Covina woman arrested in Claremont hit-and-run death

A Covina woman has been arrested in connection with a fatal hit-and-run on Towne Avenue.

Helen Scheuplein, 67, was arrested Thursday evening around 6 p.m. at the Hi-Brow Bar on the 500 block of west Foothill Boulevard in Pomona, the city said.

Ms. Scheuplein is accused of striking 50-year-old James Radzik of Rancho Cucamonga early Wednesday morning on the 1600 block of north Towne Avenue. She is accused of hitting Mr. Radzik with her car while intoxicated, and not stopping to give aid or call the authorities.

A passing LA County Fire truck happened upon Mr. Radzik lying in the road just after 2:30 a.m., and he was pronounced dead at the scene.

During the investigation, Claremont police obtained surveillance video that identified Ms. Scheuplein’s car, Lt. Jason Walters of the Claremont Police Department said.

At approximately 5:55 p.m., Claremont detectives observed Ms. Scheuplein and her car at the Hi-Brow.

Lt. Walters said he was “certain” detectives had the right car that was used in the hit and run. “Absolutely no doubt in our minds,” he added.

Detectives contacted Ms. Scheuplein and she was arrested without incident at the bar. She was booked at the Claremont Police Department jail on suspicion of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, vehicular manslaughter and hit-and-run causing death.

Ms. Scheuplein works as a karaoke DJ, according to her website, and was scheduled to work at the Hi-Brow on Tuesday night.

She was previously convicted of DUI in 2013 in West Covina, according to the Los Angeles County Superior Court database.

She is being held on $100,000 bail and is scheduled to appear at Pomona Superior Court on Monday, January 13.

Matthew Bramlett

news@claremont-courier.com

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