Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

POMONA - A man died under suspicious circumstances Tuesday night, Pomona Police said.

While not providing details on why the death is suspicious, the Pomona Police Department went as far as describing the death as a homicide.

First responders were sent to a residence in the 1700 block of East Mission Boulevard around 10:24 p.m. October 8. Los Angeles County firefighters discovered the dead man after extinguishing the flames, according to the Pomona Police Department.

The cause of the man’s death, including his identity, has not yet been revealed.

Anyone with information on this investigation is urged to call the Pomona Police Department at 909-620-2085. Remain anonymous by calling LA Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), through the P3Tips mobile app, or lacrimestoppers.org.

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 - Investigators are trying to determine the cause of a fire that ignited in the paper goods aisle of a Walmart Saturday afternoon.

Firefighters doused the flames that also activated the sprinklers. Electricity went out inside the Walmart Supercenter, 80 Rio Rancho Rd. First responders were sent to the scene around 4:30 p.m. Saturday, December 30.

The entire store was evacuated

Firefighters had flames knocked down by 5:15 p.m., according to Dispatch Supervisor Michael Pittman of the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

Officers were unable to view security

“The paper towel and toilet paper section was on fire. There was pretty minimal damage other than smoke saturation,” according to Sgt. Uribe of the Pomona Police Department.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

POMONA - A church has been reduced to smoldering rubble after a fire ignited inside Victory Outreach Church overnight.

Firefighters were sent to the church, 177W. Monterey Ave., at 2:47 a.m. December 17 and were greeted by smoke and fire from within the 12,000-square-foot church. Firefighters initiated an aggressive interior attack, according to Cpt. Sheila Kelliher Berkoh of the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

No civilians or firefighters were injured.

Much of the fire was in the attic. As the firefight progressed, firefighters believed they were gaining an upper hand on extinguishing the flames, but the fire began growing. Additional resources were called after the fire expanded.

100 firefighters were called to battle the flames, as well as an urban search and rescue team, hazmat and heavy equipment, Berkoh told SGV CityWatch.

The large open attic across the 12,000-square-foot structure likely aided in the fire is rapid spreading, Berkoh told SGV CityWatch.

The church was scheduled to debut a play the night of December 17 and hold a Christmas toy giveaway, but now churchgoers are left to pick up the pieces and find a way to move forward.

Firefighters remain on scene to extinguish hot spots.

POMONA – No one was injured in a fire that damaged vehicles, a carport and part of an apartment unit at a complex early Monday.

The fire burned at 1800 W. Orange Grove Ave. December 6. Firefighters were dispatched around 4:29 a.m.

It was not yet publicly clear how many vehicles burned, only that multiple vehicle were affected. The fire was officially knocked down at 5 a.m., according to Dispatch Supervisor Jeremy Stafford of the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

Residents in the complex nearest to the affected carport were evacuated, according to Lt. Vince Terrell of the Pomona Police Department.

Three investigators with the Los Angeles County Fire Department were called to the scene to determine the cause.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

POMONA - Forward progress of a half-acre brushfire running uphill has been stopped near Temple Avenue and the 57 freeway Saturday morning.

A full brush response was sent to the fire, but the quick work of the initial firefighters to arrive kept flames from spreading, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

The California Highway Patrol has shut down the on ramp to the north 57 freeway at Temple Avenue.

The fire is burning near the right shoulder. A passerby on the freeway apparently pulled over to extinguish the flames when the fire first started, according to California Highway Patrol traffic logs.

Firefighters will be checking for any damage to structures above on the hillside, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

POMONA - A fire turned a 62-year-old restaurant to rubble June 14 in what police are calling an act of arson.

Firefighters responded to Mission Family Restaurant, 888 W. Mission Blvd., sometime before 4 a.m. Sunday. No one was injured, but the restaurant was a total loss.

Officers received information that the fire was intentionally set.

“With help from our HEART Unit (Cpl. Dinh and Officer Hayward), they were able locate the suspect near Second St.,” according to the Pomona police department in a written statement.

The suspect, 27-year-old Jada Regina Osteen, was located in the area of South Rebecca Street and West Second Street, several blocks north of the fire.

Osteen was booked on suspicion of arson at the Pomona jail, Pomona Police said.

Osteen was transferred to and remains held at the Century Regional Detention Facility in Lynwood. She is being held in lieu of $250,000 bail.

The restaurant, which opened its doors in 1958, closed down in 2013.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

POMONA - Police are investigating a grizzly discovery after firefighters found the remains of a man inside a burning vehicle June 15.

Firefighters responded to Holt Avenue west of San Antonio Avenue just after 4:30 p.m. Monday to a vehicle fully-engulfed with flames. Upon extinguishing the fire, the grizzly discovery was made, according to the Pomona Police Department.

The cause of death will be determined by the county coroner.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is urged to call Pomona Police Detective Travis Johnson at 909-620-2172, or Detective Steve Cormack at 909-620-3611. To remain anonymous, call LA Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), use the P3 Tips mobile app or lacrimestoppers.org.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

UPDATE, 5:20 a.m.: Firefighters report flames have been knocked down inside the abandoned building on Gary Avenue. The building was possibly being renovated before the fire ignited.

POMONA - Firefighters are making forcible entry into a building where a fire is burning Friday morning.

The fire is burning and a possible abandon one-story building at 1403 N. Gary Ave. Firefighters are still cutting their way in to determine the source of the fire, according to Los Angeles county fire department radio traffic.