San Gabriel News, CA Local News

Brief heat wave is on the way to Southern California

Mon, 26 Apr 2021 16:06:49 +0000

Enjoy the brisk weather while it lasts, if that is your thing – a heat wave is coming later this week and bringing temperatures in the high 80s to low 90s to much of Southern California.

Starting Thursday, according to the National Weather Service, the remnants of a cold front that brought cool temperatures and very light rain to some areas will give way to a ridge of high atmospheric pressure.

Clouds will move out, leading to lots of sunshine. And the high winds coming from over the ocean the last few days will slacken.

Temperatures will soar.

“A warming trend is expected mid-week with mostly sunny skies,” said Kristen Stewart, an NWS meteorologist, on Monday. “It will be very hot on Thursday and Friday.”

That would be a big upward swing from the start of the week: On Monday, winds kept things cool across much of the area, with highs staying in the mid- to upper-60s range. By Wednesday, residents can expect temperatures warming up by 10 or even 20 degrees.

On Thursday, Inland Orange County could feel highs of 86, while Pasadena, San Gabriel and Whittier could hit 89. In the Inland Empire, temperatures were expected to breach 90 degrees.

The heat wave could be brief. Once the high-pressure ridge collapses after this week, forecasters said, another cooling period should return.

Thursday’s forecasted high temperatures:

Woodland Hills: 89
Torrance: 79
Long Beach: 81
Pasadena: 89
San Gabriel: 89
Whittier: 89
Santa Ana: 86
Ontario: 91
San Bernardino: 95
Redlands: 93
Riverside: 93
Dana Point: 80

Source: National Weather Service

1 deputy killed, 1 deputy hurt in related crashes on 5 Freeway in East LA

Tue, 30 Mar 2021 22:15:55 +0000

An off-duty Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy driving on the 5 Freeway in East Los Angeles was killed Sunday, March 28, when a tire crashed into his windshield, authorities said, and another deputy in a different car was injured in a related collision.

Jeffrey McKee, 35, of Norco died from blunt head trauma, according to the coroner’s office.

“We are deeply saddened with this tragic loss of Deputy Jeff McKee,” James Wheeler, president of the Association for Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs, said in a statement. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and our law enforcement family.”

McKee, who joined the department in 2006, was driving home from work at the Inmate Reception Center in Los Angeles, while Deputy Norman Anpree was also on his way home after working his shift at Los Angeles County USC Medical Center, union officials said.

Anpree was severely injured and taken to a hospital.

Around 5:20 a.m. Sunday, a Toyota Tundra heading south on the I-5 lost a front tire near the 710 Freeway, California Highway Patrol Sgt. Jason Lopez said. It bounced into the northbound lanes where it hit the roof and windshield of a Volvo S40.

The Volvo, driven by McKee, came to rest against the center median of the transition road to the northbound 710 Freeway. He died at the scene.

The driver of the Tundra, a 40-year-old San Gabriel man, wasn’t injured.

The tire bounced back to the the southbound side and a Toyota Sienna hit it, Lopez said. The driver got out.

Minutes later, Lopez said, another vehicle rear-ended the Sienna, which then hit its own driver: The 57-year-old Los Angeles man suffered major injuries and was taken to a hospital, Lopez said. He didn’t know his current medical condition.

That man was later identifed as the injured deputy.

“We are very sad to announce that one of our deputies passed away as a result of the traffic collision,” the Sheriff’s Department said in a Tuesday statement. “A second deputy was injured as part of the traffic collision. As a result of his injuries, he faces a long road to recovery.

“Our hearts are heavy and saddened over the passing of our partner, friend, dad, and husband,” the department said. “We send prayers and many blessings to the family during their time of grief.”

ALADS has a GoFundMe account in the name of ALADS CARES for donations to the two deputies’ families.

Monrovia, San Gabriel residents accused in student visa fraud scheme

Mon, 08 Mar 2021 20:16:24 +0000

LOS ANGELES — The second defendant named in a federal grand jury indictment surrendered Monday in Los Angeles to face charges stemming from an alleged scheme that used bogus transcripts, ghostwritten admissions essays, and imposters who took standardized tests to help foreigners gain admission to colleges, allowing them to fraudulently obtain student visas to enter or remain in the United States.

Yi Chen, also known as “Brian Chen,” 33, of Monrovia, pleaded not guilty to charges in a 21-count grand jury indictment that alleges conspiracy, visa fraud and aggravated identity theft, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Chen was ordered detained pending trial, which was scheduled for May 4.

Chen’s co-defendant — Yixin Li, also known as “Eason Li” and “Calvin Wong,” 28, of San Gabriel — surrendered on March 2 and pleaded not guilty at an arraignment in Los Angeles federal court. A United States magistrate judge set bond at $200,000, but Li has yet to post bond and remains in custody. A trial date was scheduled for April 27.

The indictment alleges that Chen and Li owned “educational consulting” companies in Alhambra and Arcadia that charged foreign students thousands of dollars for “guaranteed” admission to a college that would lead to the issuance of an F-1 student visa. To secure admission to a school, the companies prepared application packages that used bogus or altered transcripts, and they hired people to impersonate the prospective student to take standardized tests, such as the Test of English as a Foreign Language, the indictment alleges.

The document lists a number of foreign nationals for whom Chen and Li allegedly obtained, altered or fabricated transcripts, which helped the students obtain admission to schools across the United States, including New York University, Columbia University, Boston College and several University of California campuses.

Once a foreign student was admitted to a college, the school issued a “Form I-20, Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status — For Academic and Language Students,” which provided the basis for a visa application or extension of permission to remain in the United States.

Chen and Li are charged with conspiracy, which carries a sentence of up to five years in federal prison. They are also named in various counts of fraud and misuse of visas, permits, and other documents, an offense that carries a sentence of up to 10 years in prison. Chen and Li are each charged with one count of aggravated identity theft, which carries a mandatory two-year prison sentence that would run consecutively to any other prison term imposed in the case, prosecutors said.

Chen and Li are linked to a group of imposter test-takers who were the subject of an earlier indictment that outlined how they used fake Chinese passports to take TOEFL exams on behalf of foreigners seeking college admissions and student visas. All six defendants in that earlier case pleaded guilty and were sentenced to probation.

Lunar New Year celebrated differently in age of COVID-19

Thu, 11 Feb 2021 18:07:23 +0000

As Asian Americans usher in the Lunar New Year Friday, the usual festivities are out.

In Orange County, visibly absent this year is the colorful Vietnamese Tet parade. (Last year, there were even two.) Ditto in places like Los Angeles and San Gabriel, which plan to hold virtual events to mark the new year celebrated in the Chinese, Vietnamese, Taiwanese and Korean communities.

Instead of live parades and multi-day festivals, the new year will for the most part be fêted quietly across Southern California. COVID-19, however, has not dampened the holiday spirit.

“The new year spirit is still here despite the pandemic,” said Hacienda Heights resident Sung Kim, a Korean immersion language teacher at Cedar Lane Academy.

Especially after the hardships of 2020, everyone is looking forward to a new beginning, said Kim, president of the International Korean Educators Network. “We have hope for the new year, with vaccines, a new government and new president and efforts to clear the pandemic,” she said.

Friday, Feb. 12, marks the start of the Lunar New Year, which is tied to the year’s first new moon. Vietnamese call it “Tet.” Koreans call it “Seollal.” Chinese celebrate with the Spring Festival, which lasts 15 days, and call the holiday “Chūn Jié” in Mandarin.

The new year is a time for family celebrations and traditions, including the gifting of money tucked into bright red envelopes.

Westminster resident Stacy Bui, 17, is still expecting those red envelopes. But other traditions this year will have to change.

“We usually head to my grandma’s house with all the aunts, uncles and kids. Everyone brings a Vietnamese dish and we sit and all eat together.”

The family usually plays games, kids pop firecrackers, and most of the aunts dress in traditional ao dai, or silk tunics. After the meal, the family takes turns honoring their elders, starting with the grandparents.

“They sit on two chairs in the middle of the living room and we line up to pay our respect and wish them a good year,” Bui said. After some 30 relatives express their good wishes, the exercise is repeated for the next oldest and so on.

This year, the family wants to respect the elders by not holding a large gathering, she said. “We’re not planning to have a party. But still go to my grandma’s and pass out the red envelopes and come back home as soon as possible.”

A woman shops at the Flower Festival at the Asian Garden Mall in Westminster, CA on Thursday, January 28, 2021. The center offered a scaled-down version of the flower festival this year because of COVID-19 restrictions. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Thuy Ta of Garden Grove takes a photo at the Flower Festival at the Asian Garden Mall in Westminster, CA on Thursday, January 28, 2021. The center offered a scaled-down version of the flower festival this year because of COVID-19 restrictions. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
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Visitors shop at the Flower Festival at the Asian Garden Mall in Westminster, CA on Thursday, January 28, 2021. The center offered a scaled-down version of the flower festival this year because of COVID-19 restrictions. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A woman shops for dresses at the Flower Festival at the Asian Garden Mall in Westminster, CA on Thursday, January 28, 2021. The center offered a scaled-down version of the flower festival this year because of COVID-19 restrictions. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Yellow Apricot blossoms shine brightly in front of one of the vendors at the Flower Festival at the Asian Garden Mall in Westminster, CA on Thursday, January 28, 2021. The center offered a scaled-down version of the flower festival this year because of COVID-19 restrictions. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A woman has he picture taken at the Flower Festival at the Asian Garden Mall in Westminster, CA on Thursday, January 28, 2021. The center offered a scaled-down version of the flower festival this year because of COVID-19 restrictions. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
More than 20 vendors are selling goods at the Flower Festival at the Asian Garden Mall in Westminster, CA on Thursday, January 28, 2021. The center offered a scaled-down version of the flower festival this year because of COVID-19 restrictions. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A vendor sells his goods at the Flower Festival at the Asian Garden Mall in Westminster, CA on Thursday, January 28, 2021. The center offered a scaled-down version of the flower festival this year because of COVID-19 restrictions. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Ken Hua arranges lanterns at a vendor booth at the Flower Festival in Westminster, CA on Thursday, January 28, 2021. The Asian Garden Mall offered a scaled-down version of the flower festival this year because of COVID-19 restrictions. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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Bui and her mother, Lisa Bui, were at the Flower Festival outside the Asian Garden Mall earlier this week looking for some flowers they could bring home, another common tradition. The Westminster mall in the heart of Little Saigon holds the outdoor market every year, this year with a much smaller number of vendors.

Meanwhile, across Southern California, other malls, restaurants and businesses hoped to still attract customers with Lunar New Year specials and decorations. But with COVID-19 restrictions, it’s not easy.

“Chinese New Year’s Eve was our annual epic event,” said Andrew Chiu, co-owner of Peking Tavern in downtown L.A., which specializes in homemade dumplings popular during the new year. “We started a new tradition, a nighttime party after all the daytime Lunar New Year celebrations. The pandemic took it away from us.”

Lunar New Year is Friday, but in Los Angeles there will be no parade on Broadway in Chinatown. Displays for decorations celebrating year of the ox line many shops on Broadway on Thursday, February 11, 2012. (Photo by Dean Musgrove, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Lunar New Year is Friday, but in Los Angeles there will be no parade on Broadway in Chinatown. Displays for decorations celebrating year of the ox line many shops on Broadway on Thursday, February 11, 2012. (Photo by Dean Musgrove, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
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Lunar New Year is Friday, but in Los Angeles there will be no parade on Broadway in Chinatown. Displays for decorations celebrating year of the ox line many shops on Broadway on Thursday, February 11, 2012. (Photo by Dean Musgrove, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Lunar New Year is Friday, but in Los Angeles there will be no parade on Broadway in Chinatown. Displays for decorations celebrating year of the ox line many shops on Broadway on Thursday, February 11, 2012. (Photo by Dean Musgrove, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Lunar New Year is Friday, but in Los Angeles the

As death rate doubles, air quality regulator suspends limits for cremations in LA County

Sun, 17 Jan 2021 19:09:35 +0000

With the current death rate being more than double that in pre-pandemic years, a permit limiting the number of monthly cremations is Los Angeles County for air quality reasons has been temporarily suspended to assist in relieving the current backlog caused by COVID-19.

The 10-day emergency order was made Sunday, Jan. 17, by the South Coast Air Quality Management District at the request of the Los Angeles County Medical-Examiner Coroner and the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, the district said in a news release.

Crematoriums intending to exceed permit limits must provide written notice to the air quality district, be within 15 percent of reaching or exceeding one or more “applicable limits,” maintain records of all operations exceeding limits and meet other requirements, the executive order reads.

Limits vary from crematory to crematory and are based on emission factors and calculations at the time of permitting, the district said.

The decision comes as hospitals, funeral homes, and crematoriums are exceeding capacity without the ability to process the backlog of cases, the district said.

The emergency order can be extended if warranted, the district said.

As Christmas arrives, hope endures for flock at fire-damaged Mission San Gabriel

Thu, 24 Dec 2020 07:05:34 +0000

Carrie Evanilla sighed, then spoke about a morning she will never forget.

“It was very devastating,” she said Wednesday, of the four-alarm fire on July 11 that swept through the church at the Mission San Gabriel Arcangel, which next September will celebrate its 250th anniversary. “My husband woke me up because he had woken up at 4:30 in the morning. He read a text from someone saying, ‘There’s a fire at the mission.’ “

Evanilla, 67, has been a parishioner there all her life. She was baptized there, as were all her siblings. She was married there, her children were baptized there and two of them were married there. This really stung.

The San Gabriel Mission, much of which was destroyed in a fire in July on December 23, 2020. (Photo byDean Musgrove, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
The San Gabriel Mission, much of which was destroyed in a fire in July on December 23, 2020. (Photo byDean Musgrove, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
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The San Gabriel Mission, far left, much of which was destroyed in a fire in July on December 23, 2020. Christmas Mass will be in tent area at right. (Photo byDean Musgrove, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Christmas Mass will be held in the San Gabriel Mission parking lot, Photographed on December 23, 2020. (Photo byDean Musgrove, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
The San Gabriel Mission, far left, much of which was destroyed in a fire in July on December 23, 2020. Christmas Mass will be in tent area at right. (Photo byDean Musgrove, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Alecia Ballin prays outside the Mission San Gabriel Arcangel Sunday, July 12, after a fire destroyed much of the 249-year-old mission early Saturday. (Photo by David Rosenfeld/SCNG)
Archbishop José H. Gomez celebrated Mass at the Mission San Gabriel Arcángel on Sunday, July 12 at 11 a.m., following a fire that damaged the mission’s church. The Mass was in the Mission’s Chapel of the Annunciation on Sunday, July12. (Photo by Dean Musgrove, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Archbishop José H. Gomez celebrated Mass at the Mission San Gabriel Arcángel on Sunday, July 12 at 11 a.m., following a fire that damaged the mission’s church. The Mass was in the Mission’s Chapel of the Annunciation on Sunday, July12. (Photo by Dean Musgrove, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Ortencia Ramirez of San Gabriel has been a parishioner at Mission San Gabriel Arcangel for 25 years, and she felt the pain when the church was severely damaged during a July 11 fire. (Photo courtesy of Ortencia Ramirez)
Carrie Evanilla of San Gabriel is a lifelong parishioner at the Mission San Gabriel Arcangel, and she felt the devastation of the July 11 fire that significantly damaged the church. (Photo courtesy of Carrie Evanilla)
A worker tends to the front door of the church at Mission San Gabriel where a fire gutted the 215-year-old building, on Sunday, July 12, 2020. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)
A bicyclist rides past the church at Mission San Gabriel after an early morning fire on the previous day gutted the 215-year-old building, on Sunday, July 12, 2020. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)
A fire tore through the church at Mission San Gabriel destroying the inside of the building in San Gabriel on Saturday, July 11, 2020. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
A fire tore through the church at Mission San Gabriel destroying the inside of the building in San Gabriel on Saturday, July 11, 2020. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
The Marquez family of Los angeles prays after a four-alarm fire tore through the church at Mission San Gabriel destroying the inside of the 245-year-old building in San Gabriel on Saturday, July 11, 2020. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

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“We jumped in our car, drove up there and just to see that as I drove up the street — I live just south of the mission — I just broke into tears,” Evanilla said.

Five months later, there are fences around the church, which is undergoing a renovation that is roughly a year away from completion, Father John Molyneux said. Not far away is the Chapel of the Annunciation. In front of it are large tents, under which outdoor Mass is celebrated because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Christmas is here, but it won’t be the same at the mission.

“I mean, we got the double-whammy,” Father Molyneux said. “We got the church and we got the COVID all at the same time. Yes, it’s been difficult. It’s been challenging.”

Evanilla typically goes to the same Mass, sits in the same area and speaks with the same people. But with no midnight Mass this year because of the coronavirus-related 10 p.m. curfew, along with everything else, that won’t happen.

“Not seeing those people in Mass is going to be really hard because you go to different masses now than you normally do, so sometimes you don’t even know the people you’re at mass with,” she said.

Another longtime parishioner, Ortencia Ramirez, talked about her pain from the fire and it is heavy.

“I know this is going to sound weird, but it’s like I had lost someone,” said Ramirez, a parishioner of the church for 25 years. “Of course, a human life means much more, but it was just that feeling of emptiness just came over you.”

A feeling of faith

Indeed, this has been a difficult time for the church and its parishioners, but Father Molyneux is optimistic about a return to normalcy.

“I think it’s actually kind of hopeful at this point,” he said, of the mood at the mission at Christmastime. “Especially

Our Lady of Guadalupe procession, Mass celebrated virtually from Mission San Gabriel Arcangel

Sun, 06 Dec 2020 16:42:58 +0000

Dancers from Aguilas Del Tepeyac perform during Mass to celebrate Our Lady of Guadalupe at Mission San Gabriel on Sunday December 6, 2020. The procession and Mass are the culmination of a three-month pilgrimage of the exact digital image of the Lady of Guadalupe. (Photo by Keith Durflinger, Contributing Photographer)

The pageantry of the 89th annual walking procession to celebrate Our Lady of Guadalupe shifted to a social distancing car procession that was followed by a Mass on Sunday, Dec. 6, that was livestreamed from Mission San Gabriel Arcángel due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The religious procession, usually attracting 40,000 each year according to the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles, is the oldest procession in Los Angeles.

Sunday’s events marked the culmination of a three-month pilgrimage that began in October with the showing of the exact digital images of Our Lady of Guadalupe and St. Juan Diego — an indigenous Catholic convert in Mexico who was visited four times in December 1531 by the image of the Virgin Mary — at Roman Catholic parishes in Los Angeles, Santa Barbara and Ventura counties.

The Catholic faithful walk up to the Our Lady of Guadalupe after Mass at Mission San Gabriel on Sunday December 6, 2020. The procession and Mass are the culmination of a three-month pilgrimage of the exact digital image of the Lady of Guadalupe. (Photo by Keith Durflinger, Contributing Photographer)
The 89th annual procession to celebrate Our Lady of Guadalupe car procession at Mission San Gabriel on Sunday December 6, 2020. The procession and Mass are the culmination of a three-month pilgrimage of the exact digital image of the Lady of Guadalupe. (Photo by Keith Durflinger, Contributing Photographer)
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The 89th annual procession to celebrate Our Lady of Guadalupe car procession and Mass at Mission San Gabriel on Sunday December 6, 2020. The procession and Mass are the culmination of a three-month pilgrimage of the exact digital image of the Lady of Guadalupe. (Photo by Keith Durflinger, Contributing Photographer)
The 89th annual procession to celebrate Our Lady of Guadalupe during Mass at Mission San Gabriel on Sunday December 6, 2020. The procession and Mass are the culmination of a three-month pilgrimage of the exact digital image of the Lady of Guadalupe. (Photo by Keith Durflinger, Contributing Photographer)
The 89th annual procession to celebrate Our Lady of Guadalupe car procession ends at Mission San Gabriel on Sunday December 6, 2020. The procession and Mass are the culmination of a three-month pilgrimage of the exact digital image of the Lady of Guadalupe. (Photo by Keith Durflinger, Contributing Photographer)
Dancers from Aguilas Del Tepeyac lead the 89th annual procession to celebrate Our Lady of Guadalupe car procession at Mission San Gabriel on Sunday December 6, 2020. The procession and Mass are the culmination of a three-month pilgrimage of the exact digital image of the Lady of Guadalupe. (Photo by Keith Durflinger, Contributing Photographer)
Laura Flores takes video of the procession to celebrate Our Lady of Guadalupe car procession at Mission San Gabriel on Sunday December 6, 2020. The procession and Mass are the culmination of a three-month pilgrimage of the exact digital image of the Lady of Guadalupe. (Photo by Keith Durflinger, Contributing Photographer)
The Catholic faithful watch the 89th annual procession to celebrate Our Lady of Guadalupe car procession ends at Mission San Gabriel on Sunday December 6, 2020. The procession and Mass are the culmination of a three-month pilgrimage of the exact digital image of the Lady of Guadalupe. (Photo by Keith Durflinger, Contributing Photographer)
Archbishop Jose Gomez touches the Our Lady of Guadalupe after Mass at Mission San Gabriel on Sunday December 6, 2020. The procession and Mass are the culmination of a three-month pilgrimage of the exact digital image of the Lady of Guadalupe. (Photo by Keith Durflinger, Contributing Photographer)
Dancers from Aguilas Del Tepeyac perform during Mass to celebrate Our Lady of Guadalupe at Mission San Gabriel on Sunday December 6, 2020. The procession and Mass are the culmination of a three-month pilgrimage of the exact digital image of the Lady of Guadalupe. (Photo by Keith Durflinger, Contributing Photographer)
Archbishop Jose Gomez waves at parishioners after Mass celebrating Our Lady of Guadalupe at Mission San Gabriel on Sunday December 6, 2020. The procession and Mass are the culmination of a three-month pilgrimage of the exact digital image of the Lady of Guadalupe. (Photo by Keith Durflinger, Contributing Photographer)
Archbishop Jose Gomez touches the Our Lady of Guadalupe after Mass at Mission San Gabriel on Sunday December 6, 2020. The procession and Mass are the culmination of a three-month pilgrimage of the exact digital image of the Lady of Guadalupe. (Photo by Keith Durflinger, Contributing Photographer)
Archbishop Jose Gomez looks at the Our Lady of Guadalupe before Mass at Mission San Gabriel on Sunday December 6, 2020. The procession and Mass are the culmination of a three-month pilgrimage of the exact digital image of the Lady of Guadalupe. (Photo by Keith Durflinger, Contributing Photographer)
The Catholic faithful attend the 89th annual procession to celebrate Our Lady of Guadalupe car procession ends at Mission San Gabriel on Sunday December 6, 2020. The procession and Mass are the culmination of a three-month pilgrimage of the exact digital image of the Lady of Guadalupe. (Photo by Keith Durflinger, Contributing Photographer)
The 89th annual procession to celebrate Our Lady of Guadalupe car procession pulls in to the Mission San Gabriel on Sunday December 6, 2020. The procession and Mass are the culmination of a three-mo

San Gabriel mission gets temporary roof as crews labor to repair iconic church after fire

Wed, 02 Dec 2020 16:59:18 +0000

Ahead of expected seasonal rains, the Mission San Gabriel Arcángel will be sporting a temporary roof until February or March, as crews work to rebuild and rehabilitate the 215-year-old church that was gutted by a fire over the summer.

Investigators are still coming up empty handed when asked about the fire’s cause, San Gabriel spokesman Jonathan Fu said during an interview on Wednesday, but church officials are moving ahead to fix the historic structure, and may have uncovered some lost pieces of potential history in the process.

Preservation work continues at the San Gabriel Mission with a new temporary roof and scaffolding that surrounds the structure on Wednesday, December 2, 2020. (Photo by Dean Musgrove, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Preservation work continues at the San Gabriel Mission with a new temporary roof and scaffolding that surrounds the structure on Wednesday, December 2, 2020. (Photo by Dean Musgrove, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
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Preservation work continues at the San Gabriel Mission with a new temporary roof and scaffolding that surrounds the structure on Wednesday, December 2, 2020. (Photo by Dean Musgrove, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Preservation work continues at the San Gabriel Mission with a new temporary roof and scaffolding that surrounds the structure on Wednesday, December 2, 2020. (Photo by Dean Musgrove, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Preservation work continues at the San Gabriel Mission with a new temporary roof and scaffolding that surrounds the structure on Wednesday, December 2, 2020. (Photo by Dean Musgrove, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Preservation work continues at the San Gabriel Mission with a new temporary roof and scaffolding that surrounds the structure on Wednesday, December 2, 2020. (Photo by Dean Musgrove, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

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When the fire tore through the church, it exposed old layers of paint — particularly a pinkish salmon color on the mission’s columns — that may potentially be the same coloring used in the Santa Barbara Mission and other contemporaneously historic church sites, mission spokeswoman Terri Huerta said in a Wednesday interview.

“We don’t know if it’s interesting or not, but that’s why we’re bringing in a conservator to tell us,” she said. “Hopefully, they will be able to expose a pallet of colors that was used mainly on the columns, not the walls.”

The mission has gone through so many renovations over the centuries and most of the changes weren’t recorded. So the pink coloring could be a glimpse into the church’s history.

“For us, it’s exciting to know what it could’ve looked like in prior years,” Huerta said, explaining that there had been other architectural modifications like arches and wainscoting that have been added and removed over the years.

The church is working with an architectural team that found some old photographs, showing some of these changes. As they rebuild the church, Huerta said they may consider going back to some of these older designs.

As for the columns? If the conservationists are able to figure out what the color is, assuming it’s historically significant after investigation, then those may be painted pink once again.

“We don’t want to go down a rabbit hole, but because the fire revealed those colors, we’re going to investigate as far as we think we can,” Huerta said. “And then we have a church to rebuild, so we’ll keep our eye on the goal.”

As a historic structure, they have quite a few hoops to jump through — standards they need to meet — during the rebuilding process. They’ve hired a team of archaeologists, not to dig for historic artifacts, but to examine the church’s foundation because archaeologists know what they’re looking at when they see a 215-year-old foundation.

But there’s a long way to go until the church is up and running again.

“These are just the initial phases,” Huerta said. “We’ve done cleanup, they’ve put the temporary roof up. Now, the work on the interior is about to begin.”

Intact ‘La Dolorosa’ Painting Found In Charred Rubble Of San Gabriel Mission

Thu, 15 Oct 2020 19:45:20 +0000

SAN GABRIEL (CBSLA) — An intact “La Dolorosa” painting was found recently in the rubble of the San Gabriel Mission’s main sanctuary, which was destroyed in a fire in July.

(credit: Daniel Macias/Angelus News)

The painting of Our Lady Of Sorrows was found on her Feast Day on Sept. 15, according to the Archdiocese of Los Angeles’ Angelus News. It had been found under a burnt crossbeam.

The 249-year-old San Gabriel Mission caught fire and burned most of the roof and interior. (Carolyn Cole/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

The Archdiocese of Los Angeles says most of the valuable artwork inside the mission had been removed months before the July 11 fire. The mission was being renovated in preparation for its 250th anniversary in September 2021.

The “La Dolorosa” painting had hung above the sanctuary’s baptistry, and was left with some holes and blistering, according to Angelus News. An insurance company has pledged to restore the painting.

The source of the fire at the mission is still under investigation.

Intact Virgin Mary painting found in rubble after Mission San Gabriel fire

Thu, 15 Oct 2020 17:30:26 +0000

A woman takes a break in front of the church next to the Mission San Gabriel that was destroyed by fire in San Gabriel on Tuesday, July 14, 2020. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
People walk past the Mission San Gabriel that was destroyed by fire in San Gabriel on Tuesday, July 14, 2020. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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The Mission San Gabriel was destroyed by fire in San Gabriel on Tuesday, July 14, 2020. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Alecia Ballin prays outside the Mission San Gabriel Arcangel Sunday, July 12, after a fire destroyed much of the 249-year-old mission early Saturday. (Photo by David Rosenfeld/SCNG)
Archbishop José H. Gomez celebrated Mass at the Mission San Gabriel Arcángel on Sunday, July 12 at 11 a.m., following a fire that damaged the mission’s church. The Mass was in the Mission’s Chapel of the Annunciation on Sunday, July12. (Photo by Dean Musgrove, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Archbishop José H. Gomez celebrated Mass at the Mission San Gabriel Arcángel on Sunday, July 12 at 11 a.m., following a fire that damaged the mission’s church. The Mass was in the Mission’s Chapel of the Annunciation on Sunday, July12. (Photo by Dean Musgrove, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Archbishop José H. Gomez celebrated Mass at the Mission San Gabriel Arcángel on Sunday, July 12 at 11 a.m., following a fire that damaged the mission’s church. The Mass was in the Mission’s Chapel of the Annunciation on Sunday, July12. (Photo by Dean Musgrove, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Archbishop José H. Gomez celebrated Mass at the Mission San Gabriel Arcángel on Sunday, July 12 at 11 a.m., following a fire that damaged the mission’s church. The Mass was in the Mission’s Chapel of the Annunciation on Sunday, July12. (Photo by Dean Musgrove, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
A pedestrian walks past the church at Mission San Gabriel after an early morning fire on the previous day gutted the 215-year-old building on Sunday, July 12, 2020. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)
A bicyclist rides past the church at Mission San Gabriel after an early morning fire on the previous day gutted the 215-year-old building, on Sunday, July 12, 2020. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)
A small crew of workers tend to the church at Mission San Gabriel after an early morning fire on the previous day gutted the 215-year-old building on Sunday, July 12, 2020. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)
A woman is overcome with emotion after a fire tore through the church at Mission San Gabriel destroying the inside of the building in San Gabriel on Saturday, July 11, 2020. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Bishop David O’Connell walks out of the church after a fire tore through the church at Mission San Gabriel destroying the inside of the building in San Gabriel on Saturday, July 11, 2020. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
A fire tore through the church at Mission San Gabriel destroying the inside of the building in San Gabriel on Saturday, July 11, 2020. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
A fire tore through the church at Mission San Gabriel destroying the inside of the building in San Gabriel on Saturday, July 11, 2020. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Bishop David O’Connell talks to San Gabriel firefighter Hrag Jivalagian about the church after a fire tore through the church at Mission San Gabriel destroying the inside of the building in San Gabriel on Saturday, July 11, 2020. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
A fire tore through the church at Mission San Gabriel destroying the inside of the building in San Gabriel on Saturday, July 11, 2020. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
experiment by adding fruit, coffee and other flavors to their beer, some are also riding a new brewing wave, hopping on the hard seltzer trend with their own spin on the bubbly beverage.

“It kind of falls in line with following trends where we’re seeing something become popular outside of the craft industry and then on the craft side of things breweries want to pick it up, play with it and see what they can do with it,” said Gary Magnone, co-founder of Hopped LA, a website that covers the Southern California beer industry with video reviews and event listings.

With the success of seltzer giant White Claw, beer industry leaders like Heineken USA, Anheuser-Busch, Boston Beer Co. (makers of Sam Adams) and Corona have all launched their own version of hard seltzers, the alcohol-spiked carbonated water drink.

Seltzers tend to be lower in calories, are often gluten-free and they don’t taste like beer, which means small breweries can attract more customers who may not otherwise be interested in buying from a brewery.

“It’s an accessibility and inclusive type of thing. There’s a portion of the customer base that doesn’t drink beer and is looking for other options and brewing seltzers gives them the ability to cater to that audience,” Magnone said.

Hard seltzer sales reached $2.7 billion in the U.S. over the past year, according to data released in June by marketing research firm Nielsen. Since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, Nielsen reported that the beverage increasingly popular as bars and tasting rooms were closed.

For Aaron Henderson, co-owner of Steady Brew Beer Co. in Long Beach, getting into the seltzer market was an easy decision that made a lot of business sense.

“Seltzers give us an option for people who don’t necessarily like beer and people maybe being gluten intolerant,” he said.

The brewery makes several flavors, including Fizzy Watermelon and Crushed Pineapple, which are currently on tap. They also have two more coming soon: Dream Tangerine and Cha Cha Cherry.

Steady Brew is canning seltzers for distribution and plans on having seltzers as a permanent part of the menu.

Of course, Steady Brew is not the only local craft brewery making things bubbly. Here’s a look at more than a dozen breweries in the area that are brewing hard seltzers.
- Steady Brew Company in Long Beach is now making Spiked Seltzer. (Photo by Chuck Bennett, Contributing Photographer)
- Strum Brewing Co. makes the Tiny Bubbles seltzer, which is pink and tastes like cotton candy (Photo by Clarissa Morales)
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- Brewery X in Orange County has several hard seltzers on its menu. (Photo courtesy Brewery X)
- Brouwerij West recently launched its own brand called “THINGS…for your head.” (Photo courtesy Brouwerij West)
- Owner Melissa Fisher is ready to serve you their Detour 2.0 seltzer at Escape Craft Brewery in Redlands on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2020. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
- Owner Melissa Fisher pours the Detour 2.0 seltzer at Escape Craft Brewery in Redlands on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2020. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
- The fizzling Detour 2.0 seltzer served at Escape Craft Brewery in Redlands on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2020. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
- Owner Melissa Fisher pours the Detour 2.0 seltzer at Escape Craft Brewery in Redlands on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2020. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
- Owner Melissa Fisher is ready to serve you their Detour 2.0 seltzer at Escape Craft Brewery in Redlands on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2020. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
- Steady Brew Company in Long Beach is now making Spiked Seltzer. (Photo by Chuck Bennett, Contributing Photographer)
- The fizzling Detour 2.0 seltzer served at Escape Craft Brewery in Redlands on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2020. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
- The fizzling Detour 2.0 seltzer served at Escape Craft Brewery in Redlands on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2020. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
- The Detour 2.0 seltzer served at Escape Craft Brewery in Redlands on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2020. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
- Owner Melissa Fisher pours the Detour 2.0 seltzer at Escape Craft Brewery in Redlands on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2020. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
- The fizzling Detour 2.0 seltzer being served at Escape Craft Brewery in Redlands on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2020. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
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Los Angeles County

Beachwood Brewing

210 E. 3rd St., Long Beach. 562-436-4020 or beachwoodbrewing.com

The Seltzer: Fizzical P.O.G.

Details: The award-winning brewery jumped into the hard seltzer game with its Fizzical P.O.G. It’s a light 5% alcohol by volume seltzer made with a mix of passion fruit, orange and guava extract. It’s also a gluten-free clear drink that the brewery describes online as having “lively carbonation.” The best way to get this seltzer is to either call Beachwood to see if they have it on the menu or order it online.

Boomtown Brewery

700 Jackson St., Los Angeles. 213-617-8497 or boomtownbrew.com

The Seltzer: Easy Livin’

Details: The downtown L.A. brewery offers a seasonal seltzer calle

Magnitude 4.5 Earthquake Strikes Near South El Monte

Sat, 19 Sep 2020 15:40:33 +0000

SOUTH EL MONTE (CBSLA) — A 4.5 magnitude earthquake struck the Los Angeles area late Friday night, the U.S. Geological Survey reported.

The quake was centered less than two miles west-southwest of South El Monte and occurred at 11:38 p.m. Several aftershocks have occurred across the Los Angeles Basin since then.

The focal point of the earthquake was almost the same location as the M5.9 Whittier Narrows earthquake in 1987, according to seismologist Dr. Lucy Jones.

There have been reports that the quake was felt in La Habra, Long Beach, Oxnard, Ontario, Pasadena, near the Beverly Hills area, and other regions throughout L.A. County.

Some residents said they felt jolts from about three seconds to possibly up to a minute-long.

All 106 fire stations in the city of Los Angeles activated, each checking their areas for damage, according to Los Angeles Fire Chief Ralph M. Terrazas.

This is one of the largest earthquakes in the Los Angeles Basin in a few years.

Jones said that 5% of the time, an initial earthquake may actually be a foreshock that is preceding a larger earthquake.

There is also an approximately 50% chance that an aftershock around 3.0 magnitude strength could be felt, according to Jones.

There were no reports of extensive damages or injuries in the city of L.A. on Friday night, Chief Terrazas said.

A preliminary survey has thankfully found no earthquake damage or injuries within the City of LA. Please follow @LAFD for emergency alerts & visit https://t.co/rpbvSN8Yg6 for essential disaster planning info. #StaySafe

— Chief Terrazas (@LAFDChief) September 19, 2020

The Los Angeles Police Department also said there were “no significant incidents to report” related to the earthquake, but urged residents to have plans in place should aftershocks occur.

Per our Department Operations Center, fortunately there are no significant incidents to report related to the 4.6 magnitude earthquake.

Be prepared for potential aftershocks & only use 911 for emergencies. You can use 877-ASK-LAPD for non-emergencies in the City of Los Angeles.

— LAPD HQ (@LAPDHQ) September 19, 2020

Call 911 for emergencies or dial 877-275-5273 (877-ASK-LAPD) for non-emergencies in the City of Los Angeles.

Check out the interactive USGS map for a more detailed look at the impacted areas.

Feds: San Gabriel Woman Allegedly Sold ‘Purported Cocaine’ That Caused Several Pasadena Overdoses; 2 Were Fatal

Fri, 18 Sep 2020 22:44:40 +0000

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA) — A San Gabriel woman faces a federal charge for allegedly selling drugs that caused several overdoses in Pasadena.

Marisol Bolanos Hernandez, 35, was charged Friday with one count of drug distribution resulting in serious bodily injury, according to federal prosecutors. Bolanos was taken into custody Thursday by DEA agents.

Prosecutors say the defendant sold narcotics to several men who overdosed on Sept. 11, two of whom died.

One man and his friend were found unresponsive at a Pasadena location that night and taken to local hospitals. One of the men recovered, but the second died two days later.

The survivor, identified by prosecutors as A.C., was saved by a dose of Narcan. His urine sample tested positive for cocaine, prosecutors said. A.C. told Pasadena police he bought cocaine from a woman he called “Mari,” and shared it with his friend who died, and they both lost consciousness after taking the “purported cocaine,” an affidavit said, which also noted Bolanos was identified by A.C. out of a six-photo lineup.

Pasadena police seized white powder residue from the location, but it has not yet been tested, according to an affidavit.

Prosecutors allege Bolanos also sold the substance to two other overdose victims that night. Both of those victims were hospitalized, but survived. The affidavit said phone records linked Bolaros to a fifth, fatal overdose that night.

Bolanos was detained by Pasadena police Wednesday, and prosecutors say she admitted selling what she believed to be cocaine to three of the overdose victims, including A.C., on Sept. 11.

If convicted as charged, Bolanos faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years in federal prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison.

Building That Houses 250-Year-Old San Gabriel Mission Sustains Extensive Damage In Fire

Sun, 12 Jul 2020 05:45:17 +0000

SAN GABRIEL (CBSLA) — The building that houses the 250-year-old San Gabriel Mission sustained extensive damage in a fire on Saturday morning.

“It’s such a historical place — a lot of memories for me and a lot of memories for the whole community,” said one parishioner.

Flames raced through the mission on Junipero Serra Drive and Mission Road around 4:30 a.m. on Saturday. Firefighters were able to stop the blaze before it reached the altar and the museum.

Inside, the wood and pews were completely gutted, while the exterior — which is made of concrete — still standing.

“It’s so sad. It’s tragic for the city. It’s our jewel,” said parishioner Sara Guitierrez.

The mission has remained closed for services as a result of the pandemic and was under renovation. It was scheduled to reopen next week for mass.

Founded 250 years ago, the mission has been inside this building which has been standing for 215 years. It previously survived the Northridge quake.

The facility brings with it a long history of the establishment of missions in the state of California.

Los Angeles Archbishop José H. Gomez tweeted, “Our beloved San Gabriel Mission, founded in 1771, devastated by fire before dawn. St. Junípero Serra, pray for this land that you helped to found.”

Serra is recognized as one of the most important Spanish missionaries in the world. He founded nine of the 21 missions in California, but among some advocates, he is regarded as a controversial figure who forced California Native Americans to convert to Catholicism and destroyed their tribes and culture.

The California Catholic Conference of Bishops released a statement defending Serra’s impact, saying “he made great sacrifices to defend and serve the indigenous population.”

Last month, crowds knocked down a statue of Serra in downtown Los Angeles and protested at other locations about public depictions of the missionary. As a precaution, the San Gabriel Mission removed its Serra statue shortly after the protests.

The cause of the mission fire remains under investigation. Meanwhile, leaders are already taking steps to rebuild. A fire restoration fund has been set up for the church and is available on the San Gabriel Mission Catholic Church website.

CHP Officer Injured In Collision On Westbound 10 Freeway

Sun, 21 Jun 2020 23:27:05 +0000

MONTEREY PARK (CBSLA) — A California Highway Patrol officer was rushed to the hospital in unknown condition after a collision on the westbound 10 Freeway at New Avenue on Sunday afternoon.

CHP said at 1:46 p.m. that the number two through four lanes were blocked in response to the collision. All lanes reopened shortly after 3 p.m.

Additional details were immediately available from CHP about the condition of the officer or the circumstances leading up to the collision.

More information will be provided once it is known.

San Gabriel Man Dies After Experiencing Flu-Like Symptoms, Widow Says He Was Never Tested For Coronavirus

Sat, 21 Mar 2020 00:02:54 +0000

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA) — A San Gabriel man died Monday after experiencing flu-like symptoms, but his widow said doctors never tested him for the novel coronavirus despite his worsening symptoms.

Julio Ramirez was 43, a father of two and the picture of health, according to his wife Julie Murillo.

“No medical conditions that I knew of,” she said. “And he’s never been on meds.”

Murillo said her husband started getting sick last Monday after traveling domestically through Los Angeles International Airport. She said he told her that he sat next to someone who was coughing.

“That’s when he called Kaiser to see if he could go in because he was having fever, he was achey and he started getting like a little dry cough,” Murillo said.

Murillo, Ramirez’s wife of three years, said his doctor at Kaiser Downey prescribed him Tamiflu and cough medicine over the phone. And on Wednesday, she said Ramirez called Kaiser again.

“And a doctor was supposed to call him back,” she said. “And he said he never got a call back.”

By Friday, Murillo said Ramirez was struggling to breathe so she took him to an urgent care facility.

“They started asking questions, but they were more concerned if he had traveled outside the county, not in the states,” she said.

Murillo said her husband was taken to an empty room and a doctor called him over the phone. She said he was given an x-ray and was told someone would call him with the results.

She said he was never examined by a doctor or tested for the novel coronavirus.

“I think that when they saw me pushing him in a wheelchair and seeing that he couldn’t breathe that they should have, somebody should have physically seen him,” she said through tears.

On Monday morning, Murillo found her husband dead in his bed. She was tested for the virus on Monday and has been self-quarantined ever since — waiting for the results and grieving alone.

“I am to the point that I get paranoid that if I am crying and I have a runny nose, is that one of the symptoms,” she said.

Kaiser Permanente said it could not comment on the case due to patient privacy, but said that they are committed to giving patients adequate and proper care.

The coroner’s office said it would not do an autopsy because Kaiser said Ramirez died of pneumonia, so Murillo is paying for an independent autopsy to find out if her husband died of the coronavirus.

San Gabriel Valley Man Obtained $147M In Digital Currency Scam, Feds Say

Wed, 19 Feb 2020 21:40:59 +0000

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA) – A 62-year-old San Gabriel Valley man scammed more than 70,000 people to the tune of $147 million in a massive digital currency scheme, federal authorities announced Wednesday.

Over a two-year period from 2013 to 2015, Steve Chen of Bradbury received large sums of money ranging from $1,000 to $30,000 from people who believed they were investing in a new digital currency, which Chen told them was backed by billions of dollars’ worth of amber and precious gems, the U.S. attorney’s office reports.

However, the entire operation was a bogus sham which Chen operated through seven fraudulent companies out of the same Arcadia address, prosecutors said.

One of those fake companies was called U.S. Fine Investment Arts, Inc. (USFIA).

Chen “falsely promoted USFIA as a successful multi-level marketing company that extracted amber and other gemstones from non-existent mines it ‘owned’ in the United States, the Dominican Republic, Argentina and Mexico,” the DA’s office said in a news release.

Chen also offered fake bonuses such as cash, travel, luxury cars, L.A.-area homes and visas for immigrant investors, authorities said.

He has since agreed to plead guilty to one count each of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of tax evasion, the U.S. attorney’s office reports. He faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison once he pleads guilty. He is due in court March 10.

“Mr. Chen’s promises to investors were as worthless as his non-existent mines and phony digital currency,” U.S. Attorney Nick Hanna wrote in a statement. “This case should remind all investors that trappings of success may convey legitimacy, but everyone should exercise extreme care when considering giving hard-earned money to any outfit promoting trendy products and extravagant profits.”

Anyone who believes they were victimized by the Chen can visit the following website set up by the Securities and Exchange Commission, which brought its own case against Chen back in 2015.

The FBI, IRS and Homeland Security Department assisted in the investigation.

Missing Hiker, 73, Raising Alarm Bells For Rescuers Near La Crescenta

Mon, 24 Jun 2019 06:15:12 +0000

LA CRESCENTA (CBSLA) — A 73-year-old hiker has been missing for more than a day near La Crescenta, officials said Sunday.

The man got separated from his group sometime Saturday, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department reports. The man and his friends were hiking a 6-mile route near La Crescenta on Mt. Waterman.

There is growing concern for the man as it was not clear what he had in the way of provisions.

He was later identified as Eugene Jo.

Officials called off the search Sunday evening after dark because of dangerous conditions. They planned to renew the search for the man at daylight Monday.

The search is being led by LASD, but agencies from the Antelope and San Gabriel valleys have been added to the search to aid in the hunt.

Teams were fanning out for miles in the Angeles National Forest.

Temperatures have been favorable, say search organizers. There was no word on the hiker’s experience level.

San Gabriel Neighborhood Still Reeling From Deadly Stand-Off

Sat, 08 Jun 2019 02:02:14 +0000

SAN GABRIEL (CBSLA) — A San Gabriel neighborhood tonight is still reeling from a deadly stand-off Thursday.

Sheriff’s investigators spent the day searching for explosives amid charred ruins of the home near Saxon Ave. and Brighton St., where an hours-long standoff that included fires, fireworks, rubber bullets, a robotic officer, SWAT and a neighborhood evacuation ended in the death of the suspect, identified as 35-year-old Jose Salvador Meza.

Friday’s investigation meant keeping some neighbors away as the bomb squad did its work.

“It’s very devastating … a young man gone and … the home. It’s very devastating. It’s a sad moment for the neighborhood and a sad moment for the family,” one woman said.

Thursday’s stand-off started with a call to police around noon from a family member of the suspect who said the suspect had a gun. A man identifying himself as the suspect’s cousin spoke to CBS2/KCAL9 Friday.

“We all go through some ups and downs. We all have problems,” he said.

It remains unclear if the suspect was shot by deputies during the incident.

Mudslides, Downed Trees As Heavy Rains Continue To Pummel Southland

Mon, 04 Feb 2019 21:10:49 +0000

MALIBU (CBSLA) – The Southland is getting no respite from the stormy weather that has dumped several inches of rain since last week, with Los Angeles County likely to see steady showers throughout the day Monday as wildfire burn areas continue to experience mudslides and flooding.

The Pacific Coast Highway — which has been intermittently closed throughout the weekend — was shut down in both directions as of 1:30 p.m. Monday between Broad Beach Road in Malibu and Las Posas Road in Ventura County. Only residents were being allowed through.

Topanga Canyon Boulevard was also shut down between the PCH and Grand View Drive due to a mudslide. Caltrans crews were conducting repairs and there was no word on when it would reopen. Mulholland Highway remained closed between Kanan Dume and Las Virgenes roads.

Meanwhile, a flash flood warning expired at 12:15 p.m. for the Woolsey Fire burn area in L.A. and Ventura counties.

Mulholland Highway snake (just east of Kanan Road) is currently closed due to line work and huge boulders blocking the roadway. pic.twitter.com/TrWrXhXtAY

— CHP – West Valley (@CHPWestValley) February 3, 2019

Kanan Dume Road and Malibu Canyon Road were all open Monday after being shut down over the weekend due to flooding and debris flows.

With no vegetation to hold hillsides in place, there is the ongoing risk that too much water could send charred debris flowing into neighborhoods.

On Saturday, A construction worker was rescued after falling into a large sinkhole on Yerba Buena Road, near Yellow Road, north of Leo Carrillo State Park in the hills above Malibu. An excavator and its operator fell into the sinkhole. The road was shutdown indefinitely.

An excavator was swallowed up by a sinkhole on Yerba Buena Road north of Malibu. Feb. 3, 2019. (CBS2)

In the 300 block of North Arroyo Drive in San Gabriel, a large tree came crashing down on onto a parked car overnight Sunday. There were no injuries.

In the Hollywood Hills, two homes were temporarily evacuated Sunday after a portion of a deck collapsed on a hillside above. Officials determined erosion was to blame. No one was hurt.

Los Angeles County was expected to see up to 1 ½ inches of rain Monday, with up to 2 1/2 inches of rain in the San Gabriel Mountains and foothills, the National Weather Service reported.

The Grapevine area could see snowfall late Monday and into Tuesday, with 8 to 16 inches of snowfall in elevations above 6,500 feet in the San Gabriel Mountains.

The showers should move out late Tuesday into Wednesday, with the next chance of rain Friday evening into Saturday, NWS Meteorologist Curt Kaplan said.

Rainfall totals for the year beginning Oct. 1, 2018, are above average and well above the previous rainfall year, Kaplan said. Downtown Los Angeles has seen 12.40 inches so far, with the average 7.5 inches and only 1.89 inches the previous year by this date, he said. The Sierra snow pack is 115-120 percent of normal.

Public Works is cutting up a large tree that fell on a car in San Gabriel. It’s been a busy wet weekend for this crew @CBSLA pic.twitter.com/necdOLZ2Xd

— Lesley Marin (@lesleymarin) February 4, 2019

‘We Thought It Was A Bomb’: SUV Crash Survivor Speaks

Sat, 15 Dec 2018 01:29:50 +0000

SAN GABRIEL (CBSLA) — Alicia Zepeda says she thought it was a bomb.

Police say the driver who did it was having medical issues.

CBSLA’s Tom Wait sat down with the woman who was close to being killed at her San Gabriel home.

“We heard like a loud boom. We thought it was a bomb,” said Zepeda.

Zepeda describes the horrifying moment an SUV careened through her bay window covered in Christmas decorations. She and her friend were in the room, only a couple of feet from where the vehicle came to a stop.

“Glass just shattered everywhere. We were just in shock. I don’t know how we got out of there. I don’t even remember jumping over the pool table,” said Zepeda.

Zepeda was behind a pool table. It pinned her back. She had to jump out and go through the back door to escape.

“I ran to the street and the first car there I told him ‘please help me. There’s a car in my living room. There’s a man in there.’ I was just screaming for help,” said Zepeda.

Zepeda says the man was not conscious and his foot was apparently stuck on the accelerator. You can see the burned rubber from the tires. Pieces of the SUV are still in the living room along with all of the destroyed Christmas decorations and other cherished belongings.

“The insurance does not cover my personal items,” said Zepeda. “The owner’s insurance just covers the damage to the building.”

Seeing her home like this is not easy for Zepeda or her family, but they know this accident could have been much worse.

“I’m fine and my friend is too. I’m just sore and aching. And we can’t get it out of our minds. I haven’t slept. I haven’t slept because I keep think about the car coming in,” said Zepeda.

The family has set up a GoFundMe page to help pay for the damage.

Police: Suspected Hit-And-Run Driver Who Killed 1-Year-Old, Grandmother Has At Least 3 DUIs

Wed, 31 Oct 2018 01:56:34 +0000

SAN GABRIEL (CBSLA) — A hit-and-run driver who allegedly killed a 22-month-old girl and her grandmother in San Gabriel has been arrested, and police said he has a history of driving under the influence.

Dennis Perez, 48, allegedly struck 59-year-old Meiyu Li and her granddaughter Paisley Chen with his pickup truck near intersection of Live Oak Street and Del Mar Avenue Friday night as Li pushed the child to a pre-Halloween party in a stroller. Police received an anonymous tip about Perez, as a well as dash-cam and security video of his blue Chevy S-10 leaving the area.

Perez reportedly did not stop the vehicle until he turned onto Las Tunas and kept driving. He has been booked on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter and felony hit-and-run. It is not clear if Perez was impaired at the time of the incident.

“I immediately saw how affected the officers were — not only the officers, notifying the next of kin,” said San Gabriel Police Capt. Fabian Valdez. Police confirmed Perez has more than three DUIs, but would not say if Perez had a valid drivers license.

Dennis Perez is suspected of killing Meiyu Li, 59, and her granddaughter 22-year-old Paisley Chen in a hit-and-run in San Gabriel on Oct. 26, 2018. (SOURCE: San Gabriel Police Dept.)

Sources told CBS2 News Perez has a drinking problem, a secret he revealed when he tried to hide his truck in his family’s backyard.

Vigil Held For Father Of 2 Bludgeoned To Death At Santa Monica Pier

Sun, 23 Sep 2018 06:13:15 +0000

SANTA MONICA (CBSLA) — A vigil was held Saturday evening for Steven Cruze Jr., the father of two who was found bludgeoned to death early Thursday at the Santa Monica Pier.

Tonight, family and friends of the 39-year-old avid fisherman, wrote on balloons and released them at the end of the Santa Monica pier in his honor.

KCAL9’s Jeff Nguyen spoke to Cruze’s devastated loved ones.

Cruze sometimes slept underneath the pier friends said to get a head start on the commute to one of his two jobs.

“I’m missing him more and more,” said his mother Debbie.

Cruze lived in San Gabriel but worked two jobs in Marina Del Rey. Authorities initially and erroneously believed Cruze was homeless.

In addition to being hard-working, his family said he also loved to fish at the pier – and that is how his family wanted to remember him.

“It’s tough. That’s all I can say. It’s tough. Now, shoot, I can’t even come with my nephew over here no more. And that hurts,” said his uncle Steve Smith.

Cruze’s death comes after three homeless men were beaten with a a baseball bat in downtown LA last Sunday. Two of those men died, a third is still hospitalized. They were beaten while they slept.

The crimes were caught on security video. They show the suspect with a distinctive walk because of his bowed legs.

A fourth homeless person suffered critical injuries after he was attacked at an encampment early Saturday morning.

It’s unclear if Cruze’s case is connected to the other four.

But his mother is hoping to get closure for her grandsons who are 9 and 12.

She’s especially concerned about James, the older one.

“If we don’t find him, get him any justice, it’s just going to haunt him all his life if we don’t do nothing. He’s just so angry. He and his dad were really close,” said Cruze’s mom.

Police don’t have any leads. They believe the person who murdered Cruze did so in a robbery.

The family has set up a GoFundMe account.

Son James spoke of his father. Simple, eloquent and touching all at once.

“Hi I’m James. My Daddy was murdered under the Santa Monica Pier 9/20/18 he was the best daddy. He taught me how to fish and told me to be nice to everyone. I want to give my daddy a nice funeral. Thank you, James.”

Man, 80, Allegedly Shoots Wife And Son In San Gabriel

Mon, 16 Jul 2018 05:14:08 +0000

SAN GABRIEL (CBSLA) — A man and a woman were shot Sunday in an unincorporated area of San Gabriel and the man who allegedly shot the pair was arrested, a sheriff’s lieutenant said.

It happened just before 2 p.m. in a home on the 6300 block of Muscatel Avenue in a residential neighborhood, sheriff’s Lt. Marsha Williams said.

The shooter has been identified as 80-year-old Adrian Ness. The victims have been identified as his wife and son.

Ness was taken into custody at the Sheriff’s Temple station and booked on two attempted murder charges. He is being held on $2 million.

The suspect’s wife is also believed to be in her 80s. The son’s age was not revealed but both victims were said to be in critical condition following surgery.

The shooting reportedly happened during a domestic violence situation.

KCAL9’s Crystal Cruz reported from the scene and said the exact cause of the shooting is unknown.

But one neighbor told her off-camera that the father and son were “having problems.”

3 Restaurants Destroyed In Massive 2-Alarm Blaze In San Gabriel Strip Mall

Wed, 16 May 2018 20:30:36 +0000

SAN GABRIEL (CBSLA) – A large two-alarm fire destroyed three restaurants in a San Gabriel strip mall Wednesday morning.

(CBS2)

The fire was reported at 6:19 a.m. at Valley Boulevard and New Avenue, according to Verdugo Fire Communications Center dispatchers. Plumes of black smoke and flames could be seen shooting hundreds of feet into the air.

“Coming this way it almost looked like an aircraft had gone down,” witness Chester Weaver said.

San Gabriel Fire Department crews were battling the blaze when they realized the roof was about to give way and collapse.

“They had started to remove themselves, and it did go ahead and collapse, so at that point, we pulled everyone off,” San Gabriel Fire Division Chief Art Stafford told CBS2.

(Kandiss Crone/CBS2)

There were no reported injuries.

Three restaurants in the strip mall were destroyed, according to the fire department. They were closed at the time.

“From what I’ve heard there were some workers, but they were immediately evacuated,” San Gabriel Fire Division Chief Art Stafford told CBS2. “There were no businesses in operation at the time.”

The fire is believed to have started in an attic space.

Valley Boulevard was shut down in both directions between New and Prospect avenues for several hours. It reopened fully just before 2 p.m.

There was no immediate word on the cause of the blaze. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms was called in to assist with the investigation.

Police Pursuit Ends With 1 Of 3 Suspects Running Into Hospital

Sat, 21 Apr 2018 05:39:38 +0000

SAN GABRIEL (CBSLA) — A person in a possibly stolen vehicle that was being pursued by police ran into a hospital in San Gabriel late Friday.

Police were following a white Scion, which might have been stolen, for reckless driving on the 210 Fwy.

The driver got off the freeway near San Marino Avenue and Las Tunas Drive before a passenger ran off and into nearby San Gabriel Hospital.

After the driver and another passenger were placed in police custody, LAPD set up a perimeter around the hospital and found the third person.

Police said they did not believe the person entered the hospital, but officers and security personnel monitored the entrances. K-9 units were also deployed in the area.

The hospital was not placed under lockdown.

San Gabriel Lawyer Admits Running $50 Million Visa-Fraud Scam

Tue, 28 Nov 2017 06:08:13 +0000

SANTA ANA, Calif. (AP) — A Southern California attorney has pleaded guilty to fraud and money laundering as part of a scheme authorities say collected more than $50 million from wealthy Chinese investors seeking green cards.

Authorities say 35-year-old Victoria Chan pleaded guilty Monday to visa fraud, wire fraud and money laundering.

California Investment Immigration Fund (PHOTO: CIIF, Internet Archive)

She faces up to 45 years in prison when sentenced July 9.

Under the federal government’s EB-5 visa program, foreign investors who commit to spending at least $500,000 on job-creating projects can apply to obtain green cards granting permanent residency.

Chan admitted filing about 130 applications for such visas in exchange for construction projects that were never built.

Authorities say she used much of the money to buy properties for herself. She also returned some to the green-card applicants.

Pursuit Suspect Arrested In San Gabriel After Officer-Involved Shooting

Thu, 27 Oct 2016 17:02:23 +0000

SAN GABRIEL (CBSLA.com) — A suspect who led police on a chase in an SUV into a San Gabriel neighborhood and ran off after exchanging gunfire with officers has been arrested.

Police conducting a traffic stop at about 4:30 a.m. gave chase when the driver fled the scene, leading officers into a cul-de-sac where he got out and ran off.

(credit: CBS)

It’s not clear if the suspect was injured in the officer-involved shooting. The suspect was taken into custody shortly before 9:30 a.m.

The eastbound 10 Freeway Del Mar Avenue carpool lane offramp and the westbound Del Mar Avenue offramps and onramps were closed at about 5:40 a.m. to allow police to search the area. The SigAlert for the closure was canceled at about 11:30 a.m.

Off-Duty LAPD Officer Shoots 2 Burglars Breaking Into His San Gabriel Home

Wed, 16 Mar 2016 05:10:27 +0000

SAN GABRIEL (CBSLA.com) — An off-duty Los Angeles police lieutenant shot two burglars, he said, tried to break into his San Gabriel home Tuesday.

According to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, two young men broke into the officer’s house in the 600 block of Los Olivos Drive through the kitchen window around 10:15 a.m.

The officer confronted the intruders. As they tried to get away, one of them reached for his waistband. That was when the officer opened fire, investigators said.

One suspect was shot in the leg and ended up in the driveway.

Dr. William Loskota, a neighbor, heard the homeowner yelling for help and called 911. “I thought it was something crashing. I went outside. Joe was there. I thought he was shot. He was down with the person he’d shot in his driveway. He had his gun in his hand. The guy was down,” Loskota said.

The retired anesthesiologist said the suspect on the ground was crying and told him he was 17 years old and had been shot in the stomach.

Investigators said the second burglar was hit in the stomach and leg. He hopped into a getaway car with two more suspects. All three were all arrested at a hospital.

Police said the homeowner is a 29-year veteran of the LAPD. He currently works at the Pacific Division.

Deadly Stabbing Investigation Underway In San Gabriel

Wed, 09 Mar 2016 13:16:59 +0000

SAN GABRIEL (CBSLA.com) — Homicide detectives Wednesday investigated the circumstances surrounding the stabbing death of a man that took place in the city of San Gabriel.

Just before 11 p.m. Tuesday, deputies were sent to the 9100 block of Huntington Drive for report of a stabbing incident, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

Upon their arrival, paramedics pronounced an adult Hispanic man dead at the scene. His identity is being withheld pending family notification.

At this time, no suspect description has been provided.

The investigation is ongoing.

Anyone with information regarding this incident has been urged to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500.

San Gabriel Man Found Floating In Huntington Harbor Dies 7 Days Later

Tue, 22 Dec 2015 15:53:10 +0000

HUNTINGTON BEACH (CBSLA.com) — Authorities are investigating the death of a 27-year-old San Gabriel man found floating in Huntington Harbor.

Caanan So was discovered floating in the Marina near 16847 Bolero Lane on Dec. 12, according to the Orange County coroner’s office. He was taken to a hospital, where he died at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, seven days after he was found, according to the coroner’s office.

So had attended a party near the Marina on the night he was found in the water, according to the coroner’s office and the Orange County Sheriff’s Department.

Homicide Detectives Investigate Shooting Death Of Man In San Gabriel

Mon, 07 Dec 2015 13:55:02 +0000

SAN GABRIEL (CBSLA.com) — Homicide detectives investigated the circumstances surrounding the shooting death of a man in San Gabriel on Monday.

Shortly after 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, officers were sent to the 1900 block of South Brighton Street for report of an assault with a deadly weapon, according to the San Gabriel Police Department.

“When they arrived at the location, they found a male Hispanic adult suffering from an apparent gunshot wound,” said Deputy Trina Schrader.

Paramedics transported the victim to a hospital where he later died. His identity is being withheld pending family notification.

According to detectives, the suspect is an adult man who was last seen running eastbound from the scene.

The investigation is ongoing.

Anyone with information regarding this incident has been urged to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500.

Locals Plead For Better Traffic Safety After Car Seriously Injures 10-Year-Old

Wed, 21 Oct 2015 05:31:17 +0000

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — After 10-year-old Alexys Garcia was struck by a car near her school, residents of San Gabriel are pushing for more traffic safety regulations and crossing guards.

It was just last week when Garcia was leaving Jefferson Middle School and was struck by a car.

“She had a skull fracture, broken jaw, cheekbone fracture and fractured pelvis,” said Joeanna Garcia, the victim’s aunt.

Garcia’s family and friends showed up to the City Council meeting in San Gabriel on Tuesday with the hopes of enacting new safety regulations.

The family claims that the accident could have been prevented if a crossing guard were looking out for Alexys.

San Gabriel made a statement, saying: “City officials have already begun to reach out to their parents in Temple City and L.A. County to analyze the incident and the intersection, and the city is committed to determining whether there are ways to prevent it from happening again.”

Dan Garcia, the victim’s uncle, argues that the city needs to improve traffic safety right away.

“We need to invest in more crossing guards, and we need to invest in better traffic mitigation,” he said.

Alexys was supposed to go to a concert Thursday for her birthday, but her family has canceled plans as she will remain in a hospital for at least a few more days.

No decisions were made at Tuesday night’s council meeting, as it was just an open discussion.

Tackling ‘Mansionization,’ San Gabriel Places Moratorium On Home Teardowns And Additions

Wed, 07 Oct 2015 06:18:31 +0000

SAN GABRIEL (CBSLA.com) — Seeking to preserve the historic character of its neighborhoods, the San Gabriel city council on Tuesday issued a moratorium on demolishing existing houses — many of them single-story structures — to make way for newer mansions.

The adopted ordinance is effective immediately and prohibits the city from issuing permits to homeowners looking to demolish existing houses or build second story additions on existing homes until the city updates its development standards, The Pasadena Star-News reported.

The two dozen applications already submitted to the city for new construction or demolition will be allowed to move forward.

The moratorium is a response to outcry from residents that “mansionization” is altering San Gabriel’s historic feel as quaint streets become overrun by garish “McMansions.”

“This is an issue that trancends the city of San Gabriel,” San Gabriel City Planner Mark Gallatin said. “It’s an issue that cities throughout the Los Angeles region are dealing with.”

There is also a ballot measure being put forward by Arcadia residents to limit house footprint and height.

Crews Shoring Up San Gabriel Valley Home After Part Of It Collapsed

Tue, 15 Sep 2015 20:33:20 +0000

SAN GABRIEL (CBSLA.com) —Construction crews worked Tuesday to shore up a red-tagged house in the San Gabriel Valley after its backyard collapsed into a wash following heavy rain.

Homeowner Ona Hu said she thought the loud noise she heard around 5:30 a.m. was an earthquake. “I was sleeping, right? I then I heard, ‘Boom!'” she said.

The loud noise was the backyard of her house in the 5300 block of Pondosa Street crumbling into a wash.

A county inspector said the deluge caused a temporary retaining wall to collapse, sending dirt underneath the driveway into a flood channel next to the house.

“You know that’s really scary. And then I wake the kids up,” Hu said.

“Basically, the concrete has collapsed into the pipe, the water thing. The gas meter is connected to the concrete, and it’s falling down with it,” Hu’s son, Allen Wang said.

For the past year, construction has been underway right next to Hu’s home. It is part of the San Gabriel Trench Project to lower the railroad tracks below ground level for a new rail line.

The family said they have noticed holes in their flooring prior to Tuesday morning’s collapse.

Crews have been shoring up the collapsed area. But it’s unclear if the house is livable.

“If the home is unlivable; we’re a public agency; we are required to compensate the family,” Paul Hubler of the Alameda Corridor East Construction Authority said.

Mark Christoffles of the Alameda Corridor East Construction Authority is in charge of the trench project. “We feel bad about the whole situation. We are relocating them for the moment, temporarily,” he said. “Hopefully, they don’t lose the entire structure, but if they do, we will replace it for them.”

The residents were evacuated after their house was red-tagged. They have been offered to stay in a hotel while they wait to hear the fate of their home they have been living in since 2008.

The trench project is being funded from transportation bonds approved by California voters.

Financially Challenged San Gabriel Food Pantry Faces Shutdown

Tue, 25 Aug 2015 23:51:41 +0000

SAN GABRIEL (CBSLA.com) — A San Gabriel food pantry that has handed out food to families in need for 30 years will shut its doors next month if it cannot raise enough money to overcome significant financial challenges.

The People for People food pantry opened in 1984 with financial support from local churches. But over the years, as congregations changed, the food pantry lost that steady stream of funding.

The bills kept stacking up, however. The pantry’s expenses include utility bills, rent and repairs to its refrigerator and refrigerated truck.

Volunteer Sandy Tramell said the pantry closing would be a major blow to families and senior citizens in need.

“There are a lot of people who have a really hard time making it through the month with the food they can afford to get,” she said, fighting back tears. “So it’s sad to see it close.”

If the food pantry cannot raise enough money to cover its expenses, it will close as soon as Sept. 15.

Sewage Line Break Displaces Residents Of San Gabriel Assisted Living Facility

Sat, 06 Jun 2015 18:58:18 +0000

SAN GABRIEL (CBSLA.com) — Eight residents of a San Gabriel assisted living facility remained displaced Saturday following a sewage line break, police say.

Forty-seven people were evacuated from Vista Cove Care Center, located near the intersection of South Santa Anita Avenue and South Arroyo Drive, after the incident was reported around 7:15 p.m. Friday.

The displaced residents included 36 convalescent facility patients and 11 apartment residents, Lauren Gold, public information officer for the City of San Gabriel, told City News Service.

A spokesperson for the San Gabriel Police Department told CBS2/KCAL9 eight residents were displaced and transported.

Crews were working late into Friday evening to repair the break.

A preliminary investigation suggests the overflow was linked to construction work for the Alameda Corrido-East railroad project, located near the facility, Gold said.

Crews were still cleaning up the scene early Saturday morning.

Crews Respond To Assisted Living Facility In San Gabriel After Sewage Line Break

Sat, 06 Jun 2015 06:00:06 +0000

SAN GABRIEL (CBSLA.com) — Authorities have responded to an assisted living facility in San Gabriel following a break in a sewage line.

The incident at the Vista Cove Care Center unfolded about 7:15 p.m. Friday, and prompted a dozens of ambulances to respond to the scene.

No one as of 11 p.m. had been evacuated from the center as officials were trying to determine the severity of the break.

Between 30 to 80 people could be affected as a result of the situation, but no injuries have been reported.

If necessary, the patients would be moved to other assisted living facilities.

“Right now, we’re kind of in a holding pattern to determine whether or not the sewer system is going to be restored. If that’s the case, we’re good. If not, we’re going to have a pretty significant event,” said one firefighter.

This is a breaking news report. More information will be provided as it becomes available.

Police Chase Possible DUI Suspect From East LA To San Gabriel

Sat, 25 Apr 2015 05:45:36 +0000

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Police pursued a possible DUI suspect in East LA in a chase that started on the northbound 5 Freeway as the driver briefly went on the 710 Freeway.

The unidentified suspect was speeding and often drove on the wrong side of the road, police said.

Most of the chase occurred on side streets and without headlights.

The driver also drove over sidewalks and through red lights.

He was going too fast to make a PIT maneuver, police said.

The driver hit a fire hydrant in the Alhambra area, disabling his vehicle.

The CHP approached the man and ordered him out of the vehicle.

The suspect was ordered to lay flat on the ground. He was apprehended, handcuffed and taken into custody.

At least six patrol cars chased the suspect.

During parts of the chase, Sky9’s Stu Mundel said the driver was moving in excess of 60 mph and “making a lot of dangerous turns.”

Pasadena Man Charged With Murdering Sister, Wounding Nephew

Mon, 09 Mar 2015 22:10:01 +0000

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — A 30-year-old Pasadena man was charged Monday with murder, attempted murder and assault with a firearm in connection with shooting and killing his sister and wounding his nephew.

Johnny Goins, who was arrested Thursday night by Riverside County sheriff’s deputies at a mall in Moreno Valley, was expected to be arraigned sometime Monday afternoon in Alhambra on the three felony charges.

The complaint also includes a sentence-enhancing allegation that Goins personally used a firearm, causing great bodily injury and death.

Goins is accused of going to his 32-year-old sister’s apartment in the 5100 block of Rosemead Boulevard in San Gabriel on Thursday morning and shooting her, Deputy District Attorney Kevin Keeland said.

Tanya Goins’ teenage son was also struck by gunfire, but his injuries were not life-threatening, according to the prosecutor, who plans to recommend that the defendant’s bail be set at $3.05 million.

If convicted as charged, the defendant faces up to 52 years to life in prison.

Coroner’s Office ID’s San Gabriel Woman Killed Thursday

Sun, 08 Mar 2015 00:31:51 +0000

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — A woman who authorities believe was shot dead by her brother at a San Gabriel apartment on Thursday morning was identified by the Los Angeles County coroner’s office on Saturday.

Coroner’s Lt. David Smith identified the woman as 32-year-old Tanaya Goins. She suffered a single gunshot wound, and was pronounced dead at the scene in the 5100 block of Rosemead Boulevard, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

Deputies were called to the scene at 6:40 a.m., following a report of shots fired. In addition to Goins, they found a 13-year-old boy, believed to be her son, who had minor injuries.

About 14 hours later, Riverside County deputies arrested the woman’s brother, Johnny Goins, 31, at a mall in Moreno Valley, according to Los Angeles County Deputy Trina Schrader.

Officials have said they believe the killing was the result of a domestic dispute, and Johnny Goins was identified as a suspect. Following his arrest, he was turned over to Los Angeles County sheriff’s officials, Schrader said, to be booked for suspicion of murder.

Woman Killed, Boy Wounded At San Gabriel Apartment Shooting

Thu, 05 Mar 2015 17:41:26 +0000

SAN GABRIEL (CBSLA.com) — A woman was fatally shot Thursday at an apartment complex in San Gabriel, and authorities say her brother is wanted in connection with the shooting.

Deputies responded to a shots fired call around 6:40 a.m. in the 5100 block of Rosemead Boulevard and discovered the body of a black woman in her 30s inside a unit, the Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office said.

A 12-year-old boy, believed to be the woman’s son, also suffered minor injuries in the shooting. He was taken to a local hospital in unknown condition for treatment.

Los Angeles County Sheriff’s homicide detectives identified the prime suspect in the shooting as 31-year-old Johnny Goins, the brother of the victim. He remains at large.

“It appears this was the result of some sort of family or domestic dispute,” said Lt. Victor Lewandowski of the LA County Sheriff’s Department.

Firefighters Rescue Construction Worker From 40-Foot Trench In San Gabriel

Mon, 15 Dec 2014 17:38:26 +0000

SAN GABRIEL (CBSLA.com) — Firefighters Monday rescued a construction worker who had fallen in a 40-foot trench in San Gabriel.

The incident was reported around 8:30 a.m. at a construction site at Main and Ramona streets, according to the San Gabriel Fire Department.

It was unclear how the man fell into the trench, which was six feet wide.

He was hoisted up at 9:35 a.m.

His condition was unknown.

Man Pleads Not Guilty In Fatal Shooting Of Pomona SWAT Officer

Thu, 04 Dec 2014 03:04:37 +0000

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A suspected motorcycle gang member has pleaded not guilty to gunning down a Pomona police officer.

City News Service says 36-year-old David Martinez entered the plea Wednesday in Los Angeles to a charge of murder with special circumstances. Prosecutors haven’t decided whether to seek the death penalty.

Authorities say a Pomona SWAT officer, Shaun Diamond, was shot on Oct. 28 as he helped serve a warrant at a home in the Los Angeles suburb of San Gabriel.

A shotgun blast struck Diamond in the head and he died the next day.

Los Angeles County prosecutors say Diamond was part of multiagency police operation targeting members of the Mongols motorcycle gang.

Funeral Services Held For Fallen Pomona SWAT Officer

Capital Murder Charge Filed Against Man Accused Of Killing Pomona SWAT Officer

Pomona SWAT Officer Dies Following Shooting At San Gabriel Home

Pomona SWAT Officer Shot In Head ‘Clinging To Life’

Tue, 28 Oct 2014 18:20:22 +0000

SAN GABRIEL (CBSLA.com) — A Pomona SWAT officer was shot Tuesday morning while serving a search warrant at a San Gabriel Valley home.

Officer Shaun Diamond, 45, was shot in the back of the head as he helped serve a warrant at a home in the 100 block of San Marino Drive in San Gabriel, the Pomona Police Department said. Diamond was one of several officers trying to open the outer door of the home when “the interior door opened and he was met with gunfire.”

Sheriff’s Lt. Eddie Hernandez said one shot was fired from a shotgun, apparently striking Diamond in the back of the head, even though the officer was wearing a Kevlar helmet.

Preliminary information indicated that officers did not return gunfire, Nishida said.

“The officers at this point didn’t have a clear shot at the suspect,” he said. “The suspect, we’re being told, laid on the ground and put the firearm to his side. Also the (suspect’s) father was in the way and at that point it became a rescue operation to get the officer some medical attention. The suspect was taken into custody without incident.”

The suspect was identified as David Martinez, 36, of San Gabriel.

Martinez’s father was also injured when the shot was fired. Hernandez said the man was struck in the left arm above the elbow.

Martinez was booked on suspicion of attempted murder on a peace officer and was being held on a $4 million bail. Sheriff’s officials said Martinez has a criminal history that includes assault with a deadly weapon and domestic violence.

Diamond began his law enforcement career with the Los Angeles Police Department, then joined the Pomona department in 2006, Pomona police Chief Paul Capraro said. Diamond joined the SWAT team in 2008.

“He’s a top notch guy — a great sense of humor and just a wonderful human being,” Lt. Mike Keltner said Diamond.

The shooting occurred while officers were serving a search warrant that stemmed from a larger investigation involving outlawed motorcycle gangs, according to police.

“Motorcycle gangs, just like typical other gangs, are involved with drugs, laundering money, weapons, violence — anything that enhances their gangs,” Keltner said.

Numerous other warrants related to that investigation were also served throughout the LA area.

A command post was set up in the area of Las Tunas and San Marino avenues in San Gabriel.

Hesperia Lawmaker To Protest San Gabriel Mountains ‘Land Grab’

Mon, 06 Oct 2014 20:30:18 +0000

PASADENA (CBSLA.com) — A Southern California lawmaker is set to protest what he says is a “federal land grab” by the Obama Administration.

KNX 1070’s Bob Brill reports Assemblyman Tim Donnelly issued a warning ahead of a scheduled visit by President Obama to the San Gabriel Mountains, where he is expected to declare 600,000 acres of the land as a “national monument.”

Any move by the White House to take control of a large swath of land adjacent to the Angeles National Forest and portions of the San Bernardino National Forest could force the closure of popular local attractions such as the Mount Baldy ski resort, the Burro Canyon shooting range and hiking and biking trails, according to Donnelly.

New permit, parking and access fees could be imposed and local mineral and water rights could also be affected by the designation, Donnelly said.

Donnelly (R-Twin Peaks) will announce a planned protest at a Pasadena park where Mr. Obama is set to speak Friday, according to Donnelly’s office.

HR 4858 (PDF), a bill authored by Pasadena Congresswoman Judy Chu to designate the land a National Recreation Area, is currently being reviewed by a Congressional committee.

But Donnelly alleges Chu is hoping to bypass Congressional oversight by having President Obama make the declaration using an executive order.

“What we see here is somebody trying to make a name for themselves, in this case Congresswoman Judy Chu, but she’s doing it and ramrodding it over the objections of a huge portion of the community,” said Donnelly.

Among those objectors: Glendora Mayor Judy Nelson, who has registered her opposition to the plan as a private citizen and not in her official capacity for the city of Glendora.

“The reason for [monument declarations] is to protect and preserve, which means restrict and regulate,” said Nelson.

In addition to the planned protest, a number of citizens and elected officials were expected to deliver letters of opposition to Chu’s office Monday.

The San Gabriel Mountains provide over 70 percent of open space in Los Angeles County and host over 3 million visitors a year, nearly as many visitors as major national parks like Yellowstone, according to Chu’s office.

Crews Battle 3-Alarm Fire At San Gabriel Auto Body Shop

Wed, 24 Sep 2014 13:37:20 +0000

SAN GABRIEL (CBSLA.com) — Crews Wednesday were battling a three-alarm fire at an auto body shop in the San Gabriel Valley.

The fire was reported at 6:03 a.m. in the 500 block of Ralph Street in San Gabriel, fire officials said.

The San Gabriel, Montebello and Alhambra fire departments were all battling the blaze.

It was unclear how the fire was started.

Monrovia Official Wary Of National Monument Plan For San Gabriel Mountains

Tue, 26 Aug 2014 20:18:18 +0000

ARCADIA (CBSLA.com) — A Monrovia city official Tuesday voiced his opposition to a plan to declare the San Gabriel Mountains a national monument.

In June, Rep. Judy Chu (D-Pasadena) introduced H.R. 4858, known as the San Gabriel National Recreations Act, which would designate the area a National Recreation Area in response to local calls to protect the area adjacent to the Angeles National Forest and portions of the San Bernardino National Forest.

Chu also wrote a letter Aug. 20 addressed to Secretary of the Department of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, which called for investments in sustainable recreation, new parking areas and trails to expand park access, and multi-language signage.

Chu along with Los Angeles County Supervisor-elect Hilda Solis and representatives for Senator Barbara Boxer, Congressman Adam Schiff, Congressman Howard “Buck” McKeon, and Congresswoman Grace Napolitano were scheduled Tuesday afternoon to host a panel on the topic at the Baldwin Park Performing Arts Center in Arcadia.

But opponents like Monrovia City Councilman Tom Adams told KNX 1070 NEWSRADIO the legislation would amount to little more than a land grab.

“The National Recreation Area…encroaches not only on the city-owned land, but encroaches onto people’s homes and yards, which creates a multitude of issues that no one has bothered to address,” Adams said.

But Adams added that if a national monument was created, it would be unclear whether the City Council would take an official position on the plan.

Daniel Rossman of the Wilderness Society and spokesman for the coalition group San Gabriel Mountains Forever said he supports greater federal control over the Angeles National Forest, which provides drinking water to about one-third of Los Angeles County.

“Hunting, fishing, camping, hiking will all remain, but what will happen is they’ll be protected for future generations,” said Rossman.

The San Gabriel Mountains also include over 70 percent of the total open space for Los Angeles County, according to the U.S. Forest Service.

Iconic Home Of Frisbee, Hula Hoop Maker To Be Demolished

Mon, 25 Aug 2014 18:27:42 +0000

PASADENA (CBSLA.com) — The original home of the Frisbee, the Hula Hoop and the Slip-N-Slide is about to meet the wrecking ball.

KNX 1070’s Ron Kilgore reports an iconic set of buildings formerly occupied by Wham-O and Sriracha sauce maker Huy Fong Foods is set to be demolished this week.

The industrial site at 835 East El Monte Street – widely known for its retro-looking low-slung buildings – will be knocked down to make way for an 88-townhome complex on the property located along the city line between San Gabriel and Rosemead on the Rubio Wash debris basin.

Known as the most successful manufacturer of hula hoops in the modern era, Wham-O began manufacturing its toy products in the 1950s and spent three decades at the El Monte Street location before it was replaced by Huy Fong Foods in 1986.

Under the direction of founders Arthur “Spud” Melin and Richard Knerr, Wham-O developed a plastic flying disc originally marketed as the Pluto Platter in 1957 before the company changed its name was changed to the Frisbee disc and quickly made it a household name.

In 1961, Wham-O introduced the original Slip-N-Slide, which was originally invented by upholsterer Robert Carrier while watching his son hose down their slick concrete driveway and slide down on it. An estimated 10 million of the water slides were sold between 1961 and 1992, according to the company.

The Olson Company, the new site’s developer, will include a tribute to Wham-O and Huy Fong Foods as part of the development, City Planning Manager Mark Gallatin told The Pasadena Star-News.

La Mirada Doctor Found Guilty Of Trafficking Vicodin, Other Prescription Drugs

Fri, 15 Aug 2014 19:45:47 +0000

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Federal officials say a La Mirada doctor has been found guilty of federal drug trafficking charges for distributing prescription painkillers like Vicodin and Norco and laundering the proceeds.

After a three-day trial, Dr. Andrew Sun, 78, was found guilty late Thursday by a federal jury of 17 felony counts, including three counts of money laundering. Sun was found guilty of distributing controlled substances outside the usual course of professional practice and without a legitimate medical purpose, including 14 counts of distributing hydrocodone, alprazolam, carisoprodol – which is best known under the brand name Soma – and promethazine with codeine, known on the street as “purple drank” and “sizzurp,” according to U.S. Attorney’s Office spokesman Thom Mrozek.

Sun operated medical clinics in San Gabriel and East Los Angeles. Evidence at the trial showed Sun issued more than 24,000 prescriptions for controlled substances, generating well over $1 million in cash proceeds from 2009 through 2013, according to officials.

Federal officials say law enforcement authorities conducted a series of undercover operations at Sun’s clinic. During each operation, Sun failed to examine the patient and sold prescriptions for $150 in cash, even if he believed he was writing prescriptions for drug addicts, officials said.

Evidence also presented to the jury included Medical Board disciplinary filings against Sun, showing he was subject to a separate undercover investigation in 2004. During that investigation, Sun prescribed Vicodin to patients even though they said they didn’t feel pain. Sun’s medical license was placed on probation and he was ordered to document and report all his prescriptions for Vicodin and other controlled drugs. Instead, Sun falsified the records he submitted to the Medical Board by reporting diagnoses that were never mentioned during patient consultations, according to officials.

Sun is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 10 and faces a statutory maximum sentenced of 157 years in federal prison. An Aug. 25 hearing was also scheduled, at which time the court will consider if Sun will be ordered to forfeit nearly $350,000 in drug proceeds previously seized by the government.