The Blotter Highlights ending May 7, 2023

PROACTIVE ENFORCEMENT

On Saturday, April 8th, at approximately noon, Officer Ordaz initiated a traffic stop on Amaral Street and Whipple Road. He contacted the driver, who was on probation and conducted a probation search. During the search, officers found more than 13 grams of suspected methamphetamine and arrested the driver for illegal possession of drugs and violating his probation terms.

On Saturday, April 29th, at approximately 8:15 p.m., Officer Benard was checking on a suspicious vehicle at Union Landing and decided to contact the occupants. The driver parked the car and immediately walked away, only to return a short time later. Two additional occupants quickly exited the car and fled on foot. Officer Benard detained the driver while additional officers checked the area for the other suspects, but they did not locate them.  Officers found two loaded handguns in the vehicle and arrested the driver for six firearm-related charges and resisting arrest.

ATTEMPTED MURDER

On Saturday, May 6th, at approximately midnight, officers responded to a shooting in the 1800 block of Whipple Road. The victim told police that he and his passenger were stopped at a red light when suddenly, a person wearing a black sweatshirt shot at them.  The victims managed to escape with minor injuries, and an area check for the suspect was unsuccessful.

On Sunday, April 30th, at approximately 4:15 p.m., officers responded to a robbery in the 2800 block of Hop Ranch Road. The victim listed his laptop for sale online and met a potential buyer. When the suspects arrived, one brandished a knife, while the other stole the laptop.  Both then fled on foot to the nearby creek trail. Officers found the two suspects on the trail and arrested them both for robbery.

On Tuesday, May 2nd, at approximately 4:30 a.m., officers responded to a robbery in the 1900 block of Whipple Road. Two suspects entered the store to purchase some merchandise. While one was paying for the items, the other walked behind the counter and stole money from the open cash register. Both suspects then left on foot in an unknown direction. They were described as Hispanic males, 16-22 years old, wearing masks.

On Thursday, May 4th, at approximately 5:30 p.m., officers responded to a robbery in the 1700 block of Decoto Road.  When a security guard approached the suspect and asked him to leave the business, the robber struck the guard with a wooden stick. The security guard detained the suspect until police arrived.

On Sunday, May 7th, at approximately 8:00 p.m., officers responded to a robbery in the 34500 block of Alvarado Niles Road. The suspect stole merchandise while simulating having a firearm. He fled on foot but was later contacted and arrested by officers. No firearm was located, but the arrestee was in possession of the stolen merchandise and other contraband.

CARJACKING ATTEMPT

On Wednesday, April 26th, at approximately 4:00 a.m., officers responded to an attempted carjacking in the 34800 block of Mission Boulevard. The victim told police that he interrupted and confronted two males trying to steal his vehicle. One of the suspects pointed a handgun at the victim before fleeing in a white sedan. The suspects were two Hispanic males in their twenties, wearing surgical masks.

SHOOTING

On Wednesday, April 26th, at approximately 9:15 p.m., officers responded to a shooting on Bradford Way and 7th Street.  Two suspects in a dark car fired several rounds into the air and then fled in an unknown direction before police arrived.

On Saturday, April 29th, at approximately 11:00 p.m., officers responded to a shooting in the 600 block of B Street.  A family was celebrating an event in the area when they heard what they believed to be gunshots.  A witness from the party ran outside and saw a dark vehicle doing “donuts” in the parking lot and then speeding back onto the public roadway.  The witness then heard a few more gunshots being fired into the air as the vehicle fled.   Officers did find evidence of a shooting, and luckily, there were no victims who had been shot.

HATE CRIME

On Friday, April 28th, at approximately 8:15 a.m., officers responded to an assault in the 1900 block of Whipple Road. The male suspect punched the female victim twice in the face while making harassing statements about her gender. The investigating officer identified the suspect and forwarded the case to the district attorney for hate crime and battery charges.

BURGLARY

On Monday, May 1st, at approximately 10:00 a.m., three adult males were seen forcing entry to a residence in the 33800 block of 10th Street. Upon arrival, officers found three individuals that matched the description of the suspects and detained them. Witnesses to the crime identified the suspects, and officers placed all three under arrest for burglary.

VEHICLE THEFT ARREST

On Tuesday, May 2nd, at approximately 4:20 p.m., Sergeant Jensen attempted a traffic stop on a stolen vehicle in the 33000 block of Mission Boulevard. The vehicle failed to stop, and the three occupants fled on foot, abandoning the car in the street. After an extensive search, two of the three juvenile occupants were found and placed under arrest for possession of a stolen vehicle, resisting and evading a police officer.