GRANDMOTHER HELD IN TODDLER SHOOTING - SOUTH MODESTO: A South Modesto grandmother has been arrested for supplying police with conflicting statements on the Sunday shooting which resulted in her granddaughter being critically wounded in a home on Stone Leaf Court.
Maria Elena Hernandez, 57, was booked Sunday on charges of child endangerment after it became apparent to investigators that her statements were at odds with circumstantial evidence.
Modesto police investigators are trying to piece together what happened in the home leading up to the shooting, which occurred late morning. Hernandez rushed the girl, aged 18 months, to a Modesto hospital emergency room by private car shortly after 12 noon. The critically wounded girl was then rushed by air ambulance to Children's Hospital and Research Center in Oakland at approximately 1 p.m. Surgeons there immediately operated to repair a single gunshot wound.
The family was described as uncooperative with Modesto officers. Investigators were told that the girl was struck by a bullet fired in a drive-by shooting but none of the neighbors reported hearing any shot. The investigation is seeking to fully answer how the child was shot and why.
The child's mother was at work at the time of the shooting. The girl's father, Saul Hernandez, was arrested last year on suspicion of murdering Alberto Beraza, 16, in a drive-by shooting on Crows Landing Road. At the time of the arrest, Hernandez was living near Blaker Kinser Junior High School in Ceres. He later moved his family to the cul-de-sac street off of River Road.
Police urged anyone with information on the shooting to contact Crime Stoppers at 521-4636, or text tips to the number 274637 and texting "Tip704" plus the message. Callers are eligible for a reward.
WOMAN ARRESTED FOR BEING DRUNK: CERES - A 32-year-old Merced woman was arrested for public drunkenness on Tuesday, Oct. 30 after she created a disturbance at the Chevron mini-mart on Whitmore Avenue.
Police were called at 9:30 p.m. about an extremely intoxicated woman who was disturbing employees and patrons trying to get a ride to Merced. Officers showed up and heard the woman speaking gibberish and arrested Enette McKinney for public intoxication.
PAROLEE FLEES WHEN HE SEES OFFICER : CERES - When Officer Brittney England made a traffic stop at 1:15 a.m. on Halloween night, Oct. 31, a parolee walking down the sidewalk thought she was coming for him and he ran.
England stopped a car at Central Avenue and Don Pedro Road when Paul Foster, 41, of Ceres, across the road began running away. England finished her business with the driver of the car and searched for Foster, finding him at Don Pedro and Collins roads. Foster said he ran because he was a parolee at large.
HEROIN FOUND IN CAR STOP: CERES - Christopher Kitavong, 26, of Ceres, was arrested on Wednesday morning, Oct. 31 after he was pulled over after swerving at Service and Mitchell roads and found to be carrying drugs and a loaded handgun.
Kitavong was stopped at the AM/PM parking lot at 1:16 a.m. by Sgt. James Yandell. Kitavong was on probation and could be searched without a warrant. During a search of the car Yandell located two separate containers of heroin, and a loaded .45-caliber handgun. Kitavong was arrested and charged with driving under the influence, possession of heroin, possession of heroin for sale, driving on a suspended license and possession of a loaded firearm.
LARGE PARTY BROKE UP: CERES - Ceres Police helped Stanislaus County Sheriff's deputies break up a large and raucous fight that formed at 1809 Hatch Road on Halloween night.
Over 100 persons had gathered and were becoming unruly before deputies responded to the call. They were met with bottles being thrown and one suspect kicked out a window in a patrol car. Ceres and Modesto police were called to back up. At one point officers heard small caliber gunfire in the back of the residence. Police cleared everyone out at the party but some revelers made their way to the AM/PM across the street. Police then ordered the crowd to disperse when Jacob Sutton-Bubeck, 20, of Modesto, began mouthing off and stirring up the crowd. Sutton-Bubeck was removed and arrested for obstructing or delaying a peace officer. Police spent an hour clearing out the scene, said Lt. Brent Smith.
A short time later, at 1:45 a.m., officers stopped a white BMW at Hatch Road and Pearson Avenue in south Modesto which had been seen earlier at the party. Daniel Rios, 19, of Modesto, was found to be in possession of over 19 grams of marijuana. Rios was on bail for a prior arrest for possession of ecstasy pills. Rios was issued a citation for possession of marijuana.
BAR FIGHT LEADS TO HIT AND RUN: CERES - A Saturday morning fight at the Midway Club on Mitchell Road led to the arrest of a participant who clipped his vehicle into another vehicle as he fled the bar parking lot.
Police were called at 1:56 a.m. about the hit and run. Lt. Brent Smith said a man involved in the fight had fled in a white Ford Thunderbird. Sgt. Trenton Johnson located the car at the Hatch Road Carl's Jr. restaurant. The intoxicated driver, Anthony Jeeter, 21, of Modesto, was bleeding from a head injury from the prior assault. He was arrested and charged with drunk driving. His 22-year-old passenger, Eddie Adams, was cited for public drunkenness.
Smith said it appears that the fight started about a woman.
Maria Elena Hernandez, 57, was booked Sunday on charges of child endangerment after it became apparent to investigators that her statements were at odds with circumstantial evidence.
Modesto police investigators are trying to piece together what happened in the home leading up to the shooting, which occurred late morning. Hernandez rushed the girl, aged 18 months, to a Modesto hospital emergency room by private car shortly after 12 noon. The critically wounded girl was then rushed by air ambulance to Children's Hospital and Research Center in Oakland at approximately 1 p.m. Surgeons there immediately operated to repair a single gunshot wound.
The family was described as uncooperative with Modesto officers. Investigators were told that the girl was struck by a bullet fired in a drive-by shooting but none of the neighbors reported hearing any shot. The investigation is seeking to fully answer how the child was shot and why.
The child's mother was at work at the time of the shooting. The girl's father, Saul Hernandez, was arrested last year on suspicion of murdering Alberto Beraza, 16, in a drive-by shooting on Crows Landing Road. At the time of the arrest, Hernandez was living near Blaker Kinser Junior High School in Ceres. He later moved his family to the cul-de-sac street off of River Road.
Police urged anyone with information on the shooting to contact Crime Stoppers at 521-4636, or text tips to the number 274637 and texting "Tip704" plus the message. Callers are eligible for a reward.
WOMAN ARRESTED FOR BEING DRUNK: CERES - A 32-year-old Merced woman was arrested for public drunkenness on Tuesday, Oct. 30 after she created a disturbance at the Chevron mini-mart on Whitmore Avenue.
Police were called at 9:30 p.m. about an extremely intoxicated woman who was disturbing employees and patrons trying to get a ride to Merced. Officers showed up and heard the woman speaking gibberish and arrested Enette McKinney for public intoxication.
PAROLEE FLEES WHEN HE SEES OFFICER : CERES - When Officer Brittney England made a traffic stop at 1:15 a.m. on Halloween night, Oct. 31, a parolee walking down the sidewalk thought she was coming for him and he ran.
England stopped a car at Central Avenue and Don Pedro Road when Paul Foster, 41, of Ceres, across the road began running away. England finished her business with the driver of the car and searched for Foster, finding him at Don Pedro and Collins roads. Foster said he ran because he was a parolee at large.
HEROIN FOUND IN CAR STOP: CERES - Christopher Kitavong, 26, of Ceres, was arrested on Wednesday morning, Oct. 31 after he was pulled over after swerving at Service and Mitchell roads and found to be carrying drugs and a loaded handgun.
Kitavong was stopped at the AM/PM parking lot at 1:16 a.m. by Sgt. James Yandell. Kitavong was on probation and could be searched without a warrant. During a search of the car Yandell located two separate containers of heroin, and a loaded .45-caliber handgun. Kitavong was arrested and charged with driving under the influence, possession of heroin, possession of heroin for sale, driving on a suspended license and possession of a loaded firearm.
LARGE PARTY BROKE UP: CERES - Ceres Police helped Stanislaus County Sheriff's deputies break up a large and raucous fight that formed at 1809 Hatch Road on Halloween night.
Over 100 persons had gathered and were becoming unruly before deputies responded to the call. They were met with bottles being thrown and one suspect kicked out a window in a patrol car. Ceres and Modesto police were called to back up. At one point officers heard small caliber gunfire in the back of the residence. Police cleared everyone out at the party but some revelers made their way to the AM/PM across the street. Police then ordered the crowd to disperse when Jacob Sutton-Bubeck, 20, of Modesto, began mouthing off and stirring up the crowd. Sutton-Bubeck was removed and arrested for obstructing or delaying a peace officer. Police spent an hour clearing out the scene, said Lt. Brent Smith.
A short time later, at 1:45 a.m., officers stopped a white BMW at Hatch Road and Pearson Avenue in south Modesto which had been seen earlier at the party. Daniel Rios, 19, of Modesto, was found to be in possession of over 19 grams of marijuana. Rios was on bail for a prior arrest for possession of ecstasy pills. Rios was issued a citation for possession of marijuana.
BAR FIGHT LEADS TO HIT AND RUN: CERES - A Saturday morning fight at the Midway Club on Mitchell Road led to the arrest of a participant who clipped his vehicle into another vehicle as he fled the bar parking lot.
Police were called at 1:56 a.m. about the hit and run. Lt. Brent Smith said a man involved in the fight had fled in a white Ford Thunderbird. Sgt. Trenton Johnson located the car at the Hatch Road Carl's Jr. restaurant. The intoxicated driver, Anthony Jeeter, 21, of Modesto, was bleeding from a head injury from the prior assault. He was arrested and charged with drunk driving. His 22-year-old passenger, Eddie Adams, was cited for public drunkenness.
Smith said it appears that the fight started about a woman.
