Police Blotter 2-19-16
Wednesday, February 10
An unknown person logged into an email account of a Claremont United Church of Christ employee and attempted to bilk the church of thousands of dollars. The incident happened between 6:41 a.m. and 10:26 a.m., when the fraudster, using the employee’s email, contacted the church’s finance director and requested funds in excess of $19,000 be wired from the church’s account to a Citibank in Glendora, according to Lt. Mike Ciszek of the Claremont Police Department. The finance director did not send the funds, but instead notified the church’s bank regarding the attempted fraud. It is currently unclear how the would-be fraudster received access to the employee’s email account.
Thursday, February 11
Claremont police arrested a Pomona man after he was seen striking his girlfriend in a parking lot. Officers responded to the 400 block of West San Jose Avenue around 4:30 p.m. after witnesses observed a 24-year-old male chase his girlfriend into a parking lot, striking her in the head. The woman was observed holding her face as she ran. She suffered a one-inch scratch on the right side of her face and an abrasion on the right side of her hairline. The suspect was arrested for battery on a non-cohabitating spouse and for having a warrant. The victim was also arrested by Claremont police after a records check revealed she had a warrant, which was not connected to the battery, Lt. Ciszek said.
Friday, February 12
A Claremont man was arrested for obstruction after getting into a fight with officers as his car was being towed. The bizarre incident began in the Packing House parking garage on First Street just before midnight, when witnesses saw 36-year-old Joshua Kreutzer and seven other people pushing a van, using another vehicle, to the third floor of the structure and kicking the side of the van. When officers arrived, they noticed Mr. Kreutzer’s car, a Ford Bronco, had expired tags. The officers decided to impound the Bronco, and when the tow truck arrived, Mr. Kreutzer “became extremely agitated,” by standing up and pulling away from officers. Police wrestled Mr. Kreutzer to the ground, and one officer suffered an injury to his finger in the melee. Mr. Kreutzer was arrested and transported to CPD jail, where he was held for bail/court.
Saturday, February 13
Two Claremont gals were arrested after getting into a fight. The brawl happened just after midnight Saturday, when police were called to the 300 block of Carleton Avenue regarding a family disturbance. Upon arrival, they saw 56-year-old Donna Davis on the front lawn, claiming another woman had punched her, and then pushed her off the front porch. The other woman, identified as 49-year-old Gina Briestensky, told the officer Ms. Davis had punched her in the mouth. Both women, each of whom wanted the other arrested, signed private person’s arrest forms and both were sent to CPD jail.
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Two people were arrested after a brazen robbery on the 600 block of Bonita. The incident happened just before 6 a.m., when 28-year-old Milton Martinez of Pico Rivera and 28-year-old Kellisha Pruitt of Sylmar allegedly choked and punched a victim and stole another victim’s purse from the center console of her car, according to Lt. Ciszek. Officers located the getaway car, a white Ford F-150, in the parking lot of Trader Joe’s. When officers arrived, a third subject ran from the scene. Inside Mr. Martinez and Ms. Pruitt’s car were multiple credit card embossing machines, credit cards and gift cards. Mr. Martinez and Ms. Pruitt were arrested, but the third subject was not located.
Sunday, February 14
Two assailants beat and robbed a man after a traffic collision Sunday night. The fight broke out in front of the Wine and Liquor Market on the 700 block of Indian Hill Boulevard at approximately 11:53 p.m. The victim was attempting to exchange information with the assailants when one of them began punching and kicking the victim in the head, ribcage and leg. The other suspect reached into the victim’s pants pocket while saying, “Give me your wallet,” according to the report. The victim’s iPhone fell to the ground during the fight, and one of the suspects picked it up while they fled the location. The victim complained of head pain and suffered abrasions to his elbow and wrist. The first suspect is described as a Hispanic male, 32 years old, 5 feet 6 inches tall, weighing 180 pounds with black hair. The second suspect is described as Hispanic, 26 years old, 5 feet 8 inches tall, weighing 165 pounds with black hair. The suspect’s car was only described as a white four-door truck. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Claremont Police Department at (909) 399-5411.
—Matthew Bramlett
news@claremont-courier.com
