They ran the license plates of all the cars parked within the complex, ticketing one non-operational vehicle owned by a deaf resident. They took photos of alleged code violations and ordered residents to clean up their yards. One resident was ordered to remove a refrigerator from the side of his home.

Residents were warned, "If you don't clean up and comply, we have probable cause to call immigration." This admonition sent waves of panic through the park. "Immigration is a big word," said the park manager, "and should not be abused."

The residents, with the aid of the property manager, decided to express their discontent with the police department and demand answers from their supposed protectors. The following day, Friday the 12th, they organized a march from the park to the police department to ask some questions.

"We have recently formed a neighborhood watch in our community, and we want to work with you to keep crime out," explained the manager, speaking to Lieutenant Joanne M. Guzek on behalf of the residents. "We understand if you need to come in to arrest someone, but we also think we have a right to know, what brought you in yesterday?"

Lt. Guzek explained that complaints of loud music prompted the raid. The manager was taken aback. She explained the policy. "Whenever I hear loud music, I go and give the residents a verbal warning. If it keeps up, I'm the one who calls the police." She did not hear any loud music or place a call to the police department on Thursday.

The manager explained that there have been issues with code compliance at the park in the past, but that after meetings with a state agency (the park, she claims, sits on an unincorporated area adjacent to the city of Pomona) in which recommendations were made and subsequently implemented, as well as an outreach visit from the Human Society to bring the pets into compliance, the police did not have any reason to come in threatening residents with deportation.

The marchers returned to the mobile home park and began a barbecue. At about six-thirty, several cars of plainclothes officers, the Pomona Police Department, and the Los Angeles County Sheriff's department. They entered the park, knocking down a fence to gain entry.

Tenants panicked and fled when police agents detonated explosive devices--"sound bombs" that did not damage any property but did psychologically terrorize their targets. The manager reported losing count after the fifth explosion. Officers targeted four units, removing the inhabitants and laying them on the floor. Some of those detained were children, and officers had their tasers drawn. Eventually, the children were released, but three men were arrested, including a man who was not a resident of the park, but was simply there to make some repairs to one of the units.

The park's manager expressed particular concern about this man. "He was arrested but I know he is innocent. Last year there was a stabbing here, and [he] intervened to defend my husband. The Pomona police made him testify against the attackers, and there were all kinds of threats against him. Now he's in jail, and he doesn't know his rights because he doesn't speak much English, and he is at risk of being attacked by the same people who stabbed him last year!"

To the park manager, the actions of the police department were discriminatory. "When someone is looking for a place to live, we don't ask if they're residents or citizens or not. If the police really want to be able to protect us, we need to be able to trust them."

In the city of Pomona, where bi-monthly police checkpoints and police disruption of a community forum last August have already eroded any last traces of community trust law enforcement, no concern is greater.

Correction: The sheriff's office involved was not from Los Angeles County, but rather neighboring San Bernardino County.

I thought the ICE, not local law enforcement, were supposed to do deportations.

have a video camera (or even better more than one) record the police while they violate the law
check for city/state law regarding using "audio" when recording.

In Oregon we only need to yell out loud to those being filmed "I'M RECORDING AUDIO" - we (in Oregon) don't need to get their permission ...just alert them to the recording of their audio. *

Document the abuse and the miss-use of power.

Also check into the legal requirement that the police are bound by regarding "immigration" and their involvement. They may be "over stepping their authority"

File a complaint with any type of "police review" board.

Not sure if the ACLU would be interested in this.

Video cameras can be purchased for around 100$ ..get extra film and batteries.... many times you will need more than just the hour tape/battery

Good Luck
Feel free to post on http://portland.indymedia.org to keep the solidarity and to help keep this in the public view.

Peace n Justice videographer Joe Anybody

To the author of this article. Do you bother to fact check the story prior to running it?. I was there that day and that is not what happened. First off the day the Officers came and gave parking tickets was the day BEFORE the San Bernardino Sheriffs Office came. The first day in question had a total of three officers. One two man car, one Sgt and one LT. So you stand corrected. They wrote a few parking tickets, made sure the dogs weren't running around losse and left. The second day had nothing to do with Pomona Police. It makes me sick how wrong your article was and just shows what a joke your website is. News flash, aliens just landed and kidnapped the cat from down the street. Extra, extra read all about it, free bars of gold to all criminals released from jail. So now that I wrote it the story must be true. What ever happened to the unbias news reporting, fact checking and good old investigative research? Liberal teachers make liberal writers. You are your own worst enemy. What a joke your site is. If you don't post this you have violated my civil right to express my word and that makes you worse than them. So I'll find a liberal reporter to write and article on how you are violating peoples rights.

Dear officer Letthetrusthsetyoufree,

Perhaps you need to read the article.

From your complaint: "First off the day the Officers came and gave parking tickets was the day BEFORE the San Bernardino Sheriffs Office came."

From the article: "On the evening of Thursday, June 11, four cars containing two officers each cars from the Pomona Police Department..." "The following day, Friday the 12th, they organized a march..." "The marchers returned to the mobile home park and began a barbecue. At about six-thirty, several cars of plainclothes officers..."

As for the rest of your post...just ridiculous.

Yes there were words misspelled in my posting. It's hard to write with my very expensive phone while i drive in my very expensive car to my great job. The posting was not a slap at the writing, but more of a reminder to fact check. I do stand corrected on the time line comment, but all other statements were true. Officer as you call me is a incorrect title. I live in the park and was there both days. Where you? Didn't think so. If society spent as much time supporting our officers as they do trying to discredit them we'd all be much better off. You people don't like the police until you need one, then that poor bastard better drop what he/she is doing and come to your aid. Once there they better believe every word out of your mouth because your the one who called no mater how off the mark it is. That officer better swiftly take that person to jail just on your word, even if it violates that persons right. You're the sheep and liberal who only wants to here one side.

An article by Alejandro Cano in the Riverside-based "La Prensa" essentially confirms everything reported in this and the subsequent report, but was not published until July 9.

http://www.laprensaenlinea.com/noticias/notas/LP_News_Local_P_lp_policia_pomona.29e2aeb.html

First of all who cares how the people were treated they went in there looking for the lowlife gangsters that incorporate those fuckin mobile homes. I live close to there and all you see is drug dealing and tagging going on..also a lot of those fucking "CHOLOS" have stolen shit from my house so actually I'm petitioning for the city to close that place down and I hope they do I can care less were the Fuck they go as long as they stop stealing my shit and if any of you live there and are the ones stealing from me you will see my AK pointed at you next time you enter my property