• WOMAN SAYS STOLEN CAR GIVEN TO HER: CERES - A 53-year-old Modesto woman was arrested on Friday for possessing a stolen car she claims was given to her by a homeless man.
At 8:09 p.m. Sonya Burns was driving a 2006 Nissan Sentra reported as stolen from Modesto on Aug. 6. Officer Brian Albonetti spotted the stolen car on River Road at Bystrum Road and pulled over a compliant Burns. She pulled into the mobilehome park at 637 River Road.
Burns told the officer that she is a heroin addict but not a car thief, saying the keys were given to her by a homeless man. Burns was arrested for possession of stolen property.
• SUSPECT FLEES IN HIT AND RUN: CERES - Ceres police are searching for Jason Qualls, 32, of Ceres, in connection with a pursuit that ended in a hit and run on Saturday.
While on patrol at 11:24 a.m., Officer Brittney England attempted to stop a white 1996 Ford Mustang whose driver failed to yield at Richland and Nadine avenues. When England turned on the cruiser's red lights, Qualls quickly pulled into the apartment complex at 1536 Nadine Avenue and ran from the moving car. He was scaling a fence into 1301 Richland Avenue as the Mustang hit a parked Toyota Camry that was pushed into a garage door. Small children were playing in the area but no one was injured.
Qualls' girlfriend and passenger Mariah Yonker, 29, confirmed that Qualls was the driver. She was not arrested but another female passenger, Constance Peeples, 41, of Ceres, was not cooperative and was arrested on charges of resisting or delaying a peace officer.
A resident of 1360 Bluejay later reported an attempted break-in with the suspect identified as Qualls from surveillance video shot at the house.
Qualls is wanted specifically on charges of leading police on a pursuit, hit and run and attempted burglary.
• WENDY'S ROBBED ON FRIDAY: CERES - The Hatch Road Wendy's restaurant was robbed Friday morning by a man who first ordered food.
At 11:30 a.m. an Hispanic walked through the lobby before approaching the counter and placing a food order. He then announced he was robbing the place and wanted the cashier to hand over money from the cash register. He was given an undisclosed amount of money and walked off in a western direction.
No other customers were inside the store at the time.
The suspect was described as a Latino male, standing approximately six foot tall and weighing 170 pounds. He is in his 20s and was wearing a black hat, black shirt and blue jeans.
• PHONY MONEY ARRESTS MADE: CERES - Two Ceres men were arrested Sunday for transporting counterfeit money and possible stolen metal.
At 11:15 p.m., Officer Ross Bays was patrolling in the 2500 block of River Road when he stopped a box utility truck which had a freshly cut large steel pipe sticking out. Officer Bays was unable to ascertain where the pipe was taken from but suspected Turlock Irrigation District (TID) property. He notified Rank Security which patrols irrigation canal banks.
During a search of the vehicle, Bays found counterfeit money stashed in the center console. He then arrested Walter Holcher, 36, and Bobby Moss, 40, both of charges of possession of counterfeit money.
• SCHOOL PROPERTY DAMAGED: CERES - Plastic playground equipment on the grounds of Walter White Elementary School sustained damage on Thursday evening by an arson who set it ablaze.
The fire broke out at 9:30 p.m. Authorities determined that the fire was intentionally set. No buildings were threatened by the fire, which was quickly extinguished.
At 8:09 p.m. Sonya Burns was driving a 2006 Nissan Sentra reported as stolen from Modesto on Aug. 6. Officer Brian Albonetti spotted the stolen car on River Road at Bystrum Road and pulled over a compliant Burns. She pulled into the mobilehome park at 637 River Road.
Burns told the officer that she is a heroin addict but not a car thief, saying the keys were given to her by a homeless man. Burns was arrested for possession of stolen property.
• SUSPECT FLEES IN HIT AND RUN: CERES - Ceres police are searching for Jason Qualls, 32, of Ceres, in connection with a pursuit that ended in a hit and run on Saturday.
While on patrol at 11:24 a.m., Officer Brittney England attempted to stop a white 1996 Ford Mustang whose driver failed to yield at Richland and Nadine avenues. When England turned on the cruiser's red lights, Qualls quickly pulled into the apartment complex at 1536 Nadine Avenue and ran from the moving car. He was scaling a fence into 1301 Richland Avenue as the Mustang hit a parked Toyota Camry that was pushed into a garage door. Small children were playing in the area but no one was injured.
Qualls' girlfriend and passenger Mariah Yonker, 29, confirmed that Qualls was the driver. She was not arrested but another female passenger, Constance Peeples, 41, of Ceres, was not cooperative and was arrested on charges of resisting or delaying a peace officer.
A resident of 1360 Bluejay later reported an attempted break-in with the suspect identified as Qualls from surveillance video shot at the house.
Qualls is wanted specifically on charges of leading police on a pursuit, hit and run and attempted burglary.
• WENDY'S ROBBED ON FRIDAY: CERES - The Hatch Road Wendy's restaurant was robbed Friday morning by a man who first ordered food.
At 11:30 a.m. an Hispanic walked through the lobby before approaching the counter and placing a food order. He then announced he was robbing the place and wanted the cashier to hand over money from the cash register. He was given an undisclosed amount of money and walked off in a western direction.
No other customers were inside the store at the time.
The suspect was described as a Latino male, standing approximately six foot tall and weighing 170 pounds. He is in his 20s and was wearing a black hat, black shirt and blue jeans.
• PHONY MONEY ARRESTS MADE: CERES - Two Ceres men were arrested Sunday for transporting counterfeit money and possible stolen metal.
At 11:15 p.m., Officer Ross Bays was patrolling in the 2500 block of River Road when he stopped a box utility truck which had a freshly cut large steel pipe sticking out. Officer Bays was unable to ascertain where the pipe was taken from but suspected Turlock Irrigation District (TID) property. He notified Rank Security which patrols irrigation canal banks.
During a search of the vehicle, Bays found counterfeit money stashed in the center console. He then arrested Walter Holcher, 36, and Bobby Moss, 40, both of charges of possession of counterfeit money.
• SCHOOL PROPERTY DAMAGED: CERES - Plastic playground equipment on the grounds of Walter White Elementary School sustained damage on Thursday evening by an arson who set it ablaze.
The fire broke out at 9:30 p.m. Authorities determined that the fire was intentionally set. No buildings were threatened by the fire, which was quickly extinguished.
