Police blotter 8-22-14
Wednesday, August 13
It was a case of tree versus truck and there weren’t any winners in this battle. A driver of a truck with an attached trailer was traveling eastbound on Foothill Boulevard west of Dartmouth when he claimed to have been struck by a limb on an overhanging city tree. However, officers determined that due to the size of the truck and the trailer, the vehicle struck the tree, not the other way around. Based on the evidence on scene, the officer believed the driver was traveling too fast when he struck the branch. The cost of the damage to the vehicle and the tree is unknown at this time.
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Bronze bandits strike again in Claremont. Two unknown suspects are wanted for grand theft after removing a pair of bronze plaques from Western Christian School. According to Lieutenant Mike Ciszek, the missing items are described as a 38-by-32-inch bronze plaque with the story of Western Christian School and a 18–by-11-inch tree dedication plaque from Eleanor Roosevelt with a total value of $1400. The case remains open and under investigation.
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The Claremont Police Department conducted another checkpoint along Foothill Boulevard that resulted in multiple arrests: two for DUI, six suspended license with vehicle impounds, three miscellaneous warrants, and one driver with an active warrant and no license.
Thursday, August 14
A Claremont man was arrested for burglary, violation of a court order and possession of drug paraphernalia after a resident called police to report a suspicious vehicle parked in the driveway. The officer responded to the 3900 block of Williams Avenue around 12:15 p.m. and made contact with suspect Craig White. The 28-year-old was wanted for a violation of a court order from earlier in the day. Mr. White had forced open a window at his parent’s house and removed property from the home before fleeing the location through a back door. During a search of the vehicle, officers found a black duffle bag filled with several frozen food items still frozen and a glass opium pipe. Mr. White was arrested and remains in custody in downtown Los Angeles in lieu of $50,000 bail.
Friday, August 15
A teen driver took her eyes off the road for just a moment and ended up with a broken arm. The 18-year-old female driver was traveling southbound on the 100 block of Armstrong Drive around 11 p.m. when she realized she was lost. She took her eyes off the roadway for a moment to consult the GPS on her phone and collided with a cable box and a street light pole. The driver suffered a broken arm and was transported to Pomona Valley Medical Center for treatment.
Saturday, August 16
Art comes in many forms, so it’s important to have an open mind. Self-proclaimed artist Andrew Elizarraras allegedly took matters into his own hands when he urinated on the showroom floor of Playlist Clothing. Officers responded to a call from the retail store and an employee identified Mr. Elizarraras as the suspect. Officers located the Claremont man, who exhibited signs of intoxication, and when asked how much he had imbibed, the 47-year-old responded, “I’m an artist. I was over at a friend’s house.” He was arrested for public intoxication and later released on $250 bail.
Monday, August 18
Another day, another burglary in Claremont. Unknown suspects entered a home on the 4000 block of Las Casas Avenue around 10 a.m. and stole a $600 iPad, $150 in coins and a $1200 diamond ring before fleeing the scene undetected. The residence showed no signs of forced entry and there are no suspects at this time.
—Angela Bailey
news@claremont-courier.com
