The Arcadia Police Department responded to 987 calls for service from Sunday, Dec 6 to Saturday, Dec. 12, of which 108 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 12/012) Calls for Service: 47,861 (2008 Total: 49,699) Formal Investigations: 6,716 (Total 2008: 6,705)
Explosion Units responded to the Peacock parking structure at Westfield mall around 12:56 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 6, in reference to an explosion. Investigation revealed that unknown suspect(s) intentionally set off a military grade explosive device next to a parked vehicle. The explosion damaged the vehicle’s brake light.
Armed Robbery An armed robbery occurred at Campus and Santa Anita around 6:40 p.m. Monday, Dec. 7. A male Hispanic suspect grabbed a cell phone from the victim’s hand. He then brandished a firearm in his waistband and demanded additional property. The victim and his friends ran to an El Pollo Loco located at 1 West Duarte, and the suspect fled in an unknown direction. An area check was made, but the suspect was not found.
Vandalism Around 2:18 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 16, officers were dispatched to the rear parking lot of Drinkers Hall of Fame regarding the vandalism of five parked cars. Side mirrors to four vehicles were torn off and one vehicle’s windshield was broken. It is believed that a 30-year-old male Hispanic suspect may have vandalized the cars because he was asked to leave the premises.
Auto burglary/theft * An auto burglary occurred between 9:00 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 9, in the 400 block of Fairview. Unknown suspect(s) pried open and pulled back the glass on the driver’s side window, manually unlocked the doors, and removed property. * Between 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 10, and 6:30 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 11, a 2001 white Acura Integra was stolen from the 400 block of San Miguel. Additionally, two Honda Accords were stolen from Westfield mall between 1:45 p.m. and 10:15 p.m.
Residential burglary Between 7:30 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 9, a residential burglary occurred in the 2500 block of Greenfield. Unknown suspect(s) made forced entry into the house via a rear sliding glass door. The suspect(s) stole a television and two laptop computers.
Business/Commercial burlgarly, theft, robbery, grand theft * A grand theft was reported at 1148 West Huntington around 9:07 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 8. A 48-year-old male suspect was an apartment manager at the location and he received money from the property management company for repairs. He purchased materials, later returned them, and then kept the cash refund without reporting it to the management company. The case has been referred to the detectives for further investigation. * A victim came to the station around 9:49 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 8, to file a grand theft report that occurred on Dec. 7 at 1:02 p.m. The victim advised that while she was at the checkout line at Gap Kids, a heavyset female Asian kept bumping her and she later discovered that $2,000 was missing from her purse. * A robbery occurred at Burlington Coat Factory, 1201 South Baldwin, around 3:47 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 10. Two African-American suspects, a man and a woman, hid store merchandise in their purse and bag. Once outside, loss prevention personnel contacted the suspects and the male suspect dropped the stolen property and fled on foot, evading capture. A male employee tried to stop the female suspect from fleeing, and she struck him on the head and attempted to bite him on the arm. After a brief struggle, she was successfully detained. A private person’s arrest was made, and the 18-year-old woman was taken into custody for robbery and an outstanding misdemeanor warrant. * Around 5:54 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 10, loss prevention personnel from JC Penney advised that they had detained two male African-American suspects for theft. The suspects hid merchandise under their clothing and left the store without making payment. Additional stolen property from Zumiez and the NYS Collection kiosk were recovered. Private persons’ arrests were made, and the suspects, ages 17 and 18, were taken into custody for commercial burglary. * Three 19-year-old female suspects, 2 Hispanics and 1 Filipino, were taken into custody for commercial burglary from H&M around 9:35 p.m. Friday, Dec. 11. They hid stolen property on their persons and left the store. Additional stolen merchandise from American Apparel and Nordstrom were recovered. * A commercial burglary occurred at StorAmerica located at 5630 Peck between July 28 and Saturday, Dec. 12. Unknown suspect(s) entered the locked storage unit by unknown means and stole almost $4,800 in property.
Drugs, alcohol * Shortly after 2:00 a.m. Monday, Dec. 7, units were called to Morlan and Huntington in regards to a vehicle blocking the roadway. A 42-year-old male driver was contacted and it was determined that he was intoxicated and was arrested for DUI. * An injury traffic collision occurred at Santa Anita and Sierra Madre around 8:39 a.m. Saturday, Dc. 12. An intoxicated male driver lost control of his vehicle and struck a parked car. The 37-year-old Caucasian driver was arrested and was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment; however, due to the extent of his injuries, he was released from custody.
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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