Police blotter 11-21-14

Thursday, November 13

A Super King Market shopper got a custom pinstripe on her vehicle following a parking lot dispute with a super jerk. The victim arrived at the grocery store around noon when she and another driver began arguing over a parking space. After shopping, the victim returned to her vehicle, only to find an 8-foot-long key mark on the driver’s side of her 2007 Honda CRV. Damage to the vehicle is estimated to be $500 and there were no witnesses.

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Vandals are sending a clear message to one Claremont homeowner—no Christmas decorations until after Thanksgiving! The Bah-Humbug Bandits have repeatedly returned to a home on the 400 block of Mt. Carmel Drive and vandalized their front-lawn Christmas display. The vandals struck for a third time around 1 a.m. and used an unknown object to cut large holes in three blow-ups before cutting the head off a metal reindeer, causing $600 in damage. The suspects have been added to the naughty list.

Saturday, November 15

It was a sushi smash-and-grab for thieves who broke into two Claremont eateries looking for more than spicy tuna rolls. According to Lieutenant Mike Ciszek, unknown suspects caused $250 in damage when they smashed the glass front door at Hayato Sushi & Grill on Foothill Boulevard around 4 a.m. The would-be burglars ransacked the cash register and pried open an office door before fleeing the location empty-handed. Less than an hour later, a similar crime occurred just down the street at Sushi Cruise. An unknown object was used to smash a window on the west side of the business. Once inside, the thieves smashed the cash register on the ground and ransacked another before fleeing the location undetected.

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An Ontario man was arrested in a popular Claremont park for having unlawful sex with a minor. The suspect, Thomas Jones, and the 16-year-old female victim were found naked by police at Blaisdell Park around 1:21 a.m. when officers looked inside their vehicle and saw the suspect laying face down on top of the teen. Both parties were instructed to get dressed, exit the car and provide identification. The minor victim initially lied about her true name and age and spontaneously told police that her encounter with Mr. Jones was consensual. The 25-year-old man was arrested and charged with unlawful sex with a minor. Mr. Jones remains in custody in Men’s Central Jail in Los Angeles with bail set at $50,000. He is scheduled to appear in Pomona court on December 8.

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A Claremont officer was eyewitness to a pee-and-flee at Peppertree Square. Around 10:17 p.m., Chino resident Guillermo Soza was standing approximately 30 feet from a Claremont PD patrol unit and facing the officer when he decided to unzip his jeans and relieve himself in a nearby planter. After a brief foot pursuit, police determined Mr. Soza was intoxicated and transported the 22-year-old to Claremont jail for detoxification. He was released the following morning on $250 bail.

Sunday, November 16

The Bah-Humbug Bandits struck again, returning to Mt. Carmel Drive for a fourth time and causing an additional $180 in damage. Around 2:22 a.m., one of the Grinch-like suspects exited a vehicle and slashed Frosty the Snowman with an unknown object before turning the weapon on Santa, stabbing the jolly old elf and pushing him over onto the lawn. The suspect then attempted to cut a string of holiday lights before fleeing the scene in an eastbound direction. If caught and convicted of the crime, the suspects could face up to a year in jail or a fine of up to $10,000. At the very least, they’ll most likely receive a stocking full of coal.

—Angela Bailey

news@claremont-courier.com