SAN BERNARDINO – Convicted of setting a large and deadly fire in 2003, a Superior Court judge sentenced Rickie Lee Fowler to death this week. Fowler, 31, was sentenced to die by lethal injection, a penalty imposed by a jury panel in September after determining he was guilty of five counts of first degree murder and two counts of arson.

Rickie Lee Fowler

Known as the Old Fire, a costly blaze that was set in Oct. 2003, it raged for several days near Waterman Canyon and burned 91,000 acres in the mountains, destroyed nearly 1,000 homes and caused the deaths of five people who died from heart attacks during the blaze.

The jury upheld the charges of prosecutors who claimed the fire caused those deaths. Those who died were Charles Cunningham, James McDermith, Ralph McWilliams, Robert Taylor and Chad Williams. San Bernardino Superior Court Judge Michael A. Smith upheld the jury’s recommendation that Fowler receive the death penalty.

Fowler wasn’t indicted for the crime until six years after the fire. In 2009, investigators identified two men, including Fowler and Martin Valdez, Jr., as suspects in the crime. A month after the fire, Fowler was convicted for another crime and served out his sentence at Salinas Valley State Prison in Northern California. Valdez, meanwhile, was shot to death in Muscoy, a section of San Bernardino, in Feb. 2006.

The "Old Fire" burned night and day for two weeks in 2003

The fire burned for nine days and reportedly caused $170 million in property losses. Fowler’s trial began on July 9, 2012 and he was found guilty on Aug. 15. Jury members deliberated over a four-day span before returning the guilty verdicts.

Read More:

Daily News: Old Fire arsonist Rickie Lee Fowler sentenced to death

LA Times: Families react to death penalty in forest fire arson case

Press-Enterprise: OLD FIRE: Arsonist sentenced to death

CrimeVoice: Old Fire Arsonist Jury Recommends Death in San Bernardino Court

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Authorities are looking for people to come forward

HOLLISTER— Police responded to the area of Caputo Court in Hollister, an area well known for gang violence, and found a young man suffering from a stabbing and a gunshot wound.

Alfredo Zendajas

On January 26, at 2:54, police responded to the area of Caputo Court on a report of gang members fighting.  When they arrived at the scene they encountered an 18-year-old Hollister resident suffering from a laceration to his face and a gunshot wound to his torso.

The young victim was flown to a Bay area hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries.  Officers have very little information,as to what happened to the victim because he was intoxicated and uncooperative and no one is coming forward with information.

“I don’t get it, people around here are usually good about reporting what they have seen,” Hollister Police Captain Dave Westrick said. “I think the people involved were all gang members and they are not going to tell on themselves.”

Police are unsure whether they will find anyone that will come forward with information in this case.  They know Caputo Court is a hot spot for gang activity.  In September, a gang fight reported there ended with five gang members being arrested. (see, crimevoice; Wild Party Ends with Five Arrest in Hollister).

The stabbing and shooting that night was only the tip of the iceberg, because at 11:30 police also responded to the 1300 block of San Juan Road after receiving a report of a large fight in progress with gunshots heard.

Police found no evidence of a victim or a gun being fired but they did make contact with six individuals and arrested one.  Arrested on a parole violation was Alfredo Zendejas of Hollister.

It should be noted that the 18-year-old individual who was shot and stabbed on Caputo Court  was with Zendejas later the next morning when police contacted him. Police also broke up a large party and fight that involved gang members earlier that evening.  An unknown suspect at the scene scratched up a patrol car before getting away.

As of now no witness have come forward.  Anyone with information regarding these incidences is encouraged to contact the Hollister Police at 1-831-636-4330.  Persons wishing to remain anonymous my call WeTip at 800-78-crime. Information provided to WeTip may qualify for a reward.

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She stole from Hospitals throughout Northern California

SANTA CRUZ—While we have all heard stories of phony doctors who wanted to help people in their time of need, one phony doctor used her white lab coat to steal from hospital employees.  The Fairfield Police Department has arrested 49-year-old Yolanda Smith of Oakland on burglary charges.

Yolanda Smith

On Jan 2, Smith gained access to a secured area of the Dominican Hospital by wearing a white lad coat an impersonating a doctor.  While in the area she stole numerous credit cards from employees’ purses and wallets that were left in the secured lunch area.

Before the nurses discovered that the cards were stolen, Smith had left the Santa Cruz Dominican Hospital and used the stolen credit cards at a gas station, Best Buy and a Target store, charging over $4,500.00.

“Smith entered the hospital wearing a white lab coat and stethoscope around her neck and gained access to a secured area,” Santa Cruz Sheriff Deputy April Skalland said. “ After she left the hospital she used a card at the Best Buy on 41^st Avenue, which was about five miles away, and then a Target store in Capitola.”

Santa Cruz Sheriff’s investigators have determined that Smith has burglarized numerous hospitals throughout Northern California.  Hospitals in Daly City, Tracy, Modesto, Gilroy. Walnut Creek, Fairfield and Santa Cruz County have all reported similar crimes of someone gaining access to secured area wearing a white lab coat and impersonating a doctor.

On Jan 22, an alert security guard noticed Smith in a secured area of a Fairfield hospital and promptly notified the authorities. She was taken into custody by the Fairfield Police Department.

Smith faces charges in Santa Cruz County of identity theft, burglary and fraudulent use of a credit card.  It is unknown if Smith will face more charges as other jurisdictions finish their investigation on her.

The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office is asking anyone with information to call the Investigation Unit at 831-454-2311.

Read More:

Santa Cruz Patch: Phony Doctor Arrested for Hospital Theft Scam

Fairfield Reporter: Suspect Yolanda Smith Posed as Doctor

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SANTA MARIA – Two suspects connected to an alleged high-speed pursuit through city streets earlier this week have been arrested, according to the Police Department.

David De Los Santos, 35

On Wednesday, police arrested the alleged driver, Santa Maria resident David De Los Santos, and his female passenger, Renae Burpee, a 30-year-old resident of Nipomo.

Officers initiated a vehicle pursuit on Monday afternoon in the 500 block of West Mill Street after receiving reports of a stolen vehicle.

Ranae Burpee, 30

As a precautionary measure, police ordered a lockdown of nearby schools, but opted to end the pursuit when the suspect’s reckless driving and complete disregard for public safety was deemed unsafe, police said.

Police recovered the abandoned vehicle later in the day in the area of Atlantic and Railroad. The officers searched for the driver but didn’t locate a suspect at the time.

Just before 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, January 30, officers observed De Los Santos, 35, walking in the area of the 200 block of North McClelland. After a short foot-pursuit, the suspect was apprehended and booked at Santa Barbara County Jail for stolen vehicle and evading charges, police said.

De Los Santos was allegedly with Burpee, who was identified as the female passenger in the car during Monday’s high-speed chase, when police spotted him near North McClelland. Burpee was taken into custody for two outstanding felony warrants and possession of stolen property. She was also booked at Santa Barbara County Jail.

Read More:

KCOY: Two People Arrested in Connection With Stolen Vehicle Pursuit

Noozhawk: Police Arrest Suspect in High-Speed Chase, Vehicle Theft

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SAN BERNARDINO – Police tracked down two teenagers on Wednesday, two days after they had assaulted an elderly man and robbed him in his home.

Police said the two teens, 15-year-old boy and a 14-year-old girl, knocked on the door on the 2300 block of North Windsor Avenue, the residence of Verlee Butler, 74, shortly before 5 p.m. Upon opening the door, the teens struck him, knocked him to the floor and, once inside the residence, continued to strike him with their fists. Police said the unidentified juveniles, who are brother and sister, took cash and coins from the home and fled the scene. They were eventually identified and were arrested without incident at their homes, said police.

Butler was tended to by paramedics at the scene. Though he was suffering from multiple life-threatening injuries, he refused to go to the hospital for additional treatment.

Taken to San Bernardino Juvenile Hall, the teenage suspects were booked for investigation of residential robbery. It’s likely, say police, they will also be charged with burglary, felony battery and elder abuse. North Windsor Ave. is just off Highland Ave., a major thoroughfare that is located across from Perris Hill Park.

There have been other cases of crimes against elderly people in San Bernardino over recent weeks, including a Jan. 25 attack, when a wheelchair-bound woman awoke at 5 a.m. to two men ransacking her home on the 1400 block of North Flores St. And over a three-day stretch, Jan. 18-20, unknown assailants committed home invasion robberies, including a beating of an 84-year-old woman on Jan. 19, and a 77-year-old was robbed at gunpoint in her home the next day. There have been no suspects identified or arrested as yet, say police.

Daily Bulletin: Two teens arrested after home invasion robbery of elderly San Bernardino man

CBS Los Angeles: Elderly Man Robbed, Beaten During Home Invasion

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SANTA BARBARA – Just after midnight on January 27^th, Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Isla Vista Substation officers responded to a call from a nearby apartment dweller about a burglary that had just been committed.  The reporting party gave a detailed description of the alleged perpetrator who had been spotted inside the victim’s residence and was observed to have been stealing personal property.  When confronted by the victim, according to SBPD Public Information Officer Kelly Hoover in her report to the media, “the subject quickly fled.”

Oliver Lim

Upon arrival at the reporting residence, Isla Vista “Foot Patrol” observed someone furtively leaving the immediate vicinity of the densely-populated student community immediately adjacent to the UCSB campus.  A foot pursuit immediately ensued, but as is often the case when criminal suspects underestimate the athletic ability of local law enforcement, the suspect was shortly thereafter apprehended and subdued.  The not-quite-as-fast-as-he-thought burglar, “who matched the victim’s description of the suspect” according to Hoover, was ultimately identified as a Santa Barbara City College student Oliver Lim, 18.

Further investigation revealed that Lim was in possession of certain personal property allegedly stolen from the reporting residence, as well as property from what appeared to be “unreported vehicle burglaries in the area,” detailed by Hoover as a GPS unit, a high-end television, assorted electronics, cellphones, currency, prescription drugs, and personal checks not bearing Lim’s name.

Lim was later transported to Santa Barbara County Jail where he was booked on charges of residential burglary, possession of stolen property, possession of a controlled substance, petty theft, and resisting arrest.  With his bail set at $50,000, it is unlikely that Lim will soon qualify for membership in the UCSB student body.

Photo: Courtesy Santa Barbara County Jail Booking

Read more:

The Botom Line: Early Morning Del Playa Burglar Apprehended

Santa Barbara Independent: City College Student Arrested After Burglary Spree

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SANTA MARIA -  A man taking out his trash Thursday afternoon was attacked and stabbed at least one time in what police are investigating as an attempted robbery.

Joseph Moreno

Officers were called to the alleyway in the 500 block of West Orange just before 4 p.m. on Jan. 31 for a report of an alleged stabbing that had just occurred and found a male in his 50s, who was suffering from a stab wound to his upper torso, according to the Police Department.

The unidentified victim, whose name police aren’t releasing, was transported to Marian Medical Center, where he was treated and released for non-life threatening injuries sustained in the alleged stabbing.

During their investigation of the incident, officers identified Santa Maria resident Joseph Moreno, 42, as the alleged suspect in the stabbing and attempted robbery. Moreno was located  and arrested a short time later, police said.

Moreno was booked at Santa Barbara County Jail on suspicion of attempted murder and robbery and is being held at the jail in lieu of $500,000 bail.

Anyone with information about the attack is urged to contact the Santa Maria Police Department at (805) 928-3781, Ext. 277. Anonymous tips can be made by calling CrimeStoppers at 1-877-800-9100

Read More:

KCOY: Santa Maria Man Arrested for Allegedly Stabbing man in Torso

Santa Maria Times: SM Man Reportedly Stabbed, Another Arrested

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CASTROVILLE—The Monterey County Sheriff’s Department is investigating an early morning argument that turned into an assault.  Deputies arrested 27-year-old Castroville resident Adam Torres on domestic abuse charges.

Adam Torres

In the early morning hours of Wednesday January 30, the Monterey County Sheriff’s Department responded to the 13000 block of Brisa Del Mar in Castroville on a report of domestic violence.

When deputies arrived, a female victim that told them that during an argument Torres had grabbed her cell phone as she attempted to call 911.  He then threw it down the hallway of their trailer.

“As she tried to retrieve the phone Torres pulled out a folding pocket knife and began stabbing the bedroom wall several times,”  Monterey County Sheriff Department said. “Fearing for her life, the young victim tried to escape but Torres grabbed her and threw her to the ground and began choking her.”

Torres became distracted when the neighbors, hearing what was going on, began to pound on the adjoining wall of the trailer.  That action allowed the victim to escape.  The victim did not sustain major injury but did suffer some scratches and bruises.

Torres had fled the scene in a white two door Mitsubishi Mirage with license plate number of 6VVG622 before deputies arrived.  Torres was later located and was taken into custody without further incident.

He was booked into the Monterey County jail on charges of inflicting corporal injury on a spouse/cohabitant and assault with force likely to produce great bodily harm.  His bail has been set at $32,500.

The Monterey County Sheriff’s Department is asking anyone with information regarding this incident to call them at 831-755-5111 or their tip line at 888-833-4847.

Read More:
KION: Domestic Violence Arrest

The Californian: Castroville Man Allegedly Chokes Woman in Domestic Violence Call

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Simon Chavez was a beloved Santa Barbara “local boy”, a graduate of Santa Barbara High School who had volunteered as an assistant baseball coach at the school in recent years.  When he was killed in a vehicle versus pedestrian hit-and-run collision in the early morning hours just past midnight on January 15^th, the vehicle involved immediately fled the scene.

Lau Van Huynh

The investigation by the California Highway Patrol that immediately ensued quickly determined from witness statements that Chavez had been walking along the southbound lanes of U.S. Highway 101 in the downtown Santa Barbara vicinity.  According to CHP spokesman James Richards’ report to the media at the time, his office had received citizen tips describing the incident vehicle as “a white Hyundai”.  CHP investigators surmised at the time that—in consideration of physical evidence found at the scene–the vehicle had sustained significant front end damage in striking and killing Chavez.

Simon Chavez

On January 15^th, the CHP issued a Be On the Lookout notice for the Hyundai, which led to information indicating the suspect vehicle was registered to a Murrieta address.  Nine days later, on January 24^th, detectives served a search warrant on the residence of Lau Van Huynh. Van Huynh, 78, was arrested on the scene and summarily transported to Santa Barbara County Jail where he was booked on multiple hit-and-run violations with his bail set at $1 million.

Photo: Courtesy Santa Barbara County Jail Booking

Read more:

Murrieta Patch: Murrieta Man Arrested in Connection with Fatal Hit-and-run

Santa Barbara Independent: Arrest Made in Fatal Highway Hit-and-run

KeyT: Man Arrested After Deadly Hit-and-run

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CHICO- Over the past 18 months, numerous incidents involving sexual assaults, kidnappings, and attempted kidnappings intended for college women have taken place in the South Campus Area of Chico State University, with the two most recent occurring in September and December of 2012. “ We’ve had, for the past 18 months, a series of very disturbing incidents,” said Chico Police Lieutenant Mike O’Brien.

During both incidents, a white male suspect, wearing a nylon stocking or mask over his face, forced female victims into the back seat of a dark colored sedan, (in the September incident), and the rear cargo area of a dark colored SUV, (in the October incident). Once inside the vehicle, the suspect then injected victims with an unknown substance, which sedated them and provided a drowsy type of effect. Their hands and feet were then bound with “zip ties” and their eyes were covered with duct tape. At least one of the victims was raped. Both victims were college aged women.

While conducting surveillance in the Southern Campus of Chico State to possibly locate the suspect in these recent incidents, Police Detectives noticed a dark colored sedan driving in the targeted area twice, at around 2:30 a.m. and 3:30 a.m. on January 26. After the vehicle failed to halt at a stop sign, officers stopped the vehicle. Once officers made contact with the driver, they noticed the rear passenger window was partially covered with blankets and bedding. After the driver consented to a search of the car by officers, they discovered two syringes loaded with an unknown substance, latex gloves, several nylons, adhesive tape cut into strips and a flashlight with a stun gun in a cup holder next to the driver’s seat. Noticing that the materials had fit the description of what the suspect had used against the victims, officers arrested the driver for further questioning. O’Brien stated that the vehicle appeared to be ready for another possible attack or series of attacks.

Lonnie Keith

The driver, 40-year-old Lonnie Scott Keith of Chico, was taken without resistance to the police station around 6:00 a.m. Keith is a physician’s assistant at Enloe Occupational Health Services and the Oroville Hospital and was also a paramedic. Keith has been married for 21 years and has four children.

A search warrant was issued for Keith’s vehicle, where officers found a hidden compartment under the cushion of the passenger’s seat containing metal handcuffs, metal leg restraints, zip ties, numerous syringes, multiple vials of prescription drugs and extra latex gloves. Officers are further investigating the place of origin of the prescription drugs and if they came from Keith’s work sites. As a physician’s assistant, Keith possiblyhad access to the drugs at his work place.

During the course of the investigation, officers learned that Keith had sold a dark colored sedan and a dark colored SUV in December of 2012. Both vehicles, which were Keith’s family cars, are now in the possession of the Chico Police Department.

Keith will be arraigned on two counts of kidnapping, one count of rape, and one count of assault with intent to commit rape. His bail has been set at $3.2 million. If convicted, he could face a sentence of 32 years to life.

Officers are still investigating to see if Keith was involved in at least nine other incidents against more students going as far back as August of 2011.

Read More

CBS Sacramento- Chico Physician’s Asdsistant Charged with Kidnappings, Rape Near College

The Orion- Investigation Continues after South Campus Arrest

KCRA3- Man Used Zip-Ties, Syringes, Cuffs on Women near Chico State

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MADERA COUNTY – The Madera County Sheriff’s Office arrested three Planada residents for stealing and trying to sell manhole covers.

Dawn McKay Dorothy Jane Alt Isaac Gonzales

Dorothy Jane Alt, 19, Joy Dawn McKay, 37, and Isaac Gonzalez, 30, were arrested at a recycling center in Madera County. They were trying to sell three manhole covers, but the recycler reported the attempted sale to the authorities.

According to authorities, Alt and McKay went into the business around 1 p.m. on Wednesday to try to sell the covers while Gonzalez waited in the car. The detective called to the scene questioned the suspects and they told him they found the covers at a former labor camp in Planada. They also told the detective they didn’t have permission to be on the site or take any materials.

The detective called the sheriff’s office to find out if there had been any recent thefts reported from the camp and was told that copper wire and steel manhole covers had been stolen that morning, authorities said.

A search of the suspects’ car revealed a steel pry bar, pipe wrench, tin snips and other tools used to removed manhole covers and wires.

The three suspects were booked at the Madera County Department of Corrections and could be facing felony charges. Bail was set at $10,000 for each of the suspects.

This is just one of many cases of thefts of metal and other recyclable materials. Recyclers are only allowed to accept manhole covers from government agencies like the city of county, according to the sheriff’s office.

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ABC30: 3 Arrested for Manhole Cover Theft in Madera County

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I-5 Freeway

Los Angeles- Three men have been injured, and one killed after a police chase fatally ended on the I-5 freeway just after 2 a.m. early Friday morning.

The vehicle pursued by officers was involved in the robbery of a 7-Eleven store in Boyle Heights. The suspects had robbed the store at knife point, but no one was injured. The suspects fled the scene in an SUV, where officers saw them recklessly driving through streets, initiating the chase onto the I-5 freeway near Lincoln Heights. The SUV then crashed into another vehicle, causing the vehicle to flip east of downtown Los Angeles.

The force of the flip caused money to be scattered across lanes and trapped two of three suspects and immediately killed the other. Of the injured suspects, one was immediately taken into custody and the other was taken to a local hospital along with the driver of the vehicle hit by the suspects. The body of the suspect driving the SUV was found lying on the freeway, where he was pronounced dead at the scene.

The crash resulted in the closing of northbound freeway lanes for nearly six hours and the slowing down of early morning commuters. All northbound lanes were later reopened around 7:50 a.m.

Read More:

1) CBS News Los Angeles- LA Freeway Closed after Deadly Police Chase

2) Fox11 News Los Angeles- Robbery Pursuit Crash Leaves 1 Suspect Dead, 2 Injured

3) Los Angeles Times- Northbound 5 Freeway at 110 Freeway Closed after Deadly Crash

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EASTVALE- After responding to a fire alarm at an unoccupied residence, Eastvale Fire Department personnel discovered a massive marijuana growing operation.

The fire revealed a large scale marijuana growing operation

On Saturday, January 26 at 12:05 p.m., Sheriff’s Deputies arrived on scene at the 6500 block of Gladiola Street to assist the Fire Department with an alarm. The fire alarm was sounding from the second story of the residence, but no one appeared to be at home. After getting no response at the door, fire personnel decided to enter the home to do a welfare check. Upon entering a second floor window, it was discovered that the entire residence had been transformed into a large scale marijuana grow.

Riverside Sheriff’s Deputies assigned to the Eastvale Special Enforcement Team assumed the investigation at this point, obtaining a search warrant to enter the residence. At 8:30 p.m. Deputies served the warrant and proceeded to discover an astounding number of plants. According to a statement made by Sergeant Andrew Elia, Deputies removed 826 mature marijuana plants, 170 immature marijuana plants, and 40 pounds of processed marijuana. Authorities estimated the street value of the marijuana to be over $900,000.

The Sheriffs department is looking for the operators who were working "off the grid" - stealing power from So Cal Edison

Southern California Edison also investigated at the scene, discovering that electricity had been illegally diverted from a meter to power the operation. This diversion of electricity created a major fire hazard. The utility theft was estimated at more than $3,100 of electricity a month.

Eastvale is a town in Riverside County between Norco and Chino. Anyone with information about this incident may contact Deputy J. Morando at the Jurupa Valley Station at 951-955-2600.

Read More:

CBS Los Angeles: Fire Alarm Leads To Discovery Of Large-Scale Marijuana Grow In Eastvale

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CALIPATRIA – An attempt to smuggle drugs into the Calipatria State Prison lands a woman jail time of her own.

La Nicole Ogilvie - her trip to prison to visit her husband resulted in jail time for her as well

La Nicole Ogilvie, a 23-year-old from Moreno Valley was visiting her husband on Sunday January 27 when she was arrested. Authorities allege that during her visit she attempted to supply marijuana and heroin to Kenneth Reese. Investigative Services Unit Officers at the prison observed Ogilvie hand Reese what appeared be contraband. Reese then proceeded to pass the contraband over to another inmate, Kenji Tompkins. Tompkins was the inmate visiting porter, which is one of the positions inmates are sometimes given while they are serving time.

Unit Officers approached the three suspects and questioned them. Upon investigation, officers discovered they had three small packages in their possession. Further inspection of these items revealed that they were indeed contraband and held drugs. The packages purportedly held 30.2 grams of marijuana, another 9.9 grams of marijuana and 25.2 grams of heroin. At this time Ogilvie was placed under arrest for attempting to supply her husband illegal drugs, and she was transported to Imperial County Jail where she currently remains.

Inmate Kenneth Reese is a convicted murderer already serving a 90-years-to-life sentence. Both Reese and Tompkins were placed into the Administrative Segregation Unit, which is where the solitary confinement units reside within the prison. Calipatria State Prison opened in 1992, houses approximately 3,400 minimum- and maximum-custody inmates.

At this time an investigation into the incident is still underway.

Read Also:

Imperial Valley Press: Contraband seized from inmates, visitor arrested in Calipatria

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Paul McCarver, 40, from Blue Lake used a pair of scissors as a weapon, resulting in his arrest in Garberville on Monday.

Paul McCarver, 40

According to the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office, they received a notice of a stabbing at Garberville Hotel on Redwood Drive at approximately 1:00 am on Monday. When the California Highway Patrol deputy arrived at the scene, McCarver was detained as a suspect.

The stabbing victim reported that he was in the parking lot with his friend when McCarver confronted them asking for a car jack. After the negative response from the victim, McCarver got angry and showed a pair of scissors. A verbal argument escalated into a physical fight and McCarver stabbed the victim in the bicep causing an approximate ½” wound. When interviewed, McCarver said that he stabbed the victim in self defense and displayed injuries that purported to be from the fight.

McCarver was treated by the medical staff at the Correctional Facility and booked into Humboldt County Jail for assault with a deadly weapon with a bail set at $50,000.

Anyone having more information on the incident is asked to call the Humboldt Sheriff’s Office at 707-445-7251 or the Sheriff’s Office Crime Tip Line at 707-268-2539.

Read More:

Times-Standard: Blue Lake man arrested after Garberville stabbing

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Vacaville – Koren Yvonne Lamar, a CalPERS employee, was arrested Friday and booked into Solano County Jail on identity theft charges.

Koren Yvonne Lamar

Vacaville police began investigating after a complaint from a victim that their personal information had been used to obtain loans that the victim had no knowledge of. The loans had all been applied for in a short span of time.

The investigation uncovered a link to the California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS). The victim receives retirement benefits through that retirement system and it’s believed the personal information used for the loan applications came from a CalPERS database. Vacaville detectives and CalPERS investigators teamed up to unravel the case.

Friday morning, search warrants were served at two locations in Sacramento: an address in the 1000 block of Fulton Avenue and at the CalPERS offices on P Street. Evidence uncovered through these warrants led to the arrest of Lamar, a 40-year-old resident of Sacramento.

At this time it’s believed Lamar was working alone and that the number of victims is small, but investigation is not yet terminated. The speed with which an arrest was made in this case is due in part to the victim’s attentiveness to his or her credit reports and the fact that police were contacted right away.

Read More:

Sacramento Bee: CalPERS worker arrested in identity theft probe

KTVU: Police arrest CalPERS employee for identity theft

News 10: CalPERS employee accused of stealing client’s ID

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A father killed himself and his two teen children at a residence in the 1200 block of Sandalwood Drive in the Forest Meadows subdivision of Murphys.  Investigators had been called to the residence on Saturday, February 2, by friends of the teens who had last received communications from the them on Thursday.

Marshall Family in happier times

Investigators found the father, Phillip Randolph Marshall, 54 years of age, dead at the scene. Apparently the two teens, Alex Marshall, his son, who was 17 years old and his daughter, Micaila Marshall, age 14, were asleep on the couch at the time of the shooting. Both received a single gunshot to the head. Evidence at the scene confirms that Phillip Marshall, the father, was the shooter. Outside persons have been ruled out by authorities.

The same man was arrested 4 years ago according to a report from the Calaveras County Sheriff’s Office in a November 2008 incident involving the mother of the teens, Sean Marshall and her sister, Erin Chamberlain. The two women filed a complaint after an altercation in which Phillip Marshall slapped Erin Chamberlain. The incident culminated in Phillip Marshall’s arrest for battery, disturbing the peace,  and making annoying and harassing phone calls.

Sgt Chris Hewitt of the Calaveras County Sheriff’s Department stated, “An autopsy is planned today but no further information is being released at the present time.”

Bret Harte High School will be hosting a candle light vigil on Wednesday, February 6,  evening at 7:00 pm on the “quad” at the high school as well as a memorial on Saturday at  11:00 am at the football field. All are welcome to attend both ceremonies to honor the young people.

Read More:

SacBee: Father Who Killed Son, Daughter and Self in Murphys had Previous Arrest

Union Democrat: Murder-Suicide in  Murphys

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NUEVO – Two women were discovered with fatal injuries alongside a rural street in Nuevo.

On February 4, at about 5:08 PM the Riverside County Sheriff’s office received a call regarding two injured women in the roadway. Deputies from the Hemet Station were dispatched to the 29000 block of Central Avenue in the unincorporated area of Riverside County known as Nuevo, which is just south of Perris. Upon arrival at approximately 5:18 PM, the deputies discovered two Hispanic female adults. Both women had sustained obvious and traumatic injuries.

The mother and daughter were found near 29000 Central Avenue.

Cal Fire Personnel arrived and pronounced Connie Gonzalez, a 25-year-old Nuevo resident, deceased at the scene. The second victim, Maria Gonzalez, a 51-year-old Nuevo resident, was immediately transported to Menifee Valley Medical Center. There she succumbed to her injuries within an hour. According to the Press Enterprise, a man at the scene stated the women were his mother and sister.

Witnesses to the crime reported a suspect leaving the area. Investigators from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, Central Homicide Unit were called to the scene and assumed control of the investigation. Together with Deputies from the Hemet station, Investigators searched the surrounding area but were unable to locate the suspect in question. Witnesses described the suspect as a Hispanic male adult, 18 to 20 years old wearing dark clothing. Investigators are still seeking the suspect at this time.

The Sheriff’s Department noted in a statement that this is an active and ongoing homicide investigation and no further details are going to be released at this time.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to call Riverside Sheriff’s Central Homicide Unit at 760-393-3500 or Hemet Sheriff’s Station at 951-791-3400.

Read More:

Lake Elsinore-Wildomar Patch: Mother And Daughter Slain; Police Ask For Public’s Help In Finding Their Killer

Press-Enterprise: NUEVO: Two women killed after attack at home

SWRNN: Women found dead in Nuevo identified as mother and daughter

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The Sacramento Police Department (SPD) has arrested two teenage suspects – ages 15 and 16 – for a murder that occurred in January, according to an official press release.

On Thursday, January 17, 2013, at approximately 12:44 pm, SPD officers reportedly responded to the 3100 block of 39^th Street regarding reports of a shooting. Upon arrival, officers located Anthony Navarro, 19, who had suffered from what appeared to be multiple gunshot wounds.  Navarro was transported by emergency medical personnel to an area hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.

The 39th Street neighborhood was disrupted by gunfire in January's drive by shooting that left a 19-year-old dead

Homicide investigators arrived on scene and have been reportedly working the case ever since, gathering information that led them to the suspects, their identities, roles in the shooting and eventually, their whereabouts.

On Tuesday, January 29, 2013, SPD detectives tracked one suspect to southern California where he was taken into custody by the Palm Springs Police Department.  The 16-year-old male suspect was reportedly extradited back to Sacramento where he was booked into juvenile hall.

Then one week later, detectives located and arrested the second homicide suspect involved in the fatal shooting.  The 15-year-old male suspect was reportedly arrested in the 3300 block of 20^th Avenue in Sacramento.

Homicide detectives are actively investigating the shooting and are still looking into the possibility of others involved in this gang related incident. The SPD urges anyone with information pertaining to this homicide to contact Crime Alert at (916) 443-HELP (4357) or text in a tip to 274637 (CRIMES).

Read More:

Sacramento Press: Two teen boys arrested in gang-related Oak Park drive-by

KCRA: Teens arrested in deadly January drive-by shooting in Sacramento

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After over two weeks of search and with the help of the public, the Placer County Sheriff’s detectives arrested a wanted man for two armed robberies.

Dwayne Deshawn Hargo, 30

The Placer County Sheriff’s Office asked for public’s help in the middle of January in identifying a suspect of two armed robberies:  of the Star Liquor Store in Loomis on January 16, and another of the Valero gas station in Penryn two days later. In both robberies, the suspect used a handgun.

The police promised a $1,000 cash reward to anyone with valuable information and released a surveillance photo from one of the robberies. The suspect was described as “5 feet, 6 inches tall to 5 feet, 8 inches tall, is thought to be in his mid-20s, possibly Hispanic and may be associated with a white compact car, similar to a Saturn coupe.”

The public responded with tips and the Sheriff’s detectives arrested Dwayne Deshawn Hargo, 30, of Penryn on Tuesday, February 5. He was booked into the Placer County Jail on two counts of armed robbery with a bail set at $100,000.

Read More:

The Sacramento Bee: Tip from public credited in arrest of armed robbery suspect

Loomis News: Penryn man arrested for armed robberies of two local businesses

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