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CRIME DIGEST
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• TEEN DROPS ROCKS AT CARS ON FREEWAY: CERES - A 17-year-old Ceres teen was arrested Thursday evening after admitting he dropped rocks onto cars traveling on Highway 99 from atop the Whitmore Avenue overpass.

Eight vehicles were damaged in the rock-throwing spree, including numerous windshields and headlights. The damage was in the thousands of dollars, said Ceres Police Lt. Brent Smith.

The teen, who was not identified because of a state law protecting the identity of juveniles, was seen running from the area at 10:11 p.m. He was later arrested at his home in the 2500 block of Don Pedro Road. The motive is unknown however he made a statement to officers that he needed help. He was booked into Juvenile Hall on felony charges.

Officer Jeremy Lewis found a number of damaged cars which had pulled over to the shoulder after being hit and calling 911. One driver said he was driving his big-rig at 60 to 70 mph when a rock struck his cab.

vHIT AND RUN DRIVER SOUGHT: CERES - Police are looking for the driver of a 2002 gold-colored Honda Accord which crashed into a tree and causing it to roll onto its roof in the 3700 block of Waynesboro Drive Monday.

The incident happened at 12:35 p.m. on Aug. 30 in front of 3710 Waynesboro.

The driver fled the scene before officers arrived.

Police found no blood or other evidence that the driver was injured. To no avail, officers tried to make contact with the registered owner who lives in the area.

• ROBBERY ATTEMPT: CERES - A shotgun wielding gunman tried unsuccessfully to rob the owner of a downtown Ceres gas station after he closed up Thursday evening.

The 9:54 p.m. Thursday crime scared both owner of Eagle Gas and his brother but the suspect got away without the money and without being arrested.

The brothers were closing the convenience store when one brother walked his dog away from the store as the other got inside his truck, throwing a bag with money into his backseat. The 20-year-old brother in the pickup was then rushed by the suspect, who stuck the barrel of a shotgun into his face. The victim's face was cut by the barrel. Both reached for the bag of money when the brother came back to the station with the dog and began yelling and chasing the suspect off. The gunman let go of the bag and ran as the brother with the dog followed the suspect to Lawrence Street where the suspect got into a red mid-1990s two-door T bird in stock condition. He then fled scene, possibly firing his shotgun on the way out.

The suspect was described as a hispanic male, 5-foot-5, 145 pounds, with dark hair, gray sweater, dark blue Dickie pants and blue hat.

The brothers sped off fearing that the gunman would return. They then called police.

Anyone with information on the crime or the suspect is urged to contact the Ceres Police Detectives Bureau at 538-5727.

• TWO ARRESTED FOR DUI IN CHECKPOINT: CERES - A Friday evening DUI checkpoint staged in the 1500 block of Hatch Road in Ceres screened 1,414 drivers and netted the arrests of two on the suspicion of drunk driving. Officers made two misdemeanor arrests and had 29 vehicles towed to storage because the drivers had no license or were driving on suspended licenses.

Arrested for DUI were Carlos Avila, 27, of Modesto, and Megan Osborn, 26, of Modesto.

• DRIVE BY SHOOTING INVESTIGATED: CERES - Ceres police believe that one house in the 3000 block of Fifth Street was the target of a drive-by shooting which occurred at 9:25 p.m. Sunday evening.

Police dispatchers received a number of calls about the shooting which occurred in the area of Fifth Street and Lawrence Street. One residence in the the 3000 block was hit twice and a bullet damaged a mirror on a vehicle parked outside the house.

Police increased patrols in the area the rest of the evening but turned up no suspects.