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Gunpoint robbery goes bad

The Arcadia Police Department responded to 980 calls for service from Sunday, March 6 through Saturday, March 12, of which 116 required formal investigations. Here is a summary report of the major incidents handled by the officers of the Arcadia Police Department during this period. (Listed in crime categories created by Arcadia’s Best).

ARCADIA POLICE DEPARTMENT Calls for Criminal Activity Totals Year-to-Date (thru 3/12) Calls for Service: 9,736 (2010 total: 48,318) <2009 total: 50,371; 2008 Total: 49,699> Formal Investigations: 1,312 (2010 total: 6,895) <2009 total: 7,092; 2008 total: 6,705>

Teens attempted robbery goes bad An attempted robbery occurred at Advantis, 1041 South Baldwin, around 10:50 a.m. Tuesday, March 8. Two male African-American suspects, armed with replica black semi-automatic handguns, entered the store and pointed the guns at the victim. The suspects told the victim to kneel on the ground and then pulled out zip ties. Fearing that he was going to be shot after being tied, the victim grabbed one of the suspect’s guns and used it to hit the suspect multiple times in the face. The second suspect then used his gun to pistol whip the victim on the back of his head. The suspects fled the scene on foot, but they were later apprehended in the 700 block of Arcadia. The juvenile suspects, ages 15 and 16, were taken into custody for attempted robbery, commercial burglary, assault with a deadly weapon, false imprisonment, conspiracy to commit crime, and drawing/exhibiting imitating firearm. After being booked at the City jail, they were transported to Eastlake Juvenile Detention Center. . Driver going 79 mph in 25 mph school zone rear-ends car Around 1:22 p.m. Tuesday, March 8, a vehicle was observed traveling 79 mph in a 25 mph school zone, and the car subsequently rear-ended another vehicle at Holly and Duarte. A 19-year-old male Hispanic driver was arrested for reckless driving, excessive speed, no proof of insurance, and driver’s license not in possession. . Alcohol/drugs * Around 2:19 a.m. Sunday, March 6, a traffic stop was conducted at Live Oak and Fourth when a vehicle was observed traveling over the center divider. An intoxicated 29-year-old male Hispanic driver was arrested for DUI. * Shortly after 10 a.m. Thursday, March 10, APD officers assisted parole officers from the California Department of Corrections in the 800 block of West Duarte. During a parolee detention, it was discovered that the subjects were in possession of a large amount of marijuana for the purpose of sales. A 27-year-old male Asian was arrested for possession of marijuana for sale, felon/addict in possession of firearm, possession of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia, outstanding felony warrant, and receiving stolen property. Two female Asians, ages 25 and 29, were also taken into custody for possession of marijuana for sale. * Around 1:51 a.m. Friday, March 11, a traffic stop was initiated at Baldwin and Huntington for a code violation. Officers detected the odor of alcohol from the vehicle and a field sobriety test was conducted on a 21-year-old female Hispanic driver. It was determined that she was operating the vehicle while intoxicated and was arrested for DUI.

Residential burglaries/theft * Between 3:30 p.m. to 6:43 p.m. Wednesday, March 9, a residential burglary occurred in the 1400 block of Orlando. Unknown suspect(s) entered the home by pushing out a window that was in a laundry room door. The suspect(s) then ransacked rooms and stole jewelry, a laptop computer, and a digital camera. * Units were dispatched to the 400 block of Arborlada around 8:46 a.m. Thursday, March 10, regarding a residential burglary in progress. Two male suspects were seen trying to enter house through a bedroom window. While the residents were calling the police, the suspects left the location in a vehicle driven by a third suspect. Sierra Madre Police stopped the suspect vehicle at Santa Anita and the 210 Freeway, and three African-American suspects, two 25-year-olds and a 29-year-old, were arrested for residential burglary, and possession of burglary tools. Two of the suspects were also charged with felony parole violations.

Business theft, burglary, grand theft * Loss prevention personnel from Macy’s at Westfield Santa Anita advised that they had detained a woman for theft around 3:13 p.m. Sunday, March 6. The suspect entered the store with two handbags and filled them with merchandise while in a fitting room. She also switched a $127 price tag on a sweater with a $12 tag and paid for the item. She then exited the store where she was contacted by loss prevention employees. A private person’s arrest was made, and a 51-year-old Asian was taken into custody for petty theft and over $600 in stolen merchandise was recovered.

Stolen car A 2001 white Toyota Tacoma was stolen from the 1800 block of Oakwood around 10:10 p.m. Wednesday, March 9. The victim actually saw the vehicle being driven away by the suspect. Officers conducted an area check, but the vehicle was not found.

Forgery / fraud * Units were dispatched to the 2500 block of South Fourth around 8:46 a.m. Monday, March 7, in reference to a forged check report. A check was mailed by a business to an insurance company, and it was later discovered that the check had been altered with a different payee name and amount. * Shortly before 1 p.m. Monday, March 7, a victim came to the station to file a fraud report. On March 2, a bank representative contacted the victim and asked about some unusual transactions in the City of Westlake. The victim went online and confirmed that unknown suspect(s) had used his credit card account information to make unauthorized charges in Oxnard, Ventura, and Westlake. * Around 3:52 p.m. Saturday, March 12, a victim came to the station to report a fraud. A possible suspect, who worked at a loan company, had access to the victim’s personal and financial information. The suspect then used that information to make 10 unauthorized transactions from the victim’s checking account for a loss of over $1,600.

Outstanding warrant A traffic stop on a vehicle for an equipment violation was conducted at Santa Anita and Orange Grove around 1 p.m. Friday, March 11. Record checks of the two occupants revealed that the driver was on parole for burglary and a 53-year-old male Hispanic passenger had 2 outstanding warrants and was also in possession hypodermic needles. The passenger was arrested at the scene without incident.

Attempted suicide Shortly before 5 p.m. Saturday, March 12, units responded to the 1000 block of Don Pablo regarding an attempted suicide. A 72-year-old man locked himself inside his bedroom and consumed a large amount of prescription medication. A suicide note was found at the scene, and the man was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment and psychological evaluation.

. Click image above for video of ride-along demo of new automated license plate reader system.

Click two images below for two-part video of Police volunteers, including ride-alongs.


Click image above for video tour of police station.


Click image above for video of dedication to Arcadia’s only officer who died in the line of duty.

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