Sheriff's Homicide & Coroner's investigators confirm ID of armed, deceased man wanted in Chantry Flats murder

Advisory Message has been issued by the LASD - Headquarters Newsroom (SHB), Los Angeles County Sheriff.


Tuesday May 3, 2011 10:49 AM PDT

Sheriff's Homicide & Coroner's investigators confirm ID of armed, deceased man wanted in Chantry Flats murder

Los Angeles County Coroner's investigators and Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Homicide investigators are reporting that the body of a man found yesterday in the Chantry Flats area of Angeles National Forest is that of Kevin Wolfe Pochter. Pochter was a 55-year old resident of Huntington Beach.

Sheriff's Homicide investigators had alerted the public that Pochter was a suspect in the shooting death of his long time friend, 53-year old Dean Albert of Arcadia, in Chantry Flats on April 28, 2011. Pochter was considered armed and dangerous.

The massive search for Pochter stretched over 62-miles of rugged terrain and involved patrol deputies from several sheriff's stations, Mounted Enforcement Detail deputies, K-9's, sheriff's reserve deputies on Search and Rescue Teams, U.S. Forest Service rangers, and the Arcadia, Sierra Madre, and Monrovia Police Departments. Of particular assistance was the Sierra Madre Search & Rescue team, which included a large number of dedicated community volunteers.

A member of the public saw the victim's vehicle on Saturday near Mount Wilson and alerted deputies. He had read about the search for the car and the armed and dangerous suspect in the San Gabriel Valley Tribune.

On Monday morning, yet another alert member of the public who was hiking in the Chantry Flats area, saw a man who he thought was sleeping and told authorities. Sheriff’s Mounted Enforcement Detail deputies went to the described area and located Pochter, who was deceased from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound . A handgun was found near the body.

The second member of the public had read about the wanted suspect in the Pasadena Star News newspaper. He read that the Sheriff's Department had said he was armed and dangerous, so he wisely did not approach him.

"The two members of the public are directly responsible for the Sheriff's Department locating the victim's car and the suspect when we did," said Captain Mike Parker, Sheriff's Headquarters Bureau. "They handled it exactly as asked, and helped to ensure the safety of everyone, without unnecessarily endangering themselves. We extend our thanks to both of them. Futhermore, they received this important information through the news media, whom the Sheriff's Department works closely with in order to share information to help keep the public informed. We appreciate this partnership in the interest of public safety. This case certainly showed how important it is."

"We want hikers, area workers and the public to know that no other suspects are being sought in this homicide. The case is closed," said Sheriff's Homicide Detective Ray Lugo.

Earlier news releases are included below.
Sergeant Mike Thomas
Sheriff's Headquarters Bureau - Newsroom
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
(323) 267-4800
SHBNewsroom@lasd.org
http://www.lasd.org/
Sheriff Leroy D. Baca
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department

To report criminal activity, contact your local sheriff's station. If you prefer to provide information ANONYMOUSLY, you may call "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.

To receive more detailed, up-to-date information directly from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD) via e-mail, go to www.Nixle.com and register for "Nixle" alerts from "LASD – Headquarters Newsroom (SHB), Los Angeles County Sheriff" and your local LASD station area. Or, text your zip code to 888777 to receive text alerts only. Standard text messaging rates may apply depending on your calling plan.

Earlier news releases:
Deceased male found in Chantry Flats. Handgun found nearby
https://local.nixle.com/alert/4686221/?sub_id=80899
From: LASD - Headquarters Newsroom (SHB), Los Angeles County Sheriff [mailto:lasd----headquarters-newsroom-shb-los-angeles-county-sheriff@emails.nixle.com]

Sent: Monday, May 02, 2011 2:38 PM
Subject: Advisory Message: Deceased male found in Chantry Flats. Handgun found nearby
Deceased male found in Chantry Flats. Handgun found nearby

Sheriff’s Homicide investigators report that the body of a deceased man was found in the Chantry Flats area this morning.
Identification of the remains has not yet been made, pending identification by the Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office.
At about 8:30AM Monday morning, May 2, a hiker saw a male in the Chantry Flats area who he thought might be sleeping. However, he remembered reading in the Pasadena Star News newspaper about the search for a murderer in that area. He also remembered that the article included the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department cautioning the public that the suspect was armed and dangerous, and to not contact anyone they considered suspicious. Instead, they were asked to alert authorities.

The hiker walked to the closest ranger station and reported his suspicions. Rangers contacted the sheriff’s command post, which dispatched deputies to investigate.
Sheriff’s Mounted Enforcement Detail deputies went to the described area and located the deceased male. A handgun was found near the body. Sheriff’s Homicide investigators and Coroner’s investigators are at the scene.
The area where the body was found has a panoramic view of a nearby city. It was approximately six miles from Mount Wilson, where the car of the victim of the murder was found abandoned. The distance between the two locations is a steep slope of rugged terrain, about 3000’ vertical feet lower than the where the car was found.

The Chantry Flats recreation area, is in the San Gabriel Mountains of the Angeles National Forest, in an unincorporated area policed by Temple Sheriff’s Station of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
The original news release regarding the murder and victim is included below.
Captain Mike Parker
Sheriff's Headquarters Bureau - Nerwsroom
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
(323) 267-4800
SHBNewsroom@lasd.rog
http://www.lasd.org/
Deputies search San Gabriel Mtns above Arcadia for Armed & Dangerous murder suspect. Susp from HuntingtonBch
https://local.nixle.com/alert/4685861/?sub_id=80899
________________________________________

From: LASD - Headquarters Newsroom (SHB), Los Angeles County Sheriff [mailto:lasd----headquarters-newsroom-shb-los-angeles-county-sheriff@emails.nixle.com]

Sent: Sun 5/1/2011 3:28 PM

Subject: Alert Message: Deputies search San Gabriel Mtns above Arcadia for Armed & Dangerous murder suspect. Susp from HuntingtonBch

Deputies search San Gabriel Mtns above Arcadia for Armed & Dangerous murder suspect. Susp from HuntingtonBch

(To see a photo of the suspect, click on the hyperlink at the bottom of this message)

Sheriff's Special Enforcement Bureau - Special Weapons Team deputies are continuing the search for a man suspected of murder in the San Gabriel Mountains above Arcadia and Monrovia.
Suspect Kevin Pochter is a 53-year-old White male resident of Huntington Beach. He is 6 feet tall, 175 pounds, and bald with blue eyes. He is wearing dark clothing.

He is considered ARMED and DANGEROUS.
He is an experienced hiker and was last seen hiking in the San Gabriel Mountains above the cities of Arcadia and Monrovia on Saturday evening, April 30, 2011.

The incident began around 5:40 Thursday (04/28/2011) evening when Sheriff's Homicide detectives responded to the Chantry Flats Recreation Area, Angeles National Forest, unincorporated area near Sierra Madre, regarding a shooting death investigation.

Investigators learned that a passerby discovered the victim lying on the side of Big Santa Anita Canyon Road, south of the Chantry Flats Recreation Area.
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department deputies from Temple Sheriff's Station were notified and responded to the location. The victim, who was suffering from a gunshot wound to the upper body, was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.
The victim has been identified as Dean Ron Albert, a 55-year old White male. The victim and suspect are lifetime friends.

The suspect was last seen hiking in the San Gabriel Mountains above Arcadia and Monrovia on Saturday evening, April 30, 2011.

On Friday, April 30, 2011, homicide investigations sought the public's help in locating the victim's vehicle that was taken from the murder site. The vehicle was described as a silver, 1993 BMW 740 series, 4 door sedan. The California license plate is 3XKB366. At approximately 11:00AM Saturday (04/30/2011) morning, the victim's car was located in the parking lot of the Mount Wilson Observatory, San Gabriel Mountains. Witnesses recognized the vehicle after seeing a description of the silver sedan in the San Gabriel Valley Tribune newspaper. Deputies from Crescenta Valley Sheriff's Station responded to the parking lot and recovered the vehicle.

Deputies from Crescenta Valley, Temple, and San Dimas Sheriff's Stations as well as officers from Arcadia, Sierra Madre, and Monrovia Police Departments spent the rest of the day searching for suspect Kevin Pochter, who is wanted for the murder of Dean Albert, in the area between the Mount Wilson Observatory and the Chantry Flats Recreational Area.

On Sunday morning May 1, 2011, team members from the Sheriff's Special Enforcement Bureau and Emergency Services Details resumed a ground search for suspect Kevin Pochter. An air search is also being conducted by sheriff's helicopter Air-Rescue 5.
Over 62 square miles of rugged terrain have been searched
Deputies and search and rescue personnel from Crescenta Valley, Temple, and San Dimas Stations are monitoring the hiking trails and informing hikers about the continuing search for murder suspect Kevin Pochter who is armed and dangerous.

If anyone sees Pochter or knows of his whereabouts they should not take any action, but immediately call 911.

Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Homicide Bureau , 323-890-5500. Attention: DETECTIVE RAY LUGO at (323) 890-5632 or SERGEANT JOE RAMIREZ at (323) 890-5500. File Number 011-05214-0551-011.
If you prefer to provide information ANONYMOUSLY, you may call "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/.
A Special Bulletin with a photograph and information regarding Suspect Pochter, issued by Sheriff's Homicide Bureau, is available by contacting Sheriff's Headquarters Bureau at (323) 267-4800.
Sgt. Diane Hecht
Captain Mike Parker
Sheriff's Headquarters Bureau - Newsroom
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
(323) 267-4800
mjparker@lasd.org
http://www.lasd.org/
Sheriff Leroy D. Baca
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
To receive more detailed, up-to-date information directly from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD) via e-mail, go to http://www.nixle.com/ and register for "Nixle" alerts from "LASD – Headquarters Newsroom (SHB), Los Angeles County Sheriff" and your local LASD station area. Or, text your zip code to 888777 to receive text alerts only. Standard text messaging rates may apply depending on your calling plan.
(To see a photo of the suspect, click on the hyperlink below)
For full details, go to https://local.nixle.com/alert/4685861/?sub_id=80899.