• DUI SUSPECT FALLS ASLEEP IN DRIVE-THRU LANE: CERES - A Ceres man was arrested for drunk driving after he fell asleep at the wheel while idling in the drive-thru lane at the Hatch Road Jack in the Box restaurant on June 30.
At 3:15 a.m. employees called 911 to report a motorist who was stopped in the lane.
Officer Keith Kitcher came up to the red 1994 Nissan pickup and roused the driver, George Jaimes, 22, of Ceres. Jaimes allegedly stumbled from the pickup and showed other signs of intoxication. Jaimes was issued a field sobriety test by Kitcher and transported to Doctors Medical Center for a blood draw, then later booked into the Stanislaus County Jail for DUI.
• STOLEN VEHICLE PURSUIT ENDS IN KEYES: CERES - Two women were charged with possession of stolen property after Ceres police were led on a pursuit of a stolen car on Thursday, July 1.
Community Service Officer Michele Houston was on patrol at 1 p.m. when she ran the license number of a black 1995 Honda Accord into the system and learned that it was reported stolen. The car was occupied by three females.
Officer Sergio Jimenez attempted to stop the Honda at Industrial and Central but the driver sped off southbound on Central Avenue. The chase then went onto eastbound Service Road until it turned onto Lucas Road. The Honda's driver continued into the Keyes area, ending at a Foster Farms chicken ranch on Prairie Flower Road. One of the passengers, Mona Sanchez, 37, of Ceres, remained in the car while driver Charlotte Janis, 39, of Ceres, and passenger Nancy Tafoya, 33, of Modesto, fled on foot. Both were apprehended.
Janis was booked in charges of possession of stolen property, resisting an officer, and leading an officer on a vehicle pursuit.
Tafoya was arrested for possession of stolen property and auto theft.
• DUI CHECKPOINT NETS FOUR DUI ARRESTS: CERES - A multi-agency DUI checkpoint on Mitchell Road north of Fowler Road in Ceres on Saturday, July 3 resulted in four arrests of alleged drunk drivers.
A total of seven field sobriety tests were administered. Arrests included those of Jesus Gil, 21, Michael McNeilly, 40, and Elizabeth Magana, 18.
A total of 1,180 cars drove through the checkpoint with 941 drivers screened. Lt. Brent Smith said that 14 vehicles were towed because their drivers had suspended licenses while two tows were due to unlicensed drivers.
The checkpoint was conducted by Ceres, Modesto and Turlock police departments as well as Sheriff's deputies and probation officers.
• FIRES BELIEVED SET BY JUVENILES: CERES - Ceres firefighters were busy fighting a number of grass fires set in the area of Thursday afternoon but no arrests were made.
Officials suspect that a rash of fires were set by juveniles playing with Fourth of July fireworks.
A total of five fires were limited to a two block area around Richland Avenue south of Hatch Road and Evans Road near Herndon Road. The fires, which were set between 4 p.m. and 10 p.m. did not threaten any structures. Evidence at the scene indicates that some of the fires may have been caused by bottlerockets in dry grass. Matches were found at another location.
Police were unable to make an arrest because nobody could identify the juveniles.
At 3:15 a.m. employees called 911 to report a motorist who was stopped in the lane.
Officer Keith Kitcher came up to the red 1994 Nissan pickup and roused the driver, George Jaimes, 22, of Ceres. Jaimes allegedly stumbled from the pickup and showed other signs of intoxication. Jaimes was issued a field sobriety test by Kitcher and transported to Doctors Medical Center for a blood draw, then later booked into the Stanislaus County Jail for DUI.
• STOLEN VEHICLE PURSUIT ENDS IN KEYES: CERES - Two women were charged with possession of stolen property after Ceres police were led on a pursuit of a stolen car on Thursday, July 1.
Community Service Officer Michele Houston was on patrol at 1 p.m. when she ran the license number of a black 1995 Honda Accord into the system and learned that it was reported stolen. The car was occupied by three females.
Officer Sergio Jimenez attempted to stop the Honda at Industrial and Central but the driver sped off southbound on Central Avenue. The chase then went onto eastbound Service Road until it turned onto Lucas Road. The Honda's driver continued into the Keyes area, ending at a Foster Farms chicken ranch on Prairie Flower Road. One of the passengers, Mona Sanchez, 37, of Ceres, remained in the car while driver Charlotte Janis, 39, of Ceres, and passenger Nancy Tafoya, 33, of Modesto, fled on foot. Both were apprehended.
Janis was booked in charges of possession of stolen property, resisting an officer, and leading an officer on a vehicle pursuit.
Tafoya was arrested for possession of stolen property and auto theft.
• DUI CHECKPOINT NETS FOUR DUI ARRESTS: CERES - A multi-agency DUI checkpoint on Mitchell Road north of Fowler Road in Ceres on Saturday, July 3 resulted in four arrests of alleged drunk drivers.
A total of seven field sobriety tests were administered. Arrests included those of Jesus Gil, 21, Michael McNeilly, 40, and Elizabeth Magana, 18.
A total of 1,180 cars drove through the checkpoint with 941 drivers screened. Lt. Brent Smith said that 14 vehicles were towed because their drivers had suspended licenses while two tows were due to unlicensed drivers.
The checkpoint was conducted by Ceres, Modesto and Turlock police departments as well as Sheriff's deputies and probation officers.
• FIRES BELIEVED SET BY JUVENILES: CERES - Ceres firefighters were busy fighting a number of grass fires set in the area of Thursday afternoon but no arrests were made.
Officials suspect that a rash of fires were set by juveniles playing with Fourth of July fireworks.
A total of five fires were limited to a two block area around Richland Avenue south of Hatch Road and Evans Road near Herndon Road. The fires, which were set between 4 p.m. and 10 p.m. did not threaten any structures. Evidence at the scene indicates that some of the fires may have been caused by bottlerockets in dry grass. Matches were found at another location.
Police were unable to make an arrest because nobody could identify the juveniles.
