On March 26, 2018 at 6:30 a.m., the Azusa Police Department's dispatch received a telephone call from a resident regarding a mountain lion sighting in the residential neighborhood located in the 600 Block of W. Virginia Ann Drive. Upon their arrival officers located a large mountain lion, which had climbed over a fence and into the backyard of a residence.
Azusa Police Department officers surrounded the area where the mountain lion was hiding in an effort to maximize public safety. An unmanned aerial system was deployed to assist officers in monitoring the mountain lion's movement. The Department of Fish and Wildlife was contacted and a warden was dispatched to the area to assist.
Once the warden arrived, members of the Azusa Police Department and the Department of Fish and Wildlife began working together to attempt to have the mountain lion leave the area on its own. However, the mountain lion began attempting to traverse the rear yards of several residences, at which point the decision was made to utilize a tranquilizer dart to subdue to the animal.
The tranquilizer was successfully deployed, and the mountain lion was taken into care by the Department of Fish and Wildlife to be evaluated and released in an area away from the neighborhoods.
No people or pets were injured during the incident. The Azusa Police Department would like to thank the Department of Fish and Wildlife for its assistance.