FRESNO – Police are on the lookout for a man they say is connected to a series of robberies by men who are stealing backpacks and purses female students near Roosevelt High School.

Police have already arrested two men, identified as Anthony Eason and Ray Bacerra, in connection to the case. They are now looking for a third suspect, 19-year-old Terry Bowlin, who is described as 5 feet, 10 inches tall and weighing 140 pounds.

Between March 17 and 19, a group of four men targeted Hispanic girls between the ages of 12 and 16 in southeast Fresno as they were walking home from either Roosevelt High School or nearby elementary schools, authorities say. During the five robberies, the suspects stole jewelry, purses, backpacks and cell phones. Eason and Bacerra were arrested following a traffic stop of a vehicle that matched a description provided by witnesses of the vehicle involved in the robberies.

Roosevelt High School — Fresno

Anyone with information about Bowlin’s whereabouts or the robberies is asked to call police detective Donnie Dinnell at (559) 621-6334 or Crime Stoppers at (559) 498-STOP.

Read more:

The Fresno Bee: Men robbing female students near Roosevelt High, Fresno police say

SAN BERNARDINO – Police said the shooter who killed a man at a party had been among those mingling inside the home early Sunday morning.

Deandre Williams, 27, of Rialto was shot to death at 1:20 a.m. on the 5500 block of North Osborne Court, but police said they have no clues to the identity of the man who shot him. San Bernardino Police spokesman Gary Robertson said, “We don’t have an argument, we don’t have hand gestures, we don’t have any problems at the party before this shooting.”

On Monday, San Bernardino investigators discovered that Williams was a documented member of a Rialto-based gang. Rialto is a city located about 10 miles from San Bernardino. Police are still trying to track down the shooter’s identity, along with a motive for the attack. Witnesses from the party that numbered approximately 100 people told police little that would help disclose motives or identity of the suspected shooter.

Since Williams is a documented gang member, police have not ruled out it was a gang-related shooting. The unknown suspect, said Lt. Rich Lawhead in a release, is a black male estimated to be in his 20s.

Police, who said there were about eight people milling around in front of the residence at the time of the shooting, suspect that the shooter was an uninvited guest. The shooting occurred about one mile from the California State University campus.

This is the ninth homicide in San Bernardino in 2014.

Read more:

CBSLA: Rialto man fatally shot at San Bernardino house party

KTLA: Victim ID’d in fatal party shooting

BAKERSFIELD — Two gang members were arrested after deputies discovered several weapons and illegal drugs during the execution of a search warrant in central Bakersfield on Thursday.

Roy Chavez, 23, and 28-year-old Rolando Chavez were booked into the Kern County Jail’s Central Receiving Facility.

Roy Chavez is facing multiple weapons and narcotic charges including, possession of a firearm and ammunition by a felon, possession of hashish possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of sale and participation of a criminal street gang. Rolando Chavez was charged with being under the influence of a controlled substance.

Roy and Rolando Chavez were arrested here

According to the Kern County Sheriff’s Office, gang unit deputies went to residence in the 1900 block of  Tulare Street in Bakersfield on March 21, at approximately 5 p.m., to serve a warrant. While serving the warrant deputies located a sawed off shotgun, a Remington 700 rifle, several rounds of ammunition, one and a quarter ounces of methamphetamine, a gram of hashish and a Taser.

Read more:

KERO: KCSO gang unit deputies seize meth and two firearms

SACRAMENTO—The Sacramento Police Department arrested Bryan Thomas, 23, on Sunday, March 23 for murder, related to a homicide that occurred late Friday/early Saturday in the 300 Block of River Bend Circle in Sacramento. The neighborhood is just south and east of the Highway 50 and Interstate 5 interchange near the City Cemetery in an area known as Upper Land Park.

At approximately 1:33 a.m. on March 22, officers responded to reports that a man had been shot. Upon their arrival, officers discovered a 21-year-old male victim suffering from multiple gunshot injuries. He was transported to an area hospital where he later died.

A preliminary investigation revealed that the victim had been shot inside an apartment during a house party. The partygoers, including the suspect, fled the apartment after the shooting.

Sacramento Police Homicide and Gang Detectives followed up with leads, which led them to last night’s arrest. On Sunday at approximately 8:33 p.m., Thomas was taken into custody at an apartment complex in the 2200 block of Gateway Oaks Drive in central western Sacramento. Detectives and officers surrounded the residence where Thomas was located and requested Sacramento Police SWAT to respond to initiate contact.

The SWAT team responded to the Harbor Oaks apartments to apprehend Thomas.

Approximately two hours after the first attempts to contact Thomas were made, he finally came out, surrendered and was taken into custody by awaiting SWAT officers.

“Because of the shooting, the potential of a weapon involved in this arrest was high,” said Officer Michele Gigante, spokesperson for the Sacramento Police Department.

Police said they did not have a motive or know the relationship between Thomas and the victim, who was later identified as Davon Brown, a 21-year-old Sacramento man. It was also not clear whether the victim lived at the River Bend Circle apartment complex or if he was just a party goer. Both homicide and gang detectives are involved in this case.

“We’re still actively investigating this situation,” said Gigante.

Read More:

Celebrity Examiner: Man Shot and Killed Saturday Identified

WASCO — Two men that led deputies on a pursuit through the streets of Wasco on Monday are behind bars.

Both were booked into the Kern County Jail.

Carlos Guadalupe Torres-Samano was arrested on charges of resisting arrest, and Juan Alvarado for evading a peace officer, possessing narcotics for sales, possessing a controlled substance for sales, transporting a controlled substance, possessing drug paraphernalia, driving with a suspended license and fleeing the scene of an accident.

According to the Kern County Sheriff’s Office, the incident began when a deputy conducted a traffic stop on a blue Chevy Impala in the area of Poplar Avenue and 4th Street in Wasco on March 24.

“When the deputy approached the vehicle, the suspects fled the scene,” Ray Pruitt, spokesperson for the sheriff’s department said. “The deputy did have time however, to recognized the driver as Juan Alvarado, who had two outstanding felony warrants out for his arrest.”

Pruitt said a vehicle pursuit ensued through the streets of downtown Wasco, then through almond orchards and pistachio orchards, onto westbound Highway 46, and eventually back into the city.

The pursuit ended when Alvarado crashed his vehicle.

Alvarado and his passenger Torres-Samano, then jumped from the vehicle and fled the scene of the crash, leading deputies on a short foot pursuit, before being taken into custody near Palm Avenue School.

LAKE ELSINORE – A man in a stolen tractor leads law enforcement in a slow speed chase ending in the driver’s arrest.

Under the cover of darkness in the midnight hour and into the early hours of Monday, March 24, a farm equipment bandit attempted to make a getaway. According to Sergeant Nathan Kass, the thief’s attempt at escape was thwarted when a Riverside County deputy sheriff spotted a Caterpillar Skid Steer Tractor rumbling down a public roadway near Highway 74 and Dexter Avenue. While it was strange enough to see a tractor on the move in the darkness, the vehicle was also running with no lights. This made it a danger to other vehicular traffic as well as a mystery.  Deputies attempted to conduct an enforcement stop on the farm vehicle, but the driver continued to trundle eastbound on Highway 74.

Apparently, hoping to lose his tail by going off trail, the driver maneuvered onto Conard Avenue and 3rd Street, back to Highway 74 and to El Toro Cutoff. The Sheriff’s helicopter was called in to aid the chase, but the driver was still optimistic about escaping. He plowed the Caterpillar through three fences in an attempt at evasion.

Realizing his escape would be fruitless, German Avalos, a 25-year-old resident of Perris, abandoned the tractor. Authorities were then able to find the man on foot, who was arrested a short time later. Avalos was arrested on suspicion of auto theft, receiving stolen property and evading law enforcement and booked into the Southwest Detention Center and held in lieu of $100,000 bail, jail records state.

Anyone with information on this case is encouraged to contact Deputy James Martinez or Sergeant Nathan Kaas at the Lake Elsinore Sheriff’s Station by calling 951-245-3300.

Read More:

Press Enterprise: Man steals tractor, tries to evade helicopter

DILLON BEACH, MARIN COUNTY – 56-year-old Ken Patrick Neville was arrested last Thursday for the shooting death of 19-year-old Stachaun Jackson at his Dillon Beach trailer home. Another 53-year-old man at the scene was detained initially and questioned, but later released.

Lawson’s Landing at Dillon Beach is a fishing and boating resort located at the mouth of Tomales Bay on the Northern California coast, 50 miles north of San Francisco in Marin County. Just to the north is Bodega Bay, famous as the location for the Alfred Hitchcock movie “The Birds”. The beach resort has numerous camping and boating options available, including trailer and motor home facilities. Neville listed his permanent address as the campground, and was apparently living there in a trailer.

Early Thursday morning, March 20, the Marin Sheriff’s office received a 911 call about a domestic disturbance at a trailer in the Lawson’s Landing site at 2:30 am. According to Lt. Jamie Scardina of the Sheriff’s Office, deputies were informed on the way there that someone had been shot. Medical personnel also responded, and found 19-year-old Stachaun Jackson dead on the scene from a gunshot wound to the chest.

A satellite view of Dillon Beach at Tomales Bay. The white shapes are RV’s camping.

It also appears that for the past year, Jackson had been living in the trailer, at least intermittently, with Neville and the other unidentified man. Lt. Scardina reported that there had been at least two prior disturbance calls at the site, one in February and another sometime last summer.

Other permanent residents reported to KTVU television that Jackson was friendly and was often seen walking a dog on the premises, or offering to help out. The exact relationship between the 3 men was not specified by the sheriff’s report, however the Marin Independent Journal has reported the Jackson was the third unidentified man’s lover. They also report that the man did not witness the shooting, and that Ken Neville had asked the Sheriff to keep Jackson away after the previous disturbance.

Neville was arrested and booked at the Marin County Jail on charges of murder. The investigation is ongoing, and anyone with additional information is encouraged to call the Sheriff’s office at 415-479-2311. Anonymous tips can be given to Bay Area Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS.

Read More:

Marin Independent Journal: Dillon Beach man accused of murdering housemate’s19-year-old lover

SFGate: Teen killed at Dillon Beach identified

SALINAS – An incident from last Sunday involving a driver who caused a California Highway Patrol Officer to collide into his car, and then fall off of her patrol motorcycle and suffer injuries, has led to the identification of a man involved in at least two armed robberies, and was shot to death by police last Thursday.

In a press conference today, Highway Patrol Captain William Perlstein, Salinas Police Chief Kelly McMillin, and Commander Vince Maiorana explained to media representatives the series of events that investigators were able to piece together.

The initial reports of the CHP officer’s collision reported a gray Acura involved. The driver, while being pursued by officer Leann Gamble abruptly stopped in front of her, causing her to lose control and collide with the car, while she was ejected from her motorcycle. She saw the man in the car look at her before he sped away. CHP investigators, however, were able to identify the car, which turned out to be a Chevrolet Traverse registered to a woman in the U.S. Air Force and stationed in Germany. They contacted the woman’s father, Angel M. Ruiz, about the car. He told them the car wasn’t there, and that his daughter had loaned it to a friend last year. He didn’t know who that friend was.

The Burger King where Ruiz is thought to have committed armed robbery.

CHP Captain Perlstein went on to say that neighbors of Ruiz told the investigators that the car had been at his home on Oyster Bay Court the day before the incident, and one witness claimed to have followed him home that day as well.

As reported by the Salinas Californian, Perlstein related other evidence connecting Ruiz to the suspect car and collision with the officer. Video surveillance was found showing Ruiz at a local gas station filling the car up, while he also purchased a bottle of vodka and several Red Bulls just an hour prior to the incident.

Earlier that same morning, at 10:15 am, an armed robbery occurred at the Burger King on Sanborn Road. While that investigation is still in progress, Commander Maiorana told reporters that Ruiz is now considered to be tied to that incident as well.

Once investigators positively identified Ruiz as their suspect, at least in the collision, they made an attempt to arrest him, but he was no longer available. Family member described his as distraught, and investigators became concerned that he may become a danger to himself and others. That turned out to be very true four days later.

Ruiz collided with the CHP officer in this stretch of freeway in Prunedale

On Thursday evening police were called to the Jack-in-the-Box restaurant at 975 North Main Street on reports of an armed robbery. The accounts of a man robbing employees and patrons were verified by video surveillance, which showed the man, who turned out to be Ruiz, using a black handgun in the robbery. Commander Maiorana said that “We noticed that Mr. Ruiz actually held the gun to some of the employees’ heads and actually inserted the gun into one of the employee’s mouth as he was trying to rob the Jack-in-the-Box.” That night the CHP and Salinas Police investigators were able to tie the events together as likely all involving the same suspect.

Ruiz’s final stop was an armed robbery at the Salinas Wing Stop

They didn’t have to wait long for the next step, as reports came in at 9:51 that night of an armed robbery in progress at the Wing Stop restaurant on Constitution Blvd. Police arrived and stationed themselves outside the building. When Ruiz came out, officers order him to stop, put his hands up, and lie on the ground.  Maiorana reported that Ruiz did not comply, instead lifting his sweatshirt, which revealed a black handgun in his waistband. A police dog on the scene charged at him, and Ruiz pulled the weapon, first deflecting the dog, and then pointing it towards the officers. Three officers fired on him then, and Ruiz was pronounced dead at the scene.

As it turned out, the weapon Ruiz used in the robberies and pointed at officers was a replica Airsoft Pistol, and though virtually harmless to his victims, it turned out to be deadly for him as these weapons are often indistinguishable from the real thing, especially from a distance and at night. The officers, per protocol, we placed on paid administrative leave, though surveillance video was said to corroborate their account of the shooting.

Ruiz was said to have been charged in 10 criminal cases in the past twelve years, including an arrest in December of possession of a controlled substance and being under the influence.

Read More:

Salinas Californian: Man fatally shot by Salinas PD police ID’d

CrimeVoice: CHP Officer Recovering From Intentional Accident

SONOMA – The Daly City police had issued a warrant for the arrest of Christina Marie Pruitt one year ago, in March 2013. The 57-year-old was wanted for felony financial elder abuse in a case the San Francisco Bay Area police detectives had investigated. However, they had lost contact with her, and she remained on their wanted list. She had been living in Los Gatos, south of Daly City in Santa Clara County.

In September the detectives learned that Pruitt had taken up residence in Sonoma, and according to the Sonoma Sheriff’s office, they contacted the Sonoma County Property Crimes unit to ask for their assistance in apprehending her. Their only lead being her address at a condominium in the La Mancha complex, on La Mancha Way and Riverside Drive, the detectives tried several times to try to locate her, but she never appeared to be home. They interviewed neighbors, who said they had not seen her in a long time. The detectives suspected she had gone back into hiding. They asked neighbors to contact them if they saw Pruitt back at the address.

On Monday this week, a resident finally saw Pruitt at the condo, and called the Sheriff’s office. Deputies came to the location and saw that Pruitt’s car was parked there in the driveway, and approaching the unit, heard her television on inside. Deputies knocked on the door, identifying themselves, but were met with silence, even more so when the TV was turned off. As she refused to come out, deputies wanted to go in, but the warrant they had for her did not include the current address of the La Mancha condo.

The detectives had to patiently obtain a new warrant with her current address, which was granted. They were able to enter the unlocked front door, and found Pruitt inside, hiding in the bedroom. They arrested the woman, who lists her current occupation as chauffeur, and booked her at the Sonoma County Jail for the outstanding warrant, with bail set at $50,000. They notified Daly City police, and she should be transferred to San Mateo County soon.

EL CENTRO – According to a Coroner’s report, an El Centro man who died in the back of a squad car, ingested a lethal amount of methamphetamine.

On Thursday, the Imperial County Coroner’s Office released the toxicology results on Charles Sampson, Sr., 58, whose death occurred on Dec. 3 following his arrest. The report ruled that the death was caused by acute methamphetamine intoxication which was exacerbated by a heart condition. There is also video and audio footage of the scene, which was examined by the Coroner’s Office, but this is not available to the public due to a pending lawsuit.

Sampson was pulled over by officers on his way to a convenience store on Dec. 3 at which time police stated they discovered a shotgun and a pipe used for methamphetamine in his vehicle. Sampson was on probation after being convicted of scrap metal theft. Officers detained the man in the back of their vehicle, while they searched his home for further probation violations.

The search took several hours.  According to the coroner’s report, the camera footage inside the police vehicle shows Sampson place an item in his mouth and proceeded to chew and swallow it. Family members reported that Sampson exhibits signs of duress and claim that the officers did not respond to their requests for medical attention.

Officers found no further evidence at Sampson’s home and at approximately 8:30 p.m., he was transported to the El Centro Police Department for booking. According to police he was offered medical attention at the station, but declined it. He continued to exhibit signs of duress and police requested to take him to El Centro Medical Center for medical clearance before booking into jail. Sampson became quiet just before arrival at the hospital and once in the parking lot, officers discovered he had no pulse. He was pronounced dead by hospital medical staff at 9:52 p.m.

Sampson’s family has filed a wrongful death claim.

Read More:

IVPressOnline: Family raises concerns about in-custody death

IVPress: El Centro police in-custody death details emerge

It’s funny how something worth up to $10,000.00 and filled with a lifetime of memories and sentimental value can be traded for just $30 cash. Especially by someone trusted into the home of the owner.

A Kelseyville man reported to the Lake County Sheriff’s office that his wife’s wedding ring was missing, and he suspected it had been stolen. The ring, he reported to deputies, had been purchased sixty years ago, in 1954, for $1,000.00. He estimated that it was probably worth 8 to 10 times that amount now. The ring is platinum and holds three diamonds.

He had taken it from his wife for safekeeping six weeks prior when she was admitted to the hospital. He said he had placed it on a shelf in the kitchen, and remembered seeing it three weeks ago. He didn’t notice it was missing, however, until Saturday, March 15 when he wanted to bring it to his wife so she could wear it when she was released from the hospital and came home. He contacted the Sheriff’s office then, and they came to investigate at 9 pm that evening.

According to Steve Brooks of the Sheriff’s office, the man told the deputies that the only people who had been in his house during that time were his grandchildren and a neighbor named Cesar, who does part time work for him, including some work in the kitchen. He didn’t know Cesar’s last name, but said he lives down the street and gave them his phone number. A check of the database in the Sheriff’s office identified Cesar Chavez Barba as a Kelseyville resident who had the same number. The Sheriff’s office also checked their system and found that Barba had pawned a ring just over a week before, on Thursday, March 6.

California law requires pawn brokers to file daily reports to their local law enforcement agency of their transactions, whether they are buying items outright, or holding them as loan collateral. The report must contain the name and address of the seller or “pledger”, and a copy of the person’s valid ID. They also collect a fingerprint and a signed certification that they are the lawful owner of the property, or authorized by the owner to use it as collateral. The broker is also required to hold property for at least 30 days after receiving it, whether they bought it or were not repaid for the loan.

A Platinum engagement ring – this one only sells for $2300.

By Tuesday, March 18, the investigating deputy had located the original pawn slip for the ring he had sold for $30.00, which included his thumb print, drivers license number, and date of birth. The deputy asked the shop owner to place a hold on the ring while further identification was made. The deputy showed the victim a picture of the pawn shop ring, and he positively identified it as his wife’s missing wedding ring. It was collected from the pawn broker to be returned to the couple.

On Monday of this week at 10:45 am, deputies contacted Cesar Barba and showed him a picture of the ring from the pawn shop, asking if he recognized it. Barba initially said no, he didn’t know anything about it. Pressed with the overwhelming evidence that he knew a lot about it, he finally admitted that he had pawned the ring for 30 bucks, but claimed that he had simply found it on the couple’s driveway while he was drunk.

Barba was booked at the Hill Road Correctional facility on charges of grand theft, with the additional charge of theft of an elder, since the victims were over 65 years old. He is in custody with bail set at $15,000. He also owes the pawn shop $30.

The Placer County Sheriff’s Office reportedly arrested a suicidal man after a pursuit and vehicle crash that ended in Colfax, according to an official press release.

Joel Foster Bumgarner, 38, of Auburn was reportedly arrested and charged with assault with a deadly weapon, driving under the influence, evading, vandalism and resisting arrest. He bail was reportedly set at $100,000.

According to Placer County Sheriff, on Monday, March 24 at 5:41 pm, a caller to the Sheriff’s 911 dispatch center reported Bumgarner had taken pills, was drinking alcohol, and had driven away from his Auburn home. A deputy reportedly spotted Bumgarner on Bowman Road and attempted to stop him, however, the suspect proceeded onto eastbound Interstate 80, on which he reportedly drove between 50-75 miles per hour, and then exited at Colfax.

From there, Bumgarner reportedly drove at high speeds down South Canyon Way, running a stop sign and turning onto a cul-de-sac. At Sierra RV Center on South Canyon Way, the suspect reportedly crashed into a parked fifth wheel trailer and his vehicle became stuck. Bumgarner reportedly tried to dislodge his vehicle by ramming a patrol car and four additional fifth wheel trailers. One trailer was reportedly pushed into a metal building and a PG&E box was damaged.

Bumgarner caused havoc at the Sierra RV center at the end of the chase.

Bumgarner then reportedly left his car and started to walk away, refusing to stop as ordered. A deputy then reportedly applied his Taser to Bumgarner, who was then taken into custody, following by a local hospital due to the medication he had reportedly ingested.

AUBURN – The Placer County Sheriff’s Office reportedly arrested a homeless man after he tried to run from officers on a stolen motorcycle, according to an official press release.

Auburn transient Daniel Joseph Hubanks, 33, was reportedly arrested, booked into the Placer County Jail, and charged with stealing a vehicle, possession of a large concealed fixed-blade knife, possession of stolen property, and resisting arrest. His bail was reportedly set at $130,000.

According to Placer County Sheriff, on Monday, March 24 at 11:45 am, Hubanks was riding a dirt bike without a helmet when a deputy on foot near Chana High School on Richardson Drive yelled at him to stop. Hubanks reportedly failed to stop and deputies came to the area to search for him.

Hubanks was found on a stolen dirt bike in the area near Chana High School.

An unmarked car with two Sheriff’s lieutenants and a captain reportedly joined the search, and they spotted the suspect riding through a nearby yard. As Hubanks reportedly got back on the roadway and the unmarked car turned on its lights and sirens to initiate a stop, the suspect’s bike ran out of gas. Hubanks reportedly dropped the bike and ran, and the two lieutenants ran after him. After jumping a drainage canal, Hubanks reportedly surrendered at gunpoint with the two lieutenants right behind him.

The bike — a 2005 Honda 450x — was reportedly returned to its owner.

A rivalry going back several years led to a shooting Saturday night and the arrest of a Santa Rosa gang member and his teenage girlfriend.

At just before 10 pm Saturday, March 22, a hail of gunfire struck a car with one man near the Santa Rosa Fire Station at Corporate Center Way near Circadian Way. Calls came into police reporting the gunfire and the sound of speeding vehicles near Fresno Avenue and Northpoint Parkway, a few blocks from the shooting. Officers found the 21-year-old victim in his car suffering from one bullet wound to the leg of the several that had struck the car. He told them that two people in another car had shot at him and sped away.

The assailants had apparently fled quickly, but fearing the car may have been seen at the shooting, ditched it a few blocks away. Police found the vehicle, but no suspects or weapons were located at the time. The car was impounded, while the gunshot victim was treated at a local hospital for what were called non life threatening injuries. According to a Santa Rosa Police press release, detectives with the Gang Crimes Investigation Team and Violent Crimes Investigation Team took on the case.

The detectives working on available evidence, including the abandoned car, developed a possible suspect in 20-year-old Leonard James Roubidoux. They believed Roubidoux had shot the other man over a years-old grudge between the two of them. The wanted man was spotted yesterday walking on West Third Street near the JX Wilson Elementary School with a 17-year-old girl, who is apparently his girlfriend. It is believed that she was the second person in the car when the shooting occurred. Both of them were taken into custody. Roubidoux was previously arrested in 2012 with 4 others in a drug selling operation dealing in rock cocaine and prescription medications. He was booked then for possession of a controlled substance without a prescription.

Roublidoux was arrested Tuesday and charged with attempted murder, and the girl, not named because she is a minor, was charged with being an accessory to the crime. Gang enhancements were added to both charges, as they are believed to be associated with a criminal street gang. She was sent to juvenile hall while Roubidoux was booked into the Sonoma County Jail. The investigation is ongoing, and anyone with additional information is asked to call Detective Crespan at 707-543-3670.

The Mountain View Police Department reported on Tuesday, March 25 the arrest of twelve teenagers with two young adults after the Mountain View Fire Department and Police Department responded to 1747 Fordham Way after reports of a 2-alarm fire at a home on Sunday morning, March 16 .

The residents were out of the country in New Zealand when the home was taken over as a club house by several teens and college students.  The single-family home fire was started by three teens who were unable to stop the blaze during a Saturday night house party that had gotten out of control.

According to the Mountain View PD, “Since March 17th, detectives began to serve multiple search warrants at residences in Mountain View and Los Altos resulting in the arrest of twelve (12) juveniles and two (2) adults”.

18-year-old Brandon Pak, and 18-year-old Gilbert Gomes face felony charges as adults.  Those charges include Burglary under PC 459/460(a), and Child Endangerment (Penal Code 273a (a). Brandon Pak also faces charges of providing Marijuana to Juveniles under the Health and Safety Code 11361(b).

The fire caused major damage to the Fordham Way home.

Investigation revealed that on March 7, the young teens had begun having several large parties that went un-reported by neighbors.  It is also suspected that several teens and adults at the party were drinking and using drugs at the time of the incident.  According to the MVPD, “On the morning of March 16th, three juveniles started a fire inside the residence which they were unable to extinguish”.

With the arrest of fourteen individuals, it is expected that there may be others involved in the destruction of property and other damage created by the rebel party goers.

Read More:

CBS SF Bay Area: Teen Partiers Suspected In Mountain View House Fire, 14 Arrested

San Jose Mercury News: Mountain View house set on fire during wild party while owner was gone, police say

Suspect Was Also Wanted In Numerous Robberies In The City

SALINAS—The California Highway Patrol of Monterey County were able to locate their suspect in an earlier Hit and Run accident that involved one of their Motor Officers.  Following many leads, the investigation revealed that the suspected vehicle was actually a 2011 Chevrolet Traverse, grey in color with a license plate of 6PAG608 driven by 42-year-old Salinas resident Angel Ruiz.

As the CHP were closing in on their suspect and obtaining an arrest warrant for Ruiz.  They received information that the Salinas Police killed Ruiz on Sunday March 21.  At this the CHP, still has not recovered the vehicle used in the Hit and Run.

On Friday afternoon, 2:07 p.m., The Salinas Police responded to the Wing Stop restaurant located on Constitution Boulevard on a report of a suspicious person in the parking lot seen with a handgun.

When Officers arrived, they quickly identified and contacted Ruiz in the parking lot.  As they challenged him to show his hands he lifted his shirt and brandished a handgun at the Officers.  Fearing that Ruiz was going to shoot, officers shot Ruiz resulting in his death at the scene.

“If you follow the order of events, it is clear that Mr. Ruiz has some significant emotional issue prior to and up to the shooting.” Salinas Police Commander Vincent Maiorana said in the press conference.

The three Salinas Police Officers involved in the shooting were not harmed and placed on administrative leave, which is standard procedure in incidences like this one.

“There is evidence that Ruiz pointed the gun at employees and even inserted the gun into an employees mouth.” Commander Maiorana added.

Both the California Highway Patrol and Salinas Police are looking for the public’s help in this case.  Anyone who as information about the vehicle involved in the Hit and Run or may have witnessed the Shooting is encouraged to call the CHP at 831-796-2160 or Salinas Police at 831-775-4222.

Read More:

The Californian: Man’s slaying stuns friends

KION 46: Salinas police: WingStop suspect was same man who brake-checked CHP officer

SALINAS—Authorities with the Monterey County Sheriff’s Department have arrested two Salinas residents after an investigations revealed that they where neglecting children in their care.  Arrested were 31-year-old Eraca Dawn Craig and 44-year-old Christian Jessica Deanda, both of Salinas.

On Friday, March 14, Monterey County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to 59 Russell Road in Salinas on a report of allegations of possible neglect of children. Upon arriving at the residence, Deputies found that the house was cluttered and very dirty. Deputies also found that there was very little food in the house.  Deputies discovered that the two domestic partners had three small children living in those conditions.

The children’s age range were from 3-years-old to 8-years-old, and in fact, one of the women charged with neglect was the 3-year-old boy’s biological mother.  The 8-year-old girl and 5-year-old boy were adopted.

The two women lived with the 3 children in this Salinas home.

The juvenile girl was taken to the hospital but all three showed signed of physical and emotional abuse.  The children were starved, and authorities found that one of them had been chained to the floor to keep her from obtaining food.

“This was a particularly heinous case of child neglect” Monterey County Sheriff Scott Miller said in a press conference. “This case actually impacted our workers as well as the social workers that have been involved in this case.”

All three children were taken from the home and placed into Child Protective Services.  Craig and Deanda were arrested and booked into the Monterey County Jail on charges of child abuse and numerous other related charges.  Their bail has been escalated.

The two pleaded not guilty at their arraignment and are scheduled for a preliminary hearing on March 28.

Read More:

The Herald: Women who were arrested in child abuse case were scheduled to be married

San Jose Mercury News: Children found starving, chained and abused in Monterey County home

Suspect Had Multiple Warrants in the Amount of $215,000.00

APTOS—Deputies with the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office went to the 200 block of Claus Court looking for 47-year-old Aptos resident Leah Sandra Bridge.  It seems that Ms. Bridge had several warrants stemming from burglary and narcotics charges.  She had been arrested for burglary in December, and being under the influence of a controlled substance in February.  The amount of the warrants totaled more than $215,000.

Sheriff’s Deputies found both suspects at a residence on Claus Court in Aptos

On Friday, while arresting Ms. Bridge, deputies also encountered 43-year-old Aptos resident Hugo Castaneda.  During their encounter authorities determined that Castaneda was in possession methamphetamine for sale as well as other drug paraphernalia.  The amount of methamphetamine that he had in his possession was more that one ounce.

A further search of Castaneda’s person revealed that he was in possession of more that five pieces of identification that belonged to other people of the Aptos area.  “One of the identifications belonged to a 70–year-old victim that had his home burglarized while he slept” Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Sergeant Dimick wrote in a press release.

Happier times. Leah Bridge in images from her Facebook page.

Deputies obtained a search warrant in relation to the stolen property.  They recovered more than 60 pieces of evidence.  Any of the items seized are possibly related to burglaries in the Aptos Area. The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office is currently processing the identification found in the home.  They are trying to identify the owners and contacting potential victims.

Castaneda was arrested and booked in the Santa Cruz County Jail on charges of possession of narcotics with the intent to sell and possession of stolen property.  His bail was set at $100,000.00.   And let’s not forget the person that deputies were there for; Ms. Bridge was booked into the Santa Cruz County Jail on charges stemming from the warrants. Her bail as set at $215,000.00. The exact relationship between the two is not known, though they both listed their most recent addresses as the home in Aptos where they were arrested.

SAN BERNARDINO – A pitbull, engaged in a vicious dogfight with another dog on Wednesday, was eventually shot and killed by two retired law enforcement officers.

Both men, who live across the street from each other, said San Bernardino Police spokesman Rich Lawhead, tried a less lethal approach. But, he said, there may have been no other way to stop the attack on the 3600 block of North Lugo Ave. at about 3 p.m.
The two ex-law enforcement officers – one a retired police officer and the other retired sheriff’s deputy – opened fire after squirting both dogs with water failed to slow up the attack.
Lawhead said a neighbor’s dog had gotten out of its yard and attacked the other dog, which was also running loose. He said the retired officers were trying to keep the pit bull from killing the other dog.
They used their garden hose at first, said Lawhead, but the attack didn’t end.
He did not disclose which one of the two retired officers shot the dog. Neither man owned either of the two dogs, said Lawhead.
The surviving dog fled the scene, but observers were unable to determine if the unknown breed was injured during the attack.
“The gate for (the pit bull) wasn’t secured very well,” said Lawhead. The dog escaped from his yard and attacked the other roaming dog.
No one was arrested, said Lawhead.
“All were questioned,” he said, “and the police conducted an investigation documenting the incident.”

Read More:

Press Enterprise: Retired officers kill dog-fighting pit bull

A San Leandro man was arrested on Wednesday after he allegedly tried to use Craigslist to sell two German Shepherd puppies taken from the Springtown area of Livermore last week.

Richard Coleman, 30, was arrested for two felonies after police say he was found to have one of the two pups in his possession.

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[Read the full story on Dublin.Patch.com]