The Mendocino Sheriff’s Department has announced a few recent drug arrests of three people all caught in their vehicles.

On Monday, October 13, a patrol deputy was on duty in the town of Covelo, a small community in inland Mendocino County of about 1200 people, in the valley between the coastal ranges and the Mendocino National Forest. The deputy spotted a car with invalid registration tags and conducted a traffic stop along Highway 162 at 5:19 pm. The woman driving, 34-year-old Angela Frease of the north part of Covelo, did not have a valid driver’s license either.

A search of her car revealed a bag filled with smaller clear plastic bags, each containing a white crystal substance, which appeared to be methamphetamine. There was a total of 26 grams, which was with a digital scale and several smaller unused plastic bags, indicating an intent to sell the narcotics. Frease was arrested for possession of meth, possession for sale, and transportation of meth. She was booked into Mendocino County Jail on $35,000 bail.

Boomers Saloon on Highway 101 in Laytonville.

The next evening, deputies were dispatched to the area of Boomer’s Saloon in Laytonville, another small town of about 1200 people along Highway 101. Someone had called in a report of an intoxicated man causing a disturbance. Deputies arrived to find a man passed out in his vehicle, with the engine running and lights on. They woke up the man, and he said his name was Craig Matthew Coelho. That name, however, is apparently that of his brother, a military man with no record or active warrants out on him. The deputies soon discovered they actually had Anthony B. Coelho, 31, from Merlin Oregon. He had two active warrants from Oregon, and two from Stanislaus County, California, all for drug offenses. He had also been arrested in 2007 on charges of grand theft in addition to narcotics possession.

Further investigation of Coelho and his vehicle revealed numerous hypodermic syringes and 53 grams of heroin – a “commercial quantity” – under the driver’s seat. He was arrested and charged with possession of a controlled substance and paraphernalia, false impersonation, and his outstanding warrants. Total bail was set at $150,000.

Then on Saturday morning, October 18 at 6:30 am, a patrol deputy in Redwood Valley, another small town along Highway 101, caught a motorist speeding on the freeway near the Reeves Canyon Road turnoff. The deputy stopped the driver of the silver Mercedes Benz, and spoke to 58-year-old Freddie Drummond, of Willits, about 13 miles north of the location.The deputy immediately smelled the odor of burnt marijuana in Drummond’s car, and conducted a further search of the vehicle. 6.7 grams of marijuana and 1.9 grams of cocaine were found, and Drummond was arrested for transportation of a controlled substance. He was booked at the Mendocino County Jail with bail set at $35,000.

HAWTHORNE, CA—It was the end of the line for loads of stolen vehicles—and the end of the line for the man who received them.

Gamaliel Barajas, 22, was arrested on Wednesday, October 15 at approximately 4 p.m. by Hawthorne Police Department officers at his apparent residence along the 200 block of East Artesia Boulevard in Long Beach. Police may have been serving a warrant prior to the many new violations that were heaped on him that day; one of the many charges was for a warrant for having failed to appearing after promising in writing to do so (853.7PC).

The new charges included grand theft auto/horse/etc. (487(D)(1)PC), taking a vehicle without owning it (10851(A)VC), receiving/etc. known stolen wire/metals as a junker (496(A)PC), owning//operating/etc. a chop shop (10801VC) and manufacturing/selling/giving/lending/possessing metal knuckles (2181PC).

Total bail was set at $165,892. The 487 and chop shop violations were $50,000 each; the 10851 violation was $25,000; and the 496 and metal knuckles violations were $20,000 each.

HAWTHORNE, CA—It’s nearly midnight, and what’s a man to do but get arrested?

Raymoan (sic) John Biddle, 55; Darrell West, 31; and Shiab Cunningham, 40, were picked up by Hawthorne Police Department officers on Friday, October 17 at approximately 10:45 p.m. All three men were arrested along the 4000 block of 130th Street in Hawthorne.

Biddle was saddled with four violations: a hit and run resulting in property damage (20002(A)VC, attempted petty theft (A484(A)PC, DUI alcohol (23152(B)VC and drinking in public (HAMC 8.38.020B) drinking in public. The first two warrants were issued by Hawthorne PD; the third by Garden PD and the fourth and final by Hawthorne. The total bail was set at $144,000.  It wasn’t Biddle’s first brush with the law.  Back in April he was arrested on a petty theft charge.

West acquired a fresh charge of possession of marijuana (11357(C)HS) along with two warrants—one from Hawthorne PD (taking a vehicle without owning it; 10851(A)VC) and one from Los Angeles Police Department (failure to appear; 853.7PC). His total bail was set at $12,000.

Cunningham made off off with a single warrant from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department: taking a vehicle without owning it (10851(A)VC), a violation for which bail was not set.

HAWTHORNE — Any allusions to William Shakespeare, Christopher Marlowe and Sir Francis Bacon and are not intentional in the following account.

Tesa Leona Crockett 19, Tanesha Renna Crockett, 25, and Brook Ebony Fields, 24, were arrested by Hawthorne Police Department officers on Monday, October 20 at approximately 11 p.m. along the residential block of Roselle Avenue in Hawthorne, CA.

The three women were not noted for being boiling, bubbling nor in any way doubling when they found themselves in trouble for a number of violations that Monday night.

Tesa Crockett was charged with stating fight/challenging fighting words (415(1)PC), stating offensive words in public (415(3)PC) and battery (242PC). She apparently had no priors. Her total bail was set at $1,500, all three charges being set at equal bail of $500.00

Tanesha Crockett was charged with the same three violations as her apparent relative. She, too, apparently had no priors. Like her apparent siblings, her total bail was also set at $1,500—all three charges also being set at equal bail of $500.00

Fields, however, faced not just all three three charges but a fourth and remarkably heavy violation. Along with the nominal charges that the Crocketts compounded, Fields was hit with a $20,000 bail for the violation of battery on a peace officer.

None of the three women were available for comment.

HAWTHORNE, CA—How many charges can one man get done up for a single handgun?

Rontae Dunn, 40, may be able to answer the above question owing to his recent arrest.

The Oxford Avenue, Hawthorne resident was apprehended on Sunday, October 19 at approximately 8:30 p.m. at the intersection of Menlo Avenue and El Segundo Boulevard in Hawthorne. Police records indicated he was arrested near his residence which is a few blocks southwest of Hawthorne Municipal Airport.

Hawthorne police officers charged the man with no fewer than five weapons charges: carrying a concealed weapon on one’s person (25400(A)2PC), carrying a loaded firearm (25850(A)PC; owning and/or possessing a firearm (29800(A)1PC); owning and/or possessing a firearm 10 years after a conviction (29805PC); and owning/possessing a firearm within a vehicle (2990(A)1PC.

Two weeks ago Dunn was arrested on a failure to appear after written promise charge (853.7).

The total bail was set at $245,000, with each charge being set at $35,000 each.

It was not stated in police records what the model of the firearm was.

HANFORD – Police arrested a part-time Hanford Parks and Recreation Department employee on Wednesday afternoon on suspicion of sexually abusing two teenage girls.

Jose Alberto Morales Donastorg, 29, was booked into Kings County Jail and faces up to 18 counts of sexual assault charges against minors, authorities said.

Donastorg came to the attention of the Hanford Police Department around four weeks ago after the department received an anonymous complaint claiming that a city employee by the name of Jose Donastorg had been involved with underage girls at Longfield Community Center, authorities said.

An investigation by a Hanford detective and school resource officers led to two possible victims. These girls – who were 14 and 15 at the time – were enrolled in a boxing class that Donastorg taught and developed a relationship with him two years ago that eventually turned sexual, police said.

Donastorg has been an employee with the city for three years and works as a supervisor and weight trainer at the community center.

Detectives are trying to determine if there are any other victims. Anyone with information is encouraged to call the Hanford Police Department at 585-2540.

Read More:

The Sentinel: City Employee accused of child sex crimes

SACRAMENTO—A Sacramento woman has been sentenced in federal court to three years in prison for identity theft and defrauding a bail bond company after pleading guilty.

On Wednesday, October 22, U.S. District Judge Kimberly J. Mueller ordered Jennifer Ann Lynch, 37,  to pay full restitution to her victims. Lynch was sentenced for two counts of mail fraud related to a scheme to obtain bail, and one count of aggravated identity theft, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Court documents show that Lynch was arrested in Lincoln, California on May 3, 2013 for unrelated California state offenses. She was charged then with identity theft, burglary, possession of stolen property, and giving false information to police. She was later released on a $175,000 bond that she obtained through fraud.  Authorities said Lynch defrauded a bail bond company by falsely representing her assets, ability to pay and her income so she could secure the bond. She also obtained and altered stolen money orders to pay for the bond.

On March 17, 2013, while Lynch was out of custody, she had taken checks that were stolen from the mail and opened a Safe Credit Union account using the identity of the mail-theft victim, including the victim’s name, date of birth, driver’s license number, employer identification and security badge, Social Security number and signature.

Authorities said that between then and July 31, 2013, she deposited additional stolen and altered checks, and then withdrew cash. Lynch had been arrested in August of 2012 as well, on charges of petty theft, posession of burglary tools, stolen property, and driving on a suspended license.

The case resulted from an investigation by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Placer County District Attorney’s Office, with assistance from the Roseville Police Department and the Sacramento Valley Hi-Tech Crimes Task Force.

Online fashion retailer Justfabulous, Inc. has paid $1.8 million this week to settle a consumer protection lawsuit alleging its popular personal shopper websites were illegally misleading customers.

A lawsuit filed by the Santa Clara and Santa Cruz District Attorneys’ Offices, alleged that JustFab.com, Fabkids.com, Shoedazzle.com, and Fabletics.com did not “clearly and conspicuously” explain that its advertised discounts require a monthly and automatically-charged subscription fee. Justfab.com, for example, charges $39.95 a month for its membership.

“Advertising must be clear and not deceptive,” said Santa Clara County Deputy District Attorney Francisca Allen. “Consumers have the right to know exactly what they are signing up for and what it will cost them. That is the law.”

According to the SCCDA’s Office, the El Segundo-based company developed a subscription program for its websites that offers discounts on such things as yoga pants, women’s shoes, and children’s outfits. An investigation showed that some consumers who purchased items on these sites – often after completing an online fashion “quiz” – were not aware that they were now obligated to pay a monthly fee. The fee was only waived if customers followed a specific process to opt out every month.

Allen said, “California law requires such subscription services to be “clearly and conspicuously” explained on such websites, usually using bold and/or colorful font that can easily be seen and is placed near the discounted offer”.

As for those customers affected in California, consumers who were misled into paying monthly subscription fees will be notified. A class action lawsuit will help the offices notify those customers listed in the suit and will also help those affected make a claim for restitution.

Justfabulous, Inc., which cooperated with the investigation, paid $1,875,000 in penalties and costs and has agreed to bring their websites into compliance. Funds acquired by the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office from the settlement will be used to investigate and prosecute consumer protection cases.

No notifications have been made by Justfabulous, Inc. to members about the lawsuit or details further detailing the current charges and monthly fees as previously put into place.

REDLANDS – Two people were arrested for attempted murder on Saturday, Oct. 18, though police weren’t contacted for two days after the incident. Ezra Ernesto Alvarez, 18, along with a 17-year-old suspect were arrested after the victim’s family reported the incident to police.

The stabbing took place on the basketball courts at Texonia Park, located at the corner of Texas St. and Lugonia Ave., which is a semi-major intersection in Redlands.

Police reports stated that the incident began when a group had gathered to witness a pre-arranged fight between two non-identified individuals, according to spokesman Carl Baker.

While the fight was taking place, Alvarez threatened one of the bystanders, a 17-year-old Redlands boy, who was accused of attempting to “jump in” the fight. Witnesses said that Alvarez approached the 17-year-old, holding a knife in each hand, and the victim backed away.

According to witnesses, police said, there had been a pause during the fight when Alvarez began accosting the victim. A second 17-year-old apparently encouraged Alvarez to “stick” the victim.

Reports are that Alvarez slashed at the victim, which caused a laceration on his arm. The victim was able to escape the mayhem. Police, meanwhile, identified both suspects, taking Alvarez into custody on Tuesday, Oct. 21. One day later, they arrested the 17-year-old suspect. Both were charged with attempted murder.

Alvarez, who appeared in court on Thursday, was taken to West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga, held on $1 million bail. The juvenile, whose identity was not released due to his age, was taken to Juvenile Hall.

Read More:

Press Enterprise: Man, teen accused of attempted murder

City of Redlands: Two arrested in connection wit attempted murder

HIGHLAND – San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Deputies, tipped off to an armed robbery in progress earlier this week, arrived in time to arrest eight men, including one that tried to flee.

The call came to an illegal marijuana dispensary on the 25900 block of 9th St. at 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday. Deputies were alerted that numerous suspects had arrived at that location with assault weapons, handguns and accosted victims at gunpoint.

Within seconds, deputies arrived at the scene. One man, Vincente Tapia, 28, of San Bernardino, tried to flee on foot but was quickly captured, according to reports.
Also arrested were Alfredo Villa, 20, of Los Angeles; Samuel Aguirre, 29, San Bernardino; Israel Paredez, 33, San Bernardino; Scott Rathjen, 33, San Bernardino; Raymond Ortiz, 32; Edgar Hernandez, 24, Highland; and Daniel Rodriguez, 26, Highland.

Investigators quickly determined that all eight suspects are believed to be affiliated with a criminal street gang. According to authorities, they arrived at the dispensary to extort money from the shop owner.

All eight face charge of possession of assault weapons, armed robbery, kidnapping for extortion and conspiracy. Investigators presented a search warrant for the premises, including Tapia’s vehicle where they discovered a large amount of money believed to be cash taken during other robberies or extortions.
Detectives confiscated five handguns and one illegal assault rifle, which were used by the suspects during the armed robbery.

Most of the gang members, who were booked into Central Detention Center on $1 million bail, appeared in court later in the week. Sheriff’s Narcotics detectives are continuing an investigation into the activities of the marijuana dispensary, though no arrests have been announced.

Highland Police Detectives are continuing the suspected extortion, attempting to locate additional victims that may have been robbed or are being extorted by the eight suspects. Highland is a neighboring city of San Bernardino.

Read More:

CBSLA: 8 accused in robbery of illegal marijuana dispensary

Highland Community News: Kidnapping for extortion/conspiracy/robbery

Most arrests involve an officer locating their suspects and taking them into custody without further incident, but every day those who serve in law enforcement know that some of the suspects are going to put up a fight, and that their lives are in constant danger if they aren’t vigilant against trouble. Two recent incidents reported from the Mendocino County Sheriff’s office demonstrated the risks involved in dealing with criminals. Fortunately none were seriously injured.

Deputies were first called to a home on Reynolds Highway on reports of a burglary.

On Monday, October 13 at 12:35 in the afternoon, deputies were dispatched to a property out on Reynolds Highway, a road in northeast Willits, a town in inland Mendocino County along Highway 101. The deputies arrived at the home in the sparsely populated countryside and spoke to a homeowner who had called in a report of a burglary. Coming home, the resident said that a U-Haul truck had been parked right in front of the house, and two men were inside. After checking the house, they found it had just been burglarized, but the truck was gone. The homeowner tried to find the truck but could not.

After taking the report, deputies were preparing to leave, and a new report of a burglary came in, this time from a home at the southeast side of town, along Wild Iris Lane, which is further into the foothills and forested area. The location is about 7 miles from the Reynolds Highway home. The man there told a similar story – he came home to find a U-Haul parked in his driveway. He, however, spoke to the two men, who told him they were looking for an address, and left before the man entered his home. He reported their descriptions as matching the others in the earlier incident. The homeowner told deputies that once he got inside, he found several items moved around, but that nothing appeared to be missing.

The U-Haul truck was seen in this area before nearly running down a deputy.

As if to send them on a Willits scavenger hunt, yet another call came in that afternoon, at 2:10 pm. This one reported the suspicious U-Haul, now on Muir Mill Road in central Willits. This time, the truck was there when they arrived, and two men were sitting in it. But as a deputy left his patrol car, the truck suddenly came towards him. As the truck accelerated, the deputy jumped out of the way, and narrowly avoided being hit. Another patrol car was soon there, and managed to get the driver to stop, but the two men refused to come out. As that deputy pulled his taser, the driver once again took off, crossing Highway 101 onto Baechtel Road. Deputies pursued him as he headed north, and followed Baechtel around back to the 101 where he turned right, took an immediate left on Holly, and left again on Locust.

Solomon Cedric Woods booking photo

The chase continued down Locust, back down nearly to where they started. Locust, however, turns into a dirt road and ends at an area known as Muir Canyon. The men gave up the truck, headed out on foot, but did not go far.

By then, Highway Patrol officers had arrived on scene to assist, and found the suspects trying to hide in the dry creek bed near the truck. They didn’t put up any further fight, however, and were soon taken into custody. In addition to stolen property, a firearm was found in the U-Haul truck. The two men, identified as Joshua Justice Hayes, 43 of Arcata, and Solomon Cedric Woods, 40 of Eureka, were arrested and booked into the Mendocino County Jail. They were charged with burglary, possession of stolen property and burglary tools, conspiracy, assault on a peace officer, evading an officer, and being an ex-felon with a firearm. Bail was set at $175,000 for Woods, and $280,000 for Hayes.

An “unwanted person” was reported in Laytonville.

Deputies encountered more trouble this week, when they were called to Laytonville on Monday morning at 9:00 am. A report had come in of an “unwanted subject” at a farm property located along Highway 101, likely the Circle 101 Ranch. Deputies arrived and found 32-year-old Arik Caldwell, who appeared to be intoxicated and did not respond to the deputies’ requests. His speech was blurred and unintelligible. As they attempted to detain him and remove him from the property, he became increasingly aggressive, and began punching and kicking at them.

As the struggle continued, Caldwell grabbed for the items on one deputy’s belt, and grabbed the Taser weapon he was trying to deploy. Three deputies sustained minor injuries in the scuffle before finally handcuffing and subduing Caldwell. The Laytonville resident was arrested and taken to a nearby hospital for treatment of his injuries, and was later booked at the Mendocino County Jail on charges of resisting arrest by means of violence.

Two suspects are in custody after a crime spree in Sacramento this past Friday that left two officers dead and another officer and a civilian wounded, according to various news reports.

According to the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department, two suspects were booked into the Sacramento County Main Jail the morning of Saturday, October 25. Marcelo Marquez, 34, of West Valley, Utah was booked for felony murder, felony carjacking and felony attempted murder. And Janelle Marquez Monroy, 38, also of West Valley, Utah, was booked for felony carjacking and felony attempted murder.

According to Sac Sheriff, both suspects were unknown to local records and history prior to his arrest. Their first court appearance is reportedly scheduled for Tuesday, October 28.

Also killed in the line of duty was Sheriff’s Investigator Michael David Davis Jr. (Placer County Sheriff)

On the morning of Friday, October 24, two Sacramento Sheriff’s deputies reportedly approached an occupied vehicle in the Motel 6 parking lot in the 2000 block of Arden Way. According to Sac Sheriff, during this time for unknown reasons the occupants of the vehicle fired multiple rounds at the deputies. Deputy Danny Oliver, 47, a 15-year veteran of Sacramento Sheriff’s department, was reportedly struck in the upper torso and mortally wounded.

The suspects then reportedly fled the scene and began a violent crime spree by carjacking several citizens of their vehicles in nearby neighborhoods. Civilian Anthony Holmes, 38, was reportedly shot five times as the suspects attempted to carjack his vehicle on Howe Avenue, according to an article on KCRA.com.

Then as the crime spree moved up to the Auburn area, the suspects reportedly shot and killed Placer County Sheriff’s Office Detective Michael David Davis Jr., 42, a 15-year veteran of Placer County Sheriff, according to an article on News10. Additionally, Placer County Sheriff Deputy Jeff Davis was shot in the arm, treated and released from Sutter Roseville Medical Center. A bitter irony is that Michael Davis’ father, a Riverside County deputy, was also killed in the line of duty 26 years to the day before this incident.

Belmont Drive is a narrow, winding tree lined road near Placer High School.

The six hour crime spree and manhunt finally ended after one of the suspects — later identified as Marcelo Marquez — was reportedly arrested at a home in Auburn on Belmont Drive, according to an article on USAToday.com. He had taken refuge in a home there, and was arrested only after a 3 hour SWAT standoff at around 4 pm. A story from KCRA News reports he even helped himself to liquor from the home’s refrigerator during his last hours of freedom.

The second suspect — later identified as Janelle Marquez Monroy — was reportedly taken into custody earlier in Placer County at the scene of the last shooting.

At this time, Sac Sheriff is still fully investigating this case, including determining a possible motive. Anyone with information regarding this case is asked to contact Sac Sheriff at 916-874-9022.

Read More:

Sacramento Bee: Gun rampage kills 2 deputies in Sacramento region

Sacramento Bee: Feds say Sacramento shooting suspect was deported twice, had drug conviction

Ventura - Robert Salazar, a 43-year old Oxnard resident may have been hoping to create a new triathlon category on October 20th, when he attempted to evade arrest by first driving a car recklessly, then running from the cops on foot, and finally plunging himself headlong into the roiling Ventura Beach surf and swimming to…who knows where?

It all began at nightfall when, according to a report made to the media by the Ventura Police Department Records Unit, “a Ventura Police officer saw a vehicle driving erratically on the northbound 101 freeway” and that officer made an attempt to pull the vehicle driven by Salazar to the curb.

At that point, however, Salazar hit the gas pedal and sped away, quickly exiting the freeway on the busy California Street offramp and then immediately turning toward the ocean. The area—frequented by legions of pedestrians enjoying the unseasonably balmy beach weather—is not conducive to high-speed vehicular traffic, but Salazar had little apparent regard for the safety of either foot traffic or those driving much more slowly on the narrow streets. “Due to the excessive speeds and dangerous driving” exhibited by Salazar, the pursuing officers abruptly halted their chase at that point.

Moments later, other officers spotted the suspect vehicle just a mile south, exiting the southbound 101 freeway and immediately colliding with another vehicle on the Seaward Avenue offramp. Salazar then veered up the beach frontage road and apparently abandoned the car. Moments later officers found the vehicle in the middle of the roadway, engine running. At that point, a search of the area on foot ensued, leading officers to the discovery of Salazar running down the beach. When contact with him was attempted, he summarily dove into the heavy surf and attempted an aquatic escape.

With large waves pounding the shore, Salazar eventually washed up onto distant jetty rocks where deputies from the Ventura Harbor Patrol and Ventura City Fire rescue swimmers retrieved the soggy car thief. He was taken into custody at that point and then booked into Ventura County Jail on charges of auto theft, driving with wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property while fleeing from pursuing officer, DUI, and hit and run.

Photo: Courtesy Ventura Police Department

Read more:

Noodls: Vehicle pursuit arrest

VCSTAR: Fleeing driver plunges into ocean

PETALUMA – Multiple 911 calls on Sunday afternoon (October 26) alerted Petaluma Police dispatch to a vehicle that had left the roadway and crashed into a property at the corner of Graylawn Avenue and Payran Street.

At approximately 4 pm, witnesses said that a suspect was fleeing the scene in a black Honda with a flat front tire. Officers arrived to find damaged landscaping at the residence. A perimeter was established in the vicinity when Traffic Officer Capiteli spotted the vehicle fleeing with a flat front tire. The driver was stopped a few blocks away and was found to be obviously intoxicated.

The subsequent DUI investigation led to the arrest of Fernando Hernandez, a 25-year-old resident of Petaluma. He was also found to be driving without a license. Hernandez was booked into Sonoma County Jail and his vehicle was impounded for 30 days.

East Washington and Petaluma Blvd.

Later the same day, multiple witnesses also called 911 to report a crash at the intersection of East Washington Street and Petaluma Boulevard North. Officers found the driver to also be under the influence of alcohol and arrested. The driver, Diane Dami, a 79-year-old resident of Petaluma was released on a citation but agreed to later appear in court. Dami had rear-ended a vehicle in front of her but no one was injured in the collision.

The Petaluma PD stated in a Press Release that DUI collisions remain the 5th highest cause of traffic accidents in Petaluma. In 2013 there were 57 alcohol related collisions that injured 16 people. So far in 2014, there have been 37 alcohol related traffic related accidents with 1 person killed and 7 injured. Officers have arrested 290 DUI driver’s in 2012, 280 drivers in 2013, and 236 drivers thus far this year. DUI arrests are 12% higher in Petaluma over last year at this time.

“You ain’t from around here, are you boy? Well, we don’t take kindly to strangers in these parts” – a stereotypical B-movie theme, usually involving a big bellied southern sheriff and a long haired kid in the wrong place at the wrong time. In real life, at least here in California, it takes more than that to attract the attention of law enforcement. But three men from the East Bay Area, near Oakland, raised enough suspicion to land themselves in the Mendocino County jail last week.

The town of Redwood Valley is located in inland Mendocino County along the 101 Freeway just north of Willits and Lake Mendocino. The town is largely rural and is home to vineyards and wineries, with a population of under 2000. Recent reports of home-invasion robberies around Colony Drive have kept residents vigilant, and a recent episode earlier in October involved concerned citizens reporting a suspicious person. Brian Skaggs was found nearby, but did not turn out to be a burglar, he was just under the influence of methamphetamine, apparently wandering in the area from his home in Ukiah. He was arrested for possession and being under the influence.

The men were spotted in this area on Colony Drive initially.

Last Wednesday morning, October 22, new reports turned out to be more fruitful. According to a Sheriff’s press release, their office received a call on a suspicious white Chevy Tahoe parked on Colony Drive, blocking a dirt driveway. The caller reported a partial license plate as well. Deputies responded to the area at 7:00 am, and came upon a white Tahoe about 2 miles from the report, on East Road. They found three men in the SUV, and identified them as James Molina Rodriguez Jr., 41 of Hayward, Angelo John Pacheco, 37 and Haskell Ray Story, 45, both of San Leandro. Two of them were in camouflage clothing, and all of their clothes had marijuana residue. Their pants and shoes had mud on them.

Deputies searched the Tahoe while they were being detained, and found a replica handgun with a laser site, methamphetamine, burglary tools, and harvesting tools with marijuana residue.

All three man have a prior history of arrests. Records show that Rodriguez was picked up for petty theft by Hayward Police in May. Pacheco was charged with burglary by Union City police in December 2013. Story, however, has a much bigger tale of his time behind bars. Records show at least twenty arrests since 2007, on charges of drug possession, theft and petty theft, weapons charges, burglary and driving with a suspended license.

Based on the circumstances and evidence collected, it appeared that the three men were preparing to commit a burglary or robbery, or that they may have already done so, though no direct evidence was found linking them to a known theft. However, it led deputies to believe that their intent was to locate a marijuana grow, break in, and cut plants in order to steal them. The replica gun was likely to be used for intimidation if they encountered anyone in the potential burglary, but would not necessarily lead to an additional charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm, or an illegal weapons charge.

The three were all arrested and charged with conspiracy to commit robbery, possession of controlled substances, and being under the influence of a controlled substance. Bail was set at $150,000 for each of them. Anyone who has additional information about any potential or past robbery or burglary in Redwood valley or the entire Ukiah Valley area is encouraged to contact the Sheriff’s office at 707-463-4086. The investigation is ongoing.

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CrimeVoice: Feared Home Invader turns out to be just a stoner

The California State Sheriffs’ Association issued a letter to the citizens of the state urging a no vote on November’s proposition 47, the “Reduced Penalties for Some Crimes Initiative.”

The ballot measure, also called by supporters the “Safe Neighborhood and Schools Act” would reduce many current felonies to misdemeanor level offenses. The crimes of shoplifting, grand theft, receiving stolen property, forgery, fraud, and writing a bad check, all for amounts or values under $950.00, along with personal drug use, would become misdemeanors. Offenders with prior convictions for murder, rape, sex crimes and gun crimes would still be treated as felons, however, for these new incidents.

Stanislaus Sheriff Adam Christianson is the current President of the CSSA

The savings from incarceration as a result of the potential for fewer people jailed would be directed to a fund for education, victim compensation, and the Board of State and Community Corrections for mental health and drug treatment programs.

The Sheriffs’ Association, led by President Adam Christianson of Stanislaus County, has urged citizens in a letter signed by 56 Sheriffs to vote no on the proposal. They state that the measure threatens the safety of communities and puts families at risk. They state that reducing penalties for serious crimes like gun theft, possession of date rape drugs, and identity fraud will lead to more crime and more criminals in our neighborhoods.

They also state that their departments’ ability to protect their communities will be impaired, as thousands of prisoners will be “dumped onto our streets”, making enforcement challenges worse. They state that low-level criminals rarely go to prison now, and that there is a potential for offenders with dangerous criminal histories being released. The letter concludes “Sheriffs of the State of California respectfully ask that you stand with law enforcement, crime victims, the business community, and your local governments in opposition to Proposition 47. Please vote NO.”

Read More:

California Sheriffs’ Association

Ballotpedia – Proposition 47

Santa Barbara - The fifth suspect in an alleged criminal street gang extortion operation, Edgar Cordova, 29-year old resident of Santa Barbara, has been successfully hunted down and arrested.

As previously reported here, the prior arrests of Benjamin Ybarra, Jesse Martin Enriquez, Franco Eric Aguiniga, and Ruben Jose Regalado Jr. earlier this month in connection with charges of kidnapping, torture, and solicitation of extortion relating to activities of the Mexican Mafia prison gang pointed to Cordova as a co-conspirator. According to Santa Barbara Police Department Public Information Officer Sgt. Riley Harwood, Cordova’s victims “were involved in both criminal and legitimate activities” and his gang’s use of extortion tactics “is colloquially referred to by gang members as ‘collecting taxes’.”

Just last month felony arrest warrant for Cordova was issued in the amount of $1,700,000 following his failure to appear while out on bail on multiple charges filed in 2013. A coordinated effort on the part of multiple law enforcement agencies—including the California Department of Justice Bureau of Investigation San Diego County Field Office and the Policia Estatal Preventiva of Baja California, Mexico, Liaison Unit—were involved in locating Cordova while in hiding in Mexico.

While attempting to re-enter the United States at the San Diego border crossing, Cordova was identified and apprehended pursuant to the outstanding arrest warrant. At that point, he was booked into the San Diego County Jail, but when he was made aware of the likelihood of a successful extradition application on the part of Santa Barbara authorities, he waived his right to those proceedings and now resides in the Santa Barbara County Jail on a no bail hold.

Photo: Courtesy Santa Barbara County Jail Booking

Read more:

CrimeVoice: “Tax Collector” gangsters arrested

Santa Maria Times: Suspected gang member wanted in extortion case arrested

Noozhawk: Fugitive gang member arrested

FRESNO – Eight individuals from California, Louisiana, Florida and Ohio are expected to appear in federal court in Fresno I the coming weeks to be charged with conspiring to distribute marijuana, according to U.S. Attorney Benjamin Wagner.

Two of the defendants – Brandon Thomas, 24, and Miguel Gonzalez, 31 – are from Fresno. From July 2012 through October 2014, Thomas and Gonzalez allegedly sent packages of marijuana and marijuana oil disguised as clothing to recipients in Florida.

The recipients allegedly then made cash deposits into bank accounts held by the defendants in amounts of $10,000 or less so that the transactions would go unnoticed. The defendants also physically transported the cash from Florida to California. A total of $7 million was funneled, officials said.

The other defendants charged in the scheme are: Chad Riffle, 22, and Bree Benson, 20, both of Citrus Springs, Florida; Aseel Al-Saber, 25, of Orange County, California; Peter Capodieci, 23, of Crystal River, Florida; Ashley Williams, 27, of Lake Charles, Louisiana; and Jeremy Murphy, 25, of Monroe, Ohio.

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Fresno Bee: Fresno men charged in nationwide drug conspiracy

Ventura County - The hoary adage that “love is blind” may have to undergo slight editing in the case of Genoveva Nunez-Figueroa, a 30-year old woman and resident of Thousand Oaks, for whom the more appropriate adjective may be “reckless” or—if we’re passing judgment—“stupid”.

Clear evidence of that surfaced when, in the pre-dawn hours of October 19th, a 911 Emergency call was made by Thousand Oaks residents alerting authorities to the sounds of a woman loudly crying…somewhere. According to Ventura County Sheriffs Department Thousand Oaks Police Patrol Bureau spokesman Sgt. Joseph Galante, “deputies responded and located Nunez-Figueroa stuck inside the chimney of a residence” on Woodside Drive.

Picture of Nunez-Figueroa stuck in the chimney

Undoubtedly considering the fact that Santa Claus was not due to arrive in the neighborhood for another two full months, deputies promptly summoned units of both the Ventura County Fire Department Urban Search and Rescue Team and American Medical Response paramedics. Over the following two hours, “the fireplace was carefully dismantled” and Nunez-Figueroa was eventually extracted with the help of copious amounts of liquid dish soap.

Slippery, traumatized, and on her way to becoming the subject of national news reporting and widespread social media commentary, Nunez-Figueroa was taken to Ventura County’s Los Robles Regional Medical Center for attention to her minor injuries.

Following her medical evaluation and questioning by detectives who came to believe that this was her second attempt to enter the residence in pursuit of a former boyfriend, Nunez-Figueroa was booked into Ventura County Jail on charges of illegal entry and giving false information to police with her bail set at $2500.

Photos: Courtesy Ventura County Jail Booking, Ventura County Fire Department

Read more:

Huffington Post: Nunez-Figueroa gets stuck in ex’s chimney

Us Weekly: Woman stuck in chimney of her online boyfriend’s house

Studies have shown that people on cocaine can suffer from numerous psychiatric conditions, including paranoia – the feeling that someone is out to get you. Paranoid people will sometimes watch anyone and everyone around looking for those who want to do them harm. But Arturo Rivera-Garcia, a 23-year-old from Gualala, showed recently that the effects of cocaine on him, at least the dosage he took, made him anything but paranoid.

On Saturday afternoon, October 25 around 5:20 pm, Rivera-Garcia was driving through Boonville, about 40 miles from his home in coastal Gualala. Boonville is one of the small inland communities of Mendocino County in the Anderson Valley, with a population of around 1000. It is also home to the Mendocino County Fairgrounds, and is the home to annual beer, wine, and music festivals, along with the county fair.

Arturo Rivera-Garcia’s drivers license had been suspended recently due to a DUI arrest. Despite that fact, and that he was carrying cocaine, he made no attempt to be inconspicuous as he cruised through Boonville, playing his car stereo really loud. The beats brought the attention of a patrol deputy, who followed him down Highway 128 towards the center of town.

Rivera-Garcia pulled over in front of this convenience store in Boonville.

Rivera-Garcia parked in front of Pic-N-Pay Market, and the deputy approached him regarding his excessively loud stereo. When the driver was identified as Rivera-Garcia, the deputy learned of his suspended license, and conducted an additional search of the car, finding a zip lock bag with a quarter gram of cocaine, which was verified in a field test. Based on the evidence and Rivera-Garcia’s behavior, the deputy also administered a field test on him, and found the 6’5″, 180 pound man to be under the influence, most likely of the cocaine he was carrying.

Rivera-Garcia was booked at the Mendocino County Jail on charges of possession and being under the influence of a controlled substance, and driving with a suspended license. Bail was set at $10,000.00. But he got away with no more than a warning about playing his music too loud, especially when he wants to just blend in. Perhaps he is living by the philosophical idea he recently posted on his Facebook page, which reads in part “Sometimes the things that hurt us are the things that make us strongest. A life without experience, in my opinion, is no life at all. And that’s why I tell everyone that, even when it hurts, never stop yourself from living.”