Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

CLAREMONT - A man accused of shooting three people during a robbery May 17 and his accomplice are facing a slew of charges.

Michael Abeyta, 27, was officially charged with three counts of attempted murder, three counts of second degree robbery, three counts of criminal intent to terrorize and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm, according to Los Angeles County Superior Court records.

Each count of attempted murder, criminal intent to terrorize and second degree robbery carry a special allegation of use of a firearm.

Abeyta is accused of shooting three robbery victims at Super King Market, 436 Auto Center Dr. around 5:11 p.m. All three victims were treated at the scene and later hospitalized and were last listed in stable condition, according to the Claremont Police Department.

Witnesses and surveillance video helped officers identify the suspect.

During a search, clothing and a firearm believed to be used by the suspect were located hidden under a vehicle at a nearby business. A helicopter found the suspect walking in the 100 block of Meredith Avenue and he was arrested without further incident, according to the Claremont Police Department.

The accomplice, 37-year-old Amanda Soto, was identified during the follow-up investigation and arrested. She was charged with three counts of second degree robbery, according to Los Angeles Superior Court records.

Abeyta is being held without bail. Soto was released on her own recognizance. Both suspects are scheduled to appear in Pomona Superior Court July 2, according to Los Angeles Superior Court records.

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​The arrest record in this article is being redistributed by SGV CityWatch and is protected by constitutional, publishing and other legal rights. Arrest information is public record and was distributed by government sources. The person named in this article has only been arrested on suspicion of the crime(s) listed and is presumed innocent.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

CLAREMONT - Authorities rescued a dependent adult who they said was kidnapped by a man met through social media and whisked away across state lines.

Jason Newberg, 43, is accused of coercing the victim to meet him in the middle of the night. The victim was picked up in Claremont and driven to Arizona, according to the Claremont Police Department.

Investigators searched through the victim’s social media records after a concerned family member believed the suspect took the victim across state lines. A suspect vehicle was somehow identified and tracked to Arizona, according to the Claremont Police Department.

The vehicle was found in Coconino County, Arizona, along with Newberg and the victim.

Newberg remains in the custody of the Arizona Department of Public Safety.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

CLAREMONT - Four suspects from Moreno Valley were arrested January 15, Accused of taking an estimated 3,300 worth of Nike products from a Kohl’s in La Verne, Police said.

Claremont officers performed a traffic stop on the vehicle and learned it was tied to the La Verne retail theft. During the traffic stop one of the occupants chickened out and ran on foot, but was caught nearby.

The items allegedly taken by the four suspects are all Nike products, according to the Claremont Police department.

The four suspects were booked on suspicion of burglary, possession of stolen property, conspiracy and resisting or delaying a Police Officer, according to the Claremont Police Department.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

POMONA - Authorities finally took a domestic violence suspect into custody late Friday night after he refused to surrender at the end of a very dangerous pursuit.

Ryan Screnar, a 37-year-old Upland resident, will be facing multiple felony charges in the coming weeks after investigators file the case against him, according to the Claremont Police Department.

Screnar allegedly went to the victim’s home in the 2200 block of Forbes Avenue sometime Friday and banged on the front door and attempted to force it open. Officers made contact with him as he sat in a vehicle outside of the residence and refused to exit, according to the Claremont police department.

“Responding officers determine the subject had an active domestic violence court order preventing him from being at the location,” according to the Claremont Police Department in a written statement.

Screnar allegedly used his vehicle to ram several police vehicles and drove towards officers. He fled the neighborhood and was pursued by Claremont officers through town, as well as Ontario, Upland and Pomona where the pursuit ended with a crash on northbound Towne Avenue north of Bonita Avenue.

Screnar refused to surrender. Additional resources from Upland Police, Pomona Police, and the Foothills Special Enforcement Team worked to get Screnar to exit peacefully, which he did after being smoked out with pepper spray.

Medics treated Screnar at the scene and transported him to Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center for further treatment.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

REGION – The suspect accused of causing serious injuries after stabbing a male during a verbal argument was caught in Hollywood a week after the alleged crime.

Phillip Borunda, 41, was identified and detained by Los Angeles Police Department officers. Borunda was arrested by Claremont Police officers and booked on suspicion of attempted homicide and is being held without bail, according to the Claremont Police Department.

The stabbing occurred at the Claremont Metrolink Station, 200 W. First St., and was reported to first responders at 3:53 p.m. Sunday, October 22. Borunda fled before officers arrived.

Paramedics believed the victim’s stab wound to the ribcage was life-threatening, according to the Claremont Police Department in a written statement.

“Since 2019, Borunda has been arrested by the Claremont Police Department 14 times, for crimes such as arson, burglary, possession of stolen property, and drug offenses. Borunda is currently out of custody awaiting arraignment for an arson arrest due to the Los Angeles County Bail Schedules and Pre-arraignment Release Protocols,” according to the Claremont Police Department in a written statement.

Borunda is scheduled for an appearance in Pomona Superior Court Tuesday, October 31.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

CLAREMONT - A suspect free due to new Los Angeles County bail policies is now wanted for attempted homicide after stabbing someone at the Metrolink station Sunday.

Phillip Borunda, a 41-year-old transient, is accused of stabbing someone in the rib cage during a verbal argument at the Metrolink station, 200 W. First St., just before 4 p.m. October 22. The victim suffered very serious injuries and was taken to Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center for further treatment, according to the Claremont Police Department.

Shockingly, Borunda has had frequent run-ins with the law yet remains free. Since 2019, he has been arrested 14 times by Claremont police officers for crimes spanning arson, burglary, possessing stolen property and drug offenses.

“Borunda is currently out of custody awaiting arraignment for an arson arrest due to the Los Angeles County Bail Schedules and Pre-arraignment Release Protocols,” according to the Claremont Police Department in a written statement.

Borunda has a warrant for his arrest after failing to appear in court last month on a misdemeanor arson charge for a July 13 arrest.

The Claremont Police Officer Association is also pitting blame on a zero cash bail policy initiated by Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón, stating “unfortunately, District Attorney George Gascón’s “no-bail” policies have often resulted in his release without facing charges or consequences posing a significant threat to our community.”

Anyone with information leading to the arrest of Borunda, or who could help with the stabbing investigation is urged to call the Claremont Police Department at 909-399-5411.

CLAREMONT – A 25-year-old man was arrested and booked on suspicion of murder August 12, accused of killing a woman found suffering from traumatic injuries in a vehicle.

The woman was found in the vehicle parked at the Murrieta Police Department, 2 Towne Square. First responders were called to the police parking lot just after 10:30 a.m., according to the Claremont Police Department.

A suspect, later identified as Claremont man Jeffrey Alexander Calzada, was detained at the scene.

Murrieta Police officers learned the homicide occurred in Claremont near Garey Avenue and Foothill Boulevard.

Calzada is being held in lieu of $ 2 million bail in the Claremont Police jail ahead of a scheduled appearance in Pomona Superior Court August 16, according to Los Angeles County booking records.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

CLAREMONT – A Pomona man is being held in lieu of $4 million bail, accused of gunning down his victim who was found dead in a motel parking lot early Monday morning.

John Martinez, 45, was identified early during the homicide investigation and was tracked to West Covina where he was arrested July 18, according to the Claremont Police Department.

The unidentified victim, only described as a male, was found gravely wounded in the parking lot of the Claremont Lodge, 736 S. Indian Hill Blvd. Officer were called to investigate reports of gunfire at 12:10 a.m., according to the Claremont Police Department.

“Officers and paramedics from the Los Angeles County Fire Department performed life-saving measures, however, the male succumbed to his injuries. The suspect fled the scene prior to officers’ arrival,” according to the Claremont Police Department in a written statement.

Anyone with information that can help the investigation is urged to call the Claremont Police Department at 909-399-5411.

CLAREMONT – Police made 10 arrests and recovered two handguns and various prescription drugs during an eight-hour crime suppression at hotels near the I-10 freeway and Indian Hill Boulevard May 12.

Nine officers worked the crime suppression detail. One person was arrested for concealing a loaded firearm and one person was arrested for possessing an unserialized “ghost gun.” Other arrests were made for possession of Oxycodone and Xanax laced with Fentanyl for sale, possession of narcotics, soliciting on the freeway, driving with a suspended license and arrests were made for outstanding warrants, according to the Claremont Police Department.

The crime suppression detail was in operation from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m.

Two hazardous citations and one vehicle impound was made, according to the Claremont Police Department.

Concerns and complaints from the community spurred the Claremont Police Department to act on the area and its numerous hotels

“The Claremont Police Department is also collaborating with the Pomona Police Department, District Attorney Gascón, Project Sister Family Services, and the Committee for Safe and Healthy Housing to provide education, outreach, and resources related to human trafficking in the region,” according to the Claremont Police Department in a written statement.

CLAREMONT – Claremont Police officers and the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department Marijuana Enforcement Team are still searching for the people responsible for a large marijuana grow house that operated in a residential area.

A search warrant was served at the home in the 100 block of Kirkwood Avenue March 28 at 8 a.m. Every room was reportedly filled with marijuana plants in various stages of growth, 667 in all, and also removed 120 pounds of drying cannabis and 80 pounds of processed cannabis according to the Claremont Police Department.

“The extreme measures used to illegally grow the marijuana endangered the neighborhood. The home was filled with non-code compliant wiring used to power special lighting and air filtration systems. These lighting systems are often the source of fires within a grow,” according to the Claremont Police Department in a written statement. “The lighting system was disconnected to eliminate the hazard to the public. The City’s Building Inspector has “red-tagged” the building deeming it unsafe to occupy.”

The street value of the seized plants and products exceeds $500,000, according to the Claremont Police Department.

Anyone with information on this case is urged to call the Claremont Police Department at 909-399-5411.