A Claremont man is in custody after he allegedly collided with a police car, drove on the wrong side of Indian Hill and crashed into a car on Oak Park Drive Thursday afternoon.

A passerby flagged down an officer around 3:32 p.m. after seeing a gray Honda Civic in the Pepper Tree Square parking lot with front-end damage. The driver, later identified as 44-year-old Eric Armijo, appeared “dazed,” according to Lt. Eric Huizar of the Claremont Police Department.

As the officer contacted Mr. Armijo, he reportedly smelled a strong odor of alcohol, and was likely driving under the influence. Mr. Armijo then rolled up his window, turned the car on and allegedly backed into the officer’s vehicle, Lt. Huizar said.

The officer smashed the car’s window and tried to Taser Mr. Armijo, but he took off, traveling south on the wrong side of Indian Hill Boulevard until he collided with a Chevy Suburban at Oak Park Drive.

The driver in the Suburban was not injured, Lt. Huizar said. Mr. Armijo suffered cuts from the shattered window, and was taken to Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center for evaluation.

The officer was not injured. Mr. Armijo, has been arrested on suspicion of DUI, felony evading and assault with a deadly weapon on an officer, Lt. Huizar said.

The northbound lanes of Indian Hill at the intersection were temporarily blocked off as officers cleaned up the scene.

Anyone with additional information about the incident should call the Claremont Police Department at (909) 399-5411.

—Matthew Bramlett

news@claremont-courier.com