Trending in Arrests/Crime

Driving under the influence appears to have played a key role in an Assault with a Deadly Weapon incident that took place on April 20th. A little after 10:00 p.m. a suspect backed into a parked vehicle at the Arco Gas Station at Baldwin Avenue and Las Tunas Drive. The suspect initially got out and spoke with the driver of the vehicle he struck. A verbal argument took place and the suspect threatened the other driver. The suspect got back into his vehicle and began to drive in circles around the gas pump island and other vehicle, screeching the tires. He then turned his car and appeared to intentionally strike the passenger side of the still parked victim vehicle as the first APD unit arrived at the gas station.

The suspect pulled away, circling the gas pump island and victim again at speed, then pulling out of the lot as the police unit attempted to stop the suspect. The suspect failed to yield and the officer pursued the vehicle southbound on Baldwin Avenue. At Lower Azusa Road, the suspect drove onto the sidewalk and then back into the roadway, losing control of the car. The suspect became involved in a collision with 5 other vehicles stopped for the signal at Baldwin and Lower Azusa. The suspect got out of his car, was uncooperative with officers, failed to follow instructions, resisted arrest, and was ultimately taken into custody.

Li Guanrong, a 33-year-old male from San Gabriel, was arrested and booked at the Arcadia City Jail on felony charges, including Driving Under the Influence.

Please report Drunk Drivers. If you encounter someone you believe to be driving under the influence, dial 9-1-1 and provide the vehicle information, location and direction to dispatchers. Be a good witness!

Anyone with information on this case or other cases is encouraged to contact the Arcadia Police Department at 626-574-5156. Or, if you wish to remain Anonymous, call “LA Crime Stoppers” by dialing 800-222-TIPS (8477), use your smartphone by downloading the “P3 Tips” mobile app on Google play or the App Store, or by using the website http://lacrimestoppers.org. 

This St. Patrick's Day, Plan Before You Party!

Remember: Impaired Driving, Drugs and Alcohol can Kill

St. Patrick’s Day has become one of the nation’s favorite holidays to celebrate and party. Unfortunately, too many people are taking to the roads after drinking, making the holiday one of our most dangerous. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 252 people lost their lives in drunk driving-related crashes during the St. Patrick’s Day holiday period from 2011-2015. More than a fourth of them were killed in drunk driving crashes that occurred in the early morning, post-party hours (midnight to 5:59 a.m.). 

That’s why the Arcadia Police Department and the California Office of Traffic Safety are teaming up to reach all drivers with an important life-saving message and warning: Don’t Drive Impaired by Drugs or Alcohol.

The Arcadia Police Department will deploy additional officers on special DUI Saturation Patrols to stop and arrest drivers showing signs of alcohol or drug impairment. In addition to this St Patrick’s Day enforcement effort, all police, sheriff and the CHP will be on heightened alert ready to stop and arrest any impaired driver throughout the long weekend.

If you plan to celebrate this St. Patrick’s Day, follow these tips to stay safe:

●       Before celebrating St. Patrick’s Day this year, decide whether you’ll drink or you’ll drive. You can’t do both.  “Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving”

●       If you’re planning on driving, commit to staying sober. If you’ve been out drinking and then get behind the wheel, you run the risk of causing a crash or getting arrested for a DUI.

●       Drugs such as many prescription medications, marijuana or illicit drugs can also lead to impairment and unsafe driving, leading to a DUI. When mixed with even a small amount of alcohol the affects can be compounded.

●       If you have been drinking, call a taxi or sober friend or family member, or use public transportation. You can download the Designated Driver VIP free mobile app, “DDVIP,” for Android or iPhone. The DDVIP app helps find nearby bars and restaurants that feature free incentives for the designated sober driver, from free non-alcoholic drinks to free appetizers and more.  The feature-packed app even has social media tie-ins and even a tab for the non-DD to call Uber, Lyft or Curb.

●       Help those around you be responsible, too. Walking while impaired can also be deadly, as lack of attention could put you at risk of getting hit by a vehicle. If someone you know is impaired by alcohol or drugs, do not let them get behind the wheel and help them find a sober ride home. 

This enforcement effort is funded by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration who reminds everyone to be alert and ‘Report Drunk Drivers – Call 911’ if you see a dangerous driver call immediately!

Robert T. Guthrie

Chief of Police

By: Kollin Cieadlo

Traffic Sergeant

Weekly Tip - Enjoy a Safe St. Patrick's Day!

On a holiday like St. Patrick's Day, there is no doubt that many folks will be celebrating long into the night. The Arcadia Police Department encourages everyone to party responsibly and to not drink and drive. Here are some quick statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA):

Every day, 32 people in the United States die, in motor vehicle crashes that involve an alcohol-impaired driver. This amounts to one death every 45 minutes. The annual cost of alcohol-related crashes totals more than $51 billion.

Here are a few tips to avoid becoming a DUI statistic:

• Designate a non-impaired driver to take you home or pick you up

• Celebrate at home and stay there

• Be a good host, offer those who have been drinking a place to spend the night

• Call a taxi

• Don't ignore the problem. If you are with someone who is intoxicated, don't let them drive. If you see someone attempting to drive that is under the influence, call the police. Stop the problem before it begins.

Don't become or cause a DUI statistic! Don't become an unwilling passenger in a police unit! Be responsible, Don't Drink and Drive!

DUI Enforcement Operations Planned in Arcadia This Weekend

Officers from the Arcadia Police Department’s Traffic Division will be deploying this weekend to stop and arrest alcohol and drug-impaired drivers in the Department’s ongoing traffic safety campaign.  DUI Saturation Patrols will deploy on Friday, February 10th between the hours of 6:00 p.m. and 2:00 a.m. in areas with high frequencies of DUI collisions and/or arrests.

High Visibility Enforcement using both DUI checkpoints and DUI Saturation Patrols has proven to lower the number of persons killed and injured in alcohol or drug impaired crashes.  Research shows that crashes involving an impaired driver can be reduced by up to 20 percent when well-publicized proactive DUI operations are conducted routinely.

In California, alcohol involved collisions led to 1,155 deaths and nearly 24,000 injuries in 2014 because someone failed to designate a sober driver.  Over the course of the past three years officers have investigated over 50 DUI collisions resulting in countless injuries.     

Officers will be looking for signs of alcohol and/or drug impairment.  When possible, specially trained officers will be available to evaluate those suspected of drug-impaired driving, which now accounts for a growing number of impaired driving crashes. 

Studies of California drivers have shown that 30 percent of drivers in fatal crashes had one or more drugs in their systems.  A study of active drivers showed more tested positive for drugs that may impair driving (14 percent) than did for alcohol (7.3 percent).  Of the drugs, marijuana was most prevalent, at 7.4 percent, slightly more than alcohol. Everyone should be mindful that if you’re taking medication – whether prescription or over-the-counter – drinking even small amounts of alcohol can greatly intensify the impairment affects. 

Drivers are encouraged to download the Designated Driver VIP, or “DDVIP,” free mobile app for Android or iPhone.  The DDVIP app helps find nearby bars and restaurants that feature free incentives for the designated sober driver, from free non-alcoholic drinks to free appetizers and more.  The feature-packed app even has social media tie-ins and even a tab for the non-DD to call Uber, Lyft or Curb.

The cost of a ride home is cheap!  Drivers caught driving impaired can expect the impact of a DUI arrest to include jail time, fines, fees, DUI classes, license suspensions and other expenses that can exceed $10,000 not to mention the embarrassment when friends and family find out.

Funding for this DUI operation is provided to the Arcadia Police Department by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, reminding everyone to ‘Report Drunk Driver – Call 9-1-1’.

Robert T. Guthrie

Chief of Police

By: Kollin Cieadlo

Traffic Sergeant

Welcome 2017 with a Safe New Year's Eve!

We will celebrate New Year's Eve tonight and there are a number of things to consider when it comes to celebrating safely. Here are a few things to think about for our New Years celebrations:

•Don't Drink and Drive!

•Use a designated driver, or if need be, call AAA Tipsy Tow for a ride home for you and your car. See AAA website or call 800-400-4222 for information.

•DO NOT fire weapons into the air. Bullets and projectiles can travel long distances causing injury and death. You have no control where a projectile will land when fired indiscriminately into the air.

•Stay inside at the stroke of midnight! Celebrate with friends and family indoors.

•Keep an eye on your pets. Loud noises, fireworks, gunshots, all can be frightening to animals. Keep your pets indoors or consult your veterinarian for options. Make sure they are wearing collars with identification should they become lost.

Remember to celebrate safely and smartly. Enjoy the New Year celebration!