Police Blotter: February 11, 2022

by Mick Rhodes | mickrhodes@claremont-courier.com

Wednesday, February 2

A 32-year-old Salt Lake City, Utah man was arrested for felony hit and run after taking off on foot after allegedly injuring a Claremont man in a rear-end collision. It began when police were called regarding a traffic collision at the corner of Base Line Rd. and Monte Vista Ave. at about 2:30 p.m. A firefighter on the scene told arriving officers the suspect in the 2006 Nissan Ultima that had done the rear-ending had fled, heading west on Base Line Rd. Police caught up with a fire dept. vehicle that had followed the suspect, Abulkasem Karama, into the Vons shopping center parking lot, and quickly took him into custody on one felony count of hit and run causing injury. Karama was then taken to the station, booked, and released with a citation to appear in Pomona Superior Court. The victim, an 18-year-old Claremont man, was driving a 2020 Toyota Tacoma. He was treated at the scene for minor injuries.

Friday, February 4

A CPD officer suffered minor facial injuries after 28-year-old Claremont man — whom police suspect was high on methamphetamine and was later transferred to a psychiatric facility — allegedly threw an energy drink can at her while apparently attempting to avoid arrest. The incident began with a 9:30 a.m. call from the Shell station at 747 S. Indian Hill Blvd. regarding a fight in progress. The victim told police the suspect had thrown a rock at him during the melee. A witness to the scuffle followed the alleged assailant to the parking lot of the nearby Super King market, 436 Auto Center Dr., where officers made contact with him. They say he provided a fake name, tried to walk away during questioning, then turned around and threw the can at the officer. He was then detained and arrested on one felony count of assault on a police officer, and two misdemeanors of being under the influence of a controlled substance and providing false identification to a police officer. He was then transported to CPD for booking, where police say it became apparent he was suffering from some sort of mental health issue. He was then transported to a local psychiatric hospital for treatment. Police will be on hand when he is discharged from the psychiatric facility to re-arrest him and get him booked on the three Claremont charges.

Saturday, February 5

A 21-year-old Highland woman was jailed on a felony domestic violence charge after allegedly injuring her boyfriend during an early morning fight at the DoubleTree Hotel. A witness called Claremont police to the 555 W. Foothill Blvd. hotel at 1:22 a.m. to report a loud fight in one of the rooms. Arriving officers spoke to the 21-year-old male victim, who told them he had been in a dating relationship with the woman for six months. Police said the man had multiple scratches on his face and neck, and a large red mark on his back where the suspect allegedly hit him with an empty wine bottle. The woman was then arrested on the felony domestic violence charge, booked, and jailed. She later posted $50,000 bond and was released with a ticket and a court date.

Monday, February 7

Michael Tenerelli, a Claremont man wanted for a string of at least 20 burglaries and thefts that have taken place on the Claremont McKenna campus over the past few weeks, was arrested and charged with three felony counts of burglary. The string began weeks ago, and involved various dormitories on the Claremont McKenna campus. The Colleges are notoriously security conscious, and police say Tenerelli, 31, was clearly identified via surveillance camera footage. When Tenerelli returned to the Colleges at 7:44 a.m., Campus Safety officers recognized him from flyers posted around the school, and notified CPD, who arrived only to find he had fled. They did find his car though, and impounded it as evidence. At 10:33 a.m. Tenerelli returned to ask Campus Safety about his car. Police then arrived and arrested him for burglary. The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office apparently agreed with CPD that he was their man, and charged him with three felonies. Tenerelli spent three days in the Claremont jail before appearing before a judge Wednesday, February 9.