The Arcadia Police Department responded to 828 calls for service from Sunday, Nov. 8 to Saturday, Nov. 14, of which 115 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 11/14) Calls for Service: 44,255 (2008 Total: 49,699) Formal Investigations: 6,245 (Total 2008: 6,705)
Drugs & alocohol * Around 5:11 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 10, units were dispatched to Baldwin and Cambridge in reference to a solo traffic collision. Witnesses advised that the driver crashed his car into the center divider and was later picked up in a gray van. Officers responded to the registered owner’s home in the 1000 block of San Carlos, where a 62-year-old male Asian was positively identified as the driver. A private person’s arrest was made, and the man was taken into custody for DUI and hit-and-run.
Grand theft * Between 1:30 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 11, a grand theft occurred at the Westfield mall parking lot. Unknown suspect(s) stole a GPS unit, cell phone, and iPod from a vehicle. * A grand theft occurred at 12 East Longden around 1:10 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 12. The victim saw 2 male Hispanic suspects, 20-30 years of age, remove $1100 in gardening equipment from his truck and fled in a white Ford van. The victim was able to obtain a partial license plate of the van. * Shortly after 7:00 a.m. Friday, Nov. 13, a victim came to the station to file a grand theft report that occurred on November 12 at Baldwin Stocker School between 2:30 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. The victim advised that an unknown suspect stole her wallet from her classroom and later tried to use one of her debit cards to withdraw cash. Another teacher also reported that her wallet was stolen on November 12.
Residential burglary * A residential burglary occurred between 11:00 a.m. and 2:48 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 10,  in the 200 block of East Floral. Unknown suspect(s) entered the home through a window. Once inside, the suspect(s) ransacked rooms and stole cash, jewelry, cell phone, camcorder, and other property. * A residential burglary occurred in the 1100 block of Arcadia between 12:15 p.m. and 5:45 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 12. Unknown suspect(s) forcibly opened the front door of the home and removed sterling silver heirloom pieces. Business theft * Around 6:27 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 8, loss prevention personnel from Macy’s advised that they had detained two Hispanic women for theft. The women selected merchandise and concealed them in their bags. Private persons’ arrests were made, and a 39-year-old and a 55-year-old were taken into custody for commercial burglary. Additional stolen property from Nordstrom, Disney, and Children’s Place were also recovered. * Shortly after 8:00 p.m. Monday, Nov. 9, units responded to Macy’s in reference to a commercial burglary. An employee saw two heavyset male Hispanic suspects run out of the store with display racks full of Coach purses. The total reported loss was approximately $6,000.
Robbery Around 6:00 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 14, a strong-arm robbery occurred at the Westfield mall parking lot. The victim was walking from her car when a male Hispanic ran up and grabbed her purse. A witness chased the suspect and was able to recover the purse; however, the suspect was able to flee the scene with the possible aid of two female Hispanic subjects. An area search was conducted, but the suspect was not found.
Outstanding warrant / parole violation * A traffic stop was initiated in the 00 block of West Huntington around 2:42 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 8, for an equipment violation. Two occupants were contacted, and record checks revealed that the 21-year-old male Hispanic passenger had a $40,000 warrant and was taken into custody. * Units responded to the 200 block of South Santa Anita around 10:13 p.m. Monday, Nov. 9, in reference to a welfare check of a man lying on the grass in front of an apartment complex. A 47-year-old male Hispanic was contacted and he claimed that he fell asleep waiting for the bus, even though he was not in front of a bus stop. A record check indicated that he provided officers with a false name and he was also a parolee at large with a no bail warrant. * Around 7:14 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 11, officers responded to the 00 block of West Naomi in reference to several subjects going through residents’ trash cans. A 37-year-old male Hispanic was contacted and a record check revealed that he had a $15,000 outstanding misdemeanor warrant and was arrested. * While on routine patrol around 1:44 a.m. Friday, Nov. 13, officers found a man yelling in the 00 block of Huntington. The man was extremely belligerent and he smelled of alcohol. A record check indicated that he had a $50,000 outstanding warrant and was taken into custody. * Units responded to Altadena around 9:29 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 14, to conduct a follow up investigation of the suspect van that was used in the theft of gardening equipment on November 12. A 30-year-old female Hispanic was contacted and a record check revealed that she had outstanding warrants totaling $60,000, so she was arrested at the scene.
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.