call of a man rummaging through a woman's purse in the 100 blk of East Duarte Road leads to his arrest yesterday. The male was seated on a bike at about 8:00 AM when Officers attempted to speak with him. The subject tried to flee but did not make it too far when he was stopped by Officers. The owner of the purse was not located but the 22 year old Monrovia man was arrested for possession of burglary tools and two "no bail" arrest warrants for burglary.

Missing 91 Year Old Reunited with Family

Yesterday at about 6:00 AM, an elderly woman appeared to be lost while driving on Santa Anita Canyon Road toward the foothills. Not only was the caller concerned for the woman, but the car she was driving appeared to have been involved in a collision. Officers located a 91 year old woman who had been reported missing from Orange County, possibly suffering from dementia. The woman was later reunited with her family. Officers were unable to determine whether or not the driver had been involved in a hit and run at time of the report.

We recently ran an entry on "mature drivers". This incident serves as a reminder of the need to consider all factors, medical, mental and physical when making a decision to possibly take the license of a loved one.

Two Teens Booked for Burglary

Shortly after 11:30 AM on Halloween, Officers were called to the area of Camino Grove and Encino on several reports of suspicious subjects, possibly casing for burglary. An Officer spotted one of the teens walking down a residential driveway with property in hand. The teen saw the Officer, dropped the property and took off. The area was quickly contained by other assisting Officers and two subjects were detained. A residential burglary was discovered at the home where the first teen was seen. A 15 year old male and a 16 year old male, both from Monrovia, were arrested for residential burglary.

As a precaution, nearby Camino Grove School was placed on lock down for approximately 35 minutes while Officers searched for the subjects. This is common practice when there is police activity in close proximity to any of our local schools.

There have been other recent burglaries reported in the south-east end of town. It is unknown if the burglaries are related. Anyone with information on the recent residential burgs is asked to call Arcadia Police Detectives at (626) 574-5160.

Celebrate Halloween Safely!

Have a festive Halloween and remember to watch out for all the ghosts and goblins roaming our neighborhoods tonight. Drive safely and always remember to not Drink and Drive.

Don't forget to check out this week's Tuesday Tip on Halloween safety and here are some last minute tips from SilentWitness.org (Phoenix AZ);

Plane Debris Falls from Sky

Shortly before 3:00 PM on Thursday, October 16th, school children at Highland Oaks Elementary School in north Arcadia were surprised to see a piece of sheet metal fall from the sky. The piece of metal landed on the soccer field at the school and no one was injured. The children immediately reported the incident to teachers and APD was called. Officers found that the approximately 2’ x 2’ piece of lightweight metal had possibly fallen from a passing plane. The item was removed by Officers and the FAA was notified. The FAA is conducting an investigation into the incident and believes that the piece of metal came loose from a plane which flew out of Brackett Field in Pomona.

Downtown Auto Burglaries

Thieves burglarized three autos during the evening hours Tuesday night in the downtown area. One victim was parked at the 24 Hour Fitness on First Avenue and the other two were in the Outback Restaurant parking lot on East Huntington Drive. Two of the crimes were reported around 9:00 PM Tuesday night. The third victim filed a late report today.

Freeway Traffic Snarled Twice

Eastbound traffic on the IS 210, west of Santa Anita Avenue was backed up this morning about 8:00 AM with a crash involving a charter bus according to the Tribune. Pictured above is a semi trailer that caught fire later in the day, westbound on the freeway at Santa Anita. The trailer had been carrying construction debris. Arcadia and Monrovia Fire Departments made short work of the fire, dousing it with water. Link to the Arcadia Weekly for additional photos from Terry Miller, HERE.

Tuesday Tip - Safe Halloween Fun

Keeping our children safe is always a priority. Halloween is a time for fun but parents need to make sure that our kids not only enjoy the night, but are safe in their ghoulish travels. Here are a few links to sites with Safe Trick or Treating Tips;

• Children's Safety Zone


• The Friday Zone


• Halloween Safety Guide

Aside from safety tips, here is some local fun for your Trick or Treaters;

Halloween Fun for Kids
Arcadia Community Center
Friday, October 31 • 4:30 - 6:30pm

Join us for our fifth annual Haunted Halloween event! Elementary school students can roam the haunted hallways of the Community Center and enjoy activities like the Eewey Gooey Room, Scary Crafts and a Costume Contest. Trick-or-Treating and Goblin Games will also be featured. Due to the popularity of Halloween Happenings and the extension of Daylight Savings Time, we will be expanding the event to include outdoor activities. This event is free of charge and open to the public.

Successful Breeders' Cup 2008

Breeders’ Cup came and went this past weekend at Santa Anita Park seeing an influx of thousands of patrons to the track and City. Actual attendance was not quite what was expected but a full house none the less. Arcadia Police Officers, along with many allied agencies, were present and lead a coordinated Law Enforcement response to the event. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, the Los Angeles Police Department, Federal Bureau of Investigations, US Customs, Department of Homeland Security, the Pasadena Police Department, the West Covina Police Department, Foothill Special Enforcement Team, and Santa Anita Race Track Security/Operations, all provided logistical, manpower or equipment support to APD. Breeders’ Cup ran smoothly from the law enforcement perspective thanks to the cooperative effort of all personnel involved.

Closing Day at Santa Anita, Oak Tree Ends Today

South End Residential Burglaries

Four residential burglaries were reported yesterday. Three of the burgs occurred at residences south of Duarte Road and east of Santa Anita Avenue. The three south end burglaries were committed during daytime hours and appear to be similar in nature based on proximity and time frame. It is unknown if the burglaries are related. The locations of occurrence were in the 600 blk Beverly Drive, the 1100 blk Encino Avenue and the 2200 blk South Eighth Avenue.

Copper Wire Theft

Thieves made off with a large amount of copper wire "runs" from an AT&T storage unit in South Arcadia. Sometime during the course of the last month, the suspect(s) gained entry to the unit by unknown means and took spools of wire and also cut portions of wire from the wall. The wire can be sold as scrap for profit. The crime was reported earlier today. Wire theft seems to be a growing trend in the SGV. The Tribune just ran a story on the theft of wire from a local little league field as well as a story on the conviction of a man for wire theft.

Breeders' Cup This Weekend!

Santa Anita Race Track will be hosting the Breeders' Cup this weekend. Breeder’s Cup races will be run on both Friday and Saturday, October 24th and 25th. Refer the Santa Anita website for post hours and general information. Traffic flow in the area will be heavier than normal due to the crowds. Please allow yourself extra time if travelling in the City this weekend. Overflow parking for the event will be directed to the LA Co. Park if needed. The only planned road closure will be Colorado Place between Colorado Boulevard and Huntington Drive, each day from about 3:30 PM till 6:30 PM. Gates to the parking lots may be intermittently closed due to traffic flow, but Officers will be on hand to direct traffic as efficiently as possible.

Closing day for the Oak Tree Meet is Sunday, October 26th, and may also draw heavier crowds and traffic to the area. Please be patient with traffic and help the City welcome the 2008 Breeders' Cup to Santa Anita Race Track.

45 Day Moratorium on Massage Therapist Apps

The Arcadia City Council enacted a 45-day moratorium for any new licensing for massage therapy businesses or for individual massage therapists at the Tuesday night meeting yesterday. This moratorium may be extended past the 45 days if the City needs further time to study the issue and for City staff to present a new comprehensive plan to regulate such businesses. City staff is considering new regulations and safeguards for massage therapy businesses that will make it very difficult for illegitimate “therapists” or businesses from obtaining a license to operate.

UPDATE: Since the original post, our Police Chief Bob Sanderson conducted an interview with KABC7 which can be viewed HERE. The interview was aired on October 24th. There is also a fairly detailed article in the LA Times that gives additional information on the topic.

Grand Theft, Sign of the Times of Just Thievery?

Shortly before 8:00 PM, Sunday night, a male and female suspect gathered in excess $900 worth of items in a basket at the Ralph's Grocery in the 1100 blk W. Huntington Drive. The pair exited the store without making even an attempt to pay for the goods. The 20 year old female from Los Angeles was detained but the male half eluded security. The female suspect was arrested for grand theft.

Auto Burglary Arrests

Early Sunday morning, a resident reported hearing banging noises coming from a neighbor's driveway in the 500 blk Altura. Officers found two males lurking in the area and discovered that there was an attempted auto burglary at the location. Three other vehicles had been found with thefts just up the block. A 25 year old parolee from Monrovia and a 27 year old San Gabriel man were arrested for auto burglary.

Tuesday Tip - "Stop on Red, Kids Ahead"

National School Bus Safety Week runs this week, October 20th - 24th. We will take the opportunity to run a modified version of a previous post, reminding everyone to stop for school bus red lights. The original post ran in May.

School buses are equipped with flashing red lights that are activated when loading or unloading pupils. California law requires that drivers approaching from either side of the bus, must stop and remain stopped while the red lights and stop arms are activated. The only exceptions to the law come into play when the bus is stopped on a roadway with multiple lanes and a divided highway or a raised center divider. If you are approaching from the opposite direction and on the opposite side of the road from the bus, you may proceed. This section, CVC 22454, also applies to private roads.

This law was created for the safety of our students. It is imperative that drivers yield and stop for buses with red lights on. School bus drivers are required to assist pupils when crossing in front of the bus and may appear at any time. Be aware of pedestrians and watch our for darting kids!

Preventing Identity Theft on Your PC

Yahoo Finance recently ran an article written by Consumer Reports that outlines some basic information on protecting yourself from Identity Theft while on the computer. Take a look at the seven points that are outlined in the article. Excellent tips and reminders to help keep your personal information at home.

Tuesday Tip - Mature Drivers

When collisions or other traffic incidents occur involving a "mature driver", questions are often raised that ask whether or not the person should still be driving. Family members or friends sometimes take this a step further and ask what they can do to help or even how can they take the license away. There is no easy answer.

Officers in the field have the ability to require a driver to participate in a "reevaluation" with the DMV. If an Officer observes that the driver lacks ability, is physically incapable or is displaying signs that their driving is unsafe, the Officer can refer any driver, not just an older driver, to DMV. However, family members, a friend or neighbor can also contact DMV with their concerns. You may write a letter to DMV describing why you believe that a driver is no longer capable of driving safely. This action could initiate a reevaluation as well. Under certain medical conditions, a physician is also required to submit information to DMV.

The best step for anyone with a concern about a friend or loved one's driving is to become involved. The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) has information on the topic and links to pamphlets that can be downloaded. Another great resource is AARP. The AARP website has a page dedicated to driver safety which includes a link to warning signs, information on classes, a driver safety IQ test, and other information applicable to the topic.

Take a look at these references. Gather information and knowledge on the topic and get involved. Deciding when not to drive is a tough choice and hard to breach with a loved one. Reasons for driving such as independence or even the simple desire to continue driving, need to be weighed against the probability of the driver injuring themselves or even worse, someone else.

Wildfire Mutual Aid

Officers from throughout the San Gabriel Valley gathered at APD tonight preparing for mutual aid assignments with LAPD and LASD as part of the Law Enforcement "Area D" Mutual Aid. The mutual aid response was activated to assist with the Marek, Sesnon and Porter Ranch fires. Mutual aid agencies typically dedicate a portion of their forces when called upon in emergencies.

Arcadia PD Adds to Ranks

Chief Bob Sanderson proudly introduced two "new" Officers to the APD family today during a swearing in ceremony at the Arcadia City Council Chambers. City Clerk Jim Barrows delivers the oath of office to Officer Joel Ibarra and Reserve Officer Lisa Hogue in the above photo. Joel has been a Reserve Police Officer with APD for about 19 years. He recently updated his training and qualified to become a full time Officer. Lisa has been a Volunteer in our Mounted Enforcement Unit(AMET) for two years and becomes the first Reserve Officer assigned to AMET. Lisa took the initiative to attend the Rio Hondo Police Academy Reserve Program on her own time in order to be appointed a Reserve Police Officer. Lisa is the first Reserve appointed to the Mounted Unit since the 1970's.

Fatal Auto/Pedestrian Collision

At about 11:41 AM, October 8, 2008, Officers responded to the intersection of Duarte Road and Golden West Avenue in West Arcadia on report of a pedestrian involved collision. On arrival, Officers located an injured male victim in the roadway and the driver of the striking vehicle at the scene. AFD Paramedics arrived and rendered first aid to the victim who was transported to a local hospital. The pedestrian succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at the hospital a short time later.

The pedestrian was apparently struck in the crosswalk by a vehicle making a left turn at the intersection. The male victim was an 83 year old resident of Arcadia and the driver is an 88 year old male resident of San Gabriel. The driver was interviewed and not arrested or issued a citation at the time. The investigation is continuing.

The photo above shows Officers conducting a portion of the investigation at the scene. Duarte Road, east of Golden West was shut down to thru traffic for about two hours.

Red Ribbon Week 2008

Red Ribbon Week will run in Arcadia from October 20st-27th, 2008. Red Ribbon Week began in remembrance of DEA Agent Enrique Camarena who was kidnapped and murdered in Mexico in 1985. Agent Camarena had been working undercover for the DEA and was key in developing information that led to the eradication of large scale narcotics manufacturing operations in Mexico. Mexican cartel leaders sought revenge for these operations, murdering alleged informants and ultimately Agent Camarena. The Red Ribbon Coalition website gives a well written summary of the history of Red Ribbon Week and offers an excellent tribute to slain DEA Agent "Kiki" Enrique Camarena.

Following his death, in Agent Camarena's home town, Calexico, CA, the public outpouring of support turned in to an organized community response in which citizens dawned red ribbons. They became a voice for prevention in order to reduce the demand for illegal drugs and use of drugs in America. The following year the California State PTA adopted the Red Ribbon Campaign. Then, in 1988, Red Ribbon Week was recognized nationally with President Ronald and First Lady Nancy Reagan serving as the Honorary Chairs.

Today, the Red Ribbon Celebration brings millions of people together to raise awareness regarding the need for alcohol, tobacco and other drug and violence prevention, early intervention, and treatment services. It is the largest, most visible prevention awareness campaign observed annually in the United States.

Tuesday Tip - Being Safe at Home

A topic that is important to all of us is knowing that we are safe in our homes. There are plenty of businesses, organizations and websites that offer burglary prevention tips for while you are gone, but what about some simple steps to help ensure your personal safety while at home? What do you do when someone knocks at your door? What should you do if you see someone suspicious in your neighborhood? Do you lock your front door when working in the back yard? Is the person at your door really a legitimate service employee?

Here are some quick thoughts on staying safe while at home:


· Don’t just answer your door. Use peep holes or sidelight windows to see who is at the door. Ask, “Who’s there?” Challenge anyone you don’t recognize as to who they are and what their business is. Take a look out your window. Is there a marked service vehicle, a police car, UPS, or vehicle you recognize?
· If you contact the caller, always ask for work ID if you are not positive of who they are.
· Keep your front door locked, especially if you are upstairs, outback or in another portion of the house. Unlocked doors are an invitation to trouble.
· Keep garages closed. An open garage is an invitation for theft.
· Close and lock windows at night, or at least use a window stop to limit the opening.
· If you have a cordless phone, keep it with you.
· Know your neighbors and your neighborhood. Be familiar with faces and cars. If you see someone in the area that is acting suspicious, on your property or someone else’s, give your local police a call right away.
· Look around as you pull into your driveway or walk outside. Be aware of who and what is around you.

Suspects look for victims. Suspects look for a weakness, an opening, an easy target. Some will try and scam or trick you in to allowing them entrance to your home. Make things as difficult as possible. Do use common sense and be proactive about your own and your family’s safety.

"A Look Back" - 1932 APD

This photo comes courtesy of former APD Sergeant Paul Tulleners and depicts a group of Officers in front of the Wheeler Station in 1932. Paul has identified the Officers by name. As noted in the previous post, Paul has loaned his 1935 HD Police Motorcycle to APD, along with old photo collages and historical information about APD.

1935 Harley-Davidson Police Motorcycle

Former Arcadia Police Sergeant Paul Tulleners has loaned the Arcadia Police Department his pride and joy; a 1935 Harley-Davidson Police Motorcycle. This motorcycle was believed to have been in service at our department from 1935 to 1939. It was bought at auction in 1939 and was kept in storage until the 1960’s when Paul purchased it and restored it to its current condition. Paul worked at APD from 1965 to 1973 when he left to pursue a career with the Department of Justice. The motorcycle, along with many old photos and documentation, is on display in the atrium of APD.

Composite vs. Reality; Crime Spree Suspect

Take a look for yourself. 26 year old Anthony Hislar was arrested in connection with the one man "Crime Spree" that wound through LA and Orange counties. This likeness, created after interview with some of the victims, is just one tool used to seek out Hislar. Here are a small batch of stories that have been aired since the events began to unfold;

KABC7 (video)

San Gabriel Valley Tribune and HERE

APOA Blog

LA Times and HERE (video)

KCBS2 (video)

Pomona PD Reaches Out to Community; "PPD 10-FIVE" on YouTube

Earlier this summer, Pomona PD took a step forward in the Law Enforcement world by reaching out to the community via the Internet. They have a batch of videos on the Department's YouTube site that give a look inside PPD. Take a look at Chief Joe Romero's introduction to PPD 10-FIVE. This is a great way to touch the community and share information.

Wanted - Commercial Burglary

On 9/20/08, at approximately 5:35 AM, a witness heard the sound of breaking glass from the area of MD Audio, located at 25 Las Tunas. The witness saw a newer black SUV parked directly in front of MD Audio. The witness then observed two suspects exit the front shattered door carrying boxes. The suspects loaded the boxes in the cargo area of the SUV, got into the front of the vehicle which fled the scene, west bound on Las Tunas.

Suspect 1: Driver, M/W, tan skin, short dark brown hair, unshaven, 508, wearing a dark shirt and dark pants, NFD.

Suspect 2: Passenger, W/M, tan skin, grey “golfers” style hat, 5-08 wearing a long sleeve white shirt and dark pants, NFD.

Vehicle: Newer black SUV.

Any information or questions, call Det. Hernandez at 626- 574-5168. Case No 08-4791.

APOA Lends a Hand

On September 24th, Teresa Barrera parked her vehicle on the street, outside an elementary school in south Arcadia. Teresa locked her car and entered the school for only a moment. Teresa returned to find her car burglarized. The thieves made off with her purse and contents. Since the burglary, Teresa also learned that she has been victimized through fraudulent use of her name and credit information.

During follow-up investigation, one of our Investigators and APOA Vice-President, Mike Hale, learned that Teresa’s purse held a Nintendo game belonging to Teresa’s six year old daughter, Jasmine. He also found out that Teresa is a single mom working toward obtaining her teacher’s assistant certificate through Pasadena City College. Teresa is unemployed and had saved for quite some time in order to purchase the game for her daughter. After the theft, Jasmine was heartbroken and told her mom that she could not understand why someone would do such a thing to their family.

The APOA Board heard of the incident and decided to lend a hand. The APOA has purchased a Nintendo Game, a carrying purse and two new games for Jasmine. Teresa, Jasmine and younger sister, Tatiana, came to the Department today to meet with APOA President Troy Hernandez and VP Mike Hale. Jasmine was given her new game and Teresa was presented with a $250 gift certificate to Ralph’s Grocery to help as well. This was a nice surprise for both of them.

Pictured above are Jasmine and Tatiana with Troy and Mike behind.

UPDATE: Terry Miller from the Arcadia Weekly and Robert Hong from the San Gabriel Valley Tribune were kind enough to cover the story as well. Take a look on their links.

Mary Jane Goes to Lunch

This sort of story does not warrant much attention on watch logs, but this incident jumps out as one for the lack of common sense files;

A local municipal worker goes on a lunch break yesterday and ventures to a shady spot in an Arcadia residential neighborhood. The worker parks their truck and decides to "mellow out" with their friend, "Mary Jane." The worker becomes so relaxed that they lay back in the truck and as one Officer put it, "languidly dangled" their bare foot out the window. An Officer stops to check on the hanging foot and surprises the subject, interrupting their moment of relaxation. Needless to say, the worker left slightly less relaxed and with a citation.

Armed Robbery Near Bowling Square

Two suspects confronted our victim in the parking lot of Bowling Square in the 1000 blk of South Baldwin Avenue shortly before 9:00 PM on Monday night, September 29th. One suspect was armed with a handgun and demanded money and a phone from the victim. Both suspects were described as male Hispanics, 20 years, wearing dark clothing. The suspects fled on foot.

Crime Spree Suspect In Custody!

Anthony Hislar, a 26 year old who has bedded down in Ventura, Orange and LA Counties over the years, was taken into custody on a burglary warrant after exiting Disneyland in Anaheim on Wednesday, September 24th. Hislar is suspected in a series of crimes that wound from Azusa, through Arcadia and into Rosemead. Hislar leaves quite the trail behind him, not only in recent days, but in recent years. A quick web search reveals news reports of arrests dating back to 2005 and 2001. Based on Hislar's behavior, once he was identified, there was an obvious need to get him off the streets. Investigators continued to gather evidence in this series of crimes and utilized the existing warrant to arrest Hislar and put an end to his activity. Detectives from each of the involved agencies have worked together in a great demonstration of teamwork; Los Angeles County Sheriff - Temple Station, Arcadia PD, Azusa PD and other allied agencies continue to participate in the investigation.

Tuesday Tip - Tailgating

Following Too Closely is the technical phrase for Tailgating. Unfortunately, it is a term that is all too often used in collision reports as the “Primary Collision Factor”. Maintaining distance between vehicles while driving is one main key in preventing collisions. Even the best driver, with great reaction time, still takes a moment to perceive the need to slow or stop, and then apply the vehicle brakes.

Increasing following distance between vehicles increases our ability to perceive a problem, apply brakes if needed or take some other evasive action. Time and distance is your friend when it comes to speed. As a young driver, you are taught about the Three Second Rule. Sometimes we forget this one important piece of advice. But maintaining a following distance of three seconds between vehicles will definitely increase your ability to avoid a rear end collision. An alternate recommendation is to maintain a following distance of one car length per 10 mph while driving. So, if you are driving 65 mph on the freeway, you should be about 6-7 car lengths behind the vehicle in front of you.

Don’t become overconfident, either in your ability as a driver or in your vehicle. Remember the basic rules and greatly increase your chance to avoid a collision. Think about this; tailgating the car in front of you is not going to "push" them out of the way or down the road. Your disregard for safe following distance will only increase your chances of causing a collision. Take a breath, take your time and we'll all get there in one piece.

Tuesday Tip (Friday Edition) "Do Not Hesitate to Call the Police"

An article was recently posted on the City and Department website that contains some great information. Click on the title below to view the entire article. Here is a brief excerpt;

Do Not Hesitate to Call the Police

In recent months, there has been an increase in residential burglaries in
our community. In most cases, a residential burglary begins with some type
of suspicious activity within a neighborhood, often in broad daylight.
This activity may range from unknown vehicles perusing the area, to
individuals going door to door, determining whether or not residents are
home. These individuals will most likely have a driver waiting for
them, for a quick getaway in case someone begins to question their
actions. Many times, after burglaries have occurred and after suspects
have escaped, our reports indicate that at least one resident in the
immediate area did in fact witness this, or some other type of activity prior to
the crime, but for some reason, did not think more of it, or simply did not want
to inconvenience the police.

Car Thieves Beware!

The Arcadia Police Department began using a new tool in combating crimes and wants associated with vehicles this week. The Department has purchased four, mobile based, automated license plate reader (ALPR) systems that are installed on patrol units. The system is manufactured by Federal Signal/PIPS Technology and is currently in use in many other agencies.

Simply speaking, cameras on the police unit read license plates on vehicles and then compare the plates read to those listed on a computer database. The vehicle and plate are also photographed. If there is a “hit” on the plate, such as a felony want or stolen vehicle, the PIPS system alerts the Officer who can then take action. If there is no hit, the vehicle information is stored in the database. The cameras work in daylight and darkness as they are equipped with infrared (IR) readers as well.

In addition to the use of this technology for recovering stolen vehicles and reducing auto theft, the system can be used to recover vehicles with excessive parking violations and as an investigative database as well. Investigators can conduct many different searches for suspect vehicles by use of the information collected by the PIPS system.

This is a great tool and will no doubt positively impact our ability to investigate all crimes involving use of a vehicle.

Santa Anita Canyon Road Closure

Santa Anita Canyon Road is scheduled for Gate/Road Closure from September 22, 2008 to October 10, 2007, on weekdays, from 7:00 am to 4:00 pm. Weekends will remain open. Emergency vehicles will be accommodated at all times. People with a gate key will also be accommodated, but should expect a delay. The City of Arcadia will be repairing a storm drain, requiring the roadway to be closed.

Tuesday Tip - Leave the Car at Home!

Aside from the obvious reasons; helping to maintain your health by walking, saving fuel and reducing your monthly and ever increasing gas bill, pumping less pollutants into our air...there is a great reason coming up in October to leave your car at home; California's Walk to School Week, October 6th - 10th, 2008. The designated Walk to School Day is Wednesday, October 8th.

Highland Oaks Elementary School in Arcadia has participated in this event for years. The PTA and School Administration encourages the entire student body to walk with their parents, not just this day, but throughout the school year. They have even offered prizes and incentives for the kids to participate. On the designated Walk to School Day, Highland Oaks even has arranged "guest" crossing guards that are stationed at various intersections heading toward the school. Some of the guests have included City Council Members, City Staff, Fire Fighters, Police Officers, and of course, parents. Kudos to Highland Oaks for their efforts and in setting the example for our kids!

Check with your local school and see if they have plans on participating in the California Walk to School Week! If not, maybe you can spearhead the event. Check the Walk to School website for resources and additional information.