Mountain Views News          Saturday, August 23, 2014

5

Mountain Views-News Saturday, August 23, 2014 

Arcadia Police Blotter

SANTA ANITA’S FUTURE 

DEVELOPMENT PLANS

From Arcadia’s Best

For the period of Sunday, August 10th, through Saturday, August 16th, the 
Police Department responded to 987 calls for service of which 121 required 
formal investigations. The following is a summary report of the major 
incidents handled by the Department during this period.

Sunday, August 10:

 1. Just before 1:30 a.m., an officer conducted a DMV check on a 
vehicle in the area of Peck Road and Randolph Street. Upon discovering 
the vehicle had been reported stolen from the City of Baldwin Park, 
additional officers responded and a traffic stop was initiated. The 28-year-
old Hispanic male was arrested and transported to the Arcadia City Jail 
for booking.

 2. At approximately 12:01 p.m., an officer responded to Din Tai Fung 
restaurant, 1108 South Baldwin Ave, regarding a theft report. The female 
victim stated she left her purse containing $8,000 cash in the restroom. 
Video surveillance revealed an unidentified 20 to 25-year-old Asian 
female entered the restroom after the victim and took her purse. The 
female suspect is currently outstanding.

Monday, August 11:

 3. At about 3:07 p.m., an officer responded to the area of Huntington 
Drive and Sunset Boulevard regarding a hit and run collision. An 
investigation revealed Party-2 was rear-ended by Party-1 while waiting 
for a green light. Party-1 fled the scene after the collision. A records check 
on the suspect vehicle revealed it was registered out of the City of Buena 
Park.

 4. At approximately 5:28 p.m., officers responded to the skate park near 
100 South Second Ave in response to a vandalism report. The officers 
discovered fresh graffiti and two juveniles with spray paint cans in their 
backpack. Both 17-year-old Hispanic males were transported to Arcadia 
Police Department where they were cited and later released to their 
parents. 

Tuesday, August 12:

 5. Around 10:40 a.m., an officer initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle in 
the area of Duarte Road and Santa Anita Avenue for failing to use a turn 
signal. The officer discovered the 30-year-old Hispanic male was never 
issued a license. He was cited and released in the field without incident. 
His vehicle was impounded for 30 days. 

 6. Just after 5:45 p.m., an officer responded to Sephora at the Santa 
Anita Mall, 400 South Baldwin Ave, regarding a suspect in custody for 
theft. The suspect concealed merchandise in her purse and exited the store 
without making payment. The 28-year-old Hispanic female was arrested 
and transported to the Arcadia City jail for booking.

Wednesday, August 13:

 7. Shortly after 1:37 a.m., an officer conducted an enforcement stop on 
a vehicle in the area of Fano Street and Santa Anita Avenue for a broken 
license plate lamp. Upon contacting the driver, the officer detected a 
strong odor of alcohol emitting from inside the vehicle. An investigation 
revealed the driver was under the influence of an alcoholic beverage. The 
21-year-old White female was arrested and transported to the Arcadia 
City Jail for booking. 

 8. At about 1:30 p.m., officers initiated a traffic stop near the 00 block 
of East Huntington Drive for suspicion of theft. Shortly before, the victim 
noticed two unknown males stealing his lawn mower, which they loaded 
into a gray pickup truck. Upon making contact with the subjects, the 
suspects fled westbound toward Santa Anita Avenue. Officers located a 
vehicle that matched the suspect vehicle description and initiated a traffic 
stop. During the stop, two passengers fled on foot. 

 An area check was conducted and officers located both passengers, a 
26-year-old Hispanic male and 32-year-old White male. Both suspects 
were arrested for Grand Theft, Conspiracy to Commit a Crime, and 
Obstructing/Resisting Arrest. The 26-year-old Hispanic male also had 
outstanding felony and misdemeanor warrants. The driver of the vehicle, 
a 25-year-old Hispanic male, was also arrested for Grand Theft and 
Conspiracy to Commit a Crime. All three suspects were transported to 
the Arcadia City Jail for booking.

Thursday, August 14:

 9. At approximately 3:09 a.m., an officer conducted a traffic stop on 
a vehicle in area of Huntington Drive and Sunset Avenue for tinted 
windows. An investigation revealed the driver had an expired license, 
an outstanding misdemeanor warrant, and was in possession of drug 
paraphernalia. The 25-year-old male of unknown race was arrested for 
the listed charges and transported to the Arcadia City Jail for booking.

 10. Around 7:57 p.m., an officer was dispatched to Motel 6, 225 
Colorado Place, in reference to a restraining order violation. A 54-year-
old White female violated her restraining order by holding a consensual 
meeting, during which the restrained subject yanked and threatened the 
victim. The 55-year-old Black male was arrested and transported to the 
Arcadia City Jail for booking.

Friday, August 15: 

 11. Just after 5:06 p.m., an officer made consensual contact with a 
subject sleeping in front of CVS, 1401 South Baldwin Ave. The officer 
discovered the subject had an outstanding misdemeanor warrant. While 
the officer attempted to handcuff the subject, the 27-year-old Hispanic 
male reached for the officer’s handcuffs, violently pulled away, and ran 
eastbound on Baldwin Avenue. After a short foot pursuit, the suspect was 
arrested and transported to the Arcadia City Jail for booking.

 12. At about 10:56 p.m., officers responded to a residence in the 600 
block of West Lemon Avenue regarding subjects screaming for help. An 
investigation revealed three Black male suspects entered the location 
through an unlocked rear window and forced the victims to lay face 
down while they ransacked the home. Shortly after, the victims were 
able to escape through a window, and jumped from the roof to the front 
yard. Two of the victims suffered injuries and were transported to local 
hospitals for treatment. 

 One of the suspects was seen wearing a black hooded sweatshirt and 
another wearing a red hooded sweatshirt. The third suspect was not seen, 
but was heard by the victims.

Saturday, August 16:

 13. At approximately 7:50 a.m., an officer conducted a registry check 
at Motel 6, 225 Colorado Place, and discovered one of the rooms was 
registered to a 54-year-old Black male who was on parole and had a no 
bail felony warrant. The suspect was arrested and transported to the 
Arcadia City Jail for booking. 

 14. Just after 4:50 p.m., an officer responded to JCPenney at the Santa 
Anita Mall, 400 South Baldwin Ave, in reference to a subject in custody 
for theft. The 28-year-old Hispanic female entered the dressing room 
and concealed multiple items inside her used shopping bags. She paid for 
one item and exited the store without making payment for the concealed 
items. The suspect was arrested and transported to the Arcadia City Jail 
for booking.

By Scott Hettrick

 Santa Anita Park is contemplating adding 800 horse stable barns in 
the north parking lot area, building two “high-class” restaurants on the 
opposite corner of the property near the Huntington Drive entrance to 
the Westfield Santa Anita mall, and potentially developing a major retail/
entertainment component in the next couple of years to adjoin the track 
that could also include a hotel.

 None of these plans has been officially proposed or submitted to the 
City for consideration. But during a study session prior to the Aug. 5 
Arcadia City Council meeting, the Mayor, Council members, city staff 
and members of the public heard the tentative plans of Santa Anita Park 
chairman Keith Brackpool for future development of the 304-acre site.

 Just a few years ago the City Council unanimously approved a major 
800,000 commercial development called Shops at Santa Anita by the 
creator of The Grove and The Americana at Brand, Rick Caruso, for the 
85-acres of the south parking lot of the track. But after legal challenges by 
neighboring Westfield the project died during bankruptcy proceedings 
for Santa Anita. Track owner Frank Stronach sought to change the 
partnership agreement he had with Caruso when he brought the track 
out of bankruptcy through the newly-formed Stronach Group, which 
resulted in Caruso ending his relationship with Stronach and the track.

Keith Brackpool

But now Brackpool, who was appointed chairman last year, said the 
company seeks to develop much more of the entire property than the big 
parking lot on the south side along Huntington Drive.

 “A Caruso-type project would be 
nice,” he said, as would a hotel built 
into the track similar to the Camden 
Yards baseball stadium in Baltimore 
(or Meydan in Dubai). “We could 
build something magnificent there 
(in the first turn of the track),” he 
said. “We don’t need all 65,000 seats.”

 But the first priority is the northern 
219 acres. Brackpool said that with 
the demise of Hollywood Park last 
year, there is an immediate demand 
for 800 horse barns. Santa Anita will 
soon make this proposal to the City.

 Next will be making use of two 
acres of long-vacant land by the old Gate 1 at the southwest corner of the 
parking lot alongside Huntington Drive next to the mall.

 In response to a question by Council Member Roger Chandler about 
the long-term commitment to this future and a succession plan for 
Stronach given his age (he will be 82 next month), Brackpool said he 
is one of two partners of Stronach with an equity stake in Santa Anita. 
“There is a plan in place if any one of us is hit by a bus,” he said, noting 
that they all believe in the future of the viability of horse racing as a 
spectator sport.

 “Coming to the track is better than sitting at home,” he said.

Brackpool further noted that said Stronach is the only horse track owner 
currently putting money back in to racing facilities; $30 million in the 
last two years for improvements to the track (being completed this 
month), new luxury suites (more coming), and other remodel facelifts 
— “Churchhill Downs (home of the Kentucky Derby) is not interested in 
putting money into horse racing.”

 He pointed out that the Stronach Group owns seven race tracks as well 
as horse farms and a TV network. Santa Anita is taking over operations 
of their operations in south Florida, he said. Stronach owns Gulfstream 
Park between Miami and Fort Lauderdale, which has developed adjacent 
office, retail, restaurant, residential, entertainment, and casino gaming 
elements.

 Brackpool said he would like to introduce restaurants at Santa Anita 
“something like the restaurants at Gulfstream.”

 In response to a query by Council Member Sho Tay about retail and 
entertainment with an international flavor, Brackpool said they have 
already had “three very interesting offers from developers with an 
Eastern influence.” However, Brackpool told ArcadiasBest.com after 
the study session that Santa Anita/Stronach will not be looking for a 
developer investment partner again as they had with Caruso, noting that 
they would not be interested in giving up any equity stake.

 In discussing the state of horse racing in general during the Study 
Session, Brackpool said there are improvements needed to revive the 
industry’s health. For one, he said California horse racing gets “zero 
money from gaming — the only state that is that way.”

 He also said the exodus of horses leaving California tracks to race 
elsewhere where returns are better has stopped with recent legislation 
being passed to give horse owners a bigger cut of wagers.

 The meeting was sparked by a conversation at the City’s goal-setting 
workshops earlier this year during which the City Council suggested 
the City be more pro-active regarding future development at the track 
property. In addition, the City is in the process of re-evaluating zoning 
throughout Arcadia. City officials said they want to avoid being too 
descriptive by creating specific zoning of every square foot of the Santa 
Anita property. The City has indicated in its 2010 General Plan update 
and by staff and Council Member comments that it would like to see any 
future development of the property around Santa Anita be developed as 
a cohesive project rather than piecemeal buildings and projects. The new 
about-to-be-opened Hale medical building on the five-acres across from 
Methodist Hospital should be the last of that kind of one-off project they 
say.

 The city would like any future development performance criteria to 
include the support of horse racing and related activities, to be world 
class in scope while generating revenue for the city and being compatible 
with the character of Arcadia. No single family uses are contemplated, 
although City Manager Dominic Lazaretto noted that the school district 
has said recently that it could absorb students from families in new 
housing developments. But any residential use of the land would require 
re-zoning. And any development would trigger consideration of historic 
preservation issues.


Monrovia Police Blotter


During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 411 service 
events, resulting in 81 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. 

Vehicle Tampering – Suspect Arrested 

On August 18 at 7:35 a.m., police were dispatched to a residence in the 100 block 
of East Olive on the report of a female subject found inside the resident’s vehicle. 
The owner of the vehicle said tools were missing from the van, but no tools were 
found on the female subject or near the area where the vehicle was parked. A 
light was left on in the vehicle, causing the battery to drain. The suspect was 
arrested for vehicle tampering. 

Vehicle Burglary 

On August 18 at 6:36 p.m., a vehicle burglary was reported at a hotel parking lot 
in the 900 block of West Huntington. The victim parked and locked his vehicle 
in the parking lot. When he returned to his vehicle, he found the rear seats had 
been stolen. There was no sign of forced entry. The investigation is continuing. 

Grand Theft Auto Recovered 

On August 20 at 4:15 p.m., police recovered a stolen vehicle from Cypress and 
Magnolia. The vehicle was reported stolen on August 14 from a business parking 
lot in the 700 block of East Huntington. The investigation is continuing.

Commercial Burglary

One Count of Felony Burglary Filed Against Suspect On May 6, 2014, 
officers investigated a commercial burglary at the location and 

recovered latent fingerprints. The prints were submitted, which identified 
a potential suspect who was already in custody on an unrelated case. The 
suspect was interviewed, but denied committing the crime. The case 
was presented to the District Attorney’s Office, and one count of felony 
burglary was filed. 

Commercial Burglary – One Suspect Arrested In July of 2014, two suspects 
who were fired from a business entered the Home Depot in the 1600 bock 
of South Mountain and purchased items using their former employer’s 
business information. The employer recognized the suspects and contacted 
police. Detectives drove out to the cities of Riverside and Hemet, where 
they interviewed one of the suspects, who admitted to the crime. He was 
arrested and brought to Monrovia Police Department for booking. The 
case was presented to the District Attorney’s Office and an arrest warrant 
was obtained for the second suspect, who remains outstanding.

CITY OF ARCADIA - SUMMER 
CONCERT & MOVIES IN THE 
PARK SERIES!

The Arcadia Recreation and Community Services Department 
proudly announces the Summer Concert Series for 2014!

 Mark your calendar! The City of Arcadia’s FREE summer concert 
series is approaching fast, so make sure you don’t miss out on the 
fun in the sun! The summer concerts are held on Thursday evenings 
starting at 6:30-8pm on the lawn between City Hall and the Police 
Department (240 West HuntingtonDrive). Bring the kids out to 
participate in the FREE fun zone, featuring games, crafts, and 
activities each week. In addition, the City is pleased to announce 
The Surfer Taco Food Truck at all of the 2014 Summer Concert 
Series! A portion of the proceeds will be given to the Recreation and 
Community Services Department! For more information, please call 
626.574.5113. Listed below is the band for this week.

 

Cold Duck (70s top 40) – August 21, 2014

Back by popular demand! Join us once again for this special 
celebration…. Since its inception over two decades ago, Cold Duck’s 
philosophy has been directly responsible for their continued success: 
“Give the people what they want to hear and have a good time 
delivering it!” With this solid experienced musicianship, it should 
come as no surprise that Cold Duck is renowned for being one of the 
most versatile bands in existence. Cold Duck continues its tradition 
of excellent musicianship and groovin’ rhythms. So let’s have a good 
time dancing the night away!