Police Blotter: October 1, 2021

by Mick Rhodes | mickrhodes@claremont-courier.com
Wednesday, September 22
At 1:21 p.m., a witness driving near Indian Hill Blvd. and 12th Street reportedly saw a 2012 Nissan Versa hit a parked car, and gave chase. While following the Nissan as its traveled north on Indian Hill, the witness called police to report the incident before losing sight of it shortly thereafter. Claremont Police Department officers quickly located the car and pulled it over in the 2300 block of San Joaquin St. The driver, 49-year-old Claremont resident Veronica Lindogan, was arrested on two misdemeanor charges of driving under the influence of a combination of alcohol and prescription drugs, and hit and run. She was booked, then spent some time in the Claremont jail detoxing before being released with a citation to appear in court.

Officers responded to another hit and run report at 8:54 p.m., this one at 650 S. Indian Hill Blvd. involving a car and a pedestrian. The alleged victim, a 64-year-old Claremont man, said Edgar Marquez, 28, from Pomona, hit him with his car and took off. Arriving police searched the area and located Marquez nearby just minutes later. He was arrested and booked for felony hit-and- run. The victim was transported to Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center and treated for his injuries. His condition was unavailable.

Thursday, September 23
Officers on patrol pulled over a car for an equipment violation near Indian Hill Blvd. and the 10 freeway at 10:12 p.m. A records check revealed the driver, Louie Hernandez, 47, from West Covina, was driving on a suspended license. He was also given a field sobriety test and found to be under the influence of an unknown substance, and a search of his car allegedly turned up a methamphetamine pipe. Meanwhile, Hernandez’s passenger, 36-year-old Chino resident Mayra Farias, had an outstanding felony warrant for her arrest out of San Bernardino County. Both were arrested, Hernandez on three misdemeanor counts of DUI drugs, possession of drug paraphernalia and driving on a suspended license, and Farias for the felony warrant. She was transported to West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga to await court on the felony warrant. Hernandez was booked and held for detox in the Claremont jail before being released with a ticket and court date.

Claremont police are still looking for a felony car theft suspect who rammed a pair of patrol cars while making a brazen escape as officers closed in on him, guns drawn, at 10:15 a.m., at the Claremont Villas Senior Apartments at 100 S. Indian Hill Blvd. No officers were injured in the incident, but two police cruisers sustained minor damage. It began when a CPD patrol officer ran the plates of a blue 2012 Hyundai Sonata, and discovered the car had been reported stolen. The officer called for backup. A total of six other officers arrived in marked and unmarked cars, and officers approached the Hyundai in an attempt to compel the suspect to exit the car. The suspect then put the car in reverse and slammed into the front of the two patrol cars parked behind it. Police immediately took cover behind other cars to avoid being hit by the apparently enraged suspect, who continued to ram and push the police cruisers. He eventually managed to push through the two police cars parked behind, up onto the curb on the north side of the street, and then took off southbound on Indian Hill Blvd. Officers gave chase, but lost sight of him after he entered the 10 freeway heading west. Police are looking for witnesses to the event who may have seen the man before he get into the car or as he sped down Indian Hill Blvd. (the Hyundai was missing its back bumper by then). He is described as a Hispanic in his twenties or thirties, with a long mustache, possibly a goatee, and wearing a hat. Anyone who may have any information is urged to call CPD at (909) 399-5411.

Friday, September 24
A witness called police at 3:16 p.m. to report a Hispanic man driving a blue Honda Civic who brandished a gun at an Asian man who was driving a white Honda, all during broad daylight outside the 21 Choices in Village West, at 460 W. First St. The men were said to be yelling at one another prior to the gun being drawn, at which point they both took off. Police searched the area and were unable to locate either car.

Sunday, September 26
Claremont cops were called to a home in the 100 block of Marywood Ave. at 10 p.m. regarding a 44-year-old woman who said her husband, 35, had pushed her in the presence of their two-year-old daughter. The mother was apparently uninjured, but since the alleged violence involved a minor child, the man was arrested on two misdemeanor charges: domestic violence, and cruelty to a child with the possibility of injury or death. The man was booked and later posted $25,000 bail before being released with a citation to appear for arraignment in Pomona Superior Court.