Police Blotter: October 18, 2024

by Andrew Alonzo | aalonzo@claremont-courier.com 

Thursday, October 10
At 6:53 a.m., Claremont Police Department officers responded to a call for service in the 400 block of East Platt Boulevard regarding a stolen bike. Nearby, police questioned a 22-year-old unhoused man who was allegedly in possession of a bike that matched the description. Police arrested the man for petty theft and receiving stolen property, both misdemeanors, and a search of the man allegedly yielded methamphetamine and a meth pipe, adding possession of a controlled substance and possession of unlawful paraphernalia to his charges. A records check also showed the man had a no-bail felony warrant in San Bernardino County. He was taken to CPD jail to be booked. He was cited for the four misdemeanors and transported to West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga for the warrant. The man is being held at West Valley ahead of a virtual October 21 appearance for post release community supervision.

Police made their way to Piel Fina Skin Care, 240 W. Second St., at 10:17 a.m. following a report that a 34-year-old unhoused man exposed himself to an employee. Officers questioned the man after they arrived, and the victim positively identified him as the one who exposed himself. He was arrested for indecent exposure, a misdemeanor, booked at CPD and, after a magistrate review, was held for court at the Inmate Reception Center in Los Angeles. He appeared at Pomona Superior Court on Wednesday and was later transported to Twin Towers Correctional Facility in Los Angeles. 

Police responded to Norms Restaurant, 807 S. Indian Hill Blvd., at 3:27 p.m. about a patron who left without paying. Officers found found Pasadena resident Mark Fraijo, 42, nearby and questioned him. Fraijo was identified by an employee as the man who failed to pay and he was arrested for misdemeanor defrauding an innkeeper. Fraijo was taken to CPD to be booked and was later released with a citation to appear at Pomona Superior Court.

Friday, October 11
At 1 a.m., CPD received a call from Pomona PD saying they had Gabriel Vallejo, 36, of Pomona, in custody and a records check showed he had a misdemeanor Claremont warrant. Police traveled to 490 W. Mission Blvd. to pick up and transport Vallejo to CPD. He was then booked, held for court, and released later that afternoon. Vallejo is due back at Pomona Superior Court on April 9, 2025.

Police were called to Oakmont Outdoor School, 120 W. Green St., at 12:30 p.m. because someone reported that an unhoused man, 43, had exposed himself. Officers questioned the man described in the call and a victim positively identified him as the one who exposed himself. He was arrested for indecent exposure, a misdemeanor, booked at CPD and later transported to the Inmate Reception Center in Los Angeles pending court following a magistrate review. He was transported to Twin Towers Correctional Facility the next day, appeared at Pomona Superior Court on Wednesday, and taken back to TTCF.

Saturday, October 12
CPD pulled over Rancho Cucamonga resident Joe Diaz, 25, in the 400 block of Indian Hill Boulevard because of an equipment violation at 1:24 a.m. Police said Diaz displayed symptoms of impairment and arrested him for misdemeanor DUI following field sobriety tests. Diaz was booked at CPD, provided a chemical sample, was held for detoxification, and later released with a citation.

Police were called to Subway, 350 S. Indian Hill Blvd., following reports of an argument between an employee and an unhoused man, 46, at 11:50 a.m. Officers spoke with both parties, and the employee alleged that the man police were questioning threw an object at her during the argument. Police arrested the man for misdemeanor assault, booked him at the CPD jail and later released him with a citation.

At 9:13 p.m., Claremont officers stopped 35-year-old George Arango, from Pomona, near the intersection of Indian Hill Boulevard and San Bernardino Avenue because of equipment and traffic violations, and said he displayed symptoms of impairment. After field sobriety tests, Arango was arrested for misdemeanor DUI. A search of Arango allegedly yielded narcotics and paraphernalia, adding possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia, misdemeanors, to his charge list. Arango was transported and booked at CPD jail where he provided a chemical sample, held for detoxification, and later released with a citation.

Monday, October 14
CPD responded to the area of Base Line Road and Indian Hill Boulevard after a report that someone was throwing rocks at cars at 11 a.m. Police questioned Lancaster resident Donavan Green, 26, who apparently gave a false name to police and attempted to leave when told he was not free to go. Officers detained the man again and, after getting his real name, arrested Green for throwing an object at a motor vehicle, resisting a peace officer, and giving false ID to a police officer, all misdemeanors. At CPD, Green was booked and released with a citation.