BARSTOW – A twenty-something couple are accused of murder in the death of their 1-year-old child who was driven all the way to Pomona where family made the grisly discovery in the couple’s vehicle, police said.

Ricardo Mendez, 27, and Antanita Miller, 24, were booked at the West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga after Pomona officers and Barstow detectives began investigating the suspicious circumstances behind the child’s death.

Pomona officers were called to Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center just before 8 p.m. April 25. The child was declared dead by hospital staff upon arrival. The child displayed suspicious trauma, including lesions, bruising and burn marks. Some injuries were in various stages of healing, according to the Barstow Police Department.

A homicide investigation was launched by Barstow Police after Pomona officers notified them that the death likely occurred in the child’s Barstow residence. Miller was detained as she arrived to Pomona Valley. Mendez was detained in the 2100 block of Spencer Street after leaving the family’s Pomona home, according to the Barstow Police Department.

“During the investigation detectives learned that on April 25, 2022, at approximately 7:00 PM, Ricardo Mendez and Antanita Miller arrived unexpectedly at Mendez’s family’s home located in the city of Pomona. Family members located the victim’s lifeless body in the back of Ricardo Mendez’ and Antanita Miller’s vehicle,” according to the Barstow Police Department. 

“Some of Mendez’s family members immediately drove the victim to the Pomona Valley Hospital for treatment. Ricardo Mendez and Antanita Miller stayed at the family home and did not initially go to the hospital.”

A search warrant served at the Barstow home and vehicle occupied by the couple during their grisly journey revealed items believed to be used during the crimes, according to the Barstow Police Department.

Anyone with information regarding this investigation is urged to call Barstow Police Detective Matthew Helms at 760-255-5132 or at [email protected]. Information can be provided anonymously by calling the WE-TIP hotline at 1-800-79-CRIME (27469), or at www.wetip.com.

WEST HOLLYWOOD – Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Detectives jailed a Pasadena man accused of plying a teen girl with booze and drugs in exchange for lewd images and video.

Alexander Rashaan Miles, 42, was arraigned April 19 on three counts of committing a lewd and lascivious act with a child under 14 years old and one count of persuading or coercing a minor to participate in child pornography. He has pleaded not guilty, according to information from the Los Angeles Superior Court.

Miles was arrested April 15 and booked at the Sheriff’s West Hollywood Station. Through the investigation, detectives believe he was speaking to many victims, mostly female. Snapchat was his weapon of choice.

March 16, the victim told Sheriff’s West Hollywood Station detectives that a man reached out to her through Snapchat in October and November of 2021. He offered alcohol and narcotics in exchange for explicit pictures and videos of the girl, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

Detectives with the Sheriff’s Special Victim’s Bureau, Sexual Assault Felony Enforcement Team and FBI worked on the case. Miles was identified as a suspect, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

“The suspect is believed to have been a high school basketball coach for several schools in the San Gabriel Valley and a high school basketball referee in the Los Angeles area,” according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department in a written statement.

Anyone who may be a victim of Miles is urged to call the Sheriff’s Special Victims Bureau Detective S. French at 323-526-5154, or Sgt. D. Payne at 323-526-5154. Information can be provided anonymously by calling LA Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), through the P3Tips mobile app, or lacrimestoppers.org.

Miles is scheduled for a preliminary hearing in Pasadena Superior Court May 3.

MOUNTAINS – A 69-year-old man reported missing by the Chino Police Department April 13 was found dead in a crashed vehicle one day later.

Michael Bell died from traumatic blunt force to the head and suffered neck trauma. His death was ruled accidental, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner.

Bell was last seen in Ontario driving a white Acura MDX. Authorities tracked his cell phone, which last gave a location somewhere north of Azusa along Highway 39, according to the Chino Police Department.

April 14, firefighters and the California Highway Patrol were called by a passerby around 12:45 p.m. to a vehicle discovered over the side of Highway 39 south of Robbs Gulch near mile marker 23.20. Bell died at the scene, according to the California Highway Patrol.

Bell was driving north on Highway 39 at an unknown speed. For undetermined reasons, Bell’s Acura veered off the roadway and crashed down an dirt and rock embankment, according to the California Highway Patrol.

Bell suffered from undisclosed medical issues and may have been disoriented, according to the Chino Police Department.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

REGION - Authorities are asking for the public to help find a missing 69-year-old man who was last seen in the city of Ontario.

Michael Bell’s cell phone signal was last tracked to somewhere along Highway 39 in the Azusa Mountains, authorities said Wednesday. Bell suffers from undisclosed medical issues and may be disoriented, according to the Chino Police Department.

Bell is 6 feet 3 inches tall, has black hair, blue eyes, and last wore a grey sweatshirt, blue jeans and tan slippers. He is driving a white Acura MDX with license plate DP997WR, according to the Chino Police Department.

Anyone with a knowledge of Bell’s whereabouts is urged to call the Chino police department at 909-628-1234. Reference case # 22-03228.