Six Juvenile Suspects, Two Young Adults Arrested In Four Separate Cases

WATSONVILLE—Patrol Officers with the Watsonville Police Department have arrested five juveniles after citizens became involved in tagging incidences that have been plaguing the City of Watsonville for a week, while Santa Cruz police caught a group at the popular Boardwalk after hours.

Taggers will seek out any blank wall, like this agricultural building on West Beach.

The first incident occurred on Monday, November 24 at 4:45 p.m. in the area of West Beach Street when a citizen reported that a few juveniles were tagging some storage containers. Police arrived and located two suspects in the area.

One of the suspects, who was 15-years-old, was arrested for being a minor in possession of an aerosol spray can. He was also charged with vandalism. Both suspects were cited and released to their parents.

The second incident happened on Thursday morning at 1 a.m. A citizen who saw two teens spraying a wall in the area of 35 Beach Street flagged a Patrol Officer down.

The Officer responded to the area and found two 17-year-old suspects who matched the description given by the citizen. The suspects fled the area when they saw the officer approaching, but the Officer gave chase and was able to apprehend the pair.

Upon an investigation officers discovered 30 fresh tags on businesses in the area. Both juveniles were arrested and charged with felony vandalism, being minors in possessions of an aerosol can and resisting arrest. They were transported to Santa Cruz County Juvenile Hall.

The sign in front of Landmark Elementary was the target of a marker wielding possible ex-student.

The third incident occurred later that afternoon when a patrol officer, who was on patrol near the area of Landmark Elementary School, witnessed one of two juveniles deface the school sign with a felt tip marker.

The suspect fled as the officer arrived, but an area search by another officer produced the suspect who was arrested for vandalism and was cited and released to his parents. The second suspect in that incident was released to his parents with no charges.

“The City of Watsonville has seen a recent spike in graffiti that has been wide spread thought the city.” Watsonville Police Sergeant Eric Montalbo wrote, “This has unfortunately caused damage to the city businesses and has an effect of lowering the aesthetics of our community.”

The Watsonville Police Department would like to thank the citizens who called and reported these incidences. Anyone with information about this type of crime is encouraged to call the Watsonville Police Department at 1-831-768-3350.

Dahlia Walton and Tyler Burks – images from Facebook

While the names of the Watsonville juvenile suspects were not released due to their ages, the nearby Santa Cruz police reported the arrests of Tyler Vanaustin Burks, 20, and Dahlia Cecily Walton, 19, both of Santa Cruz. According to police reports, they were out at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk late Tuesday night around midnight with two juveniles, when all shops and attractions were closed. Details of the incident were not available, but they, along with one of the juveniles, were arrested just after midnight, December 3 for trespassing causing property damage, and vandalism/defacing property. Walton, a UC Santa Cruz student and Walgreen’s cashier, shows a penchant for chalk art on her Facebook page, but she and her friends were presumably using a more permanent medium when they were arrested.

Images from Google Maps, Facebook.com

CrimeVoice staff contributed to this story.

HAWTHORNE, CA—Some people run a red light and if they get caught, bite the bullet and just take the ticket; others see it as an opening to add a laundry list of crimes.

Frank Eric Cortez, 26, was arrested by Hawthorne police on Thursday, November 27 at approximately 3 p.m. along the 12600 block of Prairie Avenue in Hawthorne. The area is immediately south of the Hawthorne Municipal Airport and apparently in the parking lot of the conjoined Costco/FedEx Shipping Center.

The unemployed Gardena resident was charged with evading a peace officer (2800.2(A)VC), taking a vehicle without owning it (10851(A)VC), receiving stolen property: vehicle trailer, construction equipment, etc. (496D(A)PC), obstructing/resisting a peace officer (148(A)(1)PC), driving with an suspended/revoked license (14601.1AVC), hit and run resulting in property damage (20002(A)(1)VC) and the one that may have stated the whole thing: failure to stop at a red light (21453(A)VC).

The bail for the failure to stop was $35. The total bail for the other six violations was $135,500. The largest single bail amount was the evasion charge, which upped the ante by $75,000.

19-year-old Javan Mardian Kian and 18-year-old Shane Bradford Bissell on Nov 19, 2014 have been charged with PC 245(a)(1) Assault with a deadly weapon (using an airsoft gun), and PC 245 (a)(4), intent to cause great bodily injury during a robbery, under PC 211.

On Thursday, November 20, after finding evidence that the Shane Bissell was responsible for an armed robbery, the San Jose Police Department asked two suspects for consent to search their bedrooms for evidence regarding the robbery. The search specifically identified a possible firearm used during the robbery.

An Airsoft pistol looks and feels like the real thing without the red tip.

Police had responded to a call at the 7-11 Market located at 1335 South Bascom in San Jose. The clerk had fled after being brutally attacked by the pair at the market when they demanded money and other items. The clerk gave them the $30.00 that he had, and quickly ran out the door in order to seek help. Not knowing how bad his injuries were, he quickly drove himself to the hospital for treatment.

After talking to the victim, Kian was identified by police investigators as one of the suspects responsible for the attack. Bissell was also identified as the possible second suspect through his past contact with the subjects. Kian was located and then questioned by officers. Kian told officers that when he entered the store, “Mitchell” had punched the victim.

When Bissell was located by SJPD officers, he told them that he had used an airsoft gun to intimidate the victim to giving him $30.00. The orange tip on the gun had been painted black. The suspect had no real explanation as to why the airsoft gun had been in his possession and denied using it during the attack.

A variety of non-lethal but realistic guns are available

Kian told officers that he had not participated in the fight between the cashier and Bissell, only that he too was knocked down when the two began to struggle during the attempted robbery. But it was the victim that told officers Kian had, “Brandished a small semi-automatic hand gun that looked like a glock.” The suspect had jumped on top of the victim and began to hit him in the head. The victim said this had gone on until someone drove up shining their headlights in the window causing the suspects to run away.

The victim had severe lacerations and bruising all over his body from the beating from the two suspects severely beating him. Both suspects were booked into the Santa Clara Main Jail for the deadly assault. The next court date has been scheduled for Dec 18, 2014 at 9:00 AM in Dept 30.

One suspect is in custody following an early morning shooting in Sacramento, according to an official press release from the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department.

Sean Gregory Sandlin booking photo.

Sean Gregory Sandlin, 25, of Citrus Heights, was reportedly arrested and booked into the Sacramento County Main Jail on the charge of murder.

According to Sac Sheriff, at 12:45 am this morning, Thursday, December 4, deputies received a call reporting a male had been shot at a home within the 7900 block of Blackfoot Way. Upon arrival at the scene, deputies reportedly found the shooting victim — a white male adult in his late 30s — inside a residence. He was reportedly transported to a local hospital by medical personnel, where he reportedly died a short time later.

Sacramento Sheriff’s homicide detectives reportedly conducted a preliminary investigation, leading to the arrest of Sandlin. The suspect was reportedly an acquaintance of one of the occupants of the residence. According to Sandlin’s Facebook page, he is a technician for Future Nissan in Roseville and a student at Sierra College.

Detectives are asking anyone with information relating to this incident to contact the Sheriff’s Department at (916) 874-5115 or Crime Alert at (916) 443-HELP.

SACRAMENTO—Police have arrested three teenagers in connection with a series of burglaries in a North Sacramento neighborhood.

Officers working in North Sacramento near Empress Street and Calvados Avenue on Sunday, November, 30 stopped the three teens, ages 14, 15 and 17 years old at approximately 11:30 a.m. The teens matched the description of suspects from recent North Sacramento break-ins.

Detectives were called to the scene for assistance. After interviewing each minor, searches were conducted and stolen property was recovered. All three were arrested on suspicion of burglary.

Further follow up to the investigation will be conducted, police said.

Later that day in North Sacramento, officers from the Sacramento police arrested a 20-year-old man, Andreas Marcius Buford on charges of second degree burglary. He was picked up near Truxel and San Juan Roads, near Natomas High School at 11:30 Sunday night. Buford was held without bail at the Sacramento Jail as a repeat offender. He was arrested in May this year in Pleasanton on two counts of burglary and for resisting arrest.

Folsom, California is well known across the United States as the home of the famous prison Johnny Cash sang about in 1955 in “Folsom Prison Blues”, and again when he put on a concert for the inmates at that very prison in 1968. But despite the presence of the state’s second oldest prison (after San Quentin), the surrounding community itself is an upscale suburb of Sacramento that prides itself on its history, community spirit, top level schools, and low crime rate.

The community, however, is not immune to crime, and the Folsom Police Department’s Special Investigation Unit recently conducted an operation to uncover suspected prostitution in the town. Unlike prostitution stings conducted in Sacramento, however, there is no place like Watt Avenue where prostitutes and “Johns” could be caught in a drive up sting to solicit the illegal services. Instead they targeted massage parlors suspected of engaging in activities beyond a back rub or hot stone treatment.

According to Sergeant Eric Heichlinger, the investigation was based on complaints from the community, including businesses who suspected their neighboring storefronts were engaging in illicit activities. They sent undercover officers into several massage parlors, and made arrests in two of them.

T Massage is located at 1179 Riley Street, the same shopping center as Round Table Pizza and FedEx office. The business opened there in August 2013. Yueting Hu, 44 of Sacramento, was arrested there for soliciting prostitution by the undercover officer.

Yanxia Luo (Folsom PD)

Serenity Massage is located in northwest Folsom, across the American River from downtown. 1000 River Rock Drive is in a medical and office building complex called River Rock Plaza, and is located behind the familiar Scott’s Seafood building. Yanxia Luo, 38, was arrested there for soliciting prostitution.

SANTA ROSA – On the Saturday after Thanksgiving, November 29, a Santa Rosa Police officer patrolling in Southwest Santa Rosa near the Southgate Plaza shopping center pulled up behind a Black Dodge truck stopped at the light on Stony Point Road. The officer could see and hear a man in the truck yelling loudly at a woman seated next to him. Concerned for her safety, the officer observed them as they sat at the light, according to a police press report.

The light turned green, but the driver was so busy shouting at the woman that he didn’t notice. When he did finally see the green light, he punched the accelerator, spun the wheels and fishtailed it as he sped through the intersection of Stony Point and Sebastopol Road. The officer followed as he drove south, turning on the lights to pull the truck over. The driver quickly turned right on Gardner Street into the residential neighborhood, and didn’t stop for several blocks.

When he reached the area near Cook School Park, he finally pulled over, immediately jumping out of the truck and running into the homes on the left/south side of the street, climbing over fences into backyards. The officer, after calling for backup, pursued him on foot. A perimeter was set up, and responding officers joined in the search with the help of a police K-9. The man was located hiding in a backyard of a house on Joseph Court East, the next street over from Gardner.

Stephen Charles Moreci – image from Facebook

The man, later identified as 38-year-old Stephen Charles Moreci, did not come out from behind the backyard shed he was trying to hide behind. Officers, in a show of mercy, did not send the police dog in, however, but entered the space between the fence and shed to extricate the man physically. Fortunately for all parties he did not put up a fight, and was handcuffed and taken into custody.

Moreci was under probation for three prior driving under the influence convictions, in 2000, 2007, and 2013. He showed signs once again of being under the influence, but refused to submit to a chemical test, which is required under the terms of his probation. A search warrant was granted to perform a blood test on him, however.

Meanwhile, the residents of the home he had tried to hide out in, which included several small children, were quite upset and shaken by the incident and sudden invasion into their backyard by the culprit and a cadre of officers and a police dog. They had to be assured by the officers that everything was now alright and the bad man was being taken away. And the woman in the truck, who had been subject to Moreci’s tirades against her, must have thought the best place for her was elsewhere – she took off while the officer was chasing Moreci, and was never identified or located.

Stephen Moreci, of Santa Rosa, was booked at the Sonoma County Jail and charged with DUI and resisting arrest. Due to his previous convictions, he was also charged with driving on a suspended license, and parole violations for DUI and the suspended license, and failure to install an ignition interlock device.

HAWTHORNE, CA—Most criminals get popped on one or perhaps two relatively meager charges, and then there are those who go for beyond broke.

Derrick Lavon Elder, 25, was arrested by Hawthorne police officers on Monday, December 1 at approximately 4:35 p.m. along the 4100 block of West El Segundo Boulevard in Hawthorne. The unemployed Los Angeles man was picked up for a number of violations and warrants.

The fresh charges were attempted car-jacking (A215(A)PC), obstructing/resisting an executive officer (69PC), owning/possessing a firearm by a convicted felon (29800(A)1PC) and illegally possessing a concealed firearm (29900(A)1PC). Each violation was set with a bail, the total of which was $180,000.

There were three warrants. Two were from the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) and were for taking a vehicle without owning it (10851(A)VC) and threatening a crime with intent to injure (422PC). A third warrant was from Los Angeles Sheriff’s department (LASD) for vandalism with loss greater than $400 (594(B)(1)PC). Elder had been arrested on March 26 on the auto theft charge.

Altogether, and with at least two warrants not having bail amounts yet set, the total was $430,000.

According to California state law, an “executive officer” is a government official who may use his or her own discretion in performing his or her job duties. Moreover, the “69PC” charge is considered a “wobbler”—a violation that may be judged as either a misdemeanor or a felony.

A “wobbler” may also be learning that one’s bail amount is speeding toward half a million dollars or more once all the bail is declared.

HAWTHORNE, CA—Some criminals are magicians, or so one may think when a petty theft with prior violations can earn one a $100,000 bail.

Casey Leiahi Francisco, 22, was arrested by Hawthorne police on Thursday, November 27 at approximately 3:20 p.m. along the 12600 block of York Avenue in Hawthorne. The unemployed Long Beach woman was charged with taking a vehicle without owning it, but she also had a plethora of warrants.

There was one warrant Hawthorne Police Department (PD) for obstructing/resisting a peace officer (148(A)PC) with a $10,000 bail. There was one of three warrants for petty theft with a prior (666PC) from the Redondo PD; there was no bail amount set for that one. There were two warrants from the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department (LASD): one for possession of a controlled substance (11377(A)HS) and a second for another petty theft with a prior. No bail was set for the possession and $30,000 bail was set for the petty theft. The third petty theft warrant was from Inglewood PD and that bail was $100,000.

Records show she was also arrested on July 2 this year by South Gate police on an embezzlement charge.

If she is released and goes for a fourth petty theft charge and the exponential math pattern is maintained, that may mean that shoplifting a sandwich from a 7-11 could cost her $333,333.

SAN BERNARDINO – A guilty plea by a suspected embezzler brought an end to a case in which over $3.1 million was taken from Rialto Unified School District nutrition programs.

But Judith Oakes, 50, who pleaded guilty on Thursday, was only documented to have taken slightly over $1.8 million. Guilty on eight felony counts of misappropriation of public funds, according to court records, she must come up with an initial payment of $339,002.58 when she appears at her sentencing date on January 8. Also as part of the plea agreement, Oakes, who was an accountant for the school district, must repay over $1.8 million to the school district. She faces up to eight years in county jail.

A forensic audit, conducted in 2013 by Stewart Investigations, discovered over $3.1 in discrepancies. Oakes, however, was only charged with losses that were documented. When she was arrested on August 7, 2013, investigators had video recordings of Oakes stuffing school lunch money into her bra. Reports said she took the money from July 2005 through August 2013.

The Rialto police, the State Department of Education and the District Attorney’s office each conducted audits into the massive losses. When charges were first brought out in Superior Court, prosecutors said that Oakes stole on 913 out of 1,277 days when Rialto schools’ lunch money was counted.

Oakes, who had resigned one day after being charged with stealing the money, was initially alleged to have stolen over a 14-year period. She originally pleaded not guilty.

When Stewart Investigative Services, Inc. initially conducted its investigation, it had been disclosed to Rialto schools officials that Oakes might have stolen over $3 million in that 14-year span. Charges, however, only cover any alleged crimes since 2005 due to statute of limitations.

At the time of her August 7 arrest, she had two packets of $2,000.00 in $20 bills on her person, and more was found at her San Bernardino home later.

Read More:

The Sun: Rialto Unified embezzler Judith Oakes pleads guilty

Huffington Post: Judith Oakes, school official, stole $3 million in lunch money

SACRAMENTO—The FBI is asking for the public’s help in locating a former Sacramento man who is wanted on 10 counts of lewd or lascivious acts with a child under the age of 14.

Otis Lee Cooper, 57, previously lived in Sacramento and had a local arrest warranted issued on September 20, 2011 by the Sacramento County Superior Court, officials said. An arrest warrant was also issued for Cooper on August 28, 2014 by the U.S. District Court in Sacramento on a federal charge of unlawful flight to avoid prosecution.

Cooper, who has ties with Michigan and Mississippi, is 5 feet 7 inches tall with black hair and brown eyes. He weighs about 240 pounds and has tattoos on his right hand and forearm. The tattoo on his right forearm is of the word “Libra” in script-style writing.

Anyone with information about Cooper’s whereabouts is asked to please call the FBI at 916-481-9110 or (800) 885-5984

PETALUMA – In a public advisory issued Friday by the Petaluma Police Department, a rash of theft cases were reported recently in Northeast Petaluma.

Unknown suspect(s) perpetrated at least 11 different thefts during the early hours of the morning. The crimes included burglarizing unlocked vehicles, thefts of residential homes, and removing catalytic converters from at least three vehicles.

Investigating officer(s) learned that the suspect(s) had been canvassing the neighborhoods looking for unlocked vehicles. As unlocked vehicles were located they would then be rummaged through to steal loose change, and various personal items. In a few instances the suspect(s) located garage door openers, which were used in accessing homes to target additional items for theft.

It is uncertain whether the catalytic converter thefts were associated with the other thefts. However, catalytic converters are often the target of thieves as they contain various precious metals (including palladium, platinum and gold.) The converters are easy targets on later model trucks and SUV’s as they can be removed fairly easily.

The suspect(s) are believed to be associated with a silver Honda Pilot or CRV. The vehicle was seen leaving the area where a stolen vehicle had been recovered.

Juan Castellanos and Oswald “Ozzy” Gallegos – images from Facebook.

Meanwhile, two Petaluma residents were arrested early Sunday morning in neighboring Marin County after a Saturday night burglary. Juan Castellanos-Arango, a 20-year-old National Guardsman, and Oswald Gallegos, a 19-year-old construction worker, were both charged with burglary and conspiracy. Castellanos was also charged with being a felon in possession of stolen property with over $950.00, possession of drug paraphernalia, and failure to appear in court for a previous incident. Gallegos was additinally charged with possession of stolen property under $950.00. Castellanos had  also been arrested in October in Petaluma, according to records. Gallegoas had been picked up in April on drug charges, also while in Petaluma. Though there is currently no known connection of these two to last week’s burglaries, all locally known burglars will no doubt be investigated.

Petaluma PD reminds residents to always lock their vehicles and to take all valuable items out. Thefts like these are crimes of opportunity. Locking your vehicle and removing valuable items is an effective way to prevent from being a victim of a theft.

Suspect Was Arrested After A Multi-Agency Investigation

HOLLISTER—On December 5, Hollister Police Detective Chris Wells paid a visit to 33-year-old Hollister resident Candelario Juarez at his home after a multi-agency investigation suspected him of unlawfully touching a minor.

The Hollister Police Department received a report of a past tense sexual assault involving a minor under the age of 14 years. At the time of the report the minor was no longer in danger from the suspect. But Officer Wells, along with investigators from the District Attorney’s Office as well as Child Protective Services and Victim Witness Assistance, all conducted an investigation into the incident.

Their investigation revealed several alleged incidents against the minor in question over a period of more than a year. After Wells made contact with Juarez at his home on the 600 block of Fifth Street, he arrested him on two counts of lewd and lascivious acts with a minor. Juarez was transported to San Benito Count Jail where he was booked on the two counts. His bail has been set at $200.000.00 dollars.

The Hollister Police Department is still working on this investigation and is asking that if anyone as information about this case to please contact Detective Wells at 1-831-636-4330, ext. 114.

Troy Lemings, Isaias Sernas, and Martin Guardado were also arrested in a sex offender check.

In other news in San Benito County, it was a full week for Detective Wells and Officer Bo Leland, who two days prior to the arrest of Juarez were busy checking of sex offenders. They checked in on Troy Lemings, who was arrested for being out of compliance. They also arrested 38-year-old Isaias Sernas Jr. who was also out of compliance for falsifying for his address.  A third suspect, 50-year-old Martin Fernandez Guardado was arrested a few days after police paid a visit to his home and he was not there at the time.

SAN BERNARDINO – A 21-year-old mother was arrested on charges of cruelty to her six-month-old daughter on Thursday afternoon.

San Bernardino County Sheriff’s deputies responded to Taylen O’Neal-Taylor’s residence in the 26000 block of Baseline Street, along with fire department/paramedic assistance, shortly before 3 p.m. on Sunday, November 30.

Reports that O’Neal-Taylor’s two-year-old daughter had fallen on her six-month-old daughter’s leg proved questionable to responding medical experts. Officials said it was the mother that had called 911. The six-month-old was taken by ambulance to the Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital where X-rays and other tests revealed a fractured femur.

O’Neal-Taylor, 21, gave information to those checking on her daughter, according to reports, that turned out to be “inconsistent” with her explanation on how the injury actually had occurred, according to Det. Jason Frey, part of the Specialized Investigations Division-Crimes Against Children Detail. Suspicion of child abuse was confirmed when additional examinations revealed prior fractures to the six-month-old’s legs which, according to reports, raised suspicion to investigators.

The victim, whose identity is confidential, is being held in child protective services, though still in medical care. O’Neal-Taylor, arrested four days later on charges of willful cruelty to a child causing injury, was booked into the Central Detention Center in San Bernardino. Her bail was set at $100,000. She had been taken into custody at her home on Baseline Street.

Authorities did not declare O’Neal-Taylor’s marital status, or identify the father of the two daughters, nor did they disclose the whereabouts of the two-year-old daughter. O’Neal-Taylor, according to law enforcement officials, will likely appear in court early next week.

Read More:

ABC7: San Bernardino mom arrested for baby’s broken leg

Press Enterprise: Abuse suspect in infant’s injuries

SAN RAFAEL – In a press release issued Sunday, December 7, the San Rafael Police Street Crimes Unit reported the arrest of two human trafficking suspects in Novato.

The Street Crimes Unit received information from the FBI that a possible female minor was being sexually exploited on an escort website. The unit arranged to meet the minor during a prostitution sting and had contacted her at a local motel.

It was discovered that the possible minor was actually a young adult, however she was treated as a victim of human trafficking. In the course of the investigation, officers discovered that the victim was being sexually exploited and trafficked by two suspects, one male and a female.

Shawn Buckley displaying some of his tattoos in a Facebook posting.

The Street Crimes Unit officers located the suspects driving on Redwood Boulevard in Novato and the followed them to the Days Inn located at 8141 Redwood Boulevard. The officers made a vehicle stop and contacted the suspects. During the stop officers located additional evidence that corroborated that the victim had been sexually exploited and trafficked as a prostitute.

The suspects were identified as Shawn Buckley, a 20-year-old Novato resident and Jazmin Moniq Khayami, a 21-year-old San Anselmo resident. Both suspects are facing charges of human trafficking and a violation(s) of probation. Buckley lists his occupation as a “manager” and Khayami lists her occupation as a “model.” According to her Facebook page, where she identifies herself as Jazmin Khayami-Buckley, she is a counselor for Novato City Parks and Recreation, and a child care provider for a day care business. Bail has been set for each suspect at $25,000.

The victim was referred for assisting services through an advocacy organization.

Shawn Buckley mugshot from Marin County in an earlier incident.

Shawn Buckley is well known to local law enforcement, but the human trafficking charge is a new one for him. He has been arrested at least 8 times since he turned 18 in 2012, according to available records. Most recently, on September 8, he was charged with burglary and possession of stolen property. In a May 2014 incident, he was accused of entering a Novato home with an accomplice, both wearing masks and armed with handguns. According to a KRON 4 News story, they assaulted the residents and demanded property. After they left, the victim called for help, and Buckley was found and arrested at 1:20 am. He was charged with robbery, burglary, assault with a firearm, and probation violations.

In the two years preceding that incident, Buckley was arrested multiple times for burglary, robbery, resisting arrest, attempted petty theft, and probation violations. He was arrested in Costco in February 2013 as a suspect in several December burglaries with Cody Joseph Lawson.

There are no records showing any prior arrests for Jazim Khayami.

Read More:

KRON: Two Arrested in Novato For Assault and Robbery

FRESNO – Police arrested a man they believe was involved in the robbery of a Fresno gun shop, but continue to search for two other suspects in another robbery of the same store.

The incident happened on November 29 at Fresno Firearms at Blackstone Avenue, north of Sierra Avenue. A suspect entered the store and asked to see a handgun. He then ran out of the door with the gun, authorities said.

The goons took guns and inured an old man

Police received a tip that Jesus Sanchez was the thief. Detectives searched his home on Saturday, but did not locate the gun. However, Sanchez admitted to taking the gun and took a picture of himself with it, authorities said.

Police are also investigating a robbery of the same store that happened last Thursday morning. Two armed men ran into the store with guns drawn, held the owner and a customer at gunpoint, and filled a pillowcase with 13 of the store’s firearms, police said.

The suspects knocked an 85-year-old man from a neighboring store to the concrete as they rushed out. The man was critically injured in the fall and is currently at Community Regional Medical Center.

The suspects in that case are described as being two African-American men, who left in a white Cadillac sedan.

Anyone with information is asked to call Brandi Phebus at (559) 621-2427 or Crime Stoppers at (559) 498-7867.

Read More:

Fresno Bee: Shoe shop owner, 85, critically injured in Fresno gun store robbery

ABC30: Armed men make off with pillowcase full of guns

FRESNO – Police arrested a man who they say crashed into a gas station and then began shooting at people on Saturday.

Police said that 25-year-old John Campbell ran into the gas pumps at a Shell Station at Fresno Street and Clinton Avenue around 6 p.m. on Saturday. He then began firing his gun several times before driving away

KFSN News reported that the incident that spurred him on was a domestic dispute during which another party tried to intervene. Campbell chased the stranger down in his truck, all the way into the gas station, when he collided with the pumps and began shooting.

Campbell’s vehicle was later found at First Street and University Avenue. Police learned that Campbell may have been headed to an apartment in Mayfair District, so they surrounded the building with the help of a police dog and air patrol support, authorities said.

Campbell came out from the backyard and was arrested. Police found a loaded .40 caliber firearm in the backyard.

No one was injured when Campbell fired his gun at the gas station, but stray bullets hit several vehicles.

Campbell was booked into Fresno County Jail on charges including attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon.

Read More:

ABC30: Man arrested after domestic dispute, shots

Fresno Bee: Man crashes into gas station, shoots at people

Citrus Heights—Citrus Heights Police arrested a burglar and firefighter/paramedic on Saturday, December 6, who entered homes illegally under the pretense of needing to perform smoke detector inspections.

Police responded to a call at the Sunrise Vista Mobile Home Park, located at 6525 Sunrise Boulevard in Citrus Heights, on December 5.  The suspect, Craig White, 31, of Roseville told residents he needed to perform smoke and carbon monoxide detector inspections inside their homes. It was later determined he had stolen items from at least two homes.

Firefighter Craig White in his Citrus Heights booking photo.

On December 6, additional victims came forward with new information that led investigators to identify and arrest the suspect. White was confirmed to be a three-year veteran firefighter/paramedic with the Sacramento City Fire Department. He was located at a home about 10 miles away in Roseville on Ambridge Way, though his arrest record shows his home as in Napa, over 90 miles away.

White was later booked into the Sacramento County Jail on the charges of five counts of burglary and three counts of elder abuse.

“Some of these people were over the age of 65,” said Rich Wheaton of the Citrus Heights Police Department. “They were targeted specifically because of their age.”

Wheaton said White used phony claims of inspecting smoke and carbon monoxide detectors to get into homes. “At this point it looks like he was going into these homes to try and steal the prescription drugs from these elderly victims.”

Sunrise Vista resident Dennis Williams confirms this and says White talked his way into his home. “He was real concerned about getting in the bathrooms. And that’s usually where we keep our stuff.”

White, who denied a request to talk to the media, is scheduled to be arraigned on Tuesday, December 9.

Citrus Heights Police want to stress the public to be mindful of public safety impersonators. If there is any question as to the true identity of any public safety officer, citizens are encouraged to call the police.  Any further questions for the Sacramento City Fire Department should call (916) 216-0316.

Apparently Mark Ladas’ $216,062 annual salary wasn’t enough to cover his and his wife’s expenses.

The 50-year-old chief of the Central County Fire Department, which serves Burlingame and Hillsborough, was arrested last Wednesday and charged with six counts of grand theft, two counts of filing false tax returns and two counts of tax evasion, according to several Bay Area newspaper reports. He pleaded not guilty to the charges in a Redwood City courtroom on Thursday and was released shortly after his sister posted his $80,000 bail.

Fire Chief (former) Mark Ladas (Central County Fire Dept.)

Ladas, who became Fire Chief in April of 2013, has been placed on paid administrative leave. Deputy Fire Chief John Kammeyer has been appointed Acting Fire Chief.

“The department is bigger than any one person, and this action will not affect the excellent service that our firefighters and civilian staff provide to our community, all day, every day,” stated Lisa Goldman, the Central County Fire Department’s Chief Administrative Officer. “Acting Chief Kammeyer is a long-time leader in the department, and I am confident that he will excel at the job.”

According to charges filed by the San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office, Ladas’ wife, Peta, used false names to open several fraudulent credit card accounts between January 2011 and June 2013. She then started a fake business to make false transactions on the credit cards and deposited the transaction money into several bank accounts that also used false names. She was arrested in connection to the scheme in December of 2012, but after her husband posted her $10,000 bail, she fled the country. She remains a fugitive.

An investigation into Mark began soon after. The District Attorney’s Office discovered $35,000 in fraudulent deposits had been made into three bank accounts in his name. Moreover, for both 2011 and 2012, neither Mark nor Peta claimed any of the proceeds from their fake business in their tax returns.

The Superior Court will review Ladas’ case on January 22 and will be followed by a preliminary hearing on February 26.

Read more:

San Jose Mercury News: Peninsula fire chief pleads not guilty to felony grand theft, tax evasion

SFGate: California fire chief pleads not guilty in theft

San Mateo Daily Journal: Fire chief arrested for theft: Central County’s Mark Ladas held on $80,000 bail, placed on administrative leave

Deputies Served a Search Warrant in Brandishing Incident

WATSONVILLE—The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Department arrested a 19-year-old student from Cabrillo College after a search warrant of his residence revealed two guns and a large quantity of drugs.

Campos’ home is on the center of this development.

On Wednesday, December 3, Santa Cruz County Deputies served a search warrant at a mobile home in the Pinto Lake Mobile Estates on the 700 block of Green Valley Road in Watsonville as part of an on going investigation on a November 24 brandishing incident.

The search warrant revealed a loaded .357 magnum revolver, a loaded 9 mm Semi-Auto handgun, approximately $4,500.00 in cash and over a half of a pound of methamphetamine.

Investigators were not able to question their suspect in the brandishing case, as he was not at the home when the search warrant was executed. Deputes located 19 year-old Guillermo Campos in class at Cabrillo College. He was sitting in his Criminal Justice Class when deputies called him out of class to question him, as if to give his classmates an up-close lesson in criminal due process (or just a demonstration of irony).

Campos was arrested without incident and transported Santa Cruz County Jail. He was booked on charges of assault with a firearm on a person, terrorism threat, possession of a controlled substance for sale and possession of a controlled substance while armed.

His bail has been set at $100,000.00. “California law prohibits any person convicted of a felony from becoming a peace officer.” Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Deputy Kelly Kent wrote.

It should be noted that Campos has only been charged and has not been convicted. That is now in the hands of our justice system, so he still has an outside chance of wearing a badge one day.

Read More:

Santa Cruz Sentinel: Criminal justice student arrested on gun, drug charges