Crime Voice

SANTA ROSA – The Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) issued a Community Bulletin regarding the arrest of a prolific burglar with several warrants. On Wednesday of this week at about 9:15 in the evening, SCSO Property Crimes Investigation Detectives went to a Best Western Hotel in Santa Rosa in search of burglary suspect Branden Rhoades, a 36-year-old man from Rohnert Park. Rhoades had several outstanding arrest warrants from both Sonoma and Napa counties. Detectives had been following leads regarding his whereabouts for weeks. Rhoades is a known associate of Jasmine Roper, who had recently been arrested on a number of charges. She was profiled in a local newspaper for her exemplary performance during rehabilitation, and subsequent lapse back into a criminal lifestyle. When Detectives arrived at the hotel room they found a babysitter tending to four children, who were all healthy and unharmed. The sitter was not aware of any criminal activity involving Rhoades, and was watching the kids for the children’s mother, Jamie Katz. Shortly after 11 pm, Rhoades and Katz returned to the hotel room. Rhoades resisted the Detectives’ efforts to arrest him. He was carrying bear spray – a substance similar to pepper spray and used to deter attacks by bears. Despite the threat of the spray, however, no one was injured while taking Rhoades into custody. He was arrested and booked into the Sonoma County jail for violation of probation, miscellaneous outstanding warrants and an additional charge of being a convicted felon in possession of tear gas. His local warrants stemmed from probation violations in SCSO cases involving burglary, conspiracy and possession of stolen property. Other warrants included one from the Santa Rosa PD involving possession of a controlled substance, resisting arrest and a being a felon in possession of ammunition, and one from Napa County for residential burglary involving a stolen vehicle and firearm. Rhoades bail totals $285,000 and he is scheduled to appear before a Superior Court Judge at 1:30 pm today, September 11. The four children remain in the care and custody of their mother. Read more about Jasmine Roper: The Press Democrat

The San Luis Obispo Sheriff’s office released the name of the man who was allegedly involved in an assault-with-a-deadly-weapon and suicide case. According to the sheriff’s office, Kelly Neal Turpin, 25, of Los Osos, allegedly attacked a 58-year-old victim with a hatchet on September 4 around 8:30 p.m. The victim, according to the sheriff’s report, received multiple traumatic injuries. However, the Sheriff’s spokespeople said she was able to escape to a nearby house where a neighbor called 911. Once deputies arrived on the scene, the victim was transported by ambulance to a local hospital where she is still being treated for the injuries she sustained in the attack. According to the sheriff’s office, there were shots heard during the incident that were coming from the area of the house where the assault took place. Deputies discovered Turpin in the backyard of the home, dead of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. Investigators learned Turpin was a roommate of the 58-year-old victim who had recently asked Turpin to move out of the residence they shared in the 400 block of Woodland Drive in Los Osos. The investigation was upgraded to an attempted murder case based on the nature of the injuries suffered by the victim and the circumstances of the attack. Turpin had been arrested by Atascadero Police last year on July 9 for exhibiting a firearm. Details of that incident were not available. He was residing in Atascadero at the time.

WASCO — Deputies that were conducting a probation and parole search throughout the City of Wasco on Wednesday, arrested 20 people. According the Kern County Sherriff’s Office, the search that conducted in September 9, resulted in 20 arrests, one citation, and two guns being seized from subjects, who had outstanding misdemeanor and felony warrants. Those arrested are as follows: Mindy Moreno, 27, for possession of narcotics and being under the influence of a controlled substance. Jose Rocha, 26, for driving without a license. Juan Gurrola, 24, Michael Gonzalez, 25, Monica Vasquez, 24, Paula Garcia, 29, Anthanica Ramirez, 25, and Sarah Gonzalez, 29, for being under the influence of a controlled substance. Thomas Dooley, 56, for being under the influence of a controlled substance, possession of narcotic paraphernalia and an outstanding warrant. Ruben Lopez, 23, for a felon in possession of a firearm and felon in possession of ammunition, possession of marijuana, and a parole hold. Isaac Sanchez, 48, for resist/delay arrest. Veronica Naranjo, 39, possession of narcotics, possession of narcotic paraphernalia and a parole hold. Victor Arredando, 30, resist/delay arrest, an outstanding felony warrant and a parole hold. Xavier Arrias, 23, possession of narcotics, possession of narcotic paraphernalia, and an outstanding felony warrant. Angel Ismael, 55, possession of narcotics, possession of narcotic paraphernalia and an outstanding felony warrant. Alvarro Perez-Avila, 30, possession of narcotic paraphernalia and a parole hold. Joshua Morris, 25, for two outstanding misdemeanor warrants. Austin Dennis, 21, possession of narcotics and possession of narcotic paraphernalia. Freddie Santa Cruz, 19, resist/delay arrest and an outstanding felony warrant. Guillermo Rosales, 26, possession of a dangerous weapon, possession of narcotic paraphernalia and an outstanding parole warrant. Mark Ybarra, 29, who was issued a citation for possession of narcotic paraphernalia and released.

Police stated That The Shooting Was Not Gang Related The Salinas Police are still looking for a suspect described as being a light-skinned male in his late 20’s. He was reported to wearing a black hooded sweatshirt and riding a bicycle, when he was seen firing multiple rounds into occupied vehicle, killing one individual. On Tuesday Night, Salinas Police responded to the 1500 block of Duran Street on a report of a shooting. When they arrived they found a male juvenile, 16-year-old Carlos Robles, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Salinas Police Officers attempted CPR at the scene, but Robles became the city’s 22nd homicide victim of this year. A 17-year-old juvenile, who was riding in the car with Robles, was sent to the hospital with non-life threatening gunshot wounds. He is currently listed in stable condition. Salinas Police believe that the shooting is not gang related. Robles was a sophomore at North Salinas High School and was currently involved in after-school sports as a member of the North Salinas High School Vikings football team. His family stated that he was never involved in gangs. Police stated that the suspect, who was riding a black bike and was seen firing multiple rounds into Robles’ vehicle, was last seen fleeing northbound on the bicycle. Salinas Police, along with the family, are looking for the public’s help in this incident. If anyone has information regarding the shooting or potential suspect they are encouraged to call the Salinas Police Department and speak with investigating Detective Ken Schwener at 831-758-7276. The victim’s sister, Vanessa Robles, made a statement on camera posted to YouTube by the Monterey Herald. A cousin of Carlos has set up a GoFundMe account to raise funds for his family. Read More: Monterey Herald

Caller Called Police Because They Were Drinking WATSONVILLE—The Santa Cruz County Anti-Crime Team Gang Taskforce arrested two Watsonville residents on Wednesday night after they responded to a citizen compliant about a group of men loitering in the area. Arrested were 21-year-old Gabriel Vazquez Rivera and 19-year-old Angel Fernandez Ruiz on numerous gang related charges. On September 9, at 8:45 pm, the Gang Taskforce responded to a citizen complaint about a group of men that were loitering in the area. The area of unincorporated Watsonville has experienced gang activity in the past. The caller feared that the loiterers would cause a problem with the residents. The caller also reported to police that the loiterers were drinking and smoking. So the GTF, with Homeland Security and Investigation, responded to the call. Agents contacted seven males ranging from 17 years of age to 21 years of age near the 200 block of San Andreas Road in Watsonville. Agents found a loaded revolver in Angel Fernandez Ruiz’s waistband. He was arrested for carrying a concealed weapon while being a member of a street gang and a gang member carrying a loaded firearm, participating in a criminal street gang and promoting a criminal gang conduct. Gabriel Vazquez Rivera was found to be on misdemeanor probation. His probation stipulates that he is not to associate with other gang members. Agents cited and released him for violation of his terms of probation. Ruiz was transported to the Santa Cruz County Jail and booked.

KERN RIVER VALLEY — Law enforcement claimed a major victory on Thursday, busting up a Kern River Valley auto theft ring, which landed 14 wanted fugitives behind bars. According to the Kern County Sheriff’s Office, the joint forces operation targeted 33 locations in the communities of Lake Isabella, Bodfish, Weldon, Onyx, Wofford Heights and Kernville, and was in response to an increase in auto theft crimes over the past three months in those and the surrounding areas. Authorities said there were 13 auto theft crimes during the month of August, compared to eight in July and four in June. During the operation, carried out on September 10, 35 officers visited a number of residences for the purpose of serving arrest warrants and conducting compliance checks for subjects on probation, state parole and county parole. Those arrested are as follows: Seth Sellers, 42, for numerous domestic violence warrants and battery on a peace officer or emergency personnel. Matthew Stonebraker, 30, for open charges of possession of narcotics and a stolen vehicle, and four arrest warrants ranging from drugs to DUI. Matthew Siratt, 38, for a violation of state parole. Patricia Knott, 53, for an outstanding warrant for tampering with utilities and unauthorized use of utilities. David Coffey, 36, for four arrest warrants ranging from drugs to petty theft. Heather Mallory, 23, for open charges of drug possession, transportation of and sale. Michelle Sierra, 48, for an arrest warrant charging her with burglary, petty theft and failing to appear in court. Justin Smith, 26, for open charges of narcotics for sale and transportation. Daniel Kirby, 26, for a warrant charging him with driving on a suspended license and failing to appear in court. Curtis Kirby, 26, for an open charge of possession of narcotics. James McNeil, 27, for open charges of possession and being under the influence of narcotics. Matt Posney, 28, for an arrest warrant charging him with possession of narcotics. Richard Potter, 51, for a violation of state parole. Jimmy Newman, 51, for possession of narcotics paraphernalia. All but Mallory, who is a resident of Bakersfield, reside within the communities of the Kern River Valley.

During the very early morning hours of November 11, 2013, in what had seemed like a celebratory, happy night but ended in tragedy, youth pastor Daniel Diaz, 33, was shot and killed at around 1 a.m in south Pomona. According to the Pomona Police, prior to the shooting that night, Diaz and his friend had taken three teenage boys to a movie in honor of Diaz’s birthday and one of the boy’s graduation from the church youth program. After the movie, Diaz and his friend were taking the teenagers home. Diaz was sitting in the passenger seat. They dropped the first teenager off at a residence on Mayfair Avenue in Pomona. As they were driving away from the residence, the vehicle stopped at the intersection of Mayfair and Park Avenue because they were looking for directions to the next house. Moments later, an armed suspect walked up to the passenger side of the vehicle, pulled out a gun, and shot Diaz four times. Nobody else was shot, as the suspect fled the scene. Homicide detectives were trying to find leads soon after the shooting, but were unable to find any sort of evidence of who the suspect might have been. Despite having four witnesses, the case went cold, and it took nearly two years to identify a suspect. Recently, investigators received new information and evidence about the murder that led them to their suspect. On Thursday, September 3, Pomona police arrested Arvin Benson, 27, for the murder of Daniel Diaz nearly two years ago. According to Pomona police, the motive for Diaz’s killing may have been gang related. Although Diaz was not in a gang, he was Latino, which may have led to his being targeted. The crime occurred during the year that Pomona’s violence was at it’s highest in recent memory, and included 29 homicides in 2013. Many of those homicides were a result of rivalries between black and Latino gangs. Pomona Lt. Hector Rodriguez put the motive in perspective by stating “The suspect in this case is black and the victim, Hispanic. He saw this vehicle pulled up, saw a clear opportunity and took it.” Benson is currently being held on a $2 million bail. His court date has been set for September 29th.

Santa Barbara – In a clear demonstration of the value in having the right connections if you’re arrested for multiple crimes, KCOY-TV’s anchorwoman and popular local celebrity Paula Lopez—50-year-old wife of recently-retired Santa Barbara Superior Court Judge Frank Ochoa, long-renowned for his proclivity for sentencing those convicted in his courtroom to maximum California State Prison terms—was arrested on the evening of September 6th on charges of DUI, evading arrest, resisting arrest, and assault upon two cops attempting to take her into custody. Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department Public Information Officer Kelly Hoover has made only a succinct and terse announcement about the arrest with no online posting of details, leading local media to suspect that Lopez’s connection to the judicial system may be affording her a degree of privacy not afforded to any other arrestee in recent memory. Perhaps supporting this suspicion is the remarkable fact that in spite of the $5,000 bail set upon her booking at Santa Barbara County Jail, Hoover reported “she did not have to post bail but signed a promise to appear.” Lopez was arrested at approximately 8:00 p.m., following citizen reports of a vehicle traveling southbound in the northbound lanes of U.S. 101 north of Santa Barbara. Witness reports soon indicated that a pedestrian had been struck by a vehicle, whereupon firefighters and paramedics responded promptly and were first on the scene, and discovered Lopez’s silver Prius in the parking lot of nearby Sandpiper Golf Course. Witnesses at the scene reported the driver of the vehicle had crawled under some nearby bushes. By the time CHP and SBSD Deputies arrived a short time thereafter, firefighters had been successful in extricating Lopez from her hiding spot. When deputies attempted to determine her level of intoxication, she physically assaulted both the CHP and SBSD personnel. Moments later, Lopez was in handcuffs and headed to Santa Barbara County Jail, where she was booked on DUI and multiple charges of assault upon a police officer. This is Lopez’s third encounter with law enforcement within the past two years. In early 2013, she was the subject of an intensive search by SBSD air and ground units, reputed to have cost the county several hundred thousand dollars. Just months later, in July 2013, she was arrested for misdemeanor DUI, charges which were quietly dismissed pursuant to her enrollment in the county’s misdemeanor diversion program. Lopez’s arrest immediately created concerns for Santa Barbara County District Attorney Joyce Dudley, who frequently proclaims her dedication to protecting the community from offenders posing any potential risk to public safety, and demonstrates that passion by routinely charging arrestees with every possible relevant infraction. On September 10th Dudley announced that her office will avoid the appearance of any conflict of interest, declaring that she “won’t be involved in the case at all, instead putting supervision in the hands of a North County chief deputy district attorney.” Whether or not Paula Lopez’s local “celebrity” or her marital connection to the Santa Barbara Superior Court system will have any bearing upon the charges she now faces remains to be determined.

SACRAMENTO—A Sacramento man was arrested Thursday, September 10, and charged with three felonies following a standoff with police in Rancho Cordova. Sacramento County Sheriff’s deputies shot one man and detained another man wielding a machine gun in a Rancho Cordova neighborhood on the 2400 block of Negrara Way at approximately 2:15 pm on Thursday. “The initial call states that a guy was outside just shooting a machine gun off,” said Sgt. Jason Ramos of the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department. “Not at any particular person, but just shooting a machine gun off outside of a house.” A witness to the incident, Kevin Norris told KCRA News “He was shooting at the house across the street, and he let off about 100 rounds before the cops got there.” When officials arrived, they heard shots ringing out from within the neighborhood, possibly from two different areas. The shots prompted area schools to be locked down. The shooting suspect, Ben Franklin Ledford, 62, barricaded himself inside a home, but surrendered two hours later after a heavy response from SWAT and negotiators. He has been charged with assault with a machine gun, discharging a firearm in a grossly negligent manner and cruelty to animals. Officers found a deceased dog inside the residence. It is not clear if Ledford was staying or visiting at the location of teh shooting, as he reported his permanent address as a home in Antelope, about 12 miles away in northeast Sacramento County. Deputies initially detained two neighbors, and had shot one of them after seeing what appeared to be a gun in his hand when they responded to the scene, the sheriff’s department said in a release. One of the men was taken into custody, but deputies are still investigating what criminal charges, if any, that man may face. The man was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment. The extent of his injuries was not released. Ledford is being held on $1 million bail. Read/View more: KCRA TV

Often the public is left with the question of how a mother could try to kill her own child. Isn’t there someone at home that could have stopped this from happening? However, with the dependency of an infant or young child on their mother, help may seem impossible in a situation that could cause death or serious injury from one they need to trust the most. According to the Santa Clara County 2007 Death Review Board, “the most common cause of child deaths reviewed were classified as Homicide deaths (22%), followed by Natural Medical (20%) and Inadequate Caretaking Skills (20%).” The board asserted that “40% (34) of child deaths were from an act of child neglect/negligence, and/or child abuse that directly caused or contributed to the death.” The San Jose Police Department reported the arrest of 31-year-old Ana Martinez on Tuesday, September 1. Mrs. Martinez was arrested for attempted murder under PC 664(a)-187, in which the mother of “Anthony Doe”, born in March of 2011, attacked him with a knife. Facing an additional attempted murder charge, the suspect Martinez is also accused of attempting to kill baby “Monica Doe”. The Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office has also charged Martinez with two counts of child endangerment under PC 273(a), from her intent to injure the children, identified only as Anthony and Monica Doe. According to court documents, Martinez appeared to be under the influence of drugs as she stabbed her four year old son in the chest three times. She then proceeded to cut his right arm three times with the knife. Martinez then slashed her four month old girl once in her upper right chest, and then stabbing her again just below her right chest and right side of her body. When firefighters arrived on the scene they feared that the young boy might not make it, and could possibly die from multiple stab wounds. The San Jose police officer reporting to the scene at the Blue Fountain Apartments stated “the suspect stabbed the victims in front of her other two children.” During this time the suspect had confined the two older children in the apartment with her by placing a sofa in front of living room door so they could not leave. Police responded to a terrifying call by a friend of the mother’s, who told 9-1-1 dispatchers that the female suspect Martinez was talking about killing her children. SJPD Officers kicked in the door to try to clear the sofa from the entry way so they could stop what was happening inside the apartment. Martinez stated to police that she no longer wished to live and wanted to end her life. Martinez has been placed on a Mental Health Hold for treatment. The two older children were released to their father, and the two younger siblings were taken into custody by Child Protective Services. According to statistics by Law Enforcement, Courts and Prisons, and the U.S. Census Bureau Statistical Abstract of the United States, in 2012, 1,363 persons under the age of 18 were murdered. Of those, 921 were male and 442 were female. 669 of those homicide victims were reported to have been white, 640 being black, 44 were reported as other, and 10 were unknown. The highest number of deaths were caused by firearms. However, the second highest cause of death was the use of a knife or cutting instrument, according to 2008 records. Martinez is expected to appear before the court on September 25 to face charges of attempted murder on her two younger children. A protective stay away order has been issued for the children’s safety.

SAN RAFAEL – According to a recent Press Release issued by the San Rafael Police Department, SRPD Detectives took custody of two people involved in a series of armed robberies. On the night of Wednesday, September 2 at approximately 11:30 pm, two victims (a male 72, and a female 56) had parked their car in the 200 block of C Street in San Rafael. A suspect walked up behind the female and put a gun to the back of her head and demanded money. When no money was found on the woman the suspect took a wallet from the man that contained cash and credit cards. After the robber had fled, within a half an hour, the victim’s credit cards were used at a convenience store in Albany before midnight, and used again the next morning at another convenience store in San Mateo. Both transactions were captured on store surveillance cameras. The following morning SRPD Detectives recovered the video and sent it out to Bay Area law enforcement in an attempt to identify the suspect. Within minutes of sending it out, San Mateo PD Detectives called and identified the man as Paris Kurt Ragland Jr., a 29-year-old resident of San Mateo. They also identified a female in the video with him at the time as Danielle Kristin O’Connor, a 26-year-old resident also of San Mateo. A week later, on Wednesday, September 9 at approximately 1 am, a 63-year-old woman on her way home from work had just parked her car in the 200 block of Merrydale Road in San Rafael. The woman was approached by a suspect who choked her and hit her in the head with a gun until she was unconscious. The victim sustained a severe head injury and was taken by emergency medical respondents to a trauma center, where she underwent surgery for the head injury. The victim is currently listed in stable condition. During the robbery, the suspect took the victim’s purse, which was found by Albany Police at 11 am the same day. Detectives learned that this victim’s credit card was used at the same convenience store as the one from the robbery that had occurred just a week earlier on C Street. This transaction was also captured on video. Detectives identified the same female accomplice (O’Connor) on the second video and advised San Mateo PD Detectives that both suspects were wanted in connection with two violent robberies with a gun. On that Wednesday evening, at about 7:45 pm, San Mateo PD located a vehicle that they believed belonged to the suspects in the parking lot of a San Mateo hotel. Shortly thereafter both suspects exited a rented room at the hotel, got into the car and drove away. San Mateo PD stopped the vehicle based on SRPD’s information, and the suspects were arrested. During a search of the suspect’s vehicle, a handgun and evidence from the robbery on Merrydale Road were recovered. San Rafael Detectives took custody of Ragland, and O’Connor and booked them both into the Marin County Jail. Ragland was booked for assault with a deadly weapon, robbery, fraudulent credit card use, and committing a felony while on bail, His bail was raised to $250,000. O’Connor was charged with fraudulent credit card use and her bail was set at $20,000. Paris Ragland’s history with law enforcement goes back to 2006, when at 21-years-old he was one of eight members of a violent San Francisco street gang accused in a murder, drug and gun trafficking case. As part of the “Down Below Gang”, according to an SFGate story from December 2006, he was involved in selling drugs and armed robberies in the Sunnydale housing project in the Visitacion Valley neighborhood of south San Francisco. In the 2004 murders of Beverly Darly Robinson, Kenya Taylor, and Jacquain Williams, four men pleaded guilty: Don Johnson, Robert Calloway, Dornell Ellis, and Rickly Rollins. They were to serve up to 23 years. Christopher Byes, Ronnie and Allen Calloway, and Paris Ragland were all guilty of drug related offenses, and were to serve up to six years. Following that, arrest records show he was charged in August of 2014 with driving under the influence of both drugs and alcohol, and presenting false identification to make another person liable. A year later, while back living in San Francisco, he was arrested for possession of a narcotic controlled substance, possessing marijuana for sale, and selling marijuana. Danielle Kristen O’Connor may appear to be an innocent young lady caught in her boyfriend’s activities, but her record with the law tells a different story. Booking logs going back to 2008, when she was 19-years-old, show an arrest on domestic violence charges – battery on a spouse or co-habitant. That was followed over the next three years with at least four arrests for driving under the influence. Then on July 14, 2012, she was charged with another violent offense, battery on a person. In January of 2014 she was picked up on a probation violation, and in July that year for possessing a controlled substance for sale, and driving on a suspended license. In August of 2014 she was charged with possessing a prescription drug without the prescription, and in December for shoplifting. Further details of those incidents were not available. Read More: SFGate 2006

Santa Barbara County – Lompoc’s picturesque Surf Depot Amtrak train station was the scene of a violent confrontation, which began in the early evening hours of Thursday, September 10th when Christopher Taylor, a 30-year-old resident of Seattle, Washington, became the subject of a citizen call for police assistance. When, according to Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department Public Information Officer Kelly Hoover, a SBSD deputy arrived at the train station, contact with Taylor was made and it was quickly “determined that he was a danger to himself and others due to his level of intoxication.” But when the deputy attempted to detain Taylor, he resisted with violent physical force and “became extremely combative.” As the deputy endeavored to take Taylor into custody, he was punched in the face and kicked by him, whereupon two male residents of Lompoc—35 and 65 years of age—engaged with Taylor and helped to restrain him, meeting force with force. For his trouble, the 65-year-old was also punched and kicked, but Taylor was ultimately brought under control and handcuffed. Even while handcuffed, however, Taylor continued to lash out at the deputy and the two brave citizens. With the help of the 65-year-old, the deputy was finally successful in placing Taylor in the rear of his patrol unit for the ride to the next stop on his journey: Santa Barbara County Jail. Once at the jail, Taylor was booked on charges of felony obstructing and resisting a peace officer through violence, battery and battery upon a police officer resulting in injury. Following the booking process, the deputy was admitted to a local area hospital for treatment of his injuries. Hoover noted that “the Sheriff’s Office commends the swift and courageous actions of the involved citizens who stepped in and helped the deputy.” Photos: courtesy Santa Barbara County Jail Booking, Google Maps

Ventura County – 18-year-old Shawn Grant, a resident of Camarillo, is lucky to be alive. In the late morning of Thursday, September 3rd, a 911 Emergency call placed by Edward Michaud, 22, reporting a possible drug overdose brought units from the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department Camarillo Patrol, the Ventura County Fire Department, and American Medical Response paramedics to a Mission Verde Drive residence where Grant was not breathing and was immediately diagnosed as suffering from a heroin overdose. Only the prompt resuscitation efforts of the paramedics on the scene allowed Grant to be transported by ambulance to a local hospital for further treatment. The ensuing investigation by deputies at the scene established that Michaud had hidden the syringe used by Grant in a nearby trash receptacle, and that Michaud himself “was also experiencing an adverse event due to heroin ingestion,” which prompted his immediate trip to an area emergency medical facility. With both victims of an overdose recovering under medical care, according to Ventura County Sheriff’s Department spokesman Sgt. Victor Fazio, evidence soon surfaced indicating that “the source of supply for the heroin” was Bronson Boyett, 21, of Camarillo. That identification put VCSD Narcotics Street Team detectives on Boyett’s trail; he was contacted later in the day in the company of Hunter Wise, 23, Louis Merriken, 31, and Harden Clark, 20, all residents of Camarillo. Boyett was summarily taken into custody and arrested on charges of sales of heroin resulting in great bodily injury, with Wise, Merriken, and Clark all arrested and charged with being under the influence of heroin. Pursuant to further investigation and a personal body search Merriken was found to be in possession of more than 100 doses of heroin, methamphetamine, and Xanax, all of which he had , as described by Fazio, “secreted on his person.” Boyett was booked into Ventura County Jail with bail set at $500,000, while Merriken was booked with his bail set at $250,000. Bronson Boyett, who lives in the east Camarillo housing development near Tierra Linda Elementary School, Adolfo Camarillo High School and Los Colinas Middle School, has been arrested at least seventeen times in the past two years, mostly for being under the influence of a controlled substance and possession of drugs and paraphernalia. Records also show that Louis Merriken has a similar past, with at least sixteen arrests on the same set of charges. Merriken lives in the same neighborhood, his home being near Pitts Ranch Park. Photos: courtesy Ventura County Jail Booking

On Monday, September 7th at around noon, as Metro Bus line 207 arrived at it’s stop on Western Avenue and 60th Street in Los Angeles, a man opened fire, striking one victim in the abdomen. The suspect fled right after the shooting with another possible suspect. However, a surveillance camera in the bus was able to provide a clear description of the suspect, along with the witnesses who were present. The Los Angeles police revealed the surveillance footage to the public on Thursday in order to gain assistance in locating and identifying the suspect. According to the report, the suspect was described as a short, 18 to 20-year-old black man weighing around 150 lbs. He was wearing a black Chicago White Sox hat, a black t-shirt, and blue jean shorts. Initially, investigators believed that the victim was a bystander who was caught in a cross-fire from the suspect and another man who were in a gang violence dispute, which they thought was the motive for the shooting. However those initial reports were deemed to be a little too premature. After in-depth interviews with the witnesses, it was found that the suspect and the victim had been in a verbal altercation prior to the shooting. After emergency treatment, the victim was reported to be in stable condition. Anyone with information was asked to call 911 or Sheriff’s Department Transit Policing Division detectives at 888-950-SAFE.

OILDALE — A Bakersfield burglary suspect was arrested in Oildale last week during a routine traffic stop. Aaron Kirschenman, 47 of Bakersfield, was booked into the Kern County Jail for burglary, possession of stolen property and possession of burglary tools. According to the Kern County Sheriff’s Office, Kirschenman was taken into custody on Saturday, September 5, after a deputy located a vehicle matching the description of one that was captured on a video surveillance camera during a series of thefts that occurred in the business district near Pegasus Drive and Merle Haggard Drive over the past several months. The vehicle, a black Dodge truck, was spotted by a deputy while it was traveling on Decatur Street in nearby Oildale. “Deputies initiated a traffic stop for a vehicle violation, and found several items of stolen property inside the truck from a recent burglary near Pegasus Drive,” said Sheriff’s Public Information Officer Ray Pruitt. Following his arrest, detectives from the KCSO Rural Crime Unit searched two residences associated with Kirschenman, and said they located several more items of stolen property with an estimated value of $10,000. Further investigation linked Kirschenman to four separate accounts of stolen property, including a theft that occurred during the late night hours and early morning on Pegasus Drive, in which he is accused of stealing copper wire, hand/power tools and other construction equipment. According to available records, Kirschenman was arrested in May of last year for possession of a controlled substance and driving an unregistered vehicle. In February of that year he was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia. Prior to those most recent incidents, records going back to 2009 show he was arrested in November of that year for domestic violence – inflicting corporal injury on a spouse or co-habitant. Two years later he was arrested for burglary and exhibiting a deadly weapon after he had been caught breaking into an RV and stealing a television. His wife Irene was with him at the time, but claimed not to know about the burglary. The following month, in January of 2012, he was charged with burglary, possessing burglary tools and stolen property, and driving an unregistered vehicle. Later in 2012 the Kern County Sheriff’s Department conducted an investigation into a burglary at the County Mosquito and Vector Control District building. A motorcycle belonging to Aaron Kirscheman was found at the scene of a damaged fence line. Search warrants served at Kirchenman’s home revealed $3,000 worth of stolen equipment there. Another search warrant at an accomplice’s home turned up a firearm and methamphetamine. As a result, Aaron and Irene Kirschenman were arrested, along with Travis Swanson and Shana Adams. Aaron was charged with burglary, possession of burglar’s tools and stolen property, transportation and possession for sale of controlled substances, and keeping a place to sell or use controlled substances. His wife was charged with being an accessory and possession of stolen property and controlled substances. She was also charged with filing a false police report after reporting Aaron’s motorcycle stolen in an effort to cover up his involvement in the burglary. She later faced discipline from the California State Pharmacy Board. As a registered pharmacist, she lost her license due to her involvement in the crimes with her husband, and the suspicion that she had brought home unauthorized prescription pills from the pharmacy. Aaron Kirschnman was arrested one year later, in June of 2013 on charges of burglary, grand theft, possession of stolen property, and vandalism with over $5,000.00 in damage. No further details of that incident were available. Read More: KERO – Turn to 23.com Pharmacy.ca.gov – Irene Kirscheman accusation CrimeVoice staff contributed to this report

Ventura – As if having a car customized wasn’t expensive enough, imagine the frustration of 41-year-old Colorado resident William Kent, who—after months of hassle and negotiation with the owner of Ventura’s Endless Customz, Robert Kalstrom, 47 and a resident of Ventura—not only could not recover the fees he’d paid for work on his car, but couldn’t even find his car. When Kent’s entreaties to Kalstrom for the return of his vehicle went unanswered, according to Ventura Police Department Detective A. Vasquez, he made a call to the VPD “to report fraudulent activity” on the part of Kalstrom. Kent reported to detectives that he had left his car at Endless Customz for repair, but that Kalstrom had summarily sold a number of parts off the vehicle and ultimately sold the car itself—all without Kent’s knowledge or permission. It was at that point that VPD Major Crimes investigators made contact with Kalstrom and began tracing the recent DMV sales records of the vehicle. Pursuant to their investigation, it was “determined that Kalstrom committed fraud and grand theft” to the tune of $20,000. In an apparent effort to evade responsibility or contact with law enforcement’s ongoing investigation, Kalstrom reportedly moved his auto restoration business from one location to another. That effort apparently failed to work very well, as Kalstrom was contacted at his new place of business on September 2nd, taken into custody, and arrested without incident. He was then transported to Ventura County Jail where he was booked on a charge of grand theft. Suspecting there may be additional victims, Vasquez urges “anyone who believes they have been victimized” by Kalstrom to contact VPD directly at (805) 339-4413. Photo: Courtesy Ventura County Jail Booking

On Monday, September 7th, a man assaulted his ex-girlfriend, confiscated her cell phone, and wouldn’t allow her to leave. She already had a restraining order on him prior to the incident for past domestic violence issues. LA Sheriff’s deputies were finally able to locate the suspect on Friday, September 11th at around 10:10 a.m., after they received a call about the suspect walking about two blocks away from his house. Once he realized they were after him, he fled back to his home. Fortunately, a deputy saw him enter his house on East Calora Street in Covina. When the suspect went into the house, the deputies noticed that he was arguing with another man, assumed to be his father. As they went to confront the suspect, he ran through a hallway and disappeared from their sight. Deputies sustained their efforts in surrounding the house and told the suspect to surrender, but he refused. With speculation of the suspect possibly being armed, they proceeded to call in a SWAT team, K-9 unit, and crisis negotiators. The suspect still refused to surrender. The SWAT team and the K-9 unit searched the residence. They were eventually able to locate him hiding in a water heater closet inside the home at around 1:15 p.m. He was immediately arrested without further incident and was identified as Edward Sanchez, 21. He is currently being held in lieu of a $100,000 bail. According to previous records, Sanchez has been in trouble with the law multiple times. He has been arrested five times in the last year – three charges of domestic violence – inflicting corporal injury on a spouse or co-habitant, one arrest for possession of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia, and once for resisting arrest.

BAKERSFIELD — A man suspected of breaking into two Bakersfield homes and sexually assaulting two women, then fleeing in a car that belonged to one of the victims, has been arrested on the Central Coast. Abel Palafox Lopez, 29, was booked into the Kern County Jail for sexual assault charges. According to the Bakersfield Police Department, Lopez was being sought by police in connection with a September 13 burglary and sexual assault that occurred at a residence in the 1100 block of New Stine Road at around 1:30 a.m. “The victim said she woke up to find the suspect in her bedroom,” said BPD Public Information Officer Joe Grubbs. “He then began to sexually assault her before fleeing the scene through an unlocked window.” Then at around 8 a.m., officers responded to a second call of a burglary and sexual assault at a residence in the 5700 block of Kirkside Drive. Again the suspect entered the home by breaking a locked window. This time however, the suspect also stole the victim’s vehicle and drove away. Bakersfield Police issued a description of the suspect and the stolen vehicle. Later in the day, at around 11:30 a.m., Bakersfield Police detectives were contacted by police in Santa Maria, who informed them that the stolen vehicle was located after it had been involved in a single vehicle accident. Lopez, who was the driver of the vehicle, was taken into custody and transported back to Bakersfield, were he was interviewed and subsequently arrested. Detectives are still trying to confirm if both incidents are related and the investigation is ongoing.

Ventura – We’ve all heard the admonition to be careful about using the ATM at our local bank branch. Know who’s nearby, don’t let anyone look over your shoulder, and keep your PIN number out of view of passersby. Very good advice, as evidenced by the investigation by Ventura Police Department Street Crimes Unit, which began in the Spring of 2015 pursuant to reported cash thefts from two Bank of America branches in the City of Ventura. With victims reporting the loss of $400 in unauthorized withdrawals from their accounts, their memories were jogged sufficiently to recall, according to the VPD Watch Commander’s report, “a suspicious male loitering nearby” as they’d made ATM withdrawals. Detectives, working in concert with Bank of America security staff, reviewed surveillance video images recorded at the subject ATM units, and observed the same individual making unauthorized withdrawals “immediately after the victims had walked away” from the ATM machine. With purloined funds in excess of $3500 and taking place over the ensuing several months, detectives posted the ATM image of an individual later identified as Eric Arteaga, a 24-year-old Camarillo resident, on the VPD’s Facebook page. The power of social media became apparent as detectives began receiving anonymous tips as to Arteaga’s identity, and it wasn’t long before a search warrant of his residence was served. Pursuant to the search, in which physical evidence connecting Arteaga to the ATM thefts was found, he was placed under arrest and transported to Ventura County Jail, where he was booked on multiple felony counts of identity theft. Arteaga had been arrested one year ago while living in Oxnard. He was charged in August with being under the influence of a controlled substance, and when he failed to show up in court, a warrant was issued for his arrest, and he was charged once again a month later.

SACRAMENTO—The Sacramento man who was shot on Thursday, September 10 during a standoff between law enforcement and Ben Ledford was most likely holding a cellphone and not a gun as police originally thought. Danny Sanchez lives next door to the house where Ledford, 62, was arrested last week after shooting approximately 100 rounds from his machine gun at a home on the 2400 block of Negrara Way in Rancho Cordova. Sanchez had been peeking out of his garage watching as authorities arrested the man next-door. When officers spotted him with something in his hand, they mistook it for a gun and fired at him, striking Sanchez in the leg, said Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department spokesman Sgt. Jason Ramos. Sanchez was reportedly taking photos or video of the incident when he pointed the phone towards the action. Sanchez underwent surgery to remove bullet fragments from his leg. His father, John Sanchez, said his son remained hospitalized Saturday. After the standoff at approximately 2:15 pm on Thursday, Ledford was taken into custody. He is suspected of firing the weapon at a house across the street from the home where he was visiting or staying. According to the arrest reports from Sacramento County, Ledford’s actual residence is a home in Antelope, about 12 miles north of the Rancho Cordova neighborhood. He was charged with three felonies—assault with a machine gun, discharging a firearm in a grossly negligent manner and cruelty to animals. Officers found a deceased dog at the residence across the street, which Ramos said appears to have been the suspect’s primary target. Bail has been set at $1 million. According to a records search, it does not appear that Ledford has a prior recent history of arrests in California. Read More: CrimeVoice.com

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