Police report: shooter threats at mall, school

Arcadia Police Department Weekly Activity Report

September 8 to September 14

Calls for Service / Formal Investigations           991                 /               112

Total Year to Date for 2013

35,269            /           4,370

For the period of Sunday, September 8th, through Saturday, September 14th, the Police Department responded to 991 calls for service of which 112 required formal investigations. The following is a summary report of the major incidents handled by the Department during this period.

Sunday, September 8:

1. Just after 6:20 p.m., an officer was dispatched to a hit and run traffic collision at the intersection of Huntington Drive and Golden West Avenue. The driver of a white Mazda Miata failed to stop for a red light and collided into another vehicle. The driver fled the scene without exchanging information with the victim; however, witnesses were able to record the suspect’s license plate number. The victim declined medical attention for pain in his left arm and neck area. A short time later, officers responded to the suspect’s residence in the City of San Gabriel where they also located the suspect vehicle. The suspect explained that he fled the scene because his license was suspended. The 64-year-old Hispanic male was arrested and transported to the Arcadia City Jail for booking.

2. At approximately 7:15 p.m., an officer observed four passengers inside a moving vehicle without seat belts and conducted an enforcement stop on Duarte Road at Goldenwest Avenue. A records check revealed the 21-year-old Asian male driver had an expired license. He was arrested and transported to the Arcadia City Jail for booking. All four passengers were cited for the listed violation and released in the field.

Monday, September 9:

3. At about 2:11p.m., an officer was dispatched to Motel 6, 225 Colorado Place, in regards to stolen credit card report. The victim explained her residence located in the City of Pasadena was burglarized on September 6th during which her credit card and other property items were stolen. The victim was notified by her credit card company that a subject staying in room #209 was attempting to use her credit card for a $100 pizza purchase. An investigation revealed a 30-year-old Hispanic female was in possession of the victim’s credit card, passport, and other items. She was arrested and transported to the Arcadia City Jail for booking along with a 32-year-old White male who was in possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.

4. Around 7:12 p.m., an officer responded to a residence in the 300 block of North Fourth Avenue in regards to a burglary investigation. Unknown suspect(s) entered the residence through an unlocked door, ransacked the master bedroom, and tampered with the victim’s motorcycle. The suspect(s) gathered several items of property inside a basket; however, they left the property behind as they fled the location. No evidence was located and no one reported seeing or hearing anything suspicious.

Tuesday, September 10:

5. Shortly after 2:20 a.m., an officer made contact with a suspicious vehicle that was stopped in the area of First Avenue and Colorado Boulevard. The officer noticed the front passenger side window was broken. An investigation revealed the driver was handling a firearm while driving and accidentally shot one round in an unknown direction. The officer discovered the 53-year-old Hispanic male was under the influence of alcohol with a blood alcohol content greater than 0.08 percent. The suspect was arrested and transported to the Arcadia City Jail for booking. The officer located the spent shell casing in the rear passenger seat of the vehicle and no injuries were reported.

6. Around 7:30 p.m., officers along with airship assistance responded to the Westfield Santa Anita mall, 400 South Baldwin Avenue, in regards to an anonymous phone call received by mall security. An unidentified male indicated he was inside a parking lot with an AK-47 assault rifle and intended to start shooting at people. The interior and exterior of the mall were checked and rendered safe. No suspicious activity or people were located.

Wednesday, September 11:

7. Around 12:22 p.m., an officer responded to a traffic collision on Live Oak Avenue, east of Santa Anita Avenue. The driver of a 2004 Ford F-250 attempted to make a right turn onto northbound Santa Anita Avenue when he sideswiped another vehicle, which was stopped in the number two lane. The truck did not have enough clearance to make the turn. No injuries were reported.

8. At approximately 6:55 p.m., an officer conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle for a broken tail light on Peck Road at Longden Avenue. The officer discovered the driver was never issued a license and had an outstanding misdemeanor warrant for driving without a license. The 23-year-old Hispanic male was arrested, transported to the Arcadia City Jail for booking, and his vehicle was impounded.

Thursday, September 12:

9. At about 1:43 p.m., an officer was dispatched to an apartment complex in the 800 block of Fairview Avenue in reference to a residential burglary in progress. The victim and her son had barricaded themselves inside a bedroom after they discovered an unknown suspect walking through their living room. The suspect fled the location; however, assisting officers located him on Arcadia Avenue. The 28-year-old Hispanic male was arrested for Burglary and transported to the Arcadia City Jail for booking.

10. At approximately 2:21 p.m., the Arcadia Police Department dispatch center received a phone call from an unknown caller who stated he was at Arcadia High School, 180 Campus Drive, and was going to start shooting people with an assault rifle. The school was placed on lock-down while officers searched and secured the location. During the search, the Arcadia Police Department dispatch center received a second phone call from what sounded like the same caller. The subject threatened to shoot officers and hung up the phone. At about 6:36 p.m., the campus lock-down was released. No suspects or firearms were located. Further investigation is being conducted by the Detective Bureau and surrounding law enforcement agencies whose dispatch centers have received similar threatening phone calls by unknown caller(s).

Friday, September 13:

11. Around 1:25 p.m., an officer responded to the area of Santa Anita Canyon Road and Arnd Drive in regards to a traffic collision. A young adult male lost control of his bicycle while riding along Santa Anita Canyon Road and went over the guardrail, causing him to fall about forty to fifty feet down a hill. The subject suffered several scrapes to his face and body, and partially lost consciousness. He was transported to Huntington Memorial Hospital for treatment.

12. Just before 3:00 p.m., an officer was dispatched to Dana Middle School, 1401 South First Avenue, in reference to a disturbance. A 12-year-old student with special needs became destructive and combative after she refused to take her medication. Arcadia Fire responded to the location and transported the student to Arcadia Methodist Hospital for evaluation. Numerous property items were destroyed; however, the school was not desirous of prosecution.

Saturday, September 14:

13. Just after 3:55 p.m., an officer responded to a residence in the 1000 block of San Carlos Road regarding a burglary investigation. An unknown Hispanic male approached the elderly victim at his front door and barged in the location without permission. The suspect distracted the victim by carrying on a conversation about tree trimming services while additional unknown suspect(s) entered bedrooms and stole property. The victim only saw the main suspect who fled a short time after in a white Ford pick-up truck. No evidence or witnesses were located.

14. At about 9:20 p.m., a juvenile flagged down an officer in the 000 block of Las Tunas Drive after he was attacked by three unknown Hispanic male subjects claiming to be from El Monte Flores street gang. The suspects grabbed the victim from behind as he was walking southbound on Baldwin Avenue towards Las Tunas Drive. After being punched in the face, the victim fell to the ground and partially lost consciousness. Arcadia Fire treated the victim on scene and transported him to Arcadia Methodist Hospital for evaluation. The suspects fled with the victim’s cell phone.