Azusa City News

Community Message from Chief of Police Rocky Wenrick:

On March 26, 2026, a deceased adult male was discovered in the back seat of an out‑of‑service patrol vehicle parked in front of the police station.

Azusa Police personnel were not aware that the individual had entered the vehicle, and he was not in the custody of the Azusa Police Department at the time he gained access.

The vehicle was awaiting maintenance, which is a common practice as patrol units are regularly cycled in and out of service and new vehicles await equipment installation. It is not uncommon for vehicles to be out of service and parked for days and/or weeks at a time, as we have a large fleet of emergency vehicles. The vehicle had been left unlocked, and it should have been secured.

To ensure an independent and thorough review, the Azusa Police Department has retained an outside investigative firm, the JL Group, to conduct an independent investigation into the entire incident, including determining why the vehicle was not locked.

The Azusa Police Detective Bureau is conducting the initial criminal investigation. The Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner has responded and will determine the circumstances, manner, and cause of death.

In addition, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, Justice System Integrity Division, has been notified and will receive full access to all evidence, security camera footage, and investigative reports.

There are multiple internal and external investigations underway. These investigations will take time, and the Azusa Police Department will release legally permissible information at the appropriate stage. This remains an active investigation; we ask for patience as investigators work diligently on the case.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: March 26, 2026
On March 26, 2026, at approximately 4:51 a.m., an adult male was discovered unresponsive inside an unoccupied police vehicle parked in front of the police department. The vehicle was pending mandatory maintenance and was not in active use by department personnel at the time of discovery.
Los Angeles County Fire Department paramedics responded to the scene to render life-saving assistance. However, the individual was pronounced deceased at 4:59 a.m.
The Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner responded and has assumed responsibility for the investigation into the circumstances surrounding the individual’s death. The Azusa Police Department Detective Bureau is conducting an investigation into the incident. The investigation will be submitted to the Justice System Integrity Division of the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office for review.
No further information is available at this time. Additional details will be released as they become available.
Anyone with information related to this incident is encouraged to contact Detective Lieutenant Steve Sears at 626-812-3200.

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📍Your Pie l 📅 February 24, 2026. 🕓 4PM-9PM

The 20th Annual Casino Night is Friday, February 13th, at 6pm! Grab your Valentines Day Date for fundraising for Azusa Youth Sports.

Hosted by Mayor Pro-Tem Jesse Avila, Councilmember Robert Gonzales and ! At the Azusa VFW!

Decades after its dark past, an old Azusa schoolhouse becomes a ‘symbol of hope and progress’ It’s 122 years old and was a one-room schoolhouse in Azusa with a complex past that includes “Americanizing” Mexican-Americans through education.

Attempted Murder charges filed with the DA, for Golden Days Carnival stabbing suspect.

On October 18, 2025, Azusa Police Officers were assigned to a public safety detail at the Azusa Golden Days Carnival when they observed a physical altercation. Officers immediately intervened and detained three subjects. During the investigation, officers discover that one of the detained individuals had sustained stab wounds. The remaining two subjects, identified as Paul Holguin and Raymond Escobedo, were arrested. The case was filed with the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office, resulting in charges of attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon for Holguin, and accessory and resisting arrest for Escobedo.