Police blotter 1-17-14

Thursday, January 9

Connie & Dick’s employees received an unexpected visitor on Thursday morning. Jamur Johnson, a 34-year-old Pomona resident, took up residence in the employee break room, problem being he was not an employee. Mr. Johnson was carted away by police, arrested for an outstanding warrant for fare evasion.

Friday, January 10

Two south Claremont homes were targeted in afternoon burglaries on Friday. Thieves entered a home in the 300 block of Villanova Drive through a rear dog door, according to Lieutenant Mike Ciszek. Numerous drawers had been left opened, but it did not appear anything was taken.

A homeowner in the 400 block of Georgia Court was not as lucky. Crooks entered the home off Vista Drive by breaking a glass pane on a rear door. An estimated $11,780 in stolen jewelry was taken. There are no suspects.

Saturday, January 11

Greg Valencia, a 22-year-old resident of Rancho Cucamonga, appeared to be in such a rush on Saturday that he forgot what side of the road to drive on. Police received an estimated 29 calls about Mr. Valencia’s erratic driving, which included driving on the wrong side of the road, failing to stop at red lights, refusing to yield for pedestrians and driving 70 miles per hour in 45 miles per hour zones. Police were finally able to slow him down near Foothill and Indian Hill.

Mr. Valencia, on parole for assault with a deadly weapon, was arrested for reckless driving, driving on the wrong side of the road and driving with a suspended license.

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Police received calls regarding an unusual traffic hazard on Saturday. Around 9:30 a.m. a wayward hot air balloon made an emergency landing in the Claremont High School parking lot, mere feet away from a light pole, according to police. The balloon had taken off from Cable Airport as part of the annual air show.

The operator planned to land at The Claremont Colleges, but as he explained to officers, “I go wherever the wind takes me.” Unfortunately for him, it wasn’t a valid enough excuse for an aircraft accident investigator, who reported the illegal parking job to the Federal Aviation Administration. The massive multi-colored balloon was carted off without further incident.

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The intersection of Bonita Avenue and Cambridge Avenue was temporarily closed on Saturday evening as police rushed to the aid of a skateboarder hit by a car. The pedestrian was traveling east on Bonita when a car turning left on Cambridge struck him in the middle of the intersection. The pedestrian was flown to USC Medical Center with significant head injuries, according to Lt. Ciszek. His condition is unknown.

Wednesday, January 15

The music wasn’t the only thing causing excitement at Hip Kitty Jazz and Fondue early Wednesday morning. Ganesh Mahalingam, a 41-year-old Monrovia resident, added further frenzy when he brandished his pocketknife to patrons and made racist statements, according to the police report. Police responded to the Packing House establishment and put an end to Mr. Mahalingam’s antics, arresting him for public intoxication.

—Beth Hartnett

news@claremont-courier.com