EL CAJON – On Saturday night one woman paid a terrible price for driving under the influence when her three-year-old child died after she crashed her car into a power pole. The suspect, 31-year-old Brandy Teague of San Diego, was driving down the popular and busy Broadway in El Cajon when, according to police, she may have fallen asleep at the wheel. In her car were three children, ages 2, 3 and 10.

Shortly after the crash, neighbors rushed in to the scene, and the suspect’s oldest child ran to a nearby house for help. Josh Petrick, a witness and nearby resident said, “The little boy was crying as he ran into our house. My girlfriend provided assistance to him as far as calming him down. His face was bloody and he had a laceration to his eye… I’m presuming he was sitting in the front seat.”

According to El Cajon Police Lt. Soulard, “The other two children were admitted to Rady Children’s Hospital with serious, but non-life threatening injuries.”  Unfortunately, the 3 year old died just a short while after being admitted.

The suspect was arrested at the scene of the crash and booked into Las Colinas Women’s Detention Facility on charges that include gross vehicular manslaughter, felony child endangerment, possession of a controlled substance and driving under the influence.

It has been reported that the suspect was also driving on a suspended license at the time, though it is not known why her license was suspended. .

Read More:

Fox5: Mother jailed after crash kills 1 child

LATIMES: Mother held on suspicion of drunk driving

SACRAMENTO– Charles Lee Ewers was booked into the Sacramento County Main Jail on Tuesday, April 7 on charges of attempted murder and felony child endangerment. He is being held without the possibility of bail.

Ewers, 38, was detained in his Carmichael home on Saturday, April 4, for attempting to kill his two children.

The Sheriff’s Department got a call at about 9:00 pm from the children’s concerned custodial parent, who reported that they had not been returned from a scheduled child visitation. When deputies arrived at Ewers’ home on the 5000 block of North Avenue, they found the lights out, and did not get an answer at the front door. They did, however, hear a vehicle engine running inside the garage, which was locked up.

After forcing their way into the garage, the deputies discovered a running vehicle with a hose leading from the exhaust pipe to the interior of the car. After quickly disabling the hose, they opened the car to find the two kids, aged 8 and 10, in the backseat, barely conscious. The deputies carried the children to the front yard, also noticing significant traumatic physical injuries to both of them. Meanwhile, Ewers was removed from the vehicle’s front seat, himself suffering from asphyxiation, and the three were transported to a local hospital. The children reportedly remain in serious but stable condition.

The investigation by Sheriff’s detectives determined that their father had physically assaulted the two children before putting them in the vehicle, in an apparent attempt to kill the children while taking his own life. Ewers was booked at the Sacramento County jail after his release from treatment.

An 11-mile police chase in Rocklin on Monday ended with the arrest of two men suspected of committing an assault and home invasion in Lincoln. Placer County Sheriff’s deputies arrested Christopher Lee Smith, 29, and Jasper William Daniel, 33, both from Sacramento.

The pair are accused of invading a home in rural Lincoln on McCourtney Road, and assaulting the occupant.

According to the Placer County Sheriff’s Office, at about 11:30 AM on Monday, April 6, a 65-year-old male victim stated that a man entered the Lincoln home he was visiting. The victim was visiting a friend’s home in rural north Lincoln, at the 8200 block of McCourtney Road, while the friend was at work.

The victim reports that a male, unknown to him, entered the home through an unlocked door. The victim stated the male suspect was armed with a crowbar. A fight ensued, and the victim grabbed the homeowner’s shotgun. There was a struggle for the gun, which resulted in a shot being discharged onto the front porch. The suspect, later identified as Smith, then choked, beat and kicked the victim.

The chase ended on the small cul-de-sac of Aspen Court in Rocklin.

Smith left the scene in a waiting car driven by Daniel. The victim managed to get the license plate number and a description of the car and called police. Shortly after, a Lincoln police officer spotted the car and attempted to pull it over. The suspects refused to stop, and a pursuit ensued. A California Highway Patrol helicopter assisted in the pursuit, which ended after eleven miles on Aspen Court in Rocklin, twenty miles from the original crime scene, where the suspects stopped their vehicle and surrendered.

Daniel and Smith were taken to Placer County Jail and booked on multiple charges. Smith was charged with four felonies including home invasion robbery, assault with a deadly weapon, and conspiracy. Daniel was booked for the same charges, along with driving under the influence of drugs, evasion with wanton disregard for public safety, driving on a suspended licensed and being under the influence of a controlled substance. Bail was set for Daniel at $160,000 and $106,000 for Smith.

The victim was treated for injuries at the scene.

Records show that Smith was arrested in February 2014 for speeding, driving without a licence or evidence of financial responsibility, failure to appear in court, along with possession and transportation of a controlled substance and paraphernalia.

MENIFEE- Three family friends who arrived to assist a woman who had been kidnapped found themselves in the line of fire.

Perris Station Riverside Sherriff’s Deputies reported in a press release that after being called to Leah Lane in Menifee on a report of multiple gunshots, they discovered two seriously injured individuals lying in the street. One victim had been shot in the face and the other had suffered trauma to his lower leg.

Further inquiry revealed that the suspect, Quentin Murphy, 47 of Menifee, had kidnapped his ex-girlfriend at gunpoint from her where she was working. Murphy reportedly forced the victim to drive them in her vehicle to his residence on Leah Lane. The victim was able text family members for assistance while Murphy held her hostage and threatened murder/suicide.

Coming to the victim’s aid, three family friends discovered her car in the suspect’s driveway around at 10:20 PM. When they knocked on the door, the victim ran from the house screaming. Murphy, who was was armed with a .38 caliber revolver, proceeded to chase the victim’s friends down the street, firing after them. One of the victims was shot point-blank in the face. Two shots strayed into neighbors’ homes, but no one else was reported to be injured.

The suspect was subdued when one of the victim’s friends drove into Murphy with his pickup truck, seriously injuring his leg. He was then able to wrestle the gun from Murphy and hold him on the ground until police arrived.

The victim who was shot was last reported to be in stable condition. Once released from the hospital, Murphy will be charged with kidnapping and attempted murder and booked into jail.

Read More:

Press Enterprise: Two men seriously injured after gunfire

SAN RAFAEL – According to a Press Release by the San Rafael Police Department (SRPD), a would-be thief of a high-end bicycle was arrested during a sting operation. The department launched the operation by the Special Operations Unit (SOU) in response to reported bicycle thefts in the vicinity of downtown San Rafael.

The sting was set up outside a Walgreens in the 800 block of Third Street. A bicycle valued at over $2,000 was locked with a cable lock to a handrail in front of the store. On Friday, April 3, officers observed a person known to them approach the bike five times within a thirty minute period.

Parrish was followed and arrested on Cijos & Fourth Streets

Eventually the man stopped about fifteen feet from the bike, looked around to make sure no one was watching, and removed bolt cutters from the front of his pants. The subject cut through the lock, got onto the bike and rode away eastbound on Third Street. The suspect was stopped at the corner of Fourth Street and Cijos Street where SRPD Officers arrested him. Officers had watched and video recorded the theft.

The suspect was identified as Bryan Scott Parrish, a 26-year-old resident of San Rafael. He was booked at the Marin County Jail for grand theft, possession of burglary tools, and probation violations.

Parrish is no stranger to either bicycles or local law enforcement. His self reported occupation is bicycle repairman. And after he was booked, Parrish wasted no time when released on $10,000 bail. He was arrested on Tuesday, April 7, on charges of possession of a controlled substance and paraphernalia, and resisting arrest. In 2014, he was arrested several times on various drug and paraphernalia possession charges, public intoxication, and resisting arrest. On June 9 of that year he was charged with pc 452(c) –  setting a fire to a structure or forest land. Further details of that incident were not available.

The principal duties of the San Rafael Special Operations Unit address quality of life issues in the downtown area of San Rafael, as well as its open space areas. A Police Sergeant, three Police Officers, two Open Space Park Rangers, and a Mental Health Outreach Liaison staff the unit.

SANTA CLARA COUNTY – Update: According to the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office, “Escaped Inmate Johnell Carter arrested in Mississippi with help of US Marshals.” The escaped child rape suspect was located in Gulfport, Mississippi.

Carter is currently awaiting extradition from Harrison County to California, where he will face five counts of child molestation, charges from back in March of 2014. He will now face new charges alleging the assault on a sheriff’s deputy while fleeing from custody of the County’s Elmwood Corrections Facility in Milpitas. He was being transported for medical treatment at the time.

Carter absconded from the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Deputy just days before he was scheduled to attend pre-trial proceedings, in which he faced a possible life sentence for charges that he molested a 9-year-old girl relative over a two year period of time.

During a ten minute press briefing Santa Clara County Sheriff Laurie Smith said, “The Sheriff’s department is working this investigation with the U.S. Marshalls office.” Smith said, “This is not something that just happened in Santa Clara County, this was nationwide.”

U.S. Marshal for the Northern District of California Donald O’Keefe said, “On March 6, 2015 Johnell Lee Carter escaped from the custody of the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office during a scheduled medical appointment at Valley Medical Center.” O’Keefe said, “Following the escape, a joint task force was put together consisting of the U.S. Marshals Service and Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office.”

Carter was tracked to a home on Prudie Circle in Gulfport.

It was revealed that Johnell had broken free from the deputy while waist chained and handcuffed, but was able to walk freely. It was during the ten hour manhunt that Carter had contacted his younger brother Joseph Carter III, on Sunday, March 8. It was then that the Joseph took his brother to Reno and helped him board a Greyhound Bus to Gulfport, Mississippi, where Johnell connected with Joseph’s wife Lakeisha Carter on Wednesday, March 11. Johnell used his brother’s name on his bus ticket.

On Tuesday, April 7, a tip was given to the task force reporting that Johnell and Lakeisha were staying together in a duplex located at 12210 Prudie Circle in Gulfport. A search warrant was issued and the Gulfport task force tried to enter the residence. However, as they moved in through the front door, Johnell tried to escape through the rear door. Following a brief foot chase, the U.S. Marshals Service and Harrison County Deputies were able to take Johnell Carter into custody.

O’Keefe said, “On March 17, 2015, Joseph Carter III was arrested for harboring, aiding and abetting a fugitive.” His wife Lakeisha was also taken into custody on Tuesday, April 7. O’Keefe said, “A warrant was obtained by the Sheriff’s Office of Santa Clara County, and in addition, the U.S. Marshals Service obtained a federal warrant for unlawful flight to avoid prosecution with the Federal Courts here in San Jose.”

Santa Clara County Sheriff Laurei Smith speaks at a press conference. Detective Justin Harper is on the far left. (Photo: Amy Nilson)

Johnell’s escape from the Deputy brought up questions about how this could have happened. Lead investigator in this case, Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Homicide Detective Justin Harper said, “The Sheriff’s office policies and procedures are obviously constantly under review in order to determine better ways to handle things in the future. Obviously we can’t prepare for everything that might arise, but when things do happen, everything’s under review.”

Santa Clara County Sheriff Laurie Smith said ”We transport 150,000 people per year.” She added “We have not had anyone escape from our transportation unit in ten years.” Transportation by the Sheriff is under review, but it is expected that no changes will be made.

Smith said, “We focused a lot of energy to get this person back into custody because we knew he was a danger to the public.” Detective Harper said, “We had the family immediately under surveillance from the time that he escaped until Johnell L.Carter was apprehended.” However, he said, Joseph Carter was not under surveillance when he drove his brother to the Greyhound Bus Line in Reno during the first few hours of his escape.

Footage from the April 8 press conference

CrimeVoice: Suspect on loose after escaping Santa Clara County deputy

LAKE ISABELLA — A 58-year-old man, arrested for disturbing the peace, died after his arrest by police on Wednesday morning.

Michael Earl Lemon was pronounced dead shortly after arriving at Kern Valley Hospital on April 8, just after 6:30 a.m.

According to the Kern County Sheriff’s Office, Lemon resisted arrest and began fighting with two deputies, who were attempting to take him into custody after responding to a peace disturbance call at the Lake Isabella Mobile Home and RV Park, located at 11936 Highway 178 in Mountain Mesa.

Deputies said that they contacted Lemon after being told by witnesses that he had reportedly been causing the disturbance. “At one point during their contact with Lemon, deputies made a decision to place him under arrest using non lethal force” said Public Information Officer Ray Pruitt. “At that point the suspect wrestled with deputies before they were able to finally handcuff him.”

After Lemon was handcuffed, he began experiencing medical complications. Medical aid was called, and the responding ambulance transported Lemon to the local hospital, where he was pronounced dead a short time later.

Detectives are conducting an investigation into Lemon’s death, while the two deputies involved in the incident, Brandon Geherty and Joshua Bechtel, have been placed on paid administrative leave pending a result. Geherty is a three and a half year veteran, and Bechtel is an eight year veteran of the Sheriff’s Office.

Records show that Lemon was arrested on September 6 of last year by the Kern County Sheriff’s Department on charges of vandalism in excess of $5,000. No further details of that incident were available.

SACRAMENTO—One man was killed and three others were injured after gunfire was reported at a liquor store in South Sacramento on Wednesday, April 8.

Sacramento County Sheriff’s Detectives are investigating the shooting that happened at the A1 Market & Liquor Store on the 6600 block of Sunnyslope Drive near Lindale, at approximately 10 p.m. on Wednesday. The market is located in a mixed commercial and residential area near Florin Road and Stockton Blvd. Deputies responded after receiving a silent holdup alarm that was activated from the counter. Witnesses also told deputies they heard as many as 13 shots fired in the area, and two vehicles were seen speeding away from the scene. It is unclear if the vehicles were involved in the shooting.

Sacramento County Sheriff’s Sergeant Lisa Bowman said a black man in his early 20s was pronounced dead by medical personnel at the scene in the parking lot of the strip mall. His identity will be released pending notification of next of kin.

Detectives also found two other adult males with related non life-threatening gunshot wounds. A fourth injured victim was found at the scene, but his injury was not a result of the gunfire.

Detectives are still determining a motive for the shooting. Anyone with information is urged to call the Sheriff’s Department at (916) 874-5115 or Crime Alert at (916) 443-HELP. Tip information may also be left anonymously at www.sacsheriff.com by texting 274637 (CRIMES) and entering the keyword “SSD” or by calling (916) 874-TIPS (8477).

It’s been quite the year for insurance fraud so far, with the latest series of arrests making their way from the Bay Area clear down to San Diego.

In Concord, Lars Hedegaard (63) was pinched on two felony counts of grand theft. During his time from 2009 to 2010 as a licensed agent, under the business name Westport & Associates Insurance Services Inc., Hedegaard is alleged to have issued 14 fraudulent bonds to contractors and collected $111,365 in premiums — which he then used for personal expenses rather than forwarding to the company which had hired him to transact their bonds.

That company, Insurance Company of the West (IWC), first became suspicious when one of their insured had asked for a return on a premium with regard to a contracted construction job. IWC then notified Department of Insurance investigators after discovering that surety bonds had been issued for multiple construction contracts without their approval, and those insured were paying premiums which IWC never received.

The Department of Insurance is now in the process of suspending Hedegaard’s insurance license and encourages any other possible clients of Lars Hedegaard or Westport & Associates Insurance Services Inc. to contact the consumer hotline at 800-927-4357.

Meanwhile, in Los Angeles, Department of Insurance detectives apprehended Clara Madrid (60) for insurance fraud and attempted perjury. Five days after she had resigned from her job as a housekeeper in May 2012, she’d filed a claim for a head injury she had apparently received on the job in November 2011.

She filed additional claims for an injury to her left hand and fingers, and a cumulative trauma injury from 2010 to 2012. A closer look at her records revealed she had filed and collected workers’ compensation claims for the same parts of her body on two previous occasions. However, she had denied during her deposition that she had filed any prior claims.

In San Diego, Jill Audette (28) was convicted on five felony counts of insurance fraud and abandoning the scene of an accident after she had falsely claimed her car had been stolen and involved in a hit-and-run.

Audette contacted the Progressive Casualty Insurance Company in September 2013 and reported her car stolen, a claim for which Progressive settled for $8,891 to cover damages to the vehicle. She then contacted San Diego Police to report the stolen car, but was informed that they’d received a report about the car being involved in a hit-and-run and that it had been impounded as evidence.

During the investigation, however, police uncovered possible evidence of fraud and referred the case to the Department of Insurance. Over the course of the investigation that followed, evidence suggested that Audette was apparently driving when she’d hit parked cars, fled the scene, and reported her car stolen. Audette was subsequently convicted on multiple felony counts of insurance fraud and leaving the scene of collision, for which she faces up to two years in jail.

The information provided in this story has been paraphrased from the official press release by the California Department of Insurance, to which all case specifics and information are to be attributed.

HAWTHORNE, CA—It’s best to know the laws governing bicycle use, especially when one is carrying and/or attempting to purchase cocaine, or other controlled substances.

David Francisco Pacheco, 23, was arrested by Hawthorne police officers on Monday, April 6 at approximately 9:14 p.m. He was popped at the corner of Birch Avenue and El Segundo Boulevard in Hawthorne, just two blocks from Hawthorne PD. He was presumably stopped for riding his bicycle on the sidewalk. Hawthorne, a charter city in the South Bay, has a municipal code against such behavior. The Lennox resident was charged with possession of a narcotic controlled substance (11350HS), possession/purchase of cocaine base (11351.5HS), operating a vehicle on a sidewalk (HAMC 10.60.01) and operating a bicycle on the wrong side of the road (21650.1VC).

The warehouse worker was also found to have two warrants: a DUI for alcohol/drugs (21352(A)VC) and  possession of marijuana less than 28.5 grams (11357(B)HS). Both warrants were issued by Hawthorne PD.

The bail for the two bicycle charges totaled $325, the two fresh possession charges totaled $40,000 and the two warrants were $35,250. The grand total was $75,575.

There were surely many lessons learned that day, one of the lesser ones being to follow the laws of bicycle operation when there is so much at stake, should one be pulled over by the police.

SAN JOSE – 21-year-old Hispanic male suspect Eliseo Montoya Martinez was arrested on Wednesday, April 1, for violating PC 69, resisting or obstructing an officer;  243 (B), battery on a peace officer; and 594B, vandalism; along with outstanding warrants.

Charges were brought against Martinez by the San Jose Police Department on April 7 through the Santa Clara District Attorney’s Office. The case filed against Martinez alleges that during an initial contact with his mother and girlfriend, Martinez had refused to surrender, and had fled from police before being arrested and booked into the Santa Clara Main Jail on new charges for refusing to appear on three prior warrants for his arrest.

Martinez was wanted for three separate warrants for PC 148 (a)(1), resisting arrest, PC 25850(a)(1) carrying a loaded firearm, and H&S 11350, possession of a controlled substance. He had been arrested on February 17 by San Jose police on those charges, along with being under the influence, attempting to remove a firearm from an officer, and committing a felony while on bail. He had been arrested twice in September of last year – on the 20th for DUI and resisting arrest, and on the 23rd for possession and being under the influence of a controlled substance, and possession of stolen property.

The mother of the suspect was contacted by police and had agreed to help them apprehend her son earlier that day. However, when police arrived at the residence, they made contact with the suspect’s girlfriend, Stephanie Saldana, who she said was leaving and that Eliseo was not at home. A short time later a woman was seen leaving through the rear entrance, and loud footsteps were heard on top of the apartment complex, which is located at 180 Baroni Avenue in San Jose.

According to police, “Officers were conducting an attempt to locate the suspect, who had three active warrants for his arrest.” The suspect police were trying to locate had managed to climb on top of a nearby residence, which was followed by a felony foot pursuit by officers.

Martinez went from the rooftops of the apartments on Baroni (right) to the buildings on Truckee (left).

The suspect ran along the top of the complex. He stopped and then jumped over a wooden fence to reach the ground. Once down from the rooftop, he kept running. Officers yelled out “stop”, but the suspect continued,  again jumping on top of adjoining rooftops of homes at 242 Truckee Lane. He then jumped down between two adjoining apartment buildings while officers ran alongside the buildings in order to try and stop him.

Martinez jumped a fence at 248 Truckee Lane into the backyard of a San Jose resident, who saw the suspect and began to yell at him to get out of his yard. Officers contact the resident, who told them the “guy” was in his backyard. The tenants were asked to leave the apartment while police located the suspect. Eliseo was found while trying to hide, and was arrested.

However, while he had been trying to escape, Eliseo climbed along the water pipes of the building, stepping on and breaking a PVC pipe, which was now flowing with water. Martinez had also broken parts of the fence when he climbed it in his attempt to hide in the backyard. He is now facing the additional charges of vandalism for the damage he caused. He is also being charged with battery on a peace officer because he kicked one of them in the face while trying to avoid being handcuffed.

His mother was not arrested, but could face charges pending an investigation by the District Attorney’s Office. His girlfriend, Stephanie Saldana,  is also facing possible aiding and abetting charges for helping Martinez try to escape from officers during the initial contact. The next hearing for Martinez has been scheduled for April 22, 2015 in Dept 38 at 9:00 AM in front of the Honorable Daniel Nishigaya.

HAWTHORNE, CA—Some people go for broke in all the worst ways, and often more than once, despite their name.

Miguel Angel Saucedo, 49, was arrested by Hawthorne police officers on Monday, April 6 at approximately 7:15 p.m. The 5’11”, 240-pound Hawthorne resident, who refused to disclose if and where he was employed, was said to have committed several serious offenses as well as found to have an outstanding warrant. He was charged with willful cruelty to a child with the possibility of producing Grievous Bodily Injury (GBI) and/or death (273A(A)PC), violating a court order to prevent domestic violence (273.6(A)PC), DUI: Alcohol/Drugs (23152(A)VC), driving with a suspended license (14601.1AVC) and contempt of court by disobeying a court order (166(A)(4)PC).

The warrant was for a failure to appear after a written promise to do so (853.7PC). Records show that Saucedo was previously arrested on November 15, 2014 on charges of battery on a spouse or co-habitant (domestic violence) and child endangerment. The call had come to Hawthorne Police after a late Friday night, and he was arrested at 1:39 am Saturday at his home in Hawthorne. He has since moved to a different location in Hawthorne as a result of the domestic violence court order.

Total bail for  “Angel” was set at $141,174. The single largest amount was $100,000 for the cruelty charge and the lowest was $300 for the suspended license.

SAN JOSE  – According to the San Jose Police Department, a woman was shot and then pushed from a car as the suspect drove away earlier this week on Tuesday, April 7, at around 10 pm. A group of people called San Jose Police to report finding the wounded woman lying in the street on South Bascom Avenue, near Del Mar High School. The vehicle used in the shooting was also found a short time later, abandoned by the suspect. The victim died at the scene, identified by police only as a 33-year-old Sacramento resident. The case remains under investigation.

Domestic abuse can often lead to one or both of the parties involved losing their life if the domestic violence is ignored. According to the Office of the Santa Clara County District Attorney, “A woman is beaten every nine seconds in the United States. Domestic violence is the most under-reported crime in the country, with the actual incidence 5 times higher than is reported.”

In another recent domestic abuse case, the San Jose Police Department arrested 33-year-old Ernest Quesada Jr. for making threats to commit great bodily injury, a violation under PC 422, against his ex-girlfriend back in December of 2014.

According to San Jose Police records, Quesada drove to his ex-girlfriend’s home and started pounding on the front door, demanding that she let him in. The suspect threatened the woman with violence if she did not open the door, and he also warned her to not call the police. However, with quick thinking she was able to call 9-1-1 dispatchers to report the threat, and that she was in fear for her life.

SJPD officers quickly responded and were able to detain Quesada, who was thought to have been hiding in the back yard of the home. But as police approached the yard, Quesada walked up and surrendered to them. Police learned that Quesada and the female victim had tried living together for about two weeks before she broke off the relationship and asked Quesada to leave. She reported that she had not seen Quesada for several weeks until he had shown up at her home on Wednesday, December 3.

SJPD Officers asked the female victim if she wanted to press charges for criminal threats, and she told them yes. She told officers that when she refused to let the suspect enter the home, he threatened to kill her and burn down her home. She told officers that she was in fear for her life, because she thought he would be capable of harming her and or her family.

However, Quesada had another story to tell the police. He told officers that he was evicted from the house a few days prior to his lease ending, and had come back to get property that he had left at the home. Quesada told officers that he and the woman had had arguments in the past, but the police were never called. Quesada denied making any criminal threats while he was at the home.

Deputy District Attorney Steve Dick stated, “All threats must be taken seriously, whether or not you feel the perpetrator has the means to follow through on them, or says that the threats were just a joke.”

Anh Pham

In another notable San Jose violent domestic incident from two years ago, on February 14, Valentine’s Day of 2013, 22-year-old Anh Tran was shot and killed by her 29-year-old ex-boyfriend Anh V. Pham, who also shot and killed himself the same day. During the investigation into the shooting it was found that the victim and perpetrator had dated for a few months, before living together for approximately 5 months in 2012. However they had ended their relationship in January, 2013, a month prior to the murder/suicide.

The District Attorney’s Office and local police take criminal threats very seriously. Despite the claims by Ernest Quesada that he had not made any threats, SJPD officers took the victim’s word that he had come to the victim’s house threatening the life and home of his ex-girlfriend. He was arrested and booked into the Santa Clara County Main Jail for the incident.

The next court hearing is scheduled for May 19, 2015 at 9:00 AM in Dept 45 in front of the Honorable Charles E. Wilson.  While awaiting trial, police records show that Quesada was arrested on February 24 for public intoxication. He was picked up at 2:48 in the morning at or near the Stadium Market and Liquor Store at Keyes and 8th Streets, near the San Jose Municipal Stadium.

HAWTHORNE, CA—It was a remarkable shooting homicide that claimed the life of a mother, severely injured her son and ended in the shooting death of the aggressor by a cop who witnessed the event.

Stanley Ross White III, 25, and Brandon Armon Lavonne White, 19, were arrested by Hawthorne police officers (HPD) on Wednesday, April 1 at approximately 1 p.m. along the 14200 block of Kornblum Avenue in Hawthorne. A third man who had been in the vehicle, Robert Washington, 38, was shot to death by a Hawthorne police officer moments after Washington produced two pistols and killed Denise Barry, 44, and wounded her son.

Brandon White was charged with conspiracy to commit a crime (182(A)(1)PC) and first degree murder (187(A)PC). He was also found to have four outstanding warrants for failure to appear (853.7PC) from Long Beach PD, despite the fact he lives on Tumbleweed Drive in Bloomington. He was in the back seat of the car. He claimed to be unemployed.

Stanley White, the car’s driver, was also charged with conspiracy to commit a crime (182(A)(1)PC) and first degree murder (187(A)PC). According to police reports, he works for a moving company.

Both men share a residence in the San Bernardino County town. Police said the deceased shooter was also from that area.

According to police and news reports, the three men were in a white Cadillac when Barry and her son were driving beside them. Police say that the victim’s son, 12 years old, laughed at one of the men’s bare feet hanging out of the window. This apparently prompted the men to start following the woman and her son. Barry eventually pulled up beside a Hawthorne police officer’s car, manned by HPD officer Alex Kahn, and was told by Kahn to pull in front of his vehicle. That is when the Cadillac pulled up, and Washington exited the vehicle and began firing two pistols. He shot and killed Barry and as her son exited the vehicle to escape, shot him too. Before the shooter could give chase, however, the Hawthorne officer shot and killed Washington.

Barry was a Metro bus operator, and she and her son were on their way to his barber when she was murdered. Neither she nor her son knew the three men, and according to statements from the Whites and the dead shooter’s family, they did not know her or her son.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD) has since taken over the investigation, and the L.A. County District Attorney has become involved. “We filed two charges of murder against Stanley White on April 3,” said D.A. Assistant Chief of Media Relations Jane Robison when reached by telephone. “His arraignment will be on April 23 at Airport Court.”

Asked if a case had been filed against Brandon White, Robison replied, “We have no case on him.”

Bail for the Whites was initially set at $1 million each for the murder and conspiracy charges; Brandon White had an additional $2,752 bail for the four warrants. The murder charges against Brandon White were dropped on Friday, April 3, according to LASD Homicide Lt. Dave Coleman, but he may still be in custody by Hawthorne PD for the warrants.

The 12-year old boy was released from the hospital this week and is now in the custody of family members.

Read More:

LATIMES: Mystery surrounds Hawthorne killing

CBSLA: Vigil held for woman killed senselessly

San Francisco – In the early morning hours of April 1st, a witness was walking through the Valente Marini Perata Funeral Home when he noticed a man rummaging through the contents of a Honda Civic.

According to information released by the department, the witness observed the man advance to a Lexus SC 400, where he withdrew several objects and placed them on the ground, presumably to retrieve later.

The suspect then went on to yet another vehicle in the parking lot. Having seen enough, the witness called out to the suspect, who then fled through an open fence. The witness, while calling police, chased the suspect.

Officers Hoge, Marshall, and Smith were able to apprehend the suspect in a nearby Safeway parking lot. They placed 21-year-old Damel Juarel-Alfredo of San Francisco under arrest for several counts of burglary as well as an outstanding warrant.

A search of the parking lot revealed that each car had a broken window. A sledgehammer was found at the scene. In the immediate area, officers also found that several cars had been broken into.

SACRAMENTO—Sacramento Police have arrested a local man in the death of a woman earlier this week in a Sacramento hotel room.

Fredrick Raymond Tatum, 52, was charged with physically assaulting April Fowler, 42, at the Quality Inn. It appears that Tatum and Fowler were friends.

Quality Inn where the crime occurred

On Wednesday, April 8, 2015 at approximately 12:36 p.m. police received a call about a possible dead body found in the third-floor room of the Quality Inn on the 3700 block of Northgate Boulevard. Tatum’s caregiver had called police and requested a welfare check on Fowler after becoming suspicious during a brief visit with Tatum at the door of the hotel.

Officers, with help from the Sacramento Fire Department, pronounced Fowler dead at the scene. Tatum, who was in the hotel room, was immediately detained and taken to police headquarters for questioning, and then booked at the Sacramento County Jail for failing to register as a sex offender.

Following a coroner’s report and after working with the Sacramento County Attorney’s Office,  police charged Tatum with Fowler’s murder on Friday, April 10.

Read More:

Sac Bee: Convicted sex offender arrested in death of woman

Fox40: Man charged in death of woman found in hotel room

San Francisco – On the afternoon of March 26th, Park Station officers Zimiga and Srinivas were dispatched to Alamo Square Park on the report of an assault. According to information released by the department, the female victim was walking her dog when a man began verbally abusing her because she’d let her dog off its leash.

The assailant was apparently angered because her dog had approached the area where he had multiple dogs. Fearing for her safety, the victim photographed the man, which prompted him to physically contact her, wrestling her to the ground while attempting to take the phone from her.

According to the information, two bystanders came to the aid of the victim, which prompted the man to retrieve his multiple dogs and flee the scene before officers arrived.

On April 7th, Sergeant Bernadette Robinson received a call that the assailant was back at the park. Robinson responded to the scene and matched the suspect to the photograph obtained from the victim’s cellphone.

44-year-old Michael Waddell of San Francisco was arrested on attempted robbery, battery and false imprisonment charges. At the time of arrest, Waddell was in possession of four dogs.

Because he would not provide the names of the dogs’ owners, they were taken to Animal Care and Control. According to the department press release, all the animals are okay.

San Francisco – According to a department press release, on the morning of April 7th a park ranger was involved in a weapon-related incident when he approached a homeless man, 24-year-old Jesus Perez, in Golden Gate Park.

During their exchange, Perez pulled a large hunting knife from a backpack, removed it from the sheath and brandished it towards the ranger. The ranger, acting in defense for his safety, pepper-sprayed Perez. Perez ran away into the park. The ranger was unable to apprehend him, but did obtain the knife which Perez had left behind during the escape.

The ranger then sought the assistance of Officer Ryan Crockett and together they set out to apprehend Perez. Crockett, being familiar with the homeless population in the district, was able to locate Perez at the intersection of Haight and Cole Streets. Perez was taken into custody without incident. After being cleared medically, Perez was interviewed by a sergeant and investigator and subsequently placed under arrest for brandishing a weapon.

APPLE VALLEY – Law enforcement is still investigating multiple threats against San Bernardino County deputies who took a suspect into custody by force last week.

Ten deputies were taken off duty due to questions over a reported use of force on a chase in which the suspect tried to flee by car and a stolen horse. Francis Jared Pusok, 30, of Apple Valley was arrested last week when deputies arrived at his residence on the 25300 block of Zuni Rd. to serve a warrant in an identity theft investigation.

According to reports, Pusok fled the scene in a vehicle. Police pursued Pusok through unincorporated areas of Apple Valley, the city of Apple Valley and further into unincorporated areas of Hesperia, where he eventually left his vehicle and fled on foot.

Pusok eventually made contact with a group of people near Deep Creek Hot Springs, stole a horse and fled on dirt trails through rugged and steep terrain, which caused numerous injuries to the horse.

He was being trailed by a sheriff’s helicopter, which inserted a team of deputies in the area of Highway 173, near Arrowhead Lake Rd., eventually leading to Pusok’s arrest.

A Taser was deployed, according to reports, but Pusok’s loose clothing helped negate the effect. A use of force took place to make the arrest, said reports, leading to an internal investigation. Pusok was treated for injuries, including abrasions and bruising, and taken to West Valley Detention center and booked for felony evading, horse theft, possession of stolen property and an active warrant for reckless driving. Bail was set at $115,000.

Ten deputies, meanwhile, were placed on administrative leave. Two deputies were injured during the search, the injuries consisting of abrasions, a twisted knee and a back injury from being struck by the horse. Both have been treated and released. There was video taken, according to reports.

County Sheriff John McMahon said, “The video surrounding this arrest is disturbing and I have ordered an internal investigation be conducted immediately.” He also said, “In addition, members of the Specialized Investigation Detail are responding to conduct the criminal investigation.”

The department has reportedly received threatening emails, phone calls and social media posts which will be investigated upon validity. The deputies’ names will only be released if those threats are unsubstantiated, said authorities.

NBC4: SoCal arrest beating overheard on scanner

Heavy: 5 fast facts you need to know

UPDATE – San Jose police reported that a 33-year-old female victim, Kendra Gonzales, had been shot and was found by police lying in a roadway located in San Jose earlier this month.

According to police, on Tuesday, April 7 at about 9:55 PM, San Jose Police Department (SJPD) officers responded to the 1300 block of South Bascom Ave. on a report of a person shot and lying in the street. Officers soon discovered that Gonzales was suffering from at least one gunshot wound. The San Jose Fire Department and paramedics attempted to try and render aid to Gonzales, however she succumbed to her injuries and died at the scene.

According to Sergeant Enrique Garcia with the San Jose Police, preliminary investigation revealed the victim Gonzales was driving a vehicle in the area and the suspect, later identified as her boyfriend, 25-year-old Andrew “Drew” Butler, was sitting in the passenger seat. Garcia said, “The two were involved in a verbal argument when suspect Butler shot victim Gonzales. Suspect Butler exited the vehicle and removed victim Gonzales’ body from the driver’s seat and left her on the roadway.”

The murder victim was pushed from the suspect’s car on South Bascom Ave. near Stokes Street.

At the time of the shooting the San Jose Police had reports from Gonzales’ daughter, who was with her own boyfriend in the car and watched in horror as the suspect Butler shot and dumped Gonzales into the roadway. The couple exited the vehicle and took with them Kendra Gonzales’ one-year-old daughter. Butler is reportedly the baby’s father with the victim.

Butler then fled the scene in the same vehicle and abandoned the car in the city of Salinas. The Salinas police department helped San Jose Police locate the vehicle and were able to seize the vehicle for evidence processing.

During the manhunt Butler was described as 5 feet 5 inches, 140 pounds, brown eyes, black hair, with a distinguishable mole near the left eye. He was last seen wearing a navy blue tee shirt with “Ford” written across the front. He was also wearing navy blue sweat pants, and possibly black “Reebok” athletic shoes with grey or white trim.

Victim Kendra Gonzales, image from GoFundMe.com

It was reported that Butler may have fled to the Sacramento area. However, Monterey police located and arrested him on Saturday, April 11. Once he was arrested, the Monterey PD contacted SJPD homicide detectives, who then responded to the call and took Butler into custody. He was booked for felony murder under PC 187 into the Santa Clara County Main Jail and is not expected to be allowed bail.

A GoFundMe site page has been established for the victim’s family and her funeral expenses.