Police blotter 5.5.12

Wednesday, April 25

The Mt. Baldy Road car burglary toll keeps mounting, this time with more than $4000 taken from a single vehicle. The incident took place near Evey Canyon between 4:15 and 6 p.m. The burglar entered the Dodge Ram pickup truck by shattering the rear passenger window. A pair of $2000 binoculars, tools and stereo system including speakers were stolen. There are no suspects at this time.

Thursday, April 26

A couple of crooks chose the wrong time to attempt auto burglary in the rear alley of a complex in the 500 block of Towne Avenue. A Claremont D.A.R.E. officer happened to be on the Foothill Country Day campus for a D.A.R.E. class, adjacent to where the men were breaking into the car. When they saw the officer they attempted to flee, but the Claremont police were able to set up a perimeter around the area and located them. Francisco Villa, 37, of Pomona, and David Ramos, 19, of Diamond Bar, were arrested for attempting to steal a car and an additional count of obstructing an officer bu running.

Friday, April 27

Bragging got an El Roble student in trouble with police Tuesday afternoon. The 14-year-old male was called in by administration after word that he was boasting about his plan to smoke marijuana after school. A search of the boy revealed a bag of marijuana in his jeans. He was given a citation for possession of the drug on school grounds.

*****

A morning burglary scheme in the 2200 block of La Paz Drive ended with 3 men in jail. Witnesses say the men were going door-to-door in what is suspected to be an attempt to identify if the occupants were home. One witness claimed he answered his front door and one of the men asked to check out his backyard for a dog that had gotten loose. The witness suspected the lie and refused, instead calling police. Other witnesses saw the men jump into one of the backyards.

Investigation later revealed the men had attempted to enter the home through the back door, but were unsuccessful, according to Lieutenant Shelly Vander Veen. Claremont police located the men in a Dodge Stratus on Base Line Road, west of Indian Hill Boulevard. Jerome McWilliams, 20, of Victorville, Lester Powe, 18, of Rialto, and Darnell Batts, 24, of Colton, were arrested for attempted burglary and conspiracy.

A subsequent search of one of their homes revealed a stolen firearm from a residential burglary in Rialto. Upon further investigation a count of gang enhancement was also added.

Saturday, April 28

A homeowner in the 1400 block of Marjorie Avenue received a shock when he awoke Saturday morning to find a stranger peering through his back door. The stranger claimed he was looking for his friend “Tracy,” but the homeowner believed the man was attempting to break into his house. Claremont police arrived, and arrested Nathan Riddle, 27, of Montclair for trespassing.

*****

A man attempting to get into his car parked in the 400 block of Georgia Court was beaten to the punch. When he arrived at the car, there was already someone sitting in the driver’s seat. The car owner slapped his hand against the windshield in an attempt to startle the man, who had entered the unlocked vehicle without permission. The stranger got out of the car and began to run. Police have been unable to locate the man, last seen going west on Vista Avenue. He is described as a male Hispanic with short-cropped dark hair in his early 20s, standing about 5 foot 7 inches tall and weighing 155 pounds .

Sunday, April 29

Arson is suspected in 2 Claremont field fires that arose Sunday afternoon. Police and firefighters arrived at a field north of Oak Park Cemetery around 1:30 p.m. after being notified of the flames, in both the northwest corner and middle of the field. Both were extinguished without damage to nearby property. Police found an empty lighter fluid bottle near the scene. A Los Angeles County arson investigator was called and investigation continues. There are no suspects at this time.

Tuesday, May 1

A frightened man was arrested Tuesday morning after fleeing from police, who attempted to contact him near Foothill Boulevard and Sumner Avenue. Police caught the man, who says that he ran because police had “scared” him. He claims he had been hiding all day from a group of men threatening to kill him. The 27-year-old Claremont resident was arrested for obstructing an officer.

*****

A man dining at a local eatery was left disheveled, and behind bars, after attempting to flee the location Sunday night. An employee of Heroes Restaurant, 131 Yale Avenue, contacted police around 6 p.m. about a man found vandalizing the business. The man took off, with another Heroes employee in pursuit. In the middle of the chase, the perpetrator ripped his pants when attempting to jump over a fence. Police stopped Timothy Crawley, 29, of San Francisco, near Indian Hill Boulevard. Though the Heroes’ employees did not wish to press charges, Mr. Crawley was arrested for being drunk in public.

—Beth Hartnett

[news@claremont-courier.com]