Mountain Views News, Combined Edition Saturday, May 11, 2019

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ARCADIA - MONROVIA - DUARTE

Mountain View News Saturday, May 11, 2019 

From The Desk of the Monrovia City Manager 

HIGHLAND PLACE DEBRIS BASIN TO BE REMOVED BY LA COUNTY

As everyone may recall, after the Madison Fire, LA 
County installed a debris basin at the top of Highland 
Place to control and manage mud / debris flows. The 
structure was built by LA County, and for the past ~5 
years, LA County has managed and maintained the 
overall structure.

This past week, an engineer from LA County contacted 
our Public Works team to discuss the future disposition 
of the debris structure. It appears that given we’ve hit 
the 5-year mark since the Madison Fire, LA County has 
given the City two options regarding the future of the 
debris structure, which are as follows:

LA County will remove the structure

LA County will convey the structure to the City, and we 
will be responsible for all operating and maintenance related 
costs moving forward

Pictures of the facility are shown below.

We’re still trying to sort out all of the details 
related to this particular issue, and as part 
of our research, we’re trying to determine 
if there was any arrangement or agreement 
that the City entered into with LA County 
regarding the structure. Furthermore, we’re 
doing calculations regarding ongoing costs 
for managing the debris basin.

Staff’s initial reaction to the news is that the 
City seriously needs to consider taking the 
debris basin facility over. It’s become a vital 
part of our debris management plan here 
in Monrovia, and of note, according to our 
team, there is currently around 10’ – 12’ of 
debris behind the basin right now!

We’ll be sure to continue analyzing this 
overall issue, and as additional information 
becomes available, we will be sure to pass 
the details along.

ARCADIA POLICE BLOTTER

For the period of Sunday, April 28th, through Saturday, May 4th, the 
Police Department responded to 929 calls for service, of which 153 
required formal investigations. The following is a summary report of 
the major incidents handled by the Department during this period.

Sunday, April 28:

1. Shortly before 4:52 p.m., an officer responded to Macy’s,
400 South Baldwin Avenue, regarding a petty theft report. Loss 
prevention specialist witnessed the suspect conceal numerous 
items in a shopping bag before exiting the store, failing to make 
payment. The total loss was $246.49. The 27-year-old female from 
Baldwin Park was arrested and transported to the Arcadia City Jail 
for booking. A records check revealed she also had two outstanding 
misdemeanor warrants.
2. At approximately 5:46 p.m., officers responded to
T-Mobile, 101 East Huntington Drive, regarding a battery report. 
An investigation revealed a transient, possibly under the influence 
of an alcoholic beverage, was asked to leave the location. When he 
was approached by the officers, he became combative and began 
kicking and injuring them. While being arrested, the 31-year-old 
male from Los Angeles kicked the patrol vehicle causing damage. 
The suspect was transported to the Arcadia City Jail for booking. 
A records check revealed the suspect had an outstanding felony 
warrant.


Monday, April 29:

3. Just after 8:31 a.m., an officer responded to a residence in
the 900 block of South Golden West Avenue regarding a vandalism 
report. The victim stated that an unknown suspect used a log to 
dent the front passenger door of his vehicle. No suspects were 
seen and no witnesses were located. 
4. At approximately 1:09 p.m., officers responded to a
residence under construction in the 500 block of North Santa 
Anita Avenue. An investigation revealed an unknown suspect 
entered the location, stole copper wiring, and damaged wiring 
harnesses. No suspects were seen and no witnesses were located. 


Tuesday, April 30:

5. Around 9:01 a.m., an officer responded to a commercial
construction site in the 100 block of West Huntington Drive 
regarding a burglary. The officer discovered an unknown 
suspect turned off the power to the location, the water heater 
had been disconnected and drained, the irrigation system had 
been unplugged and removed, and miscellaneous tools, cables, 
and light bulbs had gone missing. No suspects were seen and no 
witnesses were located. 
6. Just before 5:18 p.m., an officer responded to a residence
in the 1300 block of Rodeo Road regarding a mail theft report. The 
victim determined her recently ordered U.S. passports had been 
stolen from her mailbox sometime between April 27th and April 
28th. No suspects were seen and no witnesses were located. 


Wednesday, May 1:

7. At about 7:49 a.m., an officer responded to the 1000 block
of West Duarte Road regarding a vehicle burglary report. Sometime 
during the previous evening, an unknown suspect entered the 
victim’s vehicle by unknown means and stole $4 cash. No suspects 
were seen and no witnesses were located. 
8. Shortly after 11:03 a.m., officers responded to Bank of
America, 1234 South Baldwin Avenue, regarding a robbery 
report. As the victim and her husband were exiting the bank, the 
suspect approached them and forcefully took the victim’s purse.


The suspect is described as a Black male, between the ages of 20 
and 30-years-old, with a small amount of facial hair on his chin. 
The investigation is ongoing. 

Thursday, May 2:

9. Before 11:28 a.m., officers responded to a residence in the
200 block of West Duarte Road regarding a welfare check. Upon 
contacting the residents, the husband admitted to vandalizing the 
home and slapping his wife. A records check revealed he had an 
outstanding misdemeanor warrant. The 46-year-old male from 
Bakersfield was arrested and transported to the Arcadia City Jail 
for booking. 
10. Around 9:52 p.m., an officer responded to the area of
Colorado Boulevard and Michillinda Avenue regarding an arson 
investigation. An investigation revealed a recently homeless 
suspect started a fire near the side of the freeway in an effort to 
stay warm. The 23-year-old male from South El Monte was cited 
and released in the field. 


Friday, May 3: 

11. At about 3:08 p.m., an officer responded to Arcadia
Methodist Hospital, 300 West Huntington Drive, regarding a 
fraud report. The suspect admitted himself into the Emergency 
Room under a stolen identity. The suspect then received a surgical 
procedure before leaving. The victim of the stolen identity was 
then contacted by a pharmacy and was alerted that his identity 
had been stolen. The victim does not know how the suspect 
obtained his personal information or the identity of the suspect. 
12. Just before 7:00 p.m., officers responded to a residential
burglary in progress in the 1000 block of El Caballo Drive. The 
resident witnessed one suspect looking into his home through 
the rear windows and believed another suspect was in the garage. 
When officers arrived, a 21-year-old male, a 22-year-old male, and 
a 23-year-old male, all Compton residents, were attempting to flee 
the location in a black Mercedes sedan. All three suspects were 
arrested and transported to the Arcadia City Jail for booking.


Saturday, May 4:

13. Shortly after 4:13 p.m., an officer responded to Sephora,
400 South Baldwin Avenue, regarding a petty theft. The officer 
discovered the suspect, a 40-year-old female from Sierra Madre, 
stole $640.00 worth of merchandise from Sephora and an 
additional $133.30 from Hallmark. The suspect was arrested and 
transported to the Arcadia City Jail for booking. 
14. At approximately 6:55 p.m., an officer responded to the
100 block of South Santa Ynez Drive regarding a vehicle burglary 
report. Sometime after 1:30 p.m. on May 4th, an unknown suspect 
tampered with the door lock and entered the victim’s vehicle. No 
loss was reported, no suspects were seen, and no witnesses were 
located. 



MONROVIA UNIFIED DEDICATES ALTERNATIVE 
SCHOOLS’ LIBRARY TO LONGTIME 
VOLUNTEERS

MONROVIA – More than 50 members of the Monrovia Unified 
community joined together May 6 to share stories, laughter, 
and tears as they dedicated a library at the District’s alternative 
schools to Bruce and Mariellen Staller – volunteers who spent 
more than 20 years developing and improving the library.

The dedication highlighted the duo’s efforts in taking the library 
of Canyon Oaks High School and Mountain Park School under 
their wing and enhancing the schools’ literacy programs.

“So many of our students have developed a love for literacy because 
of Bruce and Mariellen Staller,” said Flint Fertig, Director 
of Alternative Education. “We are so thankful for the time they’ve 
given to us, the library, and our students. This library is theirs – 
for always giving and never taking.”

Mariellen, who recently passed away, used her background in 
library science to work alongside Bruce and make the library 
what it is today. Bruce, who attended the event, shared the special 
moment with his family and friends who cheered him on as he 
thanked the Board of Education and school administrators.

“I can’t tell you how honored I am with the dedication of this 
library and how honored Mariellen is feeling right now as she 
looks down upon us,” Bruce said.

The library – which had no books available 20 years ago – is 
a fully functioning multi-media center that houses more than 
8,000 volumes and periodicals and enriches the lives of students 
by promoting literacy and giving them a place to conduct research, 
work on assignments, and deepen their love for reading.

“It is so important for our students to have this kind of a library, 
and Bruce and Mariellen saw that and they worked tirelessly to 
make this library what it is today,” Board of Education President 
Ed Gililland said. “It is paramount that we have great literacy 
programs in our schools and this library supports that.”

Rob Hammond, Board Vice President, noted his long history 
with the Stallers and thanked them for their commitment to 
generations of Monrovia students – past, present, and future. 
Also present were Board members Maritza Travanti and Selene 
Lockerbie.

 The celebration concluded with a video put together by the 
schools’ audiovisual program, who followed Bruce around the 
library for a day as he highlighted his personal history and, of 
course, some of his favorite books.

“Our students are enriched by the time and expertise volunteers 
offer so selflessly. Bruce epitomizes the spirit of volunteerism so 
embedded within the Monrovia community,” Superintendent 
Katherine Thorossian said. “The job of a superintendent is made 
just a little easier when we have people who give as graciously as 
Bruce and Mariellen in her time.”


Bruce Staller and his family celebrate the dedication of 
the Bruce and Mariellen Staller Library on May 6.

Audiovisual students from Canyon Oaks High School and 
Mountain Park School showed their support of Bruce Staller by 
creating a video displaying his passion for books, which was 
shared during the Bruce and Mariellen Staller Library dedication 
on May 6.

DUARTE CITY COUNCIL 
VACANCY

• District 7 Councilmember Jocelyn Nuñez tendered her
resignation to the City on April 8 and it was announced at the 
April 9 City Council meeting.

• District 7 residents are invited to apply to fill the balance 
of the vacancy by May 20. Maps of District 7 and the application 
can be found here.

• City Council members will interview prospective candidates 
at the regularly scheduled City Council meeting on May 
28 and appoint the new District #7 councilmember at a Special 
Meeting on June 4.

CITY COUNCIL MEETING

• The City Council will have a regularly scheduled meeting 
on May 14 in the City Council Chambers (1600 Huntington 
Dr.) at 7 p.m.

• The public is always invited to attend. The agenda and
minutes from previous meetings can be found here.

ANALYTICS FOR THE CITY WEBSITE

• Last month, we had 9.7K users to our website, an increase 
of 16.76% since March.

• Of those users, 72.45% found our website through organic 
search and 27.56% through direct website input.

• In April, there were 13.5K sessions of people utilizing
the City website to find information on services, programs, and 
events, up 17.16% since March!

RIGHT BEFORE YOUR EYES

The Gabrielinos were always here, but have gone unnoticed 
in modern times. “Right before your Eyes” by Tim Poyorena-
Miguel will present the story of the Gabrielino Kizh Nation, 
“the only true indigenous tribe of Los Angeles, despite the fact 
that others claim to be.” He will reveal rare photos and history 
of his tribe on May 24 at the Duarte Historical Museum, 777 
Encanto Parkway, Duarte, at 6:30 p.m. Admission is free.

How did the tribe lose their land in the Duarte area? Why 
have they not disappeared altogether? Miguel will tell the story 
of Victoria Reid and how she saved the tribe from extinction 
when gold hunters put a bounty on Indian heads at the price 
of twenty-five cents. He will describe the struggles, the failures 
and the successes. “I’ll give you 2000 years in 40 minutes,” he 
says.

The public is invited to attend and learn about the local Native 
American history. 


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