James Allen Beck, a former Arcadia police officer, was killed in an August 31 shoot-out and fire with sheriff deputies and federal agents. Now the coroner says the sheriff deputies disturbed the crime scene and he is unable to determine whether or not Beck had been shot.
Arcadia Police Department confirms that James Allen Beck was a former police officer with the City of Arcadia. He is a suspect named as responsible in the death of Deputy Jake Kuredjian of the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department.
The family of sheriff's Deputy Hagop "Jake" Kuredjian settled a wrongful-death suit against former Arcadia police officer James Allen Beck who shot Kuredjian while he was helping serve a search warrant.
Arcadia Police close 13 maternity homes in a crackdown months after a full-time detective was assigned to address calls about pregnant Asian women living in groups at residences around the city. The pregnant Asian women come to the U.S. so their babies receive U.S. citizenship. Detective James Trabbie became the quality-of-life detective.
Five running for three Arcadia City Council seats. The five are Tom Beck, a retired Pasadena attorney, Sho Tay, a retired businessman, Roger Chandler, a former Arcadia City Councilman, Paul Van Fleet, an insurance agent, and Burton L. Brink, a sergeant in Los Angeles County Sheriff's Crescenta Valley Station. The completely mail-in ballot election will be on April 8. See hard copy in VF City Council Elections (2014).
In a letter sent to Mayor Tom Beck, the HQH Chinese American Equalization Association demands district voting in Arcadia. The association claims at-large system dilutes influence. According to 2010 U.S. Census, Asians represent 60% of the city's population of 56,364 and about 46% of its registered voters. The letter points out that no more than 2 Asian Americans have served on Arcadia City Council at the same time. Beck said Arcadia doesn't have the problem of Asians being underrepresented.
Voters support incumbents. Turnout very low.* District 2 winner is Tom Beck with 982 votes out of 1857 votes cast and Roger Chandler won in District 5 with 704 votes out of 1627 cast. In District 3, Sho Tay ran unopposed so he was appointed. *semi-official results.
Arcadia City Council members to submit nominees for John Wuo's vacant seat at next meeting October 20. Mayor Gary Kovacic and Councilman Tom Beck recommended former mayor Mickey Segal. Councilman Roger Chandler and Sho Tay wanted to take time to think of a few more nominees.
City of Sierra Madre police must find another way to deal with officer shortage after Arcadia balks at sharing officer. Sierra Madre officials had hoped Arcadia could help through a contract between the cities where one Arcadia officer would help patrol areas of Sierra Madre at night and backup would be available as needed. Arcadia City Council said they could not spare an officer for such a contract. See also Arcadia Weekly, February 4, 2016, pp. 1, 14.
Mentally ill man Gerardo Cortez, 26, of Monrovia, is arrested for allegedly making telephone threats to shoot adults and children at a hospital, a mall, and schools in Arcadia and Monrovia.
Arcadia City Council approved spending about $297,700 in state police funds for various purposes, including an upgrade to the police shooting range, located beneath the Council Chamber.
Arcadia City Council has two new members and a former city councilman has returned, according to semi-official results of the all-mail ballot election. Tom Beck, a retired attorney, and Sho Tay, a retired businessman, are new. Roger Chandler is the returning councilman.
Former Arcadia Police Department officer Christian Blesch gets 180 days in jail for pilfering more than $40,000 from the Arcadia Police Officers Association. He has paid back the amount stolen and resigned.
Arcadia Police Department offers a safe meet up spot for internet sales. The Internet Exchange “Meet Up” spot is in the police department parking lot. The lot has video surveillance and is adjacent to the police station in the southwest corner of the parking lot.
Police from across Southern California, including Arcadia, are joining Monrovia Police and sheriffs in a task force to try to obliterate street gangs that are committing crimes. This joint task force comes after four people were killed recently in Monrovia. Police suspect Black and Latino gangs of the murders.
Former Arcadia police lieutenant Kenneth Kuwahara, 40, entered his plea of guilty to false personation and identity theft, both felonies, and four misdemeanor counts of soliciting prostitution. The solicitations happened between January and May of 2005, while Kuwahara was on duty as watch commander. He faces up to 5 years in prison. The article includes Chief Bob Sanderson's comments.