Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

POMONA - A Chino man lost control of the semi he allegedly stole and crashed into parked vehicles, a power pole, a cinder block wall and a house while fleeing Pomona officers Saturday.

The semi’s owner tracked down the stolen truck after it was taken from a Montclair tire shop. He called Pomona Police around 12:19 p.m. after finding it still being driven, according to the Pomona Police Department.

Officers attempted to stop the suspect in the area of Reservoir Street and Philadelphia Street, but the driver refused to yield and fled eastbound on Philadelphia, Pomona Police said.

The driver crashed the semi near Pipeline Avenue and Philadelphia Street in Chino. He was immediately taken into custody.

Matthew Paul Gonzalez, a 27-year-old Chino resident, was medically cleared at a local hospital and booked into the Pomona jail on suspicion of grand theft auto.

Several homes were left without power and the unoccupied home struck by the semi sustained major structural damage, Pomona Police said.

POMONA - A homeless man found himself a ride Tuesday night, forcing one driver at gunpoint to take him to a restaurant after failing to take another driver at knifepoint.

Hugo Munoz, 38, was arrested without incident at a restaurant in the 13000 block of Second Street in Chino after a helicopter located the grey Scion TC taken at gunpoint. The suspect used a replica handgun to force the driver to comply, Pomona Police said.