Crime & Safety

POLICE BLOTTER: Man Grabs Girl's Buttocks at Mall

From the Arcadia Police Department blotter.`

For the period of Jan. 1-7, the responded to 748 calls for service, 96 of which required formal investigations. The following is a summary report of the major incidents handled by the Department during this period.

Jan. 1:

At 2:10 a.m., an officer conducted an enforcement stop on a vehicle for a broken headlight and lane swerving on Santa Anita Avenue at Colorado Boulevard. Upon contact with the driver, the officer detected an odor of alcohol emitting from the driver. An investigation revealed the 20-year-old man was under the influence of alcohol, and officers arrested him on suspicion of DUI.  

At approximately 2:52 p.m., an officer responded to the Arcadia Police Department front counter in regards to a fraud report. While reviewing her online statements, the victim discovered one of her checks had been altered. After the victim mailed her check, an unknown suspect(s) obtained the check and cashed it for a different amount. Further investigation revealed the El Monte Police Department had arrested a woman on suspicion of check fraud. A DMV check revealed this suspect lived a short distance away from the location where the victim in Arcadia mailed the check. 

Jan. 2:

Shortly after 11:40 a.m., an officer responded to , 720 West Camino Real Avenue, in regards to a possible fraud report. The victim received a telephone call from an unknown man who informed the victim that the victim "won" $13 million dollars from a sweepstakes, and needed to pay a fee in order to receive his prize money. The victim mailed the check and never received any prizes. The suspect called a second time requesting an additional fee, at which time the victim realized it was a scam.

Around 3:29 p.m., officers were dispatched to at the in regards to two male adults in custody for theft. The suspects allegedly concealed merchandise inside their clothing and exited the store without making payment. Officers transported the 18-year-old and 19-year-old suspects to the Arcadia City Jail for booking without incident. 

Jan. 3:

At approximately 1:42 p.m., an officer driving north on Santa Anita Avenue at Wheeler Avenue observed a suspicious vehicle driving west on Wheeler Avenue. The driver saw the officer and began to drive in reverse, east toward First Avenue, in an attempt to get away. The subject abandoned his car in the parking lot, 7 East Huntington Drive, and fled on foot. Assisting officers detained the suspect in the parking lot, 251 North Santa Anita Avenue. An investigation revealed the subject ran from police for no apparent reason. He was released without further delay.

Sometime in the morning hours, unknown suspect(s) attempted to force entry into the master bedroom of a residence in the 000 block of East Camino Real Avenue. When the victim returned home she observed the door frame was damaged. Officers determined the alarm was activated and the suspect(s) fled undetected. No property was reported missing.

Jan. 4:

Shortly after 10 a.m., an officer conducted a license plate look up on a black Chevrolet Tahoe driving south on Second Avenue, north of Huntington Drive. The officer discovered the vehicle had a warrant attached and conducted a traffic stop. An investigation revealed the warrant was valid and the driver was never issued a license. The 25-year-old man was arrested and transported to the Arcadia City Jail for booking.

At about 8:42 p.m., an officer responded to the parking lot at the Santa Anita Mall regarding an auto burglary. After the victim returned from work, she discovered unknown suspect(s) stole her factory navigation system and third row seat. Officers did not locate any signs of forced entry and no one saw or heard anything suspicious.

Jan. 5:

Around 11:35 a.m., an officer was dispatched to the 000 block of California Street in regards to a mail theft. The victim observed a woman approach the victim's front porch and walk away carrying a package just delivered to the victim. The suspect entered a brown 1980's four-door sedan parked in front of the victim's house. The victim attempted to chase after the suspect; however, the vehicle fled northbound on Second Avenue. An area check proved fruitless. The suspect is described as a white female with long blonde hair, about 5-feet-7-inches, 135 pounds, and wearing a white or pink colored shirt with a dark sweater tied around her waist and blue pants.

Shortly after 6:09 p.m., an officer was dispatched to Santa Anita Avenue and Las Flores Avenue regarding a three-party traffic accident. A driver was traveling southbound on Santa Anita Avenue while two other parties were stopped ahead of him. The driver did not stop in time and struck the rear end of party two, who then moved forward and rear-ended party three. No major injuries were reported.

Jan. 6:

At approximately 1:42 a.m., an officer responded to at the Santa Anita Mall regarding a movie piracy report. A man was observed recording a movie with his cellular phone. The 21-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of movie piracy and transported to the Arcadia City Jail for booking.

At about 5:27 p.m., an officer responded to the Santa Anita Mall regarding a sexual battery investigation. A juvenile victim was standing in the food court area, and was approached by an unknown suspect who grabbed her buttocks. The victim attempted to move away, however the suspect continued to follow her. When the victim yelled for help, she was assisted by mall security and the suspect fled in an unknown direction. An area check for the suspect met with negative results. The suspect is described as a white man, 20- to 30 years old, about 5-feet-6-inches tall, 300 pounds, with long straight shoulder-length brown hair and wearing a gray zip-up hooded sweater paired with blue jeans.

Jan. 7:

Between 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., a theft occurred at, 900 South Santa Anita Avenue. When the victim went to retrieve her purse from a shelf, she discovered it was missing. No one observed anything suspicious. The victim has no idea who may have taken her property.

Around 8:08 p.m., an officer was dispatched to at the Santa Anita Mall in regards to a teen detained for theft. The suspect concealed multiple items inside a used shopping bag and exited the store without making payment. Further investigation revealed the suspect was in possession of burglary tools. The 17-year-old girl was arrested and transported to the Arcadia City Jail for booking.

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