Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor REGION - A $20,000 reward will go to the person who provides information leading to the arrest and conviction of the hit and run driver who killed an Azusa father nearly seven years ago.
Dwayne Armenta, 36, was struck and killed by a motorist in the early-morning hours of November 23, 2016 on the east I-10 freeway near Kellogg Drive. It was Thanksgiving and Armenta’s Ford F-150 ran out of gas, so he began walking to find the nearest gas station. Armenta, an Azusa man, attempted to cross traffic lanes and was struck. The suspect driver in a dark-colored SUV stopped, but fled when another driver stopped to help. Construction contractors were taken to court over conditions on the freeway during a project. A judge agreed that poor lighting conditions created by construction contractors Guy F. Atkinson Construction LLC and High-Light Electric Inc. contributed to Armenta’s death. Each of Armenta’s children, who were 4 and 14 years old at the time, received a settlement. Anyone who can help identify the driver is urged to call the California Highway Patrol Baldwin Park Office at 626-338-1164. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor LOS ANGELES - A Pomona man was found guilty May 9 of one count of abusive sexual contact during a flight from Cleveland to Los Angeles.
Mohammad Jawad Ansari, 49, committed the sexual abuse during the February 17, 2020 flight. “Ansari occupied a 10th-row window seat while the victim occupied the middle seat next to him. The victim, who was wearing a dress, fell asleep shortly after takeoff and the armrest separating Ansari from the victim was down,” according to the US Attorney’s Office in a written statement. Ansari Intentionally, and without the victim’s consent, touched her right knee as she slept. Ansari eventually moved his hand to her inner thigh. Ansari placed his left hand on the victim’s right knee and knowingly, intentionally, and without the victim’s consent, moved his hand to her inner thigh. The person sitting in the 10th-row aisle seat next to the victim witnessed Ansari’s hand touching the victim’s inner thigh. A passenger seated next to the victim witnessed the abuse, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. “The victim woke up, pushed Ansari’s hand away, left her seat, and informed a flight attendant about what had happened. The flight’s attendants observed Ansari during the remainder of the flight and believed he was pretending to sleep,” according to the US Attorney’s Office in a written statement. Ansari faces a September 29 and faces a statutory maximum of two years in federal prison. The FBI investigated this case. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor REGION - Plenty of activities and delicious goodies will be available all day during during a free event that promotes active transportation.
626 Golden Streets comes to the San Gabriel Valley Sunday, April 23. The event stretches six and one half miles along portions of Bonita Avenue, Fulton Road and Arrow Highway to Claremont. The event will run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The people-centric event promotes active transportation: walking, biking, jogging, running, strolling … you name it. Other activities and chances to support local businesses will be available along the route. The event will require the temporary closure of roadways and no vehicle traffic will be allowed. The first 50 attendees will receive a free limited edition t-shirt and raffle tickets. Join the Heart of the Foothills opening ceremony at Palomares Park in Pomona, 499 E. Arrow Hwy., from 8:15 a.m. to 9 a.m. Parking restrictions will go into effect along the route beginning at Midnight prior to the event. Road closures are scheduled to start at 5 a.m. and full closures will be made by 7 a.m. A partial reopening of the route will begin by 4 p.m. with most sections reopening by 5 p.m. Visit the 626 Golden Streets website for frequently asked questions. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor CHINO – A man accused of shooting at a fellow motorist on the 60 freeway August 10 was identified and arrested at his Chino residence, according to the California Highway Patrol.
Abel Rodriguez, 20, was booked at the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Walnut/Diamond Bar Station on suspicion of attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon and shooting at an inhabited vehicle. CHP officers were called to the 60 freeway near Reservoir Street around 5:08 p.m. to a report of gunfire and later spoke with the victims at their Chino residence. Neither victim was wounded, according to the California Highway Patrol. Investigators were told the suspect fled in a 2021 Toyota Corolla and with help from the Chino Police Department, the suspect was found in his home in the 5200 block of Washington Avenue. Rodriguez was held in lieu of $250,000 bail, but posted bond and was released the day of his arrest, according to Los Angeles County booking records. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor BARSTOW – A twenty-something couple are accused of murder in the death of their 1-year-old child who was driven all the way to Pomona where family made the grisly discovery in the couple’s vehicle, police said.
Ricardo Mendez, 27, and Antanita Miller, 24, were booked at the West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga after Pomona officers and Barstow detectives began investigating the suspicious circumstances behind the child’s death. Pomona officers were called to Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center just before 8 p.m. April 25. The child was declared dead by hospital staff upon arrival. The child displayed suspicious trauma, including lesions, bruising and burn marks. Some injuries were in various stages of healing, according to the Barstow Police Department. A homicide investigation was launched by Barstow Police after Pomona officers notified them that the death likely occurred in the child’s Barstow residence. Miller was detained as she arrived to Pomona Valley. Mendez was detained in the 2100 block of Spencer Street after leaving the family’s Pomona home, according to the Barstow Police Department. “During the investigation detectives learned that on April 25, 2022, at approximately 7:00 PM, Ricardo Mendez and Antanita Miller arrived unexpectedly at Mendez’s family’s home located in the city of Pomona. Family members located the victim’s lifeless body in the back of Ricardo Mendez’ and Antanita Miller’s vehicle,” according to the Barstow Police Department. “Some of Mendez’s family members immediately drove the victim to the Pomona Valley Hospital for treatment. Ricardo Mendez and Antanita Miller stayed at the family home and did not initially go to the hospital.” A search warrant served at the Barstow home and vehicle occupied by the couple during their grisly journey revealed items believed to be used during the crimes, according to the Barstow Police Department. Anyone with information regarding this investigation is urged to call Barstow Police Detective Matthew Helms at 760-255-5132 or at mhelms@barstowca.org. Information can be provided anonymously by calling the WE-TIP hotline at 1-800-79-CRIME (27469), or at www.wetip.com. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor REGION – Authorities continue to search for six men wanted in connection with a large-scale drug trafficking organization.
The six fugitives are among 13 others named in four separate indictments and charged with various offenses related to drugs and weapons. The crimes were carried out in the Los Angeles Police Department’s Harbor Division, according to the FBI Los Angeles Field Office. Pomona man Hector Yair Sanchez, 25, is among the six fugitives charged in Operation “Wipe Out,” initiated by the Los Angeles Police Department and the Los Angeles Interagency Metropolitan Police Apprehension Crime Task Force in 2020. Four indictments were unsealed November 16. From April to July 2021, undercover officers conducted numerous operations that helped identify the 13 suspects from California and Arizona. Officers seized 250 pounds of methamphetamine, one pound of fentanyl, six handguns and one rifle, according to the FBI. Arrested were: Adrian Abasolo, 26, from San Diego Alejandro Mendoza, 45, from Los Angeles Hector Valentin, 28, from Long Beach Rodolfo Ulyses, 61, from Bullhead City, Arizona Juan Antonio Aguilar-Bravo, 45, from Calexico Gabriela Contreras, 42, from Gardena Marisela Sanchez, 43, from Wilmington Those arrested were scheduled for initial court appearances Tuesday in the nearest federal district court to where the arrests occurred. Still sought are: Hector Yair Sanchez, 25, from Pomona Christian Garcia, 29, from Long Beach Jorge Luis Perez Sandoval, 36, from Victorville Luis Fernando Verdugo, 25, from Pacoima Alexander Guerrero, 42, from Los Angeles Oscar Humberto Gallegos, 35, from San Diego Among the charges are: conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine; possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine; possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; felon in possession of firearm and ammunition; conspiracy; unlawful sale, transport, and transfer of a firearm by an unlicensed dealer; conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine; and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine, according to the FBI. If convicted as charged, the suspects face a range of statutory maximum sentences ranging from five years to life in prison, according to the FBI. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor REGION - Beginning this afternoon, continuing work on the L Line Foothill Extension will sporadically impact traffic, authorities said.
A rail delivery train will deliver 1600-foot segments of rail sticks at various points along the L Line route from Glendora to Pomona, according to the Foothill Gold Line Construction Authority. The deliveries are expected to take place from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and are scheduled to last through Saturday, August 28. At-grade crossings will be affected multiple times. Crossing gates will be functional and may impact traffic for up to five minutes at a time while rail sticks are off-loaded, the construction authority said. In August, the construction authority announced the$1.5 billion, 9.1-mile project to Pomona was 36 percent complete. Construction on this segment from Glendora to Pomona began July 2020. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor POMONA - A Pomona man was booked on suspicion of several felony counts of attempted murder and carrying a loaded firearm in a vehicle after being arrested more than four months after shooting at a vehicle occupied by a man, woman and child, the CHP said.
Preston Urel Givens Jr., 25, is accused of unloading a firearm at a Nissan Altima on the I-10 freeway near Fairplex Drive July 10, 2020 after a highway violence incident. He was identified by members of the California Highway Patrol Baldwin Park Special Enforcement Team, according to the CHP. Givens was arrested during a traffic stop November 13. None of the intended victims were injured. After the incident, which occurred at 12:30 a.m., the victims went back to their residence in Bakersfield. “Officers from the CHP Baldwin Park Special Enforcement Team conducted extensive follow up for this investigation. As a result of their efforts, they were able to identify the suspect,” According to Officer Tony Chen of the California Highway Patrol Baldwin Park Special Enforcement Team. Givens is being held in lieu of more than $3.6 million bail at the Men’s Central Jail in Los Angeles. His next scheduled court date is November 20 in Pomona Superior Court. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor LOS ANGELES - A Pomona man was arrested November 9 after fleeing police while driving a Humvee stolen from an Upland Army Reserve facility.
Armando Garcia, 29, a parolee convicted in 2019 in state court on theft and burglary charges, was named Friday in a criminal complaint filed in United States District Court. Garcia allegedly stole the semi-armored Humvee midday Monday before Pomona officers found the unlicensed vehicle, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Garcia was charged with theft of government property. Garcia refused to stop and led officers on a four-minute chase, driving at excessive speed, running red lights, stop signs, failing to signal for turns and driving in opposing lanes, according to the criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court. Garcia eventually stopped in a residential neighborhood on East Kingsley Avenue and was taken into custody. Inside the Humvee, valued at more than $200,000, was a large pair of bolt cutters and a cut army-approved padlock. The latter is fixed with a steel wire to prevent turning of the steering wheel, the criminal complaint stated. If convicted as charged, Garcia faces a possible statutory maximum of 10 years in federal prison. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor POMONA - The California Highway Patrol arrested a driver September 7 after he allegedly led Claremont Police and CHP officers on a chase throughout the San Gabriel Valley.
Claremont officers initially pursued Anthony Orlando Franco, 33, who was driving in a stolen vehicle. The CHP was notified of the chase as it was west on the I-10 freeway west of Indian Hill Boulevard, according to Officer Rodrigo Jimenez of the California Highway Patrol Baldwin Park Office. CHP officers took over the pursuit of a black 2017 Kia Soul on the west 210 freeway at Grand Avenue, Jimenez told SGV CityWatch. The chase took to surface streets through Glendora, Covina, Irwindale, Pomona, La Verne, Claremont, Baldwin Park and West Covina. He also allegedly fled in opposing lanes of traffic, Jimenez told SGV CityWatch. The suspect also traversed the I-10, 210, 57, 71 and 605 freeways. The pursuit briefly reentered the 210 freeway eastbound from Sunflower Avenue in Glendora. The CHP attempted to disable the Kia Soul with the Pursuit Intervention Technique, but the vehicle kept moving and exited onto southbound San Dimas Avenue in San Dimas. While westbound in the area of Walnut Avenue and Arrow Highway, the driver reportedly struck the front of a CHP officer’s patrol vehicle, Jimenez told SGV CityWatch. The CHP canceled the chase due to the driver’s reckless nature. Claremont officers located the suspect and continued the pursuit into Pomona where the suspect abandoned the Soul and fled on foot at the American Inn & Suites, 310 E. Foothill Blvd. The Kia rolled and crashed into two parked vehicles, Jimenez told SGV CityWatch. Franco was caught shortly after running and was medically cleared before being booked at the Inmate Reception Center on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon other than a firearm, assaulting a peace officer, felony evading an officer, being in possession of a stolen vehicle and driving under the influence of drugs, Jimenez told SGV CityWatch. Franco was additionally booked for warrants related to felony evading and parole violations. |
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