Police Blotter: December 23, 2022
Monday, December 12
Security at Claremont Toyota, 601 Auto Center Dr., called the Claremont Police Department at 8:15 p.m. because two men were on the sales lot checking for open vehicles. When officers arrived, they located two people walking east on Auto Center Drive and made contact with them near Super King Market. A records check revealed that one of the men, Altadena resident Maxence Labbe, 40, had a felony warrant from Pasadena for auto theft with a $100,000 bail, as well as a no-bail parole violation warrant for burglary. During a search police reportedly found black metal knuckles in a pants pocket. He was arrested for the warrants and an additional misdemeanor charge of possession of brass knuckles and transported to the Claremont jail where he was booked. The second man was released at the scene. Labbe was issued a citation for the knuckles and transported to West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga on the parole violation.
Tuesday, December 13
Officers responded to the AM/PM Arco station, 701 E. Foothill Blvd., at 12:24 a.m. after receiving a call about a man who had reportedly slapped an employee. When police arrived, they located Tony Martinez, 25, of Chino Hills near the gas pumps and detained him. The victim told police that Martinez attempted to follow him into an employee only area of the station and when the victim told Martinez to leave, they began to argue. Martinez allegedly then shoved the victim, who told police he was not injured but still wanted Martinez arrested. During a records check police learned that Martinez was on parole for a previous criminal threats conviction. He was arrested on the battery charge and transported to the Claremont jail. Police contacted the state parole department, which put Martinez on a parole hold. He was issued a citation on the misdemeanor battery charge and transported to West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga.
Staff at the Joslyn Senior Center, 660 N. Mountain Ave., called police at 3:45 p.m. about a known unhoused man who was being aggressive with employees and was in violation of previous order to stay away from the location. Officers found the man in front of the center, and a records check confirmed he had been told several times not to return to the location because of aggressive behavior. The man admitted knowing he was not supposed to be there but went anyway because he wanted to get groceries from the free food program at the Joslyn. He was arrested, transported to the CPD jail, booked, and released with a misdemeanor trespassing citation.
Friday, December 16
At 12:25 p.m. officers conducted a welfare check at the now vacant Greyhound Bus Station, 888 S. Indian Hill Blvd., at the request of the property owner. There police talked to three people, including Pomona residents Sergio Huerta, 31, and Romelia Madriz, 45. A records check showed Huerta had two outstanding misdemeanor warrants, one for battery in Pomona with a $40,000 bail and one in San Bernardino for possession of controlled substance and paraphernalia with a $225,000 bail. Madriz had four misdemeanor warrants, one in Pomona for battery with a $40,000 bail, two Rancho Cucamonga warrants for driving without a license, carrying a $65,000 bail, and another for possession of controlled substance with a $75,000 bail. The third person was released at the scene. Huerta and Madriz were transported to the CPD jail, booked, and later issued citations for their warrants.
Between 7 p.m. Friday and 1 a.m. Saturday, Claremont police conducted a DUI and license checkpoint at 735 E. Foothill Blvd., which was funded by the California Office of Traffic Safety. Police saw 644 drivers, screened seven with sobriety tests, made three DUI arrests, issued one citation to an unlicensed driver, and cited another for driving on suspended license due to a previous DUI conviction. At 9:36 p.m. a 2016 burgundy Honda Accord stopped at the checkpoint and police said they could smell marijuana smoke in the car. Police escorted Claremont resident Anthony Rodriguez, 21, to a secondary area and conducted a field sobriety test. They said the results showed he was driving under the influence of cannabis, and he was arrested. At 10:40 p.m. Claremont resident Daelan Moreno, 27, drove a white 2014 Nissan Versa into the checkpoint and officers reported smelling a strong odor of alcohol. Moreno allegedly said he was returning from a holiday party where he had three to four beers. Police said he failed a field sobriety test and was arrested for DUI. At 11:39 p.m. a red 2009 Dodge Ram truck driven by Rocklin resident Joseph Elsafadi, 29, pulled into the checkpoint. Officers said they could smell the distinct odor of marijuana and a secondary test allegedly revealed he was under the influence, resulting in his arrest for DUI. As driving under the influence of drugs has become more prevalent, a CPD officer who has completed a two-week course to become a drug intoxication recognition expert has been assisting in identifying drivers who are driving under the influences of substances other than alcohol.
An officer on patrol at 8:12 p.m. spotted a black 2016 Mercedes C Class sedan at Foothill Boulevard at Towne Avenue, with a paper advertisement for Surf City Nissan instead of a rear license plate. The officer conducted a traffic stop and questioned Los Angeles resident Shawn Lee, 34, who only had a California identification card. A records check showed Lee had three previous license suspensions, the oldest of which took place in May 2010. The check also showed he had a no-bail parole warrant for robbery. Police asked Lee to exit the vehicle, at which point he allegedly put his hand between the front seat and the center console and attempted to retrieve something. The officer then ordered Lee out of car. During a parole search of the vehicle, police allegedly found a loaded 9 mm semiautomatic Glock style handgun between the seat and the console where Lee had placed his hand. The gun had no serial number, known as a “ghost gun” because it cannot be traced. Police also reported finding a full face mask, gloves, two-way radios and three large empty duffle bags which are consistent with smash-and-grab robberies. Lee was arrested for being a felon in possession of a gun and ammunition, a felony, as well as misdemeanor driving on a suspended license. He was transported to the CPD jail, booked, and issued a citation on the misdemeanor charge. A further records check allegedly showed multiple felony robbery charges, and Lee was jailed on the no-bail parole warrant and held in front of a December 20 appearance in Pomona Superior Court.
Saturday, December 17
After the DUI checkpoint ended, an officer riding home on his department-issued motorcycle at 1:18 a.m. saw a gray 2004 Ford F-150 heading south on Indian Hill Boulevard just below Arrow Highway. The officer said the truck collided with the median twice, and he subsequently pulled over Roger Sardina, 57, of Rancho Cucamonga and reported smelling a strong odor of alcohol. Additional officers responded to complete the investigation and conducted field sobriety tests, including a breath sample which allegedly showed Sardina was at over twice the legal limit to drive. He was arrested for misdemeanor DUI, transported to the CPD jail, booked, held for detoxification, and released with citation to appear in court.
