ARCADIA POLICE DEPARTMENT
Calls for Criminal Activity
Totals Year-to-Date (thru 7/4) Calls for Service: 26,015 (2008 Total: 49,699) Formal Investigations: 3,674 (Total 2008: 6,705)
Recent Calls of Criminal Activity From Sunday, June 28 – Saturday, July 4, the Police Department responded to 943 calls for service, of which 142 required formal investigations. The following is a summary report of the major incidents handled by the Department during this period (listed here in crime categories created by Arcadia’s Best)
Assault with Deadly Weapon* Around 2:15 a.m. Thursday, officers were dispatched to Lounge 1020, located at 1020 South Baldwin, regarding an assault with a deadly weapon. The victim advised that he was involved in an argument with a male African-American bouncer, and the bouncer later struck him in the head with a metal object. The suspect fled the scene right after the attack. * Units were dispatched to the racetrack around 6:29 p.m. Saturday in reference to an assault with a deadly weapon. Investigation revealed that a male suspect threatened a co-worker and a security guard with a pitchfork. A private person’s arrest was made, and a 25-year-old Hispanic was taken into custody without incident. Concealed Stolen Handgun * A traffic stop was conducted in the 00 block of East Colorado around 2:40 p.m. Wednesday for code violations. A 35-year-old male Hispanic driver was contacted and investigation revealed that he had a suspended driver’s license and 3 outstanding misdemeanor warrants. The man was arrested and a handgun was later discovered inside his vehicle. The driver admitted to stealing the handgun, and he was charged with grand theft, carry concealed weapon in vehicle, suspended driver’s license, and outstanding warrants. Residential Burglary * A residential burglary occurred between 6:40 a.m. on June 22 and 8:15 p.m. on Monday in the 2500 block of Florence. Unknown suspect(s) pried open a rear sliding glass door to make entry. Once inside, the suspect(s) ransacked rooms and fled with an unknown amount of property. * Between 7:00 a.m. and 9:20 p.m. Tuesday, a residential burglary occurred in the 700 block of Arcadia. Unknown suspect(s) broke a rear door of the residence, ransacked rooms, and stole a large amount of jewelry, cash, and traveler’s checks. Business Burglary * Units responded Tuesday to a business in the 12300 block of Lower Azusa in reference to a commercial burglary. Unknown suspect(s) entered the building by removing a window pane by unknown means. The suspect(s) then ransacked an office and stole computer equipment. Drugs/Alcohol * Around 2:35 a.m. Sunday, a car with two flat tires was seen at Lynrose and Tyler and a traffic stop was initiated. The female driver indicated that she had hit a curb earlier, and officers detected the odor of an alcoholic beverage on her breath and person. A field sobriety test was conducted, and it was determined that the 35-year-old Hispanic was operating the vehicle while under the influence and was taken into custody. Battery on Wife * A 33-year-old male Asian was arrested for battery on a cohabitant in the 2800 block of Winthrop around 9:53 p.m. Thursday. During an argument, the husband struck his wife in the face. Unlicensed, Uninsured Driver with Outstanding Warrant * Around 9:48 a.m. Friday, while on routine patrol, officers located a vehicle with a warrant attached to the license plate. A traffic stop was conducted at Huntington and Cortez and a 66-year-old male Caucasian was arrested for unlicensed driver, no proof of insurance, and a $30,000 outstanding misdemeanor warrant. Stolen Car * Between 8:00 p.m. and 11:32 p.m. Saturday, a 2004 Chevy Classic LP was stolen from the 1100 block of Sunset. The following day, the victim’s step-brother, an 18-year-old African-American, was arrested in San Gabriel for vehicle theft, and the car was subsequently recovered. Deceased person * Units responded to the 800 block of Fairview around 11:00 a.m. in reference to a deceased person. A 59-year-old woman appeared to have committed suicide by overdosing on prescription medication, and a note was found at the residence. Auto Burglary * Between 5:30 p.m. on Sunday and 7:12 p.m. on Monday, an auto burglary occurred at 160 El Dorado. Unknown suspect(s) broke a car window in order to retrieve a purse. Fraud * Around 12:25 p.m. Wednesday, a victim came to the station to file a fraud report. The victim checked his bank account online and discovered an unauthorized $900 transaction to JC Penney. It appeared that unknown suspect(s) had obtained the victim’s personal information and created a fake check in order to make payment. * Shortly after 8:30 a.m. Friday, units were called to the 200 block of West Norman in reference to a fraud report. The victim advised that on July 1, a bank employee called and advised that a female African-American in Nevada was trying to cash a $6,500 check from his account. He was able to put a stop payment on the check so the suspect did not receive any cash. Later in the day, the victim went to his bank and discovered that several checks, totaling $17,800, were cashed without his permission.
$40,000 Reward for Info About ’07 Murder
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.
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 reopened under the same Osaka Ya name but under different ownership.
Wei’s family has moved back to their home in Arcadia, according to neighbors.
Here is video of the spontaneous memorial service:
Get the Flash Player to see this content. 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 KABC TV.