Trending in Arrests/Crime

During the early morning hours on April 5th, two suspects were seen, by an alert resident, possibly burglarizing cars in a rear car port in the 800 block Fairview Avenue. When officers arrived at the scene, both suspects immediately took off on foot. Additional officers set up a "containment" and during an area search, both suspects were found in bushes at a nearby apartment complex. Officers found property on the suspects that had been taken from the auto burglaries, along with keys to a vehicle they had stolen earlier in their crime spree from the 1100 block Fairview Avenue.

Detectives believe the pair is responsible for multiple vehicle burglaries, thefts from unlocked vehicles, and grand theft autos, which occurred in the same neighborhood in the two days prior to the arrests.

Moises Verduzco, 25-year-old from Los Angeles, and Walter Martinez, 25-year-old from El Monte, were both booked at the Arcadia City Jail on multiple felony charges. Martinez is also currently on Parole.

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. 

Weekly Activity Highlights for April 2 - 8, 2017

https://www.arcadiaca.gov/home/showdocument?id=9581

Weekly Tip - Recent Area Robberies, Be Aware and Alert

Our personal safety is something we should always be considering.  As you can see from the CrimeMapping.com screen shot above, there have been a number of area street and residential robberies in the last four weeks. With this in mind, there is no better time for a Personal Safety reminder. Here are some tips and thoughts on steps you can take to help maintain your personal safety:

  

•Awareness & Avoidance - Not enough can be said for being aware of your surroundings. It does not matter where you are, at home, out shopping, driving, at the park, DO NOT settle into a fog and become so involved in your task that you fail to look around. Scan the area before you head out. Look around and see what potential threats may be looming. Are there suspicious persons parked by your car? Is there a car approaching slowly from behind or following you? If you see something that makes you suspicious or uncomfortable, walk away, return to the store, and report the activity and your observations to security or store staff.

 

•Be a Good Witness - If you see a crime or fall victim, be the best witness you can be. Without good suspect descriptions it is difficult for police to conduct follow-up, apprehend criminals, and hopefully, help prevent others from becoming future victims. Basic physical descriptions such as hair color and style, height, weight and build, clothing color and type, suspect vehicle description and license plate, direction of travel, are all things that a responding police officer will ask for. Try and make note of anything specific to the suspect such as tattoos, scars, piercings or perhaps damage in a particular location on a suspect vehicle.

 

•Consider the Stakes - If this is a property crime and you are in fear for your safety, give up the purse, the wallet, the car. Your personal well-being is much more valuable than your property. Property can be replaced, you can't.  

•Don't be a Target - Walk with a purpose and look about surveying your surroundings. Carry your keys and whistle in your hand, not buried in your purse. This allows you to immediately open your vehicle or set off your car alarm if needed. Keep your purse tucked under your shoulder, not dangling down or sitting unattended in a cart.

 

Query the topic of personal safety on-line. There are many quality sites that offer additional advice and products that can bolster your safety. Best overall advice...Awareness and Avoidance!

Subscribe to CrimeMapping.com for updates of criminal activity in your area. Stay informed.

APD Recognized by the US Postal Inspection Service

The Arcadia Police Department has always had a great working relationship with our law enforcement colleagues, including the United States Postal Inspection Service. Today, the Assistant Inspector In Charge of the US Postal Inspection Service, Los Angeles, Eric Shen, and Postal Inspector Kimberly Granger paid APD a visit to recognize our staff for exceptional service and assistance in prosecuting cases in collaboration with the Postal Inspection Service. Over the course of the last year, APD has joined Postal Inspectors to successfully prosecute a number of cases involving mail theft, package theft, and fraud. From the work of our Patrol Officers, Evidence Technicians, and in particular, Detective "CJ" Clark and Detective Sergeant Brett Bourgeous, the local office wanted to recognize our efforts. Pictured L to R are Captain Paul Foley, Detective Lieutenant Colleen Flores, Assistant Inspector In Charge Eric Shen, Postal Inspector Kimberly Granger, Detective "CJ" Clark, Detective Sergeant Brett Bourgeous, and Evidence Technician Emily Hess.

Officer and Civilian of the Year for 2016

Officer Jordan Elders was recently recognized as Arcadia Police Department Officer of the Year 2016. For the last year and a half, Jordan has taken a lead role in addressing a growing transient population in Arcadia with the focus being on assistance and health. Jordan collaborated with local hospital staff and area law enforcement to obtain medical treatment, mental health assistance, and even relocation. In one particular case, Jordan was able to reunite a woman with her family in Pennsylvania where she remains to date, happy and sober. Captain Larry Goodman, Officer Jordan Elders, and Sergeant Brian Ortiz are pictured.

The Arcadia Police Department Civilian of the Year 2016 was awarded to Records Manager Audree Luevano. Audree received the highest number of nominations this year with all of them citing her hard and continuous work throughout the year in coordinating our transition into our new Records Management System.  From selection, to implementation, to training, and updating…Audree’s work with our new Records Management System is both appreciated, and something we will all benefit from for many years to come. Records Manager Audree Luevano and Chief Bob Guthrie are pictured below.

We are proud of both Jordan and Audree and wish to congratulate both on their awards! 

Traffic Information for Santa Anita Derby Day 5K

The Annual Santa Anita Derby Day 5K Run & Walk will be held on Saturday, April 8^th, 2017.  As a result of this event, vehicles driving on Baldwin Avenue between Huntington Drive and Foothill Boulevard will be delayed or diverted from 7:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.  It is recommended that alternate routes be used during this time period to avoid being detoured or delayed.

Questions or concerns may be directed to Sergeant Brian Ortiz or the on-duty Watch Commander at the Arcadia Police Department, (626) 574-5156.  We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause, and thank you for your understanding and cooperation. Additional event information can be found at the official Derby Day 5K website HERE.

Weekly Tip - April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month

WORKING TOGETHER TO STOP DISTRACTED DRIVING

April is recognized as National Distracted Driving Awareness Month.  In California, the Office of Traffic Safety (OTS), the Arcadia Police Department, CHP, local law enforcement, and community partners throughout the state are working together to make the roads safer by highlighting the dangers of being distracted while driving, especially by cell phones.

“Law enforcement would rather see everyone off their cell phones than hand out a lot of tickets,” said Rhonda Craft, director of the Office of Traffic Safety.  “Take care of calling, texting, setting your GPS and everything else before you hit the street.”

Lawmakers agree that distracted driving continues to be a growing problem among California’s motorists.  Assembly Bill 1785 went into effect on January 1, requiring all drivers in California to keep their cell phone out of their hands while operating a motor vehicle.  Under the new law, a driver may activate or deactivate a feature or function of the cell phone or wireless communication device by swiping or tapping its screen only if it is properly mounted or not being held in a driver’s hand. Specific information on the new law can be found at www.ots.ca.gov.

The Office of Traffic Safety will begin a new public awareness campaign throughout the state in April emphasizing how the new law makes virtually all hand-held cell phone activity illegal – talking, texting, and using apps The campaign aims to end distracted driving through education and raise awareness about the associated dangers.  The goal is to change motorist behaviors and save lives, not just in the month of April but year-round. 

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that 3,477 people were killed and an estimated 391,000 injured in motor vehicle collisions involving distracted drivers in 2015. That is a 9 percent increase in fatalities as compared to the previous year.

The Arcadia Police Department will join other law enforcement agencies throughout the state to provide educational experiences as well as zero tolerance enforcement efforts to discourage distracted driving.  Officers will have a special emphasis this month on enforcing all cell phone and distracted driving laws. The goal is to gain voluntary compliance by drivers, but sometimes citations are necessary for motorists to better understand the importance of driving distraction free.

Throughout the month of April, the Arcadia Police Department will be deploying extra traffic officers, with grant-funded resources, for the purpose of distracted driving enforcement. Violators will be stopped and cited with fines set at $162 for first time offenders.  This campaign is funded by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.