Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

POMONA - The California Highway Patrol arrested a driver September 7 after he allegedly led Claremont Police and CHP officers on a chase throughout the San Gabriel Valley.

Claremont officers initially pursued Anthony Orlando Franco, 33, who was driving in a stolen vehicle. The CHP was notified of the chase as it was west on the I-10 freeway west of Indian Hill Boulevard, according to Officer Rodrigo Jimenez of the California Highway Patrol Baldwin Park Office.

CHP officers took over the pursuit of a black 2017 Kia Soul on the west 210 freeway at Grand Avenue, Jimenez told SGV CityWatch.

The chase took to surface streets through Glendora, Covina, Irwindale, Pomona, La Verne, Claremont, Baldwin Park and West Covina. He also allegedly fled in opposing lanes of traffic, Jimenez told SGV CityWatch.

The suspect also traversed the I-10, 210, 57, 71 and 605 freeways.

The pursuit briefly reentered the 210 freeway eastbound from Sunflower Avenue in Glendora. The CHP attempted to disable the Kia Soul with the Pursuit Intervention Technique, but the vehicle kept moving and exited onto southbound San Dimas Avenue in San Dimas.

While westbound in the area of Walnut Avenue and Arrow Highway, the driver reportedly struck the front of a CHP officer’s patrol vehicle, Jimenez told SGV CityWatch.

The CHP canceled the chase due to the driver’s reckless nature.

Claremont officers located the suspect and continued the pursuit into Pomona where the suspect abandoned the Soul and fled on foot at the American Inn & Suites, 310 E. Foothill Blvd. The Kia rolled and crashed into two parked vehicles, Jimenez told SGV CityWatch.

Franco was caught shortly after running and was medically cleared before being booked at the Inmate Reception Center on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon other than a firearm, assaulting a peace officer, felony evading an officer, being in possession of a stolen vehicle and driving under the influence of drugs, Jimenez told SGV CityWatch.

Franco was additionally booked for warrants related to felony evading and parole violations.

LOS ANGELES - A teen murder suspect accused of stabbing his sister to death at their Claremont home four years ago will next appear in juvenile court.

Nathaniel Douglas Geurts, who turns 18 this June, had his murder case transferred to juvenile court after a disposition of “dismissed/not prosecuted” was issued January 28, according to the criminal case summary provided by the Los Angeles County Superior Court.

Geurts was 14 years old when he allegedly stabbed his sister Aspen Geurts, 15, to death at their home in the 300 block of Andover Drive November 4, 2015. Aspen was found unresponsive and was declared dead by Los Angeles County Firefighters.

Nathaniel was found walking away from the home, still carrying the kitchen knife allegedly used in the murder, according to the Claremont Police Department.

Nathaniel pleaded not guilty Wednesday March 9, 2016.

The teens were both students of Glendora High School.

Nathaniel is scheduled to appear in juvenile court March 7, according to Ricardo Santiago of the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

LOS ANGELES - The woman accused of using her car to intentionally hit a cyclist made her first court appearance Tuesday.

Sandra Marie Wicksted, 61, faced one count of murder and four counts of attempted murder after she struck and killed a cyclist and attempted to hit at least four others on a Claremont road November 3, according to Ricardo Santiago of the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.

Wicksted’s criminal complaint alleges she used her vehicle as a dangerous and deadly weapon and that her crimes were willful, deliberate and premeditated.

The collision occurred at Radcliffe Drive and Mills Avenue at 11:35 a.m. November 3.

Killed in the crash was 54-year-old cyclist Leslie Pray. During the crash, Wicksted’s green 1996 Mercury Tracer station wagon slammed into a wall and became heavily damaged.

Wicksted’s bail was set at $6.1 million. She faces a possible maximum sentence of life in state prison if convicted as charged, Santiago said.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

MOUNTAINS - Ground crews and water-dropping helicopters are dousing a small vegetation fire burning in the Los Angeles and San Bernardino County borders.

After initially describing the acreage as larger, firefighters report the fire has burned 15 acres of the Angeles National Forest near Mt. Baldy Road and Shinn Road. No structures are threatened, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

The California Highway Patrol and Claremont Police have Mt. Baldy Road at Fergus Falls blocked to traffic.

Two water-dropping helicopters from the Los Angeles County Fire Department are providing assistance with the help of night vision.

San Bernardino County firefighters are assisting Los Angeles County Fire, along with the U.S. Forest Service.

Cause investigators with the Los Angeles County Fire Department are en route to determine the fire’s start.

Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor

LOS ANGELES - An autopsy is still pending for a man found dead 100 feet over the side of Mt. Baldy Road Sunday.
 
Andre Marcel Wiggins, 23, from Upland, was identified by Sarah Ardalani, spokeswoman for the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner.
 
Claremont Police received a 9-1-1 call transferred from the California Highway Patrol regarding the body, which was discovered around 9:48 a.m. on Mt. Baldy Road near Potato Mountain Trailhead, according to Lt. Mike Ciszek of the Claremont Police Department.
 
A vehicle was parked near where the body was located, but Ciszek did not know if the vehicle was connected to Wiggins.
 
It is unclear if any foul play is suspected.
 
An autopsy is still pending, Ardalani said.