Police blotter 2.9.13

Saturday, February 2

Police found a 19-year-old college student passed out on the pavement in the 900 block of Ninth Street early Saturday morning.

Though the college student was drunk, officers believe there may be more to the story as the student was found with 2 golf ball-sized lumps to his head and blood in and around his mouth. Needless to say he was a bit grumpy with police, muttering a few curse words incoherently, according to Detective Robert Ewing. He could not remember anything other than the fact that he was at The Colleges. Because of his injuries, the student was airlifted to USC Medical Center for treatment. While students have reported that a man in a black hood had attacked the victim, police have no evidence to support these claims. Campus Safety is reviewing surveillance footage in hopes of finding out the true story.

****

Church did not prove to be a sanctuary for a 15-year-old male hiding from police. The juvenile proved an easy find in a couple of games of “hide and seek” Saturday morning. While hiding out in some bushes on the side of a residence in the 1600 block of Rutgers Court, it soon became apparent he chose the wrong patch of foliage. His hiding place was located in front of a side window in plain view of the 86-year-old resident. When the resident approached the teen, suspecting him of attempting to break into his home, the juvenile took off. Police set up a perimeter and eventually located the boy hiding in another set of bushes, this time in front of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church. He was not successful in getting away this time. He was arrested for prowling and resisting officers.

Sunday, February 3

Police were called to Hotel Claremont, 840 S. Indian Hill Blvd., Sunday morning regarding a TV stolen from a room. Employees reported that the crook had entered the room through a hotel room window. However, there was more to the story. The hotel room window had been previously broken, and instead of being repaired, the hole had simply been covered with a piece of cardboard and tape, according to Det. Ewing. Investigation continues.

Monday, February 4

Students at the Claremont Colleges now have an additional reason to take their time crossing College Avenue, thanks to an unknown vandal. College Avenue commuters awoke Monday morning to find a makeshift crosswalk drawn across the roadway in white spray paint with the word “(s)troll” beckoning pedestrians across. Campus safety officers blocked each side of the walkway to discourage pedestrians from using the fake crosswalk.

The vandals may be feeling smug about the prank, but the last laugh may be on them. Police have found the white spray paint can and will be dusting it for prints.

****

Riding a bicycle through Claremont “brings me tranquility,” said a 30-year-old Pomona resident to police after being caught in a series of thefts around 1:15 a.m. on Monday. Police did not buy the sob story. Daniel Ortiz had been spotted by a witness stealing items from unlocked cars in the 600 block of Scottsbluff Drive. When police caught up with him, Mr. Ortiz had so many stolen items piled up on his handlebars that he could barely keep his bicycle upright as he peddled, according to Det. Ewing. Police helped relieve him of the problem. He was arrested for petty theft and possession of stolen property and the stolen property was returned to the rightful owners.

Tuesday, February 5

A woman staying at Howard Johnson Express Inn, 721 S. Indian Hill, returned to her hotel room around 2 a.m. Tuesday to an unwelcome surprise: a man fast asleep on her bed with 2 rounds of ammunition next to him. The woman admitted to police that she had lent her room to a female friend earlier in the day. The man refused to identify himself, but his tattoos did the talking for him. Police were able to identify him, based on his ink, as a parolee at large wanted for assault with a deadly weapon. He was also in possession of stolen property and a meth pipe.

Thirty-three-year-old Oscar Castanon of Pomona was arrested for the warrant, for giving false information to a police officer and for the drug paraphernalia.

—Beth Hartnett

news@claremont-courier.com