Santa Barbara - Some drug dealers will sell their wares to absolutely anyone with sufficient cash in hand.  Others will sell illicit drugs “on credit”, but the carrying charges and penalties for failure to timely remit are generally too severe for most recreational drug users to contemplate.

And then there are the protocols allegedly imposed by Jeffrey Nicholas Carpenter who informed his potential customers—primarily members of local high school student bodies—that he would not sell marijuana to them if  their academic standing was insufficient or if they were using methamphetamines.  Carpenter himself, however, didn’t subscribe to any of society’s “rules” against selling controlled substances.  Evidence of that slight oversight came on March 23^rd when, according to Santa Barbara Police Department Public Information Officer Sgt Riley Harwood, he endeavored to consummate a sale of marijuana to a member of law enforcement working undercover on the campus at Santa Barbara High School.

SBPD Officer Shawn Hill was on campus with the full knowledge and cooperation of school staff and administrators for the purpose of investigating a reported rash of drug sales “being arranged via text messages” wherein delivery of marijuana was made just off high school grounds.  Officer Hill—pursuant to his undercover work in the hallways of the high school—managed to obtain the cellphone number of a known source of marijuana and simply dialed that number to arrange a transaction for what was described by Harwood as “$35.00 worth of marijuana.”

Once the call was made and the purchase was agreed to, all Hill had to do was wait on a nearby intersection.  When Carpenter, a 28 year-old Santa Barbara resident showed up with the goods, he was promptly arrested and taken into custody.  A search of his vehicle pursuant to the probable cause for his arrest revealed a Mason jar filled with marijuana and marijuana paraphernalia, as well as more than $300 in cash.  Just as incriminating was the cellphone with which he had conducted the sale to Hill, as well as “a history of text messages that were solicitations to buy marijuana.”

Carpenter was booked into Santa Barbara County jail on charges of possession of marijuana for sale and transportation of marijuana for sale, with his bail set at $20,000.

Read more:

EdHat: Marijuana dealer arrested

KCOY: Man admits to rewarding good students with marijuana

FRESNO – After officers chased and caught up to a man who had robbed a woman at gunpoint, they discovered a 5-year-old in the suspect’s back seat.

Nicholas Woodworth, a Peckerwood gang member, was identified as the suspect who had robbed a woman at gunpoint at the Fashion Fair Mall on Thursday.

Woodworth led officers on a chase outside of Fashion Fair Mall. During the chase, officers saw a Scooby-Doo backpack being thrown out of the passenger’s side window. Officers got their hands on the backpack and found crystal methamphetamine and a loaded gun inside, according to authorities.

Ryan Edwards

The chase ended in front of J.C. Penney at the mall, where Woodworth and another gang member jumped out of the car and tried to run away, but were caught. It was then that officers discovered the 5-year-old child in the back seat of the car, authorities said.

The driver of the car was identified as Ryan Edwards and the father of the young child. Edwards was also identified by police as a Peckerwood gang member and was arrested for child endangerment.

The child was turned over to the mother.

Woodworth faces a number of charges, including armed robbery, possession of a firearm while in the commission of a felony, and various drug charges.

Read More:

Fresno Bee: After Fresno police chase at Fashion Fair, 5-year-old found in car

SACRAMENTO—Sacramento Police are asking for the community’s help in locating Antoine Weber, 16, who is wanted for homicide. Weber is believed to have shot and fatally injured his brother’s girlfriend, Nichole Duarte, 19.

Officers responded to the 7200 block of Gloria Drive on Saturday, March 15 at approximately 12:37 a.m., when the victim’s neighbor called police after the injured Duarte knocked on her door in search of help. Responding officers found that she had a gunshot wound to her face and was in need of immediate medical attention. She was transported to the hospital where she died two days later on Monday, March 17.

While the motive behind the shooting is unknown, investigators believe an argument between Duarte and Weber escalated into the shooting.

The shooting occurred at a home on Gloria Drive in Sacramento.

The victim’s boyfriend, Raymond Weber, 22, is also believed to have been present during this incident. Both Weber brothers are thought to have fled the area of the shooting.

Raymond Weber is currently wanted for violation of his parole stemming from separate charges, not related to this case. Detectives would like to speak with Raymond regarding his involvement in this case and are asking for the public’s assistance in locating him.

Sacramento Police consider Antoine Weber to be armed and extremely dangerous. Please notify law enforcement immediately if you have information regarding his whereabouts.

The Sacramento Police Department urges anyone with information regarding these two individuals to contact the dispatch center at (916) 264-5471 or Crime Alert at (916) 443-HELP (4357) or text in a tip to 274637 (CRIMES). Enter SACTIP followed by the tip information. Callers can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.

CALEXICO-   Discovering 11 pounds of methamphetamine and 3 pounds of cocaine in a suitcase carried by a Chicago man crossing the Calexico downtown Port of Entry, U.S. Customs and Border detained and arrested him.

At approximately 10:45 a.m. on Saturday, U.S. citizen Eduardo Castillo, 21, approached the Calexico downtown Port of Entry’s pedestrian lanes. A court complaint states that the man was carrying a backpack and suitcase. He was also acting noticeably nervous and caught the attention of the officer at the border.  Castillo was stopped and the suitcase he was carrying inspected. Inside, officers discovered a wood and burlap cot.

Using an X-ray for closer inspection, officers discovered suspicious irregularities in the wooden portion of the cot. Breaking open the wood, officers revealed 3.16 pounds of cocaine and 11.35 pounds of methamphetamine which had been stashed inside. The California Border Patrol reported that the cocaine has an estimated street value of $41,000 and the methamphetamine has an estimated street value of $74,000.

The complaint filed against Castillo stated that he was approached by a man near the tunnel that leads to the pedestrian lane. Castillo claimed that he didn’t know the man, but said he was offered $400 if he could carry a suitcase across the border. He states that he then took the suitcase and attempted to cross. Castillo was booked into Imperial County jail and the narcotics in his possession were seized by the California Border Patrol.

Read More:

IVPRESS: Meth, cocaine found in suitcase, Chicago man arrested

Carpinteria - In the early weeks of 2014, Santa Barbara Police Department Narcotics Unit officers became aware of the activities of Renee Albert Zuniga, a 31-year-old Ventura resident.  Based upon their ongoing investigation into an uptick in both wholesale and direct-to-consumer street sales of methamphetamine, Zuniga was placed under surveillance for a period of nearly three months.

During this protracted period of investigation, SBPD Narcotics Unit personnel engaged with Santa Barbara County Sheriffs and determined that Zuniga—who was now suspected of selling drugs to other dealers in the area—was “storing his drugs at his place of employment, Beach Motor & Tires” in Carpinteria, according to Sgt Riley Harwood, Public Information Officer for the SBPD.  Indications of this were strong enough to allow narcotics detectives the provision of a search warrant for Zuniga’s workplace, and when members of SBSD and SBPD arrived at the tire retailer with a K-9 team just after the lunch hour on March 25^th, they discovered “roughly 6 ounces of heroin and 9 grams of methamphetamine valued at approximately $9,000” on the premises along with more than $50,000 in cash.

Zuniga’s employer and co-workers were no doubt surprised to have a search warrant served at the shop.

All the contraband and illicit drugs were immediately seized and Zuniga was summarily taken into custody and arrested on charges of possession of heroin for sale and possession of methamphetamine for sale.  He was transported directly to Santa Barbara County Jail where he was booked with bail of $30,000 on the drug charges, and remains held on a no-bail parole hold.

Photo: Courtesy Santa Barbara County Jail Booking

Read more:

KCOY: Drug bust at family business

KSBY: Man accused of selling drugs in SB County arrested

FRESNO – Police are searching for the gang member suspected of murdering an innocent woman and shooting her husband at a bar in central Fresno.

On March 23, Fresno resident Janae Tatum, 28, was at the Crossroads bar with her husband, 36-year-old Herman Tatum. Police say that 44-year-old Craig Foster, a gang member, tried to hit on Janae Tatum and then got into an argument with her husband, police say.

Foster shot Janae Tatum in the head and also shot Herman Tatum. Janae died from the gunshot wound, but Herman has since recovered, authorities said.

“They are both innocent victims,” Fresno Police Chief Jerry Dyer said about the Tatums.

The department is still searching for Foster. They believe he is either still in Fresno or may have gone to Las Vegas.

Dyer described Foster as a “violent gang member.”

This is not the only murder in the Central Valley where innocent victims with no gang ties were killed by gang members. Dyer said that Kevin Bonton Jr., 16, died after being shot by 19-year-old Jacob Abston, a gang member, in southwest Fresno. Abston was arrested.

Last week, a gang member almost hit an 18-month-old baby in Fresno while firing at a car they thought belonged to another gang member, authorities said.

The rash of violence led the police department to undertake a large multi-agency operation on Wednesday targeting people on probation. More than 100 officers searched 50 locations and arrested 19 people. Dyer said more such operations will be going on weekly.

“We’re going to be targeting not only gangs, but the most active and violent individuals in those gangs. We’re going to do this until these gangs and gang members knock it off,” Dyer said.

Read More:

Fresno Bee: Fresno police push back against rash of gang-related shootings

ABC30: Suspect with gang ties sought in Crossroads bar shooting

KMJ: FPD cracks down on gang violence with arrests

Many people get nervous when they get pulled over by police, fumbling with their belongings while hoping they might escape a ticket, or perhaps even trying to hide something. A woman from Clearlake, in south Lake County, was traveling through Lakeport, located across the lake on the north side, and could barely contain herself, raising suspicions that proved to be valid.

On Wednesday evening of this week, at about 9:15, a detective from the Lake County Sheriff’s Narcotics Task Force happened to observe a car leaving the Shoreline Shopping Center heading south on South Main Street. According to Steve Brooks of the Sheriff’s Department, the detective took notice that the car was missing the front left lighting assembly. He followed her down Main, and observed her signal for a right turn where there wasn’t an opportunity, and continue on. That in itself was not too big a deal, but then the car signaled again near Kmart, and pulled to the side prior to the Kmart access road. The erratic driving, which showed clues to possible impairment, along with the code violation, prompted the detective to initiate a traffic stop.

Mills was noticed when she left the Shoreline Shopping Center.

He approached the driver, identified as 45-year-old Rhae Anne Mills, and told her why he had pulled her over. She seemed to him to be very nervous and fidgety as he spoke to her, and as he observed her search through several wallets and bags in her purse to find her license. She never did find it, and the detective asked if she happened to be on probation or parole. She said no, while the detective continued to observe her visibly shaking and speaking rapidly, which further convinced him that she was under the influence of a narcotic.

Evidence collected from Mills included Meth in plastic bags and cash.

Another detective then arrived on the scene to assist, and he recognized Mills as someone he had dealt with before, and knew that she was on probation. That apparently sparked a memory with Mills, who suddenly agreed that she was in fact on searchable probation.

The detectives then took the opportunity to search the car, and found a small coin purse hidden under the dashboard, with four plastic bags of crystal Methamphetamine inside. There was one large bag with an ounce, and three smaller ones consistent with being packaged for sales. The meth was later calculated to be a total of33.2 grams, with an estimated street value of $3,320.00. They also found $627.00 in cash, which was seized for possible asset forfeiture if it proves to be from the sale of illegal narcotics.

Mills was arrested of possession of a controlled substance for sale, and transportation of a controlled substance. She was booked into the Hill Road Correctional Facility. She will not be granted Bail due to the probation violations.

LAKESIDE — This past Sunday (April 6th) at 9:22 p.m., Santee Station responded to a call reporting an assault that had occurred in the 9700 block of Wintergardens Boulevard in Lakeside. They found the victim waiting at the USA Gas Station on Woodside Avenue, where he recounted that a man (later identified as 24-year-old Steve Nakho) had assaulted him with a stick and then chased him around with a knife.

Nakho fled once he reached the gas station, where he waited for police to arrive. He’d sustained minor injuries during the assault but refused medical attention.

Deputies then combed the area and eventually found Nakho in the 9700 block of Wintergardens Boulevard, at which point he ran and barricaded himself inside a nearby apartment. A perimeter was established and  he was repeatedly urged to turn himself over, a proposal to which he was shockingly unreceptive.

However, it wasn’t long before deputies obtained and executed a search warrant. They arrested Nakho upon entering the apartment and he was taken in without incident. A stick and a knife were also recovered during the search, but chose to remain silent.

Nakho has since been booked into county jail on assault with a deadly weapon.

Read more:

CBS8: Arrest made after 4-hour standoff in Lakeside

NBC San Diego: Lakeside Man Arrested, Accused of Assault

BAKERSFIELD— Nine people were arrested during three separate drug raids last week in south Bakersfield.

Crystal Gutierrez, 26, Victor Candela, 35, Angel Arias, 32 ,Orlando Contreras, 50, Trisha Garcia, 48, Cynthia Nieto, 38, Andrew Perales, 48, Leah Vega, 22, and 22-year old Eduardo Rodriquez were all booked into the Kern County Jail on various narcotics related charges, or outstanding warrants.

According to the Kern County Sheriff’s Office, the first search took place on April 2, when officers from the California Multi-Jurisdictional Methamphetamine Task Force, with assistance of the Sheriff Office Major Violators Unit and the Kern Narcotics Enforcement Team served two narcotics related search warrants in the 800 block of 33rd Street in Bakersfield.

“These warrants were the result of a brief narcotics investigation, and were served at two neighboring apartment complexes,” said Sheriff’s Public Information Officer Ray Pruitt. “During their search of the first apartment narcotics, officers discovered items pinpointing narcotics sales and a loaded firearm.”

Gutierrez, Candela, and Arias were arrested from this location.

Inside the second apartment officer’s made contact with Contreras, Garcia, Nieto, Perales and Vega, where they said they also uncovered narcotics, items indicative of narcotics sales, and narcotics paraphernalia.

Finally, on April 3, an isolated search warrant was served in the 1900 Block of Avon Street in south Bakersfield, which was the result for an undercover sting that involved an undercover officer who purchased narcotics from Rodriquez.

During the execution of the warrant officers said they located a loaded firearm and approximately a half of a pound of suspected cocaine and items consistent with the sales of narcotics.

“Investigators were able to later determine that the firearm found in the suspects apartment was stolen,” Pruitt said.

Read more:

KBAK: 8 arrested at adjoining apartments in drug bust

KERO: Searches lead to arrests for suspected drug sales

HIGHLAND – San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department officials said that two bodies, found dead in their home on April 2, were killed about two weeks earlier. That disclosure came out Friday, April 4, two days after the bodies of Susan Youn Wun, 49, and Robert Suzuki, 63, were had been discovered dead in their home. Investigators, said a sheriff’s spokeswoman, were withholding the cause of deaths for now.

No suspects have yet to be identified by investigators. Though Wun and Suzuki lived together, they were not married. Suspicions aroused when a neighbor had reported to deputies that she had not seen Wun for several days, reported being concerned.

Deputies discovered the bodies in the 28000 block of Saffron Ave., about one mile from Interstate 210 and Base Line St. Investigators believe they were killed in the house on or about March 21, according to a news release.

Wun’s 2000 Silver Mercedes SUV was stolen at the time of the attack and was found on April 3 near Post St. and Brockton Ave. in Redlands, about seven miles from the her home. Investigators, who investigated the SUV for evidence, did not disclose any possible leads.

Investigators believe the SUV was stolen the night the couple was killed. Wun also had a red Porsche.
Statements from investigators originally disclosed that the couple had been found dead, ruling it only suspicious until determining it was a homicide case two days later.

Highland is located east of San Bernardino, just north of Redlands, a city of about 55,000 people.
The county coroner’s release also did not specify a cause of death.

Read more:

CBSLA: Couple found dead in their Highland home were murdered

Press Enterprise: Man, woman found dead were slain

SAN BERNARDINO – While jury deliberations were continuing for a third accused attacker, a San Bernardino man was convicted Friday of murdering a 90-year-old woman in 2005.

Michael Mitchell, Jr., 29, will be sentenced on May 2 after a Superior Court jury convicted him in the killing of Josephine Frances Kelley in her North Muscupiabe Dr. residence. Three suspects were arrested in 2013, including Mitchell, along with Kiesha Renee Smith, 29, and Sherry Ann Beck, 32.

Beck pleaded guilty in December 2013 to voluntary manslaughter, causing great bodily injury to an elderly person, robbery and grand theft. She will be sentenced this week, according to a release. Jurors were still underway for Smith, who is charged with murder.

It was a tip to police that linked investigators to the trio, which was considered a burglary crew. When Kelley was discovered by her daughter on Sept. 5, 2005, she had been found assaulted, having been smothered to death in her ransacked home in which jewelry, electronics and other personal property had been stolen. The crime had been determined as a home invasion robbery by police.

Less than 24 hours after the discovery of her body, Kelley’s 25-year-old grandson, Derrick Mitchell Hassett, was arrested. It was Hassett’s mother, Susan, who had discovered the body at about 4 p.m. on Sept. 5, 2005. Hassett, whose link to the slaying was not disclosed, was eventually released.

Kelley lived at the home with relatives for about four years, said investigators. San Bernardino police have had other home invasion attacks, including some murders, occur against elderly people in recent years. The Kelley case was considered cold until a tip alerted investigators to the suspects.

Read More:

SacBee: Man convicted of killing 90-year-old woman in 2005

Press Enterprise: Man convicted of murdering 90-year-old woman

CrimeVoice: Police Make Arrests in Eight-Year-Old Murder Case

Webster’s defines altruism as “feelings and behavior that show a desire to help other people and a lack of selfishness”. One of the definitions of heroic is “exhibiting or marked by courage and daring; supremely noble or self-sacrificing”. So what is the word for someone who puts themselves at great risk by breaking the law with no chance for any personal gain for themselves, just to benefit a total stranger? Would it be heroic altruism, or simply a lack of judgement?

The Folsom Police department put local people to the test this weekend in their operation of a “Shoulder Tap” sting. In this type of operation, which they have done before, they enlist the help of a minor to stand outside of a liquor store to ask adults to purchase alcohol for them. They minor decoy makes it quite clear that they cannot buy it themselves because they are underage. They provide anyone willing to help with the money, and wait outside for the willing person to purchase and deliver the booze to them. The entire time the minor is under direct observation and supervision of an officer from Folsom PD.

Once the adult has handed over the liquor, the minor leaves the scene and the officers take over, placing the person under arrest for furnishing alcohol to a minor. The citation usually carries no jail time, but the violator is hit with a minimum $1000.00 fine and 24 hours of community service.

On Friday, two people were caught in the sting. 55-year-old Ricky Enrhardt of Orangevale and 29-year-old Doreen Villa of Folsom were each arrested in separate incidents. Villa herself had been arrested in 2009 while she was 25 for public intoxication in Folsom on Natoma Street.

Folsom is one of 12 California Communities that were selected to be part of the state funded Strategic Prevention Framework State Incentive Grant, an effort to reduce excessive drinking by 12 to 25-year-olds through environmental-level strategies. The three year plan works with local police, county agencies and school districts, along with privately funded organizations, such as People Reaching Out, to focus on accomplishing their common goals. The last operation like this for Folsom was in March, when two men were arrested for the same thing. The shoulder tap sting is just one strategy, along “party patrols”, which target large gatherings of minors in homes and public places, and undercover operations in bars and restaurants that may sell to minors, all in an effort to reduce access of alcohol to underage drinkers. Police will consider their efforts a success when no one responds to the request to buy or provide alcohol for minors.

Read More:

CrimeVoice: Alcohol sting nets two men

The promoter of last summer’s Big Wake Weekend at Folsom Lake was recently arrested for reportedly not paying vendors hundreds of thousands of dollars, according to an official press release from the Placer County Sheriff’s Office.

The Big Wake Weekend features speedboat racing and more. (Facebook)

The Big Wake Weekend event is a 3 day boat racing, music, and beach party event. This year’s edition is scheduled for Memorial Day weekend at Camp Far West, on the south shore of Camp Far West Reservoir north of Lincoln and east of Wheatland near Beale Air Force Base, where Placer, Yuba and Nevada Counties meet.

Robert Richards, Jr., 54, of Folsom was reportedly arrested on Wednesday, April 2, after Sheriff’s detectives had served a search warrant for his Folsom home. Richards was reportedly charged with defrauding by false pretenses and was booked at the Placer County Jail on $10,000 bail. He was reportedly bailed out later that day.

According to Placer County Sheriff, detectives began an investigation after vendors from last year’s event reported they were not getting paid. One man was reportedly owed nearly $200,000 — Richards reportedly paid him by check, which bounced. Further investigation revealed Richards had defrauded even more vendors.

Robert Donald Richards Jr. (Placer County)

Fans may be wondering if the arrest of Richards and the charges against him will affect the event coming up in less than two months. Richards himself posted a message Friday on the Big Wake Weekend Facebook page saying “With your support we will continue to promote and produce Big Wake Weekend 2014 Roar at the Shore! Our resolve is never been stronger to bring quality entertainment to this community and we will do so with honesty, integrity and tons of hard work. I have faith in the system, our fans, sponsors and vendors, I hope you will too…Humbly, Bob Richards Jr. Promoter Big Wake Weekend.”

In the comments on his Facebook posting, he also stated, in response to the breaking story, “many vendors did get paid others still getting paid…” and “Please give us a chance to prove otherwise, we could and would appreciate the opportunity…” Richards is associated with 41Live!, promoting events involved with motorcycle tours, NASCAR, IndyCar, NHRA and AMA Racing.

Read More:

KCRA: Big Wake Weekend promoter: Fraud allegations false

Auburn Journal: Big Wake Weekend promoter arrested at his Folsom home

Sacramento Bee: Folsom Lake hydroplane racing promoter arrested

EASTVALE- After shooting his estranged girlfriend, a man drove her to the hospital and fled authorities.

Riverside Sheriff’s deputies assigned to the city of Eastvale received a call at approximately 12:30 a.m. on Saturday April 5 regarding shots fired. The report stated that the incident occurred in the area of Burrage St. and Rolling Meadows St. Upon arriving the officers discovered evidence indicating that someone had been shot. However, there was no victim at the scene.

A few minutes later, a woman was dropped off in front of a local hospital with gunshot wounds. The man who brought her there, then fled the scene in his vehicle. Arriving at the hospital, officers leaned that the woman had been shot by her estranged boyfriend, Alfredo Lopez, Jr,  33 of Eastvale. Investigators assumed control and began a search for Lopez.

Upon receiving information that Lopez had fled to Los Angeles County, authorities notified law enforcement agencies across Southern California. A Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputy spotted Lopez in the city of Hawaiian Garden and attempted to make a traffic stop. Lopez refused to stop and made an attempt at evading arrest with police pursuing his vehicle.

When Lopez’ vehicle became disabled, the suspect pulling into a parking lot near the intersection of Carson St. and Norwalk Blvd. in Hawaiian Gardens. Lopez refused to exit the vehicle and barricaded himself inside. The standoff lasted for several hours until he finally exited his vehicle as was placed under arrest at 2:45 p.m.

At this time Lopez was turned over to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department and transported back to Riverside County. After further investigation, he was booked in Robert Presley Detention Center under charges of kidnapping and attempted murder.

Read More:

Press Enterprise: Shooting suspect arrested following standoff

ABC7: Hawaiian Gardens standoff ends with suspect in custody

Santa Barbara County law enforcement leaders and politicians have spent the last two days explaining just how the events of Saturday May 5^th evolved from the level of college campus “street party” to what was initially downplayed by them as “an incident of civil unrest” and is today widely considered as a full-blown “riot” by witnesses.

If the use of surveillance camera towers, tear gas, SWAT vehicles, and rubber bullets defines an event, “riot” certainly feels like the appropriate terminology.

The UCSB campus—uniquely perched along some of the most inviting beaches and surf spots anywhere on the California coast—has over the years been the home of a variety of Spring Break festivities, so it was no surprise that this week’s balmy weather attracted large crowds of local students and outsiders to “Deltopia”, considered by many to be the ultimate collegiate social event.

….and the rowdiness later in the evening….

With origins dating back to 2004 as “Floatopia”, when students gathered on the warm sands in front of campus to enjoy surf-bobbing on homemade or inflatable floating devices, the event attracted modest gatherings numbering in the hundreds until 2009 when more than 12,000 students from as far away as San Francisco and San Diego gathered on the UCSB beach in response to Facebook “invitations”.  The unruly crowd ultimately left the beachfront a littered, unsanitary mess, and prompted local authorities to summarily declare the campus beaches off-limits during the weekends of Spring Break.

The years of 2010-2013 saw the partygoers, numbering more than 10,000—prevented from enjoying the beaches—flooding the streets of Isla Vista for “Deltopia” (so named for Del Playa Avenue, the community’s primary thoroughfare) where “rage” parties on public streets involved public drinking, mob dancing, and the occasional fistfight. This past weekend, with clear skies and warm weather beckoning, and with the beaches still securely closed, a reported 15,000 revelers prowled the narrow streets, many in open violation of open container ordinances and clearly inebriated.

According to Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department Public Information Officer Kelly Hoover, by nightfall May 5^th Deputies observed the alcohol-fueled crowd swelling and reaching the proportions and tenor of “an unlawful assembly.”  Just after 9:00 p.m., deputies attempted the arrest of an individual for public intoxication, and soon found themselves in the middle of “a major incident” as a “UCSB police officer was hit in the head with a backpack that contained large bottles of alcohol,” Hoover reported.  As the officers on the scene continued with their arrest protocols, however, “a large crowd gathered for several blocks and threw objects at law enforcement personnel, including rocks, bricks, and bottles.”  Throughout the evening, police barricades attempted to control the crowds, and when that failed, tear gas was deployed with rubber “stun” bullets quickly dispersing the more determined trouble-makers.

As news of the erupting problems made its way to the community via social media, local television news coverage dominated local airwaves, with Ms. Hoover appearing on-camera to express her “disappointment and frustration” with a situation, the nature of which she had never faced during her tenure with the SBSD.  “We had a plan in place to handle the situation, but we certainly didn’t expect this,” she said to television cameras.

Just after midnight, the announcement was made that officers had been hit with bricks and bottles, and that more than two dozen civilians had been transported to local hospitals, and that County Sheriff personnel were being backed up by officers of the California Highway Patrol and officers from the Lompoc, Santa Maria, and Ventura police departments.  It was at that time that all fire and paramedic units were ordered out of the area for their safety, while U.S. 101 northbound was ablaze in red lights and sirens with law enforcement units responding from Ventura County.

…that brought out the riot police

With more than 100 arrests and dozens of people hospitalized—including at least six uniformed deputies and officers—and while community concern ranged from calls for greater law enforcement efforts to criticism of allegedly heavy-handed police actions underlying the weekend events, most agree that partygoers from out of the area were primarily responsible for the eruption of violence and complete disregard for community welfare.  Clearly a potential target for criticism at a crucial time in his political career, County Sheriff Bill Brown would only comment that “it was obviously very disturbing that we had as many people as we did behaving in a very reckless manner.”

But his comments may be insufficient to counter the widespread feeling among those in attendance that the arrival of the Sheriff’s SWAT “BearCat” unit, an armored vehicle described by one UCSB coed as “a huge riot van” that did more to incite violence than to quell the rowdiness.  As Sheriff, however, Brown’s access to the media may prevail in countering any criticism, as he addressed news cameras and described the response of law enforcement personnel as “very courageous and controlled. I think they actually prevented a much worse incident from developing.  If the situation had gone on for another few hours, it had the potential to become much worse,” and added that “I think we were very well prepared for this.”

The voters of Santa Barbara County will presumably weigh Brown’s words against his department’s actions in the voting booth later this year.

Photos: courtesy Santa Barbara County Fire Dept, Santa Barbara County Sheriff

Read more:

Huffington Post: Deltopia leads 10 100 arrests, 44 hospitalizations

SB Independent: Deltopia party devolves into Isla Vista riot

KCOY: Melee in Isla Vista

MORENO VALLEY-  Following a nearly two-month long investigation, a man suspect of using inappropriate photos on social media to lure victims was arrested.

In February, a Moreno Valley School Resource Officer was alerted to inappropriate images that were being shared on a social media website at a Moreno Valley middle school.  After investigating, the School Resource Officer determined the photos were linked to ongoing crimes.  Working closely with Moreno Valley School District administrators, authorities made efforts to ensure that the images could not be viewed or accessed at the school.

Moreno Valley Police Department investigators responded and began conducting a lengthy investigation into the possible crimes. While seeking to locate the source of the inappropriate photos, investigators discovered several juvenile victims. The victims reported that they had been lured through the social media to meet with the suspect who then assaulted them. None of these incidents occurred on school property.

After authoring and serving a search warrant to the social media outlet, investigators were able to pinpoint the source and identify the suspect. On Tuesday April 1, officers and investigators from the Moreno Valley Police Department arrest Roshawn Davis, 20 of Moreno Valley in the 16000 block of Saddlebrook.

Davis was booked into the Robert Presley Detention Center for multiple counts of felony sex crimes involving juveniles.  He is being held with bail set at $2,000,000.

The Moreno Valley Police Department states that the investigation is ongoing and is reaching out to the public for any further information. Anyone with information is urged to contact Investigator Holland at the Moreno Valley Police Department at 951-486-6823.

Read More

ABC7: Moreno Valley man accused of molest, rape

CBSLA: Moreno Valley man, 20, arrested for allegedly assaulting juveniles

ROHNERT PARK, SONOMA COUNTY – Five people had set up quite a little operation at a hotel in Rohnert Park. They had a collection of stolen credit cards and blank credit cards, a credit card reader, several laptop computers. They also had some cash, and a bit of methamphetamine and smoking paraphernalia.

They had quite a game going, too. They had already rented a couple of Mercedes Benz cars with a false credit card, and had not returned them, and are suspected of using the cards to gain cash and other merchandise. They were caught, however, when two of them tried the same method to get some cash. According to the Sonoma Sheriff’s Office, last Friday night one of the five went into nearby Graton Casino and tried to withdraw cash from an ATM machine using one of the fraudulent cards. That person (not specifically identified) was arrested. Later that night, at 2:30 am, another one of them tried the same thing, and was also arrested. Investigation into the pair, who were by then linked together, led to the discovery of the hotel room operation.

Jhona Mathews

The arresting deputy contacted the Sheriff’s property crimes detectives, who followed up at the hotel room. When they discovered the operation, they arrested the remaining members of the crime ring. Including the first two arrests, they took into custody Jhona Mathews, 33 of Walnut Creek, Zephyr Carter, 41 of Hayward, Michael Anger, 32, Robert Serrato, 37, and Nicole Dunlap, 30, all of San Francisco.

Jhona Mathews has been in the news headlines before. She was involved in a notable sex scandal involving the Church of St. Francis of Assisi in San Francisco. Mathews had served 10 days in jail in September of last year for fraudulent use of a credit card. In November she was working as a secretary for the church, but was fired from that job when the information about her arrest came to light. She then filed a lawsuit alleging that her termination had to do instead with a sexual relationship she had been involved in with her supervisor, Bill McLaughlin, a volunteer at the church and chairman of the church board.

Mathews stated that she was forced to have sex with McLaughlin from the outset of her employment, including incidents in the sacristy, and spankings with a wooden paddle. She claims she was fired on November 6 after breaking off the relationship. Also involved in the scandal was a reported $100,000 embezzlement that both she was suspected of, and she in turn placed the blame on McLaughlin. That case is still pending. The San Francisco Examiner also reported a past history of Mathews of drug abuse and arrests, and even an instance of her living at a house raided by the FBI for a counterfeiting operation.

Zephyr Malik Carter (Facebook)

Zephyr Makik Carter has had his own recent run in with the law. He was picked up by Berkeley Police on January 20 of this year and charged with possession of a controlled substance, giving false information to a police officer, unauthorized use of another person’s ID, and 17 counts of grand theft for stolen credit cards. Michael Dean Anger was arrested on December 7 for possession of a controlled substance and possession for sale by the Vallejo Police. Nicole Dunlap was arrested twice recently. She was arrested by Alameda Sheriffs on November 8 for possession and sale of controlled substances, and then on March 20 in Cupertino for the same charges along with unlawful use of a drivers license.

This team of five, at least four of whom had recent criminal experience including drugs, forgery and credit card theft, banded together with big plans to make some money and apparently enjoy some stimulants. (No recent incidents from Robert Serrato could be found.) What they must not have anticipated, however, was that the ATM security at the Graton Casino would allow the resort’s internal cash machines to detect their fraudulent transactions and alert the staff to the attempt, which led to the capture of two of them within hours of each other.

All five of the ill-fated team were arrested and charged with forgery, theft of credit card info, altering credit cards, manufacturing false ID documents, burglary, possession of stolen access (ATM) cards, theft of credit or other identification, giving false identity to a peace officer, vehicle theft and possession of stolen vehicles, possession of methamphetamine and paraphernalia, and finally, tying it all together, conspiracy. Some were also charged with various parole violations and outstanding warrants. They were all booked into Sonoma County jail. Investigators continue to work out the details, and are seeking other potential victims.

Read More:

The Examiner: Woman at center of SF church sex scandal was fired for prior criminal offense

Law enforcement agencies from all over the bay area teamed up with the FBI and local Sonoma County agencies and the Santa Rosa Police to run three concurrent operations to address a growing number of advertisements placed on-line to solicit commercial sex services in Sonoma County. Many of the ads mentioned Graton Resort and Casino in Rhonert Park, but only as a landmark and potential meeting place. The Casino has no attached hotel facilities itself, and law enforcement wanted to be quite clear that the Casino management and operators are in no way associated or condoning of the prostitution and trafficking activities.

The simultaneous stings went on in Petaluma, Rohnert Park, and Santa Rosa in various hotels and motels, each one targeting a different aspect of the problem. In Petaluma the operation targeted people providing commercial sex, sometimes with underage victims of sex trafficking. In this case, detectives arranged a meeting at a hotel room for sex, and when the prostitute showed up, that person was arrested, along with anyone who came to help. Sunny Lauchaire, 37 and Kerri Sinkus, 49 of Santa Rosa, Jessica Carillo, 20 and Kandice Jones, 21 of Sacramento, Jessica Steiner, 27 of Livermore and Jamisynn Obryan, 25 of Lower Lake were all arrested at the scene. Michael (or Marcus) Forster, 27 of Sacramento was charged with aiding in prostitution, and two other un-named suspects are under investigation for aiding as well.

In Rohnert Park the sting was based on subjects who responded to advertisements for commercial sex services. Detectives had placed ads on prostitution related sites and arranged for their “customers” to meet them at a hotel, where they expected to hook up as advertised. They arrested Roberto Rodriguez Estrada, 46 of Windsor, Steve Paredes, 23 of Petaluma, Ezequil Marquez-Cortez, 41, Randy Bodmer, 39, and Christian Sanabria, 21 all of Santa Rosa. The five men were all charged with solicitation of prostitution.

The new Graton Casino and Resort in Rohnert Park has attracted a lot of attention lately

The Santa Rosa sting was similar, but with an emphasis on under-aged subjects. Two men were arrested in that sting for specifically arranging to meet up with a 13-year-old girl the undercover detectives had promoted. Benito Martinez Guzman, 35 and Cesar Briceno, 45, both of Santa Rosa, were arrested on charges of arranging to meet with a minor for lewd purposes. Also arrested in Santa Rosa, but not with specific charges involving a minor, were James Joseph Erickson, 59 of Petaluma, Roger Cardona, 31, Heriberto Cruz Ramirez, 23, Anthony Zapata, 40, and Angel Cazarez, 37, all of Santa Rosa.

19 agencies, including local police, county sheriff’s, and federal agencies provided personnel to carry out this extensive operation. They all worked closely with the Sonoma County Human Trafficking Task Force, which is itself made up of people from the District Attorney’s office, the Sonoma Sheriff’s Department, and Sonoma County Police Departments. They in turn collaborated with organizations such as Verity, Sonoma County Family, Youth and Children’s Services, Drug Abuse Alternatives Center, Face 2 Face, Social Advocates for Youth, the Windsor Soroptimists, and the Crossing The Jordan Foundation.

SAN DIEGO — We find ourselves at the 7-Eleven at 657 Palm Avenue just after 11:30 p.m., just in time to see a Hispanic male walk in and argue with several customers. He then took his grievances outside to a man whom he then headbutted, afterwards stealing his cigarettes and wristwatch. Off he went.

About an hour later, the clerk from a second 7-Eleven — this one at 1311 Palm Avenue — phoned the sheriff’s department to report someone had accosted a transient outside the store, then made off with two large cases of bottled water from the exterior display. After providing a description of the suspect and his vehicle license plate, officers quickly realized the suspect in question was the same man who’d visited the other 7-Eleven earlier.

A broadcast was sent out to law enforcement agencies and circulated around the South San Diego area in search of the suspect, and it wasn’t long before something bounced back. An SD police sergeant ran across a man sitting in the described vehicle in a closed park in the Coronado Avenue area, and a following curbside lineup allowed the initial victim to positively identify the man as the one who’d headbutted him and stolen his cigarettes and watch.

The suspect, who exhibited clear and numerous symptoms of being under the influence of a controlled substance, consented to a search of his vehicle — which turned up the stolen water from the 7-Eleven at 1311 Palm Avenue.

While his name has not been given at present, the suspect has been arrested for robbery, battery, burglary, and being under the influence of a controlled substance.

TULARE COUNTY – Authorities arrested a man they believe is responsible for nine deaths spanning across three counties over the last 30 years. Jose Manuel Martinez, 51, is believed to be behind the murders, six of which took place in Tulare County, two in Kern County and one in Santa Barbara. Martinez is currently in custody in Alabama on a separate murder charge.

“As charged, these murders span a period of over 30 years, beginning in Tulare County in 1980 and extend to 2011. The victims of these crimes ranged from 22 years of age to 56 years of age,” Tulare County District Attorney Tim Ward said.

In addition to being charged with nine counts of murder and one count of attempted murder, Martinez is also charged with special circumstance allegations that include multiple murders, lying in wait, kidnapping and murder for financial gain. “These allegations make the defendant potentially eligible for the death penalty,” Ward said.

Alabama authorities arrested Martinez in 2013 and later contacted the Tulare County Sheriff’s Department to let them know that Martinez might have information related to the California murders. The sheriff’s department sent detectives to Alabama three times to conduct interviews with Martinez.

Tulare County Acting Sheriff Mike Boudreaux said that the investigation involved dozens of investigators from several agencies and utilized hundreds of man hours.

“As these cases spread across three different counties, it took a cooperative effort from all involved to bring these cases to a point that the district attorney staff felt comfortable filing these cases. This case illustrates what can be done when law enforcement agencies work together in the spirit of cooperation and sharing,” Boudreaux said.

Read More:

WHNT: Jose Martinez charged with 9 counts of murder in CA

The Raw Story: California man confesses to killing more than 30 as cartel ‘debt collector’

LATIMES: Alleged hit man confesses to more than 30 killings