Eight+ Hour Standoff Ends the Peacefully by Bill Coburn King Shortly After 8Pm on Thursday, Contact the More Than Eight Hours After Suspect
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WHERE YOUR COMMUNITY NEWS COMES FIRST - Sierra Madre Arcadia Pasadena Altadena and Monrovia Friday, July 25, 2008 Volume 2 No. 27 Eight+ Hour Standoff Ends The Peacefully By Bill Coburn King Shortly after 8pm on Thursday, contact the more than eight hours after suspect. Returns it began, a standoff between police and a barricaded suspect Attempts were that wreaked havoc on the made to contact lives of those involved, those in Funston by land It was a full house the neighborhood, and on the line, but it was (below) at Sunday’s downtown business district, disconnected. ended with no exchange of Law enforce- Concert in the Park gunfire, no deaths, no injuries. ment officers featuring Mark tried calling Burnett as Roy According to Police Chief by cell phone, Marilyn Diaz, “primarily, what Orbison and Harry which he didn’t Shahoian as Elvis drew us to the location was that answer, and they we had physical evidence linking broke a window (right). The Concert him to a car theft here in Sierra and threw a was sponsored Madre…So the officers went up phone inside by Sierra Madre to do a very casual door knock…. and, using both to see if he would come out and Rotary Club. This helicopter and week’s concert, they could make a relatively SMPD vehicle low-key arrest.” At 11:50 a.m., PA Systems, sponsored by the two Sierra Madre Police officers tried to get Arts Commission arrived at 39 Windsor Lane but Funston to features Jumpin Joz the suspect, 36-year old Roberto speak with them “Pancho” Funston, walked out Band performing by phone. “Each swing music the back door to his home, and of these steps we upon seeing an SMPD detective did repeatedly out back, went back in and because we Photos By Bill Coburn barricaded himself, refusing to weren’t in a come out. hurry and we An unidentified Sierra Madre Police Despite requests heard blocks wanted to find Officer cordones off access to Auburn away from the public address a peaceful Photo By D. Lee system of a Pasadena Police Dept. resolution to Monday, July 28, 2008. helicopter that he come outside this situation.’ and talk to the police, Funston Regarding rumors that the SEB Asked if Funston was armed, entered the location with dogs, stayed inside, barricaded with Diaz stated that he was not. two pit bulls. According to Chief Diaz stated that they [the rumors] Asked if there had been a time were not true, that “they would Marilyn Diaz, the home belongs when the police thought he to his mother, and Funston has not take dogs into that location, might be armed, Diaz said “We with the tear gas.” She confirmed been living there off and on weren’t sure. According to family during the last year. that no shots had been fired other members, they did not see him than the tear gas. Diaz stated Chief Diaz said Funston had a with any guns in the house.” that after the suspect was taken prior criminal record, but she After repeated attempts to into custody, it was discovered declined to state his record citing that there was a second no- bail warrant for narcotics on a federal level for Funston that they had previously been unaware of. In addition to the Sheriff’s Dept. and its SEB and CNT units, law STOP BY THE SIERRA MADRE FARMERS MARKET e n f o r c e m e nt agents from A CERTIFIED FAMERS MARKET* G l e n d a l e , Every Wednesday 4pm-8pm Monrovia and Public parking lot on Mariposa Avenue Fresh vegetables and seasonal fruits Arcadia assisted, from California family farms. Specialty foods, vegetarian and vegan dishes, as well as CHP ethnic foods and hot food officers and the Pasadena Police MountainViews-Observer Dept. helicopter. FALSE ALARM THIS WEEK More than a dozen members RATTLES NERVES of the Sierra On Friday afternoon, less than 24 hours Stand Off! Madre Fire Elvis Returns Dept. were from the big ‘stand off’, the sight of the Sierra 1 1 Carter Work Resumes LA County SWAT Officers approach the home where the suspect also on hand in Madre Police Department speeding down barricaded himself. Ironically, on the left of the police vehicle, you can case they were Sierra Madre Blvd. seemed a little surreal. see the old Sierra Madre Jail. S. Henderson/MVO needed. They were responding to the Washington 2 Calendar & Arts Mutual Bank’s alarm system being Remembrances: communicate by the Crisis Peggy DePalma the suspect’s right to privacy. triggered. Negotiation Team with no According to SMPD Officer Abbott, an 3 Jay ‘Papa J’ Yeats Asked about rumors that had success, the tactical Letters To The Editor been heard downtown during employee accidently tripped the alarm. operations were turned Fire Safe Council the day that the reason for the Suspect Has Long History There were customers in the bank, but none Did You Know? over to the LA County reported anything other than frayed nerves. 4 length of the standoff was that Sheriff’s SEB. This Of Run-Ins With The Law Police Blotter Funston would have, if convicted was done sometime The bank was not robbed. MVO/staff of either the narcotics or grand Enforcement Controversy around 5:30 – 6pm, Since at least 1992, Roberto 5 Clean Air Showoff theft charges, been facing a “third said Diaz. “They too, Funston, 36, has been in and strike” conviction and sentenced didn’t rush into the to life in prison under California out of jail. Funston has no less 1 Carter Resumes Young Writers Learn - situation, they took 6 All About Ice Cream law, Chief Diaz said that “in time to evaluate the than nine other arrests and/ or checking the suspect’s criminal One Carter, LLC provided city staff area, scout the location, convictions with the most recent with a construction schedule late this Henderson: Fire Fuel history, there was nothing in being December, 2007. The Tolchin: What Mask? and make preparations afternoon for the completion of the One Hail: A Republican Winner there to suggest he was a second that they do before 7 or third striker.” charges range from Possession Carter project. The schedule indicates Johnson: Will Rogers deciding their strategy of a Pipe and Drug Paraphernalia, a construction start of Monday, July “As we spoke to witnesses, we or tactics,” said Diaz, Legal Notices learned that he had made some adding that finally the to Receiving Stolen Property, 28. The first week’s activity will include 8 serious threats that could have SEB employed tear gas Carrying a Concealed Weapon, some exploratory excavations in Carter Avenue at Baldwin, as well as grading Legal Notices jeopardized the lives of public inside the location and Possession of Narcotics for Sale; Sierra Madre Notices safety officers as well as the public, the suspect came out and Battery on a Spouse. and storm drain work in the interior of 9 so it left us with little choice but within minutes and Earlier this year he was convicted the project area. to move in and take the steps we gave himself up. The on yet another drug charge and In the interest of public safety, city staff Eklund: Looking Up did, by enlisting the assistance SEB turned him over 10 Dills: Summer BBQ continues to work with the developer Carney: Inside Out of the LA County Sheriff’s Dept. to SMPD, which took was scheduled to be sentenced to expedite all drainage-related in the early part of May. He failed Senior Happenings Special Enforcement Bureau him to LA County Jail. construction activity in order to reduce Jeff’s Pics (SEB).” According to a press to return to court and a warrant the potential for rainy season impacts 11 The BIRD is BACK release issued by the Diaz added that prior to bringing was issued for his arrest on City Thursday night, on surrounding public and private Homes & Property in the SEB, the Crisis Negotiation Funston will appear Thursday. properties Nyerges: Wild Clay Team (CNT) of the LA Sheriff’s in Pasadena Court on 12 Dept., was utilized to try and Read The Paper Online At: www.mvobserver.com 2 MountainViews-Observer Friday, July 25, 2008 Calendar & The Arts Weather Wise 5-Day Forecast Sierra Madre, Ca. Mon: Sunny Hi 90s Lows 60s Tues: Sunny Hi 90s Lows 60s Wed: Sunny Hi 90s Lows 60s Thur: Sunny Hi 90s Lows 60s Fri: Sunny Hi 90s Lows 60s Forecasts courtesy of the National Weather Service Happening At The Library In conjunction with “Catch the Reading Bug,” the 2008 Children’s Summer Reading Program, the Sierra Madre Firefighters Association is sponsor- Arcadia Concerts ing two free, family-friendly programs in July, to be held in the Sierra Madre Library’s main reading Kids love bubbles. The City of Arcadia’s room. On Thursday, July 31, at 10:30 a.m., Swa- bubble station in the Summer Concerts has zzle will present a puppet show, “Space Bugs.” been a hotspot for kids and it has turned the The Friends of the Sierra Madre Library will Summer Concerts into a great family event. have a Bargain Books Table Sale inside the Library The station will bring more enjoyment for during the Library’s public open hours. Featured the next five remaining Concerts. So come, titles will include Fiction, Biography, Art, Cook- sit down on a chair, relax, and watch them ing, Children’s and Specialty books. All books will be sold at the bargain price of $1.00. play with bubbles while listening to great music.