Sept. 28 homicide not gang-related

PASADENA – The investigation for a homicide last week continues, and although no suspects have been named at this time, police have significant leads, said Janet Pope-Givens, spokesperson for the Pasadena Police Department.
Jamal Lewis Tims, a 28-year-old African American of Pasadena,was shot several times outside of a north Mentor home in the early morning of Sept. 28. Tims was taken to Huntington Memorial Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.

The shooting was not gang-related; the perpetrator sought retaliation regarding a personal matter, Pope-Givens said.

–Emily Sanderson, Crime News Reporter, United Reporting
sanderse2000@yahoo.com

Sept. 28 homicide not gang-related

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Two liquor stores sell alcohol to minors in decoy operation

October 10, 2007

PASADENA – A minor was appointed by the Pasadena Police Department last week to visit liquor stores and attempt to purchase alcohol in a routine decoy operation.Two of nine liquor stores made the sale, including Vive, located at 61 N. Raymond Avenue; and Bar Celona, located at 46 E. Colorado Boulevard. The establishments face fines and/or community service. In addition, the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) will take administrative action against the businesses’ liquor licenses. That may include a fine, a suspension of the liquor license, or permanent revocation of the license, sources at the Pasadena Police Department said.
ABC is conducting state-wide compliance checks like this to reduce the availability of alcohol to minors. Statistics have shown that young people under age 21 have a higher rate of drunken driving fatalities than the general adult population, sources at the Pasadena Police Department said.

The minor, who was unidentified by the police to the media, was required to be under 20, to have the appearance of being a minor, and had to tell her real age if she was asked.

Minor Decoy operations have been conducted by local law enforcement throughout the state since the 1980s. When the program first began, the violation rate of retail establishments selling to minors was as high as 40 to 50 percent. When conducted on a routine basis, the rate has dropped in some cities to 10 percent or less, the Pasadena Police Department said.

–Emily Sanderson, Crime News Reporter, United Reporting
sanderse2000@yahoo.com

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Hit-and-run crash suspect still at large

October 11, 2007

EL MONTE – One of the two street racers charged with the deaths of a mother and her two young children as a result of a seven-car crash was still at large Thursday.Witnesses say that El Monte resident Martin Morones, 21, fled the scene of a fiery collision on Parkway Drive Monday after attempting to hide his car, Lieutenant Ken Alva of the El Monte Police Department stated. Witnesses reported that Morones had crashed into a parked car before he and a friend attempted to roll his Honda Accord away from view.

The other racer, Robert Canizalez, 19, also of El Monte, who has no prior criminal record, was arraigned in court Thursday along with Morones, who is still at large. Both were charged with three counts of murder and one felony hit-and-run charge, the Pasadena Star News reported Thursday.

Canizalez, who was driving a Ford Mustang, is suspected of colliding with the Nissan Altima of Dora Groce, 41, while he was driving at an excessive speed. The Altima burst into flames shortly after impact. Groce and her two children, Robert, 8, and Catherine, 4, were killed. Investigators have not yet determined if the victims died on impact or as a result of the fire, Lt. Alva said.

The crash occurred around 5:45 p.m. while Canizalez and Morones were street racing. Although the investigation is ongoing, Lt. Alva said there in no evidence to suggest that the two had a history of racing.

Three passengers of a Ford F-150, also hit in the crash, were treated for minor injuries at the scene of the collision.

Morones was arrested Sept. 11 by the L.A. County Sherriff’s Department on a concealed weapons charge, the Pasadena Star News reported Thursday. He was scheduled to appear at Rio Hondo Municipal Court on Oct. 3.

Morones is a 5-foot 6-inch, 180-pound Hispanic with brown eyes and brown hair. Anyone with information as to his whereabouts should contact the El Monte Police Department at (626) 580-2110.

–Emily Sanderson, Crime News Reporter, United Reporting
sanderse2000@yahoo.com

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Masked CVS robber may be culprit of multiple robberies

October 12, 2007

PASADENA – The masked man who robbed the CVS pharmacy at gunpoint in Monrovia Oct. 1 may be the same man who is believed to have robbed a string of businesses in Pasadena and surrounding communities beginning in late August, sources in the Pasadena Police Department said.

The suspect in all incidents is described as a male African American 26 to 40 years old, approximately six feet tall, with a medium build. In each robbery, his face was obscured with a t-shirt or ski mask. He has been armed with what appears to be a large black semi-automatic hand gun.

The suspect typically enters a store a few minutes prior to opening, and confronts store employees and patrons at gunpoint. He then demands that an employee, most often the store manager, open the safe. Before fleeing, he binds victims’ hands and collects the money in the store safe.

Police say the suspect has also committed similar robberies in Monrovia, Duarte, and Eagle Rock. Eagle Rock, a section of Los Angeles proper, was robbed most recently on Oct. 8.

Anyone with information about the robber should call the Pasadena Police Department at (626) 744-8477.

– Emily Sanderson, Crime News Reporter, United Reporting
sanderse2000@yahoo.com

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