Pomona Police Probe Produces Perps A-Plenty

POMONA – In a response to 26 murders in 2013, among other crimes, a citywide gang sweep netted 19 arrests on Sunday.

Caswell Street, Pomona — Approximate location of initial shooting committed by Lawrence Adger

Six different agencies, including police departments from Pomona, Rialto, Baldwin Park and Covina, along with a Regional AB 109 Task Force and the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Dept. conducted the sweeps that began on Saturday afternoon and lasted into the early hours of Sunday morning.

There has been a spike in gang activity, said Lt. Chuck Becker of the Pomona Police Dept., and this “is a zero tolerance approach to any gang activity as a result of the recent spike in violence over the last month.”

Eight of the 19 taken into custody, said police, were in possession of narcotics. One handgun was seized. No other arrest details have yet to be released.

A police spokesman said it was hoped that arresting known gang members on various charges might uncover other crimes.

In October, police arrested a shooting suspect, reputed gang member Lawrence Adger, 22, of Pomona, who shot a man as he walked in front of his home on the 500 block of Caswell St. The man, shot several times, survived the attack.

Earlier this month, a youth pastor, Daniel Diaz, 33, of West Covina was shot while riding in a car by someone that walked up and fired shots at a stop sign at Park Ave. and Mayfair St.

Targeting various hotspots in Pomona, said a release, led to the various arrests by approximately 40 officers from the various agencies.

Pomona Mayor Elliott Rothman said, “I think it’s important that the Pomona Police Department does whatever it takes to apprehend those responsible for the recent homicides that we’ve been having in the city.”

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Daily Bulletin: 19 arrested during Pomona gang sweep