A man suspected of robbery and vandalism and fighting with a police officer, a fight that included crashing through an apartment window, was arrested Friday in Pomona.
Police responded about 1:30 p.m. to a call of a vehicle burglary in the 2400 block of Chanslor Street and the caller told officers the suspect had broken into his car and was now breaking into a nearby apartment, according to Sgt. A. Bostrom with the Pomona Police Department.
The suspect kicked in the door of the apartment, took money from the victim’s wallet that was on top of a nearby table, then challenged the victim to a fight before he ran off with the cash, Bostrom said.
Officers in the area began a search for the suspect and an officer located a man who matched the suspect’s description in the west alley of the 2400 block of Angela Street and tried to detain him, but the man fled on foot, Bostrom said.
The officer chased after the suspect, identified as Edgar Ponce, 26, of Pomona, and caught up with him in a yard, where Ponce allegedly ignored the officer’s commands to surrender and, instead, charged the officer and both the suspect and the officer crashed through a nearby apartment window, Bostrom said.
The fight continued on the ground until another officer arrived and helped detained Ponce.
Both the officer and the suspect suffered injuries in the struggle and were taken to a hospital where they were treated and released.
Both victims positively identified Ponce and officers located the stolen money in his possession, Bostrom said.
Ponce was arrested on suspicion of home invasion robbery, felony vandalism, injuring a police officer and fleeing from police.