- Two Ceres men are in custody after allegedly forcing their way into a house in the 3000 block of Gideon Way in an attempt to steal a vehicle in a civil matter gone awry.
At 6:39 p.m. on Sunday the victim living at the house called 9-1-1 to report a disturbance. The police dispatcher could hear men arguing in the background.
Police officers Jeremy Caron and Greg Yotsuya showed up and confront the alleged intruders. Rafael Hernandez, 25, of Ceres, allegedly dropped a 9mm handgun as Officer Yotsuya entered the home. Arrested outside the home was Anthony Jose Medina, 26, of Ceres. Both were charged with committing a home invasion robbery.
Police Lt. Brent Smith said that apparently Hernandez and Medina went to the house because the resident there sold a vehicle that was later impounded. Both showed up at the door and entered, Hernandez pointing a gun. Hernandez demanded the resident hand over the keys and pink slip to a Jeep "until he got his car back."
Ceres police also worked the following cases:
• PAROLEE ARRESTED FOR METH - Ceres Police officers assigned to the Street Crimes Unit arrested a Modesto parolee on Wednesday, Feb. 19 after he was searched and found with methamphetamine in his pocket.
Julian Ornelas, 38, of Modesto, told police that he was wearing pants he borrowed to appear in court and that the drugs did not belong to him.
Ornelas was sitting in a car at 3736 Latimer Avenue in south Modesto when police made contact at 4:50 p.m.
He was booked for possession of meth.
• CHASE SLOWED IN CERES - Spike strips laid down on Highway 99 at Mitchell Road did not stop a chase suspect who was later stopped in Modesto on Feb. 19.
StanCATT detective Jason Brock notified Ceres Police that they were looking for a residential burglary suspect in Modesto who was considered armed and dangerous. The suspect, Shane Collins, 30, had allegedly left a stolen Ford pickup at the scene of the burglary and fled in the homeowners' 2004 Ford Explorer. A short time later police were notified that a chase was coming toward Ceres from Merced County. Police had been chasing the suspect since he was spotted near McCullaugh Road near Stevenson. The chase went from Hilmar onto northbound Highway 99.
Spike strips were laid down which resulted in the suspect's vehicle slowing down near the Fourth Street exit. The chase continued into Modesto after the suspect got off the freeway at Briggsmore Avenue. The tires began shredding and intersections were cordoned off for public safety. The chase stopped when the suspect pulled over at Rumble Road east of Tully Road and fled on foot. The suspect was located when an air search detected a "hot spot" in a locked backyard pool shed. The suspect, who had painted his face and hands black in an attempt to escape detection, was armed with a stolen 9mm handgun.
Collins was arrested at 8:30 p.m. and charged with burglary, auto theft, evading police, weapon possession and assault with a deadly weapon.
The chase lasted approximately 30 minutes.
• ALLEGED DRUNKEN DRIVER CAUSED CRASH - A non-injury crash that involved major damage to two vehicles at Mitchell Road and Whitmore Avenue early Thursday, Feb. 20 was attributed to an alleged drunk driver.
One of the vehicles came to rest against the block sound wall on the west side of Mitchell Road north of Whitmore Avenue, said Ceres Police Lt. Brent Smith.
Police arrested Sergio Cazares, 32, of Delhi, in the 1:30 a.m. crash after a Breathalyzer indicated that he was intoxicated.
• POLICE SEEK SCHOOL PROPERTY THIEVES: - Thieves who broke into Virginia Parks School on Saturday and removed property may have slipped away but police have their car and are trying to locate them.
Police responded to an alarm that went off on the campus at 12:30 a.m. Witnesses told police that they saw two Hispanic men running from the area. Police scoured the area and found a green 1998 Honda Civic parked at Payne Avenue and Moffet Road. Items belonging to the school were found in the car and a floor cleaner was outside the car on the ground.
Police impounded the car, which is registered to an owner in Delhi.
