Category Archives: Pomona

Two wounded in Pomona shooting

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POMONA — Two people were wounded in a shooting late Sunday, authorities said.
The shooting was reported at 9:35 p.m. in the 2200 block of West Carlton Avenue, Los Angeles County Fire Department Supervising Fire Dispatcher Phil Ulloa said.
Two victims were injured, however their conditions were not immediately available, Pomona police officials said.
Rescuers landed a helicopter at nearby Brackett Field to rush one of the patients to a hospital, officials added.
No further details were available.

Man and woman arrested in Pomona on suspicion of auto theft

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Deputies following the signal from a LoJack vehicle anti-theft system found and arrested a man and woman in a stolen car, authorities said.
The names of the suspects, initially described as a man and woman in their 20s, were not immediately available pending the booking process, Los Angeles County sheriff’s Sgt. Steve Perez said.
The incident began about 8:45 a.m. when deputies from the sheriff’s Walnut-Diamond Bar Statin picked up on the signal in the Rowland Heights area, Perez said.
Deputies closed in on the SUV and spotted it getting onto the eastbound San Bernarindo (10) Freeway from the Orange (57) Freeway heading into Pomona, the sergeant said.
When the SUV exited the 10 Freeway at Garey Avenue and headed south, deputies attempted to pull it over, but it sped away instead, Perez said.
Deputies did not pursue the SUV due to safety concerns, Perez said.
“He started driving a little erratically,” he said. A sheriff’s helicopter kept track of the car from above.
After travling a short distance south on Garey Avenue, the SUV came to a stop near Pearl Street, Perez said.
The female suspect was arrested without a struggle near the SUV, while the man fled into a nearby apartment complex, officials said.
Witnesses pointed out which apartment the fleeing suspect ran into, Perez said. Deputies found him inside and took him into custody.

Diamond Bar man, volunteer at Diamond Ranch High School, accused of molesting student in 2006

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DIAMOND BAR — A Diamond Bar man and volunteer in the music program at Diamond Ranch High School in Pomona is accused of molesting a 16-year-old student during the summer of 2006 while working at another high school in Fullerton, authorities said.
Albert Anthony Morales, 33, was arrested at his home Tuesday on suspicion of child molestation after a woman, now-22-year-old, came forward to report being abused by him while attending Sunny Hills High School in Fullerton in 2006, Sgt. Dan Scott of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Special Victims Bureau said.
The molestations took place “on an ongoing basis” over the course of the summer as Morales carried on an inappropriate, sexual relationship with the teenage student, Scott said.
“It was substantial sexual contact, and definitely rose to the level of a felony,” he said.
Formal charges were yet to be filed against Morales Wednesday morning, Los Angeles County District Attorney’s officials said.
The alleged molestation was first reported to deputies from the sheriff’s Walnut-Diamond Bar Station Jan. 29, officials said.
Scott said the victim told investigators about her first sexual encounter with Morales after he invited her to his home and supplied her with alcohol.
He continued meeting the teenage student and engaging in sexual activity throughout the summer, Scott said. Molestations took place at Morales’ home and at other locations, but never at the school.
But the girl did not report the molestation, which at the time she viewed as a “relationship,” until late last week.
“Recently, she heard a presentation about sexual abuse, and a woman molested by a teacher,” Scott said. “That prompted her to come forward.”
After investigators looked into the allegations, members of the Sheriff’s Fugitive Apprehension Unit arrested Morales about 10:15 a.m. Tuesday at his home, according to sheriff’s officials and Los Angeles County booking records.
It is not uncommon for allegations of child molestation to surface long after the incident, Scott said.
“It’s normal that children to not report right away,” he said. “They don’t realize they’re being used and taken advantage of by the perpetrator.”
Morales has been working with high school music programs and tutoring students, primarily in percussion, for the past 13 years, officials said.
Prior to working with students at Sunny Hills High School from 2004 to 2009, Morales was part of the music program at Diamond Bar High School in Diamond Bar from 1998 to 2000, according to Deputy Aura Sierra-Lidman said.
Morales began volunteering at Diamond Ranch High School in 2012, and was still assisting the band director and working with students at the time of his arrest, sheriff’s and Pomona Unified School District officials said.
He was not paid-employee of the district, district spokesman Ryan Hightower said.
Diamond Ranch High School Principal Suzanne Steinseifer-Ripley sent a letter to parents Tuesday regarding the arrest.
“Upon receipt of information, the school and district administration have fully cooperated with the authorities,” Steinseifer-Ripley wrote.
“While there is a presumption of innocence in matters of this nature, the district takes such matters with the utmost seriousness. The individual is not on the campus and will not return to campus pending the outcome of the investigation,” according to the letter.
A pre-employment background check and fingerprint analysis conducted by the PUSD turned up no previous criminal complaints against Morales, school officials added.
“This is a difficult time for our school and with your continued support we will maintain an educationally sound and supportive school environment for all students,” according to the principal’s letter. “Students may hear rumors or information from various sources. Parents are encouraged to discuss such information with their student(s). We remain committed to the safety and well-being of our students. School counselors and psychologists from the District will be available to meet with students as appropriate.”
While no other allegations had come to light Wednesday, Scott said investigators suspected the teenage girl was not Morales’ only victim.
“The victim in this case believed that there were other girls that were close to him,” Scott said.
“This type of behavior by an individual is very methodical and it’s often repeated,” the sergeant said. “We believe there’s a high likelihood that there’s other victims out there, and we urge them to come forward,”
Anyone with information was asked to contact the Sheriff’s Special Victims Bureau at 877-710-5273.
According to county booking records, Morales was being held in lieu of $350,000 bail at the sheriff’s Walnut-Diamond Bar Station pending a scheduled arraignment Thursday in Pomona Superior Court.

BOOKING PHOTO of Albert Morales, 33, of Diamond Bar courtesy of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department

Three wounded in Pomona shooting

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POMONA — Three people were wounded in a shooting in a residential neighborhood late Saturday, authorities said.
The shooting was reported about 9:12 p.m. in the 700 block of Washington Avenue, Los Angeles County Fire Department Dispatch Supervisor Bernard Peters said.
One patient, described as a man, was taken to a trauma center, Peters said.
Two other patients were taken to a local hospital with less-serious injuries, he said. A description of them was not available.
“They were all stable when transported,” Peters said.
The circumstances of shooting were not available, nor was any suspect information, as Pomona police provided no information about the shooting Sunday afternoon.

Investigation continues in slaying of man found shot to death on freeway offramp in Pomona

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POMONA – The investigation continues into the mysterious shooting of a Pomona man who was found dead inside his car on on a freeway offramp, officials said.

Michael Meza, 32, was pronounced dead shortly after he was found shot multiple times about 12:20 a.m. Wednesday on the White Avenue offramp of the San Bernardino (10) Freeway, according to Pomona police and Los Angeles County fire officials.

Though in his own car, he was found seated in a passenger seat, Pomona police Sgt. Steve Congalton said. The driver of the vehicle, who fled the scene following the fatal shooting, had not been identified Monday.

A rear passenger-side window of the car was shot out, however it remained unclear whether Meza was shot from outside the car or from within, Congalton said.

The shooting was believed to have taken place in the area where Meza’s body was discovered, police said, though the exact location remained unknown.

Detectives this week continued interviewing and re-interviewing witnesses and examining evidence collected by crime scene investigators for clues, Congalton said.

The killing was the first reported homicide in Pomona this year.

Anyone with information can reach the Pomona Police Department Detective Bureau at 909-620-2095.

Stabbing reported in Pomona

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POMONA — A person was wounded in an early-morning stabbing along Holt Avenue Saturday, officials said, however little information was released.
The stabbing took place about 2:30 a.m. at Holt Avenue and Hamilton Boulevard.
It was believed to be related to a family dispute, Pomona police Sgt. Lena Becker said, adding that the victim was hospitalized in stable condition.
Police released no further information Saturday.

UPDATED: Driver severely injured in 10 Freeway crash in Pomona

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POMONA — A 67-year-old man suffered major injuries Saturday in a solo-vehicle rollover on the San Bernardino (10) Freeway, authorities said.
The crash took place about 12:40 p.m. on the westbound 10 freeway at Garey Avenue, California Highway Patrol Officer Kerri Rivas said.
A Desert Hot Springs man was driving a 1998 Toyota Tacoma pickup truck at 50 to 65 mph when, according to witnesses, he lost control as he tried to change lanes, the officer said.
“For unknown reasons he veered to the right,” Rivas said. The Tacoma struck a concrete wall and veered back toward the left, before again veering to the right side of the road and striking the wall a second time.
The impact caused the truck to spin 180 degrees and completely roll over, ultimately coming to a rest back on its wheels in the right-hand lane and shoulder, officials said.
Rescuers found the man unresponsive and he was taken by helicopter to Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center, Rivas said. An update on his condition was not available.
The cause of the crash was being investigated by the Baldwin Park office of the CHP.

18-year-old man fatally shot along Park Avenue in Pomona

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POMONA — An 18-year-old Pomona man died Sunday after being shot in a residential neighborhood along Park Avenue, authorities said.
Jose Alfredo Jimenez died at the scene of the shooting, which was reported just before 2:15 a.m. in the 1100 block of North Park Avenue, Los Angeles County Department of Coroner Lt. Cheryl MacWillie said.
Police responded to a call reporting gunshots when they came upon the shooting scene, Pomona police Sgt. Robert DeVee said in a written statement.
“Officers arrived and found a male victim suffering from a gunshot wound to the upper torso,” according to the sergeant.
Los Angeles County Fire Department paramedics pronounced Jimenez dead at 2:26 a.m., MacWillie said.
A motive or suspect description in the fatal shooting was unknown, police said, and no further information was released. The case is being investigated by the Pomona Police Department Homicide Unit.
Anyone with information was asked to contact Pomona police detectives Shope or Uribe at 909-620-2095.

Overturned big rig prompts Sig Alert on the 10 Freeway in Pomona

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POMONA — Officials issued a Sig Alert Sunday after a rig jackknifed across the eastbound lanes of the 10 Freeway.
The crash took place about 4 p.m. in the eastbound lanes of the San Bernardino (10) Freeway, just west of Towne Avenue, California Highway Patrol Officer Tatiana Saquillo said.
No injuries were initially reported in the crash, which was believed to have involved only the big rig, she said.
A Sig Alert was declared at 4:20 p.m. as all but the carpool lane remained blocked by the overturned truck. The roadway was cleared in about an hour.

Man fatally stabbed in Pomona

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POMONA — A Pomona man died and two suspects were in custody following a stabbing early Sunday, authorities said.
Jose Saldate, 33, of Pomona died at a hospital while undergoing surgery to treat wounds suffered in the alleged attack, which was first reported to police about 12:20 a.m. as a fight at the corner of Grand and Garey avenues, Pomona police Lt. Eddie Vazquez said.
Arrested in connection with the killing were Gabriel Prado, 20, of Pomona and Irven Vasquez, 19, of Pomona, police said.
Officers discovered Saldate lying on the ground with a stab wound, the lieutenant said.
Witnesses pointed out Prado and Vasquez as the assailants, and they were arrested without a struggle, he said.
The investigation was ongoing, and a motive in the fatal stabbing was not available.