Police Blotter: August 4, 2023
Tuesday, July 25
At 1:50 p.m. Claremont Police Department officers were called to a residence in the 800 block of Scripps Drive about a stranger sitting on the porch of a neighbor’s home. When police arrived, they questioned a 25-year-old unhoused man who was still sitting on the porch. He allegedly confessed to entering a detached garage through an open door, taking a case of soda and then after exiting the garage, sitting down to drink one of the beverages. The man who called police was concerned because his neighbor was not at home. The suspect reportedly told police he was homeless and did not want to be on the streets anymore. He was arrested for felony burglary and taken to the Claremont jail where he was held for court.
Wednesday, July 26
A Claremont police sergeant on patrol at 1:55 a.m. noticed two men apparently burglarizing a white truck near the Padua Terrace Apartments, 633 E. Foothill Blvd., and conducted a traffic stop on a car driven by Diego Solis, 28, of Huntington Park. After questioning Solis and his passenger, Lynwood resident Richard Luna, 36, the two men were detained. Both allegedly admitted to being in possession of a controlled substance and Solis reportedly had a methamphetamine pipe. They were arrested for attempted burglary, possession of a controlled substance, and possession of drug paraphernalia, all misdemeanors. They were transported to the CPD jail, where they were booked and held for court.
Thursday, July 27
Claremont police detectives received a request from the Ocean City, New Jersey Police Department to serve a no-bail felony sexual assault arrest warrant in Claremont. Police arrested Brian Hilton, 64, and transported him to the CPD jail. He was booked and held until he could be transferred to West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga to await extradition.
Friday, July 28
Claremont police conducted a multiagency prostitution sting Friday evening into Saturday morning along Indian Hill Boulevard adjacent to the 10 Freeway. The operation was performed in conjunction with the Monterey Park Police Department and the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office Bureau of Investigation. The officers also had the cooperation of the management at Motel 6, according to a news release from Claremont police. During the sting seven undercover officers posed as sex workers and solicited men who sought to engage in commercial sexual acts. Sixteen men were subsequently arrested by other undercover officers nearby and charged with misdemeanor solicitation.
Arrested were Obed Barronlara, 39, of Montclair; Alexander Gieng, 41, of Pomona; Kevin Price, 25, of Ontario; Sharif Khan, 33, of Fort Wayne, Indiana; Johan Garcia, 23, of Riverside; Juan Carlos Garcia, 35, of Rancho Cucamonga; Paul David, 50, of Chino Hills; Kevin Andrade, 28, of Montclair, Omar Flores Morales, 28, of Montclair; Jaime Barrios, 40, of Hesperia; Wafa Samir Zitouni, 33, of San Dimas; Anirudh Yarlagadda, 32, of Chino; Melad Adward Abdelnour, 54, of Rancho Cucamonga; Walter Daniel Chavez Ramos, 31, of Upland; Gabriel Vallejo, 35, of Lennox; and William Jason Buffington, 50, of Montclair.
The 16 men were booked and later released with citations to appear at Pomona Superior Court.
Sunday, July 30
Just before 3 a.m. officers were dispatched to MW Smoke Shop, 444 Auto Center Dr., because the burglary alarm had been activated. Upon arrival officers said the front door of the business had been shattered. Video surveillance showed four male suspects enter the store at 2:55 a.m. and then appear to remove tobacco products from the business before fleeing in a gray Kia Optima. The suspects are described as “possibly Hispanic” and wearing dark hooded sweatshirts, gloves, and masks. Anyone with information about this crime is urged to call Claremont police at (909) 399-5411.
