Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

POMONA - A brief audio recording was released detailing a woman trying to escape a driver who was apparently following her around town January 15.

Once police caught up and located the suspect, he evaded officers for a brief time until crashing into another vehicle in Ontario. He failed to escape on foot after the crash and was taken into custody, according to the Pomona Police Department.

Luis Puga, 31, was officially charged in court with stalking, felony evading, felony hit-and-run and attempting to remove a firearm from an officer, according to the Pomona Police Department, according to the Pomona Police Department.

The female driver being followed kept a cool head and called Pomona dispatchers around 8:30 p.m. January 15. The driver reported that the man, identified by officers as Puga, was aggressively following her while driving. He insisted that she pull over and at one point he abruptly stopped his SUV in front of her to compel her to stop, according to the Pomona Police Department.

“Officers located the suspect, and a pursuit ensued. The suspect crashed into a vehicle in the City of Ontario, and in an attempt to escape, he tried to run away. With the assistance of Ontario PD’s Air Unit, the suspect was located. During the apprehension, the suspect attempted to remove an officer’s firearm,” according to the Pomona Police Department in a written statement.

Puga appears to have a extensive rap sheet. He was arrested twice in 24 hours in Claremont Christmas Eve 2024, accused of DUI.

Puga also was arrested after allegedly burglarizing at home in Azusa in 2014. He apparently entered the home after knocking on the door. He received no answer. The residents arrived home and found him eating food at the kitchen table, according to the Azusa Police Department.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

POMONA - No one was injured after a knife-wielding suspect fought with officers who tried to detain him for allegedly threatening a woman who turned down his advances.

The suspect approached a woman Tuesday, January 16, in the area of Dudley Street and Arroyo Avenue around 9:22 p.m. He inquired about dating her, but she rejected his advances, according to the Pomona Police Department.

“When she rejected his advances, he escalated the situation by brandishing a knife and threatening her,” according to the Pomona Police Department in a written statement.

Police were called and they searched the area, but the suspect was already gone. Believing the suspect would return, officers stayed in the area and luckily enough, the suspect was found.

“Upon attempting to approach him, the man engaged in a physical altercation with officers and resisted arrest. Despite his resistance, officers successfully apprehended him,” according to the Pomona Police Department.

The suspect was booked on suspicion of brandishing a weapon, making criminal threats, battery on a peace officer, resisting arrest, and stalking.