Police blotter: August 2, 2024

by Andrew Alonzo | aalonzo@claremont-courier.com

Tuesday, July 23
Claremont Police Department officers quickly responded to a 6:45 a.m. report of a two-vehicle accident in the area of Foothill and Indian Hill boulevards that escalated into a hit and run. The reporting party told police they were chasing the suspect on foot but lost sight of him. Officers then enlisted the help of a K-9 unit, but the search yielded no results. Later in the day, the suspect, Azusa resident Antonio Lopezgarcia, 20, was seen running into Trader Joe’s, 475 W. Foothill Blvd., and police moved in to arrest him. The reporting party then confirmed the identity of the suspect and police arrested Lopezgarcia for felony hit and run and for driving without a license, a misdemeanor. He was transported to the Claremont jail where he was booked then released with a citation to appear at Pomona Superior Court.

Police received a 6:49 p.m. report of another two-vehicle collision, this one involving an injury, near the 210 Freeway onramp at Base Line Road. Arriving officers alleged one of the drivers, Kyle Heidenrich, 32, of Covina, displayed symptoms of alcohol intoxication. As LA County Fire Department personnel rendered aid to the other driver, police administered field sobriety tests to Heidenrich and ultimately arrested him for felony DUI. He was booked at CPD, where he provided a chemical sample, held for detoxification, then released with a citation to appear in court.

Thursday, July 25
At 2:07 a.m., police say they witnessed a woman set up a tent along the 900 block of W. Bonita Avenue and questioned her. A records check on the 28-year-old unhoused woman revealed two misdemeanor warrants out of San Bernardino County. She was subsequently arrested, transported to CPD, booked, and later released with a citation.

CPD officers allegedly saw a woman light a methamphetamine pipe outside a liquor store in the 700 block of east Foothill Boulevard near the Pomona-Claremont border at 11:38 p.m. and detained her. The unhoused woman, 42, was allegedly in possession of a meth pipe and was arrested for misdemeanor possession of unlawful paraphernalia. No meth was found. The woman was arrested, taken to CPD jail, booked, and later released with a citation.

Friday, July 26
Police were called to the 800 block of Wabash Court at 9:58 a.m. regarding a woman who had been found sleeping in the backyard of a home. Arriving officers questioned the 61-year-old unhoused woman, who was allegedly in possession of alcohol and displayed symptoms of intoxication. She was arrested for trespassing and drunk in public, both misdemeanors, transported to CPD for booking, then released due to a medical issue.

Saturday, July 27
Police ran the license plate of a car parked at the Claremont Packing House parking structure, 470 W. First St., at 2:39 p.m., and learned the car had been reported stolen. They then questioned the driver, 31-year-old Rowland Heights resident Melissa Beeley, and a passenger, David Mellem, 43, of Claremont. Beeley was arrested for grand theft auto and possession of stolen property, both felonies. A search of Mellem allegedly turned up a methamphetamine pipe, resulting in his arrest for misdemeanor possession of unlawful paraphernalia. Both were taken to CPD, booked, and released with citations to appear in court. The car was later returned to its owner.

Sunday, July 28
At 9:20 p.m. CPD received a call from a motorist who said they were following a car possibly being driven by someone who was under the influence. Police later spotted the car and initiated a stop near the Base Line Road and Indian Hill Boulevard intersection. They allege the driver, Rowland Heights resident Christina Reyes, 44, displayed symptoms of intoxication and conducted field sobriety tests. Reyes was arrested for misdemeanor DUI, booked at CPD where she provided a chemical sample, then held for detox before being released with a citation to appear in court.

Monday, July 29
Claremont police got an 11:50 a.m. call regarding a suspicious man attempting to open car doors outside the Plum Tree Apartment complex, 284 N. Carnegie Ave. Arriving officers questioned the man, but could not locate the name he provided in their database. With the help of a portable fingerprint reader, they determined the man had provided a false name, and was actually Daniel Gonsalez, 23, of Los Angeles. A records check then revealed Gonsalez had a misdemeanor warrant out of Los Angeles County. He was arrested, booked at CPD, and later released with a citation.