Police blotter 3-15-19
Tuesday, March 5
Police are investigating a wallet theft at Trader Joe’s. Between 10:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m., the shopper was perusing the market on Foothill Boulevard hen an unknown suspect reached into her purse and swiped the wallet, Lt. Jason Walters of the Claremont Police Department said. The victim canceled the credit cards inside, and there is no suspect information.
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Police arrested 41-year-old Ruben Rodriguez after he was allegedly seen taking property from a carport on the 600 block of Montgomery Circle. About 15 minutes after midnight, a witness reportedly saw Mr. Rodriguez taking items from the carport and leaving on a bicycle, Lt. Walters said. The witness gave a description to police, who found Mr. Rodriguez in a field at Foothill Boulevard and Monte Vista Avenue. He initially did not listen to officers’ calls to stop, but was eventually detained. He was also allegedly in possession of stolen items from another home break-in on the 200 block of College Avenue. Mr. Rodriguez was arrested on suspicion of burglary, possession of stolen property, obstruction and for having three warrants.
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An unknown amount of mail was taken from a community mailbox on the 800 block of Trinity Lane. The theft occurred between 3 p.m. on February 27 and 1:30 p.m. on March 5. No suspect information was available, and police are investigating.
Wednesday, March 6
A Chino man was arrested after he allegedly made inappropriate comments toward a 17-year-old girl. The girl was at Super King with her family around 1:30 p.m. when 38-year-old Juan Valdivia-Acosta “made some comments that were inappropriate regarding” the girl, Lt. Walters said. He was found by police and arrested on suspicion of annoying or molesting a child and taken to CPD jail.
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Witnesses saw two men on a property in the area of Bridgeport and Knox around 7:30 p.m., Lt. Walters said. While there were reports of the men scaling the side fence into the back yard, no signs of forced entry were found on the house. They reportedly left in a dark-colored 2-door Mercedes-Benz with paper plates. Police took a prowling report, and are investigating.
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Police arrested a La Verne woman at Indian Hill Boulevard and San Jose Avenue around 11:30 a.m. after they found she had been driving with a suspended license and had a warrant out for her arrest. Evangeline Guzman, 55, was taken to CPD jail.
Thursday, March 7
Police are investigating a burglary at a construction site at 150 west First Street. Between 6 p.m. on March 6 and 11:45 p.m. on March 7, the unknown burglars cut a padlock, entering the property and taking miscellaneous tools and battery chargers, Lt. Walters said. Police are investigating.
Friday, March 8
Police arrested a Pomona man after he was caught driving a stolen car. Around 4:50 a.m., officers found a 1997 Honda that had been reported stolen. They found the driver, 24-year-old Giovanni Reyes, and arrested him on suspicion of grand theft auto.
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A 16-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of stealing a bicycle at Claremont High School. On March 7, school officials reportedly saw the boy steal the bike on surveillance video. When confronted the next day, the boy allegedly admitted to stealing the bike, and he was arrested by police on suspicion of petty theft and possession of stolen property. The bicycle was returned to its owner.
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A Pasadena man was arrested on suspicion of grand theft auto after he was seen checking door handles on the 4400 block of Amundsen Branch. A witness allegedly saw 30-year-old Johnny Espinoza checking the cars on the block and leaving in a silver Toyota Prius. Police caught up to the Prius, and found it had been stolen out of Altadena. Mr. Espinoza also had a meth pipe in his possession, Lt. Walters said. He was arrested for GTA, possession of the pipe and attempted theft.
Saturday, March 9
Two men were arrested after they were caught driving a stolen car. Someone called police around 11:50 p.m. after seeing a car that “looked suspicious” on the 600 block of south College Avenue, Lt. Walters said. Police found the car and determined it had been stolen. The driver, 29-year-old Steve Prado-Medina, also allegedly had several ID cards and debit cards that suggested an identity theft operation, as well as a meth pipe. He was arrested for GTA, ID theft and the pipe, and a passenger, 28-year-old Joe Llamas of Claremont, was arrested for possession of a pipe.
Sunday, March 10
A car was broken into behind Saca’s Mediterranean Restaurant in the Village. Between 10:30 a.m. and 1:40 p.m., an unknown thief smashed the car’s window, taking a bag full of the victim’s clothing that was worth about $100. There was no suspect information available.
—Matthew Bramlett
news@claremont-courier.com
