Police blotter 7-17-15

Monday, July 6

A Pomona woman riding home from Scripps College was blindsided by thieves who stole her purse from the rear basket on her bike. According to Detective David Hardin, three Hispanic men in a green Honda Accord had pulled up alongside the woman near Arrow Highway and Claremont Boulevard around 5:45 p.m. when the front passenger jumped out of the vehicle and grabbed her handbag. The victim struggled to hold on to her belongings, but eventually  let go and the thieves drove off. Officers were able to identify two of the three subjects and arrested the driver, Nicholas Albarran-King, 22, from Pomona. A warrant has been issued for the second suspect, a parolee-at-large.

Tuesday, July 7

Claremont police played a game of hide-and-seek with a burglary suspect and won. Around 11 p.m., officers tried  to stop a suspicious man riding a bike after he ditched a backpack near Sixth Street and Claremont Boulevard, but lost sight of him. The backpack, filled with items stolen from nearby Colleges construction sites—was recovered by police who later found Manual Garcia hiding in the bushes at the Chevron on Foothill Boulevard. Based on the items inside the backpack, a search warrant was issued for the Montclair resident’s home, where police recovered an additional $5,000 to $10,000 in materials including jackhammers, air compressors, power tools and various hand tools. The 35-year-old man was arrested for possession of stolen property and held in lieu of $20,000 bail.

Wednesday, July 8

Sheila Sandoval brings new meaning to the Sammy Hagar hit, “Can’t drive 55!” The 55-year-old Fontana resident was driving her blue SUV on the 200 block of South Mills Avenue at approximately 8 p.m. when she claims she was cut-off by another driver. Officers received a 911 call after Ms. Sandoval drove right into the front of a nearby home. Investigation revealed Ms. Sandoval had been driving while under the influence of alcohol and, despite her pleas to police not to arrest her, was taken into custody. The homeowner was kind enough to let her use the restroom before heading off to jail.

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An elderly driver misjudged a turn and careened into a tree on Foothill Boulevard. According to Detective David Hardin, the 90-year-old Pomona resident was exiting Regis Avenue onto Route 66 when she took too wide of a turn, drove over the center median and into a tree. The Dodge Caliber’s airbag deployed and the woman was transported to Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center with complaints of pain to her chest.

Thursday, July 9

Claremont officers responded to a burglary alarm on the 500 block of Pomello Drive, but the thieves were long gone when they got there. At approximately 1:30 p.m., burglars used a tool to gain entry to the master bedroom window of the residence. Once inside,  their sticky fingers rummaged through dresser drawers and the closet, making off with $10,000 in jewelry then fleeing the location undetected. The investigation remains ongoing.

Friday, July 10

Thieves struck another Claremont home, making off with the personal belongings of the homeowner. According to Det. Hardin, the unknown suspects entered a home on the 100 block of Armstrong Drive by breaking a rear kitchen window. Once inside the residence, they ransacked the dresser drawers and closet in the master bedroom and stole jewelry, three purses and a digital camera. The bandits fled the location in an unknown direction. 

Saturday, July 11

Evey Canyon recreational users were targeted once again by thieves seeking to make a quick buck. Claremont officers responded to the location around 11:45 a.m. after a Rancho Cucamonga hiker discovered her 2007 Chrysler had been broken into and her purse stolen. Thieves smashed the rear driver’s side window to the car and made off with the 45-year-old victim’s handbag, sunglasses and wallet containing credit cards.

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A motorcyclist suffered severe road rash following a crash. According to Det. Hardin, the 21-year-old driver was headed south on Claremont Boulevard  near Ninth Street and tried to go around two vehicles traveling side-by-side by using the bicycle lane. The Claremont resident lost control of his motorcycle and crashed to the ground. Los Angeles County Fire responded and the injured man was airlifted to USC Medical Center as a precautionary measure. He was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash.

Sunday, July 12

Claremont officers witnessed Tescia Espinoza driving her 2002 Mazda 626 near Harrison and Towne Avenues around 2:43 a.m. with an inoperable brake light and traveling 65 miles per hour in a 45-mile-per-hour zone. The 20-year-old woman was pulled over for the infractions and officers determined the Pomona resident was under the influence of alcohol. After failing field sobriety tests, Ms. Espinoza was placed under arrest and booked at Claremont jail where she was held for detox and released on $5,000 bond.

Monday, July 13

They say you have to pay your dues to make it in Hollywood,  but one resident of the entertainment mecca refused to pay her check after eating at Espiau’s. Police were called to the eatery after Treasa Curtner ordered $19.19 in food, sat for several hours and then used obscene language with the manager when asked about paying her bill. Officers found the 53-year-old lady sitting outside the restaurant with three pairs of sunglasses on her head. After questioning Ms. Curtner, police determined she had an outstanding warrant from Pasadena for dining-and-dashing. She was taken into custody.

Tuesday, July 14

Claremont police caught the bad guys who stole purses and credit cards from three vehicles at the Claremont Hills Wilderness Park around 7 a.m. Two suspect vehicles and the suspects were identified through surveillance footage after they used the stolen credit cards at local gas stations and a Walmart. At approximately 6:45 p.m., Claremont police detectives, officers and the department’s K-9 conducted a search warrant at an El Monte residence associated with the suspects. Three men were arrested and the majority of the property from the burglarized vehicles was recovered. 32-year-old Jose Hernandez of Ontario and 37-year-old Antonio Toscano of South El Monte were arrested for burglary, possessing stolen property and warrants. A third suspect, 24-year-old Victor Hernandez of South El Monte, was arrested for being a parolee-at-large. Jose Hernandez is being held in lieu of $100,000 bail and Victor Toscano is being held in lieu of $20,000 bail.

—Angela Bailey

news@claremont-courier.com