A call from a concerned witness led to seven arrests in two south Claremont motels on Monday.

It all started when a witness called police regarding a man checking car handles at Indian Hill Boulevard and San Jose Avenue just before 11:30 a.m., police said. Officers located a red Chevy Camaro at the Shell gas station nearby, and the driver stated that he was just robbed of $1,500 by the suspect.

The suspect, identified as 33-year-old Vincent Gomez of Ontario, was located at the Claremont Lodge and arrested for robbery. Two women in Mr. Gomez’s room were also arrested—28-year-old Jazzmin Barboza of Ontario on a warrant for possession of a meth pipe and 38-year-old Monica Castaneda of Santa Barbara for carrying a concealed dagger.

While investigating the call at the Claremont Lodge, four more people were arrested on various charges. Stephanie Escalante, 23 of Upland, was arrested for identity theft possession of a credit card skimmer with intent to defraud and possession of a meth pipe; and 22-year-old Jason Willenborg of Upland was arrested on a warrant for possession of a meth pipe. Both Ms. Escalante and Mr. Willenborg were in a nearby motel room at the Lodge.

Michael Counce, 54, of Redlands was arrested on an outstanding warrant for driving without a license after officers heard an argument coming from an another nearby room.

Finally, a parolee-at-large, 36-year-old Jeremy Magnes out of Ontario, was located and arrested at the Knight’s Inn during the initial search for Mr. Gomez.

Claremont Police Lt. Karlan Bennett noted that all arrests happened in nearby rooms, and the total investigation took about four hours. “They were all within 50 feet of each other,” Lt. Bennett said, save for the one arrest at the Knight’s Inn.

—Matthew Bramlett

news@claremont-courier.com