Tulare County Media Contact:
Jed Chernabaeff, 559/636-5000
jchernabaeff@co.tulare.ca.us

PRESS ADVISORY:

TULARE COUNTY STEP UP SERVICE LEARNING PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS TO BE HONORED

WHAT: Green Acres Middle School students will be honored for completion of the Middle School Cadet Corps program

WHO: 10 Green Acres Middle School students, five Charter Alternatives Academy students, Tulare County Supervisor Allen Ishida, Visalia Unified School District officials

WHEN: 11 a.m. Thursday, July 1.

WHERE: Murphy Center at the Green Acres Middle School campus. 1147 N. Mooney Blvd. Visalia, CA 93291

VISUAL OPPORTUNITIES: Middle School Cadet Corps will demonstrate drill and deportment exercises.

NEWS RELEASE

A group of Green Acres Middle School students will be honored Thursday for completing the Middle School Cadet Corps program.

The Middle School Cadet Corps is a program designed and implemented by five Charter Alternatives Academy students participating in the Charter Cadet Opportunity Program (CCOP). The five CCOP students provided academic tutoring/mentoring to 10 Green Acres Middle School students, as well as gang and drug prevention education and career awareness. In addition, the Green Acres students were trained in drill and deportment exercises by the Tulare County Sheriff's Department.

At 11 a.m. on Thursday at the Murphy Center on the Green Acres Middle School campus, a graduation ceremony will be held for the Middle School Cadet Corps students, who will also demonstrate drill and deportment exercises.

This is just one project funded by a Step Up Service Learning Grant, a Tulare County Board of Supervisors-funded program that aims to support service-learning projects that address gang activity and youth at-risk of joining a gang. The grant program provides participating schools $5,000 for project materials and stipends for advisors and youth.

"I commend the Middle School Cadet Corps participants for their hard work this summer," Supervisor Allen Ishida said. "Hopefully the lessons learned will last a lifetime."

In addition to the Middle School Cadet Corps program, the following high schools are completing Step Up Service Learning Grant programs:

Farmersville High School, Farmersville - Farmersville High students will complete upgrades at the Farmersville Senior Center.

Visalia Charter Independent Study, Visalia - Students will learn about marine biology through a field trip.  Students will then discuss gang and violence issues with 3rd grade students through biology analogies.

Orosi High School, Orosi - Orosi students will mentor incoming freshmen by providing information about school activities and clubs.

La Sierra High School, Porterville - Citrus High students will use video to record the history of local community heroes and make multiple documentaries.
 
Citrus High School, Porterville - Students will design and establish two community gardens at Porterville elementary schools.

Granite Hills High School, Porterville - Granite Hills students will design and participate in a camp to teach middle school and elementary students how to produce an online newspaper.

Sheriff Bill Wittman will be at the 1st boat ramp at Kaweah Lake on Thursday, July 1, 2010 at 10:00 am to discuss water safety and continued support of the Operation Dry Water Program this holiday weekend.

The Tulare County Sheriff's Office will join a nationwide effort this weekend to enforce boating under the influence infractions. 
 
California boating law enforcement officers, as part of a national coordinated effort of stepped-up enforcement known as Operation Dry Water, will be out in force the weekend of June 25-27 looking for boat operators whose blood alcohol concentration exceeds the state limit of .08 percent.
 
Additional Information Provided by California Boating and Waterways
 
In 2009, 41 percent of all reported California boating fatalities were alcohol related, according to the California Department of Boating and Waterways.
 
Operation Dry Water may include increased patrols, breathalyzer tests, and checkpoints, as well as boater education. Impaired boaters caught this weekend can expect penalties to be severe. According to California State Law, a person convicted of operation of a vessel while intoxicated could receive up to a $1,000 fine, six months in jail or both.
 
Alcohol can impair a boater's judgment, balance, vision, and reaction time. It can increase fatigue and susceptibility to the effects of cold-water immersion. Sun, wind, noise, vibration and motion - "stressors" common to the boating environment - intensify the side effects of alcohol, drugs and some prescription medications. 
 
Boaters should also think twice about designating a sober operator. The concept works well in cars, but drunken passengers on boats can easily fall overboard, swim near the propeller or cause loading problems by leaning over the side or standing up in small vessels, causing vessels to capsize. Everyone who drinks alcohol on board is at risk.
 
Last summer, agencies and organizations from 46 states and five territories participated in the first ever Operation Dry Water weekend. Over that three-day weekend, 2,442 marine law enforcement officers made contact with 17,454 recreational vessels and issued 5,320 boating safety warnings, 283 boating under the influence citations and 1,127 citations for other violations. This year, all 56 states, trusts and territories are expected to participate, searching for boat operators whose alcohol or drug impairment makes them a danger to other boaters.
 
DBW will be hosting Operation Dry Water for California in cooperation with the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators, the U.S. Coast Guard, Department of Fish and Game, California State Parks, California Boating Safety Officers Association and participating law enforcement agencies.
 
We have also added a "Water Safety" page to our Comunity Outreach link on our web page www.tularesheriff.info
To find out more about Operation Dry Water, visit www.OperationDryWater.org.
For California boating safety information and laws, visit www.dbw.ca.gov.

On 6/28/10 at approximately 1120 hours Tulare County Sheriff’s Patrol Deputies responded to the Kaweah Delta District Hospital in regards to an assault report.

    Violent Crimes Detectives also responded and the investigation revealed the victim’s, Manuel Montiero and Nichole Arjona were at home when unknown suspect(s) entered the residence and robbed them bound and assaulted them.  The suspect(s) fled in an unknown vehicle. The victim’s sustained moderate non life threatening injuries which consisted of minor lacerations and bruises.  The victim’s had been transported by private vehicle for treatment at a local clinic and then by ambulance to the hospital. 

    The case is under investigation by the Tulare County Sheriff’s Violent Crimes Unit.  Anyone with information can contact Detective Maria Garcia at (559)733-6218 or 
(800)808-0488.

Deputies of the Porterville substation responded to the town of Terra Bella on a report of a vehicle fire.  Deputies arrive to learn that the vehicle was set on fire by an explosive device and shots were fired  into the residence. During the investigation there were three other reports of shootings into a dwelling and explosive devices. Detectives with the Tulare County Sheriff’s Department South County Gang Unit along with Tulare County Fire Arson Investigation Unit responded to the scene.  During the investigation a report of a stolen vehicle was reported in the area. Deputies located the vehicle in the area. The vehicle attempted to evade deputies and crashed into a power pole in the area of Ave 95 and Road 239 in Terra Bella. The subjects attempted to flee the scene and discard a loaded firearm. All five subjects were taken into custody.  A probation search was conducted on the suspect’s residence in the 800 block of Forrester in the City of Porterville.

 As a result of the search conducted, detectives seized a loaded rifle, ammunition and gang paraphernalia.  The listed subjects, validated gang members, were taken into custody, on the below listed charges. 

Taken into custody were:

1) Juan Beltran Soto 19 Yrs.      Porterville resident             Date of arrest: 06-27-10
    Charges: 451,246,496,12031 PC/ Arson, Shooting in dwelling, possession of firearm, stolen vehicle/186.22 PC/Gang Enhancement

2) Male Juvenile     17 Yrs.      Porterville resident             Date of arrest: 06-27-10
    Charges:451,246,496,12031 PC/ Arson, Shooting in dwelling, possession of firearm, stolen vehicle//186.22 PC/Gang Enhancement / No bail warrant

3)Male Juvenile        17Yrs      Porterville resident             Date of arrest: 06-27-10
    Charges:451,246,496,12031 PC/ Arson, Shooting in dwelling, possession of firearm, stolen Vehicle//186.22 PC/Gang Enhancement

4) Jesus Ramos        18 Yrs      Porterville resident             Date of arrest: 06-27-10
    Charges:451,246,496,12031 PC/ Arson, Shooting in dwelling, possession of firearm, stolen Vehicle/186.22 PC/Gang Enhancement

5) Gilbert Amezcua       19 Yrs      Porterville resident             Date of arrest: 06-27-10
    Charges:451,246,496,12031 PC/ Arson, Shooting in dwelling, possession of firearm, stolen vehicle/186.22 PC/Gang Enhancement
               
This case remains under investigation by the Tulare County Sheriff’s Department’s - Gang Violence Suppression Unit.

Anyone with information regarding this investigation or any type of gang activity in Tulare County is urged to contact the Tulare County Sheriff’s Department’s - Gang Violence Suppression Unit at the toll free number of :
1-888-END-GANG (1-888-363-4264).
Persons giving information can remain anonymous.                    Prepared by: Sgt. H. Liles

Crime:  Possession of a Controlled Substance / Transportation of a Controlled Substance / Possession of a Concealed Deadly Weapon / Possession of Burglary Tools / Participation in a Criminal Street Gang / Under the Influence of a Controlled Substance / Driving without a License / Driving Under the Influence / Violation of Parole / Felony Warant / Misdemeanor Warrant

Date and Time Occurred:  06/23/10 to 06/26/10

Detectives with the Tulare County Sheriff's Departments Gang Violence Suppression Unit conducted routine patrol in the towns of Cutler, Orosi, Goshen, Ivanhoe, and Visalia.  Detectives  made numerous contacts including several suspected gang members.  As a result of their efforts, detectives seized two illegal firearms and an undisclosed amount of methamphetamine.  Detectives also served 5 Gang Injunctions, towed 8 vehicles and arrested 16 subjects for various Penal Code, Vehicle Code and Health & Safety Code Violations.  All suspects were transported and booked into Tulare County Detention Facilities. 

Taken into custody:

1) Name:  Rodriguez, Antonio    Age:  19   Resident:  Cutler

Charges:  12500 VC

2) Name:  Reynoso, Alberto       Age:  22  Resident:  Cutler

Charges:  11377 HS, 3056 PC, and a Felony Warrant

3) Name:  Villanueva, Manuel     Age:  19  Resident:  Reedley

Charges:  12031 PC, 466 PC, 186.22 PC

4) Name:  Villanueva, Ricardo    Age:  20  Resident:  Reedley

Charges:  466 PC, 186.22 PC, 12500 PC 

5) Name: Garza, Desirae             Age:  22  Resident:  Orosi

Charges:  11550 HS

6) Name:  Lopez, Salvador          Age:  23  Resident:  Traver

Charges: 11377 HS

7) Name:  Narcisco, Eddie           Age:  32  Resident:  London

Charges: 23152 CVC

8) Name:  Barocio, Jose              Age:  33  Resident:  Visalia

Charges:  Misdemeanor Warrant

9) Name:  Almanza, Salvador    Age:  29  Resident:  Porterville

Charges:  11379 HS, 11550 HS, 3056 PC

10)Name: Papenguth, Ana         Age:  24  Resident:  Visalia

Charges:  11379 HS, 11550 HS

11)Name: Saechao, Kao               Age:  21  Resident:  Visalia

Charges:  11550 HS and a misdemeanor warrant

12)Name: Gutierrez, Sylvia         Age:  49  Resident:  Visalia

Charges:  11550 HS and a misdemeanor warrant

13)Name: Galaz, Esther               Age:  46  Resident:  Visalia

Charges:  11550 HS

14)Name: Rodriguez, Froylan    Age:  22  Resident:  Visalia

Charges:  11379 HS

15)Name:  Molina, Antonio          Age:  38  Resident:  Visalia

Charges:  11379 HS and two misdemeanor warrants

16)Name: Gomez, Eliseo              Age:  23  Resident:  Visalia

Charges:  Misdemeanor warrant

This case remains under investigation by the Tulare County Sheriff Departments Gang Violence Suppression Unit.  Anyone with information regarding this investigation or any type of gang activity in Tulare County is urged to contact the Tulare County Sheriff's Department's Gang Violence Suppression Unit at the toll free number of:  1-888-END-GANG (1-888-363-4264).  Persons giving information can remain anonymous.

Suspects:

Orlanda Facio 21 yrs / Michael Torres 24 yrs / Jesse Torres 18 yrs / Julian Garcia 18 yrs / Valerie Macias 18 yrs / Christina Andrade 21 yrs and a 15 yr old female juvenile

On 06-26-10 at approximately 0212 hrs. deputies responded to an address in the 21500 Block of Rd. 216, Lindsay in regards to a fight.  Upon arrival the victims stated the listed suspects arrived at the residence uninvited to a party and refused to leave.  Prior to suspects leaving, they assaulted several party goers, broke windows to the residence and tried to hit one of the victims with their vehicle. 

Responding deputies observed the suspect vehicle southbound highway 65 at Ave. 196 at a high rate of speed.  A traffic stop was conducted at highway 65 and Linda Vista in Porterville.  The above suspects were taken into custody at this location.  During a search of the vehicle, three handguns were recovered one which had been previously reported stolen in the City of Porterville.

All subjects were booked at the Visalia Main Jail and Bob Wiley Detention Facility.  The minor juvenile was booked at the Juvenile Justice Center.

on 06/24/10 at approximately 1900 hrs Deputies responded to a confidential address in the Terra Bella area regarding a possible sexual assault victim. Upon arrival Deputies determined that a crime had taken place. The Tulare County North End Investigations Unit responded to the scene and resumed the investigation. A suspect was identified as James Riedstra of Terra Bella. Riedstra was arrested and booked at the Porterville Substation

Deputies were dispatched to the above location in regards to an armed robbery. Upon arrival, Deputies were advised that unknown suspect(s) entered the business with handguns and stole miscellaneous items. Suspect(s) fled in an unknown direction in an unknown type vehicle.

Case is currently being investigated by the Tulare County Sheriffs Department. Anyone with any information contact South end Property Detectives at 559-733-6218.

 
The Tulare County Sheriff's Office will join a nationwide effort this weekend to enforce boating under the influence infractions. 
 
California boating law enforcement officers, as part of a national coordinated effort of stepped-up enforcement known as Operation Dry Water, will be out in force the weekend of June 25-27 looking for boat operators whose blood alcohol concentration exceeds the state limit of .08 percent.
 
Additional Information Provided by California Boating and Waterways
 
In 2009, 41 percent of all reported California boating fatalities were alcohol related, according to the California Department of Boating and Waterways.
 
Operation Dry Water may include increased patrols, breathalyzer tests, and checkpoints, as well as boater education. Impaired boaters caught this weekend can expect penalties to be severe. According to California State Law, a person convicted of operation of a vessel while intoxicated could receive up to a $1,000 fine, six months in jail or both.
 
Alcohol can impair a boater's judgment, balance, vision, and reaction time. It can increase fatigue and susceptibility to the effects of cold-water immersion. Sun, wind, noise, vibration and motion - "stressors" common to the boating environment - intensify the side effects of alcohol, drugs and some prescription medications. 
 
Boaters should also think twice about designating a sober operator. The concept works well in cars, but drunken passengers on boats can easily fall overboard, swim near the propeller or cause loading problems by leaning over the side or standing up in small vessels, causing vessels to capsize. Everyone who drinks alcohol on board is at risk.
 
Last summer, agencies and organizations from 46 states and five territories participated in the first ever Operation Dry Water weekend. Over that three-day weekend, 2,442 marine law enforcement officers made contact with 17,454 recreational vessels and issued 5,320 boating safety warnings, 283 boating under the influence citations and 1,127 citations for other violations. This year, all 56 states, trusts and territories are expected to participate, searching for boat operators whose alcohol or drug impairment makes them a danger to other boaters.
 
DBW will be hosting Operation Dry Water for California in cooperation with the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators, the U.S. Coast Guard, Department of Fish and Game, California State Parks, California Boating Safety Officers Association and participating law enforcement agencies.
 
 
To find out more about Operation Dry Water, visit www.OperationDryWater.org.
For California boating safety information and laws, visit www.dbw.ca.gov.

On 06/23/10 at 2239 hrs Deputies responded to the 15000 block of Giotta in Ivanhoe regarding a gun shot wound victim. Upon arrival Deputies located the victim in her residence. The victim was air lifted to a local hospital for treatment to her wounds. Later the victim’s wounds were determined to be non-life threatening.
    The Tulare County Sheriff’s Department Violent Crimes Unit as well as the North End Investigations Unit responded to the scene and took over the investigation. Through investigation a suspect was located and later determined to be George Hernandez of Ivanhoe. Hernandez was taken into custody with out incident. The firearm and ammunition were recovered at the scene. This case is currently under investigation by the Tulare County Sheriff’s Department.

NEWS  ITEM
Case Number- 10-7560
Crime-245 PC/ Assault With a Deadly Weapon//186.22 PC/Gang Enhancement 
Area Occurred- 23030 Lawson and 19200 block of road 232  Strathmore, Ca.
Date and Time Occurred- 06-23-10 @ 1600 Hrs.
Victim-  Male Juvenile
 
Detectives with the Tulare County Sheriff’s Department South County Gang Unit served two search warrants in the 23030 Lawson and 19200 block of Road 232 in the town of Strathmore.  Regarding an assault with a deadly weapon that left a male juvenile shot in the leg on 6-22-10.

 As a result of the searches conducted, detectives seized a loaded handgun, ammunition and gang paraphernalia. They also seized property taken in recent burglaries in the area. The subjects listed below were taken into custody on the following charges. 

Taken into custody were:

1) Jose Jovani Contreras 22 Yrs.      Strathmore resident             Date of arrest: 06-23-09
    Charges:245 PC/ Assault With a Deadly Weapon /186.22 PC/Gang Enhancement

2) Ramiro Rodriguez      21 Yrs.      Strathmore resident             Date of arrest: 06-23-09
    Charges:245 PC/ Assault With a Deadly Weapon /186.22 PC/Gang Enhancement
               
This case remains under investigation by the Tulare County Sheriff’s Department’s - Gang Violence Suppression Unit.

Anyone with information regarding this investigation or any type of gang activity in Tulare County is urged to contact the Tulare County Sheriff’s Department’s - Gang Violence Suppression Unit at the toll free number of :
1-888-END-GANG (1-888-363-4264).
Persons giving information can remain anonymous.                    Prepared by: Sgt. H. Liles

On the above date and time, Deputies contacted Tomas Jurarez Solis at the above location.  Solis was later arrested for an outstanding warrant out of Tulare County and for possession for sales of a controlled substance. 

Solis was arrested and later booked at the Porterville Substation.

This case is under investigation by T.C.S.O

Tulare County Sheriff’s Detectives responded to a call regarding a female who claimed she had been molested by a person known to her.  The female victim was under the age of 14 years old.

During the course of the investigation, Detectives discovered that Registered Sex Offender Aeron Grenfell, 33 years old of Lindsay, did have sexual intercourse with the victim, and digitally penetrated the victim, while she was asleep.

Detectives determined that Aeron Grenfell is on active county probation for a prior sex offense and he is currently in compliance with his mandate to register as a sex offender. 

Aeron Grenfell was taken into custody at his residence near Lindsay without incident.  He was booked into the Tulare County Main Jail with bail set at $150,000.00.


This investigation is active and ongoing.  Anyone with information should call Detective Paul Gezzer at 559-735-1896

On the above date and time, Deputies made contact with Tomas Jurarez Solis at the above location.  Solis arrested for an outstanding warrant out of Tulare County and for possession for sales of a controlled substance. 

Solis was arrested and booked at the Porterville Substation.

This case is under investigation by T.C.S.O