Police blotter 8-7-15

Tuesday, July 28

An alleged car thief was arrested after making an illegal turn, right in front of Claremont police. Officers were stopped at a red light on Mills Avenue at Base Line Road at approximately 5:15 a.m. when the light turned green and a 2008 Nissan Sentra made a left turn in front of them. Police pulled over the 18-year-old driver, Irie Gomez-Welmas, for failing to yield and a records check revealed the vehicle he was driving had been reported stolen to Riverside County Sheriff on July 27. Mr. Gomez-Welmas was arrested for grand theft auto and possession of stolen property. The transient was booked at Claremont jail and held on $25,000 bail. 

Wednesday, July 29

A homeless encampment in Claremont played host to three people who were arrested by police for outstanding warrants. According to Lieutenant Mike Ciszek, officers responded to Andrews Place and Claremont Boulevard at approximately 8:03 a.m. after receiving a call that a transient was trespassing in the nearby field. Upon their arrival, police made contact with 49-year-old Pablo Martinez, 47-year-old Matthew Oldford and 38-year-old Sally Clark. A records check revealed all three had outstanding warrants. The three were arrested and booked at Claremont jail.

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Burglars struck another home in north Claremont and fled the scene undetected. At approximately 8:50 p.m., unknown thieves shattered a glass door on the back of a residence located on the 2700 block on Monticello Road. Once inside, the intruders ransacked the home and got away without anyone seeing them. The amount of property loss is unknown at this time and the investigation remains ongoing.

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A Claremont resident thought he was sober enough to drive, but he was wrong. Police dispatch received a 9-1-1 call with a vehicle description of a possible DUI driver near First Street and Indian Hill Boulevard. Officers spotted the champagne-colored Toyota Tacoma near Foothill Boulevard and observed the driver commit several traffic violations before pulling him over. Police made contact with the 67-year-old driver and determined he was under the influence of alcohol. The senior told the officers he’d had a few beers at Eureka Burger and then another at Beer Belly Deli where, the driver says, he was advised not to get behind the wheel. “I told them I think I’m okay to drive,” he said to police. At nearly twice the legal limit, he clearly was not sober and the Claremonter was booked for driving under the influence and later released on $5,000 bond.

Friday, July 31

Thieves broke into Chaparral Elementary School and stole $11,200 in electronics. According to Lt. Ciszek, at approximately 2:15 p.m. unknown intruders entered the computer lab at the campus by pushing in the window frame of the classroom. Once inside, the hoodlums stole 10 Apple iMac computers, keyboards, mice and headphones, but dropped two that were later located in the parking lot of the school. According to school officials, the Claremont Unified School District will replace those computers temporarily with refurbished models from the district office so the lab functions properly when school begins. Police continue to investigate.

Saturday, August 1

Claremont Police Officers witnessed Anna Delarosa make a left turn out of the Piano Piano driveway, ignoring the “Right Turn Only” sign marked at the exit to the parking lot. Police stopped the 33-year-old driver, who exhibited signs of alcohol intoxication. Following a series of field sobriety tests, officers determined Ms. Delarosa was driving under the influence of alcohol and arrested the La Verne resident for DUI. She was booked at Claremont jail and later released on $5,000 bond.

Sunday, August 2

Police were called to San Jose Park at 3:25 a.m. after someone reported seeing three males play-fighting before heading into the street, laughing. Upon their arrival, officers witnessed a vehicle driving recklessly away from the area and pulled over the driver at the eastbound on-ramp to the 10 Freeway. Further investigation by police determined the 29-year-old driver, Ricky Rivera, was under the influence of alcohol and he was arrested for DUI. The Fontana man was booked at Claremont jail and later released on $5,000 bond.

—Angela Bailey

news@claremont-courier.com