In a recent turn of events, Pomona Police have apprehended 43-year-old Tommy Ray Belin, connecting him to the murder of 25-year-old Andrea Bustillos. According to a press release, officers responded to a distressed 9-1-1 call early in the morning of February 26th, which turned out to be a grim scene on W. Holt Ave. in the City of Pomona. The initial report was of a potential fentanyl overdose, but upon arrival, police found Bustillos unconscious with injuries indicative of violence.
Determined after life-saving attempts by Los Angeles County Fire Department personnel, Bustillos was pronounced dead at the site of the call, stirring the Pomona Police Department's Major Crimes Unit into action. Detectives, parsing through the harsh tale the crime scene whispered, pointed to Belin as the one responsible for taking the young woman's life. Belin was later taken into custody in Upland and now faces a series of charges, with the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office laying out the grim catalog - murder, assault, and failing to keep up with registration mandates that the justice system enforced upon him.
The charges filed against Belin are serious: 187 (a) PC – Murder, 245(a)(4) PC - Assault by means of force likely to produce great bodily injury, and 290.011(b) PC - Failure to Register as a Transient after moving from a residence. With the police continuing their investigation, a statement obtained by the police department encourages anyone with information tied to the case to step forward. In a societal arrangement where justice hinges on the cooperation between the community and its peacekeepers, such calls to action are crucial.
Citizens can contact the Pomona Police Department directly at 909-622-1241, or remain anonymous by dialing "Crime Stoppers" at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). While the case against Belin moves through the mechanics of the legal system, the Pomona Police Department remains steadfast in their pursuit of additional evidence to piece together the devastating events that led to the untimely death of Andrea Bustillos, efforts that echo the community's larger struggle against the scourge of criminal acts.
