A gang member has been sentenced to state prison for the robbery of a 9 year old girl of her puppy.
On April 7, 2010, at 7:35 p.m., the 9-year old girl walked to a market on Workman Mill Road in Bassett with her uncle to buy her new “Blue Pit Bull” puppy a dog collar.
The girl entered the market and selected a nice pink collar and the victim’s uncle proceeded to pay for it. The victim waited just outside the market’s front doors with her puppy on a leash.
While waiting for her uncle to make the purchase, 26-year old Jose Castrejon, a “Bassett Grande” gang member, snuck up behind the unsuspected little girl and grabbed the puppy from behind the neck. Castrejon pulled with such force; he easily overpowered the defenseless victim. The little girl held the leash in her hand, still attached to the puppy’s neck.
Store surveillance video captured the robbery which depicts the victim sliding across the sidewalk. The little girl was no match for Castrejon and she could not hold onto the leash. Castrejon entered his truck with the dog and sped away.
Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department gang unit, Operation Safe Streets Bureau (OSS), was assigned the robbery investigation. OSS Detectives Glen Eads and Gerhaldt Groenow quickly investigated, identified, and arrested Jose Castrejon as the culprit of the crime.
Jose Castrejon was arrested a day after the robbery. “Mia” the puppy was recovered from Jose Castrejon and reunited with the victim. She was then able to place the new pink collar on her new puppy.
Castrejon was ultimately released from custody on bail awaiting arraignment and further court proceedings. While on bail, he was arrested for a firearm violation in San Bernadino County and his bail was revoked. In late November 2011, Castrejon stood trail for robbery.
With such compelling video evidence, on February 1, 2012, at Pomona Superior Court, Castrejon was sentenced to six years in California State Prison for robbery. The case was prosecuted by the Office of the Los Angeles County District Attorney.
Bassett is an unincorporated community in the San Gabriel Valley policed by the Industry Sheriff's Station of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.
Partner to prevent or report crime by contacting your local Sheriff’s station. Or if you wish to remain Anonymous, call “LA Crime Stoppers” by dialing 800-222-TIPS (8477), texting the letters TIPLA plus your tip to CRIMES (274637), or using the website http://lacrimestoppers.org
Sgt. Luis Trejo
Operation Safe Streets Bureau
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
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