Housekeeper’s quick thinking leads to arrest

On Saturday, June 16 a routine room check for a housekeeper at the Claremont Lodge turned into what could have been a fatal attack around 5 p.m. on Saturday. The housekeeper found Charlie Clark, 47, of Moreno Valley, washing his hands in what was supposed to have been an unoccupied room at the Lodge. Mr. Clark looked at the housekeeper, putting his finger to his lips to gesture her to be quiet, according to Det. DeMetz. However, the housekeeper left the room and reported Mr. Clark’s break-in to her manager. Later, Mr. Clark allegedly approached that same housekeeper, took 2 knives found on her cart and came at her moving his hands in a downward motion to attack. The housekeeper was able to move backward and ran to her manager’s office to call the police. Though he attempted to flee, police were able to locate Mr. Clark and positively identify him as the attacker. He was arrested for assault with a deadly weapon as well as for being under the influence of a controlled substance. Mr. Clark had been staying at another room of the Claremont Lodge with Rosemary Johnson, 57, of Perris, who was also arrested for being under the influence of a controlled substance.