Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor

POMONA - Three carjacking suspects were taken into custody July 29 after taking a man’s vehicle from his driveway.
 
The victim found the three men breaking into his car around 1:54 p.m. in the 1300 block of North Mills Avenue. When confronted, one of the suspects pointed a short-barreled shotgun at the victim, Pomona Police said.
 
The suspects fled in the victim’s Dodge Dakota pickup, followed by a black Honda Acura.
 
Police began checking the surrounding area and found both the victim’s truck and suspect vehicle parked on East Kingsley Avenue near Mills.
 
Three men and one woman were detained. The victim positively identified the three men, Pomona Police said.
 
Montclair residents Jose Aguilar, 35, Rodolfo Becerra, 37, and Frank Sotoguzman, 24, were taken into custody.
 
Savannah Martinez, a 22-year-old Pomona resident was also arrested.
 
Among the charges were Car Jacking, Possession of a Short-Barreled Shotgun, Conspiracy and being in Felon in Possession of a Firearm.

Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor

POMONA - Four suspects, two of them known gang members, were arrested Thursday after a joint effort between Pomona and Claremont Police yielded weapons and stolen police property.
 
The focus on the house, its location withheld by authorities, began after police became aware that armed gang members frequented the location. Claremont officers joined the investigation after learning a Pomona gang member on probation was at the home, Pomona Police said.
 
The San Gabriel Valley Crime Impact Task Force performed surveillance on the home Thursday and stopped a vehicle seen leaving the residence. The two occupants of the vehicle were wanted for burglary and arrested, Pomona Police said.
 
Surveillance continued on the home as the CITF waited for the armed suspects to leave. Hours later, the suspects left the home and officers attempted to stop both of them, however one ran off, forcing a containment search, Pomona Police said.
 
The pursuing officer believed the fleeing suspect fled back into the home.
 
The hiding suspect’s probation allows for compliance checks. The CITF and Pomona Police Major Crimes Task Force conducted a search of the home.
 
Not only were the suspect and additional occupants detained, officers found a loaded rifle and a loaded shotgun and a replica rifle with the orange barrel tip blackened with marker in one of the suspect’s bedrooms. Additionally, stolen property belonging to a police officer from a neighboring agency was recovered in one of the suspect’s bedrooms, Pomona Police said.
 
Jose Maria Gutierrez, 35,Mark Anthony Mateus, 41, Christopher Boyd Wynn, 32, all from Pomona, were arrested.
 
Gracee Lyllian Criswell, a 28-year-old Beaumont residentwas also arrested.

Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor

POMONA - A brush fire is being extinguished near California State Polytechnic University, Pomona.
 
The fire, reported near the southbound 57 freeway at Temple Avenue, is two acres and has been stopped, according to Los Angeles County Fire Department radio traffic.

Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor

POMONA - Major Crimes Task Force members from the Pomona Police Department made numerous arrests and citations to curtail prostitution activity along the Holt Avenue corridor, the department announced Tuesday.
 
63 arrests were made, along with 118 citations, as a result of high-visibility patrols, undercover surveillance on high-profile targets and hotels, the Pomona Police Department said.
 
VICE operation members also helped to put a dent in human trafficking work by targeting pimps, johns, prostitutes and by enforcing a stay away order, Pomona Police said.
 
The Pomona Police Homeless Encampment Action Response Team aided 40 homeless people to get them needed resources.
 
“The Pomona Police Department remains committed to offering support and services to individuals in-need. The Department takes a zero-tolerance approach to human trafficking and sexual exploitation and will continue to conduct these types of proactive operations throughout the City of Pomona,” Pomona Police said.

Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor

POMONA - A local transient confessed to taking several electronic items from the Pomona City Council Chambers in July after being caught on camera taking the items.
 
James Dino Aragon, 57, was sentenced to three years and four months on state prison after appearing in court July 24, when he pleaded guilty to felony burglary charges, Pomona Police said.
 
A laptop and video devices were discovered missing by a city employee preparing for a council meeting July 16. The laptop belonged to a Pomona council member, Pomona Police said.
 
City staff reviewed security footage, which revealed the items were taken July 12. The suspect entered the council chambers front door and concealed the stolen items as he left.
 
A Pomona officer assigned to the Pomona Police Homeless Encampment Action Response team recognized the suspect caught taking the items, found and detained Aragon who frequents the Civic Center area, Pomona Police said.
 
Aragon confessed to the burglary, Pomona Police said.
 
“He admitted to disposing the property after he left the area. Unfortunately, none of the stolen property was found at the location Aragon said he disposed of it,” Pomona Police said.

Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor

POMONA - Firefighters have a strong hold over a brush fire that burned near the Pomona Fairplex Monday afternoon.

The Fairplex Fire in 70 percent contained and burned 50 acres. Forward progress of the flames has been stopped and firefighters will remain throughout the night to increase containment lines and extinguish hot spots, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

The fire was reported at 2:22 p.m. at North Fairplex and the I-10 freeway.

No structures were threatened during the fire fight.

Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor

POMONA - A construction worker has perished on site after falling and being pinned under a forklift near the eastbound I-10 freeway and Kellogg Drive.
 
It is unclear what type of construction is being done near the freeway, but a worker fell 30 feet and became pinned under a forklift. A second worker received minor injuries, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department.
 
The California Highway Patrol has issued a Sig Alert for the eastbound Kellogg Drive off ramp for an unknown duration.
 
Firefighters were dispatched to the site at 9:35 a.m.

Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor

POMONA - Investigators identified the man who may have been shot and killed over gang issues Monday night.
 
Steven William Perez, 27, was found dying on a sidewalk in the 900 block of East 4th Street around 7:15 p.m. by Pomona officers. Perez later died at a nearby hospital, Pomona Police said.
 
The person or persons responsible for the shooting remain unknown.
 
Perez was approached and was fired upon, receiving multiple gunshot wounds, Pomona Police said.
 
Anyone with information on the shooting is urged to call Pomona Police at 909-620-2085. Information can be provided anonymously by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor

POMONA - An unidentified pedestrian died at the scene of a crash on Towne Avenue north of Foothill Boulevard Wednesday night.
 
Police found the victim after being dispatched to the call at 9:41 p.m. July 18. Los Angeles County Firefighters attempted to revive the victim, but the victim died on the street, Pomona Police said.
 
The driver remained at the scene.
 
The collision is being investigated by the Pomona Police Major Accident Investigation Team.

Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor

POMONA - A man died at an area hospital after being shot at least once, police said.

The unidentified victim was discovered after officers responded to a call for service at Fourth Street and Caswell Avenue around 7:16 p.m., Pomona Police said in a written statement.

The circumstances surrounding the man’s death are not known at this time.

Anyone with information on the shooting is urged to call Pomona Police at 909-620-2085. Information can be provided anonymously by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).