Police blotter 2-28-20
by Matthew Bramlett
Friday, February 14
Officers investigated a truck parked in front of the Claremont police station around 5:15 a.m., Det. Matt Hamill said. The truck, which carried a motorcycle in the bed, was stolen earlier that morning out of West Covina. Two men inside initially gave false IDs before fleeing on foot down Cornell Avenue. One of the suspects, 40-year-old Michael Dieffenbacher of Highland, was caught and arrested. He was on post-release supervision for a previous auto burglary, and he was taken to CPD jail. The second suspect was not found.
Sunday, February 16
Police arrested a 17-year-old Claremont boy after he tried to pay a marijuana delivery driver with two fake $100 bills. The driver called police to the home on the 100 block of Piedmont Avenue, and the boy was arrested on suspicion of fraud.
Tuesday, February 18
Police are investigating a burglary at Sumner Danbury School that took place sometime between February 16 and February 18. Police believe the suspects entered the 400 quad through the roof then broke the locks off two plastic Rubbermaid containers, making off with spray paint cans, which actually contained sprayable sidewalk chalk. There is no suspect information.
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Police arrested a man who allegedly stole tools from a Claremont car dealership while there on a job. Javier Vera, 45, was apparently hired by Fair rideshare hub to remove used motor oil from the business. Mr. Vera is accused of stealing a number of tools while working. He was arrested February 24 and taken to CPD jail.
Wednesday, February 19
A Pomona woman was arrested on a number of charges, including grand theft auto, DUI and resisting arrest. Around 10:50 p.m., officers located a 2003 Volkswagen Jetta on Towne and Foothill that had been stolen out of Pomona. They followed the Jetta south until it reached the intersection of Towne and La Verne Avenues, at which point the driver, 24-year-old Raquel Aguilar, got out and tried to flee on foot. She was quickly apprehended at La Verne and Ramsey Way. She was driving under the influence of alcohol, and a check revealed she was on probation for a previous DUI. She was arrested and taken to CPD jail, and the Jetta was returned to its owner.
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A book bag, books and $5 in coins were stolen from an unlocked car parked in a driveway on the 100 block of north Indian Hill Boulevard. The theft happened between February 19 at 8 p.m. and February 20 at 7:30 a.m., and there is no suspect information available.
Thursday, February 20
A Claremont homeowner was shocked to see three men scatter from his house as he arrived home on the 300 block of Lee Avenue. The men, described as African-American around 20 years old with average builds, ran from the homeowner’s living room through a sliding glass door they just shattered, and into a waiting silver vehicle. It is unknown if anything was taken from the home.
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Just before 9 a.m., officers stopped a car that was driving on the wrong side of First Street near Yale Avenue. The driver, 27-year-old Christine Moody of San Dimas, was in possession of drug paraphernalia and had warrants; a passenger, 32-year-old Christopher Dominguez, had drug paraphernalia; and another passenger, 31-year-old Scott Wooster, was allegedly in possession of heroin. All three were arrested and taken to CPD jail.
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Two 16-year-old boys were arrested after getting into a fight with another 16-year-old boy at Cahuilla Park. Just after 3 p.m., the two suspects approached the victim while he was lying in the grass and began punching and kicking him, Det. Hamill said. The victim protected himself by covering his head during the battery, and he was not injured. The two suspects ran away from the scene, but were apprehended in front of the high school. They were arrested and taken to CPD jail, where they were booked and released to their parents.
Sunday, February 23
Police are looking for a 21-year-old Claremont man who is suspected of domestic violence at the Claremont Lodge. Just before 9 a.m., the man was in a verbal argument with his 20-year-old girlfriend when she attempted to leave with their 10-month-old baby. The suspect allegedly grabbed the victim’s wrist, pulled her hands off the baby’s stroller, backed her into a corner and told her she wasn’t going anywhere. The victim then called police, and the suspect fled the scene and has not yet been apprehended.
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Between noon on February 22 and 8 a.m. on February 23, an unknown suspect shattered the rear window of a 2019 Dodge Ram as it was parked on the 800 block of west Bonita Avenue. The suspects stole a red and black Makita tool bag that contained miscellaneous hand tools worth about $1,000, as well as an electrician’s tool bag with impact tools and a hammer worth a total of $2,000.
