SAN BERNARDINO – Law enforcement authorities, including the FBI and two local agencies, hit back at an alleged street gang on Wednesday, arresting four men, recovering weapons and drugs. Early morning raids targeted six residences that reportedly contained members of the “Sur Crazy Ones” (SUR), a gang that is centered in San Bernardino.

According to a press release from Lt. Rich Lawhead of the San Bernardino Police Dept., Ithzel Lopez, 29, Richard Ortega, 23, Javier Palomino, 30, and Jaime Castrellon, 24, were arrested and booked on multiple charges. Lawhead said in a release that San Bernardino police, “continues to take aggressive action to curtail criminal street gang activity within their jurisdictional boundaries.” The synchronized raids, which included San Bernardino Police, San Bernardino Sheriff’s and the FBI were able to confiscate three firearms, including a submachine gun, .40 caliber rifle and a 9mm pistol. Also confiscated was a pound of marijuana.

One week earlier, another raid netted the arrests of over a dozen alleged gang members. Authorities confiscated several handguns, drugs and thousands of dollars in connection with alleged drug trafficking, reportedly across state lines. A 39-page federal indictment led to that raid, targeting a specific gang known as the Gilbert Street Bloods, centered in San Bernardino. FBI sources said that arrests were also made in Arizona and Indiana. Gang members were charged in federal indictments for interstate drug trafficking.

FBI, along with the Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms unit, Drug Enforcement Agency, County Sheriff’s units and San Bernardino Police all took part in those raids, netting 2.5 pounds of methamphetamine, nearly a pound of cocaine, $12,000 and 11 handguns.

In the indictment, investigators outlined inquiries into gang activities that included transcribing telephone calls, text messages between gang members, each related to alleged drug trafficking. Gas stations, fast food restaurants, convenience stores, parking lots and private residences in Fontana, Hesperia and San Bernardino were sites at which transactions reportedly took place, said authorities.

Lopez, Ortega, Palomino and Jaime Castrellon are being held at the West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga.

Read More:

ABC7: San Bernardino gang raids net guns, drugs, 4 arrests

SB Sun: Four suspected gang members arrested, guns confiscated

TULARE – Nearly a year after a home-invasion robbery in a foothills community, a fourth suspect was arrested. The Tulare County Sheriff’s Department arrested 24-year-old Enrique Carrizales over the weekend for his alleged involvement with a home invasion that took place on Feb. 26, 2013 in Badger.

A victim in the home was shot several times during the home invasion. While en-route to the call, deputies saw two vehicles fleeing from the scene of the crime and were able to stop one vehicle. The two men inside the vehicle – Michael Serna and Juventino Rosas of Dinuba – were taken into custody.

The second vehicle did not stop for the deputies and eventually crashed in the Yettem area. Thomas Cuadros of Reedley was then taken into custody.

During the investigation, deputies identified Carrizales and Sonny Delgado as possible suspects. Carrizales remained on the loose until deputies received an anonymous tip through the sheriff’s Tip Now program. Following the tip, the department contacted police in Kent, Wash., who arrested Carrizales on a warrant.

Delgado is still wanted in connection with the investigation.

Read More:

Visalia Times Delta: Orosi man arrested in Washington in connection with shooting

He had Several Weapons behind a barricade

HOLLISTER—The San Benito County Sheriff’s Office arrested 47-year-old Hollister resident Mark Hladky after he tried to lure them into an ambush at his residence on Tevis Trail in Hollister on Friday afternoon.

On Friday, Santa Cruz Communications received a suspicious 911-phone call from a cell phone.  The caller stated that there was a deceased person at his residence.  Dispatchers were able to determine that the call was placed by Hladky’s cell phone located at his residence on 600 block of Tevis Trail.

Police placed Spring Grove Elementary School on lockdown as a precaution, due to the school’s proximity to the incident. No children or staff were in immediate danger.

Hladky built himself a barricade in front of his home on Tevis Trail.

The San Benito County Sheriff’s Office, being familiar with Hladky’s residence, utilized an unmarked vehicle to get a closer look before responding with marked patrol vehicle. San Benito County Sheriff’s Captain Tony Lamonica said, “We have been out to the house on numerous occasions for domestic incidences.”

As the vehicle approached the house, Hladky emerged from a behind a man-made barricade that had been freshly constructed at the edge of the roadway.  The barricade was constructed of sheet metal, spare tires, and multiple wooden telephone poles.  Hladky was wearing military style fatigues with a Kevlar helmet. However, Hladky obeyed the commands of authorities and surrendered peacefully.

In the pockets of his fatigues he had several loaded rifle magazines and a loaded handgun magazine. Police also found behind the barricade two high-powered rifles, one with a scope and the other without. They also confiscated a pump-action shotgun and semi-automatic handgun.

Hladky is listed as a Lecturer for the Naval Postgraduate School.

Hladky is an active member of the armed forces and San Benito County Authorities notified the appropriate division of the armed services.  He was booked into the San Benito County Jail on various felony charges.  He is currently being held without bail.

“We are still in the possess of the investigation trying to determine why he wanted to ambush us” said Captain Lamonica.

Hladky is also a suspect in an on-going criminal investigation from a domestic violence incident that occurred earlier that week.

Read More:

KSBW: 1 arrested while Hollister elementary school on lockdown

Benito Link: Gunman on Tevis Trail Surrenders to Sheriff’s Department

Several Tips Led Police to the Suspect

SANTA CRUZ—Detectives with the Santa Cruz Police Department and the Silicon Valley Internet Crimes Against Children Taskforce have arrested 30-year-old Santa Cruz resident Christopher Lee Schuette after a search of his home revealed thousands of pornographic images of small children.

Agents with the taskforce, which included agents from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, initiated this case after noticing suspicious Internet activity.  Using sophisticated software, detectives were able to pin down the source of the activity.  Santa Cruz Police, who are the liaison for the Taskforce, obtained a search warrant for the suspect’s house.

During the search, detectives discovered multiple USB drives containing thousands of images depicting child pornography.  Many of the images depict toddler-aged children engaged in sexual activity.

“We seized digital evidence as well as printed images from Mr. Schuette’s home.” Santa Cruz Police Deputy Chief Steve Clark wrote,” We are exploring whether or not he was involved in the actual sales of these images.”

Detectives were able to determine that Schuette was uploading the files to the Internet.  Police are looking into Schuette’s previous employment history both locally and out of state to determine if he worked in the childcare industry, or had regular contact with children.  Police believe he may have been looking for similar employment prior to his arrest.

Mr. Schuette was taken into custody on Monday, January 20 and booked into the Santa Cruz County Jail on possession of child pornography charges.  His bail as been set at 5,000.00 dollars.

Read More:

KSBW: Santa Cruz man arrested on child porn charge

ROSAMOND — Deputies arrested a 63-year-old man after discovering a homemade explosive device during a routine traffic stop on Monday evening. Woodrow Randolph of Rosamond was booked into the Kern County Jail on three counts of possession of an explosive device.

According to the Kern County Sheriff’s Office, the incident began when deputies from the Rosamond  substation conducted a traffic stop on Mojave-Tropico Road near Sweetzer Avenue, in Rosamond around 7:30 p.m. on Jan. 27. While deputies were speaking with Randolph, they said they noticed a two-liter soda bottle, which had a fuse sticking out of it. ”The device appeared to be homemade and was located behind the driver’s seat,” sheriff’s spokesperson Ray Pruitt said.

Randolph was immediately removed from his vehicle, and a further search determined the that the device was a “Piccolo Pete Bomb” — an improvised explosive device made from modifying fireworks. Deputies said they also discovered two additional complete “Piccolo Pete Bombs” located in a metal canister in the trunk of the vehicle. ”The bomb squad was then called out to take custody of the devices,” Pruitt added.

Acting on probable cause, investigators obtained a search warrant for Randolph’s residence in the 6000 block of Firmament Avenue in Rosamond, and on Jan. 28, entered his home and discovered two two additional explosive devices, as well as materials used in making them.

Deputies said they also located a small amount of methamphetamine and a smoking pipe.

Read More:

KERO: Police find explosives inside a man’s residence

SAN BERNARDINO – Jurors convicted a former San Bernardino County sheriff’s deputy on multiple counts of unlawful sex with an underage girl, plus another count of possessing child pornography on Wednesday.

Nathan Gastineau, 31, who was charged with 16 counts of unlawful sex – seven additional charges brought during the trial – with a teenage Explorer Scout, could be facing 13 years in state prison, a sentence that is scheduled for Feb. 28. Gastineau met the girl, who was then 15, at the Highland sheriff’s substation in 2010. He was the supervisor of the county sheriff’s Explorer Scout program, an opportunity for youths designed to learn about law enforcement careers. During the trial, the unidentified woman – who is now over 18 – testified that they had sex at his Redlands apartment that averaged once a week from October 2010 to April 2011.

Part of the evidence against Gastineau, who pleaded not guilty, was the discovery of a videotape of the two having sex. On the witness stand, Gastineau admitted to having sex with the girl on just one occasion, when she was 16. The breakdown of the charges included six counts of lewd acts with a child when the girl was 15, 10 counts of unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor when the girl was 16 and one count of possessing child pornography.

Judge William Powell denied Gastineau’s continued freedom on $350,000 bail, instead remanding him to the sheriff’s custody. He will be required to register as a sex offender.
Gastineau’s defense attorney, Andrew Haynal, says he plans an appeal.

During the time leading up to the trial, Gastineau’s bail was increased from $150,000 to $350,000 when another judge was presented with a social media posting in which he wrote about “revenge” and “payback.” (See Huffington Post link for full text.) At the time, Superior court Judge John Martin determined the postings were threatening which led to the increased bail.

Read More:

Press Enterprise: Ex-Highland deputy convicted of sex with teen girl

The Sun: Former Sheriff’s deputy Gastineau guilty on all teen sex charges

Huffington Post: Nathan Gastineau, San Bernardino Sheriff’s Deputy, Pleads Not Guilty

School Officials Received Minor Injures

SALINAS—The Salinas Police Department arrested three known gang members after they entered a High School in east Salinas with the intention to pick a fight.  Arrested were 19-year-old Jesus Perez Rivas, 18-year-old Juan Carlos Ortega and a 16-year old juvenile all were residents of Salinas.

The three known gang members went to Alisal High School with the intention of picking a fight with the first person they saw at the school.  None of the three were students at the school.

A school supervisor in front of the school confronted them but they told the supervisor that they were there to pick up some things from their art class.  When they gained entry to the school the three went up to the first person they saw dressed like a gang member and picked a fight.

Once the fight was broken up, the three began yelling gang slogans, this action caused another fight to break out with a 16-year-old student.  School officials eventually broke up that fight.

Alisal High School, where the three non-students were involved in two fights.

During the two fights two school officials and an Assistant Principal received minor injures.  The Salinas Police arrived at the scene and took Ortega and the juvenile into custody.

Ortega was booked into the Monterey County Jail on charges of fighting on school grounds and battery on school official and several others all with gang enhancements.  The 16-year-old juvenile was booked into Monterey County Juvenile Hall on the same charges, also with gang enhancements.

“We do see non-students go to campuses and try to get through into the school, but this is an usual case where they were met by a campus supervisor and lied their way onto the campus.” Salinas Police Commander Henry Gomez said, “If you remember, we did have the School Resource Officer on campuses, but we had to end that program do to budget cuts and the economy.”

The third suspect, Rivas, fled the scene before the police arrived.  On Saturday, January 25, while in the area of Montana Street on an unrelated incident, officers noticed that Rivas was at the scene.  Rivas was arrested and booked into the Monterey County Jail on the same charges as the other two involved in this incident.

Read More:

KION 46: Third Suspect Arrested for Gang Fight at Alisal High School

LAKEPORT – LAKE COUNTY Over a two day span this week, three people are suspected of a murder and arson at one man’s home, and a brutal carjacking murder in their attempt to get away. Conrad Joseph Velez, 41, and 26-year-old Dahnna Phyllis Burrows, both of Lakeport, and Velez’ 19-year-old son Dakota Joseph Velez are all suspects in the killing of two local men.

A fire at a home on rural Highland Springs Road revealed the first body.

According to Steve Brooks of the Lake County Sheriff’s office, on Monday night at 10:30 pm, units from the Lakeport Fire Department were sent to the 3800 block of Highland Springs Road on a report of a structure fire. The location was the rural area to the south of the main town of Lakeport. By 11:30, with the fire under control, firefighters discovered a body inside the home. The Sheriff’s Major Crimes unit and the County Arson Task Force were called to the scene to investigate.

Investigators determined the body in the home to be 54-year-old William Frank Busch. It appeared that he had died prior to the fire of injuries consistent with homicide. His exact cause of death will be determined by an autopsy scheduled for today, Friday January 31.

On Tuesday morning at 8 am, another fire was reported on Soda Bay Road, 5 miles closer to town and near the shore of Clear Lake. The fire was quickly extinguished by Lakeport Fire, and a check of the vehicle revealed it was owned by William Busch, the deceased victim of the previous night’s murder investigation. Detectives and crime scene investigators processed the burnt vehicle for evidence, and were able to develop several leads and connect Conrad and Dakota Velez and Dahnna Burrows to the incident. Conrad Velez had been arrested just a few weeks prior on December 26 in Kelseyville on a parole violation from past charges of burglary and assault.  It appeared that the car had been taken from Busch’s residence and, like the home, set afire to cover the evidence.

The victim William Busch’s burned car was found on Soda Springs Road.

That same day, at 2:30 pm and nine miles north in Lakeport, at Robin Hill Drive and Lakeshore Blvd., a 911 call reported an assault. The report described a man thrown out of a white SUV, possibly an older model Chevy Suburban. The driver then ran over the man on the ground, and someone then got out of the car and hit the man with an unknown weapon. The assailant then got back in and the SUV left the area. Multiple units responded within three minutes of the report, but the victim died of his injuries shortly after deputies arrived.

Velez and Burrows in Sheriff’s booking photos.

An alert was broadcast to law enforcement about the white SUV, and a search was conducted by Sheriff’s deputies, Highway Patrol, and Lakeport police. Meanwhile, the victim was positively identified as 46-year-old Edward Harry Morgan of Kelseyville. A title in his name was located for a white Chevrolet Tahoe, and the description was broadcast. Morgan’s exact cause of death is also pending an autopsy today.

By that evening, 90 miles south in the city of Napa, Velez and Burrows were doing anything but laying low. Police there had been called out to what was described as a “family disturbance”. It was there that Velez and Burrows were detained, and Morgan’s Chevy Tahoe was found close by. Lake Sheriff’s deputies responded to the reports and took them both into custody. They were brought back to Lake County where they were interviewed, and subsequently arrested. They were booked at the Hill Road Correctional Facility; Burrows charged with murder, carjacking, and assault with a deadly weapon. Velez was charged with parole violations and assault with a deadly weapon. As the investigation continues, additional charges will likely be added on.

Dakota Joseph Velez, Condrad’s son, is also a suspect in the murders and arsons.

Finally, yesterday at 5:20 pm, Dakota Velez was located and arrested on suspicion of murder, joining his father and Burrows in custody at the Hill Road Facility.

Read More:

Lake County News: Three suspects arrested for two Lakeport homicides

The Santa Clara County Regional Auto Theft Task Force in San Jose arrested suspects 38-year-old Eugene Ulysses Moffat and 51-year-old Douglas William Rosen, both of Fresno, under VC 10851  – Vehicle Theft,  PC 496 (d)  – Possession of a Stolen Vehicle, PC 496 (a) – Possession of Stolen Property and PC 446 – Possession of Burglary Tools.

Moffat also has two prior convictions under PC 496 (d), in which he was convicted of possession of a stolen vehicle and possession of a controlled substance under H&SC 11377 (a) out of the California Superior Court, Fresno County.

While in the area of Whispering Hills Circle in San Jose, RATTF Detectives made a possible ID on a stolen 1993 Honda Civic that had been reported a few days earlier. The victims of the stolen vehicle told police that when they entered the Target Store at 1750 Story Road, they returned a short time later to find their car missing.

Moffat and Rosen were caught up with at the Leavesly and San Ysidro exit in Gilroy.

The detectives followed the suspects, Moffett and Rosen, as they drove to the City of Gilroy, exiting the freeway onto Leavesley and San Ysidro Road. RATTF Detectives made a felony stop at the red light, and took both suspects into custody without incident. During the search of the vehicle officers recognized a set of shaved keys used to operate the vehicle. When asked about the car Moffat said he had “got the car from a friend of my sister”. Moffat claimed he got the car this morning from Capitol Ave in San Jose. “The guy’s name was Red,” Moffat told detectives. Moffat then said he had drove around and found a license plate to put on the stolen car. Rosen stated that he heard the car might be stolen, but had no idea if it really was. The vehicle was then towed and removed from the Stolen Vehicle System.

The suspects’ next court appearance is expected on March 20, 2014 at 9:00 AM in Dept. 38 for plea and sentencing.

FRESNO – The president of a local motorcycle club and his son were booked into the Fresno County Jail, thanks to evidence found against them during an investigation into a fatal shooting at their clubhouse. Soul Brothers Motorcycle Club President Michael Taylor, 52, and Joshua Taylor, 30, both of Fresno, were arrested following a search of Michael Taylor’s home in southwest Fresno.

The search was part of the Fresno County Sheriff Department’s investigation into an early morning gunfight that erupted at a party on Oct. 5, 2013 at the Soul Brothers clubhouse in Calwa. The gun battle left 12 people wounded and 18-year-old Dejuan Gladney dead.

Joshua Taylor

The search of Michael Taylor’s home resulted in the confiscation of five assault rifles, three handguns, more than 1,000 rounds of ammunition and several high capacity magazines, according to the sheriff’s department. Michael Taylor was arrested on suspicion of being a felon in possession of firearms, short barrel rifles and ammunition, and Joshua Taylor was arrested for felony probation violations and drug charges. However, the person responsible for Gladney’s death has yet to be identified.

“We’re still looking at who the suspects may be, either from this area or outside this area,” Sheriff Margaret Mims said.

Shortly after the shooting incident last year, the Soul Brothers Club was evicted from its Calwa building. Mims is discouraging them from establishing another club at all in Fresno County, noting that they are “known for their violence.”

“They know that we are watching them, they know that we are onto their illegal activities and they know that we have no tolerance for the violence they commit,” Mims said.

Read More:

ABC30: Fresno Soul Brothers motorcycle club president targeted in gun raid

KMJNOW: Two members of Soul Brothers club arrested

SAN JOSE – On Dec 19 of 2013, 28-year-old Jason Cedrick Arnsworth of Inglewood, 29-year-old Anthony Lyde of Inglewood, and 41-year-old Eugene Robert Hamilton of Los Angeles were arrested for PC 459-460 (b), second degree burglary, PC 530.5 (a), Identity theft, PC 484-e (d), false information on a credit card, and PC 502.6 (b), possession of a re-encoding credit card machine. Hamilton also has three prior convictions under PC 667 (b), and 667.5 (b) for robbery for which he was sentenced in Federal Court for the violent crime and felony possession of a controlled substance.

The three men entered the Macy’s and Nordstrom retail stores located at the Valley Fair Mall on Stevens Creek Blvd in San Jose.  It was found that all three suspects had gone to the mall with the intent to steal clothing items and other luxury goods using fraudulent credit cards that had been altered. Their plan was to try and purchase high end items and then seek a cash return on the goods.

Anthony Lyde (Facebook)

Two black males were identified by Macy’s Loss Prevention employees as having attempted to purchase expensive items using gift cards utilizing numerous cards they had in their possession. When the gift cards were used up, the two black male suspects Lyde and Arnsworth began to try numerous credit cards until one would go through.

When SJPD officers located the two black male suspects leaving Macy’s with Eugene Hamilton, a search of his person revealed he was in possession a California Drivers License, 14 credit cards, and 19 debit and gift cards. Anthony Lyde had in his possession three Mastercards, two Visa cards, one Discover card, two gift cards from Shoe Pavilion, and a California ID card in his name.  When officers requested the SJPD Dispatch run the numbers on the California ID and the numbers turned out to be fake. Macy’s identified Lyde as of purchasing several women’s hand bags from their department using one of the Mastercards. Lyde explained that the California ID was fake so he could get into clubs but didn’t do anything wrong, and that the credit cards were his.

Jason Arnsworth was also identified as using a Visa card at Macy’s to purchase items. Upon searching Arnsworth’s wallet, he was found to have in his possession five Mastercards, four Visa cards, three Macy’s gift cards, two Nordstrom gift cards, one Lowe’s, and a Game Stop gift card. Eugene Hamilton was also found with several credit cards with the last names Hamilton, Arnsworth, and Lyde on them. The total number of forged credit, debit and gift cards totaled 86 between them.

The three suspects were caught passing bad cards at the Valley Fair Mall.

Merchandise that had been purchased from Macy’s was recovered and returned to Macy’s. Further evidence was collected at the scene. SJPD officers discovered more fraudulent credit and debit cards, as well as other merchandise fraudulently purchased from Macy’s and Nordstrom’s. All three suspects were then booked into the Santa Clara Main Jail for second degree burglary, and credit card fraud. Due to the type of crime that was being committed an agent assigned to the REACT task force with the Secret Service was contacted and briefed on the card skimmer and other evidence thought to have been used to fraudulently purchase the merchandise using stolen bank account numbers. The evidence was collected and taken into custody for further discovery on what other purchases may have been made with the fraudulent cards.

On January 16, 2014 a motion was heard in which the defendants requested a bail reduction from $191,000 to $126,000. The next court hearing has been set for plea on Feb 10, 2013 at 9:00 A.M. in Dept. 34.

CALIMESA- On Wednesday, January 29, Sheriff’s investigators arrested William Donald Johnson of Calimesa on a felony warrant for homicide, and his wife Karri Johnson as an accessory after the fact to vehicular manslaughter.

The ultimately fatal collision occurred at Calimesa and Singleton Road

On December 29, 2013 at approximately 12:25 PM, Riverside County Sheriff’s Deputies were called to the scene of a traffic collision near the intersection of Calimesa Blvd and Singleton Road. Deputies discovered bicyclist Phillip Richards, 64 of Beaumont, lying in the roadway with severe injuries. The victim was transported to the hospital where he remained in critical condition.

Witnesses at the scene reported a light green or blue compact four-door vehicle that swerved across the center divider into the bicyclist’s path, hitting the cyclist, and then fleeing the scene. The vehicle was reported to have sustained damage to its front headlight and front left side.

On January 6, a Riverside County Deputy assigned to the city of Calimesa observed a vehicle fitting this description parked in the driveway of a home in the 1200 block of Cherry Lane. The vehicle was towed to the Cabazon station and processed for additional evidence. William Johnson was identified as a suspect in the hit and run and arrested.

A deputy saw the suspect car parked at a home on Cherry Lane, which led to the arrest.

Richards succumbed to his injuries on January 11 and six days later Johnson was rearrested and his charges upgraded to gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and fleeing the scene. Further evidence came to light in the extensive investigation and the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office upgraded Johnson’s charges again, this time to homicide, and issued a warrant.

Johnson was arrested on Wednesday and booked into Smith Correctional Facility with a one million dollar bail. His wife Karri Johnson, 43 of Calimesa was interviewed and believed to be an accessory after the fact. She was also arrested and booked.

Read More:

Banning-Beaumont Patch: Calimesa Man Accused of Hit-and-Run on Bicyclist Critically Injured

Record Gazette: Second arrest made in Beaumont bicyclist’s death

IMPERIAL – A mentally ill man who threatened his neighbors and barricaded himself in his residence was subdued and arrested by law enforcement.

After receiving calls on Wednesday that a man was threatening individuals in the 600 block of Lilac Lane, Imperial police responded to the scene. Neighbors reported that the man, who was between 30 and 40 years old, had startled on woman and entered a residence, threatening the two occupants. According to Police Chief Miguel Colon, the man then returned to his own home where he locked his 85-year-old father out of the house and ignored the demands of officers to come out.

The man was believed to be mentally ill and his father reported that there were several firearms within the home. Police attempted to contact an Imperial County Behavioral Health Service crisis team in to assist with negotiations. However, they were unable to receive assistance.

At one point the man stepped out of the house, but immediately returned inside when he discovered that officers were still waiting outside. A K9 officer with the California Highway Patrol was released in order to subdue the man and was able to restrain him with only a minor bite.

The confrontation happened about a block from TL Waggoner Elementary School

The suspect was taken into custody and transported to El Centro Regional Medical Center. At this time, officers confiscated the firearms in the home. According to Colon, the new expansion of California gun laws required seizure of the weapons because of the proximity to a mentally ill individual. It is unlikely that the weapons will be released back to the owner.

While charges were written up of the suspect, Colon was doubtful that they would be filed based on the man’s mental status. As of Wednesday afternoon, authorities were attempting to locate a secure mental facility where the man could find treatment.

Read More:

Imperial Valley Press: Mentally ill man in police standoff near school

SANTA ROSA – On Saturday the Sonoma County Human Trafficking Task Force conducted an operation targeting men loitering with the intent to solicit prostitution. According to a Sheriff’s Office press release, the results were ten men, ages from 26 to 62, arrested and charged with solicitation. The men arrested were:

• Javier Oseguera – 41
• Jesse Lindsey – 34
• Bernardo Ramirez-Sanchez – 41
• Donato Rojas – 26
• Issac Hastings – 41
• Miguel Merino – 37
• Douglas Puetz – 62
• Kareem Moore – 27
• Christopher Crofts – 32
• Carmine Marroquin – 26, who was also charged with attempting to engage in a sexual act with a minor.

Carmine Marroquin was one of 10 men arrested in the latest sweep (Facebook)

The agencies conducting this operation under the umbrella of the County Human Trafficking Task force is quite a list as well, and include in law enforcement:

• Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office
• Santa Rosa Police Department Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Unit
• Petaluma Police Department
• Rohnert Park Department of Public Safety
• Sonoma County District Attorney’s Office
• Federal Homeland Security

Non-law enforcement organizations participating include:

• Soroptimist International Windsor
• Verity
• Crossing the Jordan
• Sonoma County Family Youth & Child Services
• Human Rights Commission
• Sonoma County Public Health
• Junior League of Napa-Sonoma
• SAY (Social Advocates for Youth)
• Redwood Children’s Center
• Commission for Status of Women

The group’s stated goal is to work collaboratively to combat human trafficking and exploitation of young children in the community. The task force, in recognition of January being the National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month, held a rally at the Santa Rosa Courthouse on Wednesday January 15. They have been trying to raise awareness of the dangers of human trafficking, and that children as young as 12 to 14 years old are commonly the victims lured in. The rally featured speakers such as District Attorney Jill Ravitch, County Supervisor Shirlee Zane, and others including law enforcement and victims of trafficking.

Read More:

Sonoma Index Tribune: Human trafficking rally sheds light on sex slavery

Fillmore - Ventura County authorities, reacting to the heightened methamphetamine sales activities plaguing local communities in recent months, have been focusing lately upon large-scale interdiction efforts with the avowed objective of interrupting the flow of contraband narcotics into the area, and specifically targeting the primary illegal sources.

Those efforts proved productive in the late-night hours of January 30^th, when, according to Ventura County Sheriff’s Department spokesman Sgt. M. Horne, “Sheriff’s narcotics detectives completed a 7-month investigation” and arrested Carlos Beltran, 36, a Fillmore resident, and charged him with possession of methamphetamine for sale.

Beltran was not, apparently, your garden-variety local street dealer, but is suspected of being a major importer of methamphetamine from suppliers in Mexico, and of being a primary conduit of transport across the border and directly into Ventura County.  Horne reported to the media that the investigation began in June of 2013 when “detectives received information of a large scale methamphetamine dealer operating in the City of Fillmore.”  Pursuant to that unnamed source, VCSD Narcotics Bureau Deputies, working in concert with the United States Drug Enforcement Administration, “identified Beltran as a person involved” in the importation of the drugs across international borders and into Southern California.

It was close to midnight on the 30^th when VCSD investigators, officers from the Oxnard Police Department, and DEA detectives served a search warrant upon Beltran’s residence, discovered 3 pounds of methamphetamine valued in excess of $80,000, and placed him under arrest.  Beltran was transported to Ventura County Main Jail where he remains in custody with no bail set at this time.

Read more:

SespeSun: Meth dealer arrested in Fillmore

KTLA: Fillmore man arrested in meth bust

REDLANDS – Police arrested a girl scout leader who is suspected of embezzling $5,000 from a Moreno Valley Girl Scout troop.

Redlands police served search warrant at the Menifee home of Michelle Marie Villa, 26, who was arrested on Jan. 23. Alleging that she purchased a computer and printer, groceries, athletic gear and various craft supplies with the troop’s debit card, a news release said she purchased the items between July 2012 and July 2013. Villa, who is also known as Michelle Sanchez, is expected to appear in court sometime this week, according to officials.

Police spokesman Carl Baker said detectives recovered evidence of the crime at her home on the 29000 block of Fenwick Circle in Menifee, which is located in neighboring Riverside County. The crime was reported in December.

Villa had been in charge of her troop for about one year. There were about seven girls in her troop. The Council reports that every leader undergoes a thorough background check. There are over 1,000 troops, some 4,000 adult volunteers and 11,500 girls that are part of the Girl Scouts.

The Girl Scouts of the San Gorgonio Council, which is headquartered in Redlands, received reports of the possible crime. Saying it “investigates all reports of misconduct by its leaders,” the Council reported, “if the findings warrant it and its believed a crime has been committed, the Council reports the alleged crime to the appropriate law enforcement agencies and cooperates fully with their investigation.” The Council, which says it closely monitors the finances of its thousand troops, has replaced the missing funds, “and would do so in every instance of theft,” according to a release. “Girl Scouts of San Gorgonio Council will never allow girls to suffer a financial loss due to a crime.”

Villa was released on a $50,000 bond.

Read More:

ABC7: Menifee Girl Scout leader accused of embezzling $5,000 from troop

SELMA – Two men who tried to steal beer from a mini-mart led sheriff’s deputies on a high-speed chase before crashing their car and being caught on foot.

Around 2 a.m. on Monday in the 12000 block of Highland Avenue in Selma, the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office got a report of two men attempting to steal beer from a mini-mart. Witnesses told deputies that the men took off in a white pickup truck. The witnesses also provided the truck’s license plate number.

Deputies spotted the truck not long later and attempted to pull it over. The driver refused and instead sped into a neighborhood going more than 60 mph. The truck then crashed into a fence in the front yard of a home on East Dinuba Avenue. Two men got out of the truck and tried to run away, but deputies quickly apprehended them.

A search of the truck revealed a lock pick set and other tools used in vehicle thefts, as well as methamphetamine and a machete, according to the sheriff’s department.

The driver, 35-year-old Juan Torres, was charged with driving under the influence. His passenger, 26-year-old Andres Preciado, was charged with burglary.

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Fresno Bee: Would-be beer thieves caught after high-speed chase

HAWTHORNE, CA—What should one expect when tempted with a video game scenario?

Juan Angel Arias, 26, was picked up by Hawthorne police on Saturday, January 25 at approximately 8:15 p.m.

The Torrance resident, who lives on the  22400 block of Normandie Avenue, was arrested along the 13500 block of Chadron in Hawthorne for “grand theft auto,” “tak[ing a] vehicle without owning it” and “buying or receiving stolen motor vehicles, trailers, special construction equipment or vessels.” Bail was set at $25,000 for each of the three charges. The 5’5″, 170-lb. man had no priors listed.

Arias described himself as a mechanic, which leads one to wonder what he would have done with all those vehicles if he were a armored truck security guard with a license to carry a firearm.

Santa Barbara - Proving the truth of the lyrics to Huey Lewis’ 1985 song “Power of Love” (The power of love is a curious thing…It don’t need money, don’t take fame, Don’t need no credit card to ride this train, It’s strong and it’s sudden and it’s cruel…that’s the power of love), two Santa Barbara men stand accused of a late night violent sexual assault that allegedly occurred on October 23, 2013 at one of the accused’s residence.

According to Santa Barbara Police Department Public Information Officer Sgt. Riley Harwood, investigation pursuant to the 28 year-old female victim’s report of a forcible rape indicates that on the night in question, she was at the suspect’s residence with another female, both of whom were enjoying brewed libations in the company of Ubaldo De La Cruz-Gonzalez, 29, and Carlos Rojas-Villafana, 43.   The other female abruptly departed, “leaving the victim with the suspects,” Harwood reported.  Shortly thereafter, “the victim attempted to leave but was prevented from doing so and was forcefully and repeatedly sexually assaulted” for a period of some nine hours.

Ubaldo De La Cruz Gonzalez

It was not until the following morning, after the victim convinced her assailants that “she needed to be at work”, that they released her.  Immediately upon her release, the victim reported the assault in person at Santa Barbara Police Department Headquarters, whereupon an investigation immediately ensued, which—over the next three months–involved a forensic medical examination, the collection of additional physical and testimonial evidence, and surveillance on the residence of the suspects.

Pursuant to that surveillance, both De La Cruz-Gonzalez and Rojas-Villafana were identified, and on January 24, 2014, both suspects were contacted by SBPD Detective Brian Larson, taken into custody, and summarily transported to Santa Barbara County Jail where they were booked on charges of rape by force, oral copulation by force, penetration with a foreign object by force, assault with intent to commit rape, and sexual battery upon a restrained person.  Both men are currently held in custody on $100,000 bail each.

Photos: Courtesy Santa Barbara County Jail Booking

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