by Steven Felschundneff | steven@claremont-courier.com

Claremont police were led on a multiple city pursuit on December 15 by a man who fled capture in his vehicle after he allegedly attempted to force his way into a home, according to a news release from Lieutenant Jason Walters.

Officers responded to a 911 call around 5 p.m. about a man banging on the front door and attempting to enter a home in the 2200 block of N. Forbes Avenue. Arriving officers said the suspect, Ryan Screnar, 37, of Upland, was sitting in his vehicle in front of the residence.

Once police determined Screnar’s identity they learned he had an active restraining order barring him from the Forbes Avenue home.

Officers then attempted to coax Screnar out of his vehicle, but he refused, leading to a standoff. At some point police say Screnar attempted to leave by driving his vehicle directly toward officers and ramming multiple police cruisers. Claremont police then pursued Screnar as he fled south on Forbes toward Base Line Road.

“The pursuit entered multiple jurisdictions, including Upland, Ontario, and Pomona,” read the news release. “Eventually, the pursuit concluded on Towne Ave. north of Bonita Ave., in the City of Pomona when Screnar’s vehicle became disabled.”

The pursuit lasted about 90 minutes.

A reporter with NBCLA said police tried multiple times to disable Screnar’s car with pit maneuvers during which the officer tries to get the vehicle to spin out.

Video captured from the NBC helicopter shows Screnar’s SUV spinning out on Towne Avenue before coming to rest in the median, at which point police boxed him in to end the pursuit.

According to Walters, tactical officers from the Foothill Special Enforcement Team and Upland Police Department’s SWAT team responded to the scene and attempted to get Screnar out of his vehicle through negotiations. When that failed the tactical team deployed tear gas into the SUV and Screnar surrendered.

During the second standoff Towne Avenue was closed between Bonita and Harrison.

“Los Angeles County Fire was on-scene and transported Screnar to the Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center for treatment and evaluation,” read the release.

By Monday, Screnar was not in custody and Claremont Police declined to speculate on what charges he might be facing.