The Arcadia Police Department responded to 883 calls for service from Sunday, Nov. 29 to Saturday, Dec. 5, of which 131 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 12/05) Calls for Service: 46,874 (2008 Total: 49,699) Formal Investigations: 6,608 (Total 2008: 6,705)
Home invasion robbery A home invasion robbery occurred in the 100 block of West Forest around 7:20 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 29. Three male Hispanic suspects, ages 25-30, confronted a male resident in the driveway and forced him inside the house at gunpoint. The suspects bound the hands and feet of the husband, wife, and nine-year-old child. The male adult victim was choked until he told them the location of the cash and a handgun. After taking the property, the suspects fled the scene by unknown means.
Residential burglary Around 8:14 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 29, a robbery occurred in the 1400 block of Carmelita. A male suspect pried open a door to a guest house and turned off the power by switching off the circuit breakers. When the male resident went to investigate, the suspect demanded cash and jewelry and threatened to shoot the victim if he did not comply. Fearing for his safety, the victim gave the suspect two watches and cash.
Spouse injuries * Units were dispatched to the 700 block of Carriage House in reference to a 9-1-1 hang-up call around 8:26 p.m. Monday, Nov. 30. When officers arrived at the location, a man was about to leave the scene and was detained. Investigation revealed that during an argument, the 39-year-old Asian had struck his wife repeatedly about the face and head and caused visible injury. The man was arrested for inflicting corporal injury to spouse. An emergency protection order was obtained and served; however, when the suspect was released from jail, he returned to the house and was arrested again for violation of a court order. * Units were dispatched to the 200 block of West Lemon regarding a domestic dispute around 9:00 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5. During an argument, the wife threw a television remote control at her husband and he threw her laptop computer at her feet. The computer broke and she sustained cuts to her ankle. A 45-year-old male Asian was arrested for inflicting corporal injury to spouse.
Battery Around 2:23 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 1, a battery incident occurred in a parking lot located at 234 South First. Two male subjects were involved in an altercation regarding a parking situation, and a 37-year-old male Asian suspect punched the male victim in the face. When the victim was on the ground, the suspect continued to punch the victim in the head several more times. The suspect then fled the scene in a white Lexus SUV after picking up a child from a nearby school.
Business/Commercial burlgarly, theft, robbery, grand theft * Units responded to East West Bank, 1300 South Golden West, around 1:19 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 29, in reference to a male suspect trying to cash a fraudulent check. Further investigation revealed that the suspect transferred non-existent funds from a closed account at another bank into his East West Bank accounts. He then purchased cashier checks and subsequently requested refunds for the cash value. The 49-year-old Asian was taken into custody for commercial burglary and grand theft. * Around 11:20 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 2, loss prevention personnel from JC Penney advised that a male suspect had left the store with stolen merchandise. An area check was conducted and the 42-year-old Hispanic was found in a nearby parking lot. The suspect was intoxicated and additional stolen property from Macy’s was also recovered. He was taken into custody for commercial burglary, disorderly conduct/drunk in public, and petty theft with prior conviction. * A robbery was reported at Rite Aid, 39 Las Tunas, around 4:57 p.m. Friday, Dec. 4. A male Hispanic suspect, 20-25 years of age, stole cologne and alcohol from the store. When an employee confronted him outside, he indicated that he had a gun and threatened to shoot her
Grand theft, auto * A grand theft from auto occurred between 11:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 3 and 9 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 4, in the 100 block of West La Sierra. Unknown suspect(s) entered an unlocked vehicle and stole $725 in property.
Forgery/fraud A forgery report was filed at the police station around 2:26 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 3. An elderly victim wrote two checks and placed them in her mailbox. She later discovered that the checks were altered by unknown suspects and cashed for over $1,200.
Drugs, alcohol * A solo traffic collision occurred at 46 East Huntington around 2:21 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 2. An intoxicated 30-year-old male Asian driver struck 2 trees and was arrested at the scene for DUI. * Around 5:00 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 3, a witness notified police that a car was seen swerving in the roadway and striking the curbs. Officers responded to Foothill and Rodeo and found the vehicle stopped at the location with a flat tire. A 50-year-old male Caucasian driver was contacted, and it was determined that he was operating the vehicle while under the influence of an alcoholic beverage and was arrested. * Around 2:50 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 5, a traffic stop was initiated at Colorado and Rosemead on a vehicle matching the description of a previously reported suspicious vehicle. A male driver and female passenger were contacted, and a consent search of the vehicle revealed a baggie containing a white crystalline substance resembling methamphetamine and credit cards and other paperwork belonging to nine different individuals. The 42-year-old male Caucasian was arrested for possession of a controlled substance, receiving stolen property, and felony parole violation.
Embezzlement Officers were called to Macy’s around 5:22 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 1, regarding two employees detained for embezzlement. Loss prevention personnel determined that two 18-year-old Hispanic suspects, boyfriend and girlfriend, made fraudulent returns and concealed money during cash transactions with customers. Private persons’ arrests were made, and they were taken into custody without incident.
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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