Police blotter 6-5-15

Wednesday, May 27

Chalk one up for Claremont PD, which recovered a stolen vehicle and arrested a man for grand theft auto. According to Detective David Hardin, 30-year-old Chad Donato was driving a 2010 Buick Lucerne near San Jose Avenue and Indian Hill around 10 a.m. when officers pulled him over. A quick check of the vehicle’s license plate revealed the car had been stolen out of Huntington Beach. Mr. Donato told police he’d purchased the Buick last week, but follow up with the victim by officers determined the vehicle had been stolen from a 77-year-old man living in a convalescent home. The Corona resident was arrest for grand theft auto and released on $25,000 bond.

Two lawbreaking ladies near Motel 6 caught the eye of Claremont officers who were patrolling the area. Tanya Hennessey and Rula Daleq were sitting in a vehicle in the motel parking lot around 1 p.m. when police made contact with the duo. Ms. Hennessey, 24, admitted to officers she was in possession of a methamphetamine pipe and needle. She was arrested for the offense. Ms. Daleq, 38, was asked by police to exit the vehicle and, while doing so, allegedly dropped a baggie of meth on the ground that was soon discovered by CPD canine Dodger. Ms. Daleq was arrested for possession of a controlled substance. Both Pomona residents were booked at Claremont jail and later released on bail.

Another reminder to Claremont residents: Lock your windows and doors to deter a home invasion. Officers responded to a home on the 400 block of Miramar following a residential burglary. According to Det. Hardin, thieves entered the home between 7:45 a.m. and 5:15 p.m. through an unlocked bathroom window, ransacked the place and fled the location undetected. Property loss is unknown at this time and the investigation remains ongoing.

In the words of Oscar Wilde, “With age comes wisdom, but sometimes age comes alone.” A senior driver was pulled over by Claremont police around 7:45 p.m. for driving 15 miles per hour in a 40-mile-per-hour zone and later arrested for DUI. Officers made contact with the driver, a 70-year-old Claremont resident, who was traveling north on Mills Avenue near Arrow Highway and exhibited signs of alcohol intoxication. Officers conducted a field sobriety test and determined the woman was more than twice the legal limit. The Golden Girl admitted to police she’d had three vodka and sodas. She was booked at CPD jail without incident and released on $5,000 bond.

Thursday, May 28

Two Upland residents were airlifted to a Los Angeles hospital following a solo-vehicle traffic collision. A 22-year-old male was driving a 2014 Acura RSX north on Indian Hill Boulevard and struck the east curb with his car. The Acura jumped the curb and collided with a tree fronting a residence near Monterey Drive around 1:12 a.m. The Acura’s airbags deployed, and both the driver and his 22-year-old passenger suffered lacerations to their face. The men were airlifted to USC Medical Center for possible internal injuries. The driver told police he didn’t remember what had happened, but he might have fallen asleep, resulting in the accident. The investigation remains ongoing.

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You never know what you’ll find in a gas station bathroom, but a naked man usually isn’t one of them. A Chevron/McDonald’s patron went to use the restroom around 11:38 a.m. and discovered Benjamin Gray in his birthday suit, scrubbing off the day in the lavatory’s sink. Officers were called to the location and arrested the 37-year-old San Dimas resident for indecent exposure. Mr. Gray tried to reason with police, telling officers that he shouldn’t be arrested for the offense because he was inside the bathroom. Nonetheless, he was booked at Claremont jail and released.

Friday, May 29

A Claremont boy broke one of the Ten Commandants in an effort to acquire money for his church’s youth camp. According to Det. Hardin, physical education teachers at El Roble Intermediate School had noted that money was being stolen from their purses. The PE office conducted a sting, capturing a 13-year-old male student on camera at 10 a.m., helping himself to a teacher’s wallet. The Panther was questioned by police and confessed to stealing $300 in gift cards over the last two weeks, saying that he needed the money to go to his church youth camp but didn’t want to have to earn the money. Admitting disappointment in himself, the teen was arrested for petty theft.

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Thieves broke into and vandalized a Claremont home. Officers responded to the 1000 block of Occidental Drive after burglars entered the residence through an unlocked bathroom window sometime between 5:30 and 6:15 p.m. Once inside, the thieves ransacked the home, plugged two of the bathroom tubs letting the water run, and spraypainted several walls within the residence. Property loss is unknown at this time. The investigation remains ongoing.

Saturday, May 30

A Fontana man came to Claremont for the music, but left with a DUI. Daniel Bernal was driving his Hyundai on First Avenue near Yale when he was pulled over by officers around 1:10 a.m. for failing to stop at a stop sign. The 42-year-old driver fumbled for his license and slurred his words when questioned by police. Mr. Bernal admitted he’d been at The Press to hear a band play and had a couple of Bud Lights. Following field sobriety tests, officers determined the music lover was more than three times the legal limit and he was arrested for driving under the influence.

It was all about that bass for thieves who may find themselves in quite a bit of treble after stealing a valuable cello from a Claremont home. Officers responded to the 1200 block of Reims Street after burglars entered the home through an unlocked side door, ransacked the residence and made off with an iPad and a wooden cello valued at $14,000. The unknown thieves fled the scene undetected. 

Sunday, May 31

A Pomona gal discovered Claremont for a sixth time, and law enforcement offered her the welcome wagon. Around 4 p.m., officers witnessed Jennifer Williams crossing in the crosswalk against the signal on Foothill Bouelvard and Towne Avenue. The 42-year-old had a hard time maintaining her balance and a records check revealed she’d been arrested by CPD on five previous occasions for public intoxication. Officers determined Ms. Williams was nearly five times the legal limit and arrested her for public intoxication. She was booked and later released on $862 bail.

—Angela Bailey

news@claremont-courier.com