The Arcadia Police Department responded to 1,116 calls for service from Sunday, Jan. 3 to Saturday, Jan. 9, of which 156 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 1/9) Calls for Service: 1,355 (2009 total: 50,371; 2008 Total: 49,699) Formal Investigations: 188 (2009 total: 7,092; 2008 total: 6,705)
Street robbery Shortly after 10:00 p.m. Saturday, a female victim came to the station to report a robbery that occurred on Tenth Avenue, between Camino Real and Longden, at 9 p.m. She was walking home from the bus stop and talking on her cell phone when a male African-American suspect approached and demanded her purse. Fearing for her safety, she did not resist when he grabbed her purse and cell phone. The suspect was seen entering a waiting vehicle driven by another male African-American suspect.
Domestic Violence Shortly after 5 p.m. Thursday, a male victim came to the station with his one-year old son to report a domestic violence incident. He advised that during an argument, his girlfriend struck him numerous times in the back, shoulder, and legs with a wooden dowel. She then retrieved a knife and pointed it at him in a threatening manner. Fearing for their son’s safety, he fled the residence and came to the police station. The victim also had numerous scars from previous assaults and fresh bruises. Officers went to the 1200 block of South Golden West and arrested a 25-year-old female Hispanic for inflicting corporal injury to cohabitant and assault with a deadly weapon.
Residential burglary * Between 5 p.m. on Sunday and 8 a.m. on Monday, a residential burglary occurred in the 1200 block of South Golden West. Unknown suspect(s) gained access into the victim’s locked garage, ransacked two vehicles, and stole a set of golf clubs worth over $4,100 and a spare car key.
Business/Commercial burglary, theft, robbery, grand theft * Units responded to Phoenix Spa, 37 East Duarte, around 7:43 p.m. Wednesday in reference to a grand theft that just occurred. Two female Hispanic suspects entered the business with two small children. While one suspect distracted the victim, the other suspect grabbed a bank bag and a young girl took the victim’s purse from behind the counter. The theft was caught on surveillance video. * Shortly after 4:00 p.m. Thursday, loss prevention personnel from Burlington Coat Factory advised that they had detained a woman for theft. A 21-year-old African-American suspect entered a fitting room with numerous clothing items, concealed the merchandise, and left the store without making payment. A private person’s arrest was made, and the woman was taken into custody for grand theft. * Units were dispatched to Nordstrom around 7:57 p.m. Friday regarding a woman detained for theft. She selected numerous items and concealed them in a shopping bag and in her pockets. A private person’s arrest was made, and a 28-year-old Asian was taken into custody for grand theft and over $1,740 in property was recovered.
Stolen vehicle Around 3:30 p.m. Monday, an automated license plate reader system alerted officers to a stolen vehicle and a felony traffic stop was made in the 5100 block of Tyler. A 39-year-old male Hispanic driver and a 47-year-old male Asian passenger were contacted. The driver claimed that he had recently purchased the vehicle but did not have any paperwork, and the passenger indicated that he did not know the car was stolen. Both men were taken into custody without incident.
Auto burglary * An auto burglary occurred at an AMH parking structure between 7 p.m. on Jan. 2 and 7:52 a.m. on Sunday. Unknown suspect(s) broke a car window and took a handbag for a reported loss of over $3,500. The victim also advised that she was notified by her bank that unknown suspect(s) had attempted to withdraw money from ATM machines in Arcadia and Fontana. * Three auto burglaries occurred between 5 p.m. on Jan. 2 and 11 a.m. on Sunday at 450 East Live Oak. Unknown suspect(s) broke windows to gain entry into the vehicles and stole GPS units and a car stereo.
Drugs, alcohol Around 2:18 p.m. Tuesday, a traffic stop was conducted at Foothill and Primrose for a code violation. Two occupants were contacted and record checks revealed that the 23-year-old male Hispanic driver has never been issued a driver’s license and he also had an outstanding misdemeanor warrant; a 30-year-old female Hispanic passenger also had outstanding warrants totaling $56,000. Both subjects were arrested at the scene and a search of the vehicle revealed a large quantity of pills that are used as precursors to the manufacture of methamphetamine. When the female subject was being transported to the City jail, she attempted to discard a large amount of a white crystalline substance in the patrol unit and the substance was also falling to the ground from her pant leg, leaving a trail from the car into the police building. She was also charged with possession of a controlled substance and possession of precursors of methamphetamine.
Fraud/forgery/identity theft/embezzlement * Around 4:27 p.m. Wednesday, units responded to the 1100 block of Arcadia regarding a fraud investigation. The victim received a message from her credit card company regarding suspicious activities on her account. She checked her account and discovered over $3,210 in unauthorized purchases from Dec. 24 to Dec. 26. * Two victims came to the station around 10:05 a.m. Friday to file a forgery report. Unknown suspect(s) obtained a copy of their check by unknown means, created fake checks, and cashed them for $9,977. * Around 1:21 p.m. Saturday, a victim came to the station to file a fraud report. She advised that she discovered that her wallet was missing on Friday and remembered last using it on Thursday at 99 Ranch Market located at 1300 South Golden West. At 11 a.m. on Saturday she contacted her credit card company and learned that over $2,700 have been charged to her credit cards without her authorization.
Suicide Shortly after 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, units responded to the 300 block of East La Sierra regarding a suicide. A 58-year-old woman, despondent over her failing health, hanged herself and a suicide note was found.
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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