Holiday Hours for Records Section

The Arcadia Police Department Records Section will close at 6:00 p.m. on both Christmas Eve and New Years Eve, remaining closed on Christmas Day and New Years Day. The Records Section will reopen at 6:00 a.m. on Monday, December 26, 2016, and again on Monday, January 2, 2017, following the respective holidays.

Last Minute Shopping? Think About Your Personal Safety!

Our personal safety is something that we should always be considering, especially when out in public. The shopping season is in full swing and our shopping centers will be packed these last days before Christmas Here are some tips and thoughts on steps you can take to help maintain your personal safety:

•Awareness & Avoidance - Not enough can be said for being aware of your surroundings. It does not matter where you are, at home, out shopping, driving, at the park, DO NOT settle into a fog and become so involved in your task that you fail to look around. Scan the area before you head out. Look around and see what potential threats may be looming. Are there suspicious persons parked by your car? Is there a car approaching slowly from behind? If you see something that makes you suspicious or uncomfortable, walk away, return to the store, and report the activity and your observations to security or store staff.

•Be a Good Witness - If you see a crime or fall victim, be the best witness you can be. Without good suspect descriptions it is difficult for police to conduct follow-up, apprehend criminals, and hopefully, help prevent others from becoming future victims. Basic physical descriptions such as hair color and style, height, weight and build, clothing color and type, suspect vehicle description and license plate, direction of travel, are all things that a responding police officer will ask for. Try and make note of anything specific to the suspect such as tattoos, scars, piercings or perhaps damage in a particular location on a suspect vehicle.

•Consider the Stakes - If this is a property crime and you are in fear for your safety, give up the purse, the wallet, the car. Your personal well-being is much more valuable than your property. Property can be replaced, you can't. 

•Make a Scene! - Drawing attention to yourself, and more importantly, to the suspect, can not only deter the crime but also bring forward other witnesses and possibly help. Yell, scream, use a whistle, run away...

•Don't be a Target - Walk with a purpose and look about surveying your surroundings. Carry your keys and whistle in your hand, not buried in your purse. This allows you to immediately open your vehicle or set off your car alarm if needed. Keep your purse tucked under your shoulder, not dangling down or sitting unattended in a cart.

Query the topic of personal safety on-line. There are many quality sites that offer additional advice and products that can bolster your safety. Best overall advice...Awareness and Avoidance!

Trending in Arrests

Each week, we will post an arrest of interest pointing toward arrest and crime trends within Arcadia. Package Theft and Bait Package Arrests continue...'tis the season. This week's post is highlighted arrest where the theft of an APD bait package lead to a multiple suspect arrest and the recovery of a stolen vehicle. In a separate  theft of a bait package on Friday, December 16th, a parolee and a second suspect were also arrested as a result of this program. 

Back on the morning of December 8th, the trio was involved in the theft of a bait package from the porch of a home in the 1700 block of N. Highland Oaks, Arcadia. A short time later, officers found the suspects parked in a business parking lot on Huntington Drive in Monrovia with the help of the GPS device in the bait package. Not only was the bait package recovered, but officers found narcotics, stolen mail, burglary tools, a ski mask, and a taser inside the suspect vehicle. During the investigation, officers also learned the suspect vehicle was a reported stolen car from two days prior. The suspect vehicle was a red, 4-door, Honda Accord. The investigation is continuing for any possible additional crimes.

Arrested and booked on various felony charges at the Arcadia City Jail were Melissa A. Arambula, a 35-year-old female from El Monte, Sean M. Clemens, a 45-year-old male from Covina, and Nickolas R. Martinez Jr, a 41-year-old male from Basset.

Anyone with information on this incident is encouraged to contact the Arcadia Police Department at 626-574-5156, case #16-6466. Or, if you wish to remain Anonymous, call “LA Crime Stoppers” by dialing 800-222-TIPS (8477), use your smartphone by downloading the “P3 Tips” mobile app on Google play or the App Store, or by using the website http://lacrimestoppers.org.

Weekly Activity Highlights for December 11 - 17, 2016

https://www.arcadiaca.gov/home/showdocument?id=8902

Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over

This Holiday Season, The Arcadia Police Department Is Looking For Drunk Drivers

Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over

 

This holiday season, The Arcadia Police Department will be out looking for drunk & drugged drivers as part of a special year-end Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over enforcement mobilization.

As part of the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over enforcement campaign period, police, sheriff and the CHP will be deploying DUI Checkpoints and DUI Saturation Patrols during the upcoming 17-day DUI crackdown throughout the region. The Arcadia Police Department will be conducting a DUI/CDL Checkpoint during the evening hours of December 30, 2016.

Drugs such as prescription medication, marijuana or illicit drugs can impair judgment and get you the same DUI arrest as alcohol.  Nationally in 2014, 32,675 people were killed in motor vehicle crashes with 9,967 people killed in crashes involving an impaired driver.  In California, total highway deaths were reported at 3,126 with 1,155 lives lost in alcohol and/or drug impaired collisions.  If you’re caught driving impaired by alcohol or drugs, you could face jail time, fines, loss of driver’s license, towing fees, and other DUI expenses, totaling $10,000 on average.

“Driving under the influence is not only costly, but can ruin the holidays for you, your family or for someone else’s family,” said OTS Director Rhonda Craft. “Make the decision to drive sober or use our DDVIP app to help you find a safe ride home for yourself or your friends if you know they’ve been drinking.”

Drivers are encouraged to download the Designated Driver VIP, or “DDVIP,” free mobile app for Android or iPhone. The DDVIP app helps find nearby bars and restaurants that feature free incentives for the designated sober driver, from free non-alcoholic drinks to free appetizers and more.  The feature-packed app even has social media tie-ins and even a tab for the non-DD to call Uber, Lyft or Curb.

For more information on the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over enforcement campaign and all OTS efforts, visit www.ots.ca.gov. To learn more about the DDVIP app, please visit the OTS Facebook at www.facebook.com/CaliforniaOTS or follow OTS on Twitter @OTS_CA.

The Arcadia Police Department wants everyone to have a safe and memorable holiday season, and is calling on everyone to be alert; ‘Report Drunk Drivers – Call 911!

Funding for this holiday enforcement campaign is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

CONTACT:  Sgt. Kollin Cieadlo / 626-574-5475 / kcieadlo@arcadiaca.gov

Weekly Tip - Pedestrians, Crosswalks, and Right-of-Way

A common concern that comes to the attention of the Traffic Bureau is drivers failing to yield to pedestrians. We have seen several pedestrian involved collisions in recent weeks, so, this is a good time to remind drivers and pedestrians alike of safety precautions. Pedestrian actions as well as drivers actions are governed by the Vehicle Code. Drivers must yield to pedestrians at crosswalks and intersections, even when there is no marked crosswalk. Use caution when approaching a crosswalk and if you have time to safely stop, yield to the pedestrian waiting to cross. Remember, if the pedestrian has made eye contact with you, they are probably ready to cross. If the roadway is divided, allow the pedestrian to walk past the center line or median before pulling through. If it is an undivided roadway, allow the pedestrian to walk well past the half way point in the road. Always check the curbs and look to see if someone is "darting" off the curb or entering the crosswalk late. Drivers and pedestrians both need to exercise caution and courtesy. Never pass a vehicle stopped at a crosswalk. Approach with caution and make sure the roadway and crosswalk have cleared.

Turning traffic at intersections is also dangerous for pedestrians. Even though you may have a green as a driver, you must still yield to pedestrians. Drivers making right turns must look and allow the pedestrian to step off on the green. Drivers making left turns across the intersection must make sure that not only is oncoming traffic clear, but that there are not pedestrians in the crosswalk in the path of their turn. Again, use courtesy and common sense. If the ped is well across the intersection or past the median point, you may complete your turn. If the ped is approaching you or on your side of the roadway, YIELD to them!

The DMV has a page dedicated to right of way rules regarding pedestrians, crosswalks, and other situations. Take a look for additional information.

Pedestrians outside of a crosswalk or unmarked intersection are also held responsible by the Vehicle Code. The pedestrian may only cross the road when safe to do so and must yield to traffic. The pedestrian may not cross between two signalized intersections. This is what is known as "jaywalking".

With dark evenings upon us, it is imperative we all slow down and watch carefully for pedestrians since our visibility is limited after dark. Pedestrians...carry a flashlight, wear light colored and reflective clothing, watch for cars, and use caution before stepping off the curb. Together, we can all improve pedestrian safety.

Trending in Arrests This Week

Each week, we will post an arrest of interest pointing toward arrest and crime trends within Arcadia. This week's case is an arrest of two suspects who were booked on suspicion of Grand Theft (GPS Bait Package), Identity Theft, and Possession of Controlled Substance.

Officers caught up to this pair of suspects early Sunday morning, December 4, 2016, in the 300 block West Duarte Road. The suspects had stolen a package from a home in the 100 block Lyndon Way. The package was equipped with a GPS device as part of the APD bait program, leading officers right to the suspects and their vehicle, a couple blocks away. During the investigation, officers recovered the bait package, along with money cards, checks, narcotics, and a card embossing machine, all leading to additional felony charges for the suspects.

Arrested and booked at the Arcadia City Jail were Joseph Kamal, 40-year-old male from San Gabriel, and Cristhyn Amador, a 21-year-old female from Temple City.

Anyone with information on this incident is encouraged to contact the Arcadia Police Department at 626-574-5156, case #16-6375. Or, if you wish to remain Anonymous, call “LA Crime Stoppers” by dialing 800-222-TIPS (8477), use your smartphone by downloading the “P3 Tips” mobile app on Google play or the App Store, or by using the website http://lacrimestoppers.org.