Carjacking on Lemon

The Arcadia Police Department responded to 799 calls for service from Sunday, Feb. 28 to Saturday, March 6, of which 136 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 3/6)
Calls for Service: 8,498 (2009 total: 50,371; 2008 Total: 49,699)
Formal Investigations: 1,291 (2009 total: 7,092; 2008 total: 6,705)

Carjacking
A carjacking/robbery incident occurred in the 200 block of Lemon around 9:21 p.m. Wednesday, March 3.  Two victims arrived home after picking up rent money and were confronted by three male suspects. One Hispanic suspect smashed the car window with a crowbar and ordered the victims out of the vehicle, and another Hispanic suspect punched the female victim on top of her head and grabbed her purse. All three suspects then entered the victims’ vehicle and left the scene. The stolen vehicle was later recovered in the 1900 block of El Sereno.

Inappropriate photos
Units responded to CVS, 1401 South Baldwin, around 6:15 p.m. Tuesday, March 2, regarding a man detained for taking inappropriate photos of a female customer.  The suspect had used a digital camera to take photos under the victim’s dress. A private person’s arrest was made, and a 28-year-old Asian was taken into custody.

Residential burglary/theft
* Units responded to the 100 block of East Haven around 8:26 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 28, in reference to an audible alarm. A 51-year-old female Caucasian suspect forced open a door to enter the home. She was detained outside the location while leaving the scene and admitted to entering the house without the owner’s consent. A private person’s arrest was made, and she was taken into custody for attempted residential burglary and trespassing.
* Shortly after 3 p.m. Wednesday, March 3, units were dispatched to the 400 block of West Woodruff in reference to a possible burglary in progress. Three male African-American suspects, between 20 and 30 years of age, tried to pry open a rear door to gain entry into the house. When a resident confronted them, they fled in a waiting champagne colored Honda Odyssey van. All the suspects appeared to have been dressed in the same type of utility uniform.

Mail theft
Shortly after 12:30 p.m. Monday, March 1, a mail theft occurred in the 1000 block of Bungalow. The victim saw a female Hispanic driving an older model brown SUV remove an envelope containing a rent check from her mailbox. When the victim yelled at the suspect, she drove away from the scene.  An area search was conducted, but the suspect was not located.

Auto burglary
Between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. Friday, March 5, an auto burglary occurred in the 200 block of West Huntington. Unknown suspect(s) smashed a car window and stole an in-dash radio, wallet, and jewelry for a reported loss of about $5,630.

Vehicle theft
Around 3:21 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 28, officers followed a stolen vehicle to the Santa Anita Inn parking lot located at 130 West Huntington, and a 25-year-old male Caucasian was arrested for vehicle theft.

Business burglary
* JC Penney loss prevention personnel advised that they had detained a woman for theft around 9:12 p.m. Tuesday, March 2. A female suspect, pushing a stroller with a two-year-old child, was seen concealing merchandise in the stroller and on her person. A private person’s arrest was made, and a 20-year-old Hispanic was taken into custody for commercial burglary, petty theft with prior conviction, and a $36,000 outstanding misdemeanor warrant.
* A grand theft occurred at the Express store located at Westfield Mall between 4:30 p.m. and 4:45 p.m. Friday, March 5. A male Hispanic suspect, 20-30 years of age, distracted an employee while another unknown suspect stole 36 pairs of shorts from a display table for a loss of over $1,780.
* Loss prevention personnel from Macy’s advised that they had detained a female juvenile for theft around 2:15 p.m., March 6. She concealed over $320 in merchandise in a tote bag and exited the store without making payment. A private person’s arrest was made, and a 17-year-old Caucasian was taken in to custody for commercial burglary.

Outstanding warrant
* A traffic stop was initiated for an equipment violation at 225 Colorado around 7:55 p.m. Monday, March 1. A 33-year-old male Hispanic driver was contacted, and record checks revealed that he had a suspended/revoked license, 4 outstanding felony warrants, and a misdemeanor warrant.  He was arrested at the scene without incident.
* Officers responded to the 100 block of East Foothill around 10:18 a.m. Thursday, March 4, regarding a man drinking alcohol in the area. A 40-year-old Hispanic was located and a record check indicated that he also had a $100,000 outstanding warrant. The man was taken into custody without incident.

Drugs and alcohol
Around 1:28 a.m. Thursday, March 12, a traffic stop was conducted at Baldwin and Las Tunas for a moving violation. A 33-year-old male Asian driver was contacted and officers detected the odor of an alcoholic beverage on his breath and his eyes were red and watery. The driver had an Australian driver’s license and a field sobriety test revealed that he was operating the vehicle while under the influence. He was arrested for DUI and unlicensed driver.

Suicidal
Around 10:45 p.m. Saturday, March 6, officers were sent to the 1400 block of Linda in reference to a suicidal female subject at the location. A despondent bi-polar woman cut her foot with a pair of scissors and was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment and evaluation.

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Click image above for video of dedication to Arcadia’s only officer who died in the line of duty.