Police blotter: 4-14-17

Monday, April 3

Around 3:15 p.m., a witness at the intersection of Hiawassee and Appalachian noticed a dark-colored car with paper plates stealing mail from mailboxes and followed until police could arrive. The driver, 21-year-old Andrea Valdez, reportedly admitted to police that she and the passenger, 24-year-old Alex Mendez, were in the neighborhood to steal mail, according to Lt. Mike Ciszek of the Claremont Police Department. Numerous pieces of mail from Claremont and other cities were found in their car, as well as burglary tools, a shaved key and a meth pipe. Ms. Valdez and Mr. Mendez of Riverside were both arrested.

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Police are looking for a man who stole more than $5,300 worth of wine from Vons. The thief reportedly made three trips in and out of the store between 4:35 p.m. and 5:13 p.m. and loaded a grand total of 62 bottles of cabernet sauvignon into a red igloo cooler in his shopping cart. He is described as an Asian man in his 40s, five feet, 11 inches tall and 180 pounds with black hair. He was wearing a blue long-sleeved shirt and olive-colored cargo pants.

Tuesday, April 4

Police were called to the 400 block of Carleton Place around 8:40 p.m. after Mark Humphrey, 58, of Claremont was observed threatening to burn the neighbor’s house down and kill her dog while on the roof of his home. It is unknown what caused the incident. Mr. Humphrey was arrested for criminal threats and transported to CPD jail.

Thursday, April 6

A wallet and sunglasses were among items stolen from a car on the 700 block of Occidental Drive. Between 10 p.m. on April 6 and 7 a.m. on April 7, the thief entered the unlocked car and stole $160 worth of goods, including the wallet and sunglasses as well as prescription glasses and cash. A credit card from the wallet was reportedly used in El Monte. There is no suspect information.

Saturday, April 8

So much for this friendship—police are looking for a man who drove off in his friend’s car while the two dined at Norm’s. The theft occurred around 3:30 a.m., Lt. Ciszek said. The two men arrived at the restaurant, the driver leaving his keys inside the car. As the friends dined, the driver got up to go to the restroom, at which point his buddy left the restaurant and drove off in the Kia Rio. Police are investigating.

Sunday, April 9

A Claremont man was arrested for driving his motorcycle under the influence of alcohol. Ryan Wheat, 23, was seen riding into the Chevron-McDonalds on the corner of Indian Hill Boulevard and Auto Center Drive just before 1:15 a.m. He rode with a slight wobble and crossed a double-yellow line, and was also observed stumbling as he was getting off the bike. Police caught up with him and conducted a field sobriety test, which he reportedly failed. He told police he had a single shot that night. Mr. Wheat was arrested and transported to CPD jail.

—Matthew Bramlett

news@claremont-courier.com