Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor POMONA - A 20-year-old Pomona man is facing one count of murder in a shooting death that took place less than a year ago, the Pomona Police Department said.
Oscar Cruz was identified by detectives in the Pomona Police Major Crimes Unit who were investigating the murder of 43-year-old Alex Adorno of Pomona. Adorno was found suffering gunshot wounds in an alleyway June 4, 2023. Despite life-saving efforts, Adorno died at the scene. Cruz was located and arrested April 16. Cruz is being held in lieu of more than $2 million bail at the Inmate Reception Center in Los Angeles and was scheduled for a court appearance in Pomona Superior Court Thursday, April 18. Future court date information is not readily available. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor POMONA - Pomona police detectives arrested a man March 21 accusing him of murdering a woman in February.
First responders were sent to the 900 block of West Holt Avenue February 26 on what was initially described as a fentanyl overdose. A woman was found unconscious and with visible bodily injuries. Los Angeles County Firefighter paramedics attempted to revive the woman, but she was declared dead at the scene, according to the Pomona Police Department. Pomona police major crimes unit detectives eventually identified Tommy Ray Belin, 43, as a suspect in the murder of 25-year-old Andrea Bustillos. Bustillos died at a hotel/motel from blunt traumatic injuries. Her death was listed as homicide, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner. Belin was tracked to the city of Upland where he was taken into custody. The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office charged Belin with murder, assault by means of force likely to produce great bodily injury, and failure to register as a transient after moving from a residence, according to the Pomona Police Department. In addition to the above-mentioned charges, prosecutors are attempting to get Belin’s parole revoked. He is scheduled to appear at a parole arraignment April 11, according to Los Angeles Superior Court records. Regarding the murder and other charges, Belin is being held in lieu of nearly $3.1 million bail and is scheduled to appear in court April 23, according to Los Angeles Superior Court records. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor POMONA - Police announced the arrest of two men accused of a fatal shooting in town January 29.
An investigation by the Pomona Police Major Crimes Unit led to the arrest of 29-year-old Armando Wardle and 28-year-old Mayan Ayala in connection to the murder of 35-year-old James Avila. Both men were arrested February 9. The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office formally filed charges against both suspects with one count each of murder. Wardle was additionally charged with two counts of a prior felony conviction enhancement, being felon in possession of a firearm and using a firearm during the commission of a crime, according to Los Angeles County Superior Court records. The Shooting Took place Monday, January 29 just before Midnight the 900 block of West Holt Avenue. Officers responding to a shots fired call arrived and found Avila suffering from a gunshot wound. Avila was treated at the scene and transported to a hospital where he died later. Wardle is being held without bail. Ayala is being held in lieu of $2 million bail. Both suspects have already made a court appearance and are scheduled again in Pomona Superior Court March 19. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor POMONA - A woman who allegedly lit a large fire at a Walmart Supercenter December 30 in revenge for getting caught stealing is facing a felony arson charge.
Francesca Ortiz-Garcia, 36, was found in Upland, and taken into custody January 12. She was identified after an investigation by the Los Angeles County Fire Department Arson Investigation Unit. The incident occurred December 30, 2023, around 4:32 p.m. when a Walmart loss prevention officer stopped Garcia for allegedly trying to leave the store with items she did not pay for. She left the store after surrendering the items, but returned and ignited a fire, according to the Pomona Police Department. “In response to the confrontation with loss prevention, the individual then lit paper products on fire. The fire triggered the store's sprinkler system, causing substantial damage to merchandise, shelving units, and the store ceiling,” according to the Pomona Police Department in a written statement. The fire caused a projected revenue loss of $1.2 million. No one was injured. The store located at 80 Rio Rancho Rd., had to be shut down for several days. Garcia is being held without bail at the Century Regional Detention Facility in Los Angeles. She has already appeared in Pomona Superior Court January 17 and is scheduled for an arraignment and plea February 1. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor POMONA - A 20-year-old woman was taken into custody, accused of killing a woman and fleeing the scene early New Year’s Day.
Isabella Pilar Ortega was arrested January 2. She is being held in lieu of $80,000 ahead of a scheduled appearance in Pomona Superior Court January 4. Khailyn Garcia Sanchez, 23, was struck in the area of Garey Avenue and Center Street January 1. First responders were called around 1:37 a.m., according to the Pomona Police Department. Sanchez was hospitalized and later died. She leaves behind a baby and her boyfriend. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor POMONA - A Claremont man was identified as a suspect in a May 28 robbery where his victim escaped injury after being shot at.
The robbery took place in the area of Holt Avenue and Clark Avenue around 11:45 p.m. Sunday. During the robbery a suspect, identified as Dana Christian Torrez, 37, allegedly opened fire on his victim. The rear window of the victim’s vehicle was shattered, according to the Pomona Police Department. “While conducting a search of the area, officers managed to locate the individual believed to be responsible. However, the individual displayed a lack of cooperation and disregarded the commands given by the officers,” according to the Pomona Police Department in a written statement. Officers were soon able to take Torrez into custody. Torrez has since been officially charged by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office with shooting at an inhabited vehicle, assault with a deadly weapon with a firearm, robbery, and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Torrez is being held in lieu of $3 million bail. He is expected to make another appearance in Pomona Superior Court Thursday June 1. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor POMONA - A man and woman were arrested March 15 after video surveillance helped investigators identify the pair in an attempted murder.
Salome Rodriguez, 44, and Jocelyn Delacruz, 24, were taken into custody near South Hamilton Boulevard and West Eighth Street by the Pomona Police Special Investigations Unit which was conducting surveillance on the pair, according to the Pomona Police Department. A victim was wounded by gunfire just before 3 p.m. at a liquor store in the 1100 block of West Mission Boulevard. The Pomona Police Major Crimes Unit and Special Investigations Unit were able to quickly identify Rodriguez and Delacruz as suspects with the help of video surveillance. The pair were found walking near South Hamilton Boulevard and West Eighth Street when undercover officers found them and took them into custody. The victim was treated at Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center. Both suspects, who reside in Pomona, were charged with one count each of attempted murder and being a felon in possession of a firearm. The pair already had a scheduled court appearance March 17 and are scheduled again in court April 27 in Pomona, according to Los Angeles County Superior Court records. Rodriguez is being held in lieu of more than $3.2 million bail in the Men’s Central Jail in Los Angeles. Delacruz is being held without bail at the Century Regional Detention Facility, according to Los Angeles County booking records. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor POMONA – A man accused of dousing a woman with gasoline and igniting her, leading to her death, was found guilty of murder October 28.
Clarence Durell Dear, 58, was convicted by a jury of murder with the special circumstance of inflicting torture, according to the Pomona Police Department. Dear doused his victim, 41-year-old Dawn Hensley, with gasoline and lit her on fire December 25, 2015. Hensley, the mother of Dear’s children, later died at a hospital. A domestic dispute reportedly led to Dear killing Hensley. Hensley was set on fire in a home in the 1500 block of Cordova Street. She fled the home engulfed in flames. Neighbors reportedly ran over to her and rendered aid. Two days later, investigators learned Dear was boarding a bus in Altadena just after 10 a.m. With the help of Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputies and Pasadena Police, Dear was located and arrested. Dear is scheduled to be sentenced November 30, according to Los Angeles County booking records. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor POMONA – Police and prosecutors accuse a man of going on a stabbing spree October 7, leaving four people wounded and one of his bleeding victims robbed.
Jesus Perez-Paniagua, a 21-year-old Pomona man, was formally charged October 10 with four counts of attempted murder, four counts of assault with a deadly weapon, one count of armed robbery and one count of possession of a dagger, according to the Pomona Police Department. Officers were called to the 400 block of East Kingsley Avenue around 1:12 a.m. October 7 and found two victims with multiple stab wounds. The suspect was not found and both victim were treated at a hospital for their wounds, according to the Pomona Police Department. Around 1:30 a.m., officers were told of a stabbing victim that wound up at a hospital. The third stabbing occurred in the 500 block of Vinton Street. Around 6:40 a.m., a fourth stabbing call was made. In the 900 block of North Eleanor Street, officers found a stabbing victim who reported being robbed as well, but the victim was able to provide a suspect description and described the property stolen, according to the Pomona Police Department. Perez was found and detained at Towne Avenue and Kingsley Avenue. Officers reportedly found a bloody knife in his possession and the stolen property. “Perez-Paniagua made statements indicating his involvement in the stabbing on Eleanor St.,” according to the Pomona Police Department in a written statement. A warrant search at Perez’s home helped investigators find additional evidence tying to the first two stabbings, according to the Pomona Police Department. All four victims are expected to recover. |
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