By Andrew Alonzo | aalonzo@claremont-courier.com

The Pomona man facing charges of assault with a semiautomatic firearm on a police officer and four other felonies pleaded not guilty Monday at his arraignment in Pomona Superior Court.

The case stems from a May 8 incident in which Daniel Rombach, 46, is alleged to have fired multiple handgun rounds at Claremont police from his moving vehicle during a 20-mile chase that shut down the eastbound 10 Freeway for miles. No officers were struck by the gunfire.

The LA District Attorney’s Office charged Rombach with one count of assault with a semiautomatic firearm on peace officer/firefighter, CA Penal Code 245(d)(2); two counts of willful discharge of a firearm in a grossly negligent manner, CA PC 246.3(a); one count of evading police, disregarding safety, VC2800.2; and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm, CA PC 29800(a)(1).

The assault with a semiautomatic firearm on peace officer/firefighter charge includes three enhancements: “personal and intentional discharge of a firearm,” or CA PC 12022.53(c), “one or more [prior] serious/violent felony convictions,” CA PC 1170.12, and a “serious [prior] felony,” CA PC 667(a)(1). The two counts of willful discharge of a firearm each include CA PC 1170.12 and CA PC 667(a)(1) enhancements. The evading police and being a felon in possession of a firearm charges also include CA PC 1170.12 enhancements.

Rombach faces up to 38 years in state prison if convicted on all charges, according to the district attorney’s office. He is due back in court June 12 for a preliminary hearing setting.

The May 8 pursuit through Claremont, Pomona, La Verne and Montclair began shortly before 7:38 p.m. and lasted about 30 minutes. It involved multiple law enforcement agencies, including an LA County Sheriff’s Department helicopter. It ended after police disabled Rombach’s vehicle in the eastbound lanes of the 10 Freeway near Indian Hill Boulevard. He then surrendered to police, who allegedly recovered a loaded firearm and additional loaded magazines at the scene.

The incident began after police responded to Claremont Hills Wilderness Park, 4031 N. Mills Ave., following 911 calls reporting gunshots being fired at an airborne drone. Witnesses provided a description of the suspect, who had left the area, and his vehicle. Arriving officers located Rombach’s vehicle near Mills Avenue and Foothill Boulevard and attempted to pull him over, but police say he failed to yield, setting off the pursuit.

Rombach was transferred to the Men’s Central Jail in Los Angeles Monday after the judge revoked his $2 million bail.