Category Archives: Pomona

Pomona: Officer Involved Shooting

Staff Reports

Pomona – Sheriff’s Homicide detectives are investigating the circumstances surrounding a Pomona Police Department Officer-Involved Shooting, which occurred near the 300 block of East Center Street in the city of Pomona on Fri., Aug. 7, at approximately 10:38 p.m.

According to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, Detectives have learned that Pomona Police Officers assigned to a joint gang suppression team accompanied by District Attorney Investigators were on patrol in the city of Pomona when they saw a Hispanic male suspect and another individual involved in a heated argument.

After the argument, the suspect rode away on his bicycle, and Pomona Police Officers attempted to detain him.  As one of the Officers exited his vehicle, he ordered the suspect to stop. Instead of stopping, the suspect rode away from the Officers westbound on Center Street.  The Officer ran after the suspect while a Pomona Officer and a District Attorney Investigator paralleled the suspect in their vehicle.

At one point during the chase, the suspect stopped his bicycle, made a U-turn, and began to ride toward the Officer who was chasing him.  The suspect then withdrew a .357 caliber revolver from his waistband and pointed it at the Officer who was chasing him on foot.  The Officer, in fear for his life, withdrew his duty weapon, fired, and struck the suspect multiple times in the upper torso.

The suspect, a 32-year old Pomona resident, was transported to a local hospital where he is listed in stable condition.

No officers were injured during the shooting.

A loaded .357 caliber revolver was recovered at the scene.

Pomona: Band Members Surprised

Pomona Unified receives $45,000 in donated instruments

Photo Courtesy: PUSD Seated in the center are Pomona Unified School District Board Member Frank Guzman, left, Superintendent Richard Martinez, Fairplex Vice President Dale Coleman and Board Member Dr. Roberta Perlman, who celebrated the new musical instruments, which were donated to the District’s middle schools and high schools by Live Nation and Fairplex on July 30.

Photo Courtesy: PUSD
Seated in the center are Pomona Unified School District Board Member Frank Guzman, left, Superintendent Richard Martinez, Fairplex Vice President Dale Coleman and Board Member Dr. Roberta Perlman, who celebrated the new musical instruments, which were donated to the District’s middle schools and high schools by Live Nation and Fairplex on July 30.

By Juliette Funes

Pomona – Nearly 100 band members from Pomona Unified’s high schools and middle schools were surprised with $45,000 in musical instruments – from oboes and saxophones to string basses and chrome chimes.  The students will be able to use their new instruments during their impressive performances, including their next big showcase at Pomona Day at the Los Angeles County Fair at Fairplex in September.

Thanks to a partnership between entertainment company, Live Nation, and Fairplex, more than 20 instruments were donated to band students at Diamond Ranch, Pomona, Garey and Ganesha high schools; and Fremont Academy, Lorbeer, Emerson and Simons middle schools, during a surprise ceremony on July 30 at Diamond Ranch High School.

“We are grateful to these two great partners for providing our students with this much-needed equipment, enabling us to bolster our music and arts programs and inspire students to pursue their creative talents,” said Board of Education President Andrew Wong. “We look forward to hearing the wonderful music they’ll be playing with these new instruments.”

The donation was made to underscore the importance of preserving music programs in public schools, according to Dale Coleman, a Pomona High School alum and Vice President of Business Growth and Development at Fairplex, who coordinated the donation.

Donated instruments include violins, bell stands, standard basses, clarinets and trombones.

“Music is a passion of these students and it such an important fabric of society and our culture,” said PUSD Superintendent Richard Martinez. “We are honored to be the recipients of this generous donation of instruments, many of which are unique and expensive, but essential for our band programs to continue growing and thriving.”

Pomona: PUSD’s Camp Imagination Inspires

Photo Courtesy: PUSD Diamond Point Elementary 3rd Grader, Jacob Oliva, presents his Camp Imagination project: a functional, three-dimensional model of the game Minecraft made out of recycled materials.

Photo Courtesy: PUSD
Diamond Point Elementary 3rd Grader, Jacob Oliva, presents his Camp Imagination project: a functional, three-dimensional model of the game Minecraft made out of recycled materials.

By Juliette Funes

Pomona – 3rd Grader Walter Adling’s cardboard robot stands over two feet tall, with a long, long neck, a see-through brain and a transparent stomach filled with a rainbow of popsicle sticks and yarn.

“Its insides are made of infinite cherries,” Walter said.

Walter’s robot is one of dozens of toys created by students this summer at Pomona Unified School District’s first-ever Camp Imagination, a unique program in which 100 incoming 3rd Graders from Diamond Point, Roosevelt and Washington elementary schools were challenged to let their imaginations reshape recycled materials.

“Students used their own creative instincts to find solutions to real-world problems, and though they were guided along the way, they were engaged in college-level work that involved research, innovation and collaboration to make their projects come to fruition,” Board President Andrew Wong said.  “I’m proud of all of our students, teachers and staff members who helped make this inventive pilot program a success.”

The literacy intervention program, which ran from June 15 to July 2, helped struggling readers to become engaged learners by promoting creativity, critical thinking and problem-solving.

It was inspired by the short film, “Caine’s Arcade,” which tells the story of a 9-year old East Los Angeles boy who, over his summer vacation, built an elaborate arcade out of cardboard and recycled materials in his father’s used auto parts store.

At Pomona Unified, students worked in small groups to strengthen their literacy skills, using such programs as Accelerated Reader, exploring scientific concepts and incorporating iPad technology for some of the projects, which ranged from three-dimensional Minecraft to life-sized playhouses.

“Programs that incorporate STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) and make learning fun are critical to ensuring students are inspired to pursue these concepts as they move forward in their academic careers,” said Diamond Point teacher, Jorge Sanchez, who helped develop the curriculum along with the schools’ principals and teachers.

As part of the project, students also wrote business plans, created their own poems and songs, and made iMovies documenting their experiences.

“A lot of students were having so much fun that they didn’t realize they were learning reading, writing, collaborating, thinking critically and journaling,” said Janice Lim, a board member of the Pomona Unified Partners in Learning (PUPIL) Foundation, which helped fund the program and provided Camp Imagination T-shirts to students.

The support of the foundation – which promotes state-of-the-art student learning opportunities in STEM – has played an important role in increasing programs like Camp Imagination at Pomona Unified.

“The camps encourage hands-on exploration and enable our students to develop critical thinking skills, resourcefulness, empathy, perseverance, teamwork and other 21st-century skills” said Superintendent Richard Martinez. “We hope to continue to explore STEM design concepts and academic rigor through this project-based format, and I want to thank PUPIL for their support in our efforts.”

Pomona Students Sample College Life

Nearly 100 percent of students who attend the program go on to pursue a college degree.

Photo Courtesy: La Verne Media Relations

Photo Courtesy: La Verne Media Relations
More than 60 college-hopeful high school students, including 21 from the Pomona Unified School District, participated in the 10th Annual REACH Business Summer Camp, hosted June 8-28 by the University of La Verne.

By Juliette Funes

Pomona – 21 Pomona Unified School District students spent three weeks getting a glimpse of college life during the University of La Verne’s annual REACH Summer Business Camp, where they experienced a stimulating and enriching academic environment as they explored the world of business.

As a way to help students “Reach” their potential, the camp – which is celebrating its 10th anniversary – provides high school juniors from underserved communities with an introduction to the business field. Nearly 100 percent of students who attend the program go on to pursue a college degree.

“Working with the REACH program is just one of the ways Pomona Unified encourages students to pursue higher education,” Board President Andrew Wong said. “They learn that attending a university or college is attainable and feasible for them, and by getting an idea of what the academic standards are like, they are able to better prepare themselves for college.”

The University of La Verne’s College of Business and Public Management hosted the annual camp
June 8-28 for more than 60 college-hopeful students who took classes in accounting and finance, business ethics, economics, management and organization, marketing and website development.

Students also received valuable insight from local business owners who explained the key role leadership plays in entrepreneurship. They were also challenged to come up with their own ideas for a business and complete a thorough business plan.

“It was an amazing opportunity and unforgettable time for all of the students who gained confidence knowing that they can attend college,” said Monique Cardenas, a business teacher at Garey and Village Academy high schools, who assisted La Verne professors with lesson plans and helped students with their research projects.

“Students gained a unique understanding of the role of business in the economy and the importance of obtaining a post-secondary education,” Cardenas said. “It was exciting to see the sparkle in their eyes.”

The camp is held at no cost to students, who live in campus dorms, eat in dining halls and sit in on classroom lectures for the duration of the program. Those who complete the camp earn five elective credits through the Pomona Unified Regional Occupation Program and one unit from the University of La Verne.

“Our students have taken a significant step toward their college degrees and now have a better understanding of the business field thanks to the REACH Summer Business Camp,” Superintendent Richard Martinez said. “I want to thank the University of La Verne and our other community partners for encouraging our students to explore their career aspirations and giving them the hands-on opportunity to do so.”

 

Pomona College Is The Best

Photo Courtesy: Pomona.edu Pomona College campus in Claremont, CA

Photo Courtesy: Pomona.edu
Pomona College campus in Claremont, CA

By Claire Lewis

Claremont – Harvard, Yale, Princeton…all great schools with excellent reputations, right?  Absolutely, but apparently they are not the best, at least according to Forbes magazine.  The well known and respected publication released their “America’s Top Colleges 2015” listing on Wed., July 29, placing Pomona College as No. 1 in the United States.

The private liberal arts college located in Claremont – who was Forbes-ranked No. 8 in 2014, and No. 2 in 2013 – is an exclusively undergraduate four-year institution with approximately 1,600 students each semester, according to their website.  The School is part of the Claremont Colleges, a conglomerate of five undergraduate and two graduate institutions in the San Gabriel Valley.

Pomona College was founded in 1887, and the innovators that designed this beautiful school envisioned “a college of the New England type with small classes, close relationships between students and faculty, and a green jewel of a campus,” their website continues.  And from that beginning, Pomona has grown to be one of the nation’s premier liberal arts colleges, well known for not only the original vision, but also a challenging curriculum, quality academic programs, and a wide variety of personal growth and intellectual development opportunities for students.

Pomona College refers to its students as “Architects of Education.”  With an average class size of 15 and large-scale resources, students are easily able to cultivate a great enthusiasm for learning by collaborating with professors, who are also top scholars in their fields.  Notable Pomona College alumni include Roy E. Disney, Kris Kristofferson, Richard Chamberlain, and Joel McCrea.

For the 2015 listing, Forbes ranked Williams College No. 2, followed by Stanford, Princeton, Yale, Harvard, Swarthmore, Brown, Amherst and M.I.T., respectively, completing the Top 10 in the country.  The rankings are a result of Forbes “return-on-invest” scale, which gives specific points for high graduation rates, career success, low debt, and student satisfaction.

Pomona College is located at 333 N. College Way in Claremont, California.  For admissions and more information, call (909) 621-8000.

 

Pomona Shooting Fatality

Staff Reports

Pomona – On Wed., July 22, at approximately 2:50 a.m., Pomona Police Officers were dispatched to a shooting in the 1300 block of Caprino Way.

Upon arrival, Officers found two victims seated in the back seat of a vehicle in the driveway of a residence.

According to the Pomona Police Department, the female victim – Vanessa Renee Lopez, 28, of Pomona -was pronounced deceased at the scene.  The male victim – Manuel Flores, Jr., 30, of Pomona – was airlifted to a local hospital in critical condition.

Pomona Homicide Detectives are asking anyone with information regarding these incidents to call the Pomona Police Department at (909) 620-2085.  For anyone willing to provide anonymous information, please contact Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477, or WeTip at (800) 782-7463.

 

 

Diamond Bar: PUSD Launches English-Mandarin Program

Staff Reports

Diamond Bar – One class of Pantera Elementary kindergarteners will learn how to read, write and communicate effectively in both English and Mandarin through the introduction of the Pomona Unified School District’s latest dual-language immersion program.

Launching this fall, the program will provide Mandarin and English language instruction to 25 kindergarten students, ensuring they receive an exciting and challenging educational opportunity while gaining the bilingual skills needed to succeed in a 21st century world.

The inaugural class at Pantera – located at 801 Pantera Drive in Diamond Bar – is already full, but Pomona Unified is accepting sign-ups for the 2016-17 academic year.

Pomona’s National Night Out

Staff Reports

Pomona – On Tues., Aug. 4, neighborhoods throughout the City of Pomona are being invited to join forces with thousands of communities nationwide for the “Annual National Night Out” crime and drug prevention event.

National Night Out is sponsored by the Pomona Police Department Crime Prevention Unit and the City of Pomona. They will join in the celebration with over 15,000 communities from all 50 states, U.S. territories, Canadian cities and military bases around the world. In all, over 37 million people are expected to participate in America’s Night Out Against Crime.

National Night Out is designed to heighten crime and drug prevention awareness; generate support for, and participation in, local anti-crime efforts; strengthen neighborhood spirit and police community partnerships; and send a message to criminals letting them know neighborhoods are organized and fighting back.

Join the Pomona Police Department from 5 to 8 p.m. at 400 Civic Center Plaza (in front of the Library) in a FREE celebration that will include raffle prizes, entertainment, kid’s games and crafts. All Pomona residents are encouraged to attend.

This is a night for all of America to stand together to promote awareness, safety and neighborhood unity.

Please contact the Crime Prevention Unit with any questions at (909) 620-2318.

Pomona: G.R.E.A.T. Campout Success

Pomona Police Department hosts over 300 Pomona kids

Photo Courtesy: Pomona PD

Photo Courtesy: Pomona PD

Staff Reports

Pomona – The Pomona Police Department in partnership with the Community Engagement Group, City of Pomona and the Pomona Fairplex, held the Annual GREAT Campout, the weekend of July 10-11.

The Campout was for Pomona residents, ages 9-12, who stayed overnight under the stars in a safe environment at the L.A. County Fairgrounds. During the Campout, activities and booths were used to promote responsibility, respect for others and positive decision making.  All campers were provided with a new sleeping bag, and dinner and breakfast were served by local community groups.

Activities during the event were sponsored by local businesses, individuals or local charitable organizations such as the Elk’s Lodge, Pomona Police Officer’s Association, Kiwanis, Western University, Lions Club, Partnership for a Positive Pomona and the Pomona Unified School District.

The event was chaperoned by Police Officers and selected citizen volunteers from the community, and provided a rare opportunity to bond with Officers in a relaxed environment – and win some fantastic raffle prizes.

If you have questions about this or any other community program offered by the Pomona Police Department, contact the Crime Prevention Unit at (909) 620-2318.

Pomona: PUSD To Expand Language Programs

By Juliette Funes

Pomona – Pomona Unified School District plans to expand dual-language immersion programs and full-day kindergarten programs, and boost spending for secondary athletics, online Advanced Placement courses and technology support as part of its 2015-18 Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP).

The plan – a requirement of the state’s school funding system – guides District efforts in improving student learning, with particular emphasis on foster youth, English learners and students who are socio-economically disadvantaged. It identifies goals for each year, strategies to achieve those goals and funding sources.

“During the course of our outreach efforts, we have found that the priorities of our parents, community members and stakeholders include rigorous academics and programs to ensure all students – including our foster youth, English learners and socio-economically disadvantaged – are college- and career-ready by the time they graduate high school,” said Board President Andrew Wong. “This plan builds on our District’s successful programs and creates new avenues for student support.”

The 2015-18 plan pledges to continue programs that have shown success in improving graduation rates and reducing absenteeism, dropout and expulsion rates, including professional development, the Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) college preparation program, reducing student-teacher ratios in elementary and middle school math and English Language Development sections, improving access to technology and broadening the course of study.

The District will expand its dual-language immersion offerings to include an English-Spanish program at Montvue Elementary School and an English-Mandarin program at Pantera Elementary School. Full-day kindergarten will be added at 11 additional schools. All elementary schools will now have the program.

The District will also bring new programs forward, including a literacy focus program and extra support for arts and music programs. Schools will add learning support by way of more nurses, counselors, school site specialists and math coaches for elementary and high schools. Funding for technology devices and additional computer technicians will also be increased to boost student and adult learning.

Pomona Unified developed the LCAP after analyzing a District survey that drew more than 3,000 stakeholder comments, reviewing data on student performance and consulting parent, faculty, staff and student groups, including the Associated Pomona Teachers Union and California School Employees Association during more than 20 meetings between January and June.

Stakeholders asked for continued safe and clean schools, increased staff and a broader range of coursework, technology and health services. Top bright spots included PUSD staff; the rigorous academic courses offered; the academic and social/emotional support provided to students; parent involvement; and Adult/Career Education.

Other avenues the District expects to explore in the future include more science labs, school modernization projects and disaster preparedness.

“This year, the District has had a number of amazing successes, and we believe that with these expanded programs and new actions, our students will continue to excel in reaching their college and career goals,” Superintendent Richard Martinez said. “I want to thank our students and families, our teachers and staff and our community partners for generously contributing their thoughts and time to help us create a plan that truly reflects local control and accountability in education.”

Pomona: PUSD Awarded $75,000 State Grant

Expansion of After-School Learning Program

By Juliette Funes

Pomona – Three Pomona Unified School District schools are among 67 schools in the state selected to share $4.6 million in state grants aimed at expanding before- and after-school programs to give students safe places to go outside of school hours, while also providing them opportunities to participate in enrichment activities.

The State Department of Education selected Barfield Elementary, Harrison Elementary and Lexington Elementary to receive $7,310, $37,060 and $31,277, respectively, to expand The Learning Connection (TLC), Pomona Unified’s after-school tutoring and homework assistance program.

“We are thankful that three of our schools will be able to use these grants to not only continue strengthening the valuable TLC program, but also provide our working parents and students, many of whom are low-income, academic assistance in a safe environment,” PUSD Board President Andrew Wong said. “I also want to thank our TLC instructors for serving as role models and inspiring students to achieve their maximum potential.”

The grants are part of the state’s After School Education and Safety (ASES) Program, which is known as The Learning Connection at PUSD. There, students can receive homework support, academic enrichment in the core subjects of literacy, math and science and additional enrichment that includes healthy living activities, exploration of the visual and performing arts, technology, engineering, service learning and leadership development.

TLC, offered at several school sites throughout the District, is staffed by credentialed intervention teachers who supervise enrichment activities that reinforce skills learned during the regular school day and act to build self-esteem and social skills.

“This is a true community effort, allowing our children access to a secure learning environment where they can both thrive academically and enjoy time with their friends after school,” said Superintendent Richard Martinez. “We are extremely grateful to our Learning Connection staff and to the California Department of Education for their generous funding to support student achievement.”

The program runs from the end of the school day until 6 p.m.

For more information about the program, visit www.pusd.org/TLC.

Pomona: Heat Related Toddler Death

3-year old left in hot car by accident

Image Courtesy: Google

Image Courtesy: Google

Staff Reports

Pomona – On Sun., June 21, at approximately 4:55 p.m., the Pomona Police Department received a 911 call regarding a heat-related injury on Rancho Jurupa Place.

Upon arrival, a female child was found unconscious in a vehicle after a family outing. The victim was transported to Pomona Valley Hospital in grave condition, but never regained consciousness and died as a result of the incident.

According to the Pomona Police Department, investigators do not suspect foul play at this time.  Initial findings are consistent with this incident being a tragic accident.  The parents and other siblings all believed that the victim – Kiara Li, 3, of Pomona, exited the vehicle at the same time as everyone else.

An autopsy and additional information related to his accident are still pending.

According to the NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration), a car’s windows act like a greenhouse, trapping sunlight and heat.  On a summer day – when temperatures outside range from 80 to 100 degrees, cars parked in direct sunlight can reach internal temperatures of up to 131 to 172 degrees – and dangerous, life-threatening temperatures can escalate within ten minutes of closing up the car – even with the windows rolled down slightly. Unfortunately, 25 children die each year from being trapped unattended in a hot vehicle.

The Pomona Police Department would like to remind citizens that this is a tragedy that can be prevented.  Be sure to check vehicles completely before exiting, and never leave children or pets in a vehicle unattended – even for a moment!

Police Explorer Post Shines In Competition

Photo Courtesy: PPD

Photo Courtesy: PPD

Staff Reports

Pomona – Pomona Police Explorer POST 160 participated in the 2015 Ex-Con Games in Las Vegas, the weekend of June 13-14.  This is a highly competitive Explorer Competition with approximately 34 teams from California, Nevada, Arizona and Utah in attendance.

The Explorers, ages 15-19, performed well individually and as cohesive teams in various law enforcement related categories. This was the first competition for the majority of this new group of Explorers and they exceeded expectations.
With the support of each other and their dedicated Police Officer Advisors, the Explorers were able to achieve the following awards in several scenarios:

  • 1st Place – Female Obstacle Course: Sabrina Valle
  • 3rd Place – Team Vehicle Stop
  • 5th Place – Team Active Shooter
  • 1st Place – Male Advisor/ Obstacle Course: Police Officer Mike Lee

Police Chief Paul Capraro expressed his pride and appreciation for these dedicated Pomona teens and Advisors that volunteer thousands of hours a year to make Pomona a safer community.
“It is our hope that these outstanding young adults pursue their careers in law enforcement in the community where they have already given so much,” said Capraro.

Pomona Police Explorers have a long and successful history of becoming Pomona Police Officers and members of other law enforcement agencies, as well as serving in the military.

PUSD Celebrates Distinguished Class of 2015

More than 1,500 seniors commemorate rite of passage

Photo Courtesy: PUSD On May 29, 270 Pomona High School graduates turned their tassels to cap their high school careers.

Photo Courtesy: PUSD
On May 29, 270 Pomona High School graduates turned their tassels to cap their high school careers.

By Juliette Funes

Pomona – Academic achievement was the prevailing theme as 1,500 Pomona Unified School District graduates participated in commencement exercises during the first week of June. Students in the Class of 2015 received diplomas and turned their tassels from right to left, many of them looking forward to the next step of their educational careers.

The PUSD graduates will be headed to an impressive number of leading universities, among them UCLA, USC, UC Davis, UC Irvine UC Santa Barbara, UC San Diego, Cal Poly Pomona, Pitzer College and Vassar College. Jeremy Tran, the Valedictorian for Diamond Ranch High School, earned the District’s top grade point average, at 4.944. Tran will attend UC Berkeley.

“The rewards of a rich and diverse education will resonate emphatically throughout a graduate’s life,” said Board of Education President Andrew Wong. “Our mission is to provide for our students the foundations of accomplishment and to develop the skill sets necessary to meet the challenges in the 21st century. We applaud the Class of 2015 and wish them the best of luck.”

Diamond Ranch led the way with 450 graduates; Garey High with 313 grads; Pomona High with 270

Photo Courtesy: PUSD Diamond Ranch High School celebrated 450 graduates during its commencement ceremony June 3;

Photo Courtesy: PUSD
Diamond Ranch High School celebrated 450 graduates during its commencement ceremony June 3;

grads; Ganesha High with 250 grads; Village Academy with 95 grads; Fremont Academy with 68 grads and Palomares Academy with 28 grads. Among PUSD’s alternative education campuses, Park West High graduated 43 students and the School of Extended Education Options and the Pomona Alternative School combined to graduate 39.

The District has also seen a steady rise in graduation rates since 2010, the year that the California Department of Education adjusted its reporting to track students over all four years. In 2010, the grad rate was 71.8 percent; today it is well over 83 percent, topping the state average of 80.8 percent and the Los Angeles County average of 78 percent.

“These tremendous results demonstrate that we are succeeding in our mission to see our students earn their high school diplomas and leave our schools with the tools and skills they need to excel in the next steps of their lives,” Superintendent Richard Martinez said. “Helping our students reach their goals takes the dedication of our entire Pomona Unified family, including our staff, our parents and our community. I wish our Class of 2015 graduates continued success and we cannot wait to see all they achieve in the future.”

 

Pomona Attempted Murder Arrest

Domestic Violence incident goes from bad to worse

Photo Courtesy: PPD Pomona Police Department

Photo Courtesy: PPD
Pomona Police Department

Staff Reports

Pomona – On Sat., June 6, at approximately 6:50 a.m., Pomona Police Officers to responded to a domestic violence incident at an apartment in the 1100 block of E. Mission Blvd.

Upon arrival, Officers found a female victim, 27, inside the residence with her 8-year old son.  The victim had allegedly been choked unconscious with an electrical power cord by her boyfriend, Francisco Javier Munoz, 26, of Ontario.  The suspect fled the scene prior to the Officers’ arrival.

The victim reportedly woke to her boyfriend striking her and trying to strangle her.  She was transported to a local hospital where she was subsequently released following treatment for her injuries.

The Pomona Police Department reported that at approximately 7 p.m. that same day, the suspect was apprehended at a park near his residence in the 1200 block of 4th St. in the city of Ontario.  Members of the Major Crimes Task Force initiated a surveillance of the suspect’s residents and observed him in the park a short time later.

Munoz was taken into custody without incident. He was booked into the Pomona Jail and is being held in lieu of $500,000 bail.

According to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, Munoz was charged with three felony counts including attempted murder, injury, and assault by means likely to produce great bodily injury – and requested that bail be raised to $1.03 million.  If convicted as charged, Munoz faces a possible maximum sentence of life plus five years in state prison.

Due to the nature of the domestic violence crime, the victim’s name has not been released.

 

The L.A. County District Attorney’s Office lists the suspect’s name as Francisco Javier Munozcapetillo; the Pomona Police Department lists Francisco Javier Munoz.  Both are in reference to the same individual. 

Ganesha High Stadium Renovation

Image Courtesy: Ganesha High School Artist rendering of what the stadium will look like post renovation

Image Courtesy: Ganesha High School
Artist rendering of what the stadium will look like post renovation

By Juliette Funes

Pomona – Ganesha High School’s Nancy J. McCracken Stadium kicked off its $2.5 million turf renovation project last month, bringing a host of improvements to the athletic facility, which is used by the school’s football, soccer, track and field teams. Upgrades include a new synthetic turf, all-weather track and scoreboard.

“We are really excited knowing we will have an updated stadium for the opening of the 2015-16 school year,” Ganesha High Principal Jennifer Francev said. “Our students have done a phenomenal job performing in the classroom and on the fields and court. We are blessed to have the support of our District administration, the Board of Education and the voters to provide the funding for this renovation project.”

Prior to 2014, Ganesha shared the field with other Pomona Unified School District high schools. Funded under the District’s $235 million Measure PS facilities bond, the project is scheduled to be completed in time for the 2015 football season. Pomona Unified will also be pursuing rebates from the Three Valleys Municipal Water District for the installation of synthetic turf in support of water conservation efforts.

“We would like to thank the Pomona community for its support of our schools and our students as this critical funding is allowing us the opportunity to make the necessary repairs and upgrades on our campuses,” PUSD Board President Andrew Wong said.

Along with the new track, turf and scoreboard, the project will include new fencing, ADA-compliant restrooms, emergency field lighting and the restructuring of its track and field pits. In addition, the surrounding parking lot will be resurfaced and painted, with concrete blocks installed and a new secured storage area.

“We provide our students with a well-rounded, high-quality education, which allows them to be successful inside and outside the classroom,” PUSD Superintendent Richard Martinez said. “I also want to congratulate the Ganesha High athletic program and Athletic Director Don Cayer for maintaining a high level of achievement and stellar sports program.”

The school’s varsity football team this season had its best record in five years and is now ranked in the top California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) 15. The winning season was made possible in part by several top prospects, including senior quarterback Dexter Sumner, who has signed to play college ball with Marysville State University in North Dakota, and senior running back Albert Henry, who accepted academic scholarships and will be playing football at the University of Redlands this fall.

Both students were honored at Ganesha’s Letterman Ceremony, which celebrated its winter sports teams, including boys and girls basketball, boys and girls soccer and wrestling – all of which participated in the CIF playoffs.

In addition, several Ganesha athletes netted individual honors for outstanding Miramonte League play: Brianna Marquez, Girls Basketball Player of the Year; Jorge Barajas, Boys Basketball Player of the Year; Mikael Wilson, Girls Soccer MVP and Ignacio Valencia, Boys Soccer offensive MVP and All-CIF team.

Ganesha athletes are winners in the classroom too, with 16 students named to the All-Academic All-League Team. Ganesha also had the highest-scoring grade point averages for six of the nine sports that compete in the Miramonte League.

Fugitive Police Officer Captured

Murder suspect apprehended in Mexico

Photo Courtesy: Pomona PD Captured Suspect, Henry Solis

Photo Courtesy: Pomona PD
Captured Suspect, Henry Solis

Staff Reports

Pomona – On Mar. 13 at approximately 3:30 a.m., the Pomona Police Department received multiple 911 calls reporting shots fired in the area of Third and Main streets.  The officers responding found a male victim – Salome Rodriguez, Jr., 23, of Ontario – suffering from gunshot wounds to the lower torso.  He was transported to USC Medical Center, where he succumbed to his injuries.

Pomona Police Department Homicide Investigators found that the victim and off-duty Los Angeles Police Department Officer, Henry Solis, 27, of Pomona, were engaged in a physical altercation prior to the shooting.  Solis fled the scene and has remained at large since the incident.

According to the Pomona Police Department, on Tues., May 26, Solis was captured by Mexican authorities in Ciudad Juarez Mexico.  He was transferred into the custody of Federal Bureau of Investigation agents, and booked into the El Paso County Jail in Texas.

Solis is awaiting extradition back to California on murder charges for the shooting death of Rodriguez.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to contact the Pomona Police Department at (909) 620-2085.  If you prefer to provide information anonymously, you may call “Crime Stoppers” at (800) 222-TIPS (8477).

 

Diamond Ranch Student Wins Prestigious Scholarship

By Juliette Funes

Pomona – Diamond Ranch High School senior, Brendan Chin, is one of 1,000 students from across the nation selected to receive the Gates Millennium Scholarship, providing him with a good-through-graduation scholarship to any college or university of his choice.

The Pomona Unified student was chosen from among tens of thousands of applicants for the Millennium Scholar Program, established in 1999 through a $1.6 billion grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Winners of the scholarship were officially announced on May 1.

“It is with great pride and joy to announce that one of our stellar students has been selected to receive this award and make his dreams of pursuing higher education a reality,” said Board of Education President, Andrew Wong. “This speaks volumes of the caliber of students Pomona Unified produces and the academic and social support our schools provide to prepare them for the 21st century workplace.”

Chin will use the scholarship to pursue a degree in computer science at UC San Diego.

“This award is a huge honor and I am so grateful to have gotten this opportunity,” Chin said. “I want to thank Diamond Ranch, my teachers and peers for supporting me throughout this journey. I hope to make my alma mater proud.”

The Millennium Scholarship program helps high-performing students attain their dream of attending four-year universities and colleges through graduate school. Each year, it enables 5,000 students to attend and graduate from 800 of the most selective private and public schools in the country, including Ivy League colleges, flagship state universities, United Negro College Fund member institutions and other minority-serving universities, according to UNCF.

“This is yet another example that our young people of Pomona Unified can compete with the best of the best,” Superintendent Richard Martinez said. “This scholarship will provide Brendan, who has done phenomenal work at Diamond Ranch, the opportunity to excel in his chosen field and become a model of our next generation of leaders.”

Gold Ribbons For Seven PUSD Schools

Award honors outstanding, innovative schools throughout California

 

By Juliette Funes

Pomona – On May 5, Seven Pomona Unified schools were named California Gold Ribbon Schools, the state’s highest award recognizing academic excellence and innovation.

Receiving the awards were Lorbeer Middle, Emerson Middle, Ganesha High, Garey High, Palomares Academy of Health Sciences, Pomona High and Simons Middle schools.

“There are so many exemplary programs our Pomona Unified schools offer, and this award demonstrates the amazing work our staff is doing to strengthen and improve them for the benefit of all our students,” said Board of Education President Andrew Wong.

The Gold Ribbon Award was created to honor schools in place of the California Distinguished Schools program, which is on hiatus while the state creates new assessment and accountability systems and revises how it calculates its Academic Performance Index, a key factor in the old award system.

The individual Pomona Unified campuses were recognized for best practices that can be replicated at other school sites, including boosting parent and community involvement, increasing STEM programs such as robotics, closing the achievement gap and reducing absenteeism through programs such as Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) and other engaging electives.

“I’m so proud of our teachers, administrators and staff for their collaborative efforts in providing rigorous educational opportunities to our students and for improving the educational environments for the students to thrive in,” said PUSD Superintendent Richard Martinez. “These Gold Ribbon awards are a true testament to Pomona Unified families and Pomona Unified team working together to help our students succeed.”

Pomona PD Foils Kidnapping In Progress

Staff Reports

Pomona – On Fri., May 8, at approximately 5:12 p.m., officers from the Pomona Police Department’s Major Crimes Task Force conducted a traffic stop in the area of 1700 Gillette Rd. regarding a vehicle code violation. During the traffic stop, the driver of the vehicle did not immediately yield at which point a short vehicle pursuit ensued.

During the pursuit, an occupant of the suspect vehicle was seen discarding a firearm.  The pursuit finally came to a stop and three of the male occupants were taken into custody.  Carlos Gonzales, 32, of Pomona; Juan Sanchez, 22, of Pomona, and Richard Rodriguez, 29, a transient, were arrested at the scene.

A fourth occupant of the vehicle was found to be the victim of a kidnapping, who was being held captive through the use of fear tactics.  The victim was also allegedly raped by a suspect who was not present at the traffic stop.
Through an extensive investigation, the suspect of the rape was identified as Robert Lundberg, 49, of Claremont. On May 8 at approximately 11:15 p.m., Lundberg was taken into custody at the intersection of Towne Ave. and La Verne Ave. after officers saw him leaving his residence. Officers obtained a search warrant for Suspect Lundberg’s residence in order to recover the victim’s stolen property and additional evidence related to this crime.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to contact the Pomona Police Department at (909) 620-2085. If you prefer to provide information anonymously, you may call “Crime Stoppers” at (800) 222-TIPS (8477).