 Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor POMONA - Police announced a series of arrests in May aimed at targeting the persistent problem of prostitution. Focus was placed again on the Holt Avenue corridor, known infamously as “The Blade,” where eight women were taken into custody and three juveniles were rescued during several undercover operations, according to the Pomona Police Department. “It is not uncommon for victims to return to sex trafficking, sometimes by choice, but often through force, fraud, or coercion. Many victims do not identify themselves as trafficked. Some may not even realize they are being exploited,” according to the Pomona Police Department in a written statement. Arrested were: Mariana Jimenez, 23 – Beaumont, CA Samantha Sandoval, 28 – Alhambra, CA Ashley Barkis, 27 – Oceanside, CA Miay Yvonne Mitchellwashington, 19 – Mesa, AZ Aryiah Marie Maroney, 22 – Perris, CA Cierra Pace, 24 – Winchester, CA Hazel Giron, 23 – Sioux City, IA Evangeline Katz, 18 – Phoenix, AZ The operations were conducted by the Pomona Police Department’s Special Investigations Unit and Sexual Exploitation Trafficking Team. ********** The arrest records in this article are being redistributed by SGV CityWatch and are protected by constitutional, publishing and other legal rights. Arrest information is public record and was distributed by government sources. The persons named in this article have only been arrested on suspicion of the crime(s) listed and are presumed innocent.   Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor POMONA – Officers allegedly found a loaded and altered handgun on a woman accused of performing sex work along Holt Avenue last weekend.
Officers with the Pomona Police Department’s Sexual Exploitation & Trafficking Team saw the scantily-clad 26-year-old in the 1000 block of East Holt Avenue March 12. After reportedly witnessing the woman enter multiple vehicles, they determined she was engaged in prostitution. “She was also found to have several outstanding warrants for her arrest. Once in custody, she was also found to be in possession of a loaded firearm concealed in her purse. The firearm was loaded with a high-capacity magazine and the serial number had been removed,” according to the Pomona Police Department in a written statement. San Diego woman Deja Nicole Smith was booked on suspicion of loitering with intent to solicit prostitution, being a felon in possession of a firearm, being a felon in possession of ammunition, possession of a concealed firearm, possession of a high-capacity magazine, possession of a firearm with an altered serial number, possession of an unregistered firearm and for outstanding warrants, according to the Pomona Police Department.  Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor POMONA - A teen girl, who was later determined missing from San Bernardino, was rescued from Pomona streets August 19.
The girl was found near Indian Hill Boulevard and Lincoln Avenue after several complaints about females loitering in the area. She was wearing revealing clothing and approached lone male motorists, according to the Pomona Police Department. “After determining her actions were consistent with loitering for prostitution, she was contacted. During the contact it was discovered the female was 16 years old and was a reported missing person from San Bernardino County,” according to the Pomona Police Department in a written statement. There are now 16 cases of juvenile human trafficking in Pomona in 2021, the Pomona Police Department said. The girl was released to the custody of the San Bernardino County Department of Children and Family Services. The incident was handled by the Pomona Police Sexual Exploitation and Trafficking Team.  Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor POMONA - Two 16-year-old girls were rescued from a life of trafficking on the Holt Avenue corridor, Pomona Police recently announced. The departments Sexual Exploitation and Trafficking Team conducted anti-human trafficking enforcement along the Holt Avenue corridor when they discovered the two girls, Pomona Police said. One girl was rescued April 24. SETT members recognized the girl’s actions were consistent with prostitution and were worried she was a victim of human trafficking. “SETT officers contacted her. SETT took the young girl into protective custody after she revealed she was, in fact, underage and a victim. The girl was emotional during the investigation and explained she was only 16 years old and not from Pomona,” Pomona police said and a written statement.
Resources were provided to the girl. She was ultimately released into the custody of the Los Angeles County Probation Department for an unrelated warrant, Pomona Police said. Another 16-year-old girl was rescued from trafficking along the Holt Avenue corridor April 29. SETT members detained and interviewed the girl who confessed she was loitering along the street to commit prostitution. She was placed into protective custody. “The girl explained she was from Los Angeles and had been forced to engage in sexual acts for money at the direction of her exploiter. Her exploiter often used threats and violence to force her to engage in sex work for his financial benefit,” Pomona Police said. Resources were provided to the girl. |
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