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CRIME DIGEST
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• MURDER ARREST MADE: CERES - Ernesto Morales Jr., 22, of Merced, was arrested to face charges that he played a role in the botched Dec. 4, 2009 robbery of a South Modesto convenience store in which the clerk was killed.

Morales was the second man to be arrested in the crime. Merced resident Mark Burgess, 24, turned himself into authorities on Oct. 28 for his role in the fatal robbery attempt at Gas N Shop, 837 South Ninth Street in Modesto. Stanislaus County Sheriff's Office detectives were able to link both Burgess and Morales to the homicide.

Harinder Sanghera, 28, of Ceres, was shot and killed in the 3 p.m. robbery. The robbers did not get away with any cash.

Morales was apprehended by the Merced Multi-Agency Gang Task Force on Nov. 8 while he was at Merced Junior College.

Anyone with new information on the case are urged to contact Detective Darwin Hatfield at 525-7100. Callers may also leave an anonymous tip by calling Crime Stoppers at 521-4636 or text tips to CRIMES (274637) by typing "Tip704" plus the message and be eligible for a cash reward.

• POT POSSESSION IN CAR STOP: CERES - Benjamin Wilson, 21, of Ceres, was pulled over by officers last week and ended up going to jail for possession of marijuana after he altered them to the fact that he was carrying a replica of a handgun.

The traffic stop was made at 9:05 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 15 as Wilson was riding in the 2700 block of Canyon Drive. Officer Brittany England and Brian Peterson stopped Wilson's four door yellow HD Hummer for not having license plates. Officers found a Smith and Wesson replica. two loaded .22 caliber magazines and three separate packages of marijuauna each containing two to three ounces.

Wilson was arrested and charged with possession and transportation of a controlled substance for sales as well as drunk driving.

• EX CHARGED IN ASSAULT: CERES - A 44-year-old Ceres man was arrested Friday after he allegedly broke into his ex-wife's house, attempted robbery and assault with a deadly weapon.

Arturo Carrillo, 44, of Ceres, is accused of using a crowbar to enter a sliding glass door at the home in the 1600 block of Winthrop. He allegedly swung the iron crowbar at the woman several times as he demanded money from her in the 4 p.m. attack.

Lt. Brent Smith said that Carrillo's ex-wife tried calling police as he ran out, smashing glass in the front door on the way out.

Carrillo was discovered by Officer John King as he slept inside his Freightliner tractor cab parked at CVS on Hatch Road at 4:45 a.m. Saturday morning.

Carrillo was arrested and charged with burglary, attempted robbery and assault with a deadly weapon.

• RUNNING STOP SIGN ENDS IN DRUG DISCOVERY: CERES - Police stopped a Ceres driver for running a stop sign in the 2700 block of Fifth Street and ended up discovering a half-gram of cocaine in the car.

The traffic stop was made at 12:05 a.m. on Saturday by Officer James Riley. The officer asked Marco Ruelas, 23, if he had anything illegal in the car and was notified that he paid $60 for the half gram of coke in the car.

Ruelas was arrested and charged for possession of cocaine.

• DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CHARGED: CERES - George LeDoux, 44, of Ceres, faces charges of felony domestic violence after he allegedly punched his girlfriend in the face on the evening of Wednesday, Nov. 16.

The assault took place at 7:30 p.m. at a home in the 3200 block of Rhone Drive. A female was suffering from a swollen left eye.

Officer Pat Dayton later arrested LeDoux after he spotted him driving in the area of Rhone Drive and Boothe Road.