Free Republic

Residents are calling for an investigation into El Monte Mayor Jessica Ancona’s actions after a local woman accused the mayor of using a gang member to threaten her and trying to get her fired. The spat, beginning more than a year ago, has sparked a federal lawsuit in which 26-year resident Gabriela Leos alleges the mayor is interfering with Leos’ First Amendment rights. It accuses Ancona, and the city, of retaliation, negligence and violation of a state law prohibiting the use of threats or intimidation to quell free speech. In a statement, El Monte expressed confidence that it would ultimately...

Two El Monte California police officers were shot and killed on June 14 while responding to a report of a stabbing at a local motel. They were identified as Cpl. Michael Domingo Paredes and Officer Joseph Anthony Santana. Paredes, 42, had served as a full-time officer with the department since July 2000, working several specialized assignments before achieving the rank of corporal, officials said. He started his law enforcement career as a cadet with El Monte police. Paredes leaves behind his wife, a daughter and a son. Santana, 31, initially joined the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department in September 2018...

A repeat offender who was spared prison time by Los Angeles’ progressive District Attorney might be eligible for a state-funded funeral after shooting and killing two police officers. Justin Flores, 35, was killed after a shootout at a hotel in El Monte, a city east of Los Angeles, on Tuesday. Two police officers later died of gunshot wounds they suffered at the hands of Flores. Corporal Michael Paredes and Officer Joseph Santana of the El Monte Police Department were responding to a domestic violence report at a local hotel, according to CBS News. In a sick twist, Flores himself may...

Two El Monte Police Department officers and a suspect were fatally wounded in a shooting Tuesday. The shooting occurred about 5:10 p.m. in the area of Garvey Avenue and Central Avenue, near the San Bernardino (10) Freeway, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, which was assisting El Monte police with the investigation.

EL MONTE, CA—"I'm a little worried about what my son is learning school," said a dangerous domestic terrorist at a school board meeting earlier today. The radical insurrectionist went on to say that "teaching kids to be racist and all about graphic depictions of sex seems a little problematic to me," confirming fears that she has been radicalized by fanatical right-wingers. She was quickly added to the FBI Most Wanted list after expressing her concern that her children were being influenced by Marxist teachings and radical sex instruction by crazed left-wing nutjobs. Experts say she may be part of a...

Investigators said they have not yet recovered a murder weapon. Corina said investigators are working to determined a motive in the fatal stabbing. Friends and investigators at the scene said the suspect was Sanchez's boyfriend, and that the victim was ending their relationship. Officials do not believe anyone else was involved. Students and staff at South El Monte High School were just learning about his death Thursday. Grief counselors will be made available to students wishing to talk. “Jeremy was a well-known student here. … I believe he played baseball, football, wrestling … a year-round athlete,” El Monte Union High...

EL MONTE >> More than a week after officials announced that Eric McBride would be the city’s next police chief, the top cop-to-be abruptly withdrew his candidacy amid sharp criticism of his stance on undocumented immigrants. McBride, who is currently San Bernardino Police Department Assistant Police Chief, was to be sworn in as El Monte police chief Feb. 25. McBride’s decision came after immigrants rights activists over the weekend began to rally opposition against him because of anti-illegal immigration policies he pushed while he served on the Hemet City Council from 2006-2010. “This selection is a slap in the face...

Two Southern California offices were named Tuesday in an Internal Revenue Services scandal where offices singled out Tea Party organizations during the 2012 election. Offices in El Monte and Laguna Niguel came under fire after allegedly targeting conservative social welfare groups with the words “tea party” or “patriot” in their names in the national scandal. IRS officials sent questionnaires to the groups, probing about their donor lists and requesting other information after the groups filed for tax exempt status.

Fourteen employees at an El Monte, Calif., aquatic park have been fired after filming a parody video they say was meant to highlight how much they loved working at their jobs. In the video, a group of lifeguards dances in humorous choreographed moves in an homage to the "Gangnam Style" video that has become a huge viral sensation online, with more than 130,000,000 views...

Newt Gingrich Press Availability Following Hispanic Leadership Event, South El Monte, California – February 13 2012 Newt Gingrich Campaign attended an Hispanic Leadership Event at the Cielito Lindo Restaurant in South El Monte, Following the event he held a brief press conference.

A 33-year-old El Monte school board member and five other men were shot dead execution-style in north central Mexico on Wednesday night, after they were abducted by gunmen, according to family members. Agustin Roberto “Bobby” Salcedo was having dinner with his wife in a restaurant when armed men burst in and kidnapped Salcedo and five other men. All six were found dead Thursday, El Monte officials said. Salcedo’s wife was not abducted.

Some find El Monte police officer's side business -- selling clothing with gang symbols -- dismaying June 20, 2009 When El Monte Police Officer George Fierro was seen on video kicking a prone, heavily tattooed gang member in the head at the end of a televised high-speed chase, he received some criticism but also a good amount of praise. Then the 15-year police veteran's side business made the news, and no one advocated giving him a medal for that. When he's not fighting crime and chasing gang members, Fierro sells a line of clothing. Hiscompany's website is known "for its...

EL MONTE - Ernie Gutierrez, the mayor of El Monte, was arrested early Tuesday on suspicion of domestic violence and detained for most of the day, police said. The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office refused to bring charges against Gutierrez, whose term expires in 2009, El Monte police Chief Ken Weldon said. Gutierrez did not comment on the incident. Police did not identify the victim, or indicate how they received the complaint. Gutierrez was held by police while the District Attorney's Office reviewed the case. He was released when officials determined there was insufficient evidence to charge him. Gutierrez...

The city bustles with sounds and smells that match the diversity of its residents.Taco stands and Chinese restaurants are heavily scattered throughout El Monte and the sounds of Latin music filter from vehicles sitting at stoplights.But El Monte has not always been the picture of multiculturalism.Peppered with a past of intolerance, segregation and white supremacy, El Monte has come a long way from its early beginnings. And city officials want to keep it that way.Recently when the national nonprofit organization Sons of Confederate Veterans asked if it could place a plaque at Pioneer Park on Santa Anita Avenue to honor...