Police blotter 9-22-17
Tuesday, September 12
A Claremont man has been arrested in connection with a weed bust on the 1900 block of Lockhaven Way. Steven Mandell, 66, was arrested around 3:18 p.m. during a traffic stop on the 800 block of North Indian Hill Boulevard, according to Lt. Mike Ciszek of the Claremont Police Department. Mr. Mandell, the reported owner of the property where around 200 marijuana plants were found, is accused of stealing water from a neighbor to water his crops. Officers swarmed the property on August 22 and arrested 57-year-old Jeffrey McCarty, who was living on the property at the time, for possession of a meth pipe. Mr. Mandell’s arraignment hearing is set for November 13.
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A neighbor scared off a would-be burglar on the 1100 block of Briarcroft Road. Between 11 and 11:30 p.m., an unknown thief tried to gain entry into the home by shattering the front window. A neighbor noticed this and approached the suspect, who became startled and fled the scene in an older model Ford Explorer. Nothing was taken from the home, and there is no suspect description. Anyone with information should call the Claremont Police Department at (909) 399-5411.
Thursday, September 14
A traffic stop on a stolen car yielded four arrests. Police pulled over a 1998 Toyota Camry near the intersection of Indian Hill Boulevard and San Jose Avenue around 4:45 a.m. after finding out it was reported stolen out of Ontario the day before. Five people were inside the car, including 23-year-old Sandra Diaz of Rancho Cucamonga, 19-year-old Gilbert Garcia of Pomona, 36-year-old Hector Polanco of Montclair and a 16-year-old boy from Rancho Cucamonga who was driving the car. Ms. Diaz provided a false name to officers and was arrested for the stolen vehicle, possession of stolen property and possession of narcotics. The boy was arrested for the stolen car, and possession of stolen property and cocaine. Mr. Garcia was arrested for a warrant, and Mr. Polanco was arrested for public intoxication.
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A Claremont man was arrested for DUI after reportedly crashing into a parked car on the 1400 block of Lynoak Drive. Around 4:46 p.m., officers responded to the area after 26-year-old David Rasmussen crashed his Chevrolet Aveo into the car. During the investigation, police determined that Mr. Rasmussen was too drunk to be driving. As officers were going to arrest him, Mr. Rasmussen allegedly tried to run away from the scene and was quickly apprehended by officers.
Friday, September 15
A Corona man was arrested after startling a driver by trying to open her driver’s side door. The woman was sitting in her car on the 800 block of Decatur around 1 a.m. when 28-year-old Heneef Smith allegedly checked the locked door handle. The startled victim called 911. Mr. Smith and another person were found hiding in some bushes near the scene, and were arrested for attempted petty theft.
Saturday, September 16
A car belonging to a man arrested the day before was burglarized near the intersection of Towne and Scripps Avenues. A witness was riding a bike north on Towne when she noticed a man, described as a Caucasian or Hispanic man with a medium build wearing dark clothing, leaning into a passenger window of a car, with shattered glass on the sidewalk near the car, Lt. Ciszek said. The suspect fled on a black BMX bike. The car belonged to a man who was arrested the night before after police found burglary tools in the car during a traffic stop. The owner requested the car remain parked on the street.
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Police are looking for whomever broke into a home on the 3600 block of Dillard Avenue. Between 8:33 p.m. and 8:37 p.m., the burglars entered through an unlocked first story window, kicked open a closet door and stole and unknown amount of jewelry. There is no suspect information.
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Another burglary occurred, this time on the 1100 block of Northwestern Drive. Between 3:15 p.m. and 10:15 p.m., the unknown thief pried open the rear sliding glass door of the home and ransacked the kitchen and two bedrooms. The suspects fled undetected, and a pillowcase is the only confirmed loss at this time.
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Three unlocked cars were broken into in the same north Claremont neighborhood. Between 3 p.m. on September 16 and 7 a.m. on September 17, an unknown thief opened the door to a car parked on a driveway at the 2100 block of La Sierra Way and stole numerous items from the glove compartment, including an $800 watch and a $300 pair of sunglasses. The suspect fled undetected.
Two other unlocked cars on the 2300 block of Silver Tree Road were also burglarized between 9 p.m. on September 16 and 8:30 a.m. on September 17. The license plate was stolen from one car, while paperwork and owner’s manual were stolen from the other.
Sunday, September 17
Police arrested a Monrovia woman for DUI after she reportedly crashed her BMW into a center median, sending a passenger to the hospital. Police were called to College Avenue and Foothill Boulevard just before 10 p.m. after 33-year-old Denise Moraga was involved in the accident. During the investigation, officers determined Ms. Moraga’s speech was slurred and her eyes were watery. A male passenger in Ms. Moraga’s 2016 BMW sustained injuries to his face and was transported to Pomona Valley Medical Center. Ms. Moraga was arrested for DUI causing injury and transported to jail.
Monday, September 18
Police are looking for a man who reportedly flashed a woman as she was taking out the garbage. The incident occurred around 4:55 p.m. on the 500 block of west San Jose Avenue, when the man exposed his penis to the 65-year-old victim. The victim told police she initially didn’t know whether or not he was trying to urinate. The man is described as Caucasian with blonde hair, five feet, 11 inches tall and 180 pounds. Anyone with information should call the Claremont Police Department.
—Matthew Bramlett
news@claremont-courier.com
