The Arcadia Police Department responded to 832 calls for service from Sunday, Jan. 17 to Saturday, Jan. 23, of which 132 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 1/23) Calls for Service: 3,143 (2009 total: 50,371; 2008 Total: 49,699) Formal Investigations: 460 (2009 total: 7,092; 2008 total: 6,705)
Strong-arm robbery * Around 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 20, a strong-arm robbery occurred at the 99 Ranch Market parking lot located at 1300 South Golden West. A female victim was walking to her car when she was grabbed from behind and thrown to the ground by a male suspect. Once she was on the ground, a second male suspect kicked her in the face and took her purse. The purse was later recovered in the 300 block of Fairview with cash and cell phone missing. * Units responded to 99 Ranch Market, 1300 South Golden West, regarding a strong-arm robbery that occurred around 6:19 p.m. Friday, Jan. 22. The victim was walking in the parking lot when a male Hispanic passenger, in a burgundy four-door sedan, reached out the car window and pulled her purse from her arm.
Unlicensed driver Officers conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle going eastbound on westbound Huntington around 2:00 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 23. Two 16-year-old Hispanic juveniles were contacted and investigation revealed that the driver did not have permission to drive the vehicle and did not have a license. The driver was taken into custody for vehicle theft, unlicensed driver, and curfew violation, and the passenger was charged with curfew violation. The juveniles were later cited and released to a parent and a guardian.
Residential burglary * Between 12:45 p.m. and 1:56 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 19, a residential burglary occurred in the 2400 block of Lenta. Unknown suspect(s) entered the home by prying open a sliding glass door. Once inside, the suspect(s) ransacked rooms and stole jewelry and cash. * A residential burglary occurred between 12:15 p.m. and 2:29 p.m. in the 600 block of West Lemon on Wednesday, Jan. 20. Unknown suspects pried open a door to gain entrance into the home. The suspects then took a safe containing jewelry, cash, and multiple rifles and handguns.
Business/Commercial burglary, theft, robbery, grand theft * Loss prevention personnel from JC Penney advised that they had detained four male Hispanic juveniles for theft around 4:10 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 17. The juveniles selected merchandise, went into the fitting rooms, cut tags off with razor blades that they each had in their possession, and concealed the stolen goods on their persons. Private persons’ arrests were made, and three 14-year-olds and one 12-year-old were taken into custody for commercial burglary and possession of dirk/dagger. * Around 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 23, JC Penney loss prevention personnel detained three male Hispanic juveniles for theft. The juveniles hid stolen merchandise on their persons and left the store without making payment. Private persons’ arrests were made, and the juveniles, ages 14, 13, and 10, were taken into custody for commercial burglary. The 13-year-old also had wire cutters/pliers and a smoking-pipe in his possession.
Sexual battery A private person’s arrest was made at 7-Eleven, 1003 South Baldwin, and a 20-year-old male employee was taken into custody for sexual battery around 12:40 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 12. A female victim claimed that the suspect grabbed and touched her inappropriately.
Auto burglary Between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 21, an auto burglary occurred at 171 East Live Oak. Unknown suspect(s) smashed a car window and stole a purse.
Drugs, alcohol * Shortly after 7:30 p.m. Sunday, jan. 17, units responded to El Monte and Duarte in reference to a traffic collision. A 31-year-old male Hispanic driver lost control of his vehicle and struck a parked car. It was determined during a field sobriety test that he was operating the vehicle while under the influence of an alcoholic beverage, and record checks indicated that he was an unlicensed driver with outstanding warrants totaling over $45,500. The driver was arrested for DUI, unlicensed driver, and outstanding warrants. * A traffic stop was initiated around 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 19, for a moving violation at Colorado and Second, and a 22-year-old female Caucasian driver was contacted. A record check revealed that she had a suspended license and a consensual search was conducted. Marijuana was found in her car and a baggie of methamphetamine was found hidden on her person. The woman was arrested for possession of a controlled substance, possession of marijuana, and unlicensed driver.
Fraud A victim came to the station around 2 p.m. Monday, Jan. 18, to file a fraud report. He noticed a discrepancy in his checking account and contacted his bank. He was then informed that his new checks were mistakenly mailed to a location in Inglewood, and on January 13 unknown suspect(s) fraudulently cashed checks totaling $9,600.
Outstanding warrant (and one pursuit) * Officers were patrolling the Extended Stay parking lot, 401 East Santa Clara, around 4:10 p.m. Monday, Jan. 18, and noticed a vehicle with a forged registration sticker. Investigation led officers to a motel room and a 64-year-old male Caucasian was contacted. The man admitted to making the sticker and bragged about the high quality of the forgery, and a record check also revealed that he had several outstanding warrants totaling $40,396. He was arrested at the scene without incident. * Shortly after midnight on Friday, Jan. 22, a traffic stop was conducted for an equipment violation at Arcadia and Golden West. A 25-year-old male Caucasian driver was contacted and a record check revealed that he had a no bail warrant for a parole violation. When officers confronted the suspect, he sped away from the scene and a pursuit ensued. The suspect subsequently crashed into a tree at La Cadena and Arcadia and fled on foot. A perimeter was established and the suspect was later found hiding in a dumpster in the 400 block of Fairview and was arrested.
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.
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