Burglary Suspect Found Living In Modern Tree House

POMONA, CA — Police in Pomona this week used K-9 units and a heat-sensing helicopter system to track down a San Gabriel Valley burglary suspect who's been living in a "modern tree house" in the hills.

Complete with electricity, the tree house was well-hidden in the Ganesha Hills, according to police.

The case unfolded in April when a resident had reported that he recognized a man he saw leaving his residence with items from his home and garage, police said. He identified 56-year-old Mark Duda of Pomona, according to police. But authorities didn't know where Duda lived.

Then on Tuesday, they got a tip.

About 9 p.m. Tuesday, officers learned "that someone was living and hanging out in a very well-built and modern tree house in Ganesha Hills," according to a police statement. "The information was that the tree house was well-disguised in the hills just off McKinley Avenue."

The police department's air and K-9 units were deployed. The helicopter's heat-sensing FLIR system detected something in the heavy brush and trees in the area where officers were searching and a short time later, they found the tree house, which was "hidden deep into the hillside," police said.

"Numerous verbal commands were given and the suspect eventually climbed down..." and was arrested on suspicion of residential burglary, police said.

Duda was being held in lieu of $50,000 bail, according to sheriff's inmate records.

The tree house was fairly well-appointed, with a barbecue and lighting, police said.

City News Service and Patch Staffer Paige Austin contributed to this report.