Police Blotter: May 24, 2024
by Andrew Alonzo | aalonzo@claremont-courier.com
Tuesday, May 14
Claremont Police Department officers were called to Peppertree Square, along 300 block of South Indian Hill Boulevard, at 1:35 p.m. regarding a person who had been previously barred from the area. Police questioned a 46-year-old unhoused woman who was subsequently arrested for misdemeanor trespassing. She was taken to CPD, booked, and released with a citation to appear in Pomona Superior Court.
Police were called at 10:33 p.m. regarding a man and woman outside Stater Bros., 1055 W. Foothill Blvd., allegedly harassing customers. Police spoke with the duo in question and ran a records check. The unhoused man, 40, had a misdemeanor warrant issued by West Covina police. He was arrested, booked at CPD, and later released with a citation.
Wednesday, May 15
CPD was called to the intersection of Claremont and Foothill boulevards at 9:52 p.m. regarding a man carrying a bow and arrow. Police located the suspect and questioned Claremont resident Matthew Harding, 35. While speaking with him they suspected he was intoxicated. A subsequent search allegedly revealed he was in possession of a switchblade and three dirks or daggers. He was arrested for misdemeanor drunk in public, misdemeanor possession a switchblade, and misdemeanor possession of a dirk or dagger, then taken to CPD jail where he was booked, held for detoxification, and issued citations to appear in court.
Thursday, May 16
Claremont police responded to an 11:06 a.m. call about a man wielding a hatchet near U.S. Bank, 393 W. Foothill Blvd. They questioned a man who fit the witness description, Jordan Feagin, 30, of San Dimas. A subsequent search allegedly turned up a methamphetamine pipe, and he was arrested for misdemeanor possession of unlawful paraphernalia. Police did not locate the hatchet. Feagin was booked at CPD and later released with a citation.
Friday, May 17
Police pulled over a car near the intersection of Foothill Boulevard and Monte Vista Avenue at 2:02 a.m. for an alleged vehicle code violation. They questioned 28-year-old David Gonzalez, from Pomona, whom they say displayed signs of being under the influence of alcohol. Following field sobriety tests Gonzalez was arrested for misdemeanor driving under the influence and booked at CPD, where he reportedly refused to provide a chemical sample. Police then obtained a court order and took a blood sample. Gonzalez was held for detox before being released with a citation.
Police were called to the Metrolink parking lot in the 200 block of W. First Street at 4:27 p.m. by a person who said a man was masturbating in public in the area. Police located the suspect, a 32-year-old unhoused man, who the alleged victim identified. A records check revealed the man had four previous arrests for indecent exposure, two since August 2023. He was subsequently arrested for felony indecent exposure, booked at CPD, and held in front of his arraignment in Pomona Superior Court set for 8:30 a.m. Friday, May 31.
Sunday, May 19
Claremont police were called back to Peppertree Square, along the 300 block of South Indian Hill Blvd., at 8:35 a.m. regarding the same 46-year-old unhoused woman they arrested May 14 who had been previously barred from the area. A records check revealed a misdemeanor CPD warrant, and she was arrested once again for misdemeanor trespassing, and the warrant, and transported to the CPD jail. Police said the woman kicked a jailer during the booking process, so misdemeanor battery on a peace officer was added to her charges. She was later released with three citations.
Police received multiple 4:29 p.m. calls regarding a car being driven erratically near the area of Harrison and Harvard avenues. Witnesses reported the driver, Justin Pal, 27, of Oxnard, then parked his vehicle, got out, and began screaming and stumbling. Arriving officers questioned Pal and attempted to conduct sobriety tests, but he refused. A records check showed his license had been suspended, which led to police impound his car. Pal was arrested for misdemeanor DUI and misdemeanor driving on a suspended license and booked at the Claremont jail. Police obtained a chemical sample and held Pal for detox before releasing him with two citations.
Multiple witnesses called police at 6:15 p.m. to report a woman had struck a child in the face with a rake at Griffith Park, 1800 Woodbend Dr. The woman then left the park and witnesses followed her to a nearby residence. Police located the suspect, a 29-year-old Claremont woman, and arrested her for felony assault with a deadly weapon and felony child abuse. Police report the child who was reportedly struck with the rake is 3 years old. At press time the woman remained in custody at CPD jail pending court.
Monday, May 20
On May 18, Menifee PD issued an Amber Alert regarding a juvenile who had been abducted by a parent. Two days later at 7:12 a.m., Claremont police received a call from someone who believed they saw the suspect, a 59-year-old woman from Riverside County, in the 200 block of S. Cambridge Avenue. Arriving officers located the suspect and detained her. Police say another person then brought the child — reportedly in good health — to CPD. That person was then detained before apparently being released without charges. Menifee PD then arrived and arrested the 59-year-old woman for felony violation of a custody decree and transported her to the Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility in Banning, pending court. She was released with a citation on Wednesday.
At 4:51 p.m., police got a call regarding a person sitting outside Koling Shoes, 985 W. Foothill Blvd. Police questioned the 28-year-old unhoused man and ran a records check revealed a felony warrant out of Los Angeles County. He was subsequently arrested, booked, and later transported to West Valley Detention Center in San Bernardino County.
