Police blotter 2.23.13

Wednesday, February 13

Two Upland residents did not receive the sweet treat they were hoping for when they entered the 21 Choices on Foothill Boulevard Wednesday afternoon. All they got was a trip to jail. Police had followed 62-year-old Verde Beede and 32-year-old Kristie Lawlor to the frozen yogurt shop after discovering the car they were driving was tagged as a felony vehicle by the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department. Mr. Beede and Ms. Lawlor were believed to be associated with a recent strong-arm robbery. They were arrested and released to the sheriff’s department.

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Burglars helped themselves to household items in the 100 block of Arlington Drive Wednesday afternoon by prying their way through a locked side garage door. The crooks made off with $900 in cash and jewelry. Social security cards and birth certificates were also among the stolen loot. The burglars have not been located.

Thursday, February 14

The beer was likely the first red flag for police, who approached 60-year-old Kimon Ratliff of Pomona after spotting him walking down the 300 block of West Bonita Avenue around 3 p.m. with a cold one in hand, according to Lieutenant Shelly Vander Veen.

Turns out Mr. Ratliff had an outstanding warrant for failing to appear in court for a Pomona Municipal Code violation. He was arrested and his beverage was discarded.

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As it turns out, 3 p.m. was the hour of calling attention to yourself. Twenty-year-old Nicholas Blair was contacted by police for soliciting without a permit in the 100 block of Limestone Road. He should have probably opted for a lower profile, as Mr. Blair was also wanted for an outstanding warrant for driving under the influence. He was arrested.

Friday, February 15

The Joslyn Senior Center is left to pay the tab after an unwelcome post-Valentine’s Day offense. Employees at the senior center arrived to work Friday morning to find a vandal had used an unknown object to smash a window pane on the double doors located on the east side of the center. Luckily, no entry was made into the building, but the damage is worth an estimated $300 of work, according to Lt. Vander Veen.

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The owner of a vehicle parked overnight at the Plum Tree Apartments, 284 N. Carnegie Ave., awoke to find themselves without rims or tires on the car and consequently out $800, the total cost of the damage.

Saturday, February 16

When in doubt, follow the train tracks. That was the tactic used by Jose Palafox, a 22-year-old from Montclair, who channeled his inner train Saturday afternoon in an attempt to find his way back home. Police found Mr. Palafox walking along the railroad tracks near Elder Drive and Green Street. He was unsure what day it was or where he was walking. Mr. Palafox was arrested for public intoxication.

Sunday, February 17

It only took a moment for a man spotted climbing into the backyard of a residence in the 1400 block of Tulane Road to climb right back out again. The man was seen hopping a fence into the backyard of the home and, a moment later, running through the side gate and disappearing. No entry to the home had been made. He is described as a 25-year-old black male, about 6 feet tall and weighing 180 pounds.

Monday, February 18

A man using the Wheeler Park restroom around 1:45 p.m. was taken off guard when another man, who was using the adjacent urinal, asked him to look at his genitalia. The victim informed police about the incident an hour after it happened, but the suspect could not be located.

The perpetrator is described as a Hispanic male in his 50s, about 5 feet 10 inches tall and 180 pounds. At the time of the incident he was wearing a brown sweatshirt, a red shirt and brown sweatpants.

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The occupants of a suspicous vehicle spotted near Mills Avenue and Base Line Road were caught red-handed and charged with separate violations late Monday morning.

The driver of the vehicle, 45-year-old Carlos Gonzalez of Pomona, was arrested after police found a business card holder in the car that matched property stolen in a recent Pomona vehicle burglary. The passenger, 23-year-old Sarah Nola of Claremont, was arrested after police found a syringe in in her purse. The pair joined each other behind bars.

—Beth Hartnett

news@claremont-courier.com