A 37-year-old parolee arrested for allegedly burglarizing a Claremont business in an attempt to steal vehicle batteries was in sheriff’s custody Wednesday.
An officer spotted the suspect, later identified as Hector Polanco, just before 4 p.m. Tuesday outside Corey Nursery at 1650 Monte Vista Ave., according to Claremont police Lt. Jason Walters.
“Palanco was seen loading up vehicle batteries into a vehicle backed up to the chain link fence that surrounds the nursery,” Walters said. “The officer attempted to contact Polanco and a foot pursuit ensued.”
A second officer joined the chase and helped collar Polanco, Walters said.
“It was determined that Polanco cut a hole in the chain link fence surrounding the nursery and had removed the batteries from the vehicles on the property. Polanco had loaded up 15 vehicle batteries before being spotted by the officer,” Walters said.
Polanco was booked on suspicion of burglary and resisting arrest.
Polanco was on parole for an assault with a deadly weapon conviction and bragged during booking that he was only facing a misdemeanor because of Proposition 47, which was passed by voters in 2014 and reclassified some previously felony offenses as misdemeanors, according to Walters, who described the suspect as a “career criminal.”
“Cite me out,” Polanco demanded, believing he should be cited and released on a promise to appear in court, Walters said.
Polanco was being held in lieu of $20,000 bail, according to sheriff’s inmate records.