El Monte News, CA Local News

Protesters Demand Fair Treatment Of Working Immigrants By El Monte Police

Sun, 14 Feb 2021 03:00:24 +0000

EL MONTE (CBSLA) – Dozens of people gathered outside the El Monte police station Saturday protesting the treatment of the immigrant community by officers.

The group showed support of local food street vendors. People at the rally expressed disappointment in the police officers patrolling these businesses.

“They think they can do anything to the immigrant community who will not fight back because of their status,” said Javier Guerrero, a demonstrator.

The demonstration comes a week after a video went public of an intense physical altercation between owners of a taco stand, police, and inspectors with the Los Angeles County Public Health Department.

“Vendors are a big part of our local culture,” said demonstrator Ian Mancia on Saturday. “These people came from other countries, they speak different languages, they have been through enough.”

In the video, El Monte police officers speak to both owners of Los Palomos taco stand, husband and wife, Fermin Martinez and Sylvia Aguilar.

In the video, a scuffle breaks out between the owners and several officers. The husband and wife are quickly taken to the ground. One officer hits Martinez several times in the arm with a flashlight in the video as officers try to handcuff the couple.

The demonstrators on Saturday added they want to see cities work with vendors to lower permitting fees so that more can do business legitimately.

El Monte Police Department Chief David Reynoso said the demonstrators were peaceful and he will not be releasing a further statement on the rally.

El Monte temporarily prohibiting evictions, lien sales of storage unit tenants

Fri, 12 Feb 2021 16:16:51 +0000

The El Monte City Council agreed to place temporary restrictions on storage unit operators from evicting tenants and selling their property to collect past due rent on Tuesday night, Feb. 2.

The ordinance, which passed unanimously, is temporary and set to expire on July 2. It extends a Los Angeles County ordinance that addresses eviction protection for storage unit renters.

The ordinance adopted by the City Council prohibits storage unit operators from restricting access of renters to stored items, sending tenants notices of lien sales, conducting lien sales, and obligates storage unit tenants to eventually pay fees from the beginning of the adoption of the urgency ordinance by July 2.

Joe Doherty from the National Self Storage Association wrote a letter supporting storage unit operators in El Monte and urging the City Council to not adopt the ordinance. There are four storage unit facilities in operation in the city.

Doherty said in the letter that access restrictions is a way for storage unit operators to secure payment of rent.

Doherty also said in his letter that self storage operators in El Monte were working closely with their patrons to address payment concerns by providing options to vacate spaces or enter payment plans.

Doherty suggested letting storage unit operators enter voluntary agreements with tenants as an alternative to adopting a city ordinance.

Mayor Pro Tem Victoria Martinez Muela said during the council meeting on Tuesday night that she wanted to see the council do something concrete and protect residents who have fallen on hard times during the pandemic. She said some members of the El Monte community contacted her about storage unit operators selling their property when the pandemic started and there were no policies in place to protect them.

“There were actually families that were affected,” she said.

The City Council tabled an item addressing setting a temporary limit on charges and fees imposed by food delivery services, such as DoorDash and Grub Hub, during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The limit on fees and charges is similar to those adopted by Pasadena and Alhambra city councils. It is a civil liability right of action against food delivery services that allows restaurants to seek reimbursement for food delivery services that charge fees that exceed the limit set by the city.

By recommendation of the city attorney’s office, the City Council decided to delay voting on implementing a limit on delivery charges and fees because of changes in state guidelines in regard to restaurant operations. Restaurants are allowed to have on-premise dining, which might affect delivery services.

Mayor Jessica Ancona asked for recommendations from the city attorney’s office about what defined on-premise dining and how it would affect delivery services provided by restaurants.

Councilmember Alma Puente asked how other cities, Pasadena and Alhambra, enforced the fees and charges limits and what El Monte’s plan was to enforce similar limits.

Councilmember Martin Herrera said he wanted a plan that was balanced and fair.

“In light of the fact that the situation is changing, the urgency is not upon us at this moment,” Herrera said. “I think a two-week delay to carefully consider more public feedback, maybe consulting the other municipalities that have enacted this ordinance, if at this point that they have any feedback they can offer us.

“I think we would be remiss if we didn’t take the time to carefully looking at it again.”

Ancona asked for the city attorney’s office for more information and to fine tune the item to prepare it for the next City Council meeting on Feb. 16.

Fallout Continues After Violent Encounter Between Health Inspectors, Police, El Monte Street Vendors

Tue, 09 Feb 2021 01:57:11 +0000

EL MONTE (CBSLA) — For witnesses like Kristina Sandoval, emotions were still raw Monday — days after a violent encounter between health inspectors, police and two El Monte street vendors.

El Monte Police Department Chief David Reynoso said the altercation was a sudden turn of events after officers and health inspectors had already finished 10 visits that day without incident. (Credit: Los Palomos)

“You don’t care, why,” she said. “Because we’re Mexicans, or maybe you think we’re in the wrong for selling in the street?”

Cell phone video of the encounter shows the moment the conversation turned to confrontation Saturday night. As things escalated to a physical altercation, all parties involved fell to the ground.

But what exactly the video shows depends on who is asked.

On one hand, Fermin Martinez, the owner of Los Palomos Taco Stand, said in Spanish that he did not strike anyone in the confrontation.

“Never at any moment did I hit anyone,” he said. “I didn’t hit him.”

On the other hand, El Monte Police Department Chief David Reynoso said the man did physically assault health inspectors and an officer.

“He did kick one of the health inspectors,” he said. “Also kicked an officer and, at one point, even reached for the officer’s taser.”

In the video, Martinez appeared to reach for an officer’s belt line, but it was not immediately clear what, if anything, he was reaching for.

Reynoso said the altercation was a sudden turn of events after officers and health inspectors had already finished 10 visits that day without incident.

According to Reynoso, it was Martinez’s wife who got physical with one of the agents first, which led to a call for backup and then the altercation where police said she kept kicking — even after she was handcuffed.

“That’s a lie,” Sandoval said. “If you’re gonna trust the police report of a video of the situation, that’s a lie.”

Sandoval, who runs a dessert stand connected to Los Polomos, said the health department has been harassing them. She said if the owners got physical, it was only to protect themselves.

“We are the stand that gets [visited] by the health department five times a day, seven times a week,” she said. “Every day they have been coming, we don’t know when this is gonna stop.”

Martinez has been charged with assault on a police officer and resisting a police officer during the course of their duties. His wife, Sylvia Aguilar, has been charged with resisting a police officer during the course of their duties and assault.

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health said the inspectors were investigating reports of food vendors operating without permits.

Police said Martinez apologized to them in person for losing his temper and even wrote an apology to the officer he allegedly kicked.

El Monte street vendors get into scuffle with police, 2 arrested

Mon, 08 Feb 2021 18:08:27 +0000

An inspection of El Monte street vendors over the weekend turned violent and led to police arresting one vendor for allegedly kicking a health inspector and an officer, authorities said.

They also took the man’s partner into custody on suspicion of intervening in the arrest.

El Monte police said an officer used force during the arrest of the man on Saturday, Feb. 6, but declined to say what the officer did. However, a cellphone video posted by KCAL9 shows an officer hitting the man in the arm with a flashlight.

“The Police Department has started an inquiry into the actions of all involved parties and will bereviewing body-cam video along with videos that have been posted on social media,” the agency said in a statement. “We encourage witnesses … to contact the Police Department.”

Fermin Martinez, 30, of Los Angeles was arrested on suspicion of assault on a police officer and resisting an officer in the course of duty, El Monte police Lt. Peter Rasic said. Sylvia Aguilar, 37, of Los Angeles was arrested on suspicion of resisting an officer in the course of duty and for trying to free Martinez from police custody.

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health was investigating complaints on Saturday of street vendors selling without permits in El Monte.

The city’s code-enforcement team and police were assisting, El Monte Police Chief Dave Reynoso said, adding police have assisted health inspectors before.

About 10 locations had been inspected before the health inspectors, code enforcement and police showed up at a food stand near Valley Boulevard and Garvey Avenue around 8:30 p.m.

The man and woman were running a taco stand, with a tent and table, with police saying one of them and a health inspector got “involved in an altercation that escalated.”

The vendor became aggressive and physical with the inspectors and law enforcement, according to a statement from Public Health: “One inspector was kicked by one of the food operators while being arrested and was treated on-scene.”

Health officials said they did not have a permit.

“There are a lot of taco stands around and they don’t bother anyone else but us. So that’s what I wanted to know,” Martinez told KCAL9 on Sunday in Spanish, which the station translated. “But then they started to hit me, and they threw me on the floor and hit me many times in the head.”

Aguilar, who was identified by the TV station as Martinez’s wife, said her back hurt because they kept kicking her.

Reynoso said police intervened when the suspect assaulted a health inspector.

The suspect kicked an officer in the stomach, Reynoso said. While officers were trying to arrest the man, Reynoso said, the man grabbed an officer’s Taser. The chief said the woman tried to kick an officer and pull the man away from police.

Cellphone videos posted online show officers taking the couple to the ground. One shows the handcuffed woman kick at someone as an officer is leading her away.

While being booked, Reynoso said, Martinez was cooperative, and he apologized for his actions and said he lost his temper. He posted bond and was released Sunday, booking records show. Aguilar was cited and released on Sunday, police said.

2 El Monte street vendors arrested after compliance check turns violent: Officials

Mon, 08 Feb 2021 01:10:02 +0000

Two street vendors in El Monte were arrested Saturday after a county compliance check turned violent, officials reported.

The Los Angeles County Health Department said several complaints about unpermitted "pop-up" food vending at Valley Boulevard and Mountain View Road were reported. At about 8:30 p.m. Saturday, health inspectors and the El Monte Police Department's code enforcement went to the location for a compliance check.

"During the complaint investigation, the unpermitted food operators at this location became aggressive and physical with the inspectors and law enforcement, which resulted in multiple arrests," county officials told KTLA in a statement. "One inspector was kicked by one of the food operators while being arrested and was treated on scene. No other inspectors were hurt."

Police said officers got involved when the altercation between the vendor and a county health officer escalated.

"El Monte Police Officers intervened and were assaulted by a vendor which resulted in a police use of force," El Monte Police Chief David Reynoso said in a statement Sunday. "Intervention by El Monte Police was necessary to keep the peace and protect county employees."

It's unclear exactly what prompted the altercation between the vendors, inspectors and law enforcement, but some videos of what transpired appeared on social media.

"The police department has started an inquiry into the actions of all involved parties and will be reviewing Body Cam video along with videos that have been posted on social media," Reynoso said. " We encourage witnesses into last night's events to contact the police department."

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Police said there were no serious injures reported.

Unpermitted food vending is a violation of the California Health and Safety Code.

El Monte offers COVID vaccine appointment assistance, free rides to clinics

Thu, 04 Feb 2021 20:55:49 +0000

Navigating the Los Angeles County online vaccination registration website can be challenging. For seniors, who are eligible for the vaccine, making an appointment online presents some obstacles. Finding a way to drive to the vaccine sites can be equally challenging.

El Monte is offering ways for seniors to find assistance making vaccine appointments and offering free rides to the vaccine site at the Pomona Fairplex Center.

Through the El Monte Community Services Department, a staff is dedicated to help seniors make vaccine appointments and have a way to go to the vaccine sites on the day of their appointments.

“The more resources that we can provide in our city, it’s a benefit,” said El Monte Mayor Pro Tem Victoria Martinez Muela. “We’re an awesome community where we’ve got transportation avenues that other communities don’t have. If we can maximize that and utilize first mile, last mile modes of transportation, getting people there and back, especially during this incredible pandemic, it’s smart policy for us to maximize our resources.”

Salvador Mendez, the El Monte Public Works Director, helped secure funding through the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

The program providing free rides to the vaccination site at the Pomona Fairplex Center is available to seniors 65 and older with a Dial A Ride card.

The El Monte Transportation Division is offering temporary Dial A Ride cards by calling (626) 580-2217. To make an appointment for a ride to the vaccine site, call (626) 307-3224.

“A lot of our seniors either don’t drive or rely on the Dial A Ride service,” said Amber Servin, the El Monte interim Parks and Recreation/Community Services Director. “When this question came up, can Dial A Ride go that far, it is outside of the five-mile radius, we pose this question to the public works director, he was able to obtain approval from MTA to make this a priority to get our seniors to where they need to be vaccinated.”

For those who need assistance making an appointment online for the COVID-19 vaccine, call the El Monte Jack Crippen Senior Center at (626) 580-2210.

“We have four staff members who are assigned to handle any incoming calls or inquiries from our local seniors and our surrounding city’s senior centers,” Servin said. “We take information from the seniors in terms of their birthdate, name, date, address, general information that the vaccine website requires. We continuously try to obtain their vaccination appointments throughout the day.”

The registration assistance and free transportation service is available to residents of El Monte and in neighboring communities in Los Angeles County. To make an appointment for the COVID-19 vaccine, visit the vaccinatelacounty.com website.

“We realized and noticed right off the bat that once the vaccination appointments were going to be done online, unfortunately our seniors either don’t have the technology to enter their own appointments or the patience or the understanding to actually register themselves,” Servin said. “When this became available to our senior population, we went ahead and made sure this became a priority and assigned four staff members with a blessing from the city manager to be solely responsible and dedicated to try and obtain vaccination appointments for our seniors.”

City Councilmember Maria Morales worked with the General Accountability Office and on a project that focused on transportation and senior mobility earlier in her career. She said it was natural for her to think about the mobility issues for some of the seniors in the community.

“There’s some limitations with the use of technology. That’s not to say they don’t know how to, there’s just limitations with the use and access to the technology,” Morales said. “That’s the first barrier. The second barrier is, if I sign up, who’s going to take me? We can’t always assume there is going to be a family member who’s going to be supportive of their mobility needs.”

Martinez Muela said there were some members of the community asking for assistance in signing up for the COVID-19 vaccines and transportation to the vaccine sites.

“Some of them are having trouble signing for the vaccines,” Martinez Muela said. “Things that we wouldn’t think about because we are so technology driven we just pick a phone and we’re plugging in to our Google. That might be an issue for them. For something so important, if we can remove that barrier, it’s an incredible asset for our community.”

El Monte Promise Foundation receives $600,000 grant from California Student Aid Commission

Thu, 04 Feb 2021 20:48:24 +0000

The El Monte Promise Foundation has been helping families get in the habit for saving for college for years. With a grant from the California Student Aid Commission, helping families in El Monte reach their college saving goals became easier.

The organization received a $600,000 grant from the California Student Aid Commission. The money will be used toward teaching and encouraging families in El Monte how to save for college and create a path for students to reach college. The Promise Foundation was one of 11 organizations in the state to receive grant funds.

“The state will help provide funds to nonprofits and other organizations that are doing this work to help students from early ages to help open savings accounts for college,” said El Monte Promise Foundation Executive Director Jennifer Cobian.

The foundation works with students and families to prepare for college by showing them how to set up saving accounts and offering guidance toward applying for college and educating students from as early as kindergarten how to prepare for college.

Cobian said the foundation helps families initiate what can sometimes be difficult conversations about saving for college, especially during a pandemic and with some families struggling to put food on the table and pay for rent.

“What we’re able to do with these grant funds is tell families that if you open an account with a dollar, then we are going to put $100 into your account to get you started,” Cobian said. “What we can do is offer incentives. If they are able to make a deposit, if they can deposit a dollar for six months, then we will put in an additional $25 each month along the way, potentially having an extra $250 in their account. What we hope is that it at least gets parents in the habit of saving. Even though it’s just a small amount now, we know that it can grow over time.”

City Councilmember Maria Morales, who is also on the foundation’s advisory board, said news about the grant is “fantastic.”

“It’s one of those nonprofits that is very dear to my heart,” Morales said. “The El Monte Promise Foundation has been very engaged in making sure students and parents are aware of college opportunities. To receive this grant is phenomenal. Now their message for sure is solidified.”

In addition to offering advice and guidance on how to save for college, the foundation offers ways for students and parents to learn about different programs community colleges, California State Universities, Universities of California and private colleges offer.

“That was one of the core pledges that was made from the beginning of the foundation was that we want to help students in El Monte to be able to create that pathway,” Cobian said. “Some of the other things the foundation did was establish this network between El Monte Union High School District to Rio Hondo Community College to Cal State L.A. to UC Irvine. There’s pathways for students with extra resources, with extra support to help them to get there.”

The foundation provides support and resources for a little more than 400 families in the community. Cobian said with the grant, the foundation will be able to help more families.

“What we’re really hoping to do is double it,” Cobian said. “Among the students within our school districts, there’s a huge capacity to grow. The program started small, when the scholar savings program first started, there were only a few schools as kind of a test to see how it would work and what that would look like. Now we are in all the schools. We’ve been able to lay the foundation. We’re a trusted organization, providing all these services and now we would like to be able to offer these additional funds.”

El Monte selects Victoria Martinez Muela as mayor pro tem

Wed, 03 Feb 2021 19:19:56 +0000

The El Monte City Council voted unanimously to select Victoria Martinez Muela as mayor pro tem on Tuesday night, Feb. 2.

“This is going on my 10th year of service to the city,” said Martinez Muela, who has served in the role previously.

Mayor Jessica Ancona praised Martinez Muela’s “long-standing institutional knowledge,” in an emailed statement.

Council members deadlocked, 2-2, when voting on mayor pro tem last month. Councilmember Maria Morales said she wanted to wait for the City Council to fill a vacant seat on the council before making the decision.

Martin Herrera was chosen to fill the open seat last week. Ancona was elected mayor in November, creating the vacancy. Herrera will fill the remaining two years of Ancona’s term.

“Although I did not see the need to wait an additional month for a fifth councilmember to make this appointment, considering the support was already there, I am happy nonetheless that our newly seated City Council is making strides in moving forward to work together,” Ancona said.

El Monte clergy to host online prayer service in wake of bombing at anti-LGBTQ church

Fri, 29 Jan 2021 09:25:05 +0000

In the wake of the weekend bombing of an El Monte church known for its extremist views and condemnation of same-sex relationships, clergy leaders are planning a prayer service on Saturday, Jan. 30 at 9 a.m. via the city’s Facebook page.

Angela Lee, LifeGroups pastor of the Fellowship Monrovia Church and an organizer of the nondenominational service, said the mission is to “promote healing and wholeness and unity in our community regardless of the faith background.”

“Regardless of somebody’s faith background,” she said, “my hope is that everybody can find solace through the process of prayer.”

No one was injured in the explosion at the First Works Baptist Church, which blew out windows in the building in the early morning hours of Jan. 23. Authorities continued to investigate circumstances surrounding the bombing this week, and as of Thursday evening had announced no arrests or other developments.

The church and its pastor, Bruce Mejia, have spurred protests and allegations of hate speech in the community. The Southern Poverty Law Center, a nonprofit advocacy organization specializing in civil rights litigation, lists the church as an anti-LGBTQ group on its watch list. Mejia has asserted that the government should execute gay people, according to Brian Levin, a San Bernardino-based hate-speech expert.

“As I’ve watched and listened to what’s been brewing in our city. It’s been hard,” said Lee. “It’s been difficult watching a church represent a faith in a way that in my heart and my mind isn’t necessarily congruent with the heart of who Jesus is and what the bible teaches.”

Lee said that, despite First Works’ extremist views, she and others in the community condemn the violent act. “It’s discouraging and disheartening,” she said.

To view the prayer service, visit facebook.com/CityofElMonte. Only members of the clergy and elected officials will be allowed to speak and Facebook comments will be turned off.

Lee said she has invited a number of different places of worship. The First Works Baptist Church has not asked to participate, she said. Mejia said he was not invited.

“There’s no reason for me to go and I wasn’t invited,” Mejia said. “If I were to be invited, I don’t think I would be a popular candidate to pray at the meeting anyway.”

Mejia said the church, which is shut down during the investigation by the FBI and local police, will have services at an undisclosed location on Sunday.

Church members have been meeting remotely and on online platforms. Mejia said he intended to resume services at the El Monte church but did not know when the building would be safe for members to return. City building inspectors have been working on assessing the damage.

A group called Keep El Monte Friendly organized a march and rally at the church on Jan. 17. The group canceled another march after the bombing and has condemned the violent act. The group’s online petition to have the church removed from El Monte has collected more than 15,000 signatures.

“The church has a been a target of protesters because of the horrifying assertion that the government should execute gay people,” Levin said, “especially at a time when we are seeing the LGBTQ community be hit by a string of violent crimes including a record year for transgender homicides.”

But, Levin added, “We don’t combat prejudice with spray paint and bombs.”

Editor’s note: This story was updated to correct Angela Lee’s title.

El Monte man arrested, suspected of South San Gabriel homicide

Thu, 28 Jan 2021 18:30:42 +0000

An El Monte man was arrested on suspicion of a homicide in South San Gabriel near Rosemead, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department reported.

Filipe Sanchez, 30, was arrested on Monday, Jan. 25, during a traffic stop in Baldwin Park on suspicion of the Jan. 18 homicide of 36-year-old Ramon Luis Gomez of Montebello in the 8100 block of Arroyo Drive. Additionally, a 32-year-old woman, who was the driver of the vehicle during the traffic stop, was arrested and later released, the Sheriff’s Department said.

Sanchez was identified as the suspected shooter during the Sheriff’s Department’s investigation. Investigators were able to identify the vehicle, a 2008 Nissan Pathfinder, used by the suspect in the murder, the Sheriff’s Department said.

Sanchez was charged with a single count of murder in Pasadena Superior Court on Wednesday, Jan. 27, according to LASD. He remains in custody on $3,050,000.

Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact LASD’s Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500.

El Monte City Council selects Martin Herrera to fill vacant seat

Wed, 27 Jan 2021 19:35:01 +0000

The El Monte City Council voted 3-1 to choose Martin Herrera, an Army veteran who is experienced in city government and a leader in the LGBTQ community, to fill the vacant seat on the council on Tuesday night, Jan. 26..

Herrera, 49, said he saw an opportunity to serve his community and was eager to be considered to be part of the El Monte City Council.

“I just felt like in light of the pandemic that’s going on and all of this tumultuous time for so many people here in the community, it felt like an-all-hands-on-deck moment for people to step up and serve the community,” Herrera said.

The seat on the City Council opened when Jessica Ancona was elected mayor of El Monte in November. Herrera will serve the remaining two years of Ancona’s term.

Herrera is a veteran of the U.S.Army, where he served as a combat medic. He joined in 1996 and was honorably discharged in 1997 after he was injured in training.

He worked as an emergency medical technician with an ambulance company in San Antonio, Texas, before moving back to Southern California in 2015.

While in San Antonio, he was president of Unity Foundation, an LGBTQ nonprofit organization, and served on the San Antonio Transportation Advisory Board and River Authority’s Westside Creeks Restoration Oversight Committee.

“You have to be a collaborator,” Herrera said. “There is no one person that does it all. Council has their role and their authority comes to them from the voters, people in the community. There needs to be a touch with the community. We all want a better quality of life for ourselves, we get hung up on the means: How do we get there?”

Herrera said he has a responsibility to give back the community and he felt the time was right to join the City Council.

“Councilmember Herrera’s commitment to our country as a veteran and his experience working in economic development in local government is a great asset to our leadership team,” Ancona said in an emailed statement.

Herrera volunteered to work on the Greater Los Angeles Homeless Count effort and is the board secretary for San Gabriel Pride, Inc., an organization dedicated to education and raising awareness about lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender culture.

“The purpose is to create an awareness to people who are outside of our community,” Herrera said. “That is an element of it. But really, the most important aspect is to be available to people who are in our community but are hiding. It’s really about people who are struggling to have something to latch on to, somewhere to go, somewhere to make friends. It’s about making that connection.”

Herrera earned an associate of arts degree in political science and behavioral sciences from Pasadena City College and is a student at California State University, Los Angeles studying political science and public administration.

“I’m super happy that he’s going to come on board,” El Monte Mayor Pro Tem Maria Morales said. “His application was very thorough. He provided a lot of great comments. I am looking forward to working with him.”

Morales was the lone dissenting vote for Herrera to be appointed. She supported Amy Wong, an El Monte Planning Commissioner and a program specialist for Active SGV.

“His application focused on campaign finance reform, district elections, working with staff,” Morales said. “No doubt, he brought in some great ideas. But I wanted to make sure we had representation from our API (Asian Pacific Island) community. Amy was just an amazing applicant, highly qualified.”

“He’s a good communicator,” said Councilmember Alma Puente. “He talked about collaboration with staff as well which I think is instrumental to being a respected leader and a member of the council.”

By appointing Herrera to fill the vacant seat, the City Council avoided a special election.

“The best thing for the community was for the council to work together to appoint a new council member and avoid spending over $300,000 on a special election, a cost our budget cannot afford to incur,” Ancona said.

Morales said that with a full council, she is ready to guide the city through the pandemic and improve the health of the community.

“We have some major issues going on,” Morales said. “This pandemic is definitely reflecting the needs that we have and they are magnified more so now. We’re ready. Now that we have a full council, let’s go. Let’s move that agenda.”

Morales said she was also encouraged by the number of people who applied for the open seat and would like to see them stay involved.

“No doubt, it was a difficult decision to make,” Morales said. “I really felt humbled to see that there were 10 brave leaders in our community and put themselves out there.”

El Monte City School District receives Honor Roll awards

Tue, 26 Jan 2021 15:43:56 +0000

All six schools in the El Monte City School District received recognition on the Educational Results Partnership Honor Roll list.

Cleminson, Durfee, Gidley, LeGore, Rio Vista, and Frank Wright schools were recognized by the ERP for their high level of student academic achievement, academic improvement and reduction in achievement gaps, according to a release from the El Monte City School District.

“It’s so wonderful to see our schools listed on ERP’s Honor Roll,” said Superintendent Maribel Garcia. “It’s a testament to the dedicated work our students, teachers, staff, and community have put not only into educational practices, but into each other.”

The ERP, a data science organization, recognizes schools with high performance in math and science. It is sponsored by the Campaign for Business and Education Excellence.

Four of the six El Monte City School District campuses are California Distinguished and Honor Roll award winners. Cleminson, Durfee, LeGore and Wright have California Distinguished awards and dual honors.

“At Frank Wright, we have a wonderful staff that is dedicated not just to their practice, but to the families we serve,” Frank Wright Principal Monica Munoz-Keough said. “Many of our staff are Frank Wright alumni or have attended El Monte Schools as youth.”

The El Monte City School District has been a pioneer in data-driven instruction. Members of the school district were invited to speak at the California School Boards Association’s Annual Education Conference in December to present their teacher-collaboration models to fellow educators. Garcia, Assistant Superintendent Virginia Castro and board member Jennifer Cobian were the presenters.

“We’re deeply invested in our educational practices and constantly searching for new ways to support our staff and students to create a successful educational environment,” Garcia said.

Munoz-Keough said she wants the community to share in the excitement the school district has for the honor and recognition.

“I want our families to feel that these accolades are as much theirs as they are the students’ and teachers’,” she said.

Visit the ERP Honor Roll website to view the full list and the most recent data.

FBI, LASD bomb squad recover pieces of device that exploded at El Monte church

Mon, 25 Jan 2021 18:04:06 +0000

FBI recovery teams aided by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department bomb squad wrapped up work securing an El Monte church and scouring the area for evidence after an explosive device was set off there Saturday, officials said Monday.

Now the investigation turns to figuring out who set off the bomb at First Works Baptist Church, and why.

Laura Eimiller, an FBI spokeswoman, said agents specializing in identifying how bombs go off and collecting evidence they might leave behind were able to complete their work on Saturday.

“Typically what they’ll do in some cases is reconstructing the blast to identify a certain type of signature for the device that will inform their investigation,” she said.

Eimiller confirmed bomb technicians recovered pieces of a device from the blast location and took them back to be analyzed on Saturday, though she would not say what kind of device it was.

An FBI training video describes how studying explosions can help agents recognize their footprints in the field.

Agents can’t determine if a blast “was a chemical explosion, if it was a powder explosion, if it was a high explosive,” an FBI instructor says.

For now, however, the bomb scene has been turned back over to the El Monte Police Department. A spokesman for the department was not immediately available for comment on Monday.

Bruce Mejia, the church’s pastor, said Saturday that despite the bombing he would return to the building on Tyler Avenue as soon as possible, and would continue holding services in the meantime. In a sermon Sunday, the location of which was unclear, Mejia said he would have returned that day, but the building was “red-taped.”

Mejia did not return a request for comment on Monday. The pastor has drawn intense criticism for anti-gay sermons, including ones in which he called for executions of gay and lesbian people, and whose church has been listed on the Southern Poverty Law Center’s lists of anti-LGBTQ groups.

Mejia was upbeat in the video posted Sunday, calling the bombing, “a little inconvenience.”

He called whoever bombed the church “sodomites” and terrorists, and said they were trying to “intimidate us.”

“Folks, this is the best thing that could ever happen to our church. This is literally the best thing that could ever happen,” Mejia said. “You say why is that? I’m going to share with you why … there are blessings in persecution.”

FBI officials have not said whether they suspect someone targeted the church because of Mejia’s extreme views, though they have not ruled out that possibility. Eimiller said agents from several specialized sections, including terrorism units and civil rights specialists, were pouring over the evidence to see if they could determine a motive.

Members of Keep El Monte Friendly — an advocacy group that has protested First Works, sought to have the church barred from the city, and planned to demonstrate outside on Sunday — denounced the bombing. They said on their Instagram account on Saturday that “we would never promote, encourage or condone any violence or acts of harm.”

Few people were around to see the blast go off, though a few posted videos of the aftermath to social media.

UPDATE: Someone threw a bomb at the First Works Baptist Church in El Monte. It’s currently on fire right now. #keepelmontefriendly pic.twitter.com/IGVU0GviAT

— Jay Tea (@Josh_TheBoss2) January 23, 2021

Eimiller said witnesses at that time of night were scarce, but the FBI was still looking to talk to anyone who might have seen what happened.

“It was a little after one of clock in the morning. Not a whole lot of people are out at that time of night, especially during a virus,” she said. “But there were some witnesses, and we’re following up on those.”

FBI investigating bomb 'attack' at anti-LGBTQ church in El Monte

Sun, 24 Jan 2021 03:31:17 +0000

Authorities are investigating an early Saturday explosion at an El Monte church whose stance against same-sex relationships has raised tensions in the community in recent weeks.

The FBI, which is probing the incident at First Works Baptist Church along with local law enforcement, called it a bomb "attack" and asked the public's help for tips that could lead to those responsible. A bomb had been thrown at the building, the agency told the San Gabriel Valley Tribune.

"An improvised explosive device was apparently detonated here at the church, causing some damage," El Monte police chief David Reynoso said.

Bureau spokeswoman Laura Eimiller said it's too early to call it a hate crime, but “that’s always going to be considered as a theory when a house of worship is attacked," according to the Associated Press.

While the motive remains under investigation, L.A. County Supervisor Hilda Solis said she was aware of "anti-LGBTQ+ and misogynistic sermons" given by the church's pastor.

She said that her office has referred the case to the county's human rights commission, but stressed that "violence is never the answer."

A command post is seen outside the First Works Baptist Church after an explosion in El Monte, Calif., Saturday, Jan. 23, 2021. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
The FBI tweeted this image of investigators after an explosion at First Works Baptist Church in El Monte on Jan. 23, 2021.
El Monte Police Chief David Reynoso, left, with another officer peeks inside the church's windows after an explosion in El Monte, Calif., Saturday, Jan. 23, 2021. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
El Monte police investigate an explosion at the First Works Baptist Church in El Monte on Jan. 23, 2021.

Officials responded to the church at 2600 Tyler Ave. along with the L.A. County Fire Department at around 1:15 a.m., El Monte police Lt. Christopher Cano said.

Patrol officers who heard an explosion in the area initially thought it was a transformer, Cano said. The department received multiple calls about the noise, and officers later found the source to be a church with broken windows from which smoke was coming out, according to the lieutenant.

The windows had "blown out from some type of explosion," Cano said. The walls outside had been vandalized with profanity.

Officers evacuated 14 homes and eight apartments within the vicinity, the city said. No injuries were reported, and residents were allowed back into their homes by 8 a.m.

Police called for a bomb squad from the L.A. County Sheriff's Department "just to ensure we have no secondary devices," Cano said.

Labeled a hate group for being "anti-LGBTQ" by the Southern Poverty Law Center, the First Works Baptist Church is the subject of a Change.org campaign that's seeking to oust the place of worship from El Monte. The petition was started three weeks ago and has so far garnered more than 14,790 signatures.

According to the San Gabriel Valley Tribune, Pastor Bruce Mejia recently reported an arson threat on social media, and that the police chief said his department was monitoring the situation. During public comments at an El Monte City Council meeting earlier in January, some residents called the pastor's sermons hate speech, the paper reported.

A group called Keep El Monte Friendly had planned a protest at the church this Sunday morning. On Saturday, the group said of the incident on Instagram: "We are aware of what's happening. We will update the page when we have more information. Stay safe everyone."

First Works Baptist Church Pastor Bruce Mejia said what happened Saturday won't change anything in his sermons.

"It doesn't change the convictions that are already embedded in my heart," the pastor said. "I'm never going to stop, so burning down my building or blowing it up does absolutely nothing but make you look bad in front of the community."

It's still unclear who detonated the device or whether it is connected to the backlash the church generated.

“At this time, we don't know the motive, the reasons for this violent attack,” the police chief said. “We do ask if the public knows of who might have done this, what person or persons are responsible, that they please contact law enforcement.”

Investigators urged anyone with information to call the FBI's L.A. field office at 310-477-6565 or visit fbi.tips. gov

My statement on this morning’s explosion at a local church in the City of El Monte. https://t.co/viTRZiy7sl pic.twitter.com/os4Nih6bW0
— Hilda Solis (@HildaSolis) January 23, 2021

Pursuit suspect arrested nearly 2 years after high-speed chase that started in Irwindale

Sat, 23 Jan 2021 22:29:53 +0000

A pursuit suspect was arrested Friday, nearly two years after a dangerous high-speed chase through the Irwindale area, police said.

Ivan Gonzalez, 26, of El Monte is suspected of being behind the wheel of a vehicle that fled Irwindale officers in February 2019 following a traffic violation, according to the department.

Ivan Gonzalez, 26, of El Monte is seen in an undated photo released by the Irwindale Police Department on Jan. 23, 2021.

Officers had chased the vehicle onto the southbound 605 Freeway, where the suspect drove at speeds over 100 mph, weaved in and out of traffic and drove over a dirt median, the Irwindale Police Department said.

Because he was driving dangerously, police stopped chasing the vehicle and the driver got away, officials said.

The vehicle was later found crashed and abandoned on 60 Freeway at Crossroads Parkway.

Investigators eventually identified Gonzalez as the suspected driver and obtained an arrest warrant for felony evading charges in late 2020, according to police.

Investigators from the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Special Enforcement Team found and arrested Gonzalez Friday.

Gonzalez was booked into a West Covina jail, where he is being held on $100,000 bail, according to Irwindale police. He was on Post Release Community Supervision for a previous conviction.

Authorities Investigating Vandalism, Explosion At El Monte Church

Sat, 23 Jan 2021 21:49:34 +0000

EL MONTE (CBSLA) — Authorities are investigating vandalism and a possible explosion at an El Monte church Saturday morning.

First responders arrived at the scene around 1:13 a.m. in response to reports of smoke at First Works Baptist Church, 2600 Tyler Ave.

“When our units arrived to the scene they found that the First Works Baptist Church was having some smoke come out of the windows,” said Lt Christopher Cano of the El Monte Police Department. “It appeared that the walls to the church had been vandalized as well as all the windows at first appeared to be smashed.

“Then, we realized that the windows were not smashed, [and] that they had actually blown out from some type of explosion.”

The FBI said an improvised explosive device was found at the scene.

“The idea something like that would happen in this neighborhood is beyond comprehension,” said neighbor Eugene Brown.

Firefighters cleared the scene by 4:23 a.m., officials said. However, other investigative units, including the FBI, remain.

The church, headed by Pastor Bruce Mejia, has been the focus of community protests in recent weeks due to what are perceived to be teachings against the LGBTQ community.

Mejia has said his doctrine since the church was launched three years ago includes condemnation of same-sex relationships.

“We can’t say what the motive was for this attack I don’t want to say those groups in any way were responsible for this,” said El Monte Police Chief David Reynoso.

No one was injured in the explosion, and investigators are searching the area for security video.

No Injuries After Second-Alarm Commercial Fire In El Monte

Mon, 23 Nov 2020 06:20:03 +0000

EL MONTE (CBSLA) — A second-alarm fire burned for about two hours at an El Monte commercial building Sunday night, prompting several evacuations.

The fire at 9900 E. Valley Blvd. was reported around 7:50 p.m., according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

Four fire trucks and 10 engines were called to the scene.

The fire was completely knocked down just before 9:30 p.m.

No injuries were reported and the cause of the fire remained under investigation.

Man Shot, Wounded In El Monte Mobile Home Park

Mon, 28 Sep 2020 16:15:13 +0000

EL MONTE (CBSLA) – Authorities are searching for a gunman who shot and wounded a man in a mobile home park in El Monte Sunday night.

Sept. 27, 2020. (CBSLA)

The shooting occurred in the common area of a mobile home park located in the 11900 block of Magnolia Street at around 9:45 p.m.

El Monte police responded to find a man with gunshot wounds. He was rushed to a hospital in unknown condition.

There was no word on a motive in the shooting or any suspect information.

El Monte Police Officers To Start Wearing Body Cameras

Thu, 20 Aug 2020 05:55:47 +0000

EL MONTE (CBSLA) — Funding for officer body cameras within the El Monte Police Department has been approved after the city council and El Monte Mayor Andre Quintero came to a unanimous agreement.

“We are always striving to improve accountability, transparency, and legitimacy within our community; body-worn cameras are a significant step in keeping up with that commitment,” Quintero said. “The use of body-worn cameras offers a sense of security to both the public and to our officers.”

The city of El Monte has a five-year deal with LensLock, a San Diego-based company, that will supply the cameras to the police department for $141,652.50 each year.

The agreement includes warranties, training and round-the-clock technical support on the devices, officials said.

The cameras, which were approved after calls for more transparency from local law enforcement, will be able to capture photos at the scene as well.

“These improvements in technology will allow our officers to work more efficiently and effectively when it comes to securing digital evidence, which is an increasingly significant component of modern policing,” said El Monte Police Department Chief David Reynoso.

The city said it hopes to have officers wearing the body cameras by the end of the year.

El Monte Man Arrested On Suspicion Of Killing 67-Year-Old Woman 24 Years Ago

Thu, 06 Aug 2020 22:52:27 +0000

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA) — An El Monte man was arrested Thursday on suspicion of murder in connection with the 1996 killing of a 67-year-old woman, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said.

David Adolph Bernal, 46, was taken into custody in connection with the killing of Mary Lindgren, who deputies said was brutally beaten and raped.

According to the sheriff’s department, Lindgren was a resident at the Covina Villa Retirement Home, an assisted living center for senior citizens in Covina, at the time of her death. She lived alone in a first floor bedroom and was found Jan. 19, 1996 at about 7:30 a.m. by staff at the facility. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

LASD homicide investigators assisted the Covina Police Department with the initial investigation that included the collection of several items of evidence, including DNA believed to belong to the suspect.

During initial analysis, the unidentified male’s DNA profile failed to match any previously existing profiles within the state or federal criminal justice DNA databases.

The department said investigators continued to send out crime broadcasts in the following years about the homicide, but failed to lead to a suspect in Lindgren’s killing.

But in 2019, the unidentified DNA profile was submitted to the state’s DNA search and identification process. And, in July of this year, officials with the California Department of Justice notified investigators that Bernal was a probable suspect in the case.

LASD said Bernal’s DNA matched with the sample collected from Lindgren’s body in 1996 and an arrest and search warrant was issued.

Bernal is scheduled to be arraigned Friday in the Los Angeles Superior Court. His bail has been set at $2 million.

El Monte, City Of Industry Team Up To Match Workers With Employers

Wed, 05 Aug 2020 02:09:20 +0000

EL MONTE (CBSLA) — With unemployment at record highs, both employers and employees have been forced to think outside the box to make ends meet.

But now two neighboring cities — El Monte and the City of Industry — are doing just that with a partnership aimed at helping both residents and businesses.

“They will provide us the jobs, and we will provide them the applicants,” Jerry Velasco, an El Monte councilman, said. “So, basically, it’s a two-way street.”

The virtual job placement program pairs the workforce of El Monte with thousands of employers in the City of Industry looking for help.

“We’re basically doing them a big favor, because we’re eliminating a lot of red tape, and they’re doing us a huge favor by hiring these individuals,” Velasco said. “I’m glad that we have partnered up with them.”

There are already more than 3,000 businesses like Valley Vista Services signed up and ready to hire.

“I think El Monte and Industry have done a great job here, and it could certainly expand to other surrounding communities,” Dave Perez, owner of Valley Vista Services, said. “There’s a lot of good people trying very hard to improve the lives of people that are really struggling right now, and we’re just very happy to be a part of that.”

Those interested can learn more about the program on the city of El Monte’s website or the City of Industry Business Council’s website.

Man Shot, Killed In El Monte; Gunman At Large

Fri, 24 Jul 2020 13:59:45 +0000

EL MONTE (CBSLA) – Authorities are looking for a gunman who shot a man to death in an El Monte neighborhood early Friday morning.

July 24, 2020. (CBSLA)

The shooting occurred in the 3400 block of Durfee Avenue at around 3:08 a.m., the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department reports.

The man was rushed to a hospital, where he died. His name was not released.

There was no suspect information and no motive. The circumstances of the killing were not confirmed. It’s unclear exactly where the victim was killed.

The sheriff’s department and El Monte police are investigating.

New Program Looks To Pair Unemployed El Monte Workers With Jobs In City Of Industry

Wed, 22 Jul 2020 17:48:02 +0000

EL MONTE (CBSLA) – El Monte and the City of Industry are launching a platform to help residents who have lost their jobs because of the coronavirus pandemic find work.

The two cities announced that the Virtual Job Placement Program will help serve as a “one-stop shop” to connect recently laid off El Monte residents with businesses in the City of Industry.

A deliveryman wears a facemask pushing his push cart up a ramp in Los Angeles on May 4, 2020. (Getty Images)

The program is exclusively for El Monte residents.

While the City of Industry only has a few hundred residents, it is home to over 3,000 businesses which employ tens of thousands of people.

The program is a collaboration between the city of El Monte and the Industry Business Council, a nonprofit business organization.

“This partnership is a part of our proactive work to be an exceptional resource for our resident’s during these uncertain times,” said City of El Monte Mayor Andre Quintero said in a statement. “By partnering with our neighbors in the City of Industry, we hope to match all residents in need of work with a quality job in their community and in turn provide the business community with qualified applicants.”

COVID-19 has delivered an economic blow to the Los Angeles metro area. As of mid-June, Los Angeles County’s unemployment rate was 20.9%, prompting the county to launch a more than $100 million renters relief program.

For more information on the program, click here.

The city and county of L.A. has also started the L.A. Regional COVID-19 Recovery Fund, which is offering millions of dollars in loans and grants to help keep small businesses afloat.

Man Found Stabbed To Death At El Monte Motel

Thu, 21 May 2020 12:45:28 +0000

EL MONTE (CBSLA) — Police are investigating the fatal stabbing of a man found at an El Monte motel.

El Monte police officers were called to M Motel on Valley Boulevard, near Baldwin Avenue, just before 9 p.m. to check a call about a disturbance. At the motel, the officers found a man with several stab wounds.

He was taken to a hospital, where he died. He has not been identified.

A description of a suspect was not immediately available.

Anyone with information about the stabbing can call the Los Angeles County sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500.

3-Alarm Fire Breaks Out In El Monte Strip Mall, Causing Partial Collapse

Fri, 15 May 2020 05:05:52 +0000

EL MONTE (CBSLA) — A three-alarm fire broke out in an El Monte strip mall Thursday night, causing the building to partially collapse.

Eighty firefighters were dispatched to the 10100 block of East Valley Boulevard, near Baldwin Avenue, at about 8:10 p.m. according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

Fire crews continued to battle the blaze at 10 p.m., but no injuries had been reported.

El Monte Approves Cash Assistance Of Up To $1,200 For Renters Hit Hard By Coronavirus

Fri, 08 May 2020 16:48:47 +0000

EL MONTE (CBSLA) — Renters in El Monte can now apply for up to $1,200 in cash assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The City of El Monte’s mayor and city council this week approved cash assistance of up to $1,200 for qualified renters.

A volunteer in mask and gloves checks-in people in their vehicles arriving to pick up groceries at a food bank opened in response to the coronavirus pandemic on April 20, 2020 in El Monte, California. (Photo by FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images)

“There are many people that are hurting in our city that don’t have the resources to pay rent,” Mayor Andre Quintero said in a statement.

To qualify, residents must be within Los Angeles County’s 50% income limit and be able to prove they were financially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Residents can go to El Monte’s virtual city hall to apply for the cash assistance. Anyone without access to the internet can come to El Monte City Hall, 11333 Valley Blvd., pick up an application and drop off the completed form at a designated dropbox.

El Monte Man Fatally Shot After Going Out For Fresh Air

Mon, 04 May 2020 12:21:45 +0000

EL MONTE (CBSLA) — An El Monte man was shot and killed while out for some fresh air just outside his home.

Ruben Arreola Nunez, 30, was fatally shot at about 8:45 p.m. Sunday near Emery Street and Peck Road. His family says he had gone out to get some fresh air.

Moments later, his family says they hear gunshots. Nunez’s brother ran out and found him on the sidewalk with gunshot wounds to his upper torso.

Nunez was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

“He was just at the wrong place at the wrong time,” Nunez’s niece, Brenda Reynoso said. “My grandma, it’s her son. She just wants to know what happened and why. Why would you kill someone for no reason?”

No suspect information has been released. Anyone with information about the shooting can call homicide detectives at (323) 890-5500.

Coronavirus: El Monte Giving $10K Grants To Local Businesses

Mon, 27 Apr 2020 17:30:21 +0000

EL MONTE (CBSLA) – The city of El Monte is giving out dozens of grants to local businesses hurt by the coronavirus pandemic.

A pedestrian wearing a facemask walks past shuttered shopfronts in Los Angeles on April 23, 2020. (Getty Images)

Beginning Monday, local businesses can apply for $10,000 one-time grants.

Up to 55 businesses will receive help, the city said. Businesses must have less than 20 employees to qualify. The money can be used for overhead expenses such as covering rent, utilities.

The program was approved by the El Monte City Council and is funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development .

Businesses can begin applying at 9 a.m. Monday.

“Businesses are the backbone of our community and we like to make sure they are taken care of in this time of need.” Mayor Andre Quintero said in a statement Sunday.

Earlier this month, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors established a public-private relief fund for small businesses hurt by the coronavirus outbreak.

Coronavirus: 3 New Testing Sites Open In El Monte, Bellflower, Inglewood

Wed, 15 Apr 2020 19:11:16 +0000

EL MONTE (CBSLA) — Three new coronavirus testing sites opened Wednesday at the San Gabriel Valley Airport in El Monte, at the Bellflower Civic Center’s parking structure and at the Forum in Inglewood.

“All the experts are telling us that we won’t be able to get back to some sense of normalcy until thee is a system of robust testing in place,” El Monte Mayor Andre Quintero said.

The Bellflower Civic Center testing site is located in the parking structure, 16600 Civic Center Drive, while the new drive-up site at the Forum is at 3900 W. Manchester Blvd.

As with other new sites that have been established in the last couple of weeks, people who are eligible for a test and have an appointment can stay in their cars for their tests and swab their own mouths and throats. The testing process takes between five and 10 minutes to complete, but wait times will depend on the time of the day.

New testing sites were also opened this week in Riverside County at the Perris Fairgrounds — where officials hope to conduct at least 250 tests a day — and at Montclair Plaza in San Bernardino County.

LA County has a full list of coronavirus testing sites.

Man Charged With Murdering 64-Year-Old Roommate In El Monte Mobile Home Park

Wed, 05 Feb 2020 19:53:39 +0000

EL MONTE (CBSLA) – A 22-year-old man has been charged with murdering his roommate, a 64-year-old woman, and dragging her body to a dumpster at an El Monte mobile home park Tuesday.

Security video shows a barefoot man pushing a bin toward a set of dumpsters at a mobile home park in El Monte, Calif., on Feb. 4, 2020. The bin is believed to have contained the body of 64-year-old Florinda Velasquez-Hernandez. (courtesy video)

David Lemus-Orellana was taken into custody on murder charges in the slaying of Florinda Velasquez-Hernandez, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department reported Wednesday.

On Tuesday morning, El Monte police were called to a report of a man dragging a body towards a set of dumpsters in the 3300 block of Maxson Road. Velasquez-Hernandez’s body was later found by officers inside one of the dumpsters.

Security footage showed what neighbors said was a barefoot man pushing a bin that held the victim’s body.

Lemus-Orellana was arrested later Tuesday.

Velasquez-Hernandez’s family told CBS2 that she had emigrated from El Salvador about three years ago and lived in a trailer in the mobile home park with at least two men. They said she rented a room there.

A motive for the murder is not known. Velasquez-Hernandez’s cause of death was also not released.

Lemus-Orellana is being held on $1 million bail.

Police Find Woman’s Body Inside El Monte Dumpster, Suspect Arrested

Wed, 05 Feb 2020 04:20:44 +0000

EL MONTE (CBSLA) — Sheriff’s detectives and El Monte police were investigating Tuesday after a woman’s body was found.

Security video shows a barefoot man pushing a bin toward the dumpsters before coming back without it. (Security video)

Officers with the El Monte Police Department responded to the 3300 block of Maxson Road at about 10:25 a.m. for a “suspicious circumstances” call after a person indicated they observed a male dragging a female body toward the dumpsters, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

Security camera video showed what neighbors said was a barefoot man pushing a bin that held the body of a 64-year-old woman. Minutes later, the video showed the same man returning without the bin.

Police found the victim’s body inside a dumpster a few feet away. The cause of death was not immediately disclosed.

“All we are willing to disclose is that she was seen by an informant being dragged from a location to the dumpster area,” Lt. Brandon Dean, of the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department, said.

Shortly after finding the body, and not long after that video was recorded, police arrested a suspect in the case.

The family of the victim was at the scene of the discovery, overwhelmed by emotion. One woman said the victim was her mother, Florinda Velasquez Hernandez.

Family members said the body found in the dumpster was that of 62-year-old Florinda Velazquez Fernandez. (Velazquez Family Photo)

The family said Fernandez had immigrated from El Salvador three years ago and lived in the mobile home park in a trailer with at least two men. They said she rented a room inside their home.

Police have not yet said whether the man in the video or the suspect who has been arrested was one of her roommates, though the family said they were trying to get Fernandez to move out of the mobile home park.

Neighbors said they were heartbroken and angry.

“Very degrading,” a neighbor said. “I imagine one of my family members getting dumped in some random dumpster, and it’s just degrading. No human being deserves that.”

Anyone with information about the incident was asked to call the LASD Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500.

Man Stabbed To Death On El Monte Street

Wed, 15 Jan 2020 17:50:12 +0000

EL MONTE (CBSLA) – Authorities are investigating the stabbing death of a man on a street in El Monte Wednesday morning.

Jan. 15, 2019. (CBS2)

The victim was discovered dead in the 4400 block of Baldwin Avenue at around 7:14 a.m., according to El Monte police.

His name was not released.

There was no word on whether investigators had identified suspects or a motive.

Los Angeles County Sheriff’s detectives were called in to lead the investigation.

Man Accused Of Murdering Pregnant Wife In El Monte Extradited From Mexico

Thu, 09 Jan 2020 14:12:52 +0000

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA) — A man charged with the murder of his estranged wife and their unborn child has been extradited from Mexico and returned to Southern California. Octavio Curiel-Martinez was being held without bail Thursday in Los Angeles after being brought back on Jan. 3 to face charges in the murder of Ana Maria Nunez, his estranged wife who was six months pregnant, on Aug. 29, 2018.

Authorities say after he shot his wife to death at her El Monte home that night, he also drove to his father’s house nearby and fired a gun at him. The father, Raymond Curiel, was not hurt.

(credit: FBI)

Curiel-Martinez fled the country, but was arrested for an unrelated charge near the state of Jalisco, Mexico in May of 2019, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. By then, he had been named one of the FBI’s Most Wanted, and Mexican authorities notified their American counterparts that he was in custody.

Los Angeles County sheriff’s homicide detectives worked with the FBI to arrange for Curiel-Martinez’s extradition. He arrived back in Los Angeles last Friday at about 11 a.m., and was immediately taken into custody for the murder of Nunez and the attempted murder of his father.

He is scheduled to make his first court appearance on Feb. 19.

High Speed Chase Ends in Crash in El Monte, Two Arrested

Tue, 31 Dec 2019 15:23:03 +0000

EL MONTE (CNS) – Two stolen vehicle suspects were in custody Monday night after the vehicle they were in crashed at the end of a high-speed pursuit in El Monte.

The chase began in San Bernardino and proceeded westbound on the San Bernardino (10) Freeway until the suspects attempted to exit at Valley Boulevard and crashed into a guardrail around 11 p.m. on Monday, according to the California Highway Patrol.

The suspects ran from the vehicle after the crash, but were quickly apprehended by CHP officers. Two have been taken into custody.

Parade Honors El Monte High School’s CIF Championship Football Team

Mon, 23 Dec 2019 16:25:01 +0000

EL MONTE (CBSLA) — The city of El Monte threw a big party and parade this weekend in honor of El Monte High School’s CIF championship football team.

El Monte High School’s football team traveled more than 700 miles last week to take on Crescent City’s Del Norte High School and won 32-7, finishing their season 16-0.

Residents lined the streets as the school’s band marched ahead of the team’s staff and players, who waved from two open air vehicles. Fans made signs that said, “El Monte HS Lions Champions” and “We Love You Champs.”

City of El Monte Police celebrating El Monte Lions football team state championship parade! #elmonteunionhighschooldistrict #elmontehighschool #elmontelions pic.twitter.com/YPtafHyozR

— El Monte PD (@elmontepolice) December 22, 2019

This is only El Monte High School’s second CIF championship. The school won its first state title back in 1930.

The school’s amazing season includes winning the 2019 Mission Valley League Football, CIF-SS Division 12 and CIF State Regional Championships.

Small Plane Out Of El Monte Lands On 5 Freeway In Carlsbad

Fri, 13 Dec 2019 14:30:30 +0000

CARLSBAD (CBSLA) — A small plane that flew out of El Monte made an emergency landing on the 5 Freeway in Carlsbad Thursday night.

The plane was about to land at nearby McClellan Palomar Airport when the engine lost power and the cockpit began to fill with smoke. It landed on the southbound 5 Freeway just after 7 p.m. just north of Cannon Road.

Plane on the 5 southbound at Carlsbad lagoon! @fox5sandiego !! pic.twitter.com/LFflJxWxe0

— Ryan Charles (@reciprocalryan) December 13, 2019

View this post on Instagram

There’s something you don’t see every day

A post shared by Dave Kay (@kayve_sd) on Dec 12, 2019 at 7:14pm PST

There were two people on the plane, a man and a woman, and they were not injured. No one in any of the cars on the freeway were injured, either.

It’s not clear what caused the problem that forced the plane to land.

Knife-Wielding Suspect Killed During Officer-Involved Shooting In El Monte

Tue, 03 Dec 2019 01:22:37 +0000

EL MONTE (CBSLA) — A knife-wielding suspect was killed in El Monte during an officer-involved shooting Monday night.

El Monte Police responded to a 911 call hangup of a woman allegedly screaming near the 9800 block of Cortada Street.

When police arrived, they were met by the knife-wielding suspect who they attempted to calm.

Officers then shot the suspect, who succumbed to injuries at the scene. It was not immediately known what transpired before the shooting.

The victim’s brother later said the shooting was unjust.

“Three shots weren’t necessary, and above the leg wasn’t necessary either, so there’s something wrong right here,” said the victim’s brother Thoai Nguyen. “He’s a small person and they said he had a big knife…and there was no evidence showing that there was a knife.”

Nguyen said he was not present when the shooting occurred and that his brother has four children.

L.A. County Homicide Detectives were on scene investigating Monday evening.

No officers were injured in the shooting.

Man Wounded In El Monte Shooting

Mon, 25 Nov 2019 13:46:23 +0000

EL MONTE (CBSLA) — One man was hospitalized Monday after a shooting in El Monte.

Police say a shooting at about 11 p.m. Sunday left an SUV on the sidewalk on Maxson Road near Deana Street.

It’s not clear where the man was found and how he is connected to the vehicle. But he was taken to the hospital in stable condition.

No suspects have been identified in the shooting.

El Monte Breakdancing Teacher Has Reason To Do Happy Dance After Surprise

Sat, 23 Nov 2019 11:20:41 +0000

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA) — Vince Horiuchi loves dance, and he loves teaching kids his art.

Horiuchi has made it his mission to inspire and motivate students through dance since he was 18-years-old, but it’s been a constant struggle for the 32-year-old to keep his dance programs going, especially in schools where budgets are tight.

In 2011, many of his dance classes were stopped due to school budget cuts. The resourceful teacher started making videos and tutorials online where he found a following.

And today, he’s back to teaching 15-20 classes per week in the cafeterias at Payne and Voorhis elementary schools in El Monte.

“I think having this presence in schools, it really shows people the power of the arts,” Horiuchi said. “You see shy kids become confident. You see kids who have this anxiety over having to dance let loose and be free.”

A few weeks ago, a company stepped in to help Horiuchi with his mission of spreading the art of hip-hop and breakdancing.

“I know you’re probably wondering why I’m here,” a spokesperson from Ally Bank said in a video. “Ally is going to fund the visual and performing arts program for another year.”

Ally Bank selected Horiuchi for its Banksgiving event, a way to pay it forward to support causes like his.

“They were like, ‘No, this is for you,'” Horiuchi said. “I was like, ‘What?!'”

Ally Bank donated $10,000 to both of the schools to keep the program running for another year, changing not only his life, but, he hopes, the lives of the kids as well.

The children also received new clothes and Horiuchi was given a new car that will help his get to all of his dance classes.

Suspect Killed In El Monte Shooting Involving An Officer

Sun, 13 Oct 2019 03:40:35 +0000

EL MONTE (CBSLA) — Police are investigating a deadly shooting involving an officer in El Monte.

Officers responded to a report of someone shooting at a wall in the 3500 block of Santa Anita Ave. shortly before 3 p.m. Saturday.

Upon their arrival, they saw the individual and a foot pursuit ensued. Investigators say the suspect produced a handgun during the pursuit and an officer-involved shooting occurred.

The suspect was pronounced dead at the scene. Police say the suspect’s handgun was recovered at the scene.

No officers were reported injured.

The Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department’s homicide division is assisting in the investigation.

Huntington Park Named California’s ‘Most Miserable’ City, Business Insider Says

Wed, 02 Oct 2019 22:58:17 +0000

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA) — Huntington Park is California’s “most miserable” city, according to census data compiled by Business Insider, ranking 10th on the list of 1,000 of America’s most miserable cities.

In total, California has 210 entries on the list with the majority of those cities in the southern part of the state.

Rankings were based on factors such as population change, the percentage of people with jobs, median household incomes, median commute times, the number of people living in poverty, and the percentage of people without health insurance.

Overall, Gary, Indiana, ranked first, followed by Port Arthur, Texas, and Detroit as the third most miserable city in America.

Southern California cities in the Top 100:

Huntington Park (10)
Bell Gardens (14)
Lynwood (21)
El Monte (22)
Palmdale (36)
Montebello (40)
Compton (41)
San Bernardino (42)
Hemet (44)
Lancaster (50)
National City (55)
Hesperia (59)
Inglewood (60)
Paramount (61)
La Puente (62)
Victorville (66)
Pomona (83)
Monterey Park (89)
Baldwin Park (93)

See the full list of cities here.

Police Shut Down Illegal Marijuana Vaping Operating In San Gabriel Valley

Fri, 27 Sep 2019 05:14:41 +0000

EL MONTE (CBSLA) — Police shut down an illegal marijuana vaping operation in the San Gabriel Valley Thursday.

The bust happened at about 4:37 p.m. after police conducting a warrant search for suspected illegal marijuana vape pen sales and found large jars of butane honey oil — concentrated cannabis oil — at an office building in the 9600 block of Telstar Avenue.

Police busted an illegal marijuana vaping operation in the San Gabriel Valley Thursday confiscating jars of concentrated cannabis oil. (Credit: El Monte PD)

Lt. Christopher Cano with the El Monte Police said officers also found a machine that was used to load vape cartridges.

“The process is very dangerous,” Cano said.

Cano, who used to work narcotics, said the process of distilling the oil for use in vape products is potentially flammable.

“Simple static electricity from our clothes can ignite these fumes causing not just a fire, but an explosion because it’s under concentration,” he said. “And if there’s multiple jars and things like that, we’re going to have one explosion after the next causing not just a fire, but we could possibly have a full complex taken out with the explosion.”

A hazmat team was called to the vacant office to take possession of the illegal and potentially dangerous substance. The value of the confiscated products and equipment was not immediately known.

Detectives said they received and anonymous tip that led to the search warrant where they discovered the illegal operation.

Investigators are still trying to figure out who’s behind the illegal vaping operation. They said they believe the person responsible set up shop in the office because the space was vacant.

While the investigation continues, officers said they wanted to make sure the illegal vaping products did not make it to the street, especially in the wake of recent headlines involving the dangers of vaping.

“This is just stuff that they don’t even know if they’re truly getting what they think that they’re buying,” Cano said. “This could be mixed with other harmful chemicals. It could be very harmful to our community, to our children, so we always caution them that they should stay away from these operations.”

El Monte Explores Ordinance Guaranteeing $30 Minimum Wage For Rideshare Drivers

Thu, 08 Aug 2019 14:25:58 +0000

EL MONTE (CBSLA) — Rideshare drivers could find themselves making $30 an hour in the city of El Monte, a small San Gabriel Valley that’s home to one of the largest transportation hubs in Southern California.

The El Monte City Council voted Wednesday night to draft an ordinance guaranteeing a $30-an-hour minimum wage for rideshare drivers in that city. The move is supported by members of Mobile Workers Alliance, a driver-led organizing project of Service Employees International Union Local 721 in Los Angeles.

If the ordinance becomes law, it would be the first of its kind in the United States.

“Hearing from drivers and understanding what they’re facing, plus knowing how these companies impact city and state revenues, makes looking into this an easy decision,” El Monte Mayor Andre Quintero said. The city is home to the largest bus depot west of Chicago, he added.

“A lot of first- and last-mile trips originate here and it makes sense to see that money stay with workers in this valley instead of going to Silicon Valley,” Quintero said.

At the state level, a bill working its way through the Legislature seeks to classify drivers for companies such as Lyft and Uber as employees, rather than independent contractors.

Rideshare companies and drivers have been clashing in recent months. Uber has been accused of cutting wages for drivers in certain cities, and drivers have responded with protests and strikes in big cities like Los Angeles.

3 Cash Boxes Found In Trunk Of Car That Led Chase Into El Monte

Wed, 10 Jul 2019 12:22:00 +0000

EL MONTE (CBSLA) — Three minors and an adult had three cash boxes in the trunk of a car they crashed at the end of a car chase Wednesday, and police are trying to figure out where all the money came from.

Officers first tried to stop the driver for having paper plates just before 3 a.m. in the Claremont area. The driver took off, leading a brief chase onto the 10 Freeway and into Baldwin Park, where they crashed at Stewart and Peck Road.

Two of the suspects took off running after the crash, but were caught quickly, while the two others stayed on the scene. All four are in custody.

(credit: CBS)

But questions remain about three cash boxes found in the trunk of the car. No burglaries have been reported in surrounding areas, and investigators are now trying to determine where the cash boxes came from.

Juvenile’s Joyride Turns Into Car Chase In El Monte

Mon, 01 Jul 2019 12:18:22 +0000

EL MONTE (CBSLA) — A boy’s joyride came to a crashing end early Monday after leading police on a short pursuit in El Monte.

Police officers tried to stop a car at Baldwin Avenue and Colorado Boulevard at about 2 a.m. for a possible DUI. The driver took off, but crashed in a parking lot about five minutes later.

The crash took out the front fence of a restaurant and crashed into a sign at Lower Azusa Road and Baldwin Avenue. The airbags in the sedan deployed inside the 4-door sedan, which sustained heavy front-end damage.

The juvenile was taken into custody.

No injuries were reported.

Pilot Makes Emergency Landing In Rio Hondo Wash Near El Monte Airport

Fri, 28 Jun 2019 13:40:50 +0000

EL MONTE (CBSLA) — A pilot forced to make an emergency landing in the Rio Hondo Wash, near El Monte Airport, had to be airlifted to safety.

Pilot Jesse Ramos looked to be uninjured Thursday evening and in good spirits, flashing a thumbs up, from the wing of the plane he landed safely – in the water of the Rio Hondo Wash.

“I think that I got lucky,” Ramos said. “I ended up in a good spot where nobody got hurt and that’s mostly what I wanted.”

Ramos says he’s been flying for 10 years and doesn’t know what went wrong with the single-engine Beechcraft BE-35 – but one of the gas tanks was empty when he tried to restart it. The engine quit just two miles shy of the El Monte Airport.

The plane landed safely, but in about a foot of water with a current of about half a mile an hour. So a Los Angeles County sheriff’s rescue crew hoisted him from the wing of his plane, to dry ground.

Video from #LASD Air Rescue 5. LASD SEB Tactical Medic is lowered to rescue the pilot of a small aircraft with engine failure that landed in the currents of the Rio Hondo wash, just outside of El Monte Airport. pic.twitter.com/XFH92rgNeb

— SEB (@SEBLASD) June 28, 2019

Crews were working late Thursday night to determine how to retrieve the plane from the wash.

The FAA is investigating.

El Monte Police Giving Away Ring Video Doorbells For Crime Tips

Wed, 08 May 2019 17:12:58 +0000

EL MONTE (CBSLA) — Residents with information that leads to the arrest of residential burglary and theft suspects in El Monte could receive a unique reward – a Ring Video doorbell.

The El Monte Police Department says it’s handing out 20 Ring doorbells to residents who help and provide information that leads directly to the arrest of burglars and thieves in the area.

The department says it is now a partner with Ring Home Security Systems through the Neighbors social network application, which brings Ring doorbell owners together via its mobile app to keep each other apprised of any suspected crime or suspicious activity in the neighborhood.

The direct partnership between El Monte Police and Ring Home Security Systems appears to be the next step in how the Amazon-owned home security device is making inroads into local neighborhoods.

Since 2017, the company has been partnering with cities across Southern California to offer residents discounted Ring doorbells as a way to enhance safety in the community. La Canada Flintridge, Alhambra, Lynwood, Arcadia, Palmdale, Santa Clarita, West Hollywood, and Lake Forest have all offered a $100 rebate to residents who buy and install a Ring doorbell, which can retail for as little as $99.99. Temple City said they found such success with the partnership in 2017, they did it again this year.

“The 400 rebates we offered for Ring video doorbells in 2017 were claimed within four days,” Temple City Mayor William Man said in a statement.

Ring Video doorbells are internet-connected devices installed in place of a traditional doorbell that include a high-definition, motion detection video camera.

Good Samaritan Fatally Shot Trying To Break Up Fight Outside 7-Eleven Parking Lot

Mon, 29 Apr 2019 23:05:02 +0000

EL MONTE (CBSLA) — A Good Samaritan was fatally shot in an El Monte 7-Eleven parking lot while breaking up a fight.

El Monte police responded to reports of a shooting that occurred on the 10000 block of Valley Boulevard at about 10 p.m. Friday night.

Upon arrival, police found an adult male who had been shot twice in the upper torso.

Angel Rosas, 38, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Whoever killed him is still on the loose and it’s weighing heavily on family and friends.

“Angel was a man with a golden heart…always cheerful,” remembered Rosas’ friend Edgar.

Edgar met Rosas twelve years ago a local race track. He described him as a car enthusiast and in many ways was his mentor.

“He drove a Honda Civic coupe and he was always out there with that big smile, pushing everyone to get faster times.”

Rosas’ murder was caught on surveillance video. In the video, you can see two men get out of this silver car. They approach a third man and shortly after, punches are thrown.

On the side of the building, Rosas is seen talking with someone in a black car when the fight moves behind him.

Rosas tries to break up the fight when the man in a black shirt pulls out a gun and shoots Rosas.

Two suspects are then seen running back to their car but instead of driving off, the man in the black shirt hands over the gun to the man in the white shirt, who runs back to Rosas and shoots him a second time.

“Being the angel we knew…stepped in to help the guy that was being outnumbered two to one and you know, everyone saw what happened,” explained Edgar.

As Rosas died on the scene, the two suspects fled and are still on the run. Loved ones hoping that they turn themselves in.

Police are searching for two suspects, both Latinos.

Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Homicide Bureau detectives are assisting El Monte Police Department in the ongoing investigation.

A GoFundMe account has been created in Rosas’ honor.

VIDEO: Man Tries To Kidnap, Rape Teen In Horrific Attack In El Monte

Wed, 20 Feb 2019 05:36:10 +0000

EL MONTE (CBSLA) – Police Tuesday released a composite sketch of a man suspected of trying to kidnap and rape an 18-year-old woman in El Monte.

Part of the attack, which occurred about midnight on Saturday in the area of Tyler Avenue and Brockway Street, was captured on surveillance video.

The recording shows the man follow the woman, attack her and drag her around a corner before she later appears walking swiftly from the area. Police said she was able to fight off the suspect.

An image of the suspect’s vehicle was pulled from the video.

Courtesy of El Monte Police

The suspect was described as Hispanic, 30-40 years old, 5 feet 7 inches tall, 190 pounds with brown eyes and a clean-shaven face. The sketch shows him wearing a ball or trucker-style cap and he also wore a light-blue long-sleeved shirt and dark jeans.

Anyone with information about the suspect or the attack was urged to call El Monte police at 626-258-8636. Tips can also be submitted by email at tips@empd.org.

Caught On Camera: Woman Attacked In El Monte

Mon, 18 Feb 2019 06:31:12 +0000

EL MONTE (CBSLA) — El Monte residents are on alert after a chilling video of a woman being attacked on a well-lit street was posted on social media.

Neighbors are watching and sharing the video captured by security cameras.

The recording shows the victim being attacked from behind and dragged around the corner of Tyler Ave. to Brockway St. The woman is then shown running away from her attacker.

The person who posted the video wrote that the happened after midnight and neighbors heard the woman’s screams. They apparently came to help but discovered her attacker had fled the scene.

Neighbors are unnerved.

“I am going to be a little more cautious and more careful of my surroundings,” said a local woman whose car was parked near the scene.

“I have a nine-year-old, you know. I mean, of course I worry about stuff like that,” said Frankie Lopez.

El Monte police would only say they are investigating an assault at the Tyler Ave. and Brockway St.