altadenablog

Boneheads on the loose at Cobb Estate

Janette Williams of PSN writes in this morning's paper that six Audobon Society interpretive signs, installed 18 months ago on the Cobb Estate at a cost of $11,000, have instead become magnets for vandalism -- excuse us, canvases for graffiti art.  Now, as someone once cautioned us, "there is actually a history to the role that graffiti art plays in our culture, and that in some quarters it IS considered art" -- apparently people are upset, anyway.  Michele Zack makes a good point in the story that the signs probably weren't well-thought-out, anyway -- a sad but true commentary on the state of things.

Sheriffs looking for burglary suspect

Chopper is orbiting around Santa Rosa and Calavaras tonight, 10:20 PM -- deputies are looking for a burglary suspect.  If you're in the neighborhood, they recommend you lock your doors and if you see anybody suspicious, dial 911.

Drug incident on Pepper Drive

Newsgroup chatter says there was a drug arrest on the 1900 block of Pepper Dr., about 3:30 this afternoon.  Sheriff's station says there was a citation given for marijuana use at that time, but don't have any details.

Not getting the message

There's been some uptick in the newsgroups with people who are just coming up to speed with the wave of graffiti in Eaton Canyon in June.  We get all our newsgroup feeds at altadenablog@gmail.com, our address at Google Mail.  It's a free service, but Google does give you directed ads on the sidebar and at the top of the page.

So while we're reading people's comments about graffiti in our great natural area, Google decides to send us a link to this website. Nice to know that there are now cans of spray paint sized to fit in your pocket ...

Update on July 31 Lincoln/Figueroa shooting

Carolyn Seitz of the Sheriff's Community Advisory Committee has sent out this update to the local newsgroups about last week's shooting:

Many of you have been asking for information about the shooting that occurred on Thursday, July 31, at Lincoln and Figueroa, near All-Star Liquor.

The shooting is considered a gang shooting.

The Detectives at Altadena Sheriff's Station identified a suspect by Friday, but the suspect is not yet in custody.

He is aware that he is being sought, and he is being encouraged to make arrangements to turn himself in.

He is currently out of the area.

Man shot on 2400 block of LIncoln this evening

PSN reports a shooting on the 2400 block of LIncoln this evening at about 7:20.  An altercation between the victim and a young black man in his 20's, white T-shirt, shorts, and handgun, in front of a liquor store.  Injuries do not appear to be life-threatening.

Aug. 4 NOW meeting to stop neighborhood violence

Received the following from Altadenan Ashton Rice, who is involved in NOW:

The next meeting of the Neighborhood Outreach Workers (NOW) will be Tuesday, August 4th, 5 - 7 PM at the Jackie Robinson Center, 1020 N Fair Oaks Ave., Pasadena.

NOW's mission is to "stop the violence and take back our streets through prevention, intervention, and mentorship." The 2009-2010 NOW workers will have their first meeting on August 4, 5 PM. After that, every Tuesday, 5-7 PM at Jackie Robinson Center.

The Program Director is Yvette McDowell, former LA County prosecutor.

You may also read about the organization at this website: http://www.westernjustice.org/conflict_resolution.html

All are welcome. Drop in and see how we work! If there are any youth (or their parents) that you know of personally who might benefit, please encourage them to attend.

National Night Out Aug. 4 at Loma Alta Equestrian Center

The Altadena Sheriff's Station is participating in National Night Out on Tues., Aug. 4, at Loma Alta Park Equestrian Center from 5-9 PM.

National Night Out is a crime/drug prevention event sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch.  The Night Out is designed heighten crime and drug prevention awareness, strengthen neighborhood and law enforcement-community partnerships in Altadena, and  send  a strong message to criminals letting them know that neighborhoods are organized.

There will be hot dogs available as well as a selection of law enforcement and fire department displays.  For more information, contact Dep. Sam Estrada at the Altadena Sheriff's Station, 626-798-1131.

Chopper activity tonight

The Altadena town bird (i.e. the sheriff's chopper) was circling around north of Loma Alta tonight about 8:30 (one of our readers said over Monterosa and Cocopan).  Sheriff's station said that five males -- described as "brats" -- were involved in beating up another person, who did not require hospitalization when it was all over.  Four suspects are in custody, and deputies are searching for the fifth.

Still looking for clues in Delaney murder

PSN's Robert Hong has a feature today on the Jerrill Dulaney murder May 9.  The county supervisors have offered a reward (usually not a sign that the end of a case is near) and the family still carries their sorrow deeply and is thinking of moving:

"It's like being whipped daily, and the only rest you get is when you go to sleep," said James Dulaney, Jerrill's father.

Another shooting Thurs. night

PSN reports tonight that a man was shot in the buttocks shortly after 9 PM tonight near the intersection of Lincoln and Figueroa Dr.  Details are still sketchy at this point.

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No "light bulb moments" in Pasadena gang report

The Weekly's Andre Coleman looks at Pasadena City Council’s Committee on Youth, Families and Neighborhoods final report, and what it may portend for solutions to gang violence in Pasadena and Altadena.

Charges dropped in San Francisco 7 trial

Altadena residents Henry Jones, 73, and Ray Boudreaux, 66, walked away free after charges were dropped in a 39-year-old cop killing case. SF Examiner has the details.

Donald Williams found guilty

Several sources have told us that Donald Williams, 62, of Altadena, was found guilty of various charges after sheriff's deputies confiscated 62 firearms at his residence last year.  Sentencing has yet to take place, and one source tells us that Williams, who has previous felony convictions, may have a "three strikes" sentence delivered based upon his latest conviction.

Black Chevy Tahoe linked to burglaries

Chatter on the newsgroups for the past few days has put a black Chevy Tahoe SUV near the scene of several residential burglaries.  The Tahoe has a chrome running board on the bottom, and license plate number is

4KHG333.

Quote from Sgt. Dan Bartlett of the Altadena Sheriff’s Station:
“This Tahoe has been seen in the area of several
burglaries. There is not enough evidence to arrest the occupants (yet) but if it is seen in your neighborhood, call the sheriff's station (626-798-1131) immediately so we can send over a car to check it out.”

Photo: Chevrolet

Six teens busted in La Crescenta with Altadena loot

Mary O'Keefe at Glendale News Presss reports that six Pasadena teens were arrested in La Crescenta after spending the afternoon knocking on doors (there've been a rash of burglaries where the perps knock on doors, and if the house is empty, go in the back yard and break in).  When deputies stopped their car, they had some unidentified goods that were apparently from an Altadena burglary.

In other crime:

• [removed 10-30-10 by editor]
• An unidentified Altadena man was one of two men shot outside a private party in Pasadena Sunday morning, Pasadena Now says.

NAACP sponsors safety awareness meeting Thurs.

The Altadena NAACP will sponsor an event, "Are You Afraid of the Dark?" at the community center, 730 E. Altadena Dr., Thurs. June 25 at 7 PM.  Sheriff Capt. Roosevelt Blow will speak on recent gang violence and information to help safeguard your family.

A look at local gang violence

PWeekly's Andre Coleman does good survey of the recent uptick in gang-related violence in Altadena/Pasadena, and what community leaders are saying about it.

Altadena Town Council highlights

A long and relatively uneventful Altadena Town Council meeting tonight.  Highlights:

• A presentation by the Los Angeles County Community Development Commission on Lincoln Crossing’s history, to bring the council up to speed on the development.  Later in the meeting, outgoing councilmember Michele Zack said that HUD was conducting an investigation of Lincoln Crossing;
• A lengthy report by Sheriff Capt. Roosevelt Blow on  the recent (June 5) shooting.  Blow also said that the Altadena station was preparing for the possibility of increased gang activity.  There will be another squad car brought in to work on gang enforcement during the summer, the station received a $20,000 grant to purchase tactical equipment, and there will be increased undercover surveillance.
• It was announced that T-Mobile has withdrawn its attempt to put a cell phone tower at St. Elizabeth’s Catholic Church.
• It was also announced that a preliminary injunction was ordered against Sahag Mesrob Armenian Christian School, with a hearing for a permanent injunction set for September.  The preliminary injunction says that Sahag-Mesrob must cease operating at their Palm St. campus by the end of this week.
• The June 6 town council election was certified, and the new members will begin their terms at next month’s meeting.

UPDATE 6/17: Here's the county website with information on West Altadena Community Redevelopment Project Area, which encompasses LIncoln Crossing.

UPDATE #2: Michele Zack has contributed her WAPAC report, after the jump.

Update on graffiti at Eaton Canyon

Altadenablog has been a litte overwhelmed by personal business (end of school week and all), so it's unfortunate that updating will be light for a few days when important things are going on.

We spoke Monday with Helen Wong, the Regional Park Superintendent for Eaton Canyon, who has been grateful for the response to the graffiti and overwhelmed at the same time.  The park and nature center area, which Wong is responsible for, actually comprises a small part of the area and a small part of the graffiti -- the most egregious graffiti is on land supervised by the National Forest Service.  Law enforcement over the canyon is, depending on the section, the responsibility of the Pasadena Police Dept., National Forest Service, county police (who patrol county parks) or the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Dept.  While the park's area was cleaned up (i.e. painted over) fairly quickly, the National Forest Service land apparently still has tagging, and the Eaton Park staff have no jurisdiction over it.

In addition, the complaints about the graffiti, and phone calls seeking information and offering help, have made it difficult for the budget-squeezed Eaton Park staff to do the other jobs they're supposed to do.

Eaton Canyon Park neighbor Benita Oekawa, who has been in the thick of this since it started, called us to say that a letter is being prepared to help direct the folks who want to help.  We'll share that with you once there's something definite to say.

Eaton Canyon vandalism pictures

Pictures we received from one of the neighbors of Eaton Canyon, who has been working with the authorities on the problem.  These are pictures of the graffiti taken Monday, June 8.  Some of the graffiti has since been removed.  After the jump, 'cause these worms aren't getting traction on my front page.

UPDATE 9 PM: Jeremiah @ Stonehill News has a slideshow  and video of graffiti (and covered graffiti) at Eaton Canyon.

Press conference to address gang violence today

According to Pasadena Now, Pasadena/Altadena Vision 20/20, described as a "coalition of citizens and officials concerned about gang violence in Pasadena and Altadena," will hold a press conference at 1 PM today on the grounds of Pasadena City Hall to address gang violence in the area.

What this press conference hopes to accomplish is a little hard to divine at this point: Pasadena Now quotes organizer Tony Massengale:

 “Our intent is to speak out against the violence which seems to be rising inside of Pasadena-Altadena and adjacent cities,” Massengale said in an e-mail interview.

Violence is bad. Check.

However, Altadena Sheriff Capt. Roosevelt Blow sent out an email this morning saying that Altadena law enforcement had not been invited to the conference.  Pasadena Now reports that Pasadena Mayor Bill Bogaard has been invited but can't attend, and that Pasadena police "are aware that the press conference is happening Monday." Check out Stephanie Mojica's story for the details.

UPDATE 4 PM: Pasadena Now has a story about this afternoon's rally.  Tom Hubbard reports that about 50 people attended.

Gang shooting on North Lincoln Fri. afternoon

PSN's crime reporter Brian Day  gives the details of a gang-related shooting Friday afternoon on the 2300 block of N. Lincoln.  One 18-year-old man shot in the buttocks, treated and released, and two 18-year-old Pasadena residents were arrested in a stolen car for the shooting. 

Local connection to Duarte hate crime

If you've been keeping up with area news, you know that Channise Davy and her family were recently run out of her Duarte house when some thugs broke into it, trashed it, and sprayed racial epithets on the walls. Local angle is that Davy works in an Altadena salon, so this has hurt one of our own.  LA Times has a feature on it.

Pasadena shooting victim was at Altadena funeral

The Friday night shooting at the Atlantis nightclub in Pasadena took the life of David Crosby of Lancaster, who was 32 according to the police or 39 according to the coroner.  Crosby and others at the club had just attended the funeral of 24-year-old Darryl Stephens at an Altadena church.

Stephens himself committed suicide May 17.  At the time of his death, Stephens was a suspect in a shooting death in a May 5 shooting death in Rialto.  Stephens first got into the news last year when it came out that he was a registered sex offender with a GPS ankle bracelet who was playing on the Pasadena City College football team.

No suspects in the latest shooting, and nobody's talking.  KTLA's take, and PSN's (Brian Day).

San Francisco 8 speak out

The LA Watts Times runs a story on a recent meeting of the Pasadena ACLU, where Altadena residents Ray Boudreaux, 64, and Hank Jones, 70, recount their time with the Black Panthers.  The men are two of the "San Francisco 8," charged with the 1971 murder of San Francisco Police Sgt. John Young, a case that was reopened in 2007.

Community rally calls for peace

Last night (Friday), there was a rally held near the site of the slaying of 17-year-old Jerrill Dulaney at Fair Oaks and Altadena Dr.  Robert Hong of PSN was there to cover it and has quotes from Dulaney's family and friends.

Dulancy shooting: so far, the sheriffs have nothing

... or so says the latest update from PSN. It'd really be nice to catch someone for a change.  Apparently despite his nickname (Monster) and his mode of dress, all accounts are he was a sweet kid who steered away from gangs, in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Coroner IDs Altadena shooting victim

And it's Jerrill Dulaney, 17, of Altadena.  PSN has the details.

More on weekend shootings

Pictured: a street memorial on the site of Saturday's fatal shooting of an Altadena teen at the 100 block of E. Altadena Dr.

Carolyn Seitz of the Altadena Sheriff's Station Community Advisory Council sent out this about the weekend's shootings:

Most of you are aware that there were 3 shootings in Altadena over the weekend.

The first was a homicide in which a juvenile was shot and killed on Altadena Drive.

There were 2 additional shootings yesterday.  In one of these shootings, a person was shot.  In the other, there is no apparent victim.

Pasadena Star News (or the San Gabriel Valley Tribune) carried some information which is also available on Altadena Blog.

The Detectives at Altadena Station are working with other Sheriff's Department investigators to gather information we all hope will lead to arrest and prosecution of the criminals.

The shooting on Altadena Drive that resulted in a juvenile being killed was likely gang related.  For purposes of this investigation, I'm being told they are treating it as if it is gang related.

The investigators have not yet determined whether there was any connection between that shooting and the two that followed.  They are also not yet aware of any event that triggered these 3 shootings.

Unidentified teen becomes 2009's first homicide in first of three shootings

Sketchy details from all concerned about a teen who was found shot on the 100 block of E. Altadena Drive Saturday night.  He died at Huntington Memorial a short time later.  Brian Day has the story (or what we know of it) at the SGV Tribune.

UPDATE 11:30 PM:  Reporter Day files an update: Apparently there was a lot of gunfire going on today:  PSN updates that a resident with suspected gang ties was fired upon at about 11 AM today near Harriett St. and Lincoln Ave.  The victim in that shooting was uninjured, but a later shooting, at about 5 PM, a man was shot in the thigh and ankle near Stonehurst Dr. and Canyada Ave.  This victim  was also suspected of gang ties.

And there's more information on the murder victim: black male between 16 and 17 years old, and was not believed to be involved with gangs.  Name not released yet.

A look at April's crime statistics

We're loving the crimereports.com website, which gives us at least general information about some local crimes that don't make the crime log.  We've just discovered another feature of it: an analysis of local crime (this is one we made for the month of April, 2009) to give a sense of what is really plaguing our community.

In terms of raw numbers, this represents 21 assaults, 14 burglaries, 21 thefts, and 10 vehicle burglaries recorded for April.  A look at the map shows that assaults trend to the west side, and burglaries and thefts trend to the east side of town.

Cactus cutters on the loose?

A member of the Chaney Trail newsgroup reports seeing two hefty men harvesting pads from a neighbor's cactus without permission on Sat., May 2.  When challenged, they were belligerent, and when the observer wrote down their license plate number, they fled:

The two men were big (not trim, but with large "beer bellies"),
Hispanic, late 30s to mid-40s. At least one of them was wearing a
short sleeve jersey shirt with wide, horizontal white and dark
stripes. They looked enough alike that they might've been related.
They were driving a dark blue (almost black) Toyota pick-up truck
with the license plate # 8B05886.

If you've seen anything useful, please call the sheriff's station at 626-798-1131.

Pasadena: Tues. night candlelight vigil for victims of crime

Received this from a reader about a Pasadena event on Tues. night:

The families and friends of victims of violent crime are affected for the rest of their lives. In the past, the feelings of depression and loneliness have been kept private and seen by the public as shameful or unreasonable. The court system has often ignored the victims' families and friends, including never notifying them of trials for their loved ones' murderers. There are thousands of families in California that have been affected by the violent loss of a loved one. If you have been affected or just want to show support, please attend an event in commemoration of Victims' Rights Week. There are many, all over the state.Thanks!!

28th ANNUAL
NATIONAL CRIME VICTIMS’ RIGHTS WEEK
SUNDAY, APRIL 26, 2009 ~ SATURDAY, May 2, 2009

25 YEARS OF REBUILDING LIVES:
CELEBRATING THE VICTIMS OF CRIME ACT.

Tuesday night in Pasadena,
TUESDAY:  April 28, 2009
Candlelight Vigil `                      
Time: 7:00 PM
Pasadena City Hall,
100 N Garfield Ave.

Pasadena CA Victims’ Coalition
Jan PH: 562-417-3334

Census takers now making the rounds

A note from Carolyn Seitz of the Sheriff's Citizen Advisory Committee about census takers:

We are being told that census takers will be in neighborhoods for 2 separate reasons.

The first is they will be walking through neighborhoods in an effort to develop a good address list and to look for multiple units so the actual census taking effort is more effective.

I believe they are already in our neighborhoods gathering that information.

They will be carrying hand-held computers with gps devices.  The first round - those out identifying addresses will be in our neighborhoods from April 6, 2009 through June 19, 2009.

The Census takers will have a red, white and blue identification badge that will also say CENSUS ENUMERATOR, and will include the name of the person on the front, as well as their picture.

These actual census takers will be walking the neighborhoods between April 1, 2010 and some time in July, 2010.  They will be out making an effort to contact households that did not return the questionnaires that will be mailed in February, 2010.

The Sheriff's Department is urging all people concerned about whether they are seeing actual census takers should call the Altadena Sheriff's Station at 626 798 1131 and let the person answering the phone know that there are strangers going door to door.  It may be better to let the Sheriff's deputies determine that the people in their neighborhoods are the actual census takers.

The flyer also includes the phone number for the Regional Census Office in Van Nuys.  It is 818 267 1700, as well as numbers for other regional offices.

Please feel free to distribute the info to any or all of the lists.

As always, please feel free to let me know if you have questions.

Thanks,
Carolyn

Click graphics to see the memo.

Stolen Porsche torched and scorched Saturday night

The fire department and deputies were called in at 9:34 PM April 18 to a car on fire at the 2200 block of Pinecrest Ave. in east Altadena.  According to sheriff Lt. Sheila Sanchez, the car was a 2003 Porsche Carrera that had earlier been reported stolen to the LAPD.  The incident is being investigated as arson, and no suspects were immediately identified.

Crimes of opportunity on East side

Seems to be a trend going on.

Checking the Altadena crime map over the past few days, there seems to have been a cluster of thefts from unlocked cars on the East side above Altadena Drive, around Farnsworth Park.

And newsgroup chatter has pinpointed missing mail and packages from around the President Streets area and the 2800 blocks of Tanoble and Zane Grey Terrace. 

Whatever's not nailed down appears to be an opportunity for local thieves, so be extra cautious.

Mapping Altadena crime

On the heels of the CHP's traffic accidents map, the Crime Reports website has a map of crimes in Altadena over the past month.  (Thanks to reader Snow for pointing us to this).  The source listed is Altadena station, and we've made some inquiries to find out more.  We'll let you know when (and if!) they respond. 

UPDATE 5:30 PM: just heard from one of our sources at the sheriff's station -- neither he nor his lieutenant know about this, and they're looking into it.  We figure this information is coming from an official source (i.e. not swiped from our crime log or the sheriff's station's crime log) because it includes a couple of crimes we personally know that occurred but didn't make it into the crime log -- including a theft from OUR VERY OWN CAR!  Stay tuned!

UPDATE 4/15:  Says our sheriff's source:

The detective sergeant chooses what to list in [the crime log].  The website does seem to have more complete info.  It appears they get it directly from dept. records somehow.  The website says it comes straight from the CAD (computer aided dispatch) system but I notice it has been edited some (ie. showing hundred blocks instead of house numbers).  Nothing from today is listed so I bet they actually get a daily summary from our Communication Center which is in East LA.  CAD is in real time and unedited so they can't be directly tied to the CAD or they would have addresses, names, everything.  Very interesting though, the dept. didn't bother to tell anyone they were going to do this.  I wonder what they get in return?

"GIfts for Guns" April 25

The Altadena Sheriff's Station is having an anonymous, no-questions-asked "Gifts for Guns" turn-in on Sat., April 25, at the Rite-Aid parking lot.  Details are in the flyer (click to enlarge).

Moore gets 15 to life in fatal 2006 crash

Hal Lee Moore, 54, of Altadena, was sentenced to 15 years to life in prison Thursday.  Moore was found guilty of second-degree murder, gross vehicular manslaughter, leaving the scene of an accident, and other charges last February.  Moore ran a red light at Hill and Washington on Nov. 29, 2006, causing a crash that killed Bertha Vasquez Arias, 30.  PSN has the details.

Graffiti sweep nets weapons, too

We'll be real happy when these other projects are done and we can return to sanity.  Blogging will remain spotty and light  for awhile (sorry!) Meantime, PSN has a story on a sweep of graffiti vandals that netted a bunch of weapons as well, and Deb @ Altadena Above It All is covering the local angle.

Vintage crime story on Tommy Bowman disappearance

Tommy Bowman was a boy who disappeared in the hills of Altadena 52 years ago, whom we've featured in several stories here.  The LA Times history blog reprints a story from fifty years ago about the Bowman case. 

Why they call it Friday the 13th

A couple of things we haven't had time to get to until now, from Tuesday's town council meeting:

Sheriff Capt. Roosevelt Blow told the council there was a shooting on Fair Oaks and Calaveras last week, Fri., March 13.  According to Blow, a black Cadillac Escalade pulled up to a group on the street, words were exchanged, and shots fired from the vehicle.  Everyone fled, nobody's talking, nobody reported injury, and a bullet hole was found in a parked car.  Deputies suspect it was gang-related.

Also on Friday, there was an armed robbery at Rite Aid across from the sheriff's station. A suspect took liquor and tobacco, said he wouldn't pay, and showed the clerk an outline of a gun tucked in his waistband.  The suspect left the store, nobody was hurt, and detectives are looking into it.

Sheriff's Dept. Year in Review 2008 now available

At Tuesday's town council meeting, deputies passed out copies of the LA County Sheriff's annual "Year in Review" report, which can also be read online here. Altadena Sheriff Capt. Roosevelt Blow said that Altadena station was working on a similar report for our area (which we'll share as soon as we get it). 

Deputy kills pit bull

Just in at PSN, deputies responding to a man creating a disturbance say they were charged by a pit bull at about 6 PM tonight near Santa Anita and Calaveras St.

Neighbors complain to sheriff, town council about party house

A large part of last night's town council meeting was taken up by neighbors complaining of a long-standing problem: parties -- some attended by as many as 200 people -- that are held at a private home on 325 E. Calaveras St.

About 25-30 neighbors appeared to support complaints about the most recent house party, held last Sat., March 14.  One neighbor who spoke at the meeting said that the party started at about 9 or 10 PM and went on until 1 or 2 AM, with loud music and vast numbers of people coming into the neighborhood, near the intersection of Calaveras and Marengo.  Other neighbors complained that many of these gatherings are paid parties, and that alcohol is served to minors.

Sheriff Capt. Roosevelt Blow said that he keeps a file in his desk about Fred Spears, the home's owner, with whom he's had longstanding problems, but the sheriff's hands were tied for various reasons -- deputies can't go into a party without a warrant unless they see something illegal going on, and they haven't had sufficient evidence of paid parties or underage drinking.

Altadenablog's sources, however, say that the parties are frequently advertised through fliers and over the internet, and that this information is shared with the sheriff's department.

The house parties have been going on for over ten years, according to one resident of the area, and have been the subject of petitions and community meetings, and yet they continue unabated.  Shots have been fired during at least one of these parties, neighbors say, and neighbors said that they had been subject to break-ins and other crime that they traced to the parties.  In addition, there have been long-standing problems with Spears' dogs attacking people, according to some neighbors.

Councilman Allen Wasserman said at the meeting that Spears was convicted of a domestic violence charge where he spent three days in jail and had to attend a 52 week parenting program.  Blow said that Spears is presently on probation.

(Pictured: 325 E. Calaveras St. this morning).

Sheriff will swap gift cards for guns April 25

Altadena Sheriff Capt. Roosevelt Blow told the Altadena town council last night that the department is planning a "Gifts for Guns" exchange on April 25 at the Rite-Aid parking lot, 737 Altadena Dr.

Deputies will exchange a total of $10,000 in gift cards from various merchants for guns that are turned in by the public.  The exchange will start at 10 AM, and go on until 4 PM or until the gift cards are exhausted.

In an email, Blow said that the value of the cards would vary depending on what was turned in -- $50 for a gun in bad shape , to $100 for a working gun, to $200 for an assault rifle.  Guns can be turned in anonymously.

Poachers (possibly Ram-bro') sighted near Meadows & Millard Canyon

Received this from Town Councilwoman Alice Wessen:

Please know that there have been sightings where the Millard Canyon water tank is and at the end of Risinghill road in the Meadows area of illegal hunting/poaching activities. Call the sheriffs immediately at 626-798-1131.

Watch for: camouflage hunting blinds, snares, traps, bait piles (with animal kibble, donuts, and ripe avocados and/or apples), camping gear such as foam and sleeping bags left nearby. The pattern is to place bait repeatedly in the same location for a period of weeks until local wildlife becomes accustomed to it, then lay in wait for the animal(s) one wishes to kill.

Because of prior activity from Joe Clay, who describes himself as “Black Rambo” watch for vehicles, especially a white Bronco (CA lic# 1FEC322) or any truck / van with blacked out windows parked in or near the Forest that do not appear to be hikers or that are left parked at odd hours of the night or early AM.

Use extreme caution. Clay is armed and has been known to set fires as a way to divert attention from those who might try and chase him. He has a record of game violations and a conviction. Document what you see, but do not approach him.

If you see such activity, call the sheriffs ASAP at 626-798-1131. They are aware of the recent sightings and will contact the DF&G warden as well as alert the Forest Service.

Clay may be the poacher who has identified himself previously as Ram-bro'.

Why we're running late today

Sorry we're not filing the town council meeting as early as we usually do, but we've become the latest victims of crime.  Mrs. Altadenablog did not remove her work computer from her car last night, but somebody else did, along with a satellite radio.  This'll take awhile to deal with ...

Update on last night's home invasion

We have spent the day traveling to our undisclosed location for family business, and appreciate all the notices we've received about the big story of the day. (We called the sheriff's station about 6 AM on this story and was transferred to our old friend there, the Unanswered Ringing Phone.  This was followed by calling the public information number and talking to another old friend, the Voice Message That Never Calls You Back -- we didn't have a chance to follow up).  Pasadena Star News's story for tomorrow's paper pretty much tells the tale -- two men trying to pass as cops bound the victim in his bedroom and ransacked the house, taking about $2,000 and some watches.

Other takes on it:

LA Times

Fox

Update 3/14: Something we haven't found in any of the news stories, but from our sources:  the suspects are a black and an Hispanic male, last seen heading south on Fair Oaks.