SHOPPER STABBED DURING ROBBERY: CERES - A female Kmart shopper was accosted Thursday morning by a man who stole her purse and stabbed her in the hand.
Ceres Police said the robbery suspect came up behind the victim as she was getting out of her car at 11:05 a.m. He grabbed her and pushed her up against the vehicle as he wrestled the purse from her and took off running to a getaway car. The car, described as an older green-colored Ford Escort stationwagon type vehicle, took off southbound in the Kmart parking lot toward Hatch Road. The car had a second man driving. The robber was described as either a white or light-skinned Hispanic wearing a hooded sweatshirt, standing 5-foot-5 and weighing 185 pounds. He was between 45 and 50 years of age. The suspect spoke Spanish to the victim.
The victim was treated on scene for a cut to her right hand.
TEENS ARRESTED IN BURGLARY CASE: CERES - Four persons have been arrested on suspicion they were involved with the burglary of B.J.'s Cafe in the Fifth Street Plaza on Wednesday night, Feb. 20.
The popular eatery was broken into and several items were taken, including food and a fax machine.
On Sunday night police were called to the 3000 block of Fifth Street on a stolen purse case. During his investigation, Officer Joe Wren tied a 14-year-old suspect who had the purse with the B.J.'s Cafe burglary. The arrest led to the arrest of a 13-, and 17-year-old suspects as well as John Woodall, 32. Woodall was charged with burglary and violating the terms of his parole. The fax machine was recovered and returned to its owner.
The identities of the juveniles were not released because of a state law protecting the identities of minors.
ARRESTED FOR HITTING FEMALE: CERES - Community Service Officer Michelle Houston was driving in the 2100 block of Fifth Street Thursday when she witnessed Felipe Martinez, 37, of Ceres, strike a female in the face at 12:11 p.m. The woman went inside a residence while Martinez took off on a bicycle. Martinez was followed to Fourth and Whitmore where a sworn officer stopped him. He denied hitting the woman. The victim was located and would not admit that she was hit even though it was witnessed. She had a red mark on her cheek.
"She played it off that she wasn't feeling well," said Deputy Police Chief Mike Borges.
Because the crime was witnessed by an officer, Martinez was booked for domestic violence as well as a parole hold.
TEEN CAUGHT VANDALIZING WALL: CERES - A 15-year-old boy was caught red-handed spray painting graffiti on walls in the area of Armondo and Yolanda in Ceres. The boy, who had spray cans with him, was cited and released. He faces charges of causing $400 in damages. The boy was cited and released. The vandalism did not appear to be gang graffiti, said Deputy Police Chief Mike Borges.
KNIFE POSSESSION: CERES - Police arrested a man who was seen dropping a weapon while walking down Mitchell Road near Fowler Sunday morning.
Police were called at 9:12 a.m. by an observant bystander who thought that Shawn Luevano dropped a handgun onto the ground and picked it up and put it back in his jacket. Luevano was stopped at Mitchell and Dale and found to be carrying a large knife with a blade between 6- to 8 inches and a sheath. He was charged with carrying a concealed weapon.
BOMB THREAT: CERES - A bomb threat called into the Dollar Tree on Hatch Road Saturday resulted in its evacuation as well as removing shoppers from neighboring stores. A man called the store and said he had placed a bomb in the center of the store and that it would detonate in 30 minutes. The threat was treated seriously. A sweep determined that there was no bomb.
Ceres Police said the robbery suspect came up behind the victim as she was getting out of her car at 11:05 a.m. He grabbed her and pushed her up against the vehicle as he wrestled the purse from her and took off running to a getaway car. The car, described as an older green-colored Ford Escort stationwagon type vehicle, took off southbound in the Kmart parking lot toward Hatch Road. The car had a second man driving. The robber was described as either a white or light-skinned Hispanic wearing a hooded sweatshirt, standing 5-foot-5 and weighing 185 pounds. He was between 45 and 50 years of age. The suspect spoke Spanish to the victim.
The victim was treated on scene for a cut to her right hand.
TEENS ARRESTED IN BURGLARY CASE: CERES - Four persons have been arrested on suspicion they were involved with the burglary of B.J.'s Cafe in the Fifth Street Plaza on Wednesday night, Feb. 20.
The popular eatery was broken into and several items were taken, including food and a fax machine.
On Sunday night police were called to the 3000 block of Fifth Street on a stolen purse case. During his investigation, Officer Joe Wren tied a 14-year-old suspect who had the purse with the B.J.'s Cafe burglary. The arrest led to the arrest of a 13-, and 17-year-old suspects as well as John Woodall, 32. Woodall was charged with burglary and violating the terms of his parole. The fax machine was recovered and returned to its owner.
The identities of the juveniles were not released because of a state law protecting the identities of minors.
ARRESTED FOR HITTING FEMALE: CERES - Community Service Officer Michelle Houston was driving in the 2100 block of Fifth Street Thursday when she witnessed Felipe Martinez, 37, of Ceres, strike a female in the face at 12:11 p.m. The woman went inside a residence while Martinez took off on a bicycle. Martinez was followed to Fourth and Whitmore where a sworn officer stopped him. He denied hitting the woman. The victim was located and would not admit that she was hit even though it was witnessed. She had a red mark on her cheek.
"She played it off that she wasn't feeling well," said Deputy Police Chief Mike Borges.
Because the crime was witnessed by an officer, Martinez was booked for domestic violence as well as a parole hold.
TEEN CAUGHT VANDALIZING WALL: CERES - A 15-year-old boy was caught red-handed spray painting graffiti on walls in the area of Armondo and Yolanda in Ceres. The boy, who had spray cans with him, was cited and released. He faces charges of causing $400 in damages. The boy was cited and released. The vandalism did not appear to be gang graffiti, said Deputy Police Chief Mike Borges.
KNIFE POSSESSION: CERES - Police arrested a man who was seen dropping a weapon while walking down Mitchell Road near Fowler Sunday morning.
Police were called at 9:12 a.m. by an observant bystander who thought that Shawn Luevano dropped a handgun onto the ground and picked it up and put it back in his jacket. Luevano was stopped at Mitchell and Dale and found to be carrying a large knife with a blade between 6- to 8 inches and a sheath. He was charged with carrying a concealed weapon.
BOMB THREAT: CERES - A bomb threat called into the Dollar Tree on Hatch Road Saturday resulted in its evacuation as well as removing shoppers from neighboring stores. A man called the store and said he had placed a bomb in the center of the store and that it would detonate in 30 minutes. The threat was treated seriously. A sweep determined that there was no bomb.
