Police blotter 9-26-14

Friday, September 19
A burglary occurred on the 700 block of West Tenth Street. At around 12:25 p.m., a witness saw the suspects and their vehicle, but did not call the police until after the suspects left the area.
According to the witness, a female knocked on the front door of the home in an attempt to verify if the home was occupied, then broke a glass door at the back of the home to gain entry.
The second burglary occurred on the 1200 block of Northwestern Avenue between 6 a.m. and 3 p.m. A witness later reported seeing a tall, thin black female near the side of the residence prior to the burglary. In both burglaries, rear glass doors and windows were smashed to gain entry. Both homes are located just east and west of Mountain Avenue between Harrison Avenue and Foothill Boulevard.
As a reminder, always lock all doors and windows and immediately report any suspicious vehicles or persons to the Claremont PD  by calling 9-1-1 or (909) 399-5411.
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A suspect attempting to break into the dorms at Claremont McKenna College couldn’t outrun a Claremont police officer and his actions landed him in jail.
Around 1:32 a.m., officers responded to CMC after a witness reported seeing four suspects trying to break into rooms at Beckett Hall.  According to Lieutenant Mike Ciszek, the officer located one of the suspects, Angel Torres, running through a backyard on the 100 block of Brooks Avenue. When the officer and Mr. Torres made eye contact, a chase ensued and the 19-year-old was detained after a brief struggle. The Pomona resident was carrying a knife on his belt. Mr. Torres was booked for resisting an officer, carrying a switchblade knife and an outstanding warrant. He was later released on $10,000 bail with citations.
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A Claremont woman fighting with her man over an ex-girlfriend spent four hours in jail after striking him with an open hand and closed fist. The 42-year-old woman and the victim were heard arguing inside their apartment when officers responded to the location. The 40-year-old victim complained of pain to his right ear and left cheek, although, there was no visible injury. The woman was arrested for battery and later released on a $20,000 bond. According to police, the couple, who live together, have been dating for four months.

Saturday, September 20
He rang the doorbell 11 times but when nobody answered, one thief figured he’d let himself in. Around 11:29 a.m., an unknown suspect began ringing the doorbell at a home on the 100 block of Buena Vista while the victim slept in another room. Thinking it was neighborhood kids, the resident didn’t respond. Soon after, the resident heard two loud booms followed by a third and then his bedroom door was suddenly kicked in. An unknown suspect stood in the doorway, spotted the resident and then fled the scene. The suspect is described as a male Hispanic, about 18 to 19 years old, 5’9” with a thin build and a shaved head. He was seen getting into a lowered, white Mazda with custom rims, tinted windows and a loud exhaust. The driver was unidentifiable. Neither the suspect nor the vehicle has been located.
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Road rage reared its ugly head off the 210 freeway and Base Line Road, resulting in a fight on the freeway shoulder and an off-duty officer drawing his weapon on the enraged drivers. Around 6:43 p.m., two drivers who had been brake-checking and cutting each other off on the freeway had finally had enough when 24-year-old Jancarlo Gutierrez pulled to the shoulder to let the other driver pass by. The other driver, who is considered the victim in the incident, followed suit and approached Mr. Gutierrez’ car. According to Lt. Ciszek, the pair exchanged a few obscenities before the victim allegedly began punching the suspect repeatedly in the face and wouldn’t let him out of his vehicle. Mr. Gutierrez then grabbed a knife from the car and slashed a four-inch laceration into the victim’s left arm, causing him to step back and enabling Mr. Gutierrez to leave his vehicle. The men continued to fight outside the car until an off-duty police officer stopped and ordered both to ground by gunpoint. Mr. Gutierrez of San Bernardino was arrested for assault. No charges will be filed against the other driver, it was determined he acting in self-defense.

Sunday, September 21
Campus safety called Claremont police after underage drinkers were caught fighting on the Claremont McKenna College campus. Around 1:03 a.m., suspect Arnoldo Gomez-Vallejo of Claremont was spotted sitting in the middle of the street with his head held down, shoeless. When asked by the officer for his name, the 20-year-old yelled, “Treat me like an adult!” He smelled of alcohol, his speech was slurred and loud and he had saliva dripping from his mouth. Mr. Gomez-Vallejo was unable to answer simple questions and was arrested for public intoxication. He was later released on $250 bail.

Monday, September 22
A Claremont woman set fire to her home while her mother lay sleeping in a nearby room. Officer were called the 500 block of Towne Avenue around 1:20 a.m. after the 29-year-old covered herself from head to toe with blue paint and painted the words “All Yours” on a wall in the family room of the home. She then splattered paint all over the walls and floors of the family room and kitchen before intentionally starting three separate fires in the kitchen while her mother slumbered. After igniting the fires, the suspect lay down on the floor of the kitchen. The suspect’s brother arrived home shortly after and got both of the women out of the house before extinguishing the fire with a hose. Over $7,000 in damage occurred due to the fire. The suspect was taken to Pomona Valley Hospital for treatment and psychiatric evaluation.
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A verbal altercation between a trio of female students at Claremont High School got taken to the next level when someone broke out the pepper spray and a knuckle sandwich. Three suspects, two 16-year-old girls and a 14-year-old girl, were fighting when one of the suspects pepper sprayed another in the face and then struck her with a closed fist. Another student jumped in before school staff broke up the fight. All three ladies were arrested.
—Angela Bailey
news@claremont-courier.com