Claremont Woman Honored by District Attorney

Four people, including a Claremont woman who chased down a burglar, were honored today as "courageous citizens" by District Attorney Jackie Lacey.

Madge Gaynor, 44, of Claremont, who chased a burglary suspect from the home of a vacationing neighbor last June 22 and pursued him until police arrived, according to DA officials.

Michael Lee, 35, of Monterey Park, was honored for jumping out of his car, kicking the hammer out of the assailant's hand and pinning him to the ground until police arrived last Nov. 18.

Also honored were:

• Hoa "Tony" Luong, 21, of Rosemead, was lauded for coming to the aid of a 60-year-old woman as she was being struck in the back of the head with a claw hammer and struggling with the assailant in a residential neighborhood of Monterey Park.
• Joseph Fitzgerald, 62, of Palmdale, who saw a pickup truck ram a woman's Honda into a parked vehicle on San Fernando Road and Sunland Avenue on July 13, 2010. He noted the pickup truck's license plate, called 911 and then followed the truck as its driver pursued the fleeing vehicle driven by the assailant's girlfriend. Police arrested the assailant.

"These four people helped a crime victim during a terrifying moment of need and are vital to the pursuit of justice," the district attorney said. "Our community is a safer place because of them."

The awards were handed out at an event hosted by the Rotary Club of Pasadena.