SAN JOSE – The San Jose Police, in a joint effort with Milpitas PD and surrounding areas, are on the lookout for a serial bank robber who has robbed five banks in the last few months.  Authorities issued a brief press release in the latest response to robberies that occurred from September to December of 2013. According to authorities, “The San Jose Police Department, Campbell Police Department, and the Milpitas Police Department recently worked together to solve a series of four bank robberies which began on 09-20-13 and concluded on 12-04-13.”

The suspects, 22-year-old Oscar Radillo and 28-year-old Alvaro Hernandez Santillan, who are cousins, were both arrested on December 20, 2013.

The locations the duo had targeted were the Wells Fargo Bank at 360 N. Capitol Ave in San Jose on 09-20-13; Comerica Bank at 5601 Silver Creek Valley Road, San Jose on 11-15-13; First Bank at 790 E. Campbell Ave, Campbell on 11-27-13; and Comerica Bank at 1289 S. Park Victoria Ave, Milpitas on 12-04-1. However this is not the only time the Comerica Bank in Milpitas has been robbed within the last few months. Another bank robbery just occurred there on Monday, Jan 6.

She, or he, or maybe even two different people – have robbed a series of banks in the San Jose area.

From surveillance footage and witness accounts show the suspect is possibly transgender, male, or female who wears a dark colored wig to perhaps hide a receding hair line, expresses an angry altered look while brandishing a firearm at tellers while demanding that they give her cash. The suspect then flees the bank, so far eluding capture by authorities. She or he is suspected in at least five recent robberies.

According to the San Jose Police, “The San Jose Police Department is asking for the public’s help in identifying and locating a suspect involved in a recent string of bank robberies in San Jose and Milpitas.” Bank of America and the Wells Fargo Bank are offering reward of up to $5,000 dollars each to help capture the suspect. Anyone with information or the whereabouts of the suspect are urged to contact Detective Enrique Garcia of the San Jose Police Department’s Robbery Unit at (408) 277-4166.

Read More:

Los Gatos Patch: Cousins Arrested In Series of Bank Robberies

CBS SF Bay Area: ‘Confident’ Bank Robber Suspect Eludes San Jose, Milpitas Police

MIDDLETON – Lake County Sheriff’s detectives usually have their hands full with drug and illegal weapons cases, often tied together. But once in a while they have to deal with the more mundane law enforcement matters, like trusted adults embezzling money from a children’s recreational program.

This case began over two years ago, when in May 2012 the Sheriff’s office received a complaint  that Carol Ann Outen, 38 of Middletown, who was serving as the town’s Youth Football League treasurer, had failed to pay several outstanding bills. The complaint accused Outen of mismanaging funds while a member of the league’s volunteer board.

According to Steve Brooks of Lake County Sheriff’s office, the case was turned over to the major crimes unit, who acquired search warrants to investigate Outen’s personal and business accounts. They discovered evidence that in 2011 and early 2012, she had used funds from league fundraisers, ticket sales, and concessions to pay for her own personal assets.

Middletown California is at the southern end of Lake County, 17 miles south of Lower Lake, with a population under 1500. The youth football organization teaches kids from 7-years-old and up the fundamentals of the game and positions, and they often continue into Middletown High’s Mustangs. They play against teams from neighboring towns such as Lower Lake, Clear Lake, Kelseyville, Willits, Fort Bragg and others.

During the investigation, Outen admitted that in 2011 she was having financial problems, personally and business related. She stated that she used the football league’s checking account to cover her own account so her checks wouldn’t bounce. But she also claimed that there was no football money in any of her accounts, seemingly contradicting her own story. She also claimed that $10,000 in cash belonging to the Middletown Football League was stored in her personal home safe.

Detectives were able to determine, however, that he had transferred approximately $47,000.00 from the league into her personal accounts. As a culmination of their findings, Outen was arrested yesterday at 9 am at her home. She was booked at the Hill Road Correctional Facility on charges of grand theft and fraudulent use of a check. Her bail is set at $30,000, presumably not to be paid from any youth sports program accounts.

COMPTON – While on routine patrol on Tuesday, Compton deputies spotted a blue van.  Normally, such a sight would not provoke suspicion.  However, said van happened to be parked over an underground fuel storage tank at a gas station located at 4351 E. Rosecrans Avenue.

In addition, they soon saw a hand sticking out from the floorboard of the van, pulling out a hose from the tank and then replacing the metal lid that covered it.  After the van drove off, police had reasonable suspicion that a fuel theft had just occurred and they stopped the vehicle.

Sure enough, they discovered five 55-gallon tanks inside the van, all full of diesel fuel.  The thieves, three males, had stolen 275 gallons in all.  The value of their attempted haul exceeded $1,000. They were charged with grand theft of diesel fuel. Bail was set at $20,000, an unwise exchange in anyone’s book.

Authorities remind the public that such a risky endeavor is fraught with danger.  A lit cigarette or car accident could have set off a large explosion.

Read More:

CBSLA: Compton deputies bust alleged gas thieves

TAFT — Police arrested a man after he allegedly tried choking a pregnant woman to death on Wednesday afternoon in the small rural town of Taft in southwest Kern County.

Gary Scott Fuller, 37, of Taft, was booked into Taft jail and charged with attempted murder, cruelty to child, possession of a controlled substance, possession of controlled substance paraphernalia and evading arrest in a vehicle.

According to Taft police chief Ed Whiting, officers were called out to a home in the 300 block of South Sixth Street to a  report of a pregnant woman being chased by a man. When officers arrived on the scene, they were told by witnesses that the woman had escaped and was hiding nearby, while the suspect was seen fleeing the area in a vehicle.

Officers began a search and quickly located the victim, Randell Ewing, 22, of Taft, unconscious in the backyard of a nearby condominium complex, Whiting said. ”After a short pursuit through the downtown area of our city,” Whiting said, “Officers were able to finally stop the suspect, taking him into custody in the  600 block of Lucard Street.”

Meanwhile, Ewing was taken to a nearby hospital in Bakersfield for treatment.

No officers or bystanders were injured in the pursuit, according to police.

Read more:

KERO: Man accused of trying to kill pregnant woman

REDDING – A rash of indecent exposure incidents at local tanning salons resulted in the arrest of 30-year-old Michael Anthony Silva of San Mateo. Silva is a registered sex offender with prior convictions for the same offense.

Silva’s latest infractions began in December. According to the Redding Police, on Sunday, December 15th, they got a call from Tropical Tan on Hilltop Drive, reporting that the night before, at 7:00 pm, the facility had received a call asking about their hours and prices. The employee connected that call to a man who came in right afterwards, and booked a tanning session. The man then entered the booth, disrobed, and called the woman working there for assistance. As she approached his booth, he quickly opened the door, exposing himself nude, holding his erect penis. She asked him to leave, which he did, presumably after getting dressed.

Tropical Tan on Hilltop reported the infraction in December

Several other tanning salons reported similar incidents over the next few weeks, with the same description of the man. One of the victims, however, had the presence of mind to observe his car license plate, which police traced to a car rental agency. From this, they were able to get Silva’s name, and officers were able to show his photo to the victims. He was positively identified as the man who accosted the woman at Tropical Tan. Working with the car rental agency, investigators were able to locate Silva at a residence on Pegasus Street in Redding. He was taken into custody without any trouble.

According to Redding Police, since he had entered the tanning business with the intent to commit a felony, he was booked on charges of burglary, indecent exposure, and failing to comply with the terms of his status as a registered sex offender. His bail was set at $100,000. Police have requested that anyone with more information, or who may have also been a victim, to call the Investigations division at 530-225-4214.

REDLANDS – A former school teacher, who admitted to having sex with underage students including one who fathered a child with her, was released from jail last week.

Laura Whitehurst, 29, had received a year-long sentence last summer, but was released with more than six months left to serve.

The case came to light early last summer after Whitehurst gave birth to a girl. When word got back to the parents of the 17-year-old father, who was reportedly in attendance at the birth, an investigation was launched into Whitehurst’s relationship.
During the course of that investigation, two other former students came forward to report that they had sexual relationships with Whitehurst. In San Bernardino Superior Court on July 30, she pleaded guilty to six felony counts that were connected to three victims.

In those charges were four counts of unlawful sexual intercourse and two counts of oral copulation with a person under age 18. The original charges included 41 felony counts, which carried a maximum sentence of 29 years. The remaining counts were dismissed during her sentencing.

Whitehurst, who is the oldest daughter of two area educators, will be required to register as a sex offender as a condition of her release. She must also wear a GPS tracking device, according to county officials.
Originally, Whitehurst was sentenced to 365 days in jail plus five years probation, the sentence pronounced on Aug. 28.

In a similar case over a decade earlier, Rialto Eisenhower High School football coach Glenn Thompkins was charged with having sex with an underage female student. He received a similar sentence as Whitehurst – a year in jail, but was released after serving approximately half that time.

Both Whitehurst and Thompkins were students in their respective school districts, having returned following their college educations. Whitehurst taught at every Redlands-based high school campus, including student teaching at Redlands East Valley, also serving as a substitute, her first fulltime job at Redlands High School and, eventually, Orangewood continuation school and, finally, at Citrus Valley, where she also served as an adviser in campus clubs. Reportedly, she had sex with underage students while teaching at Redlands, later moving to Citrus Valley.

Read More:

LATimes: Ex-teacher convicted of student sex released 

The Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department has arrested a man in connection to an attempted robbery at an auto parts store that left one dead, according to an official press release.

Michael Eugene Addson, 26, was booked into the Sacramento County Main Jail on Friday, January 10 for the murder of a 22-year-old employee of O’Reilly Auto Part store in the 4000 block of Elkhorn Boulevard in Sacramento during an attempted robbery.

According to Sac Sheriff, last Thursday, at approximately 7:15 pm, an armed suspect walked into the auto parts store and directed employees into the back room during an attempted robbery. One employee — a 22-year-old male — reportedly tried to stop the suspect — later identified as Addson — and was able to stab him with a knife. In return, Addson reportedly shot the male employee and fled the scene.

“Mack Speed” Michael Addson from his Facebook page.

The male employee was reportedly transported to a local hospital, where he later died from the gunshot wound.

Sac Sheriff Homicide Detectives reportedly received information that a male with a stab wound had been brought to another hospital within Sacramento County in need of medical treatment. Detectives were able to determine through evidence collected at the scene that this person was responsible for the robbery and homicide.

According to Sac Sheriff, the name of the victim will be released by the Sacramento County Coroner’s Office upon notification of next of kin.

Read More:

Sacramento Bee: Police arrest suspect in killing at auto parts store

ROSEDALE — Police arrested a 38-year-old felon on Friday after following leads from an investigation of theft from several northwest Bakersfield construction sites.

According to the Kern County Sheriff’s Office, detectives from the Rural Crime Investigation Unit served a search warrant, resulting from the theft of diesel fuel and appliances from houses under construction in the Rosedale area, at 21447 Kratzmeyer Road on Jan. 10.

It was there they located William Stuart Crunk, who was currently out of jail on bail for a prior arrest.

Crunk was immediately taken into custody and a search of  his home and vehicle ensued.

Deputies said that during the search, they discovered several firearms, stolen property and rounds of ammunition, along with suspected methamphetamine and additional ammunition in Crunk’s vehicle.

Crunk  was booked into the Sheriff’s Central Receiving Facility for possession of firearm by felon, possession of ammunition by felon, possession of stolen property, possession of suspected methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia.

His bail was set at $55,000.

Read more:

KERO: Man stole diesel from Rosedale homes

REDLANDS – A scam that targets small to medium size businesses has likely netted scammers over $200,000 in untraceable pre-paid debit cards.

The scam has stretched to various Southern California outlets, most businesses being duped into believing that a Southern California Edison representative will cut off electrical services unless a quick payment is made to purchase a new meter.
The scam, according to reports, usually starts with telephone calls from an 800 number and concluding with a payment from untraceable pre-paid debit cards.

The method of operation is that a self-described customer-service representative, usually calling restaurants right before a lunchtime rush, advises the business that electrical services will be cut if money was not quickly produced to pay for meter replacements. Response from the owners were usually quick, in order to stem off the likelihood of losing too much business.

Business owners should be wary of anyone requesting payment with a pre-paid debit card. The advice is to request a callback number, then call the business directly. If someone comes into the business, request identification. A pre-paid debit card, which are cash-only cards that are available at grocery stores and pharmacies, are procured to make payments to the scammers. Officials said the payments are untraceable.

Once the money has been put on the card, said officials, the alleged power company representative – in this case, Southern California Edison – requests a PIN number which leads to the transfer of funds onto his own debit card.
Southern California Edison officials know of at least 300 victims over the past year, most appearing to be businesses. An Edison official says they would never threaten customers with service disconnections.

Read More:

FoxLA: So Cal Edison warns customers of phone scam

LADailyNews: Southern California Edison alerts customers to rash of phone scams

A Marin County man finished his weekend in jail after a series of burglaries at area businesses led to his arrest in the early hours of Monday morning, as detailed in a Central Marin Police Authority press release.

During the night of Sunday, January 12, a handful of San Rafael businesses were the victims of so-called “window smash burglaries,” in the words of CMPA Sergeant Julie Gorwood, who wrote the press release. CMPA officers searched the downtown San Rafael and San Anselmo areas for evidence of similar crimes during the early morning hours, according to CMPA Corporal Michael Mejia. At around 3:45 a.m. Monday, an officer in San Anselmo found that the Bolinas Avenue Market at 4 Bolinas Avenue had a shattered glass door and that the destruction appeared to have occurred recently.

Officers on the scene determined which items had been stolen from the market, and reviewed video surveillance from the interior of the building that showed a man taking the items. CMPA officers on patrol encountered 42-year-old Miguel Parra, who is known to area police,“walking down the street nearby where the crime occurred,” explained Mejia. Officers stopped Parra at the intersection of College Avenue and Kent Avenue in Kentfield.

The officers “were able to match his description and the items he was carrying” to the suspect recorded on the video at Bolinas Avenue Market, Mejia said.

Officers arrested Parra and took him to the CMPA Larkspur station, later booking him at Marin County Jail on charges of burglary and violation of probation.

CMPA has not yet determined whether Parra was involved in the earlier window smash burglaries, but San Rafael police are investigating this possibility, according to Mejia.

ROSAMOND —Sheriff’s deputies serving a search warrant on Friday, found a lot more than even they expected.

According to the Kern County Sheriff’s Office, deputies assigned to the Rosamond substation served a search warrant in the 2000 block of Poplar Street in Rosamond on Jan. 10. The warrant was obtained after authorities gathered evidence of suspected illegal drug activity. Upon entering the home, deputies located two 14-year-old female juveniles and 49-year-old Robert Smith, all of Rosamond. Both juveniles and Smith displayed signs of recent drug use, the sheriff’s department said.

A further search of the residence revealed 10 grams of methamphetamine, scales, packaging, ammunition, a billy club, multiple firearms — one of which was stolen — and a grenade within a small cylinder cardboard container on top of the dresser in a bedroom.

A “pineapple” style grenade was found in the house.

The bomb squad was called into action, taking custody of the grenade device, which later was described to be an old military, pineapple-style grenade that was still active.

The juveniles were released to their parents, while Smith was transported to the Kern County Jail and booked on two charges of providing minors with methamphetamine, 20 counts of providing minors with marijuana, possession of an explosive device, possession for sales of methamphetamine, possession of meth for sales while armed, two counts of possession of a billy club, possession of stolen property, felony child endangerment and numerous other narcotics charges.

His bail was set at $895,000.

Read more:

KERO: 2 teens found in home with man, meth, guns, 

The Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff is warning the public about an individual who is impersonating an employee of the Office of the Sheriff.

The scammer, who police say is an unknown man, calls residents in the East Bay claiming to be “Lieutenant Jackson of the Warrant Unit.”

The caller tells listeners that they failed to appear for jury duty or a traffic violation. Unless they pay hundreds of dollars in fines and fees, a warrant will be issued for their arrest, the caller says.

[...]

Read the full story on Danville.Patch.com

Beverly Hills police responded to the 8800 block of Wilshire Boulevard Monday afternoon for a report of a misdemeanor battery involving controversial rapper/producer Kanye West.

According to the BHPD, they responded at approximately 12:15 p.m. The victim and several witnesses identified the suspect involved as West, who left the location prior to police arrival.

[...]

Read the full story on BeverlyHills.Patch.com

LOS ANGELES – Nadya Suleman, who gained fame when she gave birth to octuplets in 2009, is due in court later this week on a welfare-fraud charge for allegedly failing to report nearly $30,000 in earnings from personal appearances and video residuals.

The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office announced Monday that the 38-year-old mother of 14 was charged Jan. 6 with one count of aid by misrepresentation and two counts of perjury by false application for aid.

[...]

Read the full story on AlisoViejo.Patch.com

The California Highway Patrol arrested two Washington residents Thursday afternoon after allegedly finding 30 pounds of marijuana in their vehicle.

A CHP K-9 unit officer patrolling southbound U.S. Highway 101 near Canyon Road in Geyserville saw a Dodge truck with tinted front windows around 2:50 p.m.

When the officer stopped the truck, the driver, Luke Crosthwaite, 32, and passenger, Dulce Encinas, 30, both of Republic, Wash., appeared nervous, CHP officer Jon Sloat said.

[...]

Read the full story on NapaValley.Patch.com

Tony neighborhoods and teen parties aren’t uncommon, but if you’re the host, you may want to keep your guests under control.

A party for about 100-plus teens in an upscale San Juan Capistrano neighborhood Saturday night turned into a melee, with some throwing bottles at Orange County Sheriff’s deputies, the department reports.

[...]

Read the full story on RanchoSantaMargarita.Patch.com

NICE — January 12th. Approximately 10 a.m.

A patrol deputy traveling south on westbound Highway 20 noticed a fellow motorist driving with a broken tail light and dragging a dog leash from the passenger door. Eyebrows went up.

Upon conducting an enforcement stop near Pyle Road, he became acquainted with one Kevin Lord Dirksen (30) of Santa Maria, who came right out and admitted to not having a driver’s license because it was expired and previously suspended. When asked if he was hiding anything illegal in the vehicle, Dirksen said he had about eight ounces of weed stashed in a backpack.

Kevin had a backpack full of weed.

Meanwhile, a records check conducted by Central Dispatch came back with information that Dirksen was on searchable probation out of San Luis Obispo county for sales of a controlled substance, and that his license had been suspended due to his failure to appear in court. Back in 2009, he’d been arrested in Willits on suspicion of possession of a controlled substance (50 grams of hash and .6 grams of meth), possession of concentrated cannabis, and driving on a suspended license.

And check it out, some hash pucks.

The deputy searched the vehicle and found 10.3 ounces of pot, 12.3 ounces of hash, 6.1 ounces of psilocybin mushrooms, and 800 dosage units of LSD. Dirksen mentioned being a sound technician who grows medical marijuana for patients, though he uses it for bartering rather than selling. He went on to explain that he would trade a “puck” of hash — which he claims to have obtained from a friend, as opposed to making himself — for an ounce of processed weed.

Then he said he was borrowing the car and didn’t know there’d been LSD and shrooms hidden within.

And why not… a whole lot of LSD.

Dirksen was arrested for possession of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance for sale, transportation of a controlled substance, possession of concentrated cannabis, possession of more than one ounce of marijuana, and for — all together now — driving on a suspended license. He was taken in and booked at the Lake County Hill Road Correctional Facility on $35,000 bail.

Read more:

Lake County News: Santa Maria man arrested; LSD, hash, marijuana and mushrooms seized

Lake County Sheriff’s Department press release (Nixle)

Willits News: Crime time for August 14 (2009 arrest)

LOS ANGELES – A suspect in a rape that occurred nearly 15 months ago has been arrested with the help of DNA evidence.  The attack occurred on October 27, 2012 at an apartment on the 1500 block of Jellick Avenue.

The intruder entered a 29-year-old woman’s apartment at 6:00 a.m. and beat and raped her.  An investigation that included DNA analysis began immediately. Then, recently, a newly entered suspect in the FBI DNA index caused a “hit.”

This development led to a manhunt for and the arrest of  26-year-old Pablo Reyes Bautista in Atwater Village.  He had also lived in Rowland Heights where the crime had occurred.  According to CBS Los Angeles, Pablo’s twin brother Pedro was arrested for attempted murder, and it was Pedro’s DNA that led to Pablo’s arrest.

Pablo Bautista was charged with rape by force, aggravated mayhem and burglary, with bail set at $1,000,000.

Read More:

LATIMES: DNA evidence yields arrest in 2012 rape case

CBSLA: Twin brother’s DNA leads to man’s arrest in 2012 rape

SanGabrielValley Tribune: Brother’s DNA leads in rape suspect

San Francisco – A man was arrested Sunday after getting into a fender bender with a female police sergeant, and then allegedly punching her in the face.

Joel Henriquez, 37, was in a minor collision with the officer on I-280.

Henriquez and the off-duty officer were discussing the accident on the side of the road when he allegedly hit her.

The officer, who has not been named, fired her gun at the pavement near Henriquez. A bullet fragment hit Henriquez, causing minor injury.

Henriquez refused medical treatment, but was arrested on suspicion of making criminal threats, battery on a police officer, and making threats against an executive officer.

The officer is a 10 plus year veteran of the San Francisco Police Department, according to reports.

Read more:

Contra Costa Times: Man arrested after punching off-duty police sargeant

Celozzi’s residence in Kelseyville was converted into a sophisticated marijuana growing operation.

KELSEYVILLE – What do you do if you were convicted of cultivating marijuana and are serving probation, but still want to grow and sell pot? Perhaps you do some research and find that a lot of people are into drug manufacturing, using and selling 500 miles north in rural Lake County. And if you feel you need to protect yourself, what is better than ninja style throwing stars? That is the strategy 42-year-old James Michael Celozzi apparently used, but it backfired on him in the end, thanks to a tip and the efforts of the Lake Sheriff’s Narcotics Task Force, who have made it their goal to eradicate narcotics use and sales from the county.

The home’s interior was outfitted with lighting, ventilation and irrigation systems.

According to Steve Brooks of the Lake Sheriff’s office, the detectives had received an anonymous tip that marijuana was being grown in a house on Meadow Wood Drive in Kelseyville, a small community on the south west shore of Clear Lake. The resident of the targeted home, Celozzi, was identified as being on felony probation out of Los Angeles. On Wednesday, January 8 at 10:15 am, detectives arrived at the home to find Celozzi on his driveway. He readily admitted to growing marijuana inside the house. The detectives conducted their thorough search, and found a veritable indoor farm. Celozzi had made efficient use of the three bedroom home, filling two of the bedrooms, a bathroom and two closets with a total of 340 marijuana plants at various growth stages. He had extensively remodeled the rooms with lighting, ventilation, insulation and irrigation systems. Additionally there was four pounds of processed pot, digital scales, packaging materials, some un-specified ammunition, and $7,000 in cash. They also found throwing stars, which may look cool to have, but they are considered an illegal lethal weapon.

In addition to growing marijuana, processed pot was also on hand.

Celozzi verified his status as a probationer from L.A., and told the story of how he made a monthly drive down south to meet up with his probation officer to show how he was faithfully adhering to the terms of his sentence. However, he had never shared that he had in fact moved up to Lake County, and all the rest about growing, processing, selling and using all that marijuana. (His terms even forbade his use of medical marijuana.)

Throwing stars come in a variety of shapes and sizes, but all can be deadly.

The Lake County detectives arrested him for cultivation of marijuana, possession of marijuana for sales, being a felon in possession of ammunition, and of course, possession of the throwing stars. The money was seized pending asset forfeiture proceedings as profit from illegal activities. He was booked into the Lake County Hill Road correctional facility. Anyone who wishes to contribute to eradicating drugs in Lake County is encouraged to call in information to the anonymous tip line at 707-263-3663.

Read More:

Lake County News: Probation search leads to arrest; marijuana, throwing stars and $7,000 seized.