Category Archives: Chino

Chino: City Seeks Volunteers For Annual Homeless Count

STAFF REPORTS

Chino – The City of Chino and the San Bernardino County Homeless Partnership are seeking volunteers to help count the homeless population in Chino. The count is an annual event that will take place on Thurs., Jan. 22, 2015, from 6 to 10 a.m.

Volunteers will be grouped into teams of three and assigned to a deployment center located in Chino. Team members will then be escorted around the City to locate and count homeless individuals and families who are considered unsheltered. The count will also include a survey to determine risk factors contributing to homelessness.

The count is part of a Federal Department of Housing and Urban Development mandated program that allows communities to better understand the number and characteristics of people sleeping on the street, or in other places not meant for human habitation. Communities around the country must participate in this process in order to apply for federal homeless services grant funding. Federal grant funds are the largest source of homeless services funding in San Bernardino County.

Anyone interested in volunteering for the count may register at www.sanbernardinocountyhomelesscounts.com. For questions regarding volunteer opportunities, please contact Josh Munch, Community Services Coordinator at (909) 334-3488.

 

Chino: Police Department Seeking Armed Robbery Suspects

STAFF REPORTS

Security footage of suspects. (Photo Courtesy: Chino Police Department)

Security footage of suspects. (Photo Courtesy: Chino Police Department)

Chino – The Chino Police Department is seeking the community’s help in identifying two suspects involved in an armed robbery at Village Liquor, located at 4117 Riverside Dr., on Sun., Oct. 26.

According to the Chino PD, Officers responded to a report at approximately 8:30 a.m. of two armed suspects entering the location and brandishing handguns at the clerk. The suspects then fled the scene with an undisclosed amount of items.

The suspects were last seen driving eastbound on Riverside Dr. in a 2001-2005 grey Toyota sedan.

The first suspect is described as a white male adult, 20-25 years old, 5’3”-5’5” tall, 230

pounds, with brown hair, last seen wearing a blue sweater with white patches and blue jeans.

The second suspect is described as a white male adult, 20-25 years old, 5’5”-5’7” tall, 160

pounds, with blonde hair, last seen wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, blue jeans and sandals.

This investigation is ongoing, and anyone with information is asked to contact the Chino Police Department at (909) 628-1234.

 

 

Chino: Suspicious Person Warning To Community

STAFF REPORTS

Chino – The Chino Police Department has issued a warning to the community regarding a suspicious person who may be attempting to lure students walking to and from school.

On Wed., Oct. 22, at approximately 8:40 a.m. Officers responded to the 14300 block of Pipeline Avenue after receiving a report of a van, being driving by an unknown adult, followed a 15-year old female on her way to school. The victim stated that the driver of the van made multiple attempts to contact her, and continued to follow her despite her numerous attempts to elude the situation.

The victim reported that she was not able to clearly see the driver, but described the individual as having a large build, and stated that the vehicle was a grey, cargo-style van with tinted windows.

The Chino Police Department, along with the Chino Valley Unified School District, strongly encourage students to walk in pairs or groups whenever possible, and to immediately report any suspicious activity to the local police department.

This investigation is ongoing, and anyone with information is asked to contact the Chino Police Department at (909) 628-1234.

 

San Gabriel Valley: Halloween Safety

STAFF REPORTS

halloween-clip-art-free-halloween-clipart-3SGV – Halloween is one of the most anticipated holidays for adults and children throughout the Chino Valley and beyond. Our friends at the Chino Valley Fire District offer the following safety tips for children, adults and motorists to help ensure a safe and happy Halloween for all.

Safety Tips for Children:

  • Purchase costumes that are made of flame retardant material. Avoid materials such as lightweight cotton fabrics that are easily ignited.
  • Make sure hemlines are short enough to prevent tripping or contact with flame.
  • Do not allow children to carry sharp sticks or other objects that could cause injury.
  • Use light-colored material and reflective tape on costumes for maximum visibility.
  • Plan a well-lit route for young children to use while trick-or-treating. Return home early.
  • Closely inspect all candy before allowing children to eat it. Discard any unwrapped treats from a stranger. If in doubt, throw it out.

Safety Tips for Adults:

  • Have non-alcoholic drinks available for guests if you have a party at your house.
  • Arrange for a designated driver for those who are drinking alcohol.
  • Take the keys from anyone that may be drinking.
  • Never serve alcohol to individuals less than 21 years of age.

Safety Tips for Motorists:

  • Be aware of children darting out between parked vehicles.
  • Do not pass other vehicles that have stopped in the roadway.
  • Be alert when driving through intersections.
  • Never assume a pedestrian approaching the roadway will yield to your vehicle.

Be sure that small children use battery operated flashlights and are under supervision at all times.

This is also a great time to buy fresh batteries for your home smoke detectors.

The Chino Valley Fire District wishes you a safe and happy Halloween!

 

 

 

 

Chino Valley Fire District: A District of Distinction

STAFF REPORTS

Chino Valley – The Chino Valley Fire District recently received the biannual District of Distinction accreditation by the Special District Leadership Foundation (SDLF) for the third time, in recognition of their sound fiscal management policies and practices in all District operations.  The Fire District was the very first one of its kind to receive this accreditation in 2008.

To obtain reaccreditation, the Fire District met a list of requirements that included established policies and procedures, continued education and implemented financial and audit standards.  Additional requirements included transparency efforts such as posting scheduled meeting agendas on the Fire District website, as well as current budget and financial audits.  The District’s Board of Directors and executive staff were also required to complete additional training in public governance, ethics, and harassment prevention training.

“We are committed to serving the Chino Valley with integrity and transparency while offering exceptional customer service,” said Fire Chief Tim Shackelford.  “The Board of Directors and Fire District are honored to have received reaccreditation as a District of Distinction and look forward to continuing to protect and serve the Chino Valley in a fiscally responsible manner.”

The SDLF provides an independent audit review of the last three years of a district’s operations to ensure prudent fiscal practices.  The committee members that review the audits are volunteers from the special district community, including district controllers, directors of finance and certified general managers.

The District of Distinction Accreditation is one of the most prestigious local government awards in California, recognizing the District’s commitment to good governance as well as ethical and sound operating practices.

SDLF is an independent, non-profit organization formed to promote good governance and best practices among California’s special districts through certification, accreditation and other recognition programs.

 

Welcome Chino Preserve!

The Eastvale Community News has expanded distribution to include the Chino Preserve. The Preserve has previously been included in bulk delivery to the Community Center, but we are now delivering door to door.

You can check out the latest Chino area news on the Neighbors Page, as well as see what your other Eastvale neighbors are up to throughout this publication.

For more information and additional news, visit anapr.com, and Facebook.com/EastvaleCommunityNews. For editorial submissions and advertising rates, email editor@anapr.com.

 

The Preserve at Chino is a master-planned community of over 5,000 acres of former and existing farm and dairy property. Located near the Chino Airport, south of Kimball Avenue, north of State Route 71, west of Hellman Avenue and east of Euclid Avenue, this beautiful area was annexed by the City of Chino in 2003.

Tree-lined residential areas with walkable neighborhoods include parks and outstanding public and private amenities.

The Preserve is in immediate proximity to an ecological habitat and nature trail protecting a variety of native animal and plant species, including the burrowing owl and the golden eagle.    

 

 

October Is Fire Prevention Month

Staff Reports

 

Chino Valley – The Los Angeles County Fire Department, along with other public safety advocates, will be reminding everyone about fire safety during Fire Prevention Month.  Although the week of October 5 – 11 has been proclaimed, “National Fire Prevention Week for 2014,” the Fire Department and the Board of Supervisors are proclaiming the month of October as “Fire Prevention Month.”

This year’s theme set by the National Fire Protection Association – “Working Smoke Alarms Save Lives – Test Yours Every Month!” – emphasizes how important it is to ensure that smoke alarms function properly by checking them once a month.

The Chino Valley Fire District and Chino Valley Fire District Board of Directors invites the public and media to visit Fire Station 61 and Training Center (located at 5092 Schaefer Avenue in Chino) during the annual Fire Prevention Month Open House on Sat., Oct. 11, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Firefighters will conduct various demonstrations throughout the day, including a presentation where firefighters highlight multiple uniforms and protective gear they wear to demonstrate the various capabilities and specialty teams of the Chino Valley Fire District staffs.

There will be static displays of Fire District equipment and units from partner agencies. Children will be able to go through a Junior Firefighter academy and the public can tour Fire Station 61 every 30 minutes throughout the day. Visitors will also be invited to tour the inside of the Training Center to learn about the Emergency Medical Services the Fire District provides on a daily basis to the communities they serve.

Representatives from several organizations and agencies will be hosting information booths for the public. They include agencies, departments and organizations from the cities of Chino and Chino Hills.

There will be free popcorn and snow cones for everyone to enjoy. Participating in the various activities available at the Open House is completely free.

“The Fire District’s Annual Open House is a great way for the community to interact with their Fire District and to learn about proactive steps they can take to keep their families and homes fire-safe,” said Fire Chief, Tim Shackelford.

In addition to honoring Fire Prevention Month, Chino Valley Firefighters will be raising awareness for Breast Cancer through a pink t-shirt fundraiser during the month of October. The shirts are available for men and women, at just $15, with all proceeds going toward Breast Cancer research. Order your shirt at CVPinkshirt2014@gmail.com, or pick one up at the Open House on Oct. 11.

For more information on the annual Open House, follow the Chino Valley Fire District on social media, or visit the website at www.chinovalleyfire.org.

 

Chino: Multiple Fatality Vehicle Collision in Chino

STAFF REPORTS

 

Chino – On Fri., Oct. 3, at approximately 8:45 p.m., the Chino Police Department responded to a multiple vehicle collision on Pine Avenue, between Meadowhouse and Mill Creek avenues.

The City of Chino has reported that three vehicles were involved, two of which were engulfed in flames. The collision resulted in five confirmed fatalities.

Physical evidence and eyewitness statements indicate the driver of a 2000 Chevrolet pickup was traveling at an unsafe speed at the time of the collision. The driver lost control of the vehicle and crossed into the eastbound lane of traffic colliding with a 2013 Honda that was driving eastbound on Pine Avenue.

The third vehicle, a 2002 Honda Civic, driven by Oscar Flores, 36, of Ontario, was traveling eastbound on Pine Avenue behind the 2013 Honda Accord. The vehicles collided when the Chevrolet truck and the Honda Accord traveled westbound on Pine Avenue in the eastbound lane. Flores suffered minor injuries and was treated and released at the scene.

The four occupants of the Chevrolet truck who were killed in the collision have been identified as Andrew Anthony Deleon, 19, of Eastvale; Alex Emiliano Horta, 19, of Eastvale; Nathan Dominguez, 19, of Eastvale; and Nathaniel Trinidad Marin, 20, also of Eastvale.

The driver of the 2013 Honda Accord, who was also killed, has been identified as Luis Ayala Mendoza, 47, of Corona.

This collision is still under investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Chino Police Department at (909) 628-1234.

 

Chino: Reward For Serial AK-47 Bandit Who Shot Chino Officer

STAFF REPORTS

AK-47-Bandit

(Photo Courtesy: FBI)

Chino – The Federal Bureau of Investigation has announced a $100,000 reward offered in exchange for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the AK-47 Bandit, who is linked to the robberies of six banks in four states, and the attempted murder of a Chino Police Officer using an assault rifle.

FBI offices across the nation are announcing publicity efforts and new video relative to a serial bank robber who shot a Police Officer in Chino in 2012 after robbing the California Bank & Trust on Feb. 29. Following this armed robbery, a police offer patrolling the area came upon the suspect fleeing the scene. The suspect fired upon the officer, seriously wounding him. Prior to the bank robbery, a threat was called into the 911 dispatch center from a payphone in the general vicinity of the bank by a male caller. Investigators believe the suspect employed a diversionary tactic in an attempt to delay officers responding to the bank robbery.

The suspect has also been linked to bank robberies in Washington and Idaho, with the most recent incident happening in Nebraska City, Nebraska on Aug. 22.

During this most recent robbery at the First Nebraska Bank, the suspect carried a duffel bag and an assault rifle with a drum magazine similar to the weapon seen in his earlier robberies. The suspect proceeded to remove cash from the tellers’ drawers and directed employees to comply with his demands. The suspect then fled the bank with the stolen cash.

Agents are partnering with multiple agencies across many states, and investigators believe the suspect may continue to travel extensively to commit additional crimes.

The suspect is described as a white male, 25 to 40 years of age, 5’9” to 6’0”, approximately 180 to 230 pounds, with a large, stocky build. He possibly has blue eyes, and speaks with a deep, loud voice that carries no accent. He brandishes an AK-47 automatic assault rifle with a drum magazine. During some of the robberies, the suspect wore a black balaclava-style ski mask, black gloves, and navy blue body armor. He has also been seen with a green mesh vest with the word, “Sheriff,” on the back, and a Sheriff’s star-type badge pinned to the front of his closing. He has been reported to drive a grey, four-door, 2009-2011 Nissan Maxima with dark-tint windows and stock chrome rims, and a red/orange Jeep Liberty or Patriot SUV with a tire mounted on the back.

The suspect has committed crimes including robbery, attempted robbery and/or attempted murder in Chino, California; Sacramento, California; Vacaville, California; North Bend, Washington; Rexburg, Idaho; and Nebraska City, Nebraska.

The reward of up to $100,000 is being offered collectively by multiple entities that each attach a separate set of criteria that must be met in order to be distributed (FBI, up to $50,000; City of Chino, up to $20,000; California Bank & Trust, up to $10,000; and East Idaho Credit Union, up to $20,000.

The FBI is urging residents in all states to take a close look at the photographs and listen to the audio that has been made public. Video, audio, images and additional information can be found by visiting http://www.fbi.gov/news/stories/2014/september/help-us-catch-the-ak-47-bandit.

The suspect is proficient with an assault weapon and will not hesitate before shooting someone to avoid capture. He is considered heavily armed and extremely dangerous. Refrain from taking any independent action. Anyone with information regarding this suspect (or someone that meets the descriptions or has access to this type of gear or weapon), or is familiar with these vehicles, is asked to contact 1-800-CALL-FBI.

Chino: Jury Duty Scam

STAFF REPORTS

 

Chino – The Chino Police Department is warning citizens about a Jury Duty Scam that has brought about a recent increase in calls from victims and concerned citizens who have been targeted by a telephone swindle.

Scammers are contacting victims by phone, claiming that they are from the San Bernardino County Court. They are telling victims that they have missed jury duty and a warrant has been issued. They are then told that they can clear the warrant if they pay a fine – usually in the amount of $495 – by sending a money order. Most of the victims being targeted are Senior Citizens.

Citizens are urged to not provide any personal information or send money to anyone attempting to collect fees over the phone. Also make sure to ask specific questions as to the identity of the caller anytime someone tries to solicit information or money from you.

The County does not use this process for dealing with jury duty summons.

If you think you have been the victim of a scam, please report it to your local police department.

Chino: Suspect Arrested for Attempted Murder of Local Family

 STAFF REPORTS

 

Chino – On Sept. 23, at approximately 6:50 a.m., Chino Police Officers responded to a call regarding a stabbing in the 6800 block of Cosmos Street. Upon arrival, the responding officers witnessed a male suspect, later identified as Aaron Hernandez a 19-year old Chino resident, walking down the street with a knife.

According to the City of Chino, Officers attempted to make contact with Hernandez, who was fleeing the scene of an attempted murder. He became uncooperative and Officers used a Taser to safely take him into custody.

The investigation revealed that Hernandez stabbed two family members. The victims were transported to a hospital with multiple stab wounds and are expected to survive. Hernandez was also transported to the hospital with minor self-inflicted wounds and has been arrested for attempted murder. He has a history of mental health issues and drug use.

This is an ongoing investigation, anyone with information is asked to contact the Chino Police Department at (909) 628-1234.

 

 

 

Chino: Budget Rooter Plumbing

STAFF REPORTS

 

daves-budget-rooter

You can reach Dave Holt at Budget Rooter Plumbing at (909) 592-5855 or (626) 334-3533, or visit http://www.abudgetrooter.com for more information.

Chino – It’s hard to find a plumber who does good work, but Dave Holt has been in the business for 35 years and promises to fix it right the first time.

 

“We treat every customer with respect and honesty,” Holt said. “I do the best job I can for a fair price. It costs a lot to have a plumber come out, and you should at least get what you pay for.”

 

Budget Rooter Plumbing can complete a list of repairs such as work on faucets, water heaters, broken pipes, leak locating, and sewer replacement.

 

“I personally come out and care about your problems,” Holt said. “I will give you an honest opinion and a fair price.”

 

Holt says he enjoys his job because of the gratification he gets out of helping people that appreciate him. He returns the favor by offering a personal warranty on his work.

 

“My personal warranty is if it ever needs repair, just give me a call,” he said.

 

For Budget Rooter Plumbing’s coupon for a free in-home estimate, valued at $49.50, see page 10.

 

You can reach Dave Holt at Budget Rooter Plumbing at (909) 592-5855 or (626) 334-3533, or visit www.abudgetrooter.com for more information. Budget Rooter serves the San Gabriel and Pomona Valleys.

Eastvale: Spa Care Repair Specialists

BY K.P. SANDER

sPA CAREEastvale – Spa Care Repair Specialists, located in Chino, specialize in providing pool services, parts and repairs. In business since 1979, they are dedicated to keeping your pool affordably clear and beautiful, and provide personalized services specific to your needs.

 

Owner, Larry Horton, says they are a family-owned company that focuses on providing every customer with honest, fair, quality service. All employees are professionally trained and skilled using the latest technology. The California contractor also has a history of manufacturing and installing pools and spas, which gives them the experience to be able to diagnose problems often missed by other technicians.

 

With 34 years of experience, they encourage the benefits of proper pool and spa maintenance. Horton says that pool owners dislike problems, but are often too busy to properly assess and repair the concerns associated with pool and spa equipment. “We get to use our experience and training to provide a win-win result”, he adds.

 

Spa Care Repair Specialists are open Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. They provide service for West Riverside County, West San Bernardino County, Orange County, and East Los Angeles County, and are bonded and insured (LIC# 559155). You can reach them at (909) 861-5973, or visit them online at www.spa-care.net.

 

Keep your in-ground or above-ground pool and spa ready for family fun year round. Contact Spa Care Repair Specialists today.

Chino: DUI Checkpoint Yields 9 Arrests

City of Chino

Chino – The Chino Police Department successfully concluded a DUI/Driver’s License Checkpoint during the early hours of Sat., Aug. 23, resulting in nine arrests. Two subjects were arrested for DUI, three were arrested for drug related charges and four were arrested for outstanding warrants. Twenty-five citations were also issued for various offenses including 18 citations for unlicensed/suspended drivers. A total of 5 vehicles were impounded.

The checkpoint was part of the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign funded by the State of California, Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. It took place from approximately 8:00 p.m. Friday, to 3:00 a.m. Saturday morning, in the 11600 block of Central Avenue.

The purpose of this type of checkpoint is to educate the public, arrest impaired drivers who are operating vehicles while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, cite unlicensed drivers, and to reduce the number of victims killed or injured in alcohol-related collisions.

The Chino Police Department encourages people to call 911 to report suspected drunk drivers.

Chino: Plans For Pine Ave Extension Moving Along

By GLENN FREEMAN

 

(Photo Courtesy: aaroads.com)

(Photo Courtesy: aaroads.com)

Chino – After several years of being on the “wish list” for many local residents, the full connection of Pine Avenue, from Euclid Avenue to the Chino Valley, or 71 Freeway, may be as little as two to three years off.

The road in question heads east from the 71 Freeway through portions of southern Chino Hills and Chino before connecting with Schleisman Road in Eastvale. An interchange at Pine and the 71 is one of the most recently completed components of the freeway. However, to the dismay of many, a “missing link” remains at that junction with an eastern gap that prevents direct freeway access. The next entrance is over a mile and a half away at Euclid/Butterfield Ranch.

According to San Bernardino Associated Governments (SANBAG), the agency responsible for regional transportation planning in San Bernardino County, plans are underway to close this gap and widen existing portions of Pine Avenue in the area of Euclid Avenue, from two lanes to four lanes.

SANBAG’s website lists the project as being in the “PS&E” phase (Engineering/Plans, Specifications and Estimates), which they indicate to be completed by spring of 2015.

Though coordinated by SANBAG, the City of Chino is acting as the lead agency on the project.

Jesus Plasencia, Planning Engineer for the City of Chino, stated in an email response that the city “is currently working with its consultant and other stakeholders to obtain environmental clearance for the Project.”

Plasencia says completion of this first phase of environmental clearance is anticipated later this year. However, he says a full timeline on the project is not yet available.

Once completed, the connection would also be helpful for Eastvale residents heading west into Chino Hills and the 71 Freeway. Michele Nissen with the City of Eastvale says that although the city does see the connection as a benefit to its residents, “Eastvale is not in a decision making position, since it is not within the City’s jurisdictional boundary.”

Chino: Police Department Issues Warning – Family Emergency Scam

City of Chino

 

Chino – Across the county, people are falling victim to a nationwide scam in which individuals pose as family members and urge victims to wire thousands of dollars due to an emergency. In another scenario, callers claim to be employed by the IRS and are calling to collect a debt.

 

Although the circumstances vary from case to case, typical schemes include using information (usually obtained via the internet, including social media sites and illegally obtained email) to impersonate a family member and/or a legal representative, such as a lawyer. This individual often insists that the victim keep the request confidential and asks that the money be wired immediately. By the time the person realizes they have been victimized, the money is gone and cannot be traced. Most cases lead law enforcement to locations outside of the county, making these crimes very difficult to investigate.

 

If found in this situation, Officers of the Chino Police Department urge residents and members of the business community to protect themselves by utilizing the following prevention tips:

 

  • Resist the urge to act immediately, regardless of the sense of urgency implied by the caller.
  • Verify the identity of the person by asking specific questions a stranger could not answer.
  • Try to contact the alleged family member if possible.
  • Verify the story with someone close to the family member.
  • Report possible fraud to your local law enforcement officials.

 

If you have information related to this type of activity please contact the Chino Police Department at (909) 628-1234.

 

 

Chino: Police Arrest Robbery Suspect

STAFF REPORTS

rafaella-benoit

Rafaella Benoit (Photo courtesy: City of Chino)

Chino – Officers of the Chino Police Department arrested a subject believed to be the suspect of the Bank of the West robbery, which took place in Chino on Mon., July 14.

Rafaella Benoit, 18, of Moreno Valley, allegedly entered the Bank of the West and passed a note to the teller demanding cash. The suspect – described as a black female in her 20s, wearing light colored hospital scrubs, a tan knit cap, and sunglasses – fled on foot with an undisclosed amount of money.

Through the investigative process, Detectives identified Benoit as a potential suspect. Benoit was out on bail for a previous bank robbery she allegedly committed on Fri., May 9, at the BBVA Compass Bank, located in Moreno Valley.

At approximately 8:30 a.m. on Fri., July 25, Officers arrested Benoit in the 1200 block of Autumnwood Lane as she was leaving her residence in Moreno Valley. A search of the property was conducted and evidence was found linking Benoit to the crime. She was booked at the West Valley Detention Center on robbery and committing a felony while out on bail.

The investigation is ongoing and anyone with information is asked to contact the Chino Police Department at (909) 628-1234.

 

Chino: Illegal Sterilization At Chino Prison

STAFF REPORTS

chino-womens-prison

(Photo Courtesy: Google Images)

Chino – In a review concerning female inmate sterilizations occurring between fiscal years 2005-06 and 2012-13, state auditor, Elaine M. Howle, reported on some disturbing facts discovered in some California prisons.

The June 19 audit revealed that during the aforementioned period, 144 female inmates were sterilized by bilateral tubal ligation, and the Receiver’s Office of the California Correctional Health Care Services at times failed to ensure that the inmates’ consent was lawfully obtained. 39 inmates received the procedure – 11 of those women incarcerated at Chino – with deficiencies in the process.

In 27 of those cases, there was no evidence that a physician signed the required consent forms asserting that the patient was mentally competent and therefore understood the lasting effects of the procedure; in 18 cases there was a violation of the required waiting period between consent and procedure. In some cases, the physicians falsified the consent forms, indicating that the proper waiting period had passed when it clearly had not. In all there were numerous illegal surgeries and other violations of the state’s informed consent law.

For one case in particular for a pregnant inmate at the Chino prison, a physician filed a form requesting approval for a pregnancy evaluation and treatment. Nothing on the form indicated a request for sterilization; the woman was sterilized, regardless, during a cesarean section delivery which was performed 17 days before the woman’s expected delivery date. A review of her medical records did not indicate any emergency conditions requiring an expedited delivery or sterilization.

Auditors have begun to urge federal officials to give the names of the physicians involved in the illegal surgeries to the Medical Board and the California Department of Public Health for further investigation and possible disciplinary action.

Prison advocates and former inmates say that prison medical staff targeted those who were deemed likely to return to prison in the future. The audit states that all the women who received tubal ligations had been in prison at least once before, and were repeat offenders. The prison medical officials have denied any ill intent; however, the integrity of all these incidents is in question.

This integrity, or lack thereof, leads one to remember California’s dreadful history regarding such things, labeled Eugenics. Wikipedia states that as an early leading force in the field of Eugenics, California became the third state in the United States to enact a sterilization law, forcing 20,000 sterilizations between 1909 and 1963. By 1921, California had accounted for 80% of the sterilizations nationwide. This continued until World War 2, after which the number of sterilizations began to decrease, largely due to the fallout of Hitler’s eugenics movement. It is reported that Nazi Germany sought the advice of the California’s eugenics leaders in the 1930s. More current reports tout the sterilization as a way to avoid welfare benefits for unwanted children.

In response to the audit, the state prison health department generally agrees with the findings, and noted that steps have since been taken to improve the situation. A bill has now been introduced that would ban all inmate sterilizations for birth control purposes. In May, the Senate unanimously approved SB 1135, and the measures are now being taken up by the Assembly.

Tiana Goegebuer contributed to this article.

 

 

 

The Weekly News Complete Edition 07.26.14

The Weekly News covers community news for Diamond Bar, Walnut, Chino Hills and surrounding areas of San Gabriel Valley and the Inland Empire. Click this link July26WeeklyAll  to access the complete July 26-Aug 1, 2014 issue in pdf format.

 

Chino: Police Arrest Three Robbery Suspects

STAFF REPORTS

 

Chino – On July 10, officers of the Chino Police Department arrested three suspects who are believed to have been involved in an armed robbery that took place in the 12800 block of 16th Street.

At approximately 3:24 a.m., a victim told police he was robbed at gunpoint while walking on 16th street, and that his handgun and cash had been taken by three armed suspects described as Hispanic males. The suspects were last seen running from the scene into a nearby residential area.

According to a press release from the City of Chino, officers quickly cordoned off the area of Benson Avenue, 18th Street, Tronkeel and Serene Avenues, and evacuated nearby residents. Members of the Chino SWAT Team arrived on scene and surrounded a house in the 12800 block of 16th Street, which is where the suspects were believed to be hiding.

At approximately 5:52 a.m., officers came into contact with Edgar Campos, 20, of Chino, who was walking in the 12800 block of 18th Street. Officers detained him for questioning and later arrested him for his alleged involvement in the robbery.

At 12:04 p.m., SWAT officers removed the second suspect, Rigoberto Garcia, Jr., 24, of Chino, from the home on 16th Street.

Through the investigative process, officers arrested a third suspect – Carlos Meza, 21, of Chino – at around 12:58 p.m. Meza was arrested near the intersection of Benson and Tronkeel Avenues.

All three suspects were booked at the West Valley Detention Center on robbery with gang enhancements. Details are still emerging and the investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Chino Police Department at (909) 628-1234.