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CRIME DIGEST
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• HOME INVASION ROBBERY: CERES - The home of a 45-year-old Ceres woman was invaded by three men Tuesday evening, April 13, who tied her her hands and feet while they ransacked her home and stole items.

The crime occurred at 7:30 p.m. in the 3600 block of Ninth Street.

According to Ceres Police Lt. Brent Smith, the suspects knocked on the front door, and when she answered the door, three Hispanic men wearing ski masks and dark clothes burst through the door. The woman was struck in the face before her hands and feet were bound with tape which they bright. One of the men was armed with a gun.

The men left with a $400 flat screen TV and $200 worth of other items.

Smith said the victim was not as forthcoming about providing details on one of the suspects.

• DUI ARREST MADE: CERES - A Keyes teenager who blew through a red light right in front of a Ceres police sergeant was arrested on drunk driving charges early Thursday morning, April 15.

At 2:30 a.m. Sgt. Pat Crane was eastbound on Hatch Road and had to apply brakes to avoid hitting Jason Gutierrez in his grey 2001 Buick LeSabre. who ran a red light while on Richland Avenue. Crane stopped Gutierrez at the AM/PM on the corner where he was uncooperative and refused to hand over an ID. Crane recognized Gutierrez from prior stops and noticed that a loaded handgun was in plain view. Crane appeared to be intoxicated and was arrested on suspicion of being intoxicated. He was taken to Doctors Medical Center where a blood sample was drawn for blood alcohol content.

Gutierrez was arrested on DUI charges as well as driving on a suspended license and possession of a loaded handgun.

• CONVENIENCE STORE ROBBED: CERES - Clerks at the Vineyard 76 station at Whitmore Avenue and Morgan Road were confronted by two men at gunpoint on Thursday morning.

The clerks called 9-1-1 at 5:10 a.m. to report the robbery. One of the men was armed and announced "This is a robbery!," then helped themselves to cash while directing the clerks to lay on the ground. The robbers fled with an undisclosed amount of cash.

One man was described as white or Hispanic in his 30s with black hair, standing 6-foot-1, and weighing 190 pounds. His accomplice was a white male in his late 20s or early 30s, 5-foot-9 150 pounds with blonde hair.

Detectives would like to hear from anyone who may have knowledge about the suspects or saw anything at the station around the time of the crime. They may be reached at 538-5727.

• MAN WITH GUN CALL: CERES - Police were unable to locate two men who left the La Cueva Bar at 3505 S. Central Avenue after one of them brandished a handgun on Friday evening, April 16.

At 11:32 p.m. dispatchers were called about a man at the bar with a gun. A security guard and patrons said two Hispanic males were exchanging words with another man. One of the suspects, described as a Latino aged 25-30 with a goatie and long black hair, pulled out a handgun and pointed it at the man. The security guard tried to take the gun but the man's friend took it and they left in a silver Lexus type vehicle southbound on Central Avenue.

A short time later police received a call about shots fired near Colony Park Estates Mobile Home Park at 3939 Central Avenue.

• ALLEGED DRUNK DRIVER REFUSES TO PULL OVER: CERES - Officers responded to a call about a reckless driver Sunday evening which led to the arrest of a Ceres man for drunken driving.

After the call was made at 10:50 p.m., officers spotted a 2005 Nissan Altima matching the description of the suspect's car at Hatch and Richland. A patrol car followed Rafael Zapien, 35, of Ceres for about three miles but he failed to pull over until he reached his driveway on Aristocrat Drive.

Zapien was arrested and charged with failing to yield to an officer and DUI.