•WOMAN ATTACKED IN MANCINI PARK : SOUTH MODESTO - A woman was sexually attacked in south Modesto's Mancini Park Thursday afternoon by a man who ran away before police swept into the area.
The victim was in the park as she held her one-year-old child while her 8-year-old child played nearby. A stranger - described as a black man in his 30s - approached her near the baseball diamond and struck her in the head and dragged her to the ground where she was violently assaulted. Another woman who was a witness grabbed the children and ushered them to safety while she ran to Herndon to summon help. It was minutes before the Good Samaritan could find someone with a phone to call police.
By the time the Sheriff's Department responded the suspect fled the area, last seen running west through the park. A 90-minute search with two police canines and officers proved disappointing.
The suspect was described as a slender 6-foot tall, with short black hair, and wearing a black tank top and dark-colored shorts.
The park is located at the corner of Herndon and River roads, a block from Tuolumne School.
•TEEN BRANDISHES KNIFE: CERES - A 19-year-old Modesto male was taken in for psychiatric observation on Sunday morning after he was seen brandishing a weapon to passersby in front of O'Reilly's Auto Parts.
Police were called about the man at 10:20 a.m. They found the teen in front of 7-Eleven at Hatch Road and Herndon Avenue. Officers felt that he had either mental issues or was under the influence of drugs. He was taken to Doctors Medical Center in Modesto for mental evaluation.
•DRUGS CAUSE OF CUSTODY FIGHT: CERES - A Thursday domestic disturbance over the custody of an 8-year-old daughter in the 1900 block of Shushan Drive led officers to make a drug arrest on the mother.
Police were called at 2:21 a.m. because a boyfriend of Monica Estrada, 34, of Ceres, wouldn't let her have their daughter because of allegations that she was addicted to methamphetamine.
Officers searched Estrada and found that she was carrying three glass pipes and a small amount of methamphetamine. She was arrested on charges of possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia. An immigration hold was placed on her because she was in the United States illegally.
•MAN RUNS FROM POLICE ACROSS FREEWAY: CERES - A dangerous dart across Highway 99 was the course of action taken Thursday night by a Ceres man who was stopped by police on his bicycle.
At 10:31 p.m. Officer Kiashira Ruiz was on patrol in the 2300 block of Central Avenue when she stopped Robert Guinn, 41, of Ceres, on a bike. Guinn dropped the bike and ran through Chevron and across the freeway, narrowly missed by cars. Officer Chris Melton pursued the suspect and spotted Guinn on the shoulder of southbound Highway 99 where he was tackled. During their struggle, Guinn tried placing his hands in his waistband. Both Melton and Ruiz struck Guinn several times during the physical altercation.
Guinn was taken in for medical evaluation. He was then charged with obstructing and delaying police officers, and possession of methamphetamine (two baggies).
•DUI ARREST MADE: CERES - An alert citizen reported an erratic driver early Sunday which led to a drunk driving arrest.
The 12:30 a.m. caller noted that the suspect was driving eastbound on Whitmore Avenue in a 2007 Jeep Wrangler approaching Mitchell Road. The suspect was found and stopped in front of Burger King. He failed a field sobriety test, registering a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.18 on the breathalyzer.
Mario Sandoval, 39, of Ceres, was then arrested on a charge of DUI.
•HIT AND RUN CRASH: CERES - A Mexican national who was in the country illegally who was also an unlicensed driver allegedly struck two parked cars in the 1500 block of Grandview early Sunday.
A witness saw Edel Cortes-Mendoza, 29, plow into the cars at 1:33 a.m. and then begin to drive away. The car went for about 75 yards before it became disabled because of damages. The suspect began walking away and then went back to pull the keys from the ignition. Lt. Brent Smith then noted that Cortes-Mendoza tried to report the car stolen, not realizing he had been spotted committing a hit and run.
Cortes-Mendoza was arrested on charges of DUI, hit and run and driving without a license. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) placed a hold on Cortes-Mendoza.
The victim was in the park as she held her one-year-old child while her 8-year-old child played nearby. A stranger - described as a black man in his 30s - approached her near the baseball diamond and struck her in the head and dragged her to the ground where she was violently assaulted. Another woman who was a witness grabbed the children and ushered them to safety while she ran to Herndon to summon help. It was minutes before the Good Samaritan could find someone with a phone to call police.
By the time the Sheriff's Department responded the suspect fled the area, last seen running west through the park. A 90-minute search with two police canines and officers proved disappointing.
The suspect was described as a slender 6-foot tall, with short black hair, and wearing a black tank top and dark-colored shorts.
The park is located at the corner of Herndon and River roads, a block from Tuolumne School.
•TEEN BRANDISHES KNIFE: CERES - A 19-year-old Modesto male was taken in for psychiatric observation on Sunday morning after he was seen brandishing a weapon to passersby in front of O'Reilly's Auto Parts.
Police were called about the man at 10:20 a.m. They found the teen in front of 7-Eleven at Hatch Road and Herndon Avenue. Officers felt that he had either mental issues or was under the influence of drugs. He was taken to Doctors Medical Center in Modesto for mental evaluation.
•DRUGS CAUSE OF CUSTODY FIGHT: CERES - A Thursday domestic disturbance over the custody of an 8-year-old daughter in the 1900 block of Shushan Drive led officers to make a drug arrest on the mother.
Police were called at 2:21 a.m. because a boyfriend of Monica Estrada, 34, of Ceres, wouldn't let her have their daughter because of allegations that she was addicted to methamphetamine.
Officers searched Estrada and found that she was carrying three glass pipes and a small amount of methamphetamine. She was arrested on charges of possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia. An immigration hold was placed on her because she was in the United States illegally.
•MAN RUNS FROM POLICE ACROSS FREEWAY: CERES - A dangerous dart across Highway 99 was the course of action taken Thursday night by a Ceres man who was stopped by police on his bicycle.
At 10:31 p.m. Officer Kiashira Ruiz was on patrol in the 2300 block of Central Avenue when she stopped Robert Guinn, 41, of Ceres, on a bike. Guinn dropped the bike and ran through Chevron and across the freeway, narrowly missed by cars. Officer Chris Melton pursued the suspect and spotted Guinn on the shoulder of southbound Highway 99 where he was tackled. During their struggle, Guinn tried placing his hands in his waistband. Both Melton and Ruiz struck Guinn several times during the physical altercation.
Guinn was taken in for medical evaluation. He was then charged with obstructing and delaying police officers, and possession of methamphetamine (two baggies).
•DUI ARREST MADE: CERES - An alert citizen reported an erratic driver early Sunday which led to a drunk driving arrest.
The 12:30 a.m. caller noted that the suspect was driving eastbound on Whitmore Avenue in a 2007 Jeep Wrangler approaching Mitchell Road. The suspect was found and stopped in front of Burger King. He failed a field sobriety test, registering a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.18 on the breathalyzer.
Mario Sandoval, 39, of Ceres, was then arrested on a charge of DUI.
•HIT AND RUN CRASH: CERES - A Mexican national who was in the country illegally who was also an unlicensed driver allegedly struck two parked cars in the 1500 block of Grandview early Sunday.
A witness saw Edel Cortes-Mendoza, 29, plow into the cars at 1:33 a.m. and then begin to drive away. The car went for about 75 yards before it became disabled because of damages. The suspect began walking away and then went back to pull the keys from the ignition. Lt. Brent Smith then noted that Cortes-Mendoza tried to report the car stolen, not realizing he had been spotted committing a hit and run.
Cortes-Mendoza was arrested on charges of DUI, hit and run and driving without a license. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) placed a hold on Cortes-Mendoza.
