At about 8 p.m. on June 13, Claremont police officers responded to the 900 block of Appalachian to assist the Los Angeles County Fire Department on a drowning. The victim, a 39-year-old male, was not breathing and did not have a pulse. He was transported to Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center where he was pronounced deceased. The identification of the victim is pending notification of next of kin.
Police determined the victim and suspect were in the pool together, when Mr. Bitarafan held the victim under the water, which is believed to have contributed to his drowning and death. Police had video surveillance footage of the incident.
Mr. Bitarafan was booked at the Claremont Police Department jail, where he is being held in lieu of $5,000,000 bail. He is scheduled to be arraigned in Pomona Superior Court on June 16.