Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

POMONA - A Montclair man is facing a slew of charges, including two counts of murder, resulting from an October 4 pursuit in which he crashed and killed two of his passengers.

Erick Bolanos, 30, allegedly committed several vehicle code violations while driving in the area of White Avenue and Mission Boulevard October 4 around 4:30 p.m. Bolanos allegedly refused to stop for officers and a pursuit was initiated, according to the Pomona Police Department.

Bolanos chucked a handgun out the window while evading officers at high speed. Officers made multiple attempts to stop him using the Pursuit Intervention Technique, but failed , according to the Pomona Police Department.

Bolanos reportedly lost control of his vehicle and crashed, killing his two occupants. No other vehicles were involved, according to the Pomona Police Department.

The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office filed two counts of murder, one count of felony evading causing serious bodily injury and one count of possessing a concealed firearm in a vehicle, according to the Pomona Police Department.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

POMONA - A man allegedly under the influence reportedly had to be subdued with a stun gun when he allegedly tried to assault officers with a tree branch after climbing to the roof of a 7-Eleven, September 12.

The incident unfolded at the 7-Eleven, 1546 W. Mission Blvd. The man was reportedly seen walking on the roof of the convenience store. Officers attempted to de-escalate the situation for three hours, according to the Pomona Police Department.

At one point, the man jumped from the roof of the 7-Eleven and grabbed a large tree branch. Eventually, the man came down, but was allegedly combative with officers and tried to beat them with a tree branch, according to the Pomona Police Department.

The man, Arturo Torres, a 53-year-old San Gabriel resident, was eventually subdued with a stun gun and taken into custody.

He was booked on suspicion of being under the influence of a controlled substance, resisting a peace officer, assault with a deadly weapon likely to produce great bodily injury, assault with a deadly weapon likely to produce great bodily injury on a peace officer, and disturbing the peace.

Torres is being held in lieu of $65,000 bail at the Pitchess Detention Center in Castaic. His next scheduled appearance in West Covina Superior Court is Friday, September 20.

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The arrest record in this article is being redistributed by SGV CityWatch and is protected by constitutional, publishing and other legal rights. Arrest information is public record and was distributed by government sources. The person named in this article has only been arrested on suspicion of the crime(s) listed and is presumed innocent.

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.