2025: Police Blotter in review
by Andrew Alonzo | aalonzo@claremont-courier.com
January 15
Claremont Police Department officers received calls about a man causing a disturbance at The Back Abbey, 128 N. Oberlin Ave., at 2:51 p.m. After interviewing witnesses, police determined a 40-year-old San Jacinto man verbally threatened a person at the restaurant, leading to his arrest for felony criminal threats. He was transported to CPD, where police allege he battered an employee, leading to an additional charge of misdemeanor battery on a peace officer. After booking, he was released for medical reasons.
February 6
Police were called to Vista Del Valle Elementary School, 550 Vista Dr., at 5:02 p.m. regarding a 40-year-old homeless man refusing to leave campus. A records check showed he was a registered sex offender, and a search allegedly turned up a methamphetamine pipe, leading to his arrest for unlawful entry into a school building or school grounds by a registered sex offender, and possession of drug paraphernalia, misdemeanors. While at CPD, police said the man was found with illegal drugs, which added felony bringing drugs into a jail to his charge list. He was booked and later released with a citation.
March 27
Claremont PD stopped a driver for vehicle code violations at 5:17 p.m. near Base Line Road and Grand Avenue. Officers spoke to the 20-year-old Pomona man and an unidentified juvenile, and reported seeing marijuana in plain view. A search of the car allegedly turned up more cannabis, vape pens, and a firearm without a serial number known as a “ghost gun.” The minor was released to parents. The adult driver was arrested for felony selling marijuana to a minor, child abuse, possession of a loaded firearm in public, possession of an unserialized ghost gun, possession of nitrous oxide, and contributing to the delinquency of a minor, a misdemeanor. He was transported to CPD, booked, and held for court.
May 2
Claremont police said a 35-year-old Pomona man who was refused service at a business in the 400 block of W. Foothill Boulevard on May 1 walked into CPD at 570 W. Bonita Ave. at 11:20 a.m. and made threatening remarks about the business owner. Police phoned the victim, who desired prosecution. The man was subsequently arrested for felony criminal threats, booked at CPD, and held for court.
May 28
Police stopped a car driven by a 42-year-old Hesperia man for moving violations at Foothill Boulevard and Towne Avenue at 1:10 a.m. A records check revealed a felony warrant out of Pomona PD. A search allegedly turned up a methamphetamine pipe, a handgun without a serial number, methamphetamine, and fraudulent checks and credit cards. After field sobriety tests he was arrested on six felony charges: the warrant, felon in possession of a firearm, possession of an undetectable firearm, possession of a controlled substance while armed with a loaded firearm, transportation of a controlled substance, and possession for sale of controlled substance. He was also charged with misdemeanor DUI, possession of unlawful paraphernalia, and theft by false pretenses. He was transported to jail, booked, and held for court.
June 12
CPD officers conducted a 3:20 a.m. traffic stop of a 24-year-old Pomona man for moving violations near Towne Avenue and Syracuse Drive. While questioning him, police allegedly saw a gun case labeled “glock.” A search allegedly revealed the case contained a loaded handgun with a large-capacity magazine. The man, who did not have a firearm permit or a driver’s license, was arrested for possession of a concealed and loaded firearm in a vehicle, possessing a large-capacity magazine, and driving without a license, all misdemeanors. He was transported to the Claremont jail, booked, and later released with a citation. The gun and magazine were held for evidence.
July 19
A 9:25 p.m. welfare check at a residence in the 1000 block of Northwestern Drive led to a standoff between police and a 46-year-old Claremont man. Arriving CPD officers spoke with the man, who rejected help. As police were leaving, the man reportedly came out of the residence armed with a rifle and pointed it at officers. No shots were fired. He then retreated back into his home, prompting assistance from other agencies. Police detained him without further incident at 11:22 p.m., and reportedly found the rifle inside the home. A records check found previous felony convictions, and he was arrested on felony charges of being a felon in possession of a firearm and assault on a police officer with a firearm, and for misdemeanor resisting, delaying or obstructing a police officer. He was booked at CPD then transported to the Inmate Reception Center in LA, where he was held for court.
August 24
During a 12:57 p.m. welfare check near Indian Hill Boulevard and San Jose Avenue, police say a 26-year-old Montclair man threatened officers then threw a metal object, striking an officer in the head. As he attempted to flee, the man allegedly threw a glass bottle, striking a second officer in the head. After a chase, the man was caught at Indian Hill and Cobblestone Lane in Pomona, where he was arrested and charged with felony resisting an officer, battery on a peace officer, assault with a deadly weapon or instrument other than a firearm, making criminal threats, and misdemeanor resisting, delaying, or obstructing a peace officer. He was transported to the Claremont jail and held for court.
August 29
Police were called to Motel 6, 840 S. Indian Hill Blvd., at 4:14 a.m. after an argument between a front desk employee and a 46-year-old Moreno Valley woman. Witnesses told arriving officers the woman had attempted to hit the employee with her car in the parking lot. CPD officers then pulled the woman over, and a records check revealed a suspended driver’s license. She was arrested for felony assault with a deadly weapon and misdemeanor driving on a suspended license, transported to the Claremont jail, booked, and released pending further investigation.
October 8
Police stopped a car for moving violations near Towne and Harrison avenues at 11:04 a.m. A records check of the driver, a 49-year-old Duarte man, revealed previous DUI convictions. A vehicle check showed the car’s registration was expired, and it did not have a court ordered ignition interlock device, which requires a breath sample before the ignition system is engaged. A search of the car allegedly turned up a handgun registered to another person, a pair of brass knuckles, and a fraudulent driver’s license. After field sobriety tests the man was arrested for felony DUI with priors, forgery, possession of brass knuckles, being a felon in possession of a firearm, and misdemeanor driving without a functioning interlock device and unlawful vehicle registration. He was booked at CPD, held for detox and court, and released on bond October 14.
November 21
Police responded to 7:24 a.m. reports of a man exposing himself at Dollar Tree, 342 S. Indian Hill Blvd. There they say they found a 23-year-old Long Beach man with his pants pulled down holding a narcotics pipe. He was arrested for misdemeanor indecent exposure, possession of unlawful paraphernalia, and being under the influence of a controlled substance, and transported to CPD, where police say he exposed himself to city staff. He was later found to be on probation, adding an additional felony probation violation charge. He was booked, held for detoxification, and later transferred to Twin Towers Correctional Facility in Los Angeles where he was held without bail.
