BAKERSFIELD— A 27-year-old felon was arrested on Tuesday following high speed pursuit through the streets of Kern County.

Jose Ayon-Navarro was booked into the Kern County Sheriff’s downtown jail on several charges, including sales of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance, felon in possession of ammunition, felony evading and escape from an electronic monitoring program.

According to the Kern County Sheriff’s Office, the incident began when agents from the California Multi-Jurisdictional Methamphetamine Enforcement Team (CalMMET) and the Kern Narcotics Enforcement Team (KNET), attempted to make a traffic stop on a vehicle driving near the City of Delano on April 15.

The driver, later identified as Ayon-Navarro, failed to stop, leading officers on a pursuit through the outskirts of Delano, before being arrested 35 miles away, near his home in the 1000 block of Dolores Street in Bakersfield.

Officers said that a search of Ayon-Navarro’s home resulted in the discovery of three quarters of a pound of suspected methamphetamine, as well as rock cocaine, ammunition and evidence indicating sales of controlled substances from the residence.

Read more:

Bakersfield Californian: Drugs and ammunition found in home following chase

Bakersfield Now: Chase near Delano leads to drug arrest

A male juvenile has reportedly been arrested in connection to a shooting in a parking lot off Howe Avenue in Sacramento that left two adults dead, according to an official press release from the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department.

According to Sac Sheriff, just after Wednesday midnight on April 10, the department received numerous calls regarding multiple gunshots being fired near the 2000 block of Howe Avenue. Officers responded and reportedly found a male subject deceased inside a vehicle in the parking lot, as well as a female subject who had also been shot. The female was reportedly transported to a local hospitals where she was later pronounced dead. Their names were later released as 23-year-old Deshawne Cannon and 27-year-old Gina Denise Elarms.

The victims were found at an apartment complex along Howe Avenue in Arden Arcade.

Sheriff Homicide Detectives reportedly arrested a male juvenile in connection to the shooting and murder of the two victims on Saturday April 12. The juvenile was reportedly booked into the Sacramento County Youth Detention Facility. The Sacramento Bee reported that the 16-year-old suspect will be tried as an adult, and released his name as Ezekiel Isiah Delgado.

No other subjects are reportedly being sought in the case and the motive is still under investigation. Anyone with information relating to this incident is asked to contact the Sheriff’s Department at 916-874-5115.

In a strange connection to this incident, Gina Elarms’ father, Gregory Elarms died of natural causes at age 61 the day after his daughter was killed. Gregory Elarms was the chief suspect in the killing of East Palo Alto community leader David Lewis in 2010. Lewis had been shot to death in a shopping center parking garage, and after a 6 month investigation, Elarms was arrested for the killing. Elarms had known Lewis since childhood, and confessed to the killing, but the case was thrown out due to improper questioning by police. Lewis was a known figure in drug rehabilitation and parole rehabilitation in the South Bay community.

Read More:

Sacramento Bee: Teen to be tried as adult in shooting deaths at Arden Arcade apartment complex

Palo Alto Online: Gregory Elams, accused killer of David Lewis, dies

MORENO VALLEY – Three suspects arrested after several victims came forward to report armed robberies under the pretense of car sales in March and April.

After posting an advertisement to purchase motor vehicles, two businessmen reported receiving a call from a potential seller on March 26, 2014. The seller arranged to meet at a location near the 1200 block of Calle Sombra and Hemlock Avenue at approximately 9 PM. Upon arrival the two men were robbed at gunpoint by two unknown assailants. The victims called Moreno Valley police to report the crime after their assailants fled, but officers were unable to locate the suspects.

Shekeyna Elliot

A similar robbery was also reported to take place when an individual attempting to sell a vehicle met with suspects on the 1200 block of Calle Sombra and Hemlock Avenue at approximately 12:30 PM on April 2, 2014. The Moreno Valley Robbery Suppression, which had assumed the investigation widened their search, determining both crimes were committed by the same suspects.

A third suspect came forward as the investigation continued, giving authorities further information to pinpoint the criminals. With this information, officers were able to locate the robbery suspects on April 9, 2014 at about 6:00 PM while they were driving in the area of Flaming Arrow and Alessandro Boulevard. The vehicle was stopped and both suspects were arrested.

A search of the vehicle yielded a replica firearm and knife which matched descriptions from the prior robberies. A search warrant was then served on the suspect’s residence in the 11900 block of Dream Street in Moreno Valley. Officers were able to seize property reportedly taken in the robberies as well as a large quantity of marijuana. Several small children were also on the premises and removed from the location

Rosalyn Marie Pope

Darren Michael Birks Jr, 24 of Rialto and Rosalyn Marie Pope 33 of Hemet, were arrested for three counts of armed robbery, one count of attempted robbery, conspiracy to commit robbery, and violation of Probation. Bail was set $500,000 each.

Shekeyna Elliott, 28 of Moreno Valley was arrested for possession of marijuana for sales, child endangerment, and possession of stolen property. All three suspects were booked into the Robert Presley Detention Center.

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Press Enterprise: Would-be car buyers robbed, 3 arrested

Santa Barbara - With his re-election campaign about to go into high gear, the timing for Santa Barbara County Sheriff Bill Brown could not be less auspicious, with the April 12^th Federal Grand Jury Indictment of two SBSD deputies.

Both Christopher Johnson, 28, and Robert Kirsch, 30, were working as Custody Deputies at Santa Barbara County Jail in August 2013 when they were charged with assaulting an inmate in their care.  At that time, the Santa Barbara County District Attorney filed a complaint against the pair alleging that “under color of authority” they had beaten Charles Alonzo Owens.  Owens, subsequently convicted and sentenced to a life term in state prison on murder and rape charges, was awaiting trial on those charges at the time of the alleged attack.  That case remains open, but according to Santa Barbara Assistant District Attorney Anthony Davis “has not progressed past the arraignment stage.”

While the local case was continued in the county courts, the FBI investigated allegations brought by Public Defender Lawanda Lyons-Pruitt, president of the NAACP’s Santa Maria-Lompoc branch that Owens was the victim of an “unprovoked confrontation”.

That FBI investigation generated evidence that was eventually presented to the Federal Grand Jury which issued an indictment on April 10^th accusing Johnson and Kirsch of violating Owens’ civil rights, a charge that carries a possible prison sentence of 10 years.  The Grand Jury brought an additional charge of obstruction of justice against Johnson for his filing a false report of the circumstances surrounding the alleged beating.  If convicted on that charge, Johnson will face an additional sentence of 20 years.

Both Johnson and Kirsch were released after posting bond of $25,000 each.

Photo: Courtesy Santa Barbara County Jail Booking, www.BillBrownforSheriff.com

Read more:

Santa Maria Times: Guards indicted by federal grand jury

KION: 2 ex-Santa Barbara deputies indicted in jail assault

Lompoc Record: Guards indicted by federal grand jury

Suspect Led Officers Down Residential Streets

HOLLISTER—Hollister Police Department arrested a female driver after she led them on a vehicle pursuit through the streets of Hollister as she tried to evade officers.  They arrested 22-year-old Hollister resident Patricia Candelaria Caudillo and charged her with felony evading.

Early Sunday morning, April 6 at around 1:45 a.m., Hollister Police Officer Rudy Rodriguez was on patrol when he witnessed a vehicle blow the stop sign near the intersection of East Street and Hawkins Street.  Officer Rodriguez attempted to pull the car over but the driver ignored his red lights.

Instead of stopping, the driver, identified as Patricia Caudillo, made a series of turns and maneuvers in an attempt to avoid Officer Rodriguez.  She narrowly missed several parked vehicles along the residential streets that she led the officer down.

“At times the vehicle pursuit reached speeds of up to 90 miles per hour.” Hollister Police Captain Carlos Reynoso wrote in a press release.

Once Caudillo led Officer Rodriguez onto SR 25 and Park Street she made a turn and headed northbound and hit the accelerator, reaching speeds up to 90 MPH.

A complete stop at this sign would have saved everyone a lot of trouble.

By that time, Officer Rodriguez had radioed for backup as the pursuit was fast becoming a danger to the public. Deputies from the San Benito County Sheriff joined the pursuit, as well as other officers from the Hollister Police Department.

The vehicle finally came to a stop just north of Santa Ana Road.  Caudillo was arrested and transported and booked into San Benito County Jail.   She faces charges of Felony Evading Police with disregard to the public, and driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Her eagerness to escape arrest was likely due to her other two recent DUI’s, on November 6 and February 6.

A standoff between officers of the Novato Police Department and a local man ended in the arrest of 34-year-old Lance Mark Papka on Monday afternoon. NPD Sergeant Jennifer Dunlap issued a press release detailing the encounter and resulting arrest.

According to reports made to Novato police by the unnamed female adult victim, also a Novato resident, Papka physically assaulted her and would not let her leave his side afterward. Papka kept the victim prisoner in a residence on Alta Vista Court in Novato and fired a shot in the home during her forced stay there.

At roughly 2:40 p.m., NPD received a call about a suicidal man in possession of a number of firearms, and responded to the Alta Vista Court residence where Papka was still holding his female victim. Officers Layn, Bagget, and Jacob set up a perimeter around the residence so that they could intercept anyone exiting.

After some time, the victim escaped and gave officers her story, telling them that Papka had, indeed, talked about committing suicide. She had sustained minor injuries from the earlier assault.

Shortly thereafter, Papka walked out to find NPD officers surrounding the residence. He made no attempt to resist arrest and followed all orders officers gave him. The officers immediately took Papka into custody and booked him on charges of domestic violence, negligent discharge of a firearm, and false imprisonment.

Read More:

Novato Patch: Man Arrested for Allegedly Trapping, Attacking Woman Inside Novato Home

Dixon police are continuing their investigation of an armed robbery that occurred when two male suspects stole a woman pedestrian’s purse on April 10.

According to a press release issued by acting Dixon Lieutenant Tom Cordova, the victim was simply walking along the sidewalk beside Stratford Avenue near Weyand Way in northwest Dixon when a car pulled up and stopped beside her at about 10:20 pm. One of the suspects got out of the car and approached the victim, she later told police. As the suspect closed the distance with the victim, he physically assaulted her. He then pointed a handgun at her and demanded her valuables. Subsequently, he snatched her purse and retreated, re-entering the car.

The car, which the victim described as a “small gray newer-model four-door sedan,” then sped west along Stratford Avenue toward Pitt School Road, where it turned south.

The victim described the suspect who got out of the car and robbed her as an African-American male in his 20s. He stood approximately 5 feet, 7 inches tall and weighed about 160 pounds, she said. His hair was “braided… [and] covered most of this face,” Cordova reported she said.

Dixon Police encourage anyone who may have witnessed this crime or who has any further information that will help them arrest these suspects to call the DPD Investigations Unit at 707 678-7070.

Suspects Were Listening To Scanner Traffic

I know what you are thinking, caught in the act of setting off fireworks.  That is not a crime – but you’re wrong, it is punishable under state felony statues.  Just call the Salinas Police, who after numerous days of fireworks calls in the East Salinas neighborhood, finally caught 18-year-old George Mendoza red-handed.  Mendoza now face state felony charges.

On Monday, April 7, Salinas Police responded to their 37^th call for fireworks, and after several days of dealing with these types of calls, Salinas Police were serious about putting an end to them.  This time the call came from the area of West Market Street and Riker Avenue. An Officer decided to park away from the call, and then walk up to the area.

As he walked towards the area of the 200 block of West Market he witnessed a young man light a few bottle rockets, then disappear.  As he sneaked closer to the location of the bottle rockets, he heard familiar radio traffic coming from a house in the area.  He realized the people inside were listening to a police scanner.

The Salinas neighborhood where the fireworks were seen

As he approached the house, he again witnessed a man light off a firework, only this time it was a commercial grade mortar-type firework.  These types of fireworks are illegal to own for personal use.

The Officer then confronted the man, identified as George Mendoza, an 18-year-old resident of Salinas.  Mendoza still had a mortar-type firework in his pocket as the officer interviewed him.

“Mendoza was charged with the crime and will be facing State felony charges in regards to the fireworks.” Salinas Police Commander Henry Gomez said.

Mendoza admitted to police that he and his friends were the ones setting off the fireworks for the past few days.

Accused of incorrectly using the property of the church that employs him to post bail, a Vacaville pastor will have his case decided by a jury in late May.

Mark Lewis, pastor of Fellowship Baptist Church, appeared on April 16 in Solano County Superior Court. According to The Vacaville Reporter, he pleaded not guilty to “…charges of perjury, attempting to record a false or forged instrument and theft by false pretenses.” Attorneys in the case agreed to hold the jury trial on May 28.

Prosecutors at a probable cause hearing last month presented evidence concerning the ownership of two church properties Lewis had used to secure his bail after Vacaville Police arrested him on suspicion of arson. The bail bondsman’s insurance company examined records related to the church properties and found reason to believe that Lewis was not authorized to use the properties as collateral.

Lewis’s legal saga began on January 9 when he was arrested by Vacaville Police for allegedly firebombing his ex-girlfriend’s home. The specific charges in that case to which Lewis has pleaded not guilty include “arson of and inhabited structure, stalking, possession of an explosive material,” according to The Vacaville Reporter. A probable cause hearing in Lewis’s arson case has been scheduled for June 2.

He is still lodged in the Solano County Jail with his bail set at $575,000.

Read More:

The Reporter: Vacaville pastor pleads not guilty

CrimeVoice: Pastor Suspected of Firebombing Gets No Bail Reduction

The Paso Robles Police Department’s Special Enforcement Team (SET) has another man under arrest for drug-related charges.

According to PRPD, SET served a narcotics-related search warrant on a residence last Wednesday at approximately 5:30 p.m.

The search warrant was served on a house on the 500 block of Oak Street.

During the search police discovered 8.2 gram of methamphetamine, 235 grams of marijuana, scales, indicia of packaging for sales of narcotics, two rifles and $1,700. All was seized by police.

Police arrested Jose Luis Echevarria, 35, of Paso Robles for felony possession of marijuana for sale, felony possession of a controlled substance for sale and felony child endangerment .

It is unknown what led the police to obtain a search warrant for  that residence or what the age of the children involved were at the time of press.

This is the fourth narcotics-related arrest made by PRPD in the past 30 days.

Read More:

Tribune: Paso Man arrested in drug case

Daily News: Search warrant leads to drug arrest

Members of the Paso Robles Police Department’s Special Enforcement Team (SET) placed three people under arrest for drug-related charges after an intensive investigation throughout the city.

According to PRPD, the first arrest came on March 28, 2014 at approximately 5:30 p.m.

SET conducted a probation search in the 2400 block of Branch Creek. They were looking at Aaron Morris, 21, of Paso Robles who was previously arrested by SET for sales of narcotics on December 06, 2013.

Police found one gram of heroin, four grams of methamphetamine, electronic scales, indicia of narcotic sales and drug paraphernalia during the search.

Morris was arrested and booked into the San Luis Obispo County Jail for felony possession of a controlled substance for sales, felony possession of narcotics for sale, felony possession of a controlled substance and a probation violation.

The second arrest was on April 4 at approximately 2:30 p.m.

SET detectives served a narcotics-related search warrant in the 600 block of Tucker Ave.

Detectives discovered three grams of methamphetamine, more than an ounce of marijuana, a hypodermic needle and numerous prescription pills were located.

Amanda Snyder

Police arrested Amanda Snyder, 49, felony possession of a controlled substance, felony possession of controlled narcotics and a misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia.

The third arrest occurred on April 5 at approximately 1030 p.m.

PRPD patrol units stopped a vehicle on southbound HWY 101 near Main St. in Templeton for a traffic infraction.

Abel Ribera Torres

Police say the male driver was found to be driving on a suspended driver’s license so they impounded his vehicle.

During the vehicle search, investigators found 29.15 grams of methamphetamine, which is more than one ounce.

Police arrested Abel Ribera Torres, 54, of Atascadero for felony possession of a controlled substance for sales, felony transportation of controlled substance and a misdemeanor  for driving on a suspended driver’s license.

Read More:

Tribune: Trio of North County residents arrested on drug charges

Santa Barbara - As if the economics of a Santa Barbara area fishing career weren’t challenging enough, wherein one’s income is dependent up the catch-as-catch-can whims of those inscrutable “fishing gods” well known to any piscatory sportsman, the theft of a professional fisherman’s catch qualifies the miscreants for high standing in The Hall of Shame.  And the fact that the alleged thieves are themselves professional fishermen might well put them at personal risk when strolling the local waterfront.

The arrest of John Wilson, 53, and Kai Griffin, 23, on July 13^th was the result of an ongoing two-month-long investigation conducted by local Department of Fish and Wildlife wardens who had periodically observed the two in their activities in and around the Santa Barbara Harbor.

According to California Department of Fish and Wildlife spokesman Lt. Wes Boyle, his agency’s personnel conducted surveillance of Wilson and Griffin as they stole native rock crabs from commercial fishing receivers acting as middlemen between fishermen and retailers, and conducted an ongoing business in sea urchins, whelks, and clawed rock crabs “that were illegally landed.”  Apparently aware that the best market for stolen sea life products would not be on the local docks where the coterie of local fishermen were well aware that their catches were being pilfered during pre-dawn hours, the two suspects “sold the stolen catch at the Hollywood Farmer’s Market,” Boyle reported.  Wilson happens to be the proprietor of Sea Fever Seafood, a popular venue at the busy weekend marketplace.

Santa Barbara Harbor

Boyle indicated in his report to the media that the arrests of Wilson and Griffin came about “thanks to some good tips from the fishing community and good, solid police work.”

Wilson and Griffin were arrested and transported to Santa Barbara County Jail, where they were booked on felony charges of conspiracy and grand theft.  As uncomfortable and inconvenient as jail certainly is, both men are presumably safer there than they might be showing their faces on the commercial fishing docks.

Photos: Courtesy California Department of Fish and Game

Read more:

KCET: Popular farmers’ market fish vendor arrested

CalCoastNews: Central coast fish thieves arrested

CDFG News: Two Santa Barbara County men arrested for felony theft

The San Luis Obispo Sheriff’s department arrested a man last week for transporting and possessing approximately 40 grams of heroin.

According to the sheriff’s office, one of its sheriff’s deputies that has a K9 unit was traveling westbound on Madonna Road when he stopped a Dodge Dakota pickup truck for a traffic violation.

The deputy stated the vehicle contained a driver and a passenger.

The deputy noticed a knife in the driver’s seat upon the driver exiting the vehicle.

The driver was Jacobcharles Michael Collins, 29, of Rio Vista. The passenger was Jason Michael Gauthier, 32, of San Luis Obispo.

During a search the Deputy discovered a digital scale hidden in Collins’ groin area as well as a large golf ball-sized package located in the same area.

When Collins  was asked about the package, Collins said it contained an opiate.

Investigators determined the package contained approximately 40 grams of heroin with a street value of about $5,000.

Collins was booked into SLO County Jail on charges of possession of a controlled substance and transportation of a controlled substance.

Gauthier, who was on felony probation, was also searched and a small amount of heroin was discovered in his wallet. He was charged with possession of a controlled substance.

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CalCoastNews: Deputy busts man in SLO for hiding heroin in groin area

Ventura - Details have just been released regarding Krystal Lovas, 31, a Moorpark resident who was apparently unaware of the sensitive nature of law enforcement personnel charged with the protection and safekeeping of those in their custodial care on the night of March 26^th, when she made a series of phone calls to the Ventura County Jail…and threatened to blow the place up.

Lovas’ boyfriend, a recent arrival at what is officially identified as the Ventura County Sheriff’s Pre-Trial Detention Facility—but what is, in fact, a monolithic fortress with strict visitor protocols and impressive (if not intimidating) security provisions in public view—may well have not been aware of just how eager Lovas was to speak with him that evening when she made multiple phone calls to the public reception desk officers and voiced demands to speak with him.

It was during those phone calls that the female caller—only later identified as Lovas—described herself as having “individuals outside the PTDF facility ready to blow up the building if her demands were not met,” according to Ventura County Sheriff’s Department spokesman Sgt. Ron Chips.

Always working on the principles of “better safe than sorry”, all operations within the county facility were placed on immediate lockdown, with a phalanx of armed VCSD Deputies surrounding the large complex in a security perimeter sweep seeking any suspicious activity or objects that may have been planted nearby.  While this ongoing security protocol was undertaken, investigators promptly began tracing the threatening phone calls to their source and identified Lovas as the likely suspect.

With the PTFD Classification Unit working in concert with the VCSD Gang Unit, Lovas was ultimately located and contacted just hours later in the city of Oxnard, where she was taken in to custody and taken to Ventura County Jail for booking on charges of false report of a bomb with her bail set at $40,000.

With any luck, Lovas won’t need to use the phone to call her boyfriend, as a well-known method of communication within such facilities is to simply shout through the heating ducts.  Problem solved.

Photo: Courtesy Ventura County Jail Booking

Read more:

KCLU: Details released about bomb threat

FRESNO – Police arrested four members of a new motorcycle gang in connection to the beating of two men outside a nightclub last month.

The incident happened on March 7 outside the Crossroads nightclub in central Fresno. A graphic video posted by a reported gang member on Facebook helped lead to the arrests. On the video, a man is seen curled up on the ground while being violently kicked by one of the suspects.

Police Chief Jerry Dyer said that social media was “very helpful in this case” and that the police department will continue to monitor social media sites every day.

Crossroads Nightclub

The four Malos Hechos members, all Fresno residents, were arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon related to the beating. They were identified as Apolinio, Martinez, 40, Daniel Telles, 25, Christopher Martinez Jr., 21, and Christopher Martinez Sr., 42.

“These are individuals that are extremely violent and they operate in numbers, like most cowards do,” Police Chief Jerry Dyer said.

Although weapons were not involved in the beating, Dyer said that the kicking was classified as assault with a deadly weapon because it could have caused severe injuries and even death. Both victims recovered from their injuries.

Police are trying to get Malos Hechos, which was formed last November, classified as an outlaw gang. So far, they have identified 15 of its members, seven of whom are Bulldog gang members, Dyer said.

Another one of its members was identified as being involved in an illegal chop shop operation in February in southeast Fresno.

Dyer said that the motorcycle group is involved in drug sales, firearms possession, and possibly firearms sales.

Read More:

ABC30: Malos Hechos club made up of Bulldog gang members

YourCentralValley: Violent attack caught on camera leads to arrest

Santa Barbara - The quiet streets of Santa Barbara are frequently a productive hunting ground for law enforcement units tasked with identifying those who are under the influence of alcohol or drugs while operating a motor vehicle.  And while the Santa Barbara Police Department motor patrols are not officially engaged in attempts to break any records in terms of DUI arrests made, they do take pride in the success of organized DUI checkpoints and rapid response to citizen 911 Emergency calls reporting erratic drives on the roads.

On April 17^th, Sgt. Riley Harwood, SBPD Public Information Officer, expressed official appreciation to “the responsible citizens who take the time to call and report suspected drunk drivers” as he announced that SBPD officers made 49 arrests for “driving under the influence violations” from March 1 through March 31.  Many of those arrested were engaged in what can only be described as episodes of vehicular mayhem as a direct result of their intoxication taking place after sunset hours, with a rate of 1.5 such events per day, every day on the city’s “quiet” streets.

Among those notable incidents, Fredrick Forrest Hendrix, 59, got the month off to a rolling start on March 1^st by slamming his car into another vehicle in the downtown area Ralph’s Supermarket parking lot just as night fell.  He exchanged information with the other driver, but then drove off without providing proof of insurance, and when he was contacted by a responding SBPD officer, he denied having consumed any alcohol in spite of his obvious intoxication.  When Hendrix’s blood sample later registered a BAC of .20, he was arrested on charges of DUI.

Just the following evening, Alta Elizabeth Jerue, 39, managed to drive her car through a residential property, through a fence, and ultimately down a 30-foot backyard embankment before coming to an abrupt stop.  SBPD Officer Rosenberg arrived on the scene along with firefighters and paramedics, and Jerue and her passenger were extracted from the vehicle with only minor injuries.  For her part, however, Jerue failed a series of field sobriety tests, blew a .30 breathalizer BAC, was discovered holding a small amount of marijuana, and was summarily arrested on charges of DUI.

That same night, Peter Christoffer King, 41, drove his car into a roadside planter, then drove off to a retirement home parking lot where he drove across another planter, finally grinding to a halt.  His protestations to responding officers that he’d “only had a few beers” were belied by his .30 BAC, and he was arrested and booked into Santa Barbara County Jail on charges of DUI.

Just days later Francisco Franco Calixto, 34, responded to a passing SBPD officer’s offer of help to push his car out of traffic lanes by suddenly fleeing the scene on foot.  He was no match for the sprinting ability of a trained law enforcement officer, and when apprehended, admitted to having been “forced by a friend to drink” three shots of tequila.  Investigation revealed that he’d been involved in a prior collision, and he was arrested on charges of DUI, hit-and-run, resisting an officer, and driving without a license.

Among the youngest DUI suspects noted by Harwood, Jessica Martinez, 20, may win the prize as Most Inebriated Driver for the month.  When she was contacted in the late afternoon of March 16th—following two hit-and-run collisions—she admitted to having consumed three vodka beverages.  All questions of her level of sobriety were somewhat moot, and she was unable to submit to a field sobriety test merely because she could not sit upright behind the wheel of her car.  She was booked into Santa Barbara County Jail on charges of felony DUI causing injury, felony hit-and-run, and possession of marijuana.

Given this sampling of motoring chaos on public thoroughfares in a single 30-day period, the admonition to practice “defensive driving” may well be kept in mind.

Photo: Courtesy www.stuartcriinaldefense.com

Read More:

EdHat: DUI round-up stats

HIDDEN VALLEY LAKE, LAKE COUNTY – A group of teenage kids celebrating spring break had a party at one of the boy’s houses on Monday night, and by 2 am, the noise had gotten loud enough to spur a neighbor to call the Sheriff’s office to complain. The party was at the house of a well known local felon now serving time for a series of drug and other offences.

Jack Pollack of Deer Hill Road in Hidden Valley Lake, a small town of under 6,000 people in the southern part of Lake County, was sentenced to over 20 years in prison for cases in 2012 when he was involved in a series of home invasion robberies. He was also found to be in possession of 18 pounds of marijuana at the home, and in a separate arrest was found with methamphetamine, scales, and a weapon.

His home invasion case partners, including a former deputy, would dress as law enforcement officers and invade homes while armed on a claimed drug raid. Pollack would use his company truck as a ruse to inspect homeowners’ wells while he was casing the home for his partners. Jack Pollack was the owner of Pollack And Sons Pump, a water and well service company run out of his home. At that time, Pollack had already been arrested many times before, and was sentenced to seven years prison in 2007 for transportation and sales of a controlled substance. He was also charged on October 11, 2013, when he was beginning his sentence for the 2012 case, for possession of a controlled substance for sale for a traffic stop, when meth and a rifle was found. He claimed it was for personal use and not for sale. Jack’s wife Peggy Pollack had been quoted at the time that Jack was a 15 year addict, but had stopped using in January, apparently contradicting his claim that it was not for sale. The prosecution in the case argued that the 3 ounces found was too much for personal use as well. This case added to the long sentence imposed on Pollack by the federal and state convictions.

So one, or perhaps both of Jack’s sons invited friends over to their house Monday night to party. According to Steve Brooks of the Sheriff’s Office, when Deputies arrived in response to the complaints, they found several vehicles parked in the large driveway, and one had been vomited on. They encountered several minors who appeared to be drunk. While speaking to the kids, they were approached by Peggy Pollack, who had just come out of the house.

She demanded to know why the deputies were there at her house, apparently not aware of the noise that had been coming from the home the last several hours. She said that yes, her son was having a party, but she had been sleeping, and didn’t know anyone had any alcohol. Deputies did a walkthrough of the home to check on the welfare of the minors there, making their way through the empty beer cans scattered about the patio and deck. They also detected an “overwhelming” odor of alcohol, apparently missed by Mrs. Pollack as well. They found several more drunk teenagers in the house.

The deputies made contact with the party guests’ parents to come and take their kids home, and made arrangements to have a sober adult to stay at the house to watch over the Pollack children and any others who remained without a ride home. Peggy Noreen Pollack was arrested for contributing to the delinquency of a minor, and for an outstanding felony warrant on charges of fraud to obtain aid. She was booked at the County Hill Road Correctional Facility, where she posted bail of $45,000, and returned home to take care of her kids.

Read More:

Lake County News (2012) Federal complaint alleges former deputy, two others involved in home invasion robberies

Record Bee: Special allegations could add substantial jail time in Pollack case

A 30-year-old South Los Angeles man has been arrested for allegedly kidnapping a teenage girl who he reportedly doused with flammable liquid.

Robert Ransom Jr. was in jail Friday on kidnapping, attempted sexual assault and attempted murder charges. He is being held without bail.

Police say Ransom forced a 16-year-old girl to get into his van by knifepoint. He drove her to another location where he tried to sexually assault her. She managed to escape, but not before Ransom reportedly soaked her with flammable liquid, according to police. She fled naked and with her hands tied and mouth taped.

Authorities announced on Friday they were investigating a connection between the kidnapping and three recent homicides. The victims in those cases had been tied up and burned.

A $75,000 reward is being offered for information about the case.

Read More:

LA Times: LAPD probes links between kidnapping, killings in South LA

KTLA: South LA Homicides, Kidnapping Ma Be Connected: LAPD

A carjacker and a burglar escaped from Mule Creek State Prison Wednesday morning.

Mule Creek Prison is in Ione, in Amador County, about 40 miles south east of Sacramento in the Sierra foothills. Patrick Raines, 21, and Johnny Maciel, 37, were confirmed missing following a 10:50 a.m. security check, according to prison authorities, having escaped from the minimum security facility.

Raines, from Placer County, is 6 feet 1 inch tall with short blond hair and blue eyes. He was serving a 6-year sentence for carjacking, and had a March 2016 parole date.

Maciel, from San Diego County, is 6 feet tall with short brown hair and brown eyes. He was serving a 15 year sentence for burglary, and had a June 2016 parole date.

Prison investigators urge anyone with information to call 911, or Mule Creek State Prison at (209) 274-5955.

Read More:

Sacramento Bee: Search undertaken for two inmates missing from prison in Amador County

News10: Search continues for escaped prisoners

YUCAIPA – A high school Spanish teacher, accused of having sex with a teen-age student, will be arraigned in Superior Court on Tuesday.

One day after county sheriff’s authorities received a tip on an inappropriate relationship between a teacher and an under-age student, Sheila Heacock, 44, was arrested on charges of felony oral copulation with a minor, penetration by a foreign object, contact with a minor to commit an offense, and unlawful sexual intercourse

School officials confirmed to investigators that Heacock, 44, who is also known as Sheila Roostai, has taught for 18 years in the Yucaipa school district.

One day after learning about the alleged relationship, Yucaipa Sheriff’s investigators confirmed it with the 16-year-male student. It was revealed that the initial contact took place in January and lasted through March, said Cindy Bachman, a spokeswoman for the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department.

Bachman said the reports are the Heacock drove the victim to a remote location, some 10 miles from the high school location, where the alleged events took place. She said none of the actions occurred on school grounds, nor at the teen’s home, nor at Heacock’s home. Heacock, who has taught at three different elementary school campuses over the past three years before moving on to Yucaipa High School, is being held on $100,000 bail.

Investigators from the Crimes Against Children Detail, who learned about the possible relationship from a district administrator, are seeking other possible victims during the course of their ongoing investigation.

Heacock was arrested on Thursday night, according to reports, and was booked into Central Detention Center in San Bernardino. On Friday, she was released on bail. She has been placed on administrative leave.

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