California AVOID - DUI Enforcement & Education

The Arcadia Police Department participates in the Statewide, California Avoid Campaign that targets driving under the influence. Throughout the year, Officers work directed DUI enforcement and conduct checkpoints specifically targeting drivers who are under the influence. The California Avoid is supported through grant funding from the California Office of Traffic Safety. The current increased enforcement and education period runs through Labor Day, September 6, 2010.

A local resident became the victim of a DUI driver early Saturday morning as they drove through the intersection of Baldwin Avenue and Huntington Drive. At about 3:35 am, August 28, 2010, an alleged DUI driver ran a red light and became involved in a collision with another car, lawfully in the intersection. The DUI driver lost control and then struck a parked car as well. Officers responding to the scene arrested the intoxicated driver for not only DUI, but also for driving on a suspended license and for a warrant resulting from a previous DUI charge. Luckily, no one was injured in this collision. This incident serves as a reminder of the dangers associated with driving while under the influence. Please don't drink and drive!

Purse Yanked from Woman

Early this morning, shortly after 1:00 am, a woman had her purse yanked from her shoulder as she stood on her porch in the 900 block of Portola Drive, Arcadia. The woman had just returned home and parked her vehicle in the residence driveway after an evening at a friend's home in San Gabriel. The victim realized that someone had walked up behind her and then felt the suspect grab her purse from her shoulder. The victim said that the suspect pulled so hard that the force nearly knocked her over. The suspect ran off to an awaiting vehicle that had pulled up in front of the victim's home. The suspect vehicle drove off and was last seen southbound on Golden West Avenue. The victim was not injured in the incident and the loss included her purse, cash and credit cards. The victim did not believe that she had been followed home.

The suspect was only described as a male, 6' tall, skinny, wearing dark clothing and a hoodie. The suspect vehicle was a dark colored 4-door sedan.

Acquaintance Rape Reported, Marijuana Grow Found

At about 3pm on Wednesday, August 25, 2010, a female victim came to the Arcadia Police Department reporting that she was the victim of an acquaintance rape earlier in the day. The victim reported that the rape occurred at a residence in the 1000 block Alta Vista Avenue. The male suspect accompanied the victim to APD and after interviews were conducted, Officers arrested the male. The suspect, Marc L. Romo, 35 yrs. old from Arcadia, was booked at the Arcadia City Jail on suspicion of rape and an unrelated warrant.

During a search of the incident location, Officers discovered an indoor, hydroponic, marijuana grow. Officers seized approximately 57 marijuana plants in various stages of growth along with equipment used for the cultivation. The investigation is continuing and no one has been arrested for or charged with the cultivation of marijuana.

Weekly Activity Highlights for August 15-21, 2010

http://www.ci.arcadia.ca.us/docs/weekly_8-15.pdf

Weekly Tip - School is Back in Session

Arcadia schools start back in session tomorrow! The AUSD calendar can be found HERE. This means that we need to be aware of our children during our commutes throughout the day. Allow extra time for your drive if you pass near a school. Traffic will be heavier than normal during the first few weeks of school as parents grow accustomed to drop-off and pick-up routes.

Be part of the solution, not the problem!

•Slow down!

•Allow extra time for your travel.

•Be alert for pedestrians and bicyclists.

•Don't double park or violate parking restrictions!

The Heat is On!

The Arcadia Senior Center, 365 Campus Drive, is a dedicated Los Angeles County "Cooling Center." HERE is a link to the L.A. County list of "Cooling Centers" as well as tips to help beat the heat. The San Gabriel Valley is under an excessive heat watch for several days this week.

Murder Suspect - Arrested

Release Date: August 21, 2010

Subject: Brian Kelly Murder Investigation
Update - Suspect Arrested

For Immediate Release:

In the early morning hours of August 21, 2010, family members of the wanted suspect Michael Thomas Kelly contacted the Arcadia Police Department and advised that Michael Kelly was at a local hospital. Arcadia Police Department Detectives responded to the hospital and located Kelly in the emergency room being treated by hospital staff for a minor medical problem.

After being medically cleared by hospital personnel, Kelly was taken into custody and transported to the Arcadia Police Department jail for processing.

Michael Kelly was booked for Murder and is being housed at the Arcadia Police Department jail on a $1 million arrest warrant.

The case is still under investigation by Detectives from the Arcadia Police Department and anyone with an inquiry should call (626)574-5150 or (626)574-5160.


Robert P. Sanderson
Chief of Police

By: Lieutenant Paul Foley
Patrol Watch Commander

Wanted Murder Suspect

Date and Time of Press Release: Thursday, August 19th, 2010 (11:30PM)

Incident: PC 187-Murder

Case # 10-4416

Suspect: Kelly, Michael Thomas M/W/44 (Photo Attached)
6-0/180, Brn/Brn

Victim: Kelly, Brian H. M/W/47


For Immediate Release:

On Wednesday, August 18th, 2010 at approximately 5:20 p.m., Arcadia Police officers responded to an apartment in the 800 block of Fairview Avenue on the report of an unconscious subject inside. Responding officers discovered a subject, later identified as Victim Brian Kelly, deceased.

Preliminary investigation revealed the victim had been bludgeoned. Evidence collected during the course of the investigation implicated the victim’s younger brother, Michael, as a possible suspect. Michael left the scene prior to the arrival of police and has not been apprehended. A felony warrant for his arrest has been issued. If Kelly is spotted, do not attempt to apprehend, but call 9-1-1 immediately.

This case is under investigation by Detectives from the Arcadia Police Department. Anyone with information should call 626-574-5150.


Robert P. Sanderson
Chief of Police

By: Lieutenant Larry Goodman
Detective Bureau Commander

Credit Card/ATM Skimming Reminder

Back in May, we ran a post on "Card Skimming." The post has a list of tips to help prevent becoming a victim of a card skimming device. KTLA's Jennifer Gould reports in the above video link on recent card skimming taking place in Orange County. The report also shows some of the devices used and is a good reminder of the risks associated with using credit/ATM cards.

Weekly Activity Highlights for August 8-14, 2010

http://www.ci.arcadia.ca.us/docs/weekly_8-8.pdf

Wanted - Bank Robbery

(Photo courtesy of labankrobbers.org)

On Tuesday, August 17, 2010, at approximately 4:12 p.m., Arcadia Police officers responded to the Bank of America, 180 North Santa Anita Avenue, Arcadia, on the report a robbery having just occurred.

Preliminary investigation revealed the listed suspect entered the bank and presented a demand note for money while threatening to have a gun. The teller handed over an undisclosed amount of U.S. currency and the suspect fled the bank in an unknown direction.

This case is under investigation by Detectives from the Arcadia Police Department. We are asking the public’s help in identifying the suspect shown in the attached photograph. This suspect should be considered armed and dangerous. Anyone with information should call (626)574-5150, reference case #10-4388.

The suspect is described as a Male Asian, 20-30 years old, 5'-06"/140 lbs, brown eyes, thin mustache & goatee w/acne on cheeks. He was wearing a black baseball cap, black frame glasses, shorts, and a black t-shirt.

Weekly Tip - Reporting Internet Crime

The Internet is used by criminals for all sorts of scams and crimes to try and separate you from your money. We are lucky to have a dedicated Investigator for technology based crime in Arcadia. Many agencies do not have that resource and rely on the County or larger agencies for assistance. When you have been victimized by someone by use of the Internet or other technology, where do you turn? Conventional police reports are the obvious answer, but there is also web based assistance out there. Solutions, immediate answers, or satisfaction may not occur, but sharing your incident helps build information databases and perhaps a small key to locating suspects that commit such crime.

Private sites, such as Consumer Fraud Reporting.Org have resources and information on web based crime as well as other traditional fraud crime. The FBI participates in a website dedicated to collecting Internet crime info called the Internet Crime Complaint Center. Take a look at these sites and search for information on topics that include tips to avoid becoming a victim of Internet based scams or crime.

Notice to Arcadia Residents Regarding Coyotes

The City of Arcadia has hired Animal Pest Management, Inc. (APM) to conduct a coyote trapping program within City limits, excluding the Los Angeles County Arboretum and Santa Anita Racetrack. This step is being taken to address increased sightings of aggressive coyotes in residential neighborhoods that are entering yards, attacking pets and in general showing little or no fear of humans. Please be aware that trapping is not intended to – and will not – result in all coyotes being removed from our neighborhoods. Wildlife is part of Arcadia and other foothill communities and residents should be mindful of this and take precautions.

The program is currently authorized for twelve, ten-day trapping periods, the first of which will begin the week of August 16. To report a coyote sighting, please call Animal Pest Management directly at 800-344-6567 and be as specific as possible with regard to the location; an exact address is preferable. APM will monitor the calls to determine the most populated areas and will place traps in strategic locations according to noted activity and public consideration. The devices are of the humane foot-snare type approved by the California Department of Fish and Game and they will be checked on a daily basis during the designated trapping period.

If it is necessary to place traps on private property, APM will require the written approval of the property owner and they will notify neighbors within 150 yards of the involved property.

If you find yourself in a situation where there is an immediate threat to a person, please call 9-1-1, not Animal Pest Management.

We encourage you and your neighbors to heed the following advice:

 Do not leave small children outside unsupervised.
 Never feed wildlife. Dispose of garbage in secure containers and do not leave garbage, pet food, water, or food waste in accessible areas.
 Use securely enclosed compost binds and do not dispose of meat, dairy or egg products in compost.
 If you have fruit trees, pick fruit as soon as it is ripe and remove any fallen fruit from the ground.
 Reduce the use of bird feeders. Clean up seed that has fallen to the ground.
 Do not leave cats and small dogs outside unattended.
 Clear bushes and/or weeds close to your home where animals might seek cover.
 Spay or neuter your dogs.
 Consider installing motion-sensitive lighting around the house.
 If followed by a coyote, make loud noises, throw rocks in the animal’s direction, spray it with a hose or rapidly open an umbrella in their direction. The City of Arcadia thanks you for your cooperation.

http://www.ci.arcadia.ca.us/home/index.asp
http://www.animalpest.com/

For full details, go to https://local.nixle.com/alert/3138512/.

Contact Information: Animal Pest Management 800-344-6567

Tip-a-Cop for Special Olympics

Members of the Arcadia Police Department will be taking part in "Tip-a-Cop" for Special Olympics coming up on Wednesday, September 1, 2010. The event will raise money for local Special Olympic athletes and will take place at Wood Ranch BBQ & Grill at the Westfield Santa Anita Mall, 400 South Baldwin Avenue, Arcadia. Come join us between 5:30 pm and 9:00 pm as APD's finest work as your hosts and waiters, all to benefit Special Olympics.

Thank a cop on Thursday, every day

One of our Social Media friends and a writer for ConnectedCOPS.net, Mike Ellis, came up with a unique way to say "Thank You" to Law Enforcement. The idea took hold rather quickly on Twitter and can be found under the hashtag #tacop. Read the full article on ConnectedCOPS, Thank a cop on Thursday, every day, and send a shout of thanks to your local agency or an officer that you know.

Weekly Activity Highlights for August 1-7, 2010

http://www.ci.arcadia.ca.us/docs/weekly_8-1.pdf

Weekly Tip - Being Safe at Home

A topic that is important to all of us is knowing that we are safe in our homes. There are plenty of businesses, organizations and websites that offer burglary prevention tips for while you are gone, but what about some simple steps to help ensure your personal safety while at home? What do you do when someone knocks at your door? What should you do if you see someone suspicious in your neighborhood? Do you lock your front door when working in the back yard? Is the person at your door really a legitimate service employee? With the recent "ruse" or "distraction" type burglaries, these are appropriate topics and questions to consider.

Here are some quick thoughts on staying safe while at home:

· Don’t just answer your door. Use peep holes or sidelight windows to see who is at the door. Ask, “Who’s there?” Inquire with anyone you don’t recognize as to who they are and what their business is. Take a look out your window. Is there a marked service vehicle, a police car, UPS, or vehicle you recognize?
· If you contact the caller, always ask for work ID if you are not positive of who they are.
· Keep your front door locked, especially if you are upstairs, outback or in another portion of the house. Unlocked doors are an invitation to trouble.
· Keep garages closed. An open garage is an invitation for theft.
· Close and lock windows at night, or at least use a window stop to limit the opening.
· If you have a cordless phone, keep it with you.
· Know your neighbors and your neighborhood. Be familiar with faces and cars. If you see someone in the area that is acting suspicious, on your property or someone else’s, give your local police a call right away.
· Look around as you pull into your driveway or walk outside. Be aware of who and what is around you.

Suspects look for victims. They look for a weakness, an opening, an easy target. Some will try and scam or trick you in to allowing them entrance to your home. Make things as difficult as possible. Do use common sense and be proactive about your own and your family’s safety.

Crime Analyst Applications Being Accepted

Applications are being accepted for the position of Crime Analyst with the Arcadia Police Department, now through September 3, 2010, or until the first 100 completed applications have been submitted to the Human Resources Department at Arcadia City Hall, 240 West Huntington Drive. The Crime Analyst plays a key role in the investigative efforts at APD and coordinates activity within the Crime Analysis Unit (CAU). The duties are extensive and APD is seeking a motivated, qualified, and experienced individual to take on this position and carry on the successes of our well respected CAU. Please see the specific job announcement for all details related to the position.

You may contact the Human Resources Office at Arcadia City Hall in person or by phone at (626) 574-5405 to obtain an application. Applications can also be downloaded from the City's website http://www.ci.arcadia.ca.us/.

"Tip" Buttons Everywhere

Back in April, we introduced you to LA Crime Stoppers, a regional effort to provide the public a "tip" link to all Los Angeles County Law Enforcement. LA Crime Stoppers allows you to share timely, relevant information about criminal activity with local police. The tips can be anonymous but may lead to cash rewards if the tip results in arrests or criminal filings.

Thanks to Lauri Stevens of LAwS Communications in assisting the Arcadia Police Department in placing "Submit a Tip" buttons on the APD Blog, Facebook, and web pages. The "Submit a Tip" button links directly to LA Crime Stoppers, allowing you to easily access their tip submission page. LA Crime Stoppers can still be reached by phone at (800) 222-TIPS or by texting to CRIMES (274634). Please call the police directly to file a crime report, or for emergency and in progress crimes, dial 911.

Weekly Activity Highlights for July 25-31, 2010

http://www.ci.arcadia.ca.us/docs/weekly_7-25.pdf

Weekly Tip - Suicide Prevention

Last week, APD Officers responded on a suicide of an adult male who was terminally ill. We do not respond on too many calls of this nature, but we do deal with persons who may be depressed or have contemplated suicide often enough to offer prevention information on suicide. Below are some warning signs and risk factors associated with suicide, offered by the Didi Hirsch Mental Health Center here in Los Angeles County:


Warning Signs and Risk Factors

- Developing a specific plan for suicide (the number one predictor of suicide risk)
- Threatening suicide, expressing suicidal feelings directly or bringing up the topic of suicide
- Signs of depression: loss of pleasure, sad mood, alterations in sleeping or eating patterns, feelings of hopelessness, irritability, agitation, feelings of failure or shame
- Giving away prized possessions, settling affairs, making out a will
- Changes in behavior (poor work or school performance)
- Risky behaviors
- Increased use of alcohol or drugs
- Social isolation

Risk Factors

- Having attempted suicide in the past
- Having lost a loved one to suicide
- A recent loss or threat of loss, for example: the death of a loved one or an idol/role model; divorce, separation, or a broken relationship; the loss of a job, a house, a business, money, or social status; loss of health to serious, progressive, or painful illness; diminished self-esteem or self-confidence
- Losing all hope in the future ("Things will never get better"; "Life feels like an open sore that’s never going to heal")

Here is a list of suicide hotlines for California, posted by Suicide.org. Scroll down the page for several numbers in Los Angeles County. Don't ignore warning signs! If you or someone you know needs help, call a hotline immediately. If it is an emergency, dial 9-1-1.

Arcadia Celebrates National Night Out and the City's 107th Birthday

Join fellow community members this Thursday, August 5, 2010, on the City Hall lawn for a free concert and celebration of National Night Out! The celebration will also to say "Happy Birthday" to the City of Arcadia, turning 107 this year. The event starts at 6:30 pm and will run till about 8:00 pm.

National Night Out promotes crime prevention and awareness through police-community partnerships. Both the Arcadia Police Department and the Arcadia Fire Department will be on hand for this event. We will offer free child fingerprinting, crime prevention materials, an other information to the public. And don't forget birthday cake provided by the Arcadia Historical Society in honor of the City's birthday!