Police blotter 6-20-14
Resident Warning: Scammers impersonating government and utility employees as well as lotto representatives have been calling local seniors, claiming they need immediate payment over the phone via PayPal, Green Dot or MoneyGram. It is not common practice for the IRS, the Federal Tax Board or other agencies to collect payment in this manner. If a solicitor seeking money contacts you, check your caller ID for the telephone number of the caller and immediately call Claremont police.
Thursday, June 12
A student’s party plans on the last day of school went up in smoke when he was arrested with “Mary Jane.” The teen arrived late to the San Antonio High School campus, displaying signs of impairment and was cited for possession of a controlled substance when officers discovered he was carrying two small baggies of marijuana. He was released to the custody of his parents.
Friday, June 13
It was indeed a very unlucky day for many drivers who encountered a Claremont Police Department checkpoint set up alongside Dartmouth and Foothill Boulevard. Of the 1,342 vehicles screened, six people were cited for being unlicensed, 5 people were cited for having a suspended license, three vehicles were impounded, two people were arrested for warrants and a 27-year-old woman was arrested for DUI.
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A burglar with an affinity for shiny things entered the home of a Claremont resident and made off with the goods undetected. Around 9:30 a.m., an unknown suspect shattered the rear sliding door of a home on the 2000 block of Kings Way and stole a silver tray and silver flatware estimated to be worth around $1,500. The resident was not home at the time and there are no suspects.
Saturday, June 14
A La Puente man relieving himself in a Claremont cul-de-sac ended up in the back of a squad car after a resident called the police. Around 1 a.m., Sergio Zepeda was spotted exiting his vehicle and urinating on the 800 block of Decatur Circle. According to Corporal Hector Tamayo, responding officers discovered methamphetamine and a glass pipe on the 18-year-old and arrested him for possession of a controlled substance. Mr. Zepeda was released later that morning on $10,0000 bail.
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A Fontana bicyclist suffered fatal injuries following a collision with a vehicle near Evey Canyon. The 77-year-old female driver was traveling southbound on Mt. Baldy Road around 7 a.m. when she attempted to pass the 59-year-old male cyclist on the left. The passenger-side mirror of the white Chevy SUV struck the cyclist, propelling the biker to the ground with a tremendous impact. Los Angeles County Fire responded to the scene and the cyclist was airlifted to USC Medical Center with severe head trauma. Although he was wearing a helmet, the cyclist’s injuries were too severe and he died at the hospital. The accident remains under investigation.
Sunday, June 15
Riverside resident Eddie Mooray was arrested for felony grand theft following the recovery of a vehicle he allegedly stole from a Newport Beach car dealership. The 51-year-old was driving the 2013 Chevy Silverado near the 700 block of Indian Hill Boulevard when officers pulled him over. Sterling BMW reported the company work vehicle stolen after an employee left the keys in the truck and it went missing. Mr. Mooray remains in custody at Men’s Central Jail in downtown Los Angeles on a no bail hold. His projected release date is September 6, 2015.
Monday, June 16
Bicycle bandits strike again. A Claremont McKenna student left his 21-speed red and white Kent mountain bike attached to a bike rack on the 700 block of Amherst Avenue when it went missing. The thief cut through a Bell cable lock and made off with both the bike and the lock. There are no suspects at this time and the bike has not yet been recovered.
Tuesday, June 17
The National Insurance Crime Bureau states that tailgates can be stolen in less than 30 seconds, and that’s probably all it took for one criminal who swiped one off a truck parked on the 500 block of Auto Center Drive. The gray Ford F-150 was parked around 8 a.m. when an unknown suspect looking to make a quick buck removed the tailgate. Words of advice: If a tailgate can’t be opened, it can’t be stolen as easily. If your model has an integrated lock, use it. If you don’t have one, get one; they are relatively inexpensive. Park with the tailgate as close as you can to an object or a structure to prevent the tailgate from opening. Etch your truck’s vehicle identification number (VIN) or a personal identification number into the tailgate.
—Angela Bailey
news@claremont-courier.com
