Pedstrian struck; DUI

The Arcadia Police Department responded to 836 calls for service from Sunday, Jan. 24 to Saturday, Jan. 30, of which 148 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 1/30)
Calls for Service: 3,969 (2009 total: 50,371; 2008 Total: 49,699)
Formal Investigations: 608 (2009 total: 7,092; 2008 total: 6,705)

Juveniles, gangs, guns, drugs, vehicle thefts, burglaries, fleeing, police pursuit
Units were dispatched to Motel 6, 225 Colorado Place, around 9:09 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 24, in reference to a juvenile who ran away from a halfway house in El Monte. Two male Hispanics, 21 and 14 years of age, were contacted in one of the rooms and the missing juvenile was located. A consensual search of the room resulted in the finding of a loaded handgun, marijuana, glass-smoking pipes, burglary tools, and stolen electronic equipment. It was determined that the subjects were associated with a gang involved in stealing vehicles and committing auto burglaries. During the investigation, two more male Hispanics arrived in a Honda Accord but they left the scene on foot, and a DMV check revealed that the Honda was a stolen vehicle. The subjects in the room were arrested for vehicle theft, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of burglary tools, and receiving stolen property; the juvenile was also charged with possession of a concealable handgun and minor illegally possessing live ammunition, and he was later transported to Eastlake Juvenile Hall.

Associated with the same investigation, officers were on the lookout for another stolen vehicle. The car matching the description was seen with two male occupants and a traffic stop was attempted; however, the driver sped away. A short pursuit ensued and the driver later stopped the vehicle and fled on foot in the 400 block of Santa Rosa, and a 16-year-old Hispanic passenger was taken into custody right away. A perimeter was established and the 16-year-old Hispanic driver was subsequently found hiding near some trash cans in the 400 block of Santa Cruz. Both juveniles were charged with vehicle theft.

Pedestrian struck by auto
Around 1:06 p.m. Monday, Jan. 25, an auto versus pedestrian accident occurred at Huntington and First. A female driver failed to stop at the crosswalk and struck a pedestrian. The victim suffered head trauma and a broken clavicle and was transported to a hospital for treatment.

Hit-and-run
A hit-and-run accident occurred at El Camino and Santa Anita Ave. around 5:53 p.m. Monday, Jan. 25. While taking a theft report, officers heard the sound of a collision and saw a car leaving the scene. A traffic stop was conducted and a 62-year-old female Hispanic driver was arrested. She had struck a parked trailer and the impact caused the trailer to hit a man standing nearby. The victim sustained only minor injuries.

Injury traffic collision, DUI
Shortly after 11:30 p.m., units responded to Sunset and Huntington regarding an injury traffic collision. An intoxicated driver in a BMW failed to stop for a red light and collided with a Honda in the intersection. The impact caused the Honda to spin out of control and hit a light pole. Both occupants in the Honda were injured and were transported to a hospital for medical treatment. A 21-year-old male Asian was arrested at the scene for DUI.

Strong arm robbery
Around 9:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 26, a strong-arm robbery occurred at the 99 Ranch Market parking lot located at 1300 South Golden West. A female victim was putting groceries into the trunk of her car when a male Hispanic passenger, in a moving burgundy vehicle, grabbed her purse and the car sped away. The victim was dragged about 30 feet before she was able to let go of her purse. An area check was conducted, but the suspects were not found.

Residential and construction site burglaries
* Between 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 26 and 7:50 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 27, a burglary occurred at a construction site in the 200 block of Genoa. Unknown suspects entered the location through an unsecured window and stole construction tools and equipment.
* A residential burglary occurred in the 00 block of Diamond between 9 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 25 and 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 27. The victim returned home to find that a locked drawer was pried open and a large amount of cash was stolen.

Business theft
Shortly before 6 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 24, units responded to Macy’s regarding a husband and wife detained for theft. Loss prevention personnel advised that the Asian suspects were seen concealing a Coach purse on a stroller and they left the store without making payment. Private persons’ arrests were made, and a 45-year-old man and 44-year-old woman were taken into custody for commercial burglary. A child’s car seat had to be removed from their vehicle so their three-year-old daughter could be taken home by a relative, and inside the car officers found additional stolen property, burglary tool, and security sensors.

Auto burglary, vehicle theft
* An auto burglary occurred between 7 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 26., at Lovell and Duarte Road. Unknown suspect(s) broke a car window and took a laptop computer, camera, iPod, and other miscellaneous property.
* While on routine patrol around 1:48 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 30, an automated license plate reader alerted officers to a stolen Mercedes Benz. A high risk traffic stop was initiated at First and Las Flores and two male Asian occupants were detained. Investigation revealed that the passenger was only getting a ride home and was released; a 48-year-old driver was taken into custody for vehicle theft.

Fraud
Around 10 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 28, a victim came to the station to file a fraud report. Unknown suspect(s) used the victim’s checking account information and made fraudulent bill payments totaling over $2,310.

Outstanding warrant
* Units responded to Tapioca Express, 160 East Duarte, around 6:49 p.m. regarding a verbal argument between a man and a woman sitting in a parked vehicle. The subjects were contacted and record checks revealed that the 18-year-old male Asian had an outstanding warrant and was arrested. The 18-year-old female Asian was also arrested for possession of marijuana, but she was later cited and released.
* About 1:44 p.m. Friday, Jan. 29, officers were dispatched to T-Mobile, 8986 Rosemead, in reference to a man in possession of a possible stolen cell phone.  Investigation revealed that a 25-year-old male African-American had a cell phone that was stolen from a Verizon kiosk located at Westfield Mall. A record check also indicated that he had two outstanding warrants. A private person’s arrest was made, and the suspect was taken into custody for receiving stolen property and outstanding warrants.
* Officers were sent to Motel 6 around 1:14 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 30, in reference to a possible fight in one of the rooms. Investigation revealed that the incident was unfounded; however, a 22-year-old male Caucasian was arrested for a no bail warrant.

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.