A Pollock Pines resident was arrested after an about 14 hour stand-off with officers from the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office and SWAT team, according to an official press release.

Michael James Sevo, 33, was reportedly arrested and booked into the El Dorado County Jail on multiple charges including resisting arrest, criminal threats, brandishing a deadly weapon, battery, assault with a deadly weapon, one misdemeanor warrant and two felony warrants.

According to the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office, on January 11, 2014, at approximately 3:19pm, officers responded to a Pollock Pines residence for an argument between family members. The family members reportedly alleged Sevo had threatened to kill them and had brandished a knife during the argument.

Happier times? Michael Sevo from his Facebook page.

After the family reportedly ran out of the residence, Sevo remained inside. Deputies reportedly were unable to make contact with Sevo, resulting in officers from the Crisis Response Unit coming to the scene. The Unit reportedly includes officers from Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT), the Crisis Negotiation Team (CNT) and Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD).

SWAT reportedly maintained a perimeter around the home, as CNT attempted to make contact with SEVO, and EOD attempted to contact Sevo using a robot. After reportedly receiving no response, SWAT entered the residence and at approximately 5:31 am found Sevo hiding underneath the residence, where he was taken into custody without incident.

Read More:

Folsom Telegraph: Pollock Pines man facing assault charges after standoff

SANTA ROSA — On December 31st around 2 a.m., police received a call reporting shots fired at an apartment complex on Piner Road. Upon arrival, deputies discovered 20-year-old local Damien Wadell Toney Jr. on the ground with bullet wounds to his torso and arm. Though treated by medical personnel at the scene and transported to Memorial Hospital, he later succumbed to his injuries.

A crime scene was established where he’d been found and a search was underway. While no suspects were immediately identified, witnesses recounted that the shots seemed to have followed some sort of dispute.

Apartment complex at Piner Road — Santa Rosa

Later that same day, a 15-year-old male juvenile, who was later identified as Joseph Mario Varela of Santa Rosa, was arrested and booked for Damien’s murder. The dispute in question had apparently began at a nearby party and continued outside, at which point the suspect drew a gun, fired, and immediately ran and hid at the nearby home of an acquaintance.

Varela will be charged as an adult in this case due to the seriousness of the offense, and his use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. While details are still being gathered, the gun believed to have been used in the shooting was recovered during the investigation. Anyone with more information relating to the case are encouraged to contact the Santa Rosa Police Department Violent Crimes Investigation Team at (707) 543 – 3590.

Read more:

SFGate: Man shot to death in Santa Rosa

SantaRosa.Patch.com: Police Say 15-Year-Old Shot and Killed Man in Santa Rosa

KTVU: Teen charged as adult in Santa Rosa New Year’s Eve slaying

Ken Kiunke contributed to this article

WINDSOR – SONOMA COUNTY – A cargo truck doesn’t make the best getaway car, as 37-year-old Ryan Lester Hughes found out when he tried to burglarize a commercial building last night, Thursday the 16th.

A call came in at 10 pm from a security company monitoring a closed commercial business on Lystra Court. According to the Sonoma Sheriff’s Office, their deputies, along with Windsor Police responded to the report of a video alarm, in which the security office observed a man inside the building. As deputies arrived at the location, they saw a cargo truck on the way out. They tried to stop the truck, but the driver went on. Deputies pursued, but the chase didn’t last long.

Just a couple of blocks from the business area and into a residential neighborhood, the truck ran into a stop sign, at Airport Blvd.and Fraught Road. The deputies saw the driver leave the truck and run into the apartments nearby. They established a perimeter to prevent his escape, and located the man hiding in the apartment grounds. They told him to give up peacefully, but he would have none of that. He resisted every effort they made to take him into custody, fighting with two of them, and at one point reaching into the waistband of his pants. They soon overcame him, and found a loaded handgun that he had tried to pull on the officers.

The burglary happened in a closed business on Lystra Ct.

The two deputies involved in the fight, along with Hughes himself, suffered injuries in the altercation and were all treated at local hospitals. All were released from treatment, and Hughes was booked at the Sonoma County Jail on charges of Battery on a peace officer, resisting arrest, being a felon in possession of a firearm, carrying and concealing a loaded firearm, evading, burglary, vehicle theft, and possession of burglary tools. He also had an outstanding felony warrant. His bail has been set at $330,000.

SAN BERNARDINO – A pair of San Bernardino police officers who shot a robbery suspect believed to be armed in December 2011, were ruled to have acted justifiably by a district attorney’s report on Thursday.

Two years after the shooting of Nicholas Henry Jeter, 23, on Dec. 26, 2011, officers Roberto Retamoza and Jose Vasquez had opened fire on Jeter outside a 7-Eleven convenience market.
The shooting occurred just after Jeter had stolen cigarettes, lighters and beer, according to the report that was released. Dispatchers were told in a 911 emergency call that Jeter had a gun and, possibly, a knife, when he was robbing the convenience store at 207 West Highland Ave. in San Bernardino.

Jeter, who underwent emergency surgery, survived six gunshot wounds in various parts of his body. “Jeter dropped the 18-packs of beer and put his hands to his waist area,” according to the report. “The officers saw what they believed was a handgun in Jeter’s hand and believed Jeter was about to shoot them.” Eight shots were fired, six striking Jeter in the lower abdomen and his right hand. The report concluded that Jeter failed to obey officers’ directions to stop and raise his hands.

Seven months after the incident, Jeter pleaded guilty to one count of robbery, sentenced to two years in prison.
No weapons were discovered at the scene with video surveillance tapes verifying that it was likely that officers and the convenience store clerk had believed Jeter had a weapon.
Said the report: “The (erroneous) observation of a gun in the hand is because of the fact that the suspect had a black sock on each hand.”
Another observation is that the suspect “simulated a handgun with his hand inside the blacks sock at the time of the robbery.”
The report’s conclusion is that officers reacted with deadly force “in the honest and reasonable belief that there was imminent danger that Jeter would kill him or another person, or cause … great bodily injury. Therefore, the use of deadly force was legally justifiable.”

Read More:

San Bernardino Sun: DA finds non-fatal officer-involved shooting legally justified

Press Enterprise: Officers justifiably shot robbery suspect

TEHACHAPI — A 29-year-old Panorama City man was arrested in Tehachapi on Wednesday morning after trying to pass counterfeit bills at a local convenience store.

Tony Ross, a Los Angeles County parolee, was taken into custody by Tehachapi police officers after he allegedly attempted to use fake $50 bills to make a purchase at the Four Seasons Mini Mart on East Tehachapi Boulevard .

Officers said that that around 9 a.m. on Jan. 15, they were flagged down by a  clerk at the mini mart who pointed out Ross who, when he spotted officers, tried to hide the evidence by shoveling four of the fake bills into his mouth before being taken into custody.

Read more:

Tehachapi News: Man arrested for attempting to use counterfeit bills

KXXV: Man tries to get rid of counterfeit bills by eating them

BAKERSFIELD — A routine traffic stop ended with two felons in custody after one of them led police on a high speed chase through streets of Bakersfield on Thursday morning.

According to the Bakersfield Police Department, the incident began when a an off-duty officer tried to pull over a vehicle on Truxtun Avenue around 7:30  a.m. on January 16. The  passenger, 23-year-old  Daniel Peckboth surrendered to police, but the driver Philip Hildago fled the scene on foot. A couple of blocks away, Hildalgo then carjacked a gardening truck with a trailer, pushing one of the owners of the truck to the ground.

Police said, Hildago then led them on a chase through central Bakersfield, throwing gardening tools from the trailer into the road along the way. The chase eventually merged on to Highway 99, and ended on Golden State Avenue when police said the truck broke down.

After Hildago was arrested, police said they found a firearm located in the alley where he was seen running way from the initial traffic stop. Officers also said when they apprehended Hildalgo they found ammunition on him that was consistent with the confiscated gun.

Hildago was taken to the Kern County Jail and booked on charges of felony evading, resisting arrest, carjacking, possession of a controlled substance, an ex-felon in possession of a firearm/ammunition and various other firearms related charges. Peckboth was booked for violation of probation. The owner of the truck suffered unknown injuries.

Read more:

KERO: Suspect steals gardening truck, spilling equipment during high speed chase

TEHACHAPI  — Police have arrested a Tehachapi woman for driving a stolen vehicle on Thursday morning.

Victoria Rojas, 24, was taken into custody and booked into the Kern County Jail Central Receiving Facility on charges of possession of a stolen vehicle, driving without a license and possession of marijuana. She is currently being held on $21,885 bail.

According to the Tehachapi Police Department, the incident began when offices where called to a report that Rojas was asking for money from truck drivers at the Love’s Travel Stop around 4:30 a.m. on Jan. 16.  But before officers arrived, Rojas had left the truck stop, and according to witnesses was last seen traveling westbound on Highway 58. However, just a short time later, an officer spotted Rojas at a Fastrip on the corner of Tucker Road and Valley Boulevard, just a few miles away.

Police then said that Rojas got back onto Tucker, traveling at a high rate of speed, eventually merging onto westbound on Highway 58 towards Bakersfield. After a short distance she was pulled over by the officer on Broom Road. When the officer ran the license plate of the 2000 Ford Windstar van Rojas was driving, records indicated the vehicle was stolen from Bakersfield.

Rojas was taken into custody at around 5 a.m.

Read more:

Tehachapi News: TPD arrest woman in possession of stolen vehicle

BAKERSFIELD — The search for a suspect accused of killing a 23-old man in the parking lot of a store in December ended on Wednesday with one in custody.

According to the Kern County Sheriff’s Department, investigators with the Sheriff’s Special Investigations Division and Gang Suppression Section were able to locate and arrest 57-year-old Ronald Burchett at around 2:30 p.m. on Jan. 15 near the Kern River in Oildale. Burchett had eluded police for nearly a month after being sought for the fatal stabbing of Steven Corpe on Dec. 18, 2013 at about 8 p.m. in the parking lot of the Dollar General Store located at 111 Roberts Lane in Oildale.

Deputies said when they arrived on scene the night of the stabbing, they found Corpe suffering from a wound to the chest area. He was taken by ambulance to Kern Medical Center where he died a short time later.

Through the course of their investigation, detectives were able to develop enough evidence to obtain an arrest warrant for Burchett. He was booked at the Kern County Jail on one charge of murder.

Read more:

KERO:  Man arrested in connection with killing

SAN JOSE-The San Jose Police Department announced this week their capture of a wanted suspect in the City’s 41^st homicide of 2013 that occurred on November 15 near the 1600 block of West San Carlos Street and Dana Avenue in San Jose. The victim was 20-year-old Pedro Meza Hernandez of San Jose, who was pronounced dead at 8:55 pm on that Friday night. It is believed that the motive for the murder was gang related.

According to Officer Albert Morales with the San Jose Police Department “On Friday, January 10th, 2014, San Jose Police, with the assistance from the Fortuna Police Department, arrested 20 year old Andrew Daniel Rodriguez for an outstanding arrest warrant, charging him with murder”. Rodriguez was booked into the Humboldt County Jail pending extradition to Santa Clara County.

Preliminary sketch and booking photo of arson suspect William Patrick Brennan.

Another arrest of a criminal who struck fear in the hearts of residents was that of a suspected serial arsonist. Sergeant Heather Randol with the San Jose Police Department said, “On January 15, 2014 at approximately 8:10 P.M., the San Jose Police Department arrested Patrick William Brennan of San Jose as the person responsible for setting a series of fires in San Jose.”  Brennan’s fire spree began on January 8 and ended on January 12, when police began to close in on the possible arson suspect. 

Video:  Arson Suspect Identified by the San Jose Fire Department and San Jose Police

Brennan was booked into Santa Clara County’s Main Jail on two counts of arson.  A bail hearing was set, and Brennan is now awaiting his next court hearing while being held on a one-million dollar bail Ramey warrant.  It is expected that Brennan will face 12 possible counts of felony arson after the District Attorney’s Office and San Jose Fire Investigators were able to piece together the six-day attack on downtown San Jose residences. (A Ramey warrant allows a law enforcement officer to initiate an arrest of a suspect prior to a court hearing.)

Two homes and a large warehouse fire were just some of the structures that Brennan burned down.  He is thought to have first struck near his mobile home, where the San Jose Fire Dept. located two possible fires. 

San Jose Fire Dept at a home fire. The department was kept busy by Brennan’s recent activities.

One area was burned along a fence line, with the second fire igniting a portable classroom behind Greater St. John Baptist Church located at 1230 East San Antonio Street. Brennan returned in the week to try and burn the portable classroom completely to the ground after failing the first time to successfully burn down the structure. On Friday Jan 10 around 3:30 am, four additional fires were located and extinguished by residents and neighbors taking hoses to the burning debris, that included a porch fire located near 24th and Peach Street.  Within minutes after the first fire was found, a second fire was located near East San Fernando Street, and a third fire was found burning near 28th and San Antonio Street.  Brennan had apparently tried to start a fourth fire in the area, but never actually set that one.      

On Saturday Jan 11, at around 4:20 am, Brennan was seen running from a house fire at North 17th Street & 797 East St John Street that was announced as the 11^th intentionally set fire by him. Brennan also targeted East Williams Street and Julian, with others reaching as far as 33rd Street, with five single family homes being targeted by the suspect. A 5-alarm warehouse fire, that burned more than five businesses located at 1325 Julian Street, destroyed the 125,000-square-foot building at 5:37 a.m. on January 9. Fire Investigators later determined that the fire was intentionally set, and is now being considered a part of twelve separate fires reported to have been intentionally set by the suspect.

Read More:

Los Gatos Patch: Update: Serial Arson Suspect Arrested

San Jose Mercury News: Convicted arsonist and sex offender blamed for string of fires

Photos: Humboldt County Sheriff, Amy Nilson, Santa Clara County Sheriff, Amy Nilson

SALTON CITY-  A suspected narcotics smuggler was caught with 34 pounds of methamphetamine and arrested at the Highway 86 checkpoint on Wednesday.

On January 15 at approximately 5:30 a.m., Border patrol agents stopped a gray 1994 Jeep Cherokee at the checkpoint in Salton City. The vehicle was inspected by a Border Patrol Canine Detection Team and the dogs alerted to the scent of drugs. At this time the vehicle was referred to a secondary inspection.

A thorough inspection of the vehicle revealed a tremendous amount of drugs. According to court documents, agents found 32 packages containing a total of about 34 pounds of methamphetamine with an estimated street value of $670,080. U.S. citizen David Gonzalez, 44 of Mexicali, was identified as the driver.

Border Patrol agents stopped the vehicle and allowed a canine to inspect it.

Gonzalez was read his rights and immediately after was said to have confessed to the crime. He explained that he had been paid $3,000 to drive the vehicle across the border. He understood that he was transporting narcotics and was instructed to bring them from Mexicali to a Greyhound station in Indio. Once at the station, Gonzalez was instructed to abandon the vehicle, leaving the keys in the vehicle’s gas cap compartment so that it could be retrieved. At this time, he was supposed to take a bus and return to Mexico, according to the court complaint.

Gonzalez was taken into custody and, along with the vehicle and narcotics, was turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration for further investigation.

LAKE ELSINORE  – Officers called to investigate an assault shot and killed the suspect after he attempted to run them down with his vehicle.

Officers from the Lake Elsinore Police Department were called to investigate an assault with a deadly weapon incident on Thursday, January 16 around 6:00 p.m. Officers were informed that the suspect was driving a gold-colored Ford Crown Victoria, and given a partial license plate number.

Nearly two hours later, an officer from the Lake Elsinore Police Department recognized what was believed to be the suspect’s vehicle parked at a business on the 18400 block of Dexter Avenue, Lake Elsinore. There were two people inside of the vehicle. At this time, the officer called for backup.

When other officers arrived, they approached the vehicle and commanded the driver to exit the vehicle. The suspect ignored the officer’s demands and started the vehicle, refusing to turn off the engine. At this time, he shifted the car in reverse and headed straight for the officers.

The suspect’s vehicle ran over an officer’s foot while he was attempting to move out of the path of the vehicle. In response, four officers fired at the vehicle, killing the suspect. The female passenger was not injured, and was questioned and released.

The injured officer was treated at the scene. No other officers sustained injuries. All were placed on paid administrative leave per department policy. Investigators from the Lake Elsinore Sheriff’s Station and the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department Central Homicide Unit responded and assumed the investigation.

The Sheriff’s Department requests that anyone who may have information regarding this incident call Investigator Cole at the Riverside Sheriff’s Central Homicide Unit, 951-955-2777 or Investigator Schell at the Lake Elsinore Sheriff’s Station, 951-245-3300.

Read More:

Lake Elsinore-Wildomar Patch: Deputies Fatally Wound Suspect In Lake Elsinore

HAWTHORNE, CA—Wherever the wind blows, you may find her—so long as it’s not blowing in court.

Karla Muro, 23, was arrested by Hawthorne police for possession of a controlled substance. She was picked up on Friday, January 10 at about 12:45 a.m. along the 4300 block of Century Blvd in Inglewood.

A Hawthorne police spokesperson would not state why Hawthorne police were deep in Inglewood.

Muro, however, has been around. She has five warrants with Los Angeles County Sheriff’s department, one of which is “loitering with the intent to prostitute” and then four “failure[s] to appear.” The prostitution warrant will set her back $30,000 while each of the “failure…” bails were $561.

Long Beach police had a warrant on her for battery ($2,000 bail) and Los Angeles police had issued a “failure to appear” for $560.

It is unknown if the Inglewood resident has calculated how many dates she will have to engage to pay off all the warrants.

LAMONT — A man caught stealing bees worth $40,000 in the small rural town of Lamont in Kern County is behind bars on Thursday

Gabino Jordan Pena, 32 was booked into the Kern County Sheriff’s Office Central Receiving Facility on charges of  possession of stolen property, possession of stolen property with altered identification marks and destruction of evidence.

His bail is set at $15,000.

According the sheriff’s department, Pena allegedly stole approximately 256 beehives in boxes and several other empty beehive boxes from United Honeybees.

Officials said the company recovered their property and called authorities to a location in the 6100 block of Panama Lane for the recovery of the stolen bees on Jan. 18.

During their investigation, deputies from the Lamont substation learned that Pena  was in possession of beehives.

Subsequently, the Rural crime Investigation Unit conducted follow-up investigation and located additional victims.

The investigation is on-going.

Read more:

KERO: Police say man stole 256 beehives worth an estimated $40,000

LAKE COUNTY – The week may have seemed like a slow one for the Lake County Sheriff’s Narcotics Task force. After all, the previous week saw several high profile arrests and cases come to fruition. But a high speed chase on Wednesday livened things up bit.

Last week, however, started with the arrest on Sunday, January 12 of Kevin Lord Dirkson, a 30-year-old Santa Maria resident, who was caught with a suspended licence, hashish “pucks”, psilocybin mushrooms and LSD. He also had a broken tail light and dog leash hanging from his car door, as if he wanted to draw attention to himself as he passed through the town of Nice. On Tuesday that week, a search warrant served at a home on Boren Bega Drive in Kelseyville revealed the house converted entirely to growing marijuana inside, complete with drying room, cloning room, vegetation room, and a storage and processing area. They eradicated 216 plants and seized evidence to continue their investigation. No arrests were made at that time, but the investigation continues.

75-year-old Robert Harold Goldsmith was the oldest of the arrested marijuana farmers last week.

Thursday was especially busy, first with the serving of search warrants at two residences of 75-year-old Robert Harold Goldsmith; one on Black Oak Drive in Loch Lomond, and one on Rosa Trail in Kelseyville. Both homes had been converted into sophisticated marijuana growing operations, with over 1200 marijuana plants, 25 pounds of processed marijuana, and six firearms seized, along with the arrest of Goldman. $3,693.00 was collected and is pending asset forfeiture proceedings. And that afternoon at 2:20, a warrant was also served at a home on Bachelor Valley Road in Witter Springs, where 29-year-old Christopher John Caruso was arrested at his residence, which also had been converted to a marijuana factory. Detectives found 48 pounds of processed marijuana, 263 marijuana plants, along with scales and packing materials. 30-year-old Rachel Ann Gregg of Kelseyville was there, but not arrested at the time.

Ulises Sanavia proclaimed the benefits of showering with marijuana when arrested.

The week concluded Friday with a warrant served at a property on Palmer Avenue in Clearlake. When detectives appeared at 6:30 in the evening, the two men, 52-year-old Agustin Padilla Ochoa and 32-year-old Ulises Sanavia ran out the backdoor. They didn’t get far and were both detained as detectives found large black bags of processed marijuana and a duffle bag full as well. The two men disputed some of the facts of the case – Ochoa said he was just dropping to sell his 5 pounds to a “Jose” who was coming by. Sanavia said that Ochoa is paid $500 a month to live there. Sanvia also claimed that he doesn’t smoke marijuana, but uses about two pounds to “rub on his body each time he takes a shower.” Both men were arrested  for possession of marijuana for sale and resisting arrest.

All of the arrested suspects last week were booked into Lake County’s Hill Road Correctional center, according to a series of press releases from Steve Brooks, the Sheriff’s public information officer. However, no new announcements came from the department this week, until yesterday evening.

According to Brooks, on Wednesday evening at about 5 pm, detectives from the Narcotics Task Force were driving on the Nice-Lucerne Cutoff Road, a winding road along the north shore of Clear Lake, just to the west of the small community of Nice. A white Mazda RX-8 was in front of them, and proceeded to blow through a stop sign, and then pass another car by going over the double yellow lines into oncoming traffic. Detectives activated their emergency lights and siren to attempt to stop the car, but saw that the driver instead accelerated. The driver reached speeds of up to 95 miles per hour as he negotiated the curving road, continuing to cross the lines and pass other cars.

A blue Jolly Rancher candy bag was tossed out of the car, and the detectives noted the location so they could either find evidence, or add littering to the charges they would soon be writing up. The car continued into Nice, reaching the roundabout at the Highway 20 intersection, continuing across to Pyle Road. the car stopped at the end of Pyle Road, where it turns into a dirt road. The driver, 55-year-old Randall Wayne Ford from Ukiah, was immediately detained, along with his two young companions, 28-year-old Jenna Jo Hatcher from Redwood Valley and 29-year-old Anthony Aguilar Grayson from Ukiah. Redwood Valley and Ukiah are about 30 miles away in neighboring Mendocino County.

Randall Ford and his friends showed why they were so eager to escape when evidences was pulled from the car.

Detectives located the discarded Jolly Rancher bag, which to no surprise contained methamphetamine – about 3 ounces. Perhaps not having time to ditch the rest of their stash, the detectives located in the Mazda almost 100 grams of processed marijuana and 35.5 grams of honey oil – concentrated cannabis extracted from marijuana for inhalation or smoking with an extra kick.

Ford was arrested and charged with evading a peace officer, possession of a controlled substance for sale, concentrated cannabis, concentrated cannabis for sale, and drug paraphernilia. His younger companions were charged with possession of controlled substances and concentrated cannabis. Even with a comparatively light week, the Narcotics Task Force continues under their goal of eradicating narcotics from the county and seizing profits from drug trafficking. Based on their history, especially last week, they won’t run out of cases to pursue any time soon.

Read More:

Lake County News: Three arrested following Wednesday pursuit; meth, marijuana seized

BAKERSFIELD — A 26-year-old convicted felon and known gang member was arrested on Thursday for violation his probation.

Nolberto Quintero was booked into the Kern County Sheriff’s Central Receiving Facility on charges of  possession of a firearm and ammunition by prohibited person, possession of narcotics for the purpose of sale and participation in a criminal street gang.

According to officials, Quintero was taken into custody after deputies from the Sheriff’s Gang Suppression Section went to a residence in the 400 block of Oswell Street on Jan. 23, to conduct a probation search.

During their search of the residence, deputies said they located a loaded .25 caliber semi-automatic handgun and a loaded .380 caliber semi-automatic handgun.

Deputies also said they located over 18 grams of suspected methamphetamine and paraphernalia that led them to suspect that Quintero was selling the drug.

REEDLEY – Three suspects, one only 14 years old, have been arrested in connection to a shooting on Wednesday that left a 14-year-old victim fighting for his life in the hospital.

The Reedley Police Department announced the arrest of 20-year-old Jose Agauyo, 23-year-old Jose Padilla and a 14-year-old unidentified Reedley resident. The suspects are all Reedley gang members and have been charged with attempted homicide with a gang enhancement.

The shooting happened around 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday at North Avenue and Hollywood Drive, just east of Reedley High School. The teenage victim, who was riding his bicycle and was with at least three other teenage boys, was shot once in the upper torso.

Police say that an adult passenger in a black Chevrolet Impala was the one who fired the gun. They have not revealed whether Aguayo or Padillo is the alleged shooter.

Jose Padilla

The Impala fled the scene, but officers soon spotted it and pursued the car for about 10 miles. The chase ended near Avenue 408 and Road 48 in TulareCounty and two of the suspects were taken into custody. The third suspect tried to flee on foot but was caught a half hour later in a field.

Reedley police say that the victim and the 14-year-old suspect are both students in an off-campus, alternative education program. The victim is believed to be a gang associate, but not a validated gang member.

The victim is in critical condition at Community Regional Medical Center in Fresno.

Read More:

ABC30: 3 arrested in Reedley shooting

Fresno Bee: Three suspects arrested in shooting of teen in Reedley

SOUTH BAY – On December 17, 2013 the United Postal Service Inspector contacted the Santa Clara District Attorney’s Office. 42-year-old Janelle Louise Orlando and 25-year-old Teddie Alexis Fox where identified as suspects in several acts, including violation of PC 530.5 (c) (3) – identity theft. Other charges include the possession of a blank check, under PC 475 (b) – counterfeit or forgery.  Orlando and Fox were also found to be in possession of stolen access cards (such as ATM cards), violations under PC 484E (A), (C) and (D), using stolen identification of four different individuals. On December 16, 2013 the Postal Inspectors of Silicon Valley REACT Task Force Agents determined that had accumulated over 100 documents “containing personal identifying information”.

A probation and parole check of their residence was made at a motel located at 1510 The Alameda in San Jose. The search of their rooms revealed numerous documents, printers, cellphones, photocopies of United States currency, computers, and a Sensormatic device for demagnetizing security tags that could be used at retail stores.

Orlando agreed to waive her rights under a form known as Form 167 Warning and Waiver. Orlando denied having any knowledge of any wrong doing by anyone involved in possible identity theft or fraud. When investigators told her the charges of counterfeiting U.S. currency Orlando blurted out, “Janelle already admitted the computer was hers”. Orlando was found to be in possession of return receipts for new clothing items that had been returned to Nordstroms. It was suspected that the clothing had been stolen and then returned for cash.

Janelle Louise Orlando

However, Fox requested that she have an attorney present when she was questioned. When Investigators searched her backpack they found fake U.S. currency that looked real, but were actually photocopies. Fox said she didn’t know how it got there, and asked the investigator to give her a break. However, Fox has a history of being charged with counterfeiting U.S. currency.

The victims of the identity theft and mail theft are currently being identified and contacted in order to determine if they had given any permission to possess their mail and or personal information that may have since been used to commit fraud. In the search investigators discovered multiple notes regarding fraudulent carding websites, with other website information collected about the victims. It appeared that stolen pieces of mail were from addresses located in the South Bay.

Their next court appearance is expected to be heard at the Superior Hall of Justice in San Jose in Dept 34 on Feb 21, 2014 at 9:00 AM.  Fox has been released on $25,000 bail, however Orlando has a no-bail hold and is currently being housed in the Elmwood Women’s Facility located in the City of Milpitas, CA.

Read More:

Santa Cruz Sentinel (2010) Police arrest identify theft suspects

Photos: Facebook

Isla Vista - As we all know, there’s no accounting for the musical tastes of others, but apparently it’s not only senior citizen drivers who are sensitive to the chest-pounding thump-thump-ka-thump music emanating from the powerful after-market speakers of vehicles driven by their younger counterparts; sometimes even the cops find the music so loud as to qualify as a code violation.

Such was the case on January 17^th when Officers of the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Isla Vista Foot Patrol pulled over the car driven Julius Perdomo, 25, with the intention of  simply citing him for excessively amplified music.  But when the traffic stop was under way, “Perdomo was found to be in possession of almost one pound of marijuana,” as reported to SBSD Public Information Officer Kelly Hoover.  With that discovery, the interest of the deputies was undoubtedly heightened, and when additional evidence of an enterprise involving the sales of narcotics was revealed, Perdomo was taken into custody.

Sarah Pet

The field investigation of Perdomo indicated that his live-in girlfriend and he occupied a nearby apartment residence, which soon led to the issuance of a warrant for a search of those premises.  Wasting little time, Deputies then served the warrant and, as reported by Hoover, “discovered 58 pounds of processes marijuana, one pound of psilocybin mushrooms, and 42 grams of concentrated cannabis.”  Perdomo’s girlfriend, Sarah Pet, 23, was at home at the time and was herself promptly taken into custody.

Perhaps inspired by the trove of illegal drugs to which Perdomo’s loud music had taken them to, Detectives pursued and served additional warrants of Perdomo’s bank accounts, and later discovered cash on hand totaling $127,000, all of which was seized and taken into evidence while Perdomo and Pet were transported to Santa Barbara County Jail on charges of criminal conspiracy, possession of marijuana for sale and possession of psilocybin mushrooms for sale.  Perdomo’s bail was set at $30,000, while Pet was released on her own recognizance “pending her court date,” Hoover said.

Photos: Courtesy Santa Barbara County Sheriff, Santa Barbara County Jail Booking

The confiscated drugs…..

Read more:

Independent: Isla Vista couple arrested on drug sale charges

KCOY: Two arrested in Isla Vista for allegedly trying to sell drugs

A 42-year-old Santa Barbara resident has been arrested on suspicion of molesting a high school girl.

Officers arrested Florentino Miranda after a tip from child welfare services prompted an investigation. The victim, who was younger than 14 at the time of the crime, is reportedly a family member.

The investigation, which included interviewing the victim at her high school, yielded enough evidence for officers to obtain a search warrant for Miranda’s arrest.

He was booked outside his home on Wednesday evening. Investigators say he confessed to the crime.

Read more:

EDHAT: Child Molestation Arrest 

Noozhawk: SB man jailed on molestation charges

SAN JOSE STATE UNIVERSITY – 59-year-old Lynn Mary Tringali was arrested for petty theft by the San Jose State University Police under PC 666 (a), and for damages resulting in less than four-hundred dollars, under PC 459 (a)/(b)(2)(A) . Tringali was also charged with possession of burglary tools for using bolt cutters to cut a bicycle lock.

For many students attending the University, riding a bicycle to school is a pretty standard form of transportation. But the San Jose State University Transportation Solutions (TS), with the Associated Students, provides an “Eco Pass” sticker for all enrolled students affixed to the SJSU ID, which provides unlimited rides on all VTA buses and light rail lines. The program was originally started to help reduce traffic impacts by students driving to and from campus.

John Huang, a freshman attending SJSU said, “For me I wouldn’t think anything about it”. Huang said, “I drive to the light rail and then walk to campus”. Huang said, “For me the bike is too bulky.” “I would use a long board before I use a bike!” Huang said.

San Jose State University campus

TS now operates six bike enclosures requiring a key to enter the area. However the enclosures only hold 417 bikes. To provide alternatives for the demand, the University has also placed bike racks throughout the campus near adjoining classrooms. Because of the number of homeless people using the Martin Luther King Jr. Library, without the proper locks, a bike thief could easily steal your bike.

Tringali’s next court appearance has been scheduled for Feb 7, 2014 at 1:40 PM in Dept. 34. Because this is not the first time Tringali has found herself in trouble with the law, it is expected that she may find herself doing some serious jail time for her actions. During her detainment by Library Security she gave officers a false name, a violation under PC 148.9 as she sought to hide her identity from officers because of her prior history with police. Tringali was also found with a crack pipe in her possession, which may give a clue to her strange behavior.

Photos: Amy Nilson; Google Maps