El Monte News, CA Local News

‘Dine El Monte’ throws a lifeline to local businesses amid recent downturn

Fri, 29 Aug 2025 12:53:39 +0000

When Supervisor Hilda Solis showed up at her restaurant, Tatiana Pacheco knew just what to serve the political dignitary: the best-selling pesto chicken wrap with house sauce, served with a side of chips and charcoal lemonade.

Solis, a longtime El Monte resident who was the first Latina to serve as Secretary of Labor under President Obama, and the first Latina to serve in the California State Senate, showed up to Pacheco’s smoothie and juice bar, accompanied by El Monte City Manager Alma Martinez and Police Chief Jake Fisher, the better to tout a new city initiative boosting local businesses in time for the Labor Day weekend.

About 20 businesses are part of the first Dine El Monte Restaurant Week. All are offering special menus and promotions through Monday, Sept. 1.

El Monte Police officers crossed the street from their police station to visit Andrea’s Healthy Kitchen, and have lunch to kickoff Dine El Monte Restaurant Week on Aug. 28, 2025 in El Monte CA. (Photo by John McCoy, Contributing Photographer)

1 of 7

Expand

The Dine El Monte menu at each restaurants will offer exclusive lunch and dinner menus at fixed price points of $15, $25, and $35, with some locations offering premium experiences at $50, $75, or $100 and above. There are no tickets or registration required.

City manager Alma Martinez said the new initiative shows residents and nearby communities that the city has a lot of dining options, from juice bars to curry places, to a range of ethnic restaurants from offering Mexican, Chinese and Korean specialties.

The support is needed in light of continued ICE raids in the area, with El Monte families reticent about going out or even working, and businesses seeing a dramatic downturn in their earnings since June.

“Especially now, we need to continue to collaborate with each other,” Martinez said.

Pacheco, who immigrated to the U.S. from Peru, said the El Monte community has come through for her before, when her first store burned down and she had to rebuild.

Her business and others in the city were still recovering from the impact of the COVID pandemic when the Trump administration’s ramped-up immigration raids began in June.

“People are feeling a little on edge, but nonetheless, the whole point is to help investments because we know communities like El Monte and others have been hit hard by the ICE raids,” Solis said. “So we’re encouraging our businesses and people to come and taste the food and get out of the house and come and spend some money, support the local entrepreneurs who have made their livelihood here in the city. We need to support them.”El Monte was the first San Gabriel Valley city to establish an immigrants’ fund to help those whose family have been detained or are afraid to go out, work or go about their lives because of their immigration status. The $100,000 fund was established by the El Monte City Council and El Monte Business Alliance with help from Solis.

“This whole country was made up of immigrants, and that’s our strength and our beauty,” Solis said, praising Pacheco’s own American Dream story. “Our stability, our economic growth has been due to small businesses as well as the immigrant communities that bring their culture, their food, to share. That’s what I know growing up here in the San Gabriel Valley.”

'They're not criminals': 4 taken by feds at Southern California car wash

Fri, 22 Aug 2025 19:55:48 +0000

Federal agents raided an El Monte car wash on Wednesday, with four people reportedly detained as part of an immigration sweep.

The raid at Baldwin Car Wash, located at the corner of Baldwin Avenue and Valley Boulevard, occurred at about 10:45 a.m., according to viewers and video footage shared on social media.

Eduardo Lael, the manager of the car wash, was among the four people detained, the owner of the car wash, Jouliet Hairapetian, told KTLA.

"They're not criminals," she said, adding that Lael has worked at the car wash for about 25 of its nearly 50-year history. "They're not drug dealers. They're hardworking people. I don't understand it."

A GoFundMe for the Lael family indicates they depended on his income.

"He’s a hard working man who goes to work every single day and doesn’t even bother taking a day off from work to be able to provide for our family," the family said. "My brother and I are left scared, stressed, and full of anxiety not knowing what to do next our how we’re going to be able to afford rent for this upcoming month."

Federal officials did not return KTLA's request for comment, but this story will be updated when a response is received.

San Gabriel Valley football: Week 0 schedule, Aug. 21-23

Mon, 18 Aug 2025 12:44:00 +0000

HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

All games start at 7 p.m. unless noted.

THURSDAY’S GAMES

Glendora at Chino Hills

Whittier at Temple City

Whittier Christian at San Gabriel

Bosco Tech at Rosemead

La Puente vs. Covina at Covina District Field

Glenn at Mountain View

El Segundo at South Pasadena

Century at Gabrielino

FRIDAY’S GAMES

South Hills vs. El Rancho at SoFi Stadium, 8:45 p.m.

Arcadia at El Monte

St. Paul at Bishop Amat

Bonita at Muir

Sonora at Brea Olinda

Burbank at San Dimas

Cantwell-Sacred Heart at Pasadena

Charter Oak at Canyon

Damien at Aquinas

Duarte vs. Azusa at Citrus College

Ganesha at Diamond Ranch

Keppel at Baldwin Park

La Salle at La Canada

Lakeside at Pomona

Los Altos at Wilson

Maranatha at Arroyo

Brentwood at Monrovia

Nogales at California

Norwalk at Montebello

Heritage Christian at San Marino

Pioneer at Santa Fe

Schurr at Rio Hondo Prep

St. Bonaventure at St. Francis

Upland at La Habra

Walnut at Garey

Workman at Western Christian

Northview at Green Valley

South Gate at La Mirada

La Serna at Rancho Bernardo

Mendez at Bassett

West Valley at Sierra Vista

SATURDAY’S GAMES

El Dorado at Diamond Bar

South El Monte at Alhambra

Whittier gang member pleads guilty to crimes including killing a woman in Commerce

Thu, 14 Aug 2025 09:17:52 +0000

A lead Whittier gang member pleaded guilty to federal charges on Wednesday, including fatally shooting a woman in Commerce while trying to kill a law enforcement source in March 2022 and the attempted murder of a rival gang member earlier in the year, the U.S. Justice Department said.

Chase Carrillo, 36, also known as “Sicko,” pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act and one count of using a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence that resulted in death, according to a DOJ news release. Carrillo is the lead defendant in a 16-count superseding indictment aimed at the Quiet Village gang in Whittier and has been in federal custody since July 2023.

Authorities began investigating Whittier’s Quiet Village gang after one member fatally gunned down two El Monte police officers in 2022.

Carrillo engaged in Quiet Village gang activities from at least 2014 until June 2023, according to the news release. That included his assault of two state corrections officers while serving a sentence in a state prison in September 2014. Carrillo’s plea agreement details the history of the Quiet Village gang and its close association with another Whittier street gang.

On Jan. 13, 2022, Carrillo was engaged in an altercation with an El Monte rival gang member. The argument resulted in Carrillo and his accomplice shooting the rival gang member, who was left severely injured.

On March 3, 2022, an accomplice got a hold of a police report about the incident with the rival gang member, and it named a victim identified in court documents as “J.P.” who purportedly provided police with information about the shooting, according to the news release. Another accomplice was asked to hand out the report “to all the homies.” That message was interpreted to mean that fellow gang members should kill J.P. for talking with authorities.

Two days later on March 5, 2022, Carrillo and an accomplice were driving a car rented with a stolen credit card when they encountered J.P. in Commerce. Carrillo got out of the rented vehicle and tried to kill J.P. by firing at least two bullets into the vehicle he was in. J.P. was not hit, but the woman who was driving the vehicle was fatally struck. She is identified in court documents as “M.F.”

In his plea agreement, Carrillo admitted his goal in killing J.P. was to rise up the ranks of the Quiet Village enterprise, according to the DOJ.

Carrillo also admitted that he caused at least $150,000 in losses and damages to the El Monte shooting victim and at least $150,000 in losses and damages to the next of kin and heir to M.F.

Carrillo will be sentenced on Feb. 26 and faces a maximum sentence of life in federal prison.

This investigation was conducted by a joint task force comprised of the FBI’s San Gabriel Valley Safe Streets Task Force and involved agents and officers assigned to the Task Force from the FBI, the El Monte Police Department, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, the Pomona Police Department and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation’s Special Service Unit. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives also participated in the investigation.

SGV football preview: Ranking the area’s best running backs

Thu, 14 Aug 2025 08:38:36 +0000

A look at top five running backs in the San Gabriel Valley area going into the 2025 high school football season.

TOP RUNNING BACKS

1. Noah Penunuri, Rio Hondo Prep, Senior

During the CIF Southern Section and state playoffs last season, everyone knew Penunuri would get the football, and he delivered anyway. The 5-foot-11, 175-pound back led the Kares to their second consecutive CIF-SS championship, beating Warren 43-16 in the Division 7 title game. Penunuri rushed for 203 yards and three TDs in the title game and was later named Division 7 player of the year. He was also named the Pasadena Star News player of the year. Even in the Kares’ thrilling 42-41 loss to Vanden in the CIF State Division 3-A championship game, Penunuri finished with 232 yards and five touchdowns. He’s an absolute gamer, having rushed for 1,965 yards and 31 touchdowns last season. Penunuri will be called on even more his senior season. Whatever you do, don’t bet against him.

Bonita’s Joseph Lara (2) makes a reception for a touchdown against Charter Oak during the first half of a Sierra League prep football game at Charter Oak High School in Covina, Calif. on Friday, Oct. 18, 2024. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)

2. Joseph Lara, Bonita, Junior

Some will argue that Lara was the Bearcats’ most impactful player during a season in which they finished 11-1 and advanced to the CIF-SS Division 3 quarterfinals. As a sophomore, Lara did it all against great competition, rushing for 858 yards and six touchdowns, and adding 33 receptions for 406 yards and four TDs. Lara was named to the Division 3 first team. He is also an excellent linebacker. He was fourth on the team in tackles last season with 53. Hard to believe he’s only a junior and the best is yet to come.

3. Kevika Mata-Utia Martinez, La Habra, Junior

Martinez was the top back on a team that finished 10-2 and advanced to the CIF-SS Division 3 quarterfinals. Martinez earned Epsilon League first team honors by rushing for 1,021 yards and 15 touchdowns. And he did it against a tough schedule. He rushed for 169 yards against Upland, and in a thrilling 37-35 victory over Huntington Beach, Martinez led the way with 126 yards and four touchdowns. Martinez was a sophomore last season and will be called upon to do more this season. He didn’t catch a lot of balls out of the backfield, so look for him to expand his role to be more durable this season. Either way, you can expect another 1,000-yard rushing season.

4. Ryan Salcedo, Bishop Amat, Senior

Salcedo will have to lead the way for Bishop Amat to turn things around after going 2-8 last season. His talent is unquestionable, and it’s his third year starting in the backfield. While the Lancers struggled last season, Salcedo still managed to rush for 790 yards and nine touchdowns. Put Salcedo on any other SGV squad, and he’s an instant 1,000-yard rusher. Amat has improved its offensive line, and when Amat is good, it runs the football. It has been a while since a running back put up great numbers, but Salcedo is the Lancers’ best chance to break through. Bishop Amat hoped to add Crean Lutheran transfer Caleb Bey to join Salcedo, but Bey’s transfer request was denied, leaving Salcedo a heavy workload.

5. Devin Clark, Santa Fe, Senior

The Chiefs’ top back was special last season, rushing for 1,476 yards and 23 touchdowns to earn Del Rio League offensive most valuable player honors. He was also named to the San Gabriel Valley All-Area first team. Clark rushed for over 100 yards in nine games and topped the 200-yard mark in two games. He rushed for 216 yards and four touchdowns in a loss to Covina, and led the way against a stout El Rancho squad with 216 yards and a touchdown in a 21-14 victory.

Others to watch: There are three players who were also considered for the top five: Damien junior Malachi McFarland, St. Paul junior Marley Luatua and Muir senior Alijah Parker. McFarland has offers to Sacramento State and San Diego State. The Spartans are a pass-heavy team, but look for McFarland to be much more involved in the offense. Luatua was an Angelus League first team pick and was named to the SGV All-Area second team. He was solid last season, finishing with 835 yards and 10 touchdowns. Parker, a Pacific League first team selection, had a great season too, rushing for 982 yards and 12 touchdowns. With the Mustangs loving to run the football, expect another heavy workload this season. St. Paul also boasts Jordan Lauago, a transfer from La Mirada who could do big things. St. Francis recently added Elijah Wilson, a junior transfer from St. Monica Prep who ran for 887 yards and eight TDs. San Gabriel didn’t play the toughest schedule, but Adam Mascorro took care of his business. Mascorro was third in the area in rushing last season with 2,010 yards and 14 TDs. Others you can expect to put up big yards are South Pasadena’s Trey Freking, El Monte’s Isaiah Standley, Covina’s Gatsbee Gumban, La Canada’s Dash Paper, Rowland’s Bryce Johnson, West Covina’s Noah Davis and the South Hills duo of Sebastian Morinaga and Tyler Arguinzoni.

San Gabriel Valley 2025 high school football team previews

Mortgage payoff is ‘incredible blessing’ for late El Monte police chief’s family

Fri, 08 Aug 2025 16:04:00 +0000

When former El Monte Police Chief Benjamin Lowry passed away in 2022, he left a giant legacy in his city.

He was the beloved home-grown leader, who rose through the ranks. The stoic chief, with an ethic that endeared him to his officers, friends and colleagues.

It was Lowry, after all, who amid the city’s darkest days, just months before his own passing, brought his mourning department and the tight-knit city together. That’s when two young police officers, Joseph Santana and Michael Paredes, were shot and killed responding to a domestic violence call.

Lowry had just taken the reins as chief after 20 years of rising through the ranks, and emerged as a strong but consoling force amid the tragedy. And then, in the following October, he died of cancer, at age 45.

His legacy would grow in the months and years since, but there was one thing: a mortgage.

Now, nearing the third anniversary of the family’s loss, that has been taken care of.

This past Independence Day, the Tunnel to Towers Foundation paid off the mortgage on the Lowry family’s home in Glendora.

Lowry’s family — his wife, Amber, and their four children, Jake, Ella, Ivy and Porter — was one of 25 recipients nationwide to receive the mortgage payment as part of the organization’s Tunnel to Towers Foundation’s Fallen First Responder Home Program.

Tunnel to Towers Foundation is proud to announce that it has fully paid off the mortgage on the home of late El Monte Police Chief Benjamin Lowry, ensuring his family can remain in the house they shared. Lowry and his wife Amber are pictured here. (Courtesy, Tunnel to Towers Foundation)

The program aims to ease financial burdens for affected families and ensure they can stay in their schools, homes and communities.

“When you’re navigating something so heavy, to have something like that taken care of is just an incredible blessing,” said Amber, speaking about the mortgage payment.

The program pays off the mortgages for families of first-responders who died in the line of duty or from “9/11-related illnesses” — a term Tunnel to Towers uses to refer to any sort of illness contracted because of exposure to toxins on the job, but it’s not necessarily related to 9/11, said Larry Olson, its head of communications.

Lowry died on Oct. 24, 2022, after battling a rare Lipo-Sarcoma cancer. According to Amber Lowry, multiple doctors and specialists confirmed that his occupational exposure to toxins — from sources like asbestos, gunpowder or car exhaust, common for first-responder environments — contributed to the development of his cancer.

Lowry joined the El Monte Police Department in 2002, and steadily rose through the ranks as a detective, lieutenant and interim chief before being appointed police chief in June 2022.

That same month brought not just the devastating news of the slain El Monte officers. But Lowry learned his cancer came back. He got the news the same day the officers were fatally shot.

“Heartbroken” by their deaths, Lowry helped lead the memorial services for the slain police officers while quietly battling his cancer.

The city of El Monte dedicated its Police Services Building after Chief Benjamin Lowry, who passed away a year, during a memorial service at El Monte Police Department on Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2023. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)

Amber Lowry described the camaraderie her late husband experienced at the department, likening it to a brotherhood or sisterhood.

After his passing, she described some of the police officers playing football with one of their sons, Porter, sending food to their front doorstep, and some off-duty who provided their home security in the evenings.

The department even honored Lowry’s service by naming the police station after him and dedicating a plaque in its Main Police Services Building.

“Through the kindness of Ben’s coworkers,” Amber Lowry stated, such as current El Monte Police Chief Jake Fisher, he was nominated as one of the police officers to be recognized nationwide for Tunnel to Tower’s Fallen First Responder Home Program.

Benjamin’s family was notified last fall that he was selected by Tunnel to Towers for the program.

“It is so heartwarming to have a true not-for-profit organization that provides miracles to families that have lost a loved one on the front lines to protect others,” said Jake Lowry, Ben Lowry’s brother. “The fact that Amber and [her] children can smile and laugh and be in their stable home is really nothing short of a miracle.”

The non-profit organization is headquartered in New York City and was founded in the immediate aftermath of 9/11 in tribute to New York Fire Department firefighter, Stephen Siller, who was killed in the attacks.

Julianna Lozada is freelance writer in Southern California.

Hemet man faces life sentence for killing Rialto driver on 10 Freeway, El Monte man at park

Thu, 07 Aug 2025 15:02:17 +0000

A jury recently convicted a Hemet man for fatally shooting a Rialto woman on the 10 Freeway in El Monte and gunning down a father setting up for his daughter’s birthday party at an El Monte park eight years ago.

George Rosales, who also appears in the sheriff’s booking system as Jorge Rosales, faces life in prison without parole at his Oct. 14 sentencing at Pomona Superior Court.

Jurors in his second trial deliberated five hours over two days, said Deputy District Attorney Lance Hansen, who prosecuted the case.

On Tuesday, they found the 53-year-old Rosales guilty of two counts of first-degree murder, three counts of assault with a firearm as well as one count each of reckless evading police, being a felon in possession of ammunition and unlawful gun possession after a conviction.

The jury also found true the special allegation of multiple murders, Hansen said.

The gun Rosales threw during a chase involving San Bernardino County Sheriff’s deputies was tied to the two murders, he said.

Video showed his van was seen at both murder scenes, and cell phone evidence placed him near the shootings, according to Hansen.

“I felt we have overwhelming evidence against (him),” Hansen said.

Rosales’ attorney couldn’t be reached for comment on Thursday.

“They said it wasn’t him,” the prosecutor said, adding the defense argued there was insufficient evidence.

The motive behind the 2017 crime spree remains a mystery. Rosales didn’t know any of the victims, Hansen said.

On April 11, 2017, Rosales pointed a pistol at three people in El Monte, then about 30 minutes later, shot Christine Ramos, 36, of Rialto as she was driving home on the 10 freeway, Hansen said.

A tow truck driver saw a Chevrolet Malibu on the right shoulder of the 10 freeway around 4 a.m. that morning, according to the California Highway Patrol. The car had collided with a wall. He stopped to offer help and saw an unresponsive Ramos, who had been shot in the head. He called 911.

Rosales appeared at his ex-wife’s apartment in El Monte around 5:30 a.m. on April 15, 2017 and asked her for gas money, Hansen said.

After he left, she heard a gunshot, the prosecutor said. The former wife lived at an apartment complex adjacent to Baldwin Avenue Mini Park, he said.

Alejandro Miranda, 35, of El Monte was setting up a birthday party for his daughter at the park located at 3750 Baldwin Ave.

Miranda told police he heard a gunshot and felt pain in his back, Hansen said, adding the victim saw a man drive off in a van.

Rosales next turned up in Fontana on the same day.

Deputies went to a call around 11:50 a.m. of a man with a gun in the 9500 block of Alder Avenue in Fontana. The man was in a Town and Country van.

Deputies tried to pull Rosales over but he drove off. The pursuit ended on the westbound 10 freeway at Euclid Avenue. Deputies arrested him and recovered a gun.

Miranda, the man shot at the El Monte park, died at a hospital on April 26, 2017 from a gunshot wound to the back, the medical examiner’s office said.

Rosales was first tried last year. The judge declared a mistrial as a result of a disturbance in court, Hansen said.

2 Southern California residents charged with illegally exporting GPU chips for AI to China

Wed, 06 Aug 2025 17:53:54 +0000

Two Southern California residents have been arrested on suspicion of knowingly exporting tens of millions of dollars’ worth of sensitive microchips used in artificial intelligence applications to China and have been charged with a felony, the Department of Justice announced on Tuesday.

Chuan Geng, a 28-year-old resident of Pasadena, and Shiwei Yang, a 28-year-old resident of El Monte, are charged with violating the Export Control Reform Act, according to a DOJ news release. The felony carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison. Geng surrendered to federal authorities on Saturday and Yang was arrested earlier that day.

A federal judge ordered Geng released on $250,000 bond at their initial appearance in court on Monday, according to the news release. A detention hearing for Yang was scheduled for Aug. 12. An arraignment is scheduled for Sept. 11. No pleas were taken.

Geng is a lawful permanent resident from China. Yang is a Chinese immigrant who overstayed her visa.

According to the complaint, the defendants knowingly exported sensitive technology from the U.S. to China for almost three years, including specialized computer parts known as graphic processing units used for advanced computing, through their El Monte-based company, ALX Solutions, Inc. without first obtaining the proper licensing or authorization from the U.S. Department of Commerce.

The defendants’ company was founded not too long after the Commerce Department started requiring licenses for the modern microchips that Yang and Geng are accused to have illegally exported, according to court records.

According to the news release, an analysis of various records shows that a December 2024 shipment and at least 20 previous shipments from ALX Solutions involved intermediary shipping and freight-forwarding companies in Singapore and Malaysia, sites that are commonly used as shipping transfer points to hide illegal shipments to China.

ALX Solutions has reportedly not received payments from the entities they supposedly exported goods through, according to the DOJ. The company instead received multiple payments from Hong Kong and China based companies, including a $1 million payment from a China-based company in January 2024.

In December 2024, ALX Solutions sent a shipment with a label falsely stating it was sending GPUs subject to federal laws and regulations, when in actuality the shipment contained GPUs requiring a license for export to China. Neither the defendants nor the company applied for or obtained a license from the Commerce Department.

The GPU chip, made by a manufacturer of high-performance AI chips, is one of the most powerful of its kind on the market, according to the World Economic Forum, and is “designed specifically for AI applications.”

Last week, law enforcement raided the ALX Solutions office and took phones belonging to the defendants that uncovered incriminating communications between Geng and Yang, including messaging about shipping export-controlled chips to China via Malaysia to dodge U.S. export laws, according to the news release.

Los Angeles County business illegally sent AI chips to China: DOJ

Tue, 05 Aug 2025 17:37:20 +0000

Two Southern California residents have been arrested and face federal criminal charges for allegedly illegally sending "tens of millions of dollars’ worth of sensitive microchips used in artificial intelligence (AI) applications" to China.

"Chuan Geng, 28, of Pasadena, and Shiwei Yang, 28, of El Monte, are charged with violating the Export Control Reform Act, a felony that carries a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison," the U.S. Department of Justice said in a news release.

From 2022 to last month, the pair sent graphic processing units, which the DOJ describes as "specialized computer parts used for modern computing," to Singapore and Malaysia through their El Monte-based company ALX Solutions Inc.

Those two countries are "commonly are used as transshipment points to conceal illegal shipments to China," and the payments received by ALX Solutions came not from the purported recipients of the chips, but from "companies based in Hong Kong and China, including a $1 million payment from a China-based company in January 2024," the DOJ said.

Shipping these chips, which the DOJ describes as “the most powerful GPU chip on the market” designed for use in "self-driving cars, medical diagnosis systems, and other AI-powered applications," to China would require special approval from the U.S. Department of Commerce, permission that the DOJ said was never sought or granted.

In fact, prosecutors allege Geng and Yang intentionally tried to skirt that requirement.

"Last week, law enforcement searched ALX Solutions’ office and seized the phones belonging to Geng and Yang that revealed incriminating communications between the defendants, including communications about shipping export-controlled chips to China through Malaysia to evade U.S. export laws," the release said.

Geng, a legal permanent resident, was released on $250,000 bond. Yang, who overstayed her visa, has a detention hearing set for Aug. 12.

Both are scheduled to be arraigned on Sept. 11.

Private plane stolen twice from different airports, ends up in El Monte

Tue, 05 Aug 2025 14:03:22 +0000

Jason Hong of Yorba Linda kept his 1958 Cessna Skyhawk at the Corona Municipal Airport, but discovered it missing when he dropped by late last month. The plane turned up two days later at Brackett Field Airport in La Verne.

Then it got stolen again.

Hong, 75, discovered the second theft when he showed up to work on the plane, from which he previously had removed the battery.

“The airplane is missing again. Unbelievable,” Hong said.

The stolen plane was found — again — on Sunday night, Aug. 3, at the San Gabriel Valley Airport at 4233 Santa Anita Ave. in El Monte.

Nobody was in the plane. But it now had a battery, which Hong estimated was worth a couple hundred dollars. Whoever stole his Cessna from Brackett Field at 1615 McKinley Ave. in La Verne had to install a battery then fly it to El Monte, he reasoned.

Hong’s plane is hard to miss. The previous owner had it painted a bright red with stripes of purple, blue, yellow and orange. Hong, who bought it in the ’90s, called it a unique color.

He kept the Cessna at Corona Municipal Airport at 1900 Aviation Drive for years.

“We don’t go every day. We don’t have time,” he said.

So when he decided to drop by the airport on Sunday, July 27, he got the first shock.

“The airplane was gone. It’s not a crowded airport, not too many people there,” Hong said.

Why had the plane been taken, he wondered. Was it to sell it or take it for a joyride?

Hong reported the theft to Corona police on July 28 and told police he last saw the plane May 1, according to Corona Police Sgt. Robert Montanez.

Before it was stolen from Corona, a website that tracks flights show the Cessna had two flights.

On July 25, the plane was spotted near La Verne at 9:54 p.m. then seen near Palm Springs at 10:45 p.m. There was another flight on July 26, which started near Riverside at 1:31 a.m. and ended near La Verne at 1:53 a.m.

La Verne police called Hong and said that the Cessna was found at Brackett Field on July 29.

The plane was parked in front of the office, Hong said. The battery was dead so he removed it. When he returned Sunday, Aug. 3, the plane was gone. He headed to the La Verne Police Department to file a report.

La Verne police told El Monte police to be on the lookout for the stolen plane, El Monte Police Lt. Aram Choe said.

Officers received information about the plane being in their area, went to the San Gabriel Valley Airport and notified security. They discovered the Cessna there around 10:30 p.m. on Sunday, Choe said.

Hong found a key, a pair of glasses, a jacket, pepper and cleaning solution in the plane.

He also talked to the manager, who told him about seeing a woman with the plane several times. Hong was also told the woman would stay inside the plane and didn’t enter the air conditioned building.

Hong also met a man at the San Gabriel Valley Airport who had seen the woman and talked to her. The man thought the woman, who told him she was from Chino, owned Hong’s plane.

The woman was described as being in her 40s and short, about 5 feet 3 inches tall.

A man who answered the phone at the San Gabriel Valley Airport referred this newspaper to a county spokesperson.

Hong believes the same person is behind both thefts.

“Why steal a plane? For what, and continually (too)?” he asked.

El Monte Union student athletes compete in national wrestling tournament

Mon, 04 Aug 2025 14:15:07 +0000

A group of six El Monte Union High School District students represented their schools at the 2025 Beat the Streets National Camp and Duals June 24-26 at the University of Pennsylvania.

The students who earned the spots at the weeklong National Camp and Duals included Joaquin Almendariz, Lucas Long and Destiny Huitron of Arroyo High School; Sara Ayala from Mountain View High School; Jade Linarte and Alexzandra Cardenas of South El Monte High School.

According to the district, the students joined athletes selected from 12 Los Angeles County wrestling programs, and earned their spots on the Greater Los Angeles team with standout participation in the Beat the Streets Los Angeles Tomorrow’s Leaders program. The Greater Los Angeles girls team earned a second-place finish, while the boys placed fifth overall.

“This is a truly unique opportunity for our students, many of whom may not otherwise have the means to travel or engage in experiences like this,” EMUHSD Math Teacher and BTS volunteer Alejandro Sanchez said. “We’re proud to continue this tradition and are already looking forward to taking our team to Cleveland next year.”

The district said the BTS program serves more than 1,600 youth annually, offering not only mentorship and gear, but also leadership workshops, career exploration, and college readiness training. Students completed intensive wrestling prep and training in the week leading up to the competition.

During their trip to Philadelphia, students were able to tour East Coast universities while also training with former Olympians.

“We are incredibly proud of our students and their remarkable achievement,” EMUHSD Superintendent Edward Zuniga said. “We value the strong partnership we’ve built and look forward to seeing how the [BTS] program continues to thrive in our schools.”

Gladys Vargas is reporting for the Southern California News Group through the U.C. Berkeley Local News Fellowship.

El Monte to vote on police policy on identifying federal agents

Wed, 09 Jul 2025 16:16:44 +0000

The El Monte City Council will vote July 9 on the Police Department’s position of only requiring outside enforcement agents to identify themselves on a case-by-case basis.

Within this policy, local law enforcement will not be required to routinely identify federal agents engaged in immigration enforcement. Instead, they will do so at each police officer’s discretion, according to a July 4 staff report to the Council.

The department referred to the California Values Act (SB 54) as a legal delineation that discourages local police departments from engaging in “proactive immigration enforcement activities under the jurisdiction of federal agencies,” the report read.

“This discretionary approach allows officers to take reasonable steps to ensure the safety of our community. It strikes a balance between respecting outside jurisdictions and safeguarding our residents against unauthorized or improper enforcement actions,” the department wrote. “We will continue to serve in a transparent and collaborative manner that places the needs and concerns of our residents at the forefront of our public safety mission.”

Stepped-up Immigration and Customs Enforcement enforcement has been reported cities across the country. Protests in response to the arrests sparked protests that sparked President Donald Trump to deploy National Guard and U.S. Marine troops to Los Angeles. Local officials have broadly condemned the deployment as well as the raids themselves.

Administration officials say the immigration enforcement is aimed at dangerous felons and have been successful in detaining many people here illegally with criminal records. Critics say many people without criminal backgrounds, including U.S. Citizens – have been detained by officers, often masked with no official uniform or markings, who fail to identify themselves as designate that they are immigration agents.

El Monte has been affected by ICE raids. For example, the ICE Facebook page posted a video June 13 of agents handcuffing two men in El Monte, pushing them into an unmarked car.

With many people sheltering-in-place to avoid detainment, the city recently launched an effort to ensure that residents of the city will still be able to access food, legal aid and more in a program called “El Monte Cares,” modeled after similar programs established at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Local comedian Johnny Roque posted a flyer on Instagram encouraging people to attend the July 9 City Council meeting to show support and togetherness for the community.

“With everything that’s changing, everything that’s happening right now, community organization is very important,” Roque said.

Río Hondo College Awarded $1M Grant To Help Unhoused Students

Thu, 27 Jan 2022 21:07:07 +0000

WHITTIER (CBSLA) – Río Hondo College was awarded a grant of nearly $1 million in federal funds to support unhoused and transitionally unhoused students, the Whittier community college announced Thursday.

The funds will increase staffing for the Hope Scholars Program, an assistance project that provides support services for students in need. The college was one of five schools nationally to receive a Basic Needs in Postsecondary Education award from the U.S. Department of Education.

According to the college, the funds will allow the program to increase community awareness and expand support services including tutoring and success coaching, academic counseling, mental health services and financial literacy programs.

Since moving to remote operations due to COVID-19, the college has received an additional $2.49 million in grants to increase supportive services, provide basic necessities and crisis intervention, according to the school.

The latest grant “allows us the ability to scale up our efforts to support students experiencing these problems through the Hope Scholars program,” Dr. Earic Dixon-Peters, vice president of Student Services, said in a statement. “We believe our work changes lives.”

The program helps students access temporary housing, receive counseling and register for classes. Since introducing the Hope Scholars Program in the 2019-2020 academic year, Río Hondo has seen a 184.3% increase in services provided directly to students, according to the college.

Firefighters Battle Blaze Near American Military Museum In El Monte

Fri, 31 Dec 2021 07:30:56 +0000

EL MONTE (CBSLA) — Los Angeles County Fire Department crews were battling a massive fire near the American Military History Museum in El Monte on Thursday evening.

A massive burst of fire from the fire in El Monte. (Photo Credit: Sky9 Chopper)

The structure fire engulfed one commercial building, prompting crews to take the offensive in fighting the Second-Alarm fire.

As of 9:45 p.m., the fire was still ongoing with multiple crews on scene. The fire was reported as contained just prior to 11:30 p.m.

CHP announced a Sigalert in response to the fire, which closed the westbound SR-60 to the northbound Rosemead Boulevard offramp until midnight.

The sprawling property of the museum is covered in antique military vehicles, including a number of tanks, as the museum is alternatively known as “Tank Land.”

Fire crews indicated that a nearby building was in fact the structure that was on fire, and that they were protecting the museum, which contained countless amounts of priceless memorabilia.

Just after 10:00 p.m., LACFD reported that they were sending a Health Hazmat team to the scene after reports that a honey butane lab was located inside of the property.

Honey butane, or hash oil, is used in the production of creating purified marijuana that is extracted from plants. The finished product is traditionally used in marijuana pens and edibles.

There are no reported injuries.

This is a developing story. Check back for details.

Investigation Underway Following Fatal Shooting In El Monte

Mon, 27 Dec 2021 19:20:10 +0000

EL MONTE (CBSLA) — Authorities on Monday were investigating a fatal shooting that occurred during the early morning hours, just prior to 1 a.m.

The shooting occurred on Gage Avenue in El Monte. The victim, a 34-year-old man, was transported to a medical facility, where he later succumbed to his injuries.

When authorities arrived on scene they found the man suffering from a gunshot wound to the lower torso.

There is no known motive or suspect identified at the time.

Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputies asked the El Monte Police Department for assistance in the investigation.

Anyone with information about the incident is encouraged to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500.

Man Arrested In Murder Of His 89-Year-Old Grandmother In El Monte

Wed, 15 Dec 2021 18:20:12 +0000

EL MONTE (CBSLA) – A man was taken into custody after his 89-year-old grandmother was murdered late Tuesday night in an El Monte residence.

The woman was found with traumatic upper body injuries by El Monte police officers who were called for a welfare check at a home in the 11300 block of Cedar Circle just before 11 p.m., according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

She was rushed to a hospital, where she died, the sheriff’s department said. Her name was not immediately released.

Her 31-year-old grandson was identified as a suspect. He was located and taken into custody on suspicion of murder.

There was no word on a motive in the killing.

Police Apprehend All Suspects Connected To The Hate Crime And Assault In El Monte

Mon, 15 Nov 2021 05:42:23 +0000

EL MONTE (CBSLA) – El Monte Police on Sunday evening were involved in a pursuit with a suspect wanted for an alleged hate crime assault.

According to authorities, the hate crime assault happened at Mariposa Park in El Monte against an African American juvenile and his father at 7:48 p.m. El Monte Police Department responded to the scene when the vehicle took off.

The pursuit began in El Monte before the suspect took an onramp onto the I-10 Westbound towards Union Station and Chinatown. They then headed through Lincoln Heights before remerging onto the I-10 Freeway, this time headed Eastbound.

The gray sedan was packed with five occupants including the driver.

The suspect was clocked going speeds of over 100 miles per hour on several instances, and their travel into the city was likely intended to make things more difficult for pursuing police.

El Monte Police requested assistance from California Highway Patrol, who took over the pursuit after several minutes.

Shortly after exiting I-10, the vehicle was stopped by traffic when the occupants of the vehicle began to scatter out. Authorities apprehended two occupants and the driver while two others fled from the scene. A fourth suspect was apprehended shortly after fleeing. Police apprehended the fifth and final suspect after a short search of the area.

This is a breaking story. Check back for details.

Boy Wanted In Connection With Deadly Hit-And-Run Crash In Rosemead Missing

Sat, 13 Nov 2021 21:22:19 +0000

SOUTH EL MONTE (CBSLA) – The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Saturday circulated a photo of a 16-year-old boy who went missing in South El Monte and is also a person of interest in a fatal hit-and-run crash that occurred last week in Rosemead.

Mariano Coc went missing from his South El Monte home on Nov. 7, the sheriff’s Temple station reported. Detectives also believe that he may be the victim of a crime.

Coc was the last person seen with a 2009 black Nissan Altima with a gray bumper that was involved in a fatal-and-run crash Monday in Rosemead. It occurred at about 10:30 a.m. that day in the 2700 block of San Gabriel Boulevard, near the intersection of Garvey Avenue, and escalated into an argument between two people.

Riverside resident Haiou He, 61, exited his vehicle to speak with the other vehicle’s driver, when that driver allegedly put the vehicle in reverse and ran over He, who died Wednesday from his injuries at an area hospital.

The suspect’s vehicle, which has since been located, fled northbound on San Gabriel Boulevard and out of view.

It was determined during a subsequent investigation that the Altima belonged to a local family, and the last person to be seen with the vehicle was the 16-year-old boy, sheriff’s officials said.

Coc, along with the vehicle, were last seen on Nov. 8, between 5 and 7 a.m. According to multiple witnesses at the scene, the victim’s description of the hit-and-run driver does not match Coc’s description.

Detectives believe Coc may have become the victim of a crime.

He was described as a 5-foot-7-inch tall Latino boy with brown hair and brown eyes weighing 145 pounds. He was last seen wearing a tan tank top, light-colored jeans and black slip-on sandals.

The sheriff’s Temple station urged anyone with information regarding his whereabouts to call them at 626-292-3389 or Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477.

Graffiti Found At High School In El Monte Indicated Shooting Would Occur On Campus Monday

Mon, 01 Nov 2021 03:54:52 +0000

EL MONTE (CBSLA) – Officials at Arroyo High School in El Monte discovered graffiti in a bathroom indicating that a school shooting would take place on Monday, November 1.

Police were notified to determine the credibility of the message.

(credit: CBS)

Authorities at the El Monte Police Department told CBSLA they were aware of the graffiti message and said the matter is under investigation.

The department also said it would have extra patrols at the school tomorrow.

Driver Killed, 5 Injured In El Monte Shooting, Crash

Tue, 21 Sep 2021 12:45:54 +0000

EL MONTE (CBSLA) — A driver is believed to have shot himself to death just prior to causing a two-vehicle crash which injured five others in El Monte Monday evening.

Sept. 20, 2021. (CBSLA)

The shooting and crash was reported at 7:35 p.m. in the 2600 block of Mountain View Road, between Valley Boulevard and Peck Road, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

El Monte police arrived on scene to find one of the drivers bleeding from the head with a gunshot wound, the sheriff’s department said. He died at the scene. A handgun was also found in his car. The gunshot wound was believed to be self-inflicted.

The man’s name was not immediately released.

The victim’s car collided with a second car that was carrying a family of four, including a pregnant mother and two children.

The family were all rushed to local hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries, police said.

Investigators also learned that a female passenger in the victim’s car had jumped out before it had crashed, the sheriff’s department reported. She was also taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Mountain View Road and Elliott Avenue were closed during the investigation.

El Monte Union High School District Unveils New Fleet Of Electric School Buses

Thu, 19 Aug 2021 17:53:32 +0000

EL MONTE (CBSLA) — El Monte Union High School District officials and students cut a ribbon on its new fleet of electric school buses this week.

(credit: CBS)

The district on Wednesday unveiled its new fleet of 11 electric school buses, part of a pilot program from the California Air Resources Board. The agency gave El Monte Union High School District a nearly $10 million grant to purchase the buses and promote the state’s emphasis on zero-emissions technology and clean transportation.

El Monte was only one of three districts in the state chosen to receive the grant, which also funded a new curriculum to engage students in clean energy careers, all-electric maintenance vehicles, and heavy-duty charging stations and on-site energy storage that connects to the district’s existing solar system.

While electric vehicles are gaining in popularity throughout California, electric school buses are still a relative rarity. The Los Angeles Unified School District also unveiled its first electric school bus this year.

An infrastructure bill passed by the Senate earlier this month includes $5 billion for electric and low-emissions school buses, but must still pass in the House before President Biden can sign it into law.

Dodge Challenger Leads CHP On Pursuit Through El Monte

Wed, 11 Aug 2021 14:30:12 +0000

EL MONTE (CBSLA) – The driver of a Dodge Challenger who lead authorities on a pursuit through El Monte Wednesday morning before hiding in an apartment complex has been captured.

Aug. 11, 2021. (CBSLA)

The chase began sometime around 6:10 a.m. in the area of Valley Boulevard and Durfee Avenue when the driver ran through a California Highway Patrol traffic break.

It wound its way through surface streets in El Monte before coming to an end at Garvey and Musgrove avenues.

The suspect jumped out of the car and may have run into a nearby apartment complex, according to CHP.

With guns drawn, El Monte police and CHP officers formed a perimeter and searched the area. The suspect was captured and taken into custody at approximately 7 a.m.

The circumstances concerning what exactly prompted the pursuit were not immediately confirmed. It’s unclear how many people were in the vehicle.

Woman Arrested After Leading Police On Pursuit In Suspected Stolen Vehicle

Thu, 29 Jul 2021 02:56:17 +0000

EL MONTE (CBSLA) – A woman suspected of stealing a car was taken into custody in El Monte Wednesday after an approximately 75-minute chase that began in Fontana.

Officers first began pursuing the woman, driving a reported stolen Kia Soul, just before 5:30 p.m. after attempting to conduct a traffic stop on Interstate 15 at Baseline Avenue in Fontana, according to police.

The woman led police on freeways through Glendora and Baldwin Park before exiting onto surface streets in El Monte at about 6:15 p.m.

The woman continued to lead police on a chase until stopping in the area of Main Street and Santa Anita Avenue, where police boxed her in.

Fontana Police Department officers removed the woman from the car and took her into custody at about 6:45 p.m.

Caught On Video: El Camino Driver Stops To Slash Tires Of 3 El Monte Police Vehicles

Fri, 16 Jul 2021 00:07:05 +0000

EL MONTE (CBSLA) — The public’s help is needed Thursday to find a man who was caught on video, slashing the tires of three El Monte police vehicles.

The incident happened last Saturday while El Monte police officers were conducting an unrelated investigation in the 4000 block of Maxon Road. The officers returned to their vehicles to find six of their tires had been slashed.

“Thought this is just a property crime, the criminal actions of this suspect caused a delay in our response to needed critical services to our community,” an El Monte police statement said. “There was a delay in our police department’s response to pending calls that included a fight in progress between multiple people, a domestic disturbance which resulted in an arrest and other quality of life issues.”

(credit: El Monte Police Department)

Security video of the tire slashing showed the man had been driving a red Chevrolet El Camino pickup truck with chrome rims. The truck is seen driving by slowly, and returns to stop in the street, alongside two of the vehicles. The driver gets out, and even though his truck partially blocks the view of one of the vehicles, he moves alongside them and can be seen puncturing the tires of the vehicle not blocked by his truck.

With his truck’s driver’s side door left open in the street, the man then runs toward the police vehicle parked in a driveway, and punctures the driver’s side tires of that vehicle too, before driving away.

The suspect was described only as a Hispanic man wearing a black shirt and light-colored jeans but police are hoping someone will recognize the truck by a large sticker in the truck’s rear window that said “TESTAMENT” in green lettering.

Anyone with information about the truck or the tire slashing can call the El Monte Police Department.

Cow Captured In El Monte After Running Loose Through South El Monte, La Puente

Wed, 30 Jun 2021 22:53:03 +0000

EL MONTE (CBSLA) — A cow that got loose under the 60 Freeway in South El Monte has been corralled not far away in El Monte.

(credit: CBS)

Authorities were called to Durfee Avenue and Peck Road at about 4:07 a.m. on the report of a cow on the loose. It’s unclear where the cow came from or how it got loose, but the CHP says it did not impact the morning commute because it was ran off under the freeway.

The cow was spotted in the 13000 block of Proctor Avenue, but then later ran into the city of El Monte as authorities moved in to capture it.

Livestock is not what immediately comes to mind when thinking of Southern California, but this is the second incident of cows running loose in about a week.

On June 22, 40 cows escaped a slaughterhouse in Pico Rivera when an employee accidentally left a gate open. The cows stampeded through neighborhoods, caused some property damage, and one was shot to death by a deputy after charging at a family.

One of those cows, who evaded captured for at least a day, was granted a stay of execution by songwriter Diane Warren, who came forward to pay for the animal to live out its life at an animal sanctuary.

Community Honors Fallen Soldier Cpl. Mac Ortiz Of El Monte

Tue, 01 Jun 2021 01:11:57 +0000

EL MONTE (CBSLA) — When the remains of Army Cpl. Mac Ortiz were returned to the United States, his family welcomed him home, including siblings he never got to meet.

After almost 70 years, the remains of Army Cpl. Mac Ortiz were returned to his grateful family in late 2019. (Family photo)

“My dad, what he was told is that he took a direct hit on the tank, artillery tank, and they didn’t find any remains at all,” Manuel Ortiz said. “We felt our father’s hurt.”

Ortiz was born a few years after his 19-year-old brother was declared missing in action during the Korean War in 1950. Ortiz and his siblings grew up listening to stories about their brother from their father, a World War II veteran.

In 2017, they decided to provide their DNA to the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency in hopes that the organization would one day be able to identify their brother’s remains.

“And then we got notified that, through that summit that President [Donald] Trump and Kim [Jong-un] had in July 2018, they did find the remains and they did identify them as my brother’s,” Ortiz said.

And, after almost 70 years, the remains of Cpl. Ortiz were returned to his grateful family in late 2019.

“Our brother’s remains did come in on one of the caskets, number 27 out of the 55 that came in,” Ortiz said. “Very proud, proud.”

Cpl. Ortiz was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart, among several other medals, and was buried with honors at Riverside National Cemetery.

In honor of Cpl. Ortiz’s service, a new affordable housing community is being built in El Monte. It will be named Plaza Ortiz and will provide housing to low-income families and homeless veterans.

“They are going to have his plaques and his bio at the entrance of Plaza Ortiz,” Ortiz said. “It’s got a little courtyard in the middle, and it’s going to be really good to see once they complete it. Just take a lot of pride to say he was and is my brother.”

Man Shot To Death In El Monte, Shooter At Large

Mon, 05 Apr 2021 04:56:59 +0000

EL MONTE (CBSLA) – A man was shot to death Sunday in El Monte and the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department is assisting El Monte police in its investigation.

The shooting happened about 4:10 p.m. in the 9800 block of Rio Hondo Parkway, according to Deputy Eva Mendez.

The victim died at the scene. His name was withheld pending notification of next of kin.

A motive for the shooting was unknown and authorities have no suspect information at this point.

Anyone with information on this killing was asked to call the sheriff’s homicide unit at 323-890-5500. Tipsters can also call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477.

Hospital Surge Tent Turned Into Show Of Appreciation For El Monte Nurses, Healthcare Workers

Tue, 23 Mar 2021 22:09:56 +0000

EL MONTE (CBSLA) — At the height of the pandemic, surge tents were going up at hospitals across Southern California to help care for the overflow of COVID-19 patients. Today, one of those tents was turned into a rest and relaxation area for the nurses who helped get an El Monte hospital through the worst of the pandemic.

(credit: CBS)

American Career College put together an appreciation event Tuesday for hospital workers at the Greater El Monte Community Hospital by turning the once-surge tent into a relaxation lounge with gift bags and treats.

“Nothing has been like this,” nurse Abigail Clabecilla said. “Working so many crazy hours, and then just having to deal with so many losses of patients that you’re not used to.”

The college was well aware of how difficult that surge was – several of its nursing students did clinical rotations at the hospital.

“It’s been tough with covid, and for them to open their arms to us, we’ve been very grateful,” student Jessica Fletes said.

But hospitalization rates are going down, and healthcare workers are finally getting a chance to realize the positive impact they’ve had.

“This is a great surprise. It’s a great joy,” nurse Alma Cobarrubias said. “We work so hard, it’s been a difficult year. To see this and be appreciated, it feels really nice.”

Perhaps more so than everyone else, they’re looking forward to the end of the pandemic.

“Just to be able to start seeing each other’s regular faces, and then being able to give, like, your family a hug,” Clabecilla said. “Just hoping that the vaccine, everyone gets vaccinated soon, so we’ll have that.”

‘Our Hearts Are Still Sad’: Family Of Man Who Disappeared 28 Years Ago Holding Out Hope For Justice

Fri, 05 Mar 2021 07:28:28 +0000

EL MONTE (CBSLA) — It has been almost three decades since a Southland man walked out of his home for a business meeting and never returned.

Austin Jay Smith, 23, went missing 28 years ago. (CBSLA)

“Anniversaries, birthdays, the holidays, there’s always one person missing, and so they’re always difficult,” Teddie Smith, the victim’s sister, said. “Our hearts are still sad.”

That sadness became part of the Smith family’s life 28 years ago when Austin Jay Smith went missing.

“His life was good,” Smith said. “There was no reason to just walk out.”

The 23-year-old, who went by Jay, walked out of the El Monte home he shared with his mother on March 23, 1993. The aspiring accountant hasn’t been seen since.

Det. Richard Lopez, of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Cold Case Unit took over Jay’s case in 2013. By that time, the missing person case had turned into a homicide investigation.

According to family members, Jay went to meet his former employer at Rosemead High School around 8:30 p.m. The man, a stage crew manager at the school’s auditorium, told Jay that he could borrow some equipment for the DJ work he did on the side to support his widowed mother.

Jay’s mother and girlfriend at the time said they were concerned about the meeting because he had a strained relationship with his former boss, so his girlfriend drove to the auditorium.

“While she was there, she noticed that Jay’s little 1992 Mazda pick-up truck was parked right next to the former employer’s truck, which had a camper,” Lopez said.

After a while, Jay’s girlfriend knocked on the door of the auditorium to check on him.

“The former employer denied her entrance and actually slammed the door in her face,” Lopez said.

Investigators have photos of both Smith’s white pick-up truck and the vehicle of a suspect in the his disappearance. (CBSLA)

The woman left the school, but when she drove past again — just after 11 p.m. — she noticed that the two vehicles were still there. When Jay didn’t come home, the search began.

Investigators soon learned that another school employee saw Jay’s former boss walking back to the auditorium at about midnight the night of the meeting and offered him a ride. The employee said when the man got in the vehicle, he was disheveled and mumbling.

When they got to the auditorium, the employee said that Jay’s truck was no longer in the parking lot. The truck was found the next night, parked behind a dumpster a few blocks from the high school.

“So that’s pretty damning right there,” Lopez said. “There were three different versions of what the employer said happened to Jay or who Jay left with. He was the last one to see Jay alive.”

Investigators questioned the man, who was now a suspect in Jay’s disappearance, and others to figure out a motive. Detectives found out that Jay had sent a letter to the school board telling them that his former boss was stealing funds from the school by renting out the auditorium and equipment and pocketing the money.

“The former employer had talked to several students that had explained that he knew that it was Jay who turned him in, and that he told one student that if he had a chance, he’d take Jay to an alley and beat him up,” Lopez said.

The detectives searched Jay’s truck, but didn’t find any evidence. They searched the auditorium and found a small amount of blood, but it was accidentally discarded before Lopez took over the case. But what wasn’t found in the auditorium was a large barrel that students used for their theater productions.

“The barrel was missing shortly after Jay went missing,” Lopez said. “Jay’s body could’ve been moved in that barrel.”

Since Smith’s disappearance, detectives have gathered boxes full of evidence including photographs, documents and interviews. (CBSLA)

With all of the information gathered, investigators and the Smith family believe Jay was killed and his former boss was somehow involved.

“He left the scene and was gone for two weeks,” Smith said. “So he had two weeks to take him anywhere and dump him.”

Over the years, detectives compiled extensive evidence including boxes of documents, interviews and photos. Authorities also had a suspect and a probable motive, but it was not enough for prosecutors to file criminal charges because Jay’s body has not yet been found.

According to Lopez, prosecutors in 1993 did not try no-body cases due to the difficulty of a successful conviction.

“You’ll have to answer someday to what you’ve done,” Smith said.

Until an arrest is made, the Smiths know that the man suspected of being involved will continue to live life with his family in the Southland. A request for comment from the man was not immediately returned.

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

El Monte PD Releases Sketch Of Man Wanted In Connection With Fatal Hit-And-Run

Wed, 03 Mar 2021 04:40:15 +0000

EL MONTE (CBSLA) — The El Monte Police Department Tuesday released a sketch of a man wanted in connection with a fatal hit-and-run.

The suspected driver is described as a 5-foot-10 Asian male weighing approximately 175 pounds between the ages of 30 and 40 with black hair and brown eyes.

According to police, the suspect was driving a black Toyota Tacoma at about 7 p.m. Feb. 20 when he struck a motorcyclist, identified as 56-year-old John Spata, near the intersection of Peck and Lower Azusa roads.

Spata was taken to a nearby hospital where he died from his injuries.

Anyone with information about the fatal crash is asked to call police at 626-580-2100.

Family, Friends Mourn Motorcyclist Killed In El Monte Hit-And-Run

Tue, 23 Feb 2021 01:15:55 +0000

EL MONTE (CBSLA) — Detectives need help to find the driver of a black pickup truck that crashed into a motorcycle, killing the rider.

Detectives need help to find the driver of a black pickup truck that crashed into a motorcycle, killing the rider. (Security Footage)

The crash happened in the area of Peck Road and Lower Azusa at about 7 p.m. Saturday, El Monte police Lt. Pete Rasic said. The motorcyclist was rushed to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

A memorial has begun to grow at the crash site for 56-year-old John Spata. His friends described the victim as a good father and a family man.

“He was a very good person, kind heart,” Anthony Castillo, a friend of the victim, said.

El Monte police detectives say security video they have shows the truck turning in front of Spata’s motorcycle. Spata apparently tried to lay the bike down to avoid hitting the truck, but was unable to avoid the collision.

Several people were also seen on video rushing to help Spata, and told investigators that the driver of the pickup truck actually stopped to see what happened – then drove off moments later.

“That is so sad,” Castillo said. “I mean he could’ve rendered service, helped, could’ve called 911.”

The suspect vehicle was described as a black four-door pickup truck with chrome bumpers, and front-end or passenger-side damage. Anyone with more information or security video of the crash can call El Monte police at (626) 580-2109.

El Monte Police Fatally Shoot Man Near 10 Freeway

Tue, 16 Feb 2021 02:40:26 +0000

EL MONTE (CBSLA) — Officers with the El Monte Police Department fatally shot a man Monday afternoon, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said.

According to LASD, the shooting happened at about 1:55 p.m. near the corner of Durfee and Garvey avenues following a report of a robbery from a nearby store.

When officers arrived on the scene, they saw a man matching the description of the alleged thief and attempted to make contact when the man ran eastbound onto the off-ramp of Durfee Avenue, according to LASD.

The officer then caught up with the suspect and a fight ensued. A second officer arrived to help the first officer. The shooting happened during the physical altercation, according to LASD.

The man was pronounced dead at the scene, though no officers were injured.

LASD was handling the investigation.

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.

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.

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.