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CRIME DIGEST
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• AUTO THEFT SUSPECTS APPREHENDED: CERES - Four persons were arrested on Wednesday for auto thefts as the result of an investigation conducted by the Stanislaus County Auto Theft Task Force (StanCATT).

Michael Robert Jobe, 41, of Modesto, was arrested on Herndon Road at 7 a.m. on April 20. Jobe was wanted in connection with several trailer, motorcycle and automobile thefts occurring throughout Stanislaus and Merced counties over the past several weeks. Jobe was booked into the Stanislaus County Jail on charges of auto theft, possession of stolen property and resisting arrest charges. Bail was set at over $1 million.

Jobe is also believed to be the person responsible for leading three Stanislaus County law enforcement agencies on lengthy pursuits over the past several weeks. These law enforcement agencies will be filing charges against Jobe associated with the pursuits.

StanCATT investigators also conducted a search warrant on his residence and recovered a substantial amount of stolen property and four additional stolen vehicles which were returned to their owners. Also arrested and charged with auto theft related crimes were Anthony Allen Bryant, 22, Karen Ruth Maupin, 49, and Johnny Nolan, 33, all of Modesto.

•MAN SHOT IN FINGER BY FELON: HUGHSON - A felon was arrested Sunday evening after he allegedly shot a man in the finger during a drinking party argument, fled and barricaded himself in his apartment.

Stanislaus County Sheriff's deputies learned of the shooting on Cox Lane in Hughson at 7:30 p.m. The victim, Antonio Ruiz, was shot in the finger. Ruiz said he was drinking with friends and family when Juan Perez Belmudez, 29, of Hughson, arrived. He and Belmudez, who also goes by the last name of Perez, got into a verbal argument. Ruiz attempted to leave in his vehicle when Belmudez confronted him in his car. Belmudez pointed a handgun at Ruiz but the men struggled over the gun before it discharged, injuring Ruiz's finger. Belmudez fled the area.

While deputies were interviewing Ruiz, they heard gun shots from the area. Witnesses began calling 911 saying they had seen Belmudez shooting a handgun into the air in front of his apartment on Tully Road in Hughson. Belmudez entered the apartment as deputies quickly set up a perimeter around the complex. Nearby residents were evacuated for their safety.

Stanislaus County Sheriff SWAT and hostage negotiators responded. After approximately four hours, Belmudez came out and was taken into custody without incident.

In June 2010 Belmudez was arrested in Hughson for possession of a concealed firearm and shooting a firearm in a negligent manner.

Belmudez was booked at the Stanislaus County men's Jail for assault with a firearm, negligent discharge of a firearm, and felon in possession of a firearm.

• MOM ARRESTED FOR DUI WITH KIDS IN CAR: CERES - A mother was arrested early Sunday morning for allegedly driving intoxicated her 1974 Volkswagen bug with her three children inside.

At 12:09 a.m., Sgt. Pat Sullivan saw the VW traveling at 60 mph in a 45 mph zone in the 2900 block of Mitchell Road. The driver, Trisha Hernandez, 34, of Ceres, pulled over and appeared to be drunk. In the VW were children ranging from 8 to 12. Hernandez was arrested and charged with drunk driving and child endangerment.

• DRUNK DRIVER ARRESTED AFTER CRASH: CERES - Four persons were injured Friday morning when an alleged drunk driver rear-ended cars at Mitchell and Hatch roads.

Ceres Police Lt. Brent Smith said the crash happened at 6:08 a.m. on Friday, April 22. He said Fire Battalion Chief Randy Wheeler witnessed the crash at Mitchell and Hatch and observed Tiffany Dias, 22, of Modesto, speeding past him in a 2001 Mitsubishi Eclipse just moments prior. Dias was northbound on Mitchell Road and failed to brake in time to avoid hitting cars stopped for the red light at Hatch Road. Dias crashed into the back of one car, causing a chain reaction of four cars total.

Dias, who suffered a compound fracture to her ankle and other injuries, was rushed to Doctors Medical Center. She was later charged with felony DUI.

The drivers of the three other cars sustained minor to moderate injuries, many who complained of head, back and neck pain.

• TRAFFIC STOP NETS ILLEGAL WEAPON: CERES - A 28-year-old Patterson man was jailed after being stopped in Ceres on Friday morning and found with an assault pistol.

At 9:42 a.m. officer Keith Griebel stopped a Cadillac Escalade on Mitchell Road for an equipment violation. Antonio Garcia Jr. had no license to drive and his vehicle was searched and yielded an assault pistol with a large capacity magazine and ammunition. Garcia was arrested on charges of felony possession of a firearm, driving without a license and the equipment violation.

His passenger, Rene Martinez, 20, also of Patterson, was out on bail and arrested on the weapons charge with gang enhancement.

• BULLETS FLY ON DARRAH: CERES - One person riding in a car may have been shot Thursday evening, April 21 as bullets flew in the 1900 block of Darrah Street.

Police said three spent casings were found at the southwest corner of Darrah and Lois and witnesses said at 5:22 p.m. that shots were fired at a black Honda. The car was seen leaving the area and that the driver was leaning over toward the passenger, possibly tending to wounds since the passenger was heard screaming.

Police notified hospitals in the area and were told to look out for a gunshot victim but none were reported.

Anyone with information on the shooting is urged to call Ceres Police Detectives Bureau at 538-5727.

• MAN STABBED ON LUCCHESSI: CERES - A 19-year-old man was reportedly uncooperative with police Thursday who investigated his stabbing in the lower back, an injury that required hospitalization at Doctors Medical Center.

At 1:56 p.m. victim Jesus Pinaloxa, of Ceres, was stabbed on Lucchessi Lane near Herndon Avenue. The victim said he was jumped by four Norteno gang members who took an air soft pistol he was carrying in his pocket and stabbed him before fleeing.