Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor

POMONA - A Pomona officer handling an unrelated call witnessed a man attempting to burglarize a home and gave chase after the suspect fled Friday.

The incident occurred in the 200 block of East Columbia Street around 7:42 p.m. While speaking with a resident on an unrelated call, the officer saw a suspicious man peering into a residential window and recognized him as a wanted suspect in a previous crime, Pomona Police said.

Suspect John Dolen, a 22-year-old San Bernardino man, is out on Post Release Community Supervision (AB109).

The suspect fled on foot when contacted by the officer and a foot chase led the suspect through residential yards. He reportedly pried open a front door to a residence which was occupied.

“The subject ran by the two terrified home owners and out of the back door,” Pomona Police said. “Pomona Police Officers with the help of departmental resources were able to locate the subject hiding in a yard.”

Dolen was booked on suspicion of burglary at the Pomona city jail.

Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor

POMONA - An 18-year-old Pomona gang member was nabbed by police Thursday afternoon, after finding a loaded handgun near his feet inside his vehicle.
 
Juan Jesus Torres was arrested during a traffic stop around 5 p.m. in the 700 block of West 9thStreet. The officers conducting the stop saw the loaded gun on the floorboard of the vehicle and detained Torres without incident, Pomona Police said.
 
The stop was conducted by officers of the department’s Major Crimes Task Force, which was performing a gang suppression detail.
 
After the arrest, officers conducted a probation compliance check at Torres’ home where a second stolen firearm was found, Pomona Police said.
 
Torres was booked on suspicion of possession of a loaded stolen firearm, being a gang member in possession of a firearm and a gang enhancement.

Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor

Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor

POMONA - Four suspects were arrested after a response to trespassers uncovered a large-scale marijuana grow operation Monday.
 
More than 2,900 marijuana plants in various stages of growth were found in 23 rooms set up inside the building in the 1400 block of North Garey Avenue around 5:30 p.m. An advanced lighting, and air filtration system, complete with air conditioning, fans and exhaust blowers were set up inside, Pomona Police said.
 
The Pomona Police Special Investigations Unit and Homeless Encampment Action Response Team worked to remove the plants and book them as evidence, Pomona Police said.
 
Arrested were Zheng Xue Quan, 62; Wu Zhang, 52; Chen Zhang, 47; and Chen Qiang Zhang, 40.
 
All four suspects were booked on suspicion of cultivating marijuana.

Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor

POMONA - A slow-speed pursuit suspect refuses to exit his vehicle on the 57 freeway at the I-10 freeway interchange,

The suspect has stopped in traffic lanes and refuses to exit the vehicle. He apparently has placed his driver license and a piece of paper on the passenger-side window, according to California Highway Patrol radio traffic.

The CHP is diverting traffic in the area.

Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor

POMONA - The 22-year-old man accused of murdering a professional dancer and dumping his body in the Azusa canyon pleaded no contest recently.

Phillip Von Wade pleaded no contest to one charge of first-degree murder in the death of Rahkeem Amani Reyes, who disappeared in West Covina September 5, 2016. Wade is facing 26 years to life in prison if convicted as charged.

Wade admitted to using an axe during the commission of the crime, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.

Family members frantically searched for Reyes after his disappearance. Reyes’ vehicle was found hours after he was reported missing, located in the 1500 block of McWood Street in West Covina.

Wade was arrested September 8, 2016.

Reyes’ body was found five days later in a remote area of the Azusa Canyon. West Covina detectives, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Homicide detectives and San Dimas Search and Rescue personnel worked to locate the body, West Covina Police said in a written statement.

The body was found along East Fork Road, mile marker 2.5.

Wade apparently was commissioned by Reyes to build a Batman costume for him ahead of San Diego Comic-Con. Wade missed two established deadlines, according to Paul Eakins of the DA’s office.

Wade lured Reyes to his West Covina home where he was murdered with an axe, Eakins said.

Wade is scheduled to be sentenced at the Pomona Superior Courthouse May 14.

Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor

POMONA - Traffic was opened up about 45 minutes ago near Cal Poly Pomona after bomb technicians inspected a suspicious item and deemed it safe.

Police were called to the Foothill Transit bus at the corner of South Campus Drive and Temple Avenue a little after 6:30 p.m. to inspect the item. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Arson/Explosives Detail was called to inspect the item, according to Lt. Gutierrez of the Pomona Police Department.

Pomona Police conducted traffic control during the investigation, which hampered road conditions in the immediate area and caused severe delays for Foothill Transit bus lines 190, 194, 195, 289, 480, and 486.

“It wasn’t a dangerous device. I’m not sure what it was, but it wasn’t electrical in nature,” Gutierrez said.

Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor

POMONA - The Glendale pastor who went on the run and professed his innocence in a sex assault on a pre-teen girl appeared in court Wednesday.
 
Douglas Rivera, 40, was charged with three counts of lewd acts upon a child, first-degree burglary and indecent exposure, including a special enhancement that burglary was committed to commit the lewd act, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.
 
Rivera was taken back into custody and his bail was set at $1.16 million.
 
Rivera, the pastor of God’s Gypsy Christian Church in Glendale, is accused of forcing his way into a room where two Chinese preteen girls were staying at the Vanllee Hotel and Suites, 1211 E. Gavey Ave. February 7.

The girls were here as part of a school trip from China.

Rivera allegedly drove up to the girls’ room around 10:08 p.m., peered through the open drapes from his truck and masturbated, according to Covina Police. Rivera then exited his truck, stood outside the room and pretended to talk on his cellphone for 30 minutes.

Rivera allegedly forced his way in when the girls opened the door thinking he was their chaperone, Covina Police said.

Surveillance pictures of Rivera and his dark-colored Dodge Ram 4500 truck were shared publicly, helping Covina detectives to quickly identify the Baldwin Park resident after a plethora of tips  were phoned in to Covina Police.

Covina detectives served a search warrant at Rivera’s home and located the truck parked there two days after the assault occurred.

The Dodge Ram 4500 was coated with a truck bed liner spray in an attempt to alter its appearance, Covina Police said.

Rivera spent four days on the lam and recorded a video professing his innocence before finally turning himself in.

Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor

POMONA - A 29-year-old Pomona resident was arrested, booked on suspicion of homicide after his elderly relative died from injuries sustained during an altercation Tuesday, Police said.
 
The unidentified victim fell and hit his head during the altercation in the 1100 block of South Hamilton Avenue just before 7 p.m. Pomona officers were summoned to a CPR call at the location where the victim was found unconscious, Pomona Police said.
 
The victim was taken to an area hospital in extremely critical condition where hospital staff could not save him, Pomona Police said.
 
Ricky Rene Maciel, 29, was booked on suspicion of homicide.
 
He is being held in lieu of $2.04 million bail at the Inmate Reception Center in Los Angeles, according to Los Angeles County booking records.
 
Maciel is scheduled to appear at the Pomona Superior Courthouse.

Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor

POMONA - Police arrested five drivers, booking them on suspicion of DUI during a Friday the 13th DUI/driver license checkpoint.

The checkpoint was held at Garey and Monterey avenues from 9 p.m. to 3 a.m., while saturation patrols were conducted from 7 p.m. to 3 a.m. 1,806 vehicles were screened and in addition to the five arrests, 42 were cited/arrested for operating a vehicle unlicensed or on a suspended or revoked license, Pomona Police said.