Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

POMONA – A man accused of dousing a woman with gasoline and igniting her, leading to her death, was found guilty of murder October 28.

Clarence Durell Dear, 58, was convicted by a jury of murder with the special circumstance of inflicting torture, according to the Pomona Police Department.

Dear doused his victim, 41-year-old Dawn Hensley, with gasoline and lit her on fire December 25, 2015. Hensley, the mother of Dear’s children, later died at a hospital. A domestic dispute reportedly led to Dear killing Hensley.

Hensley was set on fire in a home in the 1500 block of Cordova Street. She fled the home engulfed in flames. Neighbors reportedly ran over to her and rendered aid.

Two days later, investigators learned Dear was boarding a bus in Altadena just after 10 a.m. With the help of Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputies and Pasadena Police, Dear was located and arrested.

Dear is scheduled to be sentenced November 30, according to Los Angeles County booking records.

POMONA - A man hospitalized for gunshot wounds later was pronounced dead, according to the Pomona Police Department.

Officers responded to the 2200 block of Carlton Avenue just before 10:20 p.m. October 23 to a report of gunfire. A victim, only described as a man, was found laying near a curb, according to the Pomona Police Department.

The Pomona Police Major Crimes Unit is investigating and states there is no known motive, nor a suspect description.

Anyone with information on this shooting is urged to call the Pomona Police Department at 909-620-2085. Remain anonymous by calling LA Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), through the P3Tips mobile app, or lacrimestoppers.org.

POMONA – Detectives are searching for anyone responsible for the death of a man found near railroad tracks Saturday afternoon.

It is not publicly clear when the man the man was shot or where, but officers responded to a call of a man down in the 100 block of Newman Street around 1:13 p.m. The man was found suffering an apparent gunshot wound and declared dead at the scene.

The motive for the shooting is apparently not known, according to the Pomona Police Department.

Anyone with information on this homicide is urged to call the Pomona Police Department at 909-620-2085. Remain anonymous by calling LA Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), through the P3Tips mobile app or lacrimestoppers.org.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

POMONA - The driver who is accused of vehicular manslaughter and felony hit and run surrendered herself at the scene of a horrific crash that wounded 12 and killed a man.

The crash occurred at West Holt Avenue and North Dudley Street around 7:43 p.m. October 14. The 26-year-old driver, a female, was likely east on Holt Avenue and for unknown reasons veered across westbound lanes and crashed into a taco stand, according to the Pomona Police Department.

The man killed in the crash died at the scene. Three people remain in critical condition.

The 26-year-old suspect fled the scene, but returned more than one hour later and surrendered, according to the Pomona Police Department.

A lieutenant at the Pomona Police Department declined to reveal the suspect’s name, despite that information being public until investigators are comfortable releasing the name.

The suspect was booked at the Pomona jail on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence and hit and run causing death or injury.

It in not immediately clear if the suspect was under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

“Pomona PD grieves in this tragic loss with the family, friends, first responders, and the Pomona community,” according to the Pomona Police Department in a written statement.

POMONA – Police and prosecutors accuse a man of going on a stabbing spree October 7, leaving four people wounded and one of his bleeding victims robbed.

Jesus Perez-Paniagua, a 21-year-old Pomona man, was formally charged October 10 with four counts of attempted murder, four counts of assault with a deadly weapon, one count of armed robbery and one count of possession of a dagger, according to the Pomona Police Department.

Officers were called to the 400 block of East Kingsley Avenue around 1:12 a.m. October 7 and found two victims with multiple stab wounds. The suspect was not found and both victim were treated at a hospital for their wounds, according to the Pomona Police Department.

Around 1:30 a.m., officers were told of a stabbing victim that wound up at a hospital. The third stabbing occurred in the 500 block of Vinton Street.

Around 6:40 a.m., a fourth stabbing call was made. In the 900 block of North Eleanor Street, officers found a stabbing victim who reported being robbed as well, but the victim was able to provide a suspect description and described the property stolen, according to the Pomona Police Department.

Perez was found and detained at Towne Avenue and Kingsley Avenue. Officers reportedly found a bloody knife in his possession and the stolen property.
 
“Perez-Paniagua made statements indicating his involvement in the stabbing on Eleanor St.,” according to the Pomona Police Department in a written statement.

A warrant search at Perez’s home helped investigators find additional evidence tying to the first two stabbings, according to the Pomona Police Department.

All four victims are expected to recover.

POMONA – A suspect remains jailed Thursday, accused of forcing a 17-year-old girl to perform a sex act on him after he convinced her to accept a ride September 27.

Marquise McFadden, 29, was charged by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office with one count of forced oral copulation by force or violence. The girl was waiting at a bus stop near North White Avenue and Texas Avenue when a suspect drove up, according to the Pomona Police Department.

“The suspect offered the victim a ride to school. The victim accepted and got into the car with the suspect. While driving, the suspect produced a firearm and threatened the victim, then sexually assaulted her. The victim was able to get away from the suspect and run to nearby community members who contacted the police,” according to the Pomona Police Department in a written statement.

One day later, McFadden was identified as a suspect and a search was initiated.

McFadden was seen driving the suspect vehicle September 29. Members of the Pomona Police Special Investigations Unit stopped McFadden and found a firearm in his possession, according to the Pomona Police Department.

McFadden posted $150,000 bond. He is scheduled to appear in court November 3, according to Los Angeles County booking records.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

POMONA - A 74-year-old security officer remains hospitalized in an ICU after being beaten by a suspect who remains on the loose, according to the Pomona Police Department.

José Quezada, 32, has been named the suspect in the attempted murder of the security officer. The beating took place September 13 at a Target shopping center, 701 Rio Rancho Rd.

“Quezada used a metal object to strike the victim numerous times in the head,” according to the Pomona Police Department in a written statement.

Quezada is a known a transient and frequents the south side of Pomona and the city of Ontario. Police consider him to be armed and dangerous.

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Quezada is urged to call the Pomona Police Department at 909-622-1241. Refer to case # P2209-00673.

POMONA – A man on a bicycle was wounded after being struck by an unknown vehicle on northbound Towne Avenue late Tuesday night.

The bicyclist was hospitalized and remains in stable condition. Officers responded to Towne Avenue near Bangor Street around 10:50 p.m. September 27, according to Lt. Brian Hagerty of the Pomona Police Department.

There was no evidence at the scene to help officers identify the make and model of the vehicle that fled the scene, Hagerty told SGV CityWatch.

The Pomona Police Traffic Bureau is investigating and is looking for any surveillance video that can help identify the driver and vehicle.

Anyone with information on this hit and run is urged to call the Pomona Police Department at 909-620-2085. Remain anonymous by calling LA Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), through the P3Tips mobile app, or lacrimestoppers.org.

POMONA – Officers apprehended a man seen carrying and pointing a rifle near a Pomona hiking trail Saturday.

A hiker saw the unnamed suspect carrying a rifle with a scope near the Eagle Scout Trail by Mission Boulevard and Appian Way. Arriving officers saw the man with the weapon and called for the Pomona Police SWAT team and Crisis Negotiation Team, according to the Pomona Police Department.

The incident was reported around 7:30 a.m. Saturday, September 24.

The suspect allegedly pointed the rifle at officers.

Officers shut down Mission Boulevard between Temple Avenue and Human Way. They also placed additional officers in surrounding neighborhoods as a safety measure, according to the Pomona Police Department.

“WAT/CNT arrived on scene and took over the incident. The man walked closer to Officers and dropped the rifle, but he continued to remain uncooperative with Officers. The man proceeded to walk back up the trail and was pursued by SWAT/CNT in the Bearcat,” according to the Pomona Police Department in a written statement.

The suspect came back down the hillside around 10:51 a.m. and was apprehended.

POMONA – Few details were available after one person was found dead from apparent gunshot wounds Thursday afternoon.

First responders were called to the 600 block of North Fillmore Place around 2:10 September 8.

One victim was located at the scene and pronounced dead, according to the Pomona Police Department.

Anyone with information on this shooting is urged to call the Pomona Police Department at 909-622-1241. Remain anonymous by calling LA Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), through the P3Tips mobile app, or lacrimestoppers.org.