Mountain Views News          Saturday, September 20, 2014

5

Mountain Views-News Saturday, September 20, 2014 

Arcadia Police Blotter

Making history: 

Walk of Champions

For the period of Sunday, September 7 th, through Saturday, September 13th, 
the Police Department responded to 1,052 calls for service of which 117 required 
formal investigations. The following is a summary report of the major incidents 
handled by the Department during this period.

Sunday, September 7:

 At approximately 1:13 p.m., an officer was dispatched to an accident in 
the area of Colorado Boulevard and Santa Anita Avenue. An investigation 
revealed Party-1 sped around and side swiped Party-2 in an effort to make 
a left turn onto Santa Anita Avenue. Party-1 fled the scene. No injuries were 
reported. 

 Just before 10:47 p.m., an officer responded to the Arcadia Police 
Department front counter in reference so a theft report. The male victim 
discovered his gym bag containing his wallet, keys, and phone had gone 
missing from the soccer field adjacent to Arcadia City Hall. No suspects were 
seen.

Monday, September 8:

 At about 11:23 a.m., an officer conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle in the 
area of El Monte Avenue and Camino Real Avenue for failing to stop at a 
stop sign. Upon contacting the subject, the officer detected a strong odor of 
alcohol on the subject’s breath. The officer determined the 63-year-old White 
male had a blood alcohol content greater than .08%. He was arrested and 
transported to the Arcadia City Jail for booking. 

 At approximately 3:13 p.m., officers responded to a residence in the 1700 
block of Highland Oaks Drive in reference to a burglary. Officers discovered 
unknown suspect(s) smashed the master bedroom sliding glass door, 
ransacked multiple bedrooms, and fled the location undetected. The total loss 
was undetermined at the time of the report and no witnesses were located.

Tuesday, September 9:

 Around 1:20 p.m., officers responded to Rite Aid, 39 West Las Tunas Drive, 
regarding a theft report. An investigation revealed two subjects concealed 
alcohol and medication in their backpack and attempted to flee. An officer 
approached the two subjects after locating them at a nearby bus stop. The 
16-year-old Black male and 17-year-old Black male were arrested and 
transported to Central Juvenile Hall for booking.

 Just after 5:16 p.m., officers reported to Sports Chalet in the Santa Anita 
Mall, 400 South Baldwin Avenue, in reference to an employee in custody 
for embezzlement. Video surveillance revealed the 24-year-old White male 
was taking merchandise from the store room floor into the stock room and 
concealing it on his person. He admitted to stealing a total of $3,400 worth 
of merchandise from the Arcadia location and his former location in Brea. 
The suspect was arrested for Commercial Burglary and transported to the 
Arcadia City jail for booking.

Wednesday, September 10:

 Shortly after 11:21 a.m., an officer was dispatched to a residence in the 
1100 block fo Rancho Road regarding a burglary report. Surveillance 
footage revealed two Black males smashed the rear window, ransacked 
the location, and fled the scene in a white, two door sedan with the 
victim’s jewelry. The suspects are still outstanding and the investigation is 
ongoing.

 The suspects are described as 20 to 25-year-old Black males, one wearing a 
light blue T-shirt, jeans cuffed at the bottom with black and white shoes. The 
other was seen wearing a grey hooded sweatshirt, jeans, and tan gardening-
style gloves.

 At about 2:45 p.m., officers responded to Pavilions, 745 West Naomi 
Avenue, in reference to a theft report. Officers determined two subjects 
concealed numerous bottles of alcohol in hand baskets and fled the location 
to an awaiting vehicle. One of the subjects was identified as the same suspect 
from a similar theft of alcohol in July. 

 The suspect from this theft and the theft in July is described as a Armenian 
male in his thirties, approximately 5’9” tall, 170 pounds wearing a white shirt 
with a large “LA” logo on the front. The second suspect is described as an 
Armenian male with short brown hair, mustache, approximately 6’ tall and 
230 pounds. The vehicle involved was grey in color, had tinted windows and 
fled in a southbound direction.

Thursday, September 11:

 At approximately 10:11 a.m., an officer conducted an enforcement stop on a 
vehicle in the area of Baldwin Avenue and Fairview Avenue for a broken brake 
light. A records check of the three occupants revealed one of the subjects 
had an outstanding misdemeanor warrant. The subject was arrested and 
transported to the Arcadia City Jail for booking. During the booking process, 
illegal substances were recovered from the arrestee’s wallet. Possession of a 
Controlled Substance was added to his charges.

 Around 8:38 p.m., an officer responded to the Santa Anita Mall, 400 South 
Baldwin Avenue, in reference to a theft of a third row seat. An investigation 
revealed unknown suspect(s) entered the vehicle by unknown means and 
removed the third row seat. No witnesses were located. 

Friday, September 12: 

 Just after 12:16 p.m., an officer initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle for 
expired tags in the area of Santa Anita Avenue and the I-210 Freeway. The 
officer discovered the subject, a 38-year-old Hispanic male, was driving with 
a suspended license and his vehicle had expired registration. The subject was 
cited and released in the field. The vehicle was left legally parked. 

 At about 12:59 p.m., officers responded to a residence in the 200 block 
of Laurel Avenue regarding an attempted burglary in progress. Officers 
discovered two Black males were heard ringing the doorbell numerous times 
before entering the backyard. The suspects saw the victim and jumped the 
rear fence into an alley. A person matching the suspect description was located 
during an area search; however, the victim was not able to identify him. The 
located subject had an outstanding misdemeanor warrant. The 19-year-old 
Black male was arrested and transported to the Arcadia City Jail for booking.

 The suspects are described as two Black males, both in their late teens, tall 
and thin. Both suspects were wearing T-shirts, dark colored basketball shorts, 
and white socks covering their hands. 

Saturday, September 13:

 Just after 7:30 p.m., an officer was dispatched to a residence in the 400 block 
of Fairview Avenue regarding a theft report. An investigation revealed that 
while the real estate agent was showing the house, one of the prospective 
buyers stole the resident’s jewelry and cash totaling $1,100.00. 

 At approximately 7:59 p.m., an officer responded to Nordstrom at the Santa 
Anita Mall, 400 South Baldwin, in reference to a suspect in custody for theft. 
The officer discovered a 47-year-old Asian female was using a fraudulent credit 
card and ID to purchase over $4,500 worth of gift cards. She was arrested and 
transported to the Arcadia City Jail for booking.


From Arcadia’s Best

By Scott Hettrick

 Fifty-four years ago a groundbreaking ceremony was held for the 
Hollywood Walk of Fame in February 1960. It quickly became world 
famous and remains one of the most popular tourist attactions to this 
day, with new stars regularly added. A groundbreaking ceremony 
and activities for the Arcadia Historical Society‘s new Thoroughbred 
Racing Walk of Champions will begin at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 
27, in the heart of Downtown Arcadia on First Avenue, north of 
Huntington Drive close to Wheeler Avenue.

 The project, initially featuring 67 square bronze plaques that 
memorialize noteworthy horses, jockeys, trainers, owners, and 
other race industry notables, has already generated national news 
in the Chicago Tribune, the Miami Herald, the HRTV network, 
and a litany of stories in horse racing industry trade magazines 
and web sites including Blood-Horse., Horse Racing Nation, Cal 
Racing, ThoroughbredInfo.com, and Thoroughbred Report / The 
Handicapper’s Edge.

 The City of Arcadia has had several articles about it in City 
newsletters, water bill notices and special mailings. The City, which 
has supported the Society’s ongoing History Lives Here series 
of historical markers since the dedication of the first one in 2007, 
also agreed to the installation of the Society’s Walk of Champions 
plaques in the sidewalks along both sides of Huntington Drive 
from Santa Anita Avenue to The Derby restaurant just east of 
Second Avenue. The plaques also line a short section of First Avenue 
north of Huntington and will eventually go all the way to the new 
Gold Line train station and transit plaza where the next History 
Lives Here marker from the Society will be placed to detail Lucky 
Baldwin’s original train station at the same location directly across 
from his Oakwood Hotel. Among the most prominent subjects of 
the plaques are jockeys such as Willie Shoemaker (corner of First 
and Huntington), owners and influencers such as Lucky Baldwin (at 
entrance of Denny’s restaurant) and horses such as Seabiscuit (near 
First and Huntington).

 Just as it was the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce that initiated 
the Walk of Fame in that town, which took seven years to become 
a reality, it was then-Arcadia Chamber of CommerceExecutive 
Director Beth Costanza who has been working for years with former 
Arcadia Mayor Gail Marshall to get their horse race version of the 
Hollywood Walk of Fame off the ground (er, in the ground, in this 
case). After a couple of unsuccessful attempts over the past couple of 
decades, in 2012 Marshall and now-retired Costanza resurrected the 
pursuit of their long-dreamed project. This time they were invited 
to join the Arcadia Historical Society, which formed a committee to 
focus on the project, with Society board member and horse racing 
afficionado Sandy Snider becoming an integral additional component 
of the committee. With the Society’s reputation and track record for 
generating most of its own funding and resources for projects like 
the historical markers, the City Council this time quickly approved 
the concept of the project if it could be funded. With Snider’s help 
and with the Society’s 501 (c)(3) non-profit status for tax-deductible 
donations, Marshall and Costanza were able to raise the substantial 
necessary funding, though it was still a formidable challenge. Santa 
Anita Park became the lynchpin for the project with the first and 
biggest donation.

 The result is another terrific grassroots community initiative by a 
small group of people that brings still further prestige and another 
unique attribute to Arcadia in general and Downtown Arcadia in 
particular. For the latter, it will serve as a spark for the fledgling 
business district’s efforts to capitalize on the 2016 opening of the 
Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension light rail line and station at 
First Avenue and Santa Clara Street to attract riders in to a planned 
revitalization of the Downtown area as a thriving retail and 
entertainment walking area.

 It also brings much-needed attention, a celebratory spotlight, and 
historical perspective to horse racing in general and, by extension, 
Santa Anita Park, which will provide additional reasons for out-of-
town visitors to Santa Anita and Breeders’ Cup events to stay and 
Shop Arcadia.

 The dedication ceremony on Sept. 27 (the actual ceremony will 
begin no earlier than 6:15 p.m.) will include live appearances by 
legendary retired Hall of Fame jockeys Eddie Delahoussaye and Laffit 
Pincay Jr., with the entire event from 5 p.m. until approximately 7:30 
or 8 p.m. featuring live music, free popcorn, bottled water, a vintage 
car display, and souvenirs. Guided and self-guided walking tours 
of the plaques will be offered, and merchants in the area will offer 
special discounts and stickers with the words, I (heart) Downtown 
Arcadia.

 Three cheers for the passion and persistence of Gail Marshall and 
Beth Costanza, the skills and tenacious diligence of Sandy Snider, 
and the support and resources of the Arcadia Historical Society, 
which now adds the Throughbred Racing Walk of Champions to 
decades of achievements that include saving and relocating the Santa 
Anita Depot and Hugo Reid Statue, creating the city’s first historical 
museum that led to spearheading what has become the current Gilb 
Museum of Arcadia Heritage, and the series of History Lives Here 
historical markers that dot the community.


Monrovia Police Blotter

During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 405 
service events, resulting in 60 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.

Traffic Collision / Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested

On September 15 at 6:26 a.m., a traffic accident was reported at Huntington 
Drive and Fifth Avenue. Just before officers arrived, there was a second 
traffic collision at the location. Party one was driving under the influence 
and was told by party two to move his car. Party one attempted to move his 
vehicle and was broadsided by another car. Officers determined party one 
was driving under the influence; he was arrested.

Vandalism – Suspect Arrested

On September 15 at 10:24 p.m., police received a call reporting a male 
and female subject arguing at a skate park in the 800 block of East Olive 
Avenue. During the argument, the male slashed the tire on the female 
subject’s vehicle. The caller said the male was acting strange and had a 
knife. Officers responded and detained all parties at the location for 
questioning. After investigation, it was determined the subjects are in a 
dating relationship and the male subject did puncture a tire on the female’s 
vehicle with a folding knife he still had on him. The victim wanted to 
prosecute and made a private person’s arrest. The suspect was arrested and 
taken into custody.

Injury Traffic Collision

September 16 at 6:43 p.m., police responded to a traffic collision involving 
a pedestrian at Primrose and Huntington. A female adult had been struck 
by a vehicle while in a crosswalk and sustained a head injury. She was 
treated on scene by Monrovia Fire Department and taken to a hospital 
for a large facial laceration. Police obtained the necessary statements to 
conduct an investigation.

Possession of Marijuana – Suspect Cited

September 16 at 6:48 p.m., a caller reported several juveniles inside a 
construction area in the 1300 block of South Magnolia. It appeared they 
were going into the residences that are being built. The caller thought they 
could see the suspects pulling items off walls and throwing them around 
inside the buildings. The Foothill Air Support Team helicopter was on 
scene and saw the suspects hop over the north fence of the property. 
Officers located five suspects and detained them while they investigated. A 
responsible party for the property was contacted and responded to inspect 
the property. No damage was found, but one of the suspects was cited for 
possession of marijuana.

Stolen Bicycle

September 16 at 7:50 p.m., a bicycle was reported stolen from an apartment 
complex in the 900 block of Monterey Avenue. The bicycle was taken from 
the bike rack sometime overnight. The bike is a Mongoose mountain bike, 
21 speed, charcoal grey, with gold lettering. The investigation is continuing.

Shoplifting – Suspects Arrested

September 17 at 6:40 p.m., a loss prevention officer from a business in the 
500 block of West Huntington Drive called police to advise he was watching 
three female suspects in the process of concealing store merchandise on 
their person and in their stroller. The loss prevention officer had received 
information about the three suspects from another store. The suspects 
noticed they were being watched and returned the property. Officers 
arrived and contacted the suspects. They were identified and computer 
checks revealed the suspects had outstanding warrants; they were arrested 
without incident.

MONROVIANS HONOR LT. COL. ALLEN ALLENSWORTH


By Joan Schmidt

 This past Sunday, the heat was unbearable, but I kept 
thinking about Lt. Col. Allen Allensworth who died 
exactly 100 years ago in Monrovia from injuries sustained 
on Myrtle Avenue. While he served in the United States 
Army, he was the highest ranking African American at the 
time, and that was quite a milestone, so I decided to attend 
the special festivities at the Monrovia Historic Museum. 
Upon arrival, I had to park some blocks from the Museum 
but was thrilled to see so many of all ages in attendance in 
spite of the 100+ temperature! Former Monrovia Historian 
Steve Baker and Mark Still, Monrovia Historical Museum, 
Jimmy Oballes, Latino Historian, Assemblyman Anthony 
Portantino, Assemblyman Chris Holden, the entire 
Monrovia City Council, Monrovia School Board Members 
Terrence Williams and Alex Zucco, Betty McWilliams 
from Foothill Unity Center, and many more! 

 How could one define Allen Allensworth? In his lifetime, he was 
Military Leader, Nurse, Minister, Journalist, and Founding Father of the 
town of Allensworth. James Walker, Master of Ceremony began festivities 
in front of the Museum reminding us that we came to honor Lt. Col. Allen 
Allensworth. Then a Buffalo Soldier rode up, and Monrovian Historian 
Steve Baker spoke of the great man. We walked through the Museum 
seeing collages with photos of Allensworth at different periods during 
his remarkable life. Then we walked outside, sat beneath 
canopies and were offered water and a hand fan if needed.

 After the National Anthem by Monrovia High’s Camerata 
Singers, Council Member Tom Adams mentioned a call a 
year ago from Thomas Stratton, President of Friends of 
Allensworth. Allensworth died in Monrovia on September 
14, 2014. Would the City/ Museum wish to honor this 
great man on the Centennial of his untimely death? Mr. 
Adams, a history buff decided to read up on Allensworth. 
The more research Adams did, the more intrigued he 
was: “This gentleman we’re honoring today is one of the 
most incredible men I’ve read about in my life, and I love 
history.”

 Another great speaker was former Duarte Mayor Lois 
Gaston, member of the Second Baptist Church, Monrovia. 
( Allensworth was their FIRST Pastor!) Ms. Gaston spoke 
of his impact on the Church and community and his 
untimely death (There is still question of whether he was intentionally hit 
by the motorcycle.) Lois felt “this great man should be far better known…
he changed the course of history.” (And Lois is SO RIGHT!)

 There was SO MUCH more to this great man. (Thank you to Mr. Baker, 
Ms. Gaston, Mr. Spicer, Thomas Stratton and the Friends of Allensworth for 
much of the following information.) Allen was born into slavery in Louisville, 

ALLENSWORTH (continued on page 6)