City council approves new traffic signal

La Mirada-  The city council approved the installation of a traffic signal at Telegraph Rd. and Hutchins Dr. in response to a dramatic increase in accidents at the intersection in the last year and a half.

A traffic engineer for the county told the council that there were 17 accidents over a five-year period ending May 31, 2018, with eight of the accidents occurring in just the last 12-months of that five-year period.


Three more accidents have occurred after the time period covered in the traffic study. Two more accidents were recorded in July and December 2018, and the most recent in January 2019 according to Sheriff's and California Highway Patrol data.

The traffic engineer noted that the study revealed that it appears motorists are using  Hutchins Dr and Wicker Dr. as a bypass to avoid the intersection of La Mirada Blvd. and Imperial Hwy.

The council was told that the new signal design would include coordination with other traffic signals along Telegraph Rd. to minimize the number of red lights the flow of traffic would encounter at the intersection.  

The cost of the new traffic signal was estimated at $400,000.

The project will advance shortly to the design phase and will also require coordinating the project with the county since part of the intersection lies in unincorporated South Whittier. 

The city estimates the signal will be installed in the next fiscal year which begins July 1st.


by La Mirada NewsBeat Staff

One arrested during La Mirada street racing intersection takeover

A flatbed tow truck prepares to tow the car deputies
impounded after its driver was arrested for reckless driving
Friday night. (Courtesy:LASD/Norwalk)

La Mirada-  A man was arrested late Friday night after a Sheriff's helicopter crew responding to a street-racing disturbance call was able to catch one of the suspects in the act.

At about 11:17 p.m. dispatchers at both Norwalk Sheriff's Station and Whittier Police Department began receiving numerous calls that street racers had commandeered the intersection of Valley View Ave. and Alondra Blvd. and were doing doughnuts in front of a large crowd that had gathered.

As close to a dozen deputies and police officers from both agencies on the way, a sheriff's helicopter in the area arrived quickly and spotted a car actively doing 'doughnuts' in the intersection.

The driver of that car attempted to leave after finding out that the copter was overhead but with deputies closing in by vehicle in several directions decided to park in the Arco AM/Pm parking lot.

The trained observer in the Sheriff's copter directed deputies arriving at the scene to a man that had been driving the car as he started walking towards the crowd that had assembled at the corner in an apparently failed attempt to blend in and escape arrest.

Deputies arrested the man for reckless driving and impounded his car. The name of the man was not released.

The intersection of Valley View Ave. and Alondra Blvd. has been the scene of close to a dozen or more takeovers since the start of 2018 by street racers including two other incidents in the past month. 

A video displayed here was captured during a takeover on January 26 and posted on Facebook shows the danger that both participants and spectators are risking at these rogue events that are publicized on social media.

Most of the street racing incidents have been occurring in the industrial area of the city with the area of Trojan Way and Desman Rd also serving as an isolated magnet for the scofflaws. 

Last year on December 1st was one exception as hundreds of racers and enthusiasts gathered in the area of Beach Blvd. and Rosecrans Av separating as deputies arrived into a number of small raucous groups that were heard and seen over many parts of the city for more than an hour according to residents on social media. Deputies made one arrest and impounded a car related that was involved in the incident.

File photo: Deputies impound a vehicle used in La Mirada street racing on Dec. 1, 2018.
(Courtesy:LASD/NWK)

,

One dead, two injured by hit-and-run driver walking near La Mirada achool

Image of suspect's Toyota Camry has been released 

Updated at 7:22 p.m.

A picture captured from video surveillance of the vehicle used
in Wednesday's fatal hit-and-run in La Mirada
Source:LASD/HQ

La Mirada- A woman walking with her two grandchildren that was struck by a hit-and-run driver Wednesday afternoon has died of her injuries according to a Sheriff's Department statement

The grandmother had been rushed by paramedics to the trauma unit at UCI Medical Center in Orange.  The two children suffered minor injuries and have been transported to a local hospital for treatment according to a Sheriff's statement.

The accident was reported at about 1:15 p.m. by witnesses stating the driver in a dark gray four-door Toyota Camry with front and right-side body damage fled towards Rosecrans Ave. 

There have been unconfirmed media reports that the driver is a male and may have been talking on his phone, making a u-turn to see what he had hit, then taking off from the accident scene.

Early Wednesday evening the Sheriff's Department released an image captured by a video surveillance system near the accident scene of the vehicle which has visible damage to the front passenger-side headlight area.

The woman had just retrieved the two children from nearby Escalona Elementary School where classes had ended early for the day at 1 p.m.

Escalona Rd which had been closed while detectives processed the crime scene was reopened shortly after 4 p.m.

Anyone that can provide information about the accident of the suspect is asked to call Norwalk Sheriff's Station at (562) 863-8711 or L.A. Crimestoppers at (800) 222-TIPS.

Video from Fox 11 from overhead the crime scene 
https://www.facebook.com/fox11la/videos/1050583218476546/

Sheriff's Crime Report Feb 18, 2019

Sunday, Jan. 27

(La Mirada NewsBeat file photo)

1:27 a.m.    Two arrests were made after a golf cart was taken from the Metzger Pit on the Biola University Campus.

2:00 a.m.     A vehicle was reported stolen from the 15800 block of Greenworth Dr.    

3:15 a.m.    A theft from an unlocked vehicle occurred in the 15900 block of  Alta Vista Dr.

City approves proposal holding property owners responsible for illegal fireworks use

La Mirada City Council report

The city council handled a number of important issues at its most recent regular session including:

A major change has been approved to the city municipal code that will begin holding property owners responsible for illegal firework activity that is occurring on their property after a volley of complaints from angry residents last summer.

The fine for each violation is set at $1,000. 

Deputies that were patrolling the city last year around the 4th of July last year confirm claims by residents that the problem was worse in 2018 than in recent years.  

The city code that has been on the books since 2009 allowing the city to levy a $1,000 fine to the violator has largely been ineffective at deterring scofflaws because it was hard to pinpoint the actual person setting off the device.

The city has not stated how the new provisions are going to be used this summer during what many believe will be a renewed effort to make a noticeable reduction of the nuisance.

No mention was made at the meeting about another idea that was being studied that would have had the city deploying camera-equipped drones to hunt down violators.

Also:

⚫    The council approved a new city code regulating sidewalk vendors to comply with legislation passed by the state legislature and signed into law last year. 

Local governments may no longer ban sidewalk vendors and they are now allowed along public streets and in parks. Regulations concerning health and safety aspects are permitted, but imposing a ban in certain areas of a community is not allowed.

Vendors will be required to obtain all of the licenses and permits required of any business in the city as well as show proof of having a seller's permit from the state to collect sales tax and a health permit from the county.

To protect the safety of the public there will be a prohibition from operating within 15 feet of an intersection and 10 feet from a driveway and must be done from sidewalks only with an area of four feet being clear for the public to pass by. Transactions with motorists or other persons in a vehicle will not be permitted.

Sales in residential areas will not be allowed from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. and vendors will need to provide a receptacle for collecting trash.

A fee of $110 was established to recover the costs for processing and issuing a permit.

⚫    A contract was approved for the next phase of residential area infrastructure repair and rehabilitation in a large section of La Mirada in the west end of the city.

The $7.93 million contract was awarded to R.J. Noble of Orange and includes all residential areas east of Valley View and west of Biola Av that are south of the Milan Creek just north of Gardenhill Park to Stage Rd in the south.

This phase will exhaust the remaining revenue collected from the five-year Measure I sales tax as well as from several transportation specific revenues the city receives.

The work to be performed includes repair or replacement of any compromised street surfaces, sidewalks, gutters, and curbs, installation of handicap ramps at intersections, and slurry seal pavement.

The contract also includes a storm drain repair along the Valley View Ave frontage road and an upgrade to a catch basin on Castellon Rd.

R.J. Noble was awarded another city contract last October for the Leffingwell Rd rehabilitation project and has previously worked on many large projects in Orange County including toll roads, and Tustin Ranch Rd among many.

⚫  The council approved a proposal to become a local receiving point for passport applications by the United States Department of State.  The city will collect a $35 fee to recover the costs for conducting the transaction.

⚫    Longtime resident Harry Scott was appointed to the Historical Preservation Advisory Council.  Scott is pursuing his passion for history after retiring from a 37-year career with United Parcel Service where he was a supervisor.

La Mirada News in brief: A driver escaped serious injury after car overturns plus more stories

La Mirada-  Only a minor injury was reported after a

Firefighters from Quint 15 stationed in East Whittier check a man
for injuries after his car overturned in a collision

vehicle overturned today after colliding  Chevy SUV while on La Mirada Blvd near Hutchins Ave.at about 2:15 p.m.

:

Both lanes of northbound travel were closed for close to an hour between Hutchins Av and Granada Dr, until the roadway could be cleared.

La Habra NewsBeat photo 2/15/19

Alert deputy nabs a car thief

A deputy on patrol early this afternoon spotted a car that sounded like one recently stolen in the area traveling in the opposite direction while on patrol on Stage Rd about 12:30 p.m.

The deputy was already familiar with the suspect driving the stolen Red Honda with faded paint who was from South Whittier and was a local gang member there.

The suspect quickly ducked into the Escalona School area by making a quick turn onto Crooswood Rd and while out of sight from the deputy ditched the car and began walking.

A half-dozen other deputies descended on the area quickly and with aided by a Sheriff's copter overhead locked the area down tight and just minutes after disappearing, the suspect was spotted walking down La Barca Dr apparently trying to blend in.

A witness to the crime positively identified the man as being the car thief, and he will now be spending an all expenses paid night at the Norwalk Graybar. Suites

A Father gets the scare of his life

Norwalk Sheriffs Station received a 911 call yesterday from a panicked father reporting that he had been inside the La Mirada Albertsons at 15200 Rosecrans Ave for about 20 minutes shopping and that when he went to leave his SUV was gone along with his 11 year-old daughter who was inside it.

A quick-thinking deputy in a South Whittier car ran the license plate on the car computer and on a hunch went to check the address of the registered owner. The hunch paid off and the SUV and girl were both found unharmed within about five minutes

A relative of father and daughter happened on the vehicle and drove it back to his residence nearby without letting the father know.

A chance of rain will stick around through the Holiday weekend

A chance of occasional showers remains in the forecast through the evening making way for a breezy, but dry Saturday. Precipitation accumulation tonight will be less than 1/4 of an inch.

A colder and stronger front will move through quickly on Sunday.

One of the deputies that responded to the market gave a now very relieved father a ride back home.

As predicted, yesterdays 'pineapple express' weather system was the wettest of the rain season and dropped 2.79 inches of rain over the 24-hour period to bring the season total in La Mirada to 15.08 inches.

Thursday's rain was the most that had fallen in a 24-hour period since 3.19 inches fell on Jan 22, 2017.

Tropical atmospheric river aimed directly at Orange County soaks La Mirada

Rain began falling overnight from the 'atmospheric river' that is pumping tropical moisture from the southwest and will bring moderate to heavy showers with gusty winds throughout the day.

The 'pineapple express' system that is aimed directly at Orange County as it moves in from the Pacific is expected to intensify as the morning progresses and be heaviest from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. 

The system will begin moving out of the area about 2 p.m. with a chance of a lingering shower possible through the night

Two to three inches of rain was expected to fall from the current storm a total of 1.55 inches had already in La Mirada as of 7 a.m. Thursday.

The Southland will not get a chance to dry out as a weaker cold front will move through the area on Friday that will drop up to another 1/4 inch to an already waterlogged La Mirada.

A chance of a shower is in the forecast through the weekend.

Courtesy NWS- Oxnard

La Mirada woman arrested in fatal DUI accident at Disney Resort

Source:Anaheim P.D.

Updated at end of post at Mon. Feb 11 8:20 a.m.

Anaheim-   A La Mirada woman was arrested late Saturday night

on suspicion of gross vehicular manslaughter after she allegedly drove her car up over a curb fatally striking a tourist on a sidewalk on Disneyland Dr. near Downtown Disney.

Stefanie Lyn Bieser, 47, is suspected of driving her PT Cruiser while impaired when the accident occurred.

Bieser was initially booked at the Anaheim Police Department and is being held at the Orange County Jail on $100,000 bail and will be arraigned on Wednesday.

City News Service reports the victim was a year-old tourist visiting from Fresno.

*** Update Mon 8:20 a.m.****

Bieser was released after posting bond overnight at 12:18 a.m. this morning. 

Early morning La Mirada fire possible set intentionally

La Mirada-  Arson is suspected in an early morning fire in the

garage of a Foster Park home early Saturday morning.

The fire reported at 5:45 a.m. in the 13200 block of Sunnybrook Ln had already been extinguished by residents when the first fire crew arrived on the scene.

The cause of the fire will be investigated by the Sheriff's investigators after firefighters determined the cause to be of a suspicious nature.

There were no injuries reported and damage to the garage was minor.

Crime in La Mirada Part 2, How does the city compare to others

February 8, 2019

Crime in La Mirada 2018 Part 2

On Monday La Mirada NewsBeat reported on the latest statistics from the Sheriff's Department that indicated crime was lower in the city in 2018.  Part 2 on crime in La Mirada in 2018 series of reports will examine how the city compares to its neighbors.

Crime fell 8.9% in La Mirada in 2018, including a more than 14% drop in violent crimes.  The public will hear quite often how safe our streets are compared to neighboring communities.  This report will explore how accurate that claim actually is.

The latest crime statistics per jurisdiction will be used in the following comparison.  Statistics for specific categories for crime in 2018 are not available for some cities and will be noted. A comparison will be made on a per capita rate of 10,000 residents.

Overall crime rate (property thefts and violent crimes combined followed by violent crimes only)

2018                        Number of crimes     Rate per 10,000 residents
                                    Overall/ Violent             Overall/ Violent

La Mirada                         921/  89                        186.71/  18.04
Whittier                            2,470                             283.45/  ***
Whittier County areas*    1,128/  213                    161.64/  30.52
Norwalk                           2,410 /  449                    226.76/  42.25
Cerritos                           1,959/   162                    385.56/  31.88
Santa Fe Springs            1,105                              **

2018 crime statistics for the following cities were not available for the following cities and 2017 rates will be shown.
                                     
                                        Crimes                   Per 10,000 residents

Buena Park                      3,106/   292              371.74/   34.95
Fullerton                           4,241/   293              299.71/   20.69
La Habra                          1,388/   137              224.31/   22.14

*  Unincorporated areas of South Whittier and East Whittier patroled by deputies from Norwalk Sheriff's Station

**  An accurate picture of crime in Santa Fe Springs cannot be captured by making a per capita comparison due to a large number of businesses located in the city.

***  Crime statistics for violent crimes was not available, the number of crimes in this category in 2017 was 300 at a rate of 34.43 per 10,000 population.

A quick glance at the statistics holds true the claim, La Mirada is the safest community in the area.

Readers can find Part One of Crime in La Mirada 2018 at:
https://www.lamiradanewsbeat.com/2019/02/the-number-of-reported-crimes-tracked.html

Community News Feb. 5 Mayor's Breakfast tickets on sale and more

Source: La Mirada Mayor's Prayer Breakfast  webpage

Feb. 5, 2019

Dr Barry H. Corey, president of Biola University will be the keynote speaker at 5th Annual Mayor's Breakfast at the Holiday  Inn La Mirada on April 12th at 7 a.m.
Biola has been lead by Corey since 2007 and has an enrollment of 6,172 undergraduate and graduate students.

The Millie Taylor Community Service Award will be presented at which honors an individual, community organization or business selected for outstanding dedication or contribution to the community.  Nominations for the award can be submitted until March 15  at lmmpb.org

Seats should be purchased by April 5th and are priced at $21 for an individual seat, and tables to seat ten are $210.  The cost includes a ticket ordering convenience fee of $1 per person.  To order or for more information go to lmmpb.org

The City of La Mirada is hiring

Dust off your resumes, the City of La Mirada is hiring at Splash! Aquatics Center for part-time hourly including several lead/supervising positions.  There are a number of different position available including swim instructor, lifeguards, and aquatics aide

The city also seeks a part-time/seasonal Supervising Lifeguard starting at $22.58 an hour, topping out at $26.96 per hour as well as  Food Services Lead with a starting pay of $17.30, topping out at $21.92 an hour.

The Community Services Department is also looking for a new full-time Aquatics Coordinator.

The Public Works Department also has a vacancy to fill. They are taking applications for a part-time Maintenance Worker that has a starting pay rate of $13.66 per hour and tops out at over $17 an hour.

For more information on any of the positions click on the following link  https://t.co/1YI7LSHJCb

Crime in La Mirada Part One: Crime fell 8.9% in 2018, see all the numbers

File photo  La Mirada News Source

Monday, Feb. 4

Written by Paul Martin-LM NewsBeat

The number of reported crimes tracked nationally by the F.B.I. fell  8.9% in La Mirada last year after experiencing three years of increases according to a Sheriff's Department report.

The report delivered even better news, the violent crime rate took an even bigger drop, falling 14.42% from 104 incidents in 2017 to 84 last year.

Deputies documented 921 major crimes in the city in 2018, down from the 1,011 that were reported in 2017.

Major crimes are defined as those that are tracked across the nation by the FBI and are known as Part One crimes.  Part One statistics are placed into two categories-violent crimes including rape and robbery, and the second group is crimes involving the theft of property.

The news that crime started to fall again last year is encouraging, and a welcome change after the La Mirada crime rate skyrocketed 39.6%  over the previous three years from 2015 through 2017, mostly from a spike from thefts.  

The crime trends experienced by La Mirada in recent years mirror the experiences of most of the other cities and communities policed by the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department that saw a 7.76% reduction of crime department-wide.

                                  2018     2017    Change

Homicide                      1          2           -1
Rape                             6          7           -1
Robbery                       22        34         -12
Aggravated Assault*    60        61         -1

Total Violent Crimes     84       104       -15     -14.42%



Burglary                       128       143        -15
Larceny Theft**            580       625        -45
Grand Theft Auto         121       138        -17
Arson                            3            1           +3

Total Property Crimes   832       907       -75     -8.27%

Total Part I Crimes        921       1,011     -90     -8.9%

* Crimes classified as aggravated assaults include those occurring with or where an attempt was made to use a weapon in the course of crime as well as physical assaults where a significant injury was sustained.

** Larceny thefts include thefts from vehicles, shoplifting, and pretty much the taking of anything else not locked away.

Later this week: How does La Mirada compare to neighboring communities,  and what do the experts have to say about how realignment and Prop. 47 and crime trends as it relates to our city.

Blustery winter storm causes few problems in La Mirada

Sunday, Feb. 3  10:06 a.m.

The westbound traffic lanes of Rosecrans Ave were closed
Saturday after winds took down a center median tree
in front of the La Mirada Theatre Centre (LM NewsBeat photo)

La Mirada-  Hours of strong rain and fierce gusty winds pounded La Mirada for a good part of the day on Saturday and has moved after causing only a few minor problems in the city.

The storm which dropped another 1.82 inches of rain locally began pounding the area around 10 a.m. with sustained 30 miles-an-hour winds, with gusts clocked at 35 mph creating one of the more blustery days in recent memory. The season total is now 10.69 inches.

Strong gusts uprooted this tree from the rain-saturated ground
in the 15300 block of Lofthill Dr (LM NewsBeat photo)

City crews were dispatched to several reports of trees toppled by the strong gusts including one that fell from the center median of Rosecrans Ave that resulted in the closure of the westbound traffic lanes between Jalon Rd. and La Mirada Blvd.

Elsewhere in the city, deputies checking several burglar activations at businesses discovered winds were responsible for the collapse of several metal roll-up doors causing the alarms to go off.

La Mirada Creek Park after a downpour on Sat. Feb 2 (LM NewsBeat Photo)

Late Saturday afternoon as the torrent of rain diminished into periodic showers sightseers could be seen at Creek Park as it performed its role as a flood control channel efficiently.

La Mirada Creek Park on Feb 2, 2019 (LM NewsBeat phot)

There were several minor accidents reported around the city including three between 6:00 and 8:00 p.m. Two occurred near Valley View Av and Rosecrans Av as well as one at Imperial Hwy between Valley View Av and Meyer Rd.  

All of Saturday's traffic accidents involved parties with either minor injuries or property damage only.

Several minor electricity outages were reported during the day and had been repaired and power restored by late Saturday night. 

Two fire department units were sent to rescue residents stranded inside an elevator at The Palms senior apartments on La Mirada Blvd near Tacuba Dr. at 9:37 p.m.

Forecasters at the National Weather Service in Oxnard warn the region will remain soggy as two more cold fronts are heading towards the Southland with the next arriving Monday, and the second system by Tuesday.

Moisture from Saturday's storm event remained in an unstable atmosphere Sunday morning with rain shower activity and cloudy to partly cloudy skies hanging on for the entire day.  There will be an 80% chance of showers through Sunday night.

The region will dry out beginning Wednesday with more rain possible by next weekend.

Contact us  editor@lamiradanewsbeat.com or leave a comment in the space provided.

LM school locked down after pursuit of armed suspect ends nearby

Feb. 1, 2019  written by LM NewsBeat 

La Mirada-  An armed suspect Sheriff's detectives deemed armed and

dangerous was arrested after leading deputies on a vehicle chase that ended just yards from a school playground full over children this morning.

At about 9:44 a.m. Friday morning Sheriff's detectives observed La Mirada man they recognized from the Foster Park area that had a felony warrant driving a with a passenger in a car they suspected was stolen in Norwalk.

Detectives began following the vehicle equipped with Idaho license plates that dispatchers learned belonged on another vehicle until back-up to stop the car arrived.

Before more deputies arrived the suspects now on Norwalk Blvd near Alondra Blvd tossed what appeared to be a gun from the car and then attempting to evade deputies at the headed east on Alondra Blvd and into La Mirada.


You can find pics and a video at this link submitted via twitter taken near the Escalona Av vehicle stop

Pursuing deputies observed two more items tossed from the vehicle before turning onto residential streets near Windermere Park, heading north on Dalmation Ave.

It would have been wrong to call this a high-speed chase since the vehicle was kept under 25 mph on residential streets, and under 50 on Alondra Blvd.


The pursuit came to a sudden halt as a Sheriff's helicopter arrived overhead at Escalona Rd. and Neartree Rd. next to Escalona Elementary School as students in the school playground area looked on from just yards away.

Seeing the police activity just beyond the school fence, Escalona school stuff immediately went into lockdown mode and hustled all the students inside quickly.

The two suspects were taken into custody without further incident, and Escalona School was given the all clear after only a few minutes.

After the scene of the vehicle-stop was secure, deputies went back and traced the path of the five-minute pursuit attempting to find the items thrown from the car earlier.

Deputies recovered a gun at one location, and drugs at the other two spots.

editor@lamiradanewsbeat.com