El Monte News, CA Local News

Cuban food is deliciously authentic at this El Monte restaurant

Wed, 07 May 2025 13:36:10 +0000

An evening spent at Havana Club makes me wish that the USA and Cuba would kiss and makeup at long last. Cuban cooking is, along with Jamaican, the best in the Caribbean. And the nightlife is famously fabulous. I’ve seen the “Godfather” movies, so I know. Vegas learned how to be Vegas by studying Havana.

Friends who have been to Cuba tell me that the best food is found at small, “pop-up” restaurants (called “paladars”) in people’s homes. Though by necessity, the dishes offered at the paladars are limited to what ingredients can be found on the free market — and by the skill of the home cooks. Which means that Havana Club offers a selection of dishes that’s almost certainly more extensive than what you’d find down in Old Havana with a notable lack of the wet heat that makes the Caribbean a nice place in which to spend your whole visit in the water.

Havana Club is a serious destination for those who hunger for the cooking of the Caribbean. And with more than 50 dishes to choose from, it’s a restaurant with something for everyone. Beginning with the protein.

It’s a little hard to say which protein defines Cuban cooking the best. (I suppose that’s true of most cuisines; is America a steak country or a fried chicken country?) Aside from the iconically Cuban pork dishes, the choices are mostly divided among chicken, beef and seafood. The chicken dishes are good, and quite juicy, though there’s no pollo Cubano (chicken marinated in lemon and garlic), the signature dish at many of our local Cuban eateries.

Perhaps the first step to an education in the flavors of Havana Club is to order the combinacion Cubana, which covers most (if not all) of the appetizers — wonderfully crispy potato balls stuffed with spiced beef (papa rellena), ham croquetas, fried pork skin chicharron, tamales, empanadas and plantain chips (good, but not as good as potato chips).

Toss in a bread basket — poetically called a “canasta de pan” — with its soft, sweet Cuban rolls, and you have a meal that doesn’t require much more. Of course … no one stops there.

Though there are just four pork dishes, I’ve long felt that pork is to the food of Cuba what lamb is to the Middle East — they’ve got it nailed. And add onto that the three pork-based sandwiches, and you can get a proper dose of pig.

You want to go for a taste of Havana nightlife, dig into one of the wonderful Havana-style sandwiches. There are culinary destinations where the sandwiches virtually trump the rest of the cuisine. And Cuba is definitely one of them.

I’ve loved the duet of the Cubano sandwich and the medianoche sandwich ever since I first tasted them back when Pluto was a pup. They’re cousin sandwiches, both made with sliced ham, marinated pork, Swiss cheese and pickles. The difference (I think) is that the medianoche is served on sweeter, softer bread; otherwise, they’re pretty much the same.

Add onto that the entrées of fried pork, roast pork leg and pork chops, and you’ve got enough pig to suffice. And of course, there’s lechon asado, so iconic it has a menu box of its own, a cousin of the fried pork, only … porkier.

But let me not disparage the chicken dishes, another triumph of Cuban cooking — pollo al Jerez (in sweet wine sauce, turning the chicken into a sort of sideways dessert), the well-roasted pollo asado, Milanesa de pollo, arroz con pollo (made to order, with a 20-minute wait), and the “healthy choice” grilled chicken breast.

I like to believe that all chicken dishes are healthy, as long as they aren’t deep-fried. And even then, they beat a Big Mac.

When it comes to beef, this is the world of long-cooked recipes like ropa vieja — “old clothes” — where toughness is not an issue; this is gedempte fleisch at its most gedempte. Though the pot roast (boliche de novillo mechado) comes close. Cooking long and slow is a hallmark of Cuban cooking.

In terms of seafood, there’s the multi-fish paella, along with several shrimp dishes; you can’t go wrong with the garlic shrimp.

For dessert, there’s flan, which is always good. And for a touch of fruity exotica, try the batidos — tropical shakes — flavored with mamey, guanabana, mango and banana.

The ownership of the restaurant also comes with a sweet backstory. Havana Club was first opened in 1998 by Chef Ruben Valenzuela, who mastered the cooking of Cuba at El Colmao in downtown Los Angeles. In 2005, a local couple — Ignacio and Teresa Ramirez, a pair of regulars who had dreamed of owning a restaurant — asked the owner if he was interested in selling. Ten days later, the restaurant was theirs.

They do a bang-up job of sharing their passion for Havana Club with locals. This is a family restaurant, with numerous tables of groups inhaling big portions of pork, chicken, beef and fish, with the always delicious side of moros y cristianos (white rice and black beans). A dish with a name that’s as full of history as Cuba itself.

Merrill Shindler is a Los Angeles-based freelance dining critic. Email mreats@aol.com.

Havana Club

Rating: 2.5 stars
Where: 3831 Peck Road, El Monte
Information: 626-452-1858; www.havanaelmonterestaurant.com
When: Lunch and dinner, every day
Details: Beer and wine; reservations helpful
The food: A classic collection of much-loved dishes from Cuba, ranging from papa rellena and croquetas to lengua en salsa and arroz con pollo. Don’t miss the flan for dessert.
How much: About $35 per person
Suggested dishes: 7 Appetizers ($3.95-$18.95), 6 Sandwiches ($9.95-$13.50), 3 Salads ($9.95-$17.50), 4 Soups ($5.95-$21.95), 12 Meat Dishes ($16.50-$26.50), 4 Chicken Dishes ($17.50), 8 Seafood Dishes ($16.50-$34.50), 8 Side Dishes ($2.50-$4.95), 5 Desserts ($5.95)
Credit cards: MC, V
What the stars mean: 4 (World class! Worth a trip from anywhere!), 3 (Most excellent, even exceptional. Worth a trip from anywhere in Southern California.), 2 (A good place to go for a meal. Worth a trip from anywhere in the neighborhood.) 1 (If you’re hungry, and it’s nearby, but don’t get stuck in traffic going.) 0 (Honestly, not worth writing about.)

Man charged for fatal fight on Pomona sidewalk

Wed, 30 Apr 2025 13:21:06 +0000

A 41-year-old man was charged this week with murder tied to a fight last month in Pomona when a San Gabriel Valley man was injured and later died.

Police don’t believe a weapon was used during the March 26 fight that happened on a sidewalk on Short Street, south of Holt Avenue, said Aly Mejia, a spokeswoman for Pomona police. It was unclear what started the afternoon brawl.

Two men were involved in the fight, police said, with the victim falling and left unconscious. The suspect, Oliver Jacobs Jr. of Pomona, walked away, police said.

The victim, 35-year-old Ricardo Sanchez Delgado, died April 4 from complications resulting from blunt-force head trauma, according to the medical examiner’s office. Officials say he lived in either La Puente or El Monte.

Police didn’t reveal how detectives identified Jacobs, arrested April 26 in Pomona, as the suspect.

Jacobs, charged Tuesday, was being held without the possibility of bail at the Inmate Reception Center in Los Angeles as of Wednesday morning, April 30.

Police asked anyone with information about the case to call them at 909-622-1241. Anonymous tipsters can call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or go to lacrimestoppers.org.

El Monte police shoot at 2 suspects

Thu, 17 Apr 2025 22:54:37 +0000

El Monte police opened fire at two suspects in a stolen car who fled and were caught Monday, April 14, authorities said.

When officers attempted to stop the vehicle, a suspect drove at them, prompting police to fire, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Homicide Lt. Daniel Vizcarra said.

The suspects were hospitalized, El Monte police Sgt. Jacob Burse said. Only the man in the passenger seat was shot, while the driver’s injuries were caused by something else, such as shattering glass, Lt. Vizcarra said.

No officer was hurt in the 11:50 a.m. shooting at Garvey and New Deal avenues. The suspects were caught on Valley Boulevard.

Investigators did not release how many officers shot at the suspects.

The sheriff’s Homicide Bureau is investigating the shooting.

Monday’s shooting occurred five days after El Monte police shot and wounded a man armed with a knife: On April 9, police went to the 10000 block of Bodger Street after getting a call that a person was threatening neighbors with the knife, according to a Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department statement.

Officers saw a man with a knife and ordered him several times to drop the weapon, authorities said. He didn’t comply, rushed toward the officers and was shot, the statement said. He was treated at a hospital, then arrested on suspicion of attempted murder of an officer.

6 students molested by teacher in South El Monte win $48 million in lawsuit vs. the educator and school district

Thu, 17 Apr 2025 22:54:24 +0000

Six former Mountain View School District students molested by a teacher won their lawsuit against the district and their ex-teacher and were awarded $48 million by a jury on Monday, April 14.

The district will have to pay $36.2 million of the $48 million while the rest will come from ex-teacher, Joseph Alfred Baldenebro, according to the ex-students’ lawyers.

Baldenebro is in prison for committing lewd acts on students.

“Justice finally came for these six survivors,” Michael Carillo, attorney for the victims, said Tuesday. “Mountain View School District fought them for so many years without accepting any responsibility for the lifelong harm they caused. Shame on them.”

The ex-students, their guardians and parents sued Mountain View District, Baldenebro and Does 1 to 100 in 2018. The trial started March 14 and lasted a month.

The jury deliberated two days, said Nicholas C. Rowley, also an attorney for the plaintiffs.

“The impact of this verdict is a vindication of the child molestation victims against the school district that not only failed to protect them, but that also served as an accomplice in the molestations by its egregious negligence,” Rowley said. “ We believe that this jury verdict will serve to protect millions of other children in educational institutions throughout the country.”

The district ignored countless warnings, and predictably, a wake of child victims suffered the consequences, Rowley said.

“The district’s failure to act emboldened and enabled Mr. Baldenebro’s years of abuse, subjecting each of these victims to profound psychological harm, PTSD, and lifelong trauma that will stay with them forever,” Rowley said.

The boy and five girls who filed the civil lawsuit were in fourth and fifth grades at Miramonte Elementary School in South El Monte at the time of the abuse, according to the lawsuit. Baldenebro sexually harassed and abused Jane RY Doe between 2002 and 2004, Jane DS Doe in 2010 and 2011 then John Doe, Jane Doe, Jane GJ Doe and Jane DR Joe in 2016 and 2017, the lawsuit stated.

Baldenebro was a teacher at Miramonte Elementary from 1996 to 2017. There were four principals during this period.

Each principal knew that Baldenebro violated several school policies and inappropriately touched students but despite the many red flags that came up, he was never disciplined and allowed to sexually abuse his students until he was removed from the classroom in 2017, according to the plaintiffs’ trial brief.

From the 1990s to 2017, the district ignored countless warnings from various teachers and students regarding the inappropriate behavior of Baldenebro, the students’ lawyers said.

Principals gave Baldenebro written warnings in 2001, 2005 and 2010 but the incidents were not reported to any law enforcement agency, according to the trial brief.

The then-principal met with Baldenebro in 2005 regarding comments made by students about him. She addressed the following inappropriate behavior that included being godfather to at least three girls, having parents ground or discipline the girls, the girls feeling that he would get angry at them if they did not check in with him in the morning, girls being in his room at various times alone, taking the girls home in his car and kissing female students half way on the mouth and hugging them.

Teachers, other employees at the school, students and parents told administrators about Baldenebro’s behavior with students.

In 2004, Jane RY Doe told the principal that Baldenebro would keep her in the classroom alone with the door closed and that he would sit her on his lap, grab her, and kiss her, according to the trial brief. She also told the principal that Baldenebro seemed aroused in his pants.

That same day, the principal held a meeting with Jane RY Doe, her parents and Baldenebro after school. The girl repeated what she told the principal but Baldenebro accused her of overreacting, that he was just doing that as an act of love and care and said he just gave her a little kiss because she was his goddaughter, the trial brief said, adding Baldenebro dismissed the girl’s report that he seemed aroused.

The principal convinced Jane RY Doe’s parents that this behavior by Baldenebro was normal because he was her godfather and no action was taken after the meeting, the trial brief said.

The trial brief also stated that during the 2010/2011 school year, a 5th grade student complained to the principal that Baldenebro was touching girls inappropriately and she called him a pedophile.

Her parents also told the principal that Baldenebro would hug the students and touch their breasts as he put his arms around them. They said Baldenebro would tell their daughter it was OK to act bad because her parents would not notice and that she could have a boyfriend and kiss him if she wanted to.

The principal ignored their complaints and told them that the incidents did not happen, according to the trial brief. The parents also complained to the district office but were allegedly told that Baldenebro was a good teacher, a good person and nothing was going to be done about their complaints, the trial brief said.

Between 2001 and 2005, a teacher saw Baldenebro hug students and place students on his lap, according to the lawsuit.

A coordinator for an after school program during went to Baldenebro’s classroom, opened the door without knocking and a 6th grade student and her little sister were there. The coordinator saw the student’s sister pulling up her pants while the student was helping her put her clothes away and Baldenebro could plainly see them changing, the lawsuit stated. She contacted school administrators after this incident and reported the incident to Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services, but no action was taken against Baldenebro by the district.

“The school district ultimately admitted its negligence in supervising Baldenebro, but refused to acknowledge the lifelong trauma suffered by the victims,” the plaintiffs’ lawyers said.

Rowley doubted the district will go bankrupt and said it has insurance.

The district issued a statement but didn’t immediately answer some questions including if insurance will cover its share of damages and whether any financial liability will lead to any cuts in programs or staffing and if the district has insurance.

“We are aware that the trial has now concluded, and the jury has rendered a verdict in favor of the plaintiffs in the amount of $48 million,” Raymond Andry, Mountain View School District superintendent, said in a statement.

“The Mountain View School District unequivocally condemns abuse of any kind and remains deeply saddened by the harm caused to our students and community. We recognize the impact this situation has had and continue to extend our deepest sympathy to those affected,” Andry said.

The district has taken steps since the abuse came to light to educate students, families, and staff — with the goal of preventing future incidents from going undetected or unreported, he said.

Since 2021, Andry said the district has implemented several measures to strengthen student safety and to ensure open communication within school communities. This includes “Be Seen: Be Heard,” which he described as a district-wide, age-appropriate sexual assault and abuse awareness and prevention program.

“Through these efforts and our continuous work to meet the educational and safety needs of our students and families, we continue to encourage all students and staff to speak up and seek support whenever needed. Our door remains open, and we are dedicated to fostering a culture of safety, respect, and trust,” Andry said.

The verdict followed a trial that included controversy.

Rowley, supported by declarations from 16 attorneys, filed a motion to disqualify Superior Court Judge Mary Ann Murphy from the case, citing alleged favoritism in the presence of jurors, racial bias, and a lengthy history of abusive behavior.

A similar complaint was filed with the state’s Commission on Judicial Performance, which is responsible for investigating allegations and disciplining judges.

Rowley said since filing the complaint, Murphy’s behavior has markedly improved. “Judge Murphy worked very hard to be a fair judge after our filing, he said. “ She is an extremely intelligent and experienced judge who works very hard.”

Baldenebro was then 54, living in Montebello and still a teacher at Miramonte Elementary when investigators arrested him on June 21, 2017 for inappropriately touching girls at the school.

He was charged with molesting five female students on school grounds between August 2015 and May 2017.

Baldenebro took a deal. He pleaded no contest to one felony count of a lewd act upon a child and four misdemeanor counts of child molesting and was sentenced on Jan. 23, 2018 to eight years in prison. He also has to register as a sex offender for life.

In 2022, authorities charged him for crimes that happened on Oct. 1, 2010. It wasn’t clear from online court records how many victims there were in this case. Court records show Baldenebro pleaded no contest to three felony counts of lewd or lascivious acts with a child under 14 and was sentenced on July 15, 2024 to 12 years in prison.

The now 62-year-old will be eligible for parole in March 2031.

1 killed in shooting at El Monte car wash parking lot

Fri, 11 Apr 2025 13:20:08 +0000

A shooting in the parking lot of an El Monte car wash left one man dead Monday night, April 7.

It appears to be gang-related, sheriff’s Lt. Michael Modica said.

The shooting in the 2300 block of Peck Road was reported to police around 9:30 p.m., when the car wash was closed.

Two men walked up to the victim and asked him where he was from, Modica said. At least one suspect opened fire.

The two men were last seen heading south on Mountain View Avenue, he said.

The victim died at a hospital.

The medical examiner’s office had not yet identified him; Modica described the victim as an El Monte man in his 20s.

The sheriff’s Homicide Bureau is assisting El Monte police with the investigation.

Deputies asked anyone with information about the case to call them at 323-890-5500. Anonymous tipsters can call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or go to lacrimestoppers.org.

LA County announces mammoth $4 billion tentative settlement covering 6,800 sexual abuse claims

Fri, 04 Apr 2025 17:44:23 +0000

Los Angeles County officials announced the county has reached a $4 billion tentative settlement covering more than 6,800 sexual abuse claims, some dating as far back as the 1950s, according to a statement from the county released Friday morning.

The financial settlement would be the most expensive in county history and will impact budgets for years if not decades, to come, the statement said.

The mammoth settlement can proceed after approval by L.A. County Claims Board on Monday. It must then receive approval by the full Board of Supervisors and is scheduled for a vote of the board on April 29.

The agreement would resolve most claims filed against the county from the Child Victims Act claims under Assembly Bill 218. That initiative waived the statute of limitations on sexual abuse cases and and created a three-year window to allow victims of childhood sexual abuse to present their allegations.

An independent team of allocation experts would review all the cases, the county said.

Most of the claims date from the 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s and stem from allegations of abuse at county Probation Department facilities and at the MacLaren Children’s Center in El Monte. That facility was permanently closed in 2003 and is being turned into affordable housing, a medical clinic and a park. Demolition of the buildings that were MacLaren Hall is scheduled to begin in May.

“On behalf of the county, I apologize wholeheartedly to everyone who was harmed by these reprehensible acts,” county Chief Executive Officer Fesia Davenport said. “The historic scope of this settlement makes clear that we are committed to helping the survivors recover and rebuild their lives—and to making and enforcing the systemic changes needed to keep young people safe.”

The now-closed facility in El Monte, also known as MacLaren Hall, was operated by the county as an emergency shelter placement facility from 1961 to 2003. Children removed from their homes were temporarily housed there while awaiting placement with a foster family.

About 4,000 children were housed in the facility operated by the county’s Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) before MacLaren Hall closed in 2003. The facility has been the subject of numerous lawsuits for sexual abuse of children housed by the county. Often, these were children removed from their homes where they were subject to abuse, only to be victims of abuse while in the care of L.A. County.

The county was sued by the American Civil Liberties Union for sexual abuse and neglect in 2002 and since then numerous individual cases have been filed in the courts.

In December 2022, the law firms McNicholas & McNicholas and Becker Law Group filed a complaint against the county on behalf of 1,200 anonymous plaintiffs. Attorneys in a statement released on Friday said their clients “were mistreated, tortured and sexually abused while housed at Los Angeles County juvenile probation halls and camps.”

Their complaint also alleges “county staff used their positions of trust and authority to sexually abuse minors in their care, often threatening to add more time to their detention if they did not comply.” The plaintiffs’ allegations date back to the 1960s, according to the two law firms.

“This landmark settlement represents restorative justice for victims. Restorative justice is a societal recognition that a horrible wrong has been committed and compensation is justified,” co-lead attorney Patrick McNicholas said in a statement released on Friday, April 4.

McNicholas’s statement went on to say: “It stands as a testament to the resilience of survivors, the importance of holding institutions accountable and the power of collaboration in driving meaningful change. By balancing justice for the victims with a commitment to reform, this resolution ensures both acknowledgment of past wrongs and a pathway to a safer, more accountable future.”

Attorneys representing many of the claimants also commented on other aspects of the seismic settlement of the cases with the county.

They said it will also put safeguards in place to prevent future failures of the county’s care system for children. It sets in place a five-year distribution plan that includes structured payouts with oversight to manage financial exposure while prioritizing victim compensation.

Plaintiffs’ attorneys said the challenge in reaching this unprecedented settlement was finding a way to structure the payout so it would not lead the county into bankruptcy.

“By structuring the settlement payouts over five years, Los Angeles County has ensured that justice is served in a way that remains fiscally responsible,” co-lead plaintiffs’ attorney Todd Becker said in a statement. “This approach provides survivors with the compensation they deserve while allowing the county to maintain control, manage its financial exposure and meet clear benchmarks along a well-defined timeline. The settlement also includes critical accountability measures, such as enhanced staff training and stronger oversight, to prevent such failures in the future, reinforcing the county’s commitment to meaningful reform.”

County officials said numerous operational changes have been made in recent years to address the issue of sexual abuse in probation facilities, and others are being developed. In a statement released Friday, the county supervisors said they will ensure reforms are enforced and if necessary, bring those who may have committed crimes to justice.

“We hope that this settlement, once approved, can bring some measure of healing to those who experienced abuse and help them in rebuilding their lives,” the supervisors stated in a release.

However, serious problems have continued at county probation facilities long past the closure of MacLaren Hall and beyond the filing of sexual abuse cases.

In March, unsealed indictments revealed charges against 30 county Probation Department employees for allowing — and even encouraging — 69 fights, including “gladiator”-style fight clubs involving multiple youth, at Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall.

The charges included 69 counts of child abuse, one count of conspiracy to commit a crime and one count of battery from “gladiator fights” that occurred from June to December 2023, involving 143 victims ranging in age from 12 to 18, according to the California Department of Justice (DOJ).

The state DOJ said many officers oversaw the fights, and some stood by laughing and even shook hands with the attackers.

“Part of the problem is that (lawsuit settlements) are presented as a thing of the past. But this is an ongoing issue. There is still — at the very least — physical abuse being inflicted on young people at the hands of the Probation Department,” said Milinda Kakani, director of Youth Justice at the Children’s Defense Fund, after hearing about the settlements.

The county Probation Department did not respond to inquiries.

Dr. Astrid Heppenstall Heger, a pediatrician with expertise in child abuse and the founder and executive director of the Violence Intervention Program at Los Angeles General Medical Center, a county hospital, said the settlement will put a spotlight on sexual abuse issues but won’t end the suffering of survivors.

“These kids that were there and abused, they had been detained, away from family. So they were ultimately vulnerable and had no voice. Throwing money at it will not take away the trauma,” said Heger, who emphasized a need for mental health services.

The county listed additional reform measures proposed by the county CEO’s Office and the county’s Risk Management team. These proposals — some requiring policy shifts and even legislation — include:

— Creating a countywide hotline for reporting child sexual abuse allegations against county employees.

— Developing a system for expedited investigations and independent review by outside experts.

— Enhancing the county’s zero tolerance policy to ensure that when allegations of child sexual abuse committed by an employee are substantiated, the county takes “immediate action to the fullest extent allowed by law, including but not limited to termination and referral to law enforcement.”

— Requiring county departments to provide notice to new employees and applicants of the Zero Tolerance policy and intent to discipline to the fullest extent allowed by law.

SCNG Staff Writer Linh Tat and City News Service contributed to this report

2 hurt after car flies off 10 Freeway lands in riverbed in El Monte

Fri, 04 Apr 2025 13:35:51 +0000

A driver was arrested on suspicion of DUI after his car left the 10 Freeway and landed upside down in the riverbed in El Monte on Tuesday night, April 1.

The driver, a 30-year-old man, and his passenger, a 28-year-old woman, were hospitalized with major injuries, said California Highway Patrol Officer Rene Lopez.

The solo crash happened on the eastbound 10 Freeway, east of Baldwin Avenue at 10:49 p.m., Lopez said.

A witness told the CHP the car, a Honda Civic, went off the freeway and into the riverbed, he added. He didn’t know how fast the Civic was traveling before the crash and couldn’t confirm a media report that the driver and the passenger were ejected.

The driver, whose name wasn’t available, was arrested, cited and released at the hospital, Lopez said.

“A car flew off, over my head, and it hit the ground,” Francisco Chavez, a witness, told RMG News, a freelance news organization that sometimes works with the Southern California News Group.

“It felt like it was a movie or something. Like, you know, it was like a dream or something. Like it wasn’t real because I’ve never seen nothing like this, you know,” Chavez said.

17 attorneys push to disqualify LA judge from sex abuse trial, accusing her of a ‘reign of terror’

Wed, 02 Apr 2025 16:10:58 +0000

Seventeen attorneys are supporting a motion to disqualify Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Mary Ann Murphy from an ongoing child sex abuse trial, citing alleged favoritism in the presence of jurors, racial bias and a lengthy history of abusive behavior.

Attorney Nicholas C. Rowley, who is representing six victims suing the Mountain View School District in South El Monte for sexual abuse inflicted by a teacher, filed the motion this week and submitted written complaints to Presiding Judge Sergio C. Tapia II and the state’s Commission on Judicial Performance.

“Judge Murphy’s bizarre behavior is scary for lawyers and is hurting their clients who can’t stand up for themselves,” Rowley told the Southern California News Group. “She’s a bully. People have been tolerating that for decades. This is the first time anyone has stood up to her.”

Rowley said in the complaint submitted to Tapia that his clients in the Mountain View School District case, who are Latino, have routinely been subjected to Murphy’s wrath.

‘Screams at lawyers, witnesses’

“She screams at lawyers and witnesses, she displays blatant favoritism in the presence of the jury, and her treatment of non-White lawyers and litigants, including my own clients and co-counsel, is so disparate that it creates the appearance of racial bias,” Rowley said.

“The system failed these children when it allowed them to be molested by their teacher, and it has failed them again by placing them in a courtroom with a judge who is cruel, demeaning and abusive. No party should have to try a case in that environment, much less a victim of sexual abuse.”

The lawsuit seeks $100 million from the Mountain View School District, alleging negligence in the employment of teacher Joseph Alfred Baldenebro. Baldenebro was sentenced to 20 years in prison for inappropriately touching girls ranging in age from 8 to 11.

Rowley alleges Murphy, a former federal prosecutor appointed to the bench in 1993 by Gov. Pete Wilson, has “pulled out every stop” preventing him from adequately representing his clients, including banning him from performing normal questioning of prospective jurors during the process known as voir dire.

“Judge Murphy was rude and interrupted me from the very beginning of my voir dire in a way that I have never experienced in what was 185 jury trials before I started this one,” Rowley said in the motion. “Judge Murphy refused to allow me to treat the prospective jurors with courtesy, despite my express ethical obligation to do so.”

Rowley added he believes Murphy is unfit for the bench, based on her “explosive temper and partiality.” “I believe that an investigation will reveal a reign of terror by Judge Murphy that must be stopped.”

Murphy could not be immediately reached for comment.

Complaints filed with state

Rowley’s complaint to the Commission on Judicial Performance further details Murphy’s alleged disruptive behavior, including:

Screaming at attorneys, witnesses, court staff and jurors, to the point that some break down in tears.
Arbitrarily confronting observers and throwing them out of her courtroom under false pretenses to prevent the documentation of her behavior.
Showing bias against people of color, including using racially charged language — such as claiming a Latina attorney “scurried,” as if like a cockroach or a rat.
Demonstrating cruelty and callousness toward the most vulnerable litigants, including willfully traumatizing a 12-year-old quadriplegic in one case and a child sex-abuse victim in another.
Failing to control the proceedings before her to the point that lawyers become physically aggressive with one another, with no repercussions.

Rowley alleges Murphy has violated the cannons of the California Code of Judicial Ethics requiring judges to perform duties “impartially, competently and diligently” while being be “patient, dignified and courteous to litigants, jurors, witnesses, lawyers, and others.”

A Los Angeles Superior Court spokesperson did not specifically address Rowley’s motion, but said complaints against judges are investigated by Tapia.

“Should a complaint investigation conclude that there has been a violation of a provision of the Code of Judicial Ethics, appropriate corrective action may include reporting the violation to the appropriate authority, including the Commission on Judicial Performance,” the spokesperson said in an email.

The Commission on Judicial Performance did not respond to request for comment.

Attorneys detail judge’s behavior

Sixteen plaintiff and defense attorneys submitted declarations with the court in support of Rowley’s motion, detailing their observations and encounters with Murphy.

“They have appeared in her courtroom, they have seen how she acts, and they are putting their careers at risk to tell the truth about a judge who has gone rogue,” Rowley told the Commission on Judicial Performance.

Attorney Sarah Havens, president of the Consumer Attorneys of San Diego, said in a declaration she visited Murphy’s courtroom on March 21 to watch Rowley square off against Dana Fox, a prominent attorney representing the Mountain View School District.

During voir dire, Murphy repeatedly interrupted and reprimanded Rowley, which seemed to turn prospective jurors against him, Havens said.

“It was palpable,” Havens said. “I could hear it under their breaths, I could feel it in the room. I do not believe that any prospective juror in that Friday courtroom could fairly sit on a panel after what they witnessed and experienced in that courtroom.”

Attorney Keith Bruno, who is Rowley’s co-counsel in the Mountain View School District case, said that during a March 14 hearing that Murphy acted aggressive, exasperated and inexplicably hostile toward a retired teacher describing how she had reported a tip about another teacher suspected of being a pedophile.

Sung “Sean” Kim, another attorney who submitted a declaration, recalled that following a 2024 sidebar in Murphy’s courtroom a defense attorney “shoulder-checked” his co-counsel in front of jurors, called him “bush league” and made an overture of fighting in a nearby parking lot.

“This physical aggression from one lawyer to another in the courtroom occurred within Judge Murphy’s presence,” Kim said. “Yet, Judge Murphy neither acknowledged the incident, nor did anything to intervene.”

Attorney Alex Guerrero said in a declaration that Murphy’s abusive behavior was so well known that his office was forced to call more than 10 different court reporters for jury selection because so many turned down the job when they found out she was assigned to the case.

Rowley said that since filing the motion and complaints six more attorneys have provided declarations and Murphy’s behavior has improved. “Judge Murphy is a smart judge and knows the law inside and out,” he said. “We need judges with that level of experience and not the abusive Judge Murphy.”

Northridge man suspected of killing El Monte co-worker in San Diego

Mon, 10 Mar 2025 15:06:56 +0000

A man who was fatally shot at a Mission Valley hotel earlier this week has been identified as a Los Angeles County resident who was on a work trip with the suspected killer, San Diego police said Thursday.

Damian Martinez, 19, of El Monte, was found dead in a hallway at the Handlery Hotel on Hotel Circle North about 8:30 p.m. Monday, March 3, according to homicide Lt. Lou Maggi.

A second victim, 23, was found outside the lobby of the hotel suffering from gunshot wounds. He was expected to survive.

Police got a description of the suspect getting into a dark-colored truck, and officers found the vehicle in the hotel parking lot with the suspect inside, Maggi said.

Kevin Casey Larin, 29, of Northridge, was arrested on suspicion of murder and attempted murder.

The three were co-workers in San Diego for work, Maggi said.

Rep. Cisneros slams ICE arrest of woman, son in El Monte

Sat, 01 Mar 2025 16:07:37 +0000

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Baltimore Field Officer director Matt Elliston listens during a briefing, Monday, Jan. 27, 2025, in Silver Spring, Md. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

LOS ANGELES — Rep. Gil Cisneros, D-Covina, on Satufday criticized the arrest of an El Monte woman and her son by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials.

Her family told NBC4 that Yolanda does not have a criminal record and that Johnathan’s unspecified crime occurred 12 years ago.

“These arrests are sickening, and I have grave concerns with how these arrests were reported to have been carried out by ICE,” Cisneros said in a statement. “The 31st District is home to many immigrant families who came to our country wanting to contribute to our communities and local economy. This El Monte family was simply trying to care for the youngest daughter and work to provide her with the healthcare treatments she needs. Stoking fear, targeting our community members, and ripping apart families is not an acceptable solution for our broken immigration system. We need humane comprehensive immigration reform that addresses bad actors, but still upholds our American values and helps bring immigrants who have been living in our country out of the shadows. My office will continue to monitor this situation.”

ICE officials released the following statement to NBC4:

“ICE is focused (on) public safety and national security threats first and foremost. However, any individual illegally present in the U.S. who is encountered during an immigration enforcement operation may be taken into custody and processed for removal as stated by law.”

Since taking office in January, President Donald Trump has followed through on his promise to increase enforcement of the nation’s immigration laws, carrying out deportation operations in multiple states focused primarily on undocumented immigrants accused of crimes.

A series of recent federal law enforcement actions in the Los Angeles area have caught the attention of local officials and immigrant-rights activists.

Los Angeles City Councilwoman Eunisses Hernandez speaks during a press conference at MacArthur Park in Los Angeles on Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024.(Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

Los Angeles City Councilwoman Eunisses Hernandez spoke at the beginning of Friday morning’s council meeting to express concern about the activity.

“Colleagues, this morning we have been receiving reports from my district and from others about aggressive immigration raids and enforcement,” Hernandez said. “My team and I have been in contact with community members and rapid response organizers since early this morning. The stories we are hearing are heartbreaking and indefensible. When we fought to make Los Angeles a sanctuary city last year, it’s because this is what we feared. We feared for our neighbors, for our families for our children, families being ripped apart. We feared for people who would be targeted by weak-minded politicians who rely on ripping families apart.”

LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell said Friday that the department was not assisting in any federal actions directed at illegal immigration.

“I want to be absolutely clear: The LAPD does not participate in civil immigration enforcement,” McDonnell said. “This has been the department’s policy since 1979, and it remains unchanged today.”

Meanwhile, the Department of Defense announced Saturday that the Pentagon is deploying a Stryker Brigade Combat Team and a General Support Aviation Battalion to the southwestern border to boost security. The units, equipped with wheeled vehicle and air capabilities, are set be employed in the coming weeks.

Each SBCT is a mechanized infantry force of approximately 4,400 soldiers.

“These forces will arrive in the coming weeks, and their deployment underscores the department’s unwavering dedication to working alongside the Department of Homeland Security to secure our southern border and maintain the sovereignty, territorial integrity and security of the United States under President Trump’s leadership,” Pentagon Press Secretary Sean Parnell 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.

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.