Photo Courtesy: Flickr

Staff Reports

Chino Hills – On Fri., Aug. 21, Deputies from the Chino Hills Police Department responded to the Mission Hills Apartments located at 3100 Chino Hills Parkway in reference to a vehicle burglary.

According to the Chino Hills Police Department, investigation found that a suspect had broken the passenger window of a vehicle and took a laptop computer and an Apple iPad.  The victim was able to activate the Find My iPad app, which led Deputies to the 13300 block of Saddle Lane in the city of Chino.

At that residence, the Chino Hills Detective Bureau had also responded to a report of a stolen vehicle, which was located with the suspect – Gerardo Cebreros-Vargas, 23, of Chino.  The vehicle was found to have stolen property – including the stolen iPad – from at least six victims from Chino and Chino Hills.

Through investigation, Deputies determined that an additional stolen vehicle was involved in these crimes.  The second vehicle was located at 4200 Village Drive in Chino Hills.

Cebreros-Vargas was booked into the West Valley Detention Center without further incident, and was charged with Vehicle Burglary, Grand Theft, Possession of a Stolen Vehicle, and Possession of Stolen Property.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is urged to contact the Chino Hills Police Station at (909) 364-2000, or WeTip at 1-800-78-CRIME.

Staff Reports

Chino Hills – On Fri., July 17, Chino Hills Deputies arrested a known Pomona gang member during an extra patrol due to recent vehicle burglaries.

In the parking lot near Costco, located at 13001 Peyton Drive, Deputies conducted a check on an occupied Toyota Corolla parked at the former Best Buy. During the contact, Ruben Castorena, 28, of Pomona, was identified as a Pomona gang member. He claimed a black bag in the back seat was his and Deputies found the bag to contain tools known to be used to commit burglary.

The second occupant of the vehicle was Michael Palma, 28, of Pomona, who was found to be in possession of a controlled substance not prescribed to him.

Both Castorena and Palma were booked into the West Valley Detention Center for possession of Burglary Tools and Controlled Substance.

Also on Fri., July 17, Chino Hills Deputies were in the 15800 block of Ashwood Dr., to serve a search warrant. While at the location, Deputies heard a loud squealing noise approaching the residence and saw a suspect driving a brown Chevy truck east on Glen Ridge Dr. at an unsafe speed; the truck had obvious front-end damage.
The suspect ignored orders from Deputies to stop the vehicle and continued driving at an unsafe speed north on Ashwood Dr. Deputies initiated a traffic stop, and the driver – Eric Serna – was found to be on active CDCR parole. Serna was in possession of suspected methamphetamine, a methamphetamine pipe, several hypodermic needles, and was also under the influence of a controlled substance.
During the investigation, it was discovered that Serna struck a parked vehicle on Rolling Ridge Dr. and fled the scene without notifying the owner. Serna was arrested for possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, driving under the influence of a drug, and hit and run non-injury.

On Tues., July 21, Chino Hills Detectives arrested three men for burglary after the suspects ransacked a home in the 14800 block of Country Creek Ct.

The suspects first targeted a home in the 3400 block of Royal Ridge Court. An alert witness saw the suspects ring the doorbell repeatedly and then enter the backyard. The witness was able to get a detailed description of the suspects and a license plate of the vehicle, which was a light silver BMW.
About 15 minutes later, another call of suspicious circumstances came out in the south end of the City. As detectives arrived in the neighborhood, they saw the suspect vehicle. Detectives followed the suspect vehicle in an unmarked unit to Orange County, via the 71, 91 and 55 freeways, while waiting for marked units to assist with a traffic stop.
The suspects exited the 55 Freeway South at Chapman Avenue in Orange as CHP officers attempted to initiate a traffic stop. The suspect vehicle led officers on a pursuit back on the 55 Freeway northbound and exited Katella Avenue. The pursuit continued through the city of Orange, and ended with the suspect losing control and crashing in a residential neighborhood. Orange Police Department and the Orange County Sheriff’s Department also assisted in the apprehension of the suspects. Chino Hills Detectives took the lead on the case and transported the suspects to the Chino Hills Station to further the investigation.
Eddie Nguon, 26, of Long Beach, Michael Mao, 33, of Long Beach, and Polyhana Mao, 33, of Kearns, Utah, were arrested and booked into the West Valley Detention Center for burglary and attempted burglary.

Detectives recovered thousands of dollars worth of US savings bonds, US currency, jewelry and electronics from the suspect’s vehicle. The victim of the burglary on Country Creek Ct. was able to identify all the stolen property. Detectives also recovered three sets of gloves and burglary tools from the suspect vehicle.
Anyone with additional information on any of these incidents is asked to contact the Chino Hills Police Department at (909) 364-2000. Those who want to report information anonymously can call WeTip at 1-800-78-CRIME.

Staff Reports

Chino Hills – On Thurs., June 25, Chino Hills Deputies arrested a carjacking couple and were able to recover the victims’ vehicle, money, stolen electronics and cell phone, as well as the firearm used in the crime.

According to the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department, Esteban Silva Carrillo, 42, of Pomona, and Genesis Soto, 24, of Pomona were arrested after an elaborate crime spree that spanned from Pomona to Chino and Chino Hills. Chino Hills Detectives took the lead on the case, as Deputies were the first to find the suspects and take them into custody.
Carrillo and Soto met the victims at a store in Pomona to buy electronics the victims had loaded into their car. Carrillo and Soto told the victims they wanted to purchase the electronics and made their way from Pomona to the area of Pine Avenue and the 71 Freeway. One of the two victims got into Carrillo’s grey Mercedes with both suspects, while the other victim waited in his car near the 71 Freeway.
Carrillo and Soto robbed the victim who was in the car with them and left him in a rural area near Euclid and Pine avenues in Chino. A person who witnessed this called police and Chino Police responded to the robbery. Chino Police immediately released a broadcast to surrounding law enforcement to be on the lookout for the suspects’ gray Mercedes.
Minutes later, Chino Hills Deputies received a report of a carjacking. Carrillo and Soto returned to the other victim, who had been waiting in his car, pointed what was later to be determined to be an air-soft pistol at the victim and stole his car. Silva left driving the victim’s stolen vehicle as Soto followed him in the gray Mercedes. The victim was able to get the license plate of the gray Mercedes and report it to Deputies. The victim also gave a very detailed description of both suspects.
Deputies immediately responded to an address in a mobile home park in the unincorporated area of Montclair where the Mercedes was registered. The Sheriff’s Department Aviation Division assisted in the area check. Carrillo and Soto were found walking in the mobile home park, in the direct vicinity of the gray Mercedes, and taken into custody without incident.
Electronics and one of the victim’s cell phones were recovered from the suspects’ gray Mercedes. The victim’s vehicle was found at a park in Ontario near the corner of Riverside Drive and Campus. The air-soft firearm was recovered, as well as additional evidence linking the suspect’s to the various crimes.

The Chino Police Department is conducting a parallel investigation regarding the robbery of the other victim that occurred in the city of Chino.
Carrillo and Soto – who is on parole for home invasion robbery – were booked at the West Valley Detention Center for carjacking. Investigators will also seek charges of robbery and conspiracy to commit robbery and carjacking.

Suspect Jonathon Heinz wanted for Burglary

Photo Courtesy: CHPD
Jonathon Heinz

Staff Reports

Chino Hills – Chino Hills Detectives are asking for the public’s help in locating a man wanted for stealing three custom road bicycles – valued at more than $5,000 – from a victim’s garage in the middle of the night.
Jonathon Heinz, 29, of Chino Hills, is wanted for burglary and a $125,000 warrant has been issued for his arrest.

A 17-year old female was arrested in the case, but has not been cooperative in helping authorities locate Heinz. Detectives and Deputies have made contact with his family and friends in an attempt to convince Heinz to turn himself in, but he remains outstanding.
On June 22, at around 3 a.m., Heinz entered the victim’s garage located in the 5800 block of Brushwood Court in Chino Hills, and stole the three bicycles while the female stood watch in the car. When the victim woke up in the morning, he noticed his garage door was open and his bicycles were missing.
Later that day, Deputies contacted the female juvenile who had one of the stolen bikes in a nearby park. The investigation led them to Heinz’s home in the 17400 block of Kelsey Way, where the other bicycles were eventually recovered. The juvenile, who had been reported as a runaway a week prior, was arrested for Burglary and Possession of Stolen Property.
Heinz is known to drive a small, light blue Honda, or is known to be on foot in the area of Butterfield and Hunters Hill parks. The photo of Heinz is from his California Driver’s License and is outdated.  The suspect may have changed his hair style or facial hair.

Anyone with information is urged to contact the Chino Hills Police Department at (909) 364-2000. Those who want to report information anonymously can call WeTip at 1-800-78-CRIME.

Staff Reports

Chino Hills – On Fri., May 22, Deputies from the Chino Hills Police Department responded to the 5600 block of Pine Avenue in the city of Chino Hills when a resident called police regarding a possible residential burglary in progress. The resident saw two black male subjects enter the backyard of a residence, and then enter the home through the side garage door. They did not recognize the individuals who entered the home and alerted authorities.
According to the Chino Hills Police Department, Deputies arrived at the residence and heard movement inside the home. Shortly thereafter, residents noticed the subjects flee the location on foot. San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Aviation Unit assisted deputies with an area check and located the subjects in close proximity of the residence.

The subjects were identified as Aubrey Caldwell, 23, and Messiah Muhammad, 20, both of Rialto. An infield line-up was conducted and both subjects were positively identified as the same subjects who entered the home.

A short time later, Michael Crowley, 23, of Rialto, was located in a vehicle parked in a shopping center east of the home. A detailed investigation was conducted and deputies were able to link all three suspects to the crime. It was later determined that Caldwell was a parolee at large, and Muhammad was on active probation.

All three subjects were booked at the West Valley Detention Center.

Photo Courtesy: KinderCare.com
Scene of the crime, the Higgins Ranch KinderCare located at 15928 Los Serranos Country Club Drive in Chino Hills.

By Claire Lewis

Chino Hills – On Wed., May 13, someone thought to rob and vandalize local daycare facility, KinderCare. Management from the KinderCare facility notified authorities, reportedly stating that a suspect not only stole electronics and keys valued at more than $1,000, but offices had been ransacked, as well as three buses belonging to the Center.

According to the Chino Hills Police Department, the property manager was able to provide Deputies with surveillance footage.  After reviewing the video, Deputies immediately recognized suspect Reynaldo Sabedra, 45, of Chino Hills.

Sabedra, who is already on probation for burglary, was taking into custody for questioning in the KinderCare incident.  As a result of the investigation, Sabedra was booked into the West Valley Detention Center and charged with Burglary and Parole Violation.

Photo Courtesy: Chino Hills PD

Staff Reports

Chino Hills – A box full of heartfelt thank you letters was recently left in the lobby of the Chino Hills Station, evoking emotions in the deputies at the Station that are often not shared by members of the law enforcement community.
“When I read the letters written by these junior high students I was overwhelmed with emotions,” said Chino Hills Lt. Dave Phelps. “I am honored to be in the law enforcement profession and these students summed up the reason why: It is about service and protection of others.”
The letters were delivered anonymously, but because the personnel at the Chino Hills Station are trained investigators, it was quickly learned the letters were written by children from a class at Canyon Hills Junior High in Chino Hills.
“Dear Sheriff, Thank you,” one letter read. “You risk your lives for ordinary citizens. You try your best every day. You aren’t afraid of doing what’s right. You are my inspiration and my hero.”
And other letters encouraged deputies to know people value the job they do:
“I hope you know people appreciate the things you do,” read the letter. “…Even though I don’t know you personally, I know you are great and amazing [people].”
“So if you ever think the world doesn’t need you anymore just know we do need you!” a letter from a 7th Grader read. “At the end of every day just know you are very much respected.”
Capt. Robert Guillen, who serves as Chief of Police for the Chino Hills contract station, shared the letters with the men and women at the Station. The unexpected gift provided encouragement that deputies do not often get. Guillen and his crew are grateful to serve a city with future leaders such as these students.
“Together we felt honored to share this community with those students and felt an even stronger obligation to serve,” Guillen said.
According to Guillen, he wanted to personally thank the students and organized a visit from Sheriff John McMahon and the members of the Chino Hills Station to do just that. On the morning of Mon., May 11, Sheriff McMahon, Capt. Guillen, and about a dozen members representing all ranks from the Chino Hills Station visited the classroom of Mrs. Rosen, the teacher who prompted her students to write the letters.
The students asked some very insightful questions about law enforcement, such as the role of psychology in the profession and the requirements to become a deputy. They also asked informal questions about hairstyles and why police drive Ford vehicles. The most poignant question was, why do law enforcement professionals do what they do. The answers varied from person to person.
Guillen spoke about the calling to be in law enforcement and the responsibility deputies face in their day to day jobs. Lt. Phelps talked about the freedom of not being stuck behind a desk, getting out into the community and having fun.
When asked what they would be if they were not in law enforcement, Sheriff McMahon and Capt. Guillen both answered the same: there is nothing else they would rather do. Law enforcement is the profession they have the greatest passion for and have always wanted to pursue.
Monday’s event was a great way to connect the “anonymous” students with the nameless and faceless deputies they were writing to. And it was a way for the deputies to say thank you for such a simple gesture that had such a great impact.
The letters touched members across all ranks of the Chino Hills Station giving a much-needed sense of optimism to members of a profession that has been under such intense scrutiny. Despite the fact more than 99% of all public interaction with law enforcement ends peacefully and with no conflict, stories of alleged misconduct seem to permeate public dialogue.