Mountain Views News          Saturday, November 16, 2013

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Mountain Views-News Saturday, November 16, 2013 

Monrovia Police Blotter

HONORING OUR VETERANS IN DUARTE AND MONROVIA

Photos and Story By Joan Schmidt

 On Veterans Day, I was privileged to attend two great events honoring our Veterans and thanking 
them and their families for their great sacrifices. 

 With my daughter Karen (Thanks for photos) and granddaughter Jenny, our awesome day began 
at Thorsen Park, Duarte. Mayor Margaret Finlay welcomed us and reminded us to “Thank a Veteran” 
for the many freedoms we have such as attending Church. Congresswoman Grace Napolitano told 
the Veterans “We thank you, we salute you and God bless you”. She also urged all present to teach little 
ones how grateful we are to our Veterans.

 Chuck Keen, American Legion Monrovia Post 44 gave the meaningful Invocation, followed by 
the Posting of Colors, Duarte’s Melinda Smith’s beautiful rendition of the National Anthem and the 
Pledge led by Earle Sweeney.(Post #44)

 Mayor Finlay acknowledged many dignitaries/local officials: Besides Napolitano, Assemblyman 
Roger Hernandez, Field Deputy Brian Mejia representing Supervisor Antonovich, Mayor Pro tem 
Liz Reilly, City Councilmembers John Fasana and Tzeitel Paras-Caracci, Superintendent Terry 
Nichols, School Board Members Ken Bell and Tom Reyes, City Manager Daryl George, Public Safety 
Coordinator Brian Villalobos and many more!

 The first speaker was Corporal Carlos Garcia, U.S. Marine Corps Veteran of the War in Afghanistan, 
(right)who graduated from Duarte High. In 2010, he lost both his legs in the war, but didn’t lose his 
fighting spirit and bravery. He shared 
his story of enlisting in the service 
and took us on his journey from basic 
training to that fateful day. What an 
inspirational human being and example 
to all. He credits his therapist Marla 
for pushing him to his limits-Carlos 
has done 6 marathons on a hand cycle, 
fishing, hunting and playing basketball. 
(His team is 24-2)Currently he lives in 
Temecula with his family and a home is 
being built. (hfotusa.org) 

 The second speaker was Sandi 
Beverage, who spoke for her father, 
Ezequiel Lopez, Master Sergeant, U.S. 
Army Air Corps, World War II Vet. She 
also traced his remarkable career and 
spoke of how proud she was of him.

 Assemblyman Roger Hernandez read 
the names of all Duarte Veterans, followed by Melida Smith’s “God Bless America”, closing comments 
by Mayor Finlay and Joseph Reyes (Son of School Board Member Tom Reyes) played taps.

 After Duarte’s great tribute to Veterans, we drove to Monrovia for another amazing event-The 
Allied Veterans Council of the Upper San Gabriel Valley’s “Veterans Day Observance”. 

 We were welcomed by Scott Sinclair, President of the Allied Veterans Council. The Posting of 
Colors was by Commander Willie Williams and members of Arcadia/Monrovia VFW Post # 2070, 
Monrovia HS Band played the National Anthem, and the Pledge of Allegiance was led by Scott 
Sinclair. Sinclair introduced local officials in attendance including Monrovia Mayor Lutz, Mayor Pro 
Tem Becky Shevlin, Council Members Tom Adams and Larry Spicer, City Clerk Alice Atkins, City 
Treasurer/Historian Steve Baker as well as Arcadia Mayor Pro tem John Wuo and City Clerk Gene 
Glasco. Also attending was Congresswoman Judy Chu whose father is a World War II Veteran. Judy 
is always eloquent and a real champion of Veterans and their rights. She is working diligently for 
Veterans to receive the benefits they are so deserving of. It infuriates her that they have to wait so long 
for medical appointments and drive all the way into Los Angeles. Another Chu project is to bring a 
medical outpatient facility to the Valley for Vets.

 During the Veterans Day Observance, there was recognition of all attending veterans- each service 
branch was announced and its vets were acknowledged as were Blue Star Families. (They are the 
families of current service members) Lt. Col. Charles West Civil Air Patrol Vice President and Civil 
Air Patrol Cadets placed the Memorial Wreath followed by Arcadia/Monrovia VFW Post #2070 
presented a 48 state flag. Benediction by Chuck Keen, Senior Officer American Legion Post # 44, 
Taps by MHS Band Members Ray Quiroz and Josue Silva and the Retiring of the Colors by Arcadia/
Monrovia VFW Post # 2017 concluded the festivities.


Highlighted Activity for the Weekdays of November 11-13, 2013

During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 434 service events, resulting in 76 
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 for police notifications.

Vehicle Burglary

November 11 at 9:36 a.m., a vehicle burglary was reported in the 100 block of McKinley. Sometime 
during the night, the victim's locked vehicle was broken into and burglarized. The investigaton is 
continuing. 

Vehicle Burglary

November 11 at 9:48 a.m., a vehicle burglary reported in the 800 block of West Foothill. During the 
evening, the victim's locked vehicle was broken into, but nothing appeared to have been stolen. The 
investigation is continuing.

Under the Influence of a Controlled Substance / Possession of a Controlled

Substance – Suspect Arrested

November 11 at 10:28 a.m., an officer was dispatched to a residence in the 600 block of West Palm in 
regards to a call reporting a subject who was possibly under the influence of drugs. The officers contacted 
the subject at his home and determined he was under the influence of a controlled substance. 
The subject consented to a search of his room and a small quantity of heroin was found. The subject 
was arrested for possession and being under the inffluence of a controlled substance.

Violation of Court Order / Resisting and Delaying a Peace Officer – Suspect Arrested

November 11 at 11:02 a.m., a caller reported a subject that was causing a disturbance at a business in 
the 100 block of West Foothill. When the officer arrived, he saw the subject near a fast food restaurant 
and knew that the suspected possibly had a restraining order against him. Dispatch checked the 
subject's name and confirmed there was a restraining order against the suspect being at the shopping 
center. An officer arrived and approached the subject to detain him for violating the restraining

order and he immediately ran from the officer. A foot pursuit ensued, but patrol officers apprehended 
the suspect about three blocks away. The suspect was booked for violating a court order and resisting 
arrest.

Stolen Vehicle

November 11 at 5:55 p.m., a motorcycle was reported stolen from the 700 block of South Myrtle. The 
victim's BMW motocycle was stolen from an apartment building parking structure. The investigation 
is continuing.

Vehicle Burglaries

November 11, three vehicle burglaries were reported in the early evening hours. The burglaries occurred 
in the 100 block of North Mayflower, 100 block of North Primrose, and the area of Eldorado 
and Fifth. While officers were investigating the vehicle burglary in the 100 block of North Mayflower, 
dispatch received a call from a resident in the 400 block of Concord reporting a male subject hiding 
under the caller’s vehicle. Officers responded and detained the subject. The investigation is continuing.

Receiving Stolen Property / Assault with a Deadly Weapon – Suspects Arrested

November 12 at 11:37 p.m., dispatch received a call reporting two male subjects preparing to fight 
in the 400 block of East Foothill. One of the suspects possibly had a knife. Officers responded to the 
location and detained two suspects. Through investigation, they learned the subjects were friends 
and one of the subjects, the suspect, had burglarized the other one’s home, taking property from the 
home in the 200 block of Valle Vista. The victim of the burglary suspected his friend was the suspect. 
He grabbed a knife and a sword and confronted the suspect at his home. The suspect ran, taking a 
backpack with him; the victim chased the suspect and a fight ensued in the 400 block of East Foothill.

The suspect sustained a 4-inch cut on his upper arm. He was found to have heroin, methamphetamine, 
and all of the stolen property in his backpack. Paramedics responded to the scene and treated 
the suspect for his injury. The suspect was arrested for possession of heroin, methamphetamine and 
possession of stolen property. The friend/victim in this case was arrested for assaulting the suspect 
with a knife. The investigation is continuing.


NOVEMBER IS SCIENCE MONTH AT THE 

MONROVIA PUBLIC LIBRARY

Join us for a month full of exciting science programs. Every Tuesday in November at 4:00 p.m. in the 
Library Community Room. This program is sponsored by Friends of the Monrovia Public Library 
and is for 1st through 8th graders. Shows, Animals 101, hands-on experiments and more. 

November 5 - Great Scott, the Glad Scientist

Be a part of this entertaining and educational presentation. Learn what matters about mater—discover 
the properties of air and water—be amazed at the science of magic!

 November 12 - Sizes of Things

Join Steven L. Cornford, NASA/JPL as we learn about the Sizes of Things, from planets to the biggest 
star and from the human hand down to atoms. See amazing photos and learn about a Mars mission. 

 November 19 - Animals 101

See live animals and learn about the science of taxonomy. Wildlife Company will introduce insects, 
amphibians, reptiles and more while we learn what makes them unique.

 November 26 - Hand’s On Science

Is it a solid or a liquid? Pour...poke...drop...push...and stretch. Make your own batch of oobleck and 
perform experiments to see if you can figure it out!

The Library is located at 321 S. Myrtle Avenue, in Old Town Monrovia’s Library Park. Call (626) 256-
8274 for more information or visit our website at: www.cityofmonrovia.org/library.


DUARTE INSTALLS NEW TRAFFIC SIGNAL ON 
HEAVILY USED HUNTINGTON DRIVE

 

A new traffic signal has been installed and is now operational at the intersection of Huntington Dr. 
and Pops Rd. that will help pedestrians cross the boulevard safely and facilitate access to transit 
routes on both sides of Huntington Dr. 

 Several senior citizen housing complexes are located in the vicinity of the Huntington Dr. 
Pops Rd. intersection, including Andres Duarte Terrace and Westminster Gardens on the south side 
of Huntington Dr., owned by Southern California Presbyterian Homes (SCPH). and Huntington 
Oaks on the north side. SCPH assisted with a portion of the funding for the traffic signal. Other 
funding for the $268,000 project, long on the priority list for the City of Duarte, was provided by 
Proposition B and Los Angeles County Aid to Cities. 

 The section of the boulevard between the traffic signal at Highland Ave. and Pops Rd., is 
where three pedestrians have been struck and killed by cars in the last four years while attempting 
to jaywalk across four lanes of traffic. With the traffic signal at Highland Ave., and the new signal at 
Pops Rd., pedestrians will now have two signal crossings on Huntington Dr. within 400 feet of each 
other.

 In addition to the new traffic signal, the City also installed a Duarte signature Mission Bell 
marker in the Huntington Dr. median at the Pops Rd. intersection. 

 “We hope people will consider their own safety by only crossing at signaled intersections and 
marked crosswalks,” said Duarte Public Works Manager, Rafael O. Casillas. He cited a recent study 
which found that the severity of accidents increase on four-lane highways that carry traffic of over 
10,000 cars a day at 40 miles per hour. Casillas said some 26,000 vehicles a day travel through Duarte 
along Huntington Dr., at an average speed of 46 miles per hour.

 If personal safety isn’t enough of a concern, there’s another good reason for pedestrians not 
to jaywalk. Duarte Public Safety Director, Brian Villalobos has a reminder that the penalty, if cited, is 
a possible $191 fine.