Two Pomona men — one of them a documented gang member – – are in police custody Thursday after leading Pomona police on a vehicle pursuit in which the suspects briefly drove onto a city sidewalk, police said.
Christian Ayala, 24, a passenger in the vehicle, was arrested on charges of violating his parole; being a gang member in possession of a loaded firearm; possession of a loaded/unregistered firearm; being a felon in possession of a firearm; and being a felon in possession of ammunition, said Sgt. M. Medellin of the Pomona Police Department.
Salvador Ortiz, 26, the driver of the vehicle, was arrested on felon evading.
According to Medellin, officers from Pomona’s Major Crimes Task Force observed a vehicle run a stop sign at the intersection of Reservoir Street and Grand Avenue at 9:48 p.m. Wednesday. Officers attempted to stop the vehicle, but the suspects failed to pull over and instead led them on a vehicle chase.
The driver momentarily drove the vehicle onto a raised sidewalk as he turned southbound on Reservoir Street, Medellin said.
Police say Ayala allegedly discarded a firearm from the vehicle. At one point, Ortiz stopped to allow Ayala out of the vehicle. He was pursued on foot, and the driver was chased as well.
Both suspects were booked at the Pomona city jail.
