Mountain Views News, Sierra Madre Edition [Pasadena] Saturday, April 15, 2017

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Mountain View News Saturday, April 15, 2017 

CITY OF ARCADIA’S LAW DAY OFFERS FREE 
LEGAL ADVICE AT NINETEENTH ANNUAL EVENT 
ON SATURDAY, APRIL 29TH 

ARCADIA POLICE BLOTTER

For the period of Sunday, April 2nd, through Saturday, April 
8th, the Police Department responded to 1,079 calls for service, 
of which 154 required formal investigations. The following 
is a summary report of the major incidents handled by the 
Department during this period.

Sunday, April 2:

 Shortly before 11:27 a.m., an officer responded to a 
residence in the 900 block of West Huntington Drive regarding 
a vehicle burglary report. The officer concluded an unknown 
suspect smashed a rear window to the victim’s vehicle and stole 
a handgun, magazine, and diaper bag. No suspects were seen 
and no witnesses were located.

 Around 3:29 p.m., officers responded to the Santa Anita 
Race Track, 285 West Huntington Drive, regarding a battery 
report. An investigation revealed an argument escalated 
between the male suspect and male victim, resulting in the 
suspect punching the victim in the chest. The investigation is 
ongoing. 

Monday, April 3:

 At approximately 12:04 a.m., an officer responded to the 
area of 1400 South Baldwin Avenue regarding a robbery report. 
The victim stated he was approached by two suspects while 
withdrawing money from the ATM. The suspects demanded 
his wallet and after the victim complied, they fled to an awaiting 
vehicle. 

 The suspects are described as two black males, both 6’ tall, 
one with a mustache. They fled in a silver Hyundai Elantra. The 
investigation is ongoing. 

 Just after 7:06 p.m., an officer responded to a residence in 
the 100 block of East Wistaria Avenue regarding a vandalism 
report. A witness stated two suspects waited inside their 
vehicle while the third suspect approached the front door of 
the residence and shattered the front door window with an 
unknown object. The third suspect returned to the vehicle and 
all suspects fled westbound on Wistaria Avenue.

 All three suspects were seen wearing half-face ski masks. 
The vehicle was a newer-model, black Toyota Camry. The 
investigation is ongoing.

Tuesday, April 4:

 Around 1:57 p.m., an officer responded to Sephora, 400 
South Baldwin Avenue, regarding a commercial burglary 
report. The loss prevention specialist witnessed two suspects 
conceal nearly $1,000.00 worth of merchandise in their purses 
before they exited the store, failing to make payment. 

 Both suspects are described as black females in their late 
20’s, long brown hair, both approximately 5’4” tall. They fled in 
a white Chevrolet Malibu registered to a female from the City of 
Fresno. The investigation is ongoing. 

 Just before 11:55 p.m., an officer responded to Chevron, 
11 East Live Oak Avenue, regarding a robbery report. The 
officer discovered a disagreement occurred between the 
clerk and the suspect over the price of a cup of coffee the 
suspect was attempting to purchase. The suspect then fled 
without paying. The clerk confronted the suspect, at which 
time, the suspect punched the clerk. The 22-year-old female 
transient from Arcadia was arrested and transported to the 
Arcadia City Jail for booking. Arcadia Fire responded and 
evaluated the victim. 

Wednesday, April 5:

 Shortly after 1:25 a.m., an officer responded to the 
intersection of Golden West Avenue and Huntington Drive 
regarding a vehicle burglary in progress. A containment was 
established and both suspects were located. An investigation 
revealed a 25-year-old male from Los Angeles and a 25-year-
old male from El Monte were witnessed breaking into parked 
vehicles and were in possession of stolen property, drugs, and 
a stolen vehicle. The male suspect from Los Angeles was on 
parole and the suspect from El Monte had an outstanding 
misdemeanor warrant.

 At about 8:37 a.m., an officer responded to a residence in the 
100 block of West Camino Real Avenue regarding a mail theft 
report. The officer discovered an unknown suspect damaged 
the victim’s mail box and stole the victim’s mail and packages. 
No suspects were seen and no witnesses were located. 

Thursday, April 6:

 At approximately 4:22 p.m., an officer responded to 
7-Eleven, 102 East Huntington Drive, regarding a subject 
causing a disturbance. The officer determined the suspect, a 
54-year-old male from Azusa, was unable to care for himself 
and was under the influence of an alcoholic beverage. He 
was arrested and transported to the Arcadia City Jail for 
booking.

 Around 11:45 p.m., an officer responded to the 300 blocks 
West Norman Avenue regarding a robbery that had just 
occurred. The victim stated three suspects approached him 
inside his garage, displayed a handgun, and demanded his 
property. The victim complied and gave the suspects his bag 
containing cash and a passport. All suspect fled to a nearby 
vehicle.

 The suspects are described as three black males. Two were 
roughly 6” tall, both wearing track suits. They fled in a light 
colored vehicle. The investigation is ongoing. 

Friday, April 7: 

 At about 11:36 a.m., an officer responded to Nordstrom, 
400 South Baldwin Avenue, regarding a grand theft report. 
Surveillance footage revealed the unidentified suspect stole 
$1,700.00 worth of men’s cologne before exiting the store, 
failing to make payment. He fled in a silver Toyota Prius. The 
investigation is ongoing. 

 Just before 12:58 p.m., an officer responded to the 500 
block of East Lemon Avenue regarding a suspicious subject. 
Additional officers responded and located the subject behind 
the wheel of a nearby vehicle. The officer detected a strong odor 
of alcohol emitting from the subject’s person. Through a series 
of tests, the officers concluded the 45-year-old male from North 
Hollywood was under the influence of an alcoholic beverage. 
He was arrested and transported to the Arcadia City Jail for 
booking. 

Saturday, April 8:

 Shortly after 12:17 a.m., an officer responded to 400 South 
Baldwin Avenue regarding a stolen vehicle report. Sometime 
between April 7th at 5:30 p.m. and the time of the report, and 
unknown suspect stole the victim’s 1997 Honda Civic. No 
suspects were seen and no witnesses were located. 
At around 7:52 a.m., an officer responded to the 200 block 
of West Duarte Road regarding an activation of an Arcadia 
Police Department GPS tracker. Arcadia PD detectives had 
previously deployed decoy packages containing bait property 
and tracking devices to combat the increase in package thefts 
from residential areas. An investigation revealed a 48-year-
old male from Duarte had the stolen package, property, and 
tracking device in his vehicle. The suspect was arrested and 
transported to the Arcadia City Jail for booking. 

ARCADIA, Calif. --- The City of Arcadia and 
the Arcadia Chinese Association will offer a free 
Aska-Lawyer Program at the Arcadia Public 
Library, 20 West Duarte Road, on Saturday, 
April 29th from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. as part of the 
nationwide Law Day celebration. 

 Volunteer attorneys are available to meet 
with the public and provide them with a free 
brief one-on-one consultation on general legal 
questions. They will provide a summary of legal 
rights and general advice on a “walk-up” basis, 
and where appropriate, will refer individuals to 
the proper legal or governmental organizations. 
Law Day attorneys are unable to accept any cases 
from the people they meet. 

 Law Day attorneys will answer questions on 
immigration, consumer rights, landlord-tenant 
issues, insurance problems, property, family 
law, bankruptcy, government benefits, employee 
rights, workers’ compensation, personal injury 
and other topics. Informational brochures 
and pamphlets are available as additional legal 
resources. 

 “For the 19th year in a row local attorneys 
will volunteer their time to provide assistance 
to members of our community with their legal 
problems. One on one consultation is available 
where legal guidance and expert legal help will 
be provided. This is a wonderful annual 
resource for our residents” said Mayor 
Tom Beck who is an attorney. 

 “The Arcadia Chinese Association (ACA) 
is a service and non-profit organization 
comprised entirely of volunteers. Its 
mission is to promote the learning 
of Chinese culture and arts, support 
educational and charitable activities, 
bridge cultural gaps, assist new immigrants 
to understand American traditions and 
values, and provide community services in 
the City of Arcadia,” said Edward Wong, 
past- president of the Arcadia Chinese 
Association. “This year the ACA is 
celebrating its 35th anniversary providing 
services in Arcadia, and its members are 
dedicated to ensuring Arcadia continues 
to be a beautiful city and a “Community 
of Homes”.” 

 Participants are encouraged to bring any 
information pertinent to their case so the 
attorney or financial expert is able to give 
the most accurate and reliable advice. No 
reservations are required for this free service and 
everyone is welcome to attend. 

 Translation services will be available in 
Mandarin and Cantonese. Other languages may 
be available. 

For more information, please call Arcadia City 
Hall at 574-5401. 

 About the City of Arcadia Nestled in 
the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains, 
Arcadia is an 11.38 square mile community 
with a population of just over 56,000. Located 
approximately 20 miles east of downtown Los 
Angeles, Arcadia is known for combining 
small-town charm with the conveniences and 
amenities of a mid-size city. Arcadia is a full-
service charter city governed by a five-member 
City Council, elected at large. Recognized 
for exceptional education and recreation 
opportunities and beautiful neighborhoods, 
Arcadia is also defined as the “Community of 
Homes” and has twice been designated the “Best 
City in California in which to Raise Kids” by 
Business Week Magazine. 


DUARTE LEADER & VOLUNTEER, STEVE HERNANDEZ 
RECEIVES COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD

THANK YOU AND HAPPY RETIREMENT:

ASSISTANT SHERIFF RICHARD BARRANTES


DUARTE, CA - The California Park and Recreation 
Society (CPRS) and the City of Duarte recently 
honored long-time volunteer and community leader, 
Steve Hernandez with the distinguished Community 
Service Award at its annual Awards Dinner earlier this 
month. Hernandez has dedicated much of his time and 
energy towards improving the City of Duarte serving 
as a hardworking volunteer at the Senior Center for 
numerous years.

 Steve initially became a Senior Center volunteer 
when he asked why women weren’t served first at the 
lunch table to be courteous; he has been serving five 
days a week ever since. There is not a job that Steve does 
not help with. From picking up birthday cakes, making 
iced tea for the lunch program or popping popcorn 
for movie days. He also gives from his resources and 
recently purchased a wheelchair for the Senior Center. 
As a community leader, Steve previously sat on the 
Town Center Specific Plan Ad Hoc Committee and 
currently sits on the Duarte Public Safety Commission 
and on the Youth and Family Committee. He also 
regularly attends Duarte City Council meetings and 
provides positive, insightful comments and serves as a 
strong advocate for his City. 

 CPRS is the voice of California’s park and 
recreational professionals and is where members 
improve their knowledge of park and recreation 
management. Routinely, CPRS brings park and 
recreation professionals together across disciplines 
and agency boundaries to advance professionalism, 
provide opportunities for career growth, and encourage 
collegiality. 

 

About the City of Duarte 

The City of Duarte was incorporated on August 
22, 1957. With integrity and transparency, the City 
provides exemplary public services in a caring and 
fiscally responsible manner with a commitment to 
our community’s future. For more information visit 
www.accessduarte.com or call (626) 357-7931. Follow 
the City of Duarte on Facebook at facebook.com/
duartecommunity; Twitter @CityofDuarte; Instagram 
@city_of_duarte and LinkedIn. 

By Joan Schmidt

 Sometimes if life, we are fortunate enough to 
meet really outstanding human beings, and my area-
Unincorporated Monrovia-Arcadia-Duarte-had that 
good fortune when Lieutenant Richard Barrantes was 
our Liaison in the 1990’s.

He came to our Town Council Meetings and supported 
all our special projects not only with his presence, but 
actually even held a Youth Soccer Clinic at the Park!

 I found an old binder of requests and one was to 
Supervisor Antonovich for a special scroll. Lieutenant 
Barrantes promoted to Captain and was going to Court 
Services. At his recent retirement party Superior Court 
Judge Kevin Brazile and retired Public Defender Ron 
Brown gave such accolades of Richard and his impact 
on the Court Services Division that I never realized. I 
kept hearing integrity, hard-working, fair, conscientious, 
honest, respected and admired by co-workers and all 
who came into contact with him.

 There were so many who attended his retirement. Just 
to mention a few- Wife Nora, daughter Deanna, sister 
Maria and two brothers, Sheriff Jim McDonnell who 
also praised Richard, Chief Bobby Denham, Natalie 
Salazar, retired Chief Tom Liang and wife Janice, retired 
Steve Biagini from Duarte Station, Juan Rodriguez from 
Pico Rivera and wife, Roosevelt Blow and Johnson, 
many from Temple Station’s past-Commander Gary 
Jones, Captain Dave Flores, Captain Val Rosaio, 
Rick Marascola, Arleen Gray, Darren Williams, Alan 
Kunihara and wife, Duarte School Board President 
Reyna Diaz and husband Ruben. One of his Masters 
of Ceremonies was his best friend, Neal Tyler, who 
also HAD retired from LASD but came back to serve 
as Sheriff John Scott’s Executive Aide and most recently 
to Sheriff McDonnell. (John, current O.C. Undersheriff 
also came!)

 Thank you, Assistant Sheriff Barrantes for 42 years of 
service with LASD. May you, Nora and Deanna enjoy 
many happy years during your retirement.

STATE OF CALIFORNIA APPROVES $5.2 
BILLION IN NEW TAXES AND FEES TO FUND 
TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENTS AND 
ROAD REPAIRS, MONROVIA EXPECTED TO GET 
AROUND $800,000 PER YEAR IN ADDITIONAL 
ROAD MAINTENANCE FUNDS

‘WILDLIFE CONNECTIVITY: 

WHEN THEY CONNECT, WE ALL CONNECT”


Last Thursday, April 6, 2017, after an extremely quick 
process that did not allow a lot of time for public 
review and input, the State of California approved $5.2 
billion in new taxes and fees to fund transportation 
and road improvements. The new taxes and fees, 
which are set to go into effect on November 1, 2017, 
include the following:

 A 12-cent increase to the current State gas tax, to 
30 cents / gallon total. Also, the tax amount will be 
adjusted annually to account for inflation.

 A 20-cent increase to the current State diesel gas 
tax, to 36 cents / gallon total. Also, the tax amount 
will be adjusted annually to account for inflation.

 A 2.25% total increase to the State diesel sales tax, 
to 4% / gallon. Also, the tax amount will be adjusted 
annually to account for inflation.

 A new transportation improvement fee that will 
be collected with the annual payment of vehicle 
registration fees, based on the value of the vehicle in 
question. The fee amounts will be adjusted annually 
to account for inflation, and will initially be charged 
pursuant to the following schedule: 

Car Value Amount Paid 

Under $5,000 $25 

$5,000-$24,999 $50 

$25,000-$34,999 $100

$35,000-$59,999 $150

Over $60,000 $175 

 All zero-emission vehicles will be required to 
pay an additional $100 / year vehicle registration 
fee, to make-up for the fact that owners of zero-
emission vehicles do not pay any gas tax. Also, the 
tax amount will be adjusted annually to account for 
inflation.

 The framework for this overall transportation 
tax increase was first announced by the State on 
Wednesday, March 29, 2017. Over the course of 
the ensuing six days, the plan was discussed and 
eventually approved by the State on April 6, 2017. 
City staff has conducted a preliminary review of the 
measure, and on an annualized basis, the funding 
formulas contained in SB 1 seems to indicate that 
the City will receive around $800,000 / year in new 
funding for transportation and road maintenance 
money. 

 Of particular note, the legislation does detail that 
if a city’s pavement condition index meets or exceeds 
80, we can use the funding for other unspecified road 
/ transportation purposes. After completion of our 
Monrovia Renewal project, the pavement condition 
index for all City streets here in Monrovia is expected 
to be, at worst, rated at 83. We will of course be 
analyzing this provision of the legislation in greater 
detail in the coming weeks. 

Ranger Colleen MacKay of Whittier Narrows has created the wildlife display to educate the public about 
local wildlife. 

‘WILDLIFE CONNECTIVITY: WHEN THEY 
CONNECT, WE ALL CONNECT” will be on 
display at the Duarte Historical Museum, 777 
Encanto Parkway, Duarte, through May. Pelts, 
skulls and footprints of local animals such as 
coyote, bear, mountain lion and deer are featured 
as well as information regarding the proposed 
wildlife crossing between the Santa Monica 
and Santa Susanna Mountains. The Museum is 
open Saturdays 1-4 p.m. and the first and third 
Wednesday 1-3 p.m. Free. For information call 
(626) 357-9419.

Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No. 327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Fax: 626.609.3285 Email: editor@mtnviewsnews.com Website: www.mtnviewsnews.com