Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor

POMONA – A Pomona Police task force took a man into custody last Saturday after a loaded gun was discovered inside his vehicle.
 
Rodolfo Becerra, 36, was arrested by members of the Pomona Police Major Crimes Task Force during a search of his 2003 Lincoln Aviator. Becerra was stopped in 700 block of West Holt Avenue after he reportedly committed several vehicle violations, Pomona Police said.
 
The Major Crimes Task Force concentrated their work in the area of Holt and Huntington Avenue due to recent gang activity.
 
Becerra was booked on suspicion of being a felon in possession of a firearm, being a felon in possession of ammunition and possessing an unregistered firearm.

Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor

LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office has brought eight charges against the barricaded suspect who fired upon Pomona officers, killing one.
 
Isaias De Jesus Valencia, 39, was charged with one count of murder with the special circumstance allegations of murder of a peace officer and murder for the purpose of avoiding or preventing a lawful arrest. He also faces seven counts of attempted murder and one count each of fleeing a pursuing peace officer’s vehicle and possession of a firearm by a felon, according to Greg Risling of the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.

Valencia's arraignment was postponed until May 1.
 
If convicted as charged, Valencia faces the death penalty or life in prison without the possibility of parole. A decision on whether to seek capital punishment will be made at a later date, Risling said.

Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor

POMONA – An 80-year-old woman was found unconscious, concealed in high brush behind Ranch Hills Elementary School Monday night.
 
The woman wondered away from her home in the Phillips Ranch area around 6 p.m. March 12. Officers searched the area, but could not find the woman, Pomona Polcie said.
 
“Due to the victims age the family members were concerned for her health and safety,” Pomona Police said.
 
Pomona Police’s K9, Jax, and his handler, Officer Conley, were deployed to search for the woman.
 
Jax immediately detected a scent, which led to a hilly area behind Ranch Hills Elementary School, 2 Trabuco Place, where the 80-year-old woman was found lying unconscious. She was taken to Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center and is listed in serious condition.
 
The woman was treated and her condition was upgraded to stable.
 
“Without Jax and his keen sense of smell it is possible the victim would not have been found prior to her medical condition deteriorating to a point where she would not have been able to regain consciousness,” Pomona Polcie said.

Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor

POMONA – One of two Pomona Police Officers hit by gunfire from a barricaded pursuit suspect is recuperating at home.
 
Field Training Officer Alex Nguyen has been released from the hospital and is doing well, Pomona Police said in a brief social media statement. Nguyen was shot in the face while attempting to rescue fellow officer, Greggory Jonathan Casillas, 30, who died after also being shot.
 
The two officers and backup units chased on foot a pursuit suspect who ran into an apartment unit after crashing into a parked truck while fleeing Pomona Police.
 
The suspect, Isaias De Jesus Valencia, 39, accused of murder of a police officer and attempted murder of a police officer, has yet to have a case filed against him, according to Sarah Ardalani of the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.
 
Valencia was booked at the San Dimas Sheriff’s Station at 4:25 p.m. Saturday after surrendering to Sheriff’s Special Enforcement Bureau deputies after a K9 was sent in to subdue him when tear gas failed to bring him out, authorities said.

​Valencia is being held without bail.
 
Valencia kept law enforcement at bay for 15 hours.

Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor

POMONA -  A 15-hour standoff with an armed man accused of shooting to death one Pomona Police officer and wounding another ended about 30 minute ago with the suspect’s surrender, authorities said.

The still-unidentified suspect could be seen in the custody of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Special Enforcement Bureau team, being led in his underwear to the rear of the apartment complex where he barricaded himself and into a Sheriff’s SUV.

Michael Olivieri, chief of the Pomona Police Department, spoke briefly about Casillas.

“It certainly is a sad day for the Pomona Police Department, it’s a sad day for our community and it’s a sad day for law enforcement in general,” Olivieri said.

Casillas joined Pomona Police as a records specialist in December 2014. The following September, Casillas became a jailer.

Casillas was hired as a Pomona Police recruit and attended the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Academy.

Casillas became a sworn officer last September.

Gregory Jonathan Casillas, 25, was a Pomona officer for less than one year before he was fatally shot by an accused reckless driver who led officers on a brief chase.

“Greg is a hero, a man to be looked up to. He left his family at home to protect yours. His ultimate sacrifice will never be forgotten,” Olivieri said.

Casillas and fellow officers chased the suspect on foot after he crashed a truck in the 1400 block of Palomares Street just after 9 p.m. The suspect opened fire, striking Casillas. A fellow officer attempted to rescue Casillas and ended up being shot in the face, according to Los Angeles County Sheriff Jim McDonnell.

“Now, with all of that behind us, the investigation begins,” McDonnell said. “We weren’t able to begin the actual investigation until we were able to secure the scene.”


“It has been a long night and it will continue to be a long and thorough investigation,” McDonnell said.

Casillas is survived by his parents, two brothers, his wife and two small children.

Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor

POMONA - A brief pursuit of a reckless driver culminated with one officer being shot to death, the other being seriously wounded, a Sheriff’s Homicide lieutenant said.

The unidentified suspect is believed to still be alive inside an apartment unit in the 1400 block of Palomares Street. The suspect led Pomona officers in a pursuit when he crashed just after 9 p.m. Friday, according to Lt. Christopher Bergner of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau.

The suspect fled on foot the grey-colored truck he crashed into a parked SUV with Pomona officers following behind and ran into an apartment unit.

“As he barricaded himself in a bedroom, officers attempted to contact him and he began firing through the door, striking two officers,” Bergner said.

One officer was pronounced dead upon arriving at Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center.

A long procession of law enforcement from across the San Gabriel Valley and the Inland Empire escorted the Coroner van carrying the body of the slain officer as it was taken to the Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner.

The Sheriff’s Special Enforcement Bureau and crisis negotiators are on scene attempting to get the suspect to surrender.

Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor

POMONA - A Police Officer has died after being shot by an armed, barricaded suspect.

A second officer was shot, but is listed in stable condition, said Michael Olivieri, chief of police for the Pomona Police Department.

Officers responding to a residence in the 1400 block of South Palomares Street Friday night encountered gunfire. One officer was pulled from the scene by his backup, taken to the street where a Pomona officer began CPR until paramedics arrived, according to footage from the scene.

The suspect is presumably still barricaded in the residence.

A massive mutual aid response was made to the scene. Azusa, Covina, West Covina, Whittier police officers, CHP officers from the Baldwin Park and Rancho Cucamonga Office and deputies with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Walnut, Industry stations and Riverside County Sheriff’s are providing assistance at the scene.

Pomona officers and officers from the San Gabriel Valley and Inland Empire will  escort the slain officer from Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center to the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner in Los Angeles at 6 a.m.

Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor

POMONA - An officer is in unknown condition after possibly being hit by gunfire near South Palomares Street and East Fernleaf Avenue about one hour ago.

It is unknown what officers were initially responding to. Law enforcement from multiple agencies are on scene assisting with a containment of the area near Palomares and Fernleaf

Ed Pickett, dispatch supervisor for the Los Angeles County Fire Department, refused to provide details on the injuries sustained and directed questions to Pomona Police.

The California Highway Patrol Traffic Management Center stated only two Baldwin Park CHP units are providing assistance, yet a dispatcher was directing many more than that to specific cross streets near the shooting.

Deputies with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Industry Station are also assisting.

A quick search through social media helps paint a small picture of what Pomona residents are hearing:

Pomona Police have yet to issue any information on the shooting or officer's condition.

No further information is available.