 Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor POMONA - A male suffering from mental issues was safely detained and evaluated Wednesday after a standoff with police. The incident began in a home in the 2200 block of South Park Avenue just after 1:30 p.m. The male allegedly refused to take medication for a preexisting mental disorder and told a family member he had an urge to commit murder, according to the Pomona Police Department. “The subject’s behavior escalated and the family member told police dispatchers he had begun acting out violently and tried attacking her with a large pick axe,” Pomona Police said in a written statement. As officers arrived, the male armed himself with a nine-inch butcher knife and barricaded himself in the residence’s rear yard where he kept officers a bay.
“He was visibly agitated, scared, and refused to obey any and all commands given by officers,” Pomona Police said. The Pomona Police Department Mental Health Unit (MHU) and a crisis negotiation certified officer responded and negotiated with the male, established rapport and calmed him down after more than two hours of negotiations. The subject placed his knife on the ground and surrendered peacefully without further incident, Pomona Police said. The male’s family desired he seek mental health treatment and declined any criminal charges after police determined he is a danger to himself. He was taken to a nearby mental facility.  POMONA - A brush fire is burning along a hillside near Fairplex Drive and Gillette Road, Los Angeles County firefighters report. A California Highway Patrol officer first reported the fire just before 5:30 p.m. The fire has burned an estimated two acres as of 5:31 p.m., according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor POMONA - A 45-year-old Pomona man was arrested May 6 after a nearly three-month investigation led to DUI charges against the driver. Javan Draper was located on Packard Drive at Painter Court and arrested by the Pomona Police Special Investigations Unit after charges were officially filed against him and an arrest warrant issued, Pomona Police said. The fatal crash occurred in the 2200 block of Garey Avenue February 7 around 2 a.m. Draper, the driver of a black 2007 Chrysler Seabring, was speeding when he hot a concrete divider. The car hit a tree after rolling over, Pomona Police said. Draper’s passenger, 23-year-old Anthony Tucker Jr. of Pomona, died at the scene. An investigation by the department’s Major Accident Investigation Team revealed Draper was under the influence of alcohol and illegal drugs.
“MAIT investigators learned Draper was driving on a suspended driver’s license and had a recent DUI conviction. As part of his court proceedings, Draper was warned of the dangers of driving while intoxicated (Watson Advisement). Because of this advisement, and Draper’s actions, he is eligible to be charged with murder,” Pomona Police said. Draper was booked on suspicion of murder, DUI causing death and driving on a suspended license. Draper is being held in lieu of $2.35 million bail at the Twin Towers Correctional Facility ahead of a scheduled appearance in Pomona Superior Court June 4, according to Los Angeles County booking records. 
VIDEO from the Pomona Police Department.
Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor
POMONA - The body camera footage of an encounter between a Pomona Police officer and the shooting of a man armed with a sword was released Thursday.
The scene unfolded March 30, 2020 near Reservoir Street and Third Street around 7:15 p.m. Pomona Police Corporal Chad Jensen responded to an assault with a deadly weapon call and found a victim claiming to have been cut by a man with a sword. Jensen searched for and located a suspect, Pomona Police said.
The suspect ran into some nearby bushes to hide from Jensen. As the suspect emerged, Jensen drew his weapon. The suspect then armed himself with the sword and refused to comply with Jensen’s commands while walking towards the officer.
A police shooting occurred. The suspect died at the scene. The victim, who received a laceration to his head after being attacked by the suspect, was hospitalized and will make a full recovery, Pomona Police said. “The Pomona Police Department remains committed to accountability and transparency in use of force encounters and all situations,” Pomona Police said in a written statement.  Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor CLAREMONT - Pomona Police arrested a felon Thursday morning after he attempted to flee over a fence. A handgun also fell out of the waistband of 26-year-old Alex Rodriguez of Long Beach as officers were about to take him into custody after he ran during a traffic stop, Pomona Police said. Officers with the department’s Major Crimes Task Force conducted a traffic stop on a white Kia Sedan in a Claremont hotel parking lot in the 700 block of South Indian Hill Boulevard just before 12:30 a.m. May 7. Officers observed vehicle code violations and decided to pull the driver over.
The Kia was occupied by three gang members and one woman, Pomona Police said. Rodriguez, a rear passenger in the Kia, ran and jumped over a fence to evade police. “As officers were attempting to take him into a custody, a loaded firearm fell out of his waistband and onto the ground. The Officers were able to quickly take him into custody and recover the firearm without incident,” Pomona Police said in a written statement. Rodriguez was booked on suspicion of being a felon in possession of a loaded firearm, possession of unregistered firearm and being a felon in possession of ammunition.  PHOTO courtesy of the Pomona Police Department. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor POMONA - Three men from Pomona and one man from Glendora were arrested May 1 after a search warrant yielded a cache of illegal weapons. The Pomona Police SWAT team and Major Crimes Task Force searched a residence in the 2200 block of Concord Avenue ... a home known for harboring frequent trouble, Pomona Police said. Police detained two men who attempted to run. The men, amongst other occupants found to be drinking alcohol, had concealed handguns, Pomona Police said in a written statement.  PHOTO courtesy of the Pomona Police Department. One of the two men detained, identified as 20-year-old Enrique Renteria of Pomona, was flashing gang signs as officers detained him, Pomona Police said in a written statement.
46-year-old Isidor Mendiola was the second to be detained. 44-year-old Antonio Valadez, the homeowner, had several firearms, magazines and ammunition in his home. Some of the firearms were non-California compliant assault rifles along with outlawed high capacity magazines, Pomona Police said. “Valadez has an extensive arrest history for serious crimes,” Pomona Police said in a written statement. Valadez was booked on suspicion of possessing an unlawful assault rifle, being a felon in possession of a firearm, possession of stolen property (a firearm), being a felon in possession of ammunition and possession of a high-capacity magazine. Mendiola was booked on suspicion of possession of a concealed/loaded firearm, possession of an unregistered/loaded firearm, being a felon in possession of a firearm and being a felon in possession of ammunition. Renteria was booked on suspicion of possession of a concealed/loaded firearm and possession of an unregistered/loaded firearm. Pomona man Joseph Hernandez, 26, was taken into custody for a no-bail warrant.  Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor POMONA - Two 16-year-old girls were rescued from a life of trafficking on the Holt Avenue corridor, Pomona Police recently announced. The departments Sexual Exploitation and Trafficking Team conducted anti-human trafficking enforcement along the Holt Avenue corridor when they discovered the two girls, Pomona Police said. One girl was rescued April 24. SETT members recognized the girl’s actions were consistent with prostitution and were worried she was a victim of human trafficking. “SETT officers contacted her. SETT took the young girl into protective custody after she revealed she was, in fact, underage and a victim. The girl was emotional during the investigation and explained she was only 16 years old and not from Pomona,” Pomona police said and a written statement.
Resources were provided to the girl. She was ultimately released into the custody of the Los Angeles County Probation Department for an unrelated warrant, Pomona Police said. Another 16-year-old girl was rescued from trafficking along the Holt Avenue corridor April 29. SETT members detained and interviewed the girl who confessed she was loitering along the street to commit prostitution. She was placed into protective custody. “The girl explained she was from Los Angeles and had been forced to engage in sexual acts for money at the direction of her exploiter. Her exploiter often used threats and violence to force her to engage in sex work for his financial benefit,” Pomona Police said. Resources were provided to the girl.  Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor POMONA - A driver and a child were hospitalized with undisclosed injuries after another driver fled the scene of a collision, police said Thursday. Alejandro Aviles, 27, was taken into custody April 30 when he fled from officers who tried to detain him. Aviles allegedly discarded a handgun while running from police, but he was caught a few blocks away and the gun was recovered, according to the Pomona Police Department. The crash occurred around 8 p.m. at Mission Boulevard and Towne Avenue. Aviles was determined to be driving while under the influence, Pomona Police said.
Aviles was booked on suspicion of DUI resulting in an injury collision, unlawful possession of a firearm and unlawful possession of a high-capacity magazine, Pomona police said. Aviles was released on $50,000 bond ahead of a scheduled court appearance set for May 4.  Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor POMONA - A motorcyclist was struck and killed after hitting a lost tire on the eastbound 60 freeway at Garey Avenue Friday morning.
The California Highway Patrol has issued a Sig Alert for an unknown duration, affecting the HOV and No. 1 and 2 lanes of traffic. The crash occurred around 5:40 a.m. May 1. Preliminary information suggests a Mercedes-Benz lost a tire, which the motorcyclist struck. A second vehicle struck the rider in the fast lane, according to the California Highway Patrol. |
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