Police blotter 10.20.12

Suspects nabbed trying to sell stolen El Roble aluminum

On the afternoon of Wednesday, October 10 a Claremont Unified School District employee found himself in the right place at the right time, helping to take down 2 suspects wanted for a theft at El Roble earlier that day. Between 10:30 p.m. the previous day and 5:45 a.m. that morning, 4 aluminum tables and seats worth an estimated $5000 were stolen from the intermediate school’s lunch area. Later that day, while at a recycling center in Montclair, the CUSD employee noticed a large truck with the aluminum benches in the back. He provided the truck’s description and license plate to the police, who were able to obtain the names of the suspect from a receipt provided by the recycling center attendant. Police arrested Sydney Hill, 44, of Claremont, and Jason Buffamonti, 39, of Pomona, in connection with the burglary.

Monday, October 8

Melted chocolate and toilet paper were only a couple of items found strewn about Claremont McKenna College’s Athenaeum in a reported act of vandalism. An Athenaeum employee had arrived at work to find all the lights suspiciously already on. The employee entered to find chocolate on the tiled floor, toilet paper thrown around and feces in the toilets, according to Lieutenant Shelly Vander Veen. Beer cans and several broken tiles were found on the roof. Though there are no suspects at this time, police are reviewing surveillance footage.

Thursday, October 11

House burglars continue to target residences across the city without providing police with any solid leads. Three Claremont homes were hit Thursday, October 11. The first was targeted between 5:30 and 8 a.m. in the 2000 block of Monticello Road. Jewelry and cash were taken. Between 2 and 9:40 p.m., a burglar removed a locked window on the side of a home in the 400 block of Mt. Carmel and ransacked the residence. Another home was targeted between 5 and 10:30 p.m. the same day in the 4000 block of Mohawk. The burglar entered by prying open a set of double French doors to the rear of the home. Owners of the homes are still determining total property loss.

Friday, October 12

Loading up on veggies didn’t provide an 81-year-old Upland man with the benefit one might expect. Mahmoud Ziglari entered Sprouts Market around 10:50 a.m., filled plastic bags with $54.60 in produce and left the market without paying. An employee spotted Mr. Ziglari putting the groceries into his truck and asked the man to give them back. Police arrived and arrested Mr. Ziglari for burglary. It is believed that Sprouts wouldn’t have been his last grocery stop as his truck was found with numerous white plastic grocery bags for both Stater Bros. and Cardenas.

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“Hitler learned it from us” was one of many unwelcome phrases found written in graffiti on 9 different Pitzer College dormitories and academic buildings Friday morning. Clean-up of the graffiti cost an estimated $750. There are no suspects at this time.

Monday, October 15

A man seen swinging a golf club in the 400 block of Indian Hill Boulevard raised residential suspicion Monday evening.

The man, referring to the golf club as his pony, asked the police officers to help him catch a grasshopper so that he could eat it, according to Lt. Vander Veen. Based on that and several other statements, the man was taken to a nearby hospital for a mental evaluation.

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Police are calling for information from witnesses of a severe vehicle/pedestrian accident that took place near Foothill Boulevard and Towne Avenue Monday afternoon. The driver was attempting to make a right on Foothill from Regis Avenue when the car and the pedestrian collided. It is unknown whether or not the pedestrian was attempting to cross Foothill or Regis. The pedestrian was found unconscious and bleeding from the head and airlifted to USC Medical Center and, as of press time, was still in the hospital. Police ask anyone with information about the accident to call the Claremont Police Department at 399-5411.

Tuesday, October 16

The BBs are back. A vehicle parked in the 4000 block of Garey Avenue was found with dents on both sides, a shattered side window and a cracked front windshield Tuesday morning. The damage is believed to have been done with a BB gun. Damages are estimated at about $5000.

Wednesday, October 17

A 62-year-old Pomona resident claims he had only consumed about 5 or 6 beers when he was found driving on the wrong side of the road near Indian Hill and the 10 Freeway early Wednesday morning, according to Lt. Vander Veen. Ernie Leon was also reportedly seen making a U-turn to exit the 10 freeway. Mr. Leon was arrested for driving under the influence.

—Beth Hartnett

news@claremont-courier.com