INGLEWOOD, CA—On slow news days, petty stories like students getting stopped and arrested for failure to use turn signals are the lead stories, and on slow quota days, what may otherwise be petty citations turn into actual arrests.

Robert Chamberlain, 22, was apprehended by Inglewood police officers on Saturday, April 18 at approximately 8:30 p.m. at the intersection of 102nd Street and Yukon Avenue in Inglewood. The area is a dilapidated industrial area near a Costco and UPS warehouse, and it is immediately south of Century Boulevard where the Hollywood Park Casino is located, as well as the possible future site for an 80,000-seat sports stadium that may be built by Rams owner Stan Kroenke.

The self-proclaimed student was presumably stopped for failing to use a turn signal (22107VC). He was also charged with failure to have a driver’s license in his possession (12951(A)VC), failure to properly fasten his seatbelt (27315(D)VC) and failure to present identification (40302(A)VC). It was not his first go-round with the law.  In November of last year he was popped for a marijuana possession charge.

Total bail for the heinous crimes was a whopping $140; each violation was $35 each.

Despite the seemingly petty violations and bail amounts, the bail amounts will be greatly compounded with court fees, and he is almost sure to pay a great deal in order to obtain permission from Inglewood Police Department to thereafter go to the impound lot to retrieve his vehicle, that was most likely impounded.

SAN JOSE – San Jose Police records report that in 2014 there were a total of 3,665 car thefts and a total of 3,242 violent crimes committed during the year. Countywide, a total of 9,422 car thefts and a total of 11,718 violent crimes were reported for 2014. San Jose had the highest violent crime rate next to Gilroy, where a total of 630 violent crimes and 227 car thefts were reported.

In just one week, from April 16 – 23, 2015, 106 stolen vehicles were reported, with one carjacking that occurred near the 4100 block of Monterey on Sunday, April 19. A total of 77 vehicles were recovered during the same time in San Jose with reports of only three vehicles being recovered from neighboring cities, Campbell and Santa Clara. The trend is showing one carjacking for every six days from January to April 2015. Statistical trends are showing a possible robbery/carjacking for every 59th car stolen.

In one of those instances the San Jose Police filed charges against two teen drivers, who were arrested for second degree burglary under PC 211- 212.5(c), and for attempted carjacking under PC 664, while another minor was still inside the vehicle.

On Saturday, April 4, the victim of the robbery had been asleep in his car when he was suddenly hit with a rock, and then punched in the face. The two suspects demanded his wallet and cell phone, and were also trying to get the victim to step out of the car and hand them his keys. Officers responded one block away, near 1328 Palm Street in San Jose, where the suspects had fled on foot after a witness saw the teens attacking the male victim.

The Santa Clara District Attorney’s Office is considering the attack a strike offense, which means one of the teens, now only 17, is facing felony adult charges for a prior strike charge, while being charged as a juvenile, under PC 667(b) (special allegation for an adult conviction under a juvenile adjudication) and 1170.12 (special allegation for the second of 3 strikes.) Charging the juvenile with a second strike potentially adds a sentence of 10-years for each strike offense committed by the suspect under California’s three strikes law.

The next court date for both juvenile suspects has been scheduled for June 15, 2015 in Dept 34 at 9:00 AM.

Another carjacking incident occurred when the San Jose Police reported that on Wednesday, March 11 near the 4100 block of Barrymore Drive, “the victim arrived home in his vehicle, and as he got out of his car he was approached by unknown suspects who brandished a gun and demanded the car keys.” The owner of the vehicle complied, however the suspect was unable to start the vehicle, and then they fled the scene. No arrests were made.

Another carjacking incident the next day resulted in charges for two suspects with felony robbery, considered a felony strike offence under PC 211-212(c). According to NBC’s Bay Area News, on Thursday, March 12, two carjacking suspects were found hiding in an apartment at 7 am, and were arrested after being bit by police dogs, ending a seven-hour manhunt through the South Bay. Arrest reports identified one of the suspects as Luis Cisneros, 19, of San Jose. In addition to the felony carjacking charge, he was arrested for first degree burglary, being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, and probation violations. The other suspect was an unidentified minor.

The report of their arrests ended seven-hour manhunt for the suspects, who were considered “armed and dangerous”. The suspects caused police to block off one Sunnyvale neighborhood near Remington Avenue as police from San Jose, Sunnyvale, Mountain View, Los Altos, Santa Clara and the California Highway Patrol searched the area for them.

The Nevada County Narcotics Taskforce officers were working this week with Grass Valley Police to conduct a probation check on a pair of well known past offenders. On Tuesday, April 21 at 3:00 in the afternoon, they appeared at a home on the 200 block of North Church Street, a narrow residential road in central Grass Valley, just north of West Main. There they found 24-year-old Cory Goodrich and 19-year-old Sean Taylor.

The probation check was made at a home on Church Street.

Goodrich, also known as Cory Franklin Goodrich-Fordyce,  has a history with local law enforcement going back to at least 2010, when at 19 he was arrested for possession and transportation of a controlled substance, and possession for sales, according to available arrest records. He was arrested again in June of 2011 for possession for sale, and then in September for possessing burglary tools. In November of that year he was charged with failure to appear in court, and faced the burglary tools charge again in December. The next year, in September of 2012, he was arrested for possession and being under the influence of a controlled substance, along with drug paraphernalia and violating his probation. On New Year’s Day 2013 he was picked up for another probation violation, which he was charged with again in March 2013, along with possession and being under the influence of a controlled substance.

Goodrich was arrested with a large group at the Holiday Lodge in May of last year

In May of 2014 he was arrested, along with 13 others, in a raid on the Holiday Lodge, on East Main Street, in a room that was supposed to be empty. The hotel’s manager, Dawn Olson, 43, was arrested and charged with maintaining a location for selling and using illegal drugs. There was even a trap door installed leading from the room to the basement, where more contraband was found, according to a story from CBS Sacramento. Goodrich-Fordyce was charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm, high cap magazines, and ammunition.

Then on October 28, he and Tristan Martin Appleton were arrested at the Golden Chain motel parking lot, and charged with loitering on private property, possession of burglary tools, and felony criminal conspiracy. Appleton was also charged with carrying a concealed dirk or dagger. The motel is located in south Grass Valley, along Highway 49, also known as the Golden Chain Highway.

Goodrich lists his occupation as a tattoo artist, and his Facebook profile lists his business as $FelonsInk$, where he has also posted “White Pride” and skinhead images.

Goodrich’s friend, Sean Taylor, has nearly as many arrests, but just in the past year since he turned 18. (Any records prior to that age are not available due to his minor status. His Facebook profile does include his time spent at Sugarloaf Mountain Juvenile Hall program in Nevada City.) In March of 2013, three months after reaching legal age, Taylor was arrested by Grass Valley Police for vandalism at the Safeway Market on Neal and Mill Streets. That arrest was followed on March 27 with an arrest for possession of marijuana for sale. He was picked up at a home on Buena Vista Street that had become known at the time for criminal activity, according to a story on KNCO News.

Records show that Taylor was arrested on April 14 of last year for loitering or prowling on private property. He was picked up at 2:07 in the morning at the North Church Street location, where he was found yesterday in the probation check. Just a few days later, on April 18, Taylor was arrested for vandalism. He was caught at 3:18 in the morning at Bank and Auburn Streets, a short walk from the Grass Valley Police Station. On June 30 he was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia.

Then on July 14, Taylor was charged with grand theft. He was arrested by Grass Valley police at 1:45 in the afternoon at Condon Park, the community park east of central Grass Valley, where the Little League baseball field, Dogs Run Free dog park, and skate park are located. Bail for the felony arrest was set at $10,000. Taylor, while out on bail, had failed to appear for the grand theft charge, along with other outstanding cases for misdemeanor petty theft, battery, and possession of concentrated cannabis and paraphernalia. He had five outstanding warrants issued for those charges, when his familiar short red haircut and fair features were recognized by a police officer, and he was arrested on South Auburn, near the Holiday Inn Express. At the time, he was found to be carrying a switchblade knife, a billy club, and an Airsoft rifle, which had been altered to remove the orange safety tip, making it appear to be a lethal weapon. He was charged with the additional offenses, along with the charge of committing a felony while out on bail.

So with their history, expectations may have been high when the officers conducted their probation search on Tuesday. And if they expected to find something, they were not disappointed (unless they expected to find two young men living a clean, sober, and law-abiding life.) According to a Grass Valley Police press release, in the home, the officers located methamphetamine, powdered heroin, drug paraphernalia, and a pistol grip, pump action shotgun with homemade ammunition. But they also located property that appeared to have been stolen. A follow up revealed that the items were taken from a local school, but the burglary had not even been discovered until then. It was learned that they had burglarized the school early on Saturday morning.

Both men were arrested, and are facing multiple probation violations, drug and weapon possession charges, and burglary. Anyone with more information is encouraged to call the Grass Valley Police at 530-477-4600.

The owner of a Madera chapel was arrested for fraud last Thursday, April 16.

According to the Madera Sheriff’s office, Sharlane Ann Smith, 47 of Clovis, has been charged with 25 counts of presenting false claims. Smith, co-owner of Smith Manor Grace Chapel, is alleged to have intentionally over charged the Madera County Coroner’s Service, and was brought in after a weeks-long investigation.

Sharlane Ann Smith booking photo, Madera County

The investigation resulted in a search warrant on the chapel issued on Tuesday, March 31. Interviews were done with the chapel’s employees, but no other arrests have been made, and no one else has been implicated in the investigation.

“This case is particularly troubling due to the blatant theft and violation of trust by the vendor, as well as how long they were able to continue this deception, despite monthly review of the billings by staff members.  We will be reviewing this process and implementing safeguards to prevent future abuse of this kind” said Madera County Sheriff Jay Varney, after being asked to comment on the incident.

The department stated that Smith held the County’s coroner services since 2007, and been responsible for transportation, storage, autopsy facilities, and dispositions of deceased persons. The evidence uncovered in the search revealed that Smith was intentionally adding charges for services not provided. Following her arrest, Smith Manor will no longer provide services to Madera County, as their contract has been made null and void. Their previous duties have been reassigned to other local businesses, so there should be no interruption in services, according to the department.

Sharlene Smith’s bail was set at $125,000.00.

INGLEWOOD, CA—When George Carlin talked about businessmen, he said “the first thing he does is to automatically assume that the other guy is a complete [liar] who’s trying to [trick] him outta his money. So he’s gotta do everything he can to [trick] the other guy a little bit faster and a little bit harder.”

Adriana Gascon, 33, may not be a businessman, but her position as a customer service employee probably means she had to deal with those who felt they may have been tricked. She was arrested on Friday, April 17 at approximately 12:45 a.m. by Inglewood police officers along the 900 block of South Market Street in what is a two-block segment of small businesses, and a remarkable number of empty storefronts. She was charged with forgery involving false checks (470(D)PC), receiving known stolen property over a value of $400 (496(A)PC), possession of a forged driver’s license (470BPC), driving without a license (12500(A)VC), possession of a device or instrument for paraphernalia (11364(A)HS) and operating an unregistered vehicle on a roadway (4000(A)(1)VC).

She was also found to have three warrants. One was issued by El Segundo PD for possession of a controlled substance (11377(A)HS), one was issued by LAPD for obtaining a credit card by fraudulent means (530.5(A)PC) and the third was from L.A. County Sheriff’s Department for possession of a controlled narcotic (11350(A)HS).

Bail for the new charges totaled $6,800. Bail for two of the three warrants came out to $60,000. (There was no bail amount listed for the LAPD warrant.)

PETALUMA – On Wednesday April 22, the Petaluma Police Department (PPD) issued a News Release detailing their ongoing enforcement efforts in the midst of a burgeoning homelessness problem.

On Tuesday, April 21, the department teamed with local outreach services to address the illegal encampments, and the issues that they pose to public health and the safety of the community. Between the hours of 8 am and 5 pm the team targeted areas in the vicinity of the Petaluma River, Lynch Creek, Washington Creek and Willow Brook Creek.

The area of Lynch Creek and North McDowell

A recent survey of these and other areas around the city located 34 active illegal encampments. This number does not include those encampments which have not yet been identified, nor does it include the locations that have been previously cleaned up, which number over one hundred sites.

The encampments are havens for illegal activities and dumping. Violations for narcotics, alcohol, weapons, stolen property, sexual assaults, theft and vandalism are all too common. The resulting human waste and garbage from the camps end up in local creeks and streams, and pose significant health hazards for humans and wildlife. Such activity also directly threatens the efforts of the United Anglers of Casa Grande High School. The group has been working to save the endangered steelhead trout native to Petaluma waters.

The Petaluma PD has been working with drug and alcohol abuse counselors, mental health professionals, and the Mary Isaac Center to provide resources to those in need, prior to their enforcement action. Some pursue a path with assistance to get out of the encampments, however many refuse help and continue to live in illegal settlements, which are found on both private and public properties.

This most recent sweep resulted two new camps being posted for trespassing and illegal camping. 13 offenders had been contacted and referred to outreach services, and 8 arrests were made.

Old Redwood Highway at the Willow Brook Creek crossing

Steven Alves, a 32-year-old man from Petaluma, had set up another large encampment that will again require heavy equipment and dumpsters to clean out, at the Willow Brook Creek area near Old Redwood Highway. He was arrested and transported to county jail on charges of illegally occupying lands, illegal dumping near a waterway, and a violation of probation. Alves have been arrested on April 4 of last year for a probation violation, disorderly conduct lodging in a location without permission, and possession of drug paraphernalia. He claimed a residence on McGregor Aveune in Petaluma at the time, but was arrested in the area of Industrial Avenue near the Petaluma River.

A man and a woman, both from Petaluma, were found at a camp in Lynch Creek near North McDowell Blvd. Tobias Burleson, a 42-year-old man and Kaily Land, a 27-year-old woman, were arrested for illegally occupying land and dumping waste near a waterway. Records show that Burleson had been arrested on January 8 this year for providing alcohol to a minor. He was caught in a Petaluma Police minor decoy sting at the 711 store on Petaluma Blvd.

Donnal Ball, a 55-year old woman from Petaluma was cited at Lakeville and Jefferson streets for taking a shopping cart. Richard Allen, age 40, Martin Rivas, age 56, and Harley Hubbard, age 18, were arrested for trespassing and violations of probation on the Pomeroy Lot on Hopper Street.

Jonathan Rollstin, a 38-year-old man from Petaluma, was contacted on the SMART Railroad Right-of-Way at Shasta Avenue. He was arrested for possession of 7 grams of methamphetamine and violation of probation. Rollstin, according to records, was arrested on January 25 for possession of a controlled substance, and a blackjack or billy club type weapon, along with a probation violation.

Officers also located a high-end stolen bicycle and are trying to locate the owner. The department’s release says that these sweeps will continue and residents and businesses are encouraged to call Petaluma PD if they see trespassing or an illegal camp being set-up.

SACRAMENTO—The second of two men accused of attacking bartenders at a Sacramento bar in August 2013 was convicted of attempted murder on Tuesday, April 21.

According to the Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office, a jury found Jovan Felix, 36, guilty of two counts of assault after he argued with bartenders at the Level Up Lounge over a drink he didn’t like. The bartender attempted to make things right by offering to remake his drink several times.

Felix reported said, “This is how places get burned up.”

The Level Up Lounge at night.

He left the bar but returned at 2:00 a.m. with his friend Cornelius Jones, who then popped two tires on one of the bartenders’ vehicles, authorities said. The two then attacked a group of bartenders who were leaving at the end of the night. Jones punched one of them in the back of the head and then chased another victim down J Street, near Chicago Fire Pizza, before stabbing him in the abdomen. Felix also had a knife that he used to threaten the bartenders.

Jones, 36, was convicted of several charges, including attempted murder and assault, and was sentenced in February to 36 years to life in prison.

Both suspects committed armed robbery in 1994 and have prior strikes under California’s “three-strikes” law, prosecutors said. Jones also has prior strike for stabbing a person multiple times in September of 2001. When arrested in the 2013 case, Jones was also charged with inflicting corporal injury on a spouse or co-habitant – domestic violence.

Felix, meanwhile, has a prior strike for shooting a person in the back and then fleeing in their vehicle, in December of 1998.

Felix is set to be sentenced May 22 by Sacramento Superior Court Judge Robert Twiss.

INGLEWOOD, CA—If one has outstanding bench warrants, and one’s friend is driving while under the influence, even the prestige of that friend being an architect may not prevent him from being stopped and arrested.

Trevor Daniel Mathews, 27, and Lavester Madison, 27, were arrested by Inglewood police officers (IPD) on Thursday, April 16 at approximately 8:48 p.m. at the intersection of Prairie Avenue and 102nd Street in Inglewood. The area is best described as having pothole-strewn streets surrounded by fenced-in lots that have been sat empty since the 1980s, when Los Angeles International Airports (LAX) bought up the former residential areas and razed them.

Mathews, a warehouse worker, was found to have three outstanding warrants. Two were from LAPD for failure to appear (853.7PC) and the third was for the same, albeit from the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department.

Madison had only one warrant and it was for a DUI: Alcohol/0.08 percent (23152(B)VC) from Alhambra PD. The architect now has two DUIs, however, as IPD charged him with that as well as reckless driving at high speeds (23103(A)VC), driving with a suspended license (14601.1AVC) and a misdemeanor charge of simple possession of a controlled substance (11377HS).

Bail for Mathews was set at $1,461. Bail for Madison, however, was considerably higher at $47,300.

SANTA CLARA COUNTY – Two suspects have been charged in the kidnapping of a young man.

20-year-old Katherine Stump from Danville, and 25-year-old Alexander Nejat from Dublin were arrested on charges they kidnapped a young man and threatened his life in the process. The Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office made the arrest on Monday, April 20. According to Deputy Sheriff Sgt. James Jensen “We believe there are other victims in the 680/880 corridor.”

According to Santa Clara Sheriff’s Deputies, on Sunday, April 5, a young male victim in his early 20’s was contacted by Stump through an online advertisement, in which she offered to meet the young man. After meeting the two suspects just a few blocks from his home, he invited them to his house.

That is when things started to change. Once inside the home, Stump began to threaten the male victim with a knife, while Nejat sprayed him with pepper spray in the face.

It was then that Stump and Nejat began to look for valuable items to steal from the victim. While they held him captive, they took $7,500 worth of electronics, prescription medicine and cash. It was later learned that Stump and Nejat then forced the male victim into their car and drove him to an area about three quarters of a mile from his home and then let him go.

Because the victim was embarrassed to contact law enforcement, he had waited almost a week to report the theft and kidnapping to authorities.

Meanwhile, both suspects were taken into custody elsewhere. Nejat and Stump were arrested for robbery on April 16 by Pleasanton Police at the Stoneridge Mall. Nejat was also charged with assault with force likely to cause great bodily injury, petty theft of a dog, receiving or concealing stolen property, and vandalism with $5,000 or more in damages.

After Santa Clara Sheriff’s detectives released a sketch of the suspects from the kidnapping victim’s description, a call came in from Pleasanton Police, who identified them as possibly the same two who had committed similar crimes there. Katherine Stump was out on bail and rearrested, while Nejat was charged while still in custody in Alameda County. The Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office has made a request that Nejat be brought to Santa Clara County from Alameda to face charges of kidnapping and robbery, along with Stump.

A Madera man was arrested on charges of sex crimes last Saturday, April 18, according the Madera Police Department. The Madera county Department of Corrections confirmed that Stephen Wayne Smith, 41, was brought in on one count of unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor, one count of lewd or lascivious acts with a child under 14 years of age, and one count of contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

County records did not show any prior arrests for Smith. His relationship with the victim was not disclosed by the Madera Police. Bail was set at $108,000, and Smith was released shortly after booking. If convicted, Smith faces up to 20 years, along with lifetime registration as a sex offender.

PETALUMA – On Thursday April 23, Petaluma Police Department (PPD) issued a News Release about a resident finding an apparent burglar asleep on her couch.

At approximately 2 pm, a resident on the 1600 block of Caulfield Lane descended the stairs from her upstairs bedroom to find an unknown man asleep on her living room couch. She retreated back up the stairs to her bedroom where she locked herself in and called 911.

PPD Officers arrived on the scene and established a perimeter around the vicinity of the home. The Officers then directed dispatchers to have the woman flee the residence. When the woman came down the stairs to the front door, the suspect had awoke and then ran out of the back of the house. He kicked two fence boards out of the fence and fled into the yard behind the victim’s home.

Adams tried to escape through the back yard, and was captured when he appeared on Putnam Way.

Sergeant Paul Gilman and Officer John Silva were on Putnam Way, the street behind the victim’s residence. They saw the suspect as he emerged from the backyard of the house on Putnam Way. The suspect initially failed to follow the commands of the officers to get down on his knees. He finally complied, but when officers attempted to detain him in handcuffs he began to fight them.

Officers were forced to deploy a Taser twice to overcome the suspect’s resistance. He finally complied and put his hands behind his back. He was then handcuffed and transported to a local area hospital for medical clearance, a routine procedure. Neither the suspect nor officers were injured. The suspect was to be evaluated for being under the influence.

Investigators are determining what the suspect did while he was inside the house, though burglary appears to be the motive. So far it appears that the suspect may have been eating the victim’s food. There was no sign of forced entry and it is unknown how he gained access. The victim has not noticed anything missing at this time other than the food.

The suspect has been identified as 44-year-old James Adams of Placerville. He has a history of arrests in California and Oregon, including being under the influence of a controlled substance, possession of weapons, battery on a peace officer, felony DUI, possession of narcotics, violation of probation, and resisting arrest. Adams was transported to Sonoma County Jail and charged with burglary and resisting arrest. His bail has been set at $30,000.

Deborah Thompson with a special tribute to all victims.

Mothers’ Against Murder (MAM) is a California registered non-profit organization established in 2003 by Roger Vernon Smith, a local community leader and philanthropist who, tired of hearing about the sufferings of families of murder victims, brought together a celebration honoring survivors of crime and crime victim advocates. He ended the National Crime Victims’ Rights Week with an award ceremony tied into his own experience with friends and family who had experienced the loss of a loved one through violent crime. Smith has begun to bring organizations together in order to help build a stronger, more experienced and proactive victim advocacy group to help families during their time of need.

The Mothers Against Murder (MAM) Executive Director, Margaret Petros said, “I had 20 years experience, starting as a volunteer, advocate, claims specialist, and 18 years as a manager of the SCC Victim Witness Assistance Center.” Some of her main goals throughout the years have been to help the criminal justice system acknowledge the need to help victims of murder and violent crime by strengthening programs to help the victims.

D.A. Jeff Rosen and CHP Captain Les Bishop

Petros said, “The luncheon event today, and the acknowledgement of those who stand up every day to protect victims’ constitutional rights, to treat them with respect and dignity, is one example of how to bring positive changes to better serve crime victims.”

With April 19-25, 2015 being National Crime Victim Rights week, the luncheon honored victim support networks within Santa Clara County law enforcement agencies and non-profit networks helping victims of violent crime. Petros said, “We must take more time to listen to crime victims/survivors, and those professionals who truly care about bringing justice to so many victims who suffer in silence.”

US Department of Justice Victim Witness Unit, Assistant US Attorney Stephen Meyer accepts their award.

The main goal of MAM is to provide immediate and compassionate support, to advise with financial resources, press relations, and guidance through the justice system process. “We strive to reduce the pain and suffering of the murder victim’s family,” Petros said. “This is a painful and consuming job, but it’s rewarding to see families get the help they need and years later to see them healed.”

2015 Unsung Hero Awards went to:

South Bay Coalition to End Human Trafficking Coordinator Sharan Dhanoa.
Santa Clara Police Chief Mike Sellers with the Santa Clara County Police Chief’s Association.
Asian Americans for Community Involvement Legal Advocate Cindy Luu.
Morgan Hill Police Department Community Solutions Domestic Violence Detective Mindy Zen.
Mothers’ Against Murder (MAM), Paul J. Bains, who is a Senior Police Chaplin for Palo Alto and East Palo Alto Police Departments.
Santa Clara County Deputy District Attorney, Carolyn Powell.
Santa Clara County Probation Department Victims Service employees, Suzette Sanchez and Irma Lara.
Santa Clara County Sexual Assault Response Team (SART), Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner Dominga Villagomez.
Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office Detective Kelvin Mah #2055.
Silicon Valley FACES – Victim Witness Assistance Program, crisis intervention counselor Janet Childs.
U.S. Department of Justice Victim Witness Unit Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Meyer.
YWCA Silicon Valley, Domestic Violence Department Volunteer Sherrill Johnson.

Each Honoree has strived to help victims of violent crimes achieve justice through law enforcement agencies, as well as non-profit and volunteer support groups who help provide grief counseling and support to victims in a thoughtful and caring way.

Santa Clara DA Jeff Rosen with Deputy DA Carolyn Powell.

Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen spoke about how the District Attorney’s Office is focused on providing services for victims. Rosen said, “The fact is, crime victims are anyone who’s lives have been negatively impacted by crime.” The District Attorney’s Office, along with the leadership of D.A. Jeff Rosen, are teaming up to help develop a comprehensive service to help victims of violent crime. With the help of Santa Clara County, two Justice Centers have been opened. The centers, located in the Northern and Southern parts of Santa Clara County, were established to help Domestic Violence Victims get help.

Sheriff’s Detective Kevin Mah receives his award with his colleagues

“As we do our jobs, we must never forget to find ways to see the trauma that defines traditional crime victims,” Rosen said. “Let’s always work together to help each other maintain and ignite the energy that we have, like the first day we had on the job.”

The Milpitas Police Department knows all to well the damages that domestic violence can bring to a home. On Tuesday, February 24, a 21-year-old female victim was attacked by her 28-year-old boyfriend, Geronimo Gomez Gutierrez. During an argument Gutierrez struck the female victim while trying to take their daughter from the home.

Domestic Violence suspect Geronimo Gomez-Gutierrez (Santa Clara County booking)

According to Milpitas Police Lieutenant Raj Maharaj , “Within minutes, Milpitas Police officers arrived on scene and started to search for Gutierrez in the area.” The officers located Gutierrez on the 1300 block of Edsel Drive, who at the time was still holding the knife he had threatened the victim with.

Maharaj said, “Gutierrez refused to comply with the officer’s directives to drop his knife, and Gutierrez was eventually contained to a driveway in the 300 block of Carnegie Drive.” It was then that Gutierrez produced a second knife, and held both to his throat, and threatened to cut his own throat. Taking quick action, a crisis negotiator began to talk to Gutierrez for over an hour about his problems, and how they could help him. Maharaj said, “As negotiations deteriorated, officers implemented a plan to disarm Gutierrez and arrested him.” Gutierrez was apprehended without injury and booked into the Santa Clara County Main Jail on felony domestic abuse charges.

Event photos by Amy Nilson

SACRAMENTO— A man has been arrested for the homicide of a woman that occurred on Wednesday evening, April 22, in North Highlands.

Sacramento County Sheriff’s Homicide Detectives arrested Juan V. Avalos, 28, of Sacramento, who attacked and slashed a woman’s throat near a parking lot on the 7400 block of Watt Avenue near Larchmont Drive before fleeing the scene on foot.

Police received numerous calls about a woman—identified as Nichole Riolo, 32—who appeared to be injured and unconscious in a parking lot. When police and medical personnel arrived, they declared her deceased at the scene at 10:30 p.m. Detectives do not know the weapon used in the attack. Nor do they believe the victim and assailant knew each other.

Further investigation revealed that Riolo was driving southbound on Watt Avenue and pulled over after encountering a man walking on the roadway. Deputies surmise that she may have thought she clipped Avalos with her car as she drove past.

Witnesses told police that Riolo got out of her vehicle and approached Avalos, who became belligerent. It was when she turned and walked back to her car that Avalos attacked her, and then took off running. She reportedly stumbled across Watt Avenue into a parking lot where she then collapsed.

Avalos has been booked into the Sacramento County Main Jail on a charge of murder and is currently being held without the possibility of bail. When he was arrested, detectives said he seemed intoxicated or suffering from mental health issues. He is currently undergoing psychiatric observation. Records show Avalos had been previously arrested by Sacramento Police on June 26 of last year for burglary, possession of a controlled substance, and resisting arrest. He was picked up then at 29th and N Streets in downtown Sacramento.

7400 Watt Avenue in North Highlands, the scene of the killing, and tonight’s candlelight vigil.

The victim, Nicole Riolo was supposed to get married this October. Family said the wedding venue had already been reserved.

According to a Facebook page called Candlelight Vigil for Nichole Riolo, there will be a gathering tonight, April 24 at 8 pm, at Jessey Food and Liquor, 7440 Watt Ave North Highlands, the scene of her final moments. The page says about Riolo “She was taken from this earth to soon. And we are asking the community to come out and show support for her and her family in this time of trial! We are a community we need to ban together in times like this because the more we do the more we can prevent senseless acts of violence like this. RIP Nichole Riolo”

SAN RAFAEL – According to a Press Release issued by the San Rafael Police Department (SRPD), an officer on patrol in the vicinity of Albert Park responded to yelling that he heard coming from an area near the tennis courts, just before 1 am on Tuesday, April 21. Officer Ryan DeMarta found a twenty-two year old woman suffering from multiple lacerations to her head.

The woman told Officer DeMarta that she had been stabbed in the head with a knife, but was vague in providing further details about what had happened. The woman was transported to the hospital and was treated for her injuries, and later released.

SRPD Detectives were called in to assist in the investigation. Additional information provided by the victim revealed that a man and two women had approached her and demanded that she give them all of her property. When she refused, all three assaulted her. During the attack one of the suspects produced a knife and stabbed her in the head. The three suspects then took her property and fled the area.

A thorough investigation by SRPD, including a search for evidence and for the suspects themselves resulted in their apprehension and arrest. The suspects have been identified as Indugo Asifa Williams, a 37-year-old man and local transient. The women have been identified as 22-year-old Angelica Funes and 18-year-old Daisy Rodriguez, who live at the same apartments in San Rafael. Bail information is unavailable at this time.

All three suspects were booked at the Marin County Jail for Robbery, Assault with a Deadly Weapon, and for Conspiracy to Commit a Crime. SRPD Detectives also determined in the course of the investigation that the same three suspects have been involved in at least two other incidents similar in nature in the City of San Rafael within the last month.

Indugo Williams, Megan’s Law photo and 2011 booking photo.

Indugo Williams has a long history with the law, and is a registered sex offender. According to the Megan’s Law Website, his original offense was pc 647.6, annoying or molesting a child under 18. Other available records show many arrests going back to 2006, when he was charged with driving under the influence and without a license, and resisting arrest. After a drug possession arrest in 2007, he was also charged with battery on a spouse, former spouse, or co-habitant (domestic violence.) In 2008 and 2009 he was arrested for sales, possession and transportation of marijuana and other controlled substances.

Then in July of 2011 he was charged with attacking a woman and forcing his way into her motel room in San Rafael. According to a story from fugitive.com, he reportedly raped her, and then fell asleep in her room. She escaped and ran for help. He was charged with forcible rape, assault with intent to commit rape, oral copulation and sodomy by force, and burglary.

He was charged in October 2011 with a parole violation, and then arrested in December for DUI, driving at over 100 mph and with a suspended license. A few months later, in April 2012 he was again charged with driving on a suspended license, but this time in a stolen vehicle. He had also failed to register his location as a sex offender. He was charged with two more parole violations and one possession of stolen property in 2012, and then with robbery, attempted kidnapping, possession of burglary tools, conspiracy, and battery on a peace officer in January of 2013.

It is not clear if his latest young accomplices were aware of his extensive history, and the violent nature of some of his crimes. If convicted of this latest series of offenses, one might expect he will face a much longer sentence than before.

CrimeVoice staff contributed to this story

HAWTHORNE, CA—Some people like to stay in “the middle of the road”, while others seem to like to ride on “the fringe.”

Deshawn F. Blackman, 30, was arrested by Hawthorne police officers on Saturday, April 18 at approximately 12:19 p.m. along the 4400 block of West 120th Street near the intersection of Hawthorne Boulevard, just one block north of the Hawthorne Police Headquarters. The security employee was charged with operating a vehicle on the sidewalk (HAMC 10.60.01), operating a bicycle on the wrong side of the roadway (21650.1VC), obstructing/resisting a public officer (148(A)(1)PC), failure to present identification (40302(A)VC) and battery on a police officer (243(B)PC).

The Hawthorne man’s bail was set at $30,570. The single largest amount was $20,000 for the battery charge and the lowest amount was for $35 each for the wrong-side and failure to present I.D. violations.

Perhaps next time one thinks he may swing at a cop, it may be best to avoid such an altercation by merely observing the rules regarding bicycle operation.

HAWTHORNE, CA—If one is planning to burglarize and/or get high, the best advice to avoid detection may be to know whether it is legal to ride a bike on a sidewalk, especially while in possession of burglary tools and drug paraphernalia.

Jose Acevedo Navas, 18, was arrested by Hawthorne police officers on Friday, April 17 at approximately 7:46 a.m. along the 13000 block of Inglewood Avenue in Hawthorne. The Inglewood resident was charged with possession of burglary tools (466PC), possession of a device or instrument for paraphernalia (11364(A)HS), operating a vehicle on the sidewalk (HAMC 10.60.01) and possession of false identification (148.9(A)PC).

He was also found to have two outstanding warrants: one from Hawthorne PD for possession of a controlled substance (11364HS) and one from Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD) for carrying a switchblade (21510(B)PC).

Bail for the four new charges totaled $10,825. The two warrants came in at $55,000. The grand total was $65,825. The single largest amount was for the LASD warrant ($30,000) and the smallest was for riding a bike on the sidewalk ($75).

FRESNO – Sheriff’s deputies arrested a man after he led them on a high-speed chase that ended when he drove into an orchard, and his car got stuck in the dirt.

The incident began shortly after 1 p.m. on Tuesday when a patrol deputy saw the driver of a grey Hyundai speed through a stop sign near McKinley Elementary School. The deputy put his lights on and attempted to pull the driver over at the next intersection.

Instead of stopping, the driver sped away from the deputy, going up to 80 mph and running multiple stop signs. The suspect sped through the school zone of Central High West, and continued along McKinley through Kerman.

About 10 minutes into the pursuit – and after about 14 miles driven on McKinley – the Hyundai driver made his way to where the pavement ends at McKinley and Lake, but continued to drive straight into an orchard and in between a row of trees.

McKinley westbound at Lake, where Chanquin ended his escape.

“Deputies were finally able to surround him once his car became stuck in the dirt,” the sheriff’s office said.

The suspect, identified as 24-year-old Alejandro Chanquin of Fresno, got out of his car and surrendered by lying down in the field, according to the sheriff’s office. A search of the car revealed a billy club and a knife, they reported.

Chanquin exhibited bizarre behavior after being captured, the sheriff’s office said, so he was taken to Community Regional Medical Center for a medical and mental health evaluation. Records show that Chanquin was arrested in 2010, and twice in 2013 for driving on a suspended license, and in March of 2013 for being under the influence of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Napa High School begins this week with the news that their Junior Varsity Soccer coach, Julian Vargas, has been arrested for sexually harassing one of his players, a 16-year-old girl.

The victim contacted Napa Police on Saturday around 2 pm, according to a department press release. She told them that Vargas, 29 and a resident of St. Helena, had been propositioning her for sex that prior week, beginning on Tuesday, April 21. On Saturday Vargas’ efforts culminated with a text to the girl, not only soliciting her, but with a photograph of his genitals.

The victim told police that she believed he had been harassing others as well. The investigating officer quickly obtained search and arrest warrants, and initiated an Emergency Protective Order against him.  The officer, along with Napa Police Special Investigations Unit officers, served the warrants and protective order at Vargas’ house, which is located in southeast St. Helena, near vineyards and just blocks from St. Helena High School and St. Helena Primary School. Though arrested there, Vargas reported his actual residence as another home in central St. Helena. He also claimed an occupation as a “cellar worker” rather than coach.

Vargas has a history of domestic violence as well. In June of 2011 he was arrested when Sheriff’s Deputies were called by a woman who reported that Vargas, a former boyfriend of hers, had assaulted her. She reported that they had been arguing, and he punched her in the face, and pushed her into a car window. The Napa Valley Register reported that the incident happened at 4 am at a location on the Silverado Trail between St. Helena and Calistoga. He was arrested at his home, the same Kennedy court location, on June 5, 2011, and charged with inflicting corporal injury on a spouse, former spouse, or co-habitant (domestic violence), and false imprisonment by violence, according to arrest records.

Two years later, on September 3, 2013, he was charged with driving an unregistered vehicle and on a suspended license, failure to appear on a vehicle code violation, along with a probation violation and another charge of domestic violence. Details of that arrest were not available, and it is not clear if the arrest was for a new charge of inflicting corporal injury on a spouse or co-habitant, or if it was related to the prior incident. He was arrested again, on December 8 2013, for driving with a suspended license.

Vargas was charged in this incident with contacting a minor with the intent to commit a felony, and sending harmful matter with the intent to seduce a minor. Investigators with the Napa Police are still looking for any additional information that anyone may have, and hope any other victims will step forward. Anyone who can provide any information is encouraged to contact Detective Pat Wilson at 707-257-9338.

BAKERSFIELD — Four people from Bakersfield were arrested last Thursday afternoon for allegedly making phony money.

Floyd Elson, 45, 56-year-old Jackie Christiensen, 35-year-old Seth MacCauley and 31-year-old Kristina Riley were all booked into the Kern County Jail on various charges ranging from possession of illegal narcotics, possession of counterfeit currency, conspiracy and manufacturing of fictitious bills.

According to the Kern County Sheriff’s Office, the four were arrested at around 1:30 p.m. on April 23, after deputies assigned to the Tehachapi Major Violators Unit served a search warrant in the 2700 block of Poppy Street in Bakersfield.

Once there, deputies said they found $5,000 in counterfeit money, consisting of fake $100 and $50 bills.

Deputies also seized two computers, a printer, scales, packaging, numerous items of drug paraphernalia, approximately 1/8th ounce of methamphetamine, and items used in counterfeiting from the home.

One of the computers was said to have contained digital templates for counterfeit bills.

Read More:

Bakersfield Now: Counterfeit money, drugs found in Bakersfield bust

SACRAMENTO—A Sacramento father accused of trying to kill his children will return to Sacramento Superior Court on May 8, 2015.

Charles Lee Ewers, 38, is accused of causing his children, ages 8 and 10, great bodily harm after locking them and himself in a car in the garage of his Carmichael home on Saturday, April 4, and letting the exhaust fumes seep into the vehicle. The children were staying with him as part of his custody agreement.

He is being held without bail at the Sacramento County Main Jail. Ewers had been scheduled to appear May 1 in the jailhouse courtroom where he last appeared, barefoot, restrained and wearing a heavy safety suit.

Deputies were called April 4 by the children’s mother to Ewers’ home on the 500 block of North Avenue, where they found the suspect and his badly beaten and semi-conscious children in a car inside a locked garage, with the engine running and a pipe leading from the exhaust into the interior. Prosecutors said Ewers used a mallet in the attack on the two kids.

Deputies pulled the children and Ewers out of the sedan and into the front yard, where they saw the children’s significant injuries. They were all transported to the hospital.

In 2013, Ewers pleaded no contest to a domestic violence charge and was accused of inflicting “corporal punishment resulting in a traumatic condition.” He completed a batterer’s treatment program at that same time and paid restitution.

Read More: CrimeVoice – Sacramento man arrested for attempted child homicide