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 LOS ANGELES – Authorities announced 13 arrests and the seizure of 114 firearms and more than 49,000 rounds of ammunition in a five-day sweep across Los Angeles County to keep the weapons and ammo out of the hands of criminals.
Agents from the California Department of Justice Bureau of Firearms partnered with police departments from Azusa, Pasadena, Pomona, the City of Los Angeles, the Los Angeles County Probation Department and Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Authorities targeted 51 cities and arrested individuals prohibited from possessing firearms, according to the California Department of Justice. The sweep began February 14. Firearms seized reportedly included 55 handguns, 19 rifles, 15 shotguns, 17 assault weapons, and 8 ghost guns, according to the California Department of Justice. The arrests were aided by the state DOJ’s Armed and Prohibited Persons System, in which the arrestees were identified as being prohibited from possessing firearms. “Pasadena Police Department is excited about partnering with the California Department of Justice in an effort to stop gun violence," Interim Pasadena Police Chief Cheryl Moody said. "This collaboration will certainly benefit those communities most impacted by individuals who illegally possess or use firearms.” The Armed and Prohibited Persons System was launched in California 16 years ago. California was the first to launch such a database. “California’s Armed and Prohibited Persons System is a critical tool that makes the work of cracking down on illegal gun ownership and possession possible,” said Attorney General Rob Bonta. “Last week, using APPS and working together with our law enforcement partners in Southern California, our teams removed 114 firearms from individuals who are no longer legally allowed to own or possess firearms or ammunition. Collaborative efforts like these increase our success in taking guns out of potentially dangerous hands, reducing gun violence, and keeping our neighborhoods safe.” 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 LOS ANGELES - A Pomona man was identified as a homicide victim found shot in a residential area.
Marvin Watkins, 57, was identified by the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner. He was found dead on a sidewalk. Officers responded to Viewpoint Circle near Skyview Circle to investigate a gun fire call just before 7 p.m. March 23. Family members of the victim reported the shooting, Pomona Police said in a written statement. The Pomona Police department deemed the death a homicide, but the county coroner has yet to conduct an autopsy, according to public records. Anyone with information regarding the shooting is urged to contact the Pomona Police Department at 909-620-2085. The Cause of the Shooting Has Not Been Shared. CLICK TO READ MORE Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor REGION - A man convicted of making criminal threats, robbery and witness intimidation, among other crimes, was sentenced to prison Tuesday. John Holmes, 35, was sentenced to 37 years and 10 months in state prison. He was previously convicted on two counts of violating a domestic violence court order, three counts of child endangerment, two counts of robbery, four counts of witness intimidation, bringing narcotics into a jail and criminal threats, Pomona Police said. Holmes terrorized his victim and her children over a period of months starting back on July 21, 2019 when he assaulted his victim and fled the home, leaving three children unattended, Pomona Police said. After moving away, Holmes returned and forcefully robbed his victim of a cell phone, only to return a few hours later when he forcefully took a second phone. He returned to the area once more, but was arrested in a nearby alley.
Cocaine was discovered on Holmes’ person during the booking process, Pomona Police said, during which he threatened two Pomona jailers. “While Holmes was in-custody, he called the victim more than 100 times, threatening her not to go to court,” Pomona Police said in a written statement. Holmes also threatened the victim during the preliminary hearing process, telling her not to take the stand, Pomona Police said. Holmes was convicted on all counts against him. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor REGION - 70 federal, state and local agencies across the Golden State worked to put a dent in the human trafficking world, rescuing nearly 100 victims and making hundreds of arrests. Operation Reclaim and Rebuild, the annual operation targeting those who work in sex trafficking and their customers, netted 518 arrests, which included 266 sex buyers, 27 traffickers and 190 commercial sex workers. 87 victims were rescued, including 11 minors, according to the Pomona Police Department. The operation took place from Sunday, January 26 to Sunday, February 1, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
Azusa Police, Pomona Police officers from the Sexual Exploitation & Trafficking Team and SETT liaisons arrested four women and three men during enforcement along the infamous Holt Avenue corridor February 1. The operation was coordinated during Human Trafficking Awareness Month. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor REGION - Jury members deliberated for two days, ultimately convicting a former Los Angeles Police officer in the murder of a man in Downtown Pomona. Henry Solis, 31, was found guilty of one count of second-degree murder in the shooting death of Salome Rodriguez. Solis faces 40 years to life in state prison if convicted as charged, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. The shooting took place March 13, 2015. Rodriguez walked past Solis as he stood outside a Pomona bar. Solis pursued Rodriguez and fatally shot him. Solis’ attorney tried to persuade the jury that Solis shot Rodriguez in self defense after being attacked.
Solis said in testimony that the shooting resulted from an arrest gone wrong and claimed he pursued Rodriguez who allegedly sexually assaulted Solis. Solis fled after the murder and took refuge in Mexico until his capture and extradition more than two months later. Solis is scheduled to be sentenced March 11. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor POMONA - Pomona Police promptly arrested a former Upland Police officer hours after he was released by his department. Joshua Duarte, 31, was arrested January 11. He was a probationary police officer with the Upland Police Department since August 19, 2019, according to Cpt. Marcelo Blanco of the Upland Police Department in a written statement. Duarte is accused of sexual battery while off duty, Blanco said. “I can tell you that I am disturbed by the allegations. The alleged conduct is inconsistent with the expectations of an Upland Police officer and do not reflect the majority of our officers who work hard every day to maintain the trust and support of our community,” said Upland Police Chief Darren Goodman.
Duarte posted bond and is scheduled to appear in court February 3, according to Los Angeles County booking records. Specifics on the investigation by Pomona Police have not been revealed. Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor LOS ANGELES - The man and woman found shot to death in their Pomona home were identified Monday.
Vernon Jackson, 62, and Sandra Jackson, 59, were identified by the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner. Vernon apparently shot his wife and then turned the gun on himself. Police discovered the dead couple while investigating a call for a welfare check in the 1400 block of West McKinley Avenue October 6. The couple suffered a single gunshot wound each, according to Sgt. Brian Hagerty of the Pomona Police Department. Police discovered the bodies around 11:20 a.m. Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor LOS ANGELES - The coroner will determine if the man who stabbed to death a Cal Poly Pomona public safety specialist last month had anything in his system when the killing occurred.
A motive is still unknown after 27-year-old Rodney Lee Hunter reportedly committed the brutal stabbing of Mark Manlapaz, a 17-year-veteran of California State Polytechnic University, Pomona June 29, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Information Bureau. The autopsy on Hunter was performed July 9. Hunter was identified by Homicide detectives as a Cal Poly Pomona custodian. How long Hunter worked for the campus is not immediately known. Manlapaz, 37, served the campus as a public safer specialist. He was parked at university property known as Campus South, 3530 Pomona Blvd., when he was approached by Hunter, who stabbed him to death. Manlapaz died in his university-issued truck. Witnesses helped authorities locate Hunter about a half mile from the scene of the stabbing, near the John T. Lyle Center For Regenerative Studies. One of the witnesses who apparently knew Hunter told detectives that he appeared “out of it,” according to Sheriff's Homicide Lt. John Corina. Hunter fought with the witness when approached. A Pomona Police officer and a Cal Poly Police officer both opened fire on Hunter, but the interaction that led to the officer-involved shooting remains undisclosed. The knife thought to be used in the stabbing was recovered near the victim’s truck. |
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