Mountain Views News          Saturday, May 3, 2014

5

Mountain Views-News Saturday, May 3, 2014 

Arcadia Police Blotter


For the period of Sunday, April 
20th, through Saturday, April 26th, the Police Department responded to 1,019 calls for service of which 
107 required formal investigations. The following is a summary report of the major incidents handled 
by the Department during this period.

Sunday, April 20:

1. Just after 3:00 a.m., an officer conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle for expired registration in the area 
of Baldwin Avenue and Naomi Avenue. The officer discovered the driver, a 34-year-old White female, was 
in possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. She was arrested and transported to the Arcadia 
City Jail for booking. 
2. At approximately 7:54 p.m., an officer was dispatched to Go Go Liquor, 914 West Duarte Road, 
regarding a disturbance. The officer discovered two subjects were drinking alcohol to the rear of the location. 
One of the subjects, a 24-year-old Hispanic male, was in possession of drug paraphernalia and provided false 
identification. A records check revealed he had two outstanding misdemeanor warrants. He was arrested and 
transported to the Arcadia City Jail for booking. 


Monday, April 21:

3. Just before 1:00 a.m., an officer observed a vehicle making a right turn at a high rate of speed in 
the area of Second Avenue and Bonita Street. The vehicle lost traction and nearly collided with a curb. The 
18-year-old Chinese male driver was arrested for Reckless Driving, transported to the Arcadia City Jail for 
booking, and his vehicle was impounded. 
4. Around 10:20 a.m., an officer conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle that ran the stop sign at Golden 
West Avenue and Fairview Avenue. Upon contact with the driver, the officer detected an odor of marijuana 
emitting from inside the vehicle. A search of the vehicle revealed the driver was in possession of 21 
marijuana cigarettes. The 17-year-old Asian male was cited in the field without incident and later released 
to his father. 


Tuesday, April 22:

5. At about 2:30 p.m., an officer responded to a residence in the 1000 block of Hampton Road regarding 
a burglary report. The victim discovered unknown suspect(s) forced entry through a garage door. The alarm 
system had been ripped out of a wall and system panel found inside a toilet. The total loss was unknown at 
the time of the report and no evidence was located. No one reported seeing or hearing anything suspicious. 
6. At approximately 9:16 p.m., an officer was dispatched to the 1000 block of Oak View Lane regarding 
a battery report. A male subject pushed his wife to the ground during a verbal argument, causing her to hit her 
head on the floor. The 62-year-old White male suspect was arrested for Domestic Violence and transported 
to the Arcadia City Jail for booking. The victim did not require medical attention and declined prosecution. 


Wednesday, April 23:

7. Around 1:20 a.m., an officer responded to a hit and run traffic accident on Santa Anita Avenue, south 
of Fano Street. A bicyclist traveling in the number two lane was hit from behind by a vehicle. He was thrown 
off his bicycle and onto the ground, causing lacerations to his face, arms, and knees. The victim was unable 
to see the suspect vehicle, which fled the scene of the accident. The victim’s mother responded to the location 
and transported him to San Gabriel Valley Medical Center for treatment. No witnesses were located. 
8. At about 7:51 p.m., an officer conducted an enforcement stop on a vehicle in the area of Baldwin 
Avenue and Foothill Boulevard regarding a broken tail light. The officer discovered the driver had an expired 
license. The 43-year-old Hispanic male was cited in the field without incident and his vehicle was left legally 
parked. 


Thursday, April 24:

9. Shortly after 3:00 p.m., an officer was dispatched to Denny’s, 7 East Huntington Drive, regarding an 
incident of defrauding an innkeeper. Three suspects left the location without paying for their meals. Shortly 
after, they were located in front of 24 Hour Fitness, 125 North First Avenue. The officer discovered one of 
the suspects, a 20-year-old Hispanic male, was on probation and in possession of drug paraphernalia. He 
was arrested and transported to the Arcadia City Jail for booking. Denny’s was not desirous of prosecution 
after the suspects’ friend agreed to pay for a portion of the bill. 



“What’s Going On?” 

News and Views from Joan Schmidt

DUARTE: MY KIND OF TOWN 
AND MY KIND OF MAYOR


MONROVIA, CA – The City of Monrovia is seeing economic development efforts 
pay off with new businesses coming in and development opportunities on the way.

• The longtime vacant blockbuster site near the corner of Foothill Blvd and 
Myrtle Avenue is undergoing tenant improvements for a new business: Massage Envy. Massage 
Envy seeks to bring affordable, professional spa services to communities. Currently the site is under 
construction and is slated to open for business this summer.


• Williams Homes has put in 18 new townhomes at the corner of Olive and Ivy Avenues in Old 
Town. At this time, almost all units have been sold.


• Izakaya Uppo, a Japanese restaurant that will allow you to sit on the floor and taste traditional 
Japaense cuisine, opened last week in the 600 block of Myrtle Avenue. This block now features an 
international dining experience with Chang’s Thai Bistro, Rudy’s Mexican Restaurant, Jakes BBQ, 
Izakaya Uppo, and coming soon, Copper Still Grill (serving an updated take on traditional bar and 
grill classics, will be located at the site of the former Sam’s Kabob Room).


• Along Huntington Drive, a Del Taco opened in mid-April on a site that has been vacant for 
many years- signs that private development and industry are picking up. And the Fast5Xpress Car 
Wash is expected to open in early May on the same site.


• Panera Bread, Chipotle, Smashburger and Menchie’s Yogurt have opened up on the west side 
of Huntington Drive, bringing more customers to the Huntington Oaks Shopping Center.


• Blaze Pizza is scheduled to open in May 2014 at the Foothill Park Plaza in Old Town 
Monrovia. Flamzz Pizza on East Colorado Boulevard is already open.


• La Marca Cigars, a specialty cigar shop and lounge, has opened in the 500 block of Myrtle 
Avenue.


• And American West Bank has opened a new branch at 404 E Huntington Drive.


Since January 1, 49 new businesses have opened up in Monrovia. Building permits are going up, 
having increased 55% from 2012 to 2013, and Monrovia is seeing a steady stream of applicants at the 
Building and Planning Counter.

Moving forward, the City’s Economic Development team has their eyes set on Station Square Transit 
Village and the City’s former redevelopment properties as opportunity to round out the City’s 
already diverse sales tax base.

Developer Samuelson and Fetter have already submitted renderings of their new 261 unit, multifamily 
development. And currently the Chevron Station at the corner of Myrtle and Pomona Avenues is for 
sale in the area, prompting major developers to inquire about other large potential developments.

The City of Monrovia will be hosting a Brokers’ Reception on April 30, 2014, 5:30pm at Café Mundial 
in Old Town Monrovia to discuss further economic development efforts. To find out more about the 
event, please call (626) 303-6601.

MONROVIA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT UPDATE

 This past 
Saturday, I 
went to the 
Duarte Library 
for its monthly 
“Coffee and 
Conversation 
with the 
Mayor. (Fourth 
Saturday of 
each month, 
10:00a.m.-
11a.m.in the 
Community 
Room). I had 
no idea what to 
expect and boy was I pleasantly surprised!

 When Mayor Liz Reilly came in, I asked her 
about attendance and she said about twelve have 
come each month, and it’s always a different 
group.

 There was Starbucks coffee and special treats 
(Donated by “Sweet Nothings”- Owner Isabel 
Torres is a local-raised in Duarte)

 Mayor Reilly began by telling us that an 
air quality 
monitoring 
station, installed 
adjacent to Valley 
View School to 
keep tabs on 
any unhealthful 
PM10 particulate 
matter emanating 
from Vulcan 
Materials mining 
activity above 
Duarte, is up and 
running. There is 
a dedicated web 
page on the City’s 
website where 
Duarte residents 
can monitor the 
quality of air they 
are breathing via 
real time data of 
hourly and 24-
hour averages of 
PM10. Data from 
the monitoring 
station streams live to the SCAQMD (South 
Coast Air Quality Management District) where 
it is analyzed for quality control, then sent to the 
City of Duarte and made available for the public 
on the City’s www.accessduarte.com website.

 The mayor and a four-year resident of Duarte, 
Cierina discussed the dust and the effects on 
people with asthma. Another attendee, Angelica, 
grew up in Duarte and also expressed concerns 
over the mining.

 Mayor Reilly gave an update on Gold Line 
Construction and all present felt the work done 
so far (train tracks and repaving on Myrtle 
and California Avenues and left turn signals 
on California Avenue and Duarte Road) was 
excellent. Mrs. Reilly also shared pictures of art 
work and tiles to be used at the various train 
stations.

 There also was discussion about “Massage 
Parlors” and how to keep them at a minimum. 
Could the Duarte City Council issue a 
moratorium on the number of operating 
massage parlors? Mrs. Reilly explained that 
massage Parlors are considered “health facilities”. 
If an area has a medical clinic, than it must have 
a massage parlor too!

 Jacqueline from the Duarte County area 
mentioned “confusion.” If she called for help, 
she was told she lived in “Monrovia County.” 
The Mayor explained that if you live in an 
incorporated area, you pay city taxes and have 
city services. Unfortunately many years ago, to 
distinguish between Duarte “City” and “County” 
areas, Temple Station personnel dubbed Arcadia, 
Monrovia and Duarte County areas, “Monrovia 
County”. It is VERY UNFAIR and CONFUSING 
to Duarte county residents whose children 
attend Duarte schools. To this day, I cannot 
comprehend that a person can’t say, “It’s Duarte 
City- send one of the patrol cars contracted 
to the City”, or “It’s Duarte County area-send 
County Patrol Car #57.”

 Brian, a resident who works at City of Hope 
asked about the “C” rating. Mrs. Reilly explained 
that the City’s rating had gone up from “F” to 
“C”. There must be “NO SMOKING WITHIN 30 
FEET of a GREEN AREA” to get an “A” of “B” 
rating. The City Council needs more discussion 
and research in this area.

 The last issue was a house on Mountain 
Avenue that has been vacant for three years due 
to a fire and still is in disrepair. Unfortunately, 
the owners have filed bankruptcy and it’s in the 
hands of the bank.

 The next “Coffee and Conversation with the 
Mayor” will be MAY 24th See you there!


CENTENNIAL CONCERT INCLUDES SINGERS 
FROM A DOZEN LOCAL CHURCHES 

Singers from a dozen local churches will blend their voices at the Festival of Great Hymns 
and Anthems at Arcadia Presbyterian Church at 3 o’clock Saturday, May 10. Churches 
include First Baptist Temple City, Lutheran Church of the Cross, Lutheran Church of Our 
Savior, Church of the Good Shepherd United Methodist, Trinity Presbyterian, Seventh Day 
Adventist, First Methodist of Glendora, Calvary Presbyterian of South Pasadena, Shadow 
Hills Presbyterian of Sunland, New Hope Presbyterian, and St. Luke Episcopal.

The free choral and organ concert celebrates the Centennial of the host church. John Henken 
will conduct the chorus, with Tabitha Henken as accompanist. Soloists include Steve Baker, 
Zachary Bondoc, Rebecca Hartie, and Christine Henken. Arcadia Presbyterian Church is at 
121 Alice St., Arcadia.