Suspect Leads Claremont PD on Chase

A report of a strong-arm robbery on Dec. 7 led to a police chase in the area of the Claremont Village and the eventual arrest of a Rancho Cucamonga woman.

The incident began with a report of the strong-arm robbery at a home in the 1400 block of Morton Circle that was reported about 7 a.m.

A woman told police that friends of an acquaintance were at her apartment and stole several things including cash, keys to her vehicle, and electronics, according to a news release issued by Claremont Lt. Shelly VanderVeen.

When she tried to stop them, a television was thrown at her and used to hold her down to the ground, officers, VanderVeen wrote. The suspects fled the scene in the victim’s vehicle.

About 1:30 p.m. a Claremont officer spotted a vehicle that matched the description of one involved in the armed robbery at the intersection of Arrow Hwy and Indian Hill Blvd. The driver also spotted the officer and fled, VanderVeen wrote.

The pursuit ended on Oberlin north of First Street in the Claremont Village where the driver abandoned the vehicle and took of running, according to officers. He reportedly stripped off a t-shirt and a bullet-proof vest he had been wearing. A kilo of cocaine was located in the vehicle believed to belong to the driver, officials said.

Two passengers in the car were detained.

Sandra Diaz, 20, of Rancho Cucamonga was arrested for misdemeanor violation of possessing a methamphetamine pipe and was booked at Claremont Police Jail. She was later released with a citation, police said.

Police continued their search for the missing driver. Officials said he was last seen headed northbound on Indian Hill Boulevard.