The Arcadia Police Department responded to 974 calls for service from Sunday, Nov. 1 to Saturday, Nov. 71, of which 132 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 11/7) Calls for Service: 43,427 (2008 Total: 49,699) Formal Investigations: 6,130 (Total 2008: 6,705)
Drugs & alocohol * A traffic stop was initiated at 1:46 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 1, at Second and California for a code violation. A 19-year-old male Hispanic driver was contacted and officers detected the odor of an alcoholic beverage from his person. A field sobriety test was conducted and it was determined that he was operating the vehicle while under the influence, and several bottles of beer were also found inside the vehicle. The driver was arrested at the scene without incident. * Shortly before 7:00 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 1, officers observed a man sprawled on the sidewalk at 130 West Huntington. The man was highly intoxicated and a record check revealed that he had a $10,000 outstanding warrant. The 37-year-old Hispanic was taken into custody for disorderly conduct/drunk in public and outstanding warrant. * Around 3:42 p.m. Monday, Nov. 2, a traffic stop for an equipment violation was made at Santa Clara and Rolyn. A record check of the 36-year-old male African-American driver revealed that he had a suspended license and a no bail felony warrant. A search of the vehicle prior to impound was made and baggies containing a white crystalline substance resembling methamphetamine were discovered. The man was arrested for possession of a controlled substance, possession of narcotics for sale, sale/manufacture of controlled substance, suspended/revoked license, and outstanding felony warrant. * Units responded to Duarte and El Monte around 1:35 p.m. Friday, Nov.6, in reference to an injury traffic collision involving multiple vehicles. Investigation revealed that a male driver lost control of his vehicle when traffic came to a sudden stop, struck two parked vehicles, and the force of the impact caused him to cross over the center median and collided with another vehicle head-on. The suspect then fled the scene on foot, but he later returned and identified himself as the driver. A baggie of green leafy substance consistent with marijuana was found, and he admitted to smoking the marijuana. A field sobriety test was conducted, and it was determined that he was operating the vehicle while under the influence. The 26-year-old Asian was arrested for DUI with bodily injury. Another driver sustained a broken hand and was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment. * Shortly after 10:00 p.m. Friday, Nov. 6, officers responded to 46 East Huntington regarding a solo traffic accident. A car was found abandoned at the parking lot with the bumper detached from the vehicle but was caught on a chain that was used to secure the lot. An intoxicated 55-year-old female Caucasian was found nearby, and she initially denied any knowledge of the accident until a DMV check revealed that she was the registered owner of the vehicle. She was taken into custody for DUI.
Grand theft * Around 1:15 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 3, units were dispatched to Serendipity School, 1111 Okoboji, regarding a grand theft that just occurred. The victim advised that she had taken off her diamond engagement ring to wash dishes and then the ring disappeared after a food delivery person arrived at the scene. He denied any knowledge of the ring, but when officers arrived at the scene, he recanted and returned the ring. A 20-year-old male Caucasian was taken into custody. * Around 5:00 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 4, a grand theft was reported at Westfield Santa Anita. A victim returned to a restroom to retrieve her purse that she had accidentally left behind. She then saw a young female Asian pick up her purse and ran out of the mall and towards the Oak parking garage.
Residential burglary Three residential burglaries occurred in the morning hours of Wednesday, Nov. 4; one in the 600 block of Fairview and two in the 700 block of Fairview. In all the incidents, unknown suspect(s) either removed a window or broke a window to gain entrance. Once inside, the suspect(s) took cash and other property.
Auto theft/burglary * Units responded to the 1700 block of Orangewood around 12:06 p.m. Monday, Nov. 2, in reference to an auto burglary that occurred between 10:00 p.m. on October 31 and 6:30 a.m. on November 1. Unknown suspect entered the locked vehicle by unknown means and stole a $2500 digital camera. * A victim came to the station around 7:12 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7, to file an auto burglary and fraud report. He advised that he parked and locked his car on Diamond and went to play basketball at First Avenue Middle School. After the game, he discovered that his car key was missing. When he returned to his car, he found the car unlocked and his wallet, golf clubs, and other property were stolen. He contacted his bank to notify them of the theft and was told that his credit card was just used to charge approximately $2100 in purchases from Macy’s.
Business theft * Between 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 3, unknown suspect(s) stole 15 sweaters from The Gap store located at Westfield Mall. The sweaters were placed on display racks near the entrance. * A burglary was reported at Residence Inn, 321 East Huntington, around 3:53 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 5. The victim advised that he returned to his room and found the room ransacked and his laptop computer and digital camera were missing. * Around 2:38 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7, loss prevention personnel from H&M advised that they had detained a woman for theft. The 19-year-old Asian was seen hiding merchandise in a shopping bag and she left the store without making payment. A private person’s arrest was made, and the woman was taken into custody for commercial burglary. Additional stolen property from JC Penney and Macy’s were also recovered.
Identity theft / forgery/ fraud A victim came to the station to file a fraud report around 10:39 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 5. She checked her bank statement and discovered that $345 in unauthorized purchases was charged to her bank card.
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.
Murder of Arcadia Sushi Restaurant Owner
Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael Antonovich office held a joint press conference May 28 with Arcadia Police Department detectives to announce the offering of a $20,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person(s) responsible for the murder of an Arcadia sushi restaurant owner 18 months ago.
The Arcadia City Council decided during their meeting June 2 to add another $20,000 to the reward for a total of $40,000.
A surveillance video shows an armed robber entering through the restaurant’s backdoor just before 9:30 p.m. on November 25, 2007, and confronting three employees.
After that, he robbed the cash register, along with Wei’s wife, who also worked at Osaka Ya. He netted about $200, according to police.
(Click image below to see short video of spontaneous memorial vigil at Osaka Ya immediately after the murder.)
Despite the surveillance video and multiple witnesses to the murder that followed, police have been unable to identify the suspect who later shot and killed 42-year-old Osaka Ya owner Jason Wei in his shop at Vons Pavilion shopping center, 815 W. Naomi Ave.
The restaurant was initially closed and sold when Wei’s wife, son and daughter moved back to China. It has since re-opened under the same Osaka Ya name but under different ownership. Wei’s family has moved back to their home in Arcadia, according to neighbors.
Anyone with information on the case is asked to call the Arcadia Police Department, (626) 574-5160, or leave an anonymous tip at 1-800-78-CRIME. Find further editorial and video coverage of Tuesday’s press conference in the Pasadena Star-News and/or ABC TV.