POLICE: Crowd Dispersed After Property is Vandalized, Officer Assaulted During Covina Protest Sunday
​COVINA - Three people were arrested after another large crowd of protestors turned up at the reported home a deputy who fatally shot a man in Gardena.
The three were accused of various crimes, ranging from trespassing, to assaulting a peace officer and lynching — the latter is a confusing use of the term, according to Lt. Ryan Davis of the Covina Police Department.
"At some point there was an intoxicated person who came onto the property and pushed an officer," Davis told SGV CityWatch. "As he was attempting to make an arrest, the crowd basically surrounded the officers and started pulling her away."
The protestor was pulled away from the officer. Eventually, an unlawful assembly was declared and the crowd was dispersed roughly after 7 p.m. with the help of officers from Azusa, Glendora, West Covina and the San Dimas Sheriff's Station.
The woman who allegedly assaulted an officer was later seen near the Covina Police Department and arrested, Davis told SGV CityWatch.
One of the people who pulled the protester away from the officer during the arrest was also found and taken into custody, Davis told SGV CityWatch. That person was booked on suspicion of lynching, which the California Penal Code describes as removing someone from police custody by means of a riot, Davis told SGV CityWatch.
Police originally responded to the home, which is located near San Bernardino Road and Hollenback Avenue, to keep protesters off the private property.
The protests began around 4 p.m.
Protesters allegedly placed Post-It notes and larger signs on the deputy's home and walkway, Davis told SGV CityWatch. Protestors also wrote messages in chalk on a public as well as the private walkway claiming that Los Angeles County Sheriff's deputy Miguel Vega is a murderer, Davis told SGV CityWatch.
One other person was arrested on suspicion of trespassing and for not providing his name to an officer.
Covina Police Jail Suspect Accused of Sexually Assaulting Woman
COVINA - A man caught on camera assaulting a woman in a coin laundromat was arrested this week and was booked on suspicion of indecent exposure and battery, police said.
Jose Luis Ibarra, 23, was taken into custody by Covina officers after he was arrested by Azusa Police July 6. Community members also helped to identify Ibarra, according to the Covina Police Department.
Ibarra was arrested in Azusa the same day he was accused of masturbating inside Coin Laundry, 314 N. Azusa Ave. Ibarra allegedly ejaculated on a 20-year-old woman's leg and clothing at the laundromat.
Azusa officers jailed Ibarra after he was accused by another woman of following her in the 900 block of East Galatea Avenue. He allegedly exposing himself and masturbated, Azusa Police said.
In addition to the assault at Coin Laundry, Ibarra is suspected of indecent exposure at Walmart, 1275 N. Azusa Ave., Covina Police said.
Police seek additional victims.
Anyone with information on Ibarra is urged to call Covina Police Detective Ramirez at 626-384-5621.
​Police Jail Suspect in Recorded Fight, Attempted Murder in Covina
COVINA – The man seen in a video instigating a fight with complete strangers and attempting to gun down his victim was taken into custody July 6.
Vincent Ortega, a 31-year-old El Monte resident, was taken into custody, but not before he fled from a traffic stop in the 500 block of South Citrus Avenue while carrying a backpack containing a loaded handgun, ammunition, stolen credit cards, IDs and drugs, Covina Police said.
Ortega was identified by investigators as the gunman in the March 23, 2020 shooting that occurred in the 1900 block of East Cienega Avenue. A fight broke out between two men when an SUV approached.
An occupant of the SUV exited and forcefully took the necklace of an onlooker to the fight. The onlooker and fighting men turned their attention on the robbery suspect and began fighting him.
The robbery suspect, later identified as Ortega, retrieved a handgun while fleeing to the SUV and fired twice, hitting one of the three other men in an arm.
The shooting victim smashed out the rear window to the SUV seconds before it was driven away at high speed. The shooting victim was hospitalized and later released.
Ortega was the passenger in the July 6 traffic stop. After fleeing the vehicle, Ortega ran into an occupied home in the 200 block of West Casad Street. Ortega was taken into custody shortly after fleeing and no one inside the home was harmed, Covina Police said.
Ortega was also arrested by Claremont Police in June on suspicion of grand theft auto, possession of a handgun and ammunition, but Ortega bailed out and failed to show at his court hearing. A warrant was issued for his arrest, Covina Police said.
Ortega was booked on suspicion of burglary, being a felon in possession of a handgun and ammunition, identity theft, resisting arrest, drug offenses and attempted homicide, Covina Police said.
Ortega is scheduled for a court appearance Wednesday, July 8.
​Police Seek Suspect Who Sexually Assaulted Woman in Covina Laundromat
COVINA - A man was caught on camera inside a laundromat July 6 as he masturbated and assaulted a woman, police said.
The assault occurred inside Coin Laundry, 314 N. Azusa Ave., at 3:30 p.m. A 20-year-old woman told police the suspect took her by surprise when he appeared behind her and ejaculated on her leg and clothing, Covina Police said in a written statement.
The suspect fled in a white, newer-model work truck.
The suspect is Caucasian, 25 to 30 years old, stands 5 feet 5 inches tall, has a thin build, brown hair, goatee and wore a light-colored shirt with the word "PEP" on the back, a fisherman-style hat, sandals and grey shorts.
The work truck sported rails for securing tools and ladders.
Anyone with information on this assault is urged to call Covina Police Detective Ramirez at 626-384-5621. Information can be provided anonymously by calling L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), through the P3Tips mobile app, or at lacrimestoppers.org. Refer to case #20-17750.
​Suspect Arrested After Woman is Brutally Beat in Covina
COVINA - A fight between neighbors April 29 resulted in a woman being sent to the hospital after being brutally beaten, Covina police said.
The prime suspect in the beating, Ryan Lee Piercy, 36, was tracked down and arrested in San Bernardino May 7. The 49-year-old victim received a laceration to her face, a broken nose, a torn nostril and bruising, according to the Covina Police Department.
The assault occurred around 8 AM at an apartment complex in the 1100 block of Badillo Street. Piercy and his mother live adjacent to the victim, Covina police said.
Piercy and his mother only sustained minor injuries.
Pierce he was booked at the Covina police jail on suspicion of mayhem. He was scheduled for arraignment May 11. He is being held in lieu of $100,000 bail.
​Shocking Video of Covina Shooting is Released Thursday
COVINA – A one-minute video was released Thursday of the strange events that led to a robbery and attempted murder during a Covina fistfight.
L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers posted the March 23 video of a fistfight in the 1900 block of East Cienega Avenue. A man forcefully took a necklace from the witness of an unrelated fight around 6:30 p.m. The men fighting and the robbery victim reportedly do not know the armed robber, according to the Covina Police Department.
The suspect pulled up to the fight in an SUV, exited and forcefully stole a necklace from the neck of the witness, Covina Police said.
The robbery victim and the two people fighting ran after the robbery suspect and began fighting him as he ran back to the SUV. He withdrew a black handgun and fired twice, striking the victim in an arm, according to the Covina Police Department.
VIDEO courtesy of L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers
The victim smashed out a rear window to the SUV so authorities could identify it easier, Covina Police said.
The SUV fled east on Cienega Avenue to southbound Sunflower Avenue.
The gunman should still be considered armed and dangerous. He is a Hispanic man in his 20s, has brown eyes, a black comb over and wore a black jacket, black shirt and blue jeans, Covina Police said.
Anyone with information on the gunman is urged to call Covina Police Detective Gonzales at 626-384-5622, or at dgonzales@covinaca.gov
Second Man Jailed, Accused of Attempted Murder in Covina Stabbing
Christian David Camacho and Jacob Cannon (inset). PHOTOS courtesy of the Covina Police Department.
COVINA - Police arrested a second man involved in a robbery that left the victim with multiple stab wounds Tuesday.
Christian David Camacho, a 23-year-old Covina man, was arrested outside his home without incident just before 5 a.m. January 22. He was booked on suspicion of robbery and attempted murder, according to the Covina Police Department.
Investigators said Camacho stabbed the victim who also possibly suffered a collapsed lung. He is expected to survive his wounds. Camacho had injuries consistent with the crime, Covina Police said.
21-year-old Jacob Cannon, also a Covina man, was arrested after he falsified a report of being attacked in Azusa -- mere minutes after officers responded to a call of a stabbing victim outside In N Out, 1310 N. Grand Ave., January 21 around 11:50 p.m.
Camacho and Cannon exited their compact car and attempted to rob their victim as he rode a bicycle. Cannon somehow received a stab wound during the crime, Covina Police said.
"The victim smashed the rear window of the vehicle as both suspects fled in it with the victim's hat" Covina Police said, adding that "officers noticed Cannon's vehicle's rear window was smashed out and matched the suspect vehicle description from the robbery on Grand Ave. Cannon was determined to be one of the suspect's in the initial robbery and was wounded during crime."
Cannon was also booked on suspicion of robbery and attempted murder.
A search warrant was served at Camacho's home. Evidence in the stabbing was discovered, Covina Police said.
Camacho and Cannon are being held in lieu of $2 million in the Covina Police jail ahead of a scheduled appearance in West Covina Superior Court January 24.
​Extra Patrols Planned for Charter Oak HS After Fight Escalates To Potential Social Media Threat
COVINA - Four teens were arrested Wednesday after a feud between students of the Charter Oak Unified School district devolved to a brutal fight and social media threat of further violence at Charter Oak High School.
The reported threat of violence is supposedly to take place at Charter Oak High School Friday, November 22. Covina Police and San Dimas Sheriff's deputies will have an increased presence to ensure the safety of students and staff, the Covina Police Department said in a written statement.
Social media posts suggest that the long-standing feud would allegedly escalate to gunfire and as the posts were shared more and more, people believed a school shooting was planned, according to Lt. Ryan Davis of the Covina Police Department.
"There isn't any specific information that we can confirm as valid at this point," Davis said.
The threat is fallout of an escalating fight between students at Charter Oak High School and students from elsewhere in the Charter Oak Unified School District -- the latter group entered a Charter Oak High locker room and a fistfight broke out November 20, Davis said.
"This was a planned fight. A mutual fight," Davis said. "One of the the subjects from another school gets this kid into a choke hold and he ends up choking the kid unconscious."
The subject kept the teen in a choke hold, even after the teen lost consciousness. The teen was dropped to the ground and kicked twice in the head, Davis said.
Police were notified the evening of the fight. Four suspects were identified. Police took them into custody Thursday, Davis said.
Among the charges are assault with a deadly weapon for the primary suspect, fighting on a school campus and trespassing, Davis said.
Some of the students were advised to stay away from the high school previously.
The Charter Oak Unified School District released a statement on the threat:
"The Charter Oak Unified School District, Glendora Police Department and Covina Police Department are aware of a fight at Charter Oak High School and video postings of the fight and are investigating rumors regarding potential additional serious disturbances on the COHS and/or Arrow High School campuses tomorrow, Friday, November 22, 2019.
"The entire COUSD administration is being proactive and is planning with the Covina Police Department, Glendora Police Department and the Los Angeles County Sheriff to ensure a presence in the area tomorrow. Additionally, district leadership and Covina Police will be on campus at Charter Oak High School all day on Friday."
​Man's Ear Severely Cut After Covina Bar Fight Monday
COVINA - A man was hospitalized Monday morning after suffering a severe cut to his left ear during a bar fight, police said.
The fight occurred just after midnight at The Republic, 148 Shoppers Ln., August 26. Two groups of people started an altercation inside the bar after at least one person began mocking another for reportedly spilling a drink, according to Sgt. Joshua Turner of the Covina Police Department.
The victim was then hit with a glass object on the side of his head, resulting in a portion of his ear being torn off. He was taken to a nearby hospital, Turner told SGV CityWatch.
The fight concluded once those involved exited the bar.
The suspect accused of assault with a deadly weapon, Aaron Fernando Gonzalez, 27, and public drunkenness suspect Andrew Rafael Ramirez 23, tried to flee the area on foot, but responding officers detained them.
Gonzalez is being held in lieu of $30,000 bail. Ramirez was issued a citation and released, according to Los Angeles County booking records.
​Covina Police Investigate July 10 Stabbing
PHOTO/Courtesy of Covina Police.
COVINA - A parking lot confrontation led to a man to allegedly stab his brother-in-law in the neck outside Superior Grocers Wednesday, Police said.
The stabbing occurred in the market parking lot, 1375 N. Citrus Ave., July 10 around 10 p.m. Officers arrived and found the victim inside the store, suffering apparent stab wounds to the neck and upper chest, Covina Police said.
The victim accused brother-in-law Jesus Daniels, 22, of stabbing him with a knife.
Daniels was located shortly after at 100 E. Arrow Hwy. He was detained and was in possession of the knife believed to be used in the stabbing, Covina Police said.
Daniels was booked at 1:58 a.m. July 11 on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon. However, he was released at 2:35 a.m.
Los Angeles County booking records indicate Daniels was freed on penal code section 849(B)(1), which stipulates a suspect is released when an officer is satisfied there are insufficient grounds for making a criminal complaint.
The handling detective, Ivan Ostarcevic, and Public Information Officer David Rodriguez were unavailable Friday morning to answer questions via phone.
The victim was hospitalized at Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center in stable condition.