Horse racing deaths report delayed. California Horse Racing Board (CHRB), the state regulatory board, aims for January 15 release of investigation of Santa Anita Park incidents. The report was supposed to become public before the end of the year. Several new policies and safety regulations were introduced the past year as a result of a public outcry over the horse deaths at Santa Anita. The state is doing more drug testing, more pre-race exams, improving medical record keeping, pushing for new technology. Santa Anita Park installed a PET Scan machine to help identify pre-existing conditions in the fetlock area of a horse. To date, 37 horses have died at Santa Anita Park since December 2018. Despite the deaths, the equine medical director Rick Arthur stressed that the number of fatalities in California is actually decreasing, saying there have been 58 deaths at race tracks across the state in 2019, compared to 67 deaths in 2018.
The Southern California News Group gives grades for affordable housing in area cities. Every city and county in California is required to plan for adequate housing across income levels but actually building those homes is largely a goal rather than a requirement. Arcadia got an overall D Minus grade.
57-year-old Richard Henry Solis of Arcadia faces two felony counts of grand theft from elder and six counts of petty theft from elder. The alleged crimes involved Solis claiming the victims had injured him with their vehicles and then asking for money for medical expenses or stealing their belongings, reportedly stealing $100,000 from the victims.
Arcadia K-9 unit to speak at Arcadia Community Coordinating Council meeting in November. Sergeant Jeremy Lachenmyer, K-9 officer Kota and Officer Travis Sargent will be the speakers.
Santa Anita Park: another horse dies; summary on its way. Death is fifth in month; The California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) report on past meet is due in December. GQ Covergirl, a 6-year-old mare trained by Doug O'Neill injured her front legs Friday on Santa Anita's training track and was euthanized.
Dorothy Denne honored at Arcadia Police Foundation event, a fundraiser for K-9 Program. She has been a longtime volunteer at Arcadia Police Foundation and has spearheaded efforts to bring K-9 program back to Arcadia Police Department since 2015.
Dorothy Denne, longtime Arcadia humorist, "Mother of the Force" honored by Arcadia Police Foundation at the Arcadia Police Foundation's Halloween Hoopla. Arcadia Mayor April Verlato and her husband attended. For 20 years, Dorothy wrote a weekly column called "Dorothy's Place" in Arcadia Weekly. She was a teacher for her career and has been a volunteer at the Arcadia Police Department. In 2015 she spearheaded the effort to bring back the K-9 program.
Man charged with kidnapping, beating ex-girlfriend in Arcadia. Robert Michael Mendez faces one count each of kidnapping and criminal threats and three counts of injuring a girlfriend or child's parent.
Ex-boyfriend of Arcadia woman charged with kidnapping. The ex-boyfriend's name is Robert Michael Mendez, age 27. The woman was hospitalized. Doorbell camera footage showed a man dragging a woman.
Robert Michael Mendez was arrested for attempted murder and kidnapping of his estranged girlfriend, on the 1500 block of South Santa Anita Avenue, near Camino Real Avenue.
Stronach Group and Santa Anita Park issue statement following the death of a 3-year-old colt named Emtech, euthanized on September 28. Two-time Kentucky Derby winning jockey Mario Gutierrez was tossed off in the incident. Santa Anita park will be reviewing the factors that could have contributed to Emtech's injury. Veterinarians Dr. Dionne Benson and Dr. Dana Stead were employed to euthanize and investigate.
Arcadia City Council member and Mayor Pro Tem Roger Chandler said he wouldn't want the basketball courts rebuilt because he doesn't like the "type" they attract. The old courts have been demolished already and City Council eventually recommitted to an improvement plan that permanently eliminates Eisenhower Park's basketball courts. Chandler's comments prompted an immediate uproar from residents in attendance. Council member April Verlato said his use of the phrase "the type" could be perceived as racist but doesn't think he meant it that way, but he should apologize. The renovated park will cost nearly $6.3 million, including a baseball diamond and large picnic area.
Luis Alonso Cruz Gaitan, 33, of Altadena and Isis Ondina Villalobos, 26, of Pasadena, accused of helping suspect named Heber Diaz in the killing of Chyong Jen Tsai, 76, during a burglary and robbery at her Arcadia home on April 9.
Pasadena man Heber Enoc Diaz charged with capital murder of 76-year-old Arcadia woman Chyong Jen Tsai. Also charged were Luis Alonso Cruz Gaitan of Altadena and Isis Ondina Villalobos of Pasadena as accessories after the fact.
Santa Anita Park: think of human toll if track closes. Workers gather at rally to warn about how shutting down horse racing permanently over the twenty-nine horse deaths would impact thousands of employees. Reforms have been instituted at Santa Anita Park, including stricter rules for medications and more thorough examinations, but horse deaths are inevitable in horse racing. Rally calls for compassion for track employees too, whose livelihoods will be affected by a closure. They are an already vulnerable population.
Santa Anita Park: horses must get OK of veterinarian team to race. This is a joint effort between the California Horse Racing Board and Santa Anita Park to enhance safety measures and reviews to further protect horses. Twenty-nine horses have died at Santa Anita Park since December 26.
Santa Anita Park: horse dies in training incident. Two-year-old colt Derby River is the 27th horse to die since December. He suffered a broken shoulder while galloping and was euthanized. Ruben Gomez was the trainer.
Another horse dies at Santa Anita Park, the twenty-sixth fatality since December 26. Kochees, a 9-year-old gelding, injured in Saturday's sixth race, had to be euthanized.
Man gets 64 years for sexually assaulting three workers at Westfield Santa Anita in Arcadia. Diego Cervantes, 37, of San Gabriel is a former maintenance supervisor at the mall. He was found guilty of rape and other sexual offenses.