Sunnyvale – A suspected car thief led officers on a high speed chase that ended with the suspect being shot while trying to evade police. According to Captain Jeffrey Hunter of the Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety, “At approximately 6:35 p.m. on February 9, Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety (DPS) officers responded to an officer involved shooting near the intersection of El Camino Real and Wolfe Rd.”

Santa Clara police in unmarked and marked patrol units had attempted to stop a white Mercedes Benz sedan in Santa Clara, however the suspect continued to evade pursuing officers.

The suspect driver, 30-year-old Danny Rodriguez-Garcia of Oakland, was thought to have been involved in numerous auto burglaries throughout the City of Santa Clara when police recognized the vehicle the suspect was driving had been stolen. Santa Clara Police tried to pull him over but he refused to obey police commands. During the chase the suspect tried to injure officers in his attempt to escape by driving directly at them.

Hunter said, “Officer Peter Stephens, a five-year veteran of the Santa Clara Police Department, feared for his life and fired several rounds at the Mercedes Benz.” After the shooting, the driver continued on, and evaded capture.

After authorities alerted several Bay Area hospitals, a call was placed to DPS reporting Rodriguez-Garcia was being treated at the San Francisco General Hospital for his gunshot wounds. Once he was treated for non-life threatening injuries related to the shooting, Rodriguez-Garcia was released into the custody of Sunnyvale DPS. He was booked into Santa Clara County Main Jail for assault with a deadly weapon on an officer.

ELK GROVE—Police continue their search for a man with an extensive violent criminal history who has been accused of killing his girlfriend in Elk Grove late last year.

Marissa Pineda De Almanza, 37, a mother of two, was found dead in her apartment—the Terracina at Laguna Creek Apartments in Elk Grove— in the 9200 block of Franklin Boulevard, just before 5:00 p.m. Nov. 5, 2014, according to a news release from the Elk Grove Police Department. It was her husband who found the woman’s body. It is unclear what Almanza’s personal situation entailed. Police only said her husband made the discovery and that Moses Valdez, 38, her boyfriend, has been accused of the killing.

Marissa Pineda De Almanza from Legacy.com

Officers identified Valdez for the first time on Wednesday, February 11.  He is a known gang member who was on post-release community supervision in accordance with Assembly Bill 109. Elk Grove police also confirmed that Valdez was released last August under California’s prison realignment.

It is also unclear exactly what led police to Valdez as the homicide suspect. Detectives obtained a warrant for his arrest and are actively looking for him.

“Here we go again,” said Lynne Brown, a public safety advocate with the Electric Blue Foundation, and a staunch opponent of AB 109. “Another so-called nonviolent offender with a violent criminal history being released to our neighborhoods under prison realignment and marketed as a low-level offender.”

According to court papers, Valdez—also known as “Crazy Moe” and “Demon”—– pleaded guilty in 1995 to two counts of manslaughter. In 2009, he pleaded no contest to recklessly fleeing from a police officer.

“He does have an extensive criminal history, so we are definitely seeking the community’s help in finding him,” said Officer Chris Trim, a spokesman for Elk Grove police.

In November, during the homicide investigation, Elk Grove police called multiple agencies to support officers in their search for Valdez. Investigators shut down the neighborhood for hours and prepared for a dangerous confrontation with Valdez, but were unable to find him.

Almanza’s family members told police they want closure. They are increasing Crime Alert’s current $1,000 maximum reward for Valdez’s capture. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call the Elk Grove Police Department’s Detective Bureau at (916) 478-8060.

INGLEWOOD, CA—She came all the way from the Valley one weekend to get arrested on a plethora of wide-ranging charges, and apparently drove there with no license plates.

Archannell Hasina Jeffries, 32, was arrested on Friday, February 6 at approximately 12:37 a.m. by Inglewood police officers along the 11300 block of South Lemoli Avenue. She was presumably stopped for having neither front nor rear license plates on the vehicle she was apparently driving (5200(A)VC), a violation which carries a pithy bail of $25. But police also charged her with acquiring identification with intent to defraud (530.5(E)PC), possession of a forged driver’s license (470BPC), receiving known stolen property (496(A)PC, possession of a controlled substance (11377(A)HS), possession of a device or instrument for use with a controlled substance (11364(A)HS) and the heftiest violation, a warrant from Manhattan Beach PD for grand theft: money (487(A)PC.

Bail for the new charges (including the no plates charge) totaled $100,275. Bail for the warrant—$130,000—more than doubled the grand total to $230,275.

Perhaps next time she has so much baggage, she should head somewhere other than the South Bay with a vehicle that is destined to be pulled over.

DELANO — Two men were arrested on Wednesday in Delano, after deputies discovered weapons inside the car they were driving.

Luis Trejo, 21, and 21-year-old Oscar Oliva were booked into the Kern County Jail on numerous weapons violations which included possession of an assault weapon, possession of a firearm and ammunition by a felon, possession of a short barreled rifle and participation in a criminal street gang.

Trejo was also charged with violating his parole.

According to the Kern County Sheriff’s Office, the men were arrested at around 10:30 p.m. on February 11 after gang unit deputies made contact with them in the 400 block of Ellington Street in Delano.

As deputies approached the vehicle Oliva and Trejo were standing next to, the pair tried to walk away after deputies saw a gun in the driver’s compartment of the vehicle.

After taking the men into custody, a further search of the vehicle Oliva had been allegedly driving turned up a loaded sawed-off shotgun and a .30 caliber M1 assault rifle with a high capacity magazine.

Read More:

Kern Golden Empire: Two arrested in Delano

Two men in a west Santa Rosa Neighborhood, near the A Place To Play community park, had apparently had enough of some recent thefts in their neighborhood. According to the Santa Rosa Police, they were on the lookout for a gray van that was suspected of victimizing the neighborhood, and they were armed with sticks and pipes.

At around 6 am Tuesday, a man driving a dark gray van entered the neighborhood, and Rodeo Van Bladel and Matthew Mills thought they had their burglar. Van Bladel, 38, and Mills, 28, approached and confronted the driver, and began hitting the van with their weapons.

The neighborhood where the assault occurred, at Baggett and Senna Drives in Santa Rosa.

The driver of the van, later identified by the Santa Rosa Press Democrat as Jimmy Troconis of Rohnert Park, was not a prowler, but a newspaper delivery man. He is an independent contractor who distributes the Press Democrat, along with the San Francisco Chronicle, the Wall Street Journal, and other publications. When attacked, Troconis became frightened and did his best to get away. As he drove off, he hit a parked car near Baggett and Senna Drives. Van Bladel and Mills chased him in one of their own vehicles, and resumed their pounding on the van with their pipes and sticks.

Troconis, with his van immobilized, tried to run away, but the men chased after him and continued their assault. The Press Democrat reported that they beat him with their fists, shouted racial slurs, and finally left him lying on the ground, until police arrived responding to reports of the collision.

The victim, Jimmy Troconis and his family (Facebook)

The Press Democrat reported that Troconis was a recent immigrant from Venezuala, who also worked at a pizzeria and carpet company in Santa Rosa. He was near the end of his route when the attack occurred. Rafael Quinto, who employs Troconis at his Rafy’s Pizzeria, was quoted as saying “He was just the newspaper guy. These guys were trying to take justice into their own hands, and this is really unacceptable. (Troconis) just had a baby, the poor guy is working three jobs.”

CBS 5 – KPIX reported that a neighbor in the area told them that crimes had been committed by people in a van, who drove around wearing masks, and that everyone is afraid. But Police have found no evidence to suggest that Troconis was connected to any past burglaries in the area.

Reports are that Troconis, who was planning to leave the delivery job anyway, is recovering with his wife and baby, while resuming work at one of his jobs, but will likely never deliver a paper again in his life. Rodeo Van Bladel and Matthew Mills were arrested and booked on charges of assault with a deadly weapon and conspiracy. But KPIX reported that Van Bladel told them that he is completely innocent of the attack, and was in his home at the time.

Update 2/13: Van Bladel’s protests of his innocence were somewhat belied by his behavior the next day, and likely damaged any friendship he had with his co-defendant, Mills. On Wednesday Van Bladel posted bail and was released from jail pending his trial. Later that day, according to Santa Rosa Police, he gave Teresa Dempsey, Matthew Mills’ girlfriend who is pregnant with their child, a ride to the Sonoma County Jail to visit Mills, who had not posted bail.

Rodeo Van Bladel’s latest victim, Teresa Dempsey. (Facebook)

After the visit, the 28-year-old Dempsey was driving Van Bladel’s truck as they both returned home. Van Bladel began looking for his cell phone during the drive, and asked Ms. Dempsey where it was. When she couldn’t produce it, he began yelling at her, and became more and more agitated. The woman stopped the truck near Stony Point Road and West 9th Street, and Van Bladel got out, went to the drivers side still yelling, and pulled her from the seat, throwing her to the ground. He then kicked the pregnant woman twice in the abdomen, got in his truck and drove home.

Teresa Dempsey got up and walked the remaining half mile or so to her home. She reported seeing Van Bladel’s truck nearby, and went inside, locked her doors, and called 911 for help. Police, Fire and Medical personnel arrived. She was taken to the hospital for treatment, and Van Bladel was stopped nearby on Senna Way and arrested once again for assault, and committing a crime while on bail. The next day, Dempsey posted on her Facebook timeline “To update everyone. I was attacked last night by Rodeo Van Bladel. I was in the hospital until now. Im going to press charges against him. If anyone needs to talk to me about the situation please call”.

Read More:

Santa Rosa Press Democrat: Pair seeking thief attack Santa Rosa newspaper carrier

CBS SF Bay Area: Victim in violent vigilante mistaken identity beating in Santa Rosa describes his ordeal

HAWTHORNE, CA—Every now and then there is a gang that can’t shoot straight, and this year there is one that is comprised of three people including a presumed company’s owner.

Onsi Amin Tadors Malaty, 61, apparently told Hawthorne police officers that he is an “owner,” and according to the Daily Breeze he owns the “Market Latina” on Prairie Avenue in Hawthorne. He was arrested on Tuesday, February 10 at approximately 9:35 a.m. at or near 100 Prospect Avenue. Arrested the same day and under the same case number were two of his cashiers: Mary Ayoub, 28, and Gan Amin Abdalla Soliman Yosif, 43. All three were charged with a similar offense: grand theft money/property exceeding $400 (487(A)PC). Ayoub was arrested at the 10 minutes earlier on the 14100 block of Cordary and Yosif was arrested on the 13800 block of Prairie Avenue at approximately 11:45 p.m.

Each also had a number of other charges as well. Malaty, a male resident of Prospect Avenue in Redondo Beach, was charged with conspiracy to defraud/cheat/embezzle (182(A)(4)PC), money laundering (186.1(A)PC) and unauthorized use of food stamps (10980(G)2WI). Ayoub, a female resident of South Cordary Avenue in Hawthorne, was additionally charged with possession of items with the intent to defraud/counterfeit/commit forgery (475(A)PC) and attempting fraud to obtain aid (10980(C)2WI). Yosif, a female resident of 182nd Street in Torrance, was additionally charged with conspiracy to defraud/cheat/embezzle (182(A)(4)PC) and unauthorized use of food stamps (10980(G)2WI).

Bail for the three were: Malaty, $215,000; Ayoub, $180,000; and Yosif, $160,000.

The relationships of the three are not known, but all three are being tried under a single case number: 12-15820.

Read More:
Daily Breeze: Hawthorne business owner, employees suspected of fraud

The biggest deterrent for thieves is a locked door, however one San Jose resident is feeling the bite for not doing just that.

Suspect 18-year-old Angel Isaiah Guerrero of Gilroy was arrested for vehicle burglary just minutes after the San Jose Police responded to the owner of a vehicle who had lost more than $2,000 worth of items in an unlocked car on December 20. The victim of the car theft was able to flag down police in the Wal-Mart parking lot at 5506 Monterey Road in San Jose to report the theft the next day.

The victim had been searching for his stolen property on craigslist.org, and came across an ad that had possibly placed those very items up for sale. After contacting the owner of the ad, the suspect had made a deal to buy the stolen items and requested the police’s help to help recover his stolen items.

Officers waited with the victim and located Guerrero with a 17-year-old juvenile male suspect, who was acting as a lookout/bodyguard for Guerrero inside the Wal-Mart store, as they approached the victim for the sale.

The juvenile was found to be on searchable probation for a previous robbery conviction. Both suspects admitted to being the ones who had burglarized the victim’s vehicle prior to trying to sell the stolen items. Recovering the juvenile’s phone, text messages revealed a deal struck between him and the suspect Guerrero, agreeing to split the profits from the sale.

The young suspect was cited and released to his guardian. He is facing now facing a probation violation and other possible charges related to the vehicle theft. The suspect pleaded no-contest on Jan 12, and is expected to be sentenced.

HAWTHORNE, CA—Where do you go when you can’t take the bus?

Eugene William Marion and Deonta Julius Jackson were arrested simultaneously on Tuesday, February 10 at approximately 1:19 p.m. The men were apprehended by Hawthorne police officers at Eucalyptus Park which is on South Inglewood Avenue near 120th Street, near the intersection of the 405 and 105 freeways.

Police charge that Marion, an unemployed Hawthorne resident, had four outstanding warrants. One was from Long Beach PD for failing to appear with a written promise to do so (40508(A)VC) and three from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD). Of those three, two were for fare evasion on public transit (640(B)1PC and 853.7PC) and the third was for spiting on pubic transit (853.7PC). His total bail was set at $2,308.

Jacskon, an audio tech and resident of Los Angeles, had four warrants as well, all of which were from LASD and all of which indicated fare evasion. (Although Marion’s fare evasion bails were singly set at $541 and $521 each, the typical fare evasion/failure to appear bail set by LASD’s Metro Division—which has since 2003 been contracted to patrol L.A. County Metro buses and rail—is $561). Each of his warrants were for a failure to appear with a written promise to do so, and each bail amount was $561, the total of which was $2,244.

As they were most likely taken to L.A. County Men’s Jail near Metro’s H— where many of Metro’s buses convene and where no fewer than three Metro rails terminate—one wonders if they will dare to use Metro to get home once they are released.

Potter Valley is a small, rural farming community in the far inland valley of Mendocino County, northeast of Ukiah and Redwood Valley, with a population of around 700 people. Nestled along the East Fork of the Russian River, the area is known for excellent soil and growing wine grapes, pears, and other agricultural products. On Tuesday evening, a couple in their 50’s living in the wooded north end of town got an unexpected, and terrifying visitor.

The woman had come home at about 5:00 pm and saw that a strange man was inside the house. According to the Mendocino Sheriff’s office, she told them she thought it must be someone who needed help out in the sparsely populated area. She spoke to the stranger to see what he wanted, and she said he was very confrontational with her.

She tried speaking calmly to him, hoping he would leave her alone, but he became increasingly aggressive towards her. She tried to think of a way out, and told him she needed to feed the animals they kept on the property. He told her OK, but he was going with her, and showed the woman a gun tucked in his pants. She nervously fed the animals, and when she was done, the intruder demanded that she feed him too.

Around that time, the woman’s husband arrived home. The intruder, later identified as Eugene Matthew Peterson Jr., met the man in the driveway, brandishing the gun and telling him to go away. He shouted to his wife to run for it, but she later explained that she didn’t run for fear of what he might do, such as fire his gun at one or both of them. The husband then left the home, went to place where he would have cellular phone service, and called 911. The Sheriff’s Department received the call at 5:55, as it began to get dark, and sent deputies immediately to the scene.

Eugen Matthew Peterson Jr. booking photo

The husband returned home, and when Peterson saw he was back, demanded that he leave. He then fired several shots from the handgun, but did not hit the man. While he was shooting, the wife made a run for it, but Peterson turned his attention back to her, and caught her in the home’s carport. As he dragged her back to the house, she struggled with him to get control of the gun. Her husband took the opportunity to tackle Peterson, and between them he was disarmed and detained, and got a black eye.

While he was detained by her husband, the woman took the phone and called the 911 dispatcher to inform them the intruder had been caught. It was only 15 minutes after the first call. Deputies soon arrived and took Peterson into custody.

Eugene Matthew Peterson is listed as a transient out of nearby Redwood Valley. He has a long history with law enforcement, with records going back several years , mostly for possession or being under the influence of controlled substances, including concentrated cannabis and methamphetamine. (His father, Eugene Peterson Sr. also has several area arrests, including for failing to register as a sex offender.)

On June 21 of last year, Peterson was charged with burglary, along with the usual under-the-influence and probation violations. He made bigger news in July when he was arrested for vehicle theft and possession of stolen property, drugs and paraphernalia. He and a woman named Tellie Jo Simmons were found near Laytonville, when a caller reported trespassers. The pair were with a gray SUV that had run out of gas. Simmons said a friend had loaned her the vehicle, but it proved to be stolen out of Ukiah, and the property inside was linked to thefts from Fort Bragg. The pair also had meth and paraphernalia.

Deputies arrested Peterson at the Potter Valley property and booked him into the Mendocino County Jail on charges of attempted murder, kidnapping, false imprisonment, criminal threats, burglary, and probation violations. Bail was set at $250,000.

Read More: Ukiah Daily Journal: Mendocino Sheriff’s Roundup (2013)

Santa Clara – Assault by drunken patrons at sporting events is not that uncommon in the Bay Area. According to the Santa Clara Police Department, at the grand opening of the Levi Stadium they arrested 12 patrons for fighting and public intoxication. Then on Dec 20, 27-year-old Madison Christopher Miller was arrested for battery under PC 242-243(b), a misdemeanor charge, and felony resisting arrest while attending a San Francisco 49er’s game at the City of Santa Clara’s Levi Stadium.

According to the Santa Clara Police Department, Miller was attending the 49er’s versus San Diego Chargers game at the Levi Stadium when Miller started to challenge other fans to a fight.

Miller was contacted by several police officers in order to try and calm the situation, however as they escorted Miller from the event, he tried to head butt a uniformed officer. Miller had threatened many of the patrons around him, and then one patron had had enough after Miller had threatened him. SCPD were called and quickly tried to control the out-of-control Miller.

Police handcuffed him and began leading Miller out of the area through the outer concourse, as he continued to verbally assault officers and game goers as they watched him being escorted out. Miller said, “I will (expletive) kill you”.

As another officer made way for Miller to walk through the aisle, Miller used his forehead to hit the nose of an officer helping detain him for his offensive behavior.

Miller was taken to the ground in order to help control his irrational behavior. Once he stopped fighting officers he was brought to his feet and then escorted to the medical center, where he was placed in a wheelchair to expedite his removal from the stadium.

While being detained during the booking process Miller began to fight with another person that was in the same room with him. “Nigga I’ll stab you with a tire iron,” Miller said.

Throughout the time of his detainment and arrest, Miller continued to swear and try and assault officers. He suffered minor scratches on his cheek and arms while fighting with officers.

Milers next court date has been scheduled for Feb 23, 2015 at 1:30PM in Dept 47.

BAKERSFIELD — A 47-year-old parolee is behind bars after running from police on Thursday night.

Kevin Kelly of Bakersfield will be booked into the Kern County Jail on charges of possession of a firearm and ammunition by a felon, possession of a short barreled shotgun, possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of sale and reckless evading of a peace officer.

According to the Kern County Sheriff’s Office, the incident leading to Kelly’s arrest took place at about 6:30 p.m. On February 12, when deputies tried to stop the vehicle Kelly was driving near the intersection of Oswell and Niles Streets in east Bakersfield.

Kelly failed to yield and a pursuit began, until Kelly lost control of his vehicle, striking several objects before coming to rest on Flower Street, just west of Virginia Street.

During a search of Kelly’s vehicle, deputies located a quarter pound of methamphetamine, a radio frequency scanner and several hundred dollars in cash, as well as evidence which led them to a storage locker on Edison Highway.

Inside the locker deputies located a sawed off shotgun and several rounds of ammunition. Kelly was treated at Kern Medical Center for minor injuries.

Read more:

KERO: Kern County sheriff’s deputies chase, arrest man

FRESNO – Two men who allegedly murdered a Fresno woman last month were arrested during a large police operation on Wednesday.

The sweep involved 90 officers who served eight search warrants to members of the Fifth Street Bulldog gang. During operation, police arrested Anthony Alcantar, 20, and Juan Gonzalez, 25, for the murder of 51-year-old Josefina Alvarez.

Alvarez was hit by a bullet fired into a residence on the 1500 block of Fifth Street on January 24, and later died at the hospital. Alvarez and her family had previous run-ins with Bulldog gang members, who tried to intimidate them and others in the neighborhood, according to police.

The gang sweep also resulted in the arrest of Fresno Bulldog gang members Alex Gonzalez, 25, on suspicion of carjacking, and Cornell Roberts, 32, for being a felon in possession of a gun.

Police are still on the lookout for Jesus Arevalo, 32, of Fresno, who was not at his residence when police found a loaded gun belonging to him. He is wanted on suspicion of being an ex-felon in possession of a gun and for a prior assault.

Read More:

Fresno Bee: Fresno gang sweep results in arrests

PETALUMA – A Petaluma Police Department “News Release” issued on Saturday, February 14 cites the challenging problems facing the department with the unabated growth of homeless encampments within the city. The release suggests that there is a public threat to health and safety as the camps are adversely impacting the environment and increasing criminal activities. The report states, “… the problem is more serious than officers have seen in 20 years.”

The United Anglers of Casa Grande do a lot of important work (Facebook)

Over 100 camps have been cleaned up in the past, and a recent survey located 34 active encampments within the city. The growing numbers of camps make it difficult for officers to patrol, and their existence is a haven for lawlessness and pollution. Some of the crimes associated with recent encampments include illegal narcotics, alcohol, weapons, stolen property, sexual assaults, theft and vandalism. The unlawful camps are also spoiling the work of the United Anglers of Casa Grande High School and their efforts to save native and endangered steelhead trout.

The Petaluma Police Department is challenged by the availability of time for its patrol forces. The reduction of 15 officer positions due to budget cuts, along with an increase in calls for service, forces the department into a “reactive mode” rather than a preferable proactive ability to respond to the growing problem.

Officers have been periodically deployed to address the problem when overtime and schedules allow for it. The Department has also applied for grants to fund a full time officer to address the issue over the long term.

The latest cleanup operation was conducted last week when officers went to dozens of locations and contacted seven people in the process. Two were warned to clean up the area or face charges, while five others were arrested and released on citations.

At a camp near Cedar Grove Parkway on city-owned property the following arrests were made:

Nickolas Walker, a 29-year-old transient from Illinois, and Tammy Rowell, a 33-year-old transient, also from Illinois, were arrested for illegally occupying land and dumping and disposing waste into a waterway. Officers on scene said that in the short amount of time they have been here they have created one of the worst sites that they have seen.

Jesus Carillo, a 28-year-old transient from Petaluma ran from officers and was found with a dagger in his pocket when he was caught. He also lied about whom he was. He was charged with resisting arrest, providing a false identity to officers, and for possession of an illegal weapon.

A stolen bicycle was recovered.

Todd Naus, a 30-year-old transient from Petaluma was arrested for trespassing, illegally occupying lands and a violation of probation. He was found to be responsible for the infamous hot tub tree house on the Cedar Grove property that has been generating a high volume of calls and complaints by residents in the area. Naus has priors for illegal camping and was in violation of probation. He was later booked into county jail.

The last arrest of the day was near Schollenberger Park at a large encampment that has previously been found to have booby traps set to injure anyone who enters. Officers contacted Ervin Osman, a 28-year-old transient from Spokane, Washington. He was arrested for active warrants and was found to be in possession of a stolen bicycle from a recent theft in Petaluma. The $1300 Cannondale mountain bike was stolen from English Street earlier this month. The bike was returned to the victim and Osman was booked at county jail.

Two men are in custody after members of the Paso Robles Police Department’s Special Enforcement Team (SET) served a narcotics-related search warrant on a local residence.

According to PRPD, the warrant was served last Saturday at a residence on the 1800 block of Serra Way.The warrant was requested after police received reports of possible drug activity at the residence. During a search of the residence, detectives discovered approximately 5.2 grams of heroin, 10 grams of methamphetamine, numerous pills, scales, hypodermic needles and drug paraphernalia.

Police arrested Christopher Cortelyou, 38, of Paso Robles for misdemeanor possession of a controlled substance, misdemeanor possession of narcotics and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia. Cortelyou was issued a notice to appear in court.

Also arrested was John Richardson, 35, of Paso Robles for felony possession of controlled substance for sales, felony possession of narcotic for sales and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia. Richardson was transported to San Luis Obispo County Jail.

READ MORE:

KSBY: Heroin, meth, drugs found at SLO home

CalCoastNews: Large narcotic bust

Yolo County District Attorney’s Office prosecutors decided against filing any charges in the case of a man Davis police arrested for robbery in a case dating back to October 2, 2014.

“Based on the information provided in the police report, the facts were not sufficient to prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt at trial. So, no charges were filed,” stated Chief Deputy District Attorney Jonathan Raven last week.

Back in October, a 15 year old Davis boy reported he was robbed by a knife-wielding man as he walked along the bike path between the Davis Public Library and the Veterans Memorial Center on East Fourteenth Street in North Davis. The adolescent was not injured during the incident. Davis police investigated and later arrested Bret William Davis, 48, on December 9. Davis told The Davis Enterprise he happened to be living in Berkeley on the day the robbery allegedly took place. Davis learned on December 11 that the Yolo DA was not going to be prosecuting him.

Records show that Davis had been arrested twice earlier last year in September, for possession of a controlled substance and paraphernalia, and for battery.

The case provided a classic illustration of the difference between the varying standards of “probable cause” and “proof beyond a reasonable doubt,” used respectively by police and prosecutors. Said Davis police Lieutenant Tom Waltz detectives develop cases based on probable cause, which is sufficient justification for searches and arrests. But prosecutors must, in the interests of justice, adhere more strictly to the facts of any particular case.

“We don’t charge the case. We only recommend to the DA they charge based on the facts gathered,” Waltz said. “If the DA doesn’t think they can win a case in front of a jury based on the probable cause the police have gathered, they don’t charge.”

As for the boy whose report started the whole thing, he could not be reached for comment due to his being a juvenile.

SAN BERNARDINO – Police shot and killed a man driving a stolen car chased around the northern portion San Bernardino, finally colliding with a law enforcement vehicle.

In trying elude police, Jonathan Larry Harden, 23, of Banning, tried to collide with officers’ cars on numerous occasions. Shots were fired, striking Harden down, after he collided with the front of an officers’ vehicle. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Harden was spotted in a stolen vehicle on Friday afternoon after the owner had reported to police that his car had a GPS device.The car, said Sgt. Carl Williams, was tracked to its location in San Bernardino at 1:43 p.m. When officers were notified of the location of a 2013 Scion XB near Barton St. and Baseline Rd., they saw the vehicle traveling northbound on Barton St.

Officers, said Williams, “activated their overhead lights and siren in attempt to stop the stolen vehicle.” But Harden accelerated in an effort to escape the officers, said Williams, and began their pursuit. The chase took place throughout the city and onto the 215 freeway, “the suspect (driving) in a reckless manner,” said Williams, “endangering the safety of the public.” At times, he said, Harden reached speeds up to 100 miles an hour, “while paying no attention to traffic signals or the safety of other drivers on the roadway.”

At the University Ave. exit, just off the 215, he failed to stop for a red light, colliding with another car in the intersection. Harden drove back onto the 215 northbound side. Williams said officers tried several times to use legal intervention to stop Harden. At one point, the car was spun around, coming to a stop. As officers exited their vehicle to take him into custody, Harden was able to drive away.

On the final stop, a so-called pit maneuver, Harden collided with the front of an officer’s car, spinning him around to face in a southbound direction toward oncoming traffic. Shots were fired, killing Harden, the scene taking place on I-215 between the Palm St. and University Ave. exits. Traffic was shut down until near midnight while law enforcement continued its investigation.

“Several witnesses recorded the incident on cell phones,” said Williams. Police did not say if Harden had a weapon, nor if he had a criminal record.

Read More:

KTLA: Man fatally shot by police

The Paso Robles Police have four suspects in custody who allegedly burglarized a business earlier this month.

According to PRPD, the crime occurred on February 2 around midnight at the Campo Ceramics, located on the 700 block of 24th St. Approximately $4,000 of merchandise was stolen.

Police arrested suspect Phillip Hohn Tucker, 18, of Paso Robles a few hours later for felony burglary, felony conspiracy to commit a crime, felony grand theft, felony vandalism, misdemeanor receiving stolen property and a misdemeanor count of making a false report of a crime. His bail is set at $20,000.

As the investigation continued, investigators located and arrested three more suspects in the next 12 hours and recovered stolen property identified as belonging to the business during the arrests.

One of the three suspects was Joel Skinner, 18, of Paso Robles arrested for felony burglary, felony conspiracy to commit a crime, felony grand theft and a misdemeanor count of making a false report of a crime.

Police also arrested Matthew Esparza, 19, of Paso Robles for felony burglary and felony conspiracy to commit a crime. Also arrested was a juvenile male, whose name will not be released due to his age. He was arrested for felony burglar, felony conspiracy to commit a crime and felony grand theft.

The three adult suspects were transported to San Luis Obispo County Jail, while the juvenile was transported to SLO Juvenile Services Center.

Read More:

KCOY: PR commercial burglary arrests

Daily News: Four young suspects arrested

BAKERSFIELD — A 38-year-old man was arrested last Friday after deputies found guns and illegal drugs inside his east Bakersfield home.

Terrance Edgar was booked into the Kern County Jail on various charges including possession of a firearm and ammunition by a felon, possession of stolen property, possession of a controlled substance and conspiracy.

The Kern County Sheriff’s Office said that Edgar’s arrest took place after deputies from the gang unit served a search warrant at his home in the 3900 block of Mitchell Avenue at around 8:30 p.m. on February 13.

Deputies said after making initial contact with Edgar, a 43-year-old woman and two small children who were all inside the residence at the time of the search, they discovered a stolen .45 caliber semi-automatic handgun, over 100 rounds of ammunition, suspected methamphetamine and surveillance equipment.

Read More:

KERO: Sheriffs find weapons, drugs, guns

FRESNO – Three men believed to be responsible for stealing more than $3,000 worth or property from a northwest Fresno Target store were arrested last week.

Arthur Michel

The theft happened at the Target near the 6000 block of North Riverside Drive on Thursday. Loss prevention officers informed police about the theft and identified the suspects from a prior theft at another department store, according to authorities.

The three suspects, identified as Arthur Michel, 28, Lerme Lerma, 56, and Damian Reyes-Martinez, 18, all from Modesto, attempted to escape with the stolen merchandise in an SUV. A Fresno police helicopter followed them as they headed south on Highway 99 and exited on Shaw Avenue, according to authorities.

Damian Reyes Martinez

Officers were then able to arrest the three individuals. The officers found five Dyson brand vacuum cleaners, a 32-inch flat screen TV and several small electronics inside the SUV. They were all still in their original packaging.

Michel, Lerma and Reyes-Martinez were booked into Fresno County Jail on burglary charges.