Police Blotter: January 17, 2025

by Andrew Alonzo | aalonzo@claremont-courier.com 

Monday, January 6

Claremont Police Department officers responded to a 4:04 p.m. call for service in the 400 block of Guilford Avenue regarding a man in violation of a restraining order. Arriving officers questioned a 39-year-old unhoused man, and a records check showed he was in violation of a court order and had a misdemeanor warrant from San Bernardino County. He was then arrested, booked at the CPD jail, and held for court. He appeared in Pomona Superior Court January 8 and was transported to the Pitchess Detention Center South Facility in Castaic on January 14. He is due back in court January 22.

Police pulled over Montclair resident Nicolas Herrera for a moving violation at 11:46 p.m. between Arrow Route and College Park Drive in Upland. A records check revealed he was driving with a suspended license, and he was arrested on that misdemeanor charge, booked at Claremont PD, and released with a citation to appear in court.

Tuesday, January 7

A call about a suspicious vehicle led police to Syracuse Drive and Whittier Avenue at 12:05 a.m. There they spoke to Upland resident Kami Smith, 59. A records check revealed two misdemeanor warrants from San Bernardino County and one from Pomona PD. She was arrested, booked at CPD, cited for her SB County warrants, and held for court on the Pomona warrant.

Wednesday, January 8

Police responded to Vons, 550 E. Base Line Rd., at 2:09 p.m. following a call about a suspicious man. Arriving officers recognized a 30-year-old unhoused man from previous encounters. A records check confirmed he was advised not to be in the area and police arrested him for misdemeanor trespassing. He was then transported to CPD, booked, and released with a citation.

Thursday, January 9

Police were called to the 500 block of South Indian Hill Boulevard at 6:57 p.m. to investigate a vehicle burglary. After speaking with the caller and viewing security footage of the incident, police searched the area and found Brandon Mattauch, 32, of San Dimas. A search allegedly turned up property belonging to the caller, and he was arrested for grand theft and possession of stolen property, both felonies. Mattauch was then transported to CPD, booked, and released with a citation. He appeared at Pomona Superior Court on Monday.

Friday, January 10

Police spoke with a 30-year-old unhoused man in the 600 block of W. San Jose Avenue at 8:56 a.m. after getting a call about a suspicious person. A records check showed he had a misdemeanor CPD warrant, and he was arrested, booked at the Claremont jail, and released with a citation.

West Covina police called CPD at 8:05 p.m. to inform them they had Phong Lam, a 58-year-old Azusa resident with a misdemeanor Claremont warrant, in custody. Claremont police then took custody of the man and booked him at CPD. He was held until being transferred to Men’s Central Jail in Los Angeles on Tuesday. He appeared at Burbank Courthouse on Wednesday.

A traffic violation led police to stop Pomona resident Jose Robles, 50, at 11:07 p.m. near Bonita and Towne avenues. After field sobriety tests he was arrested for misdemeanor DUI. He was booked at CPD, held for detox, and later released with a citation.

Sunday, January 12

After calls about a suspicious vehicle near El Barrio Park on the 400 block of Claremont Blvd., police pulled over a car being driven by Mauricio Benitez, 33, of Bakersfield, at 10:56 a.m. A searched of the car allegedly turned up cocaine and methamphetamine, leading to Benitez’s arrest for two misdemeanor charges of possession of a controlled substance. He was then booked at CPD and released with a citation.