Police blotter 4-6-18

Tuesday, March 27

Police are looking for a man who tried to break into a home on the 600 block of Northwestern Drive. The victim was home at the time when the suspect tried to get in through the back door around 9:51 a.m., Sgt. Brian Thompson of the Claremont Police Department said. Once he saw the homeowner, the would-be burglar fled the location and into a getaway car described as a gold or silver four-door Nissan sedan. He is described as an African-American man around 20 years old, six feet tall and 170 pounds wearing a black and orange sweater and black pants. Anyone with information should call the Claremont Police Department at (909) 399-5411.

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Around 2 p.m., license plate readers identified a truck had been stolen earlier in the day in Pomona. Police pulled over  the driver, 24-year-old Jesus Manuel Hernandez of Pomona, near Foothill Boulevard and Sumner Avenue. He was arrested without incident for grand theft auto. He was on probation for vehicle theft at the time of his arrest.

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Police are looking for a pickup truck that was stolen from the Wilderness Park parking lot. When the victim returned from hiking around 6 p.m., he found his white Ford Ranger was missing from the parking lot. Surveillance footage from the scene showed a man getting out of the passenger seat of a dark-colored car, entering the truck through an unknown means and driving off. He was described as a Caucasian or Hispanic man, wearing a dark shirt and dark shorts.

Wednesday, March 28

Two people were arrested after an apparent battery at Knights Inn. Around 9:11 a.m., the victim was visiting 40-year-old Julio Mathis for an unknown reason, when he allegedly punched and kicked her in the face. Mr. Mathis, of Pomona, fled the scene before police arrived, but he was arrested about 20 minutes later in the area of Sumner and Foothill. He was also found to be in possession of a cocaine-based substance. A third person, 25-year-old Gabriella Milner of Pomona, was found to have a warrant for her arrest and was placed into handcuffs. Mr. Mathis was arrested for battery and possession of narcotics for sale and transported to CPD jail. The victim refused medical attention.

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Three cars were broken into on the 2500 block of King Way between 1 a.m. and 7 a.m. on March 28. The unknown suspect shattered the window of the first car, getting away with a purse valued at $20. The second car was unlocked at the time, and the suspect only stole a water bottle. The third car, also unlocked, had a purse and sunglasses valued at $350 taken. There is no suspect information.

Thursday, March 29

A night out ended badly for a Pomona man, who was arrested after he tried to fight an employee at The Press. Armando Hernandez, 29, was being escorted out of the bar around 12:30 a.m. when he allegedly punched the employee in the chin, causing a laceration. The employee declined medical treatment, but Mr. Hernandez was arrested for battery and transported to CPD jail, where he was released with a citation.

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Police are investigating an attempted burglary at a home on the 700 block of California Drive. Between noon and 1:30 p.m., the unknown suspect pried two window screens off of two back windows of the home, but did not make entry.

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A car fire at Griffith Park is being investigated as a possible arson. Police received multiple 911 calls around 10:50 p.m. regarding a 2010 Mercedes-Benz that was up in flames, Sgt. Thompson said. The fire, which was centered in the passenger interior, was quickly put out but authorities at the scene suspect that the fire may have been intentionally set. According to Sgt. Thompson, the unidentified owner of the Mercedes would not provide officers with a statement. The investigation is ongoing.

Friday, March 30

A 17-year-old boy was arrested for domestic battery after allegedly hitting his 17-year-old girlfriend during an argument at the Colby Kai apartments. The incident occurred on March 21 at 8 a.m. but wasn’t reported until March 30. The boy, who was in a dating relationship with the victim for a year, was arrested for battery on a non-cohabitating spouse and assault with a deadly weapon and transported to CPD jail, where he was released into the custody of his mother.

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Campus Safety at the Claremont Colleges came upon 24-year-old Jason Flanagan from Highland around 5 p.m., and he fled from the scene. Claremont police officers later found Mr. Flanagan hiding in a dumpster near city hall. While he was not in possession of stolen goods, surveillance footage from the scene showed him trying to steal a bicycle. Police said he also had a meth pipe on him.

Saturday, March 31

A San Bernardino man was arrested for grand theft auto after police found a stolen car in the Knights Inn parking lot. Officers were doing a routine welfare check in the area when they came upon a Nissan Altima with no plates. When the VIN was scanned, it came up as stolen out of San Bernardino County on March 26. Police arrested the alleged driver, 35-year-old Gerardo Hernandez, without incident as he left the motel around 9 a.m. He also had prior arrests on his record for stealing cars.

Monday, April 2

A local transient was arrested after getting into a fight with an employee at the Chevron/McDonalds on the 800 block of south Indian Hill Boulevard. Robert Castro, 27, was causing a disturbance inside the gas station, and as he was being escorted out, he punched the male employee in the face. The two men then fell to the ground, where Mr. Castro reportedly punched the victim several more times before fleeing. He was found by police in the area of Indian Hill Boulevard and Cobblestone Lane, where he was arrested and transported to Twin Towers Correctional Facility in Los Angeles for battery and violating his parole. Mr. Castro had previously been arrested on March 19 for prowling on the 300 block of Radcliffe Drive.

—Matthew Bramlett

news@claremont-courier.com