Police blotter 6-12-15
Tuesday, June 2
A burglar expanded his investment portfolio after stealing government bonds from the home of a Claremont resident. According to Lieutenant Mike Ciszek, the unknown thief entered a residence on the 800 block of Maryhurst Drive between 8:10 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. by kicking in the rear French patio door. After ransacking the place, the thief located $4,000 in US bonds and fled the scene undetected. The investigation remains ongoing.
Wednesday, June 3
A Claremont resident driving erratically through city streets was arrested for possession of heroin. Around 3 p.m., a Chevy Cobalt caught the eye of CPD as it traveled at speeds of up to 75 miles per hour near Black Hills Drive and Mills Avenue. The vehicle continued south on Mills near Chaparral Park where children were playing in a nearby schoolyard. Police pulled over the 27-year-old driver for numerous infractions including speeding, tailgating and changing lanes without signaling and a search of his vehicle turned up heroin wrapped in tin foil. The local man was booked at Claremont jail and later released on $1,000 bond.
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Three is an unlucky number for one man caught with a trio of roadies and nearly thrice the legal drink-drive limit. Juan Salvador was traveling near First Street and Harvard Avenue around 10:30 p.m. when he blew through a stop sign and was stopped by Claremont police. A records check revealed the 41-year-old driver had an outstanding warrant for his arrest and was driving on a suspended license. Officers arrested Mr. Salvador for the warrant and placed him in the back of their patrol unit. A search of his Hyundai Accent turned up three beer cans—two under the passenger seat and one under the driver’s seat—still cool to the touch. The Pomona man was found to be three times the legal limit, arrested for driving under the influence and released on $5,230 bond.
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Claremont High School seniors are thought to be behind the latest hijinks on campus that resulted in $700 in damage to school property. Sometime between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. the following day, unknown suspects sprayed all seven of the main office doors and locks with a foamy glue-like substance. Officers responded to the school and discovered the foam had expanded and dried in the keyholes to the locks, preventing school staff from entering the building. A school administrator told Claremont police the vandalism was most likely a senior prank. While school may be out for the summer, the investigation remains ongoing.
Thursday, June 4
A safe at Pomona Valley Health Centers Urgent Care containing prescription medication was compromised and it may have been an inside job. According to Lt. Ciszek, sometime between May 7 and June 4 unknown suspects stole three cases of hydrocodone from the coffer inside the facility. Each case contained 20 bottles with 30 pills each. There were no signs of forced entry and multiple employees have access to the lockbox. The investigation remains ongoing.
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A West Covina man almost avoided arrest but he just couldn’t hold it together. Officers were called to PianoPiano regarding three intoxicated individuals at the location. Police made contact with the trio, who then left the dueling piano lounge with a sober driver. As they were pulling out of the parking lot, John Siemer jumped out of the vehicle, took off his shirt and began retching outside. With his girlfriend yelling at him to get back into the car, Mr. Siemer stumbled off the sidewalk and onto the grass with the sprinklers running. Police again arrived on the scene and arrested the 23-year-old for public intoxication.
Friday, June 5
Bodily force was the weapon of choice for burglars who ransacked a home on the 700 block of Rockford Drive. Officers were called to the scene after the unknown intruder kicked in a pedestrian garage door between 7 and 8:45 p.m. in order to gain access to the home. Once inside, the thief stole jewelry and a pillowcase from the master bedroom and fled the scene undetected. The investigation remains ongoing.
Saturday, June 6
A man with a fancy ride played bumper cars with the curbs of Claremont and was arrested for driving under the influence. Officers were called to Arrow Highway and Indian Hill following a call of a golden sedan hitting the curbs while traveling in the area. Police located a 2002 gold Lincoln and conducted a traffic stop, speaking with driver Rene Gomez, who smelled of alcohol and exhibited signs of intoxication. Further investigation revealed the 33-year-old West Hollywood resident was four times the legal limit. Mr. Gomez was booked at Claremont jail and later released on $20,000 bond.
Sunday, June 7
An Upland gal short on cash didn’t let that stop her from discovering Claremont. Erica Davis walked to Norm’s from the Metro station, had a meal with a friend around 1 p.m. and then skipped out on the $33 bill. A witness confronted the 23-year-old dasher and detained her until officers arrived to the coffee shop. Ms. Davis told police that she’d had $40 but must have lost it while walking to the eatery. When she realized she only had $7 and the cashier asked if she’d paid her bill, she said “yes” and then walked out. “I should have said no but I panicked,” she told officers, adding, “I can’t go to jail. I was just arrested for evading police about two weeks ago!” Claremont police didn’t see it that way and arrested Ms. Davis for defrauding an innkeeper. She was later released on $500 bail.
Monday, June 8
A Pomona resident with a penchant for mail theft was arrested by the Claremont Police Department for possession of stolen property, identity theft and vandalism. Around 2:45 p.m., a resident in the 1000 block of Fuller Drive heard a loud noise, looked outside and saw her mailbox leaning over with a female standing near it. Officers responded and located the suspect’s vehicle, an older black sedan, and conducted a traffic stop. Police questioned and arrested the driver, Raquel Carrillo, after finding between 100 to 200 pieces of mail inside the vehicle that did not belong to her. The 43-year-old woman remains in custody at Century Regional Detention Facility in Lynwood and is being held on $200,000 bail. In total, detectives and officers located 13 confirmed victims of mail theft; 9 victims from Claremont and four victims from surrounding cities. Anyone with information regarding this crime should contact the Claremont Police Department at (909) 399-5411.
—Angela Bailey
news@claremont-courier.com
