Felony Charges Filed in Marijuana Grow Case

Arcadia Police Officers discovered a sophisticated marijuana indoor grow in a south Arcadia home this past weekend.  Chuan W. Pang, 30-years-old from Alhambra, was contacted at the home during the call for service.  Pang was arrested and booked at the Arcadia City Jail on felony charges of cultivation of marijuana.

The case was presented to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office and four felony counts for cultivation and possession of marijuana for sale, along with theft of services (utilities) were filed on Pang.  His bail was set at $100,000.00.

The investigation is continuing by Arcadia Police Detectives.

(APD Patrol Officer assisting in the removal
of some of the marijuana plants recovered
from inside the residence)

Weekly Activity Highlights for January 20-26, 2013

http://www.ci.arcadia.ca.us/docs/weekly_1.20.13.pdf

Arcadia Church Buildings Vandalized - News Release

Two Arcadia Church Buildings Vandalized

Date / Time of News Release: January 30, 2013 – 11:30 a.m.

Two Arcadia churches have been broken into and vandalized within the last two weeks. The first incident occurred overnight, Saturday to Sunday, January 19-20, 2013, at the Church of the Good Shepherd, 400 West Duarte Road. The suspect(s) forced open a door to the church office, ransacked the interior, and threw clergy robes on the ground. A fire extinguisher was discharged in the office and the suspect(s) burned part of a portrait hanging on the office wall before making off with a guitar and other sound equipment.

Early this morning, shortly after 2:30 a.m., the police department received a 9-1-1 call from a passerby reporting suspicious activity at Holy Angeles Church, 330 Campus Drive. Arcadia Police and Fire units arrived on scene and discovered an administrative building on the church property had been broken into and there was smoke inside the building. Evidence of a small fire was found against an interior hallway wall, having burnt a small area of carpet and papers. It appears the suspect(s) broke an office window to gain entry. Once inside, two religious statues and a DVD player were broken and tossed to the ground inside a small chapel, and an interior officer door was kicked in. It appeared the suspect(s) also rummaged through several rooms inside the building.

These crimes are being investigated by Arcadia Police Detectives. Due to the similarities of the crimes and the proximity of the churches, it is our belief the crimes may be related and it is our desire to inform the community; and specifically, other area religious facilities to be on watch for similar or suspicious activity. Although neither crime involved entry to the church sanctuaries, both events involved religious artifacts or items and we are treating these as religious based hate crimes.

Anyone with information on this incident is encouraged to contact the Arcadia Police Department at (626) 574-5150. If you prefer to provide information ANONYMOUSLY, you may call “Crime Stoppers” by dialing 800-222-TIPS (8477), texting the letters TIPLA plus your tip to CRIMES (274637), or using the tip page at Los Angeles Regional Crime Stoppers, http://lacrimestoppers.org/

Robert T. Guthrie, Chief of Police

By: Tom Le Veque, Sergeant

Weekly Tip - Watch for Card Skimming

Card skimming involves the unauthorized copying of electronic data from your debit card or credit card. Thieves will use hidden equipment, such as pin-hole cameras and card reading devices to obtain your PIN and card data. The stolen data is then encoded onto a counterfeit card, which is used to withdraw funds or make purchases without your knowledge.

This type of crime can occur anywhere, but most commonly occurs at gas stations, ATM machines, or restaurants. Gas pump and ATM machines can be tampered with and thieves will place devices that resemble the actual equipment on the machine in order to read your card as it is used. Restaurants are used by suspects who carry handheld skimming devices to trap credit and debit card magnetic information. The suspect may be the server of your table. Some restaurants have actually gone to use of portable card readers so that the transaction can be performed at your table, directly in front of you. This type of device helps to secure the transaction for your protection.

There are many resources on the web that give you information on this type of theft and fraud. Read the Wikipedia entry on the topic and it will give you some insight and topics to query. Here is another link to a helpful website, "Bustathief", where they actually have photos of modified ATM machines and what to look for to prevent your information from being taken.

Some quick prevention tips:

• Keep your cards in sight. If the sales clerk moves to a different register, accompany them. This may be difficult at a restaurant but you may consider asking to pay at the register.
• Pay attention to the number of times your card is swiped and make sure that any transaction that is not the actual sale is voided.
• Use the credit option as opposed to entering your PIN.
• Check the machine for any loose or unusual "reader" or equipment. Immediately report any tampered machine or out of order machine to the bank or business.
• Do not accept "assistance" from a good Samaritan at an ATM. If the machine does not properly work, move on!
• Use ATM machines inside the bank or business, visible and open to the public.
• Check your bank records and statements often. Look for unusual or unauthorized activity.
• Report any lost or stolen cards immediately.
• If you see anything or anyone suspicious near an ATM machine, call the local police!

Bank Robbery - News Release

Bank Robbery

Date/Time: January 28, 2013 at 12:00 P.M.

Today, at approximately 11:25 A.M., the Arcadia Police Department received a call of a robbery alarm at Chase. The bank is located at 60 East Huntington Drive, in Arcadia. Officers contacted bank employees, who advised that a robbery had just occurred. The suspect presented a demand note and then left the location with an undisclosed amount of money. The suspect was described as a Male, Hispanic, in his early thirties, and he had a black mustache. The suspect was wearing a black sweatshirt, black hat, and black glasses.

The investigation is being conducted by Arcadia Police Department Detectives. Anyone with information is asked to call the Arcadia Police Department at (626) 574-5150. You can also submit crime tips and information via text, phone, or web to LA Regional Crime Stoppers, (800) 222-TIPS (8477).

Robert T. Guthrie
Chief of Police

By: Lieutenant Tom Cullen
Operations Division
Refer to Case #13-0436

Attempt Murder/Suicide - Updated News Release

Incident: Attempt Murder/Suicide, Updated Information

Date/ Time: January 27, 2013 3:00 PM

On January 26, 2013, around 6:30 p.m., Arcadia Police Officers responded to a stretch of Chantry Flats regarding a traffic collision involving a solo vehicle into a guardrail. The male driver had reportedly fled on foot before police arrived on scene, leaving behind a single female occupant. Nobody had been hurt in the accident.

Further investigation revealed the driver of the vehicle intentionally hit the guardrail in an attempt to kill both himself and his passenger – changing the focus of the investigation from a traffic accident to attempted murder. Officers searched the Chantry Flats area for the suspect for quite some time, but were unable to locate him.

A few hours later, the Sierra Madre Police Department received a 911-phone call from a residence located at the Santa Anita Dam Facility, which is owned by Los Angeles County. Residents there reported that the intruder had entered their home through a front door, and refused to leave. The residents, fearing for their safety, fled the residence and waited nearby for officers to arrive.

Continued investigation suggested that the suspect involved in the Dam Facility Residence incident was the same suspect that had attempted to drive both himself and his passenger off Chantry Flats earlier in the evening. As a result, Arcadia Police Personnel requested assistance from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Special Enforcement Bureau (SWAT) in apprehending the outstanding suspect – still believed to be holed-up in the Dam Facility Residence.

After several hours, the Sheriff’s SWAT Team entered the residence and took custody of the intruder / suspect. Please contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Headquarters Bureau, at (323) 526-5541, for information regarding the suspect’s apprehension inside the residence.

Arcadia Police Officers took custody of the suspect at the scene, and have identified him as Patrick Anthony Gonzalez, a 21-year-old Los Angeles resident. Mr. Gonzalez was transported to a nearby hospital for evaluation prior to being booked for various charges to include attempted murder.

The investigation is continuing by Arcadia Police Department Detectives. Anyone with information is asked to call the Arcadia Police Department at 626-574-5150. You can also submit crime tips and information via text, phone, or web to LA Regional Crime Stoppers, 800-222-TIPS (8477).

Robert T. Guthrie
Chief of Police

By: Lieutenant Mike Castro

Sophisticated Indoor Marijuana Grow Operation - News Release

Arcadia Residence Used for Sophisticated Indoor Marijuana Grow Operation

Date/Time of Release: January 27, 2013/3:55 p.m.

Shortly before 2:30 a.m. this morning, the Arcadia Police Department received a call of a subject playing loud music while on the front lawn of a home located in the 2500 block of South Santa Anita Avenue. An Arcadia police officer was dispatched and arrived to find a lone male to the front of the residence. The male subject was asked to turn the music down and he said he would comply. About an hour later, after learning the residence in question was reported to be abandoned, officers went back to the location and again contacted the lone male, still to the front of the home.

While talking with the officers, the male said the home belonged to a friend and that he had permission to stay at the location, although he could not remember the friend’s name. The man did produce a key to the front door, unlocked it, and opened the door for officers. When the door was opened, officers saw items consistent with an indoor marijuana grow and smelled the overpowering odor of marijuana. The home was secured and Arcadia detectives were called to assist.

After obtaining a search warrant, Arcadia detectives searched the home and found the majority of the residence being used as a sophisticated, indoor marijuana grow operation. In excess of 500 marijuana plants were found in various stages of growth throughout the home. The grow consisted of multiple rooms with irrigation, lighting, ventilation, and electrical wiring run throughout. It appeared the electrical set-up was bypassing the meter and also tapping directly into electrical service. Every room, closet, hallway, and useable space inside this approx. 2,500 sq. foot, 4-bedroom home was being used to facilitate the operation. There was no evidence of this being a medical marijuana related grow.

Chuan W. Pang, 30-years-old from Alhambra, was arrested and booked at the Arcadia City Jail on felony charges of cultivation of marijuana. Pang is not believed to the property owner. The investigation is continuing.

Anyone with information on this incident is encouraged to contact the Arcadia Police Department at (626) 574-5150, case #1300421. If you prefer to provide information ANONYMOUSLY, you may call “Crime Stoppers” by dialing 800-222-TIPS (8477), texting the letters TIPLA plus your tip to CRIMES (274637), or using the tip page at Los Angeles Regional Crime Stoppers, www. http://lacrimestoppers.org/.

Robert T. Guthrie, Chief of Police

By: Tom Le Veque, Sergeant