Gerardo Cortez arraignment postponed to October 4, 2013. He allegedly made a series of threats to several San Gabriel Valley locations. He has a history of making false bomb threats.
Gerardo Cortez, 26, of Monrovia, pleads not guilty in threats to shoot students in area schools. He is charged with 6 counts of making false criminal threats and 5 counts of falsely reporting an emergency.
Monrovia man Gerardo Cortez, 26, was arrested for allegedly making telephone threats to shoot adults and children with an assault rifle at schools (including Arcadia High School), the Westfield Santa Anita mall, and a hospital in the San Gabriel Valley last week. He was booked at Monrovia Police Department for five counts of felony Making Criminal Threats and five counts of False Report of an Emergency. He is to be arraigned today. See also Mountain Views News, September 14, 2013, p. 1.
Police in seven San Gabriel Valley cities will be able to respond more quickly and effectively to reports of a crime in progress using a new mapping technology installed in a police helicopter operated by Foothill Air Support Team under a joint powers agreement between the cities of Alhambra, Arcadia, Azusa, Covina, Monrovia, Pasadena, and West Covina. The system is linked to a Global Positioning System (GPS).
Nurhan Venk, 47, suspect in the shooting of Arcadia police officer, charged with attempted murder for shooting the officer in the face. He faces another attempted murder charge for allegedly shooting his 73-year-old mother in the chest. Zoo Yang, an 83-year-old neighbor across the street was also struck by a stray bullet while he was watching his grandchild.
Former Arcadia police officer Christian Blesch, 36, was arrested and charged with grand theft. He allegedly embezzled funds from the Arcadia Police Officers' Association over a period of several months. As of September 24, 2013, Blesch was no longer employed by Arcadia Police Department.
Spotlight on Mexican restaurant called Original Peppers Mexican Grill and Cantina, a family-oriented, family-owned restaurant at 181 Colorado Place, that has been serving the area for almost 40 years. Chef Amador Cortez has been running the kitchen for over 30 years. Co-owner is Virginia Disegna.
An honored tradition: 2023 Pasadena Tournament of Roses unveils Royal Court. The seven members receive $7500 in educational scholarships. They are Salia Baligh, Sahanna Rajinikanthan, Bella Ballard, Zoe Denoncourt, Michelle Cortez-Peralta, Uma Wittenberg, and Adrian Crick. Sahanna Rajinikanthan is an Arcadia resident and a senior at Arcadia High School.
Attempted murder in Arcadia on June 25, 2013 at 1:38 PM. There were shots fired in the area of Lovell Avenue, just south of Duarte Road. The intended shooting victim ducked and was not hit by the gunshots. See also Mountain Views News, p. A6, June 29, 2013.
Ben Zhang is seeking a position on the Arcadia Unified School District Board. Zhang is a business owner, project manager and community volunteer in Arcadia. He currently manages a senior living facility, works with local non-profits such as Arcadia Police Foundation and American Red Cross, along with establishing several other developments throughout San Gabriel Valley.
Arcadia High School receives several local donations after hosting 27th annual Orchestra Benefit Dinner, a rundraising event for Arcadia Music Club. Jason Lee is pictured. He is an Arcadia City Council candidate.
Authorities have released Joshua Connole of Pomona, a suspect in the August 22 vehicle vandalisms labeled by FBI as acts of ecoterrorism. More than $2 million in damage was caused by vandals claiming affiliation with the Earth Liberation Front. High-end sport utility vehicles (SUVs) and other vehicles at the Rusnak Mercedes Benz dealership in Arcadia, Advantage Ford in Monrovia, Clippinger Chevrolet in West Covina, and Duarte Mitsubishi were torched and spray painted.
Arcadia is teaming with Monrovia, Azusa, Covina and West Covina to form the regional Foothill Air Support Team (FAST) which will give the city police helicopter support.
Several San Gabriel Valley teachers were honored last Friday at the annual Teachers of the Year Awards and Banquet given by the Los Angeles County Office of Education. Talmage Jones, of Arcadia High School, was one of 16 County Teachers of the Year.
Former Arcadia Catholic school teacher Elohim D'Leon released from jail. He was arrested last Thursday on suspicion of 10 counts of lewd acts on a child younger than 14 years old committed in 2003-2004 while he was a music teacher at Epiphany Catholic School in South El Monte. He worked at Holy Angels School in Arcadia 2004-2013. The investigation is continuing.
Six years ago after severe winter rains, Cal FEMA gave several grants to cities responsible for the maintenance of the road to Chantry Flats north into the foothills from Arcadia. Monrovia is responsible for a small segment of that road, but it has not yet been repaired. Monrovia City Manager Scott Ochoa explained that the initial grant was insufficient to pay for the repairs.
Hunt continues for gunman in Arcadia car-to-car shooting on the 210 Freeway near Baldwin Avenue which left a woman named Betty Hernandez, 36, of Monrovia, dead. This shut down the freeway for several hours on September 4. On September 5, two people were found dead, in the block of 600 West Huntington Drive, an apparent murder-suicide. Both victims were in their 50s.
Several White Mountain Apaches spent several days on the high school campus exchanging friendship and learning. Tribal Council Chairman Dallas Massey, with others in his group, also attended a Board of Education meeting, Chamber of Commerce Intercultural Dinner and the Rotary Club.