Police blotter 4.28.12

Thursday, April 19

A warranted man was found hiding behind a dumpster at the Kiddie Academy of Claremont, 663 E. Foothill Blvd. Mwenda Mbaabu, 39, of Fontana, was arrested for the 2 outstanding warrants, for failing to pay for public transportation and driving with a suspended license.

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Cars parked near the Claremont Hills Wilderness Park were once again targeted in an auto burglary last Thursday morning. The thief smashed the back window of a car parked on Mt. Baldy Road near Eve Canyon between 2:30 and 4 p.m. A Louis Vuitton wallet, credit cards and clothes valued at an estimated $450 were taken.

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Troubles kept mounting for a 16-year-old girl involved in a solo accident around 7 p.m. The girl was transported to the hospital after she lost control of her car, striking a curb, hydrant and crashing into a block wall near Mills Avenue and Moreno Street. A records check revealed that the girl had no driver’s license. The case has been sent to the District Attorney’s Office for further action. It is believed that driving too fast was the cause of the crash, according to Lieutenant Shelly Vander Veen.

Friday, April 20

A late night snack was spoiled for 2 San Bernardino crooks in Claremont Friday morning. A witness watched as Matthew Olson, 22, and Kory Jordan, 25, stole soda, ice tea and snacks from the back of a pickup truck parked at a residence in the 100 block of Blue Mountain Way. Police found the men driving near Base Line Road and Town Avenue. They were arrested for possession of stolen property.

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Claremont Police are searching for a man seen attempting to break into a home in the 100 block of Limestone Road. After being caught attempting to enter a side door of the residence, the man quickly jumped over a rear wall and fled. Police were unable to locate him. The man is described as a Hispanic male in his mid-20s, about 5 feet tall, unshaven and dirty, wearing black gloves. He was seen getting into a black extended Chevy Pickup truck.

Saturday, April 21

A suspected Claremont Lodge drug binge led to an unrelated arrest Saturday night. Police initially contacted occupants of one of the rooms in search of a juvenile believed to have been on a 4-day drug binge. The juvenile was not located. Instead police found empty bottles of marijuana and a stolen firearm. The occupant, who had a medical marijuana license, admitted to stealing the gun from his grandfather. Angel Gutierrez, 19, of Pomona, was arrested for the stolen property.

Monday, April 23

A 6-feet tall, 300-pound metal picnic table was stolen from Rancho Santa Fe Park, at 660 W. San Jose Ave, sometime between Friday, April 20, and Monday, April 23. The picnic table was valued at $700.

Group just out ‘driving around’ found with stolen car stereos

On Tuesday, April 24 man seen peeking into cars in the 400 block of Mount Carmel Drive caught the suspicion of neighbors late Tuesday afternoon. Without breaking into any of the cars, the man got into his own vehicle and drove away. Police stopped the car off Base Line Road. The occupants claimed that they were lost and just driving around. However, several car stereos with cut wires were found inside, and the men could not explain their origin. Jimmy Troy, 46, and Andrew Briceno, 28, both of Pomona, and Phillip Gonzales, 40, of Upland, were arrested for stolen property. Mr. Troy was additionally arrested for driving with a suspended license and Mr. Briceno for initially giving a false name to police. No victims have been located yet, but Claremont Police are in contact with nearby police departments to match the car stereos, according to Lt. Vander Veen.

—Beth Hartnett