By City of Chino

The Chino PD Traffic Unit conducted a DUI/Driver’s License checkpoint on Friday, August 24, 2018, at 11900 Central Avenue between the hours of 8:00 p.m. and 1:00 a.m. Checkpoints are placed in locations that have the greatest opportunity for achieving drunk and drugged driving deterrence and provide the greatest safety for officers and the public.

In recent years, California has seen a disturbing increase in drug-impaired driving crashes.  Your PD supports the new effort from the Office of Traffic Safety that aims to educate all drivers that “DUI Doesn’t Just Mean Booze.”  If you take prescription drugs, particularly those with a driving or operating machinery warning on the label, you might be impaired enough to get a DUI.  Marijuana can also be impairing, especially in combination with alcohol or other drugs, and can result in a DUI.

Studies of California drivers have shown that 30 percent of drivers in fatal crashes had one or more drugs in their systems. A study of active drivers showed more tested positive for drugs that may impair driving (14 percent) than did for alcohol (7.3 percent).  Of the drugs, marijuana was most prevalent, at 7.4 percent, slightly more than alcohol.

The checkpoint resulted in the following:

• 963 vehicles screened
• 2 DUI arrests
• 3 other arrests (two warrants/one for drugs)
• 7 drivers cited for operating a vehicle unlicensed or while suspended or revoked
• 18 other citations for various infractions
• 6 vehicles impounded or stored

Drivers are encouraged to download the Designated Driver VIP, or “DDVIP,” free mobile app for Android or iPhone.  The DDVIP app helps find nearby bars and restaurants that feature free incentives for the designated sober driver, from free non-alcoholic drinks to free appetizers and more.  The feature-packed app even has social media tie-ins and even a tab for the non-DD to call Uber, Lyft or Curb.

Drivers caught driving impaired can expect the impact of a DUI arrest to include jail time, fines, fees, DUI classes, license suspension and other expenses that can exceed $10,000 not to mention the embarrassment when friends and family find out.

The checkpoint was funded by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, reminding everyone to ‘Report Drunk Driver – Call 9-1-1’.

Staff Reports 

CHINO – After an intensive investigation Chino Police Department Detectives identified and arrested a man in connection to an ongoing residential burglary where the victims had over $50,000 in valuables stolen from their home.

The incident occurred on July 11, 2018, at a residence in the 14700 block of Willamette Avenue in Chino. The suspect’s image was captured on video and was then shared on the Chino PD Facebook page. That post resulted in a citizen calling in with a tip. Detectives were able to follow up on the investigative lead and identify the suspect as Octavius Jamal Woodard – age 43 of Pomona.

After some very thorough investigating methods Detectives were able to locate and arrest Woodard in the city of Long Beach. They brought him back to the Inland Empire and booked him into the West Valley Detention Center on burglary charges.

During the course of the investigation, it was discovered that several pieces of the victim’s property had been sold to a pawn shop by Woodard. The merchandise has since been recovered from the shop.

The investigation is still ongoing.

Staff Reports

Chino – Two women were arrested, following a vehicle pursuit in Chino. Police discovered an unconscious woman in the passenger seat of their vehicle with a cord wrapped around her neck, said officials on Wednesday, August 22.

Authorities indicated the suspects and the victim may be acquainted. It seems they had been involved in a disagreement while they were traveling together from Los Angeles to Indio.

The victim fell asleep during the first half of the trip Tuesday morning. The suspects, Kyanna 23, and Brittney Patterson, 21, allegedly began suffocating and strangling the victim until she lost consciousness, the Chino Police Department said in a news release.

Authorities have not disclosed whether the women, both Monrovia residents, are related.

Officers responded to a call made by a witness who reportedly saw a distressed passenger screaming for help from a silver sedan near the Circle K gas station at 12895 Mountain Ave. at around 7:20 a.m.

Responding officers were able to locate the four-door sedan on Benson Avenue. The officers tried to pull the vehicle over, but the driver failed to stop, police said.

The woman behind the wheel was speeding and driving recklessly before she eventually collided with two other vehicles at the intersection of Riverside Drive and 10th Street.

The suspects were seen running from the car on foot, and officers pursued on foot and shortly caught up the suspects. Both women were arrested on suspicion of kidnapping and attempted murder, according to police reports.

When officers approached the vehicle, they discovered the victim unconscious in the passenger seat of the vehicle. The victim was transported to a nearby hospital via ambulance, where she was listed in stable condition, authorities said.

Officials have not released the victim’s name only that she is 28 years old.

Inmate records show both suspects were being held on $1 million bail at the West Valley Detention Center and were scheduled to appear in court Thursday, August 23.

Staff Reports

Chino – The City of Chino reached a $1.5 million settlement with a mobile home park owner who brought a lawsuit against the city, alleging the council’s actions caused a loss of income by delaying and interfering with plans to convert the park to resident ownership.

The lawsuit originally asked for $34 million when it was filed in 2010 by Chino MHC the owner of Lamplighter Chino Mobile Home Park located on the northwest corner of Philadelphia Street and Ramona Avenue.

The debate that has been going on for years between the city and Chino MHC began in the spring 2010. The planning commission approved a tentative tract map to the mobile home park owners who wanted to require residents living there to purchase the individual spaces their homes sat on, along with shares in common facilities such as the clubhouse.

In April 2010, the city council overturned the planning commission’s decision based on a plea for help from the residents.

The council’s decision prompted Chino MHC to file two lawsuits, one alleging the loss of income, and a second, asking the court to approve the mobile home park owners’ conversion plan.

In early 2011, Superior Court Judge Joseph Brisco ruled that the city could not prohibit the conversion of the park, regardless if most of the residents were against the plan.

The city appealed and lost in October 2012, when it was ruled the city council doesn’t have the power to stop the conversion of the mobile home park to tenant ownership.  Unless the city could prove the owner was taking the step to avoid the city’s rent control policy unless mobile home parks they just don’t have a case.

In October 2013, after a three-hour public hearing, the council voted 3-0 to allow Chino MHC to sell the lots in the park thus ending the legal battle that the city estimates had already cost the taxpayers half a million dollars. The only comfort the residents who opposed the plan got was a written guarantee by Chino MHC that no one would be evicted.

One of the documents filed by the park owner during its lengthy confrontation with the city was a “tenant impact report” that waives the owner’s right to evict any tenant.

About 80 percent of the residents qualified as low-income tenants 2013 according to court documents. The park owner will be allowed to increase those rents at the same rate the cost of living index allows each year after the park is converted and the city’s rent-control ordinance was no longer in effect.

Fred Galante, the City’s Attorney, said, “The Settlement Agreement resolves long-standing disputes and litigation between the parties.  The settlement makes clear that it is not an admission of any wrongdoing whatsoever on the part of the City. The City believes it had good defenses, the settlement resolves long-standing litigation and saves further expenditure of legal fees and eliminates any risk of potential liability.”

As part of the settlement approved by the council on July 17, the city must approve, permit, and allow the recording of the final tract map for the mobile home park conversion by the end July.

The settlement gave the City until the middle of this month to pay the 1.5 million dollars awarded to Chino MHC.

By Anthony Saude

Chino – Mike Kolling retired from the City of Chino after 29 plus years of employment. Kolling retired from the position of Capital Projects and Building Maintenance Manager after a long illustrious career. The City hosted a special retirement luncheon for a very special and distinguished guest.

Kolling was hired as an Associate Park Planner by Chino in December 1988 and shortly after promoted to Capital Projects Manager. Kolling is a licensed landscape architect.

During Kolling’s tenure, he designed and was the projects manager for many of the new parks you see in the city today.  The skate park and the expansion of Ayala Park are just a couple examples of the scope of projects he managed. He was also the project manager for the construction of major facilities in the City of Chino, including the Carolyn Owens Community Center, Chino Police Department Facility, Fire Stations No. 1 and No. 3 and the training center.

In 2001 and 2012 Kolling was named the Employee of the Year Award by the City of Chino. He loved that he got to volunteer as the Chino Relay For Life Logistics Lead from 2003-2017. He put in hundreds of hours planning the course and the site where it was held each year. In 2018 Kolling reached a milestone by donating 100 gallons of blood.

The Chino City Council recognized Kolling at the July 17 City Council meeting, he was presented with a tile of the City Of Chino’s official seal.

Mike Kolling’s accomplishments during his time with the City:

1997 Cypress Trails Park

1998 Neighborhood Activity Center

2001 Chaffey College Chino Campus Development

2001 Chino Youth Museum

2001 Chino Experience Teen Center

2002 2004 Aguiar Square Development Phase I and II

2003 Chino Skate Park at Ayala Park

2005 Shady Grove Park

2005 Monte Vista Park Medical Clinic

2005 Current AG Preserve and College Park Development

2006 Paseo Del Sol Development

2006 CDF Helipad Project

2006 Chino High School Track Improvements

2006 Council Chambers Remodel

2007 Carolyn Owens Community Center

2007 Chino Valley Fire District, Fire Station No. 3

2011 Chino Valley Fire District, Fire Station no. 3 and Training Center

2012 Chino Police Department Facility Development

2016 Chino Community Garden

Master Plan Projects for:

Ayala Park Expansion Master Plan

Downtown Civic Center Master Plan

Recreation and Open Space Master Plan

East Chino Specific Plan

AG Preserve Master Plan

Southern California Edison Easement Master Plan

By Anthony Saude

CHINO – Two suspects were arrested this week for attempted murder. The investigation began on July 10, 2018, in the early morning hours when officers responded to a call of a possible fight in the area of Park Avenue and Benson Avenue.

Officers arrived at the scene and found two victims of a stabbing in the 12800 block of 16th Street. The victims were a male and female adult were transported via ambulance to a local area hospital. Once there they were treated and their condition was stabilized. Detectives immediately began processing the crime scene and investigating all the leads available to them.

Later that evening, based on the evidence detectives were able to identify Ricky Mathew Barrera, age 19 of Chino, as one of the suspects. A search warrant was issued and officers served it at his residence in the 5700 block of Riverside Drive. Barrera was taken into custody and charged with attempted murder with a gang enhancement. He was booked and placed into the West Valley Detention Center.

Throgh further investigation the Detectives on the case were able to identify a second suspect, a 17-year-old male resident of Chino. On Wednesday, July 11, detectives served a search warrant at the juvenile’s residence in the 13100 block of 4th Street where he was taken into custody. Both suspects were arrested and booked for the charges listed below: • Ricky Mathew Barrera: booked at the West Valley Detention Center for attempted murder and gang enhancement. • 17-year-old male: booked at San Bernardino County Juvenile Hall for attempted murder. The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with any information is asked to contact Detective Chinnis at (909) 334-3047 or at cchinnis@chinopd.org.

By Anthony Saude

Chino – BevMo BevMo has been frustrated by the diminished condition of the Chino Hills center they are currently located and will leaving to relocate to the City of Chino. This is another big blow to the struggling northern section of the Chino Hills Marketplace located at Peyton Drive and the 71 Freeway.

BevMo, a big box retailer that specializes in beer, wine, and spirits, will be relocating to the empty storefront where Party City used to be in the Chino Spectrum.

BevMo has applied for two alcoholic beverage control licenses that include one for alcohol tasting, they will be in front of the Chino Planning Commission for approval next week.

The news came as a surprise to Chino Hills Mayor Peter Rogers and members of the Chino Hills Planning Commission even though city staff members have known about it for a month.

City officials were aware that BevMo was looking for a location but thought they were trying to stay in Chino Hills, no one had heard of its commitment to Chino.

Planning Commission Chairman Stephen Romero said he was not aware of the move either but wasn’t surprised that tenants are fleeing the shopping center.

Reports state that City Manager Rad Bartlam sent a memorandum to the council and the three commissions, department directors, and other staff members, announcing BevMo’s move to Chino. The memo also contained an update on the shopping center.

Bankruptcy

The shopping center was once owned by a group of investors called CRCH LLC, led by developer Lloyd Yeonsu Lee.

The investment group defaulted on its loan last year, not long after plans for an Asian-themed complex with 120 apartments fell apart.

The county assessor shows the investment group Peyton Drive Holdings LLC as the current owner according to care of CW Capital Asset Management LLC.

U.S. Bank sold the property to an investment company called Lakha for $34.2 million, the very same group that previously owned the shopping center and sold it to Mr. Lee’s group.

Lakha then sold the property to CW Capital for the same amount.

Over several years the much maligned shopping center has lost Sport Chalet, Best Buy, and SteinMart.

A damaged slope and water line in the back of the shopping center led to the city restricting access to the center which has prevented truck deliveries.

What’s left?

The remaining large stores are PetSmart, Bed, Bath and Beyond, and Dollar Tree. It has been reported that PetSmart has expressed interest in relocating but is approaching a potential move slowly.

Sales for Bed Bath and Beyond have continued to steadily decline like many other big box stores have over the last few years.

Dollar Tree has not indicated an interest in moving out of the center.

The northern end of Crossroads Marketplace also includes Wendy’s, Fazoli’s, 85 C Bakery Cafe, and others.

By Anthony Saude

Chino– Some Don Lugo parents say they are satisfied with the way the school and the district handled investigations into sexual hazing incidents last year that involved freshmen on the football team. In Contrast to the statements made by Chino Valley school board member Irene Hernandez-Blair.

The parents speaking at a school board meeting said the school had notified them about the alleged incidents and student interviews were conducted by the district and the Chino Police Department.

Some of those parents also stated that the school offered counseling services to their sons but that their boys did not feel victimized in any way during the incidents. It is alleged the incidents took place over a period of several days in November 2017.

Four community members who do not have children attending Don Lugo spoke in support of Mrs. Blair.

Mrs. Blair announced she could no longer stay quiet about the “egregious acts” and this week told her story to NBC News in Los Angeles. The news station broadcast a video of an incident that appeared to show a student being held down by other students.

The students in the video were clothed and their faces were blurred.

Mrs. Blair told the media that “flesh to flesh contact” had also occurred.

On June 12, Blair filed a claim against the school district on behalf of her son, a member of the freshman football team last year.

The claim alleges sexual assault, humiliation, emotional distress and sexual harassment.

Sexual assault, by definition, places a person in fear of imminent sexual contact or sexual battery.

Sexual battery, on the other hand, is the physical sex act. Mr. Prince, Mrs. Blair’s attorney declined to answer if any physical contact was alleged in the claim.  It was reported that he said In this case there was not intercourse but there were clear victims and perpetrators.

After the investigations by the district it was recommended by the district’s human resources department that head football coach Greg Gano be terminated immediately.

At public meeting held on a February 15, the Don Lugo football community convinced the board to keep the coach. Mrs. Blair recused herself because of a possible conflict of interest.

Mr. Prince, Blair’s attorney said that parents were led to believe that Mrs. Blair was critical of the coach because her son was not given sufficient playing time in games and that the district allowed that perception to take root.

Their claim is that this was not being handled at all and was being swept under the rug and a false narrative was being perpetrated by the district. Mr. Prince also filed a claim June 12 on behalf of Corina Talamantes and her son, another Don Lugo student and a member of the freshman football team last year. The claim alleges sexual assault, humiliation, emotional distress, and sexual harassment.

The claims submitted by Mrs. Blair and Mrs. Talamantes seek an unspecified amount in damages and settlement demands.

The board rejected the claims and referred them to the district’s insurance carrier.

Photo: anapr
Students at Don Lugo High School in Chino were accused of sexually hazing other students in a classroom that was not being supervised by a teacher.

By Anthony Saude

Chino – Students at Don Lugo High School in Chino were accused of sexually hazing other students in a classroom that was not being supervised by a teacher.

A student caught some of the incident on video. The video shows two football players holding another player down on the ground while simulating sexual acts.

In the video everybody is clothed, but Irene Hernandez Blair says there have been other reports that the alleged assaults were even more graphic.

Some of these reports state that was actual flesh to flesh contact. Blair is not only a parent of one of the alleged hazing victims; she is also a Chino Valley Unified School District Board member. Blair spoke about these reported incidents at a recent board meeting on June 14.

“These are the facts: Egregious acts took place while the kids were unsupervised,” she said in a recording of the meeting.

She said she was notified by the school superintendent and other board members last November about several videos showing football players performing lewd acts on other players, including placing genitals on students.

“I wanted parents to be advised that their sons were being interviewed and the reason as to why,” she said.

The school board decided not to inform the parents what their children were being questioned in reference to the incidents. Technically the school board doesn’t have a legal obligation to notify parents that any students were even being interviewed, much less about what.

Chino police have been contacted and the incidents are currently under investigation.

Blair said the school district conducted their own investigation and human resources recommended terminating head football coach, Gred Gano, for leaving the class of students without any adult supervision.

But school board members voted in favor of the coach without any disciplinary action whatsoever.

Blair recused herself from the vote because her son is an alleged victim.

It was reported that four students were expelled and a 14-year-old boy has been cited by Chino police.

Two of those students were eventually reinstated and one was allowed back on the football team.

Should Coach Gano have been held accountable?

The school district released the following statement:

“At Chino Valley Unified School District, the safety of our students is our highest priority. At this point, we cannot comment on pending litigation.”

Julius Trotter was wanted in a Las Vegas double homicide. He was found and arrested in Chino California

By Anthony Saude

Chino – A 31-year-old man wanted in the homicide of two Vietnamese tourists in Las Vegas was apprehended and arrested after a short police pursuit from Chino to Chino Hills. He is currently awaiting extradition to Nevada.

Julius Trotter is being held without bail at the West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga after his arrest on June 7 in the 4300 block of Lugo Avenue in Chino Hills.

Chino Police and FBI agents worked together to track Mr. Trotter to a residence in the 13900 block of Derby Avenue in Chino. Trotter must have seen them coming because he was able to get into a car being driven by a 27-year-old woman. They sped off in the car and lead officers on a short pursuit.

According to jail records, Itaska Lavon Dean, the woman driving the car, is being held on $100,000 bail at the Glen Helen Rehabilitation Center in Devore on suspicion of felony evading.

Trotter has been named as the main suspect in the homicides of Sang Boy Nghia, 38, and Khoung Ba Le Nguyen, 30, who were at the Circus Circus Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. Earlier this month the victims were part of a tour group that was preparing for a trip to the Grand Canyon in Arizona. Video footage obtained by Las Vegas Police show a man burglarizing the victims’ hotel room shortly before the couple was stabbed to death. Reports state that the victims did not show up for a tour that was scheduled for that morning. One of the members of the tour group was concerned when the victims could not be contacted the entire day. The concerned party asked the hotel security to check on their welfare later that afternoon. When security officers entered the room they discovered the victims deceased and called police.

On June 6, Las Vegas Police identified the murder suspect on the security footage as Mr. Trotter, and worked until through the night trying to find him. He was found at the home in Chino.

Investigators have not said why Mr. Trotter, who is not a resident of Chino or Chino Hills, was at the Chino house.

Anthony Saude

Chino – Residents of the 13300 block of San Marcos Place in Chino are pleading with the city council and police department for help with a neighbor who they claim has been disturbing the peace on their street for many years.

The situation has become so heated that the Chino Police Department recently installed a video camera overlooking the cul-de-sac to capture any criminal activity occurring there. The plan is to consult with the special prosecutor in an effort to identify other potential legal remedies.

Six residents attended the recent city council meeting to ask for help dealing with their neighbor, a 69-year-old female homeowner who lives on a cul-de-sac just east of Don Lugo High.

Neighbors claim the situation began about 17 years ago. It is alleged that the woman uses vulgar and foul language on the street, aimed particularly at children, the elderly, and women. Allegedly she has told neighbor children that their father is a rapist and their mother, a murderer.

By all the reports the neighbors are at the end of their rope and are concerned for everybody’s safety. They are afraid that if something isn’t done to stop this soon, presumably something horrible is going to happen.

Next door neighbor Frankie Lam was quoted as saying, when he leaves for work, the woman will often direct inappropriate gestures and use bad language towards him. He said that she told him he would get deported and raped in jail. He also said she plays music loudly, often in the wee hours of the morning.

Residents all have their own experience with the woman of yelling obscenities at neighbors, spraying water at people on the street and on residents’ vehicles. Two people have already moved from the neighborhood because of the disturbances.

Several residents showed up at a recent city council meeting and implied that the woman may suffer from mental illness and needs help.

Officers are working diligently to link the woman to some type of mental illness with the resources available through the San Bernardino County Department of Behavioral Health.

Reports by the Police show that there have been approximately 200 calls to or from the residence that the police were obligated to investigate on some level since October 2014.Most of the calls have been related to loud noise or music, disturbing the peace, general nuisance activity, and most recently, court order violations.

The woman has been arrested eight times for misdemeanor violations, primarily for disturbing the peace. Neighbors have signed private person’s arrest forms for protection regarding misdemeanor crimes committed outside an officer’s presence.

The woman has been issued citations from the police department for disturbing the peace in the past.

They have encouraged resident’s to call 9-1-1 when the alleged disturbances take place, and to file the private person’s arrest forms. These forms are needed for the police to take any action in these types of cases. .

Officers recommended to several neighbors that they may want to seek restraining orders against the woman. Protection types of orders would prohibit her from having “negative contact” with them. The protective order would also allow police officers to possibly make an arrest and/or file a report with the District Attorney’s Office for a court order violation.

By Anthony Saude

Chino – Glory, Grace, and Hope all come in the form of white buses to the Chino Valley Unified School District they are driven by volunteers on a mission to share the Christian faith with children.

The buses can be found weekly parked near all 22 elementary schools. Children hop on board during school hours once a week to receive an hour of Bible teachings and character building.

The program has never been  associated with the district.

Every first-year student is given the Honey Word children’s Bible upon graduation.

The program celebrated its twentieth year in existence in the school district with a luncheon at Los Serranos Country Club.

Gail Blake-Smith of Chino Hills, Founder and director of the program, explained that the program is made possible by  the California State Education Code and is authorized by a school board policy.

There are rules to follow like no taxpayer money may be used, parent permission is required, and instruction must not take place on the school campus.

The program was started by Blake-Smith in 1998, two schools were involved—Cortez and E.J. Marshall–four volunteer teachers, and 11 children participated in the program that first year.

At this time all 22 elementary schools and 40 volunteers, half of those being teachers are now participating. Approximately 5,000 children have gone through the program since it inception.

Robert Ramirez of Chino Hills, known as the “bus godfather,” devotes his time to making sure the buses are always in clean good working order. He also a drives one of the buses and is a teacher assistant, and the go-to guy for the program.

Chino resident Maria Simpson said she attended when she was in the sixth grade and it was her first contact with Christians. Her experience was so special to her that she became volunteer teacher for several years and encountered children with deep questions about God.

Four graduates from the seven-month program gave heartfelt testimonies about how their lives have been changed forever.

One student said that in his second year of the program, he began to realize how much he loved and needed God  and started sharing the Gospel with my friends,” he said.

Mrs. Blake-Smith said today’s youth are faced with challenges and alarming problems that were unheard of a few years ago.

The program will is grateful to Calvary Chapel Chino Hills and Calvary Chapel Golden Springs for their “extraordinary support and continued love for the program.”

City Of Chino

Chino– Kaylee Pitts has some bragging rights.  The 12-year-old softball player from Chino Girls Fastpitch league took 3rd place in the Scott’s Major League Baseball Pitch, Hit & Run Team Championship competition at Angel Stadium on June 2.

To make it to this point, she had to win a few other events:  On March 24, Kaylee participated in Chino’s local competition after her softball game.  She was the hitting and running champion, and tied for the pitching champion.  She was also the all-around champion for her age group.  From there, she participated in the Sectionals hosted by Chino Hills at Chino Hills Community Park on May 20.  That day, she took the “Gold” for her age group, which made her eligible to go on to the Team Championships at Angel Stadium on June 2.

Kaylee will be in the seventh grade at Woodcrest Junior High School.  She plays in the Chino Girls Fastpitch, 12 & under division, on the team “All Stars.”  Her mother, Monica Pitts, said “I’m so proud of the hard work Kaylee has been putting in.  Chino Girls Fastpitch has been her home since she was 6-years-old, and for her to represent the league and the City of Chino at Angel Stadium was a great experience.”

The Pitch, Hit & Run competition is a free event that invites kids to demonstrate their pitching, hitting, and running abilities in baseball and softball, and is the official youth skills competition of Major League Baseball.  The City of Chino will host a local competition again in the spring of 2019.

By Anthony Saude

Chino – Robert Basile a City of Chino community services commission member was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of theft. An elder abuse investigation uncovered a scheme that the suspect concoted to embezzle $130,000 from an elderly family member living in Idaho.

Mr. Basile, 60, of Chino, is the Chino Valley Unified School District’s representative to the Chino community services commission. Basile was booked into at the West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga, bail has been set at $50,000.

Jail records indicate he was arrested at 8:15 a.m. in the 12500 block of Strawberry Place in Chino.

Investigators said the suspect is accused of unlawfully withdrawing money from a family trust fund for four years, said police spokeswoman Monica Gutierrez.

It is very concerning to learn about the arrest of community leader Robert Basile for caretaker theft. The community services commission serves in an advisory capacity to the Chino city council on matters pertaining to city-sponsored community service activities. These services include the valuable services provided to the senior community in Chino.

Chino police began their investigation in March of this year after they received information of an elder abuse case from adult protective services in Boise, Idaho, where the victim lives.

“The investigation revealed Mr. Basile, was responsible for the family trust and had embezzled the monies for personal use,” Ms. Gutierrez said.

Mr. Basile serves as a citizens’ oversight committee member for Chino Valley Unified’s Measure G school bond and was president of Rancho Del Chino Rotary in 2012.

By Anthony Saude

Chino– At approximately 12:02 p.m., a Chino police officer was flagged down while he was parked toward the rear of the business by employees. They advised the officer that there was possibly an active shooter inside the store. Numerous officers immediately arrived on scene; they entered the store to search for a possible suspect. Upon entering the store they soon discovered that the suspect had fled in a 4-door black Nissan Maxima with no license plates.

Officers quickly determined the reports of an active shooter were greatly exaggerated. The robbery had occurred involving a suspect that was described as an African-American male in his late 20s or early 30s. It was reported the suspect was wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, black pants, black hat, and he had a bandana covering his face.

The suspect sprayed an employee with pepper spray when he entered the business he then used a hammer to break a glass cabinet that secured the electronic merchandise. Customers and employees that were present mistook the sound of the hammer smashing glass as gunfire. The suspect took as much of the electronic devices he could carry before fleeing the scene.

The employee, who was sprayed with the pepper spray, was treated at a local hospital. There weren’t any other injuries to employees or customers reported after the incident.

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Chino Police Department at 909.628.1234.

a suspect that was described as an African-American male in his late 20s or early 30s. It was reported the suspect was wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, black pants, black hat, and he had a bandana covering his face.

The suspect sprayed an employee with pepper spray when he walked in he then used a hammer to break a glass cabinet that that secured the electronics merchandise. Customers and employees that were present mistook the sound of the hammer smashing glass as gunfire. The suspect took as much of the electronic devices he could carry before leaving the scene.

The employee, who was sprayed with the pepper spray, was treated at a local hospital. There weren’t any other injuries to employees or customers reported after the incident.

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Chino Police Department at 909.628.1234. ■

By Anthony Saude

Chino – Magnolia Junior High of Chino celebrated its Golden Anniversary on April 13 with food, games, a presentation and special performances.

The school first opened in September of 1967 with more than 350 students enrolled. Walnut Avenue Elementary was also new and was bursting at the seams. It was decided that one of its fifth grade classes would transfer to Magnolia.

Nine years later construction was completed and in the same year, the school was rededicated.

Ramona Elementary vice Principal Victor Paulson, was named the school’s first principal and served loyally until he was promoted to Chino High principal. Then Dick Meyer who came from Arizona was named the new principal at Magnolia.

Klaas Weis, the wife of a dairy man and a mother, was the first ever parent-teacher organization president.

The celebration was rich with quality speakers which included current Magnolia principal Matt McCain and former principal John Miller, now the principal at Chino High.

Chino city councilman Gary George, retired physical education teacher Bob Dyer, and Bruce Warner, a teacher of Magnolia from the day the school opened until his retirement also spoke.

The school’s alumni band prepared a special musical performance just for the event.

Sean Jenkins, the school’s band instructor of 26 years, put together a community band comprised of former Magnolia students.

Most of the 40 band members were students of Chino High School, older alumni and a few advanced band students at the school also joined in.

Mr. Jenkins, is also an associate director of the USC school marching band, he said the band culture at Magnolia was set by, Perry Hal his predecessor as the school’s band director from 1992-2002. Mr. Hall’s position at Magnolia was filled by Mr. Jenkins when Hall left to teach at the high school. There are 113 students in the band and color guard program today  at Magnolia, this includes the advanced band members.

“Feedback from competition judges is that our students play better than many high schools,” Mr. Jenkins said.

Gaylen Roe, has spent all of her 28 years as a teacher at the school in the same classroom, said students there benefit from the collaborative teaching environment that has been created at the school.

Mrs. Roe will be retiring in June. She teaches an elective life skills class, that some of the older people used to know as home economics. Magnolia’s culinary arts program feeds into the culinary and hospitality academy offered at Chino High.

Magnolia currently has 659 students of which 73 percent are from low-income households.

Parent volunteer Elena Gomez-Lecaro said the school is connected by family generations and supportive community members.

The general feeling of the residents is that Magnolia is one of the best junior high schools in the community.

By Anthony Saude

Chino– Spectators will get an up-close look at aircraft at the 2018 Planes of Fame Air Show. A lawsuit filed last year by several Chino Airport tenants, who were hoping to shut down the annual event, was settled last month. Allowing the May 5 and 6 events to proceed. So it appears that the show will go on.

A civil lawsuit was filed last year by several Chino Airport tenants including Zangeneh Aeronautics, Socal MRO, Flying Tigers Aviation, Yanks Air Museum, and AFT Center to shut down the annual Planes of Fame Museum air show. The lawsuit that claimed their businesses were affected adversely by the air show by physically blocking and obstructing various airport businesses from operating by erecting fences and other barriers that kept customers from accessing their businesses.” All parties have agreed to a settlement on the lawsuit, allowing the Saturday, May 5 and Sunday, May 6 event to go on as scheduled.

“We are happy to have reached an agreement so Planes of Fame Air Museum can bring to the aviation community one of the premier aviation events in the United States and the world,” said Planes of Fame president Steve Hinton in a statement on Tuesday. “We are pleased that the tradition will continue as many in the aviation community from all over the world look forward to their annual trip to Chino for the air show.”

The lawsuit also stated that the plaintiffs were seeking compensation for lost business, dating back to the year 2013. Since the lawsuit was filed, parties on both sides have been working together feverishly to come up with a solution that everybody could agree on. According to San Bernardino County Court records the lawsuit was dismissed last month, so it appears that they were able to reach an agreeement.

“I’m glad we have settled the lawsuit and are looking forward to better serving the aviation community,” said Flying Tigers president Michael Thayer in a news article. “I know with the additional support of Flying Tigers FBO and Yanks Air Museum, it will be the best air show ever and create a win-win for us all.” Moving forward, it looks like the airport tenants have pledged to work together with Planes of Fame for the success of future air shows. Which is good news for fans of the Annual Air Show.