Local News

Madera County DA Successful in Retrial of Speedy Phillips for 1977 Murder

MADERA - A Madera County jury this week found defendant Richard "Speedy" Phillips responsible for the robbery and murder of Bruce Bartulis and attempted murder of Ron Rose in 1977.

Phillips lured the unsuspecting Bartulis and Rose to Madera County from southern California for the purpose of robbing them. Once in Madera County, Phillips took them to a deserted area along the 99 freeway where he shot them 6 times, stole their wallets and property, doused them in gasoline, and set them on fire. Rose, who was still alive, was able to get away. Phillips then chased him down with his car and hit him.

Sheriff Asking Publics to Help in Search for Missing Fresno Man

FRESNO - Fresno County Sheriff's Deputies and volunteers with the Fresno County Search and Rescue (SAR) Team continue to search the wilderness for 65-year-old Hans Lamaack. He was last seen in the City of Fresno on August 30, 2019.

The Sheriff’s Office was made aware that he was missing on September 24th. On the 24th, deputies found Lamaack’s car, a 2001 Volvo. It was parked near Garnet Dike Campground, which is located along the upper Kings River near Balch Camp.

DUI Check Points in Fresno This Weekend

FRESNO - Officers from the Fresno Police Department will be out Saturday, October 12, 2019 looking for drivers suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.

DUI saturation patrols will take place in areas with high frequencies of DUI collisions and/or arrests. In 2017, 1,120 people were killed in alcohol-involved crashes on California roads. In 2017, the Fresno Police Department investigated 360 DUI collisions which have claimed 15 lives and resulted in another 121 injuries.

Sixth Defendant Pleads Guilty in Firearm Trafficking from Tennessee to Kings County

FRESNO - Elvia Sanchez, 42, of Lenoir City, Tennessee, pleaded guilty today to conspiring to traffic in firearms by an unlicensed person, and the illegal transportation of firearms received in a state of residency, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.

According to court documents, on Nov. 29, 2016, and June 12, 2017, Elvia Sanchez mailed firearms from Tennessee to Rafael Sanchez in California in connection with a conspiracy to traffic in firearms.

Violent Felon Arrested After Seven Hour Standoff with Madera County SWAT

MADERA – The Madera County Sheriff’s Department reports a felon with a history of violence is off the streets after a seven-hour standoff in the city of Madera. Francisco Javier Bautista (33) is now in custody following his arrest which involved more than two dozen officers from at least three different agencies.

Shortly after 4:00 pm on Thursday, the Madera County Narcotics Enforcement Team (MADNET) attempted to serve a search warrant at a residence in the 1400 block of West Fourth Street in the city of Madera and to take Bautista into custody. Bautista was previously wanted on two felony warrants for recklessly evading a peace officer. According to Madera County Sheriff Jay Varney, this raid was an attempt to avoid another dangerous situation on the road.