SACRAMENTO—A Sacramento man was arrested early on Monday, February 23, in connection with a domestic violence incident that left the victim seriously injured.

Police, and then a SWAT team were dispatched at approximately 3:45 a.m. to a residence on the 7800 block of Beaupre Way in Citrus Heights after receiving a 911 call. Police found the woman who said she had been attacked in a domestic violence dispute with Benjamin Haven. They searched the residence but the suspect had fled.

The woman was taken to the hospital for her injuries.

Officers made several unsuccessful attempts to contact Haven, 31, by telephone and decided to summon SWAT due to the seriousness of the alleged crime and the suspect’s violent history.

At about 1:45 p.m. Citrus Heights officers located Haven driving his vehicle and arrested him on suspicion of felony domestic violence and assault with a deadly weapon.

SANTA ROSA – You’ve got to hand it to Jose Luis Lara and Paige Curtis-Thompson for their ingenuity. Too bad their efforts could not have been used for the force of good.

Early this morning, Wednesday February 25, employees at the Santa Rosa Exchange Bank on 4th Street, who were in before 6 am, observed someone suspicious hanging around the night deposit box and ATM machine. They called Santa Rosa Police, and according to Sergeant Josh Ludtke, the responding officers quickly arrived and spotted a man in the area. As they approached the man, he began to casually walk away, and did not respond when told to stop.

The night drop box is right next to the ATM.

Once the officer detained the man, they investigated the area, first finding a home-made implement stuck in the drop box, apparently designed to reach inside and pull deposits from deep inside the chamber. Also in the area was a woman in a car who had a two way radio, perhaps serving as the man’s not-too-successful look-out.

The car also contained some additional home-made tools of a similar design to fish out items from difficult places. There were other burglary tools as well, along with checks taken from previous successful operations, from at least two burglaries in other locations. The Santa Rosa Police Property Crimes Investigations detectives were called out to take over the investigation. They identified 15 similar burglaries that had taken place over the past four months in Sonoma County, and the pair are now considered prime suspects in those incidents.

Meanwhile, Jose Lara, 33, and Paige Thompson, 26, both area transients, were arrested for burglary, possession of burglar’s tools, and conspiracy. Lara was also charged with resisting arrest, and the Sheriff’s office has already tagged him with one burglary count for an ongoing investigation of theirs.

Prior to this incident, Paige Thompson had been arrested three times in the past year. On December 17 she was charged with petty theft and possession of drug paraphernalia, and on December 7 with being under the influence of a controlled substance and on a warrant for failure to appear in court. A year ago, on February 24 2014, she was arrested for possession of a controlled substance and paraphernalia, and a probation violation. Earlier records show several arrests for her over past four years on drug charges, petty and grand theft, and probation or parole violations.

The department asked that if anyone had any information to provide for this case, that they contact them at 707-543-3575.

The ex-pastor of a Vacaville Baptist Church was sentenced to eight years in state prison on February 18 for masterminding the firebombing of a home in Vacaville in which his ex-girlfriend, several children and other family members were sleeping back on January 9, 2014.

The ex-Reverend Mark W. Lewis, who had ministered to the Fellowship Baptist Church in Vacaville for several years, elected to take a plea deal on the second day of his jury trial in January of this year. He thus avoided a possible 14-year sentence, had the jury convicted him. For his part in the agreement, Lewis pleaded no contest to felony arson and stalking charges.

Three suspects were arrested a short time after the firebombing, which caused no injuries. Investigators suspected that Lewis had promised to pay them $400 to throw Molotov cocktails into the home.

The firebombing climaxed a string of vandalism incidents at the home that began soon after the ex-girlfriend terminated her relationship with Lewis.

SANTA CLARA COUNTY – According to the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office, on Wednesday, February 11, a San Jose man was convicted of the first-degree murder of his wife, which occurred in 2011, while a second man is set to face the death penalty for the kidnapping and murder of a young high school girl that occurred in March of 2012.

A jury found 26-year-old Marcus Casillas guilty of the slaying of Valerie Calderon Casillas, whose body was found in remote ravine.

Before the homicide had occurred, Casillas was convicted of felony domestic violence against his wife several years prior. Then on Oct 2, 2011, Valerie left with her estranged husband while she was living at a relative’s home, however she never returned. After three days, county workers clearing brush in the hills off of Sierra Road near Milpitas found the 29-year-old mother’s body tossed into a 15-foot deep ravine. She had been shot eight times by Marcus Casillas, according to the findings of the jury.

Casillas had been arrested several times previous to these incidents, on charges of possession of a controlled narcotic substance, petty theft, grand theft, and assault.

Casillas is scheduled to be sentenced by the Honorable Ron Del Pozzo on March 6, 2015 at 9:00 AM in Department 40 at the Hall of Justice in San Jose. Casillas is facing 50 years-to-life in prison for the shooting death of his wife. Prosecutor, Deputy District Attorney Matt Braker said, “This case serves as another tragic reminder that domestic violence in a relationship cannot be ignored and can turn lethal very quickly.”

Antolin Garcia Torres booking photo

A court hearing held for another murder suspect, Antolin Garcia-Torres, was held on Wednesday, February 25, in Dept 24 in front of the Honorable Deborah Ryan. Torres faces the death penalty for the kidnapping and murder of Sierra Lamar, who went missing several blocks from her home while walking to the school bus in Morgan Hill.

According to Santa Clara County Deputy District Attorney David Boyd, any information from the Santa Clara Sheriff’s Department, including investigative evidence provided to the Defendant and Prosecuting attorney’s in this case, is not available to the public through a public records request, despite an outcry by Friends of Sierra Lamar, who wish to learn more information on the whereabouts of Lamar’s body.

Sierra Lamar (file photo)

Torres appeared in court wearing a brown Khaki suit with a light yellow shirt and brown tie. A motion filed on behalf of the Defendant requested that Torres appear without restraints on his hands and feet when appearing before the court. The current motion was delayed for six weeks in which any motions, and, or a final review of evidentiary findings could be discussed prior to setting a trial date. The next court date has been scheduled on April 8, 2015 in Dept 24 at 1:30 PM.

Read More: CrimeVoice (2012) – Arrest made in Sierra Lamar missing girl case

San Francisco –  According to a department press release, police officers Archilla and Espinosa were patrolling the area near 66 Brook Street at 7:28 pm on Saturday February 21^st when they spotted a vehicle with only one functioning headlight.

Upon making a stop, they asked the driver, thirty-one year old Efren Delgado of San Jose, for his appropriate paperwork. Delgado was unable to furnish a driver’s license but offered an ID. After officers ran a records check, they found that Delgado’s license had been suspended in 2010. The officers also learned that he was on probation for possession of marijuana for sale out of Santa Clara County. Delgado had been arrested in November of 2013, according to Santa Clara County records. At the time he was residing in Fairfield.

Officers searched the car and found a significant amount of marijuana, which they believed to be packaged for sale. Delgado was also charged with vehicle code and probation violations.

The arrest occurred less than a week after proponents of recreational marijuana legalization met for the International Cannabis Business Conference in downtown San Francisco.

Cultivation Was Less Than 250 Feet From Elementary School

HOLLISTER—UNET Agents, along with the Hollister Police Department, obtained a search warrant for electrical theft and netted an illegal indoor marijuana growing operation. Authorities arrested 32-year-old Hollister resident Son Nguyen and charged him with cultivation of marijuana.

On February 13, agents from the Unified Narcotics Enforcement Team along with Hollister PD served the warrant, obtained as a result of a compliant from PG&E of possible theft of electrical services. The timing of the execution of the warrant had to be coordinated with the help of Hollister’s School Resource Officer Michael Paddy, as the home was located only 250 feet from Margaret Maze School.

The home Nguyen turned into a marijuana grow house was brand new in the summer of 2011 (Google Maps).

Agents kept the school staff advised of the situation, and there was no need to enact security measures at the school. UNET Agents had to use forced entry to serve the warrant as the lone occupant, Nguyen, refused to allow entry to the home. Once inside, agents discovered an elaborate marijuana-growing laboratory.

This lab was equipped with multiple 1000 watt growing lamps and drip irrigation systems with electrical timers. All the bedrooms in the house were used to grow different types of the illegal, at least for now, crops.

The plants were in different stages of development. Agents recovered hundreds of plants along with other.  Agents took Nguyen into custody and transported him to the San Benito County Jail and charged him with felony cultivation of marijuana, possession of marijuana for sale and theft of public services.  His bail has been set $55.000.00 dollars.

Nguyen had a previous arrest in September by Stockton Police for public intoxication.

PETALUMA – On Wednesday night at approximately 10:30 pm, Petaluma Police received a 911 call that had been transferred from the California Highway Patrol. The caller said that she was the victim of a violent assault that had taken place in the 1800 block of Castle Drive. When officers arrived at the residence they learned that the suspect had already fled the area on foot.

Police were summonded to this upscale Petaluma neighborhood on a domestic violence call.

Investigating officers learned that the suspect had gotten into an argument with the victim, became angry and then violently assaulted her. The victim was strangled, and her cell phone was forcibly taken from her.

Officers also learned that the suspect had two outstanding warrants that involved being a felon in possession of a firearm. Based on the current assault and the previous warrants Petaluma Police deployed a K-9 (Basko) in the area to locate the suspect. The CHP’s helicopter was also requested to assist in the search.

The CHP’s helicopter alerted ground officers of a subject fleeing the area in a creek towards Adobe Road. The K-9 unit and officers were directed to an area on Adobe Road near Sonoma Mountain Road.

Two views of the Adobe Road bridge (Google Maps)

Officers arrived in the area shortly after the CHP helicopter radioed that they last saw the suspect going under a roadway bridge. The K-9 unit and officers then located the suspect who had climbed up under the bridge and concealed himself in a small crawl space. The suspect refused to comply with officers repeated commands. A Taser was successfully deployed and the suspect was taken into custody without further incident.

The suspect was identified as 36-year-old Warren Haley of Auburn, California. He has also reported residing in the same house on Castle Drive, as well as an address in Santa Rosa.

He had previously been arrested in September for possession of drug paraphernalia, and in June for being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, and for resisting arrest. In that incident, according to the Press Democrat, he was wanted for an outstanding warrant, and engaged law enforcement in an extensive search, also involving a helicopter, before being taken into custody.

Earlier records show arrests in 2007 and 2008 for possession of firearms, illegal drugs and paraphernalia, and giving false information to an officer. A 2009 story in the Press Democrat reported that he had been wanted then on domestic violence and parole violations, but he managed to elude the police, SWAT team, and K-9 units who surrounded and eventually entered the Castle Avenue home on September 16. Despite being seen headed toward the location, he managed to escape capture. They reported his history of firearms violations, and was wanted for battery, stalking, burglary, false imprisonment, and other charges related to the domestic violence charge.

According to court records, while still wanted by police, on September 23 he initiated another attack on his wife at a mutual friend’s home. He had asked her to come there, and then violently attacked her, including throwing her on a couch and choking her several times. The friend said that he too was in fear of Haley’s anger and his gun. He was captured at the friend’s house the next day.

He later pleaded no contest to the charges against him, and was sentenced to six years in prison. His sentence was suspended to one year with the agreement to participate in treatment programs and to honor a court order to have no contact with the victim. He eventually violated his terms and was found to be using methamphetamine, and was sent back to prison. He gained an early release due to AB 109 provisions to ease overcrowding. It is unlikely he will get the same breaks this time around.

Haley was booked into the Sonoma County Jail for this latest incident on charges of assault likely to cause great bodily injury, robbery, resisting arrest, and outstanding warrants.

Read More:

Press Democrat: Search ends in arrest of wanted convict in Santa Rosa

PACH/Press Democrat: Petaluma police find home empty after six-hour standoff

CrimeVoice staff contributed to this report

SACRAMENTO—An arrest has been made by Sacramento County Sheriff’s homicide detectives in the shooting death of two people found in a Sacramento residence in December.

Jeremy Xavier Pridmore-Ybarra, 35, has been booked into the Sacramento County Jail on charges involving murder and felony weapon possession related to this incident.

The bodies were discovered at this Kenneth Drive home in Carmichael.

On Friday, December 12, the Sheriff’s Department responded to a call about an incident at a residence in the 5200 block of Kenneth Avenue in Carmichael, and found a man and a woman dead from gunshot wounds.

Ybarra was later arrested on Thursday, February 12 for outstanding domestic violence and firearm-related charges in Sacramento. During the arrest, Sheriff’s detectives also found Ybarra to be in possession of numerous additional illegal weapons for which he was subsequently charged. Through the course of this continuing investigation, detectives concluded that Ybarra was also responsible for the double homicide.

Detectives believe Ybarra knew the victims, but his motive for their murder it is not yet known.

At the time, the brother of the slain man, Ray Coleman, identified the victims as 49-year-old John Colbert and his girlfriend, Breezy Hubbard, 35.

Ybarra is being held at the Sacramento County Jail without the possibility of bail and faces his arraignment for this case on Friday, February 27. Detectives say that no one else is believed to be wanted in connection to the case.

The Sacramento County homicide team would like to thank the Carmichael community and public for their numerous phone calls and tips to help bring this case to a resolution.

Police Have Made Arrest In Three Cases

WATSONVILLE—The Watsonville Police Department has gotten a helping hand in the fight against graffiti thanks to some concerned citizens of Watsonville. In three recent cases police were able to make an arrest because people got involved. Officers arrested 28-year-old Juan Manuel Romero and 24-year-old Javier Alvarado, both of Watsonville, and they also were able to arrest two juveniles in another incident.

On Tuesday, at 1:15 pm, Watsonville Police responded to the First Baptist Church on a call of vandalism in progress. The caller stated to dispatchers from Santa Cruz County Communications that he has the suspect had been detained. When officers arrived at the scene they learned that the witness observed Juan Manuel Romero spray painting graffiti on the church. The witness was able to detain Romero while he called police.

Romero was found to be in possession of graffiti tools. He was arrested for two counts of felony vandalism, vandalism to a place of worship and vandalism with damage amounting to more than $400.00. The damage to the church was estimated to be about $1000.00.

Erik’s Deli Watsonville

On Sunday, shortly after midnight, police responded to a citizen report of vandalism occurring at Erik’s Deli. Officers responded and located 24-year-old Javier Alvarado walking away from the scene. Thanks to a description, the officers were able to detain Alvarado.

Officers arrested him after they found a black spray can in his possession. They searched the surrounding businesses and found more graffiti tags. Alvarado was arrested for vandalism and was cited and released. Total damaged of the graffiti was estimated at $600.00.

Two juveniles were caught vandalizing this neighborhood.

On Saturday a concerned citizen called police at about 8:34 pm, and reported vandalism in progress in the area of 326 Locust Street. Just as before, police responded and found two juveniles between the ages of 15 and 14 walking away from the scene. A search of the juvenile’s bedrooms produced an unloaded 9 mm handgun – the juvenile’s parents claimed to be unaware of the gun.

The two juveniles were arrested and transported to Santa Cruz County Juvenile Hall.

HAWTHORNE, CA—Whether he stole the car to get back home near Palm Springs or he stole it to get to the South Bay is unknown, but he probably won’t be going home to Cathedral City any time soon.

Daniel Edwin Godoy, 33, was arrested on Sunday, February 22 at approximately 8:45 a.m. The Cathedral City resident was picked up along the 12800 block of Inglewood Avenue in Hawthorne, just three blocks from Hawthorne Police HQ. He was charged with grand Theft: Auto (487(D)PCGTA), embezzlement of leased property over/under $400 (504APC), receiving known stolen property (496(A)PC), forging an official seal (472PC) and driving with a suspended/revoked license (14601.1AVC). He was also found to have a warrant from Hermosa Beach PD for a previous violation of driving with a suspended license.

Total bail was set at $105,300. The GTA charge was the largest at $35,000 whereas the suspended license was only $300.

With a bail of that amount, he may as well make the South Bay his new home away from home.

SAN BERNARDINO – Police arrested an 18-year-old and two 17-year-old juveniles who went on a BB gun shooting rampage with nearly 40 victims on Tuesday.

Genaro Garcia, 18, of Fontana, along with two 17-year-old accomplices, one from Fontana and the other from San Bernardino, are accused of shooting the car windows and business windows in multiple communities, according to Sgt. Emil Kokesh. They were arrested one day later.

Police are calling it a case of felony vandalism after the shooting spree, which took place between 4:30-11:30 p.m. when dispatchers received several calls that the suspects were taking shots at various targets. Some 36 victims have been identified so far, said police.

The property damage ranges from vehicle windows to business windows, said Kokesh, with the “total amount of damage believed to exceed $10,000.” The original report taken by San Bernardino police described several male subjects in a silver Chevy four-door vehicle with paper plates, seen in the area of Foothill Blvd. and Dallas Ave.
That report described the suspects having shot the windows of another motorist with a BB gun.

On Wednesday, a patrolman spotted a car that matched the description of the suspect’s car in the area of Foothill Blvd. and Meridian Ave. Kokesh said the officer stopped the car just before 5 p.m., discovering evidence linking the suspects to the vandalism.

That evidence included several hundred BBs and several spent CO2 cartridges. The suspects were interviewed by detectives. Additional information was obtained, said Kokesh, “during the interviews indicating that these individuals were responsible for the crimes” which had been reported one day earlier.
The three were arrested on charges of felony vandalism, said Kokesh.

Genaro was taken to San Bernardino County jail and the juveniles were lodged at San Bernardino County Juvenile Hall, said Kokesh, who added that Rialto police reported they had about a dozen similar incidents in their city. “During the same time frame,” said Kokesh, “and it is believed that there may be additional victims who have not yet been identified.”

BAKERSFIELD — A convicted felon out on parole for manslaughter was arrested on Thursday after going on a two-day robbery and shooting spree in Bakersfield.

Bryson Mitchell, a 25-year-old Bakersfield resident, was booked into the Kern County Jail for attempted homicide, conspiracy, three counts of armed robbery, possession of an assault weapon, gang member in possession of a firearm, participation in a criminal street gang, resisting arrest, and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

According to the Bakersfield Police Department, the chain of incidents began at around 3 p.m. on Wednesday, February 25, when officers responded to a robbery to the El Fogon restaurant at 701 East Brundage Lane in east Bakersfield. “Witnesses told officers they were robbed by two suspects, one of which was armed with an assault rifle,” Public Information Officer Joe Grubbs said.

El Fogon #2 in East Bakersfield.

The next morning at around 4 a.m., officers were called out to a home in the 3600 block of Fiesta Avenue regarding the report of a residential robbery that had just occurred. “When officers arrived they were provided the same suspect description as the robbery at on east Brundage,” Grubbs said.

At around 8 a.m, officers responded to a shooting that occurred at the Hollywood Market near East Planz Road and Meeks Avenue, and again were given the same suspect description consistent with the prior two robberies.

A hunt for the suspects ensued, and ended at 9 a.m., when officers spotted Mitchell and another man in an alley near the 1000 block of Valhalla Drive. When officers approached the men, they fled, discarding a rifle under another vehicle parked in the alley Additional officers arrived and Mitchell was taken into custody.

Later in the day, two more people were arrested in connection with the robberies. They were 21-year-old Bakersfield resident Lynn Harris, who was booked for accessory after the fact, conspiracy and participation in a criminal street gang, and 20-year-old Bakersfield resident Courtney Francis, who was charged with petty theft.

Read more:

Californian: Two suspects arrested in connection with robberies, shooting

Kern Golden Empire: Three arrested in connection with robberies

HAWTHORNE, CA—It may have been an impulse crime prompted by alcohol consumption, or maybe they thought they knew what they were doing and had to get some liquid courage first. In any case, these two college-aged men will be going to the school of hard knocks.

Francisco Enrique Ortiz, 25, and Deonte Jackson, 22, were popped by Hawthorne police officers on Sunday, February 22 in the small hours. Oritz, an Inglewood resident, was picked up along the 13600 Doty Avenue in Hawthorne at approximately 3:45 a.m. Jackson, a Los Angeles resident, was picked up a short time later along the 12800 block of South Crenshaw Boulevard at approximately 4:45 a.m.

Oritz was charged with carjacking (215(A)PC), conspiracy to commit a crime (182(A)(1)PC) and force or assault with a deadly weapon that was not a firearm (245(A)(1)PC). Police did not reveal the model of the car nor the type of weapon allegedly used. Bail was set at $230,000.

Jackson was charged with attempted first degree burglary (A459PC) and disorderly conduct:alcohol (647(F)PCALC. Bail was set at $20,250.

A resident of Pleasant Hill, 33, is now being charged with felonies after she allegedly fled the scene of an accident she caused on Interstate 80 in Davis on the afternoon of February 20.

According to a California Highway Patrol press release, Amanda Huston struck the rear end of a vehicle which was stopped in gridlocked traffic near the Mace Boulevard cloverleaf. As officers arrived on the scene in response to 911 calls, Huston attempted to disappear from the crowded scene of her accident. However, the CHP officers quickly apprehended her nearby.

As a result of the accident that occurred around 3:30 pm, two passengers seated in the rear-ended vehicle sustained minor injuries.

Huston was lodged in the Yolo County Jail on suspicion of felony drunken driving and hit-and-run. Authorities did not disclose whether she would be able to post bail. Records show Huston had another DUI arrest in February of 2010.

HAWTHORNE, CA—An absence of license plates on a vehicle is a sure way to get stopped by police, especially when one has neither front nor rear plates; having a fake I.D. and warrants while driving such a car is even more foolish.

Dalia Duarte,36, was stopped by Hawthorne police officers on Saturday, February 21 at the intersection of Imperial Highway and Hawthorne Boulevard. The main drag is a known area for prostitution as well as a busy intersection for those entering and exiting the 105 and 405 freeways. The unemployed Inglewood resident was apparently driving a car with no front or rear license plates (5200(A)VC) and was also charged with having objects on the windshield (26708(A)(1)VC), failure to present identification (40302(A)VC) and presenting false identification to a peace officer (148.9(A)PC). She was found to have two warrants as well: one from Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department for a revoked driver’s license (3455(B)1PC) and one from Hawthorne PD for possession of marijuana no more than 28.5 grams (11357(B)HS).

Bail for the woman was set at $1,110.

Suspect Is Wanted For Two Armed Robberies

SALINAS—The Salinas Police Department has identified the suspect in an armed robbery, which was enhanced with an attempted murder charge, that occurred at the Star 1 Gas Station and the adjoining taqueria restaurant “El Kiosko” on February 17^th.

Police have identified 20-year-old Angel Perez as the suspect in these cases, however, he is not in custody. The Salinas police are looking for him and are asking for the public’s help in finding him. He is described as being a Hispanic male adult approximately 6-feet tall, weighing about 180 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes.

Perez is wanted for the armed robbery of the Star 1 gas station on Williams Road, and subsequent robbery of El Kiosko on Tuesday, February 17, during which he used a handgun. According to police, Perez entered the gas station wearing a black hooded jacket with a bandana covering his face and holding what appeared to be a steel chrome handgun.

After obtaining an undetermined amount of cash from the gas station, he walked into the taqueria and confronted the clerk, demanding that he open the register. When the clerk, who was preparing food at the time, could not open the register in time, police theorize that Perez intentionally fired one round from the handgun, striking the clerk in the head.

The victim was taken to a local hospital and treated for a non-life threatening gunshot wound. As for Perez, as he tried to make his get-away, he was possibility struck by a truck and may be injured and walking with a noticeable limp.

Police are asking the public to call 911 if they spot Perez, as he is to be considered armed and dangerous.

SAN BERNARDINO – Los Angeles Sheriff’s deputies arrested a 20-year-old San Bernardino man suspected of carjacking two vehicles in San Bernardino one day earlier. It took a car chase, crash and foot pursuit before Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputies caught the suspect, along with two other people on Tuesday.

Julio Cesar Delaluz, 20, was suspected of carjacking a green Ford Taurus in the early morning hours on February 23, on the Cal State San Bernardino parking lot. Lt. Rich Lawhead said Delaluz woke a student who was sleeping inside his car at 12:13 a.m. Delaluz took the car at gunpoint, said Lawhead, and fled the campus. He said the unidentified victim was able to escape Delaluz and went to a local business to call police. While police were responding to that call, Delaluz was involved in a collision in the area of 27th Street and Interstate 215.

When a nurse from the Arrowhead Regional Medical Center stopped to assist, said Lawhead, she loaned her cell phone to Delaluz, “not knowing he was a suspect in a carjacking.” The nurse, said Lawhead, “became victim No. 2.” The suspect took her cell phone and her car, a 2003 Lexus, also at gunpoint, fleeing the area, heading southbound on Mt. Vernon Avenue in San Bernardino.

One day later, deputies from L.A. County Sheriff’s spotted the stolen Lexus, pursued the car and three suspects inside. The Lexus was involved in a collision during the chase, the occupants fleeing on foot. Lawhead said each person, which included Delaluz and two females, was eventually located and detained. Delaluz was identified as the suspect in the two carjackings. One of the females was identified as Delaluz’s girlfriend. All three were taken into custody.

Delaluz, who was positively identified by all victims, was taken to L.A. County jail. He will face charges that include kidnapping, carjacking, assault with a deadly weapon and possibly additional charges.

Read More:

KTLA: Man sought in 2 carjackings arrested

NBCLA: Alleged carjacker arrested

Milpitas, Santa Clara County – 26-year-old Bryan Pararien Unciano faces six felony allegations under four counts of PC 211-212.5 (c), felony robbery, one count of PC 29800 (a)(1), in possession of a firearm, and one count of PC 30305(a)(1) possession of ammunition by a prohibited person, for an incident that occurred on Thursday, February 5 in the City of Milpitas.

According to the Milpitas Police Department, four individuals were parked and sitting inside their vehicle when Unciano approached with a handgun and demanded their cell phones and wallets. When officers arrived at the location near Glenview Drive near the Ben Rodgers Park, the victims reported that two individuals approached their vehicle brandishing a silver handgun.

Bryan Unciano – image from MySpace.com

They said that without time to react, each individual had handed the suspects their personal property. When police questioned the victims it was revealed that they had been smoking marijuana at the park when the subjects approached. According to court documents, the victim said “The suspect #1 stood next to the right front passenger door and suspect #2 stood next to the right rear passenger door.” That is when they paused and turned around to approach the occupants of the vehicle after smelling the marijuana smoke.

Both suspects took the personal property of the victims, and shared it between each other. The victims said they just watched as the two headed westbound on Skyline Drive, which is when they were able to call police.

Milpitas Officers canvassed the area to look for the suspects, and to look for any other witnesses who might have been in the area. One witness said that he had seen the suspects walk casually past his home, and then within a few minutes the suspects were seen walking back to the same 2013 Ford F-150 white truck. This caught the home owner’s attention and before they had driven away, he snapped a picture of the license plate. During the investigation Milpitas Officers “pinged” one of the cell phones to locate it remotely, and were able locate several of the phones thrown on the side of the freeway near the carpool traffic lights at East Calaveras and I-680.

Obtaining possible information on the suspect that used the gun during the robbery, police were able to create a photo lineup of the possible gunman. All four victims were able to verify through a photo line-up that Unciano was the suspect who had robbed them at gunpoint.

One of the victims also stipulated that the suspects took their house keys. It was recommended that they report any suspicious circumstances to the police, as well as change the locks and secure their homes when leaving.

Unciano was taken into custody at his home after a $150,000 RAMY Warrant was issued for his arrest. A Bryco .360 silver semi-automatic handgun was also located and taken into custody.

According to officers, Unciano said “He did not know why he was arrested because he had not been committing any crimes.” Unciano continued to tell officers that he was in the area to pick up some items for work, but was only in the area a short while, and then went to find a place to smoke weed and then go home. When confronted about a witness seeing him in the area during the time of the robbery, he denied having been in the area at that time.

The next court hearing will be held on March 16, 2015 at 1:30 PM in Dept 34 in front of the Honorable Shelyna V. Brown. Records show that Unciano was arrested in June of 2009 on charges of possessing, manufacturing, or selling a dangerous weapon.

PENNGROVE – According to a Community notice issued by the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office, on Thursday February 26, the dispatch at the Sheriff’s Office received a call from a man who said he had come to a residence in Penngrove and found a person there, and that there was blood visible at the scene.

Medical personnel and Sheriff’s deputies responded to the scene at 960 Rose Avenue, at the residence of Olga Mary Dinelli and her 75-year-old brother Larry, who was not at home at the time of the incident. The 84-year-old woman was found deceased in a chair, and the house was in a complete disarray.

The Violent Crimes Investigation unit took the lead in the case because of the suspicious conditions that were found inside the home. The case is being investigated as a homicide. The County Coroner is conducting an autopsy to determine the cause and manner of her death.

The woman lived at the residence for several decades with her brother, who was located and informed of her death. Her brother also lists a repair business at the same address.

Olga is described as a sweet and quiet little old lady who attended St. James Catholic Church in nearby Petaluma. The family raised chickens on the property until the 1950s. They had been renting out the old chicken sheds there as storage units. The family is at a loss in trying to understand how she could have become a target for such a crime.

This is an active and on-going investigation and the Sheriff’s office is asking for the public’s assistance in locating Olga Dinelli’s red 1998 Lexus SC400 with the license plate of 4HZF060. A photograph of a similar vehicle is pictured above. Authorities advise that if you see the vehicle, do not approach the occupants, but call your local law enforcement agency immediately.

The Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office encourages anyone with information pertaining to this case to call the investigations Tip Line at 707-565-2185. You may leave a message and remain anonymous.

YOLO COUNTY—Police have arrested the mother of an infant found dead in a swampy area near the Sacramento River in a remote area of Yolo County.

Samantha Green, 23, was arrested on Saturday, February 28 at 12:15 a.m., and charged with one open count of murder in the death of her 20-day-old son Justice Rees. She was found disheveled and disoriented on Tuesday, February 24  near the Sacramento River in the town of Knights Landing, about 30 miles east of Sacramento.

Image of Ridge Cut Slough from Google Maps.

The body of her baby was found the next day under heavy brush along Ridge Cut Slough, a remote area near Knights Landing after an extensive search by emergency workers on foot and by boat and helicopter. The coroner said the infant appears either to have drowned or died of hypothermia.

Family members said they believed Green has been abducted. However, Yolo County Sheriff Ed Prieto said that investigators found no evidence of a kidnapping.

“At this point here, we feel she was the only individual involved in her child’s death.  There’s no other additional evidence indicating that somebody else was involved.”

Green’s parents said, “Our family is grieving not only for the loss of our grandson Justice, but also the possible loss of our daughter Sami Green. She has never been in trouble with the law. We know in our heart that Sami would never do anything to intentionally harm her newborn son, Justice.”

Green told authorities she and her son were abducted Monday and that she spent hours screaming for help from near the river, a story that  investigators say doesn’t hold up.

“She made comments about how she was there for so many hours screaming and hollering,” Yolo Sheriff Ed Prieto said during a news conference. “We were able to determine that perhaps (that) didn’t happen.”

Green is being held without bail in Yolo County jail in Woodland and is scheduled to be arraigned on Wednesday, March 4 at 11:00 a.m.

Samantha Green and Frank Rees (Facebook)

Meanwhile, it was reported that the baby’s father, Frank Rees, was arrested Sunday evening on unrelated misdemeanor warrants, related to DUI and driving with a license suspended for DUI. Records show he was arrested in 2010 for driving under the influence and child endangerment. He was arrested more recently in March 2014 for driving with a suspended license and outstanding warrants.

Concerned about both of them, Rees had posted a message on his Facebook page on Tuesday, February 24 “If anyone sees Samantha Green my beautiful fiancé please tell her that EVERYONE is worried sick about her and Justice. We love you Samantha. Just come home babe. I miss you and our son sooooo much. Whatever it is you want different we can fix. I love you momma.” He and her family have expressed support for Samantha in the days since her arrest.

Friends have also established a Gofundme account for Baby Justice on behalf of Frank and his family.

CrimeVoice staff contributed to this story