La Habra Man Accused of Plotting Wife’s Murder

A man who allegedly was plotting his wife’s murder was arrested this week before he could carry out the plan, police said Thursday.

Alanzo Roark, 35, was arrested Wednesday evening in the parking lot of a Los Angeles County Sheriff’s substation in Norwalk where he had arranged to meet with his wife to discuss the custody of their children, La Habra Police Lt. Joe Milazzo said.

Police said Roark had contacted two people and discussed a plan to kill his wife. He offered one of them $10,000 and a motor home to commit the killing, police said.

“He indicated to those individuals that he had a plan to murder his wife and would supply the weapons to complete the task,” Milazzo said. “He also said he would dispose of the body.”

Roark was arrested on charges of suspicion to commit murder, two counts of possession of stolen property, possession of narcotics and possession of more than five pounds of gunpowder, police said.

“Detectives obtained a search warrant of Roark’s residence and seized a number of weapons, several pounds of black gunpowder and several items suspected of being stolen, including a car that had been reported stolen in Norwalk,” Milazzo said.

Roark was taken into custody without incident. He is being held without bail at the La Habra jail.

Few details of the alleged plot were available Thursday. Milazzo said he did not know who told police.

No other arrests were made.

Neighbors said Roark moved into a home on Vernon Street with his family more than a year ago.

“I just saw him walking up the street the other day,” one neighbor said. “He told us that he worked as a police volunteer and that we could feel safe with him living a few doors down.

“He said nothing was going to happen to us as long as he lived in this neighborhood.”