HAWTHORNE, CA—Are Big Oil’s profits not trickling down to the people who extract the black gold?

Kevin Lamar Mitchell, 25, was arrested on Friday, October 31 at approximately 10:20 a.m. on the 12700 block of Hawthorne Boulevard in Hawthorne. The oil refinery employee was charged with carrying a loaded firearm (25850(A)PC), ownership/possession of a firearm by a convicted felon/addict/etc. (29800(A)1PC) and receiving/etc. known stolen goods (496(A)PC).

Bail for the three charges was set at $90,000.

The prior convictions that provided the basis for the 29800 charge were not stated in police reports.

Mitchell is a Los Angeles resident from the 1400 block of West 36th Street, but he may be an employee of one of the many South Bay oil refineries: Chevron in El Segundo; Phillips 66 in Wilmington; ExxonMobil in Torrance; BP, which owns the ARCO facility in Carson; and Valero and Tesoro, both of which are in Wilmington.

In any case, his prior felony convictions and three new charges indicate that perhaps he should have been paid more—or that he was simply greedy.

Suspect Was Arrested Twice Before, 2011 and 2012

SANTA CRUZ—For some criminals the thrill of ‘making a fast buck’ is so overwhelming that they are willing to risk their freedom for it. Or perhaps it’s their chemical dependency that drives them to risk their freedom.  These are just few of the questions that go through the minds of the public when they hear about an arrest for an individual that has been arrested several times before.

On Thursday, October 23, the Santa Cruz County Anti-Crime Team concluded their month-long investigation of a prolific methamphetamine dealer. They had been watching Roberto Murillo, 34, who continued to sell meth even after two previous arrests for the same offense.

The process started around 2:30 pm. with the SCCACT team stopping Murillo and Karla Elizabeth Figueroa, 36, in Santa Cruz and searching their vehicle. The team found 41 grams of methamphetamine packaged for individual sale hidden under a plastic panel in the couple’s vehicle. The couple was placed under arrest and transported to the Santa Cruz County Jail.

Murillo and Figueroa were dealing drugs out of their home on Goss Avenue.

Agents obtained a search warrant for the couple’s residence in Santa Cruz. When they served the warrant on the residence on the 300 block of Goss Avenue, they found 789 grams of methamphetamine packaged for sale in two different locations inside residence. “We found an additional 198 grams of loose methamphetamine with packaging material also in the residence.” SCCACT NTF Supervisor Peter Hansen wrote in a press release.

Murillo was charged for the third time for possession for sale of methamphetamine, transportation of methamphetamine and being a felon in possession of ammunition.

FRESNO – Investigators arrested a suspect they believe is responsible for three arson fires that happened on Tuesday in southeast Fresno.

The Fresno Fire Department had named 28-year-old Ruben George Ochoa as a suspect in the case. He was arrested Tuesday afternoon.

The first of the three fires erupted just before noon on Tuesday in an unoccupied home near Hazlewood and El Monte avenues. As firefighters were getting the fire under control, a second fire broke out at another unoccupied residence at Woodward Avenue and Third Street, only a few blocks away.

The third fire was reported soon after at Dwight and Orange avenues, which was nearby the first two fires.

Ochoa was also being sought as a suspect in connection to a fire set in a palm tree Sunday night in the 3800 block of East Dwight Avenue, which was near the three fires that took place on Tuesday.

Ochoa is a gang member and homeless, according to investigators.

Read more:

Fresno Bee: Arson suspect sought in rash of Fresno fires

Fresno Bee: Arson suspect arrested in rash of Fresno fires

Sacramento Sheriff Scott Jones, through department spokesperson Lisa Bowman, released a statement on the effects of California’s Proposition 47 from the perspective of law enforcement. Though the statement dealt with the Sacramento specifically, the provisions, of course, are statewide and will likely have the same impact on agencies throughout the state. The measure was approved by voters in the November 4 election by a wide margin. The statement reads:

THE PASSAGE OF PROPOSITION 47

Effective immediately, the passage of Proposition 47 will have the following effects on the custody and policing practices of the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department:
1. In most instances, many crimes that were previously “arrestable” as a felony will now only be “citable” as a misdemeanor. That means they may not be booked into jail but rather given a citation (similar to a traffic ticket) with a court date to appear, and released in the field. They will not be held pending trial. Such felony crimes that are now misdemeanors include:
• Commercial burglary (theft under $950)
• Forgery and bad checks (under $950 value)
• Theft of most firearms
• Theft of a vehicle (under $950 value)
• Possession of stolen property (under $950 value)
• Possession of heroin, cocaine, illegal prescriptions, concentrated cannabis, and methamphetamine

2. Inmates awaiting trial on any of the above felony charges in most instances will be able to have their charges immediately reduced to the new misdemeanor level, and will be let out of jail on a citation. A determination as to each person’s eligibility is somewhat time consuming, but could result in up to 420 releases.

3. Inmates who are sentenced on the above felonies can petition the court for reduction of their felony convictions to misdemeanors and many of them would be also be eligible for immediate release.

4. Convicted felons with the above felonies in their history can petition the court to have their prior felony convictions reduced to misdemeanors. If successful, many of the prohibitions they faced would then be reinstated, such as the right to vote, the right to purchase a handgun, the ability to apply as a peace officer, etc.

HAWTHORNE, CA—If she’s handling the gateway for the our future—i.e., the children as they enter college—then perhaps her DUI is a sign that it’s bleak.

Ja’sada Marteine Lauderdale, 35, was arrested on Thursday, October 30 at approximately 3:30 a.m. at the Gardena Police Department by Hawthorne Police Department officers. Police records did not disclose why she was at the Gardena PD nor if she had any warrants or charges with or by said PD.

The college admissions representative was popped for a warrant for a DUI alcohol/0.08 percent blood alcohol level (23152(B)VC) and for a bench warrant issued for failing to appear after a written promise to do so (40508(A)VC). The DUI warrant was from Gardena PD and the bench warrant was issued by the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD).

It was not stated which, if any, area college she worked at or works at. In the South Bay—where she was arrested—there are a number of colleges. Two of the largest are California State University, Dominguez Hills and El Camino College.

Total bail was set at $37,909, with the lion’s share of $35,000 being for the DUI.

HAWTHORNE, CA—Was his occupation as an electrician a cover for casing for burglary and/or theft?

Sam Ezy Higginbotham, 37, was apprehended by Hawthorne police officers for a number of vehicle theft charges and other violations on Tuesday, October 28 at approximately 5:15 p.m. He was stopped along the 4000 block of West 133rd Street in Hawthorne.

He was charged with grand theft auto—GTA—(487(D)PCGTA), taking a vehicle without owning it (10851(A)VC), obstructing/resisting/etc. an officer (148(A)(1)PC), receiving/etc. known stolen property (496(A)PC) and vehicle theft with a prior felony (666.5(A)PC).

Bail for the charges were $35,000 for the GTA, $25,000 for taking the vehicle, $10,000 for the obstruction, $20,000 for stolen goods and $20,000 for felony-related violation.

Then again, one couldn’t imagine getting enough money for a single stolen vehicle as would cover all that cash needed to post bail and pay an attorney. Perhaps it was just for the pun of an electrician getting multiple “charges” that he decided to do it?

On November 4, 2008, the People of the State of California approved Proposition 9, the Victims’ Bill of Rights Act of 2008: Marsy’s Law. This measure provides additional rights to victims of domestic violence.

In most cases drugs and alcohol is a driving force in a domestic violence, but there are also environmental factors that can escalate violence in a home.

21-year-old Oscar Morales Osorio was recently arrested under PC 273.5(a), domestic violence, PC 242-243(a) misdemeanor battery, and PC 148(a) (1) resisting an officer. On Sunday, July 29, the San Jose Police 9-1-1 Dispatch Operators received a call about a domestic dispute that had grown extremely violent, with the male suspect taking an infant child without the permission of the mother.

It had been two weeks since Osorio and the female victim had started renting a single room in a two bedroom apartment when their sometimes violent relationship became known to others inside the small apartment complex. The female victim, Osorio’s girlfriend, had been living with him for the past two years, and they had a child together. The fight began when their baby began to cry, waking him while he was trying to sleep. She went into the room to get the child and pulled her shirt up to breast feed the small infant, when Osorio reportedly became belligerent about her breast showing.

According to official reports, Osorio said, “Why is your shirt up?” “Why does it have to be all the way up, who the hell are you showing it to?” he said. And then without saying anything else he began to hit her in the thigh. The victim then pushed back, telling Osorio not to hit her. Osorio then hit her in the pelvis. She again hit Osorio, telling him to stop hitting her. She then left the room and went into the kitchen to be left alone.

Osorio went back to bed after being woken up. But some time later the baby needed to be changed. The female victim took the baby into the bedroom to change the diaper quietly, but then the baby started to cry, waking Osorio again. Osorio said “What are you doing?” and then jumped up and started to hit her in the face, causing her to run to the front door and yell for help. The building manager came to try and see what was happening as he heard the female victim crying and yelling. As he confronted Osorio standing over the female victim, he watched as he continually punched her in the face and neck.

The female victim was trying to kick Osorio in the back to get him to move from on top of her and get him to stop. When the building manager tried to stop him, Osorio swung around and told him it was none of his business and that he should stop interfering. He then hit him mouth several times before turning back to the female victim, hitting her again in the face.

Acting even more erratic Osorio ran into the bedroom and took the small baby, and ran out from the apartment without his shoes or shirt. Osorio was found outside in a fenced courtyard of the apartment complex. Neighbors started to gather around after seeing the scuffle. As he stood holding the baby, everyone stared. The SJPD arrived and began to negotiate with Osorio to try and calm him down. He surrendered the baby, and was then immediately taken into custody by several officers at the scene.

Osioro was booked into Santa Clara County Main Jail and is awaiting his next court hearing scheduled for December 15 in the San Jose Hall of Justice, at 1:30 PM in Dept 35.

With more than one contact per day for domestic violence in cities like Milpitas and San Jose, the number of fights between domestic partners is on the rise. Santa Clara County law enforcement agencies are working alongside the District Attorney’s Office and the Victim Witness Assistance Center (www.victim.org) to honor and protect victims of domestic violence.

If you know anyone that is a victim of domestic violence don’t wait for the violence to escalate help them to stop the violence today.

SANTA ANA – Although he wore a beanie and sunglasses, a bank robber in Santa Ana had no qualms about having his mug captured on camera while doing his nefarious deed.

Robber leaves the bank with cash

On Wednesday just after noon at the Wells Fargo Bank on 3925 South Bristol Street, a young black male approximately 5’7″ walked in and produced a note to one of the teller’s, demanding money.

His desire was granted with an undetermined amount of cash, whereupon the robber fled on foot and has yet to be apprehended.

Police hope that these photos may spur someone who recognizes the robber to call SAPD Robbery Detective Art Castorena at 714-245-8422.  You may also call Orange County Crime Stoppers at 1-855-TIP-OCCS.

Read More:

Orange County Register: Police seek public’s help finding bank robber

It started with a heated argument. It ended a day later with 33-year-old Jesus Padilla being taken into police custody by a posse of sorts consisting of units from the Fremont and Richmond police departments, according to a Fremont Police Department press release.

Chalk up the posse presence to Jesus Padilla’s reputation as a violent offender.

The argument took place on October 29 near the Food Maxx on Fremont Boulevard. Fremont Police received a call from an eyewitness reporting a man waving a gun around as he argued with a woman. Officers responded and found the suspect still in the area, but the woman could not be located and the witness refused to come forward.

The suspect said his name was Jose, reports the San Jose Mercury News. No firearm was found on him, and without a witness, officers had to turn him loose.

It was only later that police discovered “Jose” had given them a false name. You see, Jesus Padilla was wanted on an outstanding probation violation warrant. Padilla’s records revealed he had a violent criminal history.

Police located Padilla’s car parked in the area of the Food Maxx. A search of the car turned up a loaded firearm hidden in a compartment.

Now police had to search for Padilla.

29th St. Richmond, where the SWAT team was on hand to arrest Padilla (Google maps)

Fremont Police got their Street Crimes Unit and Intelligence Unit involved in the search. They traced Padilla to a residence in Richmond, Calif., in the 500 block of 29th Street. Richmond Police offered its help, bringing in its Gang Unit, Narcotics Unit and Parole Team. Knowing Padilla might be armed and dangerous, they also brought in their SWAT team.

During surveillance, officers witnessed Padilla enter the residence on 29th Street, then later exit the residence and enter his vehicle. That’s when units made their move, performing a high-risk arrest. Fortunately, Padilla was taken into custody without incident.

He was returned to Fremont and booked on charges of carrying a loaded firearm in public, possession of a concealed firearm in a vehicle, being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, giving false information to a police officer and probation violation.

Read more:

San Jose Mercury News: Felon arrested on gun charges after parking lot incident

SACRAMENTO – A 31-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the shooting death of Dale Botta, 44, at a South Natomas home on Tuesday morning, November 4.

Donald Chapman, of Roseville, was taken into custody without incident on Wednesday in Vallejo and booked into Sacramento County Jail on suspicion of murder.

Police responded to a report of shots being fired at approximately 3:38 a.m. on Tuesday on the 100 block of Saginaw Circle near Natomas High School. They arrived to find Botta inside the residence with multiple gunshot wounds. Sacramento Fire Department personnel also responded and pronounced Botta dead at the scene.

Victim Dale Botta (Image Facebook)

Detectives soon discovered that the shooting was not a random act and that the suspect was known to Botta, and had left the scene immediately after the shooting. Police said an argument between Botta and Chapman apparently escalated and resulted in the fatal shooting.

Chapman had been arrested just a week prior, on October 29, for charges of possession and possession for sale of a controlled substance, being an felon in possession of a firearm, and carrying a concealed weapon. He was charged in Sacramento. He was also arrested in December 2013 for possession of a narcotic controlled substance.

Botta’s three children, image from GiveForward.com

Dale Botta’s wife has set up a fundraising site to benefit her and her late husband’s three children. On that site, she posted the message “On 11-4-14 my husband Dale Botta was shot and killed when he tried to be a good person and help another human being to get to a safe place. These three beautiful children lost their father Dale Botta to a senseless act of violence when he tried to help a female domestic violence victim and he was shot and killed on Nov. 4 2014, please to raise money for these babies to start their trust fund and also to help their mommy lay their daddy to rest with dignity & peace.

Give Forward – Dale Botta’s Babies 

A total of four suspects were arrested in recent events regarding suspicious activity in the North Central Roseville area, according to an official weekly crime report issued by the Roseville Police Department.

Just before 5 pm on Saturday, November 1, a citizen called in a suspicious activity regarding a man and woman in the area of Ridgerun Drive and Foxhollow Way. The two were reportedly walking around and looking into cars. The witness called 911, giving the dispatcher descriptions of the two suspects and their vehicle, and kept an eye on them under officers arrived.

Upon arrival, officers reportedly found the male suspect on foot and searched him, finding a concealed window punch — a tool thieves use to break into cars. The woman was not located.

Oleg Vladimirovich Barsukov, 22, of Citrus Heights was arrested on suspicion of possessing a burglar’s tool.

Roneel Deo and Ravilesh Kumar, images from Facebook.

And on Wednesday, November 5, at 1:08 am, officers reportedly responded to another suspicious person call. Upon arrival they made contact with three people along Highway 65 between Galleria Boulevard and Pleasant Grove Boulevard. The three were reportedly found to be in possession of forged checks stolen during a vehicle burglary in Elk Grove, as well as other suspected stolen property. And one of the suspects also had methamphetamine.

Anish Sen Arjun, 24, of Elk Grove, and Sacramento residents Roneel Deo, 25, and Ravilesh Kumar, 25, were reportedly arrested on suspicion of possessing stolen property and other related charges.

Deo had been arrested in March on charges of DUI and assault with force likely to cause great bodily injury. Kumar had been charged in June with grand theft, possessing stolen property, and identity theft, and in December 2013 with possession of stolen property.

INGLEWOOD, CA—Is it still petty theft if getting popped means a $90,000 bail?

Darien Percy Simmoms, 19, should have gone to a good college; it would be easier to pay off a large student loan than to try and post bail and pay for an attorney to stay out.

The alleged meat market employee was stopped by Inglewood police officers, perhaps for failing to stop at the limit line of a STOP sign or traffic light (22450(A)VC), operating a bicycle on the wrong side of the road (21202(A)VC), operating a bicycle without brakes (21201(A)VC) and operating a bike at night without a headlight (21201(D)VC).

Total bail for the four bike charges was $120.00.

The petty theft charge (484(A)VC) stemmed from a warrant issued by Redondo PD—which added $90,000 to the amount.

Starting one’s adult life with such a huge price and with little to no chance of having spent it for college or even a good trade school is a petty shame.

REDLANDS – Police are still searching for a third suspect after two teenagers were arrested after an armed robbery at a jewelry store on Wednesday. On Friday morning, Redlands police were still searching for a black male in his early 20s.

Two male employees and a female customer were inside the Tekin Brothers Jewelers at 9980 Alabama St., Suite B, at about noon on Nov. 5. The jewelry store is located in the Redlands Town Center. Police said the suspects, described as three black males armed with handguns, entered the store. The robbers held up the store, escaping with merchandise, according to police accounts.

The two male employees, including the owner who reportedly had a tooth knocked loose, were injured during the robbery. Investigators did not release the nature of the injuries. Police spokesman Carl Baker disclosed that the injuries were not gunshot wounds. Baker also said the condition of those injured was still not known.

Police set up a perimeter around the store, quickly locating two suspects, ages 16 and 17, whose names were not released. Investigators also discovered evidence that linked them to the robbery.

The third suspect, last seen wearing a light colored shirt and black pants, was also described as being 6-feet, 1-inch tall with slender build. Witnesses told police that the three men split up as they exited Tekin jewelers, the two teenagers heading off into a nearby orange grove, where they were eventually caught.

Some of the stolen jewelry recovered was worth in excess of $1,000 apiece, according to reports. One customer’s wedding ring, which was apparently being sized in the store during the crime, was stolen. Police, whose headquarters are within a few miles of the jewelry store, were alerted to the robbery by a silent alarm.

Read More:

Redlands Daily Facts: 2 arrested after Redlands jewelry store robbery

BAKERSFIELD — An 29-year-old inmate is back behind bars after trying to escape after being treated at a Bakersfield medical facility on Wednesday morning.

Isaac Hernandez was booked into the Lerdo Detention Facility for auto theft, assault with a deadly weapon on a peace officer, felony resisting arrest and escape from custody.

According to the Kern County Sheriff’s Office, the incident began when Hernandez, who was being escorted from a medical facility on Office Park Drive in Bakersfield back to jail, tried to escape at around 9 a.m. on Nov. 5.

Hernandez first ditched his police escort on foot before commandeering an unoccupied medical transport vehicle that had been left running in a parking lot.
Pursued by Kern County Sheriff’s deputies and Bakersfield Police Department officers, Hernandez refused to stop, and at one point rammed a sheriff’s patrol vehicle several times in a parking lot.

Finally, Hernandez pulled into a vacant lot on Truxtun Avenue west of Oak Street where he was taken into custody without incident.

Read more:

Bakersfield Californian: Inmate steals medical response vehicle

KERO: Inmate escapes using ambulance

Suspect Became Combative and fought With Officers

SALINAS—36-years ago, movie director John Carpenter introduced us to one of the scariest movies in the world – it pitted a supernatural killer against a neighborhood babysitter. That movie has been giving us nightmares ever since, thank God it was not real life. Or is it?

On Halloween night, the movie became all-to-real to one Salinas resident and her family. She called the Salinas Police Department at about 10 pm and reported that her 35-year-old husband attacked her with a screwdriver and a knife. She believed that he was going to kill her.

She stated that she was safe for the moment because she and the family had evacuated the house. She also told police that her husband had a history with cocaine abuse and was under the influence of the drug.

Several officers responded to her residence on the 400 block of Madeira Avenue in East Salinas. Once they arrived they made contact with her husband, 35-year-old Jaime Garcia, who became combative with them.

A struggle ensued, and a one point one of the officers used a Taser on Garcia, who continued to resist, fought with officers and did not comply. At one point during the struggle it became apparent that Garcia was going into medical distress.

“The Five Officers, who were involved in trying to subdue Garcia were put on leave.” A Salinas Police spokesperson wrote in a press release, “Two officers did sustain minor injuries during the struggle.”

A Paramedic Unit that was staged outside was summoned and they immediately began lifesaving procedures. Garcia was transported a local hospital but all efforts to revive him were unsuccessful. He was pronounced dead at the hospital. An autopsy was later performed to determine the exact cause of death. There were no significant physical injuries, including from the Taser, that led to his death, according to the report. A spokesman said that toxicology results, due in several weeks, may point to a better explanation.

SAN BERNARDINO – County Sheriff’s investigators made an arrest in a four-year-old murder case in which a family of four people, discovered in a California desert last year, had disappeared and later found in shallow graves.

Charles “Chase” Merritt, 57, who was a business associate of Joseph McStay, was expected to appear in court today. Merritt, who was arrested on Wednesday, will face charges on four counts of murder, which included McStay, 40, his wife, Summer, 43, along with their two sons.

Merritt being brought in

Police have been investigating since they were discovered missing from their San Diego County home in Fallbrook. Merritt was arrested on Wednesday and taken to San Bernardino County jail. The investigation, according to San Bernardino County Sheriff John McMahon, revealed that the four McStay family members were killed in their Fallbrook home, victims of blunt-force trauma.

The couple, which included sons Gianni, 3, and Joseph, Jr., 4, disappeared in February. 2010. Investigators concluded there was no sign of forced entry in their home. Eventually, the McStays’ SUV was found parked near the United States-Mexico border. The couple’s credit cards and several thousand dollars in bank accounts weren’t touched, said investigators.

McStay, whose business includes designing and installing home water features, included Merritt, who was described as a skilled practitioner for designing special waterfalls. Investigators believe McStay and Merritt met at a restaurant on the day of their deaths. Investigator reports are that Merritt’s name surfaced when it was revealed he was the last man to talk with McStay on his cell phone.

Last November, hikers discovered the family’s skeletal remains in shallow graves in the desert just outside Victorville, not far from a heavily-trafficked Interstate 15. Authorities had long since searched the McStays’ home, discovering eggs that had rotted on the kitchen counter, along with other evidence that the family had not planned an extended leave. Nothing was missing from the home, according to reports.

No motive has yet been announced by investigators.Police reports that Merritt, who has reported questionable business dealings, does have a criminal history, which includes convictions for burglary and receiving stolen property several years earlier. Authorities say this will be a death penalty case.

Read More:

NPR: Suspect arrested in 2010 killing of 4

LATIMES: Business partner killed McStays

BAKERSFIELD — A couple wanted in connection with the 2010 murder of a one-year-old Boron boy have been arrested.

Stephanie Bramlett, 23, and 25-year-old Adam Parrish were booked into the Kern County Jail for murder, child abuse causing great bodily injury, torture and willful cruelty to a child.

According to the Kern County Sheriff’s Office, the pair was being sought since Oct. 1, after homicide detectives were able to obtain arrest warrants charging them with the murder of Tristan Bramlett, which occurred on July 5, 2010.

At about 2 p.m. deputies responded to a trailer park in the 26000 block of Prospect in Boron to a report of a child not breathing.

Deputies said that when they arrived paramedics were treating the infant for head injuries, which he later died from at Loma Linda Medical Center on July 7, 2010. During their initial investigation, detectives arrested Bramlett and her live-in boyfriend Parrish, for willful cruelty to a child, but they were later released from custody.

An ongoing investigation ensued, and on Oct. 27, 2014, Bramlett was arrested in Anaheim, while Parrish was arrested in Lancaster a few days later on Nov. 6 Bramlett’s bail has been set at $2,000,000 and Parrish’s at $2,150,000.

Read more:

Bakersfield Now: 2 arrested for alleged murder of child 4 years ago

Californian: Two people arrested for alleged 2010 murder

Santa Barbara - During the course of romantic relationships, the initial period of loving bliss frequently loses it’s “hearts and flowers” patina and becomes something less than passionate. When, however, a loving relationship fails to mature past the early stages of pure emotion into those of stability and acceptance, passions can become part of a dangerous, volatile paradigm of suspicion, jealousy, rage, and violence.

Angela Lasky

Such seems to have been the extreme case on the night of October 28th inside an apartment residence in downtown Santa Barbara. It was just after midnight when, according to Santa Barbara Police Department Public Information Officer Sgt. Riley Harwood, SBPD units responded to a 911 Emergency call made by a neighbor “reporting a disturbance” next door.

When officers knocked on the apartment door where the alleged disturbance took place, Aubrey Dupree Wadford, 39, opened the door. Upon entering the residence, officers found a deceased female, Angela Lasky, 39, the apparent victim of stab wounds, as well as a two-year old female who was unharmed. At that point Wadford was taken into custody on suspicion of domestic violence, and was “initially transported to the Santa Barbara Police Department.” Pursuant to Wadford’s interview at police headquarters, he was then taken to Santa Barbara County Jail and booked on charges of domestic violence and murder, with his bail set at $1,000,000.

The two-year old girl was determined to be the child of Wadford and his dead girlfriend, and was put in the care of Santa Barbara County Child Welfare Services.

Photo: Courtesy Santa Barbara County Jail Booking, Pinterest

Read more:

KCLU: SB woman murdered in domestic violence

Noozhawk: SB police release murder suspect’s name

Independent: Murder suspect appears in court

Give Deandre McLeod props for pulling out every trick in the book to elude arrest for armed robbery. If only he applied his ingenuity to legitimate means of making money.

The 20-year-old Hayward resident had been a fugitive from justice for a month after robbing an elderly Fremont woman of her gold necklace on October 5, according to a couple of Fremont Police Department press releases.

McLeod and his accomplice, 20-year-old Dantay Freeman of Antioch, drove to Fremont to commit the robbery, according to police. Freeman waited behind the wheel as McLeod approached the woman and her husband, who were taking a stroll through their Ardenwood neighborhood in the area of Maybird Circle and Platinum Terrace. McLeod snatched the gold chain from the woman’s neck and ran. The woman’s husband pursued McLeod, until McLeod turned, took out a handgun and pointed it at the husband before firing two warning shots into the air. For whatever reason, a third shot was fired as McLeod turned and continued to flee.

McLeod was traced to the E-Z 8 Motel in Newark

Witnesses saw McLeod get into the car with Freeman before the pair drove off. They gave police descriptions of the suspects and the vehicle’s license plate number. As a result, Fremont and Antioch police were able to arrest Freeman at his Antioch residence on October 14.

McLeod remained at large.

On October 16, around 8 p.m., police tracked McLeod to the E-Z 8 Motel on Cedar Court in Newark. A SWAT team made contact with the suspect, but McLeod again managed to slip through their fingers by hopping a fence near the motel and crossing Interstate 880, prompting an hour-long freeway shutdown by police. Police believed McLeod might be hiding in the bushes along the freeway, but they later learned from witnesses that he had been spotted crossing the Interstate and going into the Starbucks on Mowry Avenue near Farwell Drive, from where he apparently contacted a female accomplice who came to pick him up in her car.

McLeod went to Starbucks (right) to get help after he escaped over the freeway.

It is unclear if McLeod tried the Pumpkin Spice Latte as he waited for her.

Frustrated, investigators turned to the Fremont Police’s Street Crimes Unit and Investigative Unit to help find McLeod. Both units have expertise in locating suspects who repeatedly manage to elude police.

On November 5, the specialty units, along with several SWAT team officers, pinpointed McLeod outside his mother’s apartment in San Leandro. The Alameda County Sheriff’s Office provided several units to assist in the arrest. McLeod nearly escaped capture yet again as several friends attempted to drive him away from the apartment complex. But police rushed in to stop the car before McLeod and his crew made their getaway.

Remarkably, McLeod still had a couple of tricks up his sleeve. He claimed not to be Deandre McLeod, giving police a false name instead. When that didn’t work, he tried bribing officers as they hauled him off to jail.

A Google Maps image shows the path from EZ8 to Starbucks over the I-880 Freeway.

McLeod was booked into the Santa Rita Jail in Dublin on a laundry list of charges, including armed robbery, assault with a deadly weapon, felon in possession of a firearm, falsely indicting another for a crime, giving false information to a police officer, obstructing and resisting arrest and violation of probation.

McLeod’s bail has been set at $60,000. He is due to be arraigned at the Fremont Hall of Justice on November 7.

Meanwhile, someone might want to move the bars of McLeod’s jail cell closer together.

29-year-old Ahmad Amin appeared in Dept 23 on 11/04/14. Amin faces 2 counts of PC 550 (a)(1), presenting false or fraudulent insurance claim, in order to help another person benefit from their claim. An arrest warrant was filed on Oct 7, 2014 in the amount of $20,000 and was served on October 20.

On April 18, 2012 a liability claim was filed against Infinity insurance for damage to a driver’s side rear wheel/quarter panel. This meant that the insurance company had not covered the damages caused in the accident.

The claim was dropped. Then on October 17, 2013, the insured added a full coverage package. Only this time on November 1, 2013 the insured filed the same claim against the damages for the driver’s side rear wheel/quarter panel for damages he claimed had occurred the previous day.

Photos taken of the damage matched up to images previously submitted on 4/18/12. The claim under review for possible fraud now raised concerns when the insured took out another insurance policy with CSAA, and then claimed damage to the same driver’s side wheel quarter panel on October 12, 2013.

CSAA also had fraudulent claims filed.

On July 14, 2014 the Bureau of Investigators Office of the District Attorney’s Office in Santa Clara County took up the case. The insured suspect had parked his car at 762 Sunnyvale Saratoga Road and said that when he returned to the vehicle he had noticed damage to the driver’s side wheel and quarter panel.

In the second attempt, the insured had said that he had parked on Deanza Boulevard and had gone to the gym, and then after returning noticed damage to the driver’s side wheel quarter panel. The insurer, when confronted about the damage, claimed that he had paid for the previous repair on his own and that this damage was new.

He gave an AIA Auto Body Repair bill to the investigator. On August 21, 2014 investigators spoke with Ahmad Amin. In admitting to filing the fraudulent claim, he told investigators that this was his dream car and wanted to get it fixed. He said he understood that it was wrong, but was so desperate to get it fixed, he didn’t want to admit that he was at fault for the damage. The potential loss for the claim was estimated at $3,161.79. But then again on June 8, 2014 Amin filed a third claim for the damages with CSAA, which covered the cost of the damages for $8,436.72.

The next court date has been scheduled for December 11, 2014 at 9:00 AM in Dept 35 for plea. Restitution is being requested in this case in the amount of $8,686.72 including handling costs from Infinity for handling the claim.