VICTORVILLE – A break-in suspect caught by San Bernardino County Sheriff’s deputies died following a physical altercation, including several tasers being fired in a Tuesday incident. An in-custody death investigation is taking place.

Dante Parker, 36, of Victorville was reported to be breaking into a residence in the 13000 block of Bucknell Court at 4:47 p.m. Parker fled the scene on a bicycle, the victim told the responding law enforcement officer, and the deputy eventually made contact. According to reports, the deputy attempted to detain Parker for the attempted break-in, believing the suspect to be under the influence of an unknown substance. A physical altercation ensued as Parker resisted, according to the deputy’s report.

The deputy, who is not identified, used a taser gun multiple times while trying to place Parker in custody. Additional deputies eventually arrived to help the struggling officer. Eventually, the suspect was brought under control, handcuffed and placed into the backseat of a patrol unit.

Deputies observed Parker sweating profusely, also appeared to be having difficulty breathing. Medical aid was requested at the scene. While Parker was conscious, he was described as incoherent while receiving medical treatment at a nearby Victor Valley Global Hospital. Parker died while in treatment. The Sheriff’s Homicide Detail was brought into the investigation while neighboring Riverside County will conduct the official autopsy. According to San Bernardino County policy, the neighboring county conducts the autopsy in every incident for in-custody deaths.

Homicide Detail detectives Mike Flores and Tina Kirby are conducting the investigation for San Bernardino County. Other than being tasered, along with the struggles with deputies, no other injuries were reported being suffered by Parker.

Read More:

Daily Press: Sheriff’s probe in-custody death

SB Sun: Victorville man dies after skirmish with deputies

Four Roseville and Rocklin area teenagers — including a 15 year old — were recently arrested on suspicion of stealing a car and cell phone, according to an official weekly crime report issued by the Roseville Police Department.

Tyler Robert Barber, 18, of Rocklin; Manuel Angel Cuevas Guerrero, 18, of Roseville; and Trevor Santiago Rodriguez, 18, of Rocklin, were reportedly arrested on suspicion of vehicle theft, grand theft from a person, conspiracy, and possession of stolen property. A fourth 15-year-old suspect from Roseville was also arrested on the same charges and taken to juvenile hall.

According to Roseville PD, on Sunday, August 10, 2014, just before 6 pm, a young teenagers was walking through the parking lot of Westfield Galleria at Roseville when a car pulled up next to him, and the driver asked if he could borrow the teenager’s phone to make a phone call. The teen reportedly obliged, handing his phone to the driver, who then reportedly drove away with it.

An officer reportedly spotted the suspect’s car traveling north on Galleria Boulevard, and followed the car to the area of Stanford Ranch Road and Five Star Boulevard where officers reportedly stopped the vehicle and made contact with the occupants. Officers discovered the car had reportedly been reported stolen from Rocklin earlier that day, and the officers found the victim’s cell phone inside the car. The stolen phone and car were reportedly returned to their rightful owners.

Tyler Barber had been arrested just two months ago, on June 11, for a residential burglary in Rocklin. He had broken into a screened patio at an apartment building on Springview drive. And earlier this year, in March, he was arrested for battery on a school official and vandalism. Manuel Guerrero was arrested in June on charges of conspiracy, being an accessory, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, and resisting arrest. Details of that incident were not available.

FRESNO – A band director at a Fresno high school was arrested after it was discovered that he allegedly filmed his students while they changed their clothes in the band room for rehearsals and performances.

Police took 25-year-old Christopher Montes into custody on several charges of production and possession of child pornography. He was booked into the Fresno County Jail, but was freed on bail.

Montes came to the attention of authorities after a student at Riverdale High School found a camera in a room where she had been asked to change uniforms. She notified school administrators and the school immediately called the Fresno County Sheriff’s Department.

Deputies, along with the Central California Crimes Against Children Task Force, seized computers from the school. Officers also went to Montes’ home in Visalia and confiscated evidence. They also searched Visalia’s Christ Lutheran Church, where Montes worked as an audio and visual technician.

“Several additional computers and other media devices were recovered from various additional locations during the investigation,” Sheriff Margaret Mims said.

Montes immediately resigned from his position after being confronted by officials. He served as a teacher and band director at both Riverdale High and Riverdale Elementary for the 2013-2014 school year. The school district sent out a phone message to all parents regarding the situation.

“It is important to note that creating a trusting and safe environment is a top priority for our district,” said Pete Faragia, superintendent of Riverdale Joint Unified School District.

Montes has three children.

Read More:

ABC30: Riverdale High School band director facing child porn charges

YourCentralValley: Riverdale High School band instructor arrested on child porn charges

Visalia Times Delta: Teacher arrested on child pron charges

VISALIA – A suspect has been arrested in connection to an assault on Tuesday evening that left one man dead outside of an apartment complex in north Visalia.

Officers responded to a 911 call on Tuesday around 5:45 p.m. When they arrived on the scene, at the intersection of NW 2nd Avenue and North Strawberry Street, they found the victim alive and lying in the front yard of a residence. The victim, identified as 29-year-old Carlos Tapia, was suffering from what officers believe was a stab wound.

Emergency personnel performed CPR on Tapia and then transported him to Kaweah Delta Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.

Police detained Kyle Ferguson for questioning immediately after the incident, and later arrested him. He is being held without bail.

Police are trying to determine the motive for the assault and whether it was gang-related. They said they are canvassing the neighborhood and interviewing witnesses. Anyone with information is urged to contact the police department at 734-8116.

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Visalia Times Delta: Visalia stabbing victim ‘tried to help’

LAKE ISABELLA — Three men have been arrested in connection with a theft and burglary of county property in the Kern River Valley in northeastern Kern County.

James Jesse Peale, 24, 33-year-old Daniel Mitchener and 19-year-old Kody Brooks all face various charges of burglary and theft. Peale was booked on four counts of auto theft, two counts of receiving stolen property, possession of a stolen vehicle, burglary and conspiracy. His bail has been set at $125,000.

Mitchener faces similar charges of burglary, conspiracy and four counts of auto theft. His bail has been set at $60,000. According to the Kern County Sheriff’s Office, the arrests were the result of an investigation into the theft and burglary of a Kern County Search and Rescue property that occurred on Aug. 11, in the area of Erskine Creek Road and Edna Street in Lake Isabella.

“When deputies got to the area they discovered an abandoned all-terrain vehicle and property missing from inside a nearby building belonging to the Kern Valley Search and Rescue Team,” Ray Pruitt, sheriff’s spokesperson said. “Among the items that were stolen, was a motorcycle, three all-terrain vehicles, generators, winches, a flat-screen television, numerous pieces of rescue and medical equipment and several hand-held GPS devices.”

The next day, authorities said a traffic stop was made on a vehicle being driven by James Peale in the 2700 block of Irwin Avenue in Lake Isabella. During the stop deputies searched his vehicle and located possible burglary tools and stolen property, along with a small amount of suspected methamphetamine.

Later that morning, deputies executed a search warrant at Peale’s apartment in the 2900 block of Claire Street in Lake Isabella, where they located one of the stolen all-terrain vehicles along with other property taken from the Search and Rescue building, as well as 19-year-old Kody Brooks, who was suffering from injuries he had received in a recent all-terrain vehicle accident.

Brooks was transported to a local hospital for treatment, and will be charged with burglary, possession of a stolen vehicle, four counts of auto theft, conspiracy, and possession of stolen property, upon his release. Mitchener, was found later that day, at his home in the 2700 block of Commercial Avenue in Lake Isabella, where deputies found the flat screen television taken during the burglary.

Read more:

Bakersfield Californian: Deputies recover vehicles, equipment

A Citizen Alerted Authorities of His Whereabouts

WATSONVILLE—Authorities with the Watsonville Police Department have arrested the final suspect in the June 3 shooting that left a man with a bullet in his back. Watsonville Police arrested 27-year-old resident Ramiro Castillo for his part in the shooting on Friday, August 8.

2 suspects were captured after a standoff in this distinctive Watsonville house.

Days after the shooting investigators identified three suspects in the case, and learned that they might be staying in a house on West Beach Street in Watsonville. Police surrounded the red Victorian style home, and a 12-hour standoff ensued. Police arrested Watsonville residents 28-year-old Alejandro Lopez Delgadillo and 21-year-old Henry Daniel Lopez-Garcia as they eventually obeyed officers’ commands to exit the house. They have since been charged with attempted murder in the shooting.

Afterwards, police entered the Big-Red Victorian at 143 West Beach Street but they did not find the third suspect, Castillo, who was now on the lamb.  Since that day in June, investigators have been actively searching for his whereabouts.

On June 10, the day after the other two were arrested, Ramiro Castillo joined Facebook and posted this photo of himself.

On Aug 8, Investigators received a call from a concerned citizen, who reported that he might have seen Castillo at a home in Watsonville. The Santa Cruz County Anti Crime Team, along with Watsonville Police and the California Highway Patrol officers, quickly followed up on the tip.

As authorities rolled up on the house on Evelyn Drive, Castillo fled again by jumping over several fences in an attempt to evade police. Castillo was found hiding in the back yard of a nearby home. Police arrested him without further incident.

“This arrest was made possible by the alert anonymous citizen who notified authorities of his whereabouts.” Watsonville Police Sergeant Eric Montalbo wrote in a press release.

Castillo was charged with attempted murder and booked into the Santa Cruz County Jail and is being held on $750,000.00 bond.

Read More:

Santa Cruz Sentinel: Watsonville man in standoff remains on the lam

CITRUS HEIGHTS—The Citrus Heights Police Department arrested Cale Crase on Thursday, August 14 for the alleged possession of explosive devices, possession of illegal materials with the intent to construct explosive devices, and possession of a firearm silencer.

On Wednesday, August 13, 2014 shortly before 6:00 p.m., the Sacramento Metro Fire Department responded to the 7500 block of Peachtree Avenue in Citrus Heights regarding a kitchen fire in a residence. Once the fire had been extinguished, fire department personnel observed several containers of suspicious material, and immediately contacted the Citrus Heights Police Department for further investigation.

What’s he doing in there? Neighbors on Peachtree Ave. had to be evacuated so they could safely remove the explosive materials.

Officers arrived and determined the material to be an unstable and potentially explosive. Several adjacent residences were evacuated as a precaution due to the potential for an explosion. Other neighborhood residents were asked to stay inside their homes. The Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department arrived to lead this portion of the investigation with their Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) team. They were assisted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosive (ATF), the Sacramento Police Department and the West Sacramento Police Department.

It was confirmed the material was explosive and it was safely detonated during the early morning hours Thursday with three controlled detonations. There were no injuries or property damage during the initial fire or the subsequent controlled detonations.

Crase, 25, was booked into the Sacramento County main jail on three felony charges. There are no additional suspects outstanding.

Over 300 people were in Attendance

ROYAL OAKS—Monterey County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 29-year-old Castroville resident Emiliano Martinez at his home after they responded to reports of a stabbing that occurred on Saturday night shortly after midnight at Las Lomas Rancho on Hall Road in Royal Oaks.

Deputies reported that just after midnight they received a call of a stabbing that had just occurred at Las Lomas Rancho. When the deputies arrived on scene they found a large party going on with over 300 people in attendance. Deputies located one victim, Rafael Rodriguez, on Hall Road near Pini Road. He was suffering from several life threatening stab wounds. American Medical Response (AMR) transported Rodriguez to Natividad Medical Center in Salinas.

A second victim, Arturo Rodriguez was located at the scene he was air-lifted to a trauma Center in San Jose with life-threatening stab wounds. Arturo was holding a 2-year-old child when he was attacked. The child did not sustain any injuries.

Two victims were found in the area of Hall Road and Pini Road in Watsonville.

“Several witnesses at the party identified Martinez as the suspect in this case.” Monterey County Sheriff’s Deputy Baugh wrote in a press release, “Several Deputies contacted Martinez at his home in Castroville.”

Deputies served an arrest warrant along with a search warrant at his residence on Rico Street in Castroville. They recovered several pieces of evidence in this crime. The knife used and bloody clothing was recovered at the residence. Martinez was arrested and book into the Monterey County Jail.

He faces charges of attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon and child endangerment.

Police conducted an 8 hour standoff at this apartment complex in south Sacramento.

SACRAMENTO—Police arrested James Edward Duncan on Sunday, August 10 following an hours-long standoff with officers early that morning.

The incident started at approximately 11:30 p.m. on Saturday according to the Sacramento Police Department. Officers were called to an apartment on the 100 block of Clauss Court after a neighbor reported hearing gunshots.

At the scene, officers announced who they were and knocked on the door of the suspect’s apartment. However, the man inside the apartment reportedly turned off the lights and would not listen to the officer’s commands. The officers also saw what looked like a gun near the suspect.

Duncan’s Crosman airsoft replica gun

Officers received word that two children were inside with the suspect. A perimeter was set up around the apartment and with the suspect still not communicating, and a hostage negotiating team and SWAT team were called to the scene.

Police said that contact between officers and the suspect was eventually established and, after about eight hours, the suspect surrendered. The children, approximately three and five years of age, were found unharmed and placed in protective custody.

Jamie “Kingjames” Duncan posted several images of marijuana on his Facebook page, this one titled “Day off”.

Policy said a replica BB gun resembling a real firearm was found inside the apartment. Two days before the incident, Duncan had posted on his Facebook page a picture of his “new toy”, a Crosman Airsoft or BB replica pistol.

Why would a man hold off police for 8 hours over possessing or firing a perfectly legal sport gun? Another clue may lie in other posts Duncan made, showing various images of marijuana buds. It is possible he did not respond to police because he feared they would find marijuana in his possession, and possibly in easy access to the children.

Duncan, 26, was been booked at Sacramento County Jail on charges of felony child endangerment and resisting arrest. No specific drug or weapons charges, however, have been made at this time.

In recent months the San Jose Police Department has been on standby as numerous homicides have been reported. The shooting death of one San Jose woman assumed to have been holding an assault type weapon was just one of many calls of individuals fearing for their lives. According to Sergeant Heather Randol of the SJPD, “On 8/14/2014 approximately 10:36 A.M., the San Jose Police Department responded to 700 block of Blossom Hill Road on a report of a person who was threatening to kill her family with an Uzi assault weapon”. Investigation revealed that the call that came to police was the woman herself who threatened to kill her family with an Uzi if police did not come.

Witnesses in the area watched as the 19-year-old female suspect walked towards on-coming traffic from the front of her home, located at 797 Blossom Hill Road near the intersection of Playa Del Ray. Randol said, “The subject exited the residence after officers arrived, and did not comply with officer’s verbal commands to drop the weapon”. The suspect pointed the makeshift weapon at officers after refusing to obey their commands. The female suspect then began to try and exit into the street when 13-year SJPD veteran Officer Wakana Okuma fired one shot, striking her in the chest. Another officer immediately ran to the female suspect and began to perform CPR.

Police released this image of a power drill that was painted black and held as a weapon by the woman.

The weapon that was pointed at officers was later identified as a “cordless drill that was completely painted flat black”. Randol said, “In fear for her safety and the safety of the public, Officer Wakana Okuma fired at the subject striking her at least once”. The female suspect was taken to the hospital and was pronounced deceased a short time later. Her name has not been released at this time. The officer involved in the shooting has been placed on routine administrative leave.

The San Jose Police Department’s Homicide Unit is currently investigating the shooting. The SJPD Homicide Unit is asking that anyone with information about this case are urged to contact Detective Sergeant Davies or Detective Smith in the San Jose Police Department’s Homicide Unit at (408) 277-5283.

Read More:

San Jose Mercury News: Officer shoots, kills drill-wielding woman who threatened her family

CBS SF Bay Area (Video): Woman Carrying Cordless Drill, Believed To Be A Gun, Shot And Killed By San Jose Police

Charges were filed against Aris Aristidis Vavasis in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, San Jose on July 9 under 21 U.S.C. § 331 (a) Introduction/Delivery for Introduction of an unapproved drug (Methasterone) with intent to defraud or mislead a federal agency. Vavasis also faces charges under 21 U.S.C. § 331 (a) Introduction/Delivery for Introduction of an unapproved drug (Ephedrine) with intent to defraud or mislead.

Court documents reveal that Vavasis had set up a business called Nutrition Dome, Inc. located at 4518 11th Ave, 2nd level Brooklyn, New York, 11219. Court documents filed under 5:14-cr-00360-LHK-1 – USA v. Aris Aristidis Vavasis (NC), reveal how Vavasis knowingly falsified information in order to seek FDA approval for the falsified dietary supplements.

Vavasis shipped a dietary supplement similar to Methylzyne Ephedra Extreme from Nutrition Dome, Inc. throughout the Northern District of California from November of 2010 – July of 2012. The supplement reportedly contained “Methasterone”, also known as “Superdrol” which is a known Schedule III anabolic steroid, which also contained the drug Ephedra.

The drug ephedra is not a known dietary supplement. According to the DEA, “Schedule III drugs, substances: or chemicals are defined as drugs with a moderate to low potential for physical and psychological dependence”. Often the combination of the dietary supplement would contain 15 – 90 milligrams of anabolic steroid per usage in order to gain a physical or psychological dependence of the user.

Previous companies have sold the same combination of dietary drugs with little or no oversight by the FDA until recent laws now report the drugs as a regulated substance by the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA).

Under the chemical name 17 β Hydroxy – 2 α, 17α- Dimethyl – 5α –Androstan – 3-one. Methasterone, and a secondary ingredient “Lipodrene” was mislabeled on the bottle. Both of these drugs are recognized as previously used dietary supplements by the Food and Drug Administration. However, Vavasis sold the dietary supplement with the intention to defraud the FDA about its contents by mislabeling the packaging against FDA and DEA regulations.

According to the clerk’s office, the next court appearance has been scheduled for September 3, 2014 at 8:30 AM, with the Initial Appearance and Arraignment held on the fifth floor in courtroom four in front of Magistrate Judge Paul S. Grewal.

Once plentiful, due to California’s extreme drought status, water has become a hot commodity, and is becoming more and more expensive as utility companies are forced to raise prices and restrict usage.

The Community of Brooktrails Township, in Mendocino County just north of Willits, is feeling the pinch, and has recently restricted residents to limited usage. On Tuesday, August 12, the town announced that residents would be restricted to 200 gallons per day or 6,000 per month, per customer.

Perhaps it was just a coincidence, but the same day the water restrictions were put into place, a Willits man, 39-year-old Kevin Bouthillier, was caught stealing water from fire hydrants in BrookTrails Township and the surrounding county area.

The second hydrant was accessed on Dogwaood Terrace (bottom right).

Kevin Bouthillier is part of the family that owns Bouthillier Construction, Backhoe Service and the Little Lake Napa Auto Parts in Willits. In 2009 Kevin was recognized for helping the local fire departments conduct a training drill on Main Street in Willits. He was on hand with his backhoe to help conduct the exercise as they torched an abandoned building, and knock down a wall as they finished up.

This time, however, he was in a commercial water truck, the kind used on construction sites to lower dust and loosen soil, and was spotted at 11:00 pm on Goose Lane by Sheriff’s deputies. They grew concerned because of increased water thefts in the area. They located him again on Dogwood Terrace, a little ways northwest of Brooktrails, and this time he was observed with his truck hooked up to a hydrant and filling it with water.

An investigation confirmed that he was taking the water illegally, and he was cited for misdemeanor violation pc 498 – theft of utility services (water). It was not clear if he was taking it for construction site purposes, or hoarding it for other uses such as irrigation. He was released to face later sentencing and/or fines.

A place like church is where everyone should feel safe and secure. That will not be the case for two young children anymore, who were at a chapel attending their church on a Sunday.

A man has been accused for molesting two children at Grace Chapel Church, which is located on the campus of Desert Christian School on the 44600 Block of 15th Street in Lancaster, CA.

According to the report, on August 5, the detectives from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department started investigating a child molestation crime. At first, the molestation was linked to only one female victim. Later on in the investigation, detectives were able to identify another victim that that was molested by the same suspect. Both of the victims knew the suspect because of the church, where both of the incidents occurred.

Desert Christian School in Lancaster, CA

On Wednesday, August 13, detectives found and arrested Jonathan Macy, 31, for the alleged molestation on two children at the Grace Chapel Church.

Macy is currently being held on a $1.2 million bail.

There is speculation that the suspect could have been in more molesting incidents, as he previously was a teacher at  St. Mary’s School in Palmdale, CA. School officials at both facilities have been cooperating with detectives during this whole investigation.

Anyone with information about the incident, or Jonathan Macy, is encouraged to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Special Victims Bureau at (877) 710-5273.

CLEARLAKE – LAKE COUNTY – Perhaps it is because they are often clouded with the drugs they are carrying, or maybe they just have other things on their minds, but more and more often people who are caught transporting drugs are discovered because they make or display obvious vehicle violations, like they are just asking to be caught.

Regalia failed to stop at this corner, attracting attention of narcotics detectives.

On Tuesday afternoon, according to Lt Steve Brooks of the Lake County Sheriff’s Department, narcotics detectives driving along Phillips Avenue in Central Clearlake were passing 35th Avenue when they saw a white Chevrolet sedan pull out from 34th without stopping, running a posted stop sign. They followed as the car then abruptly turned right onto 32nd, accelerated quickly kicking up the dirt, and headed through the neighborhood at excessive speed. They attempted an enforcement stop and pursued, but were literally left in the dust, not wanting to continue a risky chase in such conditions.

With an alert was broadcast, however, and a sergeant with the Clearlake Police soon found the car and successfully stopped it on nearby Highway 53 and 40th Ave., just a few blocks away in central Clearlake. The detectives arrived soon as well, as they conducted the enforcement stop on the driver, 31-year-old James Remo Regalia of San Pablo, the East Bay Area city near Oakland. They asked him to step out of the car, and he told them that he was carrying marijuana.

Not satisfied with just that bit of information, the detectives called on their third partner, a Sheriff’s canine trained in drug detection. The dog was deployed to give the car a “sniff”, and raised an alert on the driver’s door and the trunk of the car. Once Regalia was informed that the dog had found something, he admitted that he also had an ounce of methamphetamine in the back seat. With probable cause clearly established, a complete search of the vehicle was undertaken.

The driver’s door pocket had a digital scale, along with a large bundle of cash – three stacks bound together. A backpack was found in the back seat, and it contained a tubular object wrapped in black tape, and two ziplock bags filled with a white granular substance. The mysterious tube held inside three bags of crystal meth. The detectives recognized the granular substance as a “cutting agent” – a substance mixed with meth to increase its weight prior to sales.

A search of the car revealed a large collection of evidence and cash.

The trunk of the car was opened, and there were two large ziplock bags full of processed marijuana. There was a duffle bag full of men’s clothes, and three glass meth pipes. They also found in the truck what looked like a book, but was in fact a metal locking safe. The detectives pried it open to find another meth pipe, packaging material, a digital scale, a bag of blue pills (later identified as Diazepam, AKA Valium), and a prescription bottle with 119 Hydrocodone pills (not prescribed to Regalia).

Regalia was arrested for possession of a controlled substance for sale, transportation of a controlled substance, possession and sales of marijuana, possession of narcotics, and paraphernalia. His meth weighed in at 2.63 ounces, and marijuana at 11.64 ounces. His cash – $3,813.00 – was seized pending asset forfeiture if it is shown to be profit from illegal narcotics sales. Regalia has had a busy year – he was arrested in March by Concord police and in May by Martinez police, both times on drug charges. This is apparently nothing new to him – he has a string of at least  four prior arrests dating back to 2007.

VENTURA COUNTY – In an unusual expression of official compassion for the families of criminals, Ventura County Sheriff-Thousand Oaks Police Department Sgt. D. Worthy—in reporting a rash of auto burglaries throughout eastern Ventura County—commented that “we as a law enforcement agency certainly understand that parents often try to establish a certain element of respect and trust with their children”.

That respect and trust appears to have been violated recently as Thousand Oaks Police continues to arrest “multiple juveniles and young adults who have been in possession of stolen property” as the product of randomly burglarizing unlocked vehicles (“car hopping”) throughout the community.

Notably, in the pre-dawn hours of August 10^th, a citizen’s 911 Emergency call reporting a trio of juveniles acting suspiciously around parked cars brought a swift response from Thousand Oaks police patrols.  A search of the area brought deputies into contact with Caulen Boyd, 18, and led soon thereafter to the arrests of four 17-year old male juveniles who had been engaged with Boyd in “entering unlocked cars in the area and stealing personal property.”  The ensuing investigation indicated that the young bandits had victimized an estimated 40 vehicles and were in possession of more than 100 stolen items, including, cash, wallets, cell phones, and lap top computers.

In spite of the alleged perpetrators’ youth, Worthy pointed out that “when two or more persons conspire to commit any crime, it is a felony” and that “ignorance to the laws will not stand up in court as a legal excuse.”  That harsh reality resulted in Boyd and his four young co-conspirators being transported to Ventura County Jail where they were booked on charges of felony burglary and conspiracy to commit burglary.

Photo: Courtesy www.Facebook.com

Read more:

KCLU: Teens Arrested In Connection With String Of More Than 40 Vehicle Burglaries In Ventura County

Thousand Oaks Acorn: T.O. teens arrested on suspicion of ‘car hopping’

Ventura County - The wheels of justice, while frequently turning at a painstaking pace, rarely come to a complete standstill. This reality was borne out in the case of Michael Zermeno, a 32-year old Ventura resident who died on February 9, 2014 as the result of a heroin overdose. Zermeno suffered the overdose in his home two days earlier, and had been admitted to Ventura County Medical Center where he failed to regain consciousness and was ultimately pronounced dead.

According to Ventura County Sheriff’s Department Public Information Officer Sgt. Victor Fazio, a law enforcement investigation ensued which indicated that Zermeno had been provided the heroin by Matthew Slough, 23, also of Ventura. Shortly thereafter, Fazio reported, “investigators from the Ventura County interagency Pharmaceutical Crimes Unit sought and obtained a search warrant for Slough’s residence” which resulted in his arrest on suspicion of heroin sales.

Troy Slough

While Slough was released on bail on that charge, law enforcement agencies throughout the county, including the Sheriff’s Gang Unit, soon learned that Slough was engaged in illegal weapons activities in spite of his felony bail status and with the service of yet another search warrant, both Slough and his 50-year old father Troy Slough were found to be in possession of “two manufactured zip guns as well as homemade silencers and high-capacity magazines. At the time of their arrests, both father and son were determined to be under the influence of a controlled substance and engaged in operating a concentrated cannabis lab.

While the elder Slough was released on bail, on August 6th, Matthew Slough was charged with involuntary manslaughter in the death of Zermeno, as well as with causing great bodily injury or death in the commission of dealing heroin, and remains at Ventura County Jail on a no-bail hold.

Photos: Courtesy Ventura County Jail Booking

Read more:

CBSLA: Ventura man charged with involuntary manslaughter

EdHat: Manslaughter arrest

Santa Barbara County, Ca. – At 11:03 p.m. on August 11^th, Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s 911 Emergency Dispatch received a call from Nicholas Etienne Holzer, a 45 year-old resident of the county’s unincorporated area between Goleta and the Santa Barbara city limits.  In what SBSD Public Information Officer Kelly Hoover reported as “a calm and matter-of-fact manner”, Holzer informed the 911 operator that “he had killed his family, which included his parents, two sons, and the family dog.”

SBSD patrol units responded to the home immediately, and found Holzer standing at the front door and offering himself for surrender.

Inside the residence, deputies discovered a dead Australian Shepard, the bodies of Holzer’s 74-year old mother and father, and the bodies of his two young sons, 13 and 10, all of whom had suffered multiple mortal stab wounds. Deputies then discovered “two large kitchen knives that are believed to be the murder weapons.”

The ensuing interview of Holzer—who had no prior contact with law enforcement other than having had filed a witness statement in an unrelated assault case nearly 20 years ago–and ongoing investigation indicated that Holzer had won custody of his sons through a divorce proceeding nearly a decade ago and been living with his boys and his parents at the home for the past several years.

Investigating detectives were told by Holzer, Hoover reported, that “he had killed his family to fulfill what he believed was his destiny.” When inquiry was made as to any specific motive for the horrendous crime, “he claimed ‘I had to’”, said Hoover.

Hozer was transported to Santa Barbara County Jail where he was booked on four counts of murder and one count of animal cruelty. He remains in custody on a no-bail hold.

Photo: Courtesy Santa Barbara County Jail Booking

Read more:

The Independent: Multiple Murder Victims Found in Home Near Goleta

edhat: Multiple Homicide in Goleta

KEYT: Father Accused of Killing Sons, Parents in Mass Murder

The Placer County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s assistance in locating a Turlock man wanted for felony vandalism and theft at a Colfax car wash that took place early this morning, Monday, August 18, according to an official press release.

Detectives are reportedly actively looking for Shane Schmidt, 39, who is on probation out of Turlock. Schmidt is reportedly on post-release community supervision and was last seen wearing a gray T-shirt with a white emblem, pants of an unknown color, and black and white tennis shoes. Placer County Sheriff describes Schmidt as 6-foot tall, weighing 200 pounds, with blond hair and blue eyes.

Anyone with information regarding Schmidt’s location is urged to call the Placer County Sheriff’s Office at 530-889-7800.

Shane Schmidt and Sandra Byrd in photos released by Place County Sheriff.

According to Placer County Sheriff, this morning’s vandalism and theft at the car wash took place at 4 am. As a deputy was reportedly responding to a burglary alarm at the car wash, the business’ owner was watching a man drilling coin boxes on a remote surveillance feed. A few minutes later, a deputy reportedly spotted the suspect and a female accomplice at a nearby gas station in Colfax. The man — later identified as Schmidt — led the deputy on a foot pursuit and got away.

The female suspect reportedly ran to a vehicle and left the area. Another deputy spotted the vehicle driving on I-80 westbound in Auburn and attempted to pull the car over, however the driver refused to stop. The female suspect reportedly drove at high speeds until a Roseville police officer was able to deploy a spike strip near Douglas Boulevard. The female suspect finally stopped on the interstate between Riverside and Antelope Roads and was arrested.

Sandra Byrd, 35, of Turlock was reportedly arrested on charges of evading arrest, driving with a suspended license, and resisting arrest. She was booked at the Placer County Jail.

A Deputy for the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department has been brutally beaten in an unexpected assault by a suspect who had been involved in a domestic disturbance prior to the deputy arriving.

On Friday, August 15 around 8:00 p.m., deputies were called to the Lakewood Center Mall for a reported domestic disturbance incident between a couple. Two deputies arrived at the scene. One of them stayed with the woman who was involved in the incident, while the other deputy went to go search for the man. The deputy found the man and started escorting him back to where the other deputy was still detaining the woman.

According to officials, as the deputy walked with the man in custody, he dropped his keys in the parking lot. When the deputy went down to grab his keys, the man took action and unexpectedly attacked the deputy by hitting him several times in the back of the head. The deputy became unconscious and fell to the ground. But the man was not done. “As he was lying in the pool of blood, the suspect continually kicked him to the back of the head,” said Sheriff’s Capt. Keith Swenson.

While the suspect continued kicking the deputy, a witness stepped in and pushed the suspect off of the deputy. The witness, who did not wish to be identified, was thanked for his heroic behavior, saving the deputy’s life.

Soon after, other sheriff’s deputies detained and arrested the suspect, who was identified as Frankie Estrada, 21. He was arrested without further incident for attempted murder on a peace officer. Estrada was Transported to Lakewood Station, where he was booked. He is currently being held on a $1,000,000 bail. His scheduled court date is on Tuesday.

The deputy was taken to a hospital, where his injuries were pronounced “life-changing”.

According to Swenson, Estrada had previously been arrested for assaulting another deputy and was currently on probation. Anyone with any further information about this incident is encouraged to contact the Lakewood Sheriff’s Station at (562) 623-3500.

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FRESNO – A woman allegedly under the influence of methamphetamine was arrested for causing the death of another driver after she ran a red light and caused a collision on Thursday morning.

The victim, 26-year-old Matthew Harkenrider, was on his way to work at Community Regional Medical Center in downtown Fresno when the accident occurred. He died at the scene.

Police arrested 45-year-old Roberta Lynn Soto in connection to the accident. She faces charges of felony vehicular manslaughter, driving a stolen vehicle, felony driving under the influence and possession of methamphetamine.

Soto was driving on a suspended license and in a stolen Kia Sorento at the time of the accident. She was also high on methamphetamine, police say.

Police saw Sorento run a red light at Fresno Street and Herndon Avenue at 6:55 a.m. The SUV she was driving collided with Harkenrider’s Mazda, which also caused an impact with three other vehicles that were stopped in the southbound lanes of Fresno Street, according to authorities.

Six people were taken to the hospital, including Soto, who suffered several broken bones.

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