Police Blotter: Trouble at Westfield Santa Anita

For the period of Sunday, Aug. 21, through Saturday, Aug. 27, the Police Department responded to 885 calls for service, of which 117 required formal investigations.  The following is a summary report of the major incidents handled by the department during this period.

Sunday, Aug. 21:

At about 1:30 p.m., officers responded to the area of El Monte and Woodruff Avenues regarding a vandalism report.  Suspect(s) spray painted multiple locations, including a utility box and several walls in the area with black spray paint.

Shortly before 10:30 p.m., officers observed a suspicious Chevrolet Suburban with an attached trailer leaving the parking lot of Hometown Rentals, 102 West Las Tunas Drive.  A check of the business revealed an open and unsecured gate.  The vehicle and its three occupants, including a 33-year-old female, a 37-year-old male, and a 16-year-old male, were detained, and a record check of the suspects revealed an outstanding warrant for one of the passengers. The trailer also contained a large, gas-driven trenching machine, which had been stolen from the premises. Arrests were made for commercial burglary, grand theft and the outstanding warrant.

Monday, Aug. 22:

At approximately 3 p.m., a grand theft occurred at the , 400 South Baldwin Ave. While the victims were shopping, their gray, black and red Quasar Mountain bicycle and blue Cannondale F-4 Mountain bicycle were stolen from the parking lot.

Shortly before 6 p.m., loss prevention personnel from Macy’s at the Westfield Santa Anita Mall, 400 South Baldwin Ave., detained two females for theft.  The suspects removed shoes from their boxes to make fraudulent returns and concealed additional merchandise underneath their clothing.  Both females, ages 54 and 38, were arrested for commercial burglary. Officers determined the suspects entered the store with the intent to steal.

Tuesday, Aug. 23:

At about 11:11 p.m., officers responded to the area of Santa Anita Avenue and Morlan Place regarding an attempted robbery.  The suspect was described as a black male with grey dreadlocks, wearing a painter’s outfit, and armed with a knife and hammer. A subject that matched the description was located and detained. An investigation revealed the reporting party and suspect, who were both transients, had a disagreement over a place to sleep.  The reporting party, a 38-year-old male, was arrested for falsely reporting an emergency.

At approximately 6:25 p.m., loss prevention personnel from at the Westfield Santa Anita Mall, 400 South Baldwin Ave., detained a female for theft. The suspect took merchandise, concealed it in a red bag, and walked out of the store without paying. Merchandise from four additional stores was also located in the bag. The 39-year-old female was arrested for commercial burglary.

Wednesday, Aug. 24:

At about 6:23 p.m., units were dispatched to the , 753 W. Duarte Road, regarding a suicidal adult male.  It was determined the 66-year-old male of unknown race was suffering from depression and was a danger to himself.  He was transported to a local area hospital for psychiatric evaluation and treatment.

Between 9:15 p.m. and 11:28 p.m., an auto theft occurred in the 100 block of North First Avenue. Suspect(s) stole a green, 2000 Dodge Durango SUV from the parking lot of the location.

Thursday, Aug. 25:

Shortly before 6 a.m., officers responded to the 1100 block of Volante Drive regarding a suspicious circumstance.  The reporting party had heard a loud “bang” and thought someone had entered his home.  An area check revealed several unlocked vehicles had been entered into and ransacked, however no loss was reported.

At about 3:19 p.m., units were dispatched to the Tierra Verde Park located at Camino Real Avenue and Second Avenue, regarding a suspicious black male subject who was seen climbing trees.  Officers located and detained the suspect.  The 26-year-old male was placed under arrest for being under the influence of a controlled substance and possession of paraphernalia.

Friday, Aug. 26:

Shortly after 2 p.m. in the 1200 block of Short Street, a resident observed a heavy-set adult male in a brown vehicle, possibly a Dodge Caravan, stop in front of the mailboxes near her home.  A female subject exited the vehicle and opened each mail box.  A short time later, the resident observed the same vehicle stop in front of her residence, at which time the female subject exited the vehicle and removed the mail from her mail box, and the neighbor’s mail box.

Around 1:10 p.m., officers responded to the Westfield Santa Anita Mall, 400 South Baldwin Ave., regarding a commercial burglary at The loss prevention manager noticed a significant quantity of bras missing from the display table.  After verifying the merchandise had not been sold, he viewed the store’s surveillance video which revealed two suspects quickly concealing bras inside a plastic bag.  Both suspects exited the store with a total of 61 bras.

Saturday, Aug. 27:

Officers responded to the area of westbound Huntington Drive and Sunset Boulevard around 6:16 a.m. regarding a solo vehicle hit and run traffic collision. Officers observed a male subject running in and out of traffic lanes in the area of Huntington Drive and Old Ranch Road.  Officers followed the subject on foot and detained him after he slipped and fell in the center median. The 27 year-old male was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol and hit and run.  He was cited and released for both violations.

At about 9:30 p.m., units were dispatched to the Westfield Santa Anita Mall, 400 South Baldwin, regarding a sexual battery report that had just occurred in the Macy’s parking lot. While the victim was entering her vehicle, an adult male grabbed her buttocks and proceeded to run south through the parking lot towards Huntington Drive. Officers quickly located and detained the suspect, whom the victim positively identified.

Meanwhile, officers responded to the mall regarding a second battery report, possibly committed by the detained suspect. The second victim advised that at approximately 9:30 p.m., she was placing items into her car trunk in the Macy’s parking lot, when she felt an unknown subject approach her from behind and grab her around the waist.  The subject grabbed and squeezed her buttocks while making a derogatory statement, and fled on foot through the parking lot.  This victim was unable to make a positive identification. A private person’s arrest was made, and the 45-year-old male was taken into custody for sexual battery.