Police Blotter: February 14, 2025
by Andrew Alonzo | aalonzo@claremont-courier.com
Friday, January 31
Claremont Police Department officers traveled to the 500 block of Occidental Drive at 5:58 p.m. and arrested a 49-year-old Claremont man on a felony domestic violence warrant. He was booked at CPD jail and released on bond later that day.
Saturday, February 1
Police responded to California Bank and Trust, 102 N. Yale Ave., at 8:45 a.m. after a call about a man with a gun. Arriving officers questioned 59-year-old Claremont resident Rodney Edin Byrd near College Avenue and Green Street. A search allegedly turned up a fake gun, and he was arrested for misdemeanor brandishing an imitation firearm. He was transported to CPD, booked, and released with a citation to appear in Pomona Superior Court.
Monday, February 3
Police responded at 11:01 a.m. to the 1300 block of Towne Avenue after calls about an unhoused persons’ encampment. Officers spoke with a 38-year-old unhoused woman and a records check revealed she had a felony warrant from San Bernardino County. She was then arrested, transported to CPD, and booked. She was later transferred to West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga and held without bail in front of her February 11 appearance at San Bernardino Superior Court.
Tuesday, February 4
Police on patrol at 2:12 p.m. saw two people arguing near US Bank, 393 W. Foothill Blvd., and recognized one as a 45-year-old unhoused man with a court order to stay away from the other person. A records check confirmed the man was in violation of the order, a misdemeanor, and showed three misdemeanor Los Angeles County warrants. The man was arrested and transported to CPD, where he was booked. He was later transferred to the Inmate Reception Center in Los Angeles, then to the Twin Towers Correctional Facility in Los Angeles in front of a February 13 appearance at Pomona Superior Court.
Wednesday, February 5
Police responded to the 100 block of E. Second Street at 9:15 p.m. after a call regarding a man at a residence who was barred by the court from being there. Arriving officers questioned Derek Quinonez, 28, of West Covina. A records check confirmed he was restricted from the residence, and he was arrested for violating a restraining order, a misdemeanor, and transported to CPD. Police say Quinonez brought drugs into the jail, and added a felony charge of bringing drugs into a jail. He was booked and released the following day after appearing at Pomona Superior Court.
Thursday, February 6
Police were called to Vista Del Valle Elementary School, 550 Vista Dr., at 5:02 p.m. regarding a man who was refusing to leave campus. A records check of the 40-year-old unhoused man showed he was a registered sex offender, and a search allegedly turned up a methamphetamine pipe, leading to his arrest for unlawful entry into a school building or school grounds by a registered sex offender, and possession of drug paraphernalia, both misdemeanors. While at CPD, police said the man was found with drugs, which added felony bringing drugs into a jail to his charge list. He was booked and later released with a citation.
Claremont police questioned Nur Guvenkuzey, 39, of Alameda, at the scene of a solo traffic collision near Harrison and Mountain avenues at 9:15 p.m. After field sobriety tests, police arrested her for misdemeanor DUI. Guvenkuzey was booked at CPD, held for detox, and later released with a citation.
Friday, February 7
After receiving calls about a man looking into backyards near Foothill Boulevard and Mountain Avenue at 12:54 p.m., arriving officers questioned Hemet resident Brandon Johnson, 32. A search allegedly turned up a meth pipe, and Johnson was arrested for misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia. He was then taken to CPD, booked, and released with a citation to appear in court.
Saturday, February 8
Police responded to a solo vehicle collision near Fergus Falls and Mt. Baldy Road at 3:22 a.m., where they questioned Henri Villegas, 34, of Los Angeles. Officers say he refused sobriety tests, and after being transported to Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center for his injuries, refused requests for a blood sample. After being released from the hospital, Villegas was arrested for DUI and attempting to leave the scene of the accident, both misdemeanors. He was then booked at CPD and released with a citation.
Police responded to the 100 block of Harvard Avenue at 11:32 p.m. after calls about a fire adjacent to a business. There they questioned Pomonan Derek Marshall, 44, and arrested him for felony arson. He was booked at CPD, and later transferred to the Inmate Reception Center in Los Angeles, then to Men’s Central Jail, pending a February 11 Pomona Superior Court appearance.
