By Mary O’KEEFE

Three suspects are under arrest and a juvenile suspect is being sought concerning an early morning burglary at La Cañada High School on Oct. 31.

Joshua Oleas, 21, of Tujunga turned himself into the Crescenta Valley Sheriff’s Station on Tuesday afternoon. According to Sgt. Ray Harley, Oleas knew he was wanted in connection to the LCHS burglary. The Oleas arrest follows two other arrests that occurred over a five day prior.

CV Sheriff’s detectives arrested Erik Howell, 20, of Glendale and David Pinnell, 21, of Reseda on Nov. 3 after an investigation.

In the early morning hours of Oct. 31, suspects entered various classrooms at LCHS. Staff discovered that $25,000 in electronic items including laptop computers, computer projectors and video cameras were stolen.

A search warrant was served at Pinnell’s home in Reseda. Detectives believe that almost all the property that was taken during the burglary was recovered from that residence.

Staff at the high school continues to inventory their property to determine if other items are missing.

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information concerning the burglary is asked to contact the Crescenta Valley Sheriff’s Station Detective Bureau at (818) 248-3464, or anonymously through Crime Stoppers by dialing (800) 222-8477, texting the letters TIPLA plus your tip to 274637 (CRIMES) or visiting the website http://lacrimesstoppers.org.

During the early morning hours of Monday, October 31, 2011, multiple suspects entered various classrooms on the campus of La Canada High School, in La Canada Flintridge.  The theft was discovered by school staff members later that same day as several teachers were unable to locate computers in their classrooms.  The school soon learned that suspects stole approximately $25,000 in electronic items, including laptop computers, computer projectors, and video cameras.

Detectives from the Crescenta Valley Station developed information as to the identity of the suspects involved in the burglary by pursuing leads and evidence from the crime scene.  The investigation led to the arrest of two suspects on November 3, 2011.  Erik Howell, a 20-year old Black male from Glendale, and David Pinnell, a 21-year old White male from Reseda, who were both arrested for burglary.

Subsequent to these arrests, a search warrant was served at Pinnell’s home in Reseda.  It is believed that nearly all of the property taken during the burglary was recovered from the residence.  Additional inventory is being conducted by school officials to determine if any property is still missing.

The suspects were booked at the Crescenta Valley Sheriff’s Station where they are each being held on $20,000 bail.

Two additional suspects have been identified during the investigation and are being sought by detectives.  These individuals are Joshua Oleas, a 21-year old White male from Tujunga, and a 16-year old White male juvenile from Tujunga.

The investigation is ongoing in this burglary, including the possible involvement of other suspects.

Anyone who may have information about this burglary is asked to contact the Crescenta

Valley Station Detective Bureau at 818-248-3464, or anonymously through Crime Stoppers by dialing 800-222-TIPS (8477), texting the letters TIPLA plus your tip to CRIMES (274637), or using the website http://lacrimestoppers.org

Body Found on Foothil (210) freeway early Friday morning

By Mary O’KEEFE

Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department has confirmed that the body of a male adult was discovered on the westbound 210 Freeway near the Ocean View exit around 1:35 a.m. this morning.

“Crescenta Valley Station was called by the California Highway Patrol to the 210 Freeway regarding a possible suicide,” confirmed Capt. Dave Silversparre of the CV Sheriff’s Station. “Our Homicide Bureau, who investigates persons dead, was called to investigate, and the investigation continues.”

The L.A. County Coroner’s Office has confirmed the identity as Kirk Spiegel, 49, from the 91208 area of Glendale. The incident appears to be a suicide, said a spokeswoman for the Coroner’s Office.

Spiegel apparently jumped off the overpass bridge. He was pronounced dead at the scene, she said.

The Homicide Unit is investigating the incident.

Deputies Raise Awareness, Ask for Public’s Help

Crescenta Valley Sheriff’s Station detectives are asking residents to be aware of people knocking on doors in their neighborhood supposedly looking for a friend.

Four residential burglaries occurred in La Cañada on Thursday between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. One of the homes was in the 4800 block of Hillard Avenue, one in the 4800 block of Grand Avenue and two homes in the 4900 block of Indianola Way. At one of the homes on Indianola Way a man reported hearing someone knocking on his front door. He had decided not to answer it at first but the persistent knocking; jiggling of the doorknob and his dog barking caused him to go to the door.

“He saw two women had opened his door and were about six inches into his [entryway],” Harley said.

The women are described as Hispanic well dressed between the ages of 18 and 20. The resident asked the women what they wanted and they said they were looking for a friend by the name of Claire. The man told the women there was no one by that name at his home and the women left. He did not call the sheriff’s station at that time.

“We want to remind people when they see strangers asking for someone who does not live in the neighbor they need to contact [the sheriff’s station],” Harley said.

Often people who plan to burglarize will knock on resident’s doors to determine if anyone is home. It is a way of casing the neighborhood to see what home to burglarize, Harley added.

“They [burglary suspects] often use women to make the [initial] contact because they are less threatening,” he said.

Detectives think there may be residents in the area that either saw the women or noticed a strange car in their neighborhood.

“It is likely that these women may have been knocking on several other doors. Residents might be able to give us information and some might have them on a [home] video surveillance,” Harley said.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the CV Sheriff’s Station at (818) 248-3464.

Dream Dinners Hosting Relay for Life Fundraiser

Help bring awareness and support cancer research through Relay for Life of the Foothills. The event has teams taking to the field at Clark Magnet High School on May 14 and 15. At least one team member will walk the track at all times during the 24 hour event. Relay for Life raises money and awareness for cancer research.

Dream Dinners will have a fundraising event on Wednesday, April 6 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Everyone is invited to stop by anytime within that time frame to purchase and make a meal that serves one to six people at a cost of $25. Dream Dinners will donate half of the price ($12.50) to Relay for Life-Foothills on your behalf.

Sign up for a Dream dinner session in April or May and receive $25 off your order and Dream Dinners will donate another $10 towards Relay for Life. Bring your friends!

Call and order at (818) 957-1499. Or better yet go to Dream Dinners and order or make your own.

We all have to eat and what better way to make a contribution to Relay for Life!

Dream Dinners is located at 4121 Pennsylvania Avenue. Attached is a form for the dinners.

TO GET BREAKING NEWS SIGN UP FOR THE CV WEEKLY BLAST BY EMAILING

robin@cvweekly.com

The video surveillance is available for viewing here:

Entrance

Exit

By Mary O’KEEFE

A man jumped a counter at the La Crescenta Post Office at about 8 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 9 and stole a box of mail. Anyone who mailed items at the La Crescenta Post Office between the hours of 5 p.m. on Saturday and 8 p.m. on Sunday is advised to submit a Mail Theft and Vandalism Complaint with the post office.
The U.S. Postal Service is offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of an individual or individuals responsible for the burglary at the La Crescenta Post Office.
“It is very unusual for [someone] to burglarize a post office like this and to only take mail,” said Renee Focht, U.S. Postal Inspector spokeswoman.
The suspect is described as a black male about six feet tall, and at the time of the incident was wearing a plaid shirt, jeans, boots, a purple team cap and possibly wearing a mask, according to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service press release.
A surveillance video shows the man entering the back room of the post office, jump over the counter, and grab a box containing mail, jumped back over the counter and leave.
The post office is located at the corner of Maryland Avenue and Foothill Boulevard at 3300 Foothill Blvd. On Sunday the doors to the lobby were open however the main post office room was closed.
“[The area] where you walk in where the post office boxes are was open. [The suspect] broke into the area [behind the mail slots] that are on the wall,” Focht said.
Focht said she was in the area until the early evening on Tuesday. She observed 
how busy the area was especially the veterinarian hospital across from the post office on Maryland Avenue. She hoped someone remembers seeing something that could lead to the suspect.
“The [suspect] took the outgoing mail,” Focht added.
Customers who deposited mail that was collected during the times indicated above should contact the post office.
After spending some time at the La Crescenta Post Office, Focht said she realized that residents are part of a close-knit community. She advised residents who did mail during the designated times to go into the office and talk to the post office workers about their concerns.
“If you mailed a check [it is advised to] put a stop payment on that check,” she said.
Reporting the theft not only helps the customer but also the inspectors. If a check that has been cashed is traced back to the burglary it may help inspectors to identify the suspect, Focht said.
For those customers affected a theft report can be filed online at postalinspectors.uspis.gov or call (877) 876-2455 and select option three, or go into the post office.
Anyone with information concerning this burglary is asked to call Postal Inspectors at (877) 876-3455, select option two and refer to case number 1861003. Callers can remain anonymous.

By Mary O’KEEFE

On Friday at 5:13 p.m. a man was arrested for being found in possession of burglary tools and bringing a controlled substance into a jail.

Deputies from Crescenta Valley Sheriff’s Station responded to a call of a suspected burglary when a witness reported seeing a man, later identified as Albert Montoya, 62, of Burbank acting suspiciously at Orchard Supply Hardware (OSH) in the 3100 block of Foothill Boulevard.

According to the sheriff’s report, the witness reported seeing the suspect with a shopping cart filled with several items walking in the rear of the nursery. The witness found this odd because there were no registers near the nursery and reported it to the store manager.

The suspect was allegedly seen later walking behind the nursery on the outside of the store. The manager discovered several boxes of unopened merchandise just outside the nursery and a hole cut in
the chain link fence that is between the interior and exterior of the store. It appeared to be made with a bolt cutter- like tool.

Montoya was reportedly seen running from the area.  Deputies discovered the suspect’s vehicle parked in the lower parking lot of OSH and allegedly found stolen merchandise in it.

The suspect was found nearby. He told deputies he was fleeing the area because he had an argument with a store employee.

Montoya was arrested and taken to the CV Station. After a search deputies found what appeared to be a narcotic in his possession.

By Mary O’KEEFE

Deputies from Crescenta Valley Sheriff’s Station arrested three suspects after finding tools commonly used in burglaries, stolen property and drugs.

At 2:50 p.m. on Saturday, deputies responded to a call at Briggs and Olive avenues about three males in a vehicle that may have been stolen.

The three, Ian Kuh, 18, of Sunland, James Martin, 18, of La Crescenta and a 17-year-old boy also from La Crescenta were found on Rosemont Avenue and Rockdell Street.

It appeared that Kuh was under the influence of a controlled substance, said Sgt. Ray Harley.

After an investigation, deputies discovered a black bag with several tools typically used in burglaries.

“They found a bag that contained burglary tools and some [allegedly] stolen property,” Harley said. “Some markings on some of the items led [investigators] to a victim in Los Angeles that said his home had been burglarized.”

Deputies also allegedly found Martin and Kuh in possession of drugs.

Kuh was arrested on being under the influence of a controlled substance, possessing burglary tools and receiving stolen property. Martin was arrested on possession of methamphetamine and concentrated cannabis, possession of burglary tools and receiving stolen property. The juvenile was arrested for being in possession of burglary tools and receiving stolen property.

Deputies also discovered ammunition in a small bag, but no guns were found.

(Concentrated cannabis means the separated resin, whether in crude or purified form, from the cannabis
plant.)

B

y Mary O’KEEFE

A string of local burglaries may have come to an end with the arrest on Sunday of a La Crescenta resident.

On Sunday at about 4:40 p.m. Crescenta Valley Sheriff’s Station received a call from a witness who had recognized a man, later identified as Anders Goodman, 24, of La Crescenta, walking down the street carrying a duffle bag similar to one that had been stolen from the witness in a burglary that occurred last week, said Sgt. Ray Harley, Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department, CV Station.

“[Deputies] responded and contacted Goodman while he was walking on Francis near La Crescenta avenues,” Harley said.

“I responded to the call,” said Deputy Bonnie Jones.

“He was not very cautious. He was carrying a duffle bag he had stolen from a home he had just walked past,” she added.

Goodman noticed Jones’ patrol vehicle and walked down a driveway as if he had found his destination.

“When I found him he was wearing a woman’s jacket, carrying the duffle bag, had a camera around his neck and his pockets were stuffed full of [items],” Jones said.

He allegedly asked the deputy what the problem was, still trying to maintain an innocent tone.

“The homeowner came out and wondered what was going on,” she said.

The resident did not know Goodman.

“While we were investigating a man from down the street came up and asked what we were doing. I told him and he said his car had been burglarized a few days prior. He hadn’t reported it,” Jones said.

The man described his missing iPod and umbrella which the deputies found later when they searched Goodman’s residence.

Goodman also matched a description of someone who had attempted to break into a La Crescenta home on Sunday.

“[On Sunday] there were three residential burglaries reported in La Crescenta,” Harley said. “There was another one on Saturday and one on Friday.”

The recovered property has been identified and organized.

“It took me 11 hours to [catalog] all the items we found,” Jones said.

Investigators are still trying to match items with victims.

“I would think he is responsible for 15 or more residential and vehicle burglaries,” Harley said.

“We are still investigating,” Harley added.

Goodman was out on parole.  He served a partial sentence and was released early.

Jones has been a victim of burglary in the past.

“You don’t know how much sweeter it is to catch the [burglar],” she said.

Detectives

“You

Anyone in La Crescenta who has been a recent victim of a burglary, vehicle or residence, can contact Det. Frank Diana (818) 248-3464.

June 25

1800 block of Foothill Boulevard in La Cañada, a woman reported that her wallet was stolen from her locked vehicle while it was parked in a parking lot near Mayor’s Discovery Park. The woman reported seeing a man described as Hispanic, dark hair and clean-shaven in his 50s sitting in a black Honda Odyssey van near her vehicle. When she noticed her vehicle doors were unlocked the man left the parking lot. Deputies discovered the front driver’s side door keyhole had been pried and damaged.  The incident occurred between 11:45 a.m. and 2 p.m.

5000 block of Westslope Lane in La Cañada Flintridge, a hair dryer and sunglasses were stolen from an unlocked vehicle overnight,

5000 block of Princess Anne Road in La Cañada, several gardening tools were stolen from a vehicle between 12:30 p.m. and 12:45 p.m.

400 block of Paulette Place in La Cañada, two global positioning systems, an iPod and iPhone charger were stolen from two unlocked vehicles parked in an open garage sometime between 1 a.m. and 6 a.m.

5000 block of Westslope Lane in La Cañada, a global positioning system was stolen from an unlocked vehicle overnight.

2200 Foothill Boulevard in La Cañada, a man and woman reportedly went into Big Lots store, filled a cart with several items and left the store without attempting to pay. An employee approached the two suspects after they had left the store. The employee grabbed one of the bags filled with items.  A struggle occurred. The male suspect allegedly shoved the employee causing her to fall to the ground and lose her grip on the bag. The suspects fled in a small red car with no front or rear license plates. The vehicle had a decal of a dollar sign on the rear window. The male suspect was described as black, 30 to 40 years old, 5’9”, 225 pounds. The woman was black, 30-to-40 years old, 5’9”, 200 pounds.

June 24

1700 block of Foothill Boulevard in La Cañada, a 19-year-old La Crescenta man was robbed while walking on Foothill Boulevard toward Alta Canyada Road.  According to the sheriff’s report, the man was walking eastbound on Foothill Boulevard when two suspects approached him. The man was listening to his iPod and had headphones on so was not able to hear the suspects approach. He noticed them in his peripheral view. The two suspects, both males wearing ski masks, approached the man. The first suspect pointed a black semiautomatic handgun at the victim and demanded his wallet and iPod.  The second suspect echoed the order. The victim was at first startled by the men and took some steps backward away from the suspects. Suspect One walked toward the victim and placed the handgun to his forehead. The victim gave the suspect his iPod and wallet.  Suspect Two said, “Thank you,” and the two fled on foot to a waiting vehicle. A driver, the third suspect, waited until the other two got into the vehicle then drove eastbound on Foothill Boulevard at a high rate of speed. Both suspects were described as white men between 17 and 18 years old from 6 foot to 6 foot 3 inches. They were each wearing a black knit ski mask with eyeholes cut out. Suspect One was wearing a dark colored sweatshirt with sleeves pulled up to the elbow, blue jeans and possible green “Vans” tennis shoes. Suspect Two was wearing a dark colored T-shirt and blue jeans.  The vehicle is described as white or light colored sport utility, perhaps a Jeep with a spare tire enclosure on the back gate. The incident happened at 1 a.m.

By Mary O’KEEFE

Burglary suspects were arrested thanks to an alert neighbor who saw something suspicious and called police.

“A neighbor observed three males exiting a gate [of a house] located in the 3000 block of Los Olivos Lane. The witness knew that the home owner was gone and that the home had been burglarized the previous night,” said Lt. Ian Grimes, Glendale Police Department.

The witness contacted the police who discovered three men matching the description walking northbound on Boston Avenue and turning onto El Moreno Street. Christopher Abeglen, 25, and David Silva, 19, along with a juvenile, all from Tujunga were arrested on suspicion of burglary.

“Officers found a camera that they believe was discarded by the suspects when the officers approached,” Grimes said.

The camera belonged to the resident of the Los Olivos Lane home.

“What is important in all of this is the great action of the neighbor who called immediately [when he saw something suspicious],” Grimes said.

Grimes reminds residents of the recent burglaries in the area and how important it is to be alert neighbors.

“The message here is please when you see conduct that is suspicious call us right away,” he added. “Sometimes people will see something and not call until it is too late.”

Grimes said the department does have more officers patrolling the area due to the burglary increase lately but officers still need the help of the community as their eyes and ears.

May 3

Angeles Crest Highway mile marker 52 to 85, several paint ball guns and a container were stolen from the Angeles Crest Christian Camp between Aug. 21 and May 1.

2300 block of Panorama Avenue in La Crescenta, several boxes of floor tiles were stolen from a garage that was under construction.  The items were stolen overnight.

May 2

4400 block of Oak Grove Drive in La Cañada Flintridge, someone entered the theatre at La Cañada High School and discharged a fire extinguisher on the stage and stole several props from a storage area between April 30 and May 2.

April 30

600 block of Foothill Boulevard in La Cañada, 25 “Avatar” DVDs and 15 “It’s Complicated” DVDs were stolen from Vons market. According to the report, a man described as white, 30-to-35 years old  entered the store and walked over to a display of “Avatar.” He took a black plastic bag out of his pocket and dumped the DVDs into it. He then went to the second DVD display and emptied those items into the bag. He exited the store without attempting to purchase the items. A second suspect described as a white female, 40-to-50 years old who had entered the store, met him. They both fled the area at 1:33 p.m.

April 30

1200 block of Foothill Boulevard in La Cañada,  the rear driver’s side window was smashed and a laptop computer, medical books and a backpack were stolen from a vehicle parked in a parking lot from 8 a.m. to noon.

1600 block of Del Oro Drive in La Cañada, a six-inch spool of copper wire and a drill were stolen from a construction site overnight.

April 29

1900 block of Verdugo Boulevard in La Cañada,  a vehicle parked in the parking lot of United Artists theater was vandalized. The car’s rear view mirrors and rear seat were stolen. It appeared entry was gained through a small hole that was punched in the driver’s side door just under the handle. The ignition column cover was torn off and was placed on the driver’s side floorboard.  The incident occurred between 7:40 p.m. and 9:38 p.m.

2900 Community Avenue in La Crescenta, a multi media projector was stolen from a classroom. The classroom door was locked and the projector was secured with a chain. The incident was reported on April 29 but occurred between April 26 and 27.

April 27

Verdugo Boulevard and Hilldale Drive in La Cañada,  a spare tire cover that was located outside the rear trunk hatch of a vehicle was stolen while it was parked in the Park and Ride lot between 7:45 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.

3100 block of Foothill Boulevard in La Crescenta, the front passenger side window was shattered and an electronic dictionary and backpack were stolen from a vehicle between 11:45 a.m. and 11:50 a.m.

1300 block of Foothill Boulevard in La Cañada, the driver’s side rear window was shattered and two hockey sticks were stolen from a vehicle parked in a parking lot between 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

April 24

3100 block of Oakwood Avenue in La Cañada, a 28-year-old Los Angeles man was arrested on suspicion of possession of heroin, methamphetamine and pharmaceutical medication without a prescription. Deputies responded to reports of a man passed out in a vehicle parked in the area. They found the Los Angeles man and the suspected narcotics in his vehicle. Deputies also discovered 18 empty hypodermic needle syringes in a shaving bag located in the man’s car at 8 a.m.