Police blotter 1-10-20

Tuesday, December 17

Two men were arrested after getting caught trying to steal a floor buffer from Sumner Danbury Elementary School. Police arrived to the school on a report of a theft in progress just after 6 p.m., Lt. Jason Walters of the Claremont Police Department said. Two suspects, 32-year-old Joshua Reza of Pomona and 35-year-old Eric Alvarado of Pomona, were stopped a short time later in possession of the buffer, which had CUSD stickers on it and was valued at $1,100. They were both arrested on suspicion of grand theft.

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Claremont police are investigating an apparent robbery that occurred at Motel 6. A man told police that around 9:45 p.m., a man and a woman forcefully took a cell phone, a wallet, a watch and credit cards from him, with a value totaling $1,500. No suspect information was available, nor were the circumstances surrounding the robbery. Up to four suspects may be involved, Lt. Walters said.

Saturday, December 21

Police arrested Eric Rodriguez, 26, after he was caught driving a stolen 1995 Honda near Foothill and Towne. When officers pulled over Mr. Rodriguez around 2 p.m., he reportedly told police he bought the car from a stranger for five dollars. Officers didn’t buy his story, and he was arrested for stealing the car.

Monday, December 23

At least four cars were broken into in south Claremont. Between December 22 and December 23, cars on the 300 block of Carleton Avenue, the 100 block of Green Street, the 300 block of Oakdale and the 100 block of Piedmont were broken into. Among the items taken from the cars were a jacket worth $150, a laptop worth $200, a dish set, and a Makita drill worth $500. Police are investigating.

Tuesday, December 24

A Claremont man was arrested on suspicion of willful cruelty to a child on Christmas Eve. Officers were called to the 100 block of Kirkwood around 11:20 p.m. due to a family disturbance. During the investigation, police determined the 35-year-old man got into a physical fight with a 14-year-old boy at the home. He was arrested and taken to CPD jail.

Thursday, December 26

A Pomona man was arrested on possession of drugs and stealing a car. Police pulled over a Honda Accord near Mountain and Asheville around 2:10 p.m. after it was reported stolen out of Covina earlier that same day. The driver, 43-year-old Larry Haddock, was arrested on suspicion of stealing the car and for having meth and a suspended license.

Friday, December 27

Police arrested a Pasadena man after he tried to steal batteries from a construction storage site near Monte Vista Avenue and Foothill Boulevard. A witness called police around 12:20 a.m. after seeing a person on the site after hours. Officers and a helicopter from the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department responded to the scene, and found 40-year-old David Beck attempting to hide in a nearby port-a-potty. Two batteries from a tractor and a dump truck were allegedly found in Mr. Beck’s truck, and he was arrested on suspicion of grand theft.

Tuesday, December 31

The final police report of 2019 was a familiar crime in Claremont—a car burglary at Evey Canyon. Between 11 a.m. and 1:55 p.m., an unknown thief smashed the rear passenger side window of the victim’s Hyundai, taking a backpack with a wallet, credit cards and other personal info, Det. Matt Hamill of the Claremont Police Department said. The cards were used in various locations in Pomona. Police are investigating.

Wednesday, January 1

As revelers rang in the New Year, police officers received six calls of fireworks and at least one call of shots fired. Thankfully, the New Year came and went without any party-related incidents.

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Police are looking for a 19-year-old man who is suspected of hitting, choking and attempting to stab a 19-year-old woman at the Claremont Lodge. The incident occurred around 12:52 a.m., and the suspect left before police could arrive. The victim was not stabbed, and suffered an abrasion to her lower back, but was not taken to a hospital. The suspect was described as a Hispanic man, around five feet, eight inches tall and 122 pounds with black hair and brown eyes.

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Later that day, four teenage boys were arrested on suspicion of lighting a small fire at the Vista del Valle Elementary School playground. When police arrived at the scene, the three 15-year-olds and one 16-year-old tried to flee. All of them were caught and arrested on suspicion of arson, conspiracy and resisting arrest. The boys were booked and cited out to their parents.

Thursday, January 3

Claremont officers are looking for a teenager who apparently tried to rob a woman walking from Super King Market. The victim was leaving the supermarket around 8:45 a.m. when the teen reportedly brandished a gun and said to her, “Give me everything you’ve got or I’m going to blow you away,” Det. Hamill said. The victim refused to hand over anything to the teen, who got frustrated and ran away. He was described as Hispanic, around 15 years old and wearing braces.

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A Wells Fargo employee was arrested on suspicion of making criminal threats. Police arrested 30-year-old Richard Chase of Montclair after he allegedly said to a co-worker that he was “bipolar and one day when I lose it and I come to work and shoot up the place, I have an excuse.” It is unknown what the context was before Mr. Chase allegedly made the threat. Mr. Chase was taken into custody on suspicion of making criminal threats and is being held in lieu of $1 million bail.

Saturday, January 4

Police are investigating an apparent hit and run and car theft incident that occurred in the Vons parking lot. Officers were initially called to the shopping center around 4 p.m. on a hit and run call, and were told by the apparent victim that two of his friends took his black 2008 Ford Taurus without his permission and fled the scene, committing a hit and run in the process. The only suspect description available on the two suspects was that they were a Caucasian woman and a Hispanic woman.

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Police arrested a Santa Ana woman after she apparently ordered food at Norm’s and refused to pay or leave. Officers arrived to the restaurant just before 9 p.m. and tried to arrest 27-year-old Destiny Woods for defrauding an innkeeper, but she was argumentative, didn’t give her name and refused to come out of the bathroom. She was eventually arrested and taken to CPD jail, where she was cited out.

Monday, January 6

Two unknown burglars broke into Sanamluang Thai restaurant, but left empty-handed. Just before 5:30 a.m., the thieves shattered the front door window of the restaurant and entered, triggering the burglary alarm, Det. Hamill said. The burglars went straight to the front cash register, which was empty. They ultimately left with nothing. Police are investigating.

—Matthew Bramlett

news@claremont-courier.com