Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

POMONA – A suspect in the rape of a woman found dead in town was jailed and identified Thursday.

Jerome Deandre, a 41-year-old Pomona man, was arrested by the Pomona Police Major Crimes Unit. Deandre was booked on suspicion of rape of an unconscious person, kidnapping with the intent to commit rape, oral copulation of an unconscious person and sexual penetration with a foreign object of an unconscious person, according to the Pomona Police Department.

34-year-old Shaday Star Olias was found dead Tuesday, January 12 behind 2001 S. Garey Ave. It is either not clear, or has yet to be revealed if Olias died at the scene.

An exact cause of death has yet to be determined.

“The Pomona Police Department is aware of a rumor circulating on social media stating a serial rapist is operating in Pomona. We would like to assure our community, we have no reason to believe there is a serial rapist in Pomona. Tuesday’s incident was an isolated incident,” according to the Pomona Police Department.

Anyone with information on this incident is urged to call the Pomona Police Department at 909-622-1241. Information can be provided anonymously 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 - A white three-axle water truck and its driver are still outstanding after the semi fatally struck a pedestrian January 4.

The collision occurred around 6 a.m. at South Reservoir Street and East Mission Boulevard Monday. Surveillance video caught the water truck as it fled the area, according to the Pomona Police Department.

The water truck, which was seen hauling a flatbed trailer behind it, may have front end damage.

Anyone with information about the suspect and vehicle is urged to call the Pomona Police Department at 909-622-1241. Information can be provided anonymously by calling LA Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), through the P3Tips mobile app, or at lacrimestoppers.org.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

POMONA - A man died after being hospitalized Sunday night, the victim of a motorcycle crash.

Investigators believe the publicly-unidentified rider collided with a white Chevy Avalanche as it turned left into the motorcycle. The Avalanche and driver remain at-large, according to the Pomona Police Department.

The collision was discovered by a Pomona police officer around 8:09 p.m. December 20 in northbound lanes of Gary Avenue at Pearl Street.

Anyone with information on a suspect is urge to call the Pomona police department at 909-620-2048, or 909-820-7741. Information can be provided anonymously 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 - Authorities could not identify a motorcyclist after he crashed into a tree and died December 15, Pomona Police said.

The crash occurred around 6:45 p.m. at Mission Boulevard and Phillips Drive Tuesday. The rider was declared dead at the scene after paramedics arrived, according to the Pomona Police Department.

No other vehicles were involved.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

POMONA - A gun was recovered after a driver led police on a chase December 9.

19-year-old Sebastian Rico allegedly refused to stop for police after he committed several vehicle code violations at Holt Avenue and White Avenue just before 7 p.m., Pomona Police said.

During the chase, a handgun was tossed from the vehicle, Pomona Police said.

Rico, a documented Pomona gang member, was arrested and booked on suspicion of possessing a loaded firearm, being a gang member in possession of a loaded firearm and possessing a loaded & unregistered firearm.

The arrest was made by members of the Pomona Police Major Crimes Task Force.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

POMONA - Police officers were able to arrest an armed suspect December 4 morning after he pointed a loaded rifle in their direction.

Raul Cuevas Gallegos, a 26-year-old Pomona man, reportedly drove up alongside officers from the department’s Major Crimes Task Force who were parked at 7th Street and Rebecca Street just after 1 a.m. and pointed the rifle in their direction, according to the Pomona Police Department.

Officers withdrew their weapons and ordered Cuevas to drop the rifle. He was safely taken into custody, Pomona Police said.

The rifle had a loaded magazine with 7mm ammunition.

“The instantaneous response by the professionally trained Officers was the key to quickly deescalate the situation and safely take Cuevas into-custody,” Pomona Police said in a written statement.

Cuevas was booked on suspicion of possessing a loaded firearm.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

UPDATE, 10:33 a.m.: All lanes have been reopened, according to Caltrans.

POMONA - A female jumped to her death onto the westbound 60 freeway from the Phillips Ranch Road overpass Thursday morning, a CHP officer said.

The first report of a jumper was made at 7:44 a.m. The unidentified female apparently jumped before officers arrived, according to Officer Moises Marroquin of the California Highway Patrol Traffic Management Center.

The No. 2, 3 and 4 lanes of the westbound 60 at Phillips Ranch are blocked for an unknown duration, in addition to the northbound Phillips Ranch on ramp to the west 60 freeway, Marroquin told SGV CityWatch.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

POMONA - Officers took down an illegal marijuana dispensary November 30 and recovered 18 pounds of marijuana, 19 pounds of marijuana product and an unregistered firearm, police said.

The dispensary, 1425 E. Mission Blvd., was the target of numerous “administrative citations” by the city for building code violations and the owner was cited for having a marijuana dispensary operate on the property. The owner allegedly refused to comply with city requests to cease operation, according to the Pomona Police Department.

The building was red-tagged numerous times.

“The operators of these locations refuse to follow local and state laws. They sell unregulated product which is dangerous to the user,” according to the Pomona Police Department. “The products are purchased from the black-market and sold over the counter without a permit to anyone off the street. These products are laced with chemicals and have unregulated THC levels.”

One of the two weapons seized during the raid is an unregistered firearm, Pomona Police said.

“The weapon was hidden, but was found and will be tested for DNA to trace it back to the owner,” Pomona Police said.

The building is still red-tagged and cannot be occupied until the business is closed and the building deemed safe, Pomona Police said.

Code enforcement officials will continue with administrative action against the owner and operators.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

POMONA - As part of a comprehensive effort to address human trafficking in the City of Pomona, police will begin publishing mugshots of men arrested on suspicion of soliciting prostitution.

The announcement was made by Police Chief Mike Ellis Monday, November 23. The mugshots are being published on the city website in a report that will be updated every 15 days in a effort to deter prostitution-related activity, Ellis said.

Click here to view all mugshots

The publishing of offender mugshots is one aspect of a multifaceted approach at bolstering the fight against human trafficking.

At a November 16 Pomona city council meeting, a unanimous vote allowed for the ban on the hourly rental of hotels and motels in town. The ban takes effect December 16.

In December, Police will add two more officers to the Sexual Exploitation and Human Trafficking Team to rescue victims of human trafficking and conduct direct enforcement on pimps and sex purchasers seven days per week, Pomona Police said.

Pomona officers will also partner with the FBI’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force. Federal criminal filing opportunities will also be granted to the department’s SET Team, Pomona Police said.

Lastly, lighting will be upgraded along the Holt Avenue corridor to brighter LED lighting.

“E. Holt Ave. and the illegal activity that occurs on our City streets remains a top priority for our Department,” Ellis said. “With these changes, we will continue to work with federal, state, and local partners to hold those who engage in sexual exploitation activity accountable and seek justice for victims.”

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

POMONA - A woman was killed Thursday morning after rear-ending a parked vehicle, forcing it to strike a business.

Police and firefighters already found the driver dead after arriving to Holt Avenue and San Antonio Avenue. The driver could not be positively identified at the scene, according to the Pomona Police Department.

The collision was dispatched to police just after 2 a.m. in the 700 block of East Holt Avenue.

No one else was found in the vehicle, Pomona Police said.

Anyone with information on this crash is urged to call the Pomona Police Traffic Services Bureau at 909-802-7741 or 909-620-2048.