News

Methhead Kills Family Puppy: Locked Up in Jail With NO Bail

MADERA - On May 6^th, 2019 at about 8:45 pm officers from the Madera Police Department were dispatched to the 800 block of South D Street regarding a large pool of blood located in a family’s driveway. When the officers arrived and contacted the residents of the property they were informed a cousin to the family, identified as Ambrocio Hernandez, was standing near their fence line when they arrived home.

Hernandez was not allowed at the property due to his extensive drug use and aggressive demeanor. After Hernandez was told to leave the property (which he did), law enforcement was contacted regarding the blood found on scene. Officers investigated the scene and followed the blood trail to a garbage can. Inside the garbage can they found the family dog, deceased, with extensive blunt force trauma. It was believed Hernandez may have killed the animal and an investigation was started to attempt to locate him.

Former Madera Resident Fred Gleason (82) Dies in Tragic Merced County Traffic Accident

HILMAR – A former Madera resident was killed in Merced County in a collision with a big rig just south of Hilmar on Highway 165. Fred Gleason (82), now a resident of Stevinson was driving a 2008 Lexus sedan when the driver of a big rig hauling milk pulled into an intersection at Crane Avenue where the two vehicles collided.

Gleason’s identity was confirmed by Deputy Daryl Allen with the Merced County Sheriff-Coroner’s Office. The crash happened Saturday March 2, 2019 around 6:40 p.m. The driver of the 2013 Peterbilt big rig truck was identified by the California Highway Patrol as Aurelio Barajas-Zapien (43) of Turlock.

Fresno Father Shoots & Kills 42 Year Old Step Son

FRESNO - On Thursday, May 2, 2019, at approximately 1950 hours, Northeast Patrol Officers from the Fresno Police Department were dispatched to 4300 block of East Buckingham Way regarding a victim of a shooting. The 911 call was placed from the Buckingham address and when officers arrived they discovered a deceased male inside the residence. The male was identified as 42 year old Elden Baker III. Officers contacted the mother and stepfather who both stated that the stepfather shot Baker in self-defense.

Detectives learned that during the disturbance, Baker become enraged and began hitting himself in the face and slamming his head into the refrigerator. Baker turned his anger towards his mother and began assaulting her while forcing her to the floor. It should be noted; the mother has a medical condition which could become life threatening if attacked in such a manner.

Three Germans Who Allegedly Operated Dark Web Marketplace with over 1 Million Users Face U.S. Narcotics and Money Laundering Charges

SACRAMENTO - Following a nearly two-year international investigation involving U.S. law enforcement and authorities in Germany and the Netherlands, federal prosecutors have charged three German nationals with being the administrators of Wall Street Market (WSM), which was one of the world’s largest dark web marketplaces that allowed vendors to sell a wide variety of contraband, including an array of illegal narcotics, counterfeit goods and malicious computer hacking software. A Brazilian national was also charged for allegedly acting as a moderator for WSM.

A criminal complaint filed Wednesday in United States District Court in Los Angeles alleges that the three defendants, who currently are in custody in Germany, were the administrators of WSM, a sophisticated online marketplace available in six languages that allowed approximately 5,400 vendors to sell illegal goods to about 1.15 million customers around the world.

SHARE THE ROAD: May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month

FRESNO - The warmer weather means a lot more motorcycles will be out on the road across California. May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month, and the Fresno Police Department is taking the opportunity to remind drivers and motorcycle riders to share the road and look out for one another.

During the month of May, the Fresno Police Department will step up enforcement specifically geared toward stopping drivers and motorcycle riders for traffic violations that increase the risk of crashes. A motorcycle safety enforcement operation is planned for May 5th, 2019 to coincide with motorcycle club festivities scheduled in Fresno over the Cinco de Mayo weekend.

Brandon Johns Sentenced to State Prison

MADERA - Earlier this year, Brandon Johns (33) called a number expecting to talk to a 13 year old girl who did not know him. Instead, the 13 year old girl’s mother answered the phone. Undeterred, Johns kept contacting the number trying to talk to the 13 year old. Ultimately the 13 year old, very bravely, spoke to Johns on the phone as her mother listened.

When Johns tried to engage in a sexual conversation with the 13 year old, the mother terminated the call immediately and notified law enforcement. The mother ultimately was able to provide information to law enforcement officers that enabled them to identify and arrest Johns, who was previously convicted of sending harmful matter to minors in Fresno County.

Delano Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Receipt and Distribution of Child Pornography

FRESNO - Steven Andrew Dobson, 33, of Delano, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. O’Neill to 10 years in prison, to be followed by 10 years of supervised release, for receiving and distributing child pornography, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.

According to court documents, from approximately March 1, 2016, through November 11, 2016, in Kern County, Dobson was found to have received and distributed through the internet between 150 and 300 images of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. The images also involved depictions of violence, and included depictions of prepubescent minors.