Police Blotter: March 20, 2026
by Andrew Alonzo | aalonzo@claremont-courier.com
Saturday, February 28
Claremont Police Department officers stopped a driver for equipment violations along the 1500 block of N. Garey in Pomona at 5:15 a.m. After field sobriety tests they arrested a 49-year-old Hesperia man for misdemeanor DUI and driving without a valid license. A subsequent search of the car allegedly yielded an imitation Glock 19 handgun, and a search of the man narcotics, adding misdemeanor possession of an imitation firearm and of a controlled substance to his charge list. He was transported to CPD, booked, and later released with a citation to appear at Pomona Superior Court.
Friday, March 6
Claremont police stopped a driver for vehicle code violations at 2:20 p.m. at Towne Avenue and Arrow Highway. A records check of the 26-year-old Montclair man showed a misdemeanor Covina warrant. The 42-year-old female passenger from Pomona was found to have a felony Covina PD warrant. A search of the man allegedly turned up a methamphetamine pipe and phencyclidine, also known as PCP, and the woman was found to be holding methamphetamine and a pipe, adding misdemeanor possession of a controlled substance and unlawful paraphernalia to their charge lists. Police said the man then delayed arrest attempts and claimed ownership of packages that were not in his name, adding misdemeanor resisting arrest and possession of stolen property to his charge list. Both were taken to CPD and booked. Covina PD took custody of the woman and the man was released with a citation to appear in court.
Monday, March 9
CPD were called to 175 N. Indian Hill Blvd. at 8 a.m. to investigate a suspicious person in an elevator near a business complex. As police questioned the 29-year-old Los Angeles man, they said he began to remove baggies of methamphetamine from his person. A records check showed he was on post release community supervision. He was then arrested for misdemeanor violation of his post release terms and possession of a controlled substance, transported to the Claremont jail, and booked. He was later transferred to the Inmate Reception Center in Los Angeles to be held for court.
Tuesday, March 10
Police responded to The Artisan Claremont, 410 S. Indian Hill Blvd., at 6:30 p.m. on reports of stolen paint thinner. Arriving officers questioned a 38-year-old West Covina man, and a records check showed a misdemeanor Claremont warrant. A search found no stolen goods, but allegedly yielded a narcotics pipe, leading to his arrest for the warrant and misdemeanor possession of unlawful paraphernalia. He was transported to CPD, booked, and released with a citation.
At 8:40 p.m., Claremont police received multiple calls about gunshots at a residence in the 900 block of West Arrow Highway. Arriving officers found a man with a gunshot wound to his chest. Police detained a 51-year-old Claremont male suspect and allegedly found a semi-automatic pistol at the residence. The victim, a 53-year-old Claremont man, was transferred to Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. The suspect was then arrested for felony murder, transported to CPD jail, and booked. He was later transported to the Inmate Reception Center in Los Angeles to be held for court. On March 12 he was released after the LA County District Attorney’s office declined to press charges pending further investigation. Inmate records note the release was related to penal code 849.5PC, which reads, “In any case in which a person is arrested and released and no accusatory pleading is filed charging him with an offense, any record of arrest of the person shall include a record of release. Thereafter, the arrest shall not be deemed an arrest, but a detention only.”
Friday, March 13
Police stopped a driver for equipment violations at 11:10 a.m. near Foothill Boulevard and Garey Avenue. A records check of the 29-year-old Covina man showed he was on parole, and a search allegedly turned up methamphetamine, leading to his arrest for misdemeanor parole violation and possession of a controlled substance. Police also arrested his passenger, a 48-year-old Pomona woman, for misdemeanor possession of a controlled substance and unlawful paraphernalia after she was allegedly found with methamphetamine and a pipe. Both were transported to CPD and booked. The woman was released with a citation to appear in court. The man was transported to Inmate Reception Center in Los Angeles to be held for court.
CPD were called to an apartment building in the 800 block of West Bonita Avenue at 3:30 p.m. on reports of a woman having stolen a golf cart from a work crew. Arriving officers questioned the same 48-year-old woman they had arrested that morning on misdemeanor drug charges and arrested her again for felony theft and possession of stolen property. After a records check, police added an additional felony charge of felony theft with priors. She was transported to CPD, booked, and held for court.
