The Crime Scene Blog says that a housekeeper has been arrested in connection with yesterday's housefire/homicide on north Lincoln Ave. No details yet, but more are promised.
UPDATE: She's been released and exonerated. Let's hope the rest of the investigation goes better.
| |
|
It's all over the news: a firefighters responding to a call this morning around 10 AM at 3225 North Lincoln found the body of an elderly woman. Her body showed signs of trauma, and there were signs of struggle in the house, according to PSN. The Associated Press says she was found lying in a "substantial pool of blood," and homicide investigators are on the scene.
Frank Giradot's Crime Scene Blog seems to be most on top of things, tentatively identifying the victim as Evelyn Mosely, 90.
We drove by the scene this afternoon, and LIncoln Ave. above Altadena Drive is blocked while the authorities investigate the crime.
Here's the sketchy PSN story as of this afternoon.
The AP story from the San Jose Mercury News.
KTLA's take
| |
|
The Meadows neighborhood blog reports that a hiker found two ropes dangling suspiciously from a high voltage transmission line at the top of Risinghill Road. Investigation by SoCalEdison linemen found the following:
The linemen removed the object, which turned out to be a bolt cutter, jury-rigged to be activated by pulling on the pair of ropes simultaneously. The contraption, obviously, didn't work. The perpetrators, apparently at a loss as to how they might retrieve the device, left it hanging on the wire
Our guess is that some not-too-bright copper thieves tried to cut down the wire and abandoned the project. We're not sure you can surreptitiously cut down active high-voltage transmission wire --the power will go out over a large area, leaving only the glow from your smouldering body to attract attention.
| |
|
This note has been making the newsgroup rounds from from Carolyn Seitz, chair of the Altadena Sheriff's
Community Advisory Committee:
People in the Northeast part of Altadena/Pasadena, Sierra Madre Villa
area, are reporting theft of valuables from vehicles in their garages -
and the garage door was open. Not sure if these incidents are happening
during the daytime or night, only that they report having left the garage
door open and returned to discover that keys, wallets, cell phones or
other valuables were missing.In the same neighborhood, they've also observed young men with backpacks
going through trash cans and recognized that these young men were likely
not collecting recyclables.This same neighborhood has also experienced theft from mailboxes and
failed to report these incidents to the Altadena Sheriff's Station or to
Pasadena Police Department.Here's your reminder to shred mail or other documents before you deposit
them in your trash, even junk mail that has your name on it, credit card
solicitations or anything else that might in some way be used to steal
your identity.An even more important reminder - call the Sheriff's Station - 626 798
1131 when you spot what appears to be suspicious activity in your
neighborhood, and please report any incidents that occur - including
theft from mailboxes, theft from your automobile or any other criminal
activity.
| |
|
PSN front-pages the latest on Brandon Michael Landreth, 30, a history teacher at John Muir High who was charged with killing an Arcadia man who had dated his ex-wife. Police say that, when arrested, he had $9,000 cash in his car, camping equipment, and the name of another man who allegedly dated his ex-wife. Landreth has pled not guilty.
Here's the Dramatic Irony paragraph:
Landreth taught history at 1,200-student Muir High. One day before his arrest, he had been rehired as a teacher there - part of a reorganization in which teachers at the troubled school were made to reapply for their jobs.
| |
|
PSN leads with Brandon Michael Landreth, 30, of Pasadena, a history teacher at John Muir HIgh School, being booked for a murder in Arcadia last Sunday. No details as to why Landreth is the suspect -- story is developing. Read all about it. Frank Giradot's Crime Scene Blog may have some reasons why.
| |
|
PSN's Robert Hong attended Tuesday's gang forum (as did Altadenablog), and we can't find much to improve his story as published.
We CAN tell you who is active and what the graffiti means:
Black gangs:
Crips: Altadena Bloc Crips (ABC), Raymond Ave. Crips (RAC)
Bloods: Project Gangsters (PJG or 754 -- many identifiers use the numbers on the telephone to suggest the letters), Altadena Denver Lanes (ADL), Pasadena Denver Lanes (PDL), Squigly Lane Gangsters (SLG).
Hispanic gangs: Pasadena Latin Kings (PLK), Villa Street Boys (VBP), South Side Pasadena (SSP), North Side Pasadena (NSP), Varrio Pasadena Rifa (VPR).
There are also Armenian gangs operating in the area, but sheriff's said that they mostly come here to lie low after being up to something in Glendale.
And some interesting things: confiscating a gangster's cell phone usually gives cops a nice list of his buddy's gangster nicknames; and it's hard to deny that you're in a gang when your MySpace page says otherwise (more than one gangster's tripped up on that one).
| |
|
Catching up after the Easter weekend:
The 18-year-old whose antics locked down Blair IB high school on Feb. 29 admitted to one charge of making criminal threats. The youth, who was 17 at the time and just turned 18, was previously identified as an Altadena resident. The sentence: probation. Details here at PSN.
| |
|
... or at least it does the PSN's local section today:
And in the Riverside Press-Telegram, Joe Olivarez of Altadena is found guilty of first degree murder for being the gunman in a murder-for-hire scheme. Details here.
Busy day for Altadenablog today, and will be out of pocket for awhile.
| |
|
First droplet of news from tonight's Town Council meeting (liveblogging now): CT 4612 rep George Lewis resumed his chairmanship of the council today. Lewis announced that felony charges against him had been dropped. Lewis stepped down two months ago when he was facing charges relating to spousal abuse.
| |
|
A pre-trial hearing was scheduled for Altadenan Hal Moore, 53, on Tuesday. Moore was arrested at his home after allegedly leaving the scene of an accident at Hill St. and Washington Blvd. in Nov. 2006 that killed Bertha Vasqez Arias, 30, and injured two others. According to witnesses, Moore's SUV ran a red light that caused a three-vehicle accident. Pasadena Now has it all.
| |
|
... or so says PSN reporter Molly R. Okeon in a story posted on their website this afternoon. In a hearing earlier today, a Pasadena police detective said that the teen was looking for another Blair student who had slapped his face two days before. (The whole incident created a day-long lockdown of Blair on Feb. 29.) The teenager, whose name is being withheld, is being charged with one felony count of making
criminal threats with special allegations of a minor possessing a
handgun and the crime being committed in furtherance of a street gang. Check the link for details.
| |
|
The Altadena Sheriff's community advisory committee will hold a community forum spotlighting local gang activity on March 25, from 7-9 p.m. in the Altadena Community Center, 750 E. Altadena Drive. A presentation by Capt. Roosevelt Blow and Sgt. Al Pelaez will be followed by a question and answer session. For more information, contact the station community relations office, (626)296-2103 or (626)296-2104.
| |
|
Another "interesting neighbor" story -- we knew this guy plyed his, uh, trade here in town and have been resolutely ignoring him in favor of real news. But not now -- Max Hardcore's under indictment on federal obscenity charges.
(His real name is Paul Little. Feel free to make up your own joke here.)
| |
|
A tipster just told Altadenablog that tonight someone is moving into what was until Monday the Pederast Hilton hotspot for high-risk sexual criminals on Risinghill Road. It could be entirely above board, legitimate, and innocent, of course -- the new neighbors could be absolutely delightful -- but our tipster is concerned that the last perv moved out on Monday and tonight -- some five days later -- a moving truck pulled up at 8 p.m. and is unloading in the darkness. Meadows residents will no doubt be very interested in their new neighbors.
| |
|
SGVT/PSN's Elise Kleeman follows up on the evacuation of the six sex offenders from Risinghill Road in the Meadows. The lingering question is: now that they're out of MY neighborhood, where exactly do we put them? Here's the best quote, from a man with a thankless job:
The men were moved in part because of threats made against them, said Gordon Hinkle, deputy press secretary for the Department of Corrections ...
Poor babies! We all KNOW they have a hard time dealing with somebody their own size ...
| |
|
Pasadena Now says that everyone went home at 5, and PSN's Crime Scene 5:30 posting says some teachers and students were still being detained. In any event, it seems to be over -- no shots fired, no gun found.
| |
|
Crime Scene says that classrooms were evacuated and two people are being detained following a report of a person with a gun at Blair HIgh School.
Developing ...
| |
|
Via Monica Hubbard:
Carolyn Seitz is chair of the Sheriff's Community Advisory Committee. She has just sent out this message.
"I have just heard from Captain Blow that State Parole has begun relocating the 6 paroled child molesters from Risinghill Road.
They should all be relocated by March 3rd.
Feel free to cross-post.
Carolyn Seitz"
And this fresh press release from Supv. Antonovich's office:
UNITED COMMUNITY EFFORT STOPS SEX OFFENDERS
Supervisor Calls for Tougher Local Restrictions on State Sex Offender PlacementALTADENA – "Through a united community effort of citizens and local and state officials, the State of California’s Department of Corrections has indicated that 6 sex offenders placed in an Altadena neighborhood will be removed by Monday,” announced Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich.
“This victory demonstrates the vital need to place public safety above pseudo-rights of sex predators,” said Supervisor Antonovich.
In a motion before the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, Antonovich will direct County Counsel to determine if Jessica’s Law – passed by 70% of State voters in 2006 -- will authorize local government to restrict the housing of sex offenders in neighborhoods. In 2002, Supervisor Antonovich initiated the County’s innovative on-line Sex Offender Locator Map to empower citizens to see if sex offenders are living in their communities. The website’s success led to its use as the model for the State’s Megan’s Law website.
More on this as it develops. P.S. Welcome to readers of Frank Girardot's PSN Crime Scene Blog!
| |
|
State law says that sex offenders must live at least 2,000 feet from parks and half a mile from schools. That pretty much puts them ... in The Meadows. At the 4400 block of Risinghill Road, to be exact.
Elise Kleeman of PSN tells us that at least 150 residents met at Loma Alta Park last night to protest the almost-overnight creation of a sex offender sober living house in their neighborhood. The nut graf:
The six men living in a single-family home on Risinghill Road range in age from 28 to 56. Four of them were convicted of lewd or lascivious acts with a child younger than 14, including one man who used force and another who sodomized his victim. The others were found guilty of rape by force or fear, with one also convicted of sexual battery.
The Crime Scene Blog calls it a "sex offender clown house," probably a reference to those little circus cars that disgorge tons of clowns. (Altadenablog thinks the proper metaphor is probably something about "a good place for fishing," with all the children in the neighborhood and a national forest nearby.) Parents have removed children's drawings from their windows. Officials say their hands are tied. Best venomous quotes are from Pasadena Now's coverage (a local report -- apparently the Mumbai staff was busy).
The Meadows neighborhood blog it a little upset, too, needless to say.
Stay tuned for this one.
ADDENDUM: Crime Scene blog has a list of the cast of characters who are living in the Pederast Hilton.
| |
|
Not too many details on a Tuesday night shooting that sheriff's thought first occurred in Duarte, and later relocated to Altadena. It's feared gang related.
| |
|
A Superior Court judge in San Francisco is mulling over dropping conspiracy charges in the San Francisco Eight case (now down to seven defendants). The SF 8, former members of the Black Liberation Army, are accused of killing San Francisco police officer John Young in 1971. Altadenans Ray Boudreaux, 65, and Henry Jones, 72, remain charged with murder in Young's death.
| |
|
PSN has a piece on that blighted, fenced-in wreck on Lake between Morada and Sacramento. Seems that they found some psychotropic meds out loose there, remnant of its period as a board-and-care for the mentally disabled. Sorry if you had plans for the weeked -- sheriff's deputies cleaned it up.
| |
|
Monica Hubbard writes to Altadenablog today:
This morning I had an e-mail inquiry from a friend on Maiden Lane
regarding discovery of a pipe bomb on Saturday afternoon near the
intersection of Dolores and Mt. Curve streets.Sheriff Blow responded to my e-mail and said that an Altadena resident
out walking found the explosive device in the street and called it
in. The L.A. County Sheriff's Bomb Squad responded to the scene and
neutralized the device.The Sheriff deputies do not know where the device came from or how it got
there.I called the Sheriff's Station this afternoon to try to get a little bit
more information. I was told that Sheriff Station personnel very rarely
find these kinds of devices in our area, but when they do, the devices
are usually close to the mountains, perhaps taken there by individuals
intending to set them off in more remote areas just to see what the
device will do.Yesterday's discovery is under investigation.
Sincere thanks to Sheriff Blow and his deputies for their swift response
to the community inquiries.Monica Hubbard
Member, Altadena Sheriff's Community Advisory Committee
| |
|
Some data gleaned from the Altadena Sheriff's Station 2007 year-end report ...
| |
|
An early taste from tonight's sheriff's department community meeting: the Altadena Sheriff's Station's Part I crime trends:
Part I Crime 2006 2007 Difference % change
Homicide 0 1 1 100
Rape 9 6 -3 -33.3
Robbery 27 35 8 29.6
Aggravated
Assault 127 157 30 23.6
Burglary 284 236 -48 -16.9
Theft 277 277 0 0
Grand Theft
Auto 90 127 37 41.1
Arson 7 5 - -28.6
Total 821 844 23 2.8
(yes, we haven't mastered tables yet)
| |
|
This message has been making the rounds of newsgroups:
One of my neighbors on Boulder Rd. called me last night to report that her daughter had observed a black van parked in front of their house yesterday with the occupants remaining inside for "a couple of hours". She went outside to get their license plate number at which time they drove off.Since I've been a volunteer with the Altadena Sheriff's Dept. in the past she thought I should be aware of this suspicious behavior. I told her it would be best to let the Sheriff's Dept. know about the van in case anyone else has already reported it or if anyone reports about it in the future. I told her I'd email everyone in this email network so that more people throughout East Altadena would be aware of this vehicle. The plate number is: 8B41778.
| |
|
.. is out for January 2008. Of special note:
| |
|
The Pasadena police department arrested an Altadena man for prowling Monday morning, and suggest he may be responsible for a string of burglaries in the southeast section of that city.
Gary Hart, 44, of Altadena, was caught after a merry backyard chase that involved K-9 units and a helicopter. He is scheduled to be arraigned Wednesday.
(If you're old, and especially from Colorado like Altadenablog, you may remember Sen. Gary Hart, whose presidential hopes were dashed when somebody took a picture of him holding a toothsome young lady not his wife aboard a ship named "Monkey Business." Or you may not. Doesn't appear to be the same Gary Hart.)
| |
|
Pasadena Weekly takes a few inches out of its outcall massage advertising to run another chapter in the saga of Irsie Henry vs. the neighbors. An arrest warrant was issued for Henry Jan. 3 after he failed to appear in court to determine if he'd violated a restraining order. According to the Weekly, Henry, 44, a black former LAPD officer, has a history of problems with mixed race couples in his Laurel Street neighborhood.
| |
|
SFGate reports that conspiracy charges were dropped against four of the "San Francisco Eight" on Thursday Ray Boudreaux and Henry Watson Jones, both of Altadena, were among the defendants who had conspiracy charges dropped in the murder of SF police sergeant John Young in 1971. The prosecutor said that the charges were dropped because the statute of limitations on the conspiracy charges had run out; however, the murder charge is still going forward. Details here.
| |
|
PSN breaks the news today that Altadena Town Council chairman George Lewis was arrested Dec. 15 on suspicion of felony spousal abuse, allegedly following an alcohol-fueled run-in with an old girlfriend. The nut quote, from fellow councilman Steve Lamb, re: Lewis and his ex:
"I've seen them get drunk together many times," Lamb said. "I've seen her beat the hell out of him. I've never seen him beat the hell out of her."
PSN says that Lewis intends to remain on the council. Altadena sheriffs, citing potential conflicts, is passing the investigation over to another unit. The whole sordid tale is here.
| |
|
Neighborhood newsgroups are buzzing about suspicious incidents (such as this one) of a gray car circling around the Glen Canyon/Berendo/Pepper Dr. area, apparently looking for freshly-delivered UPS packages.
One recent sighting said:
I noticed a noticed a small, gray auto with two passengers. The
driver was a young girl and the passenger (black pants, white
sweatshirt, black wool cap). They'd drive about four or five houses,
the passenger would get out, walk up to a house, and go back to the car.
Another report says:
At about 1:50 p.m.(Wed. Dec. 19) I was returning from the market and noticed a gray two
door station-wagon type car with two men slowly driving up the street
close to the curb. They would drive up a few houses and then back up a
few houses, with the man on the passenger side looking out the window.I parked in my driveway, got a pad and paper and started walking down my
driveway. The driver rolled down his window and asked me if anything was
wrong. I said, "Not yet," and kept walking behind the car to get the
license. They drove away up to near the corner of Glen Canyon and
Pepper.I went inside and called the Sheriff's. Then, when UPS came back to my
house to deliver a package, I told the drivers and they alerted their
headquarters so that other drivers could be alerted as well.
The license plate of that car was recorded as 5TLC777. If you see anything suspicious. call the Altadena Sheriff's Station at 626-798-1131.
| |
|
Arthur Pilavyan,33, of Altadena was sentenced Monday to 10 years in prison in a scheme that defrauded Medicare out of more than $7 million. Pilavyan pleaded guilty to health care fraud, conspiracy, and money laundering for submitting fraudulent claims to Medicare. Medicare's Most Wanted website (warning! music!) has the details.
"Medicare's Most Wanted" ... there's a website for everything!
| |
|
Word comes down through the newsgroups (and forwarded to us by Science Correspondant Bill Westphal) about a significant increase in burglaries in town:
Be more alert to suspicious persons or activities. If you witness suspicious activities, record as much information as possible like the incident below. Include vehicle license numbers if possible. Contact the Altadena Sheriff's Station on 626-798-1131 and let them know.
"The incident below" is this one, reported by Cmdr. Linsenmayer (ret.):
Today at about 2:50pm I was finishing up the front yard work when I saw a
Dark Charcoal, Newer Model, Mid-Sized Compact car parked facing Westbound on
Glenn Canyon at Pepper drive, right at Martin's driveway. The driver was a
White Male with Black Hair. The front passengers door was open and a second
Male White, also with Black hair, ran up to the car carrying a tan cardboard
box in both hands. He was running West, on the North side of Glenn Canyon,
but I did not see from exactly where he came from. The box was a UPS style
shipping box, about 18-to 24 inches square. Once he got into the car they
speed away, west bound on Glenn Canyon.I called the Sheriff and reported this to them. The Deputy said that they
would be aware of the incident in case someone calls in a theft over the
next few days.
Since almost everyone we know is getting shipments of presents right now, a little extra vigilance and neighborly concern is in order!
12/16 addendum: Commander Linsenmayer tells Altadenablog that the neighbor was identified -- the guys ran off with the box about 20 minutes after it was delivered. He also tells us it was full of --- Christmas doggie treats!
| |
|
Inside Bay Area reports that seven former members of the Black Liberation Army, including Ray Boudreaux and Henry Jones of Altadena, will enter pleas next month in the 1971 murder of San Francisco police sergeant John Young.
According to Inside Bay Area:
All seven men are also facing charges of conspiracy to murder police officers for the attempted murder of four officers, the bombing of a police officer's funeral, the murder of two New York City police officers, the attempted bombing of the Mission police station and three armed bank robberies, all between 1968 and 1973, according to authorities.
An eighth defendant is charged with conspiracy to murder police officers, but is not charged in Young's murder. While the pleas will be entered Jan. 10, the actual trial may not get started until 2009.
The defendants, former members of a black militant organization, now range in age from their 50's to 70's.
(You may also remember another relic of that time -- the SLA's Emily Harris -- lived in Altadena for several years until 2003, when she was convicted of second degree murder committed during a 1975 SLA bank robbery).
| |
|
An Altadena woman and juvenile girl were part of a pack on a short-lived crime spree in Pasadena. PSN has the deets.
| |
|
Chaney Trail newsgroup was abuzz about a group of people, armed with beer, gathered around a telescope-like device that was belching fire (possibly firing something) on upper Chaney Trail over the weekend. Who knows what this thing was, but the dry woods are a lousy place to conduct a pyrotechnic experiment.
This led to a side discussion about what to do if you report something to the Sheriff's Department and nobody comes, as happens more often that we'd like. Altadena Sheriff's Capt. Roosevelt Blow has recommended following up with the department, giving your name, time of incident and when you called, where you called from, and a concise incident report. Then they can find the tape of the call to review and take the next steps.
And what WAS that flamethrower thing about, anyway?
| |
|
Army Spec. Robert A. Glenn, 25, from Altadena, was shot and killed in his car outside a nightclub in Tucson on Nov. 3, following an altercation with another man inside the club. Glenn was attached to the 69th Signal Company, based in Ft. Huachuca, some 90 miles from Tucson. News reports say police issued a warrant for 21-year-old Jurel Roberson in connection with the slaying. Another soldier in the car was wounded, and a third was unhurt.
| |
|
Ten years in federal lockup is the sentence for an Altadena woman who was involved in the "Untouchables" drug ring.
Mieko Choniece Jackson, 30, was convicted of six counts of conspiracy and money laundering last year, and received her sentence last week. According to the story on KOLO-TV's (Reno, NV) website, she was "blinded by her love ... for a man authorities say was the group's ringleader." Get the story here.
| |
|
Vanessa Marie Ochoa and Mesha Arshaz Dean, both 23, pleaded not guilty to murder and kidnapping charges in the March 18 Altadena shooting of Monroe Miles, Jr., 32. Ochoa and Dean allegedly shot Miles and kidnapped Ochoa's son, who was in the legal custody of his father, Mark Miles -- the victim was Mark Miles' brother, and the boy's uncle. The boy was unharmed; the women remain in custody, and pretrial hearing is scheduled for Jan. 31. PSN has the details.
| |
|
Several reports from the newsgroups that sheriff's cars zipped into the parking lot at the Lincoln Avenue McDonald's at about 4 p.m. on Halloween and deputies emerged with guns drawn. Four juveniles were cuffed in the incident. Apparently there was a fight, and someone reported seeing a gun, altho' no gun was found, according to someone who talked to the sheriff.
Altadenablog just doesn't go there anymore because we were tired of always getting hit up for change by Muir high school students -- five different times, last time we were there. (They're always short of money for the bus -- and if they weren't always walking up to us with fries and a Coke in their hands, we might muster some sympathy!)
| |
|
