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.