Fatal Traffic Collision at 700 Block of Monterey Pass Road

On January 5, 2020 at approximately 5:22 p.m., Officers responded to a report of suspicious circumstances in the 700 block of Monterey Pass Road in the City of Monterey Park. Two male subjects were opening vehicles parked at a closed business.

When officers arrived on scene, a gold Nissan immediately started to flee the location and a rammed a patrol vehicle in order to exit. The vehicle fled the location at a high rate of speed and out of sight. As officers were trying to turn around to pursue the Nissan, a second vehicle (black Mercedes) pulled out of the parking lot and also fled the scene. Officers attempted to stop the Mercedes; however, it failed to yield and officers pursued the vehicle northbound on Monterey Pass Road. The Mercedes lost control and spun out striking the curb. Both occupants were detained and transported to local hospitals for non-life threatening injuries sustained in the traffic collision. This collision is being investigated by the Monterey Park Police Department Traffic Bureau.

While officers were detaining the subjects in the Mercedes, they observed that there was an overturned vehicle which had struck a concrete wall across the street. Officers located a sole male occupant that had been partially ejected from the vehicle and succumbed to his injuries at the scene. The California Highway Patrol responded to investigate this traffic collision.

During the investigation detectives determined the Nissan that rammed the officer’s vehicle and fled the scene was the overturned vehicle. The identification of the deceased is pending notification of next of kin. Detectives were able to determine all three suspects were attempting to steal catalytic convertors from vehicles.

The suspects in the Mercedes have been identified as Diego Ramirez, 25, from Huntington Park and Wendy Mireles, 31, from Pico Rivera.

Ramirez has been charged with felony evading, attempted grand theft, vandalism, and trespassing. His bail is set at $75,000. He is set to appear in the Alhambra Superior Court on January 7, 2020.

Mireles has been charged with attempted grand theft. Her bail is set at $20,000. She is set to appear in the Alhambra Superior Court on January 7, 2020.