Police blotter 7-3-14

Wednesday, June 30

Claremont police were called to Mountain View Elementary School around 11:30 p.m. in response to a report of suspicious people on the school’s playground. Police arrived to find two individuals who had the bright idea of trying out their new flashlights. They were questioned and sent on their way.

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A resident on the 1900 block of Mills Avenue called police to report a cardboard box in the front yard of a neighboring home that had recently been sold. After investigation, the responding officer determined that the box was empty but “may have had a cabinet inside,” according to the police log.

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Three teenagers were found smoking pot on the bandshell at Memorial Park at around 7:30 p.m. Two girls and one boy were questioned by officers and released to their parents. Earlier that afternoon, five teenage boys were found getting high at the former La Puerta Intermediate School. Again, officers questioned the kids and called their guardians.

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A fire broke out at the cottage apartments on the 500 block of San Jose Avenue with tragic results. The daughter of the tenant had been cooking eggs on the stove at around 9:45 a.m. when a fire broke out. No exact cause has been determined yet. According to Lieutenant Mike Ciszek, the resident’s dog died of smoke inhalation. The fire caused enough structural damage to require the city to red tag the apartment.

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Claremont police spent a good chunk of their day Wednesday attending to Thomas Joon Kim. Mr. Kim, a 41-year-old Claremont resident, was first spotted at 8:30 a.m. “pacing and looking into windows of houses” near the corner of Grinnell and Stanford Avenues. An alert neighbor called police who, after questioning Mr. Kim, determined he was on methamphetamine. Mr. Kim was booked for being under the influence, held until about noon, then released with a ticket.

By about 4 p.m., Mr. Kim was at it again. This time, a neighbor heard loud banging on the door of Mr. Kim’s parents’ home on First Street in Village West. Once police arrived, Mr.?Kim had made his way into his parent’s house. A call to the homeowner revealed that he was not allowed to be on the premises and, subsequently, Mr. Kim was arrested for trespassing and held overnight in the Claremont jail.

After investigation by police and interviewing the man’s parents, Mr. Kim was released from the Claremont jail without charges, according to Lt. Ciszek. Mr. Kim is described as standing 5-foot, 10-inches tall, and weighing 170 pounds with black hair and brown eyes.

Tuesday, June 24

A Claremont resident whose vacation dreams were grounded visited the police station to report that he had been swindled out of $3,500 by purchasing fraudulent airline tickets from Craig’slist. The resident was asked to gather paperwork and return to file a formal police report, according to Lt. Ciszek.

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Police were called at around 9:45 p.m. by a homeowner who reported hearing fireworks on the 1400 block of Towne Avenue. The culprit was never located.

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At 11:45 a.m., police were called to the 4300 block of Hiwassee Avenue off Mt. Baldy Road that a suspicious person was casing the home. The suspect had reportedly rang the doorbell, knocked on the door and then “walked to an unknown location to hide in the bushes on the side of the house,” according to the police log. Claremont police responded to find the homeowners’ gardener, who explained he was simply trying notify the resident that he had turned off the water to repair a leaky sprinkler. No report was taken.

Monday, June 23

A dogfight broke out at the Wilderness Park at around 6:45 p.m.  Police investigated and took a report, but neither dog was injured.

Sunday, June 22

An 30-year-old Hispanic male was accused of exposing himself to hikers along the Wilderness Park trail. Police responded and detained the man. Investigation continues.

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Two Claremont juveniles received citations for “being loud” in Johnson’s Pasture at 12:40 p.m. after a resident nearby complained. The kids were released to their parents.

—Kathryn Dunn

editor@claremont-courier.com

[Editor’s note:?City reporter Angela Bailey is on vacation this week. She will return to her post on Monday. —KD]