News 24/7

Mysterious substance alarms Chino postal workers

Fri, 24 Apr 2009 12:04:51 -0800

Workers at the Chino Post Office got quite a scare Thursday morning when they discovered an unknown powder inside a Ziploc bag in the mailroom.

Chino Valley Fire District officials arrived about 9:40 a.m. at the post office and tested the substance, which turned out to be onion salt, according to a District news release.

The bag was found on the floor in the back area of the post office, said District Public Information Officer Massiel Ladron De Guevara said.

No one was evacuated from the building at 5375 Walnut Avenue and postal operations were not affected, Ladron De Guevara said.

- lori.consalvo@inlandnewspapers.com

4.0-magnitude Yorba Linda quake rocks Inland Valley

Fri, 24 Apr 2009 06:30:23 -0800

A pair of earthquakes that could be felt in parts of the Inland and San Gabriel valleys shook Thursday evening in Yorba Linda.

The U.S. Geological Survey and Caltech in Pasadena reported a 4.0-magnitude quake at 8:27 p.m. It was centered about seven miles south of Diamond Bar and two miles northeast of Yorba Linda.

At 4:56 p.m., a 3.8 quake was reported in Yorba Linda.

Residents from as far away as Corona, Long Beach, San Dimas and Pomona reported feeling the earthquakes.

melissa.pinion-whitt@inlandnewspapers.com

Chino Valley firefighters rescue near-drowning victim

Thu, 23 Apr 2009 07:30:42 -0800

A man his his early 60s nearly drowned at a home near Chino on Wednesday afternoon.

Chino Valley Independent Fire District firefighters came to the home at 2:50 p.m. in the 12900 block of Hillcrest Drive and rescued the man. The home is in an unincorporated area on the border of Chino and Pomona.

Paramedics took the man to a hospital where he was in critical condition.

melissa.pinion-whitt@inlandnewspapers.com

Montclair fire rages through home, displaces family

Tue, 21 Apr 2009 12:06:05 -0800

An electrical fire engulfed a home on Orchard Street Monday, displacing a family and leaving few items salvageable.

The blaze started at around 12:54 p.m. and was put out in 15 minutes by the Montclair Fire Department with assistance from Ontario, Upland and Chino departments, said Mike Donley, Montclair fire spokesman. No nearby homes were affected.

Donley said the fire reached the attic of the single-family home and it took nearly three hours to make sure the blaze was fully extinguished. At around 9:30 p.m. Monday, firefighters returned to extinguish a small fire that started up again.

The high temperatures on Monday made it a challenge for the 30 firefighters.

"Due to the heat and the ambient heat, the firefighters were totally spent," Donley said. "It was well over 105 degrees so the scene was very, very hot."

A preliminary investigation pointed to electrical wires as the cause of the blaze. A resident who was inside the house when the fire started, told officials there was a knocking sound behind one of the walls. Donley said the sound might have been sparks from electrical wires.

-- wendy.leung@inlandnewspapers.com

Man attempts to rob pharmacy for pills

Wed, 15 Apr 2009 21:06:31 -0800

CHINO-- An armed man attempted to rob a pharmacy for a prescription narcotic Wednesday afternoon.

Chino police officers responded to an alarm call from The Medicine Shoppe at 4:55 p.m. in the 12400 block of Central Avenue, said police Lt. Al Cheatham.

When they arrived, they learned a man entered the business, pulled a black semi-automatic handgun and demanded Oxycodone.

He ran out after the employee informed him that they don't sell that particular pain-releiver, Cheatham said.

He was last seen running through the parking lot and out of sight. The suspect did not take any cash.

He was described as a Hispanic man between 28 and 30-years-old, around 5 feet 10 inches to 6 feet tall. He was last seen wearing a beige poncho with dark stripes and dark framed glasses.

A similar robbery occurred last Wednesday in Chino Hills.

San Bernardino County Sheriff's deputies from the Chino Hills station responded to a pharmacy at 2140 Grand Ave. to a reported robbery.

During that incident, a man pulled a handgun and demanded two bottles of Oxycodone. He got away with about 100 pills, authorities said.

That suspect was described as a white man, 6-foot-1, about 210 pounds. He was last seen wearing a black baseball cap, gray Dickie style pants and a maroon, striped long-sleeved shirt.

There is no information on whether the two crimes are related.

Anyone with information on the latest incident is asked to call the Chino Police Department at (909)628-1234. Crimes can be reported anonymously by calling the WeTip hotline at (800) 78-CRIME.

-jannise.johnson@inlandnewspapers.com

UPDATE: Ontario man hit and killed on 60 Freeway identified

Wed, 15 Apr 2009 10:39:52 -0800

Coroner's officials have identified the man hit and killed on the 60 Freeway in Chino this morning as 64-year-old Barney Ramirez Copas of Ontario.

Copas was crawling about 4:20 a.m. between the two left westbound lanes, east of Central Avenue, when a motorists in a Toyota struck him, said California Highway Patrol officers.

He landed in a lane and was hit by several other vehicles.

It's unknown why Copas was crawling on the freeway.

UPDATE: CHP releases vehicle description in Chino fatal hit and run

Wed, 15 Apr 2009 10:30:44 -0800

The California Highway Patrol says a hit-and-run driver suspected in the death of a man Tuesday evening was driving a dark Honda or Acura-type vehicle.

The driver struck 42-year-old Richard Bohannan while he and his 13-year-old son were getting mail from their mailbox in the 11800 block of Pipeline Ave. at 8:45 p.m.

Officers said the driver lost control and veered into the victim's driveway, striking Bohannan. His son was not hit. The driver did not stop for the crash.

The driver's vehicle is an import vehicle with a possible modified exhaust. It sustained front-end damage and was leaking a lot of fluids, officers said. The vehicle is also missing an amber front turn light.

Anyone with information may call the CHP, (909) 980-3994.

melissa.pinion-whitt@inlandnewspapers.com

Hit-and-run driver sought in death of Chino pedestrian

Wed, 15 Apr 2009 09:30:51 -0800

A Chino pedestrian was killed in a hit-and-run crash Tuesday evening.

Richard Bohannan, 42, was walking on the shoulder of the road in the 11800 block of Pipeline Avenue at 8:46 p.m. when a driver veered onto the shoulder and struck him, San Bernardino County coroner's officials said.

The driver fled the scene.

The California Highway Patrol is investigating the crash.

melissa.pinion-whitt@inlandnewspapers.com

UPDATE: Pedestrian killed was crawling on 60 Freeway

Wed, 15 Apr 2009 08:33:04 -0800

A motorist who struck a pedestrian on the westbound 60 Freeway in Chino this morning said he saw the man crawling on all fours between the two left lanes, the California Highway Patrol said.

Jose Albizo, 41, of Fontana was driving a 1995 Toyota west on the 60 near Central Avenue about 4:30 a.m. when he saw the victim. He tried to avoid the man, but struck him. Albizo swerved and struck the center divider.

The pedestrian landed in a lane and was struck by several other vehicles. He died at the scene. All westbound lanes were closed until 7:19 a.m.

The victim's name was not released because his relatives hadn't been notified.

melissa.pinion-whitt@inlandnewspapers.com

Sig Alert issued on 60 Freeway in Chino following fatal crash

Wed, 15 Apr 2009 06:31:13 -0800

A man crossing the 60 Freeway was struck by several vehicles and killed this morning, forcing the closure of all westbound lanes in Chino.

The California Highway Patrol issued a Sig Alert following the 4:30 a.m. crash on the westbound 60 east of Central Avenue. Traffic backed up several miles to about Haven Avenue.

Officers diverted motorists off the freeway around the crash site.

Witnesses saw the pedestrian walk across the freeway from the center divider, said Officer Jaci Parent. It was unknown why he was on the freeway because it didn't appear he had a vehicle with him.

The duration of the closure was unknown. Officer recommended motorists use Haven Avenue to get to the 10 or 15 freeways to avoid the backup.

melissa.pinion-whitt@inlandnewspapers.com

Chino Hills man killed after falling through roof

Tue, 07 Apr 2009 08:30:08 -0800

A roof worker died after falling through a skylight at a Chino warehouse Monday, coroner's officials said.

James Bean, 46, of Chino Hills, was pronounced dead at the scene in the 14000 block of Yorba Court at 2:17 p.m., San Bernardino County coroner's officials said.

Bean was working on the roof of the warehouse when he fell through a skylight. Cal/OSHA and Chino police are investigating the incident.

melissa.pinion-whitt@inlandnewspapers.com

UPDATE: Passengers injured in Chino traffic collision identified

Tue, 31 Mar 2009 18:34:34 -0800

Six people, including three children, were involved in a major traffic collision Monday at Edison and Oaks avenues in Chino.

After investigating the incident, Chino police believe David Deseran, 23, of Chino, was driving westbound on Edison in a white 2004 Toyota Tacoma, Chino spokeswoman Michelle Van Der Linden said. As he approached Oaks, he tried to merge into the left turn lane and was rear ended by a black 2003 Lincoln Navigator, driven by Robert Saucedo, 32, of Chino.

The impact caused the Toyota to spin out of control, flip into air and land in the center lane of Edison, Van Der Linden said.

At the same time, a blue 2008 Chevy Silverado, driven by Justin Longe, 41, of Chino, collided with the Toyota.

Deseran had head trauma from the collision and was flown to Loma Linda University Medical Center in critical condition, Van Der Linden said.

Ryan Harris, 22 and Mike Hernandez, 26, from Chino, were in Deseran's truck during the collision. Harris also had head trauma and was taken to Arrowhead Regional Medical Center in critical condition.

Hernandez had a fractured left leg and was taken to Arrowhead Regional Medical Center where he was listed in stable condition.

Saucedo was not injured.

Longe had cuts on his head and left leg and was taken to Arrowhead Regional Medical Center where he was listed in stable condition.

The passengers in Longe's truck were 9, 10 and 12 years old. The 9-year-old, who suffered from stomach pain, and the 12-year-old, who had a fractured left elbow, were taken to Arrowhead Regional Medical Center in stable condition, Van Der Linden said.

The 10-year-old did not have any injuries but was taken to Arrowhead Regional Medical Center for precautionary reasons, Van Der Linden said. The child was examined and released to a parent.

Anyone with information about the collision can call Chino Traffic Investigator Bill McCombs at (909) 590-5563.

- lori.consalvo@inlandnewspapers.com

Traffic collision reported in Chino

Mon, 30 Mar 2009 17:26:24 -0800

A 3-car collision at Edison and Oaks avenues in Chino caused several injuries but did not severely affect traffic.

The collision happened about 6:35 p.m., Chino Valley Independent Fire District dispatchers said.

Five ambulances and three fire engines arrived at the scene to assist with the collision, dispatchers said.

Several injuries were reported and two air-ambulances were used to transport passengers, but dispatchers did not have detailed information. No major lanes were affected by the collision.

- lori.consalvo@inlandnewspapers.com

Chino Valley Fire Official recognized for 'going the extra mile for children'

Thu, 26 Mar 2009 17:23:09 -0800

A Chino Valley Independent Fire Captain was recently recognized by The San Bernardino County Children's Network.

Scott Atkinson was honored Wednesday at a breakfast for the 11th annual Shine a Light on Child Abuse Award.

The award honors those that "go the extra mile for children and who gives selflessly in an effort to make a difference," according to a Fire District news release.

Atkinson was nominated by the Fire District because of his dedication to the Spark of Love Toy Drive and Make a Child Smile programs.

- lori.consalvo@newspapers.com

Police arrest teen who caused graffiti damage in Chino

Thu, 26 Mar 2009 13:17:32 -0800

Chino police arrested a teenager who allegedly caused $8,500 in graffiti damages throughout the city.

The juvenile, who was arrested March 20, was originally seen tagging a sign near Chino and Monte Vista Avenues the week before.

A Chino resident who witnessed the vandalism called the police department and officers were able to locate a suspect matching the description, according to a Chino police news release.

After a brief foot chase, officers were able to catch the the teen.

When the juvenile was stopped officers found the materials used during the vandalism, according to the news release.

Because it was a single initial incident, the juvenile was cited and released for misdemeanor vandalism, according to the news release.

However, crime analysts with the city's Graffiti Tracker system were able to connect the juvenile to more than 70 other graffiti signs that were on public and private property, including power boxes, street signs and walls.

Those vandalism incidents were done throughout Chino between February and March. The suspect was arrested Friday and booked at the San Bernardino County Juvenile Hall for felony vandalism charges.

- lori.consalvo@inlandnewspapers.com