The case began approximately three weeks prior when an anonymous tip was received through the Sheriff's new TipNow program.  

"Information was provided about a possible marijuana grow site and firearms in the area." stated STEP Sgt. Jim Franks.

Detectives conducted an aerial over flight to confirm the presence of a two marijuana grow sites and obtained a search warrant for the property.  The two grow sites were located on the back portion of the property which consisted of 19 acres. 

On June 8, 2011 at approximately 1350 hrs, members of the Tulare County Sheriff’s Dept. S.T.E.P. Unit, I.N.E.T. Unit, Narcotics Task Force and Property Detectives  responded to the 18800 block of Lort Dr. in Visalia in regards to reports of marijuana cultivation. Upon arrival detectives contacted the subjects listed below. Subsequent investigation led to the determination that those subjects with medical recommendations for the marijuana were significantly over their allowed amount. Approximately 690 marijuana plants were eradicated. In addition many items of stolen property were recovered by Property Detectives.

Suspect Chad Cloyd was found to be a felon in possession of firearms and in possession of stolen property. Suspect John Moore was found to be in possession of a switch blade, possession of prescription medication without a prescription and in possession of stolen property from a recent burglary in the city of Visalia. Suspect Brandin Bullock was found to be in possession of methamphetamine and under the influence of a controlled substance. Suspect Kari Ramos-Kent was found to be in possession of methamphetamine and under the influence of a controlled substance. Joseph Wheemes was found to be under the influence of a controlled substance.

Suspects were arrested and booked without incident at the Tulare County Main Jail. Suspect Bullock was advised she was in violation of the Tulare County Ordinance banning outdoor growing of marijuana.

It has become common for some medical marijuana cultivators to hide behind California’s written law in their effort to sell excess marijuana for a profit either on the streets or to dispensaries. County ordinance ban the sale of medicinal marijuana for profit and outdoor unsecured cultivation.  If allowed to mature the 690 plants eradicated in this case could have produced in excess of 690 pounds of marijuana bud with a street value in excess of $2,760,000. The typical medicinal marijuana user consumes between 3 to 5 pounds of marijuana annually.

Suspects arrested:
Brandin Bullock 29 yoa, Visalia - Charges 11377 H&S, 11550 H&S, 11366 H&S, 11370.1 H&S
John Wesley Moore 29 yoa Visalia - 496 PC, 11350 H&S, 653 K PC
Chad Cloyd 35 yoa Visalia - 496 PC, 12021 PC, 11550 H&S
Joseph Wheemes 25 yoa Visalia - 11550 H&S
Kari Ramos-Kent, 35 yoa Visalia - 11377 H&S, 11364 H&S 11550 H&S

The Sheriff's Office would like to encourage people to utilize the TipNow system.

"The information we received from TipNow led to the arrest of five people.  That is all thanks to the concerned citizen who made use the resources provided that can help make our county a safer place." stated Sheriff Bill Wittman.

TipNow is an anonymous tip line where a person may call, text or e-mail information to the Sheriff's Department regarding suspicious activity.  You may e-mail tcso#tipnow.com or call/text 559-725-4194

This case is still under investigation by the TCSO STEP and Property Crimes Unit.

Editors note:  Some video footage is availabe under this case number on our YouTube Channel TulareCountySHeriff  http://youtu.be/--uNnQeVBrM .  You may also send e-mail request to cdouglass@co.tulare.ca.us.  You will receive a reply e-mail with the link to sign in and download the footage. 

On 05/13/11, Tulare County Sheriff’s Deputies took a report of a residential burglary at the 26000 block of S. Mooney Blvd., Visalia.  Deputies there learned that an unknown suspect gained entry into this home and took approximately one hundred thousand dollars worth of property.  Sheriff Detectives at that time assumed the investigation.

On 06/07/11, Sheriff Detectives were able to identify the suspect as being 31 year old Chad Villanueva of Visalia.  Villanueva was arrested on this day and booked at the Tulare County Main Jail where he is being held on a $50,000 bond.  On 06/08/11, Sheriff Detectives were also able to locate and recover $42,000 worth of the stolen property from a local Visalia Jewelry store whom purchased the property as scrap gold. 

This case is still being investigated by the Tulare County Sheriff’s Department.

An ongoing five day burglary investigation lead to the arrest of two suspects in the city of Visalia.  

The investigation lead detective from the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office and the Visalia Police Department to a residence in the 1700 block of S. Central in the city of Visalia.  Doug Wadkins and Jeanna Huss were located at the residence and arrested for possession of stolen property. 

A subsequent search warrant was executed and additional stolen property from crimes in both the County of Tulare and City of Visalia was located.

Doug Wadkins was booked into the Tulare County Main Jail.

Jenna Huss was booked into the Bob Wiley Detention Facility.

The case is currently under investigation by the Tulare County Sheriff's Department.

On Monday, June 06, 2011 at 1115 hours, A Tulare County Lake Patrol Officer located a body floating in Kaweah Lake near the Horse Creek campground area. The body appears to be that of a Hispanic or white male adult with dark, medium length hair and goatee beard wearing a brown jacket, t-shirt and jeans. The body appeared to have been in the water for several days. Attempts are being made to identify the body and circumstances surrounding the death at this time. The cause of death will be pending autopsy.

The case is being investigated as a suspicious death by the Violent Crimes Unit as usual when cause of death and identity are unknown. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Detective Frank Zaragoza or Sgt. Gary Hunt at the Tulare County Sheriff's Department, Violent Crimes Unit at 559-733-6211 or 800-808-0488.

The anonymous tip line is also available for calls, text or e-mail at:

tcso@tipnow.com  or 559-725-4194

NEWS  ITEM 

Case Number: 11-6845

Crime: 211 PC, 186.22 PC, 182 PC, 245 PC

Area Occurred: 12500 Block of Ave 416 Orosi, Ca.

Date and Time Occurred: 5-24-11/2153 hours

Victim 1: undisclosed male adult (26 years)

Victim 2: undisclosed female adult (44 years)

On 5-24-11 at about 9:53 p.m., an undisclosed male and female adult were approached by several alleged gang members in the 12500 block of Ave 416 in Orosi and subsequently assaulted.  The suspects then took U.S. currency from the victims by force and fled the scene by vehicle.

Through further investigation, on 6-04-11 at about 5:00 p.m., personnel from the North End Gang Violence Suppression Unit, along with patrol served two search warrants in the 12500 block of Ave 432 Orosi and 40200 block of Cindy Road Cutler, Ca.  Upon completion, suspect Jose Diaz (18 years) was taken into custody without incident for robbery, assault with a deadly weapon, conspiracy and criminal street gang activity.  Diaz was booked into the main jail with bail set at $50,000. 

This case is still being investigated by personnel from the Gang Violence Suppression Unit.

Anyone with additional information is encouraged to contact the Sheriff’s Department at (559) 733-6218 or 1-(888)-End-Gang.  Persons who call can remain anonymous and have the option of sending information confidentially through tcso@tipnow.com or by texting (559) 725-4194.

On 06-03-11 the Tulare County Inter-Agency Narcotic Enforcement Unit consisting of personnel from Lindsay Police Department, Farmersville Police Department, Exeter Police Department, Visalia Police Department, Tulare County Probation Department and the Tulare County Sheriff's Department concluded a three week investigation by serving a narcotic search warrant in the 500 Block of Westwood in the city of Lindsay.

Detectives searched the residence and located a small amount of methamphetamine packaged for sales, a small hand scale, several smoking pipes and a small amount of marijuana.

Suspect Benitez, Agustine Junior was arrested and booked into the Tulare County Jail for the following charges: 

11378 H&S             Possession of a controlled substance for sales.
11377 H&S             Possession of a controlled substance.
11364 H&S             Possession of drug paraphernalia.
11357 b H&S          Possession of marijuana (under a ounce)

       
Suspect Benitez bail was set at $ 25,000.00.

This case is still under investigation.

S-1 Liborio Gutierrez Martinez 45 yoa, Visalia,  Charged with 11358 H&S,

On the above date and time members of the Tulare County Sheriff’s Dept. S.T.E.P. unit  responded to the 12500 block of Ave. 322 in Visalia in regards to reports of marijuana cultivation. Upon arrival detectives contacted resident Liborio Gutierrez Martinez. Subsequent investigation led investigators to write a search warrant for the location.  The search found a large outdoor marijuana growing operation.

S-Martinez was found to have substantially more marijuana than he was allowed for his sole medical needs under California law for medical marijuana. S-Martinez was  130 marijuana plants above his doctor recommended limit of 90 plants. He was arrested at the scene and booked without incident at the Tulare County Main Jail. S-Martinez was also advised he was in violation of the Tulare County Ordinance banning outdoor growing of marijuana

It has become common for some medical marijuana cultivators to hide behind California’s  law in their effort to sell excess marijuana for a profit either on the streets or to dispensaries. It is illegal to sell sell medicinal marijuana for profit.  If allowed to mature the excess 130 plants in this case could have produced more than 130 pounds of marijuana bud with a street value over $500,000. The typical medicinal marijuana user consumes between 3 to 5 pounds of marijuana annually.
 
This case is still under investigation by the TCSO STEP Unit.

Exeter Police Department has announced an arrest has been made on the Acosta case.  

Detectives will be available for media questions today, Thursday, June 2, 2011 at 9:30 PM at the Exeter Police Station.  

The Exeter Police station is located at 100 N. "C" St., Exeter

Media is directed to contact Exeter Police Department for any questions.  (559) 592-3103

Editors note: This message is posted as a courtesy to Exeter Police Department.  The Tulare County Sheriff's Office will not me answering any media questions regarding this case.

Deputies from the Headquarters station conducted a traffic stop on M St and Oaks St in the City of Tulare. Deputies determined the vehicle had been reported stolen earlier in the year. During a search of the vehicle additional stolen property was located from a resident in the Visalia area. Also located were forged checks in the victim’s name. The case is currently under investigation by the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office. Anyone with information regarding this case is encouraged to contact Detective Gary Marks with the North End Investigations Unit at (559)735-1856.

Taken into custody were:

1)    Lewis, Tara                23Yrs.                      Visalia    Resident

On the above date and time deputies responded to a 911 call for shots fired in the area of Avenue 152 and Road 208. Within minutes after receiving the 911 call a GSW victim arrived at Sierra View Hospital in a personal vehicle. Upon further investigation it was learned that the GSW victim, a fifteen year old Hispanic male was shot one time by an unknown suspect. The victim was transported to Fresno Regional Medical Center for treatment. His injuries are non-life threatening.

This case remains under investigation by the Tulare County Sheriff's Department. Anyone with information can call Detective Rodney  Klassen

On 5-30-11 at about 0015 hrs. Tulare County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to the Ivanhoe area regarding a car jacking case. Investigation revealed the suspects brandished a firearm at the victims and demanded their vehicle.

The vehicle was located in the 15600 block of Ave 296 with two suspects still inside it. The suspects were apprehended after a short foot chase.

Suspect -Eduardo Lopez 25yrs

Suspect- Martin cuellar 26yrs

This case remains under investigation by the Tulare County Sheriff's Department.. Anyone with additional information is encouraged to contact the Sheriff’s Department at (559) 733-6218 Persons who call can remain anonymous, and may also report information to www.tcso@tipnow.com or text to (559) 725-4194.

On Friday, 5-27-11 at about 6:00 p.m., through on-going investigation, personnel from the North End Gang Violence Suppression Unit, along with patrol were able to identify, locate and apprehend a second suspect involved in an attempt homicide case that originally occurred on 5-01-11 near the intersection of Ave. 392 and Rd. 120 Cutler, Ca.

The second suspect taken into custody was 19 year old Hector Flores. He was picked up from his residence in the 38700 block of Rd. 140 Yettem, Ca. He was later booked into the main jail without incident for the charges of attempted homicide, assault with a deadly weapon, conspiracy to commit a crime and criminal street gang activity.

This case remains under investigation and it is believed there may be additional suspects. Anyone with additional information is encouraged to contact the Sheriff’s Department at (559) 733-6218 or 1-(888)-End-Gang. Persons who call can remain anonymous, and may also report information to www.tcso@tipnow.com or text to (559) 725-4194.

Suspects in Custody:                                      

#1 Roberto Ayala  MH/ 39 yrs Lindsay  

Charges:  11359 H&S/ 11366 H&S/ 11377H&S 11378 H&S/ 11379 H&S

 #2 Trinidad Sandoval FH/ 40 yrs Lindsay, Ca.  

Charges:  11359 H&S/ 11366H&S, 11377H&S, 11378 H&S/ 11379 H&S

#3 Ismael Ramirez Romero 34 yrs Lindsay, Ca.     

Charges:   11550 H&S

            After a six month investigation into the trafficking of illegal narcotics in the Lindsay and Porterville areas by the Southern Tri-Counties High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force, the suspects in this investigation were contacted and arrested on traffic stop in the unincorporated area of Porterville. The investigation then led to the service of a search warrant in the 300 blk of Locke Ave in Lindsay. The STC-HIDTA Task Force was assisted by the Tulare County Sheriff’s Clandestine Laboratory Unit, Inter Agency Narcotic Enforcement Team and the STEP Team.  The search warrant revealed approx. 4.65 ounces of Methamphetamine and 2.68 pounds of processed Marijuana. Also seized was scales, packaging material, a handgun and other items detailing the illegal sales of controlled substances.

            The suspects were arrested on the listed charges. Suspect Ayala and Sandoval are being held in lieu of $30,000.00 bail. Romero is being held in lieu of $10,000.00 bail.  Suspects Sandoval and Romero are also being held on an Immigration Detainer issued by the Immigration and Customs Service.

            Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Tulare County Sheriff’s Departments Narcotics Division.

            Photos of the suspects available through the Main Jail.

Narrative:

Suspect: (S)  George Soto 38 yrs of age   

David Esquivel 31 yrs of age

Address:  Lindsay area

On the morning of 05/24/11 the victim who resides in the Exeter area contacted the Tulare County Sheriff’s Department to report the theft of a Kubota tractor.

Later in the afternoon the victim was in the Orosi area and located his stolen tractor. He contacted the Tulare County Sheriff’s Department to report that he had located his tractor. Deputies from the Orosi sub station responded to the area of Rd. 144 and Ave. 420, where they detained the two subjects. Detectives from the Ag Crimes Unit responded to assist in the investigation.

Both subjects were subsequently arrested for possession of stolen property and were booked at the Tulare County main Jail.

Any one with information regarding this case is asked to contacted Detective Michael Rubalcaba at (24 hours) 559-733-6218 or (730 AM to 5 PM) 559-735-1853.

On 05-18-11 the Inter Agency Narcotic Enforcement Team (I.N.E.T.) consisting of personnel from Visalia Police Department, Farmersville Police Department, Lindsay Police Department, Exeter Police Department, Tulare County Probation and the Tulare County Sheriff’s Department concluded a three week narcotic investigation by serving a search warrant in the 1400 Block of North Court in the City of Visalia. 

Suspect: Contreas, Julian  age 30 of Visalia
Arrested for the following chargers:

11377 H&S       Possession of a controlled substance.
11550 H&S       Under the influence of a controlled substance.
11364 H&S       Possession of drug paraphernalia.

Suspect Contreas’s bail was set at  $ 20,000.00.

This case is still under investigation.