• BURGLARY LEADS TO DISCOVERY OF POT GROW: CERES - An interrupted residential burglary early on Thursday, Aug. 18 led officers to the discovery of an indoor marijuana growing operation in the 3800 block of Granite Falls.
A 17-year-old was arrested for burglary.
At 12:27 a.m., police were given a tip on someone inside a "vacant" residence which later was deemed inhabited. Two males ran fled out the back of the house, one of whom was captured by Officer Brian Albonetti after a short foot pursuit. The teen was in possession of a pillow case stuffed with stolen property. Among the items recovered were two handguns and a Sony Playstation. The second subject got away.
Officers searched the home to check on any residents and look for other burglars. They found no occupants but discovered a large, sophisticated marijuana grow operation. Power was being stolen to support the operation, bypassing detection of excessive power usage.
The Ceres Police Street Crimes Unit obtained a search warrant and discovered 256 plants, ranging from six inches to four feet tall in every bedroom and the garage, and several weapons.
On Aug. 21, renter Augustine Espinoza, 32, turned himself in. He was booked on charges of theft of utilities and growing marijuana.
Police said that when discoveries of marijuana grows are made, power is turned off until repairs are made to the home, which requires a building permit and a licensed contractor. These costs are normally the landlord or the insurance agency's responsibility.
• PIZZA PATRON ATTACKED: CERES - Police are searching for the suspect who severely beat a patron of Rico's Pizza in the 1400 block of Hatch Road on Sunday.
The attack, which is believed to be gang related, happened at 6 p.m. when the 23-year-old man was jumped after being asked if he was a "scrap," likely a term for a gang member.
Sgt. Trenton Johnnson found the victim unconscious with shoe prints on his face, which was swollen. The victim was transported to Doctors Medical Center for treatment.
• LIQUOR THIEF ARRESTED: CERES - A store surveillance video led police to the man who ran from Liquor King on Saturday with two stolen bottles of tequila.
Police arrested Leonard Brown, a 25-year-old Ceres parolee, on charges of commercial burglary. Brown was located milling outside of a residence at Seventh and Lawrence. A companion, parolee Cory Bridgeman, 24, was arrested on a misdemeanor warrant.
A clerk at the liquor store said the thief came in his store at 2:45 p.m. and ran without paying for the liquor. The suspect was chased by the clerk but got away initially.
Officer Coey Henson responded to the call and secured the surveillance tape. When it was reviewed, Officer Dirk Newenheis recognized Brown as the suspect. The clerk confirmed Brown as the man who stole the bottles.
• PASSED OUT DRIVER ARRESTED: CERES - Police arrested a man who was passed out behind the wheel of his 2010 Cadillac on Wednesday, Aug. 17, charging him with drug possession.
Casey Lanzon, 30, of Turlock, was inside the car, which was stopped on Mitchell Road facing northbound in the southbound lanes. The car was just south of Whitmore Avenue. Rescue personnel got Lanzon out of the car and being checking his condition. Police were called because they located a loaded concealed handgun in his waistband. Authorities also located heroin and syringes.
After the 8:15 a.m. incident, Lanzon was arrested and booked on charges of possession of a loaded concealed weapon, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.
• VEHICLE BURGLARY: CERES - The victim of a car burglary chased after thieves Friday evening, helping to aid in two arrests.
The owner of the car was outside of La Morenita restaurant on Hatch Road at 7:30 p.m. when he saw his vehicle being broken into. The suspects fled but he followed to the area of Truckee and Ocean ways. Officers developed information that the suspects were David Tubera, 30, of Modesto, and girlfriend Denise Landeros, 37.
Later officer Keith Greibel located the pair sitting in a car on Crowslanding Road. He arrested them and booked both for burglary, conspiracy and possession of burglary tools.
A 17-year-old was arrested for burglary.
At 12:27 a.m., police were given a tip on someone inside a "vacant" residence which later was deemed inhabited. Two males ran fled out the back of the house, one of whom was captured by Officer Brian Albonetti after a short foot pursuit. The teen was in possession of a pillow case stuffed with stolen property. Among the items recovered were two handguns and a Sony Playstation. The second subject got away.
Officers searched the home to check on any residents and look for other burglars. They found no occupants but discovered a large, sophisticated marijuana grow operation. Power was being stolen to support the operation, bypassing detection of excessive power usage.
The Ceres Police Street Crimes Unit obtained a search warrant and discovered 256 plants, ranging from six inches to four feet tall in every bedroom and the garage, and several weapons.
On Aug. 21, renter Augustine Espinoza, 32, turned himself in. He was booked on charges of theft of utilities and growing marijuana.
Police said that when discoveries of marijuana grows are made, power is turned off until repairs are made to the home, which requires a building permit and a licensed contractor. These costs are normally the landlord or the insurance agency's responsibility.
• PIZZA PATRON ATTACKED: CERES - Police are searching for the suspect who severely beat a patron of Rico's Pizza in the 1400 block of Hatch Road on Sunday.
The attack, which is believed to be gang related, happened at 6 p.m. when the 23-year-old man was jumped after being asked if he was a "scrap," likely a term for a gang member.
Sgt. Trenton Johnnson found the victim unconscious with shoe prints on his face, which was swollen. The victim was transported to Doctors Medical Center for treatment.
• LIQUOR THIEF ARRESTED: CERES - A store surveillance video led police to the man who ran from Liquor King on Saturday with two stolen bottles of tequila.
Police arrested Leonard Brown, a 25-year-old Ceres parolee, on charges of commercial burglary. Brown was located milling outside of a residence at Seventh and Lawrence. A companion, parolee Cory Bridgeman, 24, was arrested on a misdemeanor warrant.
A clerk at the liquor store said the thief came in his store at 2:45 p.m. and ran without paying for the liquor. The suspect was chased by the clerk but got away initially.
Officer Coey Henson responded to the call and secured the surveillance tape. When it was reviewed, Officer Dirk Newenheis recognized Brown as the suspect. The clerk confirmed Brown as the man who stole the bottles.
• PASSED OUT DRIVER ARRESTED: CERES - Police arrested a man who was passed out behind the wheel of his 2010 Cadillac on Wednesday, Aug. 17, charging him with drug possession.
Casey Lanzon, 30, of Turlock, was inside the car, which was stopped on Mitchell Road facing northbound in the southbound lanes. The car was just south of Whitmore Avenue. Rescue personnel got Lanzon out of the car and being checking his condition. Police were called because they located a loaded concealed handgun in his waistband. Authorities also located heroin and syringes.
After the 8:15 a.m. incident, Lanzon was arrested and booked on charges of possession of a loaded concealed weapon, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.
• VEHICLE BURGLARY: CERES - The victim of a car burglary chased after thieves Friday evening, helping to aid in two arrests.
The owner of the car was outside of La Morenita restaurant on Hatch Road at 7:30 p.m. when he saw his vehicle being broken into. The suspects fled but he followed to the area of Truckee and Ocean ways. Officers developed information that the suspects were David Tubera, 30, of Modesto, and girlfriend Denise Landeros, 37.
Later officer Keith Greibel located the pair sitting in a car on Crowslanding Road. He arrested them and booked both for burglary, conspiracy and possession of burglary tools.
