Mountain Views News          Saturday, September 28, 2013

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Mountain Views-News Saturday, September 28, 2013 

Monrovia Police Blotter

TWO COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS HONORED

By Joan Schmidt

Very special congratulations to Reyna Diaz and Rodney Jefferson from Duarte. They recently 
were honored at MISSION 25, a community celebration of Pamela Park being taken back by the 
Community. The event was the joint effort of Life Church, Y-Life Youth Outreach Project and Los 
Angeles County Parks and Recreation Department. Ms. Lois Gaston, former Duarte mayor had 
many accolades for these two fine individuals. Mrs. Diaz helped form the Monrovia-Arcadia-Duarte 
Town Council and represented her community on it for twelve years. She helped register voters, 
hosted annual Posadas that brought 200+ attendees including former Assemblyman Bob Margett. 
Reyna was the first Latina elected to the Duarte School Board and has held that position for 16 years. 
In the beginning at Christmastime, she would buy 1000 toys for both boys and girls and with her 
husband Ruben distribute them in Mexico or El Salvador. She brought Mayor Margaret Finlay with 
her large family on board and their caravan traveled with toys also! (Not long ago Margaret and 
Reyna worked to obtain an ambulance to bring down there too!) When there was a natural disaster 
like an earthquake or flooding, Reyna held dinners and collected much needed funding! Reyna works 
with several non-profits groups and I am proud to call her my friend.

Rodney Jefferson is an awesome man who works extensively with youth to improve our community. 
For many years he taught basketball at Duarte High and held the annual “A” Game Fundamentals 
Basketball Clinic. Recently Rodney was a mentor/instructor at the DUSD special summer camp 
program at Monrovia Canyon Park which featured Jackie Lacey as guest speaker. Rodney currently 
works in the LASD Education Program in the jail system.

It is no surprise that many public officials/community members came to Pamela Park to join in the 
festivities. Brian Mejia represented LA County Supervisor Mike Antonovich , Terence Williams from 
the Monrovia-Arcadia-Duarte Town and Ed Cordero from LA Probation Office attended. From the 
neighboring city of Duarte were Mayor Margaret Finlay, Mayor Pro Tem Liz Reilly, Council Member 
Phil Reyes, School Board President Ken Bell, Historian Claudia Heller, and Duarte Coordinating 
Council Member Dorothy Smith. Neighboring city, Monrovia was represented By Mayor Pro Tem 
Becky Shevlin, Council Member Larry Spicer and Police Chaplain Terrence Brown.

Very special thanks to Ulisses Gutierrez, planner/organizer SUPREME, his great staff, his Church 
volunteers for great fellowship , music and food, and the pastors who came and led us in prayer. It 
was an outstanding celebration of a community thankful for the positive changes and grateful to two 
fine individuals.

Highlighted Activity for the Weekend of September 23-25, 2013

During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 436 service events, resulting in 86 investigations. 
To see a complete listing of crimes reported, go to http://www.crimemapping.com/map/ca/
monrovia for crime mapping. For Police Department news and information, visit our website and follow 
us on Twitter for police notifications.

Possession of a Controlled Substance / Possession of Drug Paraphernalia –

Suspect Arrested

September 23 at 9:48 p.m., an officer on patrol in the area of Shamrock and Huntington saw a subject 
standing at the drive-through window of a fast food restaurant. The subject abruptly walked away 
from the window when he saw the police unit. As the officer was approaching the subject to contact 
him, he saw the subject take something out of his pocket, toss it on the ground and walk away from 
it. The subject was detained. The subject was found to be in possession of marijuana and the item he

threw on the ground was a glass pipe, with white residue in it, used for smoking methamphetamine. 
The suspect was arrested.

Gang Injunction – Suspect Arrested

September 23 at 11:29 p.m., officers responded to the report of a possible fight involving three male 
subjects in a parking lot in the 100 block of West Lime. As the first officer arrived, one of the subjects 
ran east towards Myrtle. The subject was detained by additional arriving officers. The subject is a 
known gang member who has been served with the gang injunction. He was arrested for violating 
the gang injunction court order.

Parolee-at-Large / Possession of a Controlled Substance – Suspects Arrested

September 24 at 12:00 p.m., officers were investigating complaints of drug use and drug sales at area 
motels in the 700 block of West Huntington. Officers, assisted by the West San Gabriel Anti-Crime 
Task Force, contacted a female and her boyfriend. Through investigation, the boyfriend was determined 
to be a parolee-at-large and the female subject was found to have methamphetamine in her 
possession. Both suspects were arrested.

Petty Theft – Suspect Arrested

September 24 at 5:10 p.m., a theft was reported at a business in the 1600 block of South Mountain. 
The suspect was detained for shoplifting by the store loss prevention officer. A computer check revealed 
the suspect is currently on parole for burglary. He was arrested and taken into custody.

Tip of the Week - Stay Informed With Nixle Alerts

The Monrovia Police and Fire Departments are in the process of implementing nixle for emergency 
alerts, advisories, traffic alerts, and community information sent directly to your cellular phone and/
or email. This service is provided FREE to you. Nixle is operated in conjunction with NLETS, an 
international public safety information network, providing secure, authenticated messaging sent directly 
from your Police or Fire Department.

The Monrovia Police and Fire Departments are encouraging residents to sign up so you can receive 
critical information during emergencies. Just click on nixle to sign up!


11th 
Annual 
Duarte of 
Authors 
Festival 
Saturday October 5 
10am to 4pm at Westminster Gardens 
1040 Santo Domingo Avenue, Duarte 
Featured Speakers 
More than 50 authors in talks, 
panels, and book signings 
A benefit event presented by Friends of the Duarte Library 
626.372.0540 / friendsoftheduartelibrary.com 
Children’s Area with Readings & Activities/Food & Refreshments 
Free Parking & Free Admission 
Speaks at 11:45 am 
Luis J. Rodriguez 
Speaks at 2:00 pm 
Award-winning 
Chicano writer 
and poet 
Robert K. Tanenbaum 
Bestselling 
writer of legal 
thrillers 
“Always Running: 
La Vida Loca” 
“It Calls You Back” 
“America Is Her Name” 
“The Piano Teacher” 
“Badge of the 
Assassin” 
“Tragic”