Crime Blotter: Burglary and Narcotics

The following reports were taken from the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department, Crescenta Valley Station.

Store Burglarized

On Friday, April 8, the owner of , 2607 Foothill Blvd., reported to deputies that sometime between 1 and 5 p.m., an unknown suspect entered through the rear of the store and stole a safe kept in a storeroom. The victim noted that the back doors to her business open to a storage area shared by two neighboring businesses. Reported stolen with the safe were blank checks and $3000 in currency.

Drug Arrest

According to the incident report, an officer driving past a known narcotics location on the 2800 block of Altura Avenue at noon on Friday, April 8, noticed a man exit a car parked in front of the residence and move quickly up the driveway after making eye contact with the officer. After determining that the parked car was still running, the officer, aware of several arrests previously made at the location and believing possible criminal activity could be occurring, called for the man to come to him.

The man, later identified as Steven Ray Chavez, a 52-year-old resident of Torrance, was reportedly asked three times by the deputy to remove his hands from his pockets. Chavez allegedly removed his right hand while his left hand manipulated an unknown object in his left pocket.

Fearing concealed contraband or a weapon, the officer gained control of Chavez and performed a “pat down,” during which Chavez reportedly made a motion similar to throwing something onto the ground. With two female bystanders allegedly trying to distract the officer, a call was made for back up.

Chavez reportedly told deputies that he did not have anything illegal on him, had ID, and did not know why he’d made that tossing motion. The reporting officer noted that nothing had been found on the ground. When questioned why the car had been left running, Chavez told deputies that he had been “in a hurry.”

Based on the conversation and actions of the suspect, the deputy removed the contents of Chavez’s pockets in an attempt to locate ID. The reporting officer noted a “mess of property” removed from Chavez’s pockets, including a pile of papers, a cell phone, a debit card, license in the suspect’s name, and zip-lock baggie containing a crystal substance resembling methamphetamine. Chavez allegedly confirmed that the substance was meth. A meth pipe was recovered during a search of Chavez’s car.

Chavez was booked for possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.