Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor POMONA - A 42-year-old Pomona gang member was arrested early Sunday during a gang suppression detail, police said. Fernando Contreras was arrested by the Pomona Police Major Crimes Task Force and California Highway Patrol officers conducting a gang suppression operation. Contreras was the passenger of a vehicle initially stopped for a vehicle code violation, Pomona Police said. Authorities made the stop around 1:33 a.m. in the area of Phillips Boulevard and Rebecca Street at 1:33 a.m. April 7. Officers searched the vehicle and learning Contreras was on probation, Pomona Police said.
The vehicle search uncovered a loaded, unregistered handgun and heroin, Pomona Police said. Contreras was booked on suspicion of possessing a controlled substance while armed, being a felon in possession of a firearm, being a felon in possession of ammunition, being a gang member in possession of a loaded firearm and carrying a loaded unregistered firearm. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor POMONA - Police announced the arrest of the suspect accused of firing a gun after an altercation with an employee at a 99 Cents Only Store in December. Angel Valenzuela, 39, was taken into custody April 2 with the help of an arrest warrant after officers developed information on his location. He was taken into custody during a traffic stop. Evidence tied to the shooting was found in his vehicle and a residential search warrant helped locate the firearm used, Pomona Police said. The shooting occurred December 9, 2018 around 1:40 p.m. at the 99 Cents Only Store, 1647 Indian Hill Boulevard.
After Valenzuela and the employee got into the altercation, Valenzuela ran to his vehicle, grabbed the gun and fired twice, Pomona Police said. Surveillance video helped police identify Valenzuela. The suspect was booked on suspicion of being a felon in possession of a firearm, assault with a deadly weapon and assault with a deadly weapon with a firearm. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor POMONA - A total of five people were arrested and one teen was rescued from the streets Tuesday during a prostitution operation on Holt Avenue, Police said. Three suspected prostitutes and two customers, referred to as “johns” were taken into custody, accused of exchanging money for sexual acts. The girl, a 17-year-old from San Bernardino, was taken into protective custody. Pomona Police said in a written statement. The girl was transferred to the custody of San Bernardino County Child and Family Services. Among those arrested are:
Kelly Marie Wibbering, 24, from Encino Sharonda Nicole Patrick, 19, Los Angeles Angelina Susan Bennett, 27, Apple Valley Antonio Magana Lopez, 57, La Puente Robert Diaz, 50, Pomona Among the charges the suspects face include prostitution and loitering with intent to commit prostitution. Despite persistent police work targeting prostitution in that area, Holt Avenue, known nationally as “The Blade,” continues to harbor such illegal activity. Anyone who wishes to report such activity is urged to call the Pomona Police Department at 909-620-2085. Information can be provided anonymously by calling L.A. Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor POMONA - A demonstration is scheduled to take place outside the Pomona Police Station Monday afternoon to demand an oversight commission for the department. The protest is being organized by a group dubbed Indivisible Pomona and is scheduled to take place outside the department, 490 W. Mission Blvd., from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Organizers seek an independent police oversight commission that has the power to investigate misconduct, mistreatment and abuse complaints, as well as hand down discipline to officers and employees who commit such offenses. The protest and desire to form an oversight committee stems from the trial of Pomona Police Sgt. Michael Neaderbaomer, who faces one charge of obstruction of justice, two counts of lying to the FBI and one count of making a false statement. The crimes Neaderbaomer is accused of stem from his handling of an internal investigation into the arrest of a teenager at the Pomona Fairplex in 2015. An officer was recorded as he punched the then 16-year-old boy.
“The claims made about Pomona PD do not at all resemble reality,” said Pomona Police Chief Michael Olivieri in a social media post. Olivieri posted data for 2018 showcases the number of police contacts, the frequency of use of force and other details: Out of the 128,000 police interactions last year, officers made more than 4,000 arrests, recovered nearly 300 guns from the more than 1,500 gang members in Pomona. Use of force was used 33 times, constituting .03% of those 128,000 contacts. Deadly force was used five times in nine years, amounting to .0004% of all contacts, Olivieri said. “I am very proud of the restraint shown by Pomona officers under the most extreme circumstances; those statistics are amazing and speak volumes,” Olivieri said. |
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