Police Blotter: August 19, 2022

by Steven Felschundneff | steven@claremont-courier.com

Tuesday, August 9

At 12:37 a.m. Claremont police officers saw a grey Kia stopped in the middle of the intersection of Foothill Boulevard and Mills Avenue with another vehicle’s driver honking to try and get the Kia to move. Officers approached and say they saw Carson resident Ebony Walker, 38, asleep in the driver’s seat with the vehicle in gear and the engine running. A passenger in the vehicle was also asleep. Officers suspected Walker was under the influence of alcohol, and following a field sobriety test, he was arrested taken to jail. Police say a breath sample revealed a blood alcohol content of .13%, nearly double the legal limit. He was held for detoxification and released with a citation to appear in Pomona Superior Court.

Police received a 6:22 a.m. call about a man going through bins of mail behind the Claremont Post Office, 140 N. Harvard Ave. When officers arrived, they contacted a 32-year-old unhoused Claremont man in possession of mail that did not belong to him. Police say the subject admitted to stealing mail and he was arrested transported to the Claremont jail, booked, and released with a citation.

Claremont’s license plate reader cameras picked up on a grey 2017 Hyundai Tucson that had been reported stolen in Pomona earlier in the day. At 8:29 p.m. officers located the car heading south on Indian Hill Boulevard at San Jose Avenue and attempted to pull the driver over. The Hyundai entered the westbound 10 Freeway, accelerating to a high rate of speed, and a pursuit was initiated. During the chase the cars traveled at speeds in excess of 100 mph, with the Tucson weaving in and out of traffic. At the 57 Freeway interchange the Hyundai accelerated to 115 mph and officers lost sight of the vehicle and terminated the pursuit.

 

Wednesday, August 10

At 12:01 a.m. the same unhoused man who was arrested a day earlier was arrested again for violation of a stay away order, which bans him from approaching certain family members and a residence. A caller advised police that the man was in her front yard, but the order prohibits him from being within 100 yards of that residence. When officers arrived, he fled on foot. Officers caught up to him in the 300 block of S. Indian Hill. He was arrested and transported to CPD jail before being released with a citation. A records check showed he had been arrested 14 times for the same violation over a three-year period.

A caller alerted police at 12:49 a.m. there was a possibly intoxicated driver near the intersection of Foothill Boulevard and Towne Avenue, and that the car was missing a tire. When police caught up with the driver, later identified as Pomona resident Jose Granados, 56, the car was headed westbound on Foothill, had lost two tires, and was sending up a spray of sparks as it proceeded down the roadway on just the rims. Officers pulled Granados over on Garey Avenue north of Foothill and discovered both tires on passenger side were completely missing along with evidence that the car had been involved in a traffic collision at an unknown location. Police say they found Granados standing next to the open driver’s door with the key fob in his hand. Not surprisingly, they suspected he might have been drinking. He agreed to a voluntary preliminary alcohol screening test which allegedly showed his BAC was .18%, over twice the legal limit. He was transported, booked, and held for detoxification before being released with a citation to appear in court.

Thursday, August 11

At 2:32 p.m. officers conducting a welfare check at the Motel 6, 840 S. Indian Hill Blvd., observed several unhoused people sitting next to dumpsters at the nearby Denny’s. They contacted Pomona resident Elizabeth Freeman, 44, who was wanted on a Claremont felony burglary warrant, and a check revealed she was also on probation for burglary. She was arrested and transported to CPD where she was held for court the following day. Her probation was subsequently revoked, and she remains in custody at Century Regional Detention Facility in Los Angeles.

Friday, August 12

A female victim parked her black Honda Accord in the 2600 block of King Way around 6 p.m. to go on a hike with a friend. When they returned at about 8:30 p.m., she discovered the car had been vandalized with several large dents to the front quarter panel as well as the front and rear doors, later estimated to be $3,400 in damage. Police responded and saw that the dents in the vehicle appeared to be caused by kicking, due to shoe prints on the paint, with part of the shoe print reading “Sperry.”

Officers contacted Claremont resident Naser Mahfoud, 48, who lives adjacent to where the Honda was parked. Mahfoud said he had surveillance video and agreed to let police look at the feed, but officers were unable to gain access. Police say Mahfoud then became uncooperative. During their investigation officers asked Mahfoud to take off the sandals he was wearing. They observed the word Sperry printed on the shoes and confirmed the size matched the shoe print on the Honda. Mahfoud allegedly told police he was angry because the victim had parked in front of his house for a long period of time. He was arrested, transported to the police station, and booked on a felony vandalism charge. During that process he complained of a medical emergency and was released with a citation and transported to a hospital.

Saturday, August 13

At 2:31 a.m. officers on patrol observed a car with a non-operating headlight and conducted a traffic stop at Claremont Lodge, 736 S Indian Hill Blvd. They contacted driver Pomona resident Jose Montepeque, 39, who, according to officers, displayed symptoms of being under the influence of alcohol, and had a half empty bottle of Modelo beer in the cup holder in the center console. Montepeque reportedly admitted to drinking two beers earlier in the day. Officers administered field sobriety tests, determined he was under the influence and placed him under arrest. A records check turned up an unknown type warrant from Pomona. He was transported to the police station, booked, and held for detoxification. He was later released with citation for DUI.

Monday, August 15

At about 3 p.m. a female victim parked her tan 2003 Honda Civic in the northwest corner of the parking lot at Motel 6, 840 S. Indian Hill Blvd. When she returned at 5 p.m. she discovered it was missing. Officers responded and the victim said she might have left keys in vehicle while unloading groceries. Officers reviewed surveillance video and allegedly saw a blue GMC sport utility vehicle drive past the Honda then back up and park next to the car. A suspect described only as a Hispanic male exited the passenger side of the SUV and entered the Honda, which was last seen heading west out of the parking lot. The next day the unoccupied vehicle was recovered by Ontario police but there was no evidence that would lead to the suspected thief.

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