INGLEWOOD, CA—What do you get when you mix people with tear gas, marijuana and a plethora of other odd devices? The answer is yet to be sorted out, but Frances Cummings, 42, and Landon Whitmore, 27, will eventually know the consequences regardless of the answer. Cummings was arrested by Inglewood police very early Saturday, October 4 at approximately 1:30 a.m. along the 10200 block of Crenshaw Boulevard. Whitmare had been arrested late Friday night, at 11:14 pm, just around the corner on Century Blvd.

The area, located in south Inglewood, north of the Hawthorne Airport and a few miles east of Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), is known for gang activity. Over the last 15 months, the stretch of Crenshaw has been prone to a great many shooting homicides.

Cummings was charged with threatening a crime with terroristic intent (422PC), illegal use of a tear gas weapon (22810(G)1PC) and violating civil rights by force or threat (422.6(A)PC). She also had a warrant for a prior DUI with alcohol/drugs(23152(A)VC) from Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD).

Her total bail was set at $120,000.

Whitmore was charged with felony possession of a controlled substance (11377(A)HS), possession of an opium pipe or similar paraphernalia (11364(A)HS), possession of less than 28.5 grams of marijuana (11357(B)HS) and damaging a jail and/or prison (4600(A)PC). He was also arrested twice last month – for burglary and receiving or concealing stolen property. 2013 saw arrests for Whitmore on robbery and possession of a controlled substance and paraphernalia.

Whitmore’s bail was set at a relatively pithy $20,285. His connection with Cummings, if any, is unknown.

One wonders who will be crying now.

SANTA ROSA – Shortly before noon Wednesday on Highway 101, Windsor Police Officers working a special enforcement in the vicinity of Geyserville stopped a vehicle for a traffic violation. The car reeked of marijuana and the four men inside gave varying accounts of their travels to Ukiah from Southern California. Officers noted that one man had heavy-duty zip-ties protruding from his pocket.

The officers utilized a police K9 trained in the detection of narcotics to sniff the vehicle. The dog alerted on various parts of the car, and they found approximately 10 pounds of marijuana in various forms of packaging.

After unloading the car, officers had quite a collection of drugs and weapons on thier hands.

Officers also located an assault rifle, a shotgun, additional zip-ties, three black bandanas, a black ski mask, binoculars, shotgun shells, brass knuckles, a paintball gun and two computers in the trunk of the car.

Because of the variety of weapons and suspicious items deputies called upon detectives to look into the circumstances. Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office detectives from Crime Scene Investigations and Narcotics and Violent Crimes Investigations collaborated with the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office and determined that the suspects may have been involved in an earlier home invasion robbery near Ukiah.

The men were identified as 29-year-old Christopher Montoya, 24-year-old Jose Israel Cabrera, 25-year-old Jonathan Otero-Cruz of San Bernardino and 38-year-old Filomino Espinoza Nunez of Compton. All were booked into the Sonoma County Jail in Santa Rosa for conspiracy, transportation of marijuana, possession of marijuana for sale, possession of brass knuckles and possession of an assault rifle.

Additionally, Cabrera and Nunez had prior felony convictions and were also charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm. Cruz was also booked for smuggling a quarter ounce of suspected methamphetamine into the jail. Bails have been enhanced to $500,000.

Palm Desert Police officers spotted a stolen vehicle Wednesday, October 8, 2014 in the early morning hours traveling in the area of Country Club and Portola. When the officers attempted to pull the vehicle over, the driver accelerated, managing to evade capture.

Twenty minutes after the pursuit, dispatch at the Rancho Mirage Police Department took a call regarding a single-vehicle collision in the area of Highway 111 and Country Club Drive. Officers at the scene determined that the car involved was the vehicle they had been pursing, but were still unable to locate a suspect.

Three hours later, around 6:20 am, another call came in reporting that there had been a “cat” burglary in the area of Vista Loma and Mirage Cove. While the victim had been sleeping, she reported that someone had stolen property from her home including a 2013 Mercedes. The victim’s Mercedes was equipped with LoJack vehicle tracking system, which was activated and officers used it to locate the vehicle.

The stolen Mercedes was quickly pinpointed in Cathedral City and was still occupied by the suspect. Once again, the suspect tried to evade arrest. Officers pursued and the vehicle was disabled at 30th Avenue and Rattler Road. The suspect attempted to flee on foot, but was captured. With assistance from the Cathedral City Police Department, California Highway Patrol, and officers from the Riverside Auto Theft Interdiction (RAID) Team, Kenneth Burns, 21 of Cathedral City, who already had an active no-bail parolee-at-large warrant and a felony drug warrant, was taken into custody.

Once the suspect was arrested, The Palm Desert Burglary Suppression Unit took over the investigation, determining that suspect Burns was also the driver of the first reported stolen vehicle. Evidence from the burglary was also recovered. Burns was arrested for first degree burglary, possession of stolen property, and two vehicle thefts, then booked into the Riverside County jail in Indio.

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Desert Sun: Kenneth Burns arrested in cat burglary

KESQ: Man arrested after stealing two cars

San Francisco is a popular city for tourists. Unfortunately, not all people in the Bay Area make good hosts. Take the recent case of an Egyptian tourist robbed at gunpoint in broad daylight by three suspects in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park.

Golden Gate Park Conservatory of Flowers (Wikipedia Commons – WolfSF)

According to a San Francisco Police Department Park Division press release, the incident happened on October 2nd at around 2:10 p.m, near the park’s popular Conservatory of Flowers–not the setting you would expect for a brazen crime. The tourist was approached by three male suspects. One of the suspects brandished a handgun, according to police, as another suspect demanded the tourist’s belongings. Fortunately, the victim, who police say feared for his life, was able to get a witness to call 911, and the suspects fled the scene empty handed.

Police officers from San Francisco’s Park Division arrived on the scene and got a description of the suspects from the victim and the witness. The helpful witness had kept on eye on the suspects, who had not gone far, and was able to lead the officers to them. The three suspects were detained and positively identified by the victim and the witness. Police also recovered the handgun used in the crime.

Two of the suspects were taken into custody. The third was released.

Ishmael Watkins, 20, an Oakland resident, was charged with attempted robbery, brandishing a firearm, conspiracy, probation violation and using a false name. He is being held at the San Francisco County Jail.

An unnamed 16-year-old suspect from Daly City was charged with attempted robbery, conspiracy and brandishing a firearm. He is being held at San Francisco’s Juvenile Justice Center.

SAN BERNARDINO – Police have arrested 21 out of 52 San Bernardino’s largest gang on narcotics-trafficking charges that include details on hundreds of transactions over a two-year period. Members of the West Side Verdugo gang were indicted by a federal grand jury alleging numerous transactions involving both heroin and methamphetamine took place during a two-year period. Arrests were expected to continue, according to police, though 22 others were already in custody. Another eight defendants were being sought and a summons was issued for another defendant.

The indictments, which were unsealed on Thursday morning, are widespread with members of the Verdugo gang linking various California prisons and alleged connections to Mexican Mafia convicts that are currently serving time.

Ongoing investigations by the FBI, along with the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Dept., San Bernardino Police, plus the state department of corrections and rehabilitation among others, were part of the joint detail.

The indictments pinpoint how some of the proceeds generated by narcotics sales are funneled to members of the Mexican Mafia prison gangs. All 52 defendants, according to a San Bernardino Police press release, are charged with conspiring to distribute, and possession with intent to distribute. Included in the indictments are details that connect hundreds of “overt acts” that begin in the summer of 2010 and continued through 2012.

Numerous drug deals, smuggling into state prison facilities and seizures of drugs by law enforcement were described in the indictments. Members of West Side Verdugo, according to the indictment, collected “taxes” from various drug dealers who were allowed to operate in gang territory. The 21 defendants taken into custody were arraigned on Thursday afternoon in the United States District Court, located in Riverside.

Also taking part in Thursday’s arrests included the San Bernardino Department of Probation, Los Angeles Police Dept., L.A. County Sheriff’s Dept., California Highway Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The indictment was a 90-page document.

Read More:

The Sun: 52 San Bernardino gang members charged in drug case

One Victim Was A 4-year-old Child

WATSONVILLE—the Watsonville Police Department arrested 31-year-old Michael Angelo Escobar for his part in a disturbance in the parking lot between the Fish House Bar & Grill and The Valley Inn Motel, that left a 4-year-old toddler and a 34-year-old man dead last Friday night.

On Friday night, October 10 shortly before midnight, members of the Watsonville Police Department, assisted by the Santa Cruz County Gang Task Force, responded to the Fish House Bar and Grill on a report of a fight with weapons. When Officers arrived on scene, they heard multiple gunshots and saw several people running from the chaotic scene.

Two victims, including the girl, where inside the Fish House office.

Police learned that two of the victims were fatally shot and another suffered a non-life threatening gunshot wound. The first fatal victim was a 4-year-old girl from Watsonville who appears to have been caught in the crossfire. The toddler was struck by a stray bullet while in the back office of the restaurant. She was pronounced dead shortly after being rushed to the Watsonville Community Hospital.

The second fatality was a 34-year-old Watsonville man who was found on the ground near the Valley Inn motel. The third victim also in the back office with the toddler and was also hit with a stray bullet.  The Toddler was related to the restaurant owner. It appears they are all victims of gang violence.

“Worst case that we can recall in many years.” Watsonville Police Chief Manny Solano said, “I know you understand the impact this had, not only on our staff, but especially on the community, and especially on the families of the victims, and especially the the 4-year-old victim.”

Watsonville Police managed to apprehend two men, both of Watsonville, after a lengthy foot chase. One was later released, while Escobar is still in custody on murder charges.

Escobar has been involved in several incidents of the past few years. In 2009 he was reportedly shot in the leg by a rival gang member. His brother, in an apparent attempt at revenge, shot Angel Escobedo, a 19-year-old who was not even gang affiliated and not involved in Michael’s shooting. Julian was convicted of the murder in 2011.

Meanwhile, in 2011, Michael Escobar was accused of armed robbery of Bay Area Federal Credit Union with another man. They got away with $300,000.00. The District Attorney dropped charges against him, however, pursuant to a larger investigation, according to the Santa Cruz Sentinel. The status of that case was not available.

Jaelyn Zavala, innocent 4-year-old victim (Instagram)

The victims of the Fish House shooting were later identified. Ramon Rendon, 33, was killed in the parking lot fight. 26-year-old Emanuel Hernandez was wounded while in the Fish House office with the other 4-year-old victim, Jaelyn Zavala. Memorial funds have been set up in her name, one at Wells Fargo bank under the name Jaelyn Marie Zavala, account number 5284735320. Donors are welcome to contact Wells Fargo to donate to that fund. Another has been set up by the Marina Youth Soccer League, where Jaelyn played. Donors may click this link to donate or learn more.

Read More:

Santa Cruz Sentinel: Details emerge on Watsonville double slaying suspect

BAKERSFIELD — A Bakersfield purse snatcher is behind bars after being arrested by police last Friday morning. Gerald Anthony Davis, 33-years-old of Bakersfield, was booked into the Kern County Jail on four counts of burglary and three counts of elder abuse.

According to Sergeant Joe Grubbs, Public Information Officer for the Bakersfield Police Department, Davis was identified by detectives from video surveillance footage taken at a northwest Bakersfield Winco Foods store where he is accused of stealing a wallet from a woman’s purse while she was shopping on Wednesday, August 20.

Davis, who is on active probation and on an ankle monitor from Los Angeles County, was found at his apartment residence in the 600 block of Edwin Drive at around noon on Oct. 10.

Police said his ankle monitor also links him to three other purse snatching thefts between July 28 and September 19.

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KERO: Man stole wallet from elderly woman’s purse

Kern Golden Empire: Police seeking man wanted for stealing

TEHACHAPI — A man suspected of dealing methamphetamine in the small mountain community of Tehachapi, in eastern Kern County, was arrested last Thursday afternoon. Edward Hughes Sr., 48, was booked into the Kern County Jail’s Central Receiving Facility on charges of possession of a controlled substance for sale, possession of instruments for injecting or smoking controlled substances, under the influence of a controlled substance and opening or maintenance of unlawful places.

Edward Hughes (Facebook)

According to the Tehachapi Police Department, Hughes was taken into custody after officers, conducting a probation search of his home on Thursday, Oct. 9, in the 1400 block of Goodrick Drive, found approximately 11 grams of what appeared to be methamphetamine buried in his yard. Police said they also found two grams of methamphetamine inside his home, along with packaging equipment and measuring scales associated with the sale of narcotics.

Officers also located a police scanner and a video surveillance camera mounted on the roof of the residence. Eight needles filled with what appeared to be liquid methamphetamine, $360 cash and instruments used to inject or smoke a controlled substance were also recovered.

Read More:

Tehachapi News: Tehachapi man arrested on drug charges

KERO: Probation search leads to arrest

BAKERSFIELD – A man accused of killing another man and dumping his body in a recycling bin in south Bakersfield was arrested last Friday morning. Peter Garcia Jr., 50, was booked into the Kern County Jail on one count of murder.

According to the Bakersfield Police Department, Garcia is just one of three other men police are questioning in connection to the death of 34-year-old Efren Ramon Estrada, whose body was discovered in a blue recycling bin on Sunday, Oct. 5 at around 9 a.m. in the 1600 block of Wilson Road in south Bakersfield.

Officers said they went to the area and found human remains in the recycling bin, which were later identified as Estrada. “Because this case is a homicide, we are not releasing the cause of death at this time so detectives can maintain the integrity of the investigation,” said Sgt. Joe Grubbs. Detectives working the case however, quickly developed information that Garcia might be involved in the homicide.

Because Garcia had a prior history of violence and was thought to be armed, the Bakersfield Police Department SWAT was called in to serve two search warrants at homes in the 1400 and 1500 blocks of Wilson Road on Thursday, Oct. 9. The search warrants were served to get additional evidence and to locate those suspected in the killing.

Read more:

KERO: Bakersfield police makes arrest in homicide

Bakersfield Now: Arrest made in recycling bin death

SAN BERNARDINO – A murder suspect who fled to Mexico was returned last week and is scheduled to face three counts for attempted murder and another count of murder.

It took a collaborative effort of national, regional and local law enforcement agencies to return Alfonso Garcia, Jr., 32, to the United States to face charges. Garcia was wanted for allegedly shooting three people in San Bernardino on June 21, said police. Richard Loera, Luis Loera Martinez, and Arnulfo Loera were all shot over an apparent property line and fence dispute. Luis Loera Martinez later died from the wounds suffered in that shooting.

Four days after the shooting, a felony warrant was issued in San Bernardino County on three counts of attempted murder against Garcia. Investigators determined that Garcia had fled the area, and requested the assistance of the FBI’s Inland Regional Apprehension Team to locate the suspect.

IRAT investigators determined that Garcia left California, crossing the border into Mexico, a violation of federal law. On Sept. 22, a federal arrest warrant was issued for Garcia, charging him with Unlawful Flight to Avoid Prosecution.

Cooperation between FBI offices in San Diego, Los Angeles and a legal attaché in Mexico City, along with the Mexican Federal Police, led to Garcia being located and arrested in Rosarito, Baja California, Mexico. Garcia, a U.S. citizen, was deported by Mexican authorities, turned over to the FBI and transported back to San Bernardino on Oct. 5. FBI spokesman Bill Lewis said that Garcia was taken into custody at the San Ysidro Port of Entry in San Diego on Oct. 8. He was due in court sometime this week, said officials.

The IRAT team, which included agents and officers with the FBI, along with San Bernardino Police, Riverside County Sheriff’s office and Riverside Police worked together in the efforts to land Garcia as a prisoner.

Garcia was taken to San Bernardino Central Jail. According to officials, the U.S. government is expected to dismiss the federal warrant against Garcia, leaving him to be prosecuted by San Bernardino County officials.

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UPI: San Bernardino triple shooting suspect captured

FRESNO – Having already caught two women believed to be involved in stealing a cell phone from a pharmacy store, police are now searching for the third suspect.

The strong-arm robbery incident happened at the CVS Pharmacy at Peach Avenue and Kings Canyon Road. A woman stole a cell phone, which was then allegedly used to commit identity theft.

On Friday, detectives served a search warrant in the 1100 block of East Harvard Avenue in connection with the robbery, which led to the arrest of 36-year-old Stephanie Garza and 40-year-old Michelle Rodriguez.

Michelle Rodriguez

Apparently, the stolen cell phone was given to Garza and Rodriguez, who used it to make purchases through Amazon.com. The cell phone and other items linked to identity theft were recovered. Garza and Rodriguez were charged with possession of stolen property, identity theft, credit card fraud and possession of methamphetamine.

Police are still looking for Kynia Thrower, 21, who is believed to be the woman who originally stole the cell phone. Anyone with knowledge as to her whereabouts is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (559) 498-STOP.

Stephanie Garza

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Fresno Bee: Two women held, third sought in robbery

The Garcia River Casino in Point Arena

POINT ARENA – MENDOCINO COUNTY – The Garcia River winds through the foothills of southern Mendocino County, and empties into the sea at the famous Point Arena Lighthouse. Along the way it passes the Iverson Rancheria Indian Reservation and the Garcia River Casino, which is on Windy Hollow Road, just inland of Highway 1 and north of the town of Point Arena. It was here next to the casino that a group of people were celebrating a birthday party on Saturday, October 4.

The party was going well into the night, and trouble began shortly after midnight. A fight started, and a call for help went out to Mendocino County Sheriff’s office at 12:51 am, reporting five or six people involved, according to a Sheriff’s press release.

Deputies soon arrived and found a 34-year-old male victim who had suffered major trauma to his head and upper body. He was transported to a nearby hospital, but was able to provide a statement to deputies. He reported being attacked by four men, all of whom had fled the location. He said he casually knew one of them as “Marco”, but did not know who any of the others were.

Images for Marcos Escareno from Facebook. Left – while incarcerated, and right – earlier in the day of the beating incident, his hair pulled back into a braid.

The Sheriff’s office began an investigation, and identified possible suspects as Marcos Cattarino Escareno and Richie Gabriel Cobarrubia, both 22. Escareno lives in Manchester, the town just north of Point Arena, and Cobarrubia lives on the Iverson Rancheria near the Casino.

Escareno was picked up on Wednesday, October 8 at 4 in the afternoon, and Cobarrubia was located an hour and a half later in Boonville, the small town 35 miles inland along Mountain View Road at Highway 128. Both men were arrested and charged with battery with serious injury, and assault with a deadly weapon. Cobarrubia’s bail was set at $30,000, but Escareno was also charged with parole violation, and $175,000 bail.

Richie Cobarrubia (Facebook)

Escareno became somewhat famous in 2007 as a 14-year-old boy who was accused of murder after shooting to death his sister’s ex-boyfriend, Enoch Cruz. He was tried as an adult, and ended up pleading guilty to voluntary manslaughter and use of a firearm. His competence to stand trial was also at issue, as he was said to be below normal intelligence and had suffered abuse, foster care, and had used alcohol and marijuana as young as 10 years old. He was convicted of shooting Cruz three times, apparently believing the man was a danger to his sister. After serving eight and a half years, he was released on parole in December.

The Saturday night fight, however, may have stemmed from long running rivalries. Cobarrubia posted what may be a telling message on his Facebook page five months ago, on May 18. “[Deleted] punks can jump me can’t knock me out 3 on 1 haha yeeeeee [deleted] Oscar n he’s boys”. However, it is not clear whether the beating victim in this incident was one of the people who attacked Cobarrubia back in May.

Prior to his arrest, Escareno posted his reaction to the incident on Facebook the next day, on October 5 at 1:04 in the afternoon. He wrote: “All I got to say is that last night was, CRAZY!!! Aye yeee!!!”

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Ukiah Daily Journal: Man involved in 2007 Point Arena slaying arrested again

Press Democrat: Fort Bragg youth too impaired to face murder trial, defense says

SACRAMENTO—The identities of two men killed in a car crash on Saturday afternoon, October 11 in Rancho Cordova have been released. They are Robert Orrison, 86, of Sacramento and Gary McLarty, 73, of North Hollywood, according to the Sacramento County Coroner.

Robert Orrison and Gary McLarty publicity photos

Rancho Cordova police said a blue Chevrolet truck making a U-turn was struck by a white Jeep Cherokee at 1:03 p.m. on Grant Line Road at Raymer Way.

The driver of the truck and his passenger in the vehicle were pronounced dead at the scene. Police said occupants of the Jeep vehicle were taken to the hospital for medical treatment of unspecified injuries.

Orrison and McLarty were seasoned Hollywood stuntmen. Orrison was a stunt performer and background actor on Star Trek: The Original Series, having minor roles in three second season episodes. He also performed stunts for television’s The Dukes of Hazzard and for such films as The Wild Bunch (1969), Smokey and the Bandit (1977), Die Hard 2 (1990), Speed (1994), Stargate (1994), and The Wedding Planner (2001).

Orrison and McLarty

McLarty is known for his work on The Blues Brothers (1980), Jurassic Park (1993) and Beverly Hills Cop (1984). In 1982, McLarty was in the helicopter, as a stunt coordinator, when actor Vic Morrow and two children died in an accident on a “Twilight Zone” movie set.

Police said the cause of Saturday’s collision remains under investigation. Investigators are asking witnesses or anyone with information about the crash to contact the Rancho Cordova Police Department at (916) 874-5115. Tip information also can be left anonymously at www.sacsheriff.com by entering the keyword “SSD,” or by calling (916) 874-8477.

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Sacramento Bee: Two longtime Hollywood stuntmen killed in Rancho Cordova crash

SAN RAFAEL – On September 30 at approximately 3:35 am, an armed unknown suspect entered the Shell Gas Station at 950 Del Presidio Boulevard in San Rafael and robbed the store of cash and lottery tickets. The suspect fled the scene prior to the arrival of officers.

Caught on surveillance video

The gas station clerk told officers that he was outside near the pumps when he first saw the suspect inside the store. Assuming that the man was a customer needing assistance the clerk returned to the store. He noticed a handgun in the suspect’s waistband as he passed him in the store but before he could react the suspect pulled out the handgun and demanded that he give him cash and lottery tickets.

The clerk complied with the suspect’s demands. The suspect then told the clerk to wait in the back of the store for five minutes before calling the police. The suspect left the station in an unknown direction.

On October 8 at approximately 5:30 am, Novato PD patrol units were dispatched to an attempted robbery occurring in the vicinity of the 1300 block of Hamilton Parkway. Officers contacted a suspect matching a description provided by the reporting party. During the course of the investigation officers developed information leading them to believe that the suspect may wanted for armed robbery in two other cases. The suspect was arrested for attempted burglary and a parole violation.

The Chevron Station in Petaluma that was robbed.

Petaluma PD detectives were notified that the Novato PD had arrested a suspect in a recent armed robbery there, which had several similarities to a Petaluma case on September 28, which occurred at a Chevron gas station at 4999 Petaluma Boulevard North. Detectives also had physical evidence linking the suspect to the Petaluma investigation.

The Novato Shell Station

The suspect was identified as 51-year-old Danny Raymond Bester, a resident of Novato. Bester was booked for six felonies and three misdemeanors including, attempted burglary, a felony parole violation, three robberies, three burglaries, and two counts of exhibiting a deadly weapon and is being held at the Marin County Jail. Bail(s) have been set at $10,000 for the attempted burglary and at $75,000 for each of the three robberies.

LA QUINTA – While pursuing an armed man fleeing from the scene of a robbery, a police officer shot and injured the suspect.

A man was robbed in La Quinta in front of his home on Saturday around 3:00 AM. The victim called in the crime to the police and officers arrived at his residence in the 52-500 block of Avenida Herrera. The victim reported to the officers that there were three suspects involved and warned them that the robbers were armed.

Officers began a search for the suspects involved. One of the officers spotted a man matching the description of one of the suspects. He was also holding a rifle. When the suspect was approached by the police, he fled and headed in the direction of another officer, who fired in his direction. This first shot missed the suspect. Deputy Armando Muñoz stated in a press release that an assault rifle was found where the shooting occurred.

Still fleeing, the suspect headed toward the 52-500 block of Avenida Velasco with police pursuing. According to Muñoz, at this time the suspect reached into his waistband and a second officer fired on him. Police report that the suspect was armed with a knife during this incident. The suspect was wounded with a non-life-threatening injury and was transported to the local hospital. No officers were injured.

Adrian Vivas,18 of La Quinta was identified as the suspect. Vivas will be charged with robbery, attempted burglary, and conspiracy. The involved officers have been placed on administrative leave per Department policy. The names of the officer’s involved in the shooting incident have not been released. Investigators from the La Quinta Police Department and the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department’s Central Homicide Unit are looking into the incident.

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Desert Sun: Two deputies fire on La Quinta Cove robbery suspect

Press Enterprise: Man hospitalized after officer-involved shooting

Residents in this upscale Elk Grove neighborhood probably had no idea a marijuana operation was going on in this home.

ELK GROVE—Elk Grove police arrested 11 suspects on Thursday, October 9, 2014, for allegedly cultivating marijuana at 11 homes across the Sacramento region.

More than 2,400 plants and 20 pounds of processed marijuana were seized, says Elk Grove Police Spokesperson Christopher Trim.

Two suspects were arrested at a resident on the 10200 block of Vespas Way in Elk Grove while the remaining nine suspects were taken into custody in Davis and Sacramento. More than 375 plants were found in the just the Vespas Way house, which is in walking distance to Toby Johnson Middle School and Franklin High School.

Ronggao Liu, Ashley Chang, Xilai Rong, Jin Chen

Trim said that investigators discovered the Elk Grove house, which led police to finding further growing operations. Search warrants were served at 11 houses in Elk Grove, Davis, Arden-Arcade, and Sacramento’s Meadowview, Pocket, and Midtown neighborhoods. Investigators also found more than $62,000 in cash during their operation.

Xin Luo, Nathan Ou, Qizhen Zhou, Jian Qiu

Authorities arrested the following suspects: Gunhong Yu, 63, of Sacramento; Guo Ma, 43, of Sacramento; Xuexiang Chen, 46, of Elk Grove; Ronggao Liu, 46, of Elk Grove; Ashley Chang, 40, of Davis; Xilai Rong, 70, of Sacramento; Jin Chen, 57, of Sacramento; Xin Luo, 47, of Sacramento; Nathan Ou, 25, of Sacramento; Qizhen Zhou, 63, of Sacramento; and Jian Qiu, 41, of Sacramento.

All were arrested on conspiracy and marijuana cultivation charges and booked into the Sacramento County Main Jail.

The Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department and the Yolo County Narcotics Enforcement Team assisted the Elk Grove police in the operation.

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Elk Grove Citizen: Police arrest 11 in marijuana house bust

One clue led to another after a routine traffic stop for speeding, which enabled Davis police to solve related stolen vehicle and car burglary cases on October 6.

According to Davis P.D. spokesman Lieutenant Tom Waltz, an officer on patrol near the intersection of F Street and Anderson Road on the northern outskirts of Davis, at about 1:30 am on October 6, pulled the car in question over for speeding.

While conducting a license plate check after the stop, the officer learned that the car was recently reported stolen. Thereupon, the officer placed the car’s three occupants under arrest. After that, Waltz said, the officer searched the car and discovered a suspicious collection of electronic equipment, jewelry and other items stolen during a car burglary in South Davis that had not yet been reported to police.

Arrested were three residents of West Sacramento including: Brejana Latrice McCrory, 24; Lynette McMihelk, 37; and a 16-year-old girl, Waltz said. All were charged with vehicle theft and burglary.

A Santa Rosa police officer who signed up to work security at a high school dance could not have imagined the evening ending like this, and the teenage young man and his friends could have made things a lot easier on themselves as well.

Maria Carillo High School

Last Saturday night, October 10, Santa Rosa’s Maria Carillo High School was holding their homecoming dance on campus. Just outside the gym, where the dance was going on, and beyond the outdoor basketball courts and athletic field, is Rincon Valley Community Park. Ricardo Gonzalez, 19 and not a student at Carillo High, was there at the park with two friends. He had parked a dark colored Ford Expedition, likely his parents’ car, on Rick Drive, which runs on the other side of Rincon Park and in that residential neighborhood.

At around 11 pm, Gonzalez became involved in a fight with some other people, including his two friends. Carillo High students attending the dance saw the brawl going on, and alerted teachers and staff. One of them yelled at the fighters to stop, and chased Gonzalez and his friends away, while another staff member alerted the Santa Rosa Police officer who was working the dance.

Rick Drive where the officer nearly collided with the Expedition.

Gonzalez and his friends fled to the Expedition and took off, nearly hitting one of the school staffers who had chased them. Meanwhile the officer had gotten to his squad car, and drove down Montecito Blvd. from the school to the neighborhood, turning right on Baird Road, and right again on Rick Drive. It was there he saw the Expedition coming toward him fast, with the light out. He swerved into the opposite lane, avoiding a collision, while Gonzalez struck a parked car, sending it 40 feet across driveways and the sidewalk, and rolling the Expedition over.

Gonzalez and one of his friends jumped out and made a run for it, but the officer caught Gonzalez before he could get away. The friend, however did escape. The third party, however, was not so lucky. The young man left in the car was injured in the crash, and was taken to Memorial Hospital for treatment. The 17-year-old was not identified due to his age.

Ricardo Gonzalez was arrested for felony hit and run, and resisting arrest. And assuming the Ford Expedition is his parents’ vehicle, he faces their wrath as well, since he and his friends could have no doubt driven quietly away and cooperated if stopped, facing perhaps a disorderly conduct charge at worst.

The suspect, a Woodland resident was arraigned in Yolo Superior Court on attempted murder charges on October 8 after he attacked the woman whom Woodland police later identified as his aunt, on the evening of Sunday, October 5. Michael Maloney, Jr., 29, has been lodged at the Yolo County Jail without bail since he was booked immediately after the attack.

A Woodland Police spokesman, Sergeant Brett Hancock, said investigating officers believe Maloney wounded his aunt, 47, at her residence in the at the Elliot Crossing Apartments on West Elliot Street soon after 5 pm on October 5. Police discovered the woman bleeding from the neck wound. The woman was transported to Woodland Memorial Hospital where her non-life- threatening wound was treated.

Maloney, who lists the same apartment as his residence, has been in trouble under violent circumstances before. On January 23 he was arrested by Woodland Police on charges of assault likely to cause great bodily injury, inflicting corporal injury on a spouse or co-habitant, threats of violence, and physical abuse. No further details of that incident, or if his aunt was also the victim at that time, were available.

Investigation into this case is still ongoing. Woodland Police ask anyone with information concerning this attempted murder case is asked to call 530-661-7800.

Social media has become an important crime-fighting tool for police departments across the country, both for getting information about criminal activity out to the public and for helping citizens identify suspects. In fact, the practice has become so common that perhaps we need a word or phrase for criminals captured with the help of social media. Facebooked? Caught in a Social Dragnetwork?

Recently, the Daly City Police Department was able to identify and arrest a hit-and-run suspect thanks to Facebook. It started when the department posted a message on its Facebook page about a hit-and-run incident that took place on October 8 at around 6:11 p.m. on Serramonte Boulevard at Gellert Boulevard in Daly City. The suspect, driving a white Nissan Frontier, rear-ended the victim’s vehicle and fled the scene, according to the message.

The busy Daly City intersection where the hit and run took place.

Fortunately, a quick-thinking witness to the incident was able to take photos of the suspect and his car’s damaged front end before the suspect drove away. Daly City Police posted these photos along with the Facebook message asking for the public’s help.

On Monday, the department announced on its Facebook page that “[a]fter seeing the Facebook posting, a citizen who recognized the photo called the Police Department. Early Friday evening, officers followed up on the tip and identified the driver/suspect.”

Police took the suspect, described as a 30-year-old San Francisco resident, into custody, where he confessed to the hit-and-run. Charges are still pending, and police are not releasing the name of the suspect at this time.

It is unlikely the suspect will be “liking” the Daly City Police Department’s Facebook page anytime soon.