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 – A male was discovered dead inside a parked vehicle early Monday morning, according to the Claremont Police Department.

Officers were called to the 1400 block of Claremont Boulevard around 6:06 a.m. to a reported suspicious vehicle. An officer discovered the male deceased, according to the Claremont Police Department.

The man was identified as James Lowe III, a 53-year-old Santa Ana man, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner.

Claremont Police detectives and the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner are investigating. Anyone with information on this death is urged to call the Claremont Police Department at 909-399-5411.

BALDWIN PARK – Alcohol likely contributed to a rollover crash on a rain-soaked Mt. Baldy Road above Claremont Monday night that took the life of his passenger, the California Highway Patrol said.

Oscar Daniel Pineda, 30, is accused of driving south on the mountain road north of Shinn Road at high speed, causing the 2018 Toyota Camry to crash into a dirt berm and overturn onto the asphalt, according to the CHP.

The collision occurred January 17 at 11:35 p.m.

Pineda’s right rear passenger, a 28-year-old Ontario woman, died at the scene. She has been identified as Janet Hernandez, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner.

Pineda and his other passenger, Brian Martin Valdivia from Los Angeles, were taken to Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center.

Neither Hernandez, nor Valdivia were wearing seatbelts, according to the CHP.

Pineda was booked on suspicion of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and DUI causing bodily injury, according to the CHP.

Pineda is being held in lieu of $100,000 ahead of a scheduled appearance in Pomona Municipal Court January 20.

CLAREMONT – A multi-vehicle collision left a motorcyclist dead on the eastbound 210 freeway at Baseline Road November 9.

The collision was reported just before 6 p.m. near the Baseline Road off ramp. A blue BMW X5 reportedly hit the motorcycle. The rider was discovered down without a pulse in the No. 1 lane, according to the California Highway Patrol.

A Toyota Corolla was possibly also involved.

At 6:17 p.m., a 2-hour Sig Alert was issued for the HOV and No., 1, 2 and 3 lanes. By 9:13 p.m., the CHP announced all lanes were reopened.

It is unclear if alcohol, or drugs played a factor in the crash. It is also unclear if an arrest was ever made.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

UPDATE, 10:58 a.m.: An initial investigation bySheriff’s Homicide detectives indicates the 27-year-old woman found dead in a Claremont hotel died from a possible self-inflicted gunshot wound.

​a weapon was recovered.

CLAREMONT - A woman died early Sunday morning, the apparent victim of a shooting, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Homicide detectives said.

The victim, an adult female, died at the scene in the 800 block of South Indian Hill Boulevard. Authorities were called around 1:42 a.m. October 31, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Information Bureau.

It is not yet publicly clear if investigators have identified a suspect, or at least have a suspect description.

Anyone with information on this shooting is urged to call the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500. Information can be provided anonymously by calling LA Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), through the P3Tips mobile app, or lacrimestoppers.org.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

CLAREMONT – Police discovered a mother and her child dead inside a home Tuesday after the two had reportedly not been seen for a few days.

Based on concerns for the mother and child’s well-being, police forced their way into the home in the 1400 block of Morton Circle after their knocking on the front door went unanswered. Both were found dead, according to the Claremont Police Department.

Police responded to the home at 7 p.m. October 26.

“Based on the preliminary investigation, it appears that the mother killed the child and then committed suicide. The weapon used during the incident was a knife and it was recovered at the scene,” according to the Claremont Police Department in a written statement.

The 18-month-old was identified as Arianny Reyes-Arevalo. The mother was identified as Anabel Reyes-Becerra, according to Sarah Ardalani, public information officer for the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner.

Police did not discover signs of forced entry and police do not believe there is any outstanding suspect.

Anyone who may have information that can aid the investigation is urged to call the Claremont Police Department Detective Bureau at 909-399-5420.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

CLAREMONT - One person was wounded by gunfire, another received other injuries in a neighborhood shooting on Salem Court early Wednesday.

Officers responded at 8:20 a.m. after being called to a report of shots fired at a home in the 1800 block of Salem Court April 7. One victim was found laying on the street. He was taken to Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center and was pronounced dead, according to the Claremont Police Department.

Firefighters, dispatched at 8:23 a.m., found a victim in traumatic full arrest, according to Inspector Henry Narvaez, public information officer with the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

One other person was found with injuries not related to gunfire, Narvaez told SGV CityWatch.

“A 71-year-old male suspect was taken into custody and a firearm was recovered,” according to the Claremont Police Department.

It is unclear if the other wounded person was the alleged gunman.

Written BY AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

CLAREMONT - Police arrested a man, accusing him of intentionally drowning another man at a residential pool June 13.

Masoud Bitarafan, 34, was booked on suspicion of murder and is being held in lieu of $5 million bail in the drowning of a still-unidentified victim in a pool in the 900 block of Appalachian, according to the Claremont Police Department in a written statement.

Los Angeles County firefighters responded to the scene around 7:50 p.m. Saturday.

Police responded about 8 p.m. The victim was not breathing and had no pulse. He was taken to Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center where he was pronounced deceased, according to the Claremont Police Department.

“Police determined that the victim and suspect were in the pool together. While in the pool, the suspect held the victim under the water, which is believed to have contributed to his subsequent drowning and death,” the Claremont Police Department said in a written statement.

Video surveillance apparently helped contribute to Bitarafan’s arrest.

Bitarafan is scheduled to appear at Pomona superior Court June 16.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

CLAREMONT - One person was declared dead on arrival after a vehicle crashed below Mt. Baldy Road Wednesday.

The crash on Mt. Baldy Road at North Padua Avenue was dispatched to firefighters at 4:43 p.m. May 13.

Firefighters will be working a difficult extrication due to the distance the vehicle crashed and the terrain.