News
La Mirada Crime Report November 4-10
Aggravated Assault-An assault occurred on the 15000 block of Imperial Hwy. Three suspects were taken into custody after a physical altercation erupted with a male victim in the parking lot of a local business. The suspects had fled the scene, but were eventually apprehended. The investigation is ongoing.
Residential Burglary-A burglary was reported on the 15100 block of Cheshire St. It remains unknown if any property was taken. An incident occurred on the 14300 block of Elmrock Ave. Jewelry and a laptop computer were stolen from the home.
Vehicle Burglary-A burglary was reported on the 14900 block of Gagely Ave. Various items were taken. A window smash burglary was reported on the 15200 block of Santa Gertrudes Ave. A bag containing cosmetics and an e-book were stolen.
Be Aware of Scammers Posing as Utility Workers in La Mirada
La Mirada~The La Mirada Public Safety Team is reminding residents to be aware of various scams targeting utility customers. Recent incidents include scams that demand immediate payment for allegedly past due electricity bills or false requests to leave your residence for a utility-related cause to commit burglary.
In a recent incident on Nov. 10, two males knocked on the door of a house in La Mirada. Refusing to show identification or work orders, the imposters claimed they were from Southern California Edison (SCE) and instructed the residents to vacate the home immediately due to downed power lines affecting their property.
Confused, the residents eventually complied and moved to the backyard. Only after growing suspicious did the residents call 911. The burglars fled the scene before Sheriff's Deputies could arrive. Fortunately, no property was taken.
Residents should always ask for identification when a stranger comes to the door or calls claiming to be a utility worker. SCE utility workers particularly will provide verification, including their department and phone number, when asked.
Latest La Mirada Bi-Weekly Crime Report; Did Something Happen in your Neighborhood?
Aggravated Assault-An assault with a knife was reported on the 14000 block of La Barca Dr. The incident involved a dispute between family members. A domestic violence incident was reported near Rosecrans Ave and Valley View Ave. A suspect was arrested by responding deputies. An assault involving a butter knife was reported on the 13600 block of Duffield Ave. The suspect is related to the victims and the incident is under investigation.
Residential Burglary-A burglary was reported on the 14500 block of Florita Rd. Various electronics and other items were stolen from the residence. A burglary to a home under fumigation was reported on the 13900 block of Ratliffe St. Jewelry was taken from the residence. An attempted residential burglary was reported on the 15600 block of Olive Branch Dr. A residential burglary was reported on the 14100 block of San Joaquin St. It is unknown if any items were stolen in the incident.
Other Structure Burglary-A burglary to a business was reported on the 14600 Firestone Blvd. Various electronics were stolen from the location.A flat screen television was reported stolen from a hotel room on the 14700 block of Firestone Blvd. A cash register was reported stolen from a restaurant on the 12800 block of La Mirada Blvd.
Vehicle Burglary-A burglary to a truck was reported on the 15200 block of Santa Gertrudes Ave. Tools were stolen from the vehicle. Two separate vehicle burglaries were reported on the 14900 block of Gagely Dr. A purse was stolen in one incident, and various items from the second vehicle. Various items were stolen from a vehicle on the 16100 block of Rosecrans Ave. A burglary was reported on the 14400 block of Firestone Blvd. A computer with accessories and other bags were taken. A laptop computer and a backpack were reported stolen from a SUV on the 15200 block of Badlona Dr. Vehicle registration paperwork was stolen from a vehicle on the 14400 block of Cartela Dr.
Gang Member Armed With Assault Rifle Arrested in La Mirada
La Mirada~Deputies from the City's Special Assignment Officers (SAO) team apprehended a confirmed gang member from a neighboring area in La Mirada on Oct. 23. The suspect was armed with a Ruger Mini 14 assault rifle slung across his chest, concealed beneath his clothing.
Working on a tip from a neighboring law enforcement agency, the SAO Deputies spotted the suspected gang member driving southbound on La Mirada Blvd. After conducting a traffic stop at the intersection of La Mirada Blvd. and Imperial Hwy., Deputies quickly moved in on the suspect and two other passengers suspecting he was armed.
During the investigation, Deputies discovered the suspect also had a high capacity magazine loaded with nearly 20 live rounds in one pocket, and methamphetamine in another pocket.
The suspect was arrested for possession of a controlled substance while armed with a firearm.
NLMUSD Board President Hengler Voted Out of Office
Norwalk~The evening started with seven candidates, including four incumbents, hoping to capture one of four opens seats on the Norwalk-La Mirada School District Board of Education- when it ended the president was voted out of office.
In what some would call an upset, board president Ed Hengler, 80, a retired educator and on the panel since 1997, was ousted Tuesday night by challenger Sean Reagan, 38, a teacher at Cal High in the Whittier High School Union District. Hengler finished in sixth place.
Incumbent Margarita Rios, 43, a police sergeant for the Los Angeles School District led all candidates with 2,128 votes and incumbent Darryl Adams, 52, a teacher, finished second with 1,965 votes.
Reagan was third with 1,758 votes and incumbent Ana Valencia, 46, a teacher, received 1,637 votes, rounding out the field of winners.
Challenger Salvador Limon, 26, a special education teacher received 1,460 votes finishing fifth, 177 votes shy of Valencia. Mark White, 53, a field technical engineer, placed seventh with 959 votes.
At one point during the night, it appeared another incumbent might be in trouble when Limon pulled within less than 100 votes of Valencia, but she was able to hold him at bay.
Leading up to the election, Hengler criticized Reagan for running for a spot when his own child doesn't even attend school in the district. Reagan lives in Norwalk and has stated child care convenience as the reason his child attends school in Cerritos and not in the NLMUSD.
Voter turnout was poor. The district area has a registered voter base of over 60,000 and there are 19,000+ students enrolled in the NLMUSD, yet it appears well under 10 percent of people turned out to vote.
Table courtesy County of Los Angeles Registrar Recorder
UPDATED: Brush Fire Spreads to Home on Fairhope Drive
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| Smoke rises from a home in La Mirada Wednesday afternoon. Photo courtesy @maand3 |
La Mirada~Los Angeles County firefighters earlier battled a structure fire originally reported at the 8300 block of Los Coyote Drive in Buena Park near Los Coyotes Country Club.
Inspector Mora of the LA County Fire Department told the La Mirada Blog the incident originally started as a brush fire and was reported at 12:13 p.m. today.
The fire spread to the backyard of a home on Fairhope Drive in the unincorporated area of Orange County west of Beach Boulevard and firefighters were quickly on scene with sufficient personnel, said Mora.
It appears just the one home has been affected with fire seen coming through the attic at one time.
No injuries have been reported and the cause is currently under investigation.
Latest La Mirada Bi-Weekly Crime Report; At Least Four Assaults Reported
Aggravated Assault-A domestic assault was reported on the 15300 block of Loretta Dr. The suspect, who was the victim's significant other, attacked the victim while asleep. The incident is under investigation. A shooting occurred on the 12900 block of Duffield Ave. The victim was standing with friends in front of a house when a trio of suspects pulled up in a vehicle. After a short exchange of words, one of the suspects brandished a handgun and began shooting, then fled the scene. The victim was transported to the hospital and treated for a gunshot wound to the foot. The incident remains under investigation. An assault was reported on the 13200 block of Parise Dr. The suspect, who is related to the victim, was arrested by responding deputies for choking the victim. A stabbing was reported on the 14900 block of Gagely Dr. The victim was stabbed after confronting the suspect in the street regarding suspicious behavior. The incident remains under investigation.
Residential Burglary-A burglary was reported on the 15500 block of Loretta Dr. Jewelry and electronics were stolen from the residence. An incident occurred on the 12800 block of Colima Rd. It is unknown if any property was stolen. A burglary was reported on the 13300 block of Clearwater Dr. Various items and jewelry was taken from the home. Cash was reported stolen in a burglary reported on the 14300 block of Manecita Dr. A burglary was also reported on the 15400 block of Illora Dr.
Other Structure Burglary-A motorcycle was reported stolen from a garage on the 14000 block of Whiterock Dr.
Fire Guts Strip Mall Just North of City Limits
South Whittier~A fire broke out at an aging strip mall early this morning in South Whittier across the street from the La Mirada city limits.
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| A vacant pet store is one of many businesses fully engulfed in this exclusive photo sent in by La Mirada Blog fan @MsDaizzzy. |
No one was injured in the three-alarm blaze that started shortly after 3:00 a.m. at the northeast corner of Leffingwell Road and La Mirada Boulevard in unincorporated Los Angeles County.
No one was injured although a firefighter reportedly received minor burns.
Authorities believe the fire started in a laundromat on the property. A liquor store and a pet store were also among the five businesses damaged. Neighbors on the scene told the La Mirada Blog the former reptile and fish store was vacant.
Los Angeles County firefighters knocked down the blaze by 5:30 and a few hours later trash bins and bulldozers were already on scene.
The fire was first reported on our La Mirada Blog Twitter feed by @andygmz416 at 3:30 a.m.
The cause of the blaze is unknown at this time and is currently under investigation.
See additional exclusive photos of the aftermath cleanup on our Flickr feed here.
Superior Grocers Opening La Mirada Location
La Mirada~Superior Grocers will be hosting a grand opening for their latest store to open this Saturday, September 28th at 7:00 a.m. in La Mirada, at 12710 Valley View Avenue at Imperial Highway.
The independently owned Santa Fe Springs based chain opened its first store in Covina in 1981 and today is the largest independently-owned chain of grocery stores in Southern California, operating over 40 stores in Southern California, with most in Los Angeles County.
The new store is expected to offer an extensive produce selection, full-service bakery, full-service meat and in-store restaurant.
The company’s website indicates they are committed to being active partners in the communities they serve.
Get a sneak peek of the Saturday grand opening specials here.
The building was the former Vons La Mirada that opened in 1968 and closed March 27th, 2010. It was then replaced by Bestway Supermarkets until July of this year.
Seven File for Four Spots on Norwalk-La Mirada School Board
Norwalk-Three candidates will challenge incumbents for four available seats on the Norwalk-La Mirada Board of Education in the local and municipal elections on November 5th.
Incumbents Ana Valencia, Ed Hengler, Margarita Rios and Darryl Adams have all filed necessary papers for re-election.
The three challengers include Sean Reagan, Salvador Limon and Mark White.
Four of the seven have listed teacher as their main occupation. Hengler is a retired teacher and White lists Field Technical Engineer and Rios, a parent, as their occupations.
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