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CRIME DIGEST
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• BELLIGERENT MAN SHOT WITH BEAN BAG: CERES - Officers shot a man with a bean bag round Sunday, Sept. 27 after he became belligerent with officers during a traffic stop.

At 10:35 p.m. Officer Lorenzo Beltran observed a vehicle fail to stop at the stop sign at Pecos and Herndon, traveling through the intersection at 40 mph or more. He caught up to the vehicle about three blocks away. The car was stopped along the road racing the wrong direction with the driver's door open. As Beltran approached the car the driver drove off, and the officer went after him with lights and siren. After a short distance the vehicle stopped again and both the driver's and front passenger doors were open. Beltran ordered both men to stay in the car as he awaited back-up. Both men were seen reaching into the back seat numerous times, and then passenger Luis Fernandez, 20, of Ceres, began to get out. Fernandez then got back in the car and shut the door. As he did the driver, Hilario K. Mora, 21, of Modesto, got out of the car and began yelling at Officer Beltran, making obscene gestures and refusing to listen to commands to get back into the car.

Mora began to walk back toward Beltran, and Officer Jason Brock, making gestures with his hands as if he wanted to fight the officers. Brock used his extended range impact weapon, commonly referred to as a "bean bag," and fired a round at Mora's torso. The round failed to knock Mora down so he was ordered to get on the ground and did so.

It was later determined that Mora had been drinking alcoholic beverages and was under the influence. He was arrested for driving under the influence, reckless driving, and resisting arrest.

Fernandez was arrested for public intoxication, and resisting arrest.

• DUI ARREST MADE: CERES - A 36-year-old Ceres man was arrested on Wednesday, Sept. 30 after an officer found him behind the wheel of a car while intoxicated.

Everado Bracamontes Jr. had his driver's license previously suspended due to a prior DUI. Bracamontes was arrested at 11:08 p.m. on charges of DUI and operating a vehicle on a suspended license.

Officer Brian Petersen made the arrest as he was monitoring Sam Ryno Park for ongoing vandalism there.

• FIGHTING AT ARGUS HIGH: CERES - At least six students at Argus High School were cited for battery on school grounds and referred to the Probation Department following an outbreak of violence on Thursday, Oct. 1.

The numerous fights started at 11 a.m. and were gang related, said police. In one fight, six males ranging from 15 to 17 years of age were involved. Another involved two to three females.

"It appears the fights were gang related as the two sides each claimed the other was using slang names and other obscene language challenging each other to fight," said Deputy Police Chief Mike Borges. "As staff was breaking up one fight another would break out. They had three to four fights going on in the same area."

• ALLEGED DRUNK DRIVER CAUSES CRASH: CERES - A four-car crash at Hatch and Moffet on Oct. 1 was attributed to a drunk driver, say Ceres Police.

At 7:14 p.m. Antonio G. Malagon, 51, of Ceres, was eastbound on Hatch Road in his 2008 Ford Escape when he hit the rear of a vehicle stopped at the light. This caused a chain reaction involving two other vehicles.

Malagon was determined to be driving under the influence, as well as being an unlicensed driver. He was arrested for felony DUI and driving without a license.

The names of the other drivers were not available. Two parties in one vehicle were transported to local hospital where they were treated and release. One may have suffered fractured ribs, and the other was complaining of head and back pain.

• MAN RUNS FROM POLICE: CERES - A parolee who had violated the terms of his parole thought officers were after him during a domestic violence call investigation and decided to run. Lance W. Sanchez, 32, was eventually captured but the original suspect was not apprehended.

At 11:13 a.m. on Saturday officers were investigating a domestic violence call in the 1700 block of Richland Avenue. When it was noted that the suspect may be in the Hatch and Church area, Officer Freddy Ortiz drove there to look. He spotted Sanchez, who matched the description of the suspect. As Ortiz approached Sanchez, he decided to run off, jumping over fences. Sanchez was located by a Sheriff's Department canine in a yard. It turned out that Sanchez was not the subject wanted in the domestic violence call, but was a parolee at large which is why he ran. Sanchez was arrested for parole violation, resisting arrest and trespassing.

• TEEN ARRESTED AT SKATEPARK: CERES - A 19-year-old Ceres teen was arrested on Saturday at the Ceres skatepark with evidence that he had been selling marijuana.

At 12:53 p.m. someone called police to say that people were smoking marijuana in a car parked at Darwin and Fowler. Before officers arrived the vehicle was gone but one of the men walked to the skate park. Officer Chris Melton found Aaron Gotskind, 19, of Ceres and searched his backpack. Melton located marijuana, baggies, a scale and other evidence that Gotskind was selling marijuana.

Gotskind was arrested for possession of marijuana for sale.

• SHOTS FIRED ON WOODVIEW: CERES - Police were unable to find the person who fired shots in the 3700 block of Woodview late Saturday evening.

Neighbors called 911 at 10:34 p.m. after hearing gunshots and then seeing about 40 kids were running from a nearby home. Three 9 mm shell casing were found in the street.

Officers attempted contact at the door where the subjects were seen coming from but no one would answer the door. They returned to the location at 11:34 p.m. on a call of subject in front of the residence, but again no one answered the door.

At about 12:58 a.m., officers who were monitoring the house began to make contact with subjects leaving the area. No weapons were located and no one reported any injuries. Officers were unable to make arrests.

• STOLEN CAR RECOVERED: CERES - Police recovered a stolen 1986 Toyota pickup and arrested two men late Sunday after a short high speed chase.

At 8:42 p.m. Street Crime Unit Officers Travis Hudson and Carlos Quiroz attempted to stop a vehicle in the area of Richland and Evans. The driver accelerated at a high rate of speed, until it reached Independence Park near 1625 Richland Avenue. Jason M. Brown, 24, of Modesto, abandoned the stolen truck and tried to run away but was apprehended after a short foot chase. Passenger Guillermo N. Hernandez, 19, of Modesto, was arrested as he tried to change seats in an attempt to drive off.

The pickup was stolen at approximately 8:06 a.m. in the 700 block of Herndon Road.

Brown was charged with auto theft, possession of stolen property, evading police, parole violation, and an unrelated narcotic warrant. Hernandez was arrested for possession of stolen property.

•DRIVE-BY SHOOTING ON DARRAH: CERES - Police were unable to make arrests in connection with a drive-by shooting that occurred in the 1900 block of Darrah Street at 8:37 p.m. on Saturday.

Witnesses said the car involved was a gray four-door Honda. They said that the shooter was gunning for two Hispanics male adults who ran through a complex on the north side in the 1900 block of Darrah and disappeared in an alley. The reporting party said about six shots were fired at the intended targets. The area was checked but officers did not locate the victims, nor were any shell casings nor bullet holes found.