Police blotter 8-1-14

Tuesday, July 23

A skater hanging 10 became the victim of a five-finger discount. At the Claremont skatepark around 4:15 p.m., a 12-year-old boy left his black Apple iPhone unattended on a wall while he skated off with his friend. An unknown thief rolled up and snatched the $400 phone, then took off northbound on Indian Hill Boulevard. There are no suspects at this time.

Thursday, July 24

A Claremont man under the influence of prescription meds popped a tire and then got popped by police. Jonathan Sharp was making a U-turn in the Walgreens parking lot on Towne and Foothill Boulevard when he rolled up onto a curb, puncturing the right front tire on his vehicle. Officers witnessed the suspect drive westbound on Foothill for half a mile before pulling him over around 3:45 p.m. According to Lieutenant Mike Ciszek, the 21-year-old was sweating profusely, his actions were slow and lethargic and he was unaware the vehicle he was driving had a flat tire. Mr. Sharp underwent a series of field sobriety tests before he was arrested and released on $5,000 bail.

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An unlocked VW with a set of keys inside made the crime of grand theft auto pretty easy for one thief. Around 10 p.m., the unknown suspects entered an unlocked garage door of a home on the 2000 block of Cape Cod Court and stole the unlocked, white 2012 VW Jetta right out of the garage. The good news for this car owner is Das Auto was recovered the next day when it was discovered parked illegally in a nearby alley, in perfect condition. There are no suspects.  

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While some hotel guests in Claremont help themselves to complimentary toiletries, other guests help themselves to whatever isn’t nailed down. An unknown female guest checked in to Hotel Claremont around 2 p.m. and left with $653 in hotel amenities before checking out the next day. Items missing from the room include a 32-inch LED television, a Time Warner cable box, a clock radio, a coffee maker, a Sunbeam iron, queen size bed sheet, queen size blanket and a queen size pillow. Although the hotel clerk told police he could identify the suspect, she has yet to be apprehended.

Friday, July 25

He may have deserved a break today but, instead, a Pomona man got arrested after passing out in his car while in a McDonald’s drive-thru. Around 11:45 p.m., police spotted Joe Santacruz asleep in his running vehicle on the 800 block of South Indian Hill Boulevard. According to Lieutenant Ciszek, officers awoke Mr. Santacruz, who was waiting in line at the fast food restaurant with his car in drive and his foot on the brake. The 23-year-old exhibited signs of intoxication, and sobriety tests concluded he was just over the legal limit. He was arrested for DUI and later released on $5,000 bail.

Sunday, July 27

A motorcycle crash on Foothill Boulevard resulted in the driver being airlifted to USC Medical Center. Around 10 a.m., the rider of a Harley Davidson traveling northbound on Claremont Boulevard began a right hand turn onto Foothill Boulevard when he lost control of his bike and collided with the center median. The biker was ejected from the motorcyle and landed on the number one eastbound lane on Foothill Boulevard. He complained of pain to his left shoulder and suffered abrasions to his right arm. Los Angeles County Fire arrived on scene and transferred the victim to USC Medical for medical treatment. He was wearing a helmet.

—Angela Bailey

news@claremont-courier.com