Full Notification

DATE / TIME: Friday, August 14, 2015 1826 hours
LOCATION: City streets of Pomona, Covina and IS10 freeway
CRIME: Grand Theft Auto
VICTIM: n/a
SUSPECT: Ismael Castelan, 29 yrs., Pomona resident
SUSPECT VEHICLE: Blue, 2002 Dodge Caravan
UNIT: Patrol Division

NARRATIVE:
On today's date, Pomona officers received information from SBSO Chino Hills that a vehicle was just stolen from their area. They also advised that the vehicle was equipped with a tracking device.

Shortly thereafter, the vehicle was located mobile in the area of Gordon and Orange Grove. Officers followed the car on city streets and on to the westbound IS10 waiting for the assistance of the helicopter. Once the airship was overhead, the driver of the van saw the police cars and fled in an attempt to evade arrest.

The airship continued to follow the car which allowed ground units to remain well behind the suspect vehicle in an effort to reduce the risk of erratic driving by the suspect.

The suspect drove through parts of Covina Hills then back on to the IS10 eastbound. The car then exited the freeway at Indian Hill Blvd. and travelled through various Pomona city streets until the driver ultimately abandoned the car in the 1200 block of E. Pasadena Street.

Officers were directed by the airship to the driver who was taken into custody in the 1200 block of E. Holt. No injuries or property damage resulted from this incident, and the vehicle, along with various personal effects were returned to the victim at the conclusion of the incident.

The suspect is being held in the Pomona Jail in lieu of $75,000 bail.

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 1-800-222-TIPS(8477).
Written by:

Chuck Becker, Lieutenant
Pomona Police Department
909-620-2156