TWO ARRESTED IN GANG-RELATED SHOOTING: CERES - Authorities arrested two suspects Sept. 7 who were connected to a drive-by shooting in South Modesto.
At 3:20 a.m. reports of gunshots at Crows Landing Road and Glenn Avenue in South Modesto were called in. A white Tahoe was seen leaving the scene and deputies spotted it a short time later at Whitmore Avenue and Blaker Road in Ceres. After a short pursuit, the driver pulled over at Magnolia and Central to release a passenger from the back seat. The SUV traveled for two more blocks before it was stopped and two suspects detained at Magnolia and Third. Taken out of the car was a 15-year-old Ceres boy and driver Armando Luna Parra, 21, a documented South Modesto gang member. Parra was booked for discharge of firearm in a gross and negligent manner, evading a peace officer, participating in a criminal street gang, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, and parole violation.
At about three hours later, at 6:44 a.m. off-duty officer Brian Peterson spotted a Latino male coming out of the alley at Second and El Camino. The man, who looked like he had been lying in dirt, matched the description of the man who ran from vehicle. He was arrested and turned over to the Sheriff's Department. Mario Anthony Armenta, 20,of Modesto, was positively identified as the guy who ran. Armenta was charged with the negligent discharge of a firearm, conspiracy to participate in a street gang, and resisting arrest.
Deputies could not confirm that shots were aimed at any person or house.
MAN ON DRUGS: CERES - Police believe that a 30-year-old Modesto man may have stolen a car from the 2400 block of Mountain Ridge on Sept. 9 but could only charge him with being under the influence of drugs.
Police discovered that the 1994 Honda Accord was missing after spotting an open garage door on their search for Allen Stephens, 30, of Modesto, who was linked to an earlier call. At 12:34 a.m. police were called about a suspicious man in the 1300 block of Grover. The vehicle was suspicious and pulled into the area with its driver bailing from the car to a fast rate. Officers found the car and recognized that it belonged to Stephens who's had connections to police over drugs. They searched for Stephens on Mountain Ridge and then discovered the Honda was stolen.
A unit remained behind and spotted Stephens riding into the same neighborhood on a bicycle at 1:30 a.m. Officers believed that Stephens was high on some drug.
The stolen car was not located as of press time.
WRONG PLACE AT WRONG TIME: CERES - Modestan Jose E. Beltran, 39, was arrested Thursday, Sept. 10 after he showed up at a home being searched by officers in connection with another crime.
At 8:37 p.m. police were at a house in the 1600 block of Seattle searching a vehicle when Beltran drove up. He said he had previously purchased a set of drills from the residents there and came back to see about getting the other drills. Wanted for crimes, Beltran went to jail instead.
"It was a classic example of being at the wrong place at the wrong time," said Deputy Chief Borges.
Officers noticed Beltran acting strangely and determined that he was under the influence of drugs. They also learned that he was driving on a suspended license.
"He appeared to be under the influence of methamphetamine and a small amount of meth was found on his person," said Borges.
Beltran also had at least three arrest warrants, two for drug charges, and one for burglary, issued by Placer and Stanislaus counties and Livermore Police.
He now faces charges of possession of a controlled substance.
BURGLARY TOOLS FOUND IN CAR: CERES - A man and woman went to jail Sept. 12 after a police officer found burglary tools inside their car.
At 4:17 a.m. Officer Greg Yotsuya was patrolling in the 1500 block of Sandpointe Drive when he spotted a suspicious vehicle and a man walking from it. Yotsuya approached Travis D. Hughes, 27, and could smell an odor of marijuana on him. When Hughes offered a strange story about why he was in the area, Yotsuya went to the vehicle where he saw a woman was sleeping inside. He smelled pot inside the car, and then searched it and found five crowbars, wire cutters, shaved keys and a hypodermic syringe kit.
Hughes was arrested and charged with possession of burglary tools. Lina Gonzales, 24, was charged with possession of the hypodermic syringe and burglary tools.
"We hopefully stopped some burglaries from occurring," said Deputy Police Chief Mike Borges.
TRAFFIC COLLISION DUE TO DUI: CERES - Police made an arrest of driver suspected of being drunk when he ran into another car at Whitmore and Rose avenues on Saturday, Sept. 12.
Police arrived after the 8:04 p.m. call and found Paul W. Younadim, 24, of Modesto, intoxicated. He was arrested and charged.
Younadim was northbound in a 2002 Honda Accord on Rose Way when he failed to stop and struck an eastbound 1994 GMC pickup driven by Ralph Norman, 46, of Keyes. 1994 GMC pickup.
DRUGS, WEAPON FOUND IN CAR: CERES - When Officer Joe Wren stopped a car for equipment problems on Monday, Sept. 14 at Central Avenue and Academy Way, he ended up arresting the driver for drugs and a powerful weapon.
Wren pulled over Jose M. Carrera, 24, of Ceres, over at 12:25 a.m. and smelled marijuana inside the car which contained three other people. Wren searched the vehicle and found likely cocaine as well as a FN pistol that fires rifle rounds concealed in the console.
Carrera was arrested for possession of a controlled substance, possession of marijuana, carrying a concealed weapon inside a vehicle and carrying a loaded firearm in a vehicle.
DRIVE-BY SHOOTING REPORTED: CERES - Police could not substantiate reports of a drive-by shooting on Sept. 14.
At 7:14 p.m. persons called 911 saying there was a drive-by in the 1800 block of Richland Avenue near Richland Liquors. Police investigated but found no evidence of shells nor bullet holes at the scene.
"The statements were not consistent and a number of juveniles did not want to get involved," said Deputy Chief Borges.
One witness said that the right rear seated passenger of a dark-colored four-door Honda Accord extended a gun out the window and fired four to six rounds at a person but no victim came forth.
MAJOR HEIST AT WALMART: CERES - Police are looking for three persons involved in a theft of a $1,200 flat screen TV from the Ceres Walmart store on Tuesday, Sept. 15.
The robbery occurred at 10:34 p.m. when the 76-year-old store greeter saw a Hispanic woman approaching the exit doors with a cart containing the TV and asked to see her receipt. She ignored the greeter and continued pushing the cart out the door. The greeter then asked the man following her to show a receipt. The man then pushed the elderly man to the ground, causing abrasions on his arm and elbow that bled profusely and required a trip to the hospital.
The pair then loaded up the TV into a gray-colored van driven up to the front of the store by another male. The van was described as a 2007 Ford van with a license plate that ended in '359.'
The male suspect was described as a bald Hispanic man, 25-30 years of age, standing 5-foot-8 and weighing 180 pounds. On his light complected skin were distinctive tattoo: four dots tattooed over his left eye and a lizard over the right eye. The man was wearing a white shirt and jeans.
The female suspect was also described as a heavy-set Latina, 25-30 years of age and having black hair, and brown eyes. She stood approximately 5-foot-7, and weighed approximately 250 pounds. She was wearing a red tank top and blue capris.
Anyone who may know the couple's identity are asked to call Ceres Police detectives at 538-5727.
DUI ARREST: CERES - Jose A. Rodrigues, 28, of Modesto, was booked for DUI on Sept. 15 after he was found to be driving drunk during a stop brought on by vehicle equipment problems.
At 11:24 p.m. Officer Britton Moore made a stop at Richland and Evans and detected the smell of odor on Rodrigues' breath. He also was driving on a suspended license.
He was charged with both offenses.
PAIR ARRESTED AFTER ATTACK: CERES - Two men were arrested Friday afternoon after an attack was reported in front of a west Ceres convenience store.
Police were first called at 3:57 p.m. by a 19-year-old man who said he was punched in the face and received a death threat from a suspect who claimed the victim owed him money. The teen said he was riding in a car with friends when their car was flagged down at Blaker and Hackett by Erik J. Rocha, 18, of Ceres. Rocha claimed the victim owned him money and punched him in face and made threats to shoot him. Rocha then ran away on foot as the victim went to McDonald's to report the crime.
A short while later the victim called police again to say that Rocha was chasing him in a van and that a second occupant was brandishing a gun. The victim's car pulled in front of the Chevron station at Service and Blaker thinking that he'd be safe in a public place. A fight ensued after Rocha and Jesus Diaz, 29, of Keyes, got out of van. Diaz then yelled that police were coming and the two left.
Sheriff's deputies traced the license plate number to an address in Keyes where Diaz and Rocha were arrested.
Police found no gun but Diaz was charged with brandishing a weapon. Rocha was charged with making criminal threats and battery.
ARRESTED FOR ARSON: CERES - Apparently intoxicated, Clayton E. Hand, 25, of Ceres, was arrested Sunday for allegedly breaking into a business and trying to set it on fire.
Police said that Hand went to K&D Enterprises in the 4100 block of Morgan Road at 5:27 a.m. and smashed a glass window with his hand. He sustained significant cuts to his hand and bled all over the inside of the business as he ransacked the place. An employee who lives near the site saw Hand in the kitchen where he lit fire to papers on stove and then flee.
Police found Hand in the area of Morgan and Service roads with a belt tied around his arm for a tourniquet. The employee put the fire out with a fire extinguisher.
Hand was cited for burglary and arson.
At 3:20 a.m. reports of gunshots at Crows Landing Road and Glenn Avenue in South Modesto were called in. A white Tahoe was seen leaving the scene and deputies spotted it a short time later at Whitmore Avenue and Blaker Road in Ceres. After a short pursuit, the driver pulled over at Magnolia and Central to release a passenger from the back seat. The SUV traveled for two more blocks before it was stopped and two suspects detained at Magnolia and Third. Taken out of the car was a 15-year-old Ceres boy and driver Armando Luna Parra, 21, a documented South Modesto gang member. Parra was booked for discharge of firearm in a gross and negligent manner, evading a peace officer, participating in a criminal street gang, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, and parole violation.
At about three hours later, at 6:44 a.m. off-duty officer Brian Peterson spotted a Latino male coming out of the alley at Second and El Camino. The man, who looked like he had been lying in dirt, matched the description of the man who ran from vehicle. He was arrested and turned over to the Sheriff's Department. Mario Anthony Armenta, 20,of Modesto, was positively identified as the guy who ran. Armenta was charged with the negligent discharge of a firearm, conspiracy to participate in a street gang, and resisting arrest.
Deputies could not confirm that shots were aimed at any person or house.
MAN ON DRUGS: CERES - Police believe that a 30-year-old Modesto man may have stolen a car from the 2400 block of Mountain Ridge on Sept. 9 but could only charge him with being under the influence of drugs.
Police discovered that the 1994 Honda Accord was missing after spotting an open garage door on their search for Allen Stephens, 30, of Modesto, who was linked to an earlier call. At 12:34 a.m. police were called about a suspicious man in the 1300 block of Grover. The vehicle was suspicious and pulled into the area with its driver bailing from the car to a fast rate. Officers found the car and recognized that it belonged to Stephens who's had connections to police over drugs. They searched for Stephens on Mountain Ridge and then discovered the Honda was stolen.
A unit remained behind and spotted Stephens riding into the same neighborhood on a bicycle at 1:30 a.m. Officers believed that Stephens was high on some drug.
The stolen car was not located as of press time.
WRONG PLACE AT WRONG TIME: CERES - Modestan Jose E. Beltran, 39, was arrested Thursday, Sept. 10 after he showed up at a home being searched by officers in connection with another crime.
At 8:37 p.m. police were at a house in the 1600 block of Seattle searching a vehicle when Beltran drove up. He said he had previously purchased a set of drills from the residents there and came back to see about getting the other drills. Wanted for crimes, Beltran went to jail instead.
"It was a classic example of being at the wrong place at the wrong time," said Deputy Chief Borges.
Officers noticed Beltran acting strangely and determined that he was under the influence of drugs. They also learned that he was driving on a suspended license.
"He appeared to be under the influence of methamphetamine and a small amount of meth was found on his person," said Borges.
Beltran also had at least three arrest warrants, two for drug charges, and one for burglary, issued by Placer and Stanislaus counties and Livermore Police.
He now faces charges of possession of a controlled substance.
BURGLARY TOOLS FOUND IN CAR: CERES - A man and woman went to jail Sept. 12 after a police officer found burglary tools inside their car.
At 4:17 a.m. Officer Greg Yotsuya was patrolling in the 1500 block of Sandpointe Drive when he spotted a suspicious vehicle and a man walking from it. Yotsuya approached Travis D. Hughes, 27, and could smell an odor of marijuana on him. When Hughes offered a strange story about why he was in the area, Yotsuya went to the vehicle where he saw a woman was sleeping inside. He smelled pot inside the car, and then searched it and found five crowbars, wire cutters, shaved keys and a hypodermic syringe kit.
Hughes was arrested and charged with possession of burglary tools. Lina Gonzales, 24, was charged with possession of the hypodermic syringe and burglary tools.
"We hopefully stopped some burglaries from occurring," said Deputy Police Chief Mike Borges.
TRAFFIC COLLISION DUE TO DUI: CERES - Police made an arrest of driver suspected of being drunk when he ran into another car at Whitmore and Rose avenues on Saturday, Sept. 12.
Police arrived after the 8:04 p.m. call and found Paul W. Younadim, 24, of Modesto, intoxicated. He was arrested and charged.
Younadim was northbound in a 2002 Honda Accord on Rose Way when he failed to stop and struck an eastbound 1994 GMC pickup driven by Ralph Norman, 46, of Keyes. 1994 GMC pickup.
DRUGS, WEAPON FOUND IN CAR: CERES - When Officer Joe Wren stopped a car for equipment problems on Monday, Sept. 14 at Central Avenue and Academy Way, he ended up arresting the driver for drugs and a powerful weapon.
Wren pulled over Jose M. Carrera, 24, of Ceres, over at 12:25 a.m. and smelled marijuana inside the car which contained three other people. Wren searched the vehicle and found likely cocaine as well as a FN pistol that fires rifle rounds concealed in the console.
Carrera was arrested for possession of a controlled substance, possession of marijuana, carrying a concealed weapon inside a vehicle and carrying a loaded firearm in a vehicle.
DRIVE-BY SHOOTING REPORTED: CERES - Police could not substantiate reports of a drive-by shooting on Sept. 14.
At 7:14 p.m. persons called 911 saying there was a drive-by in the 1800 block of Richland Avenue near Richland Liquors. Police investigated but found no evidence of shells nor bullet holes at the scene.
"The statements were not consistent and a number of juveniles did not want to get involved," said Deputy Chief Borges.
One witness said that the right rear seated passenger of a dark-colored four-door Honda Accord extended a gun out the window and fired four to six rounds at a person but no victim came forth.
MAJOR HEIST AT WALMART: CERES - Police are looking for three persons involved in a theft of a $1,200 flat screen TV from the Ceres Walmart store on Tuesday, Sept. 15.
The robbery occurred at 10:34 p.m. when the 76-year-old store greeter saw a Hispanic woman approaching the exit doors with a cart containing the TV and asked to see her receipt. She ignored the greeter and continued pushing the cart out the door. The greeter then asked the man following her to show a receipt. The man then pushed the elderly man to the ground, causing abrasions on his arm and elbow that bled profusely and required a trip to the hospital.
The pair then loaded up the TV into a gray-colored van driven up to the front of the store by another male. The van was described as a 2007 Ford van with a license plate that ended in '359.'
The male suspect was described as a bald Hispanic man, 25-30 years of age, standing 5-foot-8 and weighing 180 pounds. On his light complected skin were distinctive tattoo: four dots tattooed over his left eye and a lizard over the right eye. The man was wearing a white shirt and jeans.
The female suspect was also described as a heavy-set Latina, 25-30 years of age and having black hair, and brown eyes. She stood approximately 5-foot-7, and weighed approximately 250 pounds. She was wearing a red tank top and blue capris.
Anyone who may know the couple's identity are asked to call Ceres Police detectives at 538-5727.
DUI ARREST: CERES - Jose A. Rodrigues, 28, of Modesto, was booked for DUI on Sept. 15 after he was found to be driving drunk during a stop brought on by vehicle equipment problems.
At 11:24 p.m. Officer Britton Moore made a stop at Richland and Evans and detected the smell of odor on Rodrigues' breath. He also was driving on a suspended license.
He was charged with both offenses.
PAIR ARRESTED AFTER ATTACK: CERES - Two men were arrested Friday afternoon after an attack was reported in front of a west Ceres convenience store.
Police were first called at 3:57 p.m. by a 19-year-old man who said he was punched in the face and received a death threat from a suspect who claimed the victim owed him money. The teen said he was riding in a car with friends when their car was flagged down at Blaker and Hackett by Erik J. Rocha, 18, of Ceres. Rocha claimed the victim owned him money and punched him in face and made threats to shoot him. Rocha then ran away on foot as the victim went to McDonald's to report the crime.
A short while later the victim called police again to say that Rocha was chasing him in a van and that a second occupant was brandishing a gun. The victim's car pulled in front of the Chevron station at Service and Blaker thinking that he'd be safe in a public place. A fight ensued after Rocha and Jesus Diaz, 29, of Keyes, got out of van. Diaz then yelled that police were coming and the two left.
Sheriff's deputies traced the license plate number to an address in Keyes where Diaz and Rocha were arrested.
Police found no gun but Diaz was charged with brandishing a weapon. Rocha was charged with making criminal threats and battery.
ARRESTED FOR ARSON: CERES - Apparently intoxicated, Clayton E. Hand, 25, of Ceres, was arrested Sunday for allegedly breaking into a business and trying to set it on fire.
Police said that Hand went to K&D Enterprises in the 4100 block of Morgan Road at 5:27 a.m. and smashed a glass window with his hand. He sustained significant cuts to his hand and bled all over the inside of the business as he ransacked the place. An employee who lives near the site saw Hand in the kitchen where he lit fire to papers on stove and then flee.
Police found Hand in the area of Morgan and Service roads with a belt tied around his arm for a tourniquet. The employee put the fire out with a fire extinguisher.
Hand was cited for burglary and arson.
