Feb. 1

1500 block of Foothill Boulevard in La Cañada Flintridge, a 24-year-old La Cañada man was arrested for taking a can of beer out of the La Cañada Liquor store. According to the sheriff’s report, an employee witnessed a man taking the can of beer from the refrigerated compartment in the store. He walked out of the store without attempting to pay. When he was stopped he told the employee that he was just borrowing the beer, took a drink and left it on the outside wall.

Jan. 31

4400 block of Cornishon Avenue in La Cañada, several items were stolen from two trucks between Jan. 27-29.

Jan. 30

4900 El Caminito Lane in La Crescenta, a laptop computer and camera were stolen from a home between 1 a.m. and noon.

Commonwealth Avenue and Georgian Road in La Cañada, a 20-year-old Los Angeles man was arrested for an outstanding warrant at 8 a.m.

Jan. 29

700 block of Foothill Boulevard in La Cañada, sheriff deputies responded to a report of four individuals loitering on private property. They told them to leave. As one man, a 19-year-old transient, was leaving he flicked a lit cigarette into the bushes. Deputies found a 4-inch metal rod in his possession. He allegedly told the deputy, “It’s my protection. You don’t know what it’s like to live on the streets.” He was arrested on the streets of La Cañada at 5:10 p.m.

4900 block of Cornishon Avenue in La Cañada, electrical lines were stolen from the Learning Castle overnight.

Jan. 28

2900 block of Community Avenue in Montrose, copper pipe was stolen from the roof of a vehicle overnight.

Jan. 27

1300 block of Foothill Boulevard in La Cañada, a Christmas bear decoration that sat on top of the gazebo at Memorial Park was stolen. Suspect(s) climbed up the gazebo, took the bear and vanished into the night between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m.

2200 Daisy Lane in La Cañada, a purse with credit cards was stolen from a vehicle. The owner contacted her bank and found that someone had used her credit card without her permission overnight.

2700 block of Fairmont Avenue in La Crescenta, a 50-year-old man was arrested for possession of a controlled substance, drug paraphernalia and violating his probation. Arrested at 8:30 a.m.

Jan. 26

2700 block of Foothill Boulevard in La Crescenta, the bathroom doors at Dominos Pizza were vandalized with graffiti reported at 10:26 p.m.

By Mary O’Keefe

CV Sheriffs are inviting the community to help them help others by donating blood.

On Jan. 19 the Crescenta Valley Sheriff’s Station will be joining about 100 other agencies in the fourth annual Battle of the Badges.

“It started as a small blood drive but has really grown over the years,” said Deputy Jorge Valdivia.

Battle of the Badges blood drive is an American Red Cross sponsored event that will begin on Jan. 18 and run through Feb. 20.

“It started as a concept through the U.S. Probation office as a way to bring badge carrying personnel together for a positive cause,” said Nick Samaniego, public affairs manager for the American Red Cross.

That first year 12 agencies within law enforcement participated. This year it has grown to over 100 including Los Angeles, San Diego and Orange counties.

The blood drive is a competition between participating agencies.

“The agents [at the U.S. Probation office] that started the drive knew how competitive law enforcement members can be so they decided to [harness] that energy into the blood drive,” Samaniego added. “It is a friendly competition.”

Valdivia said the blood drive was a way for the CV Sheriff’s Station and the community to work together.

“There is a constant need for blood. I am getting calls from the American Red Cross all the time about participating in blood drives. The station participates in [large] blood drives about twice a year,” he said.

“Roughly 3% of eligible blood donors in Southern California donate blood, “ Samaniego said.

The reason for that low participation is unknown but Samaniego said with this type of competitive blood drive the Red Cross is trying to change  that culture of not donating.

“It would be [great] if we no longer had to import blood from other areas and could be self sufficient,” he said. “This is an evergreen cause.”

There is not a specific month or season that blood is needed more than other times.

“The need is constant. People need transfusions every single day,” he said.

Capt. Dave Silversparre, left with Lt. Jeff Hardt and Sgt. Robert Hahnlein, stand next to the newly installed drug receptacles outside the sheriff's station.

By Mary O’KEEFE

The Crescenta Valley Sheriff’s Station has a new outlet for residents to dispose of unwanted prescription drugs as well bio-hazardous used or new hypodermic needles and illegal drugs.

Three mailbox-type receptacles have been installed at the exterior of the entrance to the CV Sheriff’s Station.  There is one for used or new hypodermic needles, one for illegal drugs and one for unneeded prescription drugs.

“This allows the community a safe place to drop off prescription drugs,” said Capt. David Silversparre.

He added that many times people don’t know how to dispose of outdated or no longer needed prescription medication. Disposing of the drugs through the sewer system is bad for the environment.

Leaving the drugs in the home can also be dangerous if there are younger children, especially teenagers, in the home.  Suspensions/expulsions at both the middle and high school have been the result of students bringing prescription drugs to school that were not prescribed to them.

Illegal drugs can also be dropped off in one of the mailbox bins. The items can be disposed of at the sheriff’s station with no questions asked. There are no surveillance cameras, no one will be watching those who decide to take advantage of the program, Silversparre added.

The “Drug Drop-Off” program was kicked off in early fall 2009 by the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department. Narconon International, a drug information and education organization, supports the program.

“People have called us asking what to do with [old prescription] drugs,” said a Narconon spokeswoman. She has directed those types of calls to the local sheriff stations that provide the disposal bins.

The receptacles are located at the exterior entrance of the CV Sheriff’s Station at 4554 N. Briggs Ave.  Items can be dropped off 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

“It is a providing a good service for the community,” Silversparre said.